Delicious Blues Stew Flavors

Home Calendar Music Samples & Store Stew Flavors Stewsletter
Photos What People Say Links Contact Us Site Index

Soooo many flavors of Stew, so little time! Learn about the recipes below!
#1 Delicious Blues Stew	#2 The Big Stew	#3 The Acoustic Stew	#4 Nick & Bayou
#5 Catahoula Brass Band	#6 Swamp Stories	#7 Two Tone & Bayou	Watch for new flavors!

STEW FLAVOR #1: DELICIOUS BLUES STEW

Shannon "Shan de Bayou" Williford, harmonica, frottoir, vocalist, songwriter. Originally from Baton Rouge, where he was the founder and nine-year host of the legendary World's Greatest Blues Jam at Phil Brady's Bar. Played and/or recorded with Grammy winners Chris Thomas King and Gretchen Wilson, "one hit wonder" Tommy Tutone, Jimmy Hall, Johnny Jones, Tab Benoit, Jo-el Sonnier, Kenny and Raful Neal, Tabby Thomas, Grammy nominee Henry Gray, Handy nominee Larry Garner, former lead vocalist with Blood Sweat, & Tears Luther Kent, Elvin Killerbee, and many others in South Louisiana. Won Baton Rouge Blues Fest song writing award. Winner of the International Blues Foundation Keeping the Blues Alive Award for his role in Music City Blues Society's "Blues in the Schools" program. Bayou was been named Music City Blues Harmonica Player of the Year two years in a row. See Bayou on YouTube doing an acoustic version of a song about Hurricane Katrina. Email Bayou

Scott "Patio Daddio" Achord, bass, vocalist, songwriter. Originally from Baton Rouge. One time member of the "Best of Fest" band at the Baton Rouge Blues Fest. Often performs while wearing a dress at Mardi Gras. Can eat his (considerable) weight in crawfish. Has worked with Jo-el Sonnier, Esra Mohawk, Bill Monroe, Carlene Carter, and many others. The top Stew songwriter, known for stage creativity, writing and singing songs on the spur of the moment. Patio was named Music City Blues Bass Player of the Year. Also known for his children's performances.

Terry "Goose" Downing, guitar, vocals, songwriter. One of four original Stew members. Grew up in Rocky Mount, NC. One of the tastiest axmen in the Music City. Has performed and recorded with blues greats Roscoe Shelton, Clifford Curry and Earl Gaines in Nashville, as well as Chicago/Baton Rouge great Henry Gray. Also worked with country music vocalist/songwriter Ken Mellons, as well as country artists Razzy Bailey and Darrell Clanton. Goose has also worked often with two Nashville staples, swing artist Patton James, and famed jazz/R&B/country session man Darryl Dybka. Goose is a former DJ. Teamed with Michael "Two Tone" Malone as finalists in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Currently working on his own songwriter CD.

Brannan Lane, drums, percussion, vocals. From Clarksville, Tennessee, he's a 14-year regular on The Grand Ole Opry. His solo recordings routinely appear in the Ambient Charts, receiving world-wide airplay, chart success and critical acclaim in the World Beat and New Age formats. Despite all that success, is still not wealthy. Brannan overcomes both his lack of a nickname and Louisiana heritage excellent playing. Email Brannan or visit his web site.

"Lil Brother" Tom Larson, drums, percussion, vocals. Originally from Colorado, Tom graduated from the University of New Orleans in Jazz Studies. He has numerous studio drum and percussion credits both in New Orleans and Nashville. He has worked with Ellis Marsalis, Scott Holt, Harold Batiste, Cowboy Mouth, David Frazier and many others. For two years Lil' Brother was the house drummer for LTV, the Louisiana Music television show in New Orleans. He has appeared on stage with Michael Ray, Victor Goines, Delfayo Marsalis, Jeff Healy, the Neville Brothers, Steve Masakowski, Coco Robicheaux, Tony Dagradi and others. He has toured internationally and has released several CDs, one with Brannan Lane. Met beautiful babe at Mardi Gras in Nashville, where he proposed on stage. Their house now has a Mardi Gras theme. Tom has been named Drummer of the Year and twice Percussionist of the Year by Music City Blues. Email Tom or visit his web site.

