Talent
See the Band Bio page for much more detail!
Listed alphabetically by first name
Jeff Bonta Guitar, Bottleneck Slide Guitar, Vocals
Jenelle Murray Drums, Vocals
Manager, founder, director of operations, Web Mistress and lover of all music, especially blues!
Mark Clifford Keyboards, Vocals
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Jocelyn 'Jaz' Lead Vocals
Matt Heydan Bass, Vocals
Past players/talent:
Rick "Rock" Stone
Rick is a great bass player and a great choice to follow other Dirty River bass players before him. His time is precise, he is solid and with Jenelle on drums, gives the band a very solid foundation, just like his name, Rick “Rock” Stone.
Rick also, along with his wife, owns and operates a professional recording studio which Dirty River sometimes uses to make demo's and record originals.
Rick, a lead singer with the touring version of "The Cascades" who had a major national hit in 1964 called "Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain" has a higher range than most male vocalists and he is a very solid bass guitar man.
Malkum Gibson
Malkum Gibson: Harmonica, Accordion, lead vocals
A longtime vet of the music
scene, an excellent harp player, described by Bruce Iglauer at Alligator
Records, as passionate also plays the accordion player while his vocals are both
playful and soulful.
Malkum Gibson impressed Mr. B. B. King enough that he produced and published
him. The resulting album for Blues Time: "Malkum & Chris: Just the Blues"
remains a collectors' classic. Malkum may be
Hohner's longest-standing endorsee for Blues Harmonica. Malkum's harp sound is
unique; he sounds like a cross between Junior Wells (1950s), James Cotton and
Snooky Pryor with those high clear notes. His many years as an acoustic harp man
show through with the occasional Sonny Terry-like melodic passages. He's got
more stuff in his bag-of-tricks/styles than just about anyone else on today's
scene. Malkum's harmonica work is enough to prove he's one of North American's
Top Ten.
Malkum is one of the better vocalists out there too, so the main Achilles heel'
for White bands is not an issue at all.
Gibson's harmonica playing has been reviewed as good harp tone by Bruce Iglauer at Alligator Records and passionate harmonica by Bill Kisliuk, Blues Access magazine.
From A. Grigg, Blues Bytes - Graham Clarke, June, 20 2007:
Malkum Gibson started his musical journey by impressing Mr. B. B. King enough that
he produced and published his early recording. Touring became a way of life playing
and performing with the best bluesmen from opening up for the Allman Brothers first
tour at Cincinnati’s Ohio’s Ludlow Garage and Taj Mahal’s first tour at Kelly Hall
in Yellow Springs Ohio to performing with Guy Davis on tour in Ireland. From coast
to coast, north to south and several tours overseas; one thing rings clear, “music
inspired by tradition” and the tradition is BLUES!
Malkum Gibson has had a very interesting life, to say the least. He started playing
Blues Harmonica over 40 years ago, so he is truly one of the White Blues Pioneers
in the U.S.A. But, besides his pioneering, Malkum is probably the only Bluesman
in the World who had his debut recording produced by B.B. King! Yes, that's right:
B.B. just happened to hear Malkum and Chris (Kleeman) right at the time Bob Thiele's
Blues Time Records was getting underway and the resulting album for Blues Time:
"Malkum & Chris: Just The Blues" remains a collectors' classic. Malkum & Chris were
together for nearly 30 years as a duo, releasing some fine, mainly acoustic blues
albums on their own labels.
Many fans and critics referred to Malkum & Chris as "…the White Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee" and it was totally complimentary as both had become masters of their respective instruments. Malkum may be Hohner's longest-standing endorsee for Blues Harmonica. Now that they've gone their separate ways after many years based in Vermont, Malkum has decided to go all-out. Moving to Ohio, a State with a long Blues History and a rabid Blues audience,
Malkum's harp sound is unique; he sounds like a cross between Junior Wells (1950s),
James Cotton and Snooky Pryor with those high clear notes. His many years as an
acoustic harp man show through with the occasional Sonny Terry-like melodic passages.
He's got more stuff in his bag-of-tricks/styles than just about anyone else on today's
scene. Malkum's harmonica work is enough to prove he's one of North American's Top
Ten.
Malkum is one of the better vocalists out there too, so the main Achilles heel'
for White bands is not an issue at all.
““America’s finest bluesman.””
LMB Entertainment - LMB Entertainment Clones, Ireland
““…like a semi parting the water on a city street. You can’t stop it. You just stand
there and listen to this powerhouse on wheels.””
