MOHAWK VALLEY BLUES SOCIETY
Sunday, July 18, 2021 2 PM – 7 PM
Waterfront Park - SylvanBeach, NY
The Mohawk Valley Blues Society is proud to present Roomful of Blues,with special guests Tas Cru and Los Blancos for the return of our Blues Picnic at Waterfront Park in Sylvan Beach NY on Sunday July 18!
Presented By
​Even though Roomful of Blues’ lineup has changed over the years, the band has always been one of the tightest, most joyful blues
ensembles in the world. Currently an eight-piece unit led by guitarist Chris Vachon, the band has never sounded fresher or stronger.
Singer Phil Pemberton brings his sweet and soulful vocals and adds another bright new dimension to the jazzy, jump-blues musical roots.
Their winning combination of jump, swing, blues, R&B and soul remains their calling card, as does their ability to fill the dance floor.
Along with bassist John Turner, trumpeter Carl Gerhard, drummer Chris Anzalone, keyboardist Rusty Scott, baritone and tenor
saxophonist Alek Razdan, and tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille, Roomful keeps on rockin’ into 2021!
With a non-stop performance schedule for over 50 years, Roomful of Blues has earned critical, popular and radio success and a legion of fans across the globe.
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​According to DownBeat magazine, Roomful of Blues “are in a class by themselves.” With their masterful combination of jumping, horn-heavy, hard-edged blues and R&B, it’s no wonder why the great Count Basie called them “the hottest blues band I ever heard.” Since 1967, the group’s deeply rooted blend of swing, rock ‘n’ roll, jump, blues and soul has earned it 5 Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including 7 Blues Music Awards and the prestigious DownBeat International Critics Poll for “Best Blues Band”.
Tas Cru is truly a blues eclectic who refuses to let his music be bound to just one blues style. With a repertoire of over 80 original songs from multiple albums and dozens of crowd-pleasing classics, this seasoned road warrior gives folks what they want be it festival, concert, listening room or the dance hall. Tas has been called one of the most unique of bluesmen plying his trade today. His songs testify to his reputation as a bluesman who is accomplished in, and comfortable with most every style of blues. As a writer Tas wants each song to determine what style is the better fit And that’s why fans love his stuff and critics sing his praises. A versatile repertoire, great vocal and guitar work, and his trademark well-crafted lyrics make Tas’ music an interesting and enjoyable listen. Live performances are captivating – highly entertaining!
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Tas Cru is based out of Central New York and performs in multiple formats ranging from solo acoustic to a six-piece backing band. He sings and plays a wide variety of guitars - at home on either electric, acoustic, resonator or cigar box and is known to sprinkle in a bit of harmonica from time to time. Tas is a Delaney Guitars (Austin TX) endorsed artist and is signed to Subcat Records, Syracuse NY.
With four hot albums in the last six years – You Keep the Money, Simmered & Stewed, Memphis Song, and Drive On – Cru is now hard at work readying another for 2021 – a double “quasi – acoustic” album Broke Down – Busted Up. Cru was honored with his first Blues Music Award nomination in 2018 with Simmered & Stewed. That album and the two that followed were all recipients of the Syracuse Area Music Awards (the SAMMY’s) for best blues recordings.
Los Blancos rips through Blues, Soul, Rockin' Zydeco, Latin, Outlaw Country, Heavy-One Funk, Folk, and a bottomless bag of tricks that's always sure to get the party started. Over more than a decade they've rocked thousands of shows, and tens of thousands of miles, reveling in a genuine passion for what they do. A crew of troubadour craftsmen and kindred souls who have joined forces for the long haul, and for the love of music.
Whether he's beltin' out the blues, or melting the ladies with a little sweet soul music, Colin Aberdeen is an original. His honest voice and heartfelt guitars will wrap around you like your mama's arms and just make you feel good. And we mean Damn Good! Colin will bring down the house when he's slingin' that slide on the guitar, too, a true-blue artisan of the roots.
Rhythms are injected by drummer Mark Tiffault, & bassist Steven T. Winston. Tiffault spent time touring with John Lee Hooker, The Kingsnakes, and most recently with Handy Award winner Carey Bell. Road seasoned chops and spirited playing create the kind of backbeat rhythm that drive right through your soul. Filling out the blessed bottom is the big, fat, bass of Steven T. Winston.
He has the experience and taste to know what fits, no matter what the style. Never content to just lay down the bootyshakin' bass, Steven T. is a great, burly, bear of a singer, too! These guys can go chooglin' on down like a 2 mile freight train, or float on a stone soul GROOVE.
Back porch harmony, a live intensity that can't be denied, and a massive, ever-evolving, melting pot of music, make Los Blancos a band that will stick with you for a long, long time.
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