Eddie Blue and The Ravens
Eddie ‘Blue’ Lester Saxophonist Extraordinaire!
Eddie Blue and The Ravens would like to thank Marshall Amplication for supplying the guitar and bass amps on this UK tour. twww.marshallamps.com
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Rocking the Blues in conjunction with Cat Concerts and Tours presents:
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Eddie Blue and The Ravens Eddie ‘Blue’ Lester Saxophonist Extraordinaire! |
Eddie Blue and The Ravens would like to thank Marshall Amplication for supplying the guitar and bass amps on this UK tour. twww.marshallamps.com |
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First Time On Tour in the UK during March/April 2008 Eddie Blue Lester, originally form Texas, is a veteran of the music scene in the US having played in many bands and with many names over the years. Eddie Blue & The Ravens are the real deal and play the funkiest Rhythm 'n' Blues you'll ever likely to hear. They are on tour for the first time in the UK during March and April 2008. Get along to a gig and you'll see something very special! |
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The Story So Far - UK Tour 2008
The Limelight Theatre in Aylesbury, Bucks on Good Friday welcomed Eddie Blue & The Ravens from the US. The theatre was almost full and everyone had a great time including the band. Eddie Blue & The Ravens then appeared at The Burnley Blues Festival on Sunday 23rd playing to a packed venue. Earlier in the day Eddie and guitarist Alex Mays had played on a narrowboat – ‘The Blues Cruise’. They did three sailings and all were full. Fantastic reception at The Burnley Blues Festival and will surely be back.
After a few days off, the appearance at Dusty’s Music Club, HGSA Holmer Green near High Wycombe was nearly cancelled as the club suffered a powercut. Organiser Ron Ryan’s quick thinking meant the gig went ahead albeit at a rather smaller venue, the pub up the road. It was a bit of a squash but great atmosphere. Unfortunately a few people couldn’t see properly and some had to stand but this was better than cancelling the gig and what a night!
The band then played in Dudley at The Brewhouse Blues Club where they had to finish after 3 encores due to time restrictions and followed by Blues on the Boat in Peterborough the next day.
As the band have been weaving their way across the country and they've had some amazing reactions to their shows. All three gigs in South Wales brought the house down with their funky danceable blues with two of the clubs having their best attendances for quite some time. Last Monday Paul Jones played 'Eddie Blue's 'Funky Basement' and read out the remaining gigs. To see the remaining gigs scroll down the page.
New CD Available At Gigs
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On sale at the gigs in the UK
will be Eddie Blue & The Ravens first CD called RAW which is part
studio and part live. Pick one up at a gig for only £10 or you can
buy from
www.bluescdstore.com or
call 01296 634991 or email;
info@bluescdstore.com Click on the CD cover to buy. |
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Eddie Blue & The Ravens ‘The Many Faces of Eddie Blue Fantasy Tour’ Friday 21st March - The Limelight Theatre Queens Park Centre, Queens Park, Aylesbury Bucks.. HP21 7RT For information or advance tickets call 01296 424332 / 431272 Fax 01296 337363 info@qpc.org www.qpc.org or for more info click here Sunday 23rd March - The Burnley Blues Festival www.burnleymechanics.co.uk Eddie Blue and guitarist Alex May play The Blues Cruise at 12pm 1.30pm & 3pm + appear with the rest band at The Burnley Mechanics Theatre, Oliver's Bar at 6pm Wednesday 27th March - Dusty’s Music Club, HGSA Holmer Green, near High Wycombe, Bucks
Friday 28th March – Brew House Blues Club at The Lamp
Tavern, 116 High Street Saturday 29th March – Blues on the Boat, Peterborough www.bluesontheboat.co.uk Monday 31st March– Monday Blues at The Bullingdon, Cowley Road, Oxford www.famousmondayblues.co.uk
Wednesday 2nd April - Malt Shovel Tavern,
121 Bridge Street,
