Crossroads Band appears at: Rockfish Grill in downtown Anacortes Saturday, April 1st, 2006

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Crossroads Band, Blues and More Blues!

Our world has become a very specialized place, an observation not limited to medicine, law and car mechanics. Therefore it's not too surprising that focusing a blues band's songlist narrowly on one style or artist of blues has become so common. Haven't we all heard a band that should have been billed as a  Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute act, or who play nothing but swing or Hooker boogies for four hours a night? Are those groups specialists or groove diversity challenged? You decide.      The blues comes in many flavors and tempos. The Crossroads Band embraces this diversity of the genre, it's their motto, "Where All Great Styles of Blues Meet...Down at the Crossroads." The big winners in this philosophy are the dancers who linger before the stage waiting for the next Crossroads tune to begin, unwilling to leave the dance floor. Club owners come out as winners too, since you haven't heard the whole deck of cards in half an hour, the audience stays through the night.

There is a big difference between appreciating different styles of blues and actually being able to nail each one cold. This is where the blues cast of Crossroads proves their mettle. Don't just take our word for it. The Washington Blues Society (WBS) membership has nominated Seattle's Crossroad Band for Best Blues Band in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.      Crossroads' Steve Bailey has been a staple of the Northwest blues scene for many years, he appears on numerous recordings and was the mastermind behind the Northwest Harmonica Showcase album. Many will remember Stevie & The Blue Flames, who toured Europe and Japan and headlined many blues festivals. Whether on harmonica, vocals or guitar, Bailey contributes both the searing chops and subtle nuances specific to the Crossroads song. He was the 1992 and 2001 Best Harmonica winner of the WBS Best of Blues award and has garnered a nomination for the 2005 award in that same category. The Crossroads Band performed at the 2005 Best of Blues awards ceremony on April 24th, 2005 at Moonrakers in Kent. They also performed at last years WBS awards ceremony. In 2005 Crossroads brought home the coveted Best Blues Band award.      It's important to point out that Crossroads Blues Band isn't simply Steve Bailey's invisable back up band. The five piece ensemble has some extremely impressive blues credentials individually and the spotlight is shared by all of the Crossroads members. Take hard driving sax man Dennis Ellis, Living Blues Magazine sings his praises saying "Whenever Ellis steps up to take a solo, he steals the show!" Also in the line-up are familiar Blue Flames veterans Dan Newton (on guitar, keyboard and vocals) and bassist John Lee. You may recognize drummer John Rockwell from his work with Breadline Blues and Nicole Fournier's 3 lb Universe. It is the unique combination of these talented players that allows the band to shift from jump to boogie to shuffle to blues infinity.      Catch Crossroads live in Whatcom County on Sat., April, 1st at the Rockfish Grill in Anacortes, WA      Visit http://www.crossroadsblues.net/ to find out lots more about Seattle's Crossroads Band, join their mailing list, sign their guest book or visit their on-line store.

c.2005 blueslamp.com

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This page is copyright 04-12-05 by Blueslamp.com., updated 12-28-05. All rights are reserved.