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Doc Blues Records |
OTHER NEWS (jump to these stories) Guitar Star Jeffrey P Ross Takes to the Airwaves, In-Stores and Concert Stages Sonny Boy Terry to Join Label with a Dynamic Double Debut Traditional Texas Blues Enters the 21st Century in Good Hands Guitarist JEFFREY P. ROSS will perform at several cd release functions in Texas in November. Ross and his band will be at Waterloo Records in Austin on Nov. 7, performing an in-store set at 5 p.m. Ross and the group will be at MusicMakers at 2 p.m. Nov. 8, warming up for their show at Antone's. Ross will then play a special early show at the fabled Austin blues club, taking the Antone's stage at 8 p.m. for a showcase set that will include many of the guest artists from the "My Pleasure" cd. JEFFREY P. ROSS will also appear at several Houston music outlets before headlining Nov. 9 at Dominic's in the Radisson as part of the highly successful Doc Blues Records concert series. And remember to listen for Ross on the radio, both to hear "My Pleasure" on the airwaves and to also hear the guitarist in person in several studio interviews and performances. Longtime Houston harmonica hero SONNY BOY TERRY is now a member of the Doc Blues Records family. The label will release two Sonny Boy Terry recordings in early 2003 to celebrate the affiliation. One will be a newly recorded live disc and the second will be a reissue of his hard-to-find studio recording "Breakfast Dance", previously unavailable in most of the world beyond Houston. "Breakfast
Dance" features the blues harpist surrounded by a cast of
Houston legends, including saxist Grady Gaines and guitar
great Joe Hughes. "Live at Miss Ann's Playpen"
captures the SONNY BOY TERRY band in an electrifying performance
on historic Houston blues turf, the classic Third Ward club Miss
Ann's Playpen. Look
for these new imports in our store to buy or sample Tu Tu Jones,West
Side Horns,James Harmon with Ted Roddy,and Matt Leddy and the
Meatcutters.Check our online store for new music samples for
these Sunday,
April 21st. Houston -- The Big Easy Lots of folks came to enjoy free BBQ (provided by Adams Catering) Texas Johnny Brown, Trudy Lynn, Lady D, Benny Valerio, Miss Lavelle White, Alan Haynes, Michael Williams, Too-Hard Williams were just a few of the familiar from the blues scene that made the scene. We hope to add many of these artist's products to our distribution alliance and possibly as artists recording on the Doc Blues label. Southwest
Blues-June '02 Volume 5 Edition 55 Two
pints of Shiner Bock with a Jack chaser and the cool cool sounds
of Newly founded Doc Blues Records has apparently blown off any protocol set by other larger record companies and taken matters into their own hands in attempts to support the music and the musicians they feel are worthy of more recognition. Founded with the creativity and passion for the Blues, Dr.Jim Thompson took the twelve steps necessary to create a powerful and focused enterprise.This was evident recently when artists like John McVey and the Stumble, Walter T.Higgs, Dave Herrero, Joanna Ramirez, Preacher Keen and many more took part in the Doc Blues showcase at the 311. Early in the afternoon, Joanna Ramirez and her band from just north of Austin took the stage in a "Get out of my way dammit,I'm going to play the Blues" attitude.Very charismatic with a strong stage presence, Ramirez was joined on vocals with different members of her band. Not that she needs any help though. Rameriz has a voice with a foundation of Delta mortar combined with Texas stone that builds a wallthat can stand any weather forced against it. Jack Payne was very complimentary in his endeavors not only on the 88's,but on Saxophone as well. It was great to see everyone having a good time on a Saturday afternoon. Not surprisingly,people kept walking in all afternoon as they were lured by the sounds of Doc's Blues emanating from the Sixth Street venue.Amazingly, the 311 has been pumping out the Blues at this location for over ten years. It has changed owners,but the common denominator has yet to change. At
6:30, Long John Hunter put on a very efficacious
set that kept the crowd energized.For myself and the 150 people
in the club,it was a show that kept us focused at the man on stage.Although
he did spend some time off the stage and in the crowd letting
various customers aid him in strumming his guitar. Working his
crowd while being part of it,Hunter roamed the club wireless.
