BLUES NA'T

Yesterday was International Women's Day. Mrs. Black-N-Gold commemorated the event by honoring the women of the blues, past and present, especially the Pittsburgh Women of the Blues. The entire month of March celebrates Women's History Month. To honor the occasion, Mrs. Black-N-Gold and the Big Bossman caught a blues show last night. It just so happened that it featured the "Queen of the Pittsburgh Blues Scene", Jill West and Blues Attack. Jill was kind enough to sit down with Mrs. Black-N-Gold and answer a few questions regarding her illustrious career and the state of the current blues scene. I always like to know the influences of the artists that I enjoy. I feel this is a good way to generate word of mouth for other performers and to turn people on to musicians they may not know. Jill listed Big Mama Thornton, Koko Taylor and Etta James as artists that she admires. She paid homage to these ladies later in the evening, she performed Taylor's "Voodoo Woman" from Jill West and Blues Attack's current CD, "Bootleg Blues". She also broke out James' "Damn Your Eyes", always a crowd favorite. Jill also admires some ladies that continue to produce music today, such as Debbie Davies and Denise LaSalle. I explained to Jill that the first time I saw her perform was about 20 odd years ago at the Blue Note. I asked her how she is able to continue to keep the music and her performance so fresh. She responded that the songs "have to mean something to you and your audience." It helps when guest musicians join the band to add a different flavor to keep it sounding fresh. The last question I asked Jill was "Where do you see the blues going, particularly, the Pittsburgh blues scene?" Jill feels that the audiences that frequent the scene are "small, but mighty". Jill West and Blues Attack have a loyal following that are willing to make the trek from near and far to see the "First Lady of Blues in Pittsburgh" wow the crowds from the Boston Waterfront, to Frank's Pub to Moondog's and beyond. We have seen this band several times and Jill West and Blues Attack never disappoint. Last night, they regaled us with several of their own tunes as well as distinct versions of many blues favorites. A number of these tunes are featured on their latest CD, "Bootleg Blues". Big Mama is a Pittsburgh blues institution. Get yourself a Blues Attack at one of their shows or give a listen to some of their CD's. As guitarist Gregg Krupa likes to say, "If you've got the blues, Jill West is the solution". Thank you to Jill West for the sitdown. Until next time, boys and girls. Keep It Bluesy!