BMG Records artist John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom - New Release Review - VINYL

 I just had the opportunity to review a Terrific release by John Lee Hooker, Boom Boom recorded in 1989. John Lee Hooker has been on of my favorite blues guys since I was a kid so to have the good fortunate to review this release on vinyl is really special. The release explodes with Boom Boom right out of the gate featuring Hooker on guitar a vocal, Jimmie Vaughn on guitar, Richard Cousins on bass, Kevin Hayes on drums and Jim Pugh on keys. Unlike some of the more contemporary releases by Hooker, this band stays out of Hookers way with his eccentric timing and vocal style, Jimmie Vaughn fitting right in the slot under Hookers trademark vocals, Pugh adds just the right amount of organ and Hayes kicking the drums tight to make this track an exceptional opener.  Hooker also plays a solo take on his classic I’m Bad Like Jesse James. This recording is not just clean but alive with plenty of air around Hooker with his vocals sounding immediate and present and his guitar seeming to fall behind him with just the right amount of environment to place him in my room. Excellent! Robert Cray joins Hooker on Same Old Blues Again with soulful guitar riffs. Richard Cousins on bass keeps his work steady and lively, stepping back giving Hooker plenty of room  to work his vocal style and guitar riffs at his own pace. Stinging solo guitar work by Cray adds nicely to the track, augmented with warm organ by Pugh. Another solo effort is Sugar Mama with Hooker singing in essential  Hooker style over his own, heavily worked guitar accompaniment.  This is crisp and beautiful. Trick Bag (Shoppin’ For My Tombstone) features Hooker up front on vocal and his own scatter style playing joined by Mitch Woods on piano, Rich Kirch on guitar, Deacon Jones on organ, Jim Guyett on bass and Bowen Brown on drums. It’ so refreshing to hear the liveliness of Hooker on vinyl again with all of the spark of original recordings and the cleanliness of a modern recording. Side two starts off with Boogie At Russian Hill pumped up by Albert Collins on guitar, and Deacon Jones on organ. Hooker rides high on vocal and guitar joined by Mike Osborn and Rich Kirch on guitars, Jim Guyett on bass and Bowen Brown on drums…. Boogie! A strong addition on the release is Hittin’ The Bottle Again featuring Hooker on National Steel Guitar and vocal. In rural blues style, Hooker sings a folk tune outright with uncompromised National Steel Guitar strumming. A cool, rare look at raw Hooker. Bottle Up And Go is another of my favorites on the release with Hooker driving the boogie. With the backing of master John Hammond on authentic harmonica and guitar, Steve Ehrmann on bass and Scott Matthews on drums this track is a gem. Hooker teams up with the great Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica for Thought I Heard. Hookers soulful vocals and rudimentary guitar riffs are paired nicely with the urgent sounds of Musselwhite making this another of the most essential tracks on the release. Excellent! Wrapping the release is I Ain’t Gonna Suffer No More with Hooker leading the way on slow blues, his vocals impeccable and his guitar riffs captured in their full regalia, backed by Osborne and Kirch on guitars, Guyett on bass, Brown on drums and Jones on organ. It really is a pleasure to hear solid recordings of Hooker without all of the modernized attempts to make him pop and fall into a rigid, unnatural playing coupled with the liveliness of vinyl. Definitely super release. 

