Port City Blues Society will host a send-off concert and celebration Dec. 16 for the Tina Cossey Band’s entry in the 2024 International Blues Challenge.
The send-off will be held at RJ’s Grill & Bar, 128 S. Main St. The doors will open at 7 p.m. The event is free to attend for Port City Blues Society members and only $5 for others, according to a news release.
The Tina Cossey Band was the winner of the society’s IBC Regional Qualifying Round. The celebration will help raise funds to support the band’s travel to The Blues Foundation’s worldwide competition on Beale Street in Memphis, Jan. 16-20.
“Tina Cossey, a California native, started performing at the age of five,” according to the release. “Being no stranger to the gypsy life, she performed and was inspired by all types of music. As a child, her dad would play the blues and though she didn’t know it yet, it would become a part of her life. At the age of eight Tina’s roots would be planted in Arkansas where she evolved and found her sound in the blues. Her soul has always loved blues with the heartache and pain that it conveys, but she was ultimately drawn to the hope that it also offers.”
Lex “Capraitalia” Arenella, co-founder of the Tina Cossey Band, was born in Boston. His first introduction to the blues came from listening to his older cousin’s vinyl records of traditional blues, as well as blues-influenced rock and soul music. In his late teens, he moved to Portland, Ore., to play in clubs and theaters, and later moved to Hollywood to pursue bigger dreams. It wasn’t until moving to Little Rock in 2019 that he found his home with the blues, according to the release.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Playing as house drummer for several local blues jams, notably with the Port City Blues Society Players, fed his soul. A fateful meeting with Tina at a local benefit led to the forming of the Tina Cossey Band,” according to the release.
Josh Parks, lead guitarist, found his home with the band in 2023. Born in Phoenix, Parks began playing the guitar at 13. After moving to North Little Rock in 2016, his music revealed influences of rock, blues, reggae and soul.
“I play the blues because I was born to be a musical healer,” Parks said. “The Blues is the root of so many kinds of music and is possibly the most healing kind of music. It hooked me the first time I heard it. It’s what I am. It’s in my blood. It’s what I was born to do.”
Slide/rhythm guitar player Jared Admire grew up in Little Rock and was around music from an early age. He heard his brother play guitar and mom and sister play piano, but he didn’t really get serious with guitar until after playing saxophone in the school band. During that time, he discovered improvisation. Admire played and learned the fundamentals, but around age 15 he had dropped the horn and focused on playing guitar. Being inspired by many different styles of music, he strives to have an eclectic multi-genre sound, according to the release.
Bass player Ryan A. Hinman grew up near Texarkana in the small town of Hooks, Texas. He started playing music on the trombone at the age of 9. In high school, he picked up bass guitar then later the six-string and started writing his own songs.
“The blues has always been an important aspect in his musical journey, as it has taught him about the freedom and diversity in music even with a limited set of chords,” according to the release.
Keyboard player Darius Blanton is a multi-instrumentalist. Born in Little Rock, he started playing music at the age of 6. He began playing various instruments, including drums. Blanton started playing blues to be able to express himself.
Blanton “always plays from the heart,” he said.
The International Blues Challenge represents the worldwide search for blues bands and solo/duo blues performers ready for the international stage.
The world’s largest gathering of blues musicians will take place on Beale Street, with more than 20 clubs hosting the challengers and fans. In addition to featuring these final rounds of the blues music competition, the IBC event week will offer seminars, showcases, master classes, film screenings, networking events, book signings and receptions for blues societies, fans and professionals.
Port City Blues Society, an affiliate member of The Blues Foundation, seeks to preserve and promote blues music, the culture of Delta blues, and educate the public about the history of the blues in the region. The society also hosts a free weekly blues jam every Wednesday at RJ’s Grill & Bar where area musicians converge to play live blues from 8-11 p.m.
Details: pc-blues.com or facebook.com/PCBluesSociety.