Sledgehammer Blues artist: Joe Krown Trio +1 featuring Papa Mali - Qualified - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Qualified, by Joe Krown Trio +1 featuring Papa Mali and it's strong. Opening with Dr. John's, Qualified, Joe Krown on piano with Papa Mali on guitar and lead vocals really create a ruckus. Casandra Faulconer on bass nicely augments the excellent rhythm work of Eric Bolivar on drums. Excellent opener. Driving piano blues, Mess Around, anchored by Krown on piano also features some super work by Jason Mingledorff on bari sax and Mali wails on guitar giving the track a nice edge. Allen Toussant's funky, Going Down, has a great back beat emphasized by Bolivar on drums and Krown rides high on organ. Another funky treat is Papa Mali's Neckbone with a super funky guitar rhythm with a killer warm organ saturation and a snappy bottom by Faulconer and Bolivar. Mali original, Honey Bee, has a cool, bluesy feel with great trombone work by Mark Mullins and a strong piano solo by Krown. Wrapping the release is Toussaint's, Last Train, with it's poppy light feel featuring Mali on vocal and bouncy piano work by Krown. Very solid release with lot's of New Orleans vibe. 

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MoMojo Records artist: Carmen Ratti Band featuring Jill Dineen - Come To Me - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Come To Me, from Carmen Ratti Band featuring Jill Dineen and it has a cool groove. Opening with No Delusion, a slinky track with a well woven rhythm backing, Jill Dineen on vocal really holds tight on the reins. Carmen Ratti on rhythm and lead guitar adds tome distinctive riffs feeding Tony Lufrano on keys, Steve Hazelwood on bass and Randy Hayes on drums. Super opener. Bluesy ballad and title track, Come To Me, is a nice showcase for Dineen on lead vocal and Ratti's soulful guitar phrasing drips blues. Organ saturation by Lufrano and solid backing vocals by Lisa Leuschner Andersen adds just the right juice. Riley is real nice instrumental (think Thrill Is Gone) with Ratti laying out the melody with crisp, clear, electric guitar work and Lufrano's organ solo is warm and inviting with a great bass lead by Hazlewood. Really cool track. Blues rocker, Coming Down, has a super funky rocking sound with great lead vocals and nice funky guitar/bass synergy. Lufano turns up the heat on organ and adds backing vocals, Ratti adds some stinging guitar lead and Hayes rhythm is straight and tight. Uncle Joe is a real interesting interesting track featuring Ratti leading the way on slide guitar. With it's hard bop feel and Derek Trucks influenced guitar styling combined with real nice piano work by Lufrano, this is a strong addition to the already solid set. Wrapping the release is down and dirty, Pretty Good Man and Dineen really digging in vocally. Hazlewood and Hayes really cut a solid groove and Lufrano works his piano hard against his organ. I really like how Ratti really hammers his guitar on this track showing real fire. Very nice. There is an extended version of Come To Me which is really nicely done and a super addition to the set.

I should really say, I don't think I've ever reviewed a Greaseland Studios recording that didn't have special sauce... Nice job Kid.

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Blue Sky Tunes artist: Mike Guldin - While I Can - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, While I Can, by Mike Guldin and it really hit's the spot. Opening with Driving Rain, Mike Guldin is upfront on vocal and guitar and this track really has a great groove. Guldin's vocals are soulful and with Steve Mackey on bass and Lynn Williams on drums the strut is heavy. Kevin McKendree really works the organ providing a great back beat and Guldin and James Pennebaker play some stinging riffs making this first track worth the price of admission. Excellent! Rocker, Always A Woman has a cool Latin beat, reinforced by a driving rhythm guitar layer. Guldin was made to sing this music with his natural delivery and Pennebaker really rips it lose on guitar with snappy drum work by Williams. A cool stroll, When The Bills Come Due, has a stiff cowbell strike over Mackey on bass. Gulden on guitar and vocal, and McKendree on keys give legs to this swampy rocker. Don Williams' New Orleans flavored, Oh Lonesome Me, really is moving with great vocal harmonizing by Guldin and Jackie Wilson. Billy Wear on drums and McKendree on keys and piano set a great pace and stinging guitar work make this one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is rag time, Down The Hatch with Guldin on vocal over nicely stylized piano work by McKendree and crisp guitar riffs ice this rich cake. Excellent closer. 

