San Francisco Bay Area keyboard player Dr. Joel Rudinow steps out front with a set of Americana roots rock, New Orleans funk, and blues. Joining him on Rude Notes Galore is the cream of the extra-rich Northern California talent crop:

• Harmonica Aces - Norton Buffalo and Bill Noteman.

• Guitar Slingers - Ian Lamson (Elvin Bishop Band); Volker Strifler (Robben Ford and the Ford Blues Band); Dave Aguilar (Norton Buffalo & Friends); Michael Barclay, Sean Allen, and John Salz.

• Bass Monsters - Evan Palmerston (Elvin Bishop Band and Cold Blood); Mona Gnader (Sammy Hagar's Waboritas); and Fred Campbell (New Riders of the Purple Sage and Kingfish).

• Drummists and Percussioners - James Preston (Sons of Champlin); Paul Revelli (Angela Strehli Band); Kendrick Freeman (Allison Brown Band); and Mike Gutsch (the Aces).

• The "Hot Air" Horns - Al Garth (the Eagles, Loggins & Messina); David Schrader (San Francisco Saxophone Quartet); Steve Long (Joe Louis Walker & the Boss Talkers); Rick Clifford (Pulsators); Roger Volz (the Dynatones); and Peter Welker (Cold Blood).

• and gospel quartet SoulJoy!

The Critics Say:

"Enjoyable set"

"Keyboard ace Dr. Joel Rudinow has gathered key players from the Northern California scene to assist on Rude Notes Galore (Whassup Pussycat 0501), his first solo recording after years of working with Elvin Bishop and others. It's a good-time effort marked by wry lyrics and a variety of styles. Worth singling out are 'BluRumbaDeLux', a gorgeous instrumental with cool changes and Norton Buffalo on harp, the Southern-fried funk of 'Ethyl's Place,' Rudinow's stripped-down cover of ZZ Top's 'Fool 4 Your Stockings,' a take on Bishop's 'The Skin They're In' featuring a rolling piano break and blistering guitar by Ian Lamson, and the crashing piano-drum duet 'Ripped Off Again'. An enjoyable set."

Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue (Issue # 99, Apr/May 2006)

"Americana, roots rock, and blues: How it can and should be done!"

"One does not associate San Francisco particularly with Americana roots rock, New Orleans funk, or blues. Nevertheless Dr. Joel Rudinow understands these art forms well enough to present all of this in an overwhelming way. . . 'Rude Notes Galore' is a perfect illustration how it really can and should be done. A beautiful funky opener 'Ethyl's Place', the totally swinging 'Walk On Baby' and the all out rocker 'Rock'n'Roll Dr.' are all delivered by Dr. Joel Rudinow & friends with irresistible enthusiasm. In these first three numbers all the musicians show their professionalism, but especially Rudinow who sets the tone for the album with his wonderful voice. The musicians mix blues and funk influences into their brand of "good ol' down home rock'n'roll" with unmistakable originality. Even the secrets of the blues can't hide from this explosive group; they prove that in Elvin Bishop's 'The Skin They're In'. It is sometimes said that appreciation of the finer things deepens with age. 'Rude Notes Galore' is already a good example of that. If you like pure blues and more, check this out!"

- Freddy Celis, Rootstime (Belgium)

"Fun Music for Mature Audiences"

"Enjoyable album, no doubt about it. Interesting arrangements and a tight band. Impressive songwriting. Very cool."

- Przemek Draheim, Blues & Gospel Radio Host, Poland

The Tunes:

Ethyl's Place: MP3 Real Audio

I started this song in 1978, finished it in 1998. Eight years later and it still rings true. Some things, the more they change, the more they stay the same.

Vocals, Piano, Bass: Joel Rudinow
Drums: Jim Preston
Congas: Kendrick Freeman
Slide Guitar: David Aguilar
Horns Arranged by: Al Garth and Joel Rudinow
Tenor Sax: Rick Clifford
Trumpet: Peter Welker
Baritone and Tenor Saxes: Al Garth

Rock'n'Roll Dr: MP3 Real Audio

I'm sending this one out to Richie Domingue, the late leader of the Zydeco band Gator-Beat. It was my honor and privilege to play in that band for 6 years back at the beginning. Richie died suddenly and quite unexpectedly of heart failure. He was my age - in fact younger by a couple of weeks. One thing he told me when he was first putting his band together, "Man, you got to sing your own song!" And he DID!

Lead and Harmony Vocals, Piano, Hammond Organ, Bass: Joel Rudinow
Chorus: Souljoy
Guitar: Sean Allen
Drums: Paul Revelli

Walk On, Baby: MP3 Real Audio

I'm sending this one out to all my exes - something special in there for each and every one of 'em.

Vocal, Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Bass: Joel Rudinow
Drums: Mike Gutsch
Rhythm Guitar: Dave Burke
Harmonica: Bill Noteman

A Fool For Your Stockings: MP3 Real Audio

Once upon a time (before their first record) ZZ Top had a keyboard player, but their aesthetic is so-o-o-o-o stripped down I guess they decided they didn't need one. Like they say, "Drum, Bass, and Fuzzy Guitar". No wonder the motor-heads love 'em!! "Stockings" is a perfect example of 'chopper aesthetic minimalism'. Get all that chrome offa there! Three chords? Hell, let's strip it down to two and see what we can do! I recorded this on the mighty Hammond B2 organ - and the Steinway A studio grand piano.

