Mallory, Zeke (Cotton, James; Gabriel, Charlie; Riley, Steve et al.)

Original Concert Poster: Frog Island Music Festival (June 21-22, 1996)

Ypsilanti, MI, USA: Zeke Mallory, 1996. First Edition. Single Sheet. “New Orleans Night” featured Charlie Gabriel’s New Orleans Jazz Band, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Cha’s, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, and Al Rapone & Zydeco Express. Charlie Gabriel (b. 1932) is a Black jazz musician who plays saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, and flute. He is now musical director of the Preservation Hall Foundation in New Orleans. Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Cha’s, led by Grammy—nominated Nathan Williams, play accordion-driven dance music of the Creole people in southern Louisiana. Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys are a Cajun band from southern Louisiana formed in 1988 with Steve Riley (b. 1969) on accordion, David Greely on fiddle, Sam Broussard on guitar, Burke Riley on drums & guitar, and Phillippe Billeaudeaux on bass. Al Rapone & Zydeco Express are a group led by accordionist and blues guitarist Al Rapone (b. 1936). “A Gourmet Jazz Picnic” featured The Bird of Paradise Orchestra, The Lyman Woodard Trio, The Marion Hayden Sextet, and The Billy Harper Quintet. The Bird of Paradise Orchestra were a group based in the Bird of Paradise Jazz Club here in Ann Arbor, Michigan which opened in 1985 and closed in 2004. The Lyman Woodard Trio was led by Lyman Woodard (1942-2009), a jazz organist, with drummer Melvin Davis and guitarist Dennis Coffey, and their sound fused Latin- and Afro-Cuban-inspired rhythms. The Marion Hayden Sextet is a jazz ensemble led by acoustic bass player Marion Hayden (b. 1956). The Billy Harper Quintet is a jazz ensemble led by saxophonist Billy Harper (b. 1943) with Francesca Tanksley on piano, Aaron Scott on drums, Freddie Hendrix on trumpet, and Dezron Douglas on bass. “A Rockin’ Blues Party” featured Mr. B and George Bedard & the Kingpins, The Butler Twins Blues Band, Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang, and the James Cotton Blues Band. George Bedard & the Kingpins was formed in 1984, and George Bedard of the Silvertones formed the Kingpins in 1984. Mark Braun, or Mr. B., frequently joined the group as a special guest. The Butler Twins Blues Band was made up of Detroit-based semiprofessional performers and twin brothers Clarence (1942-2003) and Curtis Butler (1942-2004). Eddie Shaw & the Wolf Gang are the legacy of Chester “Howlin’ Wolf” Burnett (1910-1976). Eddie Shaw (1937-2018) was a Chicago blues tenor saxophonist who played with the Wolf Gang before taking over, and he lead the Wolf Gang from 1972, taking over for Howlin’ Wolf 4 years before his death, until his own death. The James Cotton Blues Band was led by blues harpist and harmonica player James Cotton (1935-2017) who started on harp in Howlin’ Wolf’s band in the early 1950s. They were awarded the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album in 1996. Presented by WEMU 89.1 FM, the local Washtenaw County jazz & blues station, and The Ark. The Ark is Michigan’s nonprofit home for folk and roots music, and it is considered one of the top music clubs in the world. It has been in existence in various locations since 1965. The Frog Island Festival was an annual event until 2001, though a revival was planned in honor of The Ark’s 45th anniversary in 2010. Single sheet: presumed first edition, first-&-only printing, as was typical for event posters at the time. In very fine condition with only the slightest bumping to the fine edges and corners; verso is clean. This item is too delicate to be rolled & must be shipped flat to assure no damage, therefore an extra handling fee of $5.00 will be required. Very Fine. [Item #7290]

Price: $60.00