Monday, June 04, 2007
Tralf Music Hall Shows - Stanley Jordan and More...
Hello All!
Lot ’s of exciting happenings here at The Tralf Music Hall, Buffalo ’s best live music venue. We have a great summer line up planned with more shows being announced weekly. Please check our website at www.TralfMusicHall.com for up to date listings. Blues fans will be excited to know that we have some of the greatest players in the genre coming this summer.
For fans of the more driving, electric blues styles, we have Jimmie Thackery, formerly of The Nighthawks, and his band coming on June 29th. And for blues aficionados all across the boards, Little Charlie and the Nightcats will also be coming to the Tralf on June 21st. Each of these shows are going to be packed, so make sure you get your presale tickets!
Now, with all this talk of the blues, don’t worry jazz fans, because we have not forgotten you! We have Gerald Albright, one of the best saxophone men in the business, coming on July 20th, and Stanley Jordan, a truly unique jazz guitar great, visiting us on June 9th. Both players are at the top of their game, and both will be playing with a full band backing them.
For our younger audience, and those who just appreciate great pop music, we have Rochester Native Teddy Geiger coming on June 10th. Don’t hesitate to purchase advanced tickets to this show, as it will be an intimate performance, and is likely going to sell out. Teddy is one of the country’s top rising stars, and we are honored to have him at The Tralf Music Hall for what is going to be an unforgettable night of pop perfection.
For those who appreciate the sounds of New Orleans, The Big Easy in Buffalo and The Tralf will be bringing New Orleans legends The Subdudes to our stage on June 14th. The band is one of the best Creole bands on the circuit, and you won’t want to miss the opportunity to dance the night away to the sounds of The Big Easy, right here in Buffalo.
And fans of underground rock and roll need only look to July 3rd, when The Tralf will be bringing Australian Underground Legends Radio Birdman for a special performance in Buffalo.
Our box office is open from noon until 4pm every weekday, and tickets can be purchased with only a dollar service charge in person or over the phone by calling 716-852-2860. And if you want to make sure you get the best seats in the house, please don’t hesitate to ask about our special VIP pass that allows you to grab the good seats before they are gone, as well as many other special promotions and discounts which will be made available throughout the year. That’s it for this installment, please keep an eye on our website and local media listings to keep up to date on all that’s happening at the venue with full air conditioning, the best drink specials, and the greatest sound, The Tralf Music Hall, located at 622 Main Street in Buffalo, NY.
Saturday June 9th An Evening With Stanley Jordan
One of the most significant guitarists of the latter 20th century!
TRYING TO DESCRIBE STANLEY JORDAN IN SIMPLE TERMS is like trying to explain Einstein's Theory of Relativity in ten words or less. Stanley uses a technique called the "Touch" or "Tapping" technique to achieve a level of orchestral complexity equaling that of a keyboard instrument. He can sound like two or three guitarists at the same time with no over dubs or other studio techniques .Although he was originally marketed as a jazz artist, his direction has boldly evolved into a broad synthesis of styles. How do you classify an artist who freely mixes baroque and blues in the same phrase? A show not to miss !!
The story of Stanley Jordan's career seems as legendary as his unique playing technique. He had earned a degree in music theory and composition from Princeton University, yet he chose to make his a living as a street musician, playing in New York, Philadelphia and various towns in the Midwest and the South.
Before long, word began to spread about the incredible guitarist playing for pocket change. Stanley auditioned for record executive Bruce Lundvall, who was then heading the Elektra Musician label. Lundvall offered him a record deal on the spot. But Stanley felt that he wasn't quite ready, and he continued to focus on his music and his new family (with the recent birth of his daughter). It was a year and a half before he was ready to sign. Bruce Lundvall had moved to the newly-reactivated Blue Note Records, and Stanley Jordan became the label's first new artist. The album that followed, Magic Touch (1985), was a phenomenal success (#1 on Billboard's jazz chart for 51 weeks, two Grammy nominations and certified Gold in U.S. and Japan).
Offering an intelligent, sensitive synthesis of jazz styles, Magic Touch touched a nerve in the general public. His cover of Michael Jackson's “The Lady in My Life” is considered a definitive standard for the genre known as contemporary jazz. In 1986, Stanley made a cameo appearance in the movie “Blind Date,” with Bruce Willis and Kim Basinger. He made frequent appearances on TV shows such as The Tonite Show with Johnny Carson, Late Nite with David Letterman and Regis and Kathy Lee. His music videos were widely seen, appearing on national channels such as VH-1 and BET.
