On Friday, Oct. 3, Sedona is turning Blue once again for the “Northern Arizona Blues Showcase” at the Mary Fisher Theater at 7 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by the Northern Arizona Blues Alliance (NAZBA).

The intimate Friday night concert features two premier blues acts: Johnny Burgin II and S.E. Willis.

Johnny Burgin II
Johnny Burgin II is known as road warrior who’s on tour close to 200 nights a year across the States, in Mexico and Europe. But if you’d told him this would be his career when he was in high school, he wouldn’t have believed you. Johnny grew up in Mississippi and South Carolina and went to University of Chicago with the intention of becoming a writer. When a friend took him out to a West Side ghetto club to hear the blues singer, Tail Dragger, it was a conversion moment.

The Blues came to life for Johnny and he fell headfirst into the vibrant Chicago blues scene. Choosing the Blues clubs over the library, Johnny eagerly absorbed the lessons from the Blues masters who practiced their craft nightly. By persistence and practice, Johnny gained a spot in Tail Dragger’s band, and started gigging and recording with traditional blues veterans like Sam Lay, Billy Boy Arnold, and Pinetop Perkins. By the late 90s, Johnny was working regularly in Chicago-land Blues clubs under his own name. Johnny started a Monday night residency at The Smoke Daddy in Wicker Park, featuring vocalist Jimmy Burns. The band featured other future Blues notables who were also at beginning of their careers, such as Kenny Smith on drums and Martin Lang on harp, and they created quite a buzz. They packed the club every Monday with a younger, hip crowd, as well as blues veterans stopping by to sit in, such as Dave Meyers, Jesse Fortune, and Barkin’ Bill. Their success led to a record deal with Delmark and the first of several European tours.

The shangri-la of being “King of Division Street” eventually ran its course and Johnny dropped off the scene entirely to raise a daughter. When the music eventually called Johnny back, his comeback was noted by The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Blues Guide, and the Dutch Blues magazine BLOCK. As noted Blues producer Dick Shurman wrote, “Johnny’s skills, passion and commitment were undiminished”. His move to the Bay Area in 2016 led to a creative burst and his most notable recordings. In a few short years, Johnny cranked out the Cali/Chicago Blues mashups Greetings from Greaseland, Neoprene Fedora, the Howlin’ Wolf tribute Howlin’ at Greaseland (nominated for a 2023 BMA for Best Traditional Blues Recording) and Johnny Burgin Live, which featured blues legend Charlie Musselwhite and was nominated for a Blues Blast Best Live Recording Award for 2019. Johnny had always done road work, but during this time, he grew into the role of the constantly touring road warrior he’s known as today.

Johnny has produced eleven CDs as a leader to his credit and dozens more as a sideman. He’s recorded with veterans like Johnny Sansone, Paul DeLay, Bob Corritore, and Jimmy Burns as well as up and comers like Aki Kumar, Joel Astley, and Ben Levin. Johnny developed from a young guitar slinger and local Blues hero to a matured Bluesman, fully fledged singer and the confident and engaging bandleader.

In recent years, he has been a resident instructor at the Pinetop Perkins Foundation and the Chicago Blues Guitar Workshop and has developed a loyal following on YouTube channel for his weekly looks at the Blues guitar greats. Johnny’s recordings have evolved from being very Chicago-centric, to a fusion of West Coast and Chicago styles, and finally, to a more inclusive, international approach. His CD No Border Blues Japan is the first American compilation of the underground Japanese blues scene. His latest CD, “Ramblin’ From Coast to Coast”, has made several Best-Of-’24 lists and received a Blues Blast nomination for Best Traditional Blues CD. https://johnnyburgin.com/

Joining Johnny on bass, from California, is Chris Matheos on bass, S.E. Willis on keys, and Dr. Bob Sellani from Sedona!

S.E. (Steve) Willis
S.E. Willis, originally from West Virginia, has been playing the piano and harmonica since the age of six, and organ and accordion since his teens. He started playing in rock and roll bands along Arizona’s stretch of Route 66 in 1967. Willis’ music is deeply rooted in traditional American forms: blues, boogie-woogie, country, rockabilly, gospel, zydeco. A veteran band leader, S.E. (Steve) Willis has taken a supporting role in bands with such artists as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly, Albert King, Jimmy Rogers, Roy Gaines, and, since 2000, Elvin Bishop (his accordion features prominently on the 2014 release “Can’t Even Do Wrong Right”).

S.E. Willis sang tenor with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and appeared on their 1995 release “We’ve Come a Mighty Long Way.” He worked another three years with founding Meters’ member and New Orleans drumming legend Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste, and plays piano on his solo release Zigaboo.com.

Willis has released seven CDs of original and classic material: Airn Beats Nairn, 1999; Luckiest Man Alive, 2002; Cold Hand In Mine, 2003, Taproot, 2007; Pass the Hat, 2013; Turtle Dove Bounce/Live at the Poor House, 2015; Too Much Love (S.E.Willis and the Willing), 2019.

Fifty years in the business and counting, S.E. Willis knows a lot about American roots music and shows it with every note.

“Northern Arizona Blues Showcase” takes the stage on Friday, Oct. 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre. Tickets are $22 and can be purchased in advance at www.sedonafilmfestival.org or at the Sedona Film Festival office or Mary D. Fisher Theatre box office. For further information, call the film festival office at 928-282-1177.