A "Tent" With a View of the Blues: 2001 Pocono's Blues Festival

 I have been introducing and closing the bands in the tent at the Pocono's blues festival since its inception and am continually amazed at the music that I see and hear. This year in the "best kept secret" stage at the Pocono's Blues festival was no different. Most acts play two sets so it is easy to slip in and catch some great down home blues in a laid back atmosphere. Although sharing this secret is like telling everybody about your favorite restaurant, you want the world to know about it but don't want the world to show up! But here goes.

 The first act up was the west coast acoustic blues man Ike Cosse (pronounced Co-see). Ike, looking sharp in dark suit and a black fedora, accompanied with his guitar and a harp rack started the whole thing with "Bad Decision" a song from his latest JSP CD "Cold Blooded World". Ike an original songwriter played several tunes from both his releases including "Bang Bang Girls" a song about trouble one can get into have too much fun with the exotic lady dancers. Next up Ola Dixon.

 Ola a rare site in today's blues scene, hell in today's music scene period, is a female bandleader and drummer. Ola a blues woman with serious credentials, having played behind Luther "Guitar Jr" Johnson, Paul Oscher and Big Walter Horton kicked right into her swinging upstyle blues. Ola played and sang several cuts from her Severn release "Labor of Love" including "Baby Please Set a Date" and "Baby I'm Gone". Sounding a lot like Dinah Washington or Little Ester Williams, Ola swung hard. Another great performance.

 The final performer in tent was the Excello legend Lazy Lester. Lazy (Leslie Johnson) was in great form. Accompanying Lazy was Fred Reif (former front man of School Kids Records) on rubboard and Doug Demming on guitar. Lazy started each set on the harp, and ended it on the guitar and in between he played true to form, some great swamp blues. He covered all his great 45's including "I Hear You Knockin", "I'm A Lover Not a Fighter" and "Lester's Stomp". This may have been one of the best shows at the festival. Lester displayed depth and style over speed and flash. A "real deal" set of blues music.

 Sunday is a new day, the sun is shinning and so was Algia Mae Hinton. Algia, accompanied by Lightnin' Wells on national steel stole the show. A Music Maker Foundation artist Algia displayed a depth of music rarely seen in today's business. Having learned most of the songs from her mother Algia not only played guitar and banjo but also "bucked" dance either solo or in rhythm with Lightnin' playing. She hit us with the "Battle Hymn of The Republic", "Shake Rattle and Roll" and a story about the fighting "Peas and Cornbread". Truly an American treasure that gave love and received it ten times back from the adoring overflowing tent filled crowd. She was the buzz of the weekend.

 Up next, the son of Robert Nighthawk the legendary drummer Sam Carr. Sam, who was in fragile health, was presented a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to the blues community. Sam accompanied by Dave Riley in the first set and Lonnie Shields in the second set laid down some straight up delta shuffle. Sam, like Lazy showed a depth of music rarely seen today.

 Last performer up was an act that already played on one of the major stages but now you had a chance to see him up close and personal. D.C. Bellamy, the half brother of Curtis Mayfield, displayed his soulful blues style right from the word go. By the second song he had them on their feet cheering for more. With the up and coming Will Crosby on lead guitar, D.C. gave us such standards as "You Upset Me Baby" "A Room With A View of The Blues" and his originals from his first full length release "Water to Wine", "If You See Kay" and "Next Door Neighbors Woman". A great way to wrap up another unbelievable weekend of buried blues treasures.

(Dave Moskal)