artist info

The Highway 99 All Stars came into existence with the opening of the award-winning Highway 99 Blues Club in 2004. Since then the All -Stars have played numerous shows in and around Seattle; at its namesake club, fairs , festivals and special events.

The line-up for their shows features players from Seattle and the greater Northwest. While some of the players have done multiple shows over the years, the line-up is a roving cast of “all-stars” bringing solid rhythm and blues and deeply rooted blues music to the stage. For the upcoming Jazz Alley shows, the band will feature six musicians from Seattle, Portland and New Orleans. With four different singers; harmonica, guitars, bass, keys and drums. The show will feature solo spots, duo turns and the full band.

There has been a change to the originally announced line-up. Jason Ricci, a talented harp player and singer from New Orleans was to be part of the line-up but due to ongoing health concerns and touring restrictions, has chosen to step out of the show.

The band is excited to announce that Bob Corritore will slide into the open slot and bring his formidable harp skills to the shows. Corritore who hails from Phoenix, Arizona, is a blues harmonica player, record producer, blues radio show host and the owner of the music venue THE RHYTHM ROOM in Phoenix. One of the top traditional blues harmonica players on the scene today, Corritore packs a punch with his talents.

He is a multi-award-winning artist. He won a BMA; (Blues Music Award) in 2011. In 2012 he captured a Living Blues Award and in 2019 won a Blues Blast Music Award. His impressive catalog of recordings and blues projects is beyond compare. He has been on the Delta Groove record label for a number of years now. Releasing an album, a year, or so it seems; Corritore features a long list of “friends” who just happen to be some of the most admired blues artists around. He has played with the likes of Bo Diddley, Little Milton, Pinetop Perkins, Louisiana Red, Ike Turner and Jimmie Vaughan.

Lisa Mann hails from Portland, Oregon and is a award winning blues bassist, songwriter and singer. Influenced by the likes of Etta James, Koko Taylor and Bonnie Raitt, Lisa has released four albums of her own and is a two time Blue Music Award winner. She fronts her own band in addition to being a first call player for many all star shows. She is a member of the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame and her most recent release placed first in the Blues category for unsigned artists. She has won awards in Europe as well as the states. www.lisamannmusic.com

Ben Rice’s music is deeply rooted in traditional blues, yet still manages to be fiercely original. His guitar playing earns labels like “fearless”, “inventive”, and “powerful”. His honest vocal delivery and his skills on his acoustic resonator guitar have garnered him numerous awards. He is a three time Blues Music Award nominee and in 2019 was A Blues Blast recipient of the “Sean Costello Rising Star” award. He is a skilled solo performer as well as an accomplished band leader. Makes his home in Portland, Oregon. www.benricelive.com

Robin Moxey is a songwriter, producer, guitar player and singer from Los Angeles. He has been a member of the Playing for Change band for a number of years and has toured all over the globe with them as well as appearing in many of their trademark videos. For the past 10 years, Robin has been playing in and around Seattle, with his own band as well as being a special guest in many others. He is a Bogner Amp endorsee and has worked as a mentor for “at risk youth” as the S.A.S. Alternative High School in Bothell, WA. Robin cites influences from Leadbelly, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and Stevie Ray Vaughn. He is a captivating performer and has played shows throughout the US and Europe.

A Washington DC native, Jeff Conlin has been in Seattle since 2007, and made an immediate impact on the music scene with his smooth, percussive style of playing the keyboards. He was mentored by legendary Bo Diddley bass player Jesse James Johnson. He has toured with Clarence Turner and the Westcott Brothers. He has played in the Ska scene , blues, reggae and soul bands and filled in for Art Neville with the Funky Meters. Shortly after arriving in Seattle, he help found the instrumental soul combo The Satellite Four. His most recent work is with the classic soul and blues band Big Road Blues.

Drummer Steve Sarkowsky was the Founder of the Highway 99 Blues Club. A Seattle native, he has played all around the Northwest with blues, soul, country and pop folk bands over the years. Started the Highway 99 All Stars shortly after the club opened. Over the years nearly 50 different musicians have shared the stage as a member of the All Stars. He has been a multiple nominee for best blues drummer from the Washington Blues Society as well as having won Best Blues Act twice – once with the Robbie Laws Bigger Blues Band and again with the Hot Wired Rhythm Band. He did most of the booking for Highway 99 over the years and has also been a writer for numerous publications within the local music community.