VIDEO BLOG FOR THE ROCKIN' JAKE BAND HOLLOWEEN TOUR (10/28 to 11/7/09)
Influences
Primarily self-taught, Jake briefly studied with Jerry Portnoy, harmonica player for Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton.Growing up in New England in the '70's, Jake immersed himself in the thriving regional blues scene, which boasted such talents as Roomful of Blues, Ronnie Earl, Johnny Nicholas, Duke Robillard and Sugar Ray as well as many touring Blues artists including Albert Collins, Big Walter Horton, Roosevelt Sykes, Johnny Shines, Big Joe Turner, BB King and many others. Other influences include...Big Walter Horton, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jr. Wells, James Cotton,Paul Butterfield, Norton Buffalo,Jimmy Hall and Wet Willie, Lee Oskar and War, The Meters, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, ReBirth Brass Band, Wild Tchoupitoulas, Wild Magnolias, Neville Brothers, Clifton Chenier, Chubby Carrier, Terence Simien, Rockin' Sydney, Slim Harpo, Lazy Lester, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Kim Wilson, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Pharaoh Sanders, Grant Green, Jimmy McGriff, Jimmy Smith,Toots Thielemans, Larry Adler, J. Geils Band, Rolling Stones, Allman Bros., Grateful Dead, Old and In The Way, David Grisman, Sun Ra, Herbie Hancock,Sonny Rollins, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, NRBQ, Jeff Potter (harp on Al Anderson's 1st solo LP),Louis Armstrong, Shecky Greene, Jerry Lewis, Bugs Bunny and Friends, Huckleberry Hound, TJ Wheeler, Lenny Bruce, and many many more.
MOVIES:Dr. Strangelove; The Nutty Professor (original); Pink Panther (original); Twelve Angry Men; The Godfather 1-3; Goodfellas; The Producers (original);virtually anything by Elia Kazan (On The Waterfron, Streetcar Named Desire, Baby Doll, etc.) ...
BOOKS: The Grapes of Wrath, Winter Of Our Discontent and anything by John Steinbeck; Raymond Chandler; Charles Bukowski; Beat poetry and prose; Ringolevio by Emmet Grogan; Kerouac, John Sinclair
TV: Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, King of Queens, Entourage, Emeril Live, Food Channel, THE SAINTS (who dat?!)
Based out of New Orleans since 1990, Rockin' Jake relocated briefly to Ft. Worth Texas since being flooded out by Hurricane Katrina, then settled in St. Louis where he now makes his home. Rockin' Jake has been hailed by many as one of the premier harmonica players in the country. His original sound is a hybrid of second line, swamp funk, blues and zydeco with influences from Paul Butterfield, Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, The Meters,WAR, J. Geils Band, Clifton Chenier, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Jake has conjured up this formula that is blowing crowds away from coast to coast. Widely known as a touring juggernaut among his peers, his schedule of over 200 performances per year include clubs, concert venues, and festivals.
Originally from the East Coast, the "blues bug" bit at an early age for Jake. He immersed himself in the thriving regional blues scene, which boasted such talents as Roomful of Blues, Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard and Sugar Ray. Primarily self-taught, Jake briefly studied with Jerry Portnoy, harmonica player for Muddy Waters.
In 1990, Jake moved to New Orleans where he began to work with such notable New Orleans mainstays as: blues diva Marva Wright, Mem Shannon, Coco Robicheaux, Little Freddie King, Tommy Ridgley, Eddie Bo and other local legends. During this time Jake also toured nationally with G. Love & Special Sauce, blues and pop legend Maria Muldaur as well as logging international miles with bluesman T.J, Wheeler. He was selected to perform in an all-star band featuring blues legends Pinetop Perkins and Hubert Sumlin at the Howlin' Wolf.
In 1995 he formed the Rockin' Jake Band as an outlet for his original music and his unique swampy sounds. One year later Jake recorded his debut CD, "Let's Go Get 'Em" (on Rabadash Records) which earned him national recognition. In 1999 Jake produced "Badmouth", on Zuluzu records followed by "Full-Time Work" in 2002 on the same label. It included an all-star cast of musicians such as John Gros (Papa Grows Funk), Ron Johnson (Karl Denson's Tiny Universe), Bryan Stoltz (the funky Meters), Ben Ellman and Theryl "Houseman" de Clouet (Galactic). In the spring of 2004 he recorded his band's first live cd. Over four days in Key West, Florida at the Green Parrot, he and his band recorded 5 p.m. Breakfast on Zuluzu records. Jake's work has also been heard on the soundtrack of "The Big Easy" television series, the theme for the "Mike Ditka Show, " and a Miller Beer commercial.
