Bluesman Solomon King Releases "Train"

                        

                                       

 

BLUESMAN SOLOMON KING RELEASES "TRAIN"

"Solomon King's new release "Train" is the sign of an artist on his way up. This is his best music so far--with great singing, strong songwriting, and a selfless maturity--and yet I sense even bigger things ahead. reminds me of early Dire Straits or The Band circa "Music From Big Pink," great music following an artistic vision all in service of each individual song." 

Bruce Edwards/SUNDAY NIGHT BLUES PROJECT

   Solomon King releases his third album, Train. The 9-song disc "walks the line between love and lust, while celebrating getting on with one's life," says King, who performs lead vocals and most guitar parts on the record (noted L.A. sessionman Johann Frank also performs on the record). Train is a follow-up to 2011's well-received disc, Medicine. King's 2009 album "Under The Sun" was Grammy-nominated in the "Best Contemporary Blues Album" category and yielded two songs,  "Jack Me Up" and "Frankie And Johnnie," featured in the first season of hit HBO TV series, "True Blood."
    
  The album leads off with "Baby Does Me Good," a rollicking blues-soul romp with King's guitar lead reminiscent of George Thorogood's 'Who Do You love." King turns up the guitar heat in "Bad To Me," while "Coffee Song" is a catchy little dittie that will leave you wanting more of it as much as we crave that second morning cup of java. "Slo Blues," highlighted by some tasty King guitar work, lives up to its name and will have couples slow-dancing all over America; "Great Wall" relives the tried-and-true blues shuffle a la 'King-style'; "Country Song" adds some serious twang to the proceedings; "My Baby's Love," with its soulful background singers, and slow rock refrain, will make the listener swear they're listening to the second coming of the late Lou Reed.
   "Train," the title track, with its memorable choppy guitar intro, finds King singing, once more in a vocal style eerily reminiscent of Reed:
       
            Some people say, what don't kill, make you stronger,
              Well I'm going to hold onto you, that much longer...

    Closing out the album is the tender "Blue Angel," showing a softer side to King that many artists hesitate to display.

"After listening to Train I must once again put his music into a category for which the term brilliant is first and foremost...packed with truly great tunes from beginning to end. A really great album from one of the better singers, songwriters, and guitarists performing nowadays. Highly recommended and thoroughly enjoyed."
                         John Vermilyea/BLUES UNDERGROUND

              

            Train Promotional Copies Available On Request. 

                                 www.solomonkingmusic.com
              https://www.facebook.com/solomon.king.73?fref=ts

Provogue Records artist: Matt Scofield - Far As I Can See - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (February 18, 2014), Far As I Can See, from Matt Schofield and I really like it! First I'll start out by saying that this is not a pure "blues" release but blues based and fresh. Opening with From Far Away has more of a contemporary jazzy feel along the lines of Robben Ford. Schofield is an excellent singer and he spends no time at all showing what all the clamor is about with his guitar playing. Clean Break is a really slick shuffle track with solid organ contributions from Jonny Henderson. Schofield really swings this track with crisp articulated guitar runs and Jordan John is tight on drums. Getaway is a funky progressively timed track with cool bass work from Carl Stanbridge. Schofield really jumps on this track with some of the cleanest guitar riffs I've heard on a record in a long time. Excellent. One track that is bound to be a common denominator for everyone is Albert King's Breaking Up Somebody's Home. Schofield does an excellent interpretation of this classic with super vocals and scorching hot blues riffs. The anchors at bass and drums (Stanbridge and John) give Schofield freedom to give the track a lot of vocal soul and the guitar soloing would make Albert smile. Vocal backing adds just the right amount of warmth. The Day You Left is a rolling slow blues with soulful vocals contrasted against the tension of the timing of the rhythm of the bottom. Schofield adds his solos in open field here. The work is masterful and exciting. Chord progressions on the chorus give it a sophisticated feel showing a multidimensional writer/player. Again organ work by Henderson is just right. Another really super track. Oakville Shuffle is a very fleet instrumental track. With a blues bottom and jazz components this track gives the players the opportunity to really let it out. Henderson puts up a really solid key solo and Schofield shows his jazz chops. Still strongly influenced by blues this track is nothing less than superb! Hindsight has a lot of funk and even some extremely sweet sax work from James Morton. With a bit of that southern flare, Schofield shows that he's really been listening. His guitar work on this track is super and work by both Stanbridge and John is right on the money. I this track doesn't make you hop around in your seat...check your pulse...you may be dead! Everything starts off with a slower deliberate pace but erupts into a full blues shuffle with all hands blazing. Shifting gears a few times as smooth as a Porsche with paddle shifters, Schofield really shines on this track. The Neville Brothers Yellow Moon is up next and Schofield may even give it a bit more Latin than the original. Spanish guitar riffs on electric guitar is a really nice touch and splashes of street drumming really gives it a special kick. Schofield makes it really hard to review his release when every track is spectacular... I mean how many different ways can you say... this is terrific! Tell Me Some Lies ventures into two-step territory with rockin piano work from Henderson bringing that Jerry Lee Lewis flavor to a primarily vocal track with a Texas guitar twist. Final track, Red Dragon, is a Hendrix influenced blues ballad. Signature Jimi riffs are blended into an almost Roy Buchanan like blues dirge giving Schofield the opportunity to really throw his gloves down. If you like wide open guitar... this is your ticket.

