The Front Porch Blues Show
JD Esquire & mario & Rich Blackmarr
Tonight Rich Blackmarr will host the Front Porch Blues Show. Unlike my Rockin' In Rhythm Archive editions, this program will focus on some of my favorite contemporary blues artists who recently performed in the Sacramento area and/or will soon. These include Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Shemekia Copeland, Quique Gomez, and the Howell Devine Band. After great Mondavi Arts performances by Dom Flemons (solo) and the group Ranky Tanky, I want to feature some recorded tracks by these artists inspired by Black folk string band music and acapella singing traditions. Songs from the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rhiannon Giddens, and Leyla McCalla will also be included. Remaining time will be filled with a few blues/R&B recordings from the year 1952.
Genre
Blues
Missed the Show?
Sunday 4/09/2023 @ 8:00PM - 10:00PM
| Artist | Song | Album | Label | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rick Estrin & the Nightcats | I'm Runnin' | Rick Estrin & the Nightcats - Contemporary | Alligator | 2019 Greaseland Santa Cruz rec. by Estrin (v/h) & Nightcats; song about being pursued by the ravages of time; last month Estrin presented the 2nd Little Charlie memorial benefit at Harlows. |
| Sugar Ray (Norcia) and the Bluetones | Too Far From The Bar | Sugar Ray and the Bluetones (feat. Little Charlie) - Too Far From The Bar | Severn Records | 2020 rec. by Sugar Ray & Bluetones with Little Charlie in one of Baty's last sessions. |
| Quique Gomez & Little Charlie | Bloodshot Eyes | Quique Gomez & Little Charlie - cookin' At Greaseland | Gulf Coast Records | 2021 rec. at Kid Anderson's Greaseland studio by Spaniard Gomez (v/h) and Charlie Baty (g); version of Wynonie Harris 1951 hit for King; appeared 2-22 at Starlet, returns 6-02 at Harlows. |
| Rick Estrin | Gangster Blues | Rick Estrin - On The Harp Side | Rickey's/Be Sharp Design | 2021 rec. by Estrin (v/h) + others focusing on blues harp; version of song by Detroiter Eddie Burns (b. 1928). |
| Sugar Ray & the Bluetones | What I Put You Through | Sugar Ray and the Bluetones (feat. Little Charlie) - Too Far From The Bar | Severn Records | 2020 rec. by Sugar Ray, Little Charlie & Bluetones. |
| Little Charlie & Organ Grinder Swing | Bernie's Tune | Little Charlie & Organ Grinder Swing - live at Union Square, San Francisco | youtube post | 2016 (?) instr. rec. by guitarist Little Charlie Baty, organist Lorenzo Farrell, and drummer J. Hansen. |
| Louis Jordan & His tympany Five | Jack You're Dead | Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five | JSP 5-cd box set | Oct. 1946 NYC original version of title by Louis Jordan & Tympany Five |
| Airbreak | ||||
| Shemekia Copeland | Who Stole My Radio | Shemekia Copeland - The Soul Truth | Alligator | 2005 Alligator rec. by singer Shemekia (daughter of Johnny Copeland); aside from performing & recording, she is great DJ on Bluesville radio. |
| Quique Gomez & Little Charlie | Jack You're Dead | Quique Gomez & Little Charlie - cookin' At Greaseland | Gulf Coast Records | 2021 rec. at Kid Anderson's Greaseland studio by Spaniard Gomez (v/h) and Charlie Baty (g); version of Jordan's 1946 Decca record; Gomez ends vocal in Spanish. |
| Shemekia Copeland | Devil's Hand | Shemekia Copeland - Outskirts Of Love | Alligator | 2015 Alligator rec. by Shemekia, who appeared 3-30 at Auburn State Theater. |
| Rick Estrin & the Nightcats | Nothing But Love | Rick Estrin & the Nightcats - Contemporary | Alligator | 2019 Greaseland Santa Cruz rec. by Estrin (v/h) & Nightcats |
