Lady A - Satisfyin' - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity  to review the most recent release, Satisfyin', from Lady A (The REAL Lady A) and it's cool funky and real. Opening with Whatever (You Do), an upbeat driving shuffle, Lady A is on top of the beat with her rich vocal, backed by John Oliver III on backing vocal and drums, Herman Brown on guitar, Paul Richardson on keys. High stepper, Miss Beula Mae has a great rumbling bass line by Oliver, drums and keys by Paul Richardson. When you listen to A it's an experience. You don't feel like you are listening to the radio but to a real person singing about her own stuff. Great! One of my favorite tracks on the release is Big Momma, with it's swagger. This track is all Lady A with no sugar coating. I love it! Wrapping the release is soul track, Heaven Help Us, a solid ballad that really shows off Lady A's rich lead vocal work. With backing vocals by Lady A and Roz Royster McCommon and cool key work by Oliver, this is a great closer for a strong release. 

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Lunaria Records artist: Misty Blues - One Louder - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Louder, by Misty Blue and it's solid. Opening with gospel style blues, A Long Hard Way, Gina Coleman on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Seth Fleischman on guitar, Ben Kohn on keys, Rob Tatten on drums, Bill Patriquin on bass, Aaron Dean on sax, and Wendy Lipp, Rebecca Mattson and Kathy Ryan on backing vocals. Powerful opener. Super voice, Big Llou Johnson joins Coleman on lead vocals on How The Blues Feels. This is a potent track with an attack quite like Cream's version of the Mississippi Sheik's Sitting on Top Of The World with really nice guitar work by Fleischman, a great bass line by Diego Monque, heavy drum work by Tatten and solid harmonica addition by Bob Stannard. With New Orleans rhythm, Seal Of Fate really gets moving. Aaron Dean on sax, Chris Rand on bari sax, David Vittone on accordion and Tatten on drums carry the meat of the track and spice by Kohn on keys and Fleischmann on guitar add the hot spice. Very cool. Sassy blues number, I'm A Grinder, really digs in nicely wioth excellent solos by Patriquin on trumpet, Dean on sax, Fleischmann on guitar and Kohn on keys. Very nice. Wrapping the release is funky, Take A Long Ride with strong vocals by Coleman and absolutely wild solos by Joe Louis Walker on guitar and sax by Aaron Dean. Excellent closer. 

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Provogue artist: Eric Gales - Crown - New release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Crown, from Eric Gales and it's powerful. Opening with Death of Me, a solid blues rocker with metal overtones. With a heavy drum stamped bottom by Greg Morrow and Lemar Carter this track has real swagger. Gales has never been bashful about throwing heavy guitar riffs out there and this track is no exception. His Jimi influence is ever present but not overtelling, backed by Joe Bonamassa on rhythm guitar, Josh Smith on rhythm guitar and Michael Rhodes on bass and backing vocals by LaDonna Gales. Very cool. I really like soul track, Stand Up with it's radio quality. Gales really shines on vocals on this track with it's super melody and with it's rich bass work and backing vocals by Jade McCrae, this track is strong. Another track with a heavy bottom is Survivor and it's lumbering feel lays open a grand floor for ultra fluid soloing by Gales. A lush guitar chord laden intro on Too Close To The Fire really puts you in mind of SRV's style but Gales music is always Gales music. There is a definite maturity in his newer music with more structure and focused guitar attack. Holding back throughout the track and allowing it to develop, he opens the floodgates and unleashes the beast for a high energy crescendo ala Pink Floyd with female backing vocal by Ladonna. Very nice. I really like Take Me Just As I Am and it's tribute to the super funky Curtis Mayfield like sound. With it's thumping bass and lead vocal by LaDonna and horn backing, this track is terrific! Funky, Let Me Start With This has a great feel with synthesized guitar riffs with great feel. Gales' vocals are strong ... this track could easily be the radio track for this release. I Found Her is a strong ballad with a gentle approach and sensitive delivery but watch when Gales drops the hammer on guitar...dynamite! Wrapping the release is I Gotta Go, a high energy R&B style track that would be a strong closer for a live show. With introductions, and a power punch, this is a hot closer leaving you wanting more. This is my favorite Eric Gales release to date.

