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Member Profiles

 

 

Ari Mendes

Ari Mendes was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he worked as a studio and live performance musician with many top artists. He also produced many syndicated TV shows soundtracks and in 1989 was awarded the "Sharp Award", considered to be the Brazilian Grammy. He moved to Boston in 1989, where he built his first studio. In 2005 Ari  Mendes moved to Port St Lucie, Florida, and built a state of the art recording studio, where he works as a producer/arranger /musician/engineer. He's an accomplished guitar, percussion and bass player, ranging from Jazz, Latin, Rock and Classical, and a recording, mixing and mastering studio engineer. He’s already very active on the Florida’s cultural scene, having played at prestigious venues such as the Mar-a-Lago Club, the Breakers Hotel, Tradition and City Place, and Jazz festivals such as the Riverwalk Jazz, Riviera Beach Jazz and Blues Festival, Fort Pierce Mardi Grass, just to name a few. He's also a member and an audio recording article writer for the The Blues Alliance of the Treasure Coast.  In the picture, recently taken at Donald Trump's private club, from left to right, Melania Trump, Donald Trump, Angelia Bell, Jim Chrulsky and Ari Mendes.   Angelia, Ari and Jim are "New Rhythms", a jazz trio that played every weekend at Mar a Lago for the past 6 months.  Ari Mendes can be reached for studio work and/or live performances at www.amenstudio.com or 772 501 0697

   

aer

                                 

Ari  Mendes
                          www.Amenstudio.com
                  www.myspace.com/amenstudio

                                772 5010697 
                      Port St. Lucie  Florida USA
             " Your attitude will determine your altitude..." 

 

 

 

Carol Brady (formerly Carol Smith) profile (or sort of a profile):
 
I've been learning a lot about winter living since moving to Parker, South Dakota from Fort Pierce, Florida.  I guess being in Florida for 29 years and never really having lived in South Dakota as an adult, there is alot I have to learn to appreciate about living on the Midwest plains.  I didn't realize when I moved to South Dakota that I would be giving up so much.  But I realize now how much I miss the Blues Alliance and the great friends I made while involved in it and the great live music.  What follows is a little taste of my life here in Parker, SD: 
 
1)  It's a beautiful day if the sun is shining and the wind isn't blowing...even if the temperature is below zero.  And, besides this is the worst weather seen in SD in the last 10 years! (I've heard that for both of the winters I've been here...I think it's a standard phrase with most Dakotans!)
 
2)  Everyone gets excited about the warm up predicted when the temperature is supposed to get into the double digits...28 degrees is something to look forward to...especially if the wind isn't blowing!
 
3)  The roads are cleared from Parker, at town of about a thousand people, into Sioux Falls, the "big city" in South Dakota with 130,000 residents,  as long as you stay off the side roads and take the 2 lane county road...cleared meaning there's just slightly less ice under the packed snow than on the other roads.
 
4)  Not having to put on long underwear, jeans, t-shirt, sweatshirt and 2 pairs of socks under your 1 piece snow suit is a treat.  Of course, everything except the snow suit is standard garb when first getting out of bed since a $300 a month heating bill doesn't really reflect the fact that the house is either cold or super cold or just plain freezing depending on the outside temperature!
 
5)  Being able to wear 1 layer under your snow suit is a good day.
 
6)  NEVER, and I mean never, leave your liquid laundry detergent on the porch...it freezes into a hard block of ice in subzero weather!  (We learned this after we got to the laundromat and couldn't do laundry...but at least the sun was shining and there was no wind!). 
 
7)  The bottle of water that I always kept in my car in Florida for those dry mouth emergencies, freezes solid in a matter of minutes here in SD.  I've found that if you hold the frozen bottled water between your thighs for 30 minutes or so while driving, you can usually get a drop or 2 of ice cold water out.
 
8)   Take those corners easy in your car...it may look like black asphalt, but it has a layer of ice that will spin you out and into a snow drift!  It's so common up here they have a name for it...Black Ice! 
 