We invite you to share an evening at The Tralf with one of the most innovative jazz guitarists on the planet…early June is a great time for guitar virtuosity at the Tralf, come cool off to Jordan’s eclectic sty lings and our fully air conditioned venue, with full bar and restaurant.
Calling all students of the guitar young and old...one of today's most innovative guitar players will be be stopping by The Tralf Sat June 9 th, 8pm STANLEY JORDAN ( all ages show with a parent) http://www.stanleyjordan.com/
Sunday June 10th KISS 98.5 presents: An Intimate Evening With Teddy Geiger Sunday, June 10th marks a special day at The Tralf Music Hall. We are honored to present an intimate performance from a local hero, and one of the nations hottest rising pop stars.
Teddy is a self-taught musician who, by the age of 8, was writing and arranging finished multi-part compositions on guitar and piano. By the time he got to high school, Teddy, too young to perform in local bars, was building an alternative following at the area's teen venues, performing the songs that seem to flow from his pen as instinctively as his fans--who'd begun calling themselves "Tedheads"--began pouring into all-ages gigs all over the upstate New York region to watch him perform. Teddy's fan base demographic runs a wide gamut, from wide-eyed teenage girls to serious music fans hungry for something real.
"Teddy Geiger projects an easy charm along with his real pop chops," raved The New York Times while People magazine, in a three-and-a-half star "Critic's Choice" review, praised "...a talent far beyond his years on a first-rate pop CD....an assured knack for big, sweeping melodies...just the right heartthrob combination of sexy and sweet....Teddy Geiger should have a long career ahead of him."
"His songs are catchy," observed the New York Post, "and he has a gritty, sensitive voice that suits his romantic lyrics. The honesty in the music makes you believe the kid isn't a fabrication...."
Guitar World Acoustic called Teddy "...a polished stylist whose music recalls the works of such tunesmiths as John Mayer and the young Dave Matthews..." while heralding "lyrics that are sometimes powerfully intimate, while at other times raucously joyous."
In its review of Underage Thinking, the All Music Guide noted that "...like the best adult pop, which this certainly is, the songs show their individual strengths upon repeated plays..." before calling Teddy's voice "sincerely soulful" and his music "warm, comfortable and, above all, memorable."
Teddy Geiger's grassroots buzz is rapidly becoming a roar. Don’t hesitate to purchase your advance tickets to this one, as you don’t want to miss your chance to catch one of the country’s hottest young rising stars in a comfortable, intimate setting, one that only The Tralf Music Hall can provide.
June 19th Richard Thompson Richard Thompson returns to the Tralf for what will undoubtedly be a legendary performance. Please come share an evening at The Tralf with one of the greatest folk/guitar heroes of all time, Richard Thompson
After earning a reputation as a fine guitarist in school bands like Emil and the Detectives, Richard had his first brush with 'fame' as a teenaged founding member of the 1960's folk-rock pioneers, Fairport Convention. Playing an inventive musical mix of blues and California-style rock, the group was quickly dubbed "the new Jefferson Airplane". The band's founding members were discovered playing in London’s Soho district, by American producer Joe Boyd. Boyd secured them a recording contract and their eponymous debut album was released in 1968. Shortly thereafter, the band's lead vocalist, Judy Dyble, was replaced with the ethereal songstress, Sandy Denny.
Other personnel changes followed and over the next four years, Fairport Convention gradually developed a more personal and British based repertoire. 1969's Liege and Lief, long regarded as a milestone recording in defining British Rock, revealed the extent of Richard's talent as a songwriter. Here he penned contemporary songs that drew upon deep traditional genres, a writing style that would follow him throughout his career. Other 1969 releases included What We Did on Our Holidays, and Unhalfbricking.
Richard's last album with the group was Full House, released in 1970.
That year the band also made its American debut, touring with Traffic and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Richard subsequently left the group in 1971.
Richard’s career has remained at a peak for over 30 years. His most recent project, the soundtrack to Werner Herzog's documentary, Grizzly Man, which debuted at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, where the film won the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan award.
For more than three decades, Richard Thompson has consistently set songwriting and performance standards others aspire to. He has long been acknowledged both as a sensitive writer and an innovative guitarist. Over the course of his career, Thompson has earned numerous awards and honors, including the Ivor Novello Award for songwriting, the Orville Gibson Award for guitarists, and the #19 spot on Rolling Stone's 2004 list of all-time guitar greats.
So please join us for the return of a true legend, at the venue with the best sound, the most comfortable viewing experience, and the all around classiest joint in town!
Big Time Jump Blues @ The Tralf Thursday June 21 st, 8 pm ** Little Charlie and The Night Cats with special guests The Electras..
