West Coast Blues


Saturday night over many beers with friends solving the problems of the world, I listened to several artists in the "West Coast blues" category. West Coast Blues tends to have an upbeat swing rhythm as compared to Chicago blues or the Delta blues.I have enjoyed the following:
Sugar Ray Norcia and the Bluetones-My Life... is best
Roomful of Blues- especially the cd's where Sugar Ray is on vocals
William Clark- all of them
Mitch Kashmar- his Live at Labatt's is great
Michelle Willson- great torch singer
Duke Roubillard
Lynwood Slim
2000 LBS of Blues- fun L.A. based blues
Kirk Fletcher- really gifted guitar player
Clarence Gatemouth Brown- some of his big band cd's have this swing with a little Texas twist.

Anyone else like this style of blues?
maxnewid

Showing 2 responses by martykl

Big Sandy & The Fly-Rite Boys probably qualify - both West Coast and swinging blues..

However, I'm not sure that "West Coast Blues" is the name I'd attach to your list. Gatemouth sure swings, but he's 100% Texas/Louisiana in my book. The Western Swing thing is something that I always associate with Texas, ala Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys. But, that genre usually ends up with more of a country-jazz feel, IMHO. I think Bob and the 'boys ended up recording quite a bit in California, but still, they are TEXAS playboys!

Whatever you call it, swinging blues can be great and I like your list.

Some of Danny Gatton's material qualifies, too.

Marty

John, "Where does one place Taj Mahal?"

At the top of one's list, of course!

Maybe just not this exact list.
BTW, I hosted an "after rehearsal dinner" party at Harvel's (Santa Monica) two nights before my wedding, some 8 years ago. 2,000 lbs of Blues tore it up for us. Great Band!

Marty