Blues, jazz, classic rock, classical. If you've not heard "The Mitchell Blues Band" before, you need to! Check out this video below (performing with Javier Vargs on guitar) and tag him on my Top Friends list, he's amazing!
About me:
A professional photographer wtih 30+ years of experience, I specialize in commercial, events, architectural and other, creative interests. I particularly love photographing musicians in the blues, jazz, R&B and rock genres and that is what I use this site to promote. If you are a band or single artist, seeking quality photography, please feel free to contact me. My work has been published in numerous magazines and newspapers around the world and I have CD cover credits with Alligator Records, Sony/BMG, Delta Groove and others. Samples of many of the great blues and jazz artists I've photographed are here in my profile under "Pics" as well as the slideshows below. You may also visit my galleries at: www.pbase.com/frankvigil and click on the "Blues For The Soul" gallery for a more complete selection. Thank you for visiting.
Each week (ok, sometimes much longer) I feature a recent artist I've photographed. This week--one of the most articulate, amazing guitarists I've experience, Grammy winning, Mr. Roy Rogers (no, not THAT Roy) performed. There is slide guitar and then there's SLIDE guitar and Roy clearly fits the latter description. To watch and listen to him perform is without a doubt, an unbelievable experience, and not just a "blues experience." Roy's skill for playing, song writing and singing is unparelleled. As if this was not enough talent, he's also a Grammy wining producer, having produced the last four CDs recorded by none other than John Lee Hooker himself. Roy performed with Hooker on a number of occasions. In addition to recording his own music, Roy has been a frequent collaborator with other notables. As I am writing this, I am listening to the "Ray Manzarack/Roy Rogers CD released last year. Ray (keyboardest/co-founder of The Doors) plays a very jazzy style piano and Roy's guitar style is a perfect match (rumor has it they plan on doing a blues CD next). Yesterday, I listened to a little-known release by Roy and Shana Morrison that is simply terrific. Of course, Roy's newest release of his own "Split Decision" is a current favorite of mine as well. This man has to be seen to be believed! Be sure to tag him (he's on my top friends list) to sample more of his music and watch his videos (he ALSO performs and records frequently with Norton Buffalo...I could keep going on here). In addition, be sure to tag Mr. Billy Lee Lewis, Roy's drummer of six years (formerly with the Tommy Castro band), he's one of the most complex drummers I've ever experienced!
Roy Rogers
Last week's AOW was none other than the unbelievable, Kenny Neal and his band, with some very special guests.
"Oh What a night....." as the pop song goes and this was clearly, "a night!" It's been a long time, too long in fact, since Kenny Neal last graced a stage in this area. He last played here two years ago. During that gig, he and I were chatting about some business when he took me aside and told me "this is going to be my next to last gig for a while." He went on to explain that he was about to undergo Interferon treatments for his liver. The treatments were 58 weeks long and during that time, he was too sick, too tired, too debilitated, to even play much, let alone tour.
Last year, Kenny began to enter full recovery and he worked on gaining his strength back. TV shows, radio and an East Coast tour to begin supporting his 2008 CD "Let Life Flow" (inspired by his illness) took up the rest of his time and it wasn't until June that he was able to play a couple of shows here. Needless to say, he packed the house.
We even had some of our blues royalty show up. Leon Blue (keyboardist for Ike and Tina Turner, band director for Albert King, keyboards for Albert Collins during the Coco Montoya days, and, most recently, touring with the Mannish Boys); Sid "The Kid" on saxophone (B.B. King, Gladys Knight, Bobby "Blue" Bland, to name a few); Moody Scott (has performed with such greats as: Aaron Neville, Alvin Shine Roberson, Earl "Trick Bag" King, Katie Webster, Buckwheat Zydeco, Manhattans, Ohio Playes, Phil Phillips, Dixie Cups, Joe Jones and Little Milton, to name a few); and relative newcomer, Texas bluesman, Willie Jaye Laws. When Kenny brought these guys up on stage, the resulting jam(s) took up better than half the second set. OH WHAT A NIGHT IT WAS!
I should add that Kenny is the recipient of numerous awards, far too many to list here, but 2009 is yet another stellar year. His most recent CD "Let Life Flow" (a tribute to his illness and recovery) was selected as the 2009 West Coast Blues Hall of Fame Awards for Blues CD of the Year and he and the band were also nominated for "Blues Band of the Year." In addition, his "Let Life Flow" CD has been nominated in no less than four categories for the 2009 Grammies!
Kenny Neal
Our previous Artist of the Week is the venerable blues greats, Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers. Rod and the gang are truly, a "class act." I've heard them perform at least a dozen times and I never tire of them. There are the standards of course, but each time, it's clear they try and do something a bit different, add something new, change the pace. Whether it's giving more time to guitarist and backup vocalist, Henry Carvajal, who increasingly demonstrates his own vocal skills, or the boogie-woogie duet with Honey Piazza and drummer, David Kida, they are always entertaining and great fun to listen to.
Voted "Best Blues Band" in 2006 by BMA (Blues Music Awards, previously known as the WC Handy Awards), Rod and the band just keep on going. This month, they released another new album, "Soul Monster" on Delta Groove Records. Of all their CDs, I think this is my favorite. Be sure to stop by their site here on MySpace (Rod is listed in my Top Friends list) and sample some of the tunes, then go out and buy the CD!
Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers
Thanks for visiting my page and for keeping the blues alive!
By the way, try hitting F11 on your keyboard to widen your browser to the maximum; it's great for viewing the page in a larger view. You can hit F11 again to return to normal!
Stay tuned for future artists to include John Lee Hooker, Jr., Tinsley Ellis, Harmonica Red, Coco Montoya and many more! Thanks for visiting and I sincerely appreciate your feedback. Add me as your friend!
We opened on our page the AFRO PEPITES SHOW : The 1st competition researcher of AFRICANS PEPITES ( Photos, Paint, Videos, sculpture, musics, modes, hairstyles..). .. Fast come to discover what an AFRO PEPITE on our site...
We really hope to receive your participation for the competition dedicated to the music of Southern Africa ;o)
The news of the AFRO PEPITES SHOW : - The competition Music of SOUTHERN AFRICA is opened From 15 till 31 October : musicians, share with our Internet users your best composition. Music lover, share with us the link towards the most beautiful composition which you like listening to. See how participating on our page. - From November 1st, it is the competition Music of Central Africa that opens. - Discover the participants of the competition of the music of SOUTHERN AFRICA: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=228693288&blogId=514902612
You got your birthday present in your other mail... You're going to hate me after you open it...;-) I was finally able to add my favorite all time Coco song to my profile page. I don't think I'll ever want to change it... Here's to another year older, you know how you look forward to birthdays!