Hey everybody, Little Charlie and The Night Cats have a new CD out and are back on the road bringing you the hottest west coast jump blues on the planet. Catch 'em live when the boys hit The Tralf 6/21* 8pm
It's been over 30 years since world-class musicians guitarist Little Charlie Baty and harmonicist/vocalist/songwriter Rick Estrin first teamed up and took hard Chicago blues, jump, Texas swing and jazz and mixed it with rockabilly, proto-rock'n'roll, jumping jive, bebop and Estrin's sharply original lyrics, creating a sound one critic described as "Charlie Christian playing in Little Walter's band." Their utter mastery of American roots music is fueled by Baty's jaw-dropping guitar acrobatics and driven by Estrin's captivating original songs, cutting vocals and brilliant harmonica playing. The new CD, NINE LIVES, features 13 original songs--including three smoking instrumentals--and showcases the band's constantly growing repertoire and chops.
"Fabulous jump blues; remarkable original material"
-Billboard
"Little Charlie & the Nightcats take a healthy dose of blues and make it shimmy and shake with hip jazz and rolling retro-rock riffs punctuated with sizzling guitar and harp solos."
-New York Post
June 26th, Rickie Lee Jones June is a special month, and with special months, come special events. On the evening of June 26th, we are proud to present the one of a kind sounds of the highly influential songstress Rickie Lee Jones.
Touted as the natural successor to Joni Mitchell, singer/songwriter Rickie Lee Jones proved no less idiosyncratic or mercurial; like Mitchell, Jones experienced significant commercial success at the outset of her career, but a restless creative spirit -- combined with a stubborn refusal to fit comfortably into any one musical niche -- sealed her ultimate destiny as that of a highly regarded cult heroine.
Jones was born on November 8, 1954, in Chicago, but the volatile relationship between her mother and father resulted in an upbringing that led her everywhere from Phoenix, AZ, to Olympia, WA, where an expulsion ended her school career. As a teen, Jones began drinking heavily, and eventually she left home and began drifting up and down the West Coast before settling in Los Angeles in the mid-'70s. There she worked a series of waitressing jobs while occasionally performing in area clubs, where she sang and honed her unique, Beat-influenced spoken word monologues. She also began a relationship with fellow boho Tom Waits.
Her first measure of success was as a songwriter; after her friend Ivan Ulz sang Jones' composition "Easy Money" over the phone to Lowell George, the ex-Little Feat front man included it on his album Thanks I'll Eat It Here. Then in 1978 Jones' four-song demo came to the attention of Warner Brothers executive Lenny Waronker, who enlisted Russ Titleman to co-produce her self-titled 1979 debut LP. Spurred by the success of the jazz-flavored hit single "Chuck E's in Love," Rickie Lee Jones became a smash both commercially and critically, earning praise for Jones' elastic vocals, vivid wordplay, and unique fusion of folk, jazz, and R&B.
Problems with alcohol, business difficulties, and the birth of a daughter effectively sidelined Jones for much of the decade; she did not resurface until 1989's sterling Flying Cowboys, produced by Steely Dan's Walter Becker and recorded with the aid of the wonderful Scottish trio the Blue Nile. Don Was took over the production reins for 1991's Pop Pop, on which Jones covered ballads ranging in origin from Tin Pan Alley to the Haight-Ashbury while backed by jazz players including Charlie Haden and Joe Henderson. After 1993's Traffic From Paradise, she embarked on an acoustic tour; Naked Songs, a document of those unplugged shows, followed in 1995. Ghostyhead was released in 1997 and the standards record It's Like This appeared three years later.
She returned to original material in 2003 with The Evening of My Best Day, an album that expressed her anger with contemporary American politics. During the summer of 2005, Rhino released the three-CD anthology Duchess of Coolsville.
We are proud to be presenting such a lovely and historic enchantress, and we hope you will join us. Please do not hesitate to purchase advanced tickets on this one, we don’t want you left out in the cold!
June 29th Jimmie Thackery
If you’re a fan of hard driving, hard working, hard drinking blues, then this event is for you!
Singer, songwriter, and guitar virtuoso Jimmy Thackery has carved an enviable niche for himself in the world of electric blues. Known for his gritty, blue-collar approach and marathon live shows, Thackery was for many years part of the Nighthawks , one of the hardest-working blues bar bands in North America; since the late '80s, he's been touring and recording under his own name, and has found widespread acceptance on the festival circuit. His hard-edged, tough-as-nails approach to guitar playing and his trio's driving rhythm section holds appeal for fans of both the straight-ahead blues of Muddy Waters and the roots rock of Bruce Springsteen and Joe Grushecky . Like the Nighthawks and Grushecky's Houserockers , much of the material Thackery performs can safely be called blues or blues-rock. Hardcore blues like "It's My Own Fault" and popular blues-rock chestnuts like "Red House" from Jimi Hendrix are fair game for Thackery & His Drivers, who include Michael Patrick on bass and Mark Stutso on drums and vocals.
