Lookin' For A Home - Olive Brown

If the blues seems to be the only musical genre named after a color, the performer named Olive Brown represents a small part of the music's unique color wheel. Brown changed her name from Olive Jefferson and apparently not for matrimonial reasons, so an assumption can be made that she was seeking an association with a pigment in demand with interior decorators and designers. From a career perspective, Brown makes for quite a unique shade, in that she played drums as well as sang, led her own bands such as Olive Brown & Her Blues Chasers, was associated with the music scenes in three major cities in the Midwest, and was comfortable not only with blues but with jazz and even early rock & roll.

Jefferson had yet to turn Brown when, at age five, she sang at a sanctified temple in St. Louis. By then her family, including a mother who played ragtime piano, had relocated to Detroit. Her professional debut was in Motor City clubs in the early '40s, and within several years she had relocated west to the Windy City. Brown maintained an axis of gigging most of her career between Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis. Because of both being born and dying in the latter city, it is there that her name is often listed as a native talent, following Helen Brown alphabetically. Her connection with Chicago is just as strong, however, and includes the required connections with talent such as the Todd Rhodes Orchestra, Earl Bostic, Cecil Gant, Tiny Bradshaw, Gene Ammons, and even the young soul singer Jackie Wilson.

In the mid-'60s she recorded for the Spivey label, a typical mishmash organized by label maestro Victoria Spivey, which allows listeners to sample the color contrast between guest star Muddy Waters and Olive Brown, a brown-in that might be followed nicely with the album Raw Sienna by Savoy Brown. In this same period, Brown began nearly a decade living in Canada, but this was hardly an exile from music. The roster at a Colonial Tavern date recorded by the CBC in Toronto promises great things, featuring Brown as vocalist with a band including the marvelous trumpeter Buck Clayton, stalwart pianist Sir Charles Thompson, and basso profundo Tommy Potter. Like many of the radio network's live recordings, this '60s session has never been issued on disc.

A similar fate seems to have been in store for some of Brown's other great moments on tape. Her track entitled "Roll Like a Wheel" received much attention when included on a compilation entitled Don't Freeze on Me: Independent Women's Blues, but was actually never released at the time it was recorded. In the early '70s she returned to St. Louis and began performing on the major riverboat lines. In 1973 she received rave reviews for a boisterous performance at the St. Louis Ragtime Festival.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

New Release - Joel DaSilva & The Midnight Howl - Self titled - Review

I'm listening to the new self titled release by Joel DaSilva and the Midnight Howl and it's great! It opens with Let's Not Fight, a Texas style blues, with so real down home Texas style guitar playing. Hangin'On, gets a little more rock in the step but still strongly pushing the blues. DaSilva thankfully isn't just copying those who came before him but is throwing down some really cool riffs. Hard Time takes more of a ballad radio push and features the stellar Albert Castiglia on slide. Try, another ballad, but this time primarily acoustic, is a strong airplay candidate. Boogie Real Low is a real crap kicker with guitar and bass grindin' out the rhythm and getting you in the groove. This is really A John Lee Hooker style boogie but updated and gives DiSilva a chance to rip on guitar and rip he does! Heart Of My Father, is written over the premise of an old European folk tune and I really like it. After the initial set up, it develops into a very slick slower blues tune. It's a great tune both sung and played with a lot of feeling. I mean sit back and enjoy the rip! Nitro's Grease is a great loping instrumental blues with T- Bone Walker style flair but sounding much more contemporary. Again another great track. Every Night is a cool acoustic blues again in the Texas style and is a nice change up for the wrapping up of the recording. Who Knows is a more contemporary blues rock style song but one that very successfully sets a groove line that you'll like. The last track, For Don is a very cool acoustic slide instrumental. It's dark and I think most of you will really enjoy it.
Ok...here's the skinny... and you don't get this strait a directive from me often.... check this cd out. It's really good!!

