Welcome in 2015 (A Few Days Early!) with Blowin' Smoke at Harvelle's

      

                                                

 

WELCOME IN 2015 (A FEW DAYS EARLY!) WITH LARRY "FUZZY" KNIGHT'S BLOWIN' SMOKE RHYTHM & BLUES REVUE AT HARVELLE'S

 

              Saturday, December 27, 9:30 p.m. - 1 a.m.

 

 

Blowin' Smoke Are Getting Ready To Celebrate Twenty Big Years of Performing At Harvelle's/Santa Monica  -  More Details Soon!

                     

 

  (Santa Monica, CA)  - Want to get a jump on celebrating New Year's Eve 2015? Come on down and see/hear/enjoy L.A.'s premiere R&B/Blues/Soul Dance Party featuring Larry "Fuzzy" Knight's Blowin' Smoke Rhythm & Blues Revue featuring The Fabulous Smokettes. The date?: Saturday, December 27. Time? 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Place? Harvelle's, 1432 S. 4th St. in downtown Santa Monica, only blocks from the beach. Price? a very reasobale $10. for what amounts to four big hours of some totally awesome original music! Info? (310) 395-1976 or https://www.facebook.com/blowinsmokeband.

 

   In other related news: Blowin' Smoke are getting ready to celebrate two big decades - yep, twenty amazing years - of performing to packed, appreciative crowds at Harvelle's. More details soon!

 

....SOME WORDS FROM THE MEDIA ABOUT BLOWIN' SMOKE'S LIVE SHOW

 

 "The Blowin’ Smoke Rhythm and Blues Band with the Fabulous Smokettes packed the place with a crowd that was there to enjoy great music played the way it should be," writes Los Angeles Beat reviewer Ed Simon in a recent review. "Larry Knight has the kind of voice that is perfect for the blues, a little gritty but with excellent range. This is music played and sung the way it was meant to be and “Fuzzy” Knight knows how to get the best out of his musicians and singers," Simon concludes. Read the entire review here.

 

 

 

 

Here's Nine (Count 'Em, 9) Great Reasons Why You Should

Get Out To See Blowin' Smoke & The Fabulous Smokettes

 

 

"This is the real thing...great American rockin' blues from a killer group of players...bassist/bandleader Larry "Fuzzy" Knight has assembled a powerful cast of core players and singers. Great band, tremendous release."                               BLUES REVUE

 

"BEYOND THE BLUES HORIZON captures this band at its best...huge band with a lot of talent and some great material, making BEYOND...a CD that is custom-made to dance to, hug to, and hold your honey tight to."

                                                          MUSIC CONNECTION

 

"In the Blues category, it's going to be hard to top BLOWIN' SMOKE, whose recent performance at the House Of Blues was excellent."

                                        ROCK CITY NEWS

 

"R&B band BLOWIN' SMOKE perform songs like "I Put A Spell On You" and "Talk To Me Baby" with amazing vocals and explosive horns."

                                        DAILY BULLETIN

 

"Eleven-piece ensemble presents an extravaganza that regularly turns its audience into a big, groovin' family...led by singer/bass player Larry "Fuzzy" Knight, along with crackerjack horn players and a dedicated rhythm section, BLOWIN' SMOKE keeps the floor show ear- and eye-popping with the three "Fabulous Smokettes."

                                          L.A. WEEKLY

 

"The Catch in Anaheim will catch fire Saturday when a wild and wooly blues band called BLOWIN' SMOKE blows into town...tried to catch them last week at B.B. King's/Universal City Walk but couldn't get near the place. It was mobbed. I already have their CD, and I'm a huge fan."

                                  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

 

"Modeled after the great 1960s R&B bands of Ray Charles, James Brown and Ike Turner, Knight and his ensemble serve up hefty portions of blues, gospel, swing and soul."

                                                         LOS ANGELES TIMES

 

"Smokin' showcase of rhythm and blues music...this live set captures the heart and soul of this ensemble."

                                    KLOS 95.5 FM LOCAL LICKS

 

"BLOWIN' SMOKE is major record label material...so why hasn't one of the majors signed these guys?"

                     BLUES DELUXE (Nationally-Syndicated Radio Show)

 

 

 

"Cross Soul Train with American Bandstand and you get a good idea

of what a Blowin' Smoke Rhythm & Blues Revue show is like!"  

