Hayward Mckee    5/24/98


Lady "A" Blues Band

Sometimes The Blues Are A Lot Of Fun

Key West is blessed with many fine musicians, but it is always nice to find
something new and different. While Schooner Wharf has its steady acts, it also
frequently takes chances on some great (to Key West) unknowns.

About a month ago it was the phenomenal British high school big band AD JAZZ,
(The only place in town that even considered them) This past week it was the
Lady "A" Blues Band from the upper Keys.  We are not talking the dreary
depressing stuff here, really much more the post blues "I'm going to boogie on out
of this" attitude of blues with a decidedly funky edge. 

The core of the band is Lady "A" who's strong and somewhat raunchy blues vocal
style, can carry off a wide variety of  blues artists from Koko Taylor to Tracy
Chapman, and she can blow a mean harmonica too. Guitarist and partner Ric Arra
can make a guitar really cook and soar. In addition to blues classics, they also
have some great  memorable original tunes, and will soon be recording a new CD.

Unique to this style of blues regardless of what band, is that it tends (especially for
early shows) to start off a just a bit disjointed. An audience trying to wind down
and a band trying to wind up. But with a good band they always come together,
and in this case it came toward the middle of the first set, when the audience was
very willingly encouraged by Lady "A" to participate with the "Ride Sally Ride"
refrain to Mustang Sally. From there on out both the band and audience let loose.

For the past several years they have given their time and talents to Bay Jam on
Plantation Key, an annual all day music festival each April to raise money for
student music and arts scholarships. This is the first place I ever saw them four
years ago. It is a great treat and pleasure to have them right in our backyard for a
change. 



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Both are very accomplished musicians that have worked with a number of greats
in their careers. They are very capably complemented by versatile drummer Jim
McGuirl and W.C. Handy Award winning bassist  Willie Jackson  


The crowd mostly stuck around  to the very end. The few who left early missed a
wonderful last set that  really cooked, and culminated with an encore of  the late
60's psychedelic era rock/blues band Cream's 'Sunshine Of Your Love'  A song I
don't think I have heard done live and as well in a very long time. Starting as a
vocal solo by Ric, it ended as I had never heard it before, a duet with Lady "A".
Eric Clapton is a self admitted influence of Ric's and tunes like this and others
show why many in the business, with respect, call him E.C. Jr.. The crowd loved it
and were reluctant to let them get off stage, but all good things must come to an
end. 

They will be back at Schooner Wharf though, on  Fri/Sat June 19-20 and hopefully
monthly or so for awhile. If you missed them, this time around, be sure not to next
time. Should you like to know more about them and current schedule info, you can
check out their web site at http://members.aol.com/bluesfuze/laweb.html, which
also features samples of their music. Look for them too, when you are in the upper
Keys.

                                                           -30-
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