Boogie Woogie Piano Biography Archive

This CD from Bob Hall has been a long time coming to these pages. I first heard him on the web at his website, way back in 1998 or so. Here you can find out all about Bob Hall.

Here are bits taken from the liner notes of this CD, “At The Window” is the followng quote: “There’s a great, true little story which demonstrates in no small way the absolute commitment and seriousness with which British Blues players took to their art.

Not too long ago, Mike Rowe - an editor of Blues Unlimited, a noted Blues researcher, and the author of Chicago Breakdown - went over to Detroit to research the life of one of the great 1940s piano players, Big Maceo Merriweather (1905-1953). Rowe went from bar to bar in Detroit, asking elderly residents what the scene was like back in the 40s. In one hostelry, he approached an old black piano player and asked if there was anyone still around who played like Big Maceo. The old guys sitting around the nearby tables and the bar all shook their heads. Then the piano player said: ‘Ain’t nobody around plays like Big Maceo…’bout the only guy I know who plays like him is a guy in London called Bob Hall…

Bob Hall not only plays hs music well but has meticulously studied the backdrop against which it was formed. The New Orleans Review summed him up accurately: ‘This s a piano player who knows his music through and through, and who can hold hs own on this showing with the best in the world’ ”

Hall’s grasp of Blues piano is perhaps one of the most authentic in Europe today, which is why Bob Hall will never be out of work.

Here’s a talent that will get known around the world in no time. From Angus, Scotland, Kyle Esplin has picked the example of Jerry Lee Lewis to emulate. Friends with the great Jerry Lee, he has even gathered up some of the killers band to record and play with him. In a short time (or with a hit record), there should no stopping this guy. Kyle Esplin’s CD, To Memphis And Back, is excellent. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios with great musicians and self produced, this recording cooks, soothes, teases and satisfies - big time. Kyle is a rockin’ boogie pianist, a singer, and leader of a great band ready for you to make his acquaintence. Check Esplin out at his website to learn more… http://kyleesplin.com

Kyle Esplin - To Memphis ‘n’ Back

Kyle Esplin - Doin’ the Mess Around

Hello Boogie Lovers. I am your host and webmaster. Boogiewoogie.com has been one of the greatest things to happen to me. I have met the most fantastic people and players from all over the world. Boogie woogie has become a huge part of my playing life. There is nothing that feels as good. It is a delightful obsession. Update… see “Songs for the rest of us” for my newest passion that has combined with boogie to produce some cool mp3 files.

My music life started 50+ years ago with piano lessons at the age of 6. Then one day back then, I heard the greatest piano I’d ever heard. I think it was on the Liberace show on TV. He was playing boogie woogie! From then on, I searched for the stuff but never really did find what I was looking for until I turned 50 years old when I finally heard Ammons, Lewis & Johnson, Seeley, Zwingenberger. Rio, Leyland for the first time…

In the meantime, rock ‘n’ roll took over my life as a teen and I got a guitar and copied my first idol, Chuck Berry (but who was that absolutely fantastic piano player in the background of Chuck’s tunes… of course, I know now it was Johnnie Johnson). I wanted desperately to play both instruments. Since piano in a band was nearlyl impossible for me in those days, I stuck to guitar and moved on to idolizing the Clapton and Bloomfield styles. I ate slept and drank blues guitar leads and guitar consciousness and then began to write some tunes, played my way through the University of Maine to the point where electronic keyboards could now be part of a band. So I sang, played a little keyboard, a lot of bass guitar and with my electric guitar was able to keep myself fed pretty much. I have even owned a couple sets of beautiful old ludwig drums. (there’s not enough time in life!) Later I joined up with my buddy Albert L. Smith from U. of ME and bunch of guys already in a great band, The Blend, which helped make me into an MCA recording artist giving me some unbelievable experience touring and opening huge shows for a long list of bands like The Who, ZZ Top, Hall and Oates. This band allowed me to play my piano or guitar and sing- whichever I thought complimented the tune best. We had two albums and did well, but never got that magic hit single. We lived the rock ‘n’ roll life to the hilt playing more than 250 dates a year for 7 years commuting often more than 3 hours to gigs in nearby states of New England.

As life unfolded, I got married to Mary and she had my two wonderful and most creative additions to the universe, Molly and Addie. Then I got married again, then I found someone I could live with for longer than a few years and got married again to Cynthia who I am still married to and happy together with after 15 years now.

I now in 2005, play sometimes seven days or nights a week which is fine by me. I’ve gotten to play and record with the greatest players around. I get to try out my new music which is coming in abundance these days. I must have 3 CDs of new material going at this point. Had the great experience of playing the Silver Summit this year with Richard Daughty on fiddle. Such a thrill to be around others that are ranting and raving about the stuff I love to think and talk about!

