By Donald True Van Deusen
Frank Bey, billed as The Southern Gentleman of the Blues, can get down
and dirty with the genre, belting them out like Wynonie Harris or with the
touching tenderness of an Arthur Prysock on ballads. He will be demonstrating
this wide range of blues treatments backed up by the Swing City Blues Band at
Warmdaddy's, (215-627-2500) at Front & Market Streets, Philadelphia, tonight
and tomorrow night for a $10 cover charge. Showtimes are 9, 10:30 p.m. and
Midnight.
Working out of Philadelphia, Mr. Bey comes by his soul-blues inflections
naturally. He grew up in Millen, Ga., the son of gospel singer Maggie Jordan.
He says, "I can remember singing as early as I can remember talking."
After touring as a teenager with the nationally known Otis Redding
Review, he joined Archie Jenkins and The Incredible Saxons touring the United
States, Canada, Alaska and Spain. He dropped out of the business for 20
years, returning in 1996 causing a writer for Blues Bytes to note that "a
voice this wonderful should not have been silent for so long."
His 1996 CD "Steppin' Out" offers a wide range of blues treatments going
from the sly and sassy Someone Else Is Steppin' In and Cookie Jar to the
social commentary in Brother Man Blues and blues sampler in Blues Medley. He
is sure to offer up some of these tasty servings of the blues at Warmdaddy's.
And Chris Jazz Cafe (215-568-3131) at 1421 Sansom Street, continues its
star offerings with former child prodigy drummer Ronnie Burrage and a
heavy-hitter group with sets at 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. for a $10 cover. Burrage
worked at nine years old with Duke Ellington and later Wayne Shorter and
Archie Shepp. The quintet tonight features Rene McLean, tenor sax; Orrin
Evans, piano; Mike Boone, bass and John Swana, trumpet. McLean is the son of
Jackie McLean and has worked with Woody Shaw and Hugh Maskella. . Their sets
offered a marvelous display of musicianship whatever the listener may feel
about the sometimes confusion rendered by jazz fusion efforts.
