UPDATE: I was informed this morning of Big Sol's death in Amsterdam. He was truly an amazing and inspirational artist and will be greatly missed. Say a prayer for the loss of this legend and for all of us that are mourning for him.

Solomon Burke is a brilliant soulful entertainer, still keeping it true. He came out of retirement recently and is now touring in Japan at age 70. (I can only hope I'm able to perform like this man has at that age!) Recently a friend asked me to blog about a few artists whom I hadn't heard in some time, but who's music needed to be heard by the next generation of Blues, Jazz and Soul fans. I started this project with Otis Spann and, as you can see, Big Sol was to be my next great, but all of a sudden he's everywhere! On NPR, in Japan, got a new CD out ("Nothing's Impossible") and he's been jamming with some of the legendary greats like the late Willie Mitchell.

But that's the thing about great musicians; just when you think they're done, they're right back at ya, knocking down the house with music you knew just had to be made. That's what Big Sol does, and has always done, put music in your head that you'll never forget.

Let me introduce you to someone that's not particularly a household name. But if you know a little about the Blues, then the dots are instantly connected when you're reminded that Otis Spann laid it out for Muddy Waters on piano during his most prolific years. "Got My Mojo Working", "Blow Wind Blow", "Hootchie Cootchie Man"; that was Otis Spann on the ivories for those classic Chess waxings. Spann gave up the piano seat to Pinetop Perkins in 1969 to set out on a solo career. He released the Fleetwood Mac produced "Hungry Country Girl" , and shortly after, died of cancer in 1970.

We had a few technical issues right at the beginning of this week's Jazz and Blues show and though frustrated, it made me think of the old juke joints in New Orleans where "technical issues" meant having the bouncer toss someone out the back door while the blues man nudged the glass off the stage and grabbed his other guitar. A quick sip from his glass and in under a minute the whole place was grooving like it never happened.

This show was just that kind of night. We heard from greats like Irene Reid, Michele Holland, Kurt Elling, and Joni Mitchell. Mix in some upcoming names like myself, Barry Brogan and Michel Navedo and we've got a another night to remember.



As always I've put a few of the featured videos below, but you can find all the videos of the artists featured on The Stormy Monday Show by visiting my Stormy Monday Youtube Channel








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