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Roomful of Blues
Roomful of Blues, the world-renowned, horn-powered, houserocking blues band, has been delighting audiences for over 50 years. Blues Music Magazine calls them “the best little big band in the blues.” On record and on stage, Roomful of Blues—led by master guitarist Chris Vachon for the past 22 years—continues to deliver its bone-shaking mix of original songs and carefully chosen covers ranging from jump, swing and proto rock ‘n’ roll to funky, contemporary blues. Their impeccable musicianship and larger-than-life vocals have earned Roomful of Blues five Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including seven Blues Music Awards. Twice, the prestigious DownBeat International Critics’ Poll has selected them as Best Blues Band. And now, even after 18 previous releases and thousands of live shows, Roomful of Blues continues to evolve, as they return with In A Roomful Of Blues, their first new studio album since 2011.
In A Roomful Of Blues, the band’s sixth release on Alligator Records, was produced by Vachon and features 13 wide-ranging songs, including nine band-composed originals—more than on any previous Roomful album. Eight songs were written or co-written by Vachon (including one authored with vocalist Phil Pemberton) plus one each by sax player Alek Razdan and keyboardist Rusty Scott. From the rocking We’d Have A Love Sublime to the funkified You Move Me to the closing-time lament She Quit Me Again to the up-to-the-minute Phone Zombies, In A Roomful Of Blues is filled with soaring blues, zydeco twists, late-night ballads, Latin-tinged funk and a touch of vintage, fifth-gear rock ‘n’ roll.
Roomful of Blues guitarist Chris Vachon first joined Roomful in 1990, and has been leading the band since 1998. Guitar Player says Vachon’s guitar playing “burns with explosive solos and a delightfully greasy sense of rhythm.” The band has maintained its signature sound through great musicianship and a stellar horn section—featuring tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille, who first joined the band in 1970. Lataille’s masterful playing can evoke either the fat-toned, honking sax of the glory days of early rock or the cool elegance of big band swing jazz.
While Roomful of Blues has always been one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world, they have never sounded fresher or stronger than with the current line-up. Along with Vachon and Lataille, the band includes vocalist Phil Pemberton, baritone and tenor saxophonist Alek Razdan, trumpeter Carl “Geerz” Gerhard, bassist John Turner, drummer Mike Coffey and keyboardist Rusty Scott.
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Roomful of Blues Celebrates 45 Years with New CD & Live Performance in New Hope
Source:
Chris M. Slawecki
In celebration of their 45th anniversary, Roomful of Blues, the jumping, swinging, rocking, award-winning band, have released their new live CD, 45 LIVE, and will perform at Havana in New Hope on Friday, October 18, 2013. The album is a lightning-in-a-bottle blowout, showcasing the larger-than-life vocal and instrumental power of the band. The group has earned five Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including seven Blues Music Awards. Twice, the prestigious DownBeat International Critics Poll selected them ...
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Roomful Of Blues to Release "45 Live" July 30
Source:
Chris M. Slawecki
In celebration of their 45th anniversary, Roomful of Blues, the jumping, swinging, rocking, award-winning band, will release their new live CD, 45 LIVE, on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. For the recording, the band hosted a three-day party in March of 2013 at one of their favorite haunts, The Ocean Mist, in Matunuck, Rhode Island. They packed the club to capacity, playing to roaring ovations each night. The resulting album, 45 LIVE, is among Roomful of Blues' crowning achievements. The album ...
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Roomful of Blues to Perform in Sellersville March 9
Source:
Chris M. Slawecki
The horn-fueled, jumping, swinging, award-winning band, Roomful of Blues, touring in support of their latest Alligator CD Hook, Line & Sinker, will perform live at the Sellersville Theater in Sellersville on Saturday, March 9, 2013. Roomful of Blues, according to DownBeat magazine, “are in a class by themselves." Since 1967, the group's deeply rooted blend of swing, rock 'n' roll, jump, blues and soul has earned it five Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including seven Blues ...
