Jazz
performer and producer Ben Sidran calls Mel Ford “one of the finest blues
players in the Midwest if not the country.”
Put
“one of the most dynamic electric harmonica players” on the same stage
as “one of the finest blues players in the Midwest if not the country”
and you have one of the most exciting blues groups in the country: The
Westside Andy & Mel Ford Band.
Andy
Linderman and Mel Ford have played together for years. But because of
their “other commitments,” this is the first time they’ve made it official.
Andy’s “other commitments” include collaborations with James Cotton, Corky
Siegel, Jim Schwall, Luther Allison, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Charlie
Musselwhite, The Doobie Brothers, Richie Havens, Muddy Waters, Ben E.
King, Tab Benoit, and The University of Wisconsin 250-piece band (Andy
stopped the show).
Mel
began in opening acts for Albert Collins, Freddie King, and Stevie Ray
Vaughn. He played with Bo Diddley, Sunnyland Slim, Zora Young, Junior
Pettis, Ben Sidran and Paul Black and the Flip Kings (with Andy). Mel
also played the part of bandleader in Mel Ford and the Fairlanes.