How'd you like to go walking in a "Winter Wonderland" with Curtis & the Kicks? Or receive the musical greeting "Merry Christmas Baby" from da Mudcats? Maybe you'd enjoy hearing "Blue Christmas" as interpreted by Screamin' John Hawkins & the Dippity Do's? In the truest spirit of the holiday season, a dozen blues groups/artists have recorded a 14-song blues compilation album, Santa is a Bluesman, to benefit the Cerebral Palsy K.I.D.S. Center.
Produced by Scott Mullins, the album also includes cuts by Big Al & the Heavyweight Blues Band, Sam Myers with the Homewreckers, Metropolitan Blues All-Stars, The Rusty Spoon Blues Band, Lamont Gillispie & the Homewreckers, Pen Bogert, The Duke Robillard Band, MR2 Blue and Rick DeBow.
An album release party and reception is scheduled for December 5 at Swanson Cralle Gallery, 1377 Bardstown, from 5:30 until 9 p.m. Free refreshments will be available and most of the album artists (except Sam Myers) will be on hand to entertain.
And they'll also play some music— for free.
If you can't wait until December 5 to hear Santa is a Bluesman, pick up a copy (or several) at Better Days Records, ear X-tacy, Camelot Superstore, either of the Hawley-Cooke Booksellers locations, Twice Told Books, Carmichael's Books or the Presbyterian Bookstore; "wherever fine blues records are sold," Mullins said.
Santa is a Bluesman should show up in the Christmas stocking of every blues aficionado in the Kentuckiana area —and beyond. It's a great way to both give and receive with a single purchase.