On November 16, 2003, Francis Clay reached the young age of eighty years old. As a long time member of the Muddy Waters Band and co-founder of James Cotton Band of 1967, Clay's musical influence is legendary. Clay's band Blues Crusade, led by vocalist and harmonica virtuoso Carlos Zialcita, backed up the guest artists. For the opening set, Blues Crusade presented a performance by the wonderful vocalist Myrna Del Rio and her husband, Zialcita, who sang several tunes at the request of Clay.
Club Jazz Nouveau
San Francisco is finally getting some good Jazz venues after a long absence and one of the best is the beautiful Club Jazz Nouveau which recently presented an act worth special mention.
Carlos Zialcita is a proven bluesman who has plied his harmonica and vocal wares for many years with Johnny Otis and
Sugar Pie DeSanto and is now sharing his love of Jazz with a new group featuring his wife, vocalist Myrna Del Rio,
the fantastic guitarist Eric Swinderman, pianist Marty Williams, Ben Luis on bass and Tony Coleman on drums.
On this evening, Zialcita's chromatic harmonica styling was impressive along with his crooning vocals on such tunes as
"A Day In the Life Of A Fool" and "Fly Me To The Moon." In a salute to Charles Brown, the group performed a bluesy
rendition of "Merry Christmas, Baby," with Eric Swinderman's outstanding grooving guitar solo. Myrna Del Rio's
expressive phrasing was exquisite on the tune "What A Difference A Day Makes." This combo is a welcome addition
to the scene with a program that encompasses Jazz and blues with some outstanding performers, with a special nod
to the wonderful Marty Williams on piano and the incomparable Eric Swinderman on guitar. (photo at right: Eric
Swinderman, Myrna Del Rio and Carlos Zialcita.)
By Dorothy L. Hill
Jazz Now Interactive February Vol 13 No. 9 - Table of Contents
Southern California's Hub of the Blues
"Where All Things Blues Come Together"
"Bay Area Blues Beat"
Joseph Jordan
National Editor
Southland Blues / January 2004
San Francisco
LORD OF THE CHROMATIC: Here's some fun news. The musicologist/blues-musician/ producer (and school-teacher) Carlos Zialcita and his Carlos Zialcita Jazztet has been appearing at the restaurant/nitespot Club Jazz Nouveau in San Francisco's Cannery (2801 Leavenworth.) Prominently known as a superb harmonica player the past couple of decades, this "Thrilla from Manila" has branched out musically and has incorporated jazz, blues and pop standards into his set-list and chromatic-harp repertoire. He's a fine entertainer and ain't a bad crooner either. And a regularly-featured guest artist friend of the band is the lovely, diminutive & sweet-and-subtle vocalist Myrna Del Rio is a musical main-course of her own. There'll be a mini-CD out soon, so keep your eyes out for it, and in the meantime, check out: http://www.jazznouveau.com or call: 415-921-2100.