SEPTEMBER 17,2006: "MORGAN FREEMAN AND GROUND ZERO WELCOMES DENISE LASLLE AND FRIENDS" Hello Blues and Southern Soul fans.I couldn't wait to sit down and begin this review.Just when I thought this blues and southern soul ride couldn't get any better,academy award winning actor Morgan Freeman who along with business partner Bill Luckett provided the good people in the Mississippi Delta with a good old fashion DOWN HOME BLUES REVUE.Ground Zero(Owned by Freeman and Luckett)was the place and Clarksdale was the host city.The performers for this awesome show were B&J recording artists Karen Wolfe and Bill Coday and my Godmother and favorite female performer,The Queen of the Blues,Denise Lasalle.Ground Zero has always been one of my favorite juke joints and to be in the presence of these talented artists made this an exciting night.I was joined on this night by fellow Dawg Pound member Terry Lomax a.k.a. T-Bone.It was a diversified crowd on hand and this is always a great sight for me.I love the fact that this genre of music can bring people from different ethnic backgrounds together and enjoy themselves the way all men and women both young and old are suppose to be able to do. We arrived early because I wanted to have a good seat for tonight's show.I walked through the front door and there sat a familar face,one I hadn't seen in months or talked to for that matter but I was very happy to see this familiar face.Mrs. Anna Coday(CEO of B&J records and wife of Bill Coday)was holding down the door for tonight's show.We hugged each other and we had a brief chat,I told her that I was trying to get a good seat for the show and I would talk to her after the show.As we made our way down front,right by the stage(damn we got lucky)I saw two more familiar faces.My good friends,WDIA radio personality Steve Ladd and Denise Lasalle's son Ray were both standing by the stage and I greeted both of them with open arms.As we were talking B&J recording artist Bill Coday came over to say hello.I had met him once at Club Ebony in Indianola,Mississippi and to my suprise he remembered me very well.I am very humbled that these hard working recording artists actually appreciate me and the fruits of my labor.Thats why I love sharing these experiences with you the fans.The mc for tonight's show was the host with the most,my man Steve Ladd. It was now showtime so with some old friends on hand and with the gin and juice,chased with bud light kicking in big time,sit back good people and let me take you on this blues and southern soul ride. The first performer of the night was B&J recording artist Karen Wolfe.I watched her perform for the first time several months ago in Jackson,TN.I knew back then that she was well on her way to becoming a major diva on the southern soul scene.She was introduced to the now packed house and received a nice warm ovation led by T-Bone and myself.She opened her performance with a rendition of Betty Wright's "Tonight Is The Night" and the ladies on hand made some serious noise.They were feeling her on this song and just like her friend and mentor,Denise Lasalle she begin to ad-lib with the audience with some grown folks language.I tell you the ladies really had her back on this cut.Her next song was "Is This The Way" and she was able to display her amazing voice.With this song you can hear the influence that Denise Lasalle has had on her.With a sassy but sultry delivery her voice filled the room.Her next song was from her debut cd titled "Unlovable Habits" and she was letting the women know that they might not go for some of their men's bulls**t but some other woman might be willing to accept it,enough said about that cut.Her next song was "Grown Ass Man" and once again she begin to ad-lib with crowd.Like so many of her peers she realizes to keep an audience you have to allow them to be a part of the show.She had the people in attendance laughing along with this jam especially when she made the point that if her man wanted someone to clean up behind him his a** better get a maid.She closed her performance with her biggest hit to date and my personal favorite "Backdoor Love Affair".As she was performing this song there was an older gentleman on the dance floor cutting a rug by himself.He was soon joined to the delight of everyone in attendance by academy award winning actor Morgan Freeman who made a spectacular grand entrance.The two of them shared the spotlight on the dance floor briefly.The place erupted as the two of then begin to strut around like they had rehearsed this little dance glide.I was up on my feet and was able to capture that brief moment on camera.You had to be there to feel the excitement that this moment brought to everyone in attendance.Thats why I love this blues and southern soul thang.He settled at a table down by the stage and was met by a slew of people who were all trying to get photos of him.I don't think Karen mind Morgan Freeman gracing the dance floor on her final song.Karen Wolfe is cut from the same cloth as Denise Lasalle.SEXY,SULTRY and SOULFUL all describe this terrific singer.Her show was more polished this second time around so I could tell that she has worked hard