Blues Generation Next: Charles Mack

noreply@blogger.com (A Pen Pal) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:33:00 +0000

Raised on the Southside of Chicago, Charles Mack describes the bass guitar as “the final topping on the cake”. He has consistently played the bass for over thirty years. Mack remains an example of a growing number of bassists eager for the spotlight that has long eluded bass musicians. Bassists like Victor Wooten, John Norwood Fisher and others have become increasingly known for their talents on the bass. Mack’s eagerness and drive to be well-acquainted with his instrument and its versatility allows for him not to shy away from playing 4-, 5-, or 6-string basses. While other bassists may not opt for the higher registers given by more than 4 strings, Mack notes the relative comfort with switching between the 3 basses.

“The 6-string bass allows you to go outside of the box,” Mack says. “It’s more like a guitar.”

The 6-string bass came into popularity after bassist Anthony Jackson commissioned a luthier, a stringed instrument maker, to create the first 6-string bass. The tuning between the 6-string bass depends on the player. Mack tunes his strings to a “low B and a high C”. Some of his influences, like Larry Graham, Marcus Miller and Stanley Clarke, tend to also play bass guitars with the ability to go beyond the traditional, lower registers.

“The 5- and 6- strings just give you more options,” Mack says. “The 6-string is out of the norm and it peeks the interest [of audiences].”

Mack still contends that the role of the bass player is to listen to everything, lay a groove, and not make the performance his show. He believes that “laying down the identity of the music” makes for good bass playing. Mack recently left James Cotton’s band to pursue other projects, but he also still freelances with bands on the Chicago Blues circuit.

Buddy Guys Kick-Off Party 2008 Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Chicago Music Guide) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 03:20:00 +0000

Buddy Guy and Recording Academy Kick off Blues Fest at Buddy Guy’s Legends
John W. Fountain, III

In what Buddy Guy described as an unscheduled performance, the 5-time GRAMMY Award winner took to the stage during the Recording Academy’s sixth annual tribute to Blues Fest weekend at Buddy Guy’s Legends. The sights, music and food in Legends last night signaled the start to another weekend of Blues around the city.

“The Recording Academy Chicago Chapter has been proud to celebrate Chicago's annual Blues Fest and our local music scene for the past six years at Legends,” says Tara Healy, Executive Director.

NBC’s LeeAnn Trotter hosted the event that started with a silent auction of an assortment of packages ranging from sixty-five dollars to fifteen hundred dollars. Most of the items auctioned were gift certificates to various locations in and around the city. As the bidding came to an end the Brother John Band, the evening’s house band, took the stage.

John Kattke has consistently hosted the Monday night Jam at Buddy Guy’s Legends since 1990. This 5-piece band opened with traditional tunes and warmed the stage for the later acts. The bands each played Blues from different ends of the spectrum. Jimmy Burns and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith paid tribute to the acoustic side of Blues as they reminisced about old times together. Ronnie Baker Brooks and Billy Branch added the rock touch and had the crowd on their feet. The audience applauded as both Branch and Brooks displayed their talents, commanding stage presence during extended solos. Pinetop Perkins gave a cameo appearance as the audience showed their appreciation for his contribution to music. As the sounds filled the airwaves the kitchen grill sizzled while the waitresses served plate after plate of southern-style cooking. The pinnacle of the evening had not arrived.

The Brother John Band would once again warm the stage, but this time they would welcome the owner of Legends, Buddy Guy.

“I didn’t schedule myself to play tonight,” Guy says. “I wanted to sit and listen to the younger guys play.” Guy took to the stage and took two shots of cognac while urging Tara Jobe, the bartender, to sing.

The night would soon end after another round of performances by Mike Mangione, Javelinas, Sam Wahl, and Braam.

“Last night's performances were just another shining example of the talent and diversity of our music community,” says Healy.

Chicago Music Guide Blues

Blues Generation Next: Charles Mack

Buddy Guys Kick-Off Party 2008 Recap