Hank Shreve did NOT make the finals. Vince Johnson, a Beale Street longtimer--great soulful singer, harp player of very modest talent--won that room
The Souliz Band featuring Sugar and Spice made the finals, too. They were fantastic. Almost a Staple Singers vibe.
Brody Buster, playing as a one-man band, made the finals in the solo/duo. He was a child prodigy on harp, back in the 1990s. I wrote something about him in a blues magazine that got his mother pissed off at me. (I called him a "virgin bluesman" and said that was a curious thing about our day and age: the way it yearned for younger and younger white blues kids.) But he's hung in there over the long haul, paid some dues, and made it on his own. I didn't catch his act, but I'm impressed by his career trajectory and wish him well.
In continuing the heritage of the blues, often it is stated how important it is to educate our youth to extend the blues to another generation. It is pleasing to see eleven-year old Brody Buster has taken that to heart by blowing the blues harp, continuing the legacy of Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, and other countless blues harpists. I admit at first I was skeptical of young Brody, believing him to take this up as a novelty, but quickly I was amazed to see the maturity in his professional stage manner and his playing, making me think I was hearing a seasoned veteran harpist. Even during our interview, I realized I was talking to a serious musician, as Buster gave well thought out answers. A colleague of this author remarked that Brody Buster was one highlight at last year's Harmonica Blowdown at the House of Blues in Los Angeles.
Brody's inclination toward the harmonica came by accident. His Father, Curtis picked up a guitar at a garage sale and noticed Brody picking tunes on it by ear. Mom and Dad Buster quickly enrolled Brody in guitar lessons, then Brody's Mom, Janet dusted off the harps she kept from her playing days. Janet played blues harp for a year and gave it up after marriage. Janet taught Brody the basics, and within two months, he knew everything she knew. Next, Brody's guitar teacher encouraged Brody to sit in clubs in the Kansas City area where the Brody family resided. Musicians amazed at this young man's ability, taught and encouraged Brody and suggested he try playing his trade at Beale Street in Memphis. After rave acceptance at Joyce Cobb's Club and B.B. Kings Club in Memphis, the musicians suggested he head to L.A.
After two trips to test the waters in L.A., the Buster family temporarily relocated there. They just sold their farm in Kansas City and had bought property nearby which needed extensive remodeling. After arriving in L.A. one of Buster's biggest supporters was the former harmonica player of the funk-rock group, War and harmonica entrepreneur, Lee Oskar. Oskar allowed Brody to sit in and their harp duo has produced impressive results, enough that last April, the duo traveled to Seoul, Korea and played in the biggest concert hall in that country. Being in Los Angeles allowed Brody some acting parts, including an episode on tv's "Full House," and will be doing a cameo in the upcoming movie, "Tuba City Blues" playing what else? -- a young man playing blues harmonica while walking down a country road. His talent has even attracted the media waggeries CNN, who will be featuring him March 2 on the show, "CNN Across America."
Last summer, he returned home to Missouri and resumed working with the BWB Band, otherwise known as the "Black, White & Blues" Band who have played on and off with the harmonica wonder since he was seven. Members of this eight-piece band include John "Johnny C" Copowitz, lead guitar; Eugene Smiley, rhythm guitar; Greg "Coko" Henderson, bass guitar; Brian Reynolds, drums; Jeff Lucas, keyboards; Calvin Whitmore III, saxophone; Shawn Cassidy, trumpet; and Reggie Mays, trombone.
Together Brody and the BWB band are hard at work performing in clubs and have made some demos, with a mixture of standards and originals, including "I've Come to Play," written by Brody, "You're Never Too Young for the Blues" written by Lucas and "I Was Born to Play the Blues" penned by Smiley. It's part of the training towards Brody's goal to record an album by the time he's 12. What would that album be like? "I'd like to have people guest on it like B.B. King, Sam Moore, Mavis Staples, Lee Oskar, and Bonnie Raitt."
Brody's stern discipline in playing harmonica spills over into his schoolwork too. A fifth grader, Brody pulls in A's and B's and his parents rightfully restrict his playing to every other weekend and school holidays. This busy student will not be taking a breather during the upcoming spring break. From March 15 to 22, Brody and the BWB Band will be swinging by the East Coast, playing in Chicago, Cleveland, New York City, Springfield (MA), and Boston.
Janet Buster admitted that "Even if Brody decided not to be involved in music anymore, that everything he's gained will help him in whatever he does in life. Just his confidence level, just being able to stand on stage and speak with people and interviewing with people and the different people he has met, the different places he has gone, whatever he has done he will benefit from this experience.