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Lightning In A Bottle Records artist: The Sugar Roots - Savage's Life - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Savage's Life, from The Sugar Roots and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with Going Nowhere Fast, a solid boogie, Chad Rupp on lead vocal and harmonica really pumps it up with excellent guitar support from JT Thomas, Samuel Gendler on piano, Timmer Blakely on bass and Chandler Bowerman on drums. Excellent opener. Title track, Savage's Life is really impressive with Rapp laying down some of the most supple vocals I've heard in quite a while. I've always been partial to Bobby Tench (Jeff Beck Group) and Rupp, who's voice is cut from the same cloth is great. With only the minimal of backing instrumental, a tight little guitar solo by Blakely and great backing vocals by Melanie Owen, Lisa Mann, Karen Lovely and Rae Gordon, I love this track. Funky, Rain Checkin', is really cool with a bouncy bottom courtesy of Blakely and Bowerman and Lloyd Jones really shines on guitar with hot horn backing by Chris Mercer on sax and Joe McCarthy on trumpet. Bluesy, It's A Sin is another great track showcasing Rupp's vocals, McCarthy and Mercer on horns and Rupp's own guitar riffs tearing it up. Another infectious track is Something Wicked This Way Comes with it's droning bass line paired with Rupp's vocal and melodic guitar lead, and harmonica work by Johnny Wheels. Wrapping the release is smoking hot, 1 4 5 Boogie with Rupp rolling it up tight on vocal and harmonica, chased by JT on guitar and Gendler on organ. This release is really a lot of fun and highly recommended.  

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Floating Records artist: The Country Well - Drink More - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Drink More, from The Country Well and it's an interesting change of pace.    Opening with light country influenced, Gifted Spirit, featuring Graham Guest on vocal and guitar, and Bob Hemenger on sax. Cool opener. Another country pop track (think JJ Cale) with an interesting weave is Wigwam. Guest again leads the way on guitar and lead vocal, backed by Lyle Evans on bass, and Josh Kelly on drums. With a Bootsy Collins like bass bottom by Evans, and a firm cowbell by Kelly, Big Country Love is a cool groove. Michael Batdorf has the lead on vocal and Adam Rossi on keyboards really dig in. one of my favorite tracks on the release is ballad, Drinkin' and Smokin' featuring michela French on lead vocal and a nice sax solo by Hemenger. Wrapping the release is title track, Drink More, a cool, bluegrass track featuring Michela French on lead vocal. With Guest on guitar, Mark Karan on guitar, Don Zimmer on guitar, and Bill Panks on violin, a strong closer. 

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Mukthiland Records artist: Fred Hostetler - Fortuna Redux - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fortuna Redux, from Fred Hostetler and it's a cool slide of the blues. Fortuna Redux was a form of the goddess Fortuna in the Roman Empire who oversaw a return, as from a long or perilous journey. Opening with Taming The Wolf 2, Hostetler uses a modified Hill Country construction style with a droning guitar/bass tone driving the track with overlayed electric guitar riffs and a tight drum beat, and Howling Wolf like howls. Actually very cool. Solid melodic construction on Rain On My Window Pane 2 anchors an acoustic blues and vocals with electric slide guitar wailing in overlays and fine vocals by Hostetler. Very nice. Haunting ballad, Lady Luck Fortuna Redux is another solid composition with a strong melody. This track is distressed yet very likable with a nice mix of slide guitar and organ. Wrapping the release is driving blues rocker, I'm A New Man, which is so lively that it sounds celebratory. Good closer for a cool release. 

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Music Maker Foundation: Listener's Circle Volume 50 - Waiting For A Train - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Listener's Circle Vol. 50 Waiting For A Train, from Music Maker Foundation and it's very cool. Opening with Railroad Blues, J.W. Warren accompanies his own vocal on acoustic guitar. This is a very classic style blues performance and great opener. Another terrific performance from Carl Rutherford playing guitar and vocal on Shasta Daylight with it's Bluegrass styling gives the release another dimension. Very nice. Two Trains Runnin' is done to perfection by John Dee Holeman with his soulful vocals and just the right amount of echo on his electric guitar. Taj Mahal performs Spike Driver Blues in classic Mahal style with piedmont finger picking and story telling pace. Very nice. George Higgs on harmonica and vocal performs Ruby, totally unaccompanied. Excellent! Playing banjo along with his vocals, Samuel Turner Stevens lays down Railroading and Gambling. With it's jangle and symmetry, it adds real texture to this set. My favorite track on the release is surprise addition, Night Train To Glory by Pat Wilder with it's Steve Marriott / Humble Pie approach. Very cool. Contemporary blues track, Riding The Blues Train, features Delta Blues Hog on guitar and vocal. A really solid track with organ, bass and drums, the most orchestrated track on the release and another of my favorites. Wrapping the release is Captain Luke on Freight Train Boogie with his mouth harp. Cool closer for a real solid release.

