Tommy Castro's New Album "Hard Believer" Out August 11

[From modernguitars.com]

Alligator Records has set an August 11 street date for Hard Believer, the label debut from blues, rock and R&B singer, songwriter and guitarist Tommy Castro. Castro, winner of the 2008 Blues Music Award for Entertainer Of The Year, is famed not only for his hard-hitting, impassioned vocals, soaring guitar work and his blues-infused, rocking R&B sound, but also for his striking, original songwriting and exhilarating stage show. According to The San Francisco Chronicle, "Castro navigates seriously funky Southern soul, gritty big city blues and scorching rock...his silvery guitar licks simultaneously sound familiar and fresh." Castro, booked by the famed Rosebud Agency, will be hitting the road hard -- kicking off his 2009 tour on August 9 in Duluth at the Bayfront Blues Festival, playing festivals and clubs all across the U.S. and Canada.

More available here.

Two JazzFest Artists Up for Living Blues Awards

Two JazzFest 2009 artists have been honored as nominees for Living Blues Magazine's Reader's Poll.

Elvin Bishop is up for the "Best Blues Album of 2008 (New Recordings)" category, and Bettye LaVette has been nominated in two categories: "Best Live Performer" and "Most Outstanding Blues Singer".

Elvin Bishop will headline JazzFest on Friday, July 17 and Bettye LaVette will perform at 6:30pm on Saturday, July 18. The entire festival lineup is available at www.jazzfestsiouxfalls.com/performers/.

The Living Blues Magazine Reader's Poll is open until July 5. Vote online at www.livingblues.com.

BBC Review of Kyle Eastwood's Metropolitain

Eastwood is central to the music, providing its vital pulse and focus.

John Eyles 2009-06-22

Kyle Eastwood’s band are a hot live act. Driven by Eastwood's bass guitar, they inject life into audiences, getting them moving and grooving. After taking time out to work on soundtracks for his father's films, most recently Gran Torino, Eastwood returns with this easy-on-the-ear album, his first since 2006.

On Metropolitain, the aim was to capture the energy of the band’s live sound. The album was recorded in Paris, allowing such renowned European players as pianist Eric Legnini, drummer Manu Katché, trumpeter Till Brönner and vocalist Camille to join the ensemble alongside regulars like British saxophonist Graeme Blevins and pianist Andrew McCormack.

The album's outstanding track, Hot Box, shows what they can deliver at their best. McCormack's electric piano, Eastwood's bubbling bass and Katché's whiplash snare drum propel a tight funk workout that recalls The Meters in their heyday, amply demonstrating why Eastwood's band are a wow in concert.

Such excitement is not sustained throughout Metropolitain. At times it narrowly avoids drifting too close to elevator music. The title track with its mellow piano riff from Legnini and wordless backing vocals from Camille radiates smooth elegance. It is only rescued by incisive trumpet interjections from Brönner that steal the track.

Throughout, Eastwood is central to the music, providing its vital pulse and focus. History shows that being a band's leader and its bassist can be a difficult combination. To his credit, Eastwood manages it with style. He is at his finest on Black Light, with its subtle Hammond organ riff.

Co-produced by Erin Davis, son of Miles, and Michael Davis, Eastwood's frequent collaborator, notably on those soundtracks, the album achieves a laid-back groove that comfortably blends jazz and funk.

Here's the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/nwjw.

The Kyle Eastwood Band will perform as the first concert in the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society's 2009-2010 Concert Series on Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater. Tickets will go on-sale to the public September 15. Concert series subscriptions are on sale now starting at $158 per person. For more information about this concert or the 2009-2010 series, visit http:www.sfjb.org/concerts/.

Get to Know Bettye LaVette Better

Listen here for a great interview with JazzFest 2009 artist Bettye LaVette from MPR's Midmorning aired earlier today.

She's playing at The Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant in Minneapolis this evening at 7 and 10pm.