If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

NEA Funds Music Maker's Chapel Hill Series

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. - Music Maker is proud to announce a spring music series at Southern Village in Chapel Hill, N.C., that will be offered free to the public. The Roots and Leaves Series will feature traditional music on four Fridays in June from 6-8pm. Each performance will focus on a specific musical genre and highlight the cultural heritage of the local area. The event is made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Market Street at Southern Village and Aloft Hotel Chapel Hill.

My South My Blues, on June 8th, will present a varied group of bluesmen, including John Dee Holeman, an NEA National Heritage Fellow, Captain Luke and Cool John Ferguson.

Listen: John Dee Holeman's Little Country Gal

Heart Strings will explore the Piedmont string-band tradition that has evolved over two centuries, presenting Piedmont-style guitarist Boo Hanks, and country band Kelly and the Cowboys on June 15th.

Listen: Boo Hanks' Step It Up and Go

Sisters of the South on June 22nd, focusing on blues and gospel, will include performances from powerhouse vocalist Essie Mae Brooks and Pat "Mother Blues" Cohen.

Listen: Essie Mae Brooks' Rain In Your Life

Native Voices, our final show on June 29th, will showcase North Carolina Native American artists drawing on centuries of ancestral music for their inspiration. Nammy-award-winning artist Pura Fé Crescioni with the Pura Fé Trio will perform, alongside 15-year old guitar prodigy Lakota John Locklear.

Listen: Pura Fé Crescioni's Red, Black on Blues

The outdoor concerts will take place at the Village Green at Market Street in Southern Village on Fridays from June 8th - 29th, 6-8pm. For more information visit www.musicmaker.org.

About Music Maker Relief Foundation:

Music Maker Relief Foundation, Inc. is a tax exempt, public charity under IRS code 501(c)3. Music Maker aims to keep our Southern culture vital by directly supporting senior

(over 55) American roots musicians in need, expanding their professional careers, and assisting Next Generation artists in the development of their professional careers. Since the organization's

founding in 1994, Music Maker has assisted hundreds of musicians who represent the traditions of Blues, Gospel, Old-Time String Band, Jazz and more. Music Maker's programs ensure the

talents of these cultural treasures are accessible so that our rich musical heritage can be shared with the world and preserved for future generations

Excellent Concert Footage - Bob Margolin

Bob Margolin, (born May 9, 1949, Brookline, Massachusetts, United States)and featured here with Mike Sponza, is an American electric blues guitarist. His nickname is "Steady Rollin'".
Bob Margolin was born and raised in Brookline. He started playing guitar in 1964, and his first appearance on record was with Boston psychedelic band Freeborne, and their 1967 album Peak Impressions.

Margolin was a backing musician for Muddy Waters from 1973 to 1980, performing with Waters and The Band in The Last Waltz. As a solo recording artist, he has recorded albums for Alligator Records, Blind Pig, Telarc and his own Steady Rollin' record label.

In 1979 he made a guest appearance, along with Pinetop Perkins, on The Nighthawks album, Jacks & Kings.

In 1994, he appeared with Jerry Portnoy as guest musicians on the album, Ice Cream Man by John Brim. It received a W. C. Handy Award nomination as the best 'Traditional Blues Album of the Year'.

Margolin is a columnist for the Blues Revue magazine.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

Search For Robert Johnson Part 4 (of 5)

The Search for Robert Johnson is a 1991 UK television documentary film about the legendary Delta blues musician Robert Johnson, hosted by John Hammond, and produced and directed by Chris Hunt. In it, Hammond travels through the American Deep South to pursue topics such as Johnson's birth date, place and parents, his early musical development, performances and travels, romances, his mythic "pact with the devil," his untimely murder in his late twenties, the discovery of possible offspring, and the uncertainty over where Johnson is buried. Throughout, Johnson's music is both foreground and background, from recordings of Johnson and as performed on camera by Hammond, David Honeyboy Edwards, and Johnny Shines.
Blues musician and "keeper of the flame" John Hammond described his journey into the American South as "the quest of a lifetime". His father, record producer and jazz impresario John H. Hammond, had planned and advertised for Robert Johnson to perform at Carnegie Hall, but Johnson died prior to the concert.

