Stepping Back in Time
From his earliest appearances at NY's leading jazz rooms, Mikell's (where his name appeared on the marquee alongside 'Winton Marsalis'), The Bitter End and Possible 20, David Dot Hale's unique pairing of progressive blues and art house cabaret has always been the hallmark of Blind Lemon Peel's approach."David doesn't look at separate genres of the blues," said noted music critic David Hadju in the Village Voice. "He integrates them together into a synthesis of music and art."
While working days to support his blues habit at a New York ad agency , BLP's musical background gave him an opportunity to work with such talent as Ashford & Simpson, Chubby Checker, the Brecker Brothers, John Lee Hooker, The Rascals, The Neville Brothers and others. The musicians found him easier to deal with than traditional agency people, which led to the formation of a lineup of close friends featuring some of NY's finest session players and sidemen including lead guitar Steve Burgh (David Bromberg, Steve Forbert, Stefan Grossman), drummer Richard Crooks (Dr. John, Bob Dylan), keyboard genius Joel Diamond (Graham Parker, Mick Taylor, Havana Ballet, Lincoln Center Opera Company), and bassman Smokin' Tim Arnold, each who brought their own particular expertise into BLP's vision of avant-garde blues.
Among the numerous NYC clubs Blind Lemon Peel headlined included The Bottom Line, Abilene Roadhouse, Delta 88, Tramps, Reno Sweeney, Terra Blues, Iridium, Arthur's Tavern, Dan Lynch's, Ashford and Simpson's Sugar Bar, Highline Ballroom, Village Gate, Lone Star Café and B.B. Kings Main Stage.
"Eclectic and bold, David Hale typifies his generation of adperson and artist. The juxtaposition of advertising man and authentic Chicago blues singer - he's a blues man trapped in a white man's body. His crossroads really are Madison Avenue and Chicago."
Time Out New York, February 1985