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Sonny Jim Clifford
Boston Blues Society
Sonny
just as
preciation
it does
ment
DIY music
teeth
and basement
long
derground
developed
environment.
sis on
intensity—instead
rhythm
ity of
Clifford’s
urgent,
impression
Sonny
Sonny
ilton,
nightclubs
hearing
artists.
ment,
work
career
decades.
album
for Hittin’
Ector
one of
ticularly
capable
man.”
picking
or playing
guitar
is classic
the way
Capital
Stan
of Stan
gree,
blues
IBC entrant.
a chance
rootsy
is a multi-instrumentalist 144 H SOLO/DUO
harmonica, uke, and washboard.
He’s the front man for the retroeclectic
combo The Further Adventures
of FatBoy and JiveTurkey.
Clifford’s sound comes
much from a love and ap-
He has diverse musical tastes,
of traditional blues as but has always been drawn to
from an active involve-
the blues. Together Stan and Ben
Boston’s subterranean weave a musical tapestry drawing
on the back-porch, swampy
culture. Cutting his
playing in the same houses style of the blues, with vocals and
venues that have instruments engaging in a lively
home to Boston’s un-
conversation that invites you in.
punk scene, Sonny
a sound suited to that
Placing the empha-
Stuart Baer and
songwriting and emotional Lance Womack
of the strict
Spa City Blues Society
instrumental virtuos-
modern blues acts— Stuart Baer and Lance Womack
sound is personal and play a raw acoustic mix of traditional
Delta- and New Orleans-style
always leaving a distinct
on every audience. blues. By sprinkling in a blend of
fine jazz, rumba, gutbucket shuffle,
and boogaloo, Baer, on the
Moorman piano, and Womack, on the drums,
Blues Society create a unique stripped-down
sound. The music of this Arkansas
duo evokes visions of sec-
Moorman was born in Ham-
and grew up in the
ond-line bands marching down
his parents owned,
Bourbon Street and conjures up
some of the world’s best
days gone by when one could
Immersed in that environ-
hear the music from upright pianos
shaking the walls of back-
Sonny was able, by his hard
dedication, to build a
woods churches and honky-tonks.
now spans nearly five
In his review of Sonny’s
at the Cincy Blues Fest Sweet Baby Ray
the Note magazine, Bill
Northern Arizona
“Live acoustic blues is
Blues Alliance
God’s great gifts to us, par-
when it is placed in the
Sweet Baby Ray hails from Chicago,
and he recalls that his
hands of Sonny Moor-
Whether Sonny is finger-
first stage experience was sitting
in with Muddy Waters’ leg-
Zeiler acoustic guitar
slide on his Oahu lap
endary sidemen Pinetop Perkins
Dobro resophonic, this
and Jimmy Rogers. He has been
blues played and sung
inspired by the great Chess record
artists such as Little Wal-
was supposed to be.
ter, George Harmonica Smith,
Big Walter Horton, Jimmy Reed,
Stan and Ben Howlin’ Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson,
Junior Wells, and James Cotton.
Sweet Baby Ray is known
Area Blues Society
Budzynski is the guitarist in Arizona for his artistic renditions
of the national anthem, and
Budzynski and 3rd De-
Lansing, Michigan-based for weaving through the audience
during festivals playing his
and 2005 and 2009
This duo gives him harmonica and singing. He won
to highlight Dobro and the Phoenix Blues Society’s Ari-
guitar. Benjamin Hall
playing
The Blues Foundation • blues.org zona Blues Showdown as top traditional
solo act in 1998, and
has been a finalist three times.
TD MacDonald
TD MacDonald and Nel Nichols
They Call Me Rico
France Blues
Jim
in
been
and
most
Cincy
Ohio,
and
that
Live
said:
his
or
it
a
band
slide
and Nel Nichols
Cape Fear Blues Society
are a dynamic, foot-tappin’ duo
rooted in old times, ragtime, hard
times, and good times. MacDonald’s
deep, dusty vocals and his
National guitar (affectionately
dubbed Sweet Georgia Brown) intertwine
with Nichols’ expressive
style on diatonic and chromatic
harmonica. Raw. Emotive. Real.
Based in Wilmington, North Carolina,
they began their careers in
different locales—MacDonald near
Washington, D.C., and Nichols in
New York City. Both have paid their
dues as musicians—in clubs and
concerts, with recordings and studio
work, as soloists, sidemen,
teachers, and songwriters. Kindred
spirits in blues, this duo deliver a
freewheeling, high-energy show.
Born in Canada, They Call Me Rico
is a one-man recording and touring
musician who now lives in
Lyon, France. Driven by a powerful
voice, bottleneck slide guitar,
and simultaneous bass drum and
hi-hat playing, his music blends
acoustic blues, folk, and straightahead
rock and roll. Rico’s ability
to perform on multiple instruments
at the same time is an exciting
spectacle. Playing mostly original
songs, he draws you into his
world of road-movie soundtracks,
songs of lost love, and dust-raising
rhythm and blues. About to release
his third album, They Call Me Rico
has gathered critical acclaim for
breathing new life into a familiar
genre and for an ability to singlehandedly
bring down the house!
Tina and Brandon
The Blues Societies
of Iowa
Tina and Brandon are a bluesified
force to be reckoned with. Married
since January of 2005, these
true soul mates are beloved by
their fans as “the lovebirds of the
blues.” They have enjoyed their
numerous appearances on blues
stages big and small on their challenging,
exciting, and fulfilling melodic
journey. The award-winning
vocals of Tina plus the sought-after
“guitartistry” of Brandon create
a compelling union all their
own, in their duo shows or with
their blues band, Diva and the
Deacons. Celebrating one lovely
decade of performing, Tina and
Brandon love sharing the gospel
of inspiration, authenticity, and
the thrill of a sweet blues groove.
Tony Lee King
Croatian Blues Forces
Antonio Culina, aka Tony Lee King,
was born in Croatia in 1970. He
was educated in Paris, France,
and as a child he showed a great
deal of talent for music. At the
age of 7 he fell in love with the
music of Ennio Morriccone, and
by the age of 17 he discovered
B.B. King’s 1985 album Six Silver
Strings, which determined his
life path and musical orientation.
When he turned 21 he left Croatia,
and the streets of Europe became
his home. The idea of becoming
a bluesman sent him on a non-return
journey where he had to learn
how to survive playing his blues.
Trey Johnson and
Jason Willmon
Arkansas River
Blues Society
Trey Johnson and Jason Willmon
are two fairly decent guys from Arkansas
who grew up around folks
who loved great music. Learning to
respect their elders and keep their
mouths shut until the song was
finished, they developed a love for
the American song. Hearing Little
Walter and Willie Dixon changed
32nd International Blues Challenge
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