Order now, from the St. Louis Blues Society

Written by Bob Baugh / January 13, 2019

If you’re looking for some great St. Louis music to set your head straight for the New Year, the Blues Society latest release, 18 IN 18, is the tonic you need. In his fourth CD for the Society producer, Paul Niehaus IV, has delivered a tasty mix of tunes that he and STLBS chairperson Jeremy Segel-Moss describe as “the most stylistically diverse album we’ve had so far.” And, it may be the most complex one to date.

While each CD has showcased some aspect of the local music scene it always provides a mix of styles. For example, 17 IN 17 had a soul emphasis while other years have been more Delta or eclectic blues. Segel-Moss says he’s excited about 18 IN 18, “It’s a testament to the wide variety of blues and soul in STL today from Walter Greiner’s bluesy American folk style to Lady J’s full orchestra.” Niehaus agrees, “from old time traditional pre-war blues to the cutting edge of contemporary STL blues, it’s all represented.”

Working in the comfort of his south city wood paneled basement studio, Blue Lotus Recordings, Niehaus puts all the pieces together. “It’s like putting a puzzle together,” he said, “we identify the artists, schedule studio time, do the recordings, engineer the music and put it in a good running order that takes the listener on a journey from the first track to the last.” But, each song is a puzzle too. The studio work can vary widely from the 5 solo/duo songs on the album to Al Holliday’s 10-piece East Side Rhythm Band and Lady J Huston’s collaboration with the Jazz Edge Orchestra.

Lady J’s song, “Hide-Away,” was the most complex recording challenge Niehaus has faced to date. When she showed up with sheet music and the Jazz Orchestra and its 5-piece rhythm section, 4 trumpets, 2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, 1 baritone saxophone, and 4 trombones including a bass trombone, he was ready. It took a five-hour session to record each section and Lady J’s vocals and trumpet solo. The arrangement was a complex mix of styles and tempos. “The foundation is a blues ballad that expands the standard blues chord progressions,” Lady J explained, “and mixes in some jazz elements like Duke Ellington and Count Basie and some up beat funk.”

Lady J fits with Segal-Moss’s intent to have “everyone find someone or something on the CD they have never heard before.” She’s a native St. Louisan who played trumpet and music director (1980-82) for Albert King until she accepted a music scholarship to Howard University. Life and work would take her to Las Vegas for 25 years where she won awards for Best Blues Band and Best Blues Performer and was heralded as “The Las Vegas Queen of the Blues.” A debilitating illness brought her back home in 2013. It wasn’t until mid-year 2018 that she was able to return to the stage. She’s glad to be back home and performing again.

I8 IN 18, like its predecessors, is all about introducing St. Louis music to the world and to St. Louis what we have here. This album, the fourth in the series, brings the total to 66 original songs by local artists. One more will bring the Blues Society to a boxed set status. Niehaus is grateful to be part of it: “My ear for engineering and production have improved over the last 4 years, thanks in large part to the experience these albums have given me.” We thank him for providing us another celebration of the robust music scene and the talented artists that make it so.

Looking Under the Cover

As advertised 18 IN 18 represents the broad St Louis blues tradition. You will find Little Dylan, who represents the next generation of blues, kicking off the album with his first recorded original song. There are several quieter more traditional solo numbers from Sharon Foehner, Bob Komoskee, and Walter Greiner as well as a duo from Brian Curren and Adam Andrews. Tim Albert and Lisa Campbell’s sweet vocal and piano interplay on “Telephone” is a winner. The beat picks up with our 2019 IBC contestants: Hy-C, Torrey Casey (2019)) and the Southside Hustle (2018/STL and 2019/IL) and Al Holliday and the East Side Rhythm Band (Best Self-Produced CD).

There’s some horn infused dance and New Orleans style music from the St. Boogie Brass Band and TJ Muller and the Gaslight Squares. Female vocalists Lady J, Miss Molly Sims and Aina Cook give us three shades of blues. Cook, who is also part of Al Holliday’s band, makes an impression with this debut. Lobster and Charles Hunt take us old school with blues and soul. Daniel Hamm shows us some electric North Mississippi blues while Chris “Iron Jaw” Taylor takes us on a slow blues journey with some outstanding harp work.

Yup, 18 IN 18 is quite the St. Louis blues journey. It is one that impresses and makes you want to hear more from these talented artists. So we will. Here is the lineup and some thoughts from each about their song:

Little Dylan Triplett – “The Dog Crawled In”
It’s a straight up blues song. I wanted to be on 18 in 18 to be able to do something of my own and show that I can not only execute music at the best level but write my own music as well.

