Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Le Roc des Anges Les Vignes Metissees

Kenny Wayne Shepherd (born Kenny Wayne Brobst, June 12, 1977) is the fourth member of my 1970s-born blues guitar phenoms. He grew up in Shreveport Louisiana and is completely self-taught. Apparently he doesn’t read music. His first guitars were plastic, purchased by his grandmother with S&H Green Stamps. How many of you remember those? I can identify with his learning method. He picked up his licks a note at a time by listening to them on a cassette player and rewinding them over and over again, much the way I learned to play Jack Bruce’s improvisations note for note from the live Cream albums. His early influences were Muddy Waters, Albert Lee, and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

At the age of fifteen, Irving Azoff, the president of Giant Records signed him to a multi-album deal. He was one of those young guns who hit the blues scene hard at the age of seventeen and made old guys like me decide to hang up the guitar. Shepherd holds the record for the longest running album on the Billboard Blues Charts with “Trouble is.” He’s been nominated for five Grammy Awards and has received two Billboard Music Awards, Two Blues Music Awards, and two Orville H. Gibson Awards.

He’s grown into quite a musician and family man. In September of 2006, he married Mel Gibson’s eldest daughter, Hannah and they have three children, a daughter and two sons. Maybe the sons will grow up and form a power trio with Dad with daughter doing the vocals.

Never lookin back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsSaObejUuo

Blue on black: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee735pZ6kxk   

Born with a broken heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cHQTcdPDTk

Shotgun blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti-72KavxHQ

Deja Voodoo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF4f9NdCFUU

Midnight rider: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtNUWU0QUGs

Slow ride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlzNGMb0TUE&feature=related

While we cry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YF4XlfoXCI&feature=related

At the Blues Garage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y8nV8cjKHg&feature=related

Shame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PFVyNL6EZA&feature=related

King Bee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFBtz24WZ48&feature=related

I have a truly unique wine for tonight, the third from Le Roc des Anges. Their Les Vignes Metissees is a blend of different grape varieties, principally Grenache Gris, Carignan Blanc, and Macabeu aged in oak barrels. It’s a delicate rosé color, almost like pale copper with a subtle floral bouquet accented by hints of pear. The taste is fresh with pear, lemon, and herbs that leads into a creamy, long finish. It’s not really a white or a rose, but quite unique.  A great wine and a great guitarist.

Cheers!

Matt Schofield & Les Vignes de l'Aire Effet Papillon Cotes du Roussillon Rouge

Born in Manchester UK on August 21, 1977, Matt Schofield is the third in my series of “Blues Phenoms Born in the 70s”. As I said when I reviewed him in my August 29, 2011 blog, his earliest influence was his father’s blues record collection. He started out at the age of 18 as a sideman for harp player Lee Sankey then spent four years touring with David Bowie prodigy Dana Gillespie.

Guitar & Bass Magazine rates him in the top ten British blues guitarists of all time putting him in the company of Eric Clapton and Pete Green. Along the way, he’s played with Buddy Guy, Robben Ford, and several other blues guitar icons. His awards include British Blues Awards Guitarist of the year for 2010 and 2011, Mojo Magazine’s 2011 Blues Album of the Year, and British Blues Awards 2010 Album of the Year. As a matter of fact, his melodic, fluid style and voice remind me of Robben Ford, one of my favorites. Maybe that’s why I like his so much. I think you will too.

Live wire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJBTM8a9lVY

Stranger Blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CyrMYpmHEU

Little Wing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amtLZwS441M

Cissy Strut: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TG98lpbtvk&feature=related

Black Cat Bone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj0STCuNamI&feature=related

Lights are on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17PCAp1-zMk&feature=related

Don’t know what I’d do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r23COAtSR4Y&feature=related

Ear to the ground: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjiV_9KQiNs&feature=related

Lay it down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag14mqNPJiU&feature=related

On my way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhLu9iW3Rqg&feature=relmfu

What I want to hear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnHXbldymBQ&feature=related

See through me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CIop15kx8w&feature=related

Tonight I’m recommending a wine from one of my absolute favorite winerys. Marjorie Gallet and her enologist husband, Stephane, the owners of Le Roc des Anges in France, make superb wines. In fact, I have cases of three of their wines in my cellar and tonight I’m reviewing their 2011 Les Vignes de l'Aire Effet Papillon Cotes du Roussillon Rouge. It’s deep red with aromas of raspberries and herbs. The palate is full of juicy dark fruit accented by crème de cassis and vanilla with mild tannins. And at $13.00 a bottle, it’s one of the best deals on the market. You can order it from Moore Brothers. Get a case and groove to the blues of Matt Schofield. It makes for a fine evening.

Cheers!