| While traveling through Kansas, Missouri and Iowa in September of this year, I had the great pleasure of performing with Big John and with his 39th Street Blues Band. The following is a brief overview of these Kansas City-based musicians. | ||
| On the corner of 39th and Jackson, in Kansas City, Missouri, stood an aging night club called Blues Alley. Old and worn, this night club was the home to blues legends and had seen the birth of some of these legends in the making. | ||
| Big John Amaro, piano player extraordinaire, has performed in the Kansas City area for over 33 years. Much of his time had been spent at this 39th Street club, thus the name, "Big John and the 39th Street Blues Band". (Just a note of history; Blues Alley closed it's doors in 1989. In September of this year, the former owners re-opened as "Occasions Blues Alley" on 75th and Troost in Kansas City, Missouri). | ||
| Big John has survived the ups and downs of keeping a band together, while finding bookings and keeping his fans happy. This persistence has paid off. His current musician line-up proves it! | ||
| "J.C." John Coakley on Guitar; Dan Chapman on Bass, and Greg Shaberg on Drums. | ||
| J.C.'s guitar style can easily be compared to a seasoned Albert Collins. Performing with J.C. was a pleasure! I'm still smiling, thinking about trading those tasty lics with this monster guitar player, on both old and new blues standards. J.C. has worked with Big John for over two years, and the natural chemistry between them is a compliment to any song that they sink their musical teeth into. | ||
| Greg Shaberg and Dan Chapman; whoa baby! A rhythm section to shake my ass to ALL NIGHT LONG! Dynamically, these gentlemen know when to ROCK and when to whisper . . . mmm, mmm, mmm. Greg has played drums with Big John for over three years, and Dan has played bass with him for just over a year. | ||
| Surprisingly enough, Big John Amaro's piano influences combine both Jazz and Blues greats; including Jimmy Smith, Jazz organist from the 1960's, and 'Brother' Jack McDuff, Blues piano man from the 1950's . Big John plays his Hammond B3 like he was born with it! Traveling from club to club with a 200+ pound instrument does not stop him. When he plugs in that baby, and rolls his big handsome hands across the keys, it purrs and moans like a big ole kitten. From rolling rhythms to sweet and sultry solos, Big John is a pro! | ||
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First stop, Manhattan, Kansas; (approximately 9 hour drive from Denver) September 14th, Thursday Location: Auntie Mae's | ||
| Auntie Mae's is a small and intimate room, with rustic wood trim, in a basement setting. The younger, college crowd, does not mean "un-educated in the blues". My acoustic show for the night included tunes of Bessie Smith, Barrell House Annie, and Bonnie Raitt. And on every break I found myself talking to young and appreciative music connoisseurs who threw blues trivia questions at ME for a change. Through out the night I played guitar, while Big John Amaro filled in my vocals and audience harassment with his well-fitted musical response on piano. | ||
 Big John and Little Mary outside of Auntie Mae's, Manhattan, Kansas | ||
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Next stop, Des Moines, Iowa, (five-hour drive from Manhattan, Kansas) Friday evening, September 15th Location: Blues on Grand | ||
| Around the walls of the Blues On Grand are various black and white photos of blues greats from across the ages. Flyers were hanging for the Saturday night band, and caught my eye. Can you believe it? Mr. Eddie King and his Swampbees were playing on the very same stage, the night after us. I flashed back to the great time I had with Eddie King and his band during my Nebraska tour last year (see RoadNotes, August 1999). | ||
| By 9:30pm the Blues On Grand was almost full, and hungry for the blues. Big John and his band were running a little late due to vehicle problems while en route from Kansas City, MO. Our scheduled start time was 10:00pm, and at 10:05pm the club manager, Jeff W. asked me to play an acoustic set while we waited for Big John and the 39th Street Blues Band to arrive. I must say that I was a bit nervous to perform solo in a room that was obviously committed to its blues, though their reaction to my honest, folky-blues was very positive. When Big John and his band arrived at 10:30pm, the crowd was somewhat unwilling to let me exit the stage. Although, as soon as the band started the first song, their high energy and professional talent took over the room. Just a few songs later, I joined them on stage, and gave the room the Little Mary show that they had been waiting for. | ||
| The staff at the Grand took great care of me; Jeff and Dean behind the bar kept me in plenty of "hot water" (for my herbal tea that is) and sexy-Chris (waitress for the night) kept me in laughter. Thank you to Lee, soundman for the night, for his professional assistance for both my acoustic set-up, and with the full-band sound. | ||
And last, but not least, thank you to the doorman, Bear, for carrying my equipment, for hand-delivering my pizza, and for keeping the wild Iowa farm boys from following me home. I will not soon forget that sexy physique and or those pale blue eyes . . . | ||
 Big John and the 39th Street Blues Band with Little Mary outside the Blues on Grand, Des Moines, IA | ||
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Next stop, Kansas City, Missouri (four hours drive from Des Moines, IA) Saturday evening, September 16th Location: Blayneys of Westport - Kansas City, Missouri | ||
| Blayneys was rockin on a Saturday night! Owner, Dick Schulte's original creation of "FOG" (Fat Old Guys?) night, had every Harley Davidson in the state of Missouri parked within a four block range of the club. | ||
| While walking from my parking spot a few blocks away, the hoots and hollers followed me, "Hey sweetie, I've got an extra helmet if you want to go for a ride". It took a few times to hear this before I realized that Missouri is a helmet state. Without knowing this, a girl could interpret that statement quite differently . . . | ||
| Thank you to Big John and the 39th Street Blues Band for making my big night in Kansas City a great success. Kansas City blues fans are not easy to please. And yet, the room danced and screamed and "begged for it" until closing time. | ||
  
   Various shots of Big John and the 39th Street Blues Band with Little Mary | ||
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I'm looking forward to the Summer of 2001, to work with these fine bluesicians again! | ||
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Open stages, Kansas City and surrounding area Sunday evening, September 17th | ||
 Kenny G and Little Mary on stage at Mac's in Grandview, Missouri | ||
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Big John and his girlfriend, Deby, took me out on the town to visit various jams that Sunday. My most memorable open stage experience was at Mac's in Grandview, Missouri. This open stage was hosted by Kenny G and BMW (Brothers Making Waves). Yes, Kenny G is an amazing sax player and band leader, and this dark handsome man has worked in KC for over 10 years, including the 4 years that he previously worked with Big John. Sitting in with his current, funky-musician line-up , I was also able to hear Kansas City's very own, Mama Ray. | ||
 Mama Ray and Little Mary at Mac's in Grandview, Missouri | ||
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After 35 years in the Kansas City music scene, Mama Ray is still keeping the music alive. Picture a young, yet smoky Peggy Lee, and you've got Mama Ray's voice in your ear. Whether she's purring a love song, or belting out the blues, she is the picture of class and musical knowledge. I am thankful for a new friendship and for the opportunity to have spent this time in Mama Ray's company. On most Sunday afternoons (football season aside, and if the Chiefs aren't playing) you can catch Mama Ray hosting her jam at Ernie's Steak House in Independence, Missouri. | ||
 Deby and Little Mary at Blayney's of Westport | ||
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Thank you to Deby Richardson of Blues Pug Productions for her assistance with the bookings and advertisement during this September tour. With regard to the bookings, to advertisement and "taking care of business", Deby is a true pro. It was refreshing to converse with and learn from another woman who works that hard in the music scene. I welcome the opportunity to book more shows and tours with Deby. | ||
| For more information about Deby and Blues Pug Productions, please call the hotline number 1-816-763-0761. | ||
 Sunset, on the way home Monday night, September 18th, coming back through Kansas |
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