 

   For nearly two decades, Blues/R&B/Soul group Blowin' Smoke has been one of the most in-demand, successful bands on the Southern California live music circuit. Front and center in Blowin' Smoke is its creator, bandleader/bassist/vocalist, Larry "Fuzzy" Knight - whose impressive musical resume' includes a decade-plus stint as bassist for one of the great SoCal bands to emerge from the psychedelic era of the Sixties, Spirit.  Knight has also recently launched a new band project, Sky King, featuring some top-name musicians, all the while keeping Blowin' Smoke going strong. 

 

Blowin' Smoke CDs, Review Passes, & Band Interviews On Request.

                            www.blowinsmokeband.com

              https://www.facebook.com/blowinsmokeband

 

Beyond The Blues Horizon - CD Review (BMans Blues Report)

Larry "Fuzzy" Knight - Interview (Orange County Blues Society)

Blowin' Smoke - Live Show Review (Music Connection)

Live Show Review - Los Angeles Beat

What People Are Saying About Markus James' New CD, "Head for the Hills"

Markus James - Head for the Hills "…primitive, raw, powerful and as real as it gets." - -Reflections in Blue full review “Creative ideas, boldness, and conviction…” - -Downbeat Magazine Full review -http://www.downbeat.com/digitaledition/2015/DB1501/single_page_view/66.html “…one of those infectious infusions paradoxically wedding the old to the new and keeping the form fresh while familiar.” - FAME (Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange) Full review-http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p10084.htm “…this music is as soulful as it is deep, as it is profound, perhaps the penultimate blues experience-as terrifying as it is satisfying.” 5 STARS - Gonzo Online (CANADA) Full review - http://www.gonzoonline.ca/music/music-news/813-the-record-box-for-sunday-december-7th-2014.html "…destined to be judged one of the top blues releases of 2014 come year’s end." -Blurt Magazine –  full review "This record, which is mighty, mighty fine, would make a perfect score for an apocalyptic noir-western-thriller." - -The Flame Still Burns full review "…exciting and thought provoking." – Elmore Magazinefull review "…every track on the album is solid." - -Twangvillefull review "Every self-respecting blues aficionado should consider the primal majesty of this album." -The Rocktologistfull review "…will definitely lift your spirits and cleanse your soul!" -Nashville Blues Societyfull review "…an unusually cool blues release." - -Bman's Blues Report full review   The nationally syndicated radio program, "Elwood's Blues Hour" (formerly House of Blues Radio Hour), will feature Markus James (accompanied by Marlon Green) live-in-studio in early 2015. He will be performing selections from his new album, Head For The Hills, and a live interview. From Frederic Lamoureux, Montreal International Jazz Festival, about Markus and Marlon's performance at the 2014 Montreal Jazz Festival: "Really really good. Loved it. The crowd too. Thanks!" From Eric Funk, Mountain Chill Radio, about Markus and Marlon's performance at Telluride Blues and Brews festival 2014: "Exceptional."   Publicity Contact: Mark Pucci Media (770) 804-9555 / mpmedia@bellsouth.net

https://www.facebook.com/markusjamesmusic MARKUS JAMES: from "just say yes" 2 ratings 266 views Gourd Banjo and Hambone on a Mississippi Porch 66 ratings 4,457 views MARKUS JAMES: from "goin down south" no ratings yet 27 views

Bobby Rush garners second consecutive Grammy nomination plus Blues Music Award noms

BLUES LEGEND BOBBY RUSH GARNERS SECOND CONSECUTIVE BEST BLUES ALBUM GRAMMY NOMINATION   Rush’s Decisions, recorded with funk band Blinddog Smokin’ and special guest Dr. John, continues to grab accolades with four Blues Music Award nominations

