Blind Pig Announces New Releases!

BLIND PIG ANNOUNCES NEW RELEASES! Titles from Zac Harmon and the Andy T-Nick Nixon Band Out August 28th Blind Pig Records has announced an August 28th release date for two CDs from venerable blues acts: ZAC HARMON   "RIGHT MAN RIGHT NOW" Zac Harmon is an award-winning guitarist, organist, singer, and songwriter whose distinctive style combines the best of old-school soul-blues artists with modern lyrics and themes that bring the blues into a new century. Right Man Right Now is contemporary music that proves just how alive and relevant the blues is today.  Addressing issues straight from today’s headlines, Zac presents them in a  fresh original style built on the best blues tradition.  And he has some incredibly talented musicians helping him - guests include Bobby Rush, Lucky Peterson, Anson Funderburgh and Mike Finnegan. After a very successful twenty-plus year career as a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles, where he worked with the likes of the O'Jays, the Whispers, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Black Uhuru, and Michael Jackson, Zac moved to Dallas to pursue his dream of becoming a top-flight touring blues artist The album provides definitive proof that Zac Harmon is indeed the right man to firmly establish all that blues can and should be right now in the second decade of the new millennium. Zac Harmon Upcoming Tour Dates Aug. 29 Dallas, TX Babbs Brothers BBQ Sept. 10 Omaha, NE The 21st Saloon Sept. 11 Chicago, IL Buddy Guy's Legends Sept. 12 Grafton, WI Paramount Blues Festival Sept. 19 Denton, TX Denton Blues Festival Oct. 8 Helena, AR King Biscuit Blues Festival Oct. 18 Fredricksburg, TX Blankets and Blues Oct. 29 Sioux City, IA Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Oct. 30 Topeka, KS Uncle Bo's Oct. 31 Topeka, KS Uncle Bo's ANDY T - NICK NIXON BAND   "NUMBERS MAN" The Andy T-Nick Nixon Band displays musicianship at its highest. The blues has a history of great partnerships, and Numbers Man offers proof positive that Andy T and Nick Nixon belong in that select group.   Andy T’s jazz-tinged guitar style is influenced by T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Magic Sam, and Albert Collins among others, yet it remains his own. The velvet-voiced Nixon, part of Nashville’s thriving blues and R&B scene in the 60’s and 70’s, sings in a style that recalls Jimmy Witherspoon and Billy Eckstine. Even though he’s now in his 70’s, Nixon’s voice still has all the power and energy of a man half his age and it’s crystal clear that this man was born to sing the blues. Combined with Andy T’s bold, vibrant tones and equally rooted guitar style, it makes for a uniquely satisfying brand of soulful blues. Numbers Man was produced by renowned Texas guitarist Anson Funderburgh, and features the great Kim Wilson’s harmonica on one of the tracks. Andy T-Nick Nixon Band Upcoming Tour Dates Aug. 30 Nashville, TN Hard Rock Sept. 13 Las Vegas, NV Big Blues Bender Sept. 18 Marietta, GA Darwin's Sept. 19 Tallahassee, FL Bradfordville Blues Club Sept. 22 Nashville, TN Nashville Music Series Sept. 25 Champaign, IL Blues Blast Music Awards Oct. 10 Helena, AR King Biscuit Blues Festival

