Welcome to the first edition of BLUES JUNCTION for the year 2013. Last month, journalists of all stripes produced their obligatory “Year in Review” articles. As BLUES JUNCTION arrives on newsstands (your desktop, laptops and hand held communication devices) on the first Monday of every month, I couldn’t very well put an end to 2012 all the way back in November. Now there are a few ways to look at this: 1) I am slow, 2) I have turned procrastination into an art form, 3) I didn’t want to put in too much effort into this endeavor if the Mayans had more foresight for which most of us give them credit, and 4) I wanted to wait until the Blues Music Awards (BMAs) were announced so I could combine their recognition with my “Best of 2012” sometimes called the DMAs.

The way I figure it, never miss an opportunity to combine and multi-task when it comes to matters that are this trivial...and fun. With this in mind I direct you to the tab that reads, Some Thoughts on the Blues Music Awards. I also took the dangerous step and actually posted the list of the BMA nominees along with who I thought should win from their pool of nominees, my predicted winners and some thoughts to go along with this. Historically, I am more accurate than a Mayan calendar maker, but not much more, so take any and all of this with as many grains of salt as you choose.  Also, I thought I would do what I always do in January and put out a Best of list for the previous year.

This month we feature an interview with one of the brightest young talents in the blues world, Nathan James who shines in the Monthly Artist Spotlight. Enjoy the interview that Alex Gardner conducted with Nathan last fall aboard the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. 

On December 6^th, the music world lost a true giant, Dave Brubeck. He was one of the most celebrated musicians in American music. He was only the second jazz musician to appear on the cover of Time magazine (Louis Armstrong being the first). This happened a full five years before he produced his career defining masterwork, Time Out. I hope you take time to enjoy my appreciation of Dave Brubeck. I also selected some recommended listening. Check out a very jazzy jukebox under the tab that reads, Dave Digs Dave.

I know what many of you are thinking, did I just come out of the closet as (gasp) a jazz fan? No, actually if you have been paying attention, a couple of years ago I did a couple of reviews of live performances that took place here in Southern California by two jazz performers. In the Archive section of our site you can find pieces on guitarist Kenny Burrell (The Professor Goes to Hollywood) and the highly acclaimed organist Joey Defranseco (Pal Joey). The interesting thing about both of those performances is that I ran into several blues musicians at these gigs. It has been my observation for many years that blues musicians are more open minded about music than their fans. The funny thing is, if I take any flak for straying outside the blues fence it will be from the same people who read on-line publications that review Doors Concert DVDs and Robin Trower concerts.

Along with the passing of Dave Brubeck, 2012 also marked the deaths of some other very important musicians that we admire. Check the tab that reads, In Memoriam. With the loss of many of these individuals comes, of course, grief, as well as a chance to reflect back on their recorded legacy. With this in mind, may I suggest checking out the tab that reads Jukebox for the Ages. I spent a lot of time this past year, as I always do, reflecting on the lives of the folks that brought us such joy. It can be cathartic to listen to these artists who continue to give us such inspiration here in the New Year and beyond.

Last month, horror again visited our nation. This time the gun massacre occurred at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. Like so many of you, suddenly I was paralyzed with grief, outrage and just plain shock. I felt what I do is so trivial in the face of such monumental problems facing our nation.

Some days later I attended a Christmas party and someone came up to me and said that my words made them laugh and cry. I had an epiphany. If my words can have this effect on people, I realized just how important the music is that we celebrate here at BLUES JUNCTION. Maybe what we do around here is not all that trivial after all. I have always felt that music, and the arts in general, have been under siege in this country by people who are afraid to reach out to the light and at least try and understand this beauty. These people are the ones who make it so difficult for creative people to survive. In my view it is the musicians who help to give our lives value and meaning.

I, as you might suspect, have some thoughts as it relates to the topic of gun control, but I will save those for another time. For now though, may I forward the concept that we should spend more time embracing the things that make us want to love more, feel more, laugh more, cry more and, most of all, live more. We might also want to try to find a way to pass these values on to the most troubled amongst us.

As always your thoughts on any and all of this are not only appreciated but welcome and encouraged. Be well and be in touch.

-  David Mac