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Qualified Records artist: Seth James - Motormouth - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Motormouth, from Seth James and it's terrific! Opening with Why Should I Suffer, vocalist extraordinaire, Seth James, creates a great vibe with his rich, R&B style vocal lead and his own lead guitar work, joined by Kevin McKendree on keys, Rob McNelley on guitar, Steve Mackey on bass, Lynn Williams on drums and super backing vocals by Alice Spencer and Etta Britt and and punchy horn work by Jim Hoke on sax, Steve HHermann on trumpet and John Hinchey on trombone. Excellent!  Soulful, I'm In Trouble has a great, slinky feel with James, Spencer, Britt and Jackie Wilson really working the vocals and featuring McKendree on piano. Hoke, Herrmann and Hinchey keep the back hopping and Mackey and Williams the bottom tight. Super. Country swing track, I'll Be Gone, has a great feel with excellent lead vocals by James and excellent piano work by Jeff Taylor. Eddie Dunlop on steel guitar gives the track real sting and fiddle work by Joe Spivey, Kenny Spears and Larry Franklin, Andy Reiss and Doug Green on guitars, Brad Albin on bass and Billy Thomas really make this track shine. James is joined by Delbert McClinton on lead vocal on I Can't Wait. A straight up radio track featuring Jim Hoke on accordion and McKendree on piano this is a cool track. McNelley plays some cool baritone guitar in the lowest octave adding just that extra grease to an already greasy track. Funky, Lonely Avenue has great swagger with crisp lead vocals by James and strong backing vocals by Spencer, Wilson and Britt. A thumping bass, solid lead guitar and punchy trumpet work by Herrmann really gives this track edge. Wrapping the release is kicked back, Start A Brand New Day featuring James on lead vocal and warm backing by Green on archtop guitar, Taylor on piano, Franklin, Spivey and Sears on fiddle, Dunlop on steel guitar, Albin on bass and Thomas on drums. Rich closer for a really potent release. 

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J&R Collective artist: Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival - Electric Eden - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release. Electric Eden, from Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Breaking Chains, Jennifer Lyn on lead vocals cranks up the band with fiery vocals, joined by Richard Torrance on vocal and guitar, Jim Anderson on drums and vocals, Barb Jiskra on keys and Nolyn Falcon on bass. Silky guitar riffs by Torrance give the track a real kick making this a solid opener. A cool remake of Grace Slick's White Rabbit fits the set nicely with tight rhythm by Anderson on drums driving the vocals of JL. Sucker For The Pain is one of my favorites on the release with a great back beat, and solid lead and harmony vocals and excellent piano work by Jiskra. A real kicker on the release is swampy, Baggage with a true Little Feat feel. Lyn's vocals are spot on and Jaxon Fitterer really winds up the slide, joined by Falcon, Jiskra and Anderson driving the rhythm. Excellent. Wrapping the release is balled, Refuge, featuring Lyn prominently on vocal, and a blistering guitar solo by Fitterer over a solid melody. 

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Ruf Records artist: Dana Fuchs - Live In Denmark - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live In Denmark, from Dana Fuchs and she kicking it in high gear. Opening with blues rocker, Double Down On Wrong, Piero Perelli on drums and Kevin Mackall on bass really have the place rocking. Fuchs has a strong voice and Jon Diamond is relentless on guitar blending blues with contemporary rock riffs. Blue Mist Road opens with light backing and strong vocals by Fuchs. Breaking it wide open, Diamond winds it out on guitar with overdriven guitar tones, backed by solid drum work by Perelli and great lead bass riffs by Mackall. Very nice track. One of my favorite tracks on the release is ballad, Nothing You Own with a great melody, subdued guitar lead and excellent vocal by Fuchs. Diamond takes a melodic guitar solo with plenty of oomph giving the concert a super change of pace.  Borrowed Time is a country rock styled track with a a stiff kick by Perelli. A strong radio track, this is a great concert track and has terrific radio potential. Another firm rocker is Curtain Close with a great melody and rhythm. Fuchs paces the track nicely and Diamond's overdriven guitar tones are critical as it fades into Bland's Ain't No Love (In The Heart Of The City). Very nice. Wrapping the release is Mick and Keith's Sympathy For The Devil. Maintaining the original Stones rhythm and basic arrangement, Mackall lays down a great bass line and Perelli's drum work drives it solid. Diamond does a real nice job grinding out classic rock lead and Fuchs pipes are great. This is a solid release with a continuous groove. 

