Stints With Jagger Lead to Solo Album

Once he had recorded and toured with the Rolling Stone’s Mick Jagger, singer-guitarist Jimmy Rip said there was nothing left to do, creatively speaking, but to make a solo album.

“Once I worked with [Mick], working with other people just didn’t have the spark,” said Rip, who will play Saturday at Smokin’ Johnnie’s. “It’s the reason I did the solo album.”

Rip made a living for years as a session guitar player in New York City, his hometown. He originally met Jagger in 1983, and later worked with him on the Lipped One’s “Primitive Cool” album in 1987.

Rip was musical director for Jagger’s tour of Japan and Australia in 1988, and in 1993, he worked with Jagger again on the “Wandering Spirit” album and even co-wrote two songs with the Rolling Stones.

“It was just very exciting to play with him; Mick is a great guy and one of my best friends,” Rip says. “We hang out a lot. He’s my favorite living singer.”

So, after years of being a hired-gun, playing on more than 60 albums with just about as many artists, Rip decided to step up to the front of the stage. And he knew what he wanted to play--the blues.

“It’s what I started to play when I was 7,” Rip says. But “being a musician in New York, trying to make a living, I played a lot of different things.”

His first solo album, “Way Past Blue,” was released worldwide on Tuesday. Produced by Ron Jacobs, Rip describes its music as sexy, hard, rough and gritty. The album is one of four releases launching the House of Blues Music Co. record label.

“They [the record company] were very agreeable with everything I wanted to do,” Rip says. “They liked 98% of everything I handed them . . . very little meddling by the record company.”

The band playing with Rip on the album is the same unit that will be with him at Smokin’ Johnnie’s this weekend: Max Bangwell on drums, Larry “Big House” David on harmonica, Dave Lee Bartel on rhythm guitar and Denny Croy on bass.

Being the good friend that he is, Jagger can be heard on Rip’s album doing the guest artist thing on two tracks.

Hmmmm. Is Mick in town this weekend?

* Jimmy Rip and his band plays Saturday night at Smokin’ Johnnie’s, 11720 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. No cover. Call (818) 760-6631.

It’s a Family Affair: Blues man Lester “Big Daddy” Kinsey may be Big Daddy to the rest of the world, but to most of the members of his band, he’s just dad. Sons Donald, Ralph and Kenneth Kinsey make up three-fifths of the Kinsey Report, the band backing up Big Daddy this weekend at B.B. King’s in Universal City.

“We’re a family affair,” says Kenneth Kinsey, Big Daddy’s bass player.

The Kinsey Report is not only Big Daddy’s backup band, but a separate performing entity of its own. While Big Daddy offers a taste of traditional blues, the sons give the audience a blues-based sound that’s a bit more funky and contemporary, Kenneth says.

During their current tour, the band has had to play several dates without Big Daddy. Kenneth says not having his father along was good for them because it gave the band a chance to play more of their own material.

But even without Big Daddy on stage, some audiences still expected to hear their father’s more traditional style.

“We still end up doing some of dad’s tunes--”Going to New York,” “Mojo Working,” the Kenneth says. “You can’t get away from those tunes.”

But, isn’t it hard to work with a parent in a band? Do personal relationships get in the way of the music?

“Not really, it’s OK,” says Kenneth. “If he sees something he doesn’t like, he’ll speak his mind about it. But he realizes we’re all men now.

“Looking back, it’s been great having him on the road with us.”

* Big Daddy Kinsey and the Kinsey Report play Friday and Saturday at B. B. King’s Blues Club, at Universal CityWalk, 1000 Universal Center Drive. $12 cover. Call (818) 622-5464.

Additionally: Veteran singer-songwriter Lisa Nemzo will be performing Saturday at the Coffee Junction in Tarzana. Nemzo has been on the brink of bigger things for some time now. Her album, “Restless Soul,” was released last year.

She’s performed with such diverse acts as Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, Cliff Richard and Depeche Mode, but Nemzo isn’t sure with whom she’ll be playing this weekend.

“I’m planning to play solo, but some friends always show up,” Nemzo says. “It’s always a surprise.”

* Lisa Nemzo & Friends at 8 p.m. Saturday at Coffee Junction, 19221 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana. No cover. Call (818) 342-3405.