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Joe Elefante's Wheel of Dharma - Return of the Light - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Return of the Light, from Joe Elefante's Wheel of Dharma and I really like it. Opening with Jazz For Dummies, a cool bop track, Joe Elefante on piano sets the scene with David Heilman on drums. Freddie Hendrix on trumpet and Erena Terakubo on alto sax reinforce the phrasing for a strong start. Elefante takes the first leg with an energetic phrasing, chided on by Sameer Shankar on bass and Heilman. Terakubu on alto cuts clean with some dynamic lead and Hendrix on trumpet really hits the groove, extending the concept nicely. Strong opener. Title track, Return of the Light in 6/8 rolls along with really creative melodic summaries by Hendrix, punctuated by Elefante and Terakubu plays cleanly over mostly light bass and drums seeming to float. Elefante and Heilman exchange percussive phrases, passing to the reconciliation. Very nice. Ankara Blues really has a great feel with a driving bass line by Shankar. Terakubu really digs in on sax laying out some of the best lead on the release followed by Hendrix on trumpet and a hot drum solo by Heilman. Simple Girl is one of my favorites on the release with a strong bottom and intense trumpet work by Hendrix followed in contrast by the supple piano work of Elefante. Shankar turns up the juice on bass and Terakubo again lays in some really soulful lead. Excellent! Wrapping the release is John Coletrane's Some Other Blues featuring Elefante on vocal and piano. With a super, shuffle beat Elefante scats with piano and a super bass line by Shankar. Terakubo digs in and swings on sax followed by crisp trumpet lead by Hendrix. Shankar gets one more chance to captivate and his lines are smokin. Excellent closer for a really potent release. 

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Jon Hines - Memphis Sun - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Sun, from Jon Hines and I really like it. Opening with title track, Memphis Sun, Jon Hines lays down a solid boogie featuring Cameron Palmer on drums, George Wolf on bass and Hines himself singing lead, playing harmonica and some knockdown electric slide with overdriven fat tone. Excellent opener. Slow easy blues, Until The Wheels, has a cool, easy feel with Jon singing lead and playing rhythm guitar. Taking a melodic solo on guitar and with with just the right texture added by Wolf on bass, this a a real nice track. Shuffle, Pitter Patter, is anchored by Wolf on bass and Palmer on drums as Hines plays a loose rhythm on guitar and takes lead on vocal. The track has a springy feel and Hines finger work ties it all together nicely. Wrapping the release is Working Man with a lumbering, rhythmic, almost Hill Country swagger courtesy Wolf and Palmer. Kevin Fletcher really gets the harmonica howling giving Hines a great platform for his vocal and guitar assault. A squawking guitar riff and real nice slide work make this track an excellent closer for a real solid release. 

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OA2 Records artist: Ted Piltzecker - Peace Vibes - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Peace Vibes, from Ted Piltzecker and it's a solid combination of original and classic covers. Opening with Benny Golson's Whisper Not, Ted Piltzecker on vibraphone begins the melody joined by Brad Goode playing counter melody on trumpet. Gonzalo Teppa on bass and Paul Romaine on drums provide a tight rhythm section for a lush exploration of this well known classic. Piltzecker's strokes float on air and Goode's trumpet work is really crisp. Excellent opener. Toots Theilemans' Bluesette has a terrific Latin rhythm emphasized by Vinicius Barros on percussion, reinforced by Romaine on drums. Piltzecker's vibes really fill the air and Goode's trumpet lead it enthusiastic and fun. Miles Davis' Nardis features Goode on lead on trumpet, his noted caressed in warm vibes tones. Romaine lightly drives the beat as Piltzecker extends the melody and a real nice bass solo by Teppa adds another dimension to an already complex track. Very nice. The intro for Horace Silver's, Peace, is formed by Piltzecker and slowly built to full potential adding first light drums and bass, then Goode on trumpet, for a warm conclusion. Wrapping the release is jazz standard, Old Devil Moon with a Latin rhythm. Romaine adds a lot of texture with Goode taking the lead and Piltzecker adding vital warmth on vibes. Solid closer. 

