Delta Groove Music artist: Sugaray Rayford - Dangerous - New release review

I just received a copy of the newest release (September 17, 2013), Dangerous, by Sugaray Rayford and it's quite impressive. Rayford, well know as the featured voice of the Mannish Boys, has cut loose with his own release and he is backed by a huge list of talent. Opening with Country Boy and a strong smell of Chicago, Rayford's robust voice paves the way and Sugar Ray Norcia has the harp screaming. Anthony Geraci adds really nice key work on a solid bass by Willie J Campbell (bass) and Jimi Bott on drums. Stuck For A Buck has a bit of the James Brown shuffle going with Gino Matteo rippin fine guitar lead and Fred Kaplan warms the track with organ play. Rayford of course nicely handles lead vocals and a solid horn section made up of Ron Dziubla and Mark Pender cooks the track. On I'm Dangerous, Rayford and Norcia really grind deep in the blues. Norcia plays outstanding harmonica solos on this track making it one of my favorites on the release. Norcia shares the lead vocals on Two Times Sugar and Monster Mike Welch drops in for a really hot guitar solo. This is cool swingin blues that could make solid airplay. Another of my favorites is Pee Wee Crayton's When It Rains It Pours. Super soulful vocals by Rayford are nicely complimented by the strong guitar work of Frank Goldwasser and piano by Fred Kaplan. Super smokn track! Rayford's vocals on Charles Brown's Depression Blues have a beautiful lope and Kid Anderson takes the guitar solo to the edge... really sweet. This is another of the top highlights on the track. Bill Stuve adds a nice solid bottom on acoustic bass and Pender and Dziubla really round out the track. Goin' Back To Texas is a slow paced blues featuring some real nice slide wirk from Goldwasser, nice harp work from Kim Wilson and some of the richest vocals from Rayford on the release. I Might Do Somethin' Crazy has a real nice Willie Dixon style to it. Rayford's vocals really play into this track nicely and Kid Anderson again steps up with some spectacular guitar riffs. Excellent! Again on In The Dark, a swingin blues track, Rayford sings up a storm and really opens the doors for Anderson who kicks the guitar solo in the nuts. (Strong horns too!) Need A Little More Time takes an acoustic attack with strong vocals from Rayford backed by minimal percussion by Bott, and meaty work on National Steel Guitar by Goldwasser and harp by Chortkoff. Big Pete is featured on harp on Keep Her At Home, a quick paced boogie. The release is concluded with Son House's Preaching Blues. Goldwasser handles the slidework like a deer going through open pasture and with only like percussion, Rayford show surefooted command as his own band leader. Really super release!

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

This track is not from the release but is a good example of the music presented.

Jimi Bott's 13th BMA Nomination!