LOS ANGELES, Calif. —Twenty years in the making, Decisions, the first collaboration between blues legend Bobby Rush and Southern California band Blinddog Smokin’, featuring six-time Grammy winner Dr. John, is being rewarded with end-of-the-year music industry honors including a recent Grammy nomination in the Best Blues Album category.  Also this week, Bobby Rush picked up four Blues Music Awards from the Blues Foundation, including B.B. King Entertainer of the Year and Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year. Decisions secured a Best Soul Blues nod and Best Song nom for “Another Murder in New Orleans,” written by Carl Gustafson and Donald Markowitz, performed by Rush and Dr. John w/Blinddog Smokin’. Gustafson, the band leader, vocalist, and harmonica player of Blinddog Smokin,’ says, “I’d really like to see people in the United States take a look at [Bobby Rush and Dr. John] and see what they have before they’re gone, and feel their power, feel their love . . . Who knows how long Bobby or Mac are going to last? Now we have a chance. We have the two of them together for the first time in their careers, and they’re two of the rarest characters in American music culture.” “Just to be in the running and to be involved is meaningful,” says Rush on receiving his third Grammy nod. “It makes me feel like a winner already. I want to thank everyone in the category, the voters, and anyone that had anything to do with helping me get to where I am right now. I want to thank everyone from a fan standpoint and from a voter standpoint for everything they have done for Bobby Rush. I’m happy to be an old man but this makes me feel young again.” In October, Decisions won Best Soul Blues Album at the Blues Blast Music Awards, where Rush was also singled out with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Decisions is the first-ever teaming on record of three unlikely friends united by their love of the blues — Rush and Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack were both born in the same town of Homer, Louisiana.   Rush, 80 years old, continues his late-career emergence from the Chitlin’ Circuit underground to music mainstream. His crossover arguably began after achieving a Grammy nomination in 2000 for his album Hoochie Man, being featured in the “Road to Memphis” segment of the 2004 Martin Scorcese documentary The Blues, and last year’s Grammy-nominated record Down in Louisiana, which recently won Soul Blues Album of the Year at this year’s Blues Music Awards.  Rush performed in July on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with Dan Aykroyd and The Roots, as a part of the promo for the film Get On Up. Dan Aykroyd noted, “Okay, so like James Brown is gone, eh, and Richard Penniman a.k.a Little Richard … he’s not going to tour no more, and B.B. King is slowing down. Bobby Rush is the last one left of that generation.” In September the documentary Take Me to the River came out in theaters nationwide, with a soundtrack on Stax Records/Concord Music Group. The film is about the soul of American music and follows the recording of a new album featuring legends from Stax Records and Memphis, mentoring and passing on their musical magic to stars and artists of today. Rush co-stars alongside Terrence Howard, Snoop Dogg, the late Bobby “Blue” Bland, Mavis Staples, Charlie Musselwhite, among others. Rush, born Emmett Ellis, Jr., started playing music in his early teens, changing his name out of respect for his preacher father and fronting, for a time, a band that featured a young Elmore James on guitar. In his 20s, Rush landed in the booming Chicago blues scene where he bumped up against Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and, most notably, a back-alley neighbor, blues harmonica great Little Walter, whose example inspired Rush to master the instrument. In the ’80s Rush relocated to his current home of Jackson, Mississippi, where he embarked on the hard-touring career that has earned him the title of King of the Chitlin' Circuit. Meanwhile, about the time Rush was making his name in Chicago, Blinddog Smokin’ leader Carl Gustafson was learning the blues in, of all places, Laramie, Wyoming. He ran away from home at 16, making it as far as the railroad tracks and the Pic-A-Rib Café. Through the owner, Miss Peggy, and her son Ricky, Gustafson learned about African-American culture and through the establishment’s jukebox he discovered the sounds of American blues and R&B, an experience detailed in Gustafson’s 2010 memoir Ain’t Just Blues, It’s Showtime: Hard times, heartache, and glory along Blues Highway. In 1964, Gustafson started his first band, a James Brown-inspired 13-piece revue called Ali Baba & the Thieves. In 1993 he founded Blinddog Smokin’, which has become a force on the blues scene, playing 200-320 dates a year at juke joints, clubs, and festivals around the world, including the Snowy Range Music Festival (which Gustafson directs) in Laramie, and the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas, where in 1995 he met Bobby Rush.  “Bobby was performing, and I was just mesmerized with his show,” Gustafson recalls. “I met him afterwards, and it’s a weird thing: we just had a connection and struck up a friendship. We started calling each other and checking in on each other, and over the years started touring together. One thing led to another, and we just got this strong bond between us.” Nineteen years later that friendship finally spilled over into the recording studio, with Gustafson and his band — including drummer “Chicago” Chuck Gullens, bassist Roland “Junior Bacon” Pritzker, keyboardist/vocalist Mo Beeks, guitarist Chalo Ortiz, and backing vocalists Chris White (nephew of folk singer Josh White) and Gustafson’s wife Linda — backing Rush on ten songs plus a bonus song on Decisions. The leadoff track, “Another Murder in New Orleans,” paired Rush with another longtime friend, New Orleans music legend Dr. John. Two of the most colorful figures in the blues, Rush and Dr. John — whose real name is Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack Jr. — have known each other for more than 50 years, first meeting as young men in their 20s on the early 1960s R&B circuit and remaining good friends ever since. “When they’re telling stories it’s hilarious because they’re talking about bluesmen so ugly they had to turn their backs to the audience to play guitar,” says Gustafson, a mutual friend of both men. “And in some cases running from the same women.” Despite their decades-long relationship, Rush and Dr. John had never recorded together until “Another Murder in New Orleans.” Written by Gustafson and Decisions producer Donald Markowitz (an Oscar, Golden Globe, and Grammy winner for the Dirty Dancing soundtrack smash “I’ve Had the Time of My Life”), the song addresses in graphic terms the street violence that has ravaged that city post-Hurricane Katrina, offering a message for change. The track was cut in New Orleans in 2012 around Mardi Gras. The setting inspired Gustafson to ask if Rush’s old friend might want to guest on the song, which the 74-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer eagerly did. “We come up as kids together, man, but I never even thought about recording together before,” says Rush. “How great is it that this late in the game we can do something together while we can still talk about it and smile about it and laugh about it? It came to pass, and I’m so proud I did this with Dr. John.”  “Another Murder in New Orleans” and Rush’s morals-seeking title track “Decisions” are the rare serious notes on an otherwise light-hearted blues romp that is rooted in Rush and Gustafson’s friendship. Other songs include the autobiographical “Bobby Rush’s Bus,” about the singer’s constantly-moving tour vehicle, “Funky Old Man,” the rap-flavored “Dr. Rush,” the acoustic jam “Too Much Weekend,” and “Skinny Little Women,” which tackles an issue Rush has been preoccupied with for some time. “Little bitty woman why you always in the mirror talking ’bout how good you look/You ought to be doing like that fat woman in the kitchen seeing ’bout how good you cook,” sings Rush, who had one of his biggest successes in the ’90s with the album Lovin’ a Big Fat Woman. “It’s a joke-y thing. But if you notice that little skinny ladies all the time they look cute and good and smell good and look good. All that’s good but the big lady has got somebody, too. She needs some lovin’, too.” Bobby Rush continues to perform more than 200 concerts a year and into 2015 will do so in support of the latest Grammy nominated album Decisions, see his upcoming announced dates below. On the horizon, be on the lookout for a definitive anthology of Bobby Rush. BOBBY RUSH on tour December 19 – JACKSON, MS – Christmas Party December 20 – MEMPHIS, TN – Minglewood Hall December 23 – NEW ORLEANS, LA – Loyola University Hospital Holiday Party December 27 – LULA, MS – Isle of Capri Casino January 10 – TALLAHASSEE, FL - BCC January 17 – Robinsonville, MS – Sam’s Town Casino January 18 – 25 – Blues Cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, FL March 13 – DETRTOIT, MI – Detroit Opera House March 14 – MERRILVILLE, IN (CHICAGO metro) – The Blues is Alright Tour April 17 – CHICAGO, IL – Buddy Guy’s Legends April 16 – JACKSON, MI – UAW Hall (7pm & 10pm) April 25 – SARASOTA, FL – SunCoast Blues Festival September 10-12 – Las Vegas, NV – Big Blues Bender (specific date TBA) # # # Music video for "Another Murder in New Orleans" by Dr. John and Bobby Rush with Blinddog Smokin’ from the Grammy nominated album Decisions: http://youtu.be/UYOB5HW8gAc Watch Dan Aykroyd talk about Bobby Rush on The Tonight Show: http://youtu.be/AqZDI2iNQrE Watch Bobby Rush and Dan Aykroyd with The Roots perfrom on The Tonight Show: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x21qgsa_hd-dan-aykroyd-i-ll-go-crazy-ft-bobby-rush-jimmy-fallon_people Watch the trailer for the film Take Me to the River with Bobby Rush: http://youtu.be/RFmULZOFaIM Watch Bobby Rush with Blinddog Smokin' live here: http://youtu.be/Iq2KsjaHads Bobby Rush and Blinddog Smokin’ on the Web: www.bobbyrushbluesman.com www.facebook.com/bobbyrushbluesman www.blinddogsmokin.com www.facebook.com/blinddogsmokin www.SilverTalonRecords.com

