The first official version of Cool Disposition sprung to life over the summer of 1999 in a Minneapolis rehearsal studio surrounded by loud heavy metal bands cranked to 11. The band moniker was of course hijacked from the Sonny Boy Williamson song of the same name. Preparing to enter the blues fray with a combination sound of traditional 50’s blues and 40’s era R&B , Cool Disposition sounded appropriate, if not entirely original. In addition to their own material, the band would beg, borrow, steal, and rework the music of many of the legendary bluesmen that everybody knows, as well as a few more obscure artists.

The initial lineup worked out the kinks and wrinkles for nearly a year and half at clubs all around the Minneapolis / St.Paul area. They self promoted hard, and pressed the flesh incessantly. The aggressive approach paid off with regular gigs at Schuller’s Roadhouse, Flaherty’s Bowl, Big Daddy’s BBQ, and Neumann’s, helping establish them as the new upstarts on the block. They were still awfully rough  around the edges, but some people were beginning to take notice.

The spring of 2001 brought a substantial wave of change with two original members cashing in their chips. This led the band to hiring a stream of rotating drummers and guitarists, mostly top shelf players hand picked from the deep pool of local Minneapolis / St. Paul talent. Among others helping them out over the next couple  of years would be guitarists Shorty Lenoir and Jon Ross. You’ve seen and heard these two pros from their work with such big leaguers as Kim Wilson, Gary Primich, Mark Hummel, James Cotton, Jerry Portnoy, Sue Foley and Duke Robillar.

In 2003, bassist Greg Beach, original harp player Harold Tremblay, and founder / frontman Mickey Bauer began exclusively hiring the moonlighting dynamic duo of Dan Schwalbe and Marty Bryduck. They have become de-facto members of the band somewhere along the line. Dan is among the most recorded and highly respected blues guitarists in Minnesota. Marty is also highly regarded among the drummers this area has produced. Between them, they have performed and recorded with the state’s most revered blues artists such as George Mojo Buford, W.C. Handy Winner Sonny "Cat Daddy" Rodgers, Leonard "Baby Doo Caston", Lazy Bill Lucas, Percy Strother, R.J. Mischo, and Lynwood Slim. Both bring over 30 years of experience, and have helped Cool Disposition crank their music up several notches. Maybe even to 11.

Thanks to gigs in places like Des Moines, IA at Blues On Grand, Wausau WI, Rochester, St. Cloud and Duluth, MN, Eau Claire, WI , and Grand Forks,ND, the band has developed a regional reputation which is enhanced by their appearances at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, Central Iowa Blues Society / Winter Blues Fest, St. Paul Blues Festival, the Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth and the Marquette (Michigan) Blues Festival among others.

   

Mid West Coast Blues

With A Feeling