The film is loosely organized around field work by Johnson researcher Robert "Mack" McCormick. Throughout the film, Hammond travels to locations where Johnson lived, performed, recorded, and purportedly where he died, and interviews two of Johnson's girlfriends and blues musicians who knew him, as well as two noted blues researchers. Locations include the "Delta, the floodplain of northwestern Mississippi, on into Arkansas and Texas, and into southern Mississippi, where he was born and died."

The film has been noted for its presentation of new evidence, at the time, about Johnson's life.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Hoochie Coochie Man - The Graham Bond Organization

The Graham Bond Organization (Graham Bond - Ginger Baker - Jack Bruce - Dick Heckstall-Smith) at The 1965 National Jazz and Blues Festival held at the Richmond Athletic Grounds, Richmond, Surrey, UK on August 7th, 1965
Graham John Clifton Bond (28 October 1937 – 8 May 1974) was an English musician, considered a founding father of the English rhythm and blues boom of the 1960s.

Bond was an innovator, described as "an important, under-appreciated figure of early British R&B", along with Cyril Davies and Alexis Korner. Jack Bruce, John McLaughlin and Ginger Baker first achieved prominence in his group, the Graham Bond Organisation. Bond was voted Britain's New Jazz Star in 1961. He was an early user of the Hammond organ/Leslie speaker combination in British rhythm and blues - he "split" the Hammond for portability - and was the first British artist to record using a mellotron, on his "The Sound of '65" and "There's A Bond Between Us" LPs. As such he was a major influence upon later rock keyboardists: Deep Purple's Jon Lord said "He taught me, hands on, most of what I know about the Hammond organ"
Bond was born in Romford, Essex. Adopted from a Dr. Barnardo's home, he was educated at the Royal Liberty School in Gidea Park, East London, where he learned music. His first jazz gig was in 1960 with the Goudie Charles Quintet, staying for a year. He first gained national attention as a jazz saxophonist as a member of the Don Rendell Quintet, then briefly joined Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated before forming the Graham Bond Quartet with musicians he met in the Korner group, Ginger Baker on drums and Jack Bruce on double bass, together with John McLaughlin on guitar; and adopting the Hammond organ as his main instrument. The group then became the Graham Bond Organization (GBO), while John McLaughlin was later replaced by Dick Heckstall-Smith on saxophones.

Lack of commercial success, plus internal struggles, brought an end to the group in 1967 as Bond's mental and physical health deteriorated. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker had already left, to form Cream with Eric Clapton. Baker's replacement, Jon Hiseman, and Dick Heckstall-Smith went on to form Colosseum.

After the break-up of the Organization, Bond continued to exhibit mental disorders, with manic episodes and periods of intense depression, exacerbated by heavy drug use. Moving to America, he recorded two albums and performed session work for Harvey Mandel and Dr. John among others, but he returned to England in 1969. He then formed Graham Bond Initiation with his new wife Diane Stewart, who shared his interest in magick, and in 1970 Holy Magick, which recorded a self-titled album and We Put Our Magick On You. He was also re-united with old band members while playing saxophone in Ginger Baker's Air Force and spending a short time in the Jack Bruce Band. Solid Bond, a double-album compiling live tracks recorded in 1963 by the Graham Bond Quartet (Bond, McLaughlin, Bruce and Baker) and a studio session from 1966 by the Graham Bond Organisation (Bond, Heckstall-Smith and Hiseman) was released that same year.

In 1972 he teamed up with Pete Brown to record Two Heads are Better Than One. He also recorded an album with the John Dummer Band in 1973, although this was not released until 2008. After the near-simultaneous collapse of his band and his marriage, Bond then formed Magus with British folk-singer Carolanne Pegg and American bassist Marc Mazz, which disbanded around Christmas 1973 without recording. During that same period, he discovered American singer-songwriter-guitarist Mick Lee, and they played together live but never recorded. Plans to include Chris Wood of Traffic never materialized due to Bond's death.

