Here's a video from our March 15 show at the Hideout in Chicago. It was shot by videographer/filmmaker Gretchen Hasse and a Loyola University student to promote the Tamms Prison protest mission, championed by yearten.org.

Ms. Hasse was quite inspired by the evening, saying she "thought the music was so powerful and appropriate to the Tamms cause - the whole blues philosophy of finding beauty in the worst situations, and using that beauty to help you through and inspire others to the same - I was really re-educated that night as to where the blues come from and what they mean."

Nicely said.

The first half of the video is an eloquent, heartfelt speech by Mary L. Johnson, mother of a current Tamms prisoner. The second half is Elmore James Jr. and the Broomdusters playing Cummins Prison Blues.

Enjoy the video below.

--blue dave

Well, it's been a week since our March 15 show at the Hideout in Chicago. Better get some thoughts down while I can still remember it!

Kent Lambert of the TAMMS Prison Coalition organized a great event, and from what I understand, it was a great fund raising success for the group whose mission is to dramatically turn around or ultimately shut down the maximum security prison in downstate Illinois.

One of the best moments was the heartfelt, eloquent speech from Mary Johnson, mother of a TAMMS prisoner.

Our band played two sets of hard driving blues. The musical highlight was probably Cummins Prison Farm Blues, due to its obvious relevance to evening's theme. Elmore James Jr. set up the song with a personal recollection of the Cummins Prison's impact on him and his community.

Rupert, the opening act, performed some amazing avant guard jazz, led by trumpeter Jamie Branch. Cool stuff!

The place was packed all night. The crowd was enthusiastic and appreciative. Thanks to everyone who came out and participated in a truly remarkable event. And thanks to Tim and the Hideout for hosting a most excellent evening. (Great job on the sound, Mike!)

(March 6, 2008) I spotted a review of Elmore James Jr.'s "Daddy Gave Me the Blues" CD on the Jazz & Blues Music Reviews blog.

Here's a teaser... "Billing himself as the 'undisputed son of the legendary blues great', Junior proves that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree with a rousing album of traditional electric blues, that is rooted in the past without being an exercise in sheer nostalgia."

Blog owner, Timothy Niland, is a veteran online blues affectianodo. He's been posting his reviews there since 2003, which is eons by web standards. He's a real authority on blues and jazz -- a librarian of sorts.

The full text is an easy read: Review of "Daddy Gave Me the Blues". (Thanks for the writeup, Tim!)