Sean Chambers Band brings the blues to Froggy’s in St. James City
Froggy’s Bar in St. James City strayed away from its traditional green and became blue on Friday night as local promoter and blues musician, Willie Miller with Mill Jen Entertainment brought the internationally acclaimed blues artist Sean Chambers Band to play.
Chambers was listed in 2001 Britain’s “Guitarist” magazine as one of the 50 best blues guitarists of all time. As humble as he is famous among blues aficionados, he put on a three-hour blues fest playing the history of blues with his range of songs.
“Crazy Loving You,” by friend Bill McLees, transports you to a bar in New Orleans in the distant past where only the locals know to go to hear music that is part of their history and soul. “Me and My Guitar,” by one of Chambers’ influences, Freddie King, was a rollicking ride with a touch of rock kicking in every few minutes.
He said that being given the opportunity to play with many of his inspirations exposed him to their humanity as they stayed long after each show to personally speak with every fan, a trait that he has long embraced and comes through in his personality and music as it reaches in and touches your soul.
Chambers’ own “In the Wintertime” was blues at its best with a guitar rift by Chambers that went on for 10 minutes and brought the crowd to applause. “Ten to Midnight,” another original by Chambers’ and the cover of his second album, was fast paced with plenty of blues licks kicking it up another notch.
“My heart is in what I do and that I am able to give back to the people who come to hear us play is a real privilege and honor,” he said.
Chambers has been playing blues for more than 25 years, well more than half his life. He counts as his major influences Freddie and Albert King, BB King, Howling Wolf, Jimi Hendrix and Muddy Waters. He has opened or shared the stage with BB King, Greg Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Little Feat, Stone Temple Pilots, Rick Derringer, Mitch Rider & The Detroit Wheels, Hubert Sumlin, Ike Turner, Magic Slim, Bo Diddley and Robert Cray to name a few.
Closing your eyes, you can imagine you are hearing the timbre of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Johnny Winter with a unique Chambers’ touch. His guitar takes on its own personality as a distinct member of the band as it races like wildfire through each song, setting the venue on fire.
In speaking with him you are struck by his appreciation of his fans and love of music. This shows in the respect and time he takes to speak with everyone who stops to chat with him between sets and the glow on his face when he can see the rapt attention of the audience when baring his soul through his music.
“Sean Chambers is a very humble, nice person,” said longtime friends Doug and Donna Reeves, who have followed Chambers around the state since they first saw him in a small bar in Punta Gorda many years ago.
Chambers’ band consists of Jeff Artabasy on bass, Paul Broderick on drums and Gary Keith on blues harp. They are seamlessly in sync with each other, playing each number with tight precision and off each other – all members get a chance to shine with solos that bring numerous rounds of applause.
Sean Chambers Band information and tour schedule can be found at: www.seanchambers.com along with their most recent CD, “Live at the Long Island Blues Warehouse.”
For information on upcoming blues concerts at Froggy’s, call owner Romana Gavrinev at (239) 283-3773.
See more pictures on pages 12-13.