Jim Pugh write-up in Forbes.com

Great write up about Jim Pugh and Little Village Foundation. in Forbes.com today.  Here's an easier to read/less adds version (hopefully the link lasts for a while)

I wish I could say Jim Pugh was a friend of mine, but the relationship is more one of fandom and Jim is just a very generous with his time.  My first direct encounter with Jim was at a recording of Sessions at West 54th in 1999 (season 3, Episode 4).  I luck-boxed my way into tickets via the mostly defunct Robert Cray Fans Yahoo group.   Had seats right next to Jim's organ.  He came out and offered us some of his gum.  I've be a Robert Cray fan for years and here I was being offered gum from a guy who I've listened to on Robert Cray tracks for years.  Star Struck.

Later on a group of us who were at the session caught a bunch of Robert Cray Band shows in several back to back nights in New England.  Robert Cray is a pretty shy and quiet guy.  He's always polite and gracious with his time, but you can tell he's not into fan interactions. As such I haven't had many interactions with him, but Jim, Karl and Keven, they were super cool and would hang out.  The Memphis Horns were on that tour and I got to meet Wayne Jackson‎ and Andrew Love as well.   It was a whirlwind weekend.

Because of that weekend, when ever I saw the band I could always count on a wave or point and smile from Jim.  It was easy to find me, I'd be one of the nerds pressed up against the stage.  When Kevin and Karl were fired from the Robert Cray Band,  Jim responded to my email asking what happened.  Like I said, he's been generous with his time and is really trying to do some good through Little Village Foundation.   There's some amazing music to be found through LVF.  Do your self a favor and check it out.  It's available on Apple Music if you're a subscriber, and on Amazon and CD Baby for most artists.

Christmas Greetings from Jim Pugh

I received a christmas card from Jim Pugh/Pastel Motif today.

While I suspect all purchasers of the CD are getting the card, I like to think mine was special :-)

Jim needs to put of a christmas album or MP3 download...

So long Kevin and Karl

So, I've been delaying this post for a while now. But it's time to put the issue to rest for me personally. A few weeks ago (sometime towards the end of October) Robert Cray let Kevin Hayes and Karl Sevareid go from The Robert Cray Band. We had a lot of discussion about it on the Robert Cray Fan Club. That, by itself was noteworthy. Its been a quiet year on the board from an RCB perspective. Anyway, I pretty much said my peace there, but want to re-iterate it here.

It is a bitter pill to swallow. This line up has been in place for over 16 years, eight studio albums, over 1000 live performances, not to mention the compilation albums. It may be over a private matter, but it's a pubic divorce and all diehard fans are going to be affected. So while we shouldn't publicly speculate about the private reasons why, it's fair for us to discuss and lament it's effect. For me, for now, it's not going to be "The Robert Cray Band" for a while. They broke up. Now it's Robert Cray featuring Jim Pugh. I'm sure this feeling will pass, just like when the Horn's left, but for now I'm still saddened by the news. Karl and Kevin were more than just band members, they were contributers. They have song writing credits across many albums. They worked so well together.

All of the best RCB shows I've seen have been with this foursome. Sometimes with the horns, some times not. In the late 80's I caught the RCB in Minnapolis. Back when it was the Richard Cousins, Peter Boe and David Olson. I don't have the same enthrallment memories of this show as I do the shows I saw in 2000 onward. I didn't get to see too many RCB shows before moving to Washington, DC. The MSP show and one appearance at the Bayfront Blues Fest in 1995 or 1996, I forget which year. I don't know if it's me that's changed or the band, but things just seemed 'better' from 2000 onward. It's probably just nostalgia sneaking up on me.

So now it's on with the Robert Cray group. Still can't call it "band" yet.

P.S. Kevin or Karl, if you're out there, drop me an email.... I'd love to know where you land next.

Jim Pugh/Pastel Motif

Jim Pugh (Robert Cray Band Keyboard maestro) has come out with a solo project.

http://pastelmotif.com/

As Jim himself put it:

Hi everybody!

For all those who enjoy deep spul groove Hammond B3 instrumental music check out

JimPugh/pastelMotif at PastelMotif.com.

There's info on PastelMotif and you can also check out some of the tunes.

Cheers.

There's a lot of great info about Jim on the site as well. Check out the Bio Page in particular. He has a few samples from the project up on the website.