In the Thanksgiving dinner of Christmas music, there's one dish I can never get enough of. That's right. Pass me some more of that Christmas Blues, please. Oh, sure, Clapton and Mindi Abair and Sir Charles Jones were tasty enough. But that's barely an appetizer. I'm still hungry, man. Mmmm. Fresh from the oven. The Austin Blues Revue's "An Austin Blue Christmas". And these cats are cookin'.
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1. Silent Night - The Texas Horns
2. Christmas Tears - Malford Milligan 3. Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin' - Guy Forsyth 4. White Christmas - Soul Man Sam Evans 5. Christmas Celebration - Michael Cross 6. Santa's Blues - Pete Monfre & Jacqui Walker 7. Back Door Santa - Guy Forsyth 8. Please Come Home for Christmas - Jeska Bailey Forsyth 9. Silent Night (Reprise) - Soul Man Sam Evans |
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The Austin Blues Revue isn't a band or group in the traditional sense. It's more of a unique networking of musicians, venues and businesses devised to facilitate fair pay for the musicians and greater profitability for the venues and businesses. The leader of this enterprise is Pete Monfre, who toured the globe for 30 years performing with the likes of Muddy Waters, The Legendary Blues Band, and Marcia Ball. Monfre gave up performing in 2006, saying he couldn't afford it anymore. Studies done show that, while festivals bring in big bucks, local music venues have been suffering and, as a result, pay for the performers is no longer enough to justify the expense of performing. As local venues fared poorly, it also meant a loss of jobs for non-musicians. The situation as it stood was hurting everyone in Austin (not that other cities are faring any better).
Monfre staged the first Revue gig in 2014--a one night only event featuring top performers, followed by a backstage business social event where the stakeholders could learn how basic marketing principles could result in greater profits for everyone. Cross-promotion, greater publicity and visibility, sponsorships, etc., etc. It all begins with fair pay for the musicians. The Revue, itself, is only one example of the principle in action and operates as a non-profit as part of the Austin Community Foundation. Austin Blues Revue networking/concert events are now held about 3 times a year.
But enough about business. Austin never did have a shortage of musical talent and that is brought to bear on "An Austin Blue Christmas". The artists featured on the album have toured with B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Delbert McClinton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Memphis Slim, Linda Ronstadt, Willie Nelson, and many many more. The backing band for most of the tracks features The Texas Horns led by Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff (Sax), plus Red Young (keys), Derek O'Brien (guitar), and Mark Epstein from Johnny Winter's band on bass. Epstein also produced the album.
Most of the Blues Christmas standards are covered, here, and we're treated to a variety of styles. The record opens with a New Orleans flavored "Silent Night" showcasing The Texas Horns. Guy Forsyth takes the lead on "Back Door Santa" and "Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin'". We get a stripped down Country Blues from Jeska Bailey Forsyth on Charles Brown's "Please Come Home For Christmas". Soul Man Sam gives us a Gospel drenched "White Christmas" and goes Texas Hot on "Silent Night (Reprise)". "Santa's Blues" is a Jazzy duet from Monfre and Jacqui Walker. Michael Cross is outstanding on B.B. King's "Christmas Celebration". And it doesn't get any more Texas Blues than Freddie King's "Christmas Tears" from Malford Milligan. (You can check out Michael Cross taking a swing at "Christmas Tears" on Soundcloud; cross your fingers and hope it's a bonus track on the CD.)
"An Austin Blue Christmas" was partially funded through Kickstarter. The CD Release Show/Business Social is scheduled for December 4. And, hey, here's an idea (their's, not mine): buy copies of the CD in bulk and send them to prospective clients for Christmas, following up after the first of the year ("So how'd you like the Christmas gift?"). But for me, and probably you, it's all about the music. And, as The Austin Blues Revue say themselves, "This is the album Jesus Himself would spin for His birthday party."
Monfre staged the first Revue gig in 2014--a one night only event featuring top performers, followed by a backstage business social event where the stakeholders could learn how basic marketing principles could result in greater profits for everyone. Cross-promotion, greater publicity and visibility, sponsorships, etc., etc. It all begins with fair pay for the musicians. The Revue, itself, is only one example of the principle in action and operates as a non-profit as part of the Austin Community Foundation. Austin Blues Revue networking/concert events are now held about 3 times a year.
But enough about business. Austin never did have a shortage of musical talent and that is brought to bear on "An Austin Blue Christmas". The artists featured on the album have toured with B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Delbert McClinton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Memphis Slim, Linda Ronstadt, Willie Nelson, and many many more. The backing band for most of the tracks features The Texas Horns led by Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff (Sax), plus Red Young (keys), Derek O'Brien (guitar), and Mark Epstein from Johnny Winter's band on bass. Epstein also produced the album.
Most of the Blues Christmas standards are covered, here, and we're treated to a variety of styles. The record opens with a New Orleans flavored "Silent Night" showcasing The Texas Horns. Guy Forsyth takes the lead on "Back Door Santa" and "Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin'". We get a stripped down Country Blues from Jeska Bailey Forsyth on Charles Brown's "Please Come Home For Christmas". Soul Man Sam gives us a Gospel drenched "White Christmas" and goes Texas Hot on "Silent Night (Reprise)". "Santa's Blues" is a Jazzy duet from Monfre and Jacqui Walker. Michael Cross is outstanding on B.B. King's "Christmas Celebration". And it doesn't get any more Texas Blues than Freddie King's "Christmas Tears" from Malford Milligan. (You can check out Michael Cross taking a swing at "Christmas Tears" on Soundcloud; cross your fingers and hope it's a bonus track on the CD.)
"An Austin Blue Christmas" was partially funded through Kickstarter. The CD Release Show/Business Social is scheduled for December 4. And, hey, here's an idea (their's, not mine): buy copies of the CD in bulk and send them to prospective clients for Christmas, following up after the first of the year ("So how'd you like the Christmas gift?"). But for me, and probably you, it's all about the music. And, as The Austin Blues Revue say themselves, "This is the album Jesus Himself would spin for His birthday party."
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