Born in Pittsburgh, Thackery was raised in Washington, D.C. In high school, he played in a band with Bonnie Raitt 's brother, David , who exposed him to the music of Buddy Guy ; Thackery saw both Guy and Jimi Hendrix perform in Washington, D.C. Thackery joined the Nighthawks in 1974, after being introduced to harmonica man Mark Wenner by fellow guitarist Bobby Radcliff , who was then based in D.C. Thackery recorded more than 20 albums with the Nighthawks and toured the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan. He left the band in 1987 and struck out on his own, needing a break from the Nighthawks ' 300-nights-a-year tour schedule.
His 1998 album includes guest performances by Joe Louis Walker ,Lonnie Brooks ,Chubby Carrier , and Francine Reed , but any of Thackery's albums will delight fans of tough, heavy, driving guitar playing. For a taste of his thorough mastery of several styles, Drive to Survive touches on rockabilly, jazz, bebop, and surf music. Most of Thackery's albums include at least a few covers mixed in with his batch of self-penned songs.
July 3rd, Radio Birdman
Though the band had passed over Buffalo on their last American reunion tour, The Queen City will now have it’s chance to witness one of the most critically lauded reunion tours of the summer.
Although the best-known band of the early Australian punk scene of the late '70s was the Saints, the first band to wave the punk rock flag in the land down under was Radio Birdman. Formed by Australian émigré Deniz Tek (originally from Ann Arbor, MI) and Aussie surfer-turned-vocalist Rob Younger in 1974, Radio Birdman's approach to rock & roll was rooted in the high-energy, apocalyptic guitar rant of the Stooges and MC5 , sprinkled liberally with a little East Coast underground hard rock courtesy of Blue Öyster Cult . Their first EP, Burn My Eye , released in 1976, was a great record and still remains a seminal chunk of Aussie punk. Loud and snotty, with Younger bellowing his guts out and Tek on a search-and-destroy mission with his guitar, this was a great debut that set the stage for the impending deluge of Aussie punk bands waiting in the wings.
After the release of their debut LP, Radios Appear (the title comes from a lyric in the Blue Öyster Cult song "Dominance and Submission"), in Australia a year later, Radio Birdman seemed poised to break Aussie punk worldwide. And although the American label Sire (then the home of the Ramones) was quick to sign them and distribute Radios Appear internationally in 1978, there was a gap of three years before they released a second album, Living Eyes. During that time, dozens of other Aussie punk bands stole their thunder, and Radio Birdman split up almost immediately after Living Eyes was released. Sire never released the record outside of Australia, and Radio Birdman, who should have been the biggest band in Aussie punk, was now a highly regarded punk forefather.
2001 saw a renewal of interest in Radio Birdman thanks to an excellent compilation, The Essential Radio Birdman: 1974-1978 , released by Sub Pop in the States. Murder City Nights: Live arrived in 2003, followed by the all-new Zeno Beach in 2006.
Please join us for a fantastic opportunity to witness one of the unsung heroes of underground rock and roll, all the way from way down under!
July 20th Gerald Albright and Friends
Gerald Albright is a Saxophone great. Want proof? Simply look a short list of some of the more well-known artists Albright has played with during his career. Names like Anita Baker, Quincy Jones ,the Temptations ,Phil Collins ,Whitney Houston , and many, many more hint at just a small portion of the wide scope of influence this phenomenal player has had during his 30 plus years.
Gerald’s career first swung into the spotlight when, during the 1980s, he became a highly requested session musician. His revered reputation resulted in a solo contract with Altantic Records. His first album for the label, Just Between Us, introduced him to the masses in 1987, and numerous albums resulted, including a best-of collection in 2001. Albright's fame peaked in the early '90s, around the time he released Live at Birdland West, a brave album for the saxman showcasing his ability to play jazz as well as R&B. He moved from Atlantic to GRP in 2002 for the Groovology album, his first in over five years, and continued to maintain his busy schedule as a session man. His second GRP album, Kickin' It Up, followed in 2004. Two years later he appeared on Peak Records, which released New Beginnings.
If you are a jazz fan, you won’t want to miss one of the greats as Gerald Albright brings his R&B influenced sax styles complete with full band to The Tralf Music Hall on July 20th.
