Colorado Blues Society Champions

Local artists, Cary Morin and Eef & The Blues Express have earned the privilege of representing The Colorado Blues Society (CBS) at The International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, later this month. These two acts were winners of the Colorado Blues Society’s annual Colorado Blues Challenge. The IBC is an international competition of blues acts judged in 5 categories and representing over 200 blues societies from around the world. Colorado Blues Society has set a standard for excellence in the competition. In 2013, CBS was named Blues Organization of the Year by the Blues Foundation and since 2008, CBS performers have had two 1st places, a 3rd place, 5 finalists, and 7 semifinalists in the Memphis grand event. The CBS judges are obviously in tune to the Foundation judges’ criteria, and this year are sending two more talented Colorado favorites.
Cary Morin (solo/duo competition) returns to Memphis after making the semi-finals in 2014. “A man and a guitar, a lot of soul, and an understanding of the history of soulful men with guitars in American music can sometimes achieve this kind of timelessness in their work…” Richard Higgs (“Folk Salad,” Public Radio Tulsa). “Cary Morin has the chops and is one of the best acoustic pickers on the scene today.” Cary is grateful to CBS for the opportunity to represent Colorado internationally, for the second year in a row.
Eef and the Blues Express (Band Competition) blend traditional blues with funky and contemporary riffs, creating a very unique and personal blues sound. Eef is a talented artist, offering tasty guitar licks, a sultry voice and great stage presence. Eef has appeared three times on legendary Sunshine Sonny Payne’s King Biscuit radio show and has shared the stage with many great national musicians. JD Kelly, an entertaining trombonist and vocalist, shares the spotlight with Eef. Jimmy Ayres on keys, Glen Tapia on bass and Tim Molinaro on drums round out this powerhouse band.
Past IBC winners of note include Susan Tedeschi, Ray Bonneville, Selwyn Birchwood, and Colorado’s own Lionel Young. Good luck Cary and Eef!