Recently, we had the fortune to see the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue at the Redstone Room in the River Music Experience in downtown Davenport. The line-up consists of San Francisco-based blues guitarist Tommy Castro and his backing band; blues-pianist and saxophone player Deanna Bogart; the long-time harmonica player from the J. Geils Band, Magic Dick; and blues guitarist Bernard Allison, the son of the late blues legend Luther Allison.
In the past, the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue has featured Ronnie Baker Brooks, the son of blues great Lonnie Brooks, instead of Bernard Allison. Our friends, Tom and Mary Ann Laake, saw that show in Waterloo earlier in the year. We wanted to go see the show in Davenport and Tom and Mary Ann were up for going with us, as well.
After standing in line for nearly an hour for the doors to open so we could get a table in the Redstone Room, we finally found a table in the back. While the sight lines aren't too good in the Redstone Room, the giant projected images they have of the performers on the wall opposite the bar helps those in the back to see the performance. But the sound system is great, no matter where on sits in the venue.
The show started promptly at 8 a.m. with Tommy Castro and his band taking the stage. I worked with Tommy Castro at the Rib Fest about 5 years ago. I remember him being a very nice guy who didn't drink alcohol. His drink of choice was Red Bull and he had a couple three on ice in the colors off the side of the stage.
Castro's blistering guitar and gravelly voice did a great job of convincing one that he'd probably grown up in the south instead of the Bay Area. Castro's band consisting of longtime associate Keith Crossen on sax, Tom Poole on trumpet, Scott Sutherland on bass and Ronnie Smith on drums did a great job accompanying Castro.
After about 30 minutes of playing his tunes, Castro introduced Deanna Bogart. I wasn't overly certain if I'd ever see her play before, but the Washington, D.C.-based Bogart put on a great set of about four or five songs as she sang and played both her piano and her saxophone with authority. I was really impressed with her work. I wish she would have been able to play longer than she did.
Coming out to join Castro and Deanna Bogart after her short set was harmonica player-extraordinaire Magic Dick. Born Richard Salwitz, Magic Dick was the cornerstone with the J. Geils Band until the group disbanded in the mid-80's. He is one of the true innovators of the modern blues harmonica style. And the guy can really blow on that mouth harp. Although he's approaching 65 years of age, Magic Dick was still a flamboyant presence on the stage, bouncing, dancing and doing wild arm gyrations when he played.
Joining the group last - but certainly not least - was Bernard Allison. It turned out this was one of the first gigs the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue had done with the Chicago native. Allison still plays the same guitar that his father, Luther, played when he became one of the most revered blues artists. And Bernard Allison did a great job playing three or four of his songs with the other musicians helping out. It was about 2 hours of non-stop great music played by a stage full of great musicians.
The band took about a half-hour break before coming back out and beginning a jam session where everyone played on stage. Actually, I'd had enough of the music and heard what I wanted to hear that evening, so we took off after a couple of the jam songs. But it was still a treat to have so many great musicians on stage for one evening of blues. The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue continues to travel across the nation into 2009 (see upcoming dates here), this time with blues great Kenny Neal taking Bernard Allison's place. If you love blues music and get a chance to see the show, do it.
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