Lot ’s of exciting happenings here at The Tralf Music Hall, Buffalo ’s best live music venue. We have a great summer line up planned with more shows being announced weekly. Please check our website at www.TralfMusicHall.com for up to date listings. Blues fans will be excited to know that we have some of the greatest players in the genre coming this summer.
For fans of the more driving, electric blues styles, we have Jimmie Thackery, formerly of The Nighthawks, and his band coming on June 29th. And for blues aficionados all across the boards, Little Charlie and the Nightcats will also be coming to the Tralf on June 21st. Each of these shows are going to be packed, so make sure you get your presale tickets!
Now, with all this talk of the blues, don’t worry jazz fans, because we have not forgotten you! We have Gerald Albright, one of the best saxophone men in the business, coming on July 20th, and Stanley Jordan, a truly unique jazz guitar great, visiting us on June 9th. Both players are at the top of their game, and both will be playing with a full band backing them.
For our younger audience, and those who just appreciate great pop music, we have Rochester Native Teddy Geiger coming on June 10th. Don’t hesitate to purchase advanced tickets to this show, as it will be an intimate performance, and is likely going to sell out. Teddy is one of the country’s top rising stars, and we are honored to have him at The Tralf Music Hall for what is going to be an unforgettable night of pop perfection.
For those who appreciate the sounds of New Orleans, The Big Easy in Buffalo and The Tralf will be bringing New Orleans legends The Subdudes to our stage on June 14th. The band is one of the best Creole bands on the circuit, and you won’t want to miss the opportunity to dance the night away to the sounds of The Big Easy, right here in Buffalo.
And fans of underground rock and roll need only look to July 3rd, when The Tralf will be bringing Australian Underground Legends Radio Birdman for a special performance in Buffalo.
Our box office is open from noon until 4pm every weekday, and tickets can be purchased with only a dollar service charge in person or over the phone by calling 716-852-2860. And if you want to make sure you get the best seats in the house, please don’t hesitate to ask about our special VIP pass that allows you to grab the good seats before they are gone, as well as many other special promotions and discounts which will be made available throughout the year. That’s it for this installment, please keep an eye on our website and local media listings to keep up to date on all that’s happening at the venue with full air conditioning, the best drink specials, and the greatest sound, The Tralf Music Hall, located at 622 Main Street in Buffalo, NY.
Saturday June 9th An Evening With Stanley Jordan
One of the most significant guitarists of the latter 20th century!
TRYING TO DESCRIBE STANLEY JORDAN IN SIMPLE TERMS is like trying to explain Einstein's Theory of Relativity in ten words or less. Stanley uses a technique called the "Touch" or "Tapping" technique to achieve a level of orchestral complexity equaling that of a keyboard instrument. He can sound like two or three guitarists at the same time with no over dubs or other studio techniques .Although he was originally marketed as a jazz artist, his direction has boldly evolved into a broad synthesis of styles. How do you classify an artist who freely mixes baroque and blues in the same phrase? A show not to miss !!
The story of Stanley Jordan's career seems as legendary as his unique playing technique. He had earned a degree in music theory and composition from Princeton University, yet he chose to make his a living as a street musician, playing in New York, Philadelphia and various towns in the Midwest and the South.
Before long, word began to spread about the incredible guitarist playing for pocket change. Stanley auditioned for record executive Bruce Lundvall, who was then heading the Elektra Musician label. Lundvall offered him a record deal on the spot. But Stanley felt that he wasn't quite ready, and he continued to focus on his music and his new family (with the recent birth of his daughter). It was a year and a half before he was ready to sign. Bruce Lundvall had moved to the newly-reactivated Blue Note Records, and Stanley Jordan became the label's first new artist. The album that followed, Magic Touch (1985), was a phenomenal success (#1 on Billboard's jazz chart for 51 weeks, two Grammy nominations and certified Gold in U.S. and Japan).
Offering an intelligent, sensitive synthesis of jazz styles, Magic Touch touched a nerve in the general public. His cover of Michael Jackson's “The Lady in My Life” is considered a definitive standard for the genre known as contemporary jazz. In 1986, Stanley made a cameo appearance in the movie “Blind Date,” with Bruce Willis and Kim Basinger. He made frequent appearances on TV shows such as The Tonite Show with Johnny Carson, Late Nite with David Letterman and Regis and Kathy Lee. His music videos were widely seen, appearing on national channels such as VH-1 and BET.
