Bman's Blues Report

BLIND PIG ARTISTS FEATURED AT THE CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL Blind Pig Records will be well represented this month at the 32nd Annual Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park, with performances by the Andy T-Nick Nixon Band, The Cash Box Kings, Shawn Holt and the Teardrops, and Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues. ANDY T-NICK NIXON BAND Andy T’s jazz-tinged guitar style is influenced by T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Magic Sam, and Albert Collins among others, yet it remains his own. Andy has toured internationally with blues greats Guitar Shorty and Smokey Wilson, and has performed with a long list of major blues artists around the country.   The velvet-voiced Nixon, whose singing recalls Jimmy Witherspoon and Billy Eckstine, was part of Nashville’s thriving blues scene in the 60’s, was a longtime member of The New Imperials, recorded for Chess Records in the 70’s and has performed with many of the top blues and R&B artists in the world. Blind Pig Reco...

I just received the newest release, Blues Shock , from Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues and it's a real butt kicker. Opening with Sons of Blues , a blues/R&B/funk mixture, Branch has a modern sound with solid vocals and harp work. With horns blazing (The Chicago Horns featuring Bill McFarland on trombone, Hank Ford on sax and Kenny Anderson on trumpet) this track is made to get you on your feet. On Willie Dixon's Chicago boogie, Crazy Mixed Up World , Branch lays down some real nice harp riffs and Sumito Ariyoshi is tight on piano. Blues Shock is a blend of temtations and Charlie Daniels. Country soul? This would be the most practical radio track so far with a catchy melody and slide riffs from Dan Carelli. Branch gets loose on harp and Ariyoshi is chasing. Dog House is a cool slinky blues track. Both Branch and Ronnie Baker Brooks take the opportunity to lay down some great riffs on this track. Very nice. Function At The Junction has a strong R&B flavor and bac...