August 11: Evanston SPACE with Ben Levin and Bob Stroger. Evanston, IL. 7:00

SUN AUGUST 11

Doors: 6:00PM

Generations of Chicago Blues: Ben Levin and Bob Stroger with special guest Dave Specter

TICKETS

Blues legend Bob Stroger, born on December 27, 1930, is considered one of Chicagos top blues bassists. This Blues Music Award winner is respected and internationally well-known. A blues artist of this caliber is truly a rarity, and at almost the age of a century, hes still performing over 200 performances a year. Bob was presented a proclamation award and the key to the city of Chicago, as a cherished, living legend. Bob has toured and performed with many prominent blues musicians in his lifetime, such as Sunnyland Slim, known for being one of the pioneers of Chicago blues, and Honey Boy Edwards, who performed with the legendary Robert Johnson. Bob has also had the honor of playing with Otis Rush, Eddie King, Rufus Forman, Koko Taylor, Pinetop Perkins, and Willie Big Eyes Smith, to name a few. With all the achievements that Bob has received throughout his life, he still feels that his fans are his biggest reward and his love for music is what keeps him going each day. As he famously says, Im Bob Stroger and I am the Blues!_____

Ben Levin is a pianist/vocalist based in Cincinnati, OH. Ben has released four albums on the Vizztone Label Group and has three Blues Music Award nominations including best piano player of the year (2023, 2024).Bens latest album, Take Your Time, released in October 2022, features collaborations with blues legends Lil Ed, Bob Stroger, and Lil Jimmy Reed. The album received daily airplay for two months on Sirius XM radio and reached number seven on Living Blues radio charts. Based on the success of their single, I’ve Been Drinking Muddy Water, Ben and Lil Jimmy joined forces again in the studio with Ben producing and co-writing songs with Jimmy. Back To Baton Rouge was released in May 2023 on NOLA Blue and reached number two on Living Blues radio charts. In October 2023, Ben released an EP, Waiting Just For You, on Vizztone with Bay area-based jazz vocalist Stella Heath. They hired legendary Cincinnati jazz musicians Art Gore on drums (who has worked with artists such as George Benson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Lonnie Liston Smith) and Jim Anderson on bass (who has worked with artists such as Art Blakey, Ernestine Anderson, and Hank Crawford).With Stellas background in jazz and a love for blues, and Bens background in blues with a love for jazz, the two met musically in the middle. Waiting Just For You showcases four duets in a style where blues and jazz intersect to create a beautiful, classic sound.

https://www.davespecter.com

https://www.davespecter.com/shows

https://youtube.com/watch?v=-K3zyCJBUWE%3Ffeature%3Doembed

“One of the few top-tier guitarists” – Downbeat

“Dave Specter is a global ambassador of Chicago Blues” – Chicago Sun-Times

GUITARIST, SINGER/SONGWRITER, BANDLEADER, RECORDING ARTIST, PRODUCER & PODCAST HOST

Dave Specter has earned an international reputation as one of the premier talents on the Chicago music scene. Since 1985 Specter has performed regularly at top venues and festivals throughout the USA and has toured internationally in 19 countries.

Before forming his own band in 1989, Specter toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe behind such blues greats as Son Seals, The Legendary Blues Band, Hubert Sumlin, Sam Lay and Steve Freund. Specter has also performed and/or recorded with such artists as Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rogers, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Jimmy Johnson, Jack McDuff, Johnny Adams, Snooky Pryor, Kim Wilson, Tad Robinson, John Primer, Johnny Littlejohn, B.B. Odom, Mighty Joe Young, Magic Slim, Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Earl, Otis Clay, Floyd McDaniel, Pinetop Perkins and Jorma Kaukonen from Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane.

Dave has performed for the President of the United States, the Governor of Illinois and the Mayor of Chicago.

Dave appears on over 50 albums and DVDs as a guitarist, bandleader and/or producer, with 13 albums as a leader or co-leader on Delmark Records. His new double album, Six String Soul 30 Years on Delmark was released in 2021.

Specter’s guitar playing is featured on the 2023 Grammy nominated “Into The Little Blue House” by Wendy and DB, nominated for Best Children’s Music Album.

Specter appears on compilation albums with artists such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, T-Bone Walker, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Mike Bloomfield.

Dave was inducted into The Chicago Blues Hall of Fame in 2018.

Recently featured in Rolling Stone, Dave’s handwritten song lyrics are on display at The Woody Guthrie Center’s Songs of Conscience, Sounds of Freedom exhibit in Tulsa alongside Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics.