on perfecting her performance.With the divas of southern soul continuing to make their stride in this industry you can throw Karen Wolfe right at the top with the rest of them.For those of you who haven't heard this diva please go and buy her debut cd titled "First Time Out".It is a can't miss for people who love and enjoy southern soul music.I look to see and hear great things from this talented young lady and yes fellas SHE IS SEXY AS HELL.Terrific performance! The next performer on the night was B&J recording artist,the one and only Bill Coday.I mentioned before that I met him on one ocassion but this was my first opportunity to see him perform.He and Denise Lasalle share a friendship that has expand some three decades.He was introduced to the crowd and they gave him a huge ovation.He opened his performance with "Love Of Mine" and he was able to get the people up and dancing.Morgan Freeman even joined the crowded dance floor and we were now having a blues party with Bill Coday at his best.He kept the party going with "It's A Blues Thang" and this is a nice foot-stomping and hand-clapping old school blues cut.His next selection"Stormy Monday" got a huge ovation from the crowd.I've heard a lot of artist cover this classic hit and Bill Coday's gut wrenching performance was among the best that I had ever heard.He performed two songs from his latest cd "Jump Start" and "One Side Love Affair" which kept the dance floor jumping.He closed his performance with "Get Your Lie Straight" and this brought back some memories for me.My father and uncles use to love this song.I was disappointed that he didn't perform "Bo Hawg Grind" which is one of my favorite Bill Coday jams.With so many of our beloved blues and southern soul artists who have passed on its so good to see an old school artist like Bill Coday still out here on his paper chase(making some money).Just like Billy "Soul" Bonds a couple of weeks ago I was able to see another great artist from back in the day bring back some of the magic from yesterday.I wish that all you fans would go out and buy Bill Coday's music.His last cd titled "Jump Start" is a great buy and it includes the hit single "Love Gangsta".Bill Coday along with Karen Wolfe is a solid foundation for B&J Records and I know with them being the cornerstone that this label will be a major factor for this genre of music.I wish them well as they continue to make their mark on this industry. The last performer on the night was the undisputed QUEEN OF THE BLUES,Denise Lasalle.She was led on stage by her son and my good friend Ray.She received the loudest ovation of the night.This being a juke joint she was very explicit tonight.Can't no one in this industry male or female talk more sh*t than Denise Lasalle and tonight would be no different.I've seen her show so many times and I'm not tired of it yet.She opened her performance with"Lady In The Streets" and received another huge ovation.Her next song was "Down Home Blues" and once again Morgan Freeman blessed the dance floor with his presence.I stopped to take a few photos of this larger than life movie star as he cut a rug with the good people in the Mississippi Delta and let me tell you folks he didn't mind me taking these photos at all.This will be a moment that I will surely never ever forget.Denise kept the party going with my personal favorite "Trapped By This Thing Called Love".I was front and center taking photos of her on stage when I was joined on the dance floor by my co-worker,Denise Grant a.k.a Bluz Queen.With this cut playing I'll dance with the anti-christ(thats how much I love this song).She paid tribute to Little Milton as she did a rendition of "The Blues Is Alright" and she allowed the crowd to sing along on this cut.Her next song was "Drop That Zero" and the ladies were feeling this one."Snap,Crackle And Pop" was the best part of her performance as she had the crowd cracking up with her raw and exlpicit lyrics.Her reference to Clarence Carter(Strokin'),Love Doctor(Slow Roll It),Theodis Ealey(Stand Up In It) and Marvin Sease(Candy Licker) went over very well.She closed her performance with "My Toot Toot" and she was joined on stage by her son Ray as he received a nice ovation from the women on hand as he begin to display his freaky side(Got you Ray).It is always a pleasure for me to see a Denise Lasalle performance and I hope and pray that I will be able to see her for many more years to come. I said that I would start to shorten these concert reviews but you fans have got to bare with me,just like a preacher in the pulpit I've got a message to deliver.I try to make you feel like you were actually at the show.I want to give a blues and southern soul shout out to my man Steve Ladd and Karen Wolfe's older sister "Cookie" (who is also a backup singer for Karen).HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY COOKIE!I would also like to give a shout out to my fellow Dawg Pound member T-Bone who told me that he had the time of his life.I had a great time on this night and like always I just wanted to share it with the best fans on the planet.Take care and MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS. Big K9