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 have long been one of Los Angeles’ leading contemporary blues outfits, even though their imaginative repertoire, much of it supplied by Terry Wilson (James’ husband, producer, and bassist), is not strictly limited to the 12-bar form. Their album 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 again showcases Teresa’s way with a lyric and Terry’s prolific songwriting, poured over grooves that hold until the last note. A coterie of Texas guitar greats guest on the set, including 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."

Teresa got an early start: "There was always music playing in my house. My dad was a huge music fan... 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 led to a musical career that includes recordings with Walter Trout, Eric Burdon, Spencer Davis, Tommy Castro, Stephen Bruton, Randy Newman, LeeRoy Parnell, Neil Diamond, and more; plus live performances with artists including 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 ultimately left Houston at the encouragement of Terry Wilson and Tony Braunagel, who had relocated to L.A. Terry became her musical cohort: "His songs are brilliant... we have definitely developed a partnership that works." The Rhythm Tramps consist of world-class players who have toured or recorded with artists such as Eric Burdon & the Animals, Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton, Jimmy Reed, Lightin’ Hopkins, Jimmy Vaughan, Johnny Nash, Smokey Robinson, Tom Jones, and Tower Of Power.

The band’s recordings began with The Whole Enchilada (1998) 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, which 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 favorite composer to work with is Randy Newman; she was one of the background singers on "Putin" from his 2017 CD Dark Matter.

Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps remain a staple of the Los Angeles-area blues scene and an international touring act, moving 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
- Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
- Doors: 5:30 PM Showtime: 7 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.
- Most seats are sold as "Tables for Two" — each such ticket admits TWO people.
- There are a limited number of single seats; 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 seating with another party), please email the venue after you place your order.
- All tickets are WILL CALL — no need to print anything, just give your name at the door.

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