Hi Dominique -

It's a new year so I really should change the intro and reply to Dominique
King:

 DK> Then a 2 disc set called Essential Women in the Blues.   A House of
 DK> Blues disc with all sorts of classics from folks like Koko Taylor, Ida
 DK> Cox, Ruth Brown, Sister Rosetta Tharp, Alberta Hunter, Bessie Smith,
 DK> Etta James, Saffire, Victoria Spivey...and I haven't even mentioned
 DK> anyone off the second disc!  Found it on sale during a late night run to
 DK> Borders last week.

Sounds like something I'd like.

 DK> Fanning the Flames-a new one from Maria Muldaur.  Nope, it's nothing
 DK> like her old "Midnight at the Oasis" stuff.  It's a very bluesy album
 DK> featuring guest artists like Sonny Landreth, Mavis Staples and Bonnie
 DK> Raitt.

But I don't want to like Maria Muldaur!  

Writing of female blues artists, have you heard Rita Chiarelli on any of your
cross border visits?  Great guitarist, raunchy, 3 albums on Stony Plain Records
(this is the Canadian "roots" label).  Got to chat with her after her first set
on Friday and tell her that a couple of us are doing stuff on our websites for
her.

Elaine

... "If we surrender, she'll kill us!" O'Brien-2