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Ruf Records artist: Katie Henry - On My Way - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (January 28, 2022), One My Way, by Katie Henry and it's a cool helping of pop, rock and blues. Opening with title track, On My Way, Katie Henry on lead vocal, guitar and piano shows why her first release, High Road was nominated by Blues Blast and IBMA  and ended up on the 2021 Blues Caravan. With it's contemporary take on a delta riff, blended with a rock beat, this is a solid opener. Another track with a delta style riff, woven into a contemporary blues rocker is Bury You with Antar Goodwin on bass, Ben Rice on guitar, Kurt Thum on piano and organ, and Greg Wieczorek on drums. Rocker, Got Me Good has a driving beat and radio styling with vocals along the lines of Stevie Nicks without Nicks' signature warble. With warm organ backing by Thum, the definite pick for top pop track. Harmonica ace, Giles Robson sits in on Too Long, a bottom heavy blues rocker. His melodic lead along with Henry's vocal lead, woven with Thum's organ and Henry and Rice on guitar gives the track a balanced feel. Wrapping the release is western flavored, Catch Me If You Can with a great melody and nice slide work by Goodwin, over a piano and organ base and tight drumming by Wieczorek. Solid closer for Henry's second entry. 

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Continental Blue Heaven artist: Shawn Pittman - Make It Right! - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Make It Right!, from Shawn Pittman and it's terrific! Opening with a great blues track, Done Tole You So! and it's raunchy, grinding guitar tone sets the groundwork for this, one of the best blues cds I've heard this year. A droning, Mississippi Hill country style saturates this track with Pittman on lead guitar and vocal, Erkan Ozdemir on bass and Levent Ozdemir on drums. Really hot! Lumbering, Finger On The Trigger blends Albert King style guitar riffs with a heavy foot and plenty of grit. Super! Slow blues, How Long has great bones with strong vocals, over driven chords and saturated lead guitar showing excellent phrasing and poise. James Brown's Cold Sweat get's an Albert King style rework showing that Pittman isn't all grime and grit but fleet fingered finesse. Excellent instrumental! Settling back into a more traditional Chicago shuffle on Bobby Bland's Woke Up Screaming, Pittman really rolls it. His vocals are strong and his guitar work engaging. Another slower track, Fair Weather Friend, is a perfect balance of vocal and guitar lead by Pittman with a droning guitar style and double stop soloing. Very cool. Wrapping the release is high energy, I'm Done with Hound Dog Taylor like, freewheeling slide guitar and pace.

I gotta say, this is a strong release making a high water mark for anything else I listen to soon! 

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Shuttle Music artist: Jay Gordon's Blues Venom - Slide Rules - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Slide Rules, from Jay Gordon's Blues Venom and it is really hot. Opening with Dripping Blues, a smoky, 12 bar number, Gordon is right there on the end of the limb with his flame thrower on full. This guy plays guitar like we all love to drive, foot on the gas...wide open. His vocals are really in the style of Steve Marriott (a great thing) and his slide touch is firm and full. Backed by Sharon Butcher on bass and Tom Parham on drums this is a solid opener. Another super slide number, Pain, is a solid showcase for Gordon and his slide guitar. Think Rod Price (Foghat) or Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown) for tone and sound. This guy definitely has it. Kicking it into gear, Lost In Time is a great rocker with more super slide work by Gordon. I don't want to make this seem like a one man band because the rhythm section is really solid but Gordon really does light it up. Very cool. Flipping over to an electric boogie, Lucky 13 is another super hot track. Gordon has a great voice for this kind of electric blues rock and with his power trio going and his slide firing, this band is on fire. Another great blues rocker is VooDoo Boogie with it's rocking boogie beat. Butcher's driving bass line really drives this tank and Gordon's searing slide work just mows them down. Robert Johnson's Travelin Riverside Blues gives a look at Gordon on acoustic guitar and his finger work is quite strong, intermixed with acoustic slide. This is great! A more traditional slow blues, Pure Grain Alcohol, shows Gordon on another detour from full on slide work and features Gordon playing traditional electric lead in response to his own vocals. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Shorty Medlock's Train Train and Gordon does a great job of keeping that southern power blues feel of Blackfoot's release. Gordon has put together a great set here and if you love that fat screaming slide guitar sound, (and who doesn't)… check this out! 

