Robbie Laws

Artist Information

Biography

Robbie Laws recently toured the lower Baja region of Mexico for the highly acclaimed 2012 'Rockin' Blues Extravanganza' and the annual 'Cabo Blues Guitar Boot Camp'. The Gringo Gazette touted this performance tour as " the best ever musical performance of a band in Los Cabos in the past 20 years".


Robbie Laws is one of the most decorated and in demand blues guitarists in the Pacific Northwest. He has been honored with 21 Portland Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards, nine of which were for ‘Best Electric Guitarist", the ‘Best Blues Act 2010' award from the Seattle based Washington Blues Society and most recently, the 'Outstanding Achievement in Blues' award from the Portland Music Association in 2011. The Robbie Laws Band won the prestigious 'Journey to Memphis' competition in Portland, Oregon on July 4, 2011 as the top regional act and competed at The 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, making it into the semi-finals and runner up for the 'Kings of Beale Street' competition.

Having played with guitar legends from Albert Collins to Ronnie Earl, Robbie is an internationally recognized Blues Guitar Master who has thrilled festival and concert audiences for over 15 years with his sheer technical prowess on the guitar, his soulful voice, impressive stage presence and likeable personality. Laws possesses the inherent ability to authentically convey styles such as nineteen forties, jump swing, traditional country blues, Piedmont, Delta, early Texas and Chicago, yet is comfortable playing uptown jazz as well as progressive rock.

Robbie has shared the stage with a long list of great legends and has performed at many notable blues festivals as well as being a regular favorite at argueably the best and second largest blues festival in the United States, the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival. Throughout his career, Laws has released five recordings including the most recent ‘Robbie Laws Live' which has been receiving rave reviews and notable airplay up and down the West Coast, including Alaska and Canada. All of his previous recordings have been awarded "Best Recording of the Year" in the Pacific Northwest. Robbie is currently in the recording studio working on his next album and plans a release in Summer of 2012.


Laws is also co-owner of 'Guitar Expeditions' with his wife Jerri. Guitar Expeditions is a music company that offers the guitar player several options on their personal journey of learning how to play the guitar along with an optional performance component if the student so desires. This company offers private and group guitar lessons as well as workshops held locally, regionally and at festivals around the world. In addition, Robbie holds the 'International Vacation Guitar Boot Camps' yearly in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and is working on an additional camp this coming winter in Cancun. His mission is to keep the blues alive and available for generations to come. "Each generation leaves a fingerprint on the music" says Laws. "It's about keeping the music fresh and viable for the next one".



REVIEWS

"The white Buddy Guy"
Albert Collins, Blues Legend

"The man's got it all...tone, taste, and a ‘T-Bone' mentality that not many can duplicate or
understand. It's a treat to see Robbie cut other guitarists alive onstage."
Steve Pringle - Portland's top radio personality - KINK/KMHD - Portland, Oregon

"A multi-genre guitar virtuoso, singer, songwriter from Portland, Oregon. Highly recommended!"
Blues Review Magazine

"Whenever I have friends in town from back east, he is always on the "must see" list like Multnomah Falls and Timberline Lodge...you just can't say you've seen Oregon and miss Robbie Laws."
Local Blues Fan - Portland, Oregon

PRESS


"He channels his heroes - vocalist Bobby Bland and guitar slinger Albert Collins are among them - into a performance of what modern has become; electric, loud when appropriate but soft when necessary, and an in-concert showcase for instrumental mastery".
The Anchorage Press - News Article - Anchorage, Alaska

"There is a reason why Robbie Laws has held such demand with audiences in the Northwest. His vocals are spot on and his guitar work is crisp, tasty and quite often simply jaw-dropping amazing".
Greg Johnson - President, Cascade Blues Association - Portland, Oregon

Instrumentation

Robbie Laws - Guitar. vocals
Chris Alexander - Hammond B3 Organ
Benjamin Laing - Bass
Randy Herbert - Drums

Discography

New Album coming in Summer 2012. All Originals by Robbie Laws.

"ROBBIE LAWS LIVE" - released summer of 2010
self produced

"DEEP ELLUM BLUES" - released 2004
Blue Heron Records
Awarded 'Best Recording of the Year'
Cascade Blues Association

"RIVER CITY BLUES" - released 2003
Blue Heron Records
Awarded 'Best Recording of the Year'
Cascade Blues Assocation

"Powerful mix of original and traditional acoustic blues. Cascade Blues Association Muddy Award for Best Recording in 2003." "Highly recommended" - Blues Revue June/July 2004.

