The Chicago Blues Harp bash is
the brain child of Joe Filisko and
friends and is a showcase for the
Chicago Blues Harmonic sound.
Held annually, this was the forth
of what will be many!
This year’s annual Bash was once again at SPACE in Evanston on
Sunday, September 18, 2011. The headliner was the amazing Gary
Smith, a West Coast blues harmonica legend.
Add to that five Chicago home town boys:
•
Ron Sorin
•
Morry Sochat
•
Grant Kessler
•
Katsu Kosaka
•
Jimmie Meade
It was a night of high harmonica horsepower in the
Windy City tradition.
Grammy award winning Billy Flynn fronted the backing
band and Joe Filisko was the master of ceremonies.
View the photo album here.
Copyright (c) 2011 Chicago Blues Harp Bash. All Rights Reserved
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Grant is a hard-swinging player with giant
tone and amazing dynamix range. He has
played with the Carl Davis Band, the
Kilborn Alley Blues Band, and the Tone
Questers. Leading his own high-energy
blues band, called “The Shakes”, he grabs
crowds with a powerful and engaging
style.
Originally from Texas, Morry fronts the very
successful Chicago band “Morry Sochat and
the Special 20s” and has had a strong
presence on the Chicago blues scene since
2005, regularly playing at many of the area’s
most notable blues clubs. His band has
recorded three CDs, including this year’s
release “Eatin’ Dirt”.
Known for his passionate and free flowing
style, Katsu often plays the Chicago scene
as part of the duo “Katsu & Yukari”. Born
in Osaka, Japan, home of Japanese blues,
Katsu has lived in Chicago since the late
1980’s. He is heavily influenced by BIlly
Branch, Carlos Johnson, and many modern
Chicago greats.
Originally from Northfield, Illinois, harp
maestro Jimmie Meade is a founding
member of the band “Levee Town”, which
was an ‘International Blues Challenge’
finalist in 2007. The hardworking band
plays clubs and festivals across the country
averaging 250 dates a year. They have
recorded three CDs and shared the stage
with Lazy Lester, Lee McBee, Big Bill
Morganfield, and many others.
Gary Smith has wowed audiences for 40
plus years with his trademark big tone. He
has shared the stage with Buddy Guy,
Sunnyland Slim, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy
Rogers, Charles Brown, Robben Ford, Big
Joe Turner, Jimmy McCracklin, Johnny Winter,
Elvin Bishop, Albert King, Robert Cray, Floyd
Dixon, Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, Big
Mama Thornton, James Cotton, Junior Wells
and Charlie Musselwhite. Gary has played
blues festivals throughout the US, Europe
and South America. He recorded his first EP
in 1974, followed by numerous CDs, an
instructional DVD, and many other recordings
on Mountain Top, Advent, Messaround, and
Jefferson Records labels
A long-time Chicago favorite, Ron played his
first gig as a teenager with keyboardist Big
Moose Walker and has been blowing harp
and weaving his way through the Chicago
blues scene ever since. He has worked with
artists such as Willie Kent, Hubert Sumlin and
Bo Diddley and has recoreded with numorous
Chicago blues men including Bob Stroger,
Steve Freund, Jame Wheeler, and Ken Saydak.
Ron recorded two records with “Big Shoulders”,
a popular Chicago-based band that received
a log of crossover attention and airplay. Ron
has recently recorded a new CD under his own
name to be released later this year.
Copyright (c) 2011 Chicago Blues Harp Bash. All Rights Reserved
