WC Handy Awards

I've given my camera a break from the grind of the last 7 weeks...okay, maybe I've given myself a break too.  Tonite I'm in Nebraska reviewing the events of the WC Handy Awards (International Blues Awards) in Tunica, MS on May 8, 2008.  One thing is for sure...awards shows are reeeeaaaalllllllyyyyyyy boring and this was no exception.  

The lineup was amazing but after 4 hours and only a third way through I let go of my need to stay to the end.  Instead I waited until the performers I really wanted to see where completed.  Here are my top 10 best loved things about the WC Handy's:

10.  Having a scotch with Gaye Adegbalola (Saffire:  The Uppity Blues Women) in the hotel lounge after sharing our admiration for the music of Ma Rainey.

9.  Joking around with a great guy in the shuttle en route to the award show and finding out that it was nominee Jackie Payne.  We were quite impressed that we've both played the stage at the Yardbird Suite in Edmonton.

8.  Patio coincidental meeting with Edmonton Labatt's Blues Festival captains Cam Hayden and his lovely partner.  Great way to ground my blues community in Edmonton!

7.  Writing and recording three new songs in the hotel room waiting for it all to get underway.

6.  Great food!

5.  Watching the show of my new buddy, Jimmy 'Duck' Holmes.

4.  The lap slide prowess of Mary Flower.  (Holy shit can that woman play!)

3.  Shakin', rollin', heavin' bosom of killer blues woman, Diunna Greenleaf.

2.  Queen of the Blues - Koko Taylor won big.

1.  Being there as the crowd saw Ruthie Foster for the first time (they didn't seems to know her music) and standing with the crowd in standing ovation after she finished Son House's 'Grinnin' In Your Face' a capella!  Her destiny is written to be one of the greatest... of that there is NO doubt.

Freezin' in Nebraska (it's Oc right now, storming and my southern tan is fading fast),

KD xoxo

Bubba & Robert Plant @ the Blues Corner

Immersion is a strange experience.  It's not like I knew when exactly I was immersed in the Mississippi culture but that didn't change the fact that I did allow myself to immerse.  It was a feeling of belonging and understanding...an energy rather than a moment I guess.  At some point I felt myself let go of concerns and agendas.  

So, on May 7, 2008, when I met, sat with and talked with owner of Bubba's Blues Corner in Helena, Arkansas and Robert Plant (yes, Led Zepplin Robert Plant) it really wasn't a big deal.  The three of us sat around debating the age old issue of who owns blues music and how do royalties for the early music get paid.  I was surprised at the opinions and knowledge I held about these issues and the historical aspects of the blues.  Integration had occurred without me even really knowing it.  And, when my sweetie asked if I took a photo of Bubba, Robert Plant and me, I could only say that "it never even crossed my mind" because it didn't.  We exchanged information and carried on with blues discussions.  When that was over I moved on to the next Delta experience.  Funny thing...I don't even wish I had the photo.  It's held in my heart and in my mind for me to enjoy and share with blues lovers back home.

Heck, I didn't even ask Robert why he's the hold out for the Led Zepplin reunion tour - ha ha.  I already know the answer to that question anyway...

Kat

KFFA Radio-- Show 15, 643

I am so happy I went to Helena, Arkansas on May 7, 2008!  Stumbled upon many interesting people and made it my mission to do as Honeyboy said "listen more than you talk".  Good advice.  I did just that in Helena and met Sonny Payne (announcer pictured above) who has been host of KFFA "King Biscuit Time" , a blues program, for much of his 80+ years.  In fact, he was doing a live show when I wandered in off the street and there he was interviewing Rhonda Rogers who was an absolutely fantastic blues woman from North Carolina.  Pipes on that chick or what?  Anyhow, it was Sonny's 15,643rd show and he has seen more than a book full of blues events.  KFFA is an historic radio program that broadcast 'black' blues music in the 1930's when that was completely unheard of.  King Biscuit Flour sponsored the program and their musical hosts were Sonny Boy Williamson II and Robert Lockwood Jr. (stepson of Robert Johnson).  I even signed the walls where all the blues musicians that have passed through the studio in its current location have signed.  It was such a blast!  