Bruce Michael Miller, guitar, vocals. Or, as the Stew calls him, "Bruce Miller," is a Nashville guitarist, singer, and award-winning songwriter who has strong credits, having performed with Loggins and Messina, Laura Branigan, The Standells, and even (!?!?!) Paul McCartney. Bruce has been working on his Southern citizenship, having lived in Nashville for 10 years. Bruce grew up in Ohio and spent much of his early music life in Los Angeles. He has co-hosted NPR's "Songwriter Sessions," and is working on a second solo recording. Email Bruce or visit his web site.

"Big Brother" Don Kendrick, drums, percussion. Originally from Baton Rouge, where he played with John Fred's Playboys. Toured for 8 years with Freddy Fender. Also playing lately with Jerry Lee Lewis. "Nashville's most unknown drummer." Huge LSU and Saints fan.

Those are the ingredients in the basic Stew. But sometimes you need more than that. And that's where the "Auxiliary Stew" comes in. A little different flavor, but still Stew. Here's the Stew page on MySpace.

STEW FLAVOR #2: Add any or all of the "Auxiliary Stew" to cook up the "Big Stew," sometimes known as the "Thick Stew"

"Junkyard" Joe Hunter, tuba, bass, songwriter. From Baton Rouge, where he played house bottom on tuba and bass in Tabby's Blues Box for six years. Played in band with Williford for ten years in Baton Rouge. Toured nationally and internationally with Gatemouth Brown and Larry Garner. Has numerous recording credits. Bandleader for blues singer Miranda Louise.

John "T-Bone" Reed, trombone. Originally from Houston, began playing with the Stew and with the Catahoula Brass band when he was a student in the famed Belmont University music program. He's also played around Music City with Driftwood Lounge, an R&B act, ska act Rockin' Bones, a live hip-hop funk thing called the Verbina Court Strut Band, another funk band called Goodfoot; and he has played with Rufus Thomas, the Wooten Brothers and the Rebirth Brass Band. T-Bone passes it on as a piano and horns teacher.

Michael "Two Tone" Malone, frottoir, harmonica, guitar, vocals, songwriter. From Baton Rouge. Has two solo recordings. Also works in a duo with Williford, and in a trio with Williford & James "Nick" Nixon. Teamed with Terry "Goose" Downing as finalists in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Dave Duncan, guitar, vocals. Well-known Nashville sessions player and songwriter. Played with The Nighthawks, Jimmy Nalls, & the Goose Creek Symphony. Has joined the Stew on several occasions and is earning his "Louisiana wings."

Brian "Picnic" Fechino, guitar. Best guitarist you've never heard of. Plays with the Stew whenever he's in town, which isn't often any more. Plays with Downing on Stewed Alive, adds an important flavor to 2Stew, joins in on Fat Stewsday. Has played on recordings by Gwar, Mel Melton and others. Has solo recordings available on his web site. You may have seen him on the Conan O'Brian Show with the Pat McGee Band. Visit Brian's web site.

Ashlei Hand is the Stew roadie. She hooked up with the Stew after returning from Iraq in May of '04. She was stationed there as a member of the US Army Reserve called back to serve for 15 months. She grew up in Nashville and attended Vol State, working some as a radio DJ. She was a member of the Army from '92 to '99, where she distinguished herself as a basketball player. If you see Ashlei at a gig, she can help you purchase a CD or T-shirt and can get it autographed by the Stew members who are literate.

Carrie Glenn is a great sax player! She has the chops and the scholarly resume to prove it, having received her masters in Jazz from the prestigious University of North Texas. Carrie also sings, plays keys, flute, and mandolin and teaches and produces here in the Music City. Oh yeah, and the old guys in The Stew think she's a babe.

"Hypnotic" Casey Lutton, guitar. Longest running blues jam host in Music City. Anybody who does blues in the Nashville area knows Casey & his sweet blues guitar. Guitarist on Elam McKnight's recent recording. Backed Homesick James on Juanita. Bandleader for Nashville blues queen Marion James for many years, appearing on both of her albums. Discovering a copy of The Hypnotics' Get Up Close cassette (with Casey, Richard Fleming, Jim Foglesong, & Jeff Cipperman) is considered a real find in blues circles.

"Angel" Ashlee Abrams is the "Mardi Gras Angel" that works with the Stew for a number of Mardi Gras celebrations. Ashlee is an accomplished actress, having had a number of rolls in Nashville theater groups. She also runs her own business, called Starlike Celebrations, a children's party operation that will deliver a child's favorite character to the festivities. Email Ashlee or visit her web site.

STEW FLAVOR #3: THE ACOUSTIC STEW

Take the basic Stew & put them in an acoustic setting. It seems the same, but it has an altogether different flavor and feel.

