Critic's Quotes
“After years of playing
rhythm guitar to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival's flashy lead,
George's Music Springing the Blues appears ready to step into
the spotlight for a solo. …Yesterday's festivities drew an
estimated 20,000 people to performances by artists including
Fruteland Jackson and Big Daddy & Red Hot Java. …Big Daddy had
them dancing on the beach!”
- Nick
Marino (Florida)
Times-Union 4/02
 (Big
Daddy & Red Hot Java’s) Firebrewed got me burning! Exciting,
soulful, sexy, deep, undulating Blues with a kick... that's what
Big Daddy & Red Hot Java delivers with it's Firebrewed CD. If
Blues ever needs an anthem, "This Is My Blues Too" fills the bill
extremely well. "Thousand Shades Of Blue" is one of the best
Blues ballads I've heard in years, and the title cut "Firebrewed"
jumps out of the speakers and grabs me everytime... almost like
I've lived it. Friends tell me Big Daddy & Red Hot Java's live
show is even better than the CD. I
can't wait to catch one!
-
Kuanna Adams Kittles CDBaby.com 4/02
“Big
Daddy’s Blues Stories” is a powerful acoustic tour through
America’s great indigenous music of the Blues. Randall “Big
Daddy” Webster is often called the “Pavarotti of Blues” as he
wraps his four-octave voice around each note squeezing out every
drop of emotion. Making “Blues Stories” even more special is the
deeper understanding of the raw emotion behind the music as
distilled through Webster’s years of performing, and teaching
Blues-In-Schools. Master Blues harmonica player Michael “Doc”
Palecki’s magical reed work brings texture and dynamic punch to a
foot-stomping hand-clapping show. With “Big Daddy’s” capable
guitar fretwork and booming voice, plus “Doc’s” magical harp, the
wild hoodoo & voodoo of “Big Daddy’s Blues Stories’” will leave
you spellbound and wanting more. You don’t want to miss this
incredible live performance!
-Vincent Cameretti The
Chicago Tribune 12/01
“Big Daddy &
Red Hot Java’s new line up is quite impressive. J. ‘General’
Mills on drums and John ‘Big Tone’ Toney on bass are extremely
talented, and the tightest rhythm section I’ve heard in years.
The new horn section of Kez ‘Thing’ Adams on sax and Saunders
‘Preacha’ Sermons on trombone add both punch and sizzle. And
founding members Curtis ‘Cortez’ Hightman on lead guitar, and
Randall ‘Big Daddy’ Webster on lead vocals and acoustic guitar
carry the torch in a most magical way.”
- Rolly Cisnero
Rochester Times Union 3/01
“Seven
years is a long time for most bands, but Big Daddy & Red Hot Java
just keeps getting better and better every time I see them.
Always innovating, they combine fresh ideas pushing the Blues
envelope, yet never stepping beyond the heart and soul of the
music.” - Kiesha Calvin Timeout New York 2/01
“When did Big Daddy & Red Hot Java invent Progressive Urban
Blues? I don’t know… but I do know that I like it… a lot. It
has that real ‘down home’ Blues feel with a contemporary edge
that nobody else brings to the genre.” - Jeanette Wilkinson WSIU-FM Radio 1/01
“Big Daddy &
Red Hot Java rocks my soul.” - Paula Cambell
CD Wherehouse Magazine 12/00
“The stinging guitar work of Curtis ‘Cortez’ Hightman shows his
expertise with over forty years of fretwork. His artistry helps
make Big Daddy & Red Hot Java a ‘mean cup of joe!’” - Ed Polk Blues
Guitar Magazine 11/00
“Randall ‘Big Daddy’ Webster is the ‘Pavarotti’ of the Blues…
powerful full operatic tones that can growl with a ‘down home’
feel that drips in texture. -
Mercedes Rivera Chicago Tribune 11/00
“I’m a Big Daddy & Red Hot Java junkie… I can’t get enough!” - Kendra Holloway
Blueslynx Online 10/00
“If
anything Big Daddy & Red Hot Java’s new rhythm section of bassist
John ‘Big Tone’ Toney from Miami and J. ‘General’ Mills of
Hollywood has added serious punch to an already dangerous
repetoire of original Progressive Urban Blues. I can’t wait for
their new CD. This Blues is the real deal!” - Cole Bertrum Access Atlanta 9/00
“With four Ireland tours under their belt, Big Daddy & Red Hot
Java brings it’s ministry of Blues from sunny Florida for the
fifth time, and they never let their fans down!” - What’s On Hot Press Magazine 6/00
“Big Daddy
& Red Hot Java plays original ‘Progressive Urban Blues’ built on
the solid foundation of John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, and Muddy
Waters, and layered with sweet Soul, tasteful Jazz, smooth R&B,
and street Hip Hop. It works incredibly well!” - Linda Moultry
Florida Jam Magazine 3/00
“Big
Daddy & Red Hot Java takes no prisoners… this is monster Blues
that will slay you!” - Paul Mesner Charlotte Observer 1/00
“Ain’t
nothin’ but the truth!”-Jericho Parks Macon Enterprise 8/99
“Big
Daddy & Red Hot Java packed them in and thrilled everyone with
their powerful performance.” -Kisha Harris Capital Outlook 8/99
“Popping Pizzazzy Blues!”
-Julie Alder Atlanta Weekender 6/99
“Mix a little New Orleans Funk, Memphis Soul, and Chicago Blues
and you get the intoxicating brew of Big Daddy & Red Hot Java!” -Steve Eisley WVON-FM
2/4/99
“An expert tour of the great American
Blues heritage; straight into the next millenium.” -Ray Charter Detroit News
Press 12/3/98
“This is
Blues but there’s no denying the Funk. Big Daddy & Red Hot
Java plays with their instruments - teasing and taunting
until you surrender your mind, body and spirit! -Maxine Walters Austin
Globe 9/3/98
“Soul Shakin’ Blues!” -Erin Bray Break Magazine
8/14/98
“Wow! Big Daddy & Red Hot Java absolutely stole the show!”-Sharon Barker-James
Tri-City Entertainment Guide 8/30/98
“POWERFUL!”
-Bill Monroe Washington
D.C. Insight 5/6/98
“These guys will knock you out. POW!”-Calvin Post The Chicago
Tribune 1/6/99
“Big Daddy & Red Hot Java commands serious
‘booty shakin’. Better lace up your boots!” -Katie Schardl
Tallahassee Democrat 2/26/99
“Big
Daddy & Red Hot Java plays the Blues the way it ought to be
played…with raw intense primal energy! Don’t miss this ultimate
Blues experience!”-Lincoln Beauchamp The
Original Chicago Blues Annual and Review 1997 |
