JaZzLine INSTITUTE presents Blues Explosion, a powerhouse lineup featuring four of the finest blues artists from the Bay Area and beyond. Get ready for blues, blues, and more blues as this slammin’ band and these renowned artists each raise the roof and let loose in their own unique style. Supported by the California Arts Council.
The Dynamic Miss Faye Carol is known as an icon in the Bay Area and beyond, highly regarded for her powerful voice, astonishing versatility, and gift of connecting with her audience. Equally at home in jazz, blues, R&B, gospel, funk, latin, and hip-hop, she has developed her own authentic sound and unique delivery, delighting audiences young and old across the globe. After beginning her career with gospel music, Faye Carol made her name singing with Oakland blues and funk legend Johnny Talbot & De Thangs before forming her own trio and gaining fame in San Francisco’s jazz, blues, and cabaret clubs of the 1970s and 80s. Over a 60-year career in music, this living legend has developed her own unique acoustic sound and style in Black Music – drawing from funk, blues, gospel, and straight ahead swingin’ – and cultivated an audience that remains as diverse as her uplifting music. She has maintained a high level of musicianship in her groups, mentoring some of the Bay Area’s brightest young talent including pianist Benny Green, bassist/composer Marcus Shelby, and her daughter, pianist/composer Kito Kamili. Her vocal proteges include international superstars Kehlani and Ledisi.
Lady Bianca is a blues, gospel, and R&B vocalist/pianist, artist, and producer with roots in Kansas City, MO. Raised by a father who taught her Texas Blues piano as a child, Bianca’s formal training began at age nine with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Her exceptional talent garnered her a full four year scholarship and she went on to study music theory, composition, and received her operatic vocal and piano training. Bianca’s first paying gig was at the age of seventeen with Quinn Harris & The Masterminds and it was Harris who bestowed the title of Lady on Bianca as she was “so pure and conservative”. Since then, Lady Bianca has evolved into an icon in the San Francisco Bay Area and is widely known as the “Queen of the Blues and Gospel”. With her partner, Stanley Lippitt, she has amassed a catalog of over 300 songs, and has produced, arranged and recorded 9 albums, via her own label, Magic-O Records – Home of the Mighty Oakland Sound.
Alvon Johnson is one of the most versatile musicians, singers, and entertainers on the music scene today. He travels the world singing and swinging jazz standards with Big Bands. He also gallops the globe performing the songs that he performed while working with the rock and roll hall of fame group, The Coasters. When he travels to Russia he is referred to as the “King of the Blues” and the “Ambassador of the Blues”. His love and respect for the American Art form is shared by large and enthusiastic audiences all over the world.
Alabama Mike is a hard-driving blues singer who will remind you of the early original blues legends, whom you may have heard on the Chess, Duke, Trumpet and Galaxy Record labels, and even maybe some Elmore James, Buddy Guy, Little Junior Parker, Little Johnny Taylor, and BB King (in his early years). He can blaze up a good old blues shuffle and have you moving and grooving, then effortlessly transport you through his unique style, offering a soulful gospel tinged ballad, and his jovial style of storytelling will send you through a range of exhilarating emotions.
