The entire crowd was on its feet when legendary harpist James Cotton walked onstage tooting high-pitched notes on his harmonica while exuding the personal swagger of a legend. Cotton headlined the KJazz Blues Bash on Saturday at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center with special guest Robby Krieger of The Doors. The night also featured talent from Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials, Ana Popovic, Shawn Pittman and a pre-concert performance on the Carpenter Center plaza by Sugaray.
Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials started out with Lil’ Ed asking the audience, “Are you ready to party?” The audience was left with no choice but to shout yes and enjoy the show. The group boogied through their set, singing songs of love and good times. This Chicago blues band performed with flair while also including a more personal touch, like when Lil’ Ed shared his troubleshooting during his flight to Southern California for the show. He tiptoed across the stage a few times and dropped to his knees while playing guitar.
The energy levels in the room were no match for Cotton’s giant stage presence and stature. He brought the same passion and excitement to his music as he did in the ’50s and ’60s while playing with Muddy Waters. He played just enough songs with his band to get the crowd pumped and ready for Krieger.
Krieger came on stage wearing a pair of pants that could have easily been tailored from a ’70s era curtain. But if you’re the guitarist from The Doors, it doesn’t really matter what you wear as long as you deliver. And Krieger delivered.
Krieger’s time on stage, although short, definitely enhanced Cotton’s already-fantastic set. The two played classic hits such as “Sweet Home Chicago” and “Got My Mojo Working.” The songs got the crowd up, dancing and singing along. When Krieger prepared to leave the stage, one excited fan ran onstage to give him a hug, and then she turned around and ran off as quickly as she came. Cotton continued to dazzle the audience with his harmonica skills until the end of the night.
After nearly four hours of raucous blues music, the crowd left with a boogie beat in their step. Each band offered its own niche in the genre, which provided the audience with a nice sampling of what blues bands have to offer.
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