Brother to Long John,Tom "Bluesman" Hunter jumped up
and played Blues de dos hermanos. A great treat to finish up the all afternoon showcase, Miss Lavelle White took matters into her own hands and riled up the crowd with her own music. Leland Parks joined White as her bass player after emceeing the day's events. Although the Doc Blues label is new to the industry, the combined effort,knowledge and experience that establishes this venture is not.There is a combined force of many that I'm sure will inevitably create a superstructure of the Blues that keeps the flame alive for a long time to come. Traditional Texas Blues Enters the 21st Century in Good Hands AUSTIN---There are many hues of blues, drawn from many far-flung geographic locales and regions. But the musical masterpiece that is blues could not have been created without the prominent participation of the Texas masters of the art. The Texas blues tradition is one of the music's most important and enduring components. It's been that way since early acoustic founders such as Blind Lemon Jefferson passed the blues torch on to the likes of Mance Lipscomb, Sippie Wallace and Lightnin' Hopkins. Major innovators like T-Bone Walker continued the tradition and the electrifying efforts of artists like Freddie King and Albert Collins brought Texas blues into the modern era. In contemporary times the blues capital of Texas has been centered in Austin where an active scene built on a solid local tradition to produce a steady stream of significant artists, including everyone from the Fabulous Thunderbirds and the brothers Vaughan, Stevie Ray and Jimmie, to W.C. Clark, Sue Foley, and Jake Andrews. The success of these acts created a new international audience for the music while continuing the evolution of the Texas blues tradition. The best part of the Texas blues tradition, however, is that it's an ongoing one, still very much alive and well in the 21st century. And, once again, it is based in Austin. The catalyst for carrying the Texas blues tradition into the 21st century has been the creation of DOC BLUES RECORDS, an artist-oriented, back-to-the-basics label devoted to perpetuating the unique spirit, sound and sensibilities of the music. The DOC BLUES RECORDS approach is one eloquently encapsulated in its mission statement: (1) Honor the ongoing tradition of the blues by creating music with inherent honesty and integrity. (2) Enable and empower recording artists to fully express their ideas in a creative context. (3) Create an extended musical family that unites players and listeners with a bedrock blues bond. The first two releases from DOC BLUES RECORDS enjoyable illustrate what both Texas blues and the record label are all about. "Just a Few Miles to Go" by longtime Austin harmonica hero Walter T. Higgs, a mainstay on the city's live blues scene for more than two decades, showcases the seasoned sincerity of an artist who has perfected his sound playing the music on an almost nightly basis in front of one of the world's best blues audience. Higgs, backed by a collection of Austin all-stars, delivers the blues with compelling conviction and professional expertise. Guitarist John McVey, a protege of Arkansas bluesman Larry Davis, the composer of Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Texas Flood", relocated to Austin in the mid-'80s and his "Gone to Texas" effort perfectly captures the blues feel of his adopted home. McVey and his multi-talented band The Stumble are one of the most popular live attractions in the region and the blues-drenched sounds on "Gone to Texas", his first DOC BLUES RECORDS recording, show why. McVey also receives expert assistance from heavyweight harpist Kim Wilson and other Austin blues legends on the album. Guitarist John McVey, a protege of Arkansas bluesman Larry Davis, the composer of Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Texas Flood", relocated to Austin in the mid-'80s and his "Gone to Texas" effort perfectly captures the blues feel of his adopted home. McVey and his multi-talented band The Stumble are one of the most popular live attractions in the region and the blues-drenched sounds on "Gone to Texas", his first DOC BLUES RECORDS recording, show why. McVey also receives expert assistance from heavyweight harpist Kim Wilson and other Austin blues legends on the album. The DOC BLUES RECORDS commitment to tradition, not trendiness, ensures music that will endure and enlighten. But the label is also about advancing the blues into the future and its inventive artists and sympathetic studio settings are cornerstones for the new tradition that is being created only a nightly basis by musicians who pour their hearts and souls into every song.
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