Royal Southern Brotherhood Takes the Sonic Highway to Muscle Shoals' FAME Studios

Royal Southern Brotherhood

Takes the Sonic Highway to Muscle Shoals’

FAME Studios

With New Guitarists

Bart Walker and Tyrone Vaughan

ATLANTA, GA - Ruf Recording artists, Royal Southern Brotherhood, are raising the ante as they roll into the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The band has added fiery guitar slingers Bart Walker and Tyrone Vaughan to breathe new energy into their third studio release. The new blood is there to help the venerable Cyril Neville and powerhouse rhythm section Yonrico Scott and Charlie Wooton up the funk while maintaining the blues and rock that has brought Royal Southern Brotherhood (RSB) a growing, worldwide audience.

Click on photo to watch footage from the new line up!

http://youtu.be/sVVc2oeFcDg

The Brotherhood has toured incessantly over the last four years, canvassing the USA, Europe and Australia. The hard work paid off as RSB watched their fan base and notoriety swell. 2014 also saw RSB win a Blues Music Award for their live DVD, Songs From The Road.

Royal Southern Brotherhood has also been fortunate to have NOLA legend, Cyril Neville, featured in an episode of HBO’s “Sonic Highways” series. This is an 8-episode show that follows the Foo Fighters as they visit different towns they consider to be musically unique and important. Neville was a natural and charismatic fit to talk with Dave Grohl about the New Orleans sound. Their shared love of percussion and rhythms creates a chemistry that serves the show well.

Cyril provided some unique insight and stories about growing up in New Orleans along with Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, telling Dave how Troy got his nickname. Neville detailed how Troy began playing at such a young age that the T-bone was actually taller than Troy. Although he is now a grown man, the nickname “Trombone Shorty” has stayed with him.

With this new spotlight on Cyril, he has been a part of the show’s promotional efforts, by being mentioned in the band’s interviews that have been taken to an international level, CNN, Rolling Stone, Anderson Cooper, CBS’ “60 Minutes”, etc. Dave Grohl has claimed Cyril Neville and NOLA to be his new crush.

As RSB began the task of recording their new CD, they knew they needed a historical, creative location to raise the bar. Choosing FAME was a no-brainer. The studio is located along the Tennessee River in Muscle Shoals, which may seem like a quiet, southern town, but it’s a lightning rod for creativity.

In 1960, FAME Studios opened its doors under the direction of Rick Hall. It wasn’t long before Rick had developed a talented and unique group of session players (and production staff). The sound these boys from northern Alabama created drew the attention of artists such as Wilson Pickett, The Staple Singers, Drive-By Truckers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Paul Simon and Duane Allman. It’s been told, that Eric Clapton, wanted to know who was that playing on “Hey Jude”, by Pickett and that’s how he found ‘Sky Dog' (Duane Allman). The place oozes with musical history, vibe and creative juice that will energize RSB’s new endeavor.

Recently, RSB went into a local New Orleans studio to record some demos and work on the vital band chemistry with the new members, guitarists Bart Walker and Tyrone Vaughan. Bart and Tyrone fell into the Brotherhood quickly and added a spark that only change can bring. The results exceeded expectations.

Tyrone hails from blues royalty. When your father is Jimmie Vaughan and your uncle is the vaunted Stevie Ray (who gave Tyrone his first guitar at 5), it can be a blessing and a curse. A lot is expected from Tyrone before he hits the stage, so it takes courage to follow in the family business. Fortunately, Tyrone is unaffected by the adulation for his family, and developed his own gifted style and signature tone. Tyrone cut his own path by working his way up through the Austin (a town drenched in guitar heroes for the uninitiated) club scene in his teens, eventually packing clubs around Texas. Through hard work, studying the masters and a tip or two from the family, Tyrone has developed a soulful voice along with a guitar tone that mixes blues, rock and country. Tyrone’s description of, “in your face,” tone proves accurate when you hear him cut through any mix.