Dave is also partner at one of the Chicago area’s most acclaimed music venues, Evanston SPACE and hosts the podcast, Blues From The Inside Out.

HOMENEW MUSICSHOWSBIOPHOTOSVIDEOS

Dave Specter

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Discography

Delmark Records announces new double album release celebrating Dave’s 30 years on Delmark!

SIX STRING SOUL 30 YEARS ON DELMARK: 2 CD SET and 2 LP SET

Grammy Nomination! Dave’s guitar playing featured on Wendy and DB’s “Into The Little Blue House”,

nominated for Best Children’s Music Album in the 2023 Grammys.

FEATURED ON…

Dave Specter has recorded with some of the preeminent blues and jazz players in the world. He appears on compilation CDs with artists such as Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Muddy Waters and B.B. King. He’s won awards for production and his signature skills can be heard from the production booth to the studio and live stages from Chicago to Europe.

• “It Ain’t Over” – CD/DVD Delmark Records 55th Anniversary Concert recorded live at Buddy Guy’s Legends Chicago
• “The Great Muddy Waters and Friends” – 3 CD set featuring Dave Specter, Junior Wells, Luther Allison, Louis Myers, Tad Robinson. Black Cat Records.
• “Fortune Tellin’ Man” – Jesse Fortune.
• Delmark 40th Anniversary Blues – Compilation with Magic Sam, Junior Wells, Little Walter, Big Joe Williams, and others
• Heartaches and Pain – Carey Bell
• One to Infinity – Tad Robinson
• Midnight Blues – Compilation with Junior Wells, Magic Sam, Little Walter, Luther Allison, and Louis Myers
• The Blues Box – 5 CD box set with Otis Rush, Big Walter Horton, Magic Sam, Little Walter, and others
• Wild Cards – With Al Miller, Willie Kent, Tad Robinson. Produced by Dave Specter.
• 700 Blues – Lurrie Bell’s second album. Dave Specter produced the album, and added guitar on two tracks.
• Midnight Blues – Compilation with Junior Wells, Magic Sam, Little Walter, Luther Allison, and Louis Myers
• The Blues Box – 5 CD box set with Otis Rush, Big Walter Horton, Magic Sam, Little Walter, and others.
• West Side Baby – Floyd McDaniel. Produced by Dave Specter.
• Blues Guitar Greats – Compilation with Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Mike Bloomfield, Otis Rush and others.
• Kiss of Sweet Blues – Featuring Lurrie Bell and Nominated for Independent Blues Record of the Year by AFIM (Association for Independent Music).
• Chicago Blues Tour – With Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Otis Rush and many others.
• Delmark 45th Anniversary Blues and Jazz – with Junior Wells, Mighty Joe Young, Dave Specter, and others.
• Good Blues To You – Aron Burton’s new CD on Delmark with Billy Branch, Larry Burton, Lurrie Bell.
• Blues Guitar Heaven Vol. 2 – With Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, B.B. King and many others. Features Dave’s song “Bluebird Blues.”
• “C” for Chicago – Steve Freund with Boz Scaggs, Kim Wilson, David Maxwell. Produced by Dave Specter.
• This is the Blues Harmonica – w/ Junior Wells, Carey Bell, Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, Louis Myers, Billy Branch
• In Between Time – Al Miller’s album, with Billy Flynn & John Primer Produced by Dave Specter
• I’ll Be Your Mule – Steve Freund with Mr. B, Bob Stroger, Steve Guyger, Harlan Terson, Kenny Smith, Pete Crawford, Dave Clark, Clark Dean. Produced by Dave Specter
• Ghosts & Angels – Sandy Andina’s debut singer/songwriter CD, features Corky Siegel, Frank Donaldson, and others. Dave plays guitar on the track “Pass The Bottle.”
• It Ain’t Over – Delmark 55th anniversary CD/DVD – Featuring Dave Specter and many other Delmark Recording Artists. Winner of BMA for Best Blues DVD.
• Going Back To Mississippi – Nora Jean Bruso.
• Ship of Chocolate Chips – Joel Frankel
• Blues Cannon – Dave Hannon & Band.
• South Shore – Billy Seward featuring Jimmy Johnson, Willie Henderson. Produced by Dave Specter
• Soul Burnin’ – Lil’ Red and the Rooster. Produced by Dave Specter
• Cab Driving Man – Mississippi Heat
• Travelin’ Woman – Mary Lane
• Tribute – Delmark Records 65th Anniversary CD/LP