Sunday, January 17, 1999

'Shades of Blue' grows on and on

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Sastre, Goshorn plan second CD

BY LARRY NAGER
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        When Larry Goshorn and Marcos Sastre dedicated their Shades of Blue album to the late Michael Bany, it wasn't just because he was a great friend and musician.

        Both men feel their all-star Cincinnati blues CD wouldn't have been possible if not for the popular local singer-bassist, killed in a robbery in late 1995.

        “Unfortunately, Michael's death made it a lot easier, it brought everything together,” Mr. Goshorn says. “There was a lot of competition between bands before that. Now, everybody has a whole different attitude, there's a united front here about music. That was probably the best thing that came out of that whole horrible situation.”

        Mr. Sastre credits the concert tribute to Mr. Bany, held Feb. 9, 1996, at Sycamore Gardens, and subsequent Cincinnati Area Music Awards (Cammys), held at the club in 1997 and 1998, as being catalysts for uniting the local music community.

        “The feeling of doing a couple of Cammys excited everybody,” the singer/guitarist recalls. “The opportunity for all the players in town to be standing in the same room for a reason kind of spawned a lot of ideas, "Hey, why don't we make an album? Get some positive things coming out of Michael's death.' ”

        The pair recorded the disc last year at Mr. Sastre's home studio, Mastre Sound. Sessions were informal, with players coming in whenever they had the chance.

        But the results speak for themselves. The CD features a multigenerational array of players from jazz to rock, from former Benny Goodman guitarist Cal Collins to singer Noah Hunt, now with the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band. Most came from the vital Cincinnati blues scene, including Sweet Alice Hoskins, Big Joe Duskin, Greg Schaber & High Street and Kelly Richey.

        The disc spawned a mini-industry, as several “Shades of Blue” concerts followed. The first drew almost 700 people to Music Hall Ballroom on Oct. 23, the weekend the CD was released.

"Shades' in the works
        Smaller versions are becoming regular attractions at the 20th Century in Oakley Square, with monthly “Shades of Blue” shows planned to begin in February. A “Shades of Blue” set is scheduled for the 1999 Jammin' on Main (May 7-8).

        On March 14, the Mr. Sastre and Mr. Goshorn will do an acoustic “Shades of Blue” at the third annual Cammy Awards. Both men are past Cammy winners, the Goshorn Brothers Band winning best roots-rock band in 1997, the Blue Birds taking best R&B band in 1998, the same year Rick “Bam” Powell, then Blue Birds drummer, won best R&B instrumentalist. @:Planning the sequel @body:

        It's likely they'll use the opportunity to recruit musicians for the second Shades of Blue.

        “We've already spoken to a couple of different groups,” says Mr. Goshorn, who says sessions will be more planned this time around. “Last time we totally winged it.”

"Don't overthink it'
        Maybe it's the name of his band, or maybe it's just how well the first CD turned out, but Blue Birds' leader Mr. Sastre doesn't think “winging it” is such a bad idea.

        “The thing is, don't overthink it,” he says. “My take on it is to get as many of the players that we didn't get this time around. Maybe it'll still be blues, R&B-based and maybe we'll stretch that a little bit. After all, all rock styles come out of blues.

        “This last project developed as it went along. Maybe this one will too. There's a lot of great music lurking out there.”

CLUB DATES
        SHADES OF BLUE

Feb. 14, another all-star “Shades of Blue” show plays the 20th Century (Oakley Square; 731-8000). The Blue Birds and the Goshorn Brothers also have scheduled the following dates through February:

        GOSHORN BROTHERS BAND

        Friday and Saturday — Drawbridge Burbank's Real Bar-B-Q (I-75 and Buttermilk Pike, Fort Mitchell; 341-2806).

        Feb. 5-6 — Allyn's Cafe (3538 Columbia Parkway, Columbia Tusculum; 871-5779).

        Feb. 12-13 — Drawbridge Burbank's Real Bar-B-Q.

        Feb. 20 — East End Cafe (4003 Eastern Ave., East End; 871-6118).

        Feb. 26-27 — Drawbridge Burbank's Real Bar-B-Q.

        THE BLUE BIRDS

        Friday and Saturday — Burbank's Real Bar-B-Q (11167 Dowlin Drive, Sharonville. 771-1440; 8-11 p.m.).

        Jan. 29-30 — Doc's Smoke Shoppe & Tavern (12 W. Mulberry, Lebanon. 513-932-9939; 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.).

        Feb. 2-13 — Burbank's Real Bar-B-Q, Sharonville; 8-11 p.m.).

        Feb. 19-20 — Doc's Smoke Shoppe & Tavern.

        Feb. 26-27 — Redfish Looziana Roadhouse (Seventh and Race streets, downtown, 929-4700; 6:30-10:30 p.m.).

        BLUE BIRDS BIG BAND

        Tonight and every Sunday at Allyn's Cafe.

       

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