Vocal, Hammond Organ, Piano: Joel Rudinow
Drums: Paul Revelli

On The Road Again: MP3 Real Audio

Not the Willie Nelson tune. As near as I can tell, this tune's traceable to Walter "Furry" Lewis' "Casey Jones". The first version I ever heard was by John Sebastian and the Lovin' Spoonful. My guess is they got it from Will Shade and The Memphis Jug Band, who basically "translated" Lewis' exceedingly "Furry" version of it into a dialect us white folks could more easily understand.

Vocal, Piano, Bass: Joel Rudinow
Chorus: Souljoy
Drums: Paul Revelli
Slide Guitar: David Aguilar
Harmonica: Norton Buffalo
Arrangement: Joel Rudinow
(w/ a tip of the hat to John Sebastian and also Little Feat and Ray Charles)

The Skin They're In: MP3 Real Audio

I once heard Elvin Bishop say "the blues is a great way to make something fun out of the misery in your life". And when he said it, he was LIVING it. Touring with Elvin and his band got me through a real tough stretch in my own personal life. This is the title tune from the album we were out promoting on those two tours. Evan was Elvin's bass player, and he got me my audition (thanks forever on that one, good buddy!!). Ian wears a whole rack of hats for Elvin: road manager, guitar tech, rhythm guitar, and here he turns in a KILLER lead!

Lead and Harmony Vocal, Piano, Hammond Organ: Joel Rudinow
Harmony Vocal: Amy Lynn Treadwell
Bass: Evan Palmerston
Drums: Paul Revelli
Guitar: Ian Lamson

B Yuseff (Tiya Jus' Cain't Do't No Mo): MP3 Real Audio

OK, So it's a truism. It's still true, and often worth remembering.

Vocals Piano: Joel Rudinow
Bass: Monalisa Gnader
Drums: Paul Revelli
Lead Guitar: John Salz
Rhythm Guitar: Ian McMurray

Bio-Rhythms: MP3 Real Audio

Every year folks ask how I spent my summer vacation. This year's answer: I learned that the same thing that's happening to me is happening to the whole planet.

Lead Vocal, Piano, Clavinet, Bass: Joel Rudinow
Chorus: Souljoy
Drums: Kendrick Freeman
Guitars: Volker Strifler
Horns Arranged by: David Schrader and Joel Rudinow
Tenor Sax: David Schrader
Trumpet: Steve Long

BluRumbaDLux: MP3 Real Audio

Michael Barclay has been gracious enough to keep me in his band for over 20 years and always challenges me to keep my chops up. One of Michael's many projects involved producing a set of themes for television pilots. This one's a blues with a rumba feel. I got sort of attached to my piano break on it and wanted to develop it further. The bridge features a descending half-circle of fifths with flat-five substitutions, posing a higher math problem on harmonica. One day Norton came over and laid down a couple of harp tracks, one on a stack of diatonics, and one on a chromatic - used here "in conversation".

Guitar: Michael Barclay
Piano: Joel Rudinow
Bass, Strings: Tim Haggerty
Drums: Aaron Haggerty
Congas: Kendrick Freeman
Alto Sax: Roger Volz
Harmonicas: Norton Buffalo

The Rag Picker:

A guitar picker friend of mine who's won some national fingerstyle competitions says he learned a lot of his technique by listening to ragtime piano music. This is my attempt to emulate his guitar technique.

Piano: Joel Rudinow

Ripped Off Again: MP3 Real Audio

Are you tired of encounters with unscrupulous, unprincipled, power-mad, greedy, aggressive, clumsy scoundrels, fools, and other low-life-forms? Would you like to see integrity restored in high office? Boy, Howdy!

Vocal, Piano: Joel Rudinow
Drums: Mike Gutsch

For My Father, Who Gave Me the Moon: MP3 Real Audio

In one of his most inspired practical-joke-publicity-stunt-life-lessons my father once managed to get a deed officially recorded in the Sonoma County Hall of Records entitling me to the lunar crater Plato. I recovered this piece of music from my archive of unfinished projects for his memorial service. I wish he had gotten to hear it while he was with us.

Piano: Joel Rudinow
Fretless Bass: Fred Campbell
Alto Sax: Al Garth
Percussion: Kendrick Freeman

Recorded at: The Doctor's Office by Joel Rudinow
Additional Recording at: Zone Recording by Blair Hardman, Route 44 Studios by Harry Gale, and Bedroom Eyes Studio by Michael Barclay.
Edited and Mixed in ProTools at: The Doctor's Office by Joel Rudinow, Route 44 Studios by Harry Gale, Zone Recording by Blair Hardman, and Bedroom Eyes Studio by Michael Barclay
Mastered at: Fantasy Studios by George Horn
Photos by: Jami Jamison, R.J. Wilson, Herb Blanck
Cover Art: Galaxy #50, by Robert McChesney, 2004