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| ’Big Daddy’ Webster Returns To Irleand Randall "Big Daddy" Webster is back to the Emerald Isle from his home in Tallahassee, Florida - some thirty-eight times since 1991 all the while performing Blues as a solo acoustic artist, part of an acoustic duo, and with his full band "Big Daddy & Red Hot Java." There's an undeniable musical connection between Webster's Blues and Ireland. Say's Big Daddy, "The tradition of playing music from the Soul (Ceol Dan Anam in Irish) is much the same in Ireland as it is in America. Take the feel of a Bo Diddley beat as it's similar to that of a Jig, and the mournful notes of an Irish air are found all across Blues." For this tour (number 39 to Ireland), Webster returns to performing his solo acoustic show. Hearing Webster perform acoustically is a delicious way to taste his original Blues; performed in its purist form with just his vocal, guitar and foot tempo blending together for an engaging Blues experience. His shows feature mostly original tunes such as "Another Damn Hurricane, " "A Thousand Shades of Blue, " "Ballpeen Hammer, " and "There's Something Beautiful About This Blues." But even when he covers Blues classics "Big Daddy" finds his own distinctive and expressive way to make the music his own; he never takes the well worn route. Willie Dixon's "I Just Wanna Make Love" comes with a Latin kick, Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago" grinds to a soulful Urban Funk, and Gospel staple "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" dances to a New Orleans Second Line. But it's all Blues... real Blues straight from the heart. Randall "Big Daddy" Webster also brings you inside the stories behind the music as distilled through his many years of presenting Blues education programs, from grade school kids to university students. He'll take you through the history of Blues and how it's intertwined with civil rights, through the Blues form and how it's the basis for most contemporary music, and he'll show you it's primal power of expressiveness. "Big Daddy" has shared the stage with and opened for Blues legends such as B.B. King, Bobby Rush, Little Milton, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Keb Mo, Coco Montoya, and Sam Lay. And he's also opened for numerous national Rock and Pop acts including the Allman Brothers, the Doobie Brothers, Kool & The Gang, and Huey Lewis & The News. "Randall "Big Daddy" Webster has lived and breathed the Blues for over twenty-five (25) years; first soaking it in as a wild child while growing up in the shadow of the "Windy City" (Chicago) during the 1960's and 70's; later swimming the undercurrent of "Deep River Blues" while he jammed with Bluesmen at the confluence of the Mississippi and the Ohio waterways during the 80's (that's when I first met him); and for the last twenty-plus years he's tread barefoot through the swamp Blues of Florida's backwoods jook joints making the gators growl along the way. He's a true champion of America's great indigenous music. The influences cut sharp, the tunes run deep, and the spirit held high when Randall "Big Daddy" Webster stirs up his spicy gumbo of original home cooked Blues, trusting his four-octave voice, pulsing rhythm guitar, and beating foot makes it all simmer into a fine brew!" Lincoln "Chicago Beau" Beauchamp - Chicago Blues Annual write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |