Stony Plain Records artist: The Duke Robillard Band - They Called It Rhythm & Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, They Called It Rhythm & Blues, by The Duke Robillard Band,  and it's another stellar performance by the Duke and his crew. Opening with swing blues, Here I'm Is, Chris Cote on lead vocal really does a nice job with excellent fluid guitar lead by Robillard, and solid backing by Bruce Bears on keys, Marty Ballou on bass, Mark Teixeira on drums and Doug James on sax. Fools Are Getting Scarcer, James really does a great job stepping out on bari and tenor sax solos over a hot R&B feel. Excellent! Kim Wilson takes the lead on Tell Me Why with his trademark vocals and solid harmonica work. Robillard's guitar lead is impeccable and the band is solid. John Hammond is up front on Homeless Blues with his delta based vocal and playing style. I really like Hammond and am glad to see him on this release. With distinctive drum work by Teixeira and piano by Bears, this track is one of my favorites. Freddy King's Someday After Awhile, is a real showcase for both Cote and Robillard with exceptional vocal lead and plenty of room for Duke to stretch. Very nice. Kim Wilson does a rework on Guitar Slim's Things I Used To Do, The Things I Forgot To Do,  and Wilson works it nicely. Duke's guitar soloing really captures the styling of Slim and the piano work of Bears is spot on, with reinforcement by James and Mark Earley on sax. Very cool. Wrapping the release is hot instrumental jam, Swingin' For Four Bills, featuring really nice front work by Duke, Sue Foley and Mike Flanigin.  This is a super track and great closer for Robillard on this newest release. 

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Van Der Linden Recordings artist: Mississippi Heat - Madeleine - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Madeleine, from Mississippi Heat and it a packed solid with blues and blues drenched music. Opening with driving blues rocker, Silent Too Long, Brian Quinn on bass and Terrence Williams set the pace, with Giles Corey laying down some hot guitar riffs and great lead vocals by Carl Weathersby, B3 by Chris Cameron and excellent harmonica riffs by Pierre Lacocque. Solid opener. On Chicago style blues, Uninvited Guest, guitar master Lurrie Bell has the mic and lead guitar duties. With Kenny Smith on drums, this track sets up nicely to showcase Lacocque's harmonica mastery. Daneshia Hamilton really takes charge with excellent vocals on Ridin' On A Hit with backing vocals by Nanette Frank, Diane Madison and Mae Koen. With a super bass line by Quinn and strong harmonica work by Lacocque, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Michael Dotson gets the spotlight on Everybody Do Something with excellent vocals and strong slide guitar. An extended harmonica solo on this track by Lacocque really adds a super edge. Very cool. Title track, Madeleine, is an excellent instrumental, lead by the melodic improvisation of Lacocque on harmonica. Bell adds a really nice lead guitar solo of his own over the backing of Quinn, Cameron on piano and Kenny Smith on drums. Excellent! Wrapping the release is shuffle, Trouble with the rich vocal lead of Inetta Visor. A great walking bass line by Quinn, fluid harmonica work by Lacocque, Cameron on B3 and strong backing vocal by Frank, Madison and Koen makes this an excellent closer for a strong release. 

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Blue Heart Records artist: Bobby Gentilo - Gentilo - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gentilo, from Bobby Gentilo, and it's a solid blend of blues, rock, pop, soul and blues. Opening with Disease, a pop rocker this release is off to a good start with a great melody and rhythm along the lines of Eagles of Death Metal. With Bobby on lead vocal on vocal, bass, keys and guitar, and Jason Hoffheins on drums this is a cool opener. Soul soaked, Tell Me is another track with real commercial potential. Rich vocals by Bobby, B3 by Benjie Porecki, Hoffheins on drums, and Logan Kurtek on sax makes for one of those that sticks in your brain. Hoffheins lays down a snappy drum rhythm on Ghost and with Bobby on guitar and Porecki on keys, this track has the feel of an updated Hill Country blues. Very nice. Shifting gears, The Greatest, has a real R&B feel with smooth vocals and strong bass by Bobby and tight drum rhythms by Hoffheins. Slow blues, Treat Me So Mean is a nice track with blues roots. Bobby on guitar and vocal, supported by Porecki on keys makes for another solid entry.  My favorite track on the release is Tire Fire with a real Hill Country flavor. Featuring Tony Ryder on bass and Bobby on guitar this track really grinds in. Excellent. Wrapping the release is funky bottomed, Higher,  with Chris Engel on drums, Juan Guillermo Aguillar on percussion, Dale Wise on drums and Bobby on guitar and vocal. maintaining the basic stripped down Hill Country like rhythm, this is a strong closer for a solid release.  

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Eliza Neals: Badder To The Bone - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Badder To The Bone, from Eliza Neals and its a power blues rocker. Opening with United We Stand  with heavy tom tom's on a Bo Diddley beat by Jeffrey Fowlkes and slide guitar by Michel Puwal, Neals is on a roll. On slow blues, Queen of the Nile, Neals shows real soul on vocals, playing piano and taking names. Backed by Jason Kott on bass and Tim Grogan on drums, and featuring Lance Lopez laying down some excellent blues riffs on guitar and Peter Keys on B3, this is an excellent track. With a tango rhythm and nicely blended vocals, the stylistic guitar work of Puwal makes Bucket of Tears a real standout. Soulful, Heathen, drips with southern soul under the vocal control of Neals and with the thick B3 and piano work of John Gavin. Steve Winwood's Can't Find My Way Home is always great to hear and Neals puts her special touch on it with firm vocal lead and nice backing, topped with strong guitar lead work by Lopez. Wrapping the release is Queen of the Nile II, a foreshortened rip of the earlier track but still tasty and with excellent guitar riffs by Lopez. Excellent closer for a tasty release. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Albert Castiglia - I Got Love - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Got Love, from Albert Castiglia and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with title track, I Got Love, Castiglia is upfront with solid vocals and his aggressive guitar style, backed by Justine Tompkins on bass, Lewis Stephens on keys and with power drumming from Ephraim Lowell. Sanctuary seems a natural for the radio track with it's memorable melody and restrained feel. Castiglia's vocals are real nice and his guitar riffs just right. Double Down is a really cool blues rocker with a James Brown beat and some really tasty guitar riffs. Whew! Pulling out the slide on shuffle, Long Haul Daddy, Castiglia really rips it. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the release and one that will leave you wanting more. Funky, Depression Blues will make you sweat with it's aggressive bass line and bottom and full out soloing by Castiglia. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Take My Name Out Of Your Mouth sounding like the echo that happened before the event. With it's slower pace, poise and solid vocals, Castiglia sets up the winding guitar solo nicely and spikes it. This is a real solid release with hot guitar throughout. 

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Nola Blue Records artist: Trudy Lynn - Golden Girl - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Golden Girl, from Trudy Lynn and I really like it. Opening with Tell Me and it's cool rhythm, Trudy Lynn really hits the road running lending no clues that she's reached that golden 75 mile marker. With the tasty guitar soloing of Yates McKendree, backing vocals of Teresa James, Brannen Temple on drums, Kevin McKendree on drums and Terry Wilson on bass this is a solid opener. Heavy footed If Your Phone Don't Ring, will have you slinking around in your seat and Lynn's vocals are really strong. Adding to the mix is Steve Krase on harmonica and real nice slide work by Yates. Boogie track, Trouble With Love is a grate addition featuring Anson Funderburgh on guitar, Krase on harmonica and strong low vocal backing by Wilson. Super. Funky, R&B style blues, Live With Yourself plays really well in Lynn's vocal wheelhouse and she drains every drop of soul out of this track. With horn backing by Darrell Leonard and some really nice guitar work by Yates, this may be my favorite track on the release. Low slung, I Just Can't Say Goodbye is another terrific track with not only strong vocals by Lynn but great solo style by Funderburgh. Very nice. Wrapping the release is straight up blues ballad, Life Goes On with excellent guitar work by Funderburgh and particularly warm organ work by Kevin. This is a strong closer and my favorite Lynn release in years. A must check out! 

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-Sandy Haley - Feels Like Freedom - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Feels Like Freedom, from Sandy Haley, and it's a cool blend of blues, pop and rock. Opening with title track, Feels Like Freedom, vocalist, Sandy Haley gets into a contemporary pop rock groove, with the wailing sax work of Joe Sublett and Teddy Andreadis on keys, backed by pat McClure on guitar, Reggie mcBride on bass and Tony Brunagel on drums.  Bluesy ballad, Love Me Right gives Haley the opportunity to dig in vocally, with tasty guitar riffs by McClure cool trumpet work by Les Lovitt with Nick Lane on trombone and piano by Jeff Paris. Funky, Run For Shelter adds another dimension with Cortes laying in a solid bottom, Andreadis on keys and Braunagel on drums.  Wrapping the release is up tempo shuffle/boogie, Dirty Dog with the band really hitting the groove. With a snappy drum line by Braunagel, rock guitar riffs from McClure and Andreadis on harmonica, and backing vocals by Maxayn Lewis  and Kudisan Kai Regalto this is a solid closer. 

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Blue Heart Records artist: Mike Guldin - Tumblin' - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release,  Tumblin', by Mike Guldin and it's a cool mix of blues boogie and country. Opening with title track, Tumblin', Mike Guldin on lead guitar, backed by Billy Ware on drums, CJ Clark on bass and with some great organ by Tim Hooper these guys are jammin. Taj Mahal's She Caught The Katy really sounds great with Guldin on lead vocal and guitar with Hooper on piano and organ, with a great bass line by Bill Sharrow and featuring some real nice slide by Bill Thatcher. Very nice. Two stepping, Raise a Ruckus is a cool country rocker and features James Pennebaker on slide guitar and Kevin McKendree on B3 and Tim Hooper on piano. Another country flavored rocker, You Just Can't Lose, has solid radio appeal with a stomping rhythm and a strong hook. With Guldin on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Sharrow on bass, Hooper on piano and Wear on drums, this is a strong track. Wrapping the release is Waterfall, a quiet instrumental featuring Guldin on acoustic guitar, Thatcher on acoustic guitar and Sharrow on bass. Solid closer for a cool release. 

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Fullerton Gold Records artist: Bubba and The Big Bad Blues - Drifting - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Drifting, by Bubba and The Big Bad Blues and it's a great blues rocker. Opening with shuffle, I Want To Make Love To You Baby, Christopher Clerc on lead vocal and guitar has really nicely blended the styles of BB King and SRV to create his own soulful groove. Joined by Mike Barry on bass, Mike Finnigan on organ, Rick Solem on piano, Tony Braunagel on drums, Richard Rosenberg on trombone,  Joe Sublett on sax and Les Lovitt on trumpet, this is a full orchestral rocking sound. Title track, Drifting, is a strong, soulful ballad with excellent vocals and beautiful, shimmering guitar riffs, interwoven into a field of rich horn and key saturated music. Brilliant. Rocking boogie track, She's Your Problem Now, gets a super groove moving with excellent vocal and guitar by Clerc super organ work by Finnigan and tight work by Jason Lozano on drums and Johnny Bazz on bass. I Own The Road has a driving rock and roll beat highlighted by Rick Solem on piano and Clerc really cuts loose with some terrific rocking guitar riffs. Really nice. Wrapping the release is a quiet ballad, My Love, featuring Clerc on vocal and acoustic guitar, backed by Jacob Dupre on organ and piano, Doug Swanson on bass, and Nick D'Virgilio on drums. Keeping the track instrumentally low key really allows Clerc's electric guitar soloing to really sing making his a real solid closer for a strong new release. 