 I have to say this is one of the most exciting guitar releases I have heard in a long time. It has components of a lot of different styles of music blended together and executed in a spontaneous yet meticulous manner. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves guitar music. There has to be something here that will push you buttons... if not everything!

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Somebody Will -- Bill Griese

Nashville-based Griese writes and perfoms original music that is packed with feel and heartfelt lyrics. Bill's smooth voice and laid-back approach often lead to comparisons to the great James Taylor. His acoustic-pop style is both familiar and fresh. Bill has two original CDs, "For This Day" and "Too Long Coming," and several singles available on iTunes -- including the father-daughter song "On Three" and his fun, new release "Taylor Swift's Ex!" In a major departure from his usual sound, Bill recently released a high-energy football song called "R U Ready," featuring a guest appearance by the rapper Heathen. Get/Hear Bill's original music...

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Grammy Nomination for "Remembering Little Walter"!

GRAMMY NOMINATION FOR "REMEMBERING LITTLE WALTER" Blind Pig Records' Remembering Little Walter release received a Grammy nomination for "Best Blues Album," as announced Friday night by the Recording Academy.  The 56th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on January 26, 2014 in Los Angeles.   Remembering Little Walter is a tribute to Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and blues icon Little Walter Jacobs from five of the greatest harmonica players currently on the blues scene - Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Boy Arnold, Mark Hummel, James Harman, and Sugar Ray Norcia. On this one-of-a-kind live harp showcase, each artist performs two tracks from Jacobs' discography, then they collaborate on a spirited, jamming finale of Walter's signature tune, "My Babe." Backing throughout is crisp and solid, featuring Little Charlie Baty, world renowned guitar slinger and former bandleader of Little Charlie and the Nightcats. The virtuosic Little Walter is without doubt one of the most influential blues harmonica players of all time. AllMusicGuide said, "The fiery harmonica wizard took the humble mouth organ in dazzling amplified directions that were unimaginable prior to his ascendancy. His daring instrumental innovations were so fresh, startling, and ahead of their time.  His influence remains inescapable to this day -- it's unlikely that a blues harpist exists on the face of this earth who doesn't worship Little Walter." Said Hummel, "Walter changed all the rules and raised the bar so high that nobody has yet surpassed him either in innovation or technical prowess.  Walter's original sides have become the holy grail all other harpers are still trying to aspire to."   Regarding the nomination, he said, "I was so proud of both the performances that everyone gave on this disc and the mixing that Kid Andersen accomplished that the Grammy nod was simply icing on an already delicious cake but tasty frosting it is! I can't express how happy I am for this great Blind Pig project." Two of the artists on the recording, Charlie Musselwhite and Billy Boy Arnold, actually knew and played with Little Walter. Charlie recalls that Walter "started phrasing on harmonica like a saxophone. This phrasing combined with his creativity and amplification really took harmonica playing to a whole new level that hadn't been heard before." Arnold adds, "He was miles ahead of all the other harp players on the scene. No one could touch him. He was creative, innovative, and spontaneous. Little Walter is still the top and most influential harp player that ever played." Musselwhite had this to say about the nomination, "It feels real good to be able to show Walter this respect. It's such a shame that he didn't live to see the respect he earned and get the payback he deserves, but at least now I hope with 'Remembering Little Walter' we can spread the word to more folks and help keep his contribution to blues alive. I can see Walter's smile now." Musselwhite and Arnold are joined here by three other harpists, each renowned in his own right. Producer Mark Hummel has toured and recorded with Lowell Fulson, Eddie Taylor, Charles Brown, Brownie McGhee, Jimmy Rogers and many other blues legends. James Harman has been a mainstay on the scene for forty years, having played with everyone from Canned Heat to ZZ Top. Sugar Ray Norcia is best known for his lengthy tenure with the acclaimed Roomful of Blues and with the Bluetones. Living Blues magazine said of the release, "With a veteran lineup like this and such rich source material to pull from, the live album sounds just as good as one would expect," while No Depression magazine called it "an unequaled evening of reed-bending ecstasy." To see a series of videos from the Little Walter tribute show, please visit the Blind Pig YouTube channel by clicking HERE.

