Skip Navigation Return to the home page for KJZZ 91.5 FM

Summer 2003 Newsletter

Blues and Beyond

Blues and Beyond: 5-6 PM Sunday Nights, 
                           Right Before Those Lowdown Blues

"Blues and Beyond will cover not only the traditional blues, but some of the more cutting-edge
contemporary artists that draw from the blues.  It will go into some of the boundaries that
Those Lowdown Blues won't cover.  Drew will be adding his own young perspective to it all.
                                                          --Bob Corritore, host of Those Lowdown Blues

On Sunday, July 6, KJZZ will broadcast the final installment of Let the Good Times Roll, the special series on rhythm and blues hosted by Jerry Butler that has chronicled the beginnings of R&B in the 1940's through the Soul era of the 1960's.  Continuing with our celebration of 2003's designation as "The Year of the Blues" by Congressional Proclamation, beginning Sunday, July 13 the 5-6 pm time slot will be filled by a brand new blues show entitled Blues and Beyond, produced and hosted by Drew Verbis. 

Drew in the KJZZ master control studioKJZZ listeners will recognize Drew as the fill-in announcer for Those Lowdown Blues when regular host Bob Corritore is away from the blues helm.  When Drew hosts Those Lowdown Blues, the extensive R&B and soul influences of his upbringing come through in his selections, while still maintaining the more traditional format of that longtime blues bedrock of KJZZ.  In addition to those musical influences of his childhood, Drew also brings to the show his many years of experience working with such blues artists as Louisiana Red, R. L. Burnside, George "Mojo" Buford, Chico Chism, Bob Margolin, and others.

True to its name, Blues and Beyond will provide KJZZ listeners with exposure to newer blues-influenced artists as well as some of the blues masters who inspired them, covering the gamut of blues-inspired music including contemporary blues, adult contemporary pop, jam bands, modern acoustic blues, contemporary folk, and juke-joint blues.  In addition to such anchors of the blues as Muddy Waters and R. L. Burnside, the show will include such artists as Kelly Joe Phelps, Ted Hawkins, Jack Johnson, James Blood Ulmer, John Hammond, Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise, Taj Mahal, and the North Mississippi All-Stars.  Blues and Beyond highlights the experience and influence of the blues of yesterday…and its continued impact on music of the present and future.

Blues and Beyond with Drew Verbis will begin July 13 and run initially for 10 weeks.  The Blues series will run for 13 weeks from September 21 through December 14.  Blues and Beyond will then return on December 21.