EllerSoul Records - New Release: Blues for Big Walter

EllerSoul Records - New Release: Blues for Big Walter This is a record that I’ve wanted to make for some time now. Big Walter Horton has been a major influence on all of the great blues harmonica players of my generation and beyond. We wanted to do our part in spreading the blues genius of Big Walter Horton. This is a non-profit project with proceeds going to the Blues Foundation and HART Fund. We know they will put the money to excellent use. Artists involved donated music for the cause. We’re very excited about the record and are so grateful for the stellar lineup. We'd also like to thank all the musicians, labels, studio's and promoters involved.   - Ronnie Website - Facebook

Swing Suit Records artist: Mick Kolassa - Michissippi Mick - New release review

I just received a copy of the newest release, Michissippi Mick, from Mick Kolassa and it's got a lot of personality. Opening with New Beale Street Blues, vocalist/guitarist Mick Kolassa plays it easy but spunky with a nice rolling blues track featuring Eric Hughes on harp. Blues Are All Around You is a blues rocker featuring particularly stiff guitar riffs from Jeff Jensen backed by Chris Stephenson on organ, Bill Ruffino on bass and Doug McMinn on drums. Classic blues track, The Letter, has a slow easy pace and Kolassa and backing vocalist Reba Russell do a really nice job reworking this track. Stephenson really fills out the spiritual nature created by the vocalists. Nice job! One of personal favorites on the release, Reefer Man, has a ramblin' country sound with a light bouncy feel. Kolassa's vocals are perfect for this track complimented by Bill Rufino and Victor Wainwright weighs in with some really nice piano work. Johnny Mercer track, Blues In The Night, has a cool easy blues feel and Kolassa's vocals are right in the groove. Standout dixieland trumpet by Dedrick Davis is featured on this track. Burned That Bridge is a super cool boogie number and Ruffino and Doug McMinn have it all in the palm of their hands. Wainwright really sticks on piano and Brandon Santini steps up with so nice harp riffs. Land Of The Crossroads has a swampy sound featuring mostly vocal chants and Harp work by Brandon Santini. Baby's Got Another Lover is a great slow blues track featuring strong vocals and nice guitar work from Jeff Jensen. Certainly one of the standout tracks on the release. Blues rock track, Blowtorch Love, has a little funk to its step, Santini and Jensen trading lead instrumental roles. Redd Velvet comes on strong as a powerful 2nd lead vocalist on this track. WPD is a casual blues rocker with a twisted sense of humor. A solid rhythm and some flashy riffs make this a cool pop track. Time Ain't On My Side has an easy swing gate with Santini on harp. Wainwright is on guy you can always count on too contribute large and here he steps up with some really fat piano work. Wrapping the release is Jimmie Rodgers track Mississippi Rivers Blues done in a fairly traditional style (including yodel). This track has a real earthiness to it is a particularly friendly way to part with a comfortable release. Also worth mentioning is that 100% of the gross proceeds of this album will go to the Blues Foundation  split between the Hart Fund and Generation Blues .

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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