Silvertone/RCA Records artist: Buddy Guy - Born To Play Guitar - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Born To Play The Blues, from Buddy Guy and it's terrific! Opening with title track, Born To Play Guitar, Guy starts at his roots with a primitive blues track with basic blues picking supplemented by Rob McNelley on resonator and Guy on strat and super blues vocals. Terrific start! Wear You Out is a great boogie featuring Billy Gibbons trading vocals and guitar riffs with Guy. Backed by Tom Hambridge on drums, Rob McNelley on guitar, Kevin McKendree on Clav and Glenn Worf on bass this track rocks! Classic styling on Back Up Mama features McNelley on slide and Guy on strat trading riffs. Buddy is just such an exceptional performer and his vocals are tight. His calling card frenzied guitar riffs kick this track in the back side giving it that extra punch and McKendree's piano is tight. Kim Wilson joins Guy on swing track, Too Late. His harp riffs blend nicely with Guy's vocals. Whiskey, Beer & Wine has a great groove driven by Doyle Bramhall II, McNelley, Hambridge and Michael Rhodes (on bass). Reese Wynans lays in some real nice B3 and Clav and Guy switches off to an uncharacteristic ES335 for a rounder tone blending nicely with his vocals. Shuffle track, Kiss Me Quick, shows some of Guy's best vocals on the release and his guitar tone from the 335 have a real nice roundness. Kim Wilson adds some hot harp riffs and McKendree's piano work is hot! Crying Out Of One Eye is a cool track with a trace riff from Otis Rush. With an overall R&B feel, this track has a clever concept in title. It reminds me of something that I supposedly said to my parents when I was a kid "I'm laughing on the outside but crying on the inside" as I was taking my punishment for a bad deed. Guys uses the one eye crying for the foolishness of someone who really doesn't hurt. I really like it. With it's almost BB King like guitar riffs and backed by the Muscle Shoals Horns this track packs a punch. On classic R&B track, Baby You Got What It Takes, Guy is joined by Joss Stone and her vocals are clear and sweet as honey. I'm not a big "star collaboration" guy, but Stone has joined another of my favorites, Jeff Beck, on his performances and in both cases she has shown not to be just a calling card on a piece of paper but a real cool singer who can hold her own with the real heavyweights. Turn Me Wild has a real nice strut with Guy nicely punctuating his own vocals on guitar and Billy Cox driving the groove on bass. Some of the slickest guitar work on the release is on this track with Guy taking his strat for a nice walk. Crazy World is an easy soulful ballad with Reese Wynans holding the course with B3 and Guy just singing his guts out. Short meaningful guitar work by Guy is smooth and articulate with a lot of grip. Smarter Than I Was has a vibrant rhythm part by Hambridge, and a cool underlying guitar part by Rob McNelley... and crisp guitar bursts from Guy set this track on fire. Excellent! The big R&B hammer is dropped with Thick Like Mississippi Mud. "Good Whiskey and Women"... shoot...you got me already! Guy gets into one of his classic grooves (Think Damn Right I've Got The Blues) and there's no holding him back. Guy works up a real guitar frenzy on this track literally blowing the lid off! McKendree on piano, Worf on bass and the Muscle Shoals Horns prod him along and he responds with flames! Easy going ballad, Flesh & Bone, in concert with Van Morrison is a nice ballad of both men's style. Trading lead vocal spots, this is probably (after Thick) the most radio likely track on the release. Thick because of it's power and F&B because of it's natural tenderness and melodic sensibilities. Wrapping the release is Come Back Muddy, a stripped down blues number featuring Wymans on upright piano, Bramhall II on 12 string, Michael Rhodes on electric bass and Guy on acoustic guitar and vocal. Classic blues chords and lines give it a primitive feel but it's "modern Guy" getting into a real nice acoustic groove with tight guitar solo's. The release is opened in easy style and closed in easy style. This is a really nice release from Guy and one with a lot of heart. Check it out!

   

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”

 

Stony Plain Records Set to Release "The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard" on September 25

Stony Plain Records Set to Release The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard on September 25

A Decade in the Making, Latest Album from Multi-Award-Winning Guitarist Includes Special Guests Maria Muldaur, Jay McShann, Jerry Portnoy and Sunny Crownover

EDMONTON, AB – Stony Plain Records announces a September 25 release date for The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard, a very special album from the two-time Grammy nominee and multi Blues Music Award winning guitarist that focuses on the music that has informed his over 50-year career as a performing artist, bandleader and producer of seminal American roots music. The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard was recorded primarily at Duke’s own Mood Room studio, with additional work done at Lakewest Recording and some live recording done at the Blackstone River Theater in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

  

“This project has been about a decade in the making for various reasons I won't go into here,” Duke Robillard says in the liner notes about the sessions for the new CD.  “As many of you know, I am, and always have been, a huge fan of American roots music in its entirety. Blues, ragtime, early jazz, Appalachian music, early country, swing, honky-tonk, folk, R&B, soul, New Orleans music, rock and roll and all kinds of roots music have always moved and inspired me the most. Especially the artists that were there at the beginning of each style. Those artists always seem to be the most honest to my ears.”

Accordingly, Robillard has fashioned an album that salutes many of those influences on the new disc, demonstrating in the process the immense scope and breadth of the talent that has made him one of the most revered and beloved musicians in the world.  

