Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps – 8/6

Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps are on quite a roll.

Her persuasive pipes slathered in honey and soaked in Texas-bred sass, keyboardist Teresa James and her band, the Rhythm Tramps, have long reigned as one of Los Angeles’ leading contemporary blues outfits. Much of their imaginative repertoire is supplied by Terry Wilson, James’ husband, producer, and bassist. Their 2019 CD Here in Babylon was nominated for a Grammy in the Contemporary Blues Album category.

Rose-Colored Glasses, the band’s new release on Blue Heart Records, is their 12th album and once again showcases Teresa’s enticing way with a lyric and Terry’s prolific songwriting, poured over grooves that hold listeners until the last note. Guest guitarists on the set include Anson Funderburgh, Lee Roy Parnell, Johnny Lee Schell, Snuffy Walden, and Dean Parks. "This new album is kind of veering a little bit more into soul," says Teresa. "But to me, blues is more of a state of mind. It’s where you’re coming from. It’s the attitude and the heart that you bring to it."

By any yardstick, Teresa got an uncommonly early start. "There was always music playing in my house. My dad was a huge music fan. He had all kinds of musical interests, so I was exposed to a lot of different kinds of music." "I studied classical music until I was about a sophomore in high school. When I was like eight or so, my dad taught me how to play guitar." Those seeds eventually led to recordings with Walter Trout, Eric Burdon, Spencer Davis, Tommy Castro, Stephen Bruton, Randy Newman, LeeRoy Parnell, Neil Diamond, and more; plus live performances with Marcia Ball, Levon Helm, Lloyd Jones, Delbert McClinton, and Eric Burdon & the Animals. She has been a featured act on Delbert McClinton’s Sandy Beaches Cruises for more than twenty years.

Teresa left Houston at the encouragement of Terry Wilson and his buddy Tony Braunagel, who had relocated to L.A. Terry proved the perfect musical cohort. "His songs are brilliant. I think he’s a really great songwriter... Over the years, we have definitely developed a partnership that works." Her band, The Rhythm Tramps, consists of world-class players who have toured or recorded with artists including Eric Burdon & the Animals, Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton, Jimmy Reed, Lightin’ Hopkins, Jimmy Vaughan, Johnny Nash, Smokey Robinson, Tom Jones, and Tower Of Power.

In 1998 The Rhythm Tramps released their debut album, The Whole Enchilada, on Jesi-lu. Subsequent releases include Live (2000), Oh Yeah! (2003), The Rhythm Method (2004), The Bottom Line (2007), Country by Request (2008), You Know You Love It (2010), Come On Home (2012), Bonafide (2016), and the Grammy-nominated Here in Babylon (2018). "The Bottom Line is a really good one," says Teresa. "We still do most of the songs on that album, and that was the one where we got the BMA nomination." Here in Babylon was mixed by Ed Cherney with Jay Bellerose on drums.

Teresa has also done considerable vocal work on film soundtracks and song demos in Los Angeles. One of her favorite composers to work for is Randy Newman; she was one of the background singers on "Putin" from his 2017 CD Dark Matter.

Soon to have a full dozen albums under their collective belt spanning 23 years, Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps remain a staple of the Los Angeles-area blues scene and an international touring act. They move easily from Texas-style grease and blues into Memphis soul or New Orleans-flavored grooves. As one critic said, "there are no clichés in this band."

Event details:
- Date: August 6
- Doors: 5:30 PM
- Showtime: 7:00 PM
- Run time listed: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Venue:
- The 443 Social Club & Lounge
- 443 Burnet Ave, Syracuse, NY 13203

Ticket info:
- The 443 is an intimate listening room with table service that seats 75 people.
- The green squares/circles on the floor plan are bar-height tables, and the orange squares are regular-height tables.
- Most seats are sold as "Tables for Two" — the ticket admits TWO people.
- A limited number of single seats are available; single attendees may share a table with other single attendees.
- Multiple tickets purchased under the same name will automatically be seated together (up to 6 people).
- Requesting a specific table is a perk reserved for VIP Patron members.
- If anyone in your party needs special seating arrangements (walker, cane, service animal, wheelchair, low table requirement, or you want to be seated with another party), please email the venue after you place your order to arrange it.
- All tickets are WILL CALL — no need to print anything, just give your name at the door.

Links:
- Website: https://teresajames.com/home
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeresaJamesTheRhythmTramps
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresajamesmusic/
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5DF9ghWMWb2famPGFAV5sm?si=XN_BMpGlRUuOfsyikx6Chw
- Tickets on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teresa-james-the-rhythm-tramps-at-the-443-social-club-tickets-1988688717488?aff=oddtdtcreator
- Video: https://youtu.be/dttw1Gft-Ok?si=XIBPcUaBF-KK3F8j