Bart Walker brings his own unique talents to RSB. As a Nashville native, it was natural for Bart to be affected by the country, bluegrass and gospel music that permeates the air. Bart, however, wanted more. Classically trained, Walker considered an offer to join a German opera company. However, his curiosity kept him searching for new music.

One day Bart wandered into a blues jam and realized he found his calling. Bart paid his dues playing in Mike Farris’ (Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies) and Reese Wynan’s (Stevie Ray Vaughan) bands before landing his own deal with Ruf Records. His 2013 release, Waiting On Daylight, garnered both national and international acclaim. This attention gave Bart the cache to see a lot of the world via Ruf Records President’s, Blues Caravan Tour, which spotlights new talent to sizable audiences. Now a seasoned player, Walker was ready and able to join the Brotherhood. “Joining RSB was the best idea anyone had for me,” said the affable Walker.

Cyril Neville has long been considered New Orleans royalty for his stints in the Grammy Award winning Neville Brothers, Galactic and The Meters. The Meters opened for the Rolling Stones and have been on the voting ballot twice for nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum. Neville’s career has spawned 45 some odd years and has included performances with music icons such as Bono, Joan Baez, Dr. John and Tab Benoit.

In 1989, Cyril penned, “Sister Rosa,” about the Civil Rights icon, Rosa Parks. Last year, USA Today honored Neville by choosing the song as one of the  most inspirational song about Martin Luther King’s, “I Have A Dream,” speech on the 50^th anniversary of the historical oration given during the march on Washington (Parks was in attendance). “Sister Rosa” may not have had a change on the movement at the time, but Neville’s composition reminded a country of the thousands of souls that risked their lives to bring an end to a shameful tradition in the US.

The current line-up will hit the stage with Cyril Neville (of course) on vocals and percussion, Devon Allman and Bart Walker on vocals/guitars, and Yonrico Scott (drums) and Charlie Wooton playing bass. Many consider Scott and Wooton to be the best rhythm section working, and their skills have provided the foundation for RSB to up the funk. The band is still supporting their latest release, “heartsoulblood” with dates throughout the winter and early spring months.

When the Brotherhood’s original guitarists, Mike Zito and Devon Allman decided to concentrate on their solo careers, the parting was amicable and most likely both Zito and Allman will join RSB on stage occasionally. This is because RSB is truly a brotherhood of like-minded musicians that love to work together. Some of the players may rotate (Cyril, however will always steer the ship) but the spirit is the same: write great songs and see where they take you. The chemistry, craftsmanship and artistry of the musicians will always ensure great music.

Devon’s last performance with RSB will be at the Wanee Festival in Live Oak, Florida. The show will take place in mid-April, so we ask you to still use the following photo for tour press coverage.

For information on the band’s tour dates and news, go to www.royalsouthernbrotherhood.com

