BLUES BEAT: Busy weekend for Otis Taylor

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BLUES BEAT: Busy weekend for Otis Taylor
January 21, 2010
By DOMENIC FORCELLA
New Britain Herald

Friday, Otis Taylor, an award-winning blues musician will be at the Infinity Music Hall. Taylor is more than a musician, an innovator and historian. He has a passion for telling the story of the blues and the people who created it. He follows up this performance with a show at the FTC Stage One Saturday.

The iconic bluesman Otis Taylor is a singer and multi-instrumentalist. He is not afraid to look at the deeper/darker side of the human condition. Emotions are often laid bare in his songs. Taylor shatters the illusions of the status quo with his uniquely haunting song craft and musicianship.

It is the 2nd annual Foolzz for Blooz show at the Gelston House in East Haddam Saturday. Players from the Basically Blues Band are joined by Johnny Vibrato & the Razorbacks for a combination blend of hard-hitting Texas Blues with some sweet home Chicago styles. A great show is expected. Opening up again this year will be Barrel House Bill bringing a little acoustic blues and harp to warm the up. You can call ahead to reserve a table.

Taylor’s latest recording, “Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs,” throws a light on the complexities of love in all of its forms. Within these songs of love are tales of tragedy and loss, misunderstanding and deception, but often a glimmer of hope as well. Released in June, it displays the darker side of love. Featured on the CD are jazz/hip-hop pianist Jason Moran, Irish blues-rock guitarist Gary Moore and the lovely Cassie Taylor, his daughter who has been with him since her early teens