9)  Turn slowly into the driveway, so that you don't get your car buried in the 4 foot snow drifts on each side of the driveway or rip off part of your bumper trying to back out of the snowdrift after you've slid into it while trying to make that sharp turn.  The same holds true for every street corner in Parker...turn slowly or you'll be in someone else's driveway snowdrift.  They don't seem to think it's necessary to clear the roads in our town or to put down sand...guess it's because when the sun shines and the winds not blowing, the roads sort of clear themselves after several weeks.
 
10)  Don't think you can run out to the trash can with a bag of trash in just your slippers and robe during the winter...you will either slip on the ice (or if the sun is shining and the wind not blowing, you will slip on the 3 foot deep mud that is formed on all yards after the snow melts!) and you are sure to see several of your neighbors and hear about your indiscretion for the next 3 weeks until someone else does something stupid and they become the subject of conversation.  There's not much to occupy the minds of many Parker-ites and "those crazy people from Florida" have given people a lot to talk about.  Thankfully, some people moved here recently from Arizona, so, after 20 months up here,  Phil & I aren't the main topic of conversation anymore!  The main point here is, take the 30 minutes or so that you need to get bundled up in 5 layers and boots to make that 10 second walk to the garbage can...it's really important (as I've learned from personal experience!).
 
11)  Never walk under the 4 foot icicles hanging off the front of your house...as soon as the wind stops blowing and the sun comes out, they melt and fall or they drip down your back after you've spent 30 minutes getting bundled up just to take the trash out!
 
12)  Last, but not least, DON'T gossip about anyone in Parker to anyone else in Parker...everyone here is either related to each other or they've known each other their entire lives.  It's hard to believe that finding someone who isn't related to anyone else in this town (like Phil & me) is a rarity.  I've met one person like that and we've become friends only so we can talk about the weirdness in living in a small, small town like Parker!
 
Did I mention it appears winter is winding down?  The weekend of March 3rd we had a huge 3 day blizzard.  By March 12th, we had a temperature of 70 Degrees.  Of course, as I write this on March 14, 2007, it's 39 degrees with snow and/or sleet predicted.  I sort of wish it would get cold and freeze...you've never seen mud like we have in Parker now that the snow is melting!  I stepped onto my lawn yesterday and sunk in about 6 inches and it is pretty yucky in general.  They tell me it will get better and that I will get used to living here...I wonder how long that takes??
 
The things I know won't get used to up here are:   not being able to go to the beach, not being able to listen to great Blues music (I think all of the musicians left South Dakota several years ago and the people here have forgotten what it's like to listen to good music), seeing all of you on a regular basis and just hanging out in paradise with the friends I love and miss.
 
South Dakota has a lot of positive things going for it, but it's not home to me yet.  When y'all read this, I'll be home recuperating from an April 4th back surgery, so I think any and/or all of you should come on up for a visit and see for yourselves what it's like here in Parker, South Dakota! 
 
 
 
 


We can't control the wind, but we can adjust the sails!   cjs


LYNN GRIFFITH

Lynn Griffith was born in that most musical of cities, New Orleans. While no member of his family tree has ever demonstrated any musical talent, his parents were big music fans, and music was always playing in the house, mostly jazz records, big band, vocalists and folk music.

Lynn began to show musical ability on guitar and piano at the age of ten. He switched to bass at age 12 and played in the blues band Steal Blue in the early part of high school. During this time, Lynn also added flute, harp and fiddle to his band’s performances. Later in high school he switched to jazz, playing both upright and electric bass. Among the local musicians he jammed with Randy Bernsen who would later have a stint with Blood, Sweat and Tears. He also jammed several times with Jaco Pastorius, who became the bassist for Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, and others.

Lynn gave up performing music regularly for over 20 years, concentrating on his career instead. He began playing again in earnest in 2000, regaining his chops and adding mandolin and accordion to his arsenal. He played with the acoustic rock group Box Of Rocks for 4-1/2 years until he left at the end of April 2006. He has played for about two years with Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling Gamblers, performing on banjo and vocals. The band plays very old folk songs going back to the 15th century. Lynn has performed on several albums, playing on all but one of the tracks for All For The Story by Berlo. He appears on several songs on Ballad of America, Volume 1 by Matthew Sabatella, and plays on most of the cuts from Ballad Of America Volume 2, scheduled for release in August 2006. Lynn also produced blues man Eric Culberson’s latest album, Live At The Bamboo Room.

