Instruments: Harp, Vocal
www.harprise.ch

Instruments: Guitar, Vocals

Brother of Soul-Blues artist Syl Johnson grew up in Mississippi, then moved first to Memphis and in 1950 to Chicago. Since the early sixties he played R&B. In 1974 he switched to straight Blues when he joined the Jimmy Dawkins Band. His 4 tracks on the Alligator "Living Chicago Blues" series influenced the style of Lazy Poker. One of these songs (Breakin' up somebody's home) is represented on the album "Halsted-Sessions". After two great LP's for Delmark Records (1979 and 1982), he toured the world with his Blues and minor key Blues ballads. Recently he released the album "I'm a Jockey" on Verve Records - look out for it in your favourite record shop - it's a great album! Jimmy Johnson appears courtesy of Verve Records.

Instruments: Guitar, Vocals

Raised in the Cabrinie Greens, one of Chicago's public housing project, he attended Southern Illinois University and completed his education in 1976 with a BA in Cinematography. From 1979 he turned his love for the Blues into a profession and worked on the local Blues circuit ever since. He has performed and recorded with numerous Blues artists such as Valerie Wellington, Lefty Diss, Casey Jones, Johnny Littlejohn, Hubert Sumlin and Homesick James. This was the first recording as a frontman. 

Instruments: Guitar, Vocals

Started to play guitar when he was 15 years old. He came to Chicago in 1956. And in 1958-1959 played the lead guitar for Howlin' Wolf and later did a couple of gigs with Muddy Waters. He was also an original member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (1964) and taught guitar to Elvis Bishop. In the mid-seventies after playing with people like Lee Short Williams (a cousin), Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Earl Hooker ect. he retired from the music business to become a truck driver. A few years ago he returned to Chicago club scene and releases an album called "Bossman".

Instruments: Guitar, Vocals

Raised in Chicago by his aunt and uncle (a slide guitar player) who started to teach him guitar at the age of four. Pete has opened for and shared stage with Bo Diddeley, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Tab Benoit, Band of Gypsys, and Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick. The first CD of "Pistol Pete and the Professionals" called "Loaded" was released in November 1995 by Gray Guys, Ltd.

Instruments: Guitar, Vocals

Guitarist, producer, and bandleader Steve Freund, praised by Rolling Stone for his "masterful,no-nonsense" guitar work has recently relocated to the West Coast following 18 years as one of Chicago's most respected musicians. Widely sought after for his knowledge of and fluency in the Blues idioms, Freund has earned a reputation as one of the hottest players on today's blues scene. He served an unreproducible apprenticeship after leaving N.Y.C. in 1976, learning the role of second guitar behind Hubert Sumlin, Lee Jackson, Homesick James, Louis Meyers, and many others. Steve spent two years with Big Walter Horton and Floyd Jones, learning the deep blues and the idiosyncrasies that are part of the art. In 1978 he became Sunnyland Slim's main guitarist, playing just about every gig the piano legend did up until the time of his death. Freund became the consummate piano accompanist, working with Pinetop Perkins, Jimmy Walker, Henry Gray and others.

Instruments: Bass

The 44 years old bass player is one of Chicago's most sought after sidemen. For six years he played with Lonnie Brooks (1976-82) and as a former member (1981-93) of the Kingston Mines house band, he played with almost everybody in the Blues circuit.

Instruments: Guitar, Vocals, Saxophone

Started as a saxophone player, but in the early seventies, when the demand for horn players diminished, he changed to guitar as his main instrument. He paid his dues with A.C. Reed, the Phil Guy Band and toured Europe with Son Seals. Alligator Records re-released his first and much appraised solo debut "Generic Blues Album" in 1988 and issued the follow-up "In the Shadow of the City"(1993). 

His Swiss Tour from 30.01 to 03.02.1995 ( Biel, Basel, Bern and Wetzikon) with the Lazy Poker Blues Band was a big success.