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Qualified Records artist: Mike Henderson - Last Nite at the Bluebird Live - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Last Nite at the Bluebird Live, from Mike Henderson and it's a super live recording. Opening with Weepin' and Moanin', Mike Henderson wastes no time diggin' in deep on his guitar, squeezing the blues out of the neck. With Kevin McKendree playing impeccable rhythm on piano, Steve Mackey on bass and Pat O'Connor on drums Henderson sings the blues bringing to mind the vocals of Johnny Winter. Excellent opener. JB Hutto's Too Much Alcohol  is up next and Henderson slips on his slide and puts it to work. This is a tasty shuffle with great vocals and with Henderson and McKendree both really rolling. Smoking!  Mercy Dee Walton's One Room Country Shack is a strong, slow blues, giving Henderson to show his soulful vocals. McKendree plays some great piano lead. Henderson slide in with authority showing excellent blues style slide work giving this track real grit. Big Walter Horton's Have A Good Time is another solid addition with Henderson on harmonica and vocal. His tone is fat and gutsy and McKendree really delivers on piano with top rate drum and bass work by O'Connor and Mackey. Wrapping the release is Hound Dog Taylor's Gimme Back My Wig with a real rocking feel. Henderson kicks out the stops on vocal and guitar, not following Taylor's style and McKendree is really jamming on piano giving this track the feel of a Chuck Berry/Little Richard style roots rocker. Excellent closer. 

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Qualified Records artist: Big Shoes - King Size - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, King Size, by Big Shoes and it's addicting. Opening with Jimmy Hall's, Halfway To Memphis, with a real R&B style. Featuring Rick Huckaby on lead vocal and guitar, this track has a real strut with Jimmy Borland on bari sax, Steve Hermann on trumpet and Charlie Rose on trombone, Mark T Jordan on keys, Tom Szell on bass, Kenne Kramer on guitar, Will McFarlane on guitar, Bryan Brock on percussion and Lynn Williams on drums. Solid opener. Right About Now has a real "Little Feat" feel with a swampy bottom courtesy of Williams and Brock. Bluesy slide guitar really sounds nice and Jordan's piano work adds terrific upper rhythm. Very nice. Shuffle, I Don't Need Nobody, penned by Cramer has a real nice groove filled out by Herman, Boland and Rose and Jordan sets up a real nice piano solo, leading to a cool guitar solo by McFarlane. Super track. Buckwheat Zydeco's Make It Easy On Yourself has a great funky organ with excellent horn punctuation and tight drums. Huckaby's vocals are terrific and backing vocals add another dimension giving this track real breadth. Rocker, Yvette is one of my favorites on the release with a solid driving rhythm and simple rocking rhythm. Wrapping the release is Jesse Ed Davis' She's A Pain. With Jordan pounding it out on piano and Williams tight drums, this track has great traction. Huckaby's vocals really hit the spot and McFarlane's slide work is smooth as silk. Excellent closer. 

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OA2 Records artist: Kelsey Mines - Everything Sacred, Nothing Serious - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everything Sacred, Nothing Serious, from Kelsey Mines and it's really strong. Opening with Self-Alchemization, Kelsey Mines on bass and vocal and John Hansen on piano create a certain ambiance which develops into a super interesting groove. With Elsa Nilsson on flute and Beserat Tafesse on trombone playing in tandem, the sketch of melody is cast. Hansen takes the first solo with nicely illustrated piano lead, backed by Danilo Silva on guitar, Mines on bass, Machado Mijiga on drums and Jeff Busch on percussion. Nilsson rolls out a real nice flute solo with super bass and drum work supporting. Excellent! Sitting and Not Waiting has a really nice shape, Mines driving the bottom. Tafesse really wails on trombone with finesse and precision, punctuated by Mijiga and Hansen. Hansen really has great chops on piano, further expanding the track over the ever driving bass of Mines. Pluriverse is a real interesting track opening with a somewhat avant-garde intro, feeding via a rhythmic bass line by Mines. Nilsson on flute and Tafesse on trombone create a nicely harmonic melody line with light cymbal and snare work by Mijiga. A warm interlude by by Nilsson on flute is really strong ...accented by Hansen and Mijiga and Mines bass work is masterful. As the band pares back, Silva plays lush lead guitar with really nice phrasing.  Wrapping the release is lively, Marcy's Regret with a lightly salted Latin rhythm. Nilsson and Tafesse have the lead carried by the super rhythm section of Mines and Mijiga. Mines gets a real nice chance to lay down a really sweet bass solo with rhythm by Silva on guitar and Mijiga on drums. Nilsson picks up the lead on flute and Busch on percussion brings up the heat. Mijiga and Hansen throw fuel on the fire with a great percussive duel bringing up the finale. Very nice recording. 

