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Show Legendary Blues Band lives up to its billing at the Rusty Nail by Scott Esplen The group was set up: Amid shouting and whistling the five-member five-member Legendary Blues Band had eased into place at the head of the dance floor at the Park City Ski Area's Rusty Nail. And the Friday night audience's chorus clapping and shouting grew as it took on a little fuel for the night's musical excursion. Harps player Jerry Portnoy's brief survey of his crew was immediately followed by drummer Willie Smith's crisp rimshot as the group opened with a tight, but not powerful, instrumental march. Calvin Jones' bass guitar provided the group's drive through many of the evening's songs. And his vocal work was good, outstanding on "Just Sweet Sixteen" and "Red Rooster." Willie Smith laid a smooth groovin' track. And keyboards as Joe (PineTop) Perkins strokes them can take you through all the hills and curves ot a musical countryside. Peter Ward's guitar handiwork shows definite promise, although he needs to tke some creative chances, develop some unique Iicks. However, Portney's alternately teasing, teas-ing, screaming harmonica blew a sometimes strong course for the group to follow. Though capable of a gut-wrentching "Big Wind" that can send shivers up your spine, he didn't come through with it Friday night. But even with The Lengendarv Blues Band's less-than-consistently strong performance the dance floor was jammed all night. The band, which has two albums out on the Rounder label, is well traveled. Smith, Portnoy and Perkins have appeared on five continents and in 25 foreign countries. Portnoy and Perkins also played for President Carter at the White House in 1978 as members of the world-renowned Muddy Waters Blues Band. The late Muddy Waters was the originator of the Chicago Blues style and was a mentor to a number of contemporary blues figures, giving them their first major break. Calvin Jones gigged and toured for a number ot years with blues great Howlin Wolf. The Legendary Blues Band has something and part of it is a piece of rich musical history. |