$10 Sale, The Districts EP, and more

$10 Holiday Sale Stop by our website before the new year and get most of our CDs, LPs, T-shirts and other merchandise for just $10! Pictures and Double LPs available for $15. Get some of that holiday shopping out of the way or maybe pick up a few presents for yourself.   The Districts EP Out January 28 The Districts' Fat Possum debut will be available in stores and online on January 28. Pre-order the EP here Pre-order from iTunes Check out "Funeral Beds", a track from the upcoming EP, along with upcoming tour dates below. Dec. 11 - Rough Trade - New York, NY Dec. 21 - Chameleon Club - Lancaster, PA Feb. 19 - One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, PA Feb. 20 - The Bottletree - Birmingham, AL Feb. 21 - The Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC Feb. 22 - Black Cat - Washington, DC Feb. 25 - The Sinclair - Boston, MA Feb. 26 - The Sinclair - Boston, MA Feb. 27 - Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA Feb. 28 - Webster Hall - New York, NY Mar. 1 - Higher Ground Showcase Lounge - South Burlington, VT Mar. 3 - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, Canada Mar. 6 - Metro - Chicago, IL Mar. 7 - Firebird - St. Louis, MO Mar. 8 - Mercy Lounge - Nashville, TN   Mutual Benefit "Advanced Falconry" Video Premiere The official video for Mutual Benefit's "Advanced Falconry" premiered online through New York Times T Magazine. Read and watch here. "Advanced Falconry" is from "Love's Crushing Diamond", which is available to buy on CD or pre-order on vinyl: Buy CD, LP, or Digital from our website Buy CD, LP, or Digital from Amazon Buy from iTunes Jan. 13 - Great Scott - Boston, MA Jan. 14 - II Motore - Montreal, Canada Jan. 15 - Drake Underground - Toronto, Canada Jan. 18 - Turf Club - Minneapolis, MN Jan. 22 - Barboza - Seattle, WA Jan. 25 - Rickshaw Stop - San Francisco, CA Jan. 28 - Centre for the Arts - Eagle Rock - Los Angeles, CA Jan. 29 - Ryhthm Room - Phoenix, AZ Feb. 1 - Fitzgeralds - Houston, TX Feb. 3 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA Feb. 4 - Local 506 - Chapel Hill, NC Feb. 6 - The Boot & Saddle - Philadelphia, PA Feb. 7 - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY Feb. 8 - Rough Trade - New York, NY   Frankie Rose Tour Dates Dec. 10 - Roundhouse - London, United Kingdom Dec. 14 - UEA - Norwich, United Kingdom Dec. 15 - The Institute - Birmingham, United Kingdom Jan. 26 - Brillobox - Pittsburgh, PA Jan. 27 - Schubas Tavern - Chicago, IL Jan. 28 - The Record Bar - Kansas City, MO Jan. 31 - Soda Bar - San Diego, CA Feb. 2 - The Echo - Los Angeles, CA Feb. 3 - The Crepe Place - Santa Cruz, CA Feb. 4 - Rickshaw Shop - San Francisco, CA Feb. 6 - Venue - Vancouver, Canada Feb. 7 - Showbox at the Market - Seattle, WA Feb. 8 - Roseland Theater - Portland, OR Feb. 11 - Gothic Theatre - Denver, CO Feb. 12 - Liberty Hall - Lawrence, KS Feb. 13 - Opolis - Norman, OK Feb. 14 - Emo's - Austin, TX Feb. 15 - Granada Theatre - Dallas, TX Feb. 16 - Fitzgerald's (Upstairs) - Houston, TX   Anna Von Hausswolff Tour Dates Dec. 9 - Schubas Tavern - Chicago, IL Dec. 10 - 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN Dec. 13 - The Vera Project - Seattle, WA Dec. 14 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR Dec. 15 - Rickshaw Shop - San Francisco, CA Dec. 16 - Bootleg Bar - Los Angeles, CA