International Blues Challenge hits high notes, taps winners

Photo by Mark Weber // Buy this photo

7 Feb 09 (mwblues3) Photo by Mark Weber - Boogie Boys' Simon Szopinski (cq) drummer and harp player performs during the 25th International Blues Challenge at the Orpheum Saturday afternoon. The Boogie Boys, who are from Poznan, Poland, are performing for the first time in the U.S. at the blues competition.

The International Blues Challenge, the world's largest gathering of unsigned blues talent, wrapped up another marathon weekend in Downtown Memphis on Saturday night.

The winner in the band category was South Florida's Blues Society representatives, JP Soars and the Red Hots. In the solo/duo category, solo act Little Joe McLerran, representing the Blues Society of Tulsa, took home the coveted first prize.

The event, which has grown exponentially in the quarter century since its inception, brought 184 acts -- from 36 states and nine countries -- performing at 16 venues for what turned out to be several thousand blues lovers.

Sponsored by the Memphis-based nonprofit Blues Foundation -- the organization that also stages the Blues Music Awards the competition's 25th anniversary proved to be its biggest yet, as favorable winter weather conditions swelled crowds over the course of the event's four days.

Beale Street was awash in blues music and fans as the event began with a series of kick-off concerts on Wednesday. In addition to the main competition, there were a number of satellite events including special showcases for youth bands and international acts, who came from as far as Israel and Norway and the annual "Keeping Blues Alive" honors breakfast.

Following two long nights of competitive performances on Thursday and Friday, the bands were pared down to a final group of challengers. The scene shifted to the Orpheum theater for finals in both the band and single/duo categories on Saturday.

At the Orpheum, a handful of acts made their case for the crown. Canadians Monkey Junk from the Ottawa Blues Society earned a favorable response with their soul-influenced sound. While Portland combo The Ty Curtis Band, representing the Cascade Blues Society of Oregon, came out of the gate with their rollicking Chicago electric blues.

But, in the end, JP Soars and the Red Hots, swayed the judges with their jazzy groove-oriented blues. The Fort Lauderdale-based band was led by singer, songwriter and six-string player Soars, who also took home the title as the International Blues Challenge's Best Guitarist.

In the solo/duo category, Jackson, Miss., tandem Alphonso and Richard, from the Crossroads Blues Society, made a hard push for the title with their eclectic horn and piano fueled set. But solo performer McLerran was the winner. The 24-year-old McLerran's mastery of the "Piedmont" blues style hit home with the judges, who gave him the final nod.

Winners in each of the categories earned a prize pack including cash, music services and slots performing at several major upcoming major blues festivals.

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-- Bob Mehr: 529-2517

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