Music Maker Relief Foundation compilation: Blue Muse - Various Artista - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Muse, from Music Maker Relief Foundation. This cd will accompany a photography book of the same name by Tim Duffy coming out on March 28th. Opening with an acoustic jam, The Grotto Sessions, featuring Simon Arcache on guitar, Dr. Burt, Ironing Board Sam, Etta baker, Captain Luke, Rufus McKenzie, Alabama Slim and Guitar Gabe on vocal, plus a sea of others this is raw and adventurous. Taj Mahal is up next on John Hurt's Spike Drivers Blues with his distinctive vocal and guitar styling. Very nice. Eddie Tigner is up next on vocal and piano with a great boogie, Route 66 with Matt Sickles on bass, Ron Logsdon on drums, Paul Lindon on harp and with really nice guitar runs by Felix Reyes. Excellent! No question that my favorite track on the release is Robert Finley's Age Don't Mean A Thing, the title track from the spectacular release of the same name. Dom Flemons' Polly Put The Kettle On is a great country blues with Flemons on lead vocal and harp, Ben Hunter on fiddle, Guy Davis on guitar and Joe Seamons on backing vocals. With great vocal style Algia Mae Hinton is featured on acoustic guitar and vocal performing Snap Your Fingers. Raw and pounding, I Am The Lightning, is a great track. With Willie farmer on vocal and guitar, Will Sexton on mellotron, Mark Stuart on bass, and George Sluppick on drums, this track is hot. Sweet Valentine features the beautifully harmonized vocals  of Martha Spencer and Kelley Breiding, both who contribute acoustic guitar. Very nice. Eric Clapton pairs with Tim Duffy for some real fine finger picked acoustic blues on Mississippi Blues. Guitar Gabriel's solo, Landlord Blues, is the polished edge of raw blues with solid vocals and cool guitar work. Very cool. Dripping in southern gospel, The Branchettes sing I Know I've Been Changes totally acapella. Powerful. Wrapping the release is Something Within Me featuring Theotis Taylor on vocal and piano in a very nice spiritual track with plenty of soul. This really is a super release with plenty of diverse flavor for all to savor. 

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VizzTone Record Label artist: Eric Schenkman- Who Shot John? - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Who Shot John? from Eric Schenkman and it's quite different. Opening with shuffle track I'm Alright, Eric Schenkman sets his bar solidly high with solid vocals and cool and loose blues guitar riffs. Backed by Shawn Kellerman on bass, Van Romaline on drums and Cody Dickinson on drums, washboard and piano these guys have an unusually appealing style. Lincolns Feat is a stripped down blues rocker with an almost hill country feel with just the right guitar tone and simple rhythms. Very cool. Title track, Who Shot John? is really quite cool with wild and wreckless guitar lead over a springy, party like beat. Excellent. With a lot of sway, slower blues, Sign of the Times has more traditional guitar lead and Brent Barkman on B3 gives the track depth making it one of the more universally appealing tracks on the release. High energy (think Houndog Taylor) blues rocker, Far Away is just simple cool blues rockin' with a great beat, guitar and vocal. Another slick track is Latin fused,  Fortune Teller with driving guitar and tight drum rhythms. Wrapping the release is Agent Orange Blues which I really like. With it's droning rhythm and driving guitar rattle, under Schenkman's vocals makes for a solid closer for a solid release. 

  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 favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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