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Lexie Blue - Too Glam To Give A Damn - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Too Glam To Give A Damn, from Lexie Blue and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with title track, Too Glam To Give A Damn, Blue with her trademark voice leads the way with Pete Bullard on guitar, Kevin Schoepke on bass, Gary Martin on drums, and Jack Rivers on keys. Driving opener. R&B flavored, Sit Down & Hush, really has a strong bottom courtesy of Schoepke and Martin. With Blue, grinding out the blues and Bullard on guitar, this is a nice groove. Bluesy, Sneaking Out, gives Blue a real nice chance to dig down and Bullard grinds out a strong guitar solo as well. Wrapping the release is Chin Wagging with a powerful tom tom rhythm by Martin and guitar by Bullard. Double timing the rhythm, Blue's vocals are raw and energetic, with chicken pickin' by Bullard  and Martins drums add just a dash of New Orleans. Solid closer.

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Rainstorm Records artist: Leeann Atherton - Good God - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good God, from Leeann Atherton and it's gospel/revival soaked music. Opening with Lieber and Stoller's Saved, Leeann Atherton really belts it out on this opener. With Johnny "V" Vernazza (Elvin Bishop Band) winding it up on slide guitar, Edward "Hott" Cleveland, Rob Lamonica and Bob Berman on keys, and Mike Bernhan on bass. Atherton original track, Joy, has a real bopping feel with Rob Lamonica on piano and solid backing vocals by Austin Atherton, Johnny V, Laura Jane Wilcox and HeartBeat Pro. Joe South's classic, Games People Play, really plays to the richness of Atherton with nice guitar work by Mac McNabb and warm organ work by Berman. Harry Dixon Loes' This Little Light Of Mine has new spunk with Atherton really swinging it. Solid rhythm guitar by McNabb, and warm organ and hot guitar riffs by Johnny V make this a real nice cover. Another Atherton original, Smack Dab In A Miracle, has a solid melody and clean airplay potential. With it's R&B feel and sassy vocals, Atherton does a real nice job on this track with a minimal of keys, bass and drum backing. Wrapping the release is Angel Band, a rich duet featuring Leeann and Austin Atherton. A classic gospel song previously covered by The Stanley Brothers and Emmylou Harris and Vince Gill this is a soothing closer. 

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Guitar One Records artist: Sandy Atkinson - The Best of Sandy Atkinson - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Best of Sandy Atkinson, by Sandy Atkinson, and it saturated with soulful vocals and hot guitar blues. Opening with Sweet Little Pieces, Ben Sudano on bass  Tom Bell on drums lay down a super SB Williams/Hooker boogie line with Cannon Quinn on guitars and Sandy Atkinson on vocal and guitar. Solid opener. Got The Wrong Number has a western/bluesy feel with Atkinson on acoustic guitar and vocal pairing with Quinn on guitars and nice piano work by Dean Germain. Boogie, Cook In Your Kitchen showcases Tomcat Blake on guitars with Atkinson's vocals, Richard Price on bass, Dan Degregory on drums, Henry Burke on keys and Wayne Beardwoods on sax. I like the slower, acoustic blues of Back To The Livin (live) featuring solid vocal and guitar work of Atkinson and Quinn. Very nice. Talkin To The Animals is a cool blues rocker with a springy rhythm. With saucy vocals by Atkinson, Quinn on guitar, Germain on keys, Sudano on bass and Bell on drums, one of my favorites on the release. With John Lee Hooker styling, 1 Night Stand is a cool little boogie performed live with Quinn on guitar accompanying Atkinson on vocal and guitar. Another cool track. Slow blues, She's Just A Floozy has a rich, old school, "Memphis Minnie" kind of sense. Atkinson on vocal and guitar with Blake on guitar gives this track plenty of sass. Wrapping the release is quiet, acoustic ballad, Out Of The Blue featuring Atkinson on vocal and acoustic guitar. Putting me in mind of an acoustic version of Seattle grunge rock, Super closer. 

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Lightning In A Bottle Records artist: The CD Woodbury Trio - Bulldog - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bulldog, from The CD Woodbury Tri, and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Wicked Grin, CD Woodbury sets the pacd with a strong hammer on riff with Robert Baker thumping a single not bass line and Bill Ray on drums. Woodbury tells the story on lead vocals adds in guitar soloing that adds just the right amount of pepper. Solid opener. Doc Pomus' Little Sister stays simple with it's pop roots with Woodbury laying down a guitar riff and including Davis soloing on harmonica. Blues rocker, Gaslight Road, has a deep bass/drums groove and Woodbury, on guitar, creates a Green's Fleetwood Mac feel adding gritty vocals. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks by Jack Bruce, Politician, is up next with Woodbury bringing on the suspenseful melody on guitar. He doesn't have Bruce's voice, but he really does a great job on this track Overdubbing clean chords with eccentric slide riffs and tight picked blues riffs. Super. A laid back cover of Willie Dixon's, Spoonful, works really nicely with Woodbury's voice. His laid back guitar approach, paired with Mike Marinig on flute and his own guitar flair with "Kim Simmonds" like accents really is nice. Wrapping the release is title track (Call Me The) Bulldog with it's funky blues rocking feel. Woodbury cuts loose with a cool, funky guitar riff on this one making it a strong closer. 

