Blues & Beyond: The Lady Nikki/Ed Robinson Situation

A night of blues with old school RnB in the mix

Lady Nikki – Lead Vocalist, is a powerhouse blues vocalist whose roots lie in the church and are shaped by the influence of Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Bonnie Raitt, Koko Taylor, and Etta James. She has opened for Clarence Carter, Dorothy Moore, and Kenny Neal, and performed alongside greats like Johnny Taylor, Tyrone Davis, and Little Milton. Her voice has carried across states, seas, and cruise-ship stages around the world. She has been lead vocalist for The Inner-City Blues Band for three decades and a standout on numerous recordings, including Linda Dachtyl’s acclaimed album “For Hep Cats”. Nikki delivers a gripping, soulful presence. Her bold, heartfelt style creates an immediate connection, commanding the stage and leaving her audiences stirred long after her last note.

Ed Robinson – Saxophonist & Lead Vocalist, a saxophonist who loves the Old School R&Bs, yet his gospel influences are hard to miss. Essentially self-taught, a graduate of the U.S. Military School of Music, but unmistakably, his style was shaped by his early years playing in church, leading choirs and worship bands, earning the nickname “The Gospel Sax.” Ed shared stages with Shirley Caesar, James Cleveland, Dottie Peoples, and many other Gospel icons. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy and later re-enlisting into the Army Band, he performed for Presidents Ford, Reagan, Carter, and Bush. Ed is a decorated Gulf War Veteran with 34 years of service. He was awarded the Army’s Bronze Star. He has performed with such celebrated artists as Don Hales, James Elliott, Mark Hampton, Melvin Stewart, Teeny Tucker, Robert Hughes, Gene Walker, Bobby Floyd, and The Baccus Brothers.

Ken Weaver – Guitarist, Ken Weaver, a Wilmington, Ohio native, is a self-taught guitarist whose lifelong passion spans R&B, funk, blues, and ultimately the smooth and straight-ahead jazz he loves most. Over the years, he has performed with many top musicians, including Hank Marr, Rusty Bryant, Gary Carney, Bobby Floyd, Jeanette Williams, Mary McClendon, Roger Baccus, Willy Pooch, Grover Washington, Wilbert Longmire, Bobby Shaw, Alvin Valentine, Gene Walker, Chip Willis, and LG Scott. His credits also include work with the Urban Jazz Coalition, Fo-Mo-Deep, and 30East. Kenny has appeared throughout the Midwest with his quartet, as well as in New York, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and internationally on a USO tour to Thailand, Japan, and Korea while serving in the Air Force.

Linda Dachtyl – Hammond Organ, Linda Dachtyl is a Chicken Coup/Summit Records artist with five nationally released albums, including “Blue Bop”, “For Hep Cats”, “A Late One”, “Waves of Change”, and her newest recording “Full Steam Ahead” featuring her instrumental jazz organ groups. A Hammond Organ USA artist, she has performed with Blue Lou Marini, Trudy Pitts, Gloria Coleman, Teeny Tucker, Willie Pooch, Gene Walker, and Chip Willis. Linda is also an accomplished drummer having played with RoxyJanes, Uncle Fester, and in various sub situations. An active music educator, she has produced two instructional organ series through Tony Monaco’s education division and taught percussion and music theory at Ohio Wesleyan University and percussion and jazz piano at Kenyon College. She continues to teach privately, offering instruction in jazz, rock, blues, and electronic music applications.

Cary Dachtyl – Percussionist, Cary Dachtyl is a seasoned percussionist and educator, having taught at Kenyon College and Mt. Vernon Nazarene University and maintains a private studio in Columbus. In 2014, he became owner and editor of Per-Mus Publications, a leading publisher of percussion music, and also operates Pterodactyl Productions, a studio specializing in acoustic percussion and analog keyboard recording. Cary has performed alongside many notable artists. He and his wife Linda, form a dynamic musical duo on stage. His orchestral percussion credits include concert appearances with The Moody Blues, Yes, Mannheim Steamroller, Crystal Gayle, Roger Williams, and Diana Ross. He also plays drums with Al Smyth and the FBnCC, Johnny Mack and the Heavyweights, and subs in with The Hip Replacements.

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