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Big Legal Mess artist: Jimbo Mathus - Band Of Storms - New release review

I just received the newest release, Band of Storms (May 6, 2016), from Jimbo Mathus and it's off the hook. If you read my site regularly you know that Mathus is one of my favorite writers/performers but that doesn't mean that he gets a pass. He has big boots to fill after turning out Jimmy The Kid a few years back. JTK is a release that all Mathus releases will be unfairly judged by, unfairly in that it is one of my favorite all time recordings. Mathus never fails to please and this release is no exception. If you ever put one of Jimbo's releases and you don't like it, and you like "real" music, not just canned music, set it aside and listen to it again in a few weeks. This stuff is the real deal and I can't say enough how good this stuff is! Opening with Gringo Man, Mathus cranks up a rockin country blues with a fat horn section filling in the back. Jimbo has such a casual delivery that literally sucks you right into the music. His vocals are fun and friendly and his guitar riffs are free wheelin and wild. Excellent! Can't Get Much Higher has a New Orleans feel with rolling piano and sweet, sassy sax work. Jimbo knows how to milk the juice out of a track in a way that to me was previously exclusive to Elvin Bishop. Excellent! On a Johnny Cash bent original, Let's Play With Fire, Mathus plays up that early country rock fusion that made Cash successful and does it well. This track is all Mathus in heart, co written with Robert Earl Reed but with a Cash style. Dramatic ballad, Stop Your Crying, has a really cool melody and Mathus' trademark western sound. This is one of my favorite tracks on the release with searing steel guitar over the backing. Very cool! Massive Confusion has that great Ramones, garage styling and we all know Mathus knows how to play that punky garage raw rock. Lofi guitar work and solid drumming give Jimbo the floor for his vocal serenade. Excellent! Wayward Wind has the simplicity of an old country folk tune. A sweet steel guitar solo and Jimbo perfectly clocked "Looka Here" gives this track just the right feel. Yes it can all be excellent! Opening with a dobro slide, Slow Down Sun, keeps it simple and pure. This is one of those tracks that bridges folk and blues with a really nice melody. It's trademark Jimbo and has a quiet elegance. I had an advance copy of this release a few weeks ago and had listened to it a few times while i worked. Last weekend a tune popped in my ear and I kept hearing it over and over. I could not for the life of me nail what it was. Then it popped. It's off of Jimbo's new release. Keep It Together is a very simple little track with simple accompaniment but a beautiful melody. With rudimentary drums, acoustic guitar and eloquent electric overlays, this track will be your earworm.. just listen! Wrapping the release is Catahoula, a great country reel with light mandolin and Jimbo hootin and hollerin. This is a great track and really caps a terrific release. I love every track on this release after only a few listens and I rarely ever say that about anything. Absolutely terrific!



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33rd Blues Music Awards Presented By The Blues Foundation

Acoustic Album
Conversations in Blue – David Maxwell & Otis Spann
Brand New Eyes – Doug MacLeod
Troubadour Live – Eric Bibb
Misery Loves Company – Mary Flower
Shake ‘Em on Down – Rory Block

Acoustic Artist
David Maxwell
Doug MacLeod
Eric Bibb
Guy Davis
Mary Flower
Rory Block

Album of the Year
Chicago Blues A Living History The (R)evolution Continues – Billy Boy Arnold, John Primer, Billy Branch, Lurrie Bell, Carlos Johnson
Rock and a Hard Place – Eugene Hideaway Bridges
The Lord is Waiting and the Devil is Too – Johnny Sansone
Evening – Sugar Ray & the Bluetones
Medicine – Tab Benoit
Revelator – Tedeschi Trucks Band

B.B. King Entertainer
Candye Kane
Lil’ Ed
Ruthie Foster
Tab Benoit
Tommy Castro

Band
Bo-Keys
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials
Sugar Ray & the Bluetones
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Tommy Castro Band
Trampled Under Foot

Best New Artist Debut
Choice Cuts – Big Pete
Bad Girl – Demetria Taylor
Runaway – Samantha Fish
Leave the Light On – Sena Ehrhardt
The Mighty Mojo Prophets – The Mighty Mojo Prophets

Contemporary Blues Album
Unconditional – Ana Popovic
Don’t Explain – Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa
The Skinny – Ian Siegal & the Youngest Sons
The Lord is Waiting and the Devil is Too – Johnny Sansone
Medicine – Tab Benoit
Tommy Castro Presents The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue–Live! – Various Artists