Torrey Casey and the South Side Hustle – “Meet Me in St. Lou”
This is an anthem and a tribute to our wonderful city. It’s a traditional blue shuffle on the beat. It is a song that anyone and everyone can sing.

Uncle Albert – “Telephone”
I sat down to write a new song and this one just fell out. The story line is “Man falls in Love, Girl leaves town, He would walk holes in his shoes just to hear her voice again.” It’s an acoustic Piano/Guitar Blues style. I’m a proud supporter of the Blues Society and to be of the vibrant and nurturing St. Louis blues scene.

Al Holiday and the Eastside Rhythm Band – “Sad Old Eyes”
It’s about having a relationship with someone that uses your name like it’s a curse word. The style is simple, straight forward and inspired by the kind of song Ray Charles would have cut. The beat was taken from a tasty New Orleans R&B record. We cut it live as a group.

Bob Kamoske – “Lie, Lie, Lie”
I play because it’s what’s inside pf me. I’m a songwriter. That’s what I do. My whole life is a trigger for every song I write. It’s a solo on my 1937 National style resonator guitar. It’s blues, old style country, the type I learned from old blues guys.

Aina Cook – “Unheard”
It’s a little about all the reasons why someone might feel like their voice doesn’t count. It does end on a positive note. I wanted to share that with anyone out there who might be feeling the same way. This song is a little between blues and jazz.

TJ Muller – “Gaslight Blues #1
This is an instrumental done in a New Orleans jazz/blues style with a standard blues 12 bar progression. We were happy to have the Gaslight Squares involved with the St. Louis Blues Society.

Sharon Foehner – “Call the Ancestors Down”
This is a song about calling/praying to our ancestors to get their wisdom and strength, to get their positive and negative energy and spirit. It is a gospel style solo with my guitar.

Saint Boogie Brass Band – “Saint Boogie Blues”
Chris Tomlin: The song is about not being able to dance and finally getting the chance. We wrote it because we are always hearing our crowd talk about it. It’s a funk/blues number. We did it for 18 in 18 to give everyone a new song to dance to.

Brian Curren and Adam Andrews – “Weary Mind Blues”
The song is about my use or you could say abuse of alcohol to help cope with the stress and anxiety that sometimes goes along with the music business. The style is primarily inspired by Big Bill Broonzy and Lonnie Johnsons recordings. It’s truly an honor and a privilege to help showcase what STL has to offer.

Hy-C (Jacinta Branch Griffin) – “Memphis Here I Come”
I wrote this after I entered the regional IBC competition. I think it helped me to win. I have always been a big fan of Koko Taylor. This is the type of song she would sing. It is a Delta shuffle.

Lobster – “I Don’t Need No Police Man”
The title tells you the story. It’s a straight up blues number that I wrote a while ago. I was glad to do it for the Blues society. I did it with Chris “Iron Jaw” Taylor on harmonica.

Lady J Huston and the Jazz Edge Orchestra – “Hide-Away”
My song “Hide-Away” is about moving on with life in another location after the end of a love affair.  There are multiple styles of music in this song with the foundation being a Blues ballad.  The Jazz Edge Orchestra put their time and talents into this project gratis in support of the St. Louis Blues Society. 

Walter Greiner – “Gabriel’s Blues”
The song is about Gabriel’s (KDHX DJ) passing. It’s Old School American Church style song with a twist. It presented itself to me while I was playing. It just came. I loved Gabriel. It’s in dedication to the man.

Miss Molly Simms – Complicated Broken People”
As a songwriter I find inspiration in everyday life. This is a realistic love song born out of an overheard conversation: “We’re just complicated broken people doing the best we can.”  The style is Americana Soul. Being on this compilation is a cool thing- it’s comradery with the other musicians and promoting Saint Louis music.  

Chris “Iron Jaw” Taylor and the Alley Tones Blues Band – “I Don’t Feel Sorry”
This is a low down dirty blues song about repeat offenders on drugs that you repeatedly try to help. The blues has always been part of my life and my consciousness. Being part of 18 in 18 and the St. Louis Blues Society is an honor.

Daniel Hamm – “Death at My Door”
I wrote this song about the struggles with alcoholism and deciding to seek treatment. My style of music for this song is influenced by the north Mississippi hill country. I appreciate the encouragement I received from Paul Niehaus and other musical teachers to be part of this CD.

Charles Hunt – “Poor Man”
It’s a story that tells you that even if you aren’t rich with a lot of money it ain’t always bad being poor. This is blues done in a B.B. King and Albert and Albert King style. When I do my next CD with the Ground Floor band this will be on it.