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Mercedes Nicole - Constellation - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Constellation, from Mercedes Nicole, one of Seattle top performers. Opening with Ellington's I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues, Nicole on lead vocal shows her own styling on the cover, with a real nice piano solo by Jake Sele and backed by Kevin McCarthy who put up a solid bass solo, D'Vonne Lewis on drums and a cool trumpet solo by Jay Thomas. On lively shuffle, Your Love, Nicole really seems to float on the music Evan Flory-Barnes on bass, Sele on organ, Lewis on drums and Jerry Wirkkala on guitar. An interesting take on BB King's The Thrill Is Gone is my favorite track on the release with a sway rhythm with strong solos from Sele on organ, Craig Hoyer on piano, and Flory-Barnes on bass and Lewis on drums. Ballad, This Bitter End is Nicole's best vocal showcase on the release, also being the track with the most commercial potential with the addition of Yun-En Liu on violin and cool piano backing by Sele. Wrapping the release is Johnny Mercer's Candy with it's smooth club feel. Nicole really gets into the groove on this one and Sele's piano work along with Thomas'  sax lead makes this an excellent closer.

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PieHole Records artist: Bad Daddy - It's A Mad Mad Bad Dad World - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It's A Mad Mad Bad Dad World, by Bad Daddy and it has a cool approach. Opening with Blues At Home, Paul Waring and Pete Galanis join again for a new release. Blues At Home is an adventurous blues rocker with signature vocals by Waring (in the vein of Warren Haynes or Jim Dewar) and a great jamming sound. With backing by Elton Jaan on Hammond, Ari Seder on bass and Jason Edwards on drums this is a solid opener. Just My Luck is one of my favorite tracks on the release with stinging guitar work, a lulling Hammond, bass, guitar vamp and super vocals. Very nice. Pork Pie Hat is a cool, Boogaloo rocker with tight drum rhythms and organ saturated backing under the funky vocals of Waring and backing vocals by Andrea Miologos and Bree Gordon. This Mother's A Miracle is another of my favorites on the release with it's lightly salted funk rocker beat and shimmery guitar riffs. Interwoven guitar, drum, bass and organ riffs give the track the feeling of a nicely woven fabric rather than a simple track. Waring's lead vocal on the track really work stand up nicely.  Wrapping the release is Where You Been So Long is a cool R&B track with just a touch of country. Waring's laid back vocals really work nicely over the groove of Jaan and Edwards and a tasty blues fused guitar solo gives the track the zing it needs. Solid closer. 

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Hurricane Ruth : Live At 3rd and Lindsley - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live At 3rd and Lindsley from Hurricane Ruth and it's got real swagger. Opening with Roll Little Sister, Ruth shows "her take no prisoners" attack with her raw, energetic vocals, joined by Scott Holt on slide and Nick Nguyen guitars, Calvin Johnson on bass, Lewis Stephens on keys and drum master Tom Hambridge driving the train. Strong opener. Dirty Blues really has enough grime on it to be a Keith Richards deal. Ruth knows how to work it and Holt's slide work combined with Hambridge's drum work makes this a firm contender. Slow blues, Faith in Me takes Ruth out of her classic blues rocker stance and into a more soulful mode. Holt steps up with a solid guitar solo, with some real nice phrasing, joined by Stephens on piano. Cool track and obviously a crowd pleaser. Fenton Robinson's (Peppermint Harris) As the Years Go Passing By is up next and features Ruth teaming up with ex Wet Willie and Jeff Beck featured vocalist, Jimmy Hall on vocal who also adds harmonica. This track has some great tension with Hall and Ruth on vocal setting up Hall and Holt for soloing. Very cool. Johnson really leads the way with a thumping bass line on I've Got To Use My Imagination. Ruth takes this high stepper by the throat and handles it like a pro. Holt lays in some real nice guitar lead making this another crowd favorite. Wrapping the release is Dance Dance Norma Jean, a romping boogie with plenty of bottom. Holt steps up with a cool solo but this track is really Ruth leading the party making this a great closer. 