“With this album I honor many of the pioneers of true American music, from close to the beginning of recorded music to the 1940s,” Robillard declares. “This is the time period I love most and find a never-ending river of new music to discover, enjoy and be influenced/inspired by. This recording concentrates on music written and recorded in the ‘20s to the ‘40s, with the exception of some original songs and Robbie Robertson's ‘Evangeline,’ which sounds like it could be from that time period!”

Besides Duke’s lead vocals and multiple stringed instruments performed throughout The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard, the all-star backing cast includes special guest vocalists Maria Muldaur and Sunny Crownover, former Muddy Waters band member Jerry Portnoy on harmonica and the late, Kansas City piano legend Jay McShann. Other players include Mary Flower – acoustic finger style and lap slide guitar and vocal; Marty Ballou and John Packer - acoustic bass; Matt McCabe – piano; Mark Teixeira and Marty Richards – drums; Billy Novick – clarinet; Doug James - baritone sax and harmonica; Dave Babcock - tenor sax; Jon Ross – mandolin; Russell Gusetti – concertina and the Providence Mandolin Orchestra.

Robillard taps into his wellspring of great American music songbook knowledge by covering everything from such blues icons as Big Bill Broonzy, W.C Handy, Sleepy John Estes, Robert Lockwood and Pete Johnson, to country legends Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers and the Delmore Brothers, with a nod to traditional popular music from writers including Stephen Foster. And Duke gets an early jump on the holiday season with the inclusion of “Santa Claus Blues,” featuring the soulful vocals of Maria Muldaur and written by one of America’s best pop music composers, Gus Kahn.    

The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard – Track Listing

1 My Old Kentucky Home 1:25

2 Big Bill Blues 3:35

3 I Miss My Baby in My Arms 3:15

4 Jimmie's Texas Blues 3:08

5 Backyard Paradise 2:39

6 Evangeline featuring Sunny Crownover 3:01

7 Left Handed 3:06

8 I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water 3:25

9 I'm Gonna Buy Me a Dog (To Take the Place of You) 5:15

10 Nashville Blues featuring Mary Flower 3:07

11 St Louis Blues 5:07

12 What Is It That Tastes Like Gravy? 3:04

13 Someday Baby 3:17

14 Let’s Turn Back the Years 2:37

15 Take a Little Walk with Me 7:04

16 Santa Claus Blues featuring Maria Muldaur 2:50

17 Profoundly Blue feat. Jay McShann 3:46

18 Ukulele Swing 0:46

About Duke Robillard

Duke Robillard’s career path was set in 1967 when he founded the iconic Roomful of Blues, later holding down the guitar spot in The Fabulous Thunderbirds (following Jimmie Vaughan’s departure from that band), then working with rockabilly maverick Robert Gordon and recording two albums with the Legendary Blues Band (a sterling group of former members of Muddy Waters’ bands). In addition, Duke has logged countless gigs over the years as a producer, bandleader and guitar player with a plethora of giants of blues, roots and jazz music.  That laundry list includes late icons such as Big Joe Turner, Jimmy Witherspoon, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Jay McShann, Rosco Gordon and Herb Ellis, as well as contemporaries Bob Dylan, Dr. John, Jay Geils, Joe Louis Walker, Billy Boy Arnold and Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne.

Since 1980, Duke’s been a touring bandleader for 98% of the time with nearly 30 albums to his credit under his own name. He is the true link from those great artists of the past to the current and future of roots music. With the recent passing of B.B. King and the aging of other blues elders, Duke continues to carry his blues torch held high, leading the music from the wilderness into the light. In recognition of his lifetime achievements, he was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in May of 2014.

Blooming Tunes Music artist: Diane Durrett - Soul Suga' & Diane Durrett - New release review

