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Big Bill Morganfield has become a house favorite. We would love to have him here monthly, but as that's not going to happen, I'm contacting Mr. Al Chesis and nailing him down on the next dates we can book him. And who knows, maybe next time we can get him for two nights.

Back to last Thursday. Bill's new record, Born Lover, is wonderful, masterfully produced, and now one to which I must listen daily. He performed a number of tracks from it, and the crowd was thrilled. However, his "Mannish Boy" had the crowd literally screaming and on their feet, fully aware of his genetic disposition. I do believe Muddy was running fully through his son last Thursday. It was a great night of music in here. Any time you want to come back, Big Bill, you have a home here. Oh, and one more thing, one of the best I've seen of "Mannish Boy," is on Youtube with Big Bill and Steady Rollin'. DAMN! Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC6EMQknEO8

Friday night BluezHouse returned, and brought it as always. They'll be back for the jam on August 25, which would have been the Gretchen Troop jam, but she'll be in Europe having the time of her life. Speaking of Gretchen Troop, her band brought two wonderful sets Saturday night, and we all had a really nice time. Big Bill returned from Blues Under the Bridge just after Gretchen wrapped, and we all hung our for a while and enjoyed a really nice impromptu party, talking music and mutual friends. It was a special evening all the way around. Once again, we never know what's going to happen at Blues & Greens.

Tomorrow night we're going to burn the place down with Damon Fowler, a Blind Pig recording artist with one hell of a reputation. As I mentioned last week, some people are flying in from Florida for this show! Want to know more? Hit his site and have a listen: http://www.damonfowler.com/

Friday night is another first: Tinsley Ellis. Even Otis Taylor stopped by to ask when Tinsley is playing. He's another one that will sell out or come close, so call for a ticket: 303-443-3322. Here's a taste:

"You can't read about Tinsley Ellis' monstrous guitar chops without encountering words like "feral," "incendiary," and "fiery." But, as demonstrated on this release [LIVE! HIGHWAYMAN] - the guitarist's first for the label since 1997 - those adjectives are more than appropriate, especially when he takes the stage.... HOT LICK: Ellis' guitar threatens to combust on "The Axe."- GUITARONE

"Feral blues guitar...non-stop gigging has sharpened his six-string to a razor's edge...his eloquence dazzles...he achieves pyrotechnics that rival early Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton." - ROLLING STONE

"[On KINGPIN] his vocals taking on a Boz Skaggs like quality, guitar flirting with Clapton/Santana overtones, more passionate than Clapton could ever conjure up, more blue than Carlos."- BLUES ACCESS

Yeah, I know, so I'll see you Friday night. Then next week, we'll have Chick's review to add. I'm sure he'll have a thing or two to say.

Saturday brings back the Mike Kaylor Band! The last time they were here, here's what happened: Saturday night, The Mike Kaylor Band came to our room, tore the doors off, put them back on, and then tore them off again! It was their first time, and the impression was a lasting one. They'll be back, as they hit Favorite Status right out of the gate. In a funny, related story, when they played at Oskar's for the IBC finals, Dan turned to me and said, "We HAVE to book them! Why haven't you told me about them?" Um, I did. About a month before. You weren't listening. [ASIDE TO SHARON KING: do you have this problem with him?] ~Blues Letter #74~

Speaking of Mike Kaylor, don't forget we have the Exciting Eden Brent on Monday, August 10, and Mike Kaylor is opening (solo) for her at 6:30. Eden is beyond great, powerful, lively, animated, and talented, and holds the distinction (such that it is) of being the only artist to have me weeping at Blues From the Top in 2008. Couldn't speak I was so overcome with emotion from her powerful performance. For those of you who think a great Blues set requires a shredder, don't miss this show. You're going to learn something new. Even John Catt expressed the wish that he could have Eden at EVERY BFTT. I agree with him. We're all very excited about her first performance here, to the extent that one of us is really nervous about seeing her again. Not saying who.

But before that, next Wednesday, August 5 brings the inaugural performance of the Zac Harmon Band at Blues & Greens. These guys are incomparable. Period. At the Blue Star Connection event in Dallas in May, Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin, Prodigal Son of the Outlook followed them, and said, "You know what gives me the Blues? Having to follow Zac Harmon." Speaking of BFTT, Zac, and Bob, the first time I saw them was last year when Bob sat in with them at the Smokin' Moe's jam. Wow! Just WOW! Next Wednesday is also the 100th Blues Letter, so we might have something special going on. You never know...

Next Thursday is Ryan McGarvey out of New Mexico.Well, here: "There are those blues players who know every trick in the book and try to play them all at once, gumming up their jam with one too many fancy licks; and then there are those who know every trick in the book, but with the smarts to hang back a bit, let it come, and explode when the time is right. Usually, the wisdom of restraint is restricted to those of a certain age, but once in a while a bonafide blues prodigy comes along with both chops and intuition. Albuquerque’s Ryan McGarvey is just that kind of guy—the kid can play anything, but he knows he doesn’t have to play it all at once. His brand of electric blues is perfect for New Year’s Eve: bright, fun and full of youthful enthusiasm." ~ Jonanna Widner (The Santa Fe Reporter )

It was on the recomendation of John Catt and Chick Cavalerro that I booked this "kid," and with those two doing the recomending, I know we're all in for a night to remember. August 6.

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