Bond's financial affairs were in chaos, and the years of lack of commercial success and the recent demise of Magus had badly hurt his pride. Throughout his career he had been hampered with severe bouts of drug addiction, and spent January 1973 in hospital after a nervous breakdown.[citation needed] On May 8, 1974, Bond died under the wheels of a train at Finsbury Park station, London, at the age of 36. Most sources list the death as a suicide. Friends agree that he was off drugs, although becoming increasingly obsessed with the occult (he believed he was Aleister Crowley's son).
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

If Troubles Was Money - Blues Cargo

Blues Cargo love Blues Music and mostly like to play Chicago Blues style.Started playing in 1987 at Athens Greece as a four member band. Two guitars Bass and Drums.
After some changes to the members the Band at this time has a five member configuration which is drums,bass,guitar,keybords and sax.They like to listen to all kind of Blues Music But their influences came from people like Freddie King, Jimmy Rogers, Willy Dixon, Albert Collins, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, James Cotton , B B King ...........Also the younger ones like SRV, Lurie Bell, Chris Cain , Larry McCray, Robert Cray.Through these years (almost 25) they had a great deal of live appearances in Athens and all over Greece. Also they had the good luck to back up a number of American blues people such as lurrie Bell, Maxine Howard, Byther Smith, Jean Carol, Eddie C Campell, Louisiana Red, Big Time Sarah, Nellie Tiger Travis, Lovy Lee, Lefty Dizz, and others.....and some oppenings like John Mayall, John Hammond, Nick Gravenites.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Instrumental - Alan Haynes

Alan Haynes (February 19, 1956), born in Houston, Texas, is an American Texas Blues guitarist. Alan has been playing professionally since the 1970s and has performed with a variety of Blues legends that include Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, Albert King, The Fabulous Thunderbirds (1980's version with Jimmie Vaughan), Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, and Otis Rush among others. He now resides in Austin, Texas and plays locally in and around Texas' major cities, especially Houston (where he performs nearly every month), occasionally in Dallas and Fort Worth, and also Europe, where he has a large following in Scandinavian countries, Germany, Denmark, and Israel.
In the late 1970s Alan joined the Texas Boogie Band as a second guitarist first but eventually became the main guitarist. Alan would make his move to Austin, TX in the early 1980s. While playing with the Texas Boogie Band, Haynes got to open and share the stage with legendary Blues artists such as Muddy Waters. Alan and the Texas Boogie Band were, by that time, the house band at the Texas Opry House, also getting radio broadcasting in Houston. Alan would later lead his own band, "Alan Haynes and the Stepchildren" and release his first EP, "Seventh Son" in 1984 under the Orphan label. Stepchildren included legendary Blues-Rock drummer Uncle John Turner, who had played with the likes of Johnny Winter during the late 1960s and early 1970s and recorded milestone Blues albums. Alan was inducted into the "Buddy Magazine Texas Tornado List" in 1980 and his band was voted "Best Blues Band" by the "Music City Austin - Music Poll" in 1985. Later on, for about six years in the 1990s, Alan was the house band at Antone's "home of the Blues." During those years, in 1994, Alan released his second studio album, Wishing Well. This time he had life friends and former Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble rhythm sections Chris Layton on drums, Tommy Shannon on bass, and Reese Wynans on keyboards. Alan also counted on Preston Hubbard from the Fabulous Thunderbirds and George Rains (Jimmie Vaughan's drummer) for this album.[1] The result was earned Haynes a featured article in the "Guitar Player" magazine in August 1995. Alan would later continue playing locally and in Europe and would record two more albums on his own, but this time capturing the emotions of live performances. These two, "Live at the Blue Cat Blues" recorded in Dallas in 1998 with Jim Suhler and "Live at the Big Easy" recorded in Houston in 2001 would result in Haynes' last works to date.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Hardest Part Of Lovin' You - Tom Holland & The Shuffle Kings

Tom Holland & the Shuffle Kings are one of the hardest working blues bands not only in the Midwest, but the world! They have been playing stages across the world for 10 years now. They've been the backing band for such blues luminaries such as Hubert Sumlin, and Carey Bell to name a few. They regularly are featured at the House of Blues in Chicago, as well as many other venues around Chicago.