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Qualified Records artist: Yates McKendree - Need To Know - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Need To Know, from Yates McKendree and I really like it. Opening with solid blues number, Burnin' Tears, Yates McKendree on lead guitar and vocal really sets a nice pace. With Steve Mackey on bass, Griffin Photoglou on drums, Robert Frahm on rhythm guitar and Kevin McKendree on piano and Hammond, Yates vocals are strong and his BB King flavored guitar attack really fits this track perfectly. Excellent opener. Run It In The Ground is a super hot runner with Muddy Waters roots. Yates is really riding high on lead vocal and his guitar work sails with Kevin and Frahm kicking it with heavy support by Griffin. James Brown's, I Don't Care gets a real nice cover by Yates with his soulful voice and solid horn backing by Steve Herrman on trumpet, John Hinchey on trombone and standout sax work by Jim Hoke on tenor and bari sax. Chris Kenner's Something You Got has a real nice funk underpinning by Kevin on organ, Frahm on rhythm and Kenneth Blevins on drums and Yates takes his guitar to town with excellent phrasing on lead and some of his best vocals on the release. See See Rider gets a real nice R&B meets jazz makeover and Yates plays some of his most outrageous guitar to date. This track may seem like it would be a sleeper, but it's anything but. Excellent! Willie Dixon's I Can't Stop is outrageous with Yates seeming to ooze Otis Rush and his falsetto vocal contrast are wild. With Kevin on piano, Frahm on rhythm Mackey on bass and Photoglou on drums, this release really does continue to get deeper. Wow! Hot shuffle, Good As Gone, is manned by Yates on vocal, lead guitar, bass and drums and Kevin on organ and guitar. This thing is a blast! Wrapping the release is Tide, a cool instrumental with progressively building intensity created by Yates adding more and more layers of washer and dryer, Guitars, bass, and Hammond to a cool beat by George Sluppick on percussion. This is a great release and an easy recommendation. You gotta get this!

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Ruf Records artist: Pavlov's Dog - Wonderlust - New Release Review

p> I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wonderlust, from rocker, Pavlov's Dog. Originally formed in 1974 in St Louis, Pavlov' Dog now regrouped by founder, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter David Surkamp with singer Sara Surkamp, Abbie Steiling on violin, Rick Steiling on bass, Mark Maher on keys, Steve Bunck on drums and Phil Ring on guitar. Opening with rocker, Anyway There's Snow, David Surkamp has the lead vocal and guitar lead with Abbie adding prominent violin work and Bunck's tight drum rhythm. Mona has a distinct pop rock feel with a strong melody and firm guitar chords by David, reinforcing his vocal work and nicely executed violin lead by Abbie. Solid Water, Liquid Sky is an interesting track with shout like lead vocals and and a warm, mellow backing by Abbie, Rick on bass, Mark on piano, Phil on drums and Steve on drums. Instrumental, Calling Sigfried has a sprite, European folk/rock feel with nicely presented violin lead by Abbie and crisp drumming by Steve over the masterful piano work of Mark. Very nice. Wrapping the release is I Wait For You, featuring David's trademark vocals, accompanied by Mark on piano and Abbie on violin in clean, folk/pop like form. Solid closer. 

