Blues concert lights up Downey’s music scene
John Bazz and Chef Denis Depoitre of The Healers (Photo courtesy Douglas Avery)
The nonprofit Downey Arts Coalition (DAC) presented another rare intimate Jazz and Blues experience to a standing room only audience on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 10, by transforming the newly remodeled Epic Live on 2nd Street into a blues club. Blues videos were playing as audience members were escorted to their seats. There wasn’t a bad seat in the house.
The joint was jumping. Downey’s Greg Miera, aka Rev G, well known in the blues community, served as the MC.
Any profits go towards DAC’s 2025 college scholarships to Downey, Warren, and Columbus High School students.
The all star blues band, The Healers, highlighted the event. The Healers feature some of our best Southern California blues musicians. They stole the show at the recent Orange County Blues Festival. And judging from the audience’s reaction they stole their hearts too.
Blues veteran and harmonica master, Chef Denis Depoitre is the band leader, and has been schooled by the country’s best blues harp players, including Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
John Bazz of Downey’s own legendary band The Blasters, is one of our finest bass players. For over 40 years The Blasters have been recognized for changing the nature of American Music.
The remarkable JR Lozano of Los Lobos joined him in the rhythm section on drums, and played double duty by playing drums for Mike Malone’s Vibes Combo that opened the show. Los Lobos, from East Los Angeles, have also put their mark on America Music for decades.
Veteran Tommy “Big Son” Eliff of The Mighty Mojo Prophets is recognized as one of our finest blues singer/songwriters was holding down the vocals.
Guitarist Joe Conde of Abby Girl is the latest member of the band. To the audience’s delight he tore things up with his guitar.
The event was dedicated to the band’s late great guitarist Henry Carvajal, a much loved and respected singer and guitarist throughout the blues community.
The audience absolutely loved Mike Malone’s Vibes Combo, which opened the show. It features the legendary Malone on the vibraphone. A rare musical treat of cool bluesy Latin Jazz.
For more than four decades Mike Malone has been recognized as a West Coast blues legend, performing keyboards and vibraphone with the likes of Joe Houston, James Harman, Mark Ford, The Broughams, The Mighty Mojo Prophets, and Alias Smith & Jones.
Ed Mann, of the internationally renowned Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers, gave us a soulful sound on his congas. He even sat in with The Healers on the drums, giving JR Lozano a short break.
Dave DeForest of The Mighty Mojo Prophets and other local blues bands was highlighted on upright bass.
It was a diverse crowd that came from far and wide including blues musicians and members of the blues community.
But Downey was well represented by Coucilmember Dorothy Pemberton; DUSD former Board President Martha Sodetani; former Assemblyman Hector De La Torre and his wife Christine; Dr Tangela Diggs of the Adult Transitional Program at Downey Adult School; President of the Friends of the Downey Library’s Virginia Yoshiyami; Downey’s “unofficial mayor” Javier Lizarde; What’s Happening Downey’s Michael Chirco; Laura Bernal the Editor of Cerritos College’s Talon Marks; Visual Artists Carolina Del Toro and her husband Jorge; Visual Artist George Papatonopoulous; Warren High School’s Theatre teacher Kyle Diechman ran lights; The Purple Fox Podcast Host Kevin Ezeh ran sound; Andrew Hernandez ran box office; Pat Gil, Eloisa Ball and Bianca Salgado had some surprises for the audience, and the Epic Live’s David Devi’s called it “a remarkable experience”. Myself and Pat Gil were the hosts.
Over the years the Downey Arts Coalition have also brought to Downey blues legends James Harman; Phil Alvin and John Bazz of Downey’s The Blasters; RJ Mischo; Nathan James; Mike Tempo; Junior Watson; Billy Watson; Tony Lopez; TJ Norton.