What’s next? I guess, logically, music for the financial community seems to be in my future. I am upset with the fact that our paper money is backed by only debt and that any paper assets can and do literally disappear overnight. We need some sort of protection. We have insurance for everything else, why not our money? Buy some gold and silver and own some some pure wealth. You might really need it someday sooner than you think!

I’m also pretty upset about our government spending and policies and most of all, our DEBT problems. I had no “financial education” in my life up until now. I’ve learned we are going to need as much education as we can get in the coming days of ‘facing the music” that our outrageous policies have created. Click here to go over to a page of my list of growing songs about these most interesting and pertinent subjects.

Here is what Haybert K. Houston of Jazz Direct Catalog has to say about Wendy DeWittT…

“There is a statement on this CD jacket that states “Industrial Strength Blues,” they should have added “and Boogie.” This release represents some of the most authenic boogie piano I have heard in a long time and I thank Wendy DeWitt for that. There is not a lot of boogie players recorded today that I get to hear. Ms. DeWitt included many of her own compositions in this offering proving that she has the musician chops, her mastery of the old standards like “3 0′Clock Jump,” “Texas Stomp,” “Mess Around,” and “Don’t Want No Woman” shows her appreciation of the history of this music.

I am happy to have this release as a part of Jazz Now Direct mail order catalog. Available at 1-800-840-0465″

Wendy DeWitt, piano and vocals; Steve Freund, guitar; Burton Winn, Bass; Tracy Rose, drums; Austin Delone, Hammond B-3; Michael Peloquin, saxophones

Wendy DeWitt - Take a Little Walk With Me

Wendy DeWitt - Boogie Teaser Too

This is a review of Caroline Dahl’s first CD, NO HATS. This is a real artist at work. On the cover of this debut CD, she is showing one of her textile designs. There are more at her website, where you get a choice on Caroline’s home page… side A - Musician and side B - Textile Artist. She is busy!

But on to the musician stuff…

1st cut on No Hats CD is Caroline Dahl’s Boogie - Bang, out of the shoot, first cut. Good piano sound, and a boogie pattern in the left hand, but not one of the familiar ones. It sounds like it will be a classic three chord boogie romp, but then Dahl takes us off through some chords and changes that build interest as well as satisfying the need for driving boogie. Actually that’s a good description of this whole CD!

We get a taste of so many different kinds of music throughout this work and in the physical arrangement I like best -that of piano and drums alone. Playing with other instruments, particularly drums, the mix is critical. This mix is ideal - just enough drums and the piano way out in front. Caroline Dahl uses 4 different drummers all sounding right at home.

There’s so much more than boogie going on here. I guess it’s just good old American roots combined - progressive roots music and I like it. It’s the kind of CD you listen to cranked up as you are going about your life whether partying or working in or working out. Nothing matters but the good feeling you get as you listen.

If you like good sounding energy piano, you’ve got to love this CD. And top that off with her ability to know when to step on that boogie pedal - a fantastic first effort. I can imagine it must take a while to get a CD of this much work together. I’m ready for more.

Another reviewer (Globe) said it was impossible to pick a favorite here. I agree. He mentioned sheer guts and dexterity describing one cut. Works for me for the whole CD. Couple that with a Caroline’s huge musical warehouse of chords, phrases, rhythms and ideas. Oh, yes and ENERGY!

Damn, I guess I’ve gushed enough. For more, go to www.caolinedahl.com

Caroline Dahl - No Hats

Caroline Dahl - Night House

Before you even listen to these guys, you might want to know that Nico Brina has made it into the Guiness book of records in 1996 as having the fastest left hand boogie woogie at 608 single beats a minute!

Well that’s impressive enough, but the real thrill is hearing Nico Brina with drummer Thomas Fahrer. I rarely listen to cuts all the way through thinking I’ll come back later and hear it all, but I listened to all 4 of these CDs of just loving it all.

Nico Brina started piano at age 9, then after numerous concerts at home and abroad along with TV appearances and 4 CDs later, Brina ranks right up there with the best high energy boogie players I’ve yet to hear.

Thomas Fahrer studied among other places at the “Swiss Jazz School” in Bern. After a history of playing in musicals touring with various artists and delveloping his talent, Fahrer joined up with Brina in 1993.

This rare combination of boogie talent is addictive. This is real seasoned performing. Nico Brina and Thomas Fahrer play and breathe as one.They have been “suffering” with one big case of Boogie Woogie Fever since they got together 5 years ago—and you don’t want to miss it!

