snakes
611 posts
Jan 12, 2011
3:02 PM
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I am pleased to say that I saw Sugar Blue and his band on Monday night here in Seattle at Dimitrou's Jazz Alley. I was fortunate enough to be seated right up front against the stage so you could say I was close to the band (Sugar Blue used our table to set down his glass of water while playing). I haven't seen him come to Seattle so I accepted the week's coming sleep deprivation experience for the experience of seeing him play on a Monday night. I must say that I was stunned by the excellence of his band. Don't get me wrong, Sugar Blue plays the heck out of the harp and was awesome. But his band was amaaaaaaazing. I think that is the best rhythm section I've heard for years no matter what genre of music. People were standing up and cheering the drummer despite the fact that he never did a solo. And the young lady playing the bass would give Tal Wilkenfeld a run for her money. She played a six string bass and was in the pocket and just played the crap out of it. I believe her name was Ialeria (probably got the spelling way off). Finally the guitarist is named Rico McFarland (sp?) and he is world class as well. I must say you European folks that get to see this band on a regular basis are really blessed. Sugar Blue is definitely on top of his game (except where he fell over backwards tripping on a monitor during the end of "Another Man") and the entrie experience is well worth the fatigue I am enduring at this moment. If you haven't seen them I highly recommend you take the opportunity if it arises.
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snakes in Seattle
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hvyj
1064 posts
Jan 12, 2011
3:52 PM
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The bass player's name is Ilaria Lantieri. She is from Italy, but went to college in Chicago which is where she hooked up with Sugar Blue. Rico McFarland is indeed a terrific guitar player. Both are very cool and down to earth people in addition to being such good musicians.
IMHO, Sugar Blue's musicianship is second to none.
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NiteCrawler .
80 posts
Jan 12, 2011
4:12 PM
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I saw Rico playing in Koko Taylors band at Stockton College in N.J. years back and agree that he,s one fine Blues player.Toward the end of the show he and Koko went into a "Keep The Blues Alive" chant for about 4 or 5 times around.Since then I have noticed that he has played with many(mostly Chicago based)different top named Blues acts.If Sugar has him on tour with him I couldn,t imagine it being nothing but Off The Hook.
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tmf714
431 posts
Jan 12, 2011
6:08 PM
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Rico was in James Cotton's band for years-great guitarist.
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kudzurunner
2234 posts
Jan 12, 2011
7:35 PM
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The band you saw, with Ilaria on bass, is the band that Sugar Blue will be bringing to Hill Country Harmonica in May. And it's the band that will be backing up YOU (and other jammers), if you attend the event, for at least one solid hour.
Last Edited by on Jan 12, 2011 7:36 PM
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toddlgreene
2487 posts
Jan 13, 2011
5:32 AM
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If Kudzu's post above mine isn't enough incentive on its' own to attend HCH, I don't know what is. May 21-22 is gonna be an event for the record books!
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Todd L. Greene, Professor of Meaningless Trivia
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snakes
613 posts
Jan 13, 2011
1:00 PM
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Wow, I was kinda' writing off the Hill Country gig this year as I am having my other hip replaced in April so I thought maybe I'd pass. Guess I'll have to rethink after assessing the sting factor with the hip at that time. Maybe I'll fly this time instead of drive - LOL!
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snakes in Seattle
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toddlgreene
2499 posts
Jan 13, 2011
1:08 PM
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No excuses, Snakes...at least not if we can arrange one of these on site for you to use:
j/k-good luck with your procedure!
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Todd L. Greene, Professor of Meaningless Trivia
Last Edited by on Jan 13, 2011 1:13 PM
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