15,700th show maybe an on air interview with Kat Danser??  Never know...;-)

Kat

Sweet Goodbyes in Clarksdale

Well folks...my Mississippi time clock is ticking and I say goodbye to Clarksdale tomorrow.  I've gone and returned now three times throughout this pilgrimage and every time I come to this blues zone I can hear the heartbeat of the blues and feel the weight of poverty everywhere I look.  The people of Clarksdale are like Waldron...salt of the earth folks but if you don't smoke or drink alcohol it'd be pretty hard to fit in.  Turns out I've smoked my share of cigars and drank my share of scotch on this trip so it has illicited a relaxed vibe in me.  I like that...being on Clarksdale time...but I just couldn't live here for any length.  The more you know the town the MORE you KNOW the town if you know what I mean.

The top photo is of the Delta Blues Museum, a cool place run by a great woman, Shelley Ritter, who helped me write the Alberta Creative Development Initiative proposal.  It is essentially Muddy Waters driven as his is the Godfather of the Blues and a local hero.  They actually have his log house inside the museum all preserved and such.  It's worth the trip just for that.  

The next two photos are of Morgan Freeman's juke called Ground Zero.  You may have seen some inside photos on the Watermelon Slim photos.  Anyhow, Mo'n Free'an, as it's said in Clarkdale accent, is a local hero and really why shouldn't he be.  He has done a great deal to help this community and to help in preserving the blues heartland.  His efforts are likely paving the way for increased tourism which will really help the Clarksdale economy.  Inside this juke are literally thousands of signatures from patrons all over the world.  It has become Mecca for blues fans and tours are being arranged from New Orleans and Memphis to highlight the attributes of this community as well as forward the importance of blues music.

Then there's true blue authentic Red's Juke.  I played in this juke a couple weeks back.  It is everything you'd imagine an urban juke to be...dim lighting, bbq smoked, red lights hanging off plastic covered insulation and bring your own hard liquor.  Prior to leaving on this trip I read a book on 'Black-White' relations to understand my role in being a good communicator within the Black American communities.  One of the great things I learned was how the word 'rap' is a phrase that describes 'talkin' to you with a sense of humor'.  There are all different kinds of ways to rap but they are usually filled with one liners.  Men usually try their 'rap' consistently with women and I had prepared some one liners to respond as it is considered insulting to be silent and walk by.  It is actually a sign of disrespect.  Anyhow, I practiced in front of the mirror before I left just in case I needed to be quick on my feet.  Well, Red, the owner, rapped on me the afternoon before I played his juke.  It went like this...

Sunflower Avenue, I'm walkin' the north side of the avenue trying not to get noticed and there are three buddies smokin' up some pork on the BBQ outside Red's.  I knew right away that one of them would rap on me to try to impress their buddies.  

Red yells across the street:

"Hey Mama why don't you come over here I'm a player and I need to practice?"

Kat stops and looks.

Red says again:

"Come on baaaabbbbyyy...don't disrespect me...I'm a player and I need to do some practice"

Kat then says with ease and humor:

"Baby, if you a player you must have the lose in es game in town!"

Red throws his hands up in the air and his buddies are killing themselves laughing because Red's just been out rapped.

And, you know, I came into his gig about 10 hours later and even though we hadn't met (he'd just seen me across the avenue) and he was totally hammered...he opened his eyes to full on slits and said "hey baby, you dat woman from this afternoon" then he nodded and went back to snooze mode.

Oh yeah baby!

Kat

Farish Street Marriage Advice

One thing about the Delta is that there is always the possibility of humor lurking around any corner.  It was 1pm but Farish Street, the Jackson musical/historical equivalent of Beale Street in Memphis, was abandoned...that is, until I got out of my car.  I'm not sure if the street criminals have each other on speed text messaging or what but out of nowhere I found myself feeling very vulnerable to being robbed, beaten or whatever the will of the group of men I found myself confronted by.  I didn't let on any fear and just stayed focus on what I was there to do but that was tough let me tell you.  In the end I got hit up for two bits and said 'no' which is even more amazing for me.  But I digress...I turned the corner after being on Farish feeling a little more than afraid of what might have been when I came across this sign.  It was a relief to know that "Healthy Marriage Mississippi" shared the sole secret of a lasting marriage ...to keep my partner warm.  Phew!  Here I thought it had something to do with love and respect but turns out as long as my feet aren't cold I'm good to go.  Now I can sleep at night...ha ha.

