[Harp-L] blues Harp Festival

[Michael Easton <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I don't know how I ended up on this harp player's list. Maybe got my  
email address through the local blues society's message board. Anyway  
Bob Corritore sent this to me.  Lucky if you live in AZ.:)
Amanda's Roller Coaster - The greatest harmonica event ever! After  
months of planning, Amanda's Roller Coaster is finally here. Amanda  
Taylor (the wife of Kim Wilson) has masterminded this amazing blues  
harmonica happening that features many of the top traditional blues  
harmonica players around. In addition to the featured players many of  
the great harp-men that are not on the bill we be in attendance at the  
event. It is a gathering of like-minded people who love, celebrate,  
and uphold the value of those cherished blues harmonica sounds. Even  
the title, named after Little Walter's brilliant instrumental "Roller  
Coaster", is the kind of thing that those not in the know would not  
get. In addition to being a great showcase for harmonica performances  
it will be an amazing opportunity for all of these great players to  
have a family reunion of sorts. Where can you see three of Muddy  
Waters' ex-harmonica players hanging out together (James Cotton, Paul  
Oscher, and Jerry Portnoy). Where else can you see Bharath Rajakumar  
(the young Canadian Little Walter stylist) playing harmonica behind  
Johnny Dyer's vocals? Where can you see harmonica master Kim Wilson in  
many varieties of musical settings? How often does the great Dave  
Waldman from Chicago do a high profile out of town gig so that the  
world can see his understated grace on harmonica? Where else can you  
see Lazy Lester performing "Sugar Coated Love" with the Fabulous  
Thunderbirds backing him? Where can you see James Cotton playing with  
Kim Wilson singing? All of this and much more is in store this week at  
Amanda's Roller Coaster, which will pre-party on Thursday, September  
30, and the formal event happening Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,  
October 1, 2, and 3 at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, Arizona.

Here is the nightly lineup:
Thursday, September 30th - Pre-party with a set by the Nighthawks  
followed by a harp jam/showcase with Bill Tarsha, Martin Lange, Ronnie  
Shellist, Randy Chortkoff, Thomas Fiacco, Little Barry G, Dennis  
Gruenling, Jerry Swartz, Mark Heffington, Ed Marnien, Mr. & Mrs.  
Alaimo, Ken Johnson, Greg Johnson, Harmonica Mike, Kim Field, Ray  
DeSylvester, and many others. Doors open at 7pm with an 8pm showtime.

Friday, October 1st: The first "official" day of the event with Kim  
Wilson, Billy Boy Arnold, Paul Oscher, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Lynwood  
Slim,and Vincent Bury. Doors open at 6pm with a 7pm show.

Saturday, October 2nd - The Fabulous Thunderbirds with James Cotton  
and Hubert Sumlin, James Harman, Johnny Dyer, Bharath Rajakumar &  
Junior Watson, Chef Denis Depoitre,  Dave Riley & Bob Corritore. Doors  
open at 5pm with Dave and Bob starting the show at 6pm.

Sunday, October 3rd - The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Lazy Lester, Jerry  
Portnoy, Steve Marriner, Dave Waldman with Johnny Dyer, Al Blake, Joe  
Filisko, Scott Dirks, and Troy Gonyea.

This event will be recorded by Clarke Rigsby of Tempest Recording for  
a future CD on MC Records, and will be filmed for a DVD documentary of  
the event. We do need to mention that the spectacular "house" band for  
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday consists of Billy Flynn, Larry Taylor,  
Barrelhouse Chuck, and Richard Innes. Charlie Lange of Bluebeat Music  
will have a CD stand and will be selling some classic harmonica  
recordings. Special thanks to Amanda for putting together a once in a  
lifetime show celebrating the glory of the blues harmonica tradition.  
To see the Amanda's Roller Coaster website with complete information  
on this event, click here.

Michael Easton
www.harmonicarepair.com