Slide show of the All Stars' Second Anniversary at the Thirsty Parrot, May 29th, 2008!!
..
George Whitesell & His All Stars Featuring Jill Watkins - at the Delta Blues Festival! Click the play button to activate the control.
Playing Around-George Whitesell & His All Stars [Featuring Jill Watkins!]
Colorado Springs Independent -Josh Johnson
With his trademark long, white hair and beard, George Whitesell looks like a blues Santa. But he sounds like a blues legend — and is in these parts. For decades, Whitesell's been singing and playing guitar and alto sax in the Pikes Peak region, most recently with Metro Blues. Now he's assembled what could be described as the blues board of directors in this area: George Whitesell & His All Stars. The term "all star" is thrown around loosely, but if it's possible for there to be a blues supergroup in Colorado Springs, this is it. The résumés of the seven band members include experience with local and legendary acts, including Cab Calloway, Frank Zappa and Heart. Considering there's four sax players — alto through baritone — expect a sound bright with horns above Whitesell's solid guitar playing and John Stilwagen's keys, with Santi Guarnera (bass) and Dave Deason (drums) bringing it up on the bottom.
George Whitesell & His All Stars [Featuring Jill Watkins!]
Pikes Peak Blues Community - Dan Demuth
". . . add some dessert to this already excellent mix, blues-based vocalist Jill Watkins from up Boulder way. . . . In a word, wow! Her promo describes her powerful voice, playfulness and personality. It should add pulchritude."
Jills singing career began at the age of five, singing for her church choir. Her first solo performance was at the age of eight. Jills journey has taken her from singing gospel to singing the blues in her own band. The influence of her
musical heroes - from Aretha Franklin and Koko Taylor to Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin - is obvious in her style, stage presence, and musical selection. Her powerful voice, playfulness, and personality fill every room she plays.
George Whitesell and His All Stars Featuring Jill Watkins play "Hold it Right There" at the Tri-Lake Center for the Performing Arts. Press the play button to activate control.