| Shemekia Copeland | Gullah Geechie | Shemekia Copeland - Done Come Too Far | Alligator | 2022 rec. by Shemekia; track in mold of Clotilda's On Fire from her 2020 Uncivil War album; title refers to slave descent residents of barrier islands along coast of Carolinas & Georgia. |
| Carolina Chocolate Drops | Read 'Em John | Carolina Chocolate Drops - Leaving Eden | Nonesuch | 2012 rec. by C. Chocolate Drops based on A. Lomax rec. by Georgia Sea Island Singers (Geechie trad.). |
| Ranky Tanky | Shoo Lie Loo | Ranky Tanky - Good Time | Resilience Music Alliance | 2019 rec. from Grammy-winning album by S. Carolina based group Ranky Tanky, which augments trad. Gullah acapella singing with trumpet, guitar, bass, drums; great Mondavi concert on April 1st. |
| Airbreak | ||||
| Dom Flemons | Big Money Blues | Dom Flemons - Traveling Wildfire | Smithsonian Folkways | 2023 rec. by multi-instrumentalist/singer Flemons, prev. with the C. C. Drops; Dom was solo opening act to Ranky Tanky at Mondavi. |
| Ranky Tanky | Worried Now | Ranky Tanky - Good Time | Resilience Music Alliance | 2019 rec. by Ranky Tanky; trad. blues song arr. by group. |
| Carolina Chocolate Drops | West End Blues | Carolina Chocolate Drops - Leaving Eden | Nonesuch | 2012 rec. by C. Chocolate Drops; version of song by North Carolina blues guitarist/singer Etta Baker (1913-2006). |
| Ranky Tanky | Green Sally | Ranky Tanky - Good Time | Resilience Music Alliance | 2019 rec. by Ranky Tanky of trad. song with Gullah lyrical imagery. |
| Rhiannon Giddens | Up Above My Head | Rhiannon Giddens - Tomorrow Is My Turn | Nonesuch | 2015 by former C. Choc. Drop member Rhiannon Giddens; version of Sister Rosetta Tharpe gospel song from 1947. |
| Leyla Mccalla | I Knew I Could Fly | VA - Songs of Our Native Daughters | Smithsonian Folkways | 2019 rec. by former C. Choc. Drop, Haitian-born Leyla McCalla; song inspired by Etta Baker and racial discrimination. |
| Airbreak | ||||
| Howell Devine | Shotgun Blues | Howell Devine - Jumps, Boogies & Wobbles | Arhoolie | 2013 rec. by Bay Area blues trio with Josh Howell (voc/slide gtr), Pete Devine (d), Sofa Shakrai (upright bass). |
| Rhiannon Giddens | Last Kind Words | Rhiannon Giddens - Tomorrow Is My Turn | Nonesuch | 2015 rec. by singer Giddens with g, b, mandolin; version of Last Kind Words Blues from 1930 by Geeshie Wiley (Paramount). |
| Howell Devine | PM Blues | Howell Devine - Howl | Little Village Fdn. | 2017 rec. by Howell Devine band. |
| Dom Flemons | Song To JCB | Dom Flemons - Traveling Wildfire | Smithsonian Folkways | 2023 rec. by Flemons is a tribute to late bluesman J.C. Burris, who was known for harmonica, rhythm bones, dancing jig doll. |
| Carolina Chocolate Drops | Mahalla | Carolina Chocolate Drops - Leaving Eden | Nonesuch | 2012 rec. of South African song adapted by Dom Flemons (banjo) and Hubby Jenkins (gtr). |
| Airbreak | ||||
| Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five | Jordan For President | VA - The R&B Years: 1952 | Boulevard Vintage 4-cd box set | 1952 Decca rec. by Jordan (v/as) and band; parody of 1952 D. Eisenhower v. A. Stevenson campaign. |
| Dave Bartholomew | Who Drank The Beer While I Was In The Rear | Dave Bartholomew - Jump Children | Jasmine 2-cd set | 1952 Imperial rec. by New Orleans trumpeter/bandleader/arr. Bartholomew. |
| Jackie Brenston & Edna McRaney | Hi-Ho Baby | VA - The R&B Years: 1952 | Boulevard Vintage 4-cd box set | Dec. 1951 Chicago rec. for Chess by Brenston (v/bs) with singer McRaney and septet incl Phineas Newborn Jr. (p), Calvin Newborn (g), Phineas Newborn Sr. (d). |