Thank You Blues Fans for Making the 17th Annual Santa Cruz Blues Festival a Fantastic Event!!!!
This year's artists demonstrated once again why blues fans keep flocking to Aptos Village Park each Memorial Day weekend. The music was top-notch and there was something for everyone, whether you like your blues served smooth and cool, red-hot, or downright funky.
Saturday kicked off with blues rocker Carolyn Wonderland, who delivered a powerful, heartfelt performance. Equally skilled on guitar, vocals and trumpet, the fiery redhead wowed the crowd with impressive slide guitar work and sultry vocals, which have been cmopared to both fellow Texan Janis Joplin and last year's headliner and Festival favorite, Bonnie Raitt.
Next up was promising new blueswoman Ruthie Foster, who also hails from Texas. Foster offered up a soulful blend of traditional Southern blues, gospel and country rock, with a voice equally powerful and smooth as silk. The crowd found her engaging and passionate and many a new fan was made.
Bay Area favorite Jackie Greene followed and proved what his fans have already known: he just keeps getting better. The multitalented young guitarist/pianist/blues harpist/singer/songwriter gave the crowd its money's worth with a mixture of traditional blues, country, rock and his own signature sound.
Louisiana's Kenny Wayne Shepherd brought to the stage the searing guitar mastery that made him a phenomenon at age 16, with a powerful set that included original material as well as spot-on tributes to Hendrix and Vaughan.
The King himself, Riley B., treated the crowd like old friends with a mixture of his signature guitar magic, via trusty partner "Lucille," upbeat jamming with his large talented band, and down-home storytelling and banter. It was amazing to have a national treasure so up close and personal.
Sunday started off with a surprise mini-set by two-time Festival crowd pleasers, the Boneshakers, followed by a burst of kinetic musical energy by the name of Trombone Shorty. Along with his band, Orleans Avenue, Troy "Shorty" Andrews got the crowd's blood a-pumpin' with his own brand of "Superfunk Rock" straight out of the Big Easy.
Leon Russell brought it to the table with a seamless set of hits that the crowd ate up like they have for years. His distinctive vocals and piano prowess gave voice to his impressive musical resume, and it was apparent that he has no intention of putting it, or his unique sound, out to pasture any time soon.
Three-time Grammy winnder Keb' Mo' managed to make the4 blues as upbeat and sunny as the weather turned out to be Sunday afternoon. His lush voice and smooth up-tempo guitar playing kept bodies swaying and toes tapping.
Finally the musical legend Joe Cocker bounded onto the stage and closed out the Festival with everyone on their feet dancing and singing along to the biggest hits His rich, throaty voice sounded as good as ever, and he was obviously having as good a time as anyone in the park.
Once again, as was the case for the past 16 years, a good time was had by all. See you next year!
