The News Review:
- Koko Taylor dies at 80; singer was Chicago blues icon
- True blues: Boulder’s tis Taylor releasing 10th CD
- A Workout for Bustling Sounds of Africa
- Clapton Winwood bring out the big hits
Koko Taylor dies at 80; singer was Chicago blues icon
Los Angeles Times
‘By Greg Kot June 4 2009Koko Taylor a Chicago musical icon who became one of the most revered female blues vocalists of her time with signature hits such as “Wang Dang Doodle” “I’m a Woman” and “Hey Bartender” died Wednesday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago of complications from gastrointestinal surgery. Her death came less than four weeks after her last performance at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis where she collected her record 29th Blues Music Award. She had surgery May 19 and appeared to be recovering until taking a turn Wednesday morning and was with friends and family when she died.
Related from Lloydgreenmusic: Late blues great Koko Taylor gets musical sendoff
True blues: Boulder’s tis Taylor releasing 10th CD
Colorado Daily
I think it’s something that both the blues world and the jazz world hasn’t seen yet. That unique sound has reaped many awards. Down Beat a leading jazz magazine has named three of his albums Blues CD of the Year most recently in 2008 and in May he won a Blues Music Award for his banjo playing. Guitar Player magazine described Taylor as “arguably the most relevant blues artist of our time. The tributes also have come in the form of gear. The Santa Cruz Guitar Company created an tis Taylor Signature Model that retails for around $7000 and in 2007 Boulder-based ME Banjos introduced the “TIS” a banjo designed for Taylor that sells for more than $2000. “The ‘TIS’ banjo is basically designed with the mind of being closer to how the early American banjos sounded” says Tanya gsbury who handles sales and artist relations for ME.
A Workout for Bustling Sounds of Africa
New York Times
Touré is the son of the revered Malian guitarist and singer Ali Farka Touré whose ascetic “desert blues” were both deeply rooted in Malian tradition and well aware of African-American music. But with a new album “Fondo” (Six Degrees) that concentrates on his own songwriting Vieux Farka Touré is forging his own identity expanding on his father’s drones and gnarled picking patterns with a rocker’s joyful audacity. Rhythms were shared by traditional instruments — tapped on a calabash hand-drummed on a djembe — and a drum kit. Bass and rhythm guitar set up riffs that revolved around a handful of chords.
Clapton Winwood bring out the big hits
Denver Post
The sold-out Pepsi Center was more reverent than raucous as Clapton and Winwood threw down a straightforward solo-heavy show that nearly reached the two-hour mark. They opened with a unique choice: Blind Faith’s “Had to Cry Today” which was an anachronistic nugget with its driving unmistakably late-’60s lead guitar line. After Clapton took two memorable solos in the first song he and Winwood shared the vocals on the blues-infected rocker “Low Down. ” The song benefited from the two backup singers and a righteous song-closing keys solo from Chris Stainton. The group wasted no time in jumping into the hit “After Midnight. ” Featuring Clapton on guitar and vocals and Winwood on organ the band sounded tight and full of life — even though the hit song’s age was obvious. Blind Faith’s most important contribution to popular music the gorgeous gospel-infused “Presence of the Lord” followed with a quiet studied intensity.