Photos by Joanna Gleason
Review by Jean Senat Fleury
As a fan of live music, I love all musical genres: blue grass, rock, hip-hop, jazz, country music, reggae, funk, hard rock, pop rock etc. When I learned that the 15th Annual New England Winter Blues Festival was at the Met in Pawtucket, RI, a very intimate and wonderful venue, with Nick David as the planner, with my camera I decided to go.
Nick organized a fantastic event. His band, The Wicket Lo-Down, was the backup band for several Blues Legends. Nick's band, formed of a group of talented blues and rock musicians, was phenomenal. The band made the blues flow seamlessly and perfectly.
The Wicked Lo-Down (the backing band for the entire show) with Nick “Mr. Nick” David was fantastic!
Jerry Portnoy (from the Muddy Waters Band & the Eric Clapton Band) went first. At 82 years old, Jerry is one of our blues treasures. He made his harmonica sing the blues.
Then (From Jason Ricci & the Bad Kind) Jason Ricci came next on stage. A wizard, a musician, a virtuoso... Ricci is one of the most influential, recorded, celebrated harmonica players in the world. He made his harmonica make sounds that no one thought were possible. He was tremendous!!!!.
From (Roomful of Blues and Sugar Ray & the Bluetones) Sugar Ray Norcia next hit the stage. He boasts of the smoothest, most soulful voices of modern-day Blues, coupled with a powerful and a powerful real-deal harmonica. Another amazing set!
(From Rick Estrin & the Night Cats) Rick Estrin was next. Rick brought up the legendary Charlie Musselwhite to play a song with him. Then he brought up some other players to jam at the end. Jim Fitting (From Treat Her Right and Jim Fitting’s Coots); Annie Raines (From Paul Rishell & Annie Raines). Bobby Christina (From Bobby Christina’s Caravan).
It is extremely difficult to explain how exceptionally great the night was. All the performers knew each other, they were friendly to each other, and the audience jammed to perfection. The Blues are part of American culture. Starting with the African Americans in the deep South moving to Chicago and then morphing into what it is now. Rock and Roll came from the Blues. All the Blues legends just walked onto the stage with just a harmonica and instantly blended with the backup band; then the fantastic music spilled out through the venue.
A great concert! When it is over, you want more and more music and you do not want to leave. Frankly, this was a wonderful night of music.
Yorumlar