Jacksonville, FL. (Top40 Charts/ Mindsweep Entertainment & Promotions) - Bravo, kudos and congrats on the much celebrated 2009 release by world renowned and respected American music legend Chick Willis, for what is being acclaimed worldwide as perhaps Chick Willis' BEST ALBUM YET; out of well over 20 outstanding albums that Chick Willis has been credited with having either released, has been featured on, and/or has produced, in over five decades of exceedingly dynamic live and studio performances over his vast and successful career.
Chick Willis was indisputably and rightfully hailed as "The Don of the Blues" on his highly acclaimed last CD by the same title. On Chick's latest CD titled "Hit and Run Blues", (on Benevolent Blues Records), the far reaching and extreme amount of versatility and prolific musical performances by Chick, (and all members of his band), not only proves their mastery ranging from THE smoothest to red hot smoking performances in several styles of blues, (such as Southern style, Chicago style, country style and classic style of blues and beyond), but also in a multiple array of other musical styles and genres as well, (ranging from old school style R&B, soul, funk, stroll, Americana, Carolina beach music, jazz and even rock), also reigns supreme. So much so, that a multitude of fans both nationally and worldwide would attest and agree that Chick Willis is deserving of yet another title. �(Or even several!) The title(s) of Grammy Award Winner for Best Blues Performer, Best Album of the Year, (in any one or more of the above mentioned genres), and Lifetime Achievement Award would sound about right!
From the very first dynamic notes of the bluesy, jazzy, strollin' first track on this outstanding CD, (titled "Houdini Lover"), to the very ending notes featuring Chick's extremely smooth signature sound on guitar in the last track of this 12 song, must have CD, (titled "Blues Man"), 'The Don' and his 'wise guys' not only delivers THE tightest, THE classiest, and exhibits THE most versatile performances on EVERY track of THE ENTIRE CD, but delivers it in true Cadillac style. As well as delivering all the above, Chick also let's the good times roll for listeners by combining an abundance of Chick's own trademark style of 'adult humor',wrapped in fun, and sealed with a combination of fast moving and romantic slow groovin' tunes that are absolutely impossible not to dance to from beginning of this CD to the very end.
Very notable are the stellar performances by ALL the well respected seasoned performers on this CD. For instance, the sultry, smooth and hallmark performances on saxophone were contributed by renowned and respected educator and sax man Jacques Johnson Sr., (United States Army Band, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of the District of Columbia, has performed with such greats as Bob Hope, The Coasters, Stanley Turrentine, The Drifters, Solomon Burke, and he studied under Frank Foster, former Director of The Count Bassie Band), can be heard and are featured all throughout this CD. Exceptional additional guitar work is also exhibited by Jacques Johnson Jr., as well on this CD.
For those who have a passion for slide guitar, you just HAVE to hear the prolific slide work laid down on the track "Today I Started Loving You Again", to believe it; which was performed by Ray Pilkens, (Owner of Ambient Recording Studios, in Beltsville, Maryland.) Great performances on trombone by Bobby Felder who also performs on keys; (Bobby Felder's credits include: Bachelor of Arts in Music at Fisk University, Director of Instrumental Music at the University of the District of Columbia, Air Force marching and concert bands, as well having been a band mate of Ray Charles, and has performed in Presidential Inaugural Balls with his outfit 'Bobby Felder and His Blue Notes' from the appointments of Presidents John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton, and served an even higher calling as Director of Jazz Services at Peoples Congregation Church, just to name a few of Bobby Felder's prestigious and impressive credits.)
Contributions by Nat Noland on trumpet stand out with brilliant contrast; and always notable and exceptional is the bass work on Chick Willis' CD's which were contributed by bass masters Chuck Carthan, Les Campbell and Billy Hancock. Steve Walker and Andy Hamburger provide an impressive display of super finesse of both dynamics and nuances on drums on this CD. And last but certainly not least, backing vocals by 'The Stoop Down Back Up Singers' brings that extra special and soulful 'somethin' somethin' to the table that seals the deal; when 'The Don' and his band of heavy hitters "make you an offer you can't refuse" when it comes to dealing out great blues and more on this CD.
