For the month of April we start off by paying tribute to a man I considered a part of the extended BLUES JUNCTION family, Richard Innes. As virtually all of our readers are now keenly aware, we lost Richard to cancer on March 26^th. Blues drummer Richard Innes exemplified the highest level of excellence and professionalism.  

I am not a musician. I am simply a fan of this music. I have heard Richard perform live more than any other drummer. That fact is simply a function of sheer geographic good fortune, as well as Richard’s unwavering commitment to excellence. He ONLY came off of the mountain to perform the music he loved, the music he spent a lifetime studying and practicing. He only played with the best of the best.

Since my return to Southern California 20 years or so ago, I have heard Richard on the bandstand countless times including literally dozens of shows where Richard “Lynwood Slim” Duran, Al Blake or Kim Wilson were fronting bands. As often as not he was playing right alongside bassist Larry Taylor. Together they were the undisputed greatest rhythm section in modern blues.

The fact that neither one of these giants of this music has ever won a Blues Music Award is of course a damning indictment of the Blues Foundation and all the proof anyone needs as to how far removed this organization is from the music they claim to support.

If a person knew absolutely nothing about blues music and decided they wanted to explore its vast landscape, they could have started out by selecting shows and CDs in which Richard was drumming. That might be all the navigational point of reference needed to hear the very best blues music of the past 45 years or so.

I thought as a tribute to Richard I would “publish” an appreciation by a man I have never met personally, but who gave me permission to share his thoughts with our readers. His name is Jansen Richards from Ottawa, Canada. I found his tribute on a Facebook Page that is a few years old now entitled: “Richard Innes: The World’s Greatest Blues Drummer.” I recommend that you check that out as there is an outpouring of affection for Richard and his drumming there that is quite moving.

In addition to our appreciation and tribute to Richard we have a whole new batch of articles starting with our Monthly Artist Spotlight feature. That spotlight shines on the city of light and one of its brightest stars, Parisian blues man Nico Duportal. This feature was written by my longtime friend and one of the most accomplished purveyors of blues music, Jeff Scott Fleenor. This piece comes directly from the liner notes of Duportal’s excellent new album entitled, Guitar Player on Rhythm Bomb Records.

Nico and his Rhythm Dudes also back up a singer with whom our readers are already familiar, Jai Malano. We have a complete review of her brand new album as well. This Austin, Texas, based singer’s first “solo” album is entitled Rocket Girl. It is also on the London based Rhythm Bomb Records label.

Our Monthly Album Spotlight shines on the first studio album by James Harman since 2003’s Lonesome Moon Trance. Bonetime, an Electro-Fi Records release will have its official street date later this month, but for now is available through Bluebeat Music.

There is a blues man with whom many of our readers may not be familiar; read about him in a piece entitled, From The Case Files of the Blues Detective: Sherwood Fleming.  

Our new Re-Visted feature examines a twenty year old album entitled, The Last Real Texas Blues Band featuring Doug Sahm. The Lone Star State is full of larger than life legends from Pecos Bill to Nolan Ryan. None of them are any bigger than the San Antonio hipster, Doug Sahm. Although I would guess Doug would have argued in favor of Nolan Ryan and then spent the next several hours telling you why.  

Here in April we have another installment of our Jukebox at the JUNCTION. Find out what new songs from new albums we have been dancing to way out here in the west.

Earlier I said I think of Richard as part of the extended BLUES JUNCTION family. I mean that in a spiritual sense of course. Richard was as old school as it gets. He didn’t suffer fools gladly. He had no need for the posturing, pandering, politics and general B.S. associated with the modern blues world. He was a private man who in the parlance of our time, “kept it real.” He was always the first person to show up on a gig.  He was also the first to leave. In other words, he was all business. He didn’t engage in any show business theatrics. He had one stated mission, ‘How can I make this band sound as good as it can at this very moment?’ It was about the music and not about him. He was completely and utterly selfless. He let his music do the talking. If you listen, it speaks volumes. If you listen, it will reveal the vast knowledge born out of a profound love, devotion and respect for the blues idiom that was deeply imbedded in the heart and soul of Richard Inness.