Page 10 - BiTS_02_FEBRUARY_2021

AR: I don't listen to contemporary music these days. I try to avoid it as much as possible. Paul has
tuned in a little bit more to the radio. I think the last person that was contemporary that he found
sort of interesting to listen to was Ed Sheeran. That was a while ago now. We don't have our finger
on the pulses of mainstream.

BiTS: What about contemporary blues harmonica players?

AR: Oh, contemporary blues harmonica players. Up to a couple of years ago, James Cotton was still

considered a contemporary player. He's one of my favourites. Kim Wilson, of course, has been a
hero from day one, pretty much. Sugar Ray Norcia, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, beautiful player,
absolutely beautiful player. Dennis Gruenling, I have a lot of respect for his playing. I'm always bad
about lists because I'm going to leave someone out that I probably care
about, so I have to be careful. Wallace Coleman is one of my favourite
contemporary players and very under-appreciated, underrated guy. He
played with Robert Jr. Lockwood for a number of years and could be a

harmonica player who Robert Jr. Lockwood would tolerate is no small
feat.

BiTS: Annie, over the years you must have played in dozens and dozens
of places all around the world either by yourself or with Paul. Is there

anywhere you've been playing where you've thought to yourself in the
middle of a gig, what on Earth am I doing here, this is
absolutely wonderful?

AR: Oh, every time, pretty much and every time
we've played at all, I've felt that pretty much.
We've had wonderful transcendent moments

on stage. I'm looking forward to getting
James Cotton
back on stage together because it's hard to
create that in a vacuum, you need other
people there, and you need the adrenalin in
the moment.

BiTS: I believe you have been doing something about James Cotton. Can you tell me about that, please?

AR: They made a film. James Montgomery the harmonica player and showman has been helping to
put together a documentary about James Cotton and they came up with tons of footage and they've
shot the footage around Boston. He put together a show with as many harmonica players as he could

fly in and bring in and he filmed that as part of it and that included Jerry Portnoy, Rick Estrin, Mark
Hummel, Paul Oscher, Cheryl Arena, Curtis Salgado. Some great players and it was a tribute concert
together. Paul and I played on it and then subsequently filmed some other shows around town to
acquire more footage and this was one that was a benefit to the movie. At this point, they had a lot
of footage and they put together a little director's teaser and things like that, but that also remains
yet to be concluded.