Collectively, the band has an accumulated experience level of over 75 years in the business. Tom currently is touring with blues legend James Cotton.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

FPR News April/May 2012

In This Issue New 2012 Workshop GE Smith joins BDW Kickstart Oteil Meet Me in the Kitchen Help Ruth Grace Get Her Ride FRESH CATCH! In May Jorma plays the Nelsonville Music Festival a short piece from home. He then heads off to Italy for some festival dates, some of which include David Bromberg. 05/19 Jorma Kaukonen Nelsonville Music Festival 4 PM Nelsonville, OH 05/23 Jorma Kaukonen Loggiato Inferiore Della Basilica Palladiana Vicenza, Italy Also David Bromberg 05/24 Jorma Kaukonen Folk Club Torino, Italy 05/25 Jorma Kaukonen Acoustic Guitar Festival Fortezza Firmafede Sarzana, Italy Also David Bromberg 05/27 Jorma Kaukonen Auditorium Modernissimo Nembro, Italy In the later half of June, Electric Hot Tuna embarks on a tour along the Mid-Atlantic along Steve Kimock. 06/21 Electric Hot Tuna State Theatre Ithaca, NY * Also Steve Kimock 06/22 Electric Hot Tuna Count Basie Theatre Red Bank, NJ * Also Steve Kimock 06/23 Electric Hot Tuna The Wellmont Theatre Montclair, NJ * Also Steve Kimock 06/25 Electric Hot Tuna The National Richmond, VA * Also Steve Kimock 06/26 Electric Hot Tuna Grand Opera House Wilmington, DE * Also Steve Kimock 06/28 Electric Hot Tuna Sherman Theater Stroudsburg, PA * Also Steve Kimock 06/29 Electric Hot Tuna Theatre at Westbury Westbury, NY * Also Steve Kimock Fur Peace Station Upcoming Performances May 12, 2012 The California Guitar Trio Buy Tickets June 2 & 3, 2012 Tommy Emmanuel Both Shows Sold Out! FPR Workshops May 11, 2012 Jorma Kaukonen with Marjorie Thompson and David Wolff The Entrance Ramp Level 1/2 This workshop will provide a solid introduction to fingerpicking guitar, including development of that reliable thumb so essential to mastering this style. This pianistic style of playing often characterizes the music of Master Instructor Jorma Kaukonen, and is typical also of the great country blues artists such as Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Blake, Mississippi John Hurt and other seminal musicians that have deeply influenced 20th century guitar styles. This special workshop will have a triple threat of instructors, so that participants will receive individually tailored attention. Along with the Captain, singer/songwriter/guitarist Marjorie Thompson will provide expert instruction focused on fretboard navigation and songcrafting, and BreakDownWay maven David Wolff will guide students in the careful rendering of some country blues favorites exemplary of this genre. SOLD OUT! June 1-4, 2012 Tommy Emmanuel Master Guitar Level 4 SOLD OUT! Live From Fur Peace Ranch Broadcast Dates and Performers: Check http://woub.org/listen/furpeaceranch for upcoming performers and broadcast dates. ATHENS, OH 91.3 FM WOUB-FM Friday nights at 7:00 PM Sunday 12:00 AM Monday 1:00 AM CINCINNATI, OH 89.7 FM WNKU-FM Sundays 09:00 PM ITHACA, NY 90.1 FM WITH-FM Saturdays at 10:00 AM You may also listen to WOUB-FM's live stream. Or visit WOUB's Archives. Audio files are updated weekly (excluding repeats). Due to right's restrictions, most programs are only available online for four weeks. WOUB welcomes your feedback! Drop them a line: radio@woub.org. Contact Your Local NPR station and let them know that Live From The Fur Peace Ranch! is available to them for free through Airplay Direct. ITunes New Releases New to iTunes this month: iTuna: 2012-02-25 Lewis A. Sawyer Theatre at The Egg, Albany, NY Fresh Tuna from the recent Winter 2012 Tour. An acoustic trio show. A two set show filled with classic Tuna: Sea Child, Been So Long, Babe, I Want You To Know and new Tuna: Children of Zion, Goodbye to the Blues, Vicksburg Stomp iJorma 2000-02-17 The Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA This is the second show of 2000 and a SOLO Jorma show as well. A killer setlist featuring songs: Ice Age, Vampire Women, Police Dog Blues, Follow the Drinking Gourd, and Water Song Jorma's iTunes directory Hot Tuna's iTunes