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Big Mama Productions artist: The Alexis P. Suter Band - Just Stay Live Recorded Live At The Falcon - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just Stay Live Recorded Live At The Falcon by The Alexis P Suter Band, and it's terrific! Alexis P. Suter is one of those vocalists that come along once in a lifetime and her take on Blind Willie Johnson's John The Revelator is powerful .With her deep rich vocals backed by Vicki Bell, and pushed by the stirring slide work of  Jimmy Bennett, this track is off the hook. Joining Suter on the set is The Band's Garth Hudson who lays out an epic piano improvisation. One of Gregg Allman's best tracks, It's Not My Cross To Bear, really works nicely with this set. Suter's deep, rich voice is perfect for this track with Benny Harrison on organ and Bennett really laying down the blues on guitar and Hudson on piano. A monumental blues by a monumental vocalist.  Hole That I'm In has a super Latin rhythm and the band is really moving. Bennett gets a Santana-esque guitar solo going and Harrison's organ pushes up the tension. Very powerful.  Only I has a soulful, gospel delivery showcasing Suter vocals with Linda Pino and Vicki Bell on lush backing vocals and Harrison on keys. Super strong. Wrapping the release is George Harrison's Isn't It A Pity. Harrison outdid himself on this track and Suter sings soulfully joined by Bennett on guitar, Hudson on accordion and piano, Bennett on bass, Grappone on drums and Bell on backing vocals. This is an excellent closer for an outstanding release. 

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E-H Records artist: Eliza Neals - Thunder In The House - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Thunder In The House, by Eliza Neals and I think that it's her best yet. Opening with Speedy Beady, a blues rocker, with a potent bottom, by Steve Lacross on drums and Doug Woem on bass give Eliza Neals a great stage to showcase her stellar vocals. Adding in Micheal Puwal on guitars, this is a potent opener. Lumbering, Blues Bombshell takes the form of a standard 8 bar with Neals wailing and Puwal playing dual slide lead guitars and adding Detroit Mike Hepner on B3 and grand piano and Justin Headley on drums. Unoriginal Bitch is a broke down blues rocker. Keep it simple, and with Neals on vocal and piano, Puwal on guitar, Woem on bass, Mark Leach on B3 and Headley on drums this is right up the middle. Wrapping the release is title track, Thunder In The House, with a dark, swampy feel. Neals both on lead and backing vocals creates a strong vocal platform, added to by Puwal who is really effective on slide and reverb saturated lead, Lacross on heavy toms, and Woem on bass. Strong closer. 

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Slide Records artist: Paul Boddy - Soul Gone Blu' - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soul Gone Blu', from Paul Boddy and it's a rocking blues party. Opening with One Hundred Years, Paul Boddy on vocal and guitar sets a cool rhythm with Jack Daley on bass, Aaron Comess on drums, Rob Clores on keys and warm backing vocals by Jessie Wagner and Lynn Lockamy. Chonnie-On-Chon is a great boogie blues with Mikey Jr. wailing on harmonica and slick slide work by Boddy. Funky, Cussin', Cryin' & Carryin' On, is a real cool track featuring Jessie on lead vocal and she really brings it and Boddy's slide work is fat toned and rich giving it a retro Elvin Bishop/Johnny V feel. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Little Willie John's Need Your Love So Bad excellent vocals by Boddy and rich slide work by Sonny Landreth. Warm backing vocals by Wagner and Lockamy adds a great feel to the overall track and Landreth takes it home with extremely nice slide soloing. Excellent closer. 