We're looking forward to her arrival in Sioux Falls on July 18!

Check out the JazzFest artist schedule here.

JazzFest 2000 Headliner, Koko Taylor, Passes at 80

We were saddened to hear that the legendary Blues singer and past JazzFest headlining artist, Koko Taylor, passed away yesterday. Ms. Taylor played the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival, JazzFest in July 2000.

You can read her obituary from the Chicago Tribune here.

Bettye LaVette to Release 6-song Digital EP Including Recorded Version of “A Change is Gonna Come”

We just got word that JazzFest 2009 performer Bettye LaVette will release a digital 6-song EP on iTunes on June 16th that includes "A Change is Gonna Come," the Sam Otis tune she and Jon Bon Jovi performed at Obama's Inaugural Celebration.

More information on this special release available at the Anti Label Blog.

'Legends in the Making' 09-10 Concert Series On Sale Now!

The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society will highlight 'Legends in the Making' for the 2009-2010 Concert Series. The musicians presented in this year’s series will prove that legends in jazz and blues are indeed among us today. The artists for the 2009-2010 Concert Series are as follows:

Kyle Eastwood Band

November 13, 2009 – 8pm
Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater

Growing up as the son of Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood must have been quite a production. Jazz was always a part of the Eastwood household. Kyle’s first memory of playing music was when Clint taught him how to play the left hand bass line of Boogie Woogie while he played the right hand solo over the top. Having dabbled on electric bass as a teenager, he now also plays the upright, acoustic and double bass. Kyle says, “My roots remain in jazz but I like adding all kinds of different flavors.”

Jane Monheit
December 3, 2009 – 7pm
Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater

Jane Monheit is now firmly established as one of the post millennial jazz world’s foremost vocalists. Growing up, Jane lived in a house constantly filled with music. Both Monheit's grandmother and aunt worked as professional singers, while just about everyone else played various instruments or sang for pleasure, including her father, David Monheit, who plays bluegrass guitar and banjo in his spare time.

James Cotton "Superharp" Band
January 16, 2010 – 8pm
Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater

The musical pedigree of Grammy Award winner James “Superharp” Cotton consists of a veritable who’s who in the world of the Blues. Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2006, the Smithsonian Institute in 1991, and winner of countless W.C. Handy Blues Awards, he has shared the stage with B.B. King, Johnny Winter, the Allman Brothers, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Sam and Dave, The Grateful Dead among many others. His most famous association comes from his musical relationship with the great Muddy Waters, earning his nickname “Superharp”.

Bonerama
March 12, 2010 – 8pm
Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater

When Bonerama struts onstage with its four-trombone frontline, you can guess it’s not quite like any jazz rock band you’ve seen. New Orleans’ Bonerama has been recognized by Rolling Stone, hailed as “the ultimate in brass balls.” The group has also been honor for “Best Rock Band” by the Big Easy Awards 2007. Having appeared at the Sioux Falls JazzFest in 2007, Bonerama recently won numerous OffBeat Magazine Awards; and regularly tops Offbeat’s trombone category.

Brubeck Brothers Quartet
April 9, 2010 – 8pm
Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater

Being the son of a jazz legend can be daunting experience, especially if you follow in his footsteps. The Brubeck Brothers Quartet is an exciting jazz group featuring two members of one of America's most accomplished musical families, Daniel Brubeck (drums) and Chris Brubeck (bass & trombone). Guitarist Mike DeMicco, and pianist Chuck Lamb, complete this dynamic quartet. The Brubeck Brothers Quartet's debut Koch recording, Intuition, impressed the national jazz media and spent several weeks in the top ten radio charts while earning enthusiastic reviews from JazzTimes, Downbeat, Boston Globe and many other respected publications.

Subscriptions for the 2009-2010 concert series are available now and start at $158 per person and are available through the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society. Purchase your subscription online now, or call the office at 605-335-6101.