Thursday, June 5, 2008
Buddy Guys Kick-Off Party 2008 Recap
Buddy Guy and Recording Academy Kick off Blues Fest at Buddy Guy’s Legends
John W. Fountain, III
In what Buddy Guy described as an unscheduled performance, the 5-time GRAMMY Award winner took to the stage during the Recording Academy’s sixth annual tribute to Blues Fest weekend at Buddy Guy’s Legends. The sights, music and food in Legends last night signaled the start to another weekend of Blues around the city.
John W. Fountain, III
In what Buddy Guy described as an unscheduled performance, the 5-time GRAMMY Award winner took to the stage during the Recording Academy’s sixth annual tribute to Blues Fest weekend at Buddy Guy’s Legends. The sights, music and food in Legends last night signaled the start to another weekend of Blues around the city.
“The Recording Academy Chicago Chapter has been proud to celebrate Chicago's annual Blues Fest and our local music scene for the past six years at Legends,” says Tara Healy, Executive Director.
NBC’s LeeAnn Trotter hosted the event that started with a silent auction of an assortment of packages ranging from sixty-five dollars to fifteen hundred dollars. Most of the items auctioned were gift certificates to various locations in and around the city. As the bidding came to an end the Brother John Band, the evening’s house band, took the stage.
John Kattke has consistently hosted the Monday night Jam at Buddy Guy’s Legends since 1990. This 5-piece band opened with traditional tunes and warmed the stage for the later acts. The bands each played Blues from different ends of the spectrum. Jimmy Burns and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith paid tribute to the acoustic side of Blues as they reminisced about old times together. Ronnie Baker Brooks and Billy Branch added the rock touch and had the crowd on their feet. The audience applauded as both Branch and Brooks displayed their talents, commanding stage presence during extended solos. Pinetop Perkins gave a cameo appearance as the audience showed their appreciation for his contribution to music. As the sounds filled the airwaves the kitchen grill sizzled while the waitresses served plate after plate of southern-style cooking. The pinnacle of the evening had not arrived.
The Brother John Band would once again warm the stage, but this time they would welcome the owner of Legends, Buddy Guy.
“I didn’t schedule myself to play tonight,” Guy says. “I wanted to sit and listen to the younger guys play.” Guy took to the stage and took two shots of cognac while urging Tara Jobe, the bartender, to sing.
The night would soon end after another round of performances by Mike Mangione, Javelinas, Sam Wahl, and Braam.
“Last night's performances were just another shining example of the talent and diversity of our music community,” says Healy.
Archives
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]