Saturday, March 23 | Concert: Lester’s Blues

In the mid-1950s, Lester was on the margins of the Louisiana blues scene. According to Rolling Stone (February 23, 2006), Buddy Guy, before moving to Chicago, had played in Louisiana “with some of the old masters: Lightnin’ Hopkins, Lazy Lester, Slim Harpo.” When Guy left for Chicago, in 1957, Lester replaced him, on guitar, in a local band-even though Lester, at the time, did not own one. Lester’s career took off when he found a seat next to Lightnin’ Slim. on a bus transporting Slim to an Excello recording session. At the studio, the scheduled harmonica player did not appear. Slim and Lester spent the afternoon unsuccessfully trying to find him, when. Lester’s work on that first Lightnin’ Slim session led the producer, Jay Miller to dub Lester “Lazy Lester” because of his laconic, laid-back style. n his time in Detroit Lester became friend to many and is fondly remembered.

The band for this very special event will be Shawn McDonald on Piano, Harry Oman (Guitar), Marvin Conrad (Bass), Tino Gross (Drums), Dan Devins (Vocals), Harmonica Shah (Harmonica) and Brian Miller (Harmonica). They will be playing Lazy Lester’s music, as well as telling stories of working and knowing this Grammy winning artist.