MITCH WOODS: Jukebox Drive

Mitch Woods

Jukebox Drive

© 2008 El Toro Records

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Jumpin' piano blues.

notes

Mitch Woods has been the torchbearer of a great American blues musical heritage, not for two years but two decades. Taking his inspiration from the great jump n' boogie outfits of the late 40s and early 50s, he breathes fresh life into the music that gave birth to rock n' roll.
Woods first album, Steady Date (Blind Pig Records) got hot reviews in 1984 and led to appearances at two San Francisco Blues Festivals, openings for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Blasters, The Neville Brothers, and James Brown. By 1987, Woods was doing a six-country Europe tour highlighted by a rousing performance at the Belgium Rhythm and Blues Festival.
Seven years later on his album Solid Gold Cadillac (Blind Pig Records), Woods and his band were joined by Ronnie Earl, Charlie Musselwhite and the Roomful of Blues Horns. Woods himself was starting to become a guest star, appearing on that year's new releases by John Lee Hooker and John Hammond, and the boogie pianist headlined both the Amsterdam Blues Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival.
Woods was developing his passion for band leading and discovering the power of being a strong singer. "I'll always consider myself a piano player, butmy voice has developed over the last few years. It's an incredible release, when you can sing, it's like blowing an axe, and it's great to entertain a naudience," he says.
After spending more than twenty five years soaking up the New Orleans sound and performing with many of the Crescent City's musical elite, Mitch finally realized his dream of recording founding fathers of New Orleans R&B including Earl Palmer, Dave Bartholomew, and Herb Hardesty. Woods reunited the surviving members of Fats Domino's original band, played a live show in New Orleans during the Jazz & Heritage Festival, took them into the studio, and filmed the whole shebang. The results were plenty of good-time, rock'n'roll boogie, played by the originators of the style, fronted by one of their star pupils and released as a CD+DVD set on Club 88 Records.
In 2007 Mitch was nominated for Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year Award at the Blues Awards in Memphis. Presented by the Blues Foundation this is one of the highest achievements a blues musician can earn.
It was during on of his European tours that Mitch Woods stoped by Barcelona city to team up with Spanish Jump Blues aces The Lazy Jumpers and record the 12 tracks of Jukebox Drive for El Toro Records.
Mitch Woods and The Lazy Jumpers sound on this new album as the jumpin' n' jivin', shoutin' n' honkin', pumpin' n' poundin' bands of the late 40' s and early 50' s; Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris, Joe and Jimmy Liggins, Amos Milburn, Roy Milton... Adding a healthy dose of New Orleans rhythm and blues, piledrivin' piano, and some of his own contemporary playful lyrics.
Mitch will continue to tour worldwide with both his Rocket 88's and Big Easy Boogie and The Lazy Jumpers. In 2008 he will be appearing at some of the world's most prestigious music festivals, including Jazz A Vienne - France, San Javier International Jazz Festival - Spain, International Boogie Woogie Festival - Lugano, Switzerland, Lionel Hampton Jazz Club at Le Meridien - Paris, Edmonton Blues Festival - Canada, The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise - Caribbean , Taiwan Blues Bash - Taiwan, and many, many more....

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