Liner notes :
Wow … 25 years have passed. It truly feels like the blink of an eye.
As I sit here listening to and remastering Live at the Blues Café, a wave of memories comes over me. It’s hard to put into words what that place meant to me. For 18 years, one day or evening every week, I walked into a room that felt like home. Through those doors came people who would become some of my favorite human beings on this Earth … the owners, the staff, the musicians, and the wonderful patrons who showed up with open hearts and open ears.
I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for every musician who stood on that stage with me and for everyone who contributed to the spirit captured on this CD. So many beautiful moments and future shows were born from that weekly gathering … moments that shaped my life and career in ways I’m still realizing.
The energy inside that room … I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to describe it fully. It was something alive .Energy that moved from us to the audience and came right back with even greater strength. It was electric, healing, joyful, unpredictable … and it was ours.
My hope with this remastered edition is simple: that when you listen, you can feel even a small piece of what we all felt at 19th and Carson Street in the South Side of Pittsburgh. That place gave me more than I could ever repay.
Thank you for being part of this journey … whether you were there in person, on the stage, in the crowd, or now holding this music in your hands.
I wish you all nothing but the very best.
God bless you and yours.
Tony Janflone Jr.
Recorded LIVE at The Blues Café, @ various shows 1998-2000
19th & Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA
Tony Janflone Jr. – guitar & vocals
Tom Salyers – keyboards
George Elliott – bass & vocals
Curtis Swift – saxophones
Sonny Pugar – tracks 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, drums
John Sferra – tracks 4, 7, 10, 13, drums
Rick Dickerson – track 12 drums
Recorded, Mixed &
Remastered By Tony Janflone Jr.
@ KEYTONES STUDIO
These are the original thank yous from the 2000 release .
This space will not permit me to thank everyone I would like to.
Here are some folks who have helped make this CD possible …
I would like to thank God for my many blessings,my wonderful wife Catherine (Kay), Dad, Mom,Victor, Michael, & the entire Janflone family, Ev,Mim & Aina Lehan, The Farina’s, Biondo’s, Amodeo’s,& Guercio’s, Tom & Carole Ackerman, Tom Salyers,George Elliott,Curtis Swift,Ricky Dickerson,Sonny Pugar, John Sferra, Bob Iksic, Phil Isaly, Nick& Jacque Dorazio, Kenn Passella, Mike Panich, Frank& Cathy Andrisko, Chris Pangikas, Phil Madeira,
Mike Talanca, Ron & Suzanne and the group at The Gateway Clipper Fleet, Brad Johnson at Lawrence Music,Huey Haynes & the gang at Pianos n’ Stuff, Mark from Guitars Plus, Dave Lautner, Bob Bradshaw for his great pre-amp, Pete & Gigi Gialames, Pete Jr. & Cathy, Robert Marchese, Percy, Barb, & the entire Blues Café staff.
Thanks to the Blues Café for giving me a musical home! And, to the Sunday afternoon crowd; I am blessed to have the opportunity to perform for such great peopleweek after week. I have made many friends that Iwill never forget. This CD is dedicated to a couple ofthem… To the memory of Maggie Clay and Steve Furness… May Your Spirits Soar. God Bless You All
Tony Janflone Jr.
This 2025 release is dedicated to Sonny Pugar .
Memory Eternal
Design by Jacque Dorazio
and Tony Janflone Jr.