"Master brassman bugs Beddow self-produced this ten song disc of standards and
a few curve-ball covers. Blues staples such as 'She Caught The Katie,' 
'Boom Boom,' 'Hey Bartender,' 'Unchain My Heart,' and 'Don't Get Around Much 
Anymore' are the tunes with the most name recognition while 'Leave Your Hat
On' and 'My Babe' are given the horn treatment they deserve.

The instrumental 'Funkalishus' could be his trademark tune, though 'Don't Bug
Me' seems more appropriate. The most interesting selection is Jame's Taylor's
'Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight' done in true torch style; this is a stretch
for bugs, but he pulls it off well."

Michael Downes, Blues Connection, October, 2000


"Memorial Day revelers can really say 'Bone Appetit' this weekend.  That's if
they catch bugs Beddow and his band as they present their 'Bone Appetit Tour
'97.  The five-piece group, with its mix of ebullient vocals, rockin' blues,
and a sparkling horn section, will perform at Key to the County in Lake Leelanau
tonight and Sunday.  Then the band heads up the road to Leland, where it will be
the featured attraction at the annual 'Here Comes The Sun" summer kickoff party
at The Cove on Memorial Day.

Led by ace trombonist bugs Beddow, the band plays 'party blues', perfect for
dancing and shaking out the last remnants of Northern Michigan cabin fever.
Jason Hinz on guitar, James Morse on saxophones, Jim Pryor on drums, and Don
Turner on bass round out the band.  With a live set list that includes R&B
favorites like 'Mustang Sally', 'Hey Bartender', and 'Shake, Rattle and Roll',
and originals like 'Funkalishus' and 'Still Be Diggin' on James Brown, bugs
keeps the audience dancing and grooving.  But he start outa much more 'legitimate'
musician.

"I started out playing classical music,"  said Beddow, who also plays the flute.
"Then I moved into jazz and then the blues, and what I call party blues.  I
played with Newt and the Salamanders while I lived up there, and I learned a
lot about playing with a good dance beat from Newt.  I also learned to throw
a little zaniness into the show."  Now based in Detroit, 43-year-old Beddow
lived in Leelanau County and was head of the Leland Public Schools Music
Department from 1975-1977.  "It's fun to come back and run into my students
now, all grown up," he said.  "I make sure we're booked in the Traverse area
at least once every season."  

bugs played at Sugar Loaf on St. Patrick's Day and will return to play at
LeBear in Glen Arbor this June and at Union St. Station in September.
Performing at The Cove's annual "Here Comes The Sun" party has become quite
a tradition for him.  "It's always a wild and crazy event, not for the faint
of heart," said Beddow.  "It's the best party you'll ever remember." "The band
sets up out in the river, using one of Carlson's fishing boats for a stage.
One year a guy came out in a little motorized dinghy, and I hopped in and
played a solo while he buzzed around in circles.  You never know what's going
to happen. It's organized chaos."

Those who like their music in a little calmer setting can catch bugs' show
at Key to the County, where he says the volume will be lower, and he welcomes
teens and families to get in on the fun.  bugs has won numerous Detroit-area
music awards, including Metro Times "Best Trombonist" (3 times) and "Outstanding
Blues Performer."  His music was used in the movie"Hoffa", and he has performed
the National Anthem on solo trombone at Tiger Stadium on three occasions.

The Detroit Free Press called the band's latest release, "3D Blues,"
"instant party potion," and the Blues Review said it is "rock solid
through and through."  Standout tunes are Ray Charles' "Unchain My Heart"
and Willie Dixon's "My Babe.

bugs Beddow: music teacher, party animal, and trombonist extraordinaire,
with just enough zaniness thrown in to guarantee big fun this Memorial
Day weekend." 

Jim Barnes, Traverse City Record Eagle, May 24, 1997



"The bugs Beddow band is a trombone driven blues with plenty of uptown
influences.  The band features bugs on bone, Jason Hinz on guitar and
vocals,..." James Morse "... on sax and vocals, Jim Pryor on drums and
vocals, and Don Turner on bass guitar and stand-up bass. The bands
terrific new CD on the Great Lakes Music label, entitled "3D Blues",
will be on sale for your listening pleasure.  Please buy this album,
you won't be sorry."  

The Prez, Detroit Blues Society, February, 1997



"Local music stalwart bugs Beddow plays the trombone, trumpet and flute
(now there's an instrument not often associated with the blues) and
gives a different twist to blues standards.

Beddow shines on "She Caught the Katie" and "Unchain My Heart," as well
as the instrumentals, "Funkalishus" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore."
Many of his other songs are familiar, including "Leave Your Hat On,"
"Boom, Boom," and "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight."  He does a nice
version of a Little Village song, "Don't Bug Me."

Of special note: The album is available through Great Lakes Music,
P.O. Box 48101, Oak Park, 48237, or by calling (248) 546-bugs."

Steve Spalding, Oakland Press, January 26, 1997



"Sometimes it rocks, sometimes it kicks back, but always it swings --
longtime Detroit trombonist Beddow makes sure of that, all the way
through 10 hot tracks on the new disc from his smokin' crew.  Gruff
vocals and wiry guitar leads snake through the thick cluster of horns,
as Beddow and band dip liberally into a musical bag plump with Dixieland
jazz, Motown soul, and Texas boogie.  You can see the cigarette smoke
wafting through the air, hear the clink of beer bottles at the bar, but
mostly you can feel your feet start to move as the band slips into groove
upon colorful groove.  Guaranteed to get instant party potion oozing out
of the disc player."

Brian McCollum, The Detroit News, August 18, 1996



"Trombone maestro bugs Beddow has been inextricably linked with the
Detroit blues community for years.  Though he dropped the 'Blues Brigade'
moniker from the marquee a couple of years ago, then changed plain old
'Brigade' to plain old 'band' you still can't get the blues out of the bone.
The band's take on Ray Charles' "Unchain My Heart" is one of the stand out
cuts here, and that's primarily because it serves as something of a thematic
thread.  "3D Blues" is horn driven and funky, the way brother Ray used to do it.

Jazz fans are going to find as much to enjoy here as blues fans,
particularly in the superb trombone work turned in on "Don't Get Around
Much Anymore".  bugs is probably more at home with Ellington then Muddy,
but he's certainly not one to be pigeonholed.  He's one of the most
versatile players in town, and certainly the best blues trombonist we've
ever had.  Call him what you will, he's a major player, and, while there
are no big surprises here, this is rock solid through and through. bugs
is always recommended." 

Mark E. Gallo, The Blues Review, June, 1996



"Detroit native Beddow has been playing trombone since he became fascinated
with the instrument at the age of nine.  As a professional he's played
with many fine musicians including Mitch Ryder and Earl Klugh.  For 12
years Beddow led a jazz band fefore deciding to concentrate on the blues.
It was a good move; in 1993 the Motor City Music Awards recognized Beddow
as an Outstanding Blues Performer and his album, "Bootleg Brigade", received
an award for Outstanding Blues Recording.  The motto of the bugs Beddow band
is 'plenty of horns, vocals, and dancing.' "3D Blues" offers a sampling of
tunes popular at their live performances  and reflects that motto.  This is
blues washed over a jazzy, rhythm and blues canvas, and definitely danceable.
A few standards are included, ranging from the party-hearty "Hey Bartender"
to the hold-your-baby-close "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight."  Guitarist
Robert Noll guests on five cuts and Beddow plays flute on "My Babe" and
"Unchain My Heart." There's a 3D image hidden among the shapes on the
cover of this album, but you have to look at it just right."

JoAnn Korczynska, Detroit Blues, Fall, 1996