We invite you to share an evening at The Tralf with one of the most innovative jazz guitarists on the planet…early June is a great time for guitar virtuosity at the Tralf, come cool off to Jordan’s eclectic sty lings and our fully air conditioned venue, with full bar and restaurant.
Calling all students of the guitar young and old...one of today's most innovative guitar players will be be stopping by The Tralf Sat June 9 th, 8pm STANLEY JORDAN ( all ages show with a parent) http://www.stanleyjordan.com/
Sunday June 10th KISS 98.5 presents: An Intimate Evening With Teddy Geiger Sunday, June 10th marks a special day at The Tralf Music Hall. We are honored to present an intimate performance from a local hero, and one of the nations hottest rising pop stars.
Teddy is a self-taught musician who, by the age of 8, was writing and arranging finished multi-part compositions on guitar and piano. By the time he got to high school, Teddy, too young to perform in local bars, was building an alternative following at the area's teen venues, performing the songs that seem to flow from his pen as instinctively as his fans--who'd begun calling themselves "Tedheads"--began pouring into all-ages gigs all over the upstate New York region to watch him perform. Teddy's fan base demographic runs a wide gamut, from wide-eyed teenage girls to serious music fans hungry for something real.
"Teddy Geiger projects an easy charm along with his real pop chops," raved The New York Times while People magazine, in a three-and-a-half star "Critic's Choice" review, praised "...a talent far beyond his years on a first-rate pop CD....an assured knack for big, sweeping melodies...just the right heartthrob combination of sexy and sweet....Teddy Geiger should have a long career ahead of him."
"His songs are catchy," observed the New York Post, "and he has a gritty, sensitive voice that suits his romantic lyrics. The honesty in the music makes you believe the kid isn't a fabrication...."
Guitar World Acoustic called Teddy "...a polished stylist whose music recalls the works of such tunesmiths as John Mayer and the young Dave Matthews..." while heralding "lyrics that are sometimes powerfully intimate, while at other times raucously joyous."
In its review of Underage Thinking, the All Music Guide noted that "...like the best adult pop, which this certainly is, the songs show their individual strengths upon repeated plays..." before calling Teddy's voice "sincerely soulful" and his music "warm, comfortable and, above all, memorable."
Teddy Geiger's grassroots buzz is rapidly becoming a roar. Don’t hesitate to purchase your advance tickets to this one, as you don’t want to miss your chance to catch one of the country’s hottest young rising stars in a comfortable, intimate setting, one that only The Tralf Music Hall can provide.
June 19th Richard Thompson Richard Thompson returns to the Tralf for what will undoubtedly be a legendary performance. Please come share an evening at The Tralf with one of the greatest folk/guitar heroes of all time, Richard Thompson
After earning a reputation as a fine guitarist in school bands like Emil and the Detectives, Richard had his first brush with 'fame' as a teenaged founding member of the 1960's folk-rock pioneers, Fairport Convention. Playing an inventive musical mix of blues and California-style rock, the group was quickly dubbed "the new Jefferson Airplane". The band's founding members were discovered playing in London’s Soho district, by American producer Joe Boyd. Boyd secured them a recording contract and their eponymous debut album was released in 1968. Shortly thereafter, the band's lead vocalist, Judy Dyble, was replaced with the ethereal songstress, Sandy Denny.
Other personnel changes followed and over the next four years, Fairport Convention gradually developed a more personal and British based repertoire. 1969's Liege and Lief, long regarded as a milestone recording in defining British Rock, revealed the extent of Richard's talent as a songwriter. Here he penned contemporary songs that drew upon deep traditional genres, a writing style that would follow him throughout his career. Other 1969 releases included What We Did on Our Holidays, and Unhalfbricking.
Richard's last album with the group was Full House, released in 1970.
That year the band also made its American debut, touring with Traffic and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Richard subsequently left the group in 1971.
Richard’s career has remained at a peak for over 30 years. His most recent project, the soundtrack to Werner Herzog's documentary, Grizzly Man, which debuted at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, where the film won the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan award.
For more than three decades, Richard Thompson has consistently set songwriting and performance standards others aspire to. He has long been acknowledged both as a sensitive writer and an innovative guitarist. Over the course of his career, Thompson has earned numerous awards and honors, including the Ivor Novello Award for songwriting, the Orville Gibson Award for guitarists, and the #19 spot on Rolling Stone's 2004 list of all-time guitar greats.
So please join us for the return of a true legend, at the venue with the best sound, the most comfortable viewing experience, and the all around classiest joint in town!
Big Time Jump Blues @ The Tralf Thursday June 21 st, 8 pm ** Little Charlie and The Night Cats with special guests The Electras..
