Showing posts with label Joanna Connor. Show all posts

Sunday, October 10, 2021

#522 : Joanna Connor, Avey Grouws Band and James Tutson - Live at the Olympic

The Olympic Southside Theater
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
All Photos by Phillip Smith; Oct. 09, 2021

The Olympic Southside Theater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa was definitely the place to be the evening of Friday, October 8, 2021. This music venue, previously known as Spotlights, Big Dogs, and 3rd Street Live since I've lived in town, has hosted countless musical acts over the years. In 1992, I set foot in this place for my first time and saw Kevin Burt with his band The Blues Instigators. Over the years, I was fortunate to catch acts like John Mayall, Warren Zevon, Buddy Guy, Little Feat, Black Oak Arkansas, George Clinton, and Days of the New. After several years of non-occupation, this sacred space for music has been restored and revitalized to give it a new life as a place for people to congregate and enjoy live music.

The evening started off with a captivating solo performance from Iowa City artist James Tutson (James Tutson and the Rollback) who appeared on NBC's The Voice, earlier this year. I really hope to hear more from him in the future.

Avey Grouws Band took the stage next, engaging the audience to the max. Their setlist included favorites such as "Two Days Off (and a Little Bit of Liquor)", "Come and Get This Love", and "Dirty Little Secret" off their 2020 album The Devil May Care and tracks from their brand new album Tell Tale Heart such as "Love Raining Down", and the intoxicating instrumental "Mariana". I loved every bit of it.

Immediately following was Chicago's Queen of Blues Rock guitar Joanna Connor. Watching and hearing her play is an absolute treat. Her fearless approach to her music, ranks her among the top of the list.

The jam session at the end was extraordinary, as guitarist Billy Satterfield joined Joanna, Chris Avey, Jeni Grouws, and James Tutson for the grand finale. After going so long without seeing a show of this caliber in Cedar Rapids, this was exactly what I needed.

· All photos by Phillip Smith

James Tutson

Avey Grouws Band

Joanna Connor

All-Star Jam

* all photos by Phillip Smith

Saturday, January 4, 2020

#425 : Joanna Connor - Rise

2019 – M.C. Records
By Phillip Smith; Jan. 4, 2020

For over thirty-five years, Joanna Connor has been wooing blues fanatics in the Windy City. Rise represents her thirteenth album, and third for M.C. Records. After spotlighting her 2016 release Six String Stories on my blog and being gobsmacked while watching her perform at the 2017 Czech Village Blues festival in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, it’s a great pleasure to hear new music from this fabulous musician. Connor, on guitars and vocals, is backed by bassist Joewaun Jay Red Scott, drummers Cameron Lewis and Tyrone “TY Drums” Mitchell, Delby Littlejohn on keys and Ryan Shea on sax.

Joined by Keithen Banks on vocals and rapper Alphonso Buggz Dinero, Connor starts the record off with a delightful dose of funk-filled R&B in “Flip”. This is where all the fun begins. Then, with guitar in hand, Mike Zito steps in on “Bad Hand”. This uplifting track is accented quite nicely with a beautiful keyboard performance from Littlejohn. Lewis tears it up on the jazz instrumental “Joanna in A”. This is one hip track that feeds the spirit. Another great instrumental is the cover of Sly Stone’s “If You Want Me to Stay”. I dig it when Scott pours the funk on the bass. Listening to Connor play “My Irish Father” is an absolutely astonishing experience. She truly is a master.

Connor’s blend of funk and blues goes right for the jugular in “Mutha” with fierce, mind-blowing guitar licks and vocal backing from Dinero. The album comes to a climatic end with “Dear America”, a heavy Led Zeppelin-based blend of “When the Levee Breaks” topped with Dinero’s spoken-word state-of-the-world message.

Rise elevates Joanna Connor to a brand-new level. I highly recommend this one.

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For more information about the artist, visit this website: www.joannaconnor.com

PhillyCheeze’s Review of Joanna Connor’s Six String Stories : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2017/08/joanna-connor-six-string-stories.html

PhillyCheeze’s Photo coverage of 2017 Czech Village Blues festival, featuring headliner Joanna Connor : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2017/08/czech-village-blues-festival-aug-12-2017.html

Friday, November 22, 2019

#418 : Mike Zito and Friends - Rock ‘n’ Roll : A Tribute to Chuck Berry

2019 – Ruf Records
By Phillip Smith; Nov. 22, 2019

This latest release from bluesman Mike Zito is a mighty stellar tribute to the legendary ‘Father of Rock and Roll’ Chuck Berry. Being that both Zito and Berry are from St. Louis, Missouri, makes this a very personal project. Zito, backed by his band, bassist Terry Dry, drummer Matthew Johnson, and pianist/organist Lewis Stephens incorporates a smashing guest list on this twenty track album, which includes some of my favorites: Joanna Conner, Walter Trout, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Gales, Luther Dickenson, Sonny Landreth, Tinsley Ellis,Tommy Castro, Albert Castiglia, and Kid Anderson.

The album begins with one of the first songs I learned to play on organ, William C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues”. This song which I hold close to my heart features Chuck Berry Jr. It’s such a rocking version of the song, and ushers the album in quite nicely. I love the cover of “Rock & Roll Music” with Joanna Connor. She’s such a powerhouse of a guitarist, and brings a lot to the table on this one. Walter Trout shines as he always does on “Johnny B Goode”. Damn, this one rocks! Robben Ford steps in to record a fantastic remake of “You Never Can Tell”. This one will always remind me of my favorite film, Pulp Fiction. The legendary Eric Gales punches up another favorite “Back in the USA” with a huge dose of his ripping guitar-work. I always appreciate what Luther Dickinson is involved in, and “Too Much Monkey Business” is no exception. I love “No Particular Place to Go” with Jerimiah Johnson. This one really resonates. Sonny Landreth brings a certain smoothness to “Havana Moon”. I could listen to this one all day long.

Being a huge fan of Chuck Berry and Mike Zito, this album has such a hold on me. It’s downright spectacular.

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For more information about the artist, visit this website.. www.mikezito.com

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. St - Louis Blues Charlie Berry III

2. Rock N Roll Music - Joanna Connor

3. Johnny B - Goode - Walter Trout

4. Wee Wee Hours - Joe Bonamassa

5. Memphis - Anders Osborne

6. I Want to Be Your Driver Ryan Perry

7. You Never Can Tell - Robben Ford

8. Back in the USA - Eric Gales

9. No Particular Place to Go - Jeremiah Johnson

10. Too Much Monkey Business - Luther Dickinson

11. Havana Moon - Sonny Landreth

12. Promised Land - Tinsley Ellis

13. Downbound Train - Alex Skolnick

14. Maybelline - Richard Fortus

15. School Days - Ally Venable

16. Brown Eyed Handsome Man - Josh Smith/Kirk Fletcher

17. Reeling and Rocking - Tommy Castro

18. Let It Rock - Jimmy Vivino

19. Thirty Days - Albert Castiglia

20. My Ding a Ling - Kid Andersen

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Czech Village Blues Festival - Aug 12, 2017

Czech Village

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

All photos by Phillip Smith; Aug 13, 2017

I am more than thrilled to see the return of an annual blues festival here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It has been a long journey to get one going again since the final Bluesmore in 2013. This year the Linn County Blues Society joined forces with the Friends of the Czech Village to bring the blues back to our city. The result was a phenomenal evening of music performed by The LCBS Allstars featuring eight Iowa Blues Hall of Fame inductees, along with headlining act, Joanna Connor.