ROOM WITH A VIEW of the blues..... Anson Funderburgh And The Rockets Featuring Sam Meyers The Turning Point Cafe Piermont, NY 04/13/04 I found myself sitting at the bar with Sam Myers before the show. I learned he was born in Laurel Mississippi but that he now calls Dallas/Ft Worth home. Sam is of the old school. A harmonica player and singer of great passion who played drums on Elmore James’ earliest recording sessions, now at 68 and blind, Sam Myers is still an imposing figure. Sam had his own Chicago blues band in the eighties called The Mississippi Delta Blues Band. Anson Funderburgh recorded with The Fabulous Thunderbirds on their early “Butt Rockin’” album. Anson went solo in 1981 and his first release was also the first release on the Blacktop label. In 1986 Anson and Sam teamed up. They have become the most enduring blues partnership of today and have recorded 12 albums. They also play almost 300 nights a year. “Which Way is Texas?” on Bullseye/Rounder Records follows the previously successful “Change In My Pocket”, and it just won a Handy award as the best Traditional Blues Album of the year. The songs performed this night included “Change In My Pocket”, Willie Dixon’s “Young Fashioned Ways”, Little Walter’s “Little Girl”, and Sam’s own “Things Have Changed”, all sung by Sam Myers. Sam’s harmonica and voice were still in fine form. Anson Funderburgh’s guitar phrasing was superbly inventive and was never over shadowing. The band which includes John Street, Piano; Wes Starr, Drums; and Eric Przygocki, Bass; proved again that they are the best in the business. Anson even stepped forward and sung “One Woman I Need”, from their newest release and the crowd of mostly knowledgeable blues fanatics witnessed a great performance. I bet they’ll all be at The Turning Point again the next time Anson Funderburgh and The Rockets play there as it just doesn’t get any better than this. Richard Ludmerer ricdale2@yahoo.com