The Acoustic Stew won a Middle Tennessee band contest to represent Music City Blues in Memphis at The Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge.

STEW FLAVOR #4: NICK & BAYOU

For this flavor you start with Bayou, then add blues and gospel artist James "Nick" Nixon. This duo has been recognized around the world for their blues education program, an entertaining interactive workshop aimed at explaining to school children the importance of blues music in the history and culture of American music. The Blues Foundation has recognized the duo with a Keeping the Blues Alive Award as Blues Educators of the Year.

     James Nixon has been part of Nashville's diverse music scene for over 40 years. In the early '60s, he played with Jimi Hendrix and Billy Cox when they were stationed at a nearby base. He has played for many years with the New Imperials, a popular R&B and blues act.
     He has made several gospel recordings, one of which was named by a New York trade magazine as the "Best Gospel Album" of the year. A European record label recently released a blues album featuring 14 of Nick's original songs.
     Nixon has been on stage with some of the biggest names in music, including Clarence Carter, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Bo Diddley, Johnny Taylor, Tyrone Davis, the Manhattans, Peabo Bryson, and Earl Gaines. Nick performed with his friend Jimi Hendrix on Nashville's legendary Jefferson Street in its early '60s heyday, while the future rock legend was stationed at nearby Fort Campbell. He has recorded and produced many gospel acts, including Lady Corder Chapman, Reverend Doctor Amos Jones, and the Grammy Award winning Fairfield Four.
     Working with children has always been part of Nick's life. He taught guitar at the Nashville Metro Parks music department for over 30 years, and since 1997 has teamed up with Shannon "Bayou" Williford to bring a blues education workshop to over 100,000 children in Tennessee and across the Southeast.
     Nixon has also been recognized as Male Vocalist of the Year and Acoustic Act of the Year by Music City Blues. He continues to write songs with several important figures around town, including Richard Fleming and Scotty Moore, famed guitarist for Elvis Presley.

Nick & Bayou perform as a duo, doing a wide range of blues and R&B classics, along with many of Nick's originals. They also offer their award-winning blues education workshop, plus a program on R&B in Tennessee that touches on everything from music and radio history, to fad dances, to the civil rights movement. Learn more on the American Roots Music web site.

STEW FLAVOR #5: THE CATAHOULA BRASS BAND

From the deep South, the land where the blues are alive, the land of sticky, funky & relaxed good times, comes the most live of the music genres -- the Louisiana brass band. No 'Lectricity Required! On stage or on the street! Instant musical excitement any time, any where!

The Catahoula Brass Band delivers that excitement in timeless tradition. The core is a strolling band of tuba, trumpet, sax, trombone, bass drum, & snare drum, with each player schooled in the New Orleans tradition. Bandleader Joe Hunter has tuba credits with the Magnolia Brass Band & with Bullfrog, as well as the LSU Golden Band from Tiger Land.

The Catahoula Brass Band performs at dances, Mardi Gras and Louisiana-themed parties, & is an ideal choice for representing a company or an organization in parade events. The group's music includes nearly everything from standards to pop.

Click HERE to see the band on YouTube. Here's the band on MySpace.

STEW FLAVOR #6: SWAMP STORIES

Swamp Stories features two comical good ole Cajun boys -- Shan de Bayou and Patio Daddio -- going fishing, singing songs, and telling stories in the South Louisiana tradition. Along the way they involve their audience as actors or actresses and as band members for the songs. The duo performs bayou classics such as "Jambalaya" and "You Are My Sunshine," plus cute original tunes such as "Love My Maw Maw." They add in generous helpings of Cajun history, slapstick, and child-oriented buffoonery.

Learn more on the American Roots Music Education web site.

STEW FLAVOR #7: TWO TONE & BAYOU

The duo of Michael "Two Tone" Malone and Shannon "Bayou" Williford first played together in Baton Rouge, where they grew up in the rich musical tradition of South Louisiana. It came together again when both ended up in Nashville, where they focus on showcasing Malone's original songs.

Adept at both guitar and harmonica, Two Tone writes songs that are often touching, often powerful, and always from the heart. He grew up in Baton Rouge "on the tough side of town." He traveled the world in the military before returning to Louisiana to continue his musical career. He has released two recordings, Shades of Blue & Louisiana Anthology. Bayou appears on both albums.

Malone played the Nashville Legends Festival, & with Terry "Goose" Downing was a finalist in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Home Calendar Music Samples & Store Stew Flavors Stewsletter
Photos What People Say Links Contact Us Site Index