Anyhow, Farish Street was the home of Trumpet Records owned by a woman named Lillian 

McMurray.  I was interested in her work because I had reviewed her boxes of business records at the Blues Archives in Oxford to learn that she was an outstanding advocate for recorded blues musicians (ie: Sonny Boy Williamson II, Howlin' Wolf, Sam Myers, etc.) royalties and also for raising money for many of the beautiful gravestones you've seen throughout the blog.  Thankfully the City of Jackson has declared this area an historical site with intentions to turn it into a Beale Street like atmosphere but that plan has been on hold for the past 10 years.  Most musicians around here agree that it's too late to renovate and turn it into something sweet as the crime is out of control in the area and the buildings are beyond decay (and most are) but I could see how this street has the potential to be much like Beale.  

The King Edward Hotel is a monstrous historical building that is being renovated into a hotel again.  The goal seems to be to turn it into the Peabody Hotel, Memphis equivalent which will be very cool for this city.  This building's musical history is that in December 1930 OKeh Records rented the top two floors shown here and recorded the first recordings of the Mississippi Sheiks.  

FYI Alert:  Steve Dawson from Black Hen Music out of Vancouver will be releasing his Mississippi Sheiks album in the Fall 2008.  Check it out it'll be a good another killer album from this young innovator.

Peace out...

Kat

Pure Juke & Duck

On whim and intuition I pulled into the small village of Bentonia, Mississippi (ben-TONE-ya). 

Being a little hungry and a whole lot thirsty I stopped at the Blue Front Cafe.  A lone man sat on the stoop eatin' a pickled egg and I awkwardly introduced myself and asked if he was the owner.   He nodded that indeed he was and said his name is Jimmie.  After sizing me up for a few minutes he quietly motioned to go inside to take a look around.

Well, the Blue Front Cafe was anything but a cafe... it was pure juke joint!  Let me say that if the blues was rain this place is flooded.  It is 60 years old and has been lived in by the likes of Skip James, Jack Owens and Bud Spires with Skip James receiving the most notoriety for his 'uniqueness' playing in minor cross note tunings.  As it turns out Skip James may not have been the originator of the Bentonia Blues style but it was more likely to have been a local hero Jack Owens who taught Skip James.  Adding to the stories told by owner Jimmie there was no mistaking the authenticity of this juke from the mismatch kitchen chairs and tables to the beat up acoustic guitar, to the pink pickled eggs,  Peavey amp and the strong smell of BBQ smoke. 

Cautious Jimmie brought me a Corona and invited me to sit on the front porch with him.  He was curious about where I was from and "now, what rrrr ya doin' so fer from home girl?"  After he got finished with shaking his head about my answer we got down to it...music.  Once we were united by country blues he proceeded to grab his beat up Epiphone acoustic and rusted strings.  He told me he has no idea what tuning that "I jus' wait 'til sounds gooood then I knows I'm in da rot tune.  Peoples say I'm jus' inna mine-a but I done know.  I done read music I jus' listen."  I watched as his stubbed finger tips and dirty nails (yeah, kind of a hobby of mine lookin' at peoples finger nails -- weird eh?)  move the tuning up and down by a whole step, half steps while I got lost.  Jimmie was right, when it sounded good he put on an old steel capo and started to play.  

Well, as the story goes, beer drinkin' juke joint Danser with modest Jimmie the Owner, he plucked and pinched and flicked the strings for the most authentic blues sound I've ever heard live (sorry Honeyboy).  I nearly fell off my chair when he started to sing...deep holler style...and his pickin' he identified as Bentonia Blues.  Absolutely shocking!!!  Other than the legends I had no idea anyone was carrying on the country blues.  

I sang and tapped and that seemed to encourage him to continue but when it was done, it was done.  No fan fare.  Careful not to close him off with my assertive communication style he began to offer story after story about Skip James, Bud Spires and Jack Owens.  At some point he says that he's travelling to Tunica on the 8th 'cuz he'll play a little bit there.  I clued in that he might be playing a juke there so upon further inquiry he indicates that he will be performing at the Grand Casino "for some blues award or something".  Then he asked in such a real and authentic way when I showed my surprise and awe.."is that somethin' impordant?" I let him know that indeed it is.  It is the grand blues show.  Turns out he'll be opening the International Blues Awards and has been nominated in the Traditional Blues Category.  

Blue Front Cafe Jimmie is Jimmie "Duck" Holmes and this guy without a doubt WILL be the next legend.  He is so authentic that it feels like walking back to 1930.  There is no describing just how amazing he is playing these Bentonia Blues.  He has some support to record from a guy in St. Louis who runs Broke & Hungry Records.  And I felt like I'd discovered a mountain of gold!  

We were both getting more than excited to share our experiences and love of country blues.  As if the baptism couldn't get any more pure, just as Jimmie finishes giving me a tshirt from a box in the shed, I kid you not, no...seriously...a train whistle blows right outside the door and as it rushes past the engine is painted black with red and the HUGE letters CN on the side!!!

My mind was a juke party...moonshine, BBQ and fireworks!  I hooted and hollared as that freight roared by just like I did on April 1, 2008 in Waldron, Saskatchewan, Canada.  Holy shit!!!  He laughed for a long time about my reaction as I showed him the photos of my birthplace, the CN engine rolling along the tracks there and how our home was as close to the tracks as this juke.  

'Sippi Slow Down,

Kat

Belzoni, Mississippi & Area Photos

Legendary Pinetop Perkins

At 3am I was awakened by the sound of sirens indicating that the 'Thunderstorm Warning' had turned into a tornado.  It was fierce and seemingly unrelenting as it ripped through this little town of Kosciusko, Mississippi where I'd decided to anchor in an attempt to escape the storm sweeping southern Mississippi.  I got clothed, shoes on and then gripping my bag with all my identification in it I sat in the small prison bathroom of the Days Inn.  Shivering, shaking and wanting to call to loved ones but not wanting to panic anyone back home.  That hour and a half was very, very, very long.  But, at 5:30a I awoke in the bathtub, the tornado hadn't caused me damage but it sure left a path of destruction.  I was very lucky to be in a sturdy building that is relatively new.  I can't imagine the panic of people living literally in 'shacks' that would not even qualify as inhabitable back home.  This appears to be the case for a majority of housing options for African Americans throughout the Mississippi.  (I have logged many kilometers and talked with many people so I now feel comfortable having and expressing an opinion.)

Lucky for me the alarm went off and the sun had emerged for the Pinetop Perkins Official Blues Marker dedication today.  So there on highway 49 just outside Belzoni, MS, Pinetop's home town, is the marker you see at the top.  The Mississippi Blues Commission really should be congratulated for all the work they are doing to mark the important pieces of blues history.  I am grateful because even with a well researched guidebook it is very difficult to find pieces of blues history.  As one would expect with all the disrupted energy of the tornado there were unfortunate hit and misses throughout this dedication.  The marker is beautiful especially the photos and the dedication was heartfelt.  Pinetop's musical friends gathered to play with and celebrate him but the show was 2 hours delayed (and in the Mississippi heat that's a looooonnnnngggg time), the sound was absolutely horrible and his piano was terribly out of tune.  He played a song then refused to carry on due to these issues and what seemed like seriously deteriorating health.  At age 94, and that's a blues 94, it is to be expected.  It was no better for Bobby Rush but it wasn't the day that anyone had hoped for in order to show deep appreciation for this fabulous musician!  

There you have it...Pinetop Perkins living long enough to see his dedication marker unveiled.  One of a few.  He still has some serious chops on the keys and you can tell by his socks that he is livin' the life!  

Congratulations Pinetop!!

Kat Danser - there in '08.

Beautiful Day in Columbus

I had a chance to soak my hot feet in the crisp waters of the Chattahoochie River today.  It was just what I needed...to cool the jets and begin some integration of these experiences.  The Canadian geese are connecting me back to Canada throughout this trip.  I particularly love the sparkle stars on the water in the photo.  

Thanks for checkin' in,

Kat