"TAKIN' THE NIGHT TRAIN" - released 1996
Midnight Rain Productions - self produced
Awarded 'Best Recording of the Year'
Cascade Blues Association

"MIDNIGHT RAIN" - released 1993
Midnight Rain Productions - self produced
Awarded 'Best Recording of the Year'
Cascade Blues Association

Official Website

http://www.robbielawsmusic.com

Links

• Facebook
• ReverbNation

Audio

• T-Bone Boogie
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• Sweet Little Angel
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• 36 - 22 - 36
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• Thank You Mr. Earl
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• Takin' The Night Train
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• Hot Little Mama
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• Bad Case of the Blues
  Listen   Download

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• MASTER OF MANY STYLES [+ Show ]
  

  Robbie Laws’ deftly bent notes, slick-as-chrome extended solos and soulful take on blues vocals coul...Robbie Laws’ deftly bent notes, slick-as-chrome extended solos and soulful take on blues vocals could be heard last week in a live recording of “Sweet Little Angel” offered up for free on his website. The track is nine minutes-plus of pure bliss with a range from butterfly soft, to full-band-loud, with the rhythm section hammering a backbeat while Laws half sings/half shouts. He channels his heroes—vocalist Bobby Bland and guitar slinger Albert Collins are among them—into a performance of what modern has become: electric, loud when appropriate but soft when necessary, and an in-concert showcase for instrumental mastery.
  
  The song’s followed by a version of T-Bone Walker’s jumping classic “T-Bone Boogie,” which if it was any more different than “Sweet Little Angel” it would have to occupy a separate genre. It’s still a display of instrumental prowess by a skilled bandleader, but it owes as much to the 1950s boogie revolution that became rock-and-roll as it does the subtlety and sensitive vocals of blues’ slower tunes.
  
  That mastery of styles within the blues has made Laws one of the most in-demand blues players in the Pacific Northwest. He is also one of the region’s most lauded guitarists. He’s won 18 Cascade Blues awards in his hometown of Portland, and his seven-piece band, The Bigger Blues Band, was named “Best Band for 2010” by the Seattle-based Washington Blues Society. Laws teaches guitar, but is also quite the singer, adept at long and smooth vocals reminiscent of Bland or Otis Redding.
  
  In October Anchorage will get to hear Laws play live over three nights at Blues Central. Keyboardist Chris Alexander, a former Alaskan played more than a decade in Anchorage and has a well-deserved local fan base. Alexander returns from his current home in Portland to play with Laws.
  

• ROBBIE LAWS 'LIVE' / Robbie Laws / Self-Produced CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  Robbie Laws has put out a handful of sensational recordings throughout his career, but catching h...
  Robbie Laws has put out a handful of sensational recordings throughout his career, but catching him perform live is the essential setting. He is so at ease on stage and knows the way to excite an audience. That’s why this new self-produced CD pieced together from shows over the past few years is so welcome. The enjoyment of a live Robbie Laws show is captured to perfection. His vocals are spot-on and his guitar work is crisp, tasty and quite often simply jaw-dropping amazing.
  Most of the tracks were recorded with the Hoodoo Nation Band he fronted for several years, which included Ken Brewer on keys, Jim Miller on bass, saxophonist Drew Baird and depending on the tracks, either Bill Mead or Bryce Shelton on drums. And the majority of these were taken from shows at The Triple Door in Seattle. The band cooks.
  The selections are also well chosen. Of course you have to have a take of Robbie playing Louis Jordan’s “Caledonia.” You cannot have a Robbie Laws show if that is not included. It is a staple for him and always flawless. It is one of many highlights to be found on this outstanding disc. Bobby Bland’s “36-22-36” has a finger-snapping draw to it while the band delivers the repetitive call of the title, Ken Brewer lays down nice keyboards and Drew Baird belts out a burning sax solo that brings everything to life and home. Guitar playing is stunning throughout, Cornell Dupree’s “Okie Dokie Stomp,” Junior Watson’s “Hot Little Mama” and Ronnie Earl’s “Shout About It” are all more than exceptional showcases of Robbie’s vast knowledge of guitar forms and prowess to bring them off as his own. Personally, I believe it’s the nearly-12-minute take of “Sweet Little Angel” that really makes this CD indispensable. The guitar break in the song leaves me breathless with every listen.
  Mixed in with all the live tracks is a studio recording of Robbie’s self-penned number “Swamp Thang.” A catchy little bayou piece that finds him recording with two of Portland’s best musicians, Jeff Minnick on drums and Albert Reda on bass. Though not a live number, it fits right in with the CD’s flow.
  There is a reason why Robbie Laws has held such demand with audiences in the Northwest for so long. He is one of the area’s best live performers. If you cannot make it to a show, this disc will leave little doubt of that fact. Stunning, absorbing and incredible, this disc should be in your collection without hesitation.
  
