Some blues in Carnegie

Just wanted to thank Wes White who promoted the Carnegie Arts & Heritage festival for letting the "Groove Guys" play and also to Lenny Cefalo who invited the "Groove Guys" to host a great jam night which included Jill West & The Blues Attack at Cefalo's restaurant.Everyone sounded great and a good time was had by all.I formed the "Groove Guys" with Curtis Swift on sax, Richard Everett on keys, Matt Williams

on bass from Tony Janflone Jr's band and added Ben Pattack on drums from the band Soul Village.We are coming to a town near you so come and check us out.Also I want to thank Dusty Scott for the fine photos  he took of the band and also thanks Jim for writing this article on the festival and the jam at Cefalo's.

I had a fine time at the Gruenling/Deming/Guyger - Little Walter Tribute Show(9/7/08).  They drew a pretty fair sized Sunday night crowd that was definitely into it.  Things started at just about the 8 PM scheduled time and went on 'til after midnight, ending with the final strains of "Juke."  In between was some of the best blues I heard all year and, it's been a very good year for me quality-wise, including having seen these guys here in the springtime.

Gruenling and Deming got things movin' along with the superfine rhythm section of drummer Tom Papadatos and vetern Mookie Brill on stand up bass.  The first full song I got to enjoy was "Baby Please Don't Go" and the magic was evident from the start.  The quartet exhibited a swinging power that swept over the room like rolling thunder.  These cats was deep in the pocket and everyone did their share to make things work.

Throughout, Deming added some very Jazz influenced chord progressions on his vintage looking hollowbody and his vocals were clean, clear and heartfelt.  His a young traditionalist who has it down pat and, adds enough of himself not to come off as an imitator.  With more time, this guy should develop into a truly special player.  On the occasional change of pace switch to Fender Telecaster he exhibited some sting in his playing also.

Gruenling blows harp with a crisp tone and power to spare.  He can summon up a lot of technique, but does so with a personal feel that makes his playing individual.  The bite of his playing works well off of Deming's more ethereal guitar work.

As good as these guys sounded at the start, things got just that much better with the addition of Steve Guyger on Harp and vocals.  He is undeniably one of the best out there on either coast or in the the middle, for that matter.  This cat has it all.  He's one of the coolest looking folks to take the stage and he commands it with chops and prescence to spare.   His apprenticeship under the legendary Jimmy Rogers exhibits itself both sartorially and in the class he brings to the bandstand.  He also brings a joyous glee, true love of the music, to his playing that's infectious.  He commented with a sly smile that it was so nice to play an entire evening of Wlater's music because he didn't have to think about anything, just let go.

The second set saw Mookie Brill take center stage, bangin' away at his well-weathered upright bass with the Diesel Only sticker plastered across the front, singing lead and adding his own charm to a coupla songs early on.   Deming on Tele kicked the proceedings into the next gear on "Feel So Bad."  Guyger's return took things into the stratosphere.   Crazy, Mixed up World" and "My Babe" were a great example of classic music being played at a high level by masters of their craft.  It was a case of singer and song elevating each other.  The former included some very good dueling chromatic work from the dynanamic harp duo, who playe off each other expertly both times I've seen them together.  It's always special when two masters of the same instrument can subvert their egos to combine for a totally satisfying whole that is greater than the sum of its estimable parts.

Personally I expected the show to be done by eleven and, apparently,  so did the deadheads who had arrived and set up a jewlery table and were ready for the Thunderbird's usal Sunday Dead Night.  The two worlds collided as some of the younger heads headed up to the performance area and began dancing a cross between their usual flailing and an interesting looking swing-strut.  Whatever it was, Guyger grinned and was noticably driven by the dancing, commenting about how cool it was to have it goin' on.   This was indeed one of those nights that comes along and stays with you for a long while.  It's been three days and I'm still feelin' it.  Great stuff.

yours truly

Bill from Elizabeth