“[Blues]: It’s not a style that’s difficult to pick up. It’s purely emotive and dead easy to get a start with.” – Boz Scaggs
July 28, 2021 Volume 2, Issue 34
Rock the Blues with 1,450 Blues Fans Join the Video Experience, Get Lessons and Concerts
Joanna Connor: “Dust My Broom” Guitar Lesson: over 33K views!
When we started posting videos to help you learn Chicago Blues during the lockdown last year, we created a hub for people who love and play Chicago Blues. With 1,450 subscribers to date, people worldwide are rocking blues guitar by learning from Chicago Blues Masters like Dave Specter, Billy Flynn, Johnny Burgin, Joanna Connor (above), plus Brother John Kattke (keys) and Harlan Terson (bass). It’s all on our Youtube channel: Subscribe here.
Take it to the Next Level
While we love playing Blues with you in person, videos remain a great way to learn. No matter what your skill level or schedule is, you can dig into Chicago Blues with Chicago Blues Masters with our videos.
“At Home Chicago Blues” is our program bringing you exclusive video lessons, plus a weekly LIVE Zoom meeting with your instructor and fellow Blues enthusiasts.
Check out video samples below, and get started with this medium-tempo shuffle:
Lesson Samples
Lessons are $23.95/month. You get one month free when you sign up for three months for $71.85.
@ Ravinia Concert Series Highland Park, IL Food Truck Thursdays Located at Jens Jensen Park – Roger Williams Ave. between St. Johns Ave. and Dean Ave. More Info
More concert listings below…but first, let’s meet some of the people that make Chicago Blues great…
Pete’s Pics “Blues in Action” by Peter M. Hurley
JESSE LOCKRIDGE
“I see and hear Jesse Lockridge often playing with the great Jimmy Johnson. Not just a side man, Jesse’s playing is integral to the ensemble. I asked Mr. Lockridge to send me his bio so that I might get to know more about him and share with our bBlues Note readers. His creds are deep and wide, like so many brilliant Chicago blues musicians who provide the musical backbone to our marvelous front men and women. On stage and in recording studios, these musicians are to be celebrated on these pages for their contributions to the Chicago Sound which we love to the core.” – Peter M. Hurley
JESSE LOCKRIDGE has been a part of the music scene in Chicago for the last forty-five years. Born in Chicago, Illinois on July 31, 1960, Mr. Lockridge’s interest in music was sparked through piano lessons at age nine. The Chicago experience provided him with the motivation and assertiveness he would need as a professional musician, a career he had already chosen by his first year of high school.
As a teenager, Mr. Lockridge acquired valuable first-hand recording, and performing skills which would later benefit his career. This experience cultivated his innovative and unique piano style. By age nineteen, Mr. Lockridge was playing with various local bands until Chi-Sound Records hired him as a musician.
At Chi-Sound, Mr. Lockridge performed with such greats as Minnie Riperton, The Staple Singers, Gene Chandler, Chi-Lites, and Walter Jackson. Later, he turned his talents toward Chicago blues and performed with legendary blues artists Buster Benton, Mighty Joe Young, Elvin Bishop, Willie Dixon, and Jimmy Johnson. This experience launched his reputation as a first-rate musician and led to invitations to work with other well-established Chicago blues artists such as Johnny B. Moore, Billy Branch, Lucky Peterson, Artie (Blues Boy) White, Willie Kent, Byther Smith, Katherine Davis, Buster Benton, Willie Dixon, and Nora Jean Wallace.
Today, Jesse Lockridge continues to grace the stage with various well-known Chicago Artists. His recording contributions include Byther Smith, Katherine Davis and Jimmy Johnson. Also, he has toured in Europe and Africa with the legendary Jimmy Johnson.
Mr. Lockridge’s unique blend of R&B and the Chicago blues experience makes him one of the premier musicians today. With the soul and intensity of R&B, and the spirit and honesty of blues, Mr. Lockridge has created his own personal sound. The tradition of the Chicago sound lives on through Mr. Lockridge. He continues to be sought out as one of Chicago’s premier independent musicians.
Mr. Hurley is a contributing photographer and writer for Living Blues Magazine and the staff photographer for Chicago Blues Network. His recent book Blues Legacy: Tradition and Innovation in Chicago, in collaboration with Blues historian and author David Whiteis, showcases his work in the field. His passion for blues music began with a 6th grade dance party discovery of Bo Diddley which led to Little Walter, muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and so on. It continues to this day. Visit Peter’s Website here.
Blues From the Inside Out Host Dave Specter Interviews Donald Kinsley
One of the many incredible episodes on Dave Specter’s “Blues from the Inside Out” podcast includes this interview with Donald Kinsley. Even if you’ve heard the podcast, now you can watch the video, gathering even more insights on Blues music from the greats:
Dave Specter’s Blues From the Inside Out podcast interview with Donald Kinsey
Blues from the Inside Out is a podcast featuring top names in blues, soul, jazz and roots music with a unique, artist-to-artist interview perspective along with live studio performances.
