A couple of weeks ago, a terrific CD was released entitled, Trickbag with Friends: Volume 1. On the album’s seventh track one of this international band’s “friends”, Lynwood Slim steps up to the mic on the album’s only live tune. Before Slim and the band did a swingin’ take on the Jimmy Rogers classic That’s Alright, the California crooner addressed the audience and referenced all the countries of origin that make up this Swedish based band. Slim went on to refer to the blues as the true international language.

Slim’s remarks, and that performance which took place at the Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa, California, on May 17, 2012, seem to exemplify the spirit of the new blues world. It also captures the essence of this past month where this universal language was spoken on four consecutive weekends here in Southern California. This extraordinary four week spasm of great music began right where it ended in Costa Mesa.

On Saturday, May 11^th, the Southern California blues community came together at the Orange County Marketplace to participate in a benefit concert for guitarist David “Kid” Ramos. The event raised funds to help offset some of the medical costs associated with his ongoing battle with cancer. The musicians who performed for free were all part of Ramos’ extended musical family. They included White Boy James and the Blues Express, 2000 Pounds of Blues, James Harman, Lynwood Slim, The Memphis Kings and the show’s headliner, James Intveld. Intveld was joined by Ramos himself on stage.

A few days later Ramos would begin another round of chemotherapy. He appeared only a couple of days after his chemo treatment and played guitar alongside Janiva Magness at the huge Doheny Blues Festival. It was one of the most emotional musical experiences that I can recall. You can read my thoughts on this festival and enjoy a photo essay in two companion pieces entitled, Destination Doheny and The Doheny Blues Festival 2013.

After the Saturday performances at the Doheny Blues Festival, BLUES JUNCTION Productions hosted a private party where the band, The Silver Kings made their concert debut. On hand were family, friends and fellow musicians who performed at the festival earlier that day as well as other luminaries from the blues world including Jeff Scott Fleenor of Delta Groove Music, John Reilly of World Class Blues in the O.C. and esteemed blues journalist and producer of the San Diego Blues Festival, Michael Kinsman. The Silver Kings were even joined by one of their idols, Al Blake, for a couple of numbers.

The following weekend, some 100 miles or so up the road, The Simi Valley Cajun and Blues Festival took place. Enjoy another pair of features on this festival under the tabs that read, A Memorial Day Tradition and The Simi Valley Cajun and Blues Festival 2013.

Another emerging tradition in Simi Valley is the official After Parties that took place at the festival’s host hotel. These events turned the Grand Vista’s Arena Room into a swinging juke joint. The musical amagalamations that took place on two consecutive nights were tantamount to a festival in a nightclub.

On Sunday, part way through the performances at the Arena Room, five musicians walked into the nightclub. I was greeted with hugs, handshakes and broad smiles. It was the German blues band, B.B. and the Blues Shacks. They just came off another gig. After breaking down and loading out, they drove six hours to an airport in Hamburg where they boarded a flight to the United States. They landed in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they were greeted by the United States Custom Service who detained them for four hours before allowing them to continue their journey to the Los Angeles International Airport, where they rented a couple of cars and drove up the infamous 405 freeway (the autobahn it is not) and into Simi Valley.

Upon their arrival, and being aware of their travels, we spoke in another universal language. I asked the band’s singer and harmonica player, Michael Arlt how they were doing. He said, “We are tired, but beer would help.” So despite the calendar and location, it became Oktoberfest. The band enjoyed a week of sightseeing, shopping, a backyard barbeque and of course the business of making music.

The four stop, West Coast, mini tour concluded on Sunday, June 2^nd, at the Tiki Bar, where they destroyed the joint. Just a week earlier, when they walked into the Arena Room, Kim Wilson was tearing up the stage in Simi Valley. At the Tiki Bar, the veteran blues man would join the Germans on stage for a couple of numbers just one year after his fellow Californian Lynwood Slim had done the same with Trickbag. Check out the tab, B.B. and the Blues Shacks’ West Coast Tour.

The man who produced the blues stage over the past four years at the Simi Valley Cajun and Blues Festival has been Randy Chortkoff. Chortkoff, as I am sure that many of our readers are aware, is the founder and president of Delta Groove Music. Enjoy a conversation I had with him that took place just a few days before the Simi Valley Cajun and Blues Festival. We discuss his background in the blues business as well as his ongoing efforts to do right by this music we love.

It is with great joy that I announce that this month’s jukebox is loaded with some simply outstanding tunes from ten mostly brand new albums that we have been enjoying out here for the past few weeks. What makes this jukebox a little different is that for only the third time in the history of this ezine, I was assisted in the tunes chosen here. The last time this occurred was several months ago when my pooch, Rosco, chose some selections that happen to be his favorite tunes. This time there is no more doggin’ around as a bi-ped by the name of Charlie Lange of Bluebeat Music gives me a hand. Charlie is a writer and blues historian of the first order and his contribution to this ongoing feature is a welcome addition to BLUES JUNCTION.

The June edition of the ezine also represents another departure from tradition, as Finis Tasby remains in our Monthly Artist Spotlight. The singer was scheduled to make an appearance at this year’s Cajun and Blues Festival but had to cancel as he continues to struggle to overcome medical complications associated with a severe stroke he suffered last December. He has a brand new album out which he recorded with Kid Andersen. A portion of the proceeds from his new album, Snap your Fingers, which just came out on May 18^th, goes to offset some of his ongoing medical expenses.

I also want to direct our readers to a benefit concert that is taking place in Burbank, California, on June 15^th, at Joes American Bar and Grill. Information on this event is available through various social media outlets. Additionally there is a medical relief fund that has been established for folks who wish to help out that are not able or inclined to go to Joe’s for that event. That info is:

Finis Tasby Medical Fund
PO Box 244
Fullerton. CA 92836

Last but not least, I would like to thank all the folks who I have met this past month as I got out from behind the lap top to venture to the events which are featured in this month’s ezine. As many of you know by now, I have been listening to this music for a very long time and I pick and choose my live music spots very judiciously. It was great that so many absolutely incredible performers from all over the globe played so close together and so close together right here in Southern California. Your kind words as it relates to our endeavors here at BLUES JUNCTION mean so much to me. It is one thing to engage you via email and Facebook messages, but having a chance to visit with so many of you face to face this past month was especially touching for me. Nothing beats enjoying the international language of the blues with you. Until we meet again, be well and be in touch.

- David Mac