He is a five-time winner of Off Beat Magazine's coveted Best of the Beat award for best harmonica player. Jake is truly a hard working musician with extraordinary talent. He and his band pour out their souls in every performance with high energy and electricity which consistently brings the audience to their feet.
In his spare time Jake managed to snare some culinary kudos in New Orleans, taking the trophy for "Best Barbequed Brisket" at the 1999 New Orleans Musicians Barbeque Competition, and launching his own line of signature hot sauce: "Badmouth" (the edible version)..."man it's hot!"...just like the band! Jake also takes time to give back to his New Orleans community with Project Prodigy Music Camp for children as well as the Blues in the Schools programs in New Orleans and other cities in the US.
Wishing Everyone a Fantastic Week ahead and remember Buckaroos, without the Men and Women who are serving today and in the past...We wouldn't be able to enjoy what we have today! The Marine Corps Birthday is Tuesday the 10th of November with Veterans Day Wednesday the 11th...Take the Time to reach out and thank the Older Vets for their Service, could be your Dad, your Mother or just a someone on a park bench...Really, Thank them cause they are the Freedom Fighters, Hell; take them to Lunch or go buy them a Drink...the ones who wear the uniform today need all our Love and support, they are our Children doing the deeds of the Power at Hand!...Freedom isn't Free my Dear Friends...Not at all!
When the Boogie Woogie Splashes In your Soul this Weekend, enjoy the Flow, Touch it, Feel it...Let it wrap it's Funky, Sweet, Powerful Groove all around you and Rejoice!! You are Free, Free to unleash your own Groove on Someone you Love...Someone you want to Love! Let them know just How you Feel!! Ooooh Yeah, Turn It Up and do the Dance of Life...The Boogie is On! Have a Great Weekend Buckaroos!
No matter how you feel about these Wars that the Powers to be have us in, these are our Son's, Daughter's, Father, Mothers, Husbands and Wives...They Dream, they wish, to have a Sunday like us So, take some time Today and just think about these Americans who do the Dirty Work so we can enjoy the Boogie here at Home! Enjoy this Fine Fall day and call someone and tell them how much you care for them...Go ahead, it'll make you feel good and ya' just never know...You could get Lucky!
Ooooooh Yeah, It's Showtime Buckaroos!! It's been such a Long Time but this Saturday at High Noon MST on KAFM I'll be back on the Air unleashing the Boogie for everyone on this Rock we Ride, It's all about the Groove we share in life that makes this Trip such Tasty Party...KAFM has a High Stream...Oooooh it has been such a Long Time and even the crack of Dawn is running from me! Go out this Weekend and Dance, Dance, Dance until ya' make your Soul Shine! It's so good to be back in Colorado and back where it all began! Tune In and Turn It Up!! The Boogie is On! Get on the Phone and call someone who needs to know just how you feel about them, tomorrow just might be too late! Roll the Dice and enjoy the World of Boogie Woogie and Jive!
EX SCHWAG GUITARIST Shawn Guyot Benefit Concert ...10-17-09@ AB'S PLACE!!!!$$ We could use some help getting the word out. Saturday Oct 17 Doors 8pm AB's Place 5627 Manchester Ave St Louis Mo Donation $8.00 Shawn has been diagnosed terminal and we're just trying to give him a hand Thanks Tony V
It's
that Time again Jake to slide on those Ballerina Shoes and find a
Dance Floor to unleash your Weekend Groove! Sometimes one just needs to
go out and let it Flow, it's Natures' way of making one well! So make
plans today for a Great Weekend and unleash that Love Groove and let
someone feel your Mojo! The Boogie is On!
Strange Thangs happen when the Boogie Woogie is Unleashed and the Power
of the Groove sends a Sign for all to get their Ballerina Shoes ready!
Enjoy the Mojo you find here and have a Great Week!
Crops Blues Mag. is a new french fanzine about Blues music. 1st Number in September. If you want to appear in next number for publicity, dates, ..... don't forget your presskit ( pictures, sound, bio and more ... )
Like Whiteboy Slim, Bjorn Berg, bob Corritore, ... write us
crops blues mag 2 rue des rosiers 34480 Pouzolles France
Turn your Juke Box Up and let your Groove be
heard, let everyone know that your kicking up your heals and nothing
will get cha down...Not today, not any day! The Boogie I share is the
Boogie that will set you free, get on the phone and call someone and
let them know just how you feel about them!! Let them know that to
share the Boogie is a Blessing for us all!
Can't Ya' Feel it!
