Contemporary style mixes with old-school substance in the lineup of the Tampa Bay Blues Festival this weekend.
By MARTY CLEAR
Published April 1, 2004
Becoming Buddy Guy
A guitar from a stranger and wine from another helped shape one of the biggest names in blues.
The 10th annual edition of the Sound Advice Tampa Bay Blues Festival features some of the biggest names in the genre, including artists truly deserving of the overused designation "legend."
The three-day lineup, in addition to performances by such luminaries as Buddy Guy and Charlie Musselwhite, is also packed with hot contemporary artists (Chris Duarte, Susan Tedeschi) and some of the best-kept secrets in blues and R&B (Bettye LaVette, Carl Weathersby).
Here's the lineup.
FRIDAY
3-4 p.m. Renee Austin. A five-octave vocal range and a penchant for exploring all facets of the blues have made Austin a growing force in contemporary blues.
4:30-6 p.m. Ronnie Baker Brooks. The son of legendary Chicago bluesman Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie has been a popular opening act for big-name blues and mainstream acts from Koko Taylor to Little Feat.
6:30-8 p.m. Walter Trout. Trout is one of those American musicians who gets more props in Europe than at home. In a BBC poll about the all-time greatest guitarists, he was ranked sixth, just behind Jimmy Page. Not bad. In America, he has a strong following in the hard-core blues community, and his mainstream popularity is growing.
8:30-10 p.m. Susan Tedeschi. A classically trained soul-blues singer, Tedeschi has been nominated for Grammy Awards in both the rock and blues categories, and she has won a whole bunch of W.C. Handy Awards (the highest honor in blues recording). Vocally, she has been called a cross between Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin.
SATURDAY
Noon-12:45 p.m. Sean Chambers. A fiery guitarist, he has been compared with Johnny Winter and Freddie King.
1-2 p.m. Carl Weathersby. He's 50 years old but still an up-and-comer. After years as a sideman, Weathersby released his first solo album and won a W.C. Handy Award as the best new blues artist. He is known as a fine guitarist and showman, and blues fans consider him vastly underrated.
2:30-4 p.m. Bettye LaVette. Critics and industry insiders have long recognized her as one of the finest contemporary soul singers. So far, the public hasn't caught on. She has a cultish following among R&B fans but has yet to break through. Her latest CD, A Woman Like Me, her first recording in 20 years, might change that.
4:30-6 p.m. Chris Duarte. This Austin, Texas, guitarist cites Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Coltrane and Jimi Hendrix as influences. His latest CD features a tribute to Kurt Cobain. But he's all about the blues.
6:30-8 p.m. Charlie Musselwhite. Along with Slim Harpo and Paul Butterfield, Musselwhite is perhaps the best-known blues harpist ever. If you own a blues album, there's a good chance he plays on it. He has served as a sideman for everyone from John Lee Hooker and John Hammond to Kodo and Tom Waits, in addition to a healthy body of solo work that features his gritty vocals.
8:30-10 p.m.: Buddy Guy. The king of electric blues guitar, Guy has just released an all-acoustic album that pays homage to the greats who came before him. Expect his blues festival set to include both acoustic and electric numbers; he is bringing both guitars, he says, and he'll play what the crowd wants to hear. He is playing with Double Trouble, Stevie Ray Vaughan's rhythm section.
SUNDAY
1-2 p.m. Backtrack Blues Band. A stalwart force in the local blues scene, this band has been around forever and seldom disappoints.
2:30-4 p.m. Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets. Delbert McClinton called Anson Funderburgh & the Rockets "the best blues band in the country." The band has been around for a quarter-century and features harpist-singer Sam Myers.
4:30-6 p.m. Bernard Allison. One of the new breed of blues guitarists (like Jonny Lang and Tedeschi), Allison is bringing in younger audiences but still appeals to blues purists.
6:30-8 p.m. Marcia Ball. Pianist-singer-songwriter Ball is known for raucous and ribald Dixie-tinged rave-ups and poignant, heartfelt ballads, as well as for a fiery stage show.
8:30-10 p.m. Otis Clay. Clay, a superb vocalist whose gospel roots are often evident, could be a much bigger star than he is. But he loves the stage and hates the studio, so he seldom releases recordings. His live shows are mixtures of fiery blues numbers and tender ballads, and he's a master of both.
PREVIEW: Tampa Bay Blues Festival, Friday through Sunday, Vinoy Park, on the downtown St. Petersburg waterfront. No coolers, alcohol, pets or recording devices. Tickets are $20 for Friday or Sunday; $25 for Saturday; free for children under 12. An advance three-day pass is $50. Tickets are available at the gate, through Ticketmaster or at www.tampabaybluesfest.com