 


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John Christopher Morgan - Right On Time - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Right On Time, from John Christopher Morgan and it's a solid blend of rock, blues, county and pop. Opening with rocker, Vidalia, John Christopher Morgan leads the way with solid vocals and drums, and Albert Lee sits in with he country flavored guitar lead and full backing vocals by Jamie Wood, Viva Vinson and Marcella Detroit. With a strong "Bo Diddley" beat by Morgan, Trouble Is My Business is a cool track adding flavor to the set. San Buenaventura has a cool, surf/spaghetti western feel. Zach Zunis is featured on guitar dripping with reverb, with the tasty drumming of Morgan. Very cool. Shuffle, Black Bag Blues, features RJ  Mischo on harp and some real nice guitar lead by Franck Goldwasser with Morgan holding it tight on drums. Excellent guitar phrasing is the ticket on The Jeweler's Daughter with soulful vocals and featuring Martin Nutty Brown Gagnon on piano. Very nice. Goldwasser leads the way on jump track, Jumpin' With Leon. Excellent guitar phrasing and feel, rockin' piano by Gagnon and solid horn backing makes this a top take away on the set. Wrapping the release is country rocker, Right On Time, with it's solid radio melody and beat. With a tasty country style lead guitar break and blended vocals, this is a solid closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Affinity Trio - New Outlook - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New Outlook, from Affinity Trio and it's really cool. Opening with Onward, a solid bop Eric Jacobson on trumpet carves a strong melody. Joined by Pamela York on piano who not only holds a firm rhythm but plays strong, inciteful phrasing, together with Clay Schaub on bass makes for a perfect trio. York penned, title track, New Outlook, has a simple solitude, pairing Jacobson with York on melody, anchored by Schaub creating a nicely flowing track. Larry Willis', To Wisdom, has a beautiful balance with Jacobson creating the primary melody, handing to York for a playful piano exploration. Jacobson returning with a floating trumpet solo solo and handing to the richness of Schaub on bass really gives the track a special delivery. Wrapping the release is Kenny Dorham's Una Mas framed by the percussive piano attack of York. Jacobson fleshes out the melody on trumpet with York and Schaub creating a solid bottom. The groove really develops a great groove with York and Jacobson playing call and response to great resolve. I've seen plenty of trios and often to disappointing results, typically sax or piano lead with drums or bass. But with 3 strong players, all covering rhythm this is a very satisfying release. 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Kirk Fletcher - Keep On Pushing - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keep On Pushing, by Kirk Fletcher and it's rich. Opening with It's Love Baby, Kirk Fletcher leads off this new release with super vocals and excellent phrasing. JD Simo on guitar, Jason Smay on drums and Ron Eoff on bass round out the band for an excellent opener. Big Boy Crudup's I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole's got super Chicago styling with Fletcher on lead vocal and fleet fingered lead guitar that will have your head bobbing big time (if not your foot stomping). Percy Mayfield's classic, Lost Love, which really folds nicely into this set. With heartfelt guitar lead, this track will likely have you closing your eyes and nodding your head. Very very nice. Original shuffle, Keep On Pushing has a real Freddie King feel. Fletcher's fleshy vocals adds real emotion to the track and his guitar a woody crispness over the the solid bass lines of Eoff. Super. Bernard Anders' Here In The Dark is a great track and further developed from T Bone Walker's take on it. I really love Fletcher's had and this track is a perfect demonstration of exactly why. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Blues For Robert Nighthawk, an excellent sometimes forgotten player. Featuring Simo on slide and Fletcher on six string electric, This is an excellent closer for a really outstanding release. 