directory April/May Birthdays Jack Casady Rev. Gary Davis Herb Pedersen Warren Haynes Larry Coryell Stefan Grossman Pete Sears Happy Truam Michael Falzarano Tommy Emmanuel Guy Davis Happy Birthday Everyone! FPR News April/May 2012 On the Passing of an Old Friend Jorma, Justin Guip, Levon Helm, Jack Casady, Larry Campbell and Barry Mitterhoff It's been a week or two now so I am sure you are all aware of the passing of our dear friend Levon Helm. The news that he was gravely ill came from Larry Campbell who was about to make his drive west to the Fur Peace Ranch to teach. The fact that Larry still came while the family watched and waited by Levon's side says so much about Larry. Larry said, Levon would want him to come and he felt it in his heart that he would get back to Woodstock before the inevitable occurred. He did indeed make it back in time. I will say that his workshops and his show with Teresa were the best I had ever seen. I believe in my own heart that he taught and performed for his brother Levon....... The passing of friends is never easy. It is the one thing in this life that we know will come to pass and there is never an easier, softer way to feel the loss. My own experience with Levon was nothing short of divine. I have always known Levon to be touched by great, unforeseen forces...blessed. When he spoke to me, he always reached out and grabbed my hands and his touch was something out of this earthly plain. I will hold each and every time he held my hands in his as something celestial. I know Levon had many struggles and I know he wore them like a crown like Elton John so poetically sang in his song "Levon." I knew a gentle man who spoke soft and sweetly about life and music. My favorite Sunday morning show...CBS Sunday Morning... paid such a great tribute to him. Jorma and I sat there and watched the program as we wept for our own loss felt . Jorma recalled one of the last times he saw him....his last words to Levon, at his studio during a rehearsal before the Beacon shows were, "It was good to see you brother." Indeed...it was good to know you........ Vanessa If it doesn't come from your heart -- music just doesn't work - Levon Helm Music is the language of heaven - Levon Helm New Electric Guitar Workshop Added to 2012 Bob Margolin: Raw Blues: Chicago Style! August 24-27, 2012 Level 2/3 Our 2012 Electric Guitar workshops filled-up quickly this year, and we had a instructor vacancy in August so we decided to add another electric guitar workshop with Bob Margolin. Bob will be teaching Raw Blues: Chicago Style! The guitar sound and style of Muddy Waters and Chicago Blues players like Elmore James, Jimmy Rogers, Robert Lockwood Jr., Eddie Taylor, and Hubert Sumlin were a radical electric evolution of Mississippi Delta Blues in the early 1950s. Some folks credit this music as the foundation of Rock'n'Roll, but Bob believes it stands proudly on its own. For today's guitar players, knowing the language and "tone" of "delay time" and "Old School" (Muddy's terms) Chicago Blues is both educational and empowering for your playing. Bob played guitar in Muddy's band from 1973-'80. Bob will take what he learned directly from Muddy and pass this raw electric Blues on to you. Bob will use live and recorded playing in this workshop, demonstrate the guitar parts of Chicago Blues masters, and be inspired by your questions and individual agenda. You'll learn how to play classic Chicago Blues electric slide guitar parts in standard tuning, Open-G, and Open-E. You'll work on getting a singing yet percussive tone out of your guitar and amp, that you can use to express your Blues with or without effects pedals. Enroll Today! GE Smith Joins Breakdown Way BreakDownWay.com has done it again with three new amazing lessons from our brand new instructor, G.E. Smith (Hall & Oates, SNL, Bob Dylan, Live Aid, Roger Waters "The Wall" Tour.) http://breakdownway.com/instructor/ge-smith *Techniques: 52 minutes of sheer wisdom from a master electric guitarist. * Mercy Mercy: Sing AND play with this great lesson that can really help your skills, not too advanced, all levels! *Chicken: Much more advanced, this one will challenge you for weeks. All these new lessons can be purchased individually ($4.99 per month) or will come as part of your standard subscription. Many thanks for your interest in BreakDownWay.com and enjoy! Kickstart Oteil's The Adventures of Green Thumb and Purple Haze (A new comic book series created by Oteil Burbridge and LeVar Carter.) One of our instructors, and good friend, Oteil Burbrige is currently working on a new side project - a serial comic book - of all things. The Adventures of Green Thumb and Purple Haze is a serial comic book chronicling the trials and tribulations of the titular (twin cannabis superheros) characters and their expanding cast of allies and adversaries. The comic explores themes involving the power of nature and spirituality, the role corporations and governments play in stifling scientific and cultural advancements for the purpose of preserving profits and power, and also what it means to be deemed illegal just by one's lot in life (as it pertains to one's biology, nationality, gender, sexuality, and so on). If you are interested in helping Kick-Start Oteil's new project more information can be found by visiting: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/248525168/the-adventures-of-green-thumb-and-purple-haze Meet Me in the Kitchen An Interview with Brenda Bolin of the FPR Kitchen Staff Brenda Bolin has been here at the Fur Peace Ranch now for a little over 10 years. She came to the Ranch to take over the kitchen clean-up duties and to tackle the dishwashing as well. Brenda was cleaning the dishes back before we had an automatic dishwashing machine. She's always been known for her great work and her great work ethic . . the lady is a hard worker!! Well, she wasn't around the kitchen for too long before some of her other talents in the kitchen were recognized. Brenda is also a fine baker and over the years she has become known as the "cookie lady" . . . for she is the one that makes and bakes all those fabulous cookies that the Ranch has become famous for. She does a whole lot more then just making cookies, for she is also talented with making and baking other fine deserts and she also pitches in and helps cook and prepare the fine food that comes out of the Beatrice Love Kitchen . . . that's what we call our dining hall and it is named affectionately in honor of Jorma's mother Beatrice Love . . . We had a chance to sit down with Ms. Brenda and talk to her about her role in the Fur Peace Kitchen . . . and here's what she had to say: Why do like working at the Fur Peace Ranch? I like working at the Ranch because it has a friendly atmosphere and everyone I work with in the kitchen works as a team. That in itself is why I love my job. How did you become interested in baking as a job? I've always liked to bake! But during my dish washing days, Vanessa had asked me to bake cookies for an upcoming camp weekend. I baked chocolate chip cookies and Jorma made the comment that those were the best chocolate chip cookies made out there yet. Since then I've been the cookie baker for every camp. Where and from whom did you learn to cook? I learned to cook and bake from my mother and my grandmother. Who was your biggest influence? My grandmother. She would let me bake cookies and experiment with baking skills. What did you learn from your Mom or Grandmother that you use regularly in the kitchen? My grandma taught me how to knead dough by hand. Later, I bought a mixer which came with a tool that mixes the dough. Needless to say, I don't make bread the old-fashioned way, any more. What do you enjoy most about baking and what is your favorite item to bake? I enjoy the students' reactions and compliments to the different deserts and cookies being made for them. I don't really have a favorite item that I like to bake. Have you ever had a baking disaster? What happened? Yes (to me it is!) . . . when my cookies turn out too flat. What's your favorite comfort meal? A pork roast with scallop potatoes, green beans, home-made applesauce and rolls. What are some of you top baking tips? Knowing when to