Tuesday, July 24, 2007
I threw on my glad rags on and made it on over
to Shibuya, Friday night
for the The Japan Blues & Soul Carnival 2007.
©2007 Pamela MacCarthy
I had the wonderful experience of meeting
once again, the Queen of the Blues,
Koko Taylor,
here in Tokyo,
this past weekend.
Koko Taylor's new CD; Old School
I met Koko the first time, years ago,
in NYC, where she performed with her Blues Machine
at a music hall on W14th Street.
She was very kind to me when I first met her & her manager/husband 'Pops'.
I asked her advice for myself, then a fledgling singer.
"If you like it, keep on doin' it" she told me...
Years later, I am still doin' it,
and Koko Taylor is most definitely carrying on!
She surrounds herself with family
and musicians who love and respect her,
and play some Chicago blues.
The first night in Tokyo
at Shibuya's Duo Music Exchange,
Koko was in top form.
Steppin' out in her silver jacket and hat, the audience just loved her.
Supported by her most excellent Blues Machine:
Vino Louden; guitar,
Shun Kikuya; guitar,
Anderson Edwards; keyboards,
Melvin Smith; bass,
& Rick Nelson on drums.
I also met bassman Joe 'Smokin Joe' Thomas.
He's playing with fellow Chicago bluesman
Lurrie Bell.
I saw their first set Saturday night, 7/21,
at Blues Alley, Japan.
The finale was on 7/22 Sunday afternoon,
at The Outdoor Hibiya Bandshell.
It was a great event,
and I'll keep Koko's encore
in my head for awhile:
Come on
Baby dont you wanna go?
Come on
Baby dont you wanna go?
Back to that same ol' place
Sweet home Chicago
I heard the first cicada of summer, today...
'Till next time...
Labels: Artist Pamela MacCarthy, Japan Blues & Soul Carnival 2007, Koko Taylor
9:10 AM
|
Photo: Michio Yves Ueda
