Here’s a clip from Walter’s weekly Chicken Wings Jam at Patrick’s Pub. I’m afraid it’s a bit grainy and dark, but it captures Shaaron Schuemaker on bass and singing that great cover song You Got Me Hummin, along with “Harmonica John” Frazer on harp, Johnny Vernazza on guitar (not sure who other guitarist was), Matt Taylor on drums, Tim Sutherland on keyboard, Chuck Arcilla on the sax, and Phil Lozano on trombone.
San Diego Blues
Another good week of blues jams and bands around town. Blues every night in the Gaslamp – at Patrick’s (and every night but Sunday) at the SpeakEasy.
There is also the Youth Blues jam on Saturday afternoon that is always incredibly good, and some of the kids that come in are as young as 9 years old. This is an open jam for any young person who wants to come play some blues.
This may be Kona Kai’s last week of music out on Shelter Island before they shut down temporarily for renovations.
Trey Tosh won’t be playing at Patrick’s this weekend, as scheduled. Instead tonight the R&B band, Mystique Element of Soul, will be on stage, and tomorrow (Sunday) night the Bill Magee Blues Band will be there 9-midnight.
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.
There is always some good blues around the downtown area, and this week is no exception. I’m hoping to get to a couple of jams, check out Christine Gilardi’s new show at Patrick’s on Thursday, and go see Lil A & The Allnighters at Tio Leo’s. See you out there!
I’ve been away too long from Walter’s weekly blues jam at Patrick’s Pub, which always brings in a great crowd and a good group of musicians each week. All the different blues jams around town are unique and draw in a different mix of musicians from each other, and this jam is always lively, jammin and a good time! I will be back more often 😉
Last night’s jam started at 9pm with members of the house jam band (who give up their spots to other musicians who come in after the first set) and last night they included Johnny Vernazza on guitar, Victor Marquez on guitar, Jim Reeves on bass guitar, Matt Taylor on drums, Tim Sutherland on keyboard, Chuck Arcilla playing the sax, Lampchops (Carlos Serrano) on trumpet and Phil Lozano on trombone. Most of these guys have their own bands, and you can find them around town on other nights.
In this clip, Victor Marquez takes the lead with BB King cover song Why I Sing the Blues.
And in this clip, Johnny Vernazza leads and sings Buddy Guy’s cover song Talk to Me Baby.
This week there is a good line up of blues all around the downtown area, and most of it is in the Gaslamp. Tiffany Jane is new to me, and I’m not really sure how to peg her blues sound, so I’m going with her blues/pop listing. She sounds more like Amy Winehouse or Norah Jones to me, so not quite sure that is really blues. Let me know what you think.
There is also a full week of jams to check out. Monday at SpeakEasy, Tuesday at Patrick’s, Wednesday at House of Blues free stage 7-11 (not on schedule since don’t offer discount), Thursday at Spaguetteria, and Saturday afternoon at SpeakEasy with young adults who are really talented and great blues musicians.
Bill Magee is a blues man through and through, and he brings his southern blues sound to Patrick’s about once a month. He was there last night doing his thing, which always gets me and a lot of others out on the dance floor.
Len Rainey has Chicago roots, and you can hear it in the way he plays the blues. You can find him regularly at Patrick’s Pub and Humphreys.
Last night I finally got some video of his band playing at Patrick’s, which includes Walter Gentry on sax, Johnny Vernazza on guitar, Matt on drums, and Len singing and playing bass. Here he is performing a favorite cover song Black Cat Bone.
Its been a while since Fuzzy and his band has played at Patrick’s Pub, and he was back last night to a good crowd. He will be back there again later this month on the 30th!
I wasn’t able to get the whole song (cover song You Talk Too Much) in this clip, which is a shame. I realized half way into it that my video wasn’t actually recording, but the rest is pretty good of TC Tye on keys, Bruce Hutcherson on drums, Cecil McBee on bass, Fuzzy, and an out-of-town harmonica player, Danny Thornburry from Louisville, KY.