Ben Onmart - Ben Onmart
“Malkum's beautiful voice and his tasteful harp playing, give out a magical combination
of music that comes out from the heart” ”
Vicente P. Zumel - La Hora Del Blues 96.6 FM BARCELONA (SPAIN).
““….energy-packed performance….will move and excite you like no other, electrifying
performer.” ”
Guinness Castlebar Blues Festival - Guinness Castlebar Blues Festival, Castlebar,
Ireland
““solid blues.. good shuffles.. good harp tone.. vocals have a lot of personality…the
whole band plays with a lot of verve and good energy..” ”
Bruce Iglauer Alligator Records and Artist Management - Alligator Records and Artist
Management
Rated ****
“…..solid, technically proficient and musically adept presence
……passionate harmonica….that would give Sonny Terry a run for his money”
Bill Kisliuk
Past Dirty River performers have gone on to other bands like "J. Scar" in Kelly Richie, Mike Tucker with "Them Bones" and Ted McConnell in "Mad Hornets". Ted also wrote some material and helped produce Kathy Wade's first record. She also had guest appearances with and sang for Dirty River. Now, once again, it is time for Dirty River to shake, rattle and roll!
Paul Colella Guitar, Vocals
Paul is a blues traditionalist
Randy Birckhead-Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Brad Hatfield-Blues Harp, Vocals
Jay Tucker-Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Jymii-Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Blues Harp, Vocals
Kurtis Heinrick-Guitar
John Redell-Guitar, Vocals
Albert Crabtree-Guitar, Keyboards, Bass, Vocals
Dave McDiramid Guitar, Blues Harp, Vocals
Dick Buchholz Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Jim Thaxter Bass, Vocals
Greg Thomas Guitar, Vocals
Tom Lee-Bass, vocals
Lead Guitarist or Slide | Bass | Lead Vocalist/Harmonica/Sax/Other | Keyboard |
Ted McConnell (and vocals) | Kevin Wooten (vocals and bass) | Sondra C | John Faris (R.I.P.) |
Derrick Ellis (and vocals) | Jay ("Scar") Tucker (vocals, bass and guitar) | Billy Coleman (vocals, Guitar, Harp) | Mark Clifford |
Mike Tucker (vocals, bass, harp and keyboards | Alan Tucker (vocals and guitar) | Charlene Sinclair (sax, vocals) | |
Jeff Bonta (vocals, harp and bottleneck guitar) | Jim Thaxter (vocals and bass) | Brad Hatfield (harp and vocals) | |
Dick Buckholz (vocals, guitar and bass) | Randy Birckhead (and bass) | Malkum Gibson | |
Paul Colella (vocals and guitar) | Rick Stone | Jocelyn 'Jaz" | |
Jeff Bonta (vocals, guitar) | Matt Heydan | ||
Jeff Bonta (vocals, guitar) | |||
Also has helped out and played for Dirty River when needed or as guests (Jenelle vocals and drums for all of the Dirty River generations): Kathy Wade (vocals), Kathy Murray (vocals), Don Schott (vocals and bass), John Redell (vocals and guitar), Kim Seay (vocals), Bill Kennedy (Sax), Steve Lance/"Walsaw Falcons" (blues harp), "Bad Bob" Logsdon (also played bass), Bob Chain (vocals and bass), Sherry Runyon (vocals and guitar), Natalie Wells (guitar, vocals), Tom Lee (vocals and bass), Paul Saas (bass), Walter Cash (bass), Matt Clark (keyboards), Greg Thomas (vocals and guitar), Tom Fallon (bass), Richard Daniels (guitar), Jymii (vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards and harp), Wendy Lee Oakley (keyboard)
Red: First generation Dirty River
Blue: Second generation Dirty River
Pink: Third Generation of Dirty River
Brown: Fourth Generation of Dirty River
Green: Fifth Generation of Dirty River
Olive: Sixth Generation of Dirty River
There were several mash-ups. For example Sondra and Jeff played across a few generations of the band (23 years and 20, respectively), as did some pick ups like John Redell (since 2000 and continues to play with us today sometimes) and others too. These groupings, for the most part, were the bands however that entertained and were considered a regular and important part of the band at that time. Remaining in black from the above, only played out once as Dirty River.
For More info jenelle at dirtyriverband dot com
Contact:
Jenelle
Cincinnati, Ohio
Tel: 513 477-7800