JammingOut at HOB Kicks Off 2nd Year

Every Wednesday night, “JammingOut at HOB” hosts a blues jam that has developed a wonderful following in its first year, and this past Wednesday they celebrated their 1st anniversary downstairs at the House of Blues.  It was a fun evening, and here are some videos I got – the lighting wasn’t great so its a bit dark and grainy, but most of it is good.

Here is Dona Aguinaldo, one of a number of wonderful female vocalists that night, who got up to sing Etta James’ cover At Last.  Wow!  I just wish the lighting had been better… On stage with her (and doing their own jamming solos) is Bob Sortillon (standing next to her) and Rich Giglio on guitars, Tom Safreed on harmonica, Dave Lindgren on bass, and Steve Douglas on drums.  Bob, Rick and Dave also each sang some great songs, but the videos didn’t turn out.

Then Christine Gilardi performed Bonnie Rait’s cover song Love Me Like a Man.  She rocks it with Somerset Barnard on guitar, Tom Safreed on harmonica, Yasha Susoeff on sax, Victor Franklin on bass and Michael Minor on drums.

Afterwards Victoria Wasserman got up with them and nailed it with that so familiar BB King (amongst others) cover song Stormy Monday.

Somerset Barnard, visiting from Brisbane Australia for a few weeks, got us up and dancing to another favorite, Got My Mojo Working.

And to end the evening we had Len Rainey, a favorite local bluesman, take the stage and sing, as only Len can do it, the cover song Kiddio.  He’s joined by Doyle Thomas on guitar, Kevin Cooper on keyboards, Michael Minor on drums, David Lewis on harps – as well as Steve Lang.  Again the video is a bit dark, even after lightening it up as much as I could.

The final song brought Lafayette Falkquay on the stage to join Len on bass, and they had a fun exchange as they performed Slow Down Baby together.

I only captured a bit of the evening.  We also had a number of brass players (more sax, trumpet and trombone), and other performers who made it a special anniversary evening.

Next week the jam is back upstairs, but it starts 2 hours later at 9pm (for just this week).
San Diego Blues

Higher Ground at Patrick’s

Christine Gilardi and her newly formed band brought a mix of blues and soul to Patrick’s Thursday night.  Here is a clip of Christine singing Stevie Wonder’s cover song Higher Ground, along with James Ferguson on keyboard, David Lindgren on bass, Rene Woolley on drums, and Walter Gentry on sax.

Mix of Blues & Reggae Jam at HOB

Wednesdays are one of my favorite blues nights of the week and usually starts at the JammingOut (www.JammingOut.net) and BLUSD (www.blusd.org) blues jams on the free stage at House of Blues. Last night was a full house of musicians who got up to play throughout the evening and an audience of locals and visitors.

Christine Gilardi took the lead and rocked the house singing and playing guitar to the great Etta James cover song The Sky is Crying in this video.  She is accompanied by Neil Jones on lead guitar, Junya Isogawa on guitar, Kevin Cooper on bass and Rene Wooley on drums.

We don’t hear reggae too often at this jam, but Rosalie Thomas showed up with her steel drums and delighted us with the UB40 cover song I Want to Make You Sweat.  Also on stage was Michael Minor on drums, Kevin Cooper on bass (and vocals) and Ray Zvetina on guitar.

John January Joins Monday Jam Night

Last night John January showed up at the SpeakEasy blues jam, and played the lead guitar and sang, along with Patrick Jerrell on rhythm guitar, Irakli Aladash on bass, Christine Gilardi on vocals and Karl Bradley on drums.

Not sure how to get the red-eye out of this iphone video.  Couldn’t do it with my editing software.  Anyone have a way to do this or to avoid it in the first place?

Later in the 3rd set, Fuzzy Rankins, who hosts the jam, finished up the night playing his cover song Down Home Blues, along with his drummer Bruce Hutcherson, and Bob Prater on bass, Patrick Jarrell on rhythm guitar, Justin Fools on harmonica, and a keyboardist I didn’t know.

The place was packed most of the night, so word is getting out how good this jam is!  See you there next Monday.