CHICAGO BLUES ALL-STARS are a musical revue that features some of the most talented, entertaining and legendary artists on the scene today. Together they have created a singular sound that is uniquely eclectic, while drawing on all styles of Americana for inspiration. Members “KILLER” RAY ALLISON and DANIEL “CHICAGO SLIM” IVANKOVICH, whose musical stylings reflect their lifelong commitment as blues disciples, lead CBAS. Both “Killa” and “Slim” bring outrageous showmanship and musical talent on and off the stage.

JOHNNY COTTON’S ALL-STAR HORNS are masters of their craft as they bring the funk every night, and SCOTT “LI’L SCOTTY” DIRKS has a minimalist approach influenced by the pantheon of harp greats. JOHNNY B. GAYDEN holds down the bottom with a sound that’s larger than life, while drummer JERRY “BAM-BAM” PORTER locks in the beat with a precision only to be rivaled by ROOSEVELT “MAD HATTER” PURIFOY’s ability to fuse deep grooves with brilliant melodic ideas. Chicago Blues All-Stars round out their talented roster with the amazing vocals of their feature singers: DEITRA FARR, SHARON LEWIS, and PAT WINTERS.

The talent of these performers is only matched by those legendary artists that CBAS has shared the stage & recorded with domestically and internationally. Chicago Blues All-Stars have recorded with and worked along side legendary artists such as: Chuck Berry, Paul Butterfield, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, James Cotton, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Albert King, B.B. King, Magic Sam, Gary Moore, Ohio Players, A.C. Reed, Rolling Stones, Otis Rush, Sugar Blue, Koko Taylor, Big Mama Thornton, Stevie Ray & Jimmie Vaughan, Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter.

“KILLER” RAY ALLISON (GUITAR/VOCALS): First broke into music during the early 1970′s. Now a regular on the national touring circuit for over four decades, “Killer” Ray has been an integral tour-de-force in bands by James Cotton, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells and Muddy Waters. In 1998 and 2000, Ray was nominated for the W. C. Handy Award as an instrumentalist.

DANIEL “CHICAGO SLIM” IVANKOVICH (GUITAR/VOCALS): Is a studio veteran of imposing stature. He cut his teeth at the tender age of 18, as the musical director for legendary bluesman Otis Rush. Slim’s shared the stage with Rock’n Roll Hall-Of-Famers Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray & Jimmie Vaughan and Johnny Winter.

JOHNNY COTTON’S ALL-STAR HORNS: R&B veteran Johnny Cotton anchors this line-up, featuring some of the country’s hottest horn players. They’ve played with and arranged for a virtual Who’s Who of R&B/Soul. From legendary performers such as James Cotton, Junior Wells, Syl Johnson and Ohio Players, to modern rockers like Lenny Kravitz, Liquid Soul & Lubraphonic . . . All-Star Horns put the ‘unk in your funk.

SPECIAL GUESTS . . .

SCOTT DIRKS (HARMONICA/VOCALS): Award winning blues historian, instrumentalist & producer. “Li’l Scotty” authored “Blues With A Feeling-The Little Walter Story” and produced Lurrie Bell’s breakthrough “Mercurial Son” for Delmark Records. A walking compendium of blues history and lore, Dirks’ minimalist approach keeps alive the memory of Little Walter, Big Walter & Sonny Boy.

JOHNNY B. GAYDEN (BASS/VOCALS): Johnny B’s music career as a first-call studio bass player is one that most musicians can only dream about. He recorded nine CDs and numerous DVDs with Albert Collins. The band won a Grammy Award for the Alligator recording “SHOWDOWN” with Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland and Robert Cray. Johnny is a nine-time W.C. Handy Award nominee as an Instrumentalist.

JERRY PORTER (DRUMS): Throughout his lengthy career as a professional drummer, “Bam-Bam” has worked with a wide variety of top-tier artists, such as Eddie Clearwater, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells and Big Mama Thornton. Jerry’s versatility and professionalism have established him as one of todays most in-demand touring drummers.

ROOSEVELT PURIFOY JR. (KEYBOARDS/VOCALS): “Mad Hatter” has stunned and thrilled audiences with his amazing ability to fuse deep grooves with brilliant melodic ideas. Over the past two decades, he’s been producer, arranger and instrumentalist on over 200 album sessions for Alligator, Delmark, Point Blank and Rounder records. Hatter’s fusion of traditional blues, contemporary gospel and modern R&B creates a singular sound that’s like none other in the business.

FEATURING . . .

DEITRA FARR (VOCALS): Deitra Farr is considered one of today’s top vocalists, according to Living Blues Magazine (May 1997). Fiery, energetic, she has been nominated for Traditional Female Blues artist of the year by the W.C. Handy Awards, Female Blues Artist of the year by the Living Blues Critics Awards, the British Blues Connection Awards, and the Les Trophees France Blues awards. Deitra is contribution writer to Living Blues Magazine, with her “Artist to Artist” feature.

SHARON LEWIS (VOCALS): Sharon has played every major blues festival in the world. In addition to being a featured vocalist with CBAS, Sharon is a Delmark recording artist and regularly tours internationally with a Who’s Who of the blues.

PATRICIA WINTERS (VOCALS): An accomplished vocalist, Pat spent years performing as a featured singer with pianist JoJo Brown, and the late jazz great Oscar Brown Jr. She’s frequently performed in community stage productions and was cast in the starring role of Betty-Mae in the Off-Broadway production of “Sweet Pea’s, House of Prayer”.

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