Red-Hot and Blues

Introduction
I have been a music lover all of my life, whether it be classical, 
opera, jazz, blues, pop or country – they all have their place. From 
Back and Beethoven, to B.B. or Albert King and Ethel Waters, Bessie 
Smith, John Lee Hooker and Robert Johnson; from Hank Williams, Patsy 
Cline, and the George’s - Jones and Strait; to Ella, Billie, Sarah, 
and Nina; from Sinatra, Tony, Sammy or Nat King Cole to Janis Joplin 
and James Brown; from Pete Seeger and the Weavers, to the Royalty of 
American music, the Duke, the Count and the King of Swing; and from 
the Gershwins to Miles, Bird and Coltrane – music has no boundaries 
for me. It IS my life.

Each week, we get Bobby bringing us the best on keyboards, while Jeff, 
Julio, Charley, Mikey, James and others, pluck and pull their – - - - 
uh – - - - strings. Mike can always be counted on to entertain us, 
while slidin’ his bone. When I think of a harp, I think of Harpo Marx 
– until I get here – then it’s shades of Dylan, Cliff, Larry and many 
others.

Beating on their skins are Walter, Bobby, Craig, John, Max – and when 
he’s in town, the terror of Broadway - my friend Richard.

On vocals, we have Uvon, Cherry, Ray-Ray, Mad Dog and far too rarely – 
one of the smoothest voices in the valley – Julio – and all the other 
participants, whom I have been privileged to meet over these past 
three years. Unfortunately, for someone who has spent the past 15 
years trying to stay under the radar – I have become too well known 
around here – for many - by face – if not by name. Now, not a week 
goes by without someone asking, “What do you play” or “Why don’t you 
get up and sing?” I have fingers – and they beat on the table. I have 
feet, they tap on the floor – BUT – the music’s in me – I feel it – I 
make it a part of my daily broadcast – I live it.
(adapted from my birthday party Roast of Ray-Ray, December 
28, 2008)

For the past three years, I have been to more Blues Jams than I can 
remember. The first time I came, was to the 26th Street Club (formerly 
Warsaw Wally’s) as a tag along with a friend, a 20 year veteran of 
Broadway shows, and a life long devotee of the Blues. My friend now 
travels on the road year round and is based in California. I am still 
around.

My first Blues concert was at the Rythym Room the night that Albert 
King died. Albert got me through Viet Nam and I’m still a listener. 
But I didn’t come back until three years ago – and am still around. I 
have attended and participated in many Jams and Blues concerts 
throughout the Valley of the Sun and have met many good people, and 
during this time, I have filmed and photographed many of the players 
and singers – the Jammers, who come out one or more nights each week 
to have a chance to eat, drink, make merry, play a lot of great music 
– and to meet others, who are of the same mind and soul. I’m even 
venturing out behind the mic once in awhile – but you can’t call it 
singing – and I know it.

After all – it’s the music that brings us all together at Ray Ray and 
Uvon’ outings, whether to play it, sing it, or just listen and to 
groove to it. All are welcome, whether they be fledgling or seasoned 
‘Mammy Jammers’. Some musicians, such as Lou and Walter, I have 
watched evolve from a cocoon and become more adventuresome with their 
talents – and become better than they see themselves. A degree of 
humbleness never hurt anyone.

Other Jammers are just steady as a rock and come to participate – 
knowing that they will likely not get to play more than a single set 
of three tunes over the coarse of a four to five hour night. Others, 
like my friends Richard and Craig, bring a history with them, which 
many would die for. Still others bring their egos through the door, 
and some may not be as good as they think that they are – but no 
matter – all are welcome – and I look forward to seeing and hearing 
ALL of them every week – for each has something to offer.

As of late, the talent shows have been heating up with a brand new 
group of Jammers – the youth movement – and man are they cookin’! Is 
it all Blues? Of course not – but they are welcomed with open arms – 
and an open mic. It’s great to see the younger crowd getting into 
this. Sure beats Rap – which is crap!

As some of you are aware, my chief function in life is as a political 
commentator and activist, as host of my own daily internet broadcast, 
and with all that’s going on in this nation and around the world today 
– I get pretty red-hot under the collar – but today I am blue – as 
blue as can be.

Some weeks ago, I received a call from one of the Jammers, complaining 
about one thing or another, but chiefly expressing his dissatisfaction 
with the Jams, which he has been participating in. According to him, 
“Ray-Ray and Uvon have done nothing for me!” in addition, he has 
stated to me in the past, “Have you seen any of these people improve 
in the last year?”

I found both comments interesting for numerous reasons.
First of all – I didn’t know that anyone came to these jams for what 
“someone could do” for them. I thought that it was to meet others of a 
like mind and PLAY music. Many vocalists and instrumentalists alike 
have shown up BECAUSE they had found a venue, which supported such 
activity. I know of at least four groups, which have come together, 
and formed their own groups, and are now performing at various venues 
throughout the valley of the Sun – including some of these young guns 
– and the individual who was doing the complaining.

Secondly, yes – I have seen tremendous improvement by many of the 
weekly participants, both as individuals and musicians.

Thirdly, what have you done for them, other than cause some occasional 
problems at numerous jams, because you didn’t feel as if you were 
being given the respect, which YOU felt that YOU deserved.

Friend, this Blues family welcomed you with open arms and big smiles. 
No one was critical of where you came from or what you had been doing 
with your life. You have been privileged and LUCKY to connect with 
some damned fine players in their own right – and to become a part of 
your own musical group. You were welcomed for your talent – the same 
as everyone else – and you have bitten the hand that fed your ego. BIG 
mistake.

Why am I blue? Because I will miss your sense of humor, as much as I 
will miss your talents with an axe. But what saddens me more, is that 
too many members of my Blues family fell for your story, of how you 
were wronged. Many were on the receiving end of a one-sided issue, and 
it appears that you might have had something to do with a smaller than 
usual turnout at the Best Damned Jam in the Valley last week – at the 
Urban Campfire. How many phone calls did you make? I didn’t know that 
you were a Chef – you certainly know how to stir the pot.

As for me, I will continue to support Ray-Ray and Uvon, and all of 
their endeavors. I have never asked what they could do for me. I do 
all I can to support them, as I do for others. I will continue to 
support the Urban Campfire – the prime location which welcomes us back 
week after week after week. I look forward to the start of the new 
school year at A.S.U., as students begin to find the Blues, and all 
that it has to offer at the Urban Campfire. The food is great, as is 
the location (even though I drive further to get there than any other 
participant, save Vinny), the owners of the U.C. are the best friends 
to Blues, that this Valley has to offer.

The Cat with the Long Hair
To recap what I stated at Ray-Ray’s birthday party last December, he is…
- His own Roadie – setting up and checkin’ the mics and the 
connections – insuring against blown-out eardrums or electrocution.

- He’s the guy that has to juggle egos every week, for players and 
participants, who think that this is Burger King – and want it their 
way.

- He’s the stage manager, that keeps this Jam cookin’, giving guys 
like me – a place to “feel the music,”  – and gives you musicians a 
venue to vent the frustrations of what you wished your life to be, 
whether, as a back-up in the studio or on stage as a headliner.

- He’s the cat, who keeps drivin’ us over the speed-bumps of life each 
week as we traverse the alleys of the Valley – looking for the next 
club to give us our fix.

And you say that he’s “done nothing for you?”

I reach out to all, who have been participants in these weekly Jams, 
whether at the U.C., the El Dorado, Pranksters Too, and the newest Jam 
in town at Stingers in Glendale, and many of the other great places, 
which have hosted this family over the past few years.

Don’t stop coming to the jams because of someone else’s’ problems. 
Come on out for the right reasons – to eat, drink, make merry – and 
play music.

Let’s leave the egos at home. We’ve got some cookin’ to do.

I’ll take it personally if you’re not there on Thursday night.

I'll see you at the mic.

Without Apology I am,

Jeffrey Bennett