This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Billy Cobham, Bob James, and The Little Big Band. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM Central, at kasu.org.
Craig Baker, John Bartelt, David Eckert, and Ron Horton
DJ Hairy Larry Presents Joe Lee Singing Lazy Gal Blues
From the Archives Of Something Blue 2025-07-13
Joe Lee At Jazz Thursday
Thanks Marty. Today we’re going to hear Papa Joe sing his hit, “Lazy Gal Blues”, recorded at KASU Jazz Thursday.
So I had this idea about starting Jazz Thursday with a featured act and then a musician participation act I called The Little Big Band that would read original charts and arrangements. This was a lot of fun and sometimes we had five horns playing in The Little Big Band.
On May 27, 2010, we had three horns, a crack trumpet section featuring Ron Horton, Craig Baker, and John Bartelt. In the rhythm section we had Shane Chastain, piano; Craig Collison, vibes; David Eckert, bass; and I’m on guitar.
All of these musicians were living in the Jonesboro area at the time of the show.
But the highlight of the evening was when Joe Lee sat down at the piano and sang “Lazy Gal Blues”, a song he wrote that gained substantial popularity when he released it on Alley Records.
On this podcast I try to present great Arkansas music and I work hard to get all the details right, knowing that this could be one of the few times that this particular show is covered. Sometimes I get to recover a lost gem.
And that’s how I feel today. Buried in the middle of the set was Papa Joe singing “Lazy Gal Blues”. The performance was great but the mix wasn’t that good. Usually I would skip past it and hope to record it again later.
But Joe Lee is gone and this was my one opportunity to preserve this song with this band.
I remember Craig Baker scratching out the arrangement before the show. Joe played the first solo and then Ron Horton took the second. This might be the only time Ron Horton played this song.
On the recording Joe’s voice was too quiet and the horns were too loud. This is not the first time this has happened with live recordings. Fortunately the arrangement has full band stops for every vocal line so after radical EQ and then boosting the vocal one phrase at a time I got Joe’s voice on top. I fixed a few other things and it’s not the best repair I’ve ever done but it’s the best I could do on this song. I think you will enjoy it. It puts a smile on my face.
So now, recorded at KASU Jazz Thursday on May 27, 2010, here’s Joe Lee singing “Lazy Gal Blues”.
This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Lizz Wright, Bebop Beatniks, and Ambrose Akinmusire. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM Central, at kasu.org.
From The Archives Of Something Blue 2025-07-06 Paul, Danielle, and Eliecer at New Jazz In Jonesboro
Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a jazz standard recorded at KASU New Jazz In Jonesboro.
New Jazz In Jonesboro started in 2013 at TheArts@311 on Church Street in downtown Jonesboro. Then in 2018 and 2019 we had two more seasons at the Jonesboro Public Library Round Room featuring some of the same musicians and many performers new to the New Jazz concerts. These shows were sponsored by KASU.
Now, in 2025, we’re back, once again sponsored by KASU.
We’ve had music in the Brookland United Methodist Youth Building before, sometimes because of the rain forcing us indoors. It’s a great small room with comfortable seating and good acoustics.
So that’s why New Jazz In Jonesboro is in Brookland!
We’ve had three shows so far this year, headlining Jazz Buskers, Bebop Beatniks, and The Delta Blues Aces.
On May 24, 2025 The United Gospel Trio and Guests opened and then Bebop Beatniks played an exceptional set with guest vocalists on the last three songs. I have picked “Ain’t Misbehavin'” featuring Danielle Russell on vocals and Eliecer Tamez on trumpet.
Bebop Beatniks that night were
Paul Lessard – alto sax
Matt Jackson – bass
Alex Washam – drums
and
Hairy Larry, piano and vocals
Jeremy Jackson played bass on the last two songs. I will post links to the entire show on the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
All of the musicians are from Northeast Arkansas except for Paul Lessard, who was on the faculty at ASU last year. To our great loss Paul will be teaching in Alabama next year but I have a project in mind where he will be able to collaborate with Bebop Beatniks again, from Alabama.
Ok now, recorded on May 24, 2025, at KASU New Jazz In Jonesboro here’s Bebop Beatniks, featuring Danielle Russell, singing “Ain’t Misbehavin'”.
Something Blue Archives Featured Concert
All Right Everybody, Bebop Beatniks
Video
This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Witch Dance, John Good, Matt Lucas, and The Jelly Roll Kings. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM Central, at kasu.org.
DJ Hairy Larry Presents The Jelly Roll Kings Playing I Didn’t Know
From The Archives Of Something Blue – 2025-06-29
The Jelly Roll Kings – Rockin’ The Juke Joint Down
Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear the real blues played by some delta musicians.
I met Frank Frost, Sam Carr, and Jack Johnson when Vivian and I were enjoying blues festivals in the nineties. They played every year in Helena, Arkansas, and Clarksdale, Mississippi, and after a few years we became friends. Frank and Sam even came up to Jonesboro to play at Blues Fest and at the Delta Blues Symposium. They are, all three, genuine blues legends.
Frank was born in Auvergne, Arkansas. When I met him Frank lived in Helena in an apartment above Ettie Mae’s Cafe, my home away from home during the festival. I remember one time Vivian and I were visiting at the cafe before the festival started and Frank brought out the Jelly Roll Kings album. At first I wasn’t sure I could afford it but I decided I had to have it and I bought it from Frank. Ettie Mae looked at me and said, “I knew you were going to buy that”. Frank Frost fronted the real blues band in the black juke joint in the movie, “Crossroads”.
