JIM CUOMO TRIO "13 SONGS"

Jim Cuomo: Chicago saxophonist, avant-garde performer, musical director, award-winning story-teller and world-renowned composer. In the day, he collaborated with the likes of Tim Hardin and Thin Lizzy, and performed on Marianne Faithfull’s album ‘Broken English’.These days, besides performing gigs with The Jim Cuomo Trio, he also makes time to mentor my son Euan with his clarinet. They play his original compositions, some jazz classics, and plenty of improvisation – a style that Jim calls “post-jazz” or “jazz different.” As he explains, “It’s a means to position it for people who need categories.” Whatever it is they do, for an hour each week, our suburban home of squabbling kids and domestic chaos seems transported  to a place of intrigue and promise. JIM CUOMO TRIO

FREDDIE PATE "I GOT THE BLUES"

He started learning chords when he was 4 years old, started singing in nightclubs in Los Angeles at 8 years old. Freddie started playing 6 nights a week when he was 15 years old. For the next forty years he traveled coast to coast, border to border and half way around the world playing, learning and honing his craft. He moved to Houston as a 17 year old kid, worked at the world famous Gilley’s playing in the Houston area and all over Texas. Freddie has opened for some of the biggest names in country music, such as, George Jones, Ronnie Milsap, Merle Haggard, Kitty Wells, Alabama, Conway Twitty, Ricky Skaggs, Willie Nelson, Johnny Paycheck, Buck Owens, Ray Price, Jimmy Dean, John Anderson, Asleep At The Wheel, Tracy Byrd, Mark Chestnutt and many, many more.Freddie has been a successful entertainer for a long time. Of his current shows, Freddie Pate’s Jukebox Memories has been playing to sell out crowds for almost two decades! A Grand Ol’ Opry, Branson, Louisiana Hayride inspired live country music show fully costumed with a full 10 piece band and comedy.Freddie’s debut cd release, “Crossroads” proves that he is an ol’ pro, bringing every ounce of his musical experience to every note. The first single release, “All Watered Down” has received critical acclaim! Since it’s release it has been viewed on Facebook over 40,000 times!!! After Freddie performed “All Watered Down” live for Senator Ted Cruz he said, “that’s a song that needs to be sung”. AWD hit the Top 40 on the Texas Regional Radio Charts. FREDDIE PATE

REVEREND RAVEN & THE CHAIN SMOKIN' ALTAR BOYS "MY LIFE - TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY"

Born and raised on south side of Chicago, the Reverend has been playing the blues since 1971 when he first saw Freddy King play at the Kinetic Theatre in Chicago. After 15 year hitch in the Navy, Chief Raven moved to Milwaukee where he began a long friendship and collaboration with Madison Slim, long time harmonica player for Jimmy Rogers. Since 1990 he has opened for B.B King, Gatemouth Brown, Pinetop Perkins, Koko Taylor Band, Junior Wells, Elvin Bishop, Sugar Blue, Lonnie Brooks, William Clarke, Rod Piazza, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Duke Robillard, Jeff Healy, Tommy Castro and numerous others at festivals and at Buddy Guy's Legends where he has been on rotation as a headliner for 18 years. The Reverend was the Wisconsin Music Industry (WAMI) award for best blues band in 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010 and again in 2015. They also received the People's Choice Award in 2006, 2008 and again in 2010 and nominated Artist of the Year and best blues band of the year in 2011 and 2012. They were nominated for a Grammy Award in 2007 for Bamfest 2007. They were nominated by Blues Blast Magazine for best blues band of the year and song of the year in 2011. The band has been voted the Best Blues Band In Milwaukee by The Shepherd Express Reader's Poll in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

REVEREND RAVEN