Bread, Booze, and Blues
Monday, September 23, 2019
The night of September 10 in Chicago was owned by Frankford Umbrellas, a 110-year-old company whose owner and CEO, Marc Kaufer, put his youth on display as he danced to the music of the Chicago Blues All-Stars.
That was, of course, following a meal and a drink or two, when a large number of the 120 or so people in attendance were out on the dance floor with him. They were dancing to the music of the Chicago Blues All-Stars, an American blues band that incorporates elements of funk, soul, R&B, and hip hop. It’s made up of musicians who have been together as friends and musicians for four decades.
It showed.
The band includes numerous inductees in the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame and has been a headliner for shows such as Buddy Guy's Legends, featured on PBS, and at music venues Kingston Mines and House Of Blues. “Killer” Ray Allison, a W.C. Handy Award winner, and Daniel "Chicago Slim" Ivankovich, who has played with Bo Diddley, Otis Rush and Buddy Guy, are the band leaders, co-founders, and Blues Hall of Fame inductees.
The Chicago Blues All-Stars have recorded with and performed with Chuck Berry, Paul Butterfield, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, James Cotton, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Albert King, B.B. King, Magic Sam, Gary Moore, Ohio Players, The Rolling Stones, Otis Rush, Koko Taylor, Big Mama Thornton, Muddy Waters, and Johnny Winter.
From 7:30 to 10:30 (or so) all in the audience were treated to the spirit and professionalism of musicians at the top of their game.
The best news? Frankford Umbrellas has announced that the event will become a regular part of the Casual Market – it’s called Frankford Bluesphoria.