Northampton, NN1 1QF Friday 4th April - Riffs 11 Station Rd., Blackpool Saturday 5th April - Change of venue - The Falcon Club, Smithfield, Egremont, Cumbria. Tel 01946 820421.with special guests Judith Jones Band Sunday 6th April - Hotel California, 2 New Chester Road, Tranmere Wirrall CH41 9AY www.thehotelcalifornia.co.uk Monday 7th April - Alexander’s, Rufus Court, Chester www.alexandersjazz.com Tuesday 8th April - Salisbury Rock & Blues Club, Swansea + The Dirty Aces New Date! Wednesday 9th April - Langton's Cafe Bar, Charles Street, Newport NP20 1JT Tel: 01633 264147 For their Myspace site click here Thursday 10th April - Blues Dragon Club, The Gower (pub), Gwennyth Street, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4PH + The Dirty Aces www.bluesdragon.org.uk Friday 11th April - Warner’s Blues Weekend at Bodelwyddan Castle, North Wales www.boogaloopromotions.com www.boogaloopromotions.com/documents/14532bodbluesleaflet.pdf Saturday 12th April - Ain’t Nothin But The Blues Bar, 20 Kingley Street, London W1B 5PZ www.aintnothinbut.co.uk Sunday 13th April - The Oval Tavern, 131, Oval Rd, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 6BR 020 8686 6023 For more information on Eddie Blue & The Ravens and on tour dates contact: Rocking the Blues on 01296 634991 |
Introducing Eddie 'Blue' Lester
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Eddie Blue Lester is a veteran of the music scene in the US having played in many bands over the years from concert bands to rock bands, from funk bands to Jazz/Blues/R&B bands and he loves it all. Eddie learned to play saxophone at an early age and it wasn’t long before he was on the road in and around the south on the Chittlins circuit playing in the Jimmy Church Revue with bass player Billy Cox who later was in the band formed by Jimi Hendrix, the Band of Gypsies. Jimmy Hendrix was also in the Jimmy Church Revue, just before he moved to England and Eddie says “Jimi was actually quite a loner, spent most of his time with his guitar. |
| Eddie was classically trained and has performed all types of music from concert band music to orchestra music and solo recital music. He has shared the stage with many national acts, such as James Armstrong, Tab Benoit, Big Jack Johnson, Magic Slim, Carl Weathersby and many more. He is also the front man in The Crossroads Blues Band which had the honour of competing in the International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, TN. He formed Eddie Blue & The Ravens as a touring band using a dream band of excellent musicians that will amaze and entertain. He says “Learning to play saxophone was like a gift from heaven and I have never been able to quit”. |
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Eddie Blue's Ravens are a band that Eddie Blue put together from his wish list of musicians to travel with him for UK and European tours and feature;
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Ronnie 'Coach' Parker - Bass Guitar/background vocals He became a self-taught bassist, after graduating from college. His tremendous ear, combined with a solid sense of harmony, rhythm and melody has made him an invaluable resource at recording sessions as well as live performances Ronnie who continues to be a student of music has played and done session work in rock, jazz, funk, gospel and even classical music. Alex Mays - Lead guitar/background/lead vocal Born and raised in rural North Carolina, he grew up listening to his father play guitar and sing. At the age of ten his father gave him an acoustic guitar and started teaching Alex to play. He began learning his father’s favorites of old time rock and roll and country. By the age of 15, Alex began trying his hand at songwriting and singing. He moved from his rural upbringing to Kalamazoo, Michigan at the age of 20. Alex began playing the Kalamazoo circuit and branched out into blues, jazz, and even tried his hand at bluegrass. Fuego Fernandez - Drums/Percussion From Kalamazoo playing in various bands and Eddie picked Fuego his great funky feel and his versatility to play blues, funk and jazz. John “Fingers” Ford - Keyboards/B3 organ/background vocals He's had a lot of experience in playing in many bands and recording sessions in the US. Loves playing the B3 Hammond organ but for the UK tour, he'll be bringing a smaller keyboard but still with a great sound. |
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Get your March issue of Blues in Britain magazine and look out for an article on Eddie Blue www.bluesinbritain.org
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www.myspace.com/eddieblueandtheravens1
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