On my records - Duke Robillard and members of his band, ex-Roomful of Blues mates, other New England players like Marty Ballou, Bruce Katz, and Tom West
...With Swing n' Strings - Fred Bates, John DeBossu, and Bob Zuck
Influences
Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Dan Penn, Delbert McClinton, Cootie Williams, Swan Silvertones, Trumpeteers, Soul Stirrers, Dixie Hummingbirds, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, Lonnie Johnson, Miles Davis, Ben Webster, Little Willie John, Sinatra, Louis Jordan, Nat Cole, Buddy Johnson, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Adams, Duke Robillard, John Hiatt, Richard Thompson, Dylan, Percy Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin, Lorentz Hart, Beatles, Squeeze, Fountains of Wayne, Charlie Rich, Lefty Frizzell, O.V. Wright, Joe Tex, Solomon Burke, Arthur Alexander.
Sounds Like
Songwriting - Dan Penn, Percy Mayfield, Johnny Mercer
...Singing - Sinatra (jazz tunes), Delbert McClinton, John Hiatt (blues/rock/soul)
...Horn Playing - Cootie Williams (plunger mute), Louis Armstrong, Sweets Edison (open), Miles Davis (Harmon Mute)
...Band - Duke Robillard, Roomful of Blues
I went to Brown to be a Theoretical Physicist, but discovered that the main language was math - and I was better expressing myself in English. So I became a writer, and wrote poetry, plays, and fiction. After college I stayed in Providence, and made new friends who were blues and jazz musicians - Duke Robillard and Scott Hamilton. Duke hired me to be the first trumpet player in his band Roomful of Blues (5000 years ago, it seems), and I toured and played with them for a few years. Later I taught English, Music, and Physics in a private school in RI, and taught myself to write music and sing. Now I've been a session player on lots of CDs by Duke and others, and my songs are on many CDs as well and have been used in television and films. About ten years ago I started Sweet Spot Records, and I have five solo CDs out on my own little label. The last three have been 18, 14, and 14 on the Living Blues national airplay chart.
I'm going into Duke Robillard's Mood Room studio in January 2009 to record my seventh CD. This one will build on the Roomful of Blues connection of the last one, with a bigger horn section featuring Doug James, Rich Lataille, and Carl Querfurth on trombone to complement Duke, Bruce Katz, Marty Ballou, and Mark Teixeira from the last time. I'll be singing and playing a lot of cornet on it, and the songs are mine as usual, this time in a soul blues and soul jazz bag.
I'm still writing other stuff, with poetry published recently in the Texas Review and "The Silver Boomers Anthology." I still sing and play around New England with my drummerless band Swing n' Strings. I'm lucky to be able to do things I love full time - life is good.
Did you know B.B. King had a daughter that sang the blues? We were not aware of her, but so glad she found us. Make sure you drop by to see her! www. myspace. com/theshirleykingband
Hey Al, Long time no see, hope all is well. I just read your great review in Blues Revue, good luck with the new record!
I also ran into your writing buddy, Tim (who you worked with on the Fenway Park book). I know him through a totally unrelated friend. Funny how small the world is.
Thanks for dropping me into your friends list. Mark Pucci's sending me a copy of "The Tinge"...sounds great and I'm looking forward to getting it out on the air. Best, Chas
Hi Al! Gonna play 4 songs from your fantastic album "Blue Ink" in my radio show tomorrow 10th October. Find the playlist and more information on my myspace site or visit me at: www.bernhardschulte.com rock on Bernd