Lynn enjoys playing blues, rock, folk, country and jazz. He especially loves playing Hammond B3 organ with blues bands. “Music is a tough way to make a living. You need to practice for years or decades in order to become any good and you often need to spend thousands of dollars on a good instrument, only to be paid one or two hundred dollars per man for a gig. However, when you get it right, it’s magic. There is nothing like it.”

 

 

Tina Livio

Thanks to my good friend Pete Quigley of “The Shakers,” I had the opportunity to hang with the Allman Brothers more then once. The members of the Allman Brothers Band, including Greg are really good people, very down to earth. They opened the door to me & my friends without hesitation.

As far back as I can remember music has been my drive. Till this day I continue to travel for tunes. You only live once, so be sure to do the things you love to do while you have the chance. With the help of the Internet, I continue to check and see who is playing where. Believe me, it’s all been worth my while!

Tina L. (Tunes Lovin’ Tina)

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Sanne Esque

I’ve been hanging out with musicians since I was 16, but never played or sang till I was 42. I worked in an office, tended bar, owned a pizza parlor for fourteen years, learned how to fly, taught other people to fly, and now I’m flying for the Division of Forestry.      I used to be shy, but tending bar cured that.

I used to be more timid, but flying single pilot ‘Instrument flight rules’ in the clouds with an embedded thunderstorm cured that. Some things have to be learned the hard way.

 I’ve always been a big fan of Bonnie Raitt ever since I heard ‘Love me like a man’ on the radio in Montreal many, many years ago. I love Taj Mahal, Robert Cray, Colin James, Tab Benoit, the Neville brothers (especially Cyril), Little Feat and many others too numerous to mention. I’ve always loved to sing but never took it seriously until…

       My ex-significant-other learned how to play drums after we broke up and invited me to a jam with bassist Carl Cable and guitarist Jerry Esque. He told me I needed to come over right away and sing. I finally showed up, sang badly and met my future husband Jerry. God had everything to do with this, because I know now that He has been working in my life for a long time, way before I ever believed in Him. I had been single for three years but had not been mentally ready to meet anyone until that day. There was Jerry, introduced by my ex! Now we are married, living in the woods with our many critters.

        Jerry kept saying I needed to keep singing so I kept at it until I could do it without sounding too awful, and four drummers and fifteen bass players later we are still playing. Every time we lose a musician we get depressed for about a week and then we get over it and start looking for another.       We must play!           Okeechobee is not exactly a blues musician’s Mecca. It got so bad at one point that I broke down and bought a bass guitar and started learning how to play. Jerry and I play in our faith band at church, and I really enjoy playing bass there. Mostly I love to sing and hope to keep doing it for a long time.

            We’ve got some steady guys now and we all love to play and figure the money we get is for moving the equipment around. Our drummer Jimmy Fusco, has been with us a long time (years).He is a trooper and has seen a few bass players himself. He hangs in there and gets more awesome all the time. Our bass player, John Bartlett, has stuck around for quite a while now also…he’s a keeper too. Finally, someone who fits in perfectly with our weird selves. Our piano player, Mike Schonbach, won’t go away either, thank goodness, what a great addition to the band… he plays guitar for us also and is invaluable in getting some of the more complicated songs charted out so we can learn them. He inspires us. Right now we are working on ten new songs and they are a blast!

Check out a few of our songs on the “MUSIC’ page.
Blue Groove is ready to play out and have some fun!

 

 

 

 

Patti Gamble

OK, here's my profile, the truth hurts! I was born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. My Dad, Charlie Birdsall, was the reason I play vibes. My Dad was an upright bass player, and played with Nelson Riddle, in New York and played the big band era before and after the war.  A self taught musician who later read music here in So. Fl., with "The Second Time Around" 17 piece band, he built his own violin in High School, played harmonica and guitar at the same time, was in Ted Mack and Major Boles Ametuer Hour Shows with his brother Jim on banjo, who sang and yodeled,  and of course played with me for 35 years. Did I mention he also was a star Nascar race driver, a pilot, owned a manufacturing business, a master builder and  who owned 5 Harleys at the same time? You didn't say no to my Dad who would have done better with boys,  but had two daughters.

