We welcome you to the January, 2012, edition of this monthly online e-zine. I hope every one of you had a happy, healthy and fulfilling holiday season. I also hope you are ready for another batch of entertaining articles, artist profiles and photo essays that celebrate the great American music.

Our January monthly artist spotlight shines on a prolific pianist out of Chicago who is imbibed in the blues history of that city. Read about Barrelhouse Chuck and his journey through the history of Chicago Blues. This story is timely as Chuck has an excellent 2011 album out and is planning to release a box set called 35 years of Chicago Blues Piano in 2012.

Speaking of journeys metaphorical and otherwise, this month we present part one of a two part feature which focuses on Julie Jenkins and her recent adventures. We look at the protagonist in the ongoing drama she is calling Cheesecake, Blues and My Trip Across America. Read about her in the article entitled, Part One: The Traveler.

One of the subjects I like to tackle now and again is that of the venue. I always think that as we write about the music and the musicians, we sometimes overlook where this music is played and the impact these places can have on the performance, and of course the audience. We take a look at an example of this in an article entitled A Tale of two Nightclubs.

It wouldn’t be January without the cursory “best of” list. I find these types of pieces entertaining for the most part. It is fun to see where some of us fans agree and where we differ on such things. I don’t have the audacity to turn my picks into an award or make my picks for sale like some of my fellow sages in the online world. The compromise and corruption during awards season in the blues world would be kind of funny if it weren’t so pathetic and ultimately damaging to the music we love. My “best of...” is simply my opinion (humble or otherwise) and nothing more grandiose than that. Check out this in the tab that reads The Best of 2011. I look forward to hearing from you on this, as I value the opinion of the readers here at the JUNCTION.

This month’s Jukebox at the JUNCTION is full of songs that are my favorites from the top ten albums which you will find in the aforementioned Best of 2011 section of the site.

There is an artist who turned 64 on the 26^th of December who is always on a “best of...” list when it comes to bass players. His name is George Porter, Jr. For over 40 years he has dealt with the funk in such a way as to make him one of the most respected musicians in the Crescent City or anywhere else for that matter. We are proud to “publish” an interview by one of our ongoing contributing writers Kennan Shaw. Kennan is not only a talented writer but an in demand bass player in his own right. His insight into the bass is what makes this interview special.

We go from New Orleans to points north to find an interesting story about an engaging individual who is known as the Blues Attorney. Read an interview I did with Brian Lukasavitz from Duluth, Minnesota. He even throws a good lawyer joke into the mix. In all seriousness however, Brian’s work should be of interest to many of the musicians, concert promoters, festival organizers and others who are involved in the business of the blues.

Making our way back out west, I take a look back on what I consider the ten best news stories out of Southern California that relate to the blues world. There were some very positive developments out here in 2011, and we take a look at some of these in an article entitled The Best Blues Stories in Southern California - 2011.

Also see a fine photo essay entitled Festivales de California as the BLUES JUNCTION team traveled up and down the Golden State on a blues festival photo safari. Thanks to Billy Wayne Turner, Alex Gardner, Mike Lovato, Brad Elligood, Chris Corbett and Leslie Hagins for their contributions to this photo essay.

In Costa Mesa, California, the December installment of the World Class Blues in the O.C. concert series hosted the final show of the Kim Wilson All-Star Blues Revue. Enjoy a world class photo essay by the very talented Alex Gardner.

Finally, we have a piece that is an appreciation of the late Hubert Sumlin. Those of us who were privileged to get to know Hubert through the years are saddened by his passing last month. I read many of the fine remembrances and appreciations of Hubert in both the mainstream media and in the blues world. I struggled with how I could add anything meaningful to this conversation. Fortunately, my friends Mike Lovato and Cindi Bernhardt rescued me from one of those rare blank page moments. I kicked around some ideas with Mike and Cindi and the concept that we could share personal memories of the time we spent with Hubert. We thought this would be appropriate and respectful. When I read the piece submitted by Mike and Cindi, I knew immediately what I would do. I scrapped my words altogether and went with their story. They nailed it. I think anyone who has ever met Hubert can attest their remembrances are as real as it gets. In reading their story I can practically hear Hubert saying something in my ear. 

As the winter settles in, remember to take a moment out for yourself. Curl up near a warm fire, pour yourself a soothing, comforting and perhaps warming beverage and read BLUES JUNCTION. Stay warm and stay in touch.

- David Mac