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Dixiefrog Records artist: Popa Chubby - Emotional Gangster - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Emotional Gangster, from Popa Chubby and it's a cool, aggressive blues rocker. Opening with driving, Tonight I'm Gonna Be The Man, Popa Chubby rips on slide over a rumbling beat. With tandem vocals he sets the pace and charging drums keep the tension. A cool, bluesy melody and blues rooted slide riffs saturate the track. Solid opener.  On Morganfield's Hoochie Coochie Man, Chubby gives the blues classic his own twist, retaining the bluesy roots but interjecting just a taste or rock. With a droning bass line he never gets to fast but he does take the time to show his chops on Water's original phrasing. Very nice. Harmonica wizard Jason Ricci sits in on Save The Best For Last, a low slung shuffle with a Jimmy Reed feel. Chubby really lays on the beat giving it a pronounced lope and his vocals are prime. Ricci and Chubby trade phrases making this one of my favorites on the release. Elmore James' Dust My Broom fits into this set nicely with all of the slide and Chubby does his riffs with gusto. With that perfect tempo that makes you stomp your heel, Chubby locks, loads and fires... very cool. My choice for the radio track on the release is I'm The Dog with it's pounding boogie rhythm and great hook (I'm The Dog). Break out guitar work really kicks this one through the uprights. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Master IP (a CD only bonus track), a 6 plus minute blues jam that really seems to float. laying out some real nice riffs and soaring lead, a strong closer for a strong release. 

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Dark Idol Music Artist: Micki Free - Turquoise Blue - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Turquoise Blue, from Micki Free, and it's a fiery blues based rocker. Opening with Ridin' - 420, Micki Free unleashes his hard driving rocking sound with solid lead vocal and guitar, backed by ken "Mojo Man" Riley on bass, Mark "Muggy Do" Leach on keys, Soaring "Hawk" Lopez on really driving drums and Trish Bowden on backing vocals. His lead work is white hot with plenty of flare for a power opener. Heavy Mercy opens with a great guitar riff and builds with a droning bass line and relentless, soaring, overdriven guitar. A ripping cover of Hendrix's All Along The Watch Tower gives Free a "rock standard" to unleash on and he does a real nice job. Slipping into a blues groove on Spring Fever, Free takes a shuffle approach with stinging guitar riffs over a guitar/keys melody and tight underpinnings by Lopez and Riley. Another slice of the pie, World On Fire, features Andy Vargas on lead vocal and Free and gang in a Latin fused rocker with a strong melody and nicely phrased guitar lead over excellent drums and percussion featuring Cindy Blackman and Karl Perazzo. Wrapping the release is ballad, Blue Memories with an acoustic guitar framework and solid backing vocals by Bowden and overlaid electric guitar lead over the melody making for a solid radio track and closer for the release. 

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Little Village artist: Diunna Greenleaf - I Ain't Playin' New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Ain't Playin' (May 20, 2022), from Diunna Greenleaf and it's chocked full of R&B, blues and soul. Opening with Koko Taylor's Never Trust A Man, Diunna Greenleaf on lead vocal slips into a funky blues, Albert King style, With Jerry Jemmott on bass, Jim Pugh on keys, Kid Andersen on guitar and Dmar Martin on drums with Mike Rinta on trombone, Aaron Lington on sax and Jeff Lewis on trumpet. Power opener. In Big James Montgomery's If It Wasn't For The Blues, Greenleaf really shows powerful phrasing and excellent command for that funky blues that we all love so much. With a great bass line by Andersen, Lington on flute, Rinta on trombone and Lewis on trumpet, and Igor prado on lead guitar, this is a really strong track. Original shuffle, Sunny Day Friends has a loose feel and Greenleaf really slides into the pocket. Jemmott's bass line is terrific, Andersen's guitar lead is strong and  Pugh adds some real nice piano as well. A darker, deeper track, Long John Hunter's I Don't Care is one of my favorite tracks on the release with superb guitar soloing by Andersen and warm sax additions by Eric Spaulding and Sax gordon. Really nice. Joe Medwick's, Damned If I Do, R&B track really gest a blues workout by Greenleaf and her vocal richness and again Andersen just smokes the guitar with strong horn backing by Rinta, Lington and Lewis. Gospel track,  I Know I've Been Changed, is another powerful demo for Greenleaf's voice with Alabama mike on additional lead vocal and Nic Clark on guitar. Very nice. Johnny Copeland's Let Me Cry is another terrific track with stellar guitar intro by Andersen, excellent piano contributions by Pugh and some of Greenleaf's best vocals on the release, wrapped in the horn work of Spaulding. This is excellent! Wrapping the release is upbeat R&B style track, Deitra Farr's My Turn, My Time with a driving funky bottom by Dmar, Jemmott and Vicki Randle (percussion) and and the addition of Lisa Leuschner Andersen on backing vocals. Solid closer for a terrific release. 