    My sister,  Bernie, (now the Tax Collector in my home town),  played ukelelee and guitar at age 4, then it was my turn to pick an instrument, and before I could say the "P" for piano, my Dad thought I should play vibes because he used a trio with vibes, guitar and bass that made good money when he wasn't with the big band or another combo. So he got me thrilled about getting a set of vibes, and I really didn't know what they were!
    I played with my family band, which later included my husband, Tom Gamble, on drums for my whole life, it seems. Playing every kind of venue on the Jersey Shore and in Florida.
    I tried out and became a member of Local 399, AFof M, Asbury Park, New Jersey at the age of 14, my sister, 16, and retired in good standing upon moving to Fl. in 1977.
    In 1977, my father and I started the "Vibratones" and played on the Treasure Coast for over 10 years in the local clubs.
    I am a graduate of Ocean County Nursing School, and worked for various Hospitals and Nursing Homes in the area and have done Home Health for various agencies.  I have also been Supervisor for Council on Aging in the field, and taught many Nurses Aide classes. 
    I owned and operated a consignment shop in Jensen Beach with my daughter, Missy, for over 10 years, which led to the job of Executive Sales Rep. for the Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce, booked the acts and bands for Pineapple Festival and was an originator of Jammin Jensen.
    My son, TC, plays drums and has the band, "Minus One", here on the Treasure Coast.
    As Secretary of The Blues Alliance, I am pleased to volunteer my time and be connected and play with some of the finest musicians and friends.
    Thankyou for this opportunity. I will play as long as my legs and/or the legs of my vibes will allow. I look up to my Dad in Heaven,  every time I pick up the mallets, and I look up to my Mother for always collecting the money!      Thanks,  Patti Gamble

 

 

 

 

 

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Darrell Raines

Darrell Raines

Darrell Raines grew up on the mean streets of Miami, FL. He was introduced to the guitar by his uncle who brought a 1969 Gibson SG to his house when he was a young child. Later, Darrell’s musical education took him to Miami Dade Community College where he studied piano and guitar under the tutelage of renowned instructor Vincent Bredice.  In college, Darrell teamed up with fellow student George Caldwell to perform Gospel & Jazz shows.
After college, Darrell was invited to play guitar with The Joey Gilmore Band on a tour of Europe. Throughout the 1990’s, Darrell played in a variety of Gospel, Jazz & Blues bands touring Florida and the East coast. In 2003, his old college buddy, George Caldwell called regarding an opening in The Joey Gilmore Band. He joined the band as guitarist, but soon thereafter also picked up keyboard duties. In 2005, with Darrell on lead guitar, The Joey Gilmore Band was a finalist at the International Blues Competition in Memphis, and in 2006 the band won the entire competition and the title of best unsigned Blues band in the world. At the same competition, Darrell was nominated for the prestigious Albert King Award. Darrell toured with The Joey Gilmore Band throughout the States up until the summer of 2006. In August, 2006, Darrell decided to take his career to the next level, and The Darrell Raines Band was formed.
Darrell’s first CD, “Introducing Darrell Raines”, was actually released in 2005 while he was still playing with Joey Gilmore. It consists of mainly Blues Rock cover songs, most notably a stunning rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s Li’l Wing. His most recent release on Bluzpik Rekerdz, the highly anticipated all original CD, “Moanin’ Time”, will be available in February, 2008.
The Darrell Raines Band will be performing live at The Wave Lounge in Stuart on 1/11/08 and Southshores Tavern in Lake Worth on 1/26/08. Also, The Wave Lounge will be hosting a CD Release Party for The Darrell Raines Band on February 22, 2008. For more information, please visit:
darrellraines.com
and
myspace.com/darrellrainesband
For booking information please call 561-818-4335 or email:
booking@bluzpik.com

 

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Dr. Slide

Dr. Slide

Dr. Slide 1

 
 
 
 
 

