Biography
The Cobalt Rhythm Kings are steeped in the jazzy jump blues of Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, Wynonie Harris and the Liggins brothers; the cool, raging West Coast swing blues of William Clarke, Rod Piazza and James Harman, and the hard-edged Chicago blues of Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Junior Wells and Freddie King, to name a few.
Formed in April 1996 as the outgrowth of four guys thrown together onstage one winter Sunday night at the cafe nine blues jam in New Haven, Connecticut, The Cobalt Rhythm Kings have played everywhere from New York City's former premier blues club, Chicago B.L.U.E.S., to the New Haven Jazz Festival, where they opened on the New Haven Green for the late Son Seals in August 1999, to the International Festival of Arts & Ideas' "Art on the Edge" festival.
The band made its debut on the national stage on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005 at the 20th Annual Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival -- formerly the King Biscuit Blues Festival -- in Helena, Arkansas.
Some other highlights: On Jan. 20,, 2007, The Cobalt Rhythm Kings played atop New Haven's Temple Street Garage to a crazy, early-morning crowd estimated at 20,000, just prior to the implosion of the New Haven Coliseum, the city's hockey arena. On Jan. 21, 2006, The Cobalt Rhythm Kings opened for the great Johnny Winter at Toad's Place, Connecticut's premier music club. On July 20, 2002, The Kings opened for blues great Etta James, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas and the Fairfield Four in front of thousands of people at the first New Haven Blues & Roots Festival on the New Haven Green.
Other stops along the way have included many of Connecticut's better blues and music clubs, from cafe nine and The Blues Cafe in New Haven to Black Eyed Sally's and the Arch Street Tavern in Hartford to The BoxCar in Southport, Conn. Besides Etta, Johnny Winter and Son Seals, they have opened for, backed or appeared with the likes of Phil Guy, Bob Margolin, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson, Debbie Davies, Mark Naftalin, Roomful of Blues, Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, Michael Hill's Blues Mob, John Hammond Jr. and Ron Levy & His Wild Kingdom.
The Cobalt Rhythm Kings' Cobalt Records CD, "HOT . . . Like Red Pepper," contains nine songs -- four originals -- that range from up tempo, danceable jump blues to gritty, grinding Chicago blues and the flat-out boogie of "King of the Boogie," an original tune in memory of the late John Lee Hooker. The CD also includes "Tougher Than That," a powerful tribute to the found American spirit written in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and two other original songs: the bouncing, Chicago-style "Cross-Eyeded Mama" and the steamy, atmospheric "Louisiana Bayou."
In addition to the band's originals, the Cobalts are committed to resurrecting some of the great blues and swing numbers of the past and making sure that the people who brought them to the world get proper credit -- while at the same time doing them fresh rather than treating them as relics. Never heard of Buddy Johnson's "A Pretty Girl, a Cadillac and Some Money," Rudy Greene's "Juicy Fruit" or Albina Jones' "What's the Matter With You?" Get ready to boogie!
The Cobalt Rhythm Kings are eligible for the New England Foundation of the Arts' "New England States Touring," or "NEST," matching funds. To book The Cobalt Rhythm Kings, e-mail bookings@cobaltrhythmkings.com or call us at (203) 415-1670 !
Instrumentation
The current Cobalt lineup includes Chicago-born singer and harmonica player Mark Zaretsky, Chicago native and longtime New Havener Wendell Jones on bass and vocals, drummer Tony Lupia of Berlin, CT. laying down the beat and Greg Benn of West Haven, Conn. by way of Guilford, Conn. on guitar.
Discography
"HOT . . . Like Red Pepper," released in 2001 (re-released in 2002 with additional songs added) Cobalt Records.
Links
| http://www.cobaltrhythmkings.com |