Hey everybody, Little Charlie and The Night Cats have a new CD out and are back on the road bringing you the hottest west coast jump blues on the planet. Catch 'em live when the boys hit The Tralf 6/21* 8pm
It's been over 30 years since world-class musicians guitarist Little Charlie Baty and harmonicist/vocalist/songwriter Rick Estrin first teamed up and took hard Chicago blues, jump, Texas swing and jazz and mixed it with rockabilly, proto-rock'n'roll, jumping jive, bebop and Estrin's sharply original lyrics, creating a sound one critic described as "Charlie Christian playing in Little Walter's band." Their utter mastery of American roots music is fueled by Baty's jaw-dropping guitar acrobatics and driven by Estrin's captivating original songs, cutting vocals and brilliant harmonica playing. The new CD, NINE LIVES, features 13 original songs--including three smoking instrumentals--and showcases the band's constantly growing repertoire and chops.
"Fabulous jump blues; remarkable original material"
-Billboard
"Little Charlie & the Nightcats take a healthy dose of blues and make it shimmy and shake with hip jazz and rolling retro-rock riffs punctuated with sizzling guitar and harp solos."
-New York Post
June 26th, Rickie Lee Jones June is a special month, and with special months, come special events. On the evening of June 26th, we are proud to present the one of a kind sounds of the highly influential songstress Rickie Lee Jones.
Touted as the natural successor to Joni Mitchell, singer/songwriter Rickie Lee Jones proved no less idiosyncratic or mercurial; like Mitchell, Jones experienced significant commercial success at the outset of her career, but a restless creative spirit -- combined with a stubborn refusal to fit comfortably into any one musical niche -- sealed her ultimate destiny as that of a highly regarded cult heroine.
Jones was born on November 8, 1954, in Chicago, but the volatile relationship between her mother and father resulted in an upbringing that led her everywhere from Phoenix, AZ, to Olympia, WA, where an expulsion ended her school career. As a teen, Jones began drinking heavily, and eventually she left home and began drifting up and down the West Coast before settling in Los Angeles in the mid-'70s. There she worked a series of waitressing jobs while occasionally performing in area clubs, where she sang and honed her unique, Beat-influenced spoken word monologues. She also began a relationship with fellow boho Tom Waits.
Her first measure of success was as a songwriter; after her friend Ivan Ulz sang Jones' composition "Easy Money" over the phone to Lowell George, the ex-Little Feat front man included it on his album Thanks I'll Eat It Here. Then in 1978 Jones' four-song demo came to the attention of Warner Brothers executive Lenny Waronker, who enlisted Russ Titleman to co-produce her self-titled 1979 debut LP. Spurred by the success of the jazz-flavored hit single "Chuck E's in Love," Rickie Lee Jones became a smash both commercially and critically, earning praise for Jones' elastic vocals, vivid wordplay, and unique fusion of folk, jazz, and R&B.
Problems with alcohol, business difficulties, and the birth of a daughter effectively sidelined Jones for much of the decade; she did not resurface until 1989's sterling Flying Cowboys, produced by Steely Dan's Walter Becker and recorded with the aid of the wonderful Scottish trio the Blue Nile. Don Was took over the production reins for 1991's Pop Pop, on which Jones covered ballads ranging in origin from Tin Pan Alley to the Haight-Ashbury while backed by jazz players including Charlie Haden and Joe Henderson. After 1993's Traffic From Paradise, she embarked on an acoustic tour; Naked Songs, a document of those unplugged shows, followed in 1995. Ghostyhead was released in 1997 and the standards record It's Like This appeared three years later.
She returned to original material in 2003 with The Evening of My Best Day, an album that expressed her anger with contemporary American politics. During the summer of 2005, Rhino released the three-CD anthology Duchess of Coolsville.
We are proud to be presenting such a lovely and historic enchantress, and we hope you will join us. Please do not hesitate to purchase advanced tickets on this one, we don’t want you left out in the cold!
June 29th Jimmie Thackery
If you’re a fan of hard driving, hard working, hard drinking blues, then this event is for you!
Singer, songwriter, and guitar virtuoso Jimmy Thackery has carved an enviable niche for himself in the world of electric blues. Known for his gritty, blue-collar approach and marathon live shows, Thackery was for many years part of the Nighthawks , one of the hardest-working blues bar bands in North America; since the late '80s, he's been touring and recording under his own name, and has found widespread acceptance on the festival circuit. His hard-edged, tough-as-nails approach to guitar playing and his trio's driving rhythm section holds appeal for fans of both the straight-ahead blues of Muddy Waters and the roots rock of Bruce Springsteen and Joe Grushecky . Like the Nighthawks and Grushecky's Houserockers , much of the material Thackery performs can safely be called blues or blues-rock. Hardcore blues like "It's My Own Fault" and popular blues-rock chestnuts like "Red House" from Jimi Hendrix are fair game for Thackery & His Drivers, who include Michael Patrick on bass and Mark Stutso on drums and vocals.
