Jazz & Blues Lounge

I recently was writing about how Buddy Guy is performing a bunch of shows at his place, Buddy Guy’s Legends.  I have been championing people going to see these shows.  Buddy, sadly, is not getting any younger and while I have not heard any rumors about his health and he seems happy, hale and hearty, the fact is one can never tell.  He is a legend and I understand, and from what I have seen, his live performances are electrifying and exciting.  This is a guy who loves music and loves to perform.
So, where do you get tickets?  Well, the …read more

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I hate to keep harping on Buddy Guy, but the guy (pardon the pun) is an amazing living legend and this is a great time to make your trek to Chicago and see him live in his own place.  I know, it’s cold here in Chicago in January and you want to head to Florida.  Well man (or woman) up and get up here.  Here’s your chance to see Buddy up close and personal.  For information about Buddy’s club you can click HERE. 
I have a friend who went to see Buddy live during his concerts at his club which he …read more

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After posting that live bit from Oscar Peterson yesterday, it made me wonder if I could locate some live Buddy Guy.  Of course, I wasn’t really concerned that I wouldn’t be able to find anything.  It seems that if you want to find anything all you need to do is a quick search on YouTube and you can find a video for anything you want. 
So, I picked this one very bluesy tune and decided to put the link HERE.  It’s Buddy doing some acoustic work, but damn, look at that man play guitar!  I love some good old-fashioned blues, too, …read more

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I am kind of psyched about this Buddy Guy performing throughout January thing.  I have not seen him perform live and in person.  I have seen Buddy performing live on television and his performance during his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame still leaves me breathless to think about, but I have never stood in a crowd and watched him play.  I am thinking that this January I may have to change that.
I do strongly suggest you check out Buddy Guy’s Legends home page.  You can do so by clicking right HERE.  You can find out directions …read more

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Chicago is home to a few great blues clubs.  We have also been the home of some great blues legends.  Fortunately, we are also the home of some blues legends who are still alive and well and making great music.  Koko Taylor is one, for example.  The second is the incomporable Buddy Guy.
If you have not seen Buddy Guy play, well, you are really missing something.  Other great guitar players stand in awe of Buddy.  Jimi Hendrix was rumored to have been in awe of Buddy and considered Buddy a major influence.  Chicago happens to by Buddy Guy’s home and …read more

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Since I seem to have gotten onto a bit of a blues kick this week, I figured I would at least post a few blues concerts and performances from the weekend here.  Of course, I immediately turned to the two bigges places I could think of when it comes to blues music.  Yes, that means Buddy Guy’s Legends and Kingston Mines.
I don’t care how commercial the blues snobs try to make you think Buddy Guy’s Legends is.  The fact is, the man is a legend and his club is fantastic.  You can view their website by clicking here. 
December 5th $10
Linsey …read more

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When it comes to the blues, I have to admit, it’s a little bit tougher for me.  For those of you who come here fairly often, that is probably obvious.  The vast majority of the blog entries here have to do with jazz.  What can I say, I spent some time at a jazz radio station and fell in love with the music.  I never quite had that epiphany with the blues.
I first gained some respect for the blues when I was in college.  I had a teacher who was a big blues fan.  She was a music critic for …read more

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Yesterday I mentioned that there are tours people give when the Chicago Jazz Festival is going on.  Apparently these tours take you from one bar to another to watch the jazz performers who are in town to play.  It is a way to catch them at intimate places like The Velvet Lounge instead of amongst thousands of fans at the Petrillo bandshell.
I have yet to find an ad that is some kind of official Chicago Jazz Festival tour site.  What I did find, however, was “Big Chicago Records” which is a local record label that producers samplers of music.  Yearly, …read more

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Toyota Park sits in the southwestern suburb of Bridgeview.  It is not the place you would normally expect to find rock and roll legends jamming with some of the finest blues players around.  It is also not the place you would think you would find some of the best guitar playing around, and yet, this past weekend, it was the only place to be if you wanted to see the likes of Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow and Buddy Guy.
The Crossroads tour/show came through this past weekend and played at Toyota Park.  It was 11  hours of some of the finest …read more

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I guess some may argue that Buddy Guy’s Legends has almost become too big.  I guess I can almost agree with that.  There are some who want their Blues Clubs so dark you can barely see the stage.  They probably also would prefer them filled with smoke and want the performers to sit with their eyes closed.
At the same time, there is no denying that Buddy Guys is a blues legend and one of the greatest guitarists you are likely to see.  His performance during his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame still resonates with fans, like …read more

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