After completing a “classical” CD last year, I had the urge to do something totally different. I decided to compose and record a CD of original blues tunes using as many of my musician friends and former students as possible. I immediately thought of my long term vocal companion, Anne Adessa who is probably one of the best blues singers in this area. For a male counterpart I thought of my old friend, Kelly James aka Dr. Blue. I called Kelly and we got together and kicked around some ideas. He was to get back to me with some examples of what he would like to do. On the day we were to begin I got a call from his wife saying that he had passed away during the night. I was, of course, devastated by the news but resolved to move ahead. I recalled the nephew of a former student who had impressed me a number of years before and after some inquiries was able to track down the terrific singer, Jimmy Chambers.

I decided I would try to use some former friends who had moved to other areas and contacted a number of them. Ultimately I was only able to use former Auburnians drummer, Mark Siracusa from Florida and sax player Frank Zona from Texas. I sent them the semi-completed tracks and they sent back their parts, which I remixed into the tracks I had recorded.

The rest of the musicians were mainly from the Central New York area. On drums, former Auburnian, Dave Hanlon and from Auburn my long time friend and Central New York legend, Dick Howard and his son Richard, also a fine drummer. Invaluable to me was another fine drummer, Ross Moe. And last but not least, Dave Conway. Other vocalists were my friends Bernie McNabb, Cookie Coogan and Dawn Gray, with whom all of which I have played numerous gigs. On bass, former students of mine as youngsters, Jeff Newhart and Pete Mack who have each become stellar players in their respective styles. Also on bass, from the musical Doyle family, Mike Doyle. I was privileged to have the fantastic slide work on dobro and electric guitar of Duke Shanahan and my long time friend Tom Eldridge on harmonica.

As always, I would like to thank my wife, Alita for her patience as I spent hundreds of hours in my studio writing and recording this CD.