Sam Carr was born in Friar’s Point, Mississippi, but when I knew him he lived across the river from Helena in Lula. Vivian became close friends with Sam’s wife, Doris, who always saved a chair for her so they could talk during the festivals. Sam won the best blues drummer award in Living Blues magazine, year after year. After Frank passed in 1999 Sam continued playing at the King Biscuit Blues Festival with our friend, Dave Riley, fronting his band. Sam also played at the Levon Helm show in Helena in 2000. Doris passed in 2008. Sam passed in 2009.
“Big” Jack Johnson was born in Lambert, Missippi. He got a break in 1962 when he played with Frank and Sam at Clarksdale’s Savoy Theater. They recorded “Hey Boss Man!” at Sun Studios which was released on the Phillips label. According to the Mississippi Folklife Directory, “In 1978 Frank recorded the group, and the following year he started the Earwig label to issue the Jelly Roll Kings’ album, ‘Rockin’ the Juke Joint Down’.” I met Jack at the festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi, but I also heard him in Helena. Jack Johnson passed in 2011
So, I lift a glass to friends passed, all fine outstanding musicians. They may be gone but their music is forever.
Ok now, here’s The Jelly Roll Kings playing “I Didn’t Know”.
This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring Bob Reynolds and Sun Ra. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM Central, at kasu.org.
DJ Hairy Larry Presents Paul Lessard Playing White Rats And Meerkats
From The Archives Of Something Blue 2025-06-22
1625 Groove Street
Thanks Marty, today we’re going to hear a song I wrote this year and recorded at HairyLarryLand.
Paul Lessard is one of the finest jazz saxophonists I have ever worked with. When he joined the faculty at ASU I went to meet him to talk about music composition because, the truth is, there’s just not that many people into the nuts and bolts of music theory and composition. When I found out that he played jazz saxophone I knew I wanted to play with him.
He played with Bebop Beatniks on the KASU Arkansas Roots Stage at the Beatles At The Ridge Festival in 2024. Then he played with us again at Blues Fest and we recorded the album, “The Blue Crane”, on our second gig together.
Then this year, over Spring Break, my friend Chris Isom was coming to town and I set up a session with an amazing band and we recorded an album, “1625 Groove Street”. I wrote two of the songs on that album, the title track and “White Rats And Meerkats” which I have seleceted to play for you today.
Personnel on the album were
Paul Lessard – alto sax
Craig Collison – vibes
Chris Isom – drums
Spencer Rawlins – bass
and
Hairy Larry – piano
Craig also taught at ASU. He was the director of percussion studies until he retired. Chris and Spencer both went to school with me in the jazz program at ASU and they have helped me many times with my recitals and with New Jazz In Jonesboro.
Bebop Beatniks played at New Jazz In Jonesboro last month and I am working on a video of that show as I type. Once I start a project like that it consumes me, even when I am doing other things.
I will include links to the video and the albums mentioned on the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Ok now, recorded at HairyLarryLand on March 25, 2025, here’s my song, “White Rats And Meerkats”.
Something Blue – Troubled – June 21, 2025 The Funk Donors – Flatland
This is Hairy Larry inviting you to enjoy Something Blue every Saturday night at ten. This week we’re featuring The Funk Donors, Robert Glasper, and DJ Logic. For more about the show visit the Something Blue website at sbblues.com.
Don’t miss Something Blue, Saturday night at 10:00 PM Central, at kasu.org.
DJ Hairy Larry Presents The Funk Donors Singing Troubled
From The Archives Of Something Blue 2025-06-15
The Funk Donors – Flatland
Thanks Marty, today we’re going to bring the funk as played by a band that was popular here in Jonesboro before the pandemic.
Of course I’m talking about The Funk Donors. I never did get to hear them play live but I knew them by their reputation and I wanted to go see them since some of my friends were in the band. Fortunately they recorded a great album, “Flatland” and if you love live music like I do you can watch their videos on Youtube.
This all started when I went to see luvtrst. play at Stage Too. I was talking to Brian Nobles when he mentioned that he used to play in a band with Cody Ballard, the saxophonist in luvtrst. Well, my inquiring ears want to hear so I found out about the band and their album, “Flatland”.
Marty already had a copy of the album and he had done an interview when the album was released. So, Easy Peasey and now I get to play songs from “Flatland” on Arkansas Roots and Something Blue.
I went to school with Cody Ballard. I was in Jazz History with him but most importantly, I played with him in small ensembles. He was one of the horn players in NJHB during our 2013 season at The Arts@311 and he played on my Senior Recital. Cody plays tenor sax on “Flatland”.
I recorded Corey Emerson many times with Jazz Allince and other jazz groups including one with Ken Carroll on EWI. Now I’m going to have to find those recordings for a future podcast. See how this works? I never run out.
Corey plays trombone on “Flatlands”.
Both Corey and Cody helped me with overdubs on the NJHB album, “Stinger”, featuring the soaring lead guitar work of Chris “Stinger” Stevens and Mike “Zif” Lovell. Cody filled the gaps with his sax work and Corey delivered spot on bass including this one place where I found room for a bass solo.
To give you an idea of just how good these two musicians are they both nailed their overdubs on the first take on every song.
Visit the Something Blue website for links to the albums mentioned including “Flatland” by The Funk Donors and “Stinger” by NJHB.
Ok now, here’s The Funk Donors playing “Troubled” from their album, “Flatland”.
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