Spring Break
First San Jose Blues Week kicks off at JJ's Blues club
Jeremy Barousse
Issue date: 5/9/06 Section: Entertainment
The Metro Fountain Blues Festival will return to San Jose State University this weekend, now in its 26th year, with a weeklong celebration to kick it off.
The festival, complemented by the first annual San Jose Blues Week, is sponsored by Associated Students and the city of San Jose.
According to a press release, the week will kick off tonight with a guitar extravaganza at JJ's Blues Club in San Jose.
The free event will be hosted by Rene Solis, the lead guitarist and vocalist for the blues band NiteCry, and will feature blues guitarists Laura Chavez and Max Cabello Jr.
Downtown's Tony Soprano's Pizzeria will provide complimentary food for the event.
San Jose Blues Week will continue Wednesday night with Chef Ramon's "Talking Blues."
There will be a panel discussion on the current state of the San Jose blues scene honoring San Jose Blues legend Gary Smith in the Hal Todd Theatre located in Hugh Gillis Hall.
The event will be moderated by Ramon Johnson of the campus radio station, KSJS.
The discussion will feature Solis and NiteCry, Lara Price of the Lara Price Band with special guest Brad Kava, the radio and music critic for the San Jose Mercury News.
The discussion will be broadcasted live on 90.5 FM and www.ksjs.org.
On Thursday, from noon to 1 p.m., A.S. will host a free barbecue at the A.S. Recreation Area, located on the Plaza de San Carlos.
Norway's Woodleg Odds and San Jose's own Shane Dwight and the Shane Dwight Band will be performing at JJ's Blues Club on Thursday and Friday night.
The week will wrap up with the Metro Fountain Blues Festival on Saturday, hosted by A.S., the Silicon Valley Metro Newspaper and 90.5 FM KSJS.
It will feature Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings, the Craig Horton band with special guest, Rusty Zinn, the Debbie Davies Band, Johnny A and the Daniel Castro Band.
"Great guitars are an essential to great blues," wrote Ted Gehrke, the festival's producer, in a press release. "And this year we have an all-star line up that includes some of music's greatest guitarists."
According to Slim's roadie Dave Blakefield, Slim was looking forward to playing in San Jose.
"(Slim) is always excited to play a gig," Blakefield said. "But he especially excited to play in San Jose."
The inaugural event will honor San Jose blues legend Gary Smith, known as the "Godfather" of the San Jose blues scene.
Johnson stated in a press release that Smith will receive commendations from the City of San Jose for his contributions to the arts.
"(The commendation) is for his contribution and inspiration to the arts putting San Jose on the international blues map."
The entire festival will be broadcast live on KSJS.
The festival will also feature food and craft vendors and a beer and wine garden.
Although the festival is free of charge, a $5 donation is requested at the gate.
The festival, complemented by the first annual San Jose Blues Week, is sponsored by Associated Students and the city of San Jose.
According to a press release, the week will kick off tonight with a guitar extravaganza at JJ's Blues Club in San Jose.
The free event will be hosted by Rene Solis, the lead guitarist and vocalist for the blues band NiteCry, and will feature blues guitarists Laura Chavez and Max Cabello Jr.
Downtown's Tony Soprano's Pizzeria will provide complimentary food for the event.
San Jose Blues Week will continue Wednesday night with Chef Ramon's "Talking Blues."
There will be a panel discussion on the current state of the San Jose blues scene honoring San Jose Blues legend Gary Smith in the Hal Todd Theatre located in Hugh Gillis Hall.
The event will be moderated by Ramon Johnson of the campus radio station, KSJS.
The discussion will feature Solis and NiteCry, Lara Price of the Lara Price Band with special guest Brad Kava, the radio and music critic for the San Jose Mercury News.
The discussion will be broadcasted live on 90.5 FM and www.ksjs.org.
On Thursday, from noon to 1 p.m., A.S. will host a free barbecue at the A.S. Recreation Area, located on the Plaza de San Carlos.
Norway's Woodleg Odds and San Jose's own Shane Dwight and the Shane Dwight Band will be performing at JJ's Blues Club on Thursday and Friday night.
The week will wrap up with the Metro Fountain Blues Festival on Saturday, hosted by A.S., the Silicon Valley Metro Newspaper and 90.5 FM KSJS.
It will feature Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings, the Craig Horton band with special guest, Rusty Zinn, the Debbie Davies Band, Johnny A and the Daniel Castro Band.
"Great guitars are an essential to great blues," wrote Ted Gehrke, the festival's producer, in a press release. "And this year we have an all-star line up that includes some of music's greatest guitarists."
According to Slim's roadie Dave Blakefield, Slim was looking forward to playing in San Jose.
"(Slim) is always excited to play a gig," Blakefield said. "But he especially excited to play in San Jose."
The inaugural event will honor San Jose blues legend Gary Smith, known as the "Godfather" of the San Jose blues scene.
Johnson stated in a press release that Smith will receive commendations from the City of San Jose for his contributions to the arts.
"(The commendation) is for his contribution and inspiration to the arts putting San Jose on the international blues map."
The entire festival will be broadcast live on KSJS.
The festival will also feature food and craft vendors and a beer and wine garden.
Although the festival is free of charge, a $5 donation is requested at the gate.
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