Born in Pittsburgh, Thackery was raised in Washington, D.C. In high school, he played in a band with Bonnie Raitt 's brother, David , who exposed him to the music of Buddy Guy ; Thackery saw both Guy and Jimi Hendrix perform in Washington, D.C. Thackery joined the Nighthawks in 1974, after being introduced to harmonica man Mark Wenner by fellow guitarist Bobby Radcliff , who was then based in D.C. Thackery recorded more than 20 albums with the Nighthawks and toured the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan. He left the band in 1987 and struck out on his own, needing a break from the Nighthawks ' 300-nights-a-year tour schedule.
His 1998 album includes guest performances by Joe Louis Walker ,Lonnie Brooks ,Chubby Carrier , and Francine Reed , but any of Thackery's albums will delight fans of tough, heavy, driving guitar playing. For a taste of his thorough mastery of several styles, Drive to Survive touches on rockabilly, jazz, bebop, and surf music. Most of Thackery's albums include at least a few covers mixed in with his batch of self-penned songs.
July 3rd, Radio Birdman
Though the band had passed over Buffalo on their last American reunion tour, The Queen City will now have it’s chance to witness one of the most critically lauded reunion tours of the summer.
Although the best-known band of the early Australian punk scene of the late '70s was the Saints, the first band to wave the punk rock flag in the land down under was Radio Birdman. Formed by Australian émigré Deniz Tek (originally from Ann Arbor, MI) and Aussie surfer-turned-vocalist Rob Younger in 1974, Radio Birdman's approach to rock & roll was rooted in the high-energy, apocalyptic guitar rant of the Stooges and MC5 , sprinkled liberally with a little East Coast underground hard rock courtesy of Blue Öyster Cult . Their first EP, Burn My Eye , released in 1976, was a great record and still remains a seminal chunk of Aussie punk. Loud and snotty, with Younger bellowing his guts out and Tek on a search-and-destroy mission with his guitar, this was a great debut that set the stage for the impending deluge of Aussie punk bands waiting in the wings.
After the release of their debut LP, Radios Appear (the title comes from a lyric in the Blue Öyster Cult song "Dominance and Submission"), in Australia a year later, Radio Birdman seemed poised to break Aussie punk worldwide. And although the American label Sire (then the home of the Ramones) was quick to sign them and distribute Radios Appear internationally in 1978, there was a gap of three years before they released a second album, Living Eyes. During that time, dozens of other Aussie punk bands stole their thunder, and Radio Birdman split up almost immediately after Living Eyes was released. Sire never released the record outside of Australia, and Radio Birdman, who should have been the biggest band in Aussie punk, was now a highly regarded punk forefather.
2001 saw a renewal of interest in Radio Birdman thanks to an excellent compilation, The Essential Radio Birdman: 1974-1978 , released by Sub Pop in the States. Murder City Nights: Live arrived in 2003, followed by the all-new Zeno Beach in 2006.
Please join us for a fantastic opportunity to witness one of the unsung heroes of underground rock and roll, all the way from way down under!
July 20th Gerald Albright and Friends
Gerald Albright is a Saxophone great. Want proof? Simply look a short list of some of the more well-known artists Albright has played with during his career. Names like Anita Baker, Quincy Jones ,the Temptations ,Phil Collins ,Whitney Houston , and many, many more hint at just a small portion of the wide scope of influence this phenomenal player has had during his 30 plus years.
Gerald’s career first swung into the spotlight when, during the 1980s, he became a highly requested session musician. His revered reputation resulted in a solo contract with Altantic Records. His first album for the label, Just Between Us, introduced him to the masses in 1987, and numerous albums resulted, including a best-of collection in 2001. Albright's fame peaked in the early '90s, around the time he released Live at Birdland West, a brave album for the saxman showcasing his ability to play jazz as well as R&B. He moved from Atlantic to GRP in 2002 for the Groovology album, his first in over five years, and continued to maintain his busy schedule as a session man. His second GRP album, Kickin' It Up, followed in 2004. Two years later he appeared on Peak Records, which released New Beginnings.
If you are a jazz fan, you won’t want to miss one of the greats as Gerald Albright brings his R&B influenced sax styles complete with full band to The Tralf Music Hall on July 20th.
