Sixth Lucerne Blues Festival
16-18 November 2000
Lucerne, Switzerland

Luca Lupoli

Believe it or not, Lucerne, a jeweled city nestled in the Four-Lake Cantons and surrounded by the magnificent Alps, hosts one of the most important indoor Blues festivals of all Europe. There were 17 concerts for twelve sets in three different locations: the Casino, the Casino Bar and two hotels, which hosted the traditional Blues Brunch.
Thursday night's first act, usually devoted to down-home Blues performed by either emergent or unknown musicians, was Tim Duffy's Music Maker Revue, featuring Mudcat, Neal Pattman, Cootie Stark and "Cool" John Ferguson. The Music Maker Relief Foundation initiative is a very laudable attempt to disclose hidden treasures of the American musical culture: the audience much appreciated the outstanding quality of the performers and their originality.
The same should be said for All-Star Delta Jukes, featuring the mythical Sam Carr, John Weston and Dave Riley; everyone enjoyed Carr's precise and smooth drumming, Riley's aggressive guitar work, and Weston's charisma. The Fedora review is a regular, much sought-after feature in Lucerne, therefore the audience was a bit worried about the evident bad form of Homesick James while a red-dressed Fillmore Slim (also known as Fillmore Sims and Clarence "Guitar" Sims) fulfilled expectations with an energetic show.
Michael Burks, an emerging artist with potential, closed the night with an infectious guitar show and inspired singing. At 1:00 am, a few remaining chaps loittering about in the Casino Bar watched one of the most awaited performers, slide-wizard Studebaker John & the Hawks who were also scheduled to open Friday concerts. On both occasions, Chicagoan Studebaker John Grimaldi blew the audience away. Supported by the relentless work of the Hawks, Studebaker John evoked, with talent and feeling, the spirit of J. B. Hutto and his immortal lesson, and was well-flanked by guest harp player and singer, Little Arthur Duncan. The public was nevertheless a bit disappointed about the lack of slow numbers, like "Missing You," in which Studebaker John excels as well.
After the appearance of some daytime snow, John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band, with Ken Saydak at the ivories, opened the Friday night show. Nowadays, Primer is one of the pillars of Chicago Blues and his emotional, tight set raised the mood to fever pitch at the Casino. Kenny Neal was up next and he met the audience's expectations, but, suffering from an electricity break, and from the resulting relaxed atmosphere, offered up a mere easygoing Blues set.
Jimmy Morello started the Saturday night Blues extravaganza. A strong singer himself, that many could remember with Pat Boyack and the Prowlers, Morello devoted a part of his show to accompany Sweet Betty, a gospel-oriented singer from Georgia, with the help of the brilliant Kirk "Eli" Fletcher whose guitar work draws inspiration from the masters of the Jump Blues. Not surprisingly, Alex Shultz got in for a couple of songs.
Supported by a good band, singer and guitar-man Sherman Robertson delivered his rock-infected Blues with great power and assurance. His show may find some objection from purists, but it rocks the boat and rocks it well!
Robertson rendered the audience ready for the climax of the festival: the highly respected Magic Slim and the Teardrops who are well known in Europe.

Many believe Magic is the last true "no frills, no tricks" Chicago Blues representative, although he is a Mississippi native. His concert was a raw yet beautiful, almost iterative, ritual with mutual emotional involvement.
While Little Al Thomas and the Crazy House Band (featuring guitar-man John Eldemann, previously with Little Mike and the Tornadoes) were trying to grab everyone's attention in the wake of Magic Slim's storm, Mudcat and Tim Duffy were warming up the Casino Bar for an unforgettable "Cool" John Ferguson's appearance. Ferguson is a hugely talented musician whose quiet and modest attitude instantly conquered Lucerne. A well-deserved ovation should also be given to Fritz "Big Daddy" Jacober and Guido "Mojo" Schmidt, two real "Bluesheads," for organizing this festival.
www.bluesfestival.ch/

Luca Lupoli