Bman's Blues Report: Blowin' New Life Into Classic R&B, Blues, & Soul: BLOWIN SMOKE & THE FABULOUS SMOKETTES In Concert At Harvelles

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Blowin' New Life Into Classic R&B, Blues, & Soul: BLOWIN SMOKE & THE FABULOUS SMOKETTES In Concert At Harvelles

Hotter Than St. Louis BBQ!
Larry "Fuzzy" Knight Presents...

Blowin' Smoke - St. Louis-Style Rhythm & Blues Revue
Saturday, April 13@Harvelle's/Santa Monica

"Cross Soul Train with American Bandstand and you get a good idea

of what a Blowin' Smoke Rhythm & Blues Revue show is like!"

Blowin' Smoke & The Fabulous Smokettes In Concert

At Harvelles in Santa Monica - Saturday, April 13, 2013

BLOWIN' SMOKE RHYTHM SECTION USED FOR TWO SONGS IN THE AWARD-WINNING MOTION PICTURE "THE SAPPHIRES," JUST RELEASED IN THE U.S.

(SANTA MONICA, Calif.) - Take the legendary TV show Soul Train and cross it with Dick Clark's very-hip-in-its time American Bandstand and you get a good idea of what a Blowin' Smoke Rhythm & Blues Revue show is like. That is, a packed dance floor full of sweaty souls enjoying themselves more than should be allowed by law! :- Hence the band's 'warning/disclaimer:' "Seeing and listening to Blowin' Smoke live will cause permanent joy and happiness to occur during and after performances."

"Blowin' Smoke has its very own signature style of taking classic R&B, blues, and blues-rock songs and rearranging them, turning them all into their own style of songs - adding new energy along with the (vocals of the) sassy, sultry and sexy Smokettes - Lyrica Garrett, LaQuita Davis and Madame 'Dee' (Dwanna Parker)," explains longtime band front-person and bassist-vocalist, Larry "Fuzzy" Knight.

Catch the acclaimed longtime eleven-piece R&B/Blues/Soul ensemble live in concert at Harvelle's, 1432 4th St., Santa Monica, Saturday night, April 13. 9:30 pm-1:00 am. $10. Info:

(310) 395-1676 or http://santamonica.harvelles.com/.

The Blowin' Smoke rhythm section - Larry "Fuzzy" Knight (bass); David Raven (guitar); Don Littleton (bass); and John 'JT' Thomas (keyboards) - perform on two songs, "Hush" and "Burnt Biscuits," that appear in the motion picture release "The Sapphires" - an inspirational tale set in the heady days of the late '60s about a quartet of young, talented singers from a remote Aboriginal mission, discovered and guided by a kind-hearted, soul-loving manager. The film - which won awards at the Aspen, Palm Springs, Portland, San Jose, Key West and St. Louis International film festivals among others - was released domestically in the U.S. this past March.

For nearly two decades, Blues/R&B/Soul group Blowin' Smoke has been one of the most in-demand, successful bands on the Southern California live music circuit. Front and center in Blowin' Smoke is its creator, bandleader/bassist/vocalist, Larry "Fuzzy" Knight - whose impressive musical resume' includes a decade-plus stint as bassist for one of the great SoCal bands to emerge from the psychedelic era of the Sixties, Spirit. Knight has also recently launched a new band project, Sky King, featuring some top-name musicians, all the while keeping Blowin' Smoke going strong.

In a recent review of the band's Beyond the Blues Horizon CD, BMans Blues Report writes, 'lead vocalist and bass player Larry 'Fuzzy' Knight delivers the goods..."C.O.D." is a hot R&B track featuring Michael Murphy on Hammond and Jimmy Delgado rippin' a great lead guitar...this is the kind of recording you can put on while you're working and driving and it will make the day fly...great tracks, great instrumentation, great vocals and great energy." In another review of the same album, the L.A. Music Examiner states, "this eleven-person act emphasizes electric rhythm and blues with a touch of funk, rock, and Southern soul...the Fabulous Smokettes are a tuneful trio of ladies."

Here's the Blowin' Smoke Rhythm And Blues Band performing Aretha Franklin's "Won't Be Long" recently at Harvelle's/Santa Monica.