Bluzpik Rekerdz was formed in 1998 by Axel Humbert, aka Dr. Slide, for the release of his "Outta Time" CD.  His next CD was released in 2000 entitled "Slidin' By". Sometime in 2002 Dr. Slide was approached to produce several songs for Joe Mazzari to release on Bluzpik Rekerdz. At this point, Axel met and befriended Jim Nestor, Mazzari’s former manager whom he coaxed out of retirement after a break of over a decade. Axel partnered with Nestor in an effort to jump start his career and get the label going with other artists.  In 2003 the German television network MDR came to the US and did a documentary on the life of the German Bluesman, Axel "Dr. Slide" Humbert.  Later that year Jim signed Florida Blues Legend Joey Gilmore for an untitled CD that Dr. Slide was slated to produce. Some creative differences with Mr. Gilmore combined with the demands for Dr. Slide's touring schedule in Europe lead to Axel’s decision to leave Florida. He relocated back to what was formerly East Germany, the country he had fled when he tried to jump the Berlin Wall and come to the land where Blues began. 

 Jim Nestor went on to produce the Bluzpik release of "The Ghosts of Mississippi Meet The Gods of Africa" for Joey Gilmore.  That 2006 release won the Blues Critic’s song of the year for the title cut. The CD reinvigorated Joey's career, his first release in ten years. The Joey Gilmore Band was a finalist in the 2005 International Blues Challenge and returned to win outright in 2006 and earn the title of the World’s best unsigned (to a major label) Blues Band. Mr. Nestor persuaded renowned Blues Artist Stan Street from Clarksdale, Mississippi to donate the CD's cover art. The actual portrait is currently hanging at the Hambone Gallery (www.stanstreet.com).     
 Continuing with Dr Slide’s original vision of finding and presenting talent at the International Blues Challenge, where he had participated in 2004, the Darrell Raines band was aggressively pursued by Nestor (darrellraines.com). Darrell was the lead guitar player with the Joey Gilmore Band and an Albert King award nominee at the 2006 IBC.  Jim Nestor was presented with the lyrics for a great Mississippi Delta style Blues tune, Hawk Freeman's "Moanin’ Time in Arkansas".  Hawk, who was Robert Lockwood Jr.'s adopted son, had given the song to Jim when he was performing with Dr. Slide in the Midwest several years earlier. The song was a natural fit for Darrell Raines’ new CD and became the title track.

The following year, at the 2007 IBC in Memphis, Nestor was dining at Gus's Chicken around the corner from Beale Street. Tim O'Donnell and Rebecca Dawkins came into the restaurant and were seated at the next table.  After overhearing his discussion, O’Donnell offered Jim a copy of the first Nouveaux Honkies CD.  Riding around Memphis the next day with Legendary Memphis Agent Dennis Brooks the CD’s from the weekend were being reviewed.  After the third song Dennis pulled the truck over and said "Jim, this band is from your neck of the woods…you better find and sign them as soon as you get home". 

 The latest Bluzpik era started when Jim brought in an old friend and business associate, Leo Gale (your author) to co-produce the 2008 release of Darrell Raines' CD, "Moanin Time". After I witnessed The Nouveaux Honkies live show I immediately agreed to jump on board with their project also. "Where Do I Go", The Nouveaux Honkies new CD was released in January, 2008. The CD was self-produced by The Honkies for release on the Bluzpik Rekerdz label and is distributed worldwide by BDC Distribution. At the 2008 IBC, TNH played to standing ovations and rave reviews. Fresh off their performance at the final weekend of the world famous Bamboo Room (where they also filmed a live video), the Honkies are poised to bring their own blend of Americana, Roots & Blues to the national stage.

In addition to managing the blossoming careers of Darrell Raines and The Nouveaux Honkies, Bluzpik Rekerdz is also the talent coordinator for the South Florida International Blues Festival held annually at Nova Southeastern University in November.
Bluzpik Rekerdz, Darrell Raines & The Nouveaux Honkies are all proud to be members in good standing of The Blues Alliance of the Treasure Coast!
On the Web:
bluzpik.com
tnhband.com
darrellraines.com

 

http://www.bluzpik.com/catalog/catalog.htm  http://www.darrellraines.com/purchase.html   http://www.tnhband.com/purchase.html 
 

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