'The Don', Chick Willis will be paying you a little visit in his upcoming national and worldwide tour to promote his latest CD, "Hit and Run Blues", and are currently seeking and accepting concert and festival dates, as well as club dates at better venues everywhere. Chick has expressed that he especially enjoys performing everywhere throughout Europe, after having performed there many times over the years; and would also love to perform in Russia, Japan, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and of course, embrace fans anywhere and everywhere they demand.
To book Chick Willis on his tour to promote his outstanding latest CD "Hit and Run Blues", please contact Laura Jenney, (904-378-8357 or by e-mail at [email protected]), and/or Tony Saldano, (912-690-1156 or by e-mail at [email protected]), or any of the agents at the esteemed T&T Management & Booking Agency.
Though the title of 'Don of the Blues' that has been awarded to Chick Willis is well deserved, as intimidating as that title sounds, and to spite being renowned for the humorously 'naughty' lyrical content in some of Chick's music; don't let that title fool you. Underneath it all, Chick has just as much heart as he does soul. Chick Willis was in fact, the first legendary performer to step up to the plate when asked to perform in a worldwide concert series to raise funding and awareness to help eradicate the deadly disease, Sickle Cell Anemia; that is being organized by well known musical, radio and television personality and talk show host JR Perry, (www.lovedropradio.com), to support the work of brilliant Biochemist and Doctor, Robert Broyles, who actually HAS THE CURE for this deadly disease! (sicklecellcurefoundation.org/2009/08/radio-interview). Chick has also agreed to participate via appearances in the soon to be launched massive media campaign along with well known personality JR Perry and/or Dr. Robert Broyles on TV and radio station and network programming everywhere. So amongst Chick Willis' many titles, caring humanitarian can be added to that list.
To book JR Perry, Dr. Robert Broyles and/or Chick Willis on TV and/or radio programming, please contact JR Perry at [email protected] or myself at [email protected], as we at Mindsweep Entertainment & Promotions will be assisting with both a massive press and media campaign and administrative work for this cause, and in massive cross promotions for the artists that wish to participate in the cause and events as well. Other renowned and respected artists that were the first to come aboard is the amazingly fast rising jam band Bodhi (www.myspace.com/bodhifl, who is taking the music industry by storm), and the absolutely sizzling salsa/jazz sensations, Orquesta Fiesta, (www.orquestafiesta.com). For more info on these concert, radio and TV programming events, be sure to read the article titled "Eradicating a Deadly Disease Through Science, Music and Love" which I will be releasing to the press in a few days.
For well renowned artists that wish to come aboard for this cause and be listed in this upcoming press release, please contact (me), Laura Jenney at [email protected].
Fans can check out videos of Chick Willis performing live on AOL Video, YouTube and other video outlets. To listen to tracks off of Chick Willis' new CD, visit his official My Space site at www.myspace.com/chickwillis.
To purchase Chick's smoking hot new CD, "Hit and Run Blues" is currently available at all major internet purchasing outlets such as iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and others.
By the way, if you are amongst the millions of Chick Willis fans worldwide, just in time for the holidays, another MUST HAVE CD, is Chick Willis' Christmas album, released on CML Records. This definitely makes for a terrific stocking stuffer for any music collector and/or connoisseur of great blues. (And judging from Chick's famous naughty sense of 'grown folks humor', if anyone knows how to stuff someone's stockings right, you can bet it would probably be Chick Willis!)
Amongst the legendary Chick Willis' many titles, including Blues Hall of Famer, recipient of such esteemed awards as Best Live Performance winner at the 2006 Living Blues Awards, winner of the Golden Peach Award, Lifetime Honorary Member of The Blues Foundation of Memphis, an award for appreciation at the Blues in School Rhythm and Blues Foundation, Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Honorary Citizen of Kansas City, Missouri, and many more, Chick Willis deserves even yet another title. ...How about declaring Chick Willis a NATIONAL TREASURE, as no one, but no one has entertained more people in more genres of music for as long as Chick Willis has, in his over five decade long successful career in the music industry. Chick Willis is indeed a true American Music Legend and is sounding better than ever on his latest CD "Hit and Run Blues".
