Big Mike Aguirre & The Blu City All Stars - Mississippi Stew (2021)

In my 20 years of playing music full-time in St. Louis (2000-2020), I always put Tradition First. When I first ventured down into East St. Louis in search of the Truth, my goal was to play with – and more importantly, develop chemistry with – as many St. Louis musicians as possible. Not my band in competition with everyone else, but to seek out and learn from everyone; bring musicians who had never collaborated together; and showcase their oft-underappreciated greatness.

This family-like community of musicians - and especially the Elders of our St. Louis Roots, Rhythm, Blues, Jazz, Soul & Funk Tradition in Saint Louis - made me who I am today: someone I can Love and Live with, thanks to the Love, Patience, and Encouragement that was so generously poured into me; my cup is full to the brim.

Full albums, they say, are yesterday’s news: It’s all about churning out singles in a bid to stay “relevant” these days. But this album is different in many ways. This album puts ensemble musicianship front and center. It cannot be faked; there are no shortcuts. It took a lifetime of dedication and commitment to author this intangible material into existence. Inasmuch as the Truth is a concept, it is a concept album, offering a geographic and chronological glimpse of 20 years in the trenches in service to the Mission, so to speak, with no shortage of poetry and even… prophecy (“Getaway”).

“Mississippi Stew” is a St. Louis record, through and through. The album features 16 world-class St. Louis musicians. It was recorded and engineered in four sessions at three elite St. Louis studios: Sawhorse Studios (Jason McEntire), Native Sound Studios (Ben Majchrzak), and Red Pill Studios (Jacob Detering). This record was produced independently; without label support - on a shoestring budget, cobbled together playing night after night on the streets of Saint Louis.

What I love best about “Mississippi Stew” is that there is something for everyone: It’s a drummer’s record, a guitarist’s record, an organist’s record, a pianist’s record, a horn player’s record, a vocalist’s record, a bassist’s record, an engineer’s record, a producer’s record… Everyone involved is featured in shining capacity, and yet the sum is even greater than the parts - and it all weaves together brilliantly. When you listen to the effortless expression and interplay between the musicians, a deeper connection – an Ancient Truth - is revealed within the intersection and evaporation of conscious and unconscious. For my part, it comes down to serving something bigger than Self, to the point that Self cannot be separated from all else. We as musicians and Seekers get to author that Truth in Time and Space.

The global digital release of “Missisippi Stew” represents an opportunity to celebrate and support the Saint Louis live music community and Old School Tradition – oft overlooked in these days; to honor the Elders who came before, and set the bar so high - especially those who took me under their wings at a young age and set me on the Path I’ve walked for 20 years; and to inspire and elevate the younger generations of St. Louis musicians and artistic facilitators who will carry the Tradition into the future, Honor the past and give their All for the Present. I am grateful for the Love and Support I’ve received for 20 years, and I humbly ask for you to continue your support in the years to come. It is well spent, and priceless to me.

On August 29, 2021, for the first time in 542 days, the Blu City All Stars will reunite for a single 2021 performance at the Dune Preserve, Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla, to benefit Project Stingray: an initiative founded by Bankie Banx and the Soroptimists International of Anguilla that provides free instruments, musical instruction and mentoring to the Youth of Anguilla. Tradition is All.

4 lucky VIP PASSPORT subscribers will be flown Roundtrip (along with a guest) to Anguilla for four nights at Turtle’s Nest Resort in Meads Bay (August 26 - August 30) to see this performance. Click Subscribe Now to find out how to be one of them.