Contemporary Blues Female Artist
Ana Popovic
Bettye LaVette
Candye Kane
Janiva Magness
Susan Tedeschi

Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Joe Louis Walker
Johnny Sansone
JP Soars
Tab Benoit
Tommy Castro

DVD
An Evening at Trasimeno Lake – Ana Popovic (ArtisteXclusive)
Live at Montreux 2010 – Gary Moore (Eagle Rock)
Live At Antone’s – Ruthie Foster (Blue Corn)
The Emporium to the Orpheum – Trampled Under Foot (Redwood)
All Jams on Deck - Various Artists (Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise & Mug-Shot Productions)
Play the Blues – Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton (Rhino)

Gibson Guitar Award
Derek Trucks
Duke Robillard
Kirk Fletcher
Lurrie Bell
Michael Burks

Historical Album
Bear Family – Texas Flyer 1974-76 (Freddie King)
Chess – Smokestack Lightning/The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960 (Howlin’ Wolf)
Delmark – Hoodoo Man Blues (Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band with Buddy Guy)
Electro-Fi – Teardrops Are Falling – Live in 1983 (George “Harmonica” Smith)
Virgin – The Essential Modern Records Collection (Etta James)

Instrumentalist-Bass
Biscuit Miller
Danielle Schnebelen
Larry Taylor
Michael “Mudcat” Ward
Patrick Rynn

Instrumentalist-Drums
Chris Layton
Jimi Bott
Kenny Smith
Robb Stupka
Stanton Moore
Tony Braunagel

Instrumentalist-Harmonica
Charlie Musselwhite
Kim Wilson
Lazy Lester
Rick Estrin
Sugar Ray Norcia

Instrumentalist-Horn
Al Basile
Doug James
Keith Crossan
Sax Gordon
Terry Hanck

Instrumentalist-Other
Ben Prestage, diddley bow
Lionel Young, violin
Otis Taylor, banjo
Rich Del Grosso, mandolin
Sonny Rhodes, lap steel guitar

Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female)
Diunna Greenleaf
Maria Muldaur
Nora Jean
Ruthie Foster
Tracy Nelson

Pinetop Perkins Piano Player
David Maxwell
Eden Brent
Jon Cleary
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne
Marcia Ball
Victor Wainwright

Rock Blues Album
2120 South Michigan Avenue – George Thorogood & the Destroyers
Dust Bowl – Joe Bonamassa
Greyhound – Mike Zito
Shiver – Too Slim and the Taildraggers
Man in Motion – Warren Haynes

Song
“Appreciate What You Got” – Terry Hanck (Look Out! – Terry Hanck)
“Back to the Blues” – Hadden Sayers (Hard Dollar- Hadden Sayers)
“Memphis Still Got Soul” – Bob Trenchard & Johnny Rawls (Memphis Still Got Soul – Johnny Rawls)
“Thank You for Giving Me the Blues” – Grady Champion, Zac Harmon & Chris Troy (Dreamin’ – Grady Champion)
“The Lord is Waiting the Devil is Too” – Johnny Sansone (The Lord is Waiting and the Devil is Too – Johnny Sansone)
“The Older I Get the Better I Was” – Joe Shelton (The Older I Get the Better I Was – Big Joe Shelton)

Soul Blues Album
Got to Get Back! – Bo-Keys
Show You a Good Time – Bobby Rush
Rock and a Hard Place – Eugene Hideaway Bridges
Dreamin’ – Grady Champion
Memphis Still Got Soul – Johnny Rawls

Soul Blues Female Artist
Alexis P. Suter
Denise LaSalle
Jackie Johnson
Sharrie Williams
Sista Monica Parker

Soul Blues Male Artist
Bobby Rush
Curtis Salgado
Eugene Hideaway Bridges
Johnny Rawls
Otis Clay

Traditional Blues Album
Chicago Blues A Living History The (R)evolution Continues – Billy Boy Arnold, John Primer, Billy Branch, Lurrie Bell, Carlos Johnson
Trying To Hold On – Diunna Greenleaf
You Better Listen – Lazy Lester
Evening – Sugar Ray & the Bluetones
Victim of the Blues – Tracy Nelson

Traditional Blues Male Artist
Charlie Musselwhite
John Primer
Lazy Lester
Mac Arnold
Magic Slim