Ruf Records: 20 Years Anniversary - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, 20 Years Anniversary, from Ruf Records. This is a hot release of music from 1994 to present showing the breadth of Ruf artists talent. Opening is one of my personal Rolling Stones classics, Bitch featuring Samantha Fish, Cassie Taylor and Dani Wilde from the Girls With Guitars release. Hot! Up next is Bliss Avenue, the title track from Bliss Avenue, by Dana Fuchs. Fuchs has a throaty voice with a lot of grit on this track which has a lot of the suspense of Screaming Jay Hawkins. I had the fortune to review her Songs From The Road release recently and she really puts on a show! Make sure that you catch the smoking guitar solo on this track! Joanne Shaw Taylor is up next with Can't Keep Living Like This from Diamonds In The Dirt. Showing her guitar prowess, Taylor demonstrates clearly that she isn't just a skirt and a voice. Fish is back on Down In The Swamp from her Runaway release. With it's driving "swampy" guitar vamp Fish sets the stage, tells the tale and then rips it to shreds on guitar. Very cool. Dani Wilde changes the pace up a bit with the title track from her Shine release. A R&B style track nicely highlights Wilde's soulful voice. Meena follows Wilde with James Brown's epic,Try Me from her release of the same name. A very tasty and melodic guitar solo nicely accents the more modern sound brought to the table by Meena. Very nice! Ana Popovic steps up with Love Fever from her Hush release. With a ballad format and a R&B strut, Popovic gets things moving. Popovic reels off some biting guitar riffs balancing the catchy melody with guitar muscle. Next is a not yet released track, Stranded In Memphis by Eliana Cargnelutti, from her CD to be released in 2015. A solid entry by this new artist, she will be featured in the 2015 Blues Caravan. Joanna Connor is up next with the slightly funky, gospel influenced, Never Been Rocked Enough from her Rock And Roll Gypsy release. Erja Lyytinen lays down some hot slide work on Skinny Girl from her Dreamland Blues release. This has a cool mix of a rock 'n' roll rhythm with bluesy slide. Really cool! Sue Foley does a old style swing blues track Show Me, from her Time Bomb release. Well balanced with cool, stylistic piano, Foley's vocal and guitar efforts make for a well rounded blues track. Candye Kane and Laura Chavez pull out a real swinger in Toughest Girl Alive from her Guitar and Feathers release. Chavez is a good match on guitar for Kane with her strong vocal presence. Wrapping disc one is Sue Foley, Deborah Coleman and Roxanne Potvin on In The Basement from the Time Bomb release. Sugar Pie DeSanto's original R&B feel comes through loud and clear but with stinging guitar riffs this time around. Opening disc 2 is Thorbjorn Risager and If You Wanna Leave from his Too Many Roads release. This is a strong blues rocker with excellent grinding guitar tones and a hot sax solo. The Royal Southern Brotherhood fire up Rock and Roll from the HEARTSOULBLOOD release. A straight up Rock 'n' roller with great vocals and hot slide, this track really gets you moving. With talent like Cyril Neville, Devon Allman, Mike Zito, Yonrico Scott and Charlie Wooton you'd expect nothing less. Walter Trout releases his trademark blues rock sound on Livin' Every Day from his Livin' Every Day release. An anthem of triumph for Trout and his recent health issues, he stiff arms time in the face blazing his path with amazingly fluid guitar riffs. Oli Brown has a cool, different style with a neo soul attack at the blues. A super vocalist, Oli delivers Speechless from his Heads I Win Tails You Lose release. A well heeled guitar attack nicely blends with his smooth danceable melodies. Laurence Jones is up on Temptation from his Temptation release. With it's Chicago feel and attack, this is a hot track showing a young man with slashing skills. Mike Zito has great guitar tone and he lays it down here on Voices In Dallas from Gone To Texas. I just had the opportunity to review Zito's release, Songs From The Road and he is a definite performer. Waiting On Daylight by Bart Walker is a solid bluesy ballad from the release of the same name. A well written track with nicely balanced guitar soloing over the vocals, a nice addition to this compilation. The Spin Doctors bring Some Other Man Instead from If The River Was Whiskey and it has a certain country blues rawness giving it a real nice feel. A raw but contained guitar solo sets this track apart from most of the more polished bands on this release. Very cool! Aynsley Lister, Erja Lyytinen and Ian Parker perform Blues Caravan from the Pilgrimage release. A funky blues track with a swampy feel, and harmonized vocals lay down the pavement for a short guitar riff off. Jeff Healey delivers his classic take on I'm Tore Down from Mess Of Blues. Healey was a hot guitar player and a great singer. This is a nice record of Healey during his most productive period. Excellent! Cyril Neville delivers some Swamp Funk from Magic Honey. With it's blend of rock, funk, blues and pure New Orleans, this is a super track. Devon Allman brings Homesick from his Turquoise release. He has a nice guitar hand and smooth vocals. This dark smokey blues rocker shows a nice flavor of Allman's work. Savoy Brown has been a recurring favorite band of mine for years. Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown contribute Nuthin' Like The Blues from Goin' To The Delta. Simmonds holds down lead vocal and lead guitarist spot on this straight forward rocker and Kim shows a little bit of what he can do when he steps on the pedal. Albert Castiglia performs Bad Avenue from the Solid Ground release. This is an excellent choice to profile Castiglia who not only is a solid singer but one of the better blues guitarists on the scene today. Very cool! Wrapping the release is Mr. Luther Allison on Stone's Classic, You Can't Always Get What You Want. Taking this track to the next level Allison coaxes the soul out of it and then lights it on fire with funky blues guitar. An absolutely excellent ending to a 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”