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Monster Mike Welch - Keep Living Til I Die - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keep Living Til I Die, from Monster Mike Welch and it's terrific. I see Mike's clips on Facebook and I have really been looking forward to this and it was worth it... believe me! Opening with title track, Keep Living Til I Die, Welch is really hitting hard with super vocals and stinging guitar riffs. Brad Hellen on bass lays down a solid line, pumped up by Brooks Milgate on keys and heavy drum riffs by Fabrice Bessouat on drums. Excellent opener. On Love Me Baby with it's N.O. style rhythm reinforced by Milgate on piano and Hallen on bass Welch really drives this thing. I mean Welch is choking the crap out of the neck, ringing out every drop on blues and Bessouat anchors the track like lead. Wow! Resurrecting Aretha's, Good To Me As I Am To You as an instrumental, Welch has the lead on guitar and his guitar is just oozing soul. Rich organ and piano by Milgate gives the track serious gospel overtones. Sit back and enjoy.  You'll soon get the feeling that Welch never lets up. On Rick Estrin's, I Finally Hit The Bottom, has a great R&B feel and Welch's vocals are stylin'. Let him step up with that guitar swagger that will part you hair. You know what I'm talking about. Lieber and Stroller's rockin', Some Other Guy, is bound to get your feet movin, with a strong piano rhythm and solo. Welch slashes in with a lower octave attack and driving phrasing with Ray Davies like vocal attack. Wrapping the release is Mudcat Ward's deep, Burial Season. This is absolutely Welch's best vocal effort with haunting vocal phrasing and "vocal like" guitar phrasing. I really love this release... possibly my favorite of the year.

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Hard Times Records artist: Piper & The Hard Times - Good Company - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good Company, from Piper & The Hard Times and it's a high energy blues rocker. Opening with title track, Good Company, Piper Green on vocals is smooth as silk leading the way with grinding guitar lead by Steve Eagon, strong piano rhythm by Amy Frederick, Dave Colella on drums and Parker Hawkins on bass. Solid opener. Tear It Down has a strutting R&B feel with Green digging in with a gritty attack and Eddie Meyer on sax adds real warmth with Frederick on organ and featuring Lisa Oliver-Gray and Etta Britt on backing vocals. Eagon sets a perfect stage with beautiful tone on guitar for Turn The Tables, a slower blues with soulful vocals by Green. My favorite track on the release. Cheatin's Gotta End is another favorite of mine on the release with it's power bottom by Hawkins and Colella, fiery guitar work by Eagon and heavy organ by Frederick giving Green a wide berth to sing the blues. Very nice. Shuffle, Keep It To Yourself has a great feel with Frederick and Eagon giving the train and Green really belting it out. Eagon has great overdriven tone and super phrasing and Colella's drumming is spot on. Very cool. Wrapping the release is R&B track, Those Days with great soul shouting by Green, and nicely interwoven sax and guitar lead by Meyer and Eagon. Solid closer. 

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Jalopy Records artist: Jackson and the Janks - Write It Down - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Write It Down, from Jackson and the Janks, and it's bluesy N.O. garage rock at it's best. Opening with laid back, rhythm rocker, The Kick, Jackson Lynch on lead vocal and guitar sets a loose feel backed by Sam Doores setting a tight bottom on drums and brilliant bass sax adds by Craig Flory. Cool opener. Windowsill is a real cool R&B track which drips in soul thanks to Flory's sax work and top notch vocals by Lynch, adding just the right amount of juice on slide. Very cool. Bo Diddley rhythm is alive on I Don't Give Any, with a firm bottom thanks to Doores and Flory. Lynch makes great use of echo to slightly distort his primal vocals and his guitar work is rudimental and tight. One of my favorites on the release is instrumental, Riding On A Smile, featuring Lynch using a guitar with plenty of jangle and an amp with plenty of reverb. A simple melody presented and enhanced only by some essential percussive hits and tinks by Doores. Swing track, Let's Leave Here, could be right off a Bob Wills release with super vocals and terrific lap steel work by Matt Bell. Flory's bass sax is a strong addition on this track giving it a different dimension and plenty of release. Wrapping the release is Do What You Want To Do has the bones of a 50's-60's operatic ballad in the vein of Roy Orbison. With deep sax by Flory, drums by Doores and Lynch on vocal and guitar, this closer makes a statement. 

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