Project Blues

Drivin’ Home to Carrie’s Cafe

A Bear in the Chair Production

Project Blues is celebrating its 15th anniversary. The women’s cancer clinic that it sponsors, and gives all its proceeds to, has recently partnered with Ohio State University’s James Cancer Center to provide elevated services to women in need in central Ohio. As part of that partnership, they have built a new wing for the clinic. This is an unbelievable tribute to the work that has been done by all involved in Project Blues — most importantly the artists who continue to come back to Project Blues and perform. Mike Berichon is sponsoring this album as a tribute to the artists who have contributed mightily to the success of Project Blues.

From grief to grit, from loss to legacy: Mike Berichon, known by many as Bear, lost 135 pounds. But weight loss is only a fraction of his story. Mike’s story begins in 2005, with the loss of his sister Michelle, “Shelly,” to breast cancer just three months after diagnosis. She didn’t have insurance or get a mammogram, and by the time it was discovered it was too late. One of the last things Mike said to her was “I love you. This hurts.” That moment became the seed of the nonprofit Project Blues, which he founded.

All of the songs were written by Berichon. The album was produced by Anson Funderburgh and engineered by Stuart Sullivan and Charles Godfrey at Wire Recording at Point West Studios in Austin, Texas. Funderburgh also plays guitar on three tracks.

Drivin’ Home to Carrie’s Cafe opens with “One More Time with Feeling,” with a lead vocal from Guy Forsyth. Guitarists Funderburgh and Tom Holland are featured, while Bobby Floyd plays the Hammond B-3, and the Texas Horns decorate, with Chuck Moore on tenor saxophone solo and John Mills on baritone sax solo. The rhythm section is Nate Rowe, bass, and Louis Tsamous, drums.

“If Trouble Was a Woman” follows, as guitarist Tom Holland takes the lead vocal. Joining him are guitarist John Del Toro Richardson; pianist Nick Connolly; backing vocalist, harmonica player, and tenor saxophonist Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff; John Mills, baritone sax; and the rhythm section of bassist Lenny Paul and drummer Louis Tsamous.

On “Closer to Dead Than Born,” the lead vocal is sung by Sean Carney, while Holland is on guitars, including slide. Also featured are Kazanoff on harmonica and tenor saxophone; Mills, baritone sax; Bobby Floyd, piano; Steve Perakis, bass; and Brandon Pettiford, drums.

“I Never Really Left” is another lead vocal from Carney, with guitarists Funderburgh, Holland, and Richardson; Kazanoff on harp and tenor sax; Chuck Moore, tenor sax; Perakis, bass; and Pettiford, drums.

Vocalist Karin Lovely is featured on three tracks: “Soul Survivor,” the title track “Carrie’s Cafe,” and “I Can Never Give My Heart Away Again.” The first features backing vocalist Alice Spencer and guitarist Richardson; the second, guitarists Holland and Richardson, Bobby Floyd on Hammond B-3, and the Texas Horns; and the last, guitarists Funderburgh, Holland, and Carney, and the Texas Horns.

Other highlights include Holland’s lead vocal on “Ain’t Gonna Lay Down and Die,” with guitarists Carney and Mike “Bear in the Chair” Berichon; “Lonely Room,” with another lead vocal from guitarist Carney; and “Can’t Have It All Without You,” “We’ll Get There Eventually,” and “580 to the Wheels,” with lead vocalist Forsyth.

Project Blues isn’t just a concert, it’s a movement. Every fall for the last 15 years, Mike and his band open the show and fill the stage with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Blues Music Award, and Grammy-winning blues legends. On Friday nights, they bus in cancer patients, survivors, and indigent guests to Carrie’s Cafe, the LifeCare Alliance banquet venue and cafe where they have conducted this event for 15 years. Project Blues sponsors a catered dinner and soul-lifting blues event. No tickets, no fanfare. Just love, blues, and healing. Project Blues: “Pain, Fellowship, Passion, Healing.”

Richard Ludmerer

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