JIM BOTT'S 13TH NOMINATION IN THE BLUES MUSIC AWARDS! Hi everybody. I usually don't like sending out mass emails and invites, but I thought this was important enough for me to do so. My good friend and drummer Jimi Bott, has been nominated for his 13th Blues Music Award by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN! For those of you who don't know, The Blues Music Awards (once called the Handy's) are universally recognized as the highest accolade afforded musicians and songwriters in Blues music. Voting is open to all members of the Blues Foundation, and if you are not already a member, please consider joining The Blues Foundation by going to www.blues.org. Membership is only $25 a year, and it goes a long way towards helping keep the blues alive. Although this is his 13th nomination, Jimi has yet to bring home the award. That is 13 nominations in the 17 years there has been a drummer category, and 11 in a row. His 13 nominations now make him tied with Willie "Big Eyes' Smith and Sam Lay for the most by any drummer. But yet a lot of people do not know who he is. My purpose of this is not necessarily to get you to vote for him, even though he truly is one of the most talented, deserving, and humble musicians around. It is to bring awareness of who he is and what he has done, for those of you who might not be familiar with him, so you can make an educated choice when it does come time to vote. Jimi has one of the most impressive resumes around as he has spent nearly three decades touring the world with The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Mannish Boys, Rod Piazza, and Mark Hummel. He has nearly 70 recordings to his credit (including William Clarke, Billy Boy Arnold, and James Harman) and his latest with The Mannish Boys earned three 2011 Blues Music Award Nominations. But this is not about his past resume...this is about what Jimi has done JUST THIS YEAR! In 2011 he has performed over 150 shows in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including the 2011 Blues Music Awards Ceremony, Lucerne Blues Festival, The Simi Valley Blues Festival, Labatt Blues Festival, and The Waterfront Blues Festival. To hear a sample of Jimi's recording with 2012 BMA Nominee and Delta Groove Recording artist Big Pete, CLICK HERE BIG PETE "CHOICE CUTS" FEATURING... Big Pete / Alex Schultz / Willie J. Campbell / Jimi Bott / Johnny Dyer / Al Blake / Kim Wilson / Paul Oscher / Kirk Fletcher / John Marx / Mojo Mark / Shawn Pittman / Kid Ramos / Rusty Zinn / Rob Rio / Malcolm Lukens / and more... Jimi Bott with Big Pete, Kirk Fletcher, Willie J Campbell in Basel, Switzerland at the Blues Now! Festival 2011 Jimi Bott with Shawn Pittman and Willie J Cambell at 2011 Simi Valley Blues Festival Jimi Bott with Kevin Selfe and The Tornadoes at 2011 Waterfront Blues Festival The Mannish Boys Delta Groove Harp Blast Finis Tasby Shawn Pittman Big Pete Kirk Fletcher Rob Rio Kim Wilson Willie J Campbell Rusty Zinn Kid Ramos Rod Piazza Miss Honey Mark Hummel Alex Schultz Al Blake Gene Taylor Doug James Paul Oscher Fiona Boyes Doug MacLeod Kevin Selfe and the Tornadoes Allen Markel John Neish Nick Moss Curtis Salgado Victor Wainwright Bob Corritore Mitch Kashmar Randy Chortkoff David Vest Little Charlie Baty Eden Brent Duffy Bishop Chris Carlson Franck "Paris Slim" Goldwasser Dave Kahl Suburban Slim Jim Wallace Lloyd Jones Dover Weinberg Janice Scroggins DK Stewart Rich Del Grosso Karen Lovely John Del Toro Richardson Ellen White Brad Ulrich Magic Dick Mary Flower Dean Muller Chris Alexander Smokin Joe Kubek B'nois King John Mazzocco Peter Moss Lisa Mann Joe McCarthy Chris Mercer Thad Beckmann Willie "Big Eyes" Smith Patrick Rynn Chris James Tail Dragger David Maxwell Terry Hanck Tracy Nelson Peter Dammann Hawkeye Herman Cliff Ashmon and many, many, more... And, on top of this, he runs his studio in Portland, OR, Roseleaf Studios, and is a full time daddy to three lovely children under 5 years old! So, if you have a moment and are a Blues Foundation member, please take the time to consider Jimi for your vote. If you are not a member yet, please consider joining the Blues Foundation by visiting www.blues.org Your membership really does a lot to keep the blues alive! Thank you so much for your time and consideration, Kevin Selfe "I've had the pleasure of knowing Jimi Bott for over 25yrs. He is not only my favorite drummer of choice but one of the hardest working and warmest human beings I know. Jimi's got my vote!" - Randy Chortkoff (CEO Delta Groove Music)  Show your support for Jimi Bott as well as your favorite Delta Groove artists and releases by voting today! To register and become a member of The Blues Foundation and be eligible to vote please visit the Blues Foundation website at www.blues.org. VOTING ENDS THURSDAY, MARCH 1ST 2012! We encourage you all to become a member of the Blues Foundation and vote! If you aren't yet a member, click here to sign up and be eligible to vote for the 2012 Annual Blues Music Awards.