take the cookies out of the oven. Different brands and types of flour vary the texture of baked goods. What is the hardest thing about being a baker? What is the best thing about being a baker? Since I love to bake, I don't consider anything too hard to do. The best is the finished results and the happy faces! On Fur Peace concert nights you sometimes stay around to hear the music . . . What has been some of your favorite shows here at the Ranch? Suzy Boggus Lee Roy Parnell Billy Dean Blue Highway Roy Book Binder Don Edwards And of course . . . Jorma What's your favorite style of music and your all-time favorite musician or group? My favorite style of music is Country. My all-time favorite is listening to Tommy Emmanuel. What ingredients should every home have in the cupboard or refrigerator for baking? Flour, sugar, baking soda and salt for the cupboard. Eggs and butter in the refrigerator. Help Ruth Grace Get Her Ride Many of us do not realize it, but the month of May is National Mobility Awareness Month. The purpose of this declaration is to bring attention to and show the world how people with disabilities can live an active, mobile lifestyle. The goal of National Mobility Awareness Month is to educate the public that: People with disabilities constitute the 2nd largest minority in the United States. Over 18 million people in the U.S. and Canada have mobility issues. 6 million of those are veterans. There are mobility equipment manufacturers, dealers, driver rehabilitation specialists and other professionals in your community dedicated to improving the lives of peo Ruth Grace with Vanessa and Izze Kaukonen ple with disabilities. Automotive mobility solutions are available for people with disabilities enabling them to enjoy active, mobile lifestyles To help promote NMAM the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association is conducting a contest to provide Custom Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles to 8 lucky winners. FYI . . . Robert "Bobalou" Benavides, Ruth's father, is an old friend of Jorma's and Fur Peace. (Bobalou played "Gut Bucket" on Hot Tuna's now infamous Sweetwater recording.) Ruth Grace suffers from a early development disease that restricts her ability to walk as well as her speech and hearing. The Benavides are in the running to win a Custom Wheelchair Accessible Verhicle to help get Ruth to/from school, doctors appointments and play dates. But they need our help! You can help simply by visiting this webpage and voting for Ruth by filling out the required info. Thanks for all your help! 2012 Workshop Incentives! 1st 2012 enrollment - Regular Price 2nd 2012 enrollment - save $75 3rd 2012 enrollment - save $100 4th 2012 enrollment - save $200 Offer Expires: November 09, 2012

Signature Sounds artist: Hundred Dollar Valentine - Chris Smither - New Release Review

Sitting here listening to the new recording, Hundred Dollar Valentine, by Chris Smither. This recording, set to be released on June 19, 2012 will be Smither's 12th studio disc. Smither is an excellent finger picking guitar player and songwriter. As most of you know from reading my reviews that I am far more oriented to sonic quality or the sound of someone's voice as well as the instrumentation than I am word oriented. In spite of this I do recognize a well done vocal recording when I hear one. This is one. Smither has a very solid voice and it works very well in the textural weave that he constructs with each song. His use of chord progressions are very melodic and endearing. I am enjoying listening to this cd from a totally different perspective with it being very well constructed and soothing as opposed to gut emotional with searing guitars. Smither is joined by Bill Conway on Drums; Kris Delmhorst on cello; Jimmy Fitting on harmonica; David Goodrich on slide guitar, xylophone and diddley bow; Ian Kennedy on violin; Anita Suhanin on vocals and introducing Robin Smither on violin. The recording projects solitude but also warmth and joy. If it sounds like your bag... I think you'll like it.

If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”