Friday March 27th my group RICKY NYE INC. opened here in hometown Cincinnati for the guy who put the "harm" in harmonica, JASON RICCI and his group NEW BLOOD, which led to me joining the group for most of their two sets...so much fun to roll with instincts- it was a throw-DOWN! SHAWN STARSKI on guitar, bassist TODD "BUCKWEED" EDMUNDS and drummer ED MICHAELS really made me feel at home...thanks to organizer WILLY G. and to guitarist NICK MOSS who set up this musical meeting...JASON & NEW BLOOD have no boundaries, which I love...a truly ferocious gang!!

Tuesday March 24th I attended the LEGENDARY RHYTHM & BLUES REVUE show @ the Southgate House in Newport, KY, featuring TOMMY CASTRO (with his group acting as house band), RONNIE BAKER BROOKS, the legendary MAGIC DICK on harp & vocals, and the gracious DEANNA BOGART on keys & tenor sax...it was arranged for local blues luminary JON JUSTICE to sit in with bandmate, tenor saxophonist BEN WALKENAUER...during the break I introduced myself to Deanna- I met her husband, drummer MIKE AUBIN at the IBC in Memphis this past February, and Deanna produced young MATT WIGLER's CD entitled "13"...anyway, she was kind enough to invite me to play- they all hit the first tune, then brought up Jon, Ben & myself and we all played the last set together- great tenor sax & guitar showdowns- just a whole big bunch o' FUN!!! Tommy, Ronnie, Magic Dick & Deanna were particularly nice, and it was a real honor to meet Magic Dick- the J. Geils live album "Full House" was burned into my brain as a teenager! Tommy's group were nothing but gentlemen and super-fine players...thanks for the inclusion!

Second time for me in Memphis @ the IBC- last year I was in solo/duo category, this year I traveled with my group RICKY NYE INC. (Steve Perakis-upright bass, Eric Neuhausser-tenor sax & Jason Smart filling in on drums for regular Brian Aylor)...saw some GREAT acts: JOSH MILLER BLUES REVUE from Florida (guitar, Hammond organ & drums)- supreme swingin' badasses!! Also totally blown out by DAVINA & THE VAGABONDS (Minneapolis/St. Paul area)- Davina playin' piano & singing, trumpet, trombone, upright bass & drums...VERY moving performance!!! Also dug LONJ from Bordeaux, France- Lonj plays guitar and sings with Bo on drums- we'll meet agin in France in September for the three-day Volcanic Blues Festival...was invited to a piano jamboree Saturday night hosted by REV. BILLY C. WIRTZ & VICTOR WAINWRIGHT- played solo & duets- other great players such as young MATT WIGLER & CLAY SWAFFORD were tearin' it up!! Felt honored to be included in such a special event...

My first BLOG (gawsh!)...performed for pianist LLUIS COLOMA at his Fifth Blues & Boogie Reunion in Terrassa, Spain Jan. 5 & 6- photos are up in my photo section...joined by friend FABRICE EULRY (Paris) & new friend CHRIS CONZ (Switzerland)- accompanied by MANOLO GERMAIN & MARC RUIZ (upright bass & drums)- had a ball 'til I got deathly ill with the flu- what a flight home- over ten hours and burnin' UP with fever- that's a special feeling!! Lluis will join me at my 11th Blues & Boogie Piano Summit this November, held in Newport, KY...