This Week in Chicago Blues: LIVE! Show Listing for July 28 – August 3
Note: Please check with venue and artist websites for more information and to confirm appearances. These shows are in the Chicago/Midwest area.
Thursday July 29 CJ Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM. The Venue presents Music in Mundy Park Outdoor Concert (Rain or Shine), Mundy Park is at 21-23 South Broadway, Aurora, IL (Bring your own chair or blanket)MORE INFO / TICKETS
Dave Specter w/ Brother John Kattke, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, at Ravinia Concert Series: Food Truck Thursdays, located at Jens Jensen Park – Roger Williams Ave. between St. Johns Ave. and Dean Ave. in Highland Park, ILMORE INFO
Joanna Connor, Vino Louden, Doors 7:00 PM at Kingston Mines, 2548 North Halsted Street, Chicago, ILMORE INFO
Lil’ Ed Williams Blues Band, 9:00 PM at Rosa’s Lounge, 3420 W Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL,MORE INFO / TICKETS
Sheryl Youngblood Blues Band (July 29, 30 and 31st), Doors 8:00 PM, at Blue Chicago, 536 N Clark St, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Friday July 30 Breezy Rodio, 7:00 PM, at Johnny Blitz, 20 N Cass Ave, Westmont, ILMORE INFO
Lynne Jordan & The Shivers, Doors 6:00 PM, Show 8:00 PM at City Winery, 1200 W Randolph St, Chicago, ILMORE INFO
Omar Coleman, Vance Kelly, Doors 7:00 PM at Kingston Mines, 2548 North Halsted Street, Chicago, ILMORE INFO
Rico McFarland Band (July 30 and 31st), 9:00 PM at Rosa’s Lounge, 3420 W Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL, MORE INFO / TICKETS
Saturday July 31 Bell Bros. Blues Revival (Lurrie & Steve Bell), 2:30 PM Prairie Dog Blues Festin Prairie Du Chien, WI, DIRECTIONS “The Prairie Dog is a two-day blues/rock music party in Prairie du Chien, Wis., featuring bands from the U.S. and across the globe.” – Delmark.com MORE INFO FULL LINE-UP
Breezy Rodio, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM, at Untitled Supper Club, 111 W Kinzie St, Chicago, ILMORE INFO
Jamiah Rogers Blues Band, 9:00 PM, Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 South Harlem Ave. in Berwyn,MORE INFO
Jimmy Burns, 4:00 PM CST, Facebook Livestream:WATCH IT HERE
Jimmy Johnson, 2:00 PM CST Facebook Livestream:WATCH IT HERE
Lil’ Ed & Blues Imperials, Omar Coleman, Doors 7:00 PM at Kingston Mines, 2548 North Halsted Street, Chicago, ILMORE INFO
Mike Wheeler Blues Band, 7:00 PM Al Spears & The Hurricane Project, 5:00 PM Fibfest, Fibs Brewing Company 260 Howard Avenue, Des Plaines, IL, TICKETS, MORE INFO
Sunday Agust 1 Demetria Taylor with Luke Pytel Blues Band, Doors 8:00 PM, at Blue Chicago, 536 N Clark St, Chicago, IL MORE INFO
Source One Band, 7:00 PM on Sundays, at Odyssey East, 9942 S. TorrenceMORE INFO | VENUE
Tuesday August 3 Omar Coleman, 8:00 PM, at Fitzgerald’s, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn IL,MORE INFO
“…confident in his abilities as a singer, harmonica player and songwriter. [Omar] is steeped in the classic blues sounds of his home city yet unafraid to take them in a more contemporary direction.” – Living Blues Magazine
Pete Galanis & Friends featuring Dave Herrero, 9:00 PM at Rosa’s Lounge, 3420 W Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL, MORE INFO / TICKETS
These are just some of the great Blues shows happening. For more Chicago Blues event news, be sure to also check out:ChicagoBluesGuide.com, Delmark.comand venue websites.
Watch Concerts, Take Lessons
Our Chicago Blues Network YouTube channel is a tour de force in Chicago Blues. We bring you concerts so you can see Chicago Blues Masters in action. The Chicago Blues Network Trading 4s concerts have included special guests ranging from Mary Lane and Katherine Davis, to Toronzo Cannon and Nick and Kate Moss, to Paul Kaye and Mike Wheeler and Larry Williams, plus many more!
Katherine Davis, Donna Herula, Joanna Connor “Key to the Highway”
“Key to the Highway” written by Big Bill Broonzy, and featured in the concert, is one of the 16 songs you can learn with the Chicago Blues Network set list. So come on, what are you waiting for? Follow the trail to Chicago Blues:
