Old Town Center for the Arts ~ Cottonwood, AZ

The Old Town Center for the Arts ~ Cottonwood, AZ

Church of Blues Allstars Fall Concert
with Headliner
Jimi “Primetime” Smith/Bob Corritore Blues Band & the Church of Blues Allstar Band

Saturday, October 25, 2025, 7:00 PM

$25 Door

$22 Advanced General Seating

$27 Priority Seating in first 3 rows

This event is a collaboration between the Old Town Center for the Arts, The Church of Blues, and Jimi Primetime Smith/ Bob Corritore Blues Band. This event is sponsored by the Best Western Cottonwood Inn.

Manuel Carrasco, the organizer of Church of Blues explains “Music is our Religion, Rhythm is our Doctrine, and Harmony is our Prayer. We bring people together to explore and express the deepest emotions and stories that define and heal the human experience.”

The Church of Blues Allstars include:

Christian Michael Berry is a two-time winner of the Northern Arizona Blues Challenge, as well as 2 two-time winner in the “Best New Album” category. Berry is also a two time nominee in the same categories at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee and a two time nominee for the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame. His past two albums, (Emerald River Project and Delta Flood), have made it onto the list of “Top Forty albums being played on the radio in Europe and the UK” (Per the Independent Association of Blues Broadcasters), and his Delta Flood album was called “One of the Most Important Albums of the Last Decade” by Digital Blues Radio.

Hutch Hutchinson is one of the best bass players in all of Northern Arizona, playing everywhere including the Sedona Performing Arts Center, and the Rhythm Room in Phoenix. A long time member of the popular Blues Dawg he is a familiar presence on stage. Blues Dawg founder, Joe Neri says of Hutch, “He is rock solid as a bass player. Hutch picks up any song easily, almost intuitively, and performs the essential function of locking in with the drummer.”

Don Whitcher is a nationally-prominent slide player, whose previous bands have charted in the Americana and Roots Country charts since 2004. He is an original, prolific song writer with a voice that is deep and passionate. Since moving to Northern Arizona a few years ago, he has established himself as one of the best slide guitar and lap steel guitar players in the Southwest. Don is part of the founding faculty, for Church of Blues Composing the Blues: Writing/Performing from the Heart & Soul.

Sweet Baby Ray de Sylvester began performing playing harmonica on stage, sitting in with Jimmy Rogers and Pinetop Perkins at Lilly’s in Chicago in 1985. This experience inspired Ray to study the Blues and hone his harmonica skills through the years. In January 2020 Ray received the honor of being inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame. Currently with the band Still Willin', Ray keeps the Blues alive with his engaging performances and harmonica magic. Ray is also currently on the faculty of Church of Blues Composing the Blues: Writing/Performing from the Heart & Soul.

Living Legends of Chicago Blues

Chicago Blues Veterans deliver a collaboration of hard-hitting, real-deal blues.

The second half of the evening will feature two Chicago Blues veterans delivering a collaboration of hard-hitting, real-deal blues.

Jimi “Primetime” Smith came from the heart of the Maxwell Street blues scene - the son of influential blueswoman Johnnie Mae Dunson, he learned guitar from Jimmy Reed as a teenager. Jimi’s influencers list is a “who’s who” of the Blues. Over the years, Jimi has performed with scores of blues artists at major Blues Clubs in Chicago, including Big Walter Horton, Floyd Jones, Playboy Vinson, Sunnyland slim, Jimmie Johnson, Queen Slivia , Playboy Benson, Eddie Taylor, Fenton Robertson, and many more Chicagoland blues legends.

Jimi was sought after to play and back up such legends as Etta James, Albert King, Lady Bianca, Otis Rush, Albert Collins and ‘Baby Due’ Caston. Jimi toured Nationally (including the famous Minneapolis Blues Alley) and Internationally with many Blues Legends.

Bob Corritore cut his teeth sitting in on Maxwell Street with John Henry Davis and others until old enough to attend blues clubs. He hung around great harp players such as Big Walter Horton, Little Mack Simmons, Louis Myers, Junior Wells, Big John Wrencher, and Carey Bell, and received harmonica tips and encouragement from many of them. Corritore worked with Tail Dragger, Big Moose Walker, Willie Buck, Louis and Dave Myers, and Eddie Taylor in the late 70s and early 80s.

Bob has received Blues Music Awards, Living Blues Awards, various Hall Of Fame inductions and has appeared on Grammy Nominated albums. Bob Corritore is also the owner and proprietor of the legendary Rhythm Room in Phoenix as well as being the host of KJZZ‘s long running blues program, Those Lowdown Blues.

Ticket Information

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