Blues Guitar: On the Road and in the Studio with Bryan Lee

by Staff.

Blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter Bryan Lee is taking a leave of absence from his New Orleans base for a 24-stop tour with Kenny Wayne Shepherd and a July 7, 2007, concert appearance at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (Montreal Jazz Festival). When not on the road, his music often tears down the corner of Bourbon Street and Orleans Avenue at the French Quarter nightspot, Tropical Isle, though many fans might forever associate Lee with the French Quarter as the result of his 14 year, five nights a week, stint at the Old Absinthe House at the corner of Bourbon and Bienville.

This month also sees the release of Lee's new album, Katrina Was Her Name (Justin Time Records). Produced by guitar great Duke Robillard, Katrina Was Her Name features the return of such key session players as honking tenor man Sax Gordon Beadle, baritone saxophonist Doug James and versatile keyboardist Bruce Katz (all of whom appeared on 2002's acclaimed Six String Therapy), along with Lee's current working band of guitarist Brent Johnson, bassist Jim Mitchell and drummer John Perkins. Together they lay down some infectious grooves and raucous jams on faithful covers of blues and R&B classics by Willie Dixon, Kim Wilson, Doc Pomus, Luther Allison, Jimmy Witherspoon, Bobby Parker and Chuck Willis and an authentic rendition of Bobby Parker's classic '60s dance number, "Barefootin' with the 64-year-old bluesman's real deal vocals and stinging Freddie King-inspired guitar licks wailing over the top.

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