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Delmark Records artist: Jose Ramirez - Major League Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Major League Blues, from Jose Ramirez, and it's solid contemporary blues. Opening with title track, Major League Blues is a cool shuffle featuring Jose Ramirez on lead vocal and guitar and with Jimmy Johnson sitting in on guitar as well. Bob Stroger on bass, Willie Hayes on drums, Roosevelt Purifoy on B3 and Billy Flynn round out the band for this solid opener. On soulful ballad, I Saw It Coming , Ramirez is really out front on vocal with Purifoy creating a warm B3 envelope for his vocals. Flynn and Ramirez really do a nice job on lead guitar with solid melodic lead soloing. Here In The Delta is a cool contemporary blend between Hill Country flavored music and solid BB King styling. I really like the heavy tom tom work by Antonio Reyes, working nicely with Purifoy on B3 and the nice guitar work by Flynn and Ramirez, his own solid vocals and cool backing vocals. Kenny Watson Jr on bass adds to the heavy bottom making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Latin fused, Are We Really Different, has really nice percussion work by Evan Hoffman and Reyes who also plays a bit of tasty bass. Ramirez's vocals and fiery guitar work really make this track sail. Wrapping the release is quiet ballad, After All This Time, with lush guitar chords and B3 carrying Ramirez's vocals. Shelly Bonet lays in some really nice contrasting vocals, followed buy some really nice blues guitar riffs, closing the set. 

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WildRoots Records artists: The WildRoots - WildRoots Sessions Volume 2 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, WildRoots Sessions Volume 2, from The WildRoots and it's a lot of fun. Opening with bluesy I.O.U., Patricia Ann Dees and Victor Wainwright on lead vocal, we got a swampy New Orleans style funk, charged by Eddie Zyne on drums and Stephen Dees on bass. With a perfect harmonica vamp by Stephen Kampa and including Charlie DeChant on sax, Todd Sharp on guitar, David Kent on keys and Alberto Cruz on congas, this is a solid opener. Reba Russell and Patricia Ann Dees harmonize nicely on lead vocal on Long Way To Go over cool, acoustic and slide guitar by Greg Gumpel, Stephen Dees on bass and percussion and real nice harmonica riffs by Kampa. Very nice. Shuffle track, The Bad Seed really rocks with Bryan Bassett on lead guitar and Dyer David on second lead and lead vocal. backed by Lucky Peterson on Hammond, S Dees on bass, Top Thomas on rhythm and Scott Corwin, this is one of my favorites on the release. Bryan Bassett steps up on lead guitar on The Threads of Time, a slower paced blues featuring Mark Hodgson on lead vocals. Peterson's piano and organ work on this track create a real tension and fat bass by Dees and Scott Corwin really anchor this piece giving Bassett an open floor for dynamic guitar soloing. Very nice. Another of my favorite tracks on the release is WildRoot Boogie with a driving bass line by Dees and terrific piano work by Wainwright. Anchored by Billy Dean on drums and with Hodgson on harmonica and PA Dees on sax. This track is hot. Bluesy ballad, I Say Amen, gives Patricia Ann Dees the mic and it's a real nice showcase for her vocals. The basic composition has a lot of the feel of an early Steve Winwood ballad and with S Dees on acoustic guitar and bass, Andrews on dobro, Alberto Cruz on congas and Juan Perez, a really nice track. Closing the release is another more acoustic piece, Ready When The Day Is Done,  with Brianna Harris on lead vocal, surrounded by Stephen, Patricia Ann, Beth McKee, Wainwright, and Nick Black on warm, gospel like backing vocals over light accompaniment by Stephen on guitar, Perez on percussion, Joshua Harris on acoustic guitar and Kampa on harmonica. Excellent closer. 

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