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Yellow Dog Records artist: Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Guy Davis - Fight On! True Blues Vol 2 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fight On! True Blues Vol 2, by Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Guy Davis and it's pure roots blues. Opening with We Are Almost Down To The Shore (Fight On) is written by Jimmy Strother and originally on banjo but adapted by Cory Harris to guitar, presented in a Piedmont finger style accompanying Harris on vocals. Solid opener. See Me When You Can is performed in Delta style by Guy Davis on vocal and acoustic guitar. His finger work is strong and confident and his vocals rich and sincere. Very nice. Harris wrote clever rag, What's That I Smell, with cool, laid back finger work on acoustic guitar and great vocal delivery by Harris. Alvin Youngblood Hart takes over on original composition, If The Blues Was Money. The track has just the right texture with authentic delta style guitar work and Hart's own vocals. Very cool. On Rev Gary Davis', I Belong To The Band, Harris' very strong vocals alone give this a new texture. Gary Davis' lower octave had it's own signature and Harris' higher octave is really quite nice with firm acoustic guitar picking. Guy Davis wraps the release with Elizabeth Cotten's Everything I Got s Done In Pawn. Davis reworked Cotten's Shake Sugaree adding additional verses and imagining himself as Blind Willie McTell on guitar. This is particularly successful with a jangly acoustic guitar. Strong closer. (In case you're wondering, yes, that's the legendary Jack Johnson on the cover). 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Bob Corritore & Friends - Ernestine Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ernestine Blues, from Bob Corritore & Friends and it's a big solid scoop of pure blues. Opening with Tony Coleman on vocal and guitar on How'd You Learn To Shake It Like That, Coleman has a great feel for Chicago style blues and Corritore is one of the best on harp on old Chicago style. Joined by Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar, Bob Stroger on bass, and Anthony Geraci on piano, this is a solid opener. Pat Thomas is featured on vocal and guitar on Big Fat Mama with Corritore adding choice harp riffs. This is a particularly strong track with authentic delta styling and Hooker like meter with no exact number of beats in a measure. Pure! Tia Carroll has the mic on Sam Cooke's Ernestine. With solid R&B styling and warm backing vocals by Eboni McDonald, Diamond Porter and Yolanda Tharrington, Doug James on sax, Geraci on piano, Bob Margolin on guitar, Stroger on bass, and Wes Starr on drums, this is a solid soulful addition. Sleepy John Estes' Trouble No More is up next and Willie Buck does a great job on lead vocal abut it really is a nice showcase for Corritore on harmonica. Carla Denise fronts on Troubles On Your Mind with crystal clear vocals and Ben Levin adds super piano work and really soulful harmonica work by Corritore. Just a note, Corritore's harmonica work is forward in the mix throughout this release and it really is a much better balance. Very nice. Charles Wilson leads on Sorry I Had To Leave You Behind, with Kid Ramos and Johnny Main on guitars and Corritore on harmonica. Mike Turturro sits in on bass and Brian Fahey rounds out the band on drums. Oscar Wilson is on vocal on Jimmy Reed's, Down In Mississippi with Corritore on harmonica, Margolin, and Smith on guitars, Geraci on piano, Starr on drums, and Stroger on bass. Wrapping the release is Teeny Tucker on blues rocker, Shoes. With Corritore giving it greater depth on harmonica, and backed by Starr, Geraci, Billy Flynn, Stroger and Margolin, a solid closer. 

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Ruf Records artist: Laura Chavez - My Voice - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the latest release, My Voice, by Laura Chavez, and it's a super blues rocker. Opening with a driving cover of CCR's Born On The Bayou, With Chavez grinding out the melody, Lea Worms playing over the top organ, Tomek Germann on bass and Explosive drumming by Marty Dodson, this is a powerful opener. Shot-Zee is a full on R&B track in the vein of Booker T ... a 70's rocker with heavy drums and bass, saturated organ and fiery guitars.  One of my favorite tracks on the release is sensitive blues, Wanderer. With Worms forming the melody on warm organ and Chavez literally screaming out a melodic interpretation on electric guitar with hints of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, this track is explosive. Excellent! Covering El Cascabel is a natural for Chavez who grew up in San Diego just minutes from the Mexican border, her father being a first generation Mexican American. El Cascabel is a Mariachi standard and Chavez picks up a nylon string guitar giving it a pure natural rhythm and surrounded by Works on organ, Antonio Econom on percussion, and solid bass line by Germann and Dodson on drums plays masterful lead on electric guitar. Very nice. Another stand out for me is surf flavored, Mamba Negra, with fat guitar rhythm and scorching, Latin flavored lead. Lush interpretation of the melody, surrounded by Econom on tom tom and organ, this track is terrific. Wrapping the release is La Llorona, a beautiful slow blues developed from a traditional Mexican song of the Weeping Woman. Chavez really knows how to knock a track out of the park and this rolls Peter Green and Roy Buchanan into one ball with quiet reverb saturated lead, volume swells, trem bends, fanning and all of the grace that one can milk from a melody. Beautiful closer. Highly recommended!

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