Howard Randall’s new Monday Night Blues Jam at Whippersnappers in Londonderry, New Hampshire is steadily picking up new participants and a wider audience. Last Monday night, Randall and his house band drew in a good mix of players from different age groups and styles of blues. The house band for what is called Howard’s Blue Monday were John Medeiros Jr. on drums, Charlie Dent on keyboards, and Rick Shaitel on bass.
Randall started out playing some easy going down tempo bluesy guitar, putting down some sweet sustained notes over a 1950s kind of blues groove. The house band soon moved on to a country blues shuffle beat while Randall paid out his melody line, a phrase that lived somewhere in the juncture where blues met country in the early days of modern music. Keyboardist Charlie Dent played it classy, always understated and sophisticated. Drummer John Medeiros Jr. added a tricky ending, slamming the skins a few beats after the others rested, dragging them back into the game after they thought the shuffle was over.
First guest up was Charlie Sawyer from the Boston blues outfit 2120 South Michigan Avenue. Sawyer blew some harp backed by Manchester guitarist Tim O’Connor on lead guitar. Sawyer’s vocal on Muddy Water’s classic tune “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” came in guttural, raspy bursts. O’Connor got a little feisty with his lead guitar phrasing while some blues Hammond organ chords whirled around. On other tunes Sawyer crooned to a mellow groove, his experience drenched vocal flowing like a brook with O’Connor chiming in with smoky phrases sharp enough to cut through steak.
A second guitarist, Bill Cooper of Worcester, came in bright and clean, his pristine notes riding the groove with the smooth determination of a Bob Sled. The Sawyer-led line-up found Sawyer blowing a storm of funky blues notes to Muddy Water’s “Got My Mojo Workin.” Sawyer just wailed on that harmonica, conjuring the largeness of a train whistle as the locomotive rounded the last bend before arriving at the station. Sawyer, who once work on a farm, told a chicken farmer story during a prolonged instrumental portion. Keyboardist John Amato was working the Hammond by this point and he rocked it.
Next up was a power trio lead by 12 year old Sonny Puleo. The pre-teen really knew how to play his axe, leading his rhythm section, dad Ross Puleo on bass, and house drummer John Medeiros Jr., through an instrumental before Randall came up to sing “Smokestack Lightning.” The kid and his two sidemen made their way through the bombastic progressions of Cream’s “Sunshine Of Your Love” before finishing their set.
Interestingly enough, an upright bass player eventually took to the stage with another line-up and played a lot of hearty, thumping low end. He supported Paul Dickinson’s real down and dirty whiskey-soaked blues vocal and jumpy guitar phrases. Dickinson lead his lineup through a stirring “Red House,” playing Hendrixesque guitar lines, blues, rock, and whatever else Hendrix blended together into one sound. Dickinson played it straight and serious. He’s been listening to this music for a long time and his depth of knowledge shows in his playing.
A funky lineup that included drummer Duane Delane and Whippersnapper’s proprietor Mark Belanger on saxophone and guitarist Mike Fioretti of Methuen playing in that avenue in between blues and funk. Fioretti
plays with a blues easefulness, making a lot of colors in his sharp single notes. Local Manchester area harmonica player/vocalist Matt Walker came up to sing “I’m Going Down,” delivering a smooth, creative cool vibe with his subtle style.
A British piano player, David Moore, dropped by to tinkle the keys on a few numbers and guitarist Mike Rivela played a moody, soulful blues. Dickinson came back to play with another guitarist Ed Boelzner of Manchester with backing from Dan Denahy on drums.
It was hard to keep up with all the talent Randall brought together for last Monday night. Vocalist Gardner Trask from Danvers, Massachusetts came by to strut his stuff, sounding like a real deal blues man from a more southern state.
The strong grouping that Randall put together boded well for the future of this Monday night jam in Londonderry, New Hampshire. There was a strong turnout for the day after Christmas, indicating a lot of support for this weeks old blues jam.
Great press for the jam, Bill. And thank you very much for your kind words about me. I think it’s the first time I’ve gotten a review!