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Roomful of Blues to Perform in New Hope (PA) November 10
Source:
Chris M. Slawecki
Roomful of Blues, touring in support of their latest Alligator CD, Hook, Line & Sinker, will perform live at Havana in New Hope on Saturday, November 10, 2012. Roomful of Blues, according to DownBeat magazine, “are in a class by themselves." Since 1967, the group's deeply rooted blend of swing, rock 'n' roll, jump, blues and soul has earned it five Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including seven Blues Music Awards. The group was recently voted ...
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Roomful of Blues to Perform in Monroeville, NJ
Source:
Chris M. Slawecki
The horn-fueled, jumping, swinging, award-winning band, Roomful of Blues, touring in support of their latest Alligator CD, Hook, Line & Sinker, will perform live at Camp Jam in the Pines in Monroeville on Saturday, September 15, 2012. Roomful of Blues, according to DownBeat magazine, “are in a class by themselves." Since 1967, the group's deeply rooted blend of swing, rock 'n' roll, jump, blues and soul has earned it five Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including ...
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Roomful of Blues to Perform in Sellersville March 9
Source:
Chris M. Slawecki
The horn-fueled, jumping, swinging, award-winning band, Roomful of Blues, touring in support of their latest Alligator CD, Hook, Line & Sinker, will perform live at the Sellersville Theater in Sellersville on Friday, March 9, 2012. Roomful of Blues, according to DownBeat magazine, “are in a class by themselves." Since 1967, the group's deeply rooted blend of swing, rock 'n' roll, jump, blues and soul has earned it five Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including seven Blues ...
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Alligator Records Begins 40th Anniversary Celebration with New Shemekia Copeland & Roomful of Blues
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Chris M. Slawecki
As 2011 kicks off, Alligator Records, the company The Washington Post calls “the premiere blues label in the United States," celebrates its 40th anniversary. The celebration kicks off with the January 18 release of Hook, Line & Sinker from the kings of horn-driven swing, jump blues and early rock 'n' roll, Roomful of Blues, and Deluxe Edition, a collection of some of the finest blues, rock, soul and R&B tracks from one of the greatest blues voices of this (or ...
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Roomful of Blues Celebrates New Release in Sellersville
Source:
Chris M. Slawecki
"Excellent...marvelous wall-to-wall grooves—between the wicked guitar work and the brassy horn section, things never stop swinging."—USA TODAY
The horn-fueled, jumping, swinging, award-winning band Roomful of Blues, touring in support of their new Alligator CD Hook, Line & Sinker, will perform live at the Sellersville Theater in Sellersville on Friday, January 21, 2011. Roomful of Blues, according to DownBeat magazine, “are in a class by themselves." Since 1967, the group's deeply rooted blend of swing, rock'n'roll, jump, blues and soul has ...
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Five-Time Grammy Award Winner Buddy Guy, Roomful of Blues and Sonny Moorman Are Playing at the 2008 Elk Creek Blues Festival in May
Source:
All About Jazz
WHO: Buddy Guy, Roomful of Blues and Sonny Moorman WHERE: Elk Creek Vineyards in Owenton, Ky. WHEN: May 31st 2008
Five-time Grammy award winning Blues musician Buddy Guy is playing at Elk Creek Vineyards in Owenton, Ky. on May 31st for the first ever 2008 Elk Creek Blues Festival. Also performing are Roomful of Blues and Cincinnati's own Sonny Moorman.
Concert-goers will have the unique opportunity to listen ...
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Alligator Recording Artists Roomful of Blues to Perform Live in Arden
Source:
All About Jazz
ALLIGATOR RECORDING ARTISTS ROOMFUL OF BLUES TO PERFORM LIVE IN ARDEN!
“A sheer joy...contagious, finger-popping, head-bopping grooves...the horns blast loud & proud...explosive & electrifying." - Blues Revue
The horn-fueled, jumping, swinging, award-winning band, Roomful of Blues, will celebrate the release of its new Alligator CD, Standing Room Only, with a live performance in Arden. The great Count Basie called them, “the hottest blues band I've ever heard." DownBeat said the band is “in a class by itself." Without ...
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