Artist description The One Man Blues/Jazz Band. IronMan plays electric harmonica, guitar, organ style bass pedals, and sings (all at the same time). These songs were recorded live in studio, and well represent IronMans live performance except it's better live. IronMan hosts a pro blues/jazz jam most Tuesdays at Starboard Attitude, on the pier in Redondo Beach CA w/ drummer Richard Alvarez, and performs solo most Saturday afternoons at Yesteryears in the Arts Colony in Pomona CA. Come on down and have fun!

Music Style Blues, Jazz, Rockabilly, Oldies, Classic Rock

Musical Influences Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Ace Cannon, Earl Bostic, Elvis Presley, Brook Benton, Joe Williams, John Coltrane, Big Jay McNeely, Miles Davis

Similar Artists Vocals: Joe Williams, BB King, John Lee Hooker, Arthur Prysock; Instrumentally: Miles Davis, Big Walter Horton, Toots Thielmans, Charlie Musselwhite, and James Cotton.

Artist History Mike was a fixture in Greenwich Village in the mid 1960's, playing at legendary places such as The Wha, Bizarre, Four Seasons, Basement, Gerdes' Folk City, Roaring 20's, etc. Others who played these were John Sebastian/Lovin' Spoonful, members of The Mamas And Papas, Bob Dylan, Blues Magoos, etc. IronMan has also played with Big Jay McNeely, John Lee Hooker, Josh White Sr., The Leaves, The Seeds, Syndicate of Sound, Bobby Diamond, and many others. He opened the 10th Annual Blues Harmonica Blowdown (with Rod Piazza, James Harman, Billy Boy Arnold, Bernie Pearl/Harmonica Fats, Flat Top Tom) at the Hollywood House of Blues, to rave reviews. Mike plays diatonic harmonica chromatically, something most harmonica players consider nearly impossible. Mike was a featured instructor at the Harmonica Summit 2000, along with Toots Thielmans, Howard Levy, Carlos Del Junco, and many other harmonica virtuosos.

Group Members (I just LOVE this part :-) IronMan Mike Curtis: Vocals; IronMan Mike Curtis: Harmonica; IronMan Mike Curtis: Guitar; IronMan Mike Curtis: Organ Bass Pedals; IronMan Mike Curtis: Programmable Drums; IronMan Mike Curtis: Keyboards

Instruments Electric Harmonica, Guitar, Organ Bass Pedals, Keyboards, Programmable Drums

Albums Doin' It All Myself (USA Music Group USA CD-1025)

Press Reviews AMERICAN HARMONICA NEWSMAGAZINE: I'm a rhythm section freak. I love to discover obscure records that have Booker T and the MG's in the background, or the Meters, the Wrecking Crew, or the Funk Brothers. Bands that have played together for a long time bring a special magic to the recordings they make. They blend together and play as a single player. You'd think that a one-man band would have little trouble sounding like one person, but the fact is that most sound like a bunch of guys rehearsing. Ironman Mike Curtis takes the Single-sensibility notion full circle: he sounds like a band that has been playing together for a long time. And yet, the main attraction of his new CD, "DOIN' IT ALL MYSELF" is his remarkably distinctive virtuouso harp playing. A long time Man-of-respect in the world harmonica community, the Ironman appears ready toachieve a larger audience. His record will be of vital interest to anyone who loves blues harmonica, but this record should appeal to everyone who loves a record that captures the party feeling of the blues. For anyone who hasn't followed Mike's erudite posts in Harp-l, Mike is known for havingachieved a mastery of the ability to play any diatonic harmonica in all twelve keys. He keeps a C harp in his holder during shows and, though he plays songs in all keys, he never switches out the harp. Harp players will want to study this record, but copying Mike's licks is not for the faint-hearted. The larger audience, the one that couldn't care less if a guy plays a C harp in a hundred keys, will just plain dig the music, as folks do in clubs all around Southern California every week. Along with a remarkable Rollin' and Tumblin' in a swingy 11/4, and some clever self-penned blues and jazz tunes, The Man With The 10,000 Song List adds his remarkable blues touch to such non-blues as Moulin Rouge, What's Going On?, Take 5/Blue Rondo A La Turk and Billie Jean. Though, under Mike's control, the harp works well on all those pieces, something really special happens on Moulin Rouge and Take 5. One of my favorite moments in this generous set (12 songs) is Iron Man's own Smokin' Harmonica, a smokey, moody number that almost feels like one of those beautiful George Benson records that Creed Taylor produced in the 70's. The hip opening groove, NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME I'LL BE GONE has got some of the best singing on the record, as does the aforementioned Rollin' and Tumblin'. A veteran entertainer, Mike sings with wit and swing. His novelty blues, ROGAINE, showcases his good-time presentation. Originally intending a full day of recording, Mike was in such good form when he hit the studio that the album wound up taking about an hour and half to record. The tunes have the freshness of good first takes. In some cases, however, I would wish I could have heard what he would have done with second and third takes. There's so much good music on this record that I would hope that now that he has documented his live performance with such purity and vitality, he'll explore the possibilities that editing tracks might offer. Mike Curtis first played this record for me on a boom box over lunch at a Philly Cheese Steak place in North Hollywood. The cook and the proprietor of the place, clearly enjoying what they heard, asked him to please turn the music up. As customers came into the establishment, they were all grabbed by the infectious swing. The music clearly struck a chord with everyone who heard it. This record is a party for everyone. Harp players: be ready for a bunch of exciting new ideas. One-man bands: I wouldn't want to be you. Ken Deifik, American Harmonica Newsmagazine(Ken Deifik is a world-renowned session harmonica player, producer, and arranger)CADENCE MAGAZINEMike Curtis calls himself "The One-Man Blues/Jazz Band" and the concept holds upsurprisingly well on record. Tunes like "Things Ain't Gonna Be The Same" sound like theywere being done by a full-blown hard driving blues band with Curtis blowing forcefulharmonica and singing in a thick, soulful voice. The first four tracks are tough, no nonsense blues. Then things get poppier. On the theme from the movie "Moulin Rouge" he plays harmonicaas expressively as Larry Adler. "Rogaine" and "Say It" are lightweight jokes. "Ugly Woman" hasthe slow guitar bombast of an old Sixties British blues band. His versions of "What's Goin' On" and"Billie Jean" are done as surprisingly good harp instrumentals and the Brubeck medley reallyshows off Curtis' instrumental prowess. The "one man band" thing is far more than a gimmickin Curtis' hands.Jerome Wilson, Cadence magazine, August 1998, page 113SOUTHLAND BLUES MAGAZINEIRONMAN MIKE CURTISDoin' It All MyselfUSAIronMan Mike Curtis is a one-man band and in being so is a sort of throw back to a different era.That does not mean that Curtis does not play contemporary music, but has a style that not manypeople are dealing with these days.Curtis presents a number of different songs here ranging from soul, like Marvin Gaye's "What'sGoin' On", to jazz, a medley of Dave Brubecks "Take 5/Blue Rondo A La Turk". This is not to saythat Curtis does not play the blues, because he does, but he includes some jazz and rock heretoo.His musical stylings are diverse and at times you would swear that there is no way that itis only one person playing all the instruments. Curtis is not a virtuoso on any instrument, butthen he doesn't have to be, just good enough to make it gel with what he is playing.Curtis has a well put together album and for those looking for something a little different than thestandard electric guitar fare, this might just be the ticket. Go out and check up on this, youprobably will like it.Jon Pepper, Southland Blues Magazine, July 1998

Additional Info Jam with IronMan every Tuesday @ Starboard Attitude, Redondo Beach pier, CA

Location Los Angeles, California - USA

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