  Total Time: 51:49
  T-Bone Shuffle / Sweet Little Angel / 36-22-36 / Hot Little Mama / Shout About It / Swamp Thang / Okie Dokie Stomp / I Smell Trouble / Bad Case Of The Blues / Caledonia
  
  
  Reviewed by Greg Johnson (August 2010)
  

• Waterfront Blues Festival: Mon. 2:15 — Robbie Laws Bigger Blues Band, featuring Mz. Dee [+ Show ]
  

  Robbie Laws Bigger Blues Band apparently has the power to move clouds. At least, that’s what just ha...Robbie Laws Bigger Blues Band apparently has the power to move clouds. At least, that’s what just happened Monday afternoon at the Waterfront Blues Festival .
  
  Laws hails from Portland, but the Bigger Blues Band is actually based in Seattle, Washington – more precisely the Highway 99 Blues Club. About five years ago, Steve Sarkowsky, drummer, approached Laws. “You need a blues band.” Apparently this was true, and the “Robbie Laws Bigger Blues Band” was born. Greg Lyons on trumpet, Mike Tooley on Trombone, Mike West on Sax, Charlene Grant on Bass, Frank “Hot Rod” Holman on B3, as well as Sarkowsky and Laws. This marks their third appearance at the Waterfront Blues Festival.
  
  The Robbie Laws Bigger Blues Band will be working on a new album. In fact, they recorded their appearance on the Miller Stage here at the Blues Festival, complete with video. “Maybe we’ll put out a dvd,” ponders Laws. “We’ll see what material we have.”
  
  Mz. Dee, a friend of Grant’s, joins the band to add vocals ala Etta James. She hails from Oakland, CA, so her appearances are an extra-special, long-distance treat. Logistical challenges seem to be a theme of the band – pieces are learned by passing MP3's over the wire, rehearsing parts individually, then getting together three times a year for a full band barbeque and rehearsal. Apparently that’s enough to win the Best of Blues Seattle for 2010.
  
  “This set was pretty loud,” says Laws. “It’s a festival, so everyone is pretty happy. When we’re in smaller clubs, we play a wider range of material.” Which you’ll get a chance to hear when they perform at Jimmy Mak’s on August 27th.

• Rockin' Blues Extravanza Tour 2012 / Robbie Laws w/ The Dream Band in Los Cabos, Mexico [+ Show ]
  

  Rocking Blues Extravaganza An Enormous Success * and the crowd went wild.......... ...Rocking Blues Extravaganza
  An Enormous Success
  * and the crowd went wild..........
  
  By David Flores
  
  The Gigglin' Marlin in Cabo San Lucas rocked last weekend with the presentation of multi-award winner musicians Robbie Laws and Tim Williams, who were accompanied on the stage by the Six Piece Dream Band formed by Ron Casat, Kelly Kruse, Mike Clark, John Hyde, Paul Wells and our very own local sax and trumpet players, Zoot and Greg Haugesag.
  
  About a hundred local music aficionados as well as tourists joined the band for what this writer thinks is the best ever musical performance of a band in Los Cabos in the past 20 years.
  
  The show opened with the performance of local rock band Skeleton Keys - and once the Dream Band began playing, everyone hit the dance floor for the next two sets of grand blues and rock.
  
  The Dream Band / Rocking Blues Extravaganza will perform again in Los Barriles, on the East Cape this Thursday March 1st, with a final show at the Don Sanchez watering hole in San Jose on Friday, March 2nd. Entrance fee to the Mar de Cortes event in Los Barriles is $35 including full buffet dinner, while entrance fee to the Don Sanchez performance, which will feature amazing acapella local singer Luna Itzel is only 200 pesos per person.
  
  For additional information look up: www.pacificproductionscorp.com or email the producer Hubert Miller at cell: (624) 121 6627 Email: ldpreece@shaw.ca or hubert@pacificproductionscorp.com.
  Be there or be square!
  
  

Setlist

A passionate, engaging mix of originals and cover tunes in the styles of Traditional to Contemporary Blues, Soul, R&B, Funk, Blues Rock, New Orleans second line, various jazz standards and jump swing.

Okie Dokie Stomp
Hucklebuck
Hey Mister
Takin' the Night Train
Grits & Greens
That Did it Baby
She's Into Something
Come On
Robert Nighthawk Stomp
Shout About It
A Good Fool is Hard to Find
Blind, Crippled & Crazy
She Caught the Cady
It Brings a Tear
T-Bone Boogie
Hallelujah, I Love Her So
36 - 22 - 36
Oreo Cookie Blues
She's Keepin' House with the Devil
If You Love Me Like You Say
Yaddy Daddy Oh
Thank You Mr. Earl
Call My Job
A Thing Like This
Hawthorne Street Hop
Cry My Eyes Out
Sweet Little Angel
Don't Lose Your Cool
Back Stroke

Basic Requirements

Calendar