Dave Gross -
Special Guest on
Guitar and Upright Bass
Influences
BRAD'S FORMIDABLE list of credits includes playing and recording with rock ’n’ roll founding fathers Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, Chicago blues legends Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Rogers, Pinetop Perkins, Louis Meyers, Magic Slim, Luther Johnson, Lefty Diz, and James Cotton; country bluesmen Sam Carr, Frank Frost, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Lightin’ Slim; folk blues matriarch Odetta; Texas bluesmen Johnny Copeland and Frankie Lee; rockabilly great Sleepy La Beef; R ’n’ B legend Roscoe Gordon; master drummers Charles Otis, Bernard Purdie, and Willie Smith, great modern blues artists Slam Allen, Wild Child Butler, Paul Butterfield, Robert Cray, Saron Crenshaw, Christopher Dean, Ronnie Earl, The Frost Kings, Big Daddy Kinsey, Bob Gaddy, Steve Guyger, Michael Hill, Big Jack Johnson, Floyd Lee, Junior Mack, Little Mike and the Tornadoes Band, Paul Oscher, Jerry Portnoy, Bobby Radcliff, Robert Ross, Danny Russo, The Dean Shot Revue, Bill Sims, Jr., Somethin’ Blue, Andy Storey, Taj Mahal, Tony O. Band, Kim Wilson…and many more.
NEWS: "LE BLUES HOT" made the LIVING BLUES Radio Play Chart, as well as "charting" on the ROOTS MUSIC REPORT's airplay chart! We send a huge "Thank you" to the DJ and listener community! Your airplay and requests keep our music out there!
We just learned that "LE BLUES HOT" has made soundguardian.com's "BEST BLUES CDs of 2008!"
BRAD VICKERS is featured in, and plays on the soundtrack of a great new documentary "FULL MOON LIGHTNIN'"! Starring Floyd Lee, it was shot in Harlem, Brooklyn, and Clarksdale, MS. Also featured are Joel Poluck, Steve Pozzelanti,—and the great Sam Carr on drums. Directed by John Gardiner, the film is available at www.filmbaby.com!
We're delighted to have our song, "I Don't Want To" included on BLUES REVUES's terrific June/July SAMPLER! We're in great company with Shemekia Copeland, Joe Bonamassa, Fiona Boyes, Dave Gross, Commander Cody, Duke Robillard ...and more!
WHAT'S BEING SAID ABOUT BRAD VICKERS & "LE BLUES HOT!"
"The result of this long, imaginative jam of hokum blues, dusty jazz manouche, and boogie, are incomparable—and not only in the revisited: original pieces like "Freight Car," "'A' Rag," and especially "Mississippi Shadows," a noir masterpiece with a bit of tension and restlessness, frame "Le Blues Hot" as one of the most uninhibited, original works of these years."
—EDUARDO FASSIO - Il Blues, Italy
"This exhilarating collection encapsulates several genres of roots music…Vickers does a wonderful job on guitar and has a nice, soothing voice that is a perfect fit with the material…it’s obvious that Vickers and company had a ball recording it... What may be most impressive is that the group’s original tunes fit so seamlessly with the older songs…Le Blues Hot is just what the doctor ordered for fans needing a fix of old-timey blues, jazz, and ragtime."
—GRAHAM CLARKE - Blues Bytes
[“Le Blues Hot”] is another fave of the year for me! —Olivia Greene - host, WWOZ, New Orleans
" "Le Blues Hot" seduces and wraps you up you from the first song. New York singer/guitarist Brad Vickers, former bass guitarist and sideman for a long list of top bandsmen, is himself a star of exceptional range, as he sings, plays guitar, and composes his own songs. With seventy minutes of sparkling music, Brad scores a direct hit. An ideal "Hot" welcome to the New Year" —MARCIE GEUKENS - Rootstime, Belgium
"Brad Vickers may be known to some from his recordings with Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, or Little Mike & The Tornadoes; or maybe you've been lucky enough to catch his shows. He tunes his guitar in "Vestapol", hence the band name—and what a band!
Sax and clarinet master Jim Davis (Hubert Sumlin, Paul Oscher) adds an old-fashioned jazzy feel, drummer Barry Harrison is best known for his work with Johnny and Shemekia Copeland—which speaks for itself—and bassist and sometime fiddler and singer Margey Peters is a familiar name to New York blues watchers (both she and Barry play with Big Frank & The Healers). Special guest the up-and-coming Dave Gross supplies guitar and upright bass, too, but this is Brad's album, as he turns in excellent slide guitar numbers (occasionally tending towards the Hawaiian, or on "I'm Homesick", guess who?), skiffle, hokum and/or ragtime-styled tunes, or fine down-home blues. A very distinctive and appealing sound." —NORMAN DARWEN - Blues Art Journal, Austria
"Le Blues Hot is precisely that, a singularly unique masterpiece of music, which, in its simplicity is literally brilliant...each song is better than the last...highest praise goes to Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans." 5 STARS! soundguardian.com —MLADEN LONCAR - Radio/KRIZEVCI 96.60, Croatia
"Guitarist Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans maintain a good-time feel with Jim Davis’ saxophone and clarinet evoking a New Orleans party on ‘Where Can My Baby Be?,’ and the ensemble lending ‘Hesitation Blues’ a fresh old-time jazz arrangement. Dave Gross adds guitar to ‘On The Sunny Side of The Street,’ hear roots rock in ‘Woogie On Down’ and ‘Gonna Quit You,’ and find solid Chicago blues in ‘Boogie for Jimmy Reed’ and ‘I’m Homesick’.” —TOM HYSLOP – Blues Revue
"Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans’ “Le Blues Hot” has a great sound, and a lot of fun, spirited tunes. With 20 tracks of recorded work, it will get a lot of airtime here on "AB!”