Nico Brina - King of Boogie

Nico Brina - Born to Be a Boogieman

Here is what is written in the “HANK CURCI Collection, Keyboard Magic”, liner notes:

“Hank Curci, who holds a Master’s degree in mathematical probability theory from Stanford University, has managed computer operations for Litton Industries, Lockheed and Boeing. In addition to managing his own software development and computer consulting company, Curci is a multitalented musician, composer and artist. Curci is particulary pleased with the CD since it contains only those songs which received the most radio station air play over the years. His original compositions of Wildcat Boogie and The Sea have been on the national radio circuit since 1975. Hank Curci is a self taught musician and to this day has never learned how to read music, something that you will find hard to believe after hearing the genius, warmth and power that he projects in this “one-of-a-kind” album.”

This CD has “boogie flavors”. There are three simple boogies including Frankie & Johnnie and one of his own compositions, Wildcat Boogie, that show Hank’s love for the style. His left hand in these boogies is based on the famous bumble boogie left hand pattern that we all know and love. Then he’s off with versions of Yellow Bird, Greenleeves, and Chariots of Fire. We hear strings fiddles, trombones, flutes and synth sounds and I believe, a very basic drum machine to keep the rhythm flowing. Hank is a busy guy and still finds time to get some of his tunes onto a CD.

Oh yes, AND Hank Curci’s got a very interesting web thing going on at www.spacenoodles.com. Like I said, he’s a busy guy!

Hank Curci Collection

Charlie Booty likes to write as he says himself! Charlie sent many pages of bio that is all terrific reading but too much to put here at this time. I’ll put up some just to whet your interest. There’s alot to know about this well respected and well known artist.

Born in Flora, Louisana in 1928, Booty graduated high school, enlisted in US Army Air Corp where he taught basic electronics, then got married/divorced and spent over 30 years in the X-ray equipment manufacturing industry.

Charlie Booty’s boogie piano career started in 1943 while he was still in high school along with other instruments.

Later in 1964, he helped organize the Memphis Jazz and Blues Club and was its president until 1969. Charlie played in a variety of interesting different groups and solos until he was hit with cancer of the larynx in 1971. Some bad luck with Cobalt radiation treatment left him with removal of his voice box and portions of his left shoulder. He then proceeded to courageously fight his way back to where he left off in his playing.

Charlie Booty took up flying and totaled his airplane in a crash, BUT aside from breaking some bones and fracturing his skull, he rallied once more and was back on the piano in a few weeks. Now this is amazing enough, but there was a problem. He could not remember one thing about playing the piano –no melodies, no names of tunes that he had played before. Enough to bring tears to anyone as it did to Charlie, but not enough to stop him. He began the process of reconstructing his memory slowly and by playing records, going through sheet music and running is fingers as best he could to try to trigger any sort of remembering. After months and then years of what must have been extremely difficult times, Charlie Booty was playing boogie woogie. Though at times his memory would quit right in the middle of a tune.

Charlie Booty has received honorable mention in Peter Silvester’s book, “A Left Hand Like God”, He also received honorable mention in the book, “The Delta Queen, Last of the Paddlewheel Palaces”.

Booty has appeared on 8 recordings. “Barrelhouse Boogie” -Charlie and Ben Conroy solos and duets; “Best of The Fest”; “Boogie Woogie, 8 to the bar” -Charlie and Ben Conroy solos and duets; “After Hours with Charle Booty” - all Charlie; “Fort Worth Stomp” ‘ Duet and solo with Carl Sonny Leyland; “South Side Blues” all tracks by Charlie; “Rent Party Echoes” Volume I and II -Charlie, Ben Conroy Tom Harris, Charlie Castner Phil Kiely, Chris Page, Dick Mushlitz and John Welch.

The “Rent Party Echoes” volumes are very special. Not state of the art sound, but state of the art people playing their passion for boogie woogie. My favorites. I am very fortunate to have these recordings of his.

It seems everybody I’ve met in this wonderful world of boogie woogie knows and speaks well of this guy Charlie Booty. I hope one day to see and hear him again soon.

UPDATE: Rent Party Echos Vol. 3 is another great contribution to the world of boogie music by Charlie. He continues to put out these “NOT hi-fi” quality disks. Who cares about that? This is some guys doing what we love best… playing that old boogie woogie and loving every minute of it. It is so good to hear some more of the names you’ve been hearing about like Martin Pryker (love Karina’s Boogie Woogie on this CD) Charlie Castner, Ben Conroy and Carl Sonny Leyland. Fantastic effort again by Charlie Booty. Then we have Rent Party Echoes volumes 4, 5 & 6. These are all classic collectalbles, so get ‘em now!

After Hours With Charlie Booty

(photo copyrighted by Rob DeLand, Grayslake, IL)

Rudy Blueshoes Wyatt has been performing throughout the Carolinas and Southeast as a pianist and entertainer since 1983.

Rudy started playing snare drum in a military school at the age of seven and also took piano lessons. Later, after promises failed for a drum set, he picked up his Grandmother’s ukulele and pretended it was an electric guitar. Then after seeing movies like “Go, Johnny, Go” and “The Girl Can’t Help It”, he wanted to play both guitar and piano. Confusion! Rudy took up guitar, playing everything from blues to Django.

