Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials drummer, Kelly Littleton.

Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, who are celebrating the release of their new CD, “Jump Start,” gave two free performances as part of the Peanut Butter & Jam concert series at Veteran’s Memorial Park (54th Street and Sixth Avenue).  The two concerts were at 11:30 a.m., and 6:00 pm today.

Mixing slide guitar boogies and Chicago shuffles with the deep slow-burns, Lil’ Ed Williams and the Blues Imperials deliver riotous, rollicking, and intensely emotional blues.  The members of the band are Lil’ Ed Williams, bassist James “Pookie” Young, guitarist Mike Garrett, and drummer Kelly Littleton.

Click here for a short clip of one of their songs:

The group has been together 24 years and won the 2007 and 2009 Band of the Year Blues Music Award.  Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials recently received a Living Blues Readers’ Award nomination for Best Live Performer.  The band won that same distinction in the 2011 Living Blues Critics’ Poll.

Here are some more pictures from tonight’s performance:

Here is a picture of the Veteran’s Memorial:

The Veteran’s Memorial