—BILL NOLAN - host, “Antique Blues” WPKN/WPKM
“...A CD by a fabulous musician! One of the baddest blues bassists around, it turns out that Brad also knows his way around a guitar's neck and a microphone!...Pure fun! With 20 songs and almost 70 minutes of music, great playing, and some first-class musicians, "Le Blues Hot" is a CD that should have been released a long time ago.”
—PRZEMEK DRAHEIM -
host Radio Sfera, Torun, Poland
“I adore that fresh-astounding-amazing and unusual mix of Blues (slide guitar, upright Bass…) with Jazz (clarinet, sax…)… that's why "Le Blues Hot" made me jump my heart and stomp my feet!!!”
—ALAIN MALLARET - editor, “The Big Beat”, France
"…sophisticated in their apparent simplicity (clarinet, violin, tenor ...), and demonstrate a solid knowledge of the melodic, cultural and technical; witnessed by the fact that the group's name pays tribute to specific tuning of country-folk blues. The result is intelligent, lofty, and very 30s-jazz-ragtime…"
—ANDRE HOBUS - SoulBag, France
"Brad Vickers' music is full of character, with a playful “in the moment” liveliness that makes this project stand out. He sings and plays with the heart and touch of someone who truly and deeply understands this music form. He is raw, perfectly unpolished, and uninhibited—just the way it should be.”
—DAVE GROSS - guitarist, producer
BRAD VICKERS & "LE BLUES HOT" CD LINER NOTES:
THIS is front porch music...
It’s the product of a lifetime of listening to and playing a wide variety of roots music. The sounds and feelings began to bubble and ferment, until one day they were ready to be distilled. The result is a rich, rootsy brew that incorporates elements of ragtime, jazz, blues—and more. Just call it “Le Blues Hot.” This 20-track recording marks Brad Vickers’ first project as a leader. Since he tunes his guitars in the open “Vestapol” tuning, Brad decided to call his group“The Vestapolitans.” He hopes you’ll enjoy their music as much as they love playing it!
Known as a blues bassist, and earning his reputation by having the good fortune to back up some of America’s greatest vernacular artists, Brad here plays guitar and sings. A good half of the songs are his own compositions. Most of the rest are interpretations of his favorite roots classics. Both the writing and treatment are inspired by the work of artists he loves, especially the great bluesmen Tampa Red and Jimmy Reed.
Brad is joined on “Le Blues Hot” by a great group of musicians. The extraordinary Jim Davis, whose saxophone credits include Paul Oscher and Hubert Sumlin, also takes the clarinet through some dazzling turns. His horns dance among genres with eloquence and aplomb. The estimable Barry Harrison, alumnus of both Johnny and Shemekia Copeland’s bands, holds the house drum chair at the famous Terra Blues club where he backs the creme of NYC’s blues artists. Here he plays drums and percussion with great variety—and humor. Take note of his fills on “ ‘A’ Rag!” Rising star Dave Gross shows off his Gypsy-jazz-tinged guitar talent on “Sunny Side of the Street,” and “‘A’ Rag”—and he contributes some very solid upright bass parts! The versatile Margey Peters, long-time bassist with Big Frank & The Healers, plays electric bass, fiddle, and sings. Margey also co-wrote several of the tunes, as well one she wrote with collaborator Steve Tarshis. Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans have some great music in store for you. Now grab a seat, sit back, and enjoy!
You guys sounded really good the other week! Hope to see you again soon and maybe do a little playin' sometime... add a little "Homesick" spirit to the proceedings!
Wow! Just noticed in your mood/status where u guys are tonight. Wish I knew in advance. Do u have an email list? Maybe can make one of the next shows. Good seeing u two at the Turning Point. Dani
It's indeed my pleasure to play your music when I'm hosting a radio show on WWOZ. I play your CD often at home, and was waiting until I hosted a show with a blues format so I could play one of your tunes on the air. I've been hosting contemporary jazz shows the past few months, or the New Orleans Music Show. Your LE BLUES HOT is on the "new music" shelf in the studio, so other show hosts play it too. It sure is a good one!
Hi Brad... What a sweet message, thanks so much! I had a great time in Memphis and sharing my passions at Rum Boogie was sure fun. I know Billy and Dave Fields but it's nice to still be included none the less. Have fun out there!
Hey Brad Congratulations on your recent gig. Sorry I couldn't go see ya. I always love hanging with you Brad, you're the best! And playing the blues with you is always a thrill. Your pal, Robert Ross
Online Now!
