Blues guitarist, bandleader and producer Dave Specter has earned an international reputation as one of the premier talents on the Chicago blues scene. Since 1985 Specter has performed regularly at top Chicago blues and jazz clubs in addition to festivals and concert halls throughout the USA. Since 1989 Dave has toured internationally with performances in Argentina, Brazil, Israel, Spain, England, Holland, Denmark, France, Italy, Germany, Norway, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, Luxembourg, Mexico and Canada.
Before forming his own band in 1989, Specter toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe behind such blues greats as Son Seals, The Legendary Blues Band, Hubert Sumlin, Sam Lay and Steve Freund. Specter has also performed and recorded with such blues and jazz artists as Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rogers, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Jimmy Johnson, Jack McDuff, Johnny Adams, Snooky Pryor, Kim Wilson, Tad Robinson, John Primer, Johnny Littlejohn, B.B. Odom, Mighty Joe Young, Valerie Wellington, Magic Slim, Lonnie Brooks, Willie Kent, Ronnie Earl, Eric Alexander, Otis Clay, Floyd McDaniel, Pinetop Perkins and Sunnyland Slim.
Among Dave Specter’s critically acclaimed recordings, his 1991 release Bluebird Blues reached the #1 spot on both the Living Blues national radio charts and the Tower Records blues charts. Blues Access magazine called his CD, Left Turn on Blue, “an absolutely gorgeous blend of vintage blues and jazz.” Specter also appears on compilation CDs with artists such as Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, B.B. King, Muddy Waters and Junior Wells.
Dave’s latest album, Message in Blue features special guests Otis Clay, Brother John Kattke and Bob Corritore. It’s currently topping the Roots Music Report’s blues charts and has received rave, 4 star reviews from Downbeat Magazine and All Music Guide.
Dave’s recently been featured in Vintage Guitar and Downbeat magazines and has been a 5 time Critic’s Choice in The Chicago Reader.
Dave endorses Victoria Amplifiers and GHS Strings.
“If Johnny Sansone had only put out one album, The Lord Is Waiting and The Devil Is Too (2011) would be good enough for me to put him in the same knitch with his mentors, Howlin’ Wolf and Jr. Wells …”
Don Wilcock, BluesBlast Magazine
Johnny Sansone continues to be recognized by The Blues Foundation in numerous categories for his outstanding talent.
He’s been nominated at the 2012 BLUES MUSIC AWARDS:
Song of the Year: The Lord is Waiting (winner)
Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Contemporary Blues Album
Album of the Year.
Nominated in 2013 for Song of the Year:
The Night the Pie Factory Burned Down and Best Contemporary Blues Artist.
Nominated for 2013 Offbeat BEST OF THE BEAT Awards:
Best Harmonica Player, Best Blues Artist, Best Blues Release for the album Once It Gets Started, and Song of the Year for The Night the Pie Factory Burned Down.
Brother John has been a resident musician at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago for 25 years. He has played with Eric Clapton, Steve Miller, the Black Crowes, and acquired ringing endorsements from many other musicians of renown. For example: Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant had seen John play with Otis Rush at the Jazz Café in London. When Plant and Kattke met in person at the United Center in Chicago, Plant told Kattke: “You play a mean guitar!” George Benson came to the jam session that Kattke hosts at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago. After hearing the opening set that John played with his band, Benson told him: “You’re fearless! I thought I was fearless! You’re fearless!”
John Kattke (a.k.a. Brother John) is one of the most talented and versatile musicians on the Chicago music scene today. Perfoming double duty on both guitar and keyboards, Brother John has been a vital musical component behind some of the blues’ most lauded musicians, including Buddy Guy, Otis Rush & Koko Taylor. As a solo artist his playing stands apart as a uniquely creative force of its own, and his vocals, an aspect of the music that is often overlooked in today’s guitar crazy world, are delivered with full-throated assurance. Brother John is definitely a Bluesman on the rise.
— Jason Blankenship, Buddy Guy’s Legends Bluesletter, Jan./Feb. 1998
Kattke has been a fixture at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago, where his playing impressed the owner enough that Guy hired him to go on tour with him. Kattke was also the leader of the Otis Rush Band for three years. He auditioned to be the lead guitarist for the Black Crows, but then “they decided to do that tour with Jimmie Page,” Kattke said.
— Pioneer Press “Diversions,” Jan. 17, 2002
