Press

CD Review by Lady K March 2014
Roger "Hurricane" Wilson
Live at the 2012 Amelia Island Blues Festival
Bluestorm
By Lady K
March 2014

So, a little background: Roger "Hurricane" Wilson is a well-established, well-known bluesman out of Georgia (the Atlanta area), and when he's not playing out and recording, he''s evidently hanging around schools, teaching students about the blues. One of Roger's most recent endeavors was with the Fernandina Beach (Florida) High School Jazz Band; showing them what the blues is all about. Ultimately, from the Jazz Band, the Fernandina Beach High Blues in the Schools Band was born, and those high school kids had an opportunity to dazzle attendees at the 2012 Amelia Island Blues Festival, teaming up with Hurricane for a few tunes.

The players included lots of brass: sax players Bryson Fleming (alto) and Sam Harris and Tristan Duncan (tenor). Trumpets: Andrew Benudiz, Luke Baine, Prince Wilson and Greg Eberwine. Trombones: Tom Taylor, Cody Chaplin, Tessa Pirkola and Brian Camp. Featured on drums were Zack Curry, Keith Davidson and Adrian Walker. And then there were a few other players: Cody Norton (guitar); Brian Stidham (bass); Jillian Leavy Steele (piano). The Director of the Fernandina Beach High School Band, Johnny Robinson, was also involved in this endeavor. (And lest I forget, Roger "Hurricane" Wilson provided lead guitar and vocals, and the enthusiasm to get this project on stage.)

Attendees of the 2012 Amelia Island Blues Festival heard the Blues in the Schools Band and Roger Wilson perform 3 yummy blues tunes: "A Nasty Bit of Blues" (Doug Beach); a very bluesy version of Cab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher"; and Peter Chatman's "Every Day I Have the Blues". There's a jazzy element to the tunes, which isn't surprising, considering all the brass that was up there on that festival stage, but the music is the blues, and really exciting blues.

Without seeing the CD cover, the listener would have absolutely no way of knowing that the musicians, except for Hurricane, are members of a high school band.

Those are the only 3 tracks on this CD, ensuring that the recording was about the kids and the blues; not about him. What an amazing thrill for the students and the audience, and Hurricane, for getting it all done, and for listeners, hearing potential bluesmen come of age!!!!

Lady K was impressed. Live at the 2012 Amelia Island Blues Festival is the little CD that could, and did, pack a huge blues wallop. Give it a listen!!



2012 Fernandina Beach Blues Festival Press Release
The Amelia Island Blues Festival is bringing noted blues guitarist Roger “Hurricane” Wilson back to Main Beach; and this time Roger will act as Master of Ceremonies for the entire festival weekend. Roger’s long and storied musical career provides him with a unique perspective and practical insight into the blues. The great bluesman Hubert Sumlin said of Roger, “this boy knows what he’s doing,” and worldfamous guitar innovator Les Paul remarked that Roger “plays some great blues.”

In addition, Roger will bring his much heralded “Blues in School” program to the 2012 AIBF. Students from Fernandina Beach High School, led by music teacher John Robinson, will again open the Saturday morning blues festival at Main Beach and will be joined by Roger for at least three classic blues songs, all designed to help keep the blues alive by introducing the genre to the next generation of musicians.

Taking his famous moniker from Hurricane Donna, which devastated his New Jersey hometown in 1960, as well as from his raucous blues renditions, Roger “Hurricane” Wilson has played with many of the greats, including B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Little Milton, John Mayall, and Savoy Brown, to name just a few.

Roger’s latest CD release is the much anticipated live recording performed with the Shufflejunkies at the 2011 Amelia Island Blues Festival. Also in the works, a compilation of recordings with the legendary Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, due for release this summer.

For those that wish to become more familiar with Roger’s music, check out his first two CD’s for Hottrax Records, “Hurricane Blues,” released in 1994 and “Live from the Eye of the Storm,” released in 1996. Both received airplay on well over 100 stations across the U.S. In 1997 Roger decided that it was time to step up to the next level, forming his own record company, Blue Storm Records. This venture gave rise to the third CD, “The Business of The Blues.” The fourth CD is called “Live at the Stanhope House,” recorded at that legendary blues club in New Jersey.

A fifth effort, all solo acoustic, “Pastime” has also received much critical acclaim and “The Ohio Connection” was released in late April, 2004. For a complete list of music, visit Roger’s website at hurricanewilson.com.

In addition to playing between 250 and 300 nights a year, Roger also produced and hosted his own syndicated radio show on nearly 100 stations around the country.