The second Pacific Coast version of the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise sailed from San Diego on Oct. 13, 2007. By the time it returned a week later, the 1500 or so blues lovers on the ship were sated and elated. As I describe the LRBC experience to my friends, each cruise is like a week of multiple musical orgasms: at the end you’re exhausted, but you don’t regret a minute of it and you want to do it again!
This year’s cruise featured the usual impressive array of 20 acts, providing a style of blues to fit almost any preference. Perennial cruiser Taj Mahal was there with his hot band, this time featuring steel drums instead of tuba. Frequent sailor Tommy Castro and his top-flight party band rocked the house at each of his appearances.
Curtis Salgado celebrated his escape from the grave after a life-saving liver transplant by fronting his 10-piece band and displaying his incredibly powerful blue-eyed soul vocals. 73 year old legend Bobby Rush performed with the energy of a 33 year old at the head of his revue, featuring a trio of female booty-bouncers whose gluteal gyrations were either hilarious or tasteless, depending on one’s tastes. When singing and playing some deep blues on harmonica backed by only guitar, bass, and drums, Rush proved that he
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can be true to his blues roots without pandering to the crowd.
Other standout performers were Blues Foundation 2-time award-winning singer Janiva Magness, Doug MacLeod with his humorous and poignant stories as well as his dazzling guitar wizardry and compelling songs, and Sista Monica Parker, whose vocal artistry with blues, gospel, jazz, and funk combined with her stage charisma to make her an audience favorite. Nathan James on guitar, and partner Ben Hernandez on harmonica, kazoo, jug, spoons, and washtub bass, offered a versatility as well as proficiency which justified their Blues Music Award as winners of the acoustic International Blues Challenge of 2007.
Perhaps my favorite of many favorites on the cruise was guest artist Roy Gaines, protege of the late, great T-Bone Walker, whose undiminished prowess on guitar was abetted by his reminiscences of T-Bone and his chops in jam sessions with several other performers. I haven’t even mentioned Elvin Bishop, Earl Thomas, Bernard Allison, John Lee Hooker Jr., Marcia Ball.... (For a complete list, go to www.bluescruise.com.) The January 2008 cruise from Florida is sold out, but next October’s Pacific cruise is just beginning to take orders. Check it out. For blues lovers, it doesn't get any better.
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