Miss Heidi Nirk (Lead Vocals)
Miss Heidi has an inimitable voice and style all of her own. She is “considerably versatile, infused with the old school spirit of Bessie Smith and self-assured defiance of Janis Joplin” (as quoted by Mark Harriman, Boston Sports Deck, 2011). She sings the blues like she’s lived a few decades on the Delta, said former band mate Tim Lindsey, of the Blue F.O.s. Miss Heidi has performed various venues throughout her tenure in blues music including as lead singer of Killer Kane and the Blue F.O.’s lead by harpist James “Killer” Kane from 2003 – 2006. She has also been featured at spectacular Rhode Island hosted events such as the Woonsocket, RI Autumnfest, the Stadium Theater, Chans Egg Rolls & Jazz Series, the Union Station Blues Festival, and the Newport Blues Festival. Recordings Killer Kane and the Blue F.O.s, LP Done Your Time, recorded in 2003; Creekside Rhapsody (CD), a compilation of songs based on the folk-poetry of Mark Flanagan, recorded in 2003.
Mark Taber was born in Amesbury Massachusetts and immediately took to the piano as a means of entertainment and expression. He achieved relative notoriety while playing with Ken Lyons in the Providence based Tombstone Blues Band from the '60s and '70s, frequenting many clubs both in Providence and across the greater east coast. Later in his career, Taber began experimenting in the construction of freeform and found art pieces which have at times been installed around the city, and he continues to perform locally today.
Rob Nelson (Lead Guitar)
Rob has been a mainstay of the New England Blues scene since the late 60s playing in the Blue Lights, Loaded Dice, Blueswagon, Sugar Ray Norcia and more recently with Roger Ceresi’s All Stars. Tours in the U.S., Canada, and Europe with Lazy Lester (Excello Records), Wild Child Butler, and Roomful of Blues presented an opportunity to hone his musical skills in the company of some of the greats of the blues. Rob also plays as a sideman with Darrel Nulisch, James Montgomery, Dennis McCarthy, and The Superchief Trio among others. Through years of experience, Rob has developed his own voice in many styles of playing, including retro-soul, jazz standards, and honky-tonk. Through his affability and swingin' style, Rob brings listeners along into a world he obviously enjoys.
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Paul Tomasello (Bass Guitar)
A native Bostonian, Paul relocated to Rhode Island in 1988. In his 40 plus years as a professional musician, he has toured and recorded with many bands including the Estes Boys, Little Frankie and the Premiers, Roomful of Blues, Neal and the Vipers, and the Fathoms. He has also performed with greats such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hubert Sumlin, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Otis Rush, and B.B. King. He is currently playing bass with the amazing Heidi Nirk Band.
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Richard “Lil’ Cousin” Calitri (Harmonica, Background Vocals)
Richard Calitri was exposed to music at a very young age through the influence of his older brother in the mid-1960s. Richard has always had a profound love for the sound of the harmonica. He purchased his first diatonic harmonica in 1970 and taught himself to play. In 1973, Richard had the honor of playing with the great Muddy Waters at a club called Salt’s in Newport, RI. Muddy Waters was impressed with Rich’s style and encouraged him to “keep at it, boy”! After that memorable experience, Richard has dedicated his loyalty to the blues. He recognizes his major influences to be Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Little Walter, Big Walter, and his first love the J. Geil’s Band. His musical credits include his first band Greed (1970s), The Slider’s Blue Cevelle, the Watson Band, The Bomber’s, Skelloton Crew, and currently finds his home with the Heidi Nirk Band.
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Jack Matthews (Drums)
Jack Matthews playing record involves four decades beating the skins east of the Mississippi with the likes of Lazy Lester, Jerry Portnoy & Guitar Jr. Johnson (both from the Muddy Waters Band), Preston Hubbard (Thunderbirds), Dicky Wells (Count Basie), and Shorty Jackson (Louis Armstrong Band). Local Rhode Island legends include Backslap Blues Band (60s), and the Blue Lights Band (70s), Stoval Brown, Young Neal & the Vipers, The Tremors, The Characters, Jack Smith & the Rockabilly Planet, DD & the Roadkings, and the Varaflames. Along the way, he’s recorded with local artists such as Bob Angell's Blues Outlet with Kelly Knapp, AK Blues legend Cedell Davis, Louie Camp (The Heptones), Stoval Brown, Young Neal, Anthony Geraci (Sugar Ray & the Bluetones), Jack Smith (Flyin Fish Records, Chicago), DD & the Roadkings, and the Varaflames. In these acts, he’s opened for such greats like Martha Reeves, The Shirts, Willie Nelson, Mick Taylor, Buddy Miles, and Roy Orbison.
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