On a spectacular Saturday, the blues was alive and well as more than 70,000 fans descended on Millennium Park for day three of the Chicago Bluesfest.
The diversity of talent on display was truly astonishing, from the incredible display of “Women in the Blues” to the superb Mud Morganfield, capping off another great day for the large and enthusiastic audience in and around the Pritzker Pavilion.
The first two days of the festival showcase the legacy of Albert King, with Thursday and Friday focusing on the 70the th Saturday marked the anniversary of DelMark Records, and it was about the ladies who sang the blues, as well as many family ties.
Women in the Blues Tribute pays tribute to legends Deitra Farr, Katherine Davis and Sugar Pie DeSanto, led by multi-talented Lynn Jordan (Lynne Jordan) hosts. It also boasts a stellar cast of female blues musicians such as guitar prodigy Joanna Conner, Radka Kasparcova, bassist Sherry Weathersby Weathersby) and vocalist and drummer Sheryl Youngblood.
But for those who experienced extreme FOMO for missing out on this killer show, there’s good news.These dynamic blues divas will reunite most of the band for a gig at Urban Winery in Chicago on September 6the th You can still watch them perform on the DCASE YouTube channel.
Throughout the day, attention to talented female blues musicians prevailed. On the Mississippi stage, James “Super Chikan” Johnson gave an inspired performance, enhanced by his all-female “Fighting Cocks” band.
Johnson, who lives in Clarksdale, Mississippi’s Blues Hotbed, earned the nickname because of his fondness for talking to chickens as a child. He also drove trucks for many years and wrote songs to pass the time while driving trucks on the highway. He turned full-time musician in the nineties, but his hard-working work ethic and talent for turning phrases are on full display throughout his stage career.
Meanwhile, on the Pritzker Stage, Demetria Taylor “shows up” alongside “Big Brother” Mike Wheeler and his ever-tight backing band. Taylor was in high spirits and received numerous praises for her impassioned performance.
Here’s what WDCB disc jockey and Chicago blues maestro Tom Marker had to say about Taylor’s performance on his Facebook page. “When people ask me what was my favorite performance at the Chicago Bluesfest last week, the first thing I think of is Demetria Taylor’s performance.
Amazing talent on display at Bluesfest, including many of my favorite performers and some artists I’ve never seen before, I didn’t go to all the stages to see everyone, but Demetria’s performance was amazing, For its excitement, drama and above all, hard work, Demetria gave it all! “
Mark’s comment about “not getting to all the stages” was definitely true in this 4 day blues marathon. But seeing an artist like Taylor at his peak brings success far outweighs the inevitable misses.A group of “not to be missed” works american blues scene The crew has their eyes on the Rosa’s Jam show at 5 p.m. in the tent of the same name.
The set is designed to recreate the feel of the iconic Rosa Lounge and features blues legends. For vocals, there’s Rosa’s longtime favorite, 83-year-old Mary Lane, and the always-funny Willie Buck. Blues Hall of Famer Billy Branch delivers massive guitar vocals via Lil Ed Williams on harp.
The band in Rosa’s Tent are true Chicago blues musicians, but the festival also brings talent from across the country. That was the case with Sugar Ray Rayford from Texas, who performed Saturday on the Pritzker Stage. When he came out, he thanked the weather and the reservations, saying “after 20 years of waiting to play at the Chicago Blues Festival, he’s excited to be here in the sun.”
After those heartfelt words, the mogul got down to business, telling the audience “This isn’t a wine and cheese party. This is a fried chicken and ale party,” urging them to “Shake what your mom gave you ’, began offering some high-octane, soulful blues.
The evening ended in exquisite fashion when the always glamorous Mud Morganfield took the stage. Muddy Waters’ well-dressed son didn’t disappoint, covering a few songs from his father’s repertoire. As usual, the audience marveled at the uncanny similarity in Moody’s musical style and delivery.
In addition to performing the blues classics made famous by his father, Morganfield also sang some of his own songs. He Brings His Daughters to Support His Latest Gospel-Style “Praise Him” portrait Posted in Delmark. After leading the audience to church, Morganfield returned to his blues roots and closed with “I’m a Man” and “Let My Magic Work.”