Rudy Blueshoes Wyatt signed is first music deal at age sixteen with Bill Smith of Ft. Worth, who had also signed a young Delbert McClinton at that time. A few recordings and bands later, he was back in the nightclub scene backing major artists on guitar. He then moved to Atlanta to become the house guitarist at the famous Whiskey A GO GO nightclub. There Rudy Blueshoes got to meet and work with his idols, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed, Hank Ballard and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Rudy then received his draft notice and served in the Navy going off to Vietnam. Upon his discharge he moved to San Francisco area and worked with several bands. Always the hot guitarist, Rudy had worked with two of Lonnie Mack’s keyboard players, Dave Byrd and Howard Wales. These guys loved his guitar work.

After a while Rudy Blueshoes Wyatt incorporated his piano into the show. People liked the boogie so much that he had to keep it up. He is a high energy boogie player with a flare for New Orleans jazz and he conveys an authentic feeling for each style. Wyatt can capture an audience in a heartbeat! If Rudy is playing anywhere near a street corner the people will stop and stand in line to listen. He’s been known to cause traffic jams in the Market Area of downtown Charleston.

In 1991 Rudy released a single, “Mohair Sam,” on the Repite Record label and it went to number 2 on 35 stations from Virginia to Georgia within a 2 weeks. He’s just finished his first ever solo Boogie Blues CD and is looking forward to you hearing the new material. Rudy has opened for and is personal friends with Delbert McClinton, Chuck Leavell and The Marshall Tucker Band. Rudy has been performing for over 35 years and still loves to light up a crowd.

UPDATE: Rudy Blueshoe’s latest effort, “From The Roots” is Rudy as a boogie woogie piano player… and does it cook! My first reaction which I emailed to him was - “holy shit!”. Big Joe Duskin nails it on the head: “Rudy’s one helluva boogie woogie player”. He plays so fast sometimes, I go right off the cliff listening. It is alot to digest hearing a work of art like this which took him a long time to complete. You’ll see why with just one listen. Awesome. Rudy has surely made his name in the boogie woogie world with this one!

Jean-Pierre BERTRAND was born August 22, 1955 in Saint Germain en Laye (FRANCE). His parents are music-lovers with a pronounced taste for classical music and opera. Student of the Academy of Music in the class of classical piano from the age of 7 to 14, he won the first award at a music contest in 1968. It was not enough however to make him forget the intense emotion Jean-Pierre felt once after listening to a Memphis Slim record in a music store.

After studying Chopin, Mozart and Bach, he moved on to learn jazz piano. Truly fascinated by the rhythm and the atmosphere of Boogie Woogie tunes, Bertrand began to explore the works of all the piano players for several years including artists like Sammy Price, Lloyd Glenn, Montana Taylor, Jay McShann, Pete Johnson, Albert Ammons, Jimmy Yancey… among many others.

In 1977 he met Jean-Paul Amouroux, one of the greatest French Boogie Woogie piano players, who strengthened his convictions. He committed himself to work hard, with method, listening and listening again to the Boogie Woogie masters, to learn by ear the ingredients of their styles and to make them his own.

From this time, his single purpose was to play in public. He began with small gigs in piano bars at week ends… He sometimes replaced one missing pianist.

In 1984, Jean-Pierre opened a restaurant and jazz club “La Table d’Harmonie”, in Saint Germain des Pr s, in the very centre of Paris. For 4 years, he invited many famous jazzmen and among the greatest of them being Memphis Slim.. Bertrand also introduced the French public to Axel Zwingenberger, a young Blues and Boogie Woogie pianist from Germany whose style would influence J-P Bertrand a lot.

Jean-Pierre gets his inspiration from the roots of Blues and Boogie, famous tunes and classics. His favourite pianists are Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson and Jimmy Yancey. Thanks to Jean-Pierre Bertrand’s strong left hand that swings in its own personal way, he plays a music that allies a sustained beat as well as entertaining riffs with tremolos, strong rhythmic basses that make Boogie Woogie a 100 % piano style.

Each year since 1989, he has organized “Les Nuits Jazz & Boogie’ at the Lutetia Hotel in Paris: a festival which gathers most of the best traditional jazz piano players and especially Boogie Woogie players. These successful concerts led him to his artistic career. Leaving the field of catering, he became artistic director of a hotels group in 1990. In September 1992, he founded an Event Company called Swing Organization which organizes concerts and shows as well as private events for companies.

Since 1989, Jean-Pierre Bertrand has been renowned as one of the best French Boogie Woogie pianists. He performs in Jazz Clubs, concerts, festivals in France and abroad, as well as an entertainer for many private receptions organized for people or companies. Willing to make the public share his passion for piano, he has made up several shows on different themes.