I just received the newest release, Soul Suga' & Diane Durrett and it's slinky, funky and soulful. Opening with Show Up Sexy, Durrett leads the way down a funky trail. Ted Pecchio lays down a funky bass line and Yonrico Scott hits the drums just right leaving room for a clever jazzy guitar riff by Durrett. With the attitude of Macy Gray on vocal, Butter's In The Skillet is a solid strut pushed along by Scott and Pecchio and reinforced by Lil Joe Burton (trombone), Daryl Dunn (sax), Miko Bowles (trumpet) and Oliver Wood (guitar). Quiet ballad, All Is Well, has solid radio qualities with Markham White on guitar, Brandon Bush on B3, Chris Price on bass, Massey on drums and Adam McKnight, Caroline Aiken, Deborah Reece and Peggy Johnson Still on backing vocals. R&B track, Be Somebody's Angel, sounds like it's right out of the Impressions songbook. Sweet vocals, tight drums by Scott, Pecchio on bass and nice sax work by Randall Bramblett make this a natural radio track. Push The Push Back has a lot of the '70's -'80's club feel. Pecchio on bass and Kathie Holmes on flute with support from Scott on Vibes give this track it's authentic feel. Continuing with the club feel on Let Go & Let Groove, Durrett shows her love for this style of music and how well her voice is suited to it. Scott's bass work coupled with percussion by Massey and keys by Yoel B'nai Yehuda captures the sound. My favorite track on the release, Sassy Larue has a real nice New Orleans groove including military style snare drumming by Massey and tops trumpet by Bowles and nice trombone work by Burton. Bluesy Woohoo is a sassy number featuring Tinsley Ellis on guitar backed by Yehuda, Scott and Massey. Another sweet ballad, I Know Your Nothings, again shows the better qualities of Durrett's vocal style. Accompanied by Eric Frampton on piano another of the tightest tracks on the release. Bright Side has a soulful sound with a light country R&B feel. I like the vocal blending on this track and it's subtle funk backed by Johnathan Lloyd on trombone, and Jon Maret on sax. Wrapping the release is Lennon/McCartney classic, Let It Be. A solid cover of a classic rock track, with a real nice sax solo by Bramlett and B3 by Ike Stubblefield.

   

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”

 

Artist Spotlight: Singer-songwriter Lee Palmer

Artist Spotlight: Singer-songwriter Lee Palmer

Like Elway a strong third release from veteran artist Toronto based roots singer-songwriter and guitarist Lee Palmer released his third album Like Elway on May 12 and since the release has received glowing reviews and repeat positions on the !earshot national campus and community charts. Like Elway was the #1 ranked album for the month of June on Stingray Music's The Blues channel. Palmer's take on roots, blues and country music have earned him deserved accolades from critics and fans alike.   “I am very pleased with the response to Like Elway thus far. A lot of compliments on the production quality and song writing, which is greatly appreciated”, says Palmer. “I just demoed a tribute to JJ Cale called “That Tulsa Sound” which may just be the title of my next album. Cale integrated many musical genres into his recordings and is definitely someone I hold in high esteem. Album four should be out late in 2015 or early in 2016.” Palmer has also made some big changes to his website, leepalmer.ca. Have a visit and stay a while! Here's what some of the reviewers had to say about Like Elway: "With this new album Palmer once again underlined the statement that he is not easy to categorize. With a quirky mix of elements from genres like country, folk, Americana, blues and jazz roots for he covers a lot of ground.” - CTRL. ALT. COUNTRY “His sound mixes blues, folk, and country styles with a gentle ease, and his mellow voice has an ingratiating warmth” - Kerry Doole, New Canadian Music “The album has blues, jazz, swing, and rock elements, making it a dynamic album with something for everyone… Palmer knows what he’s doing, so listen and you might learn a thing or two about country, blues, and every genre in-between” - Brendan Tracey, National Country Review “…it is one of the best discs I’ve heard in the last decade … the musicianship is superb- uncluttered and unrushed… this is a seriously outstanding album” - The Rock Doctor, Gonzo Online “He has a laid-back style, and a mellow, friendly, light-hearted streak. I actually hear a lot of Mose Allison in his style, the jazz singer and piano player who had lots of irony and commentary in his music. There's a little Willie Nelson too, in his story-telling” - Bob Mersereau, CBC East Coast Music    leepalmer.ca  About Lee Palmer With a unique mixture of blues, country, jazz and Americana, Like Elway features nine tracks, with every song showcasing Palmer’s talents as a singer and songwriter. The writing for this album started with a 10-day trip to Nashville this past summer. Two tracks, “Like Elway” and “Lonely at the Top” were a direct result of that musical emersion in Tennessee. The balance were written in the fall of 2014. The album was recorded live at Noble Street studios with JUNO winner George Seara behind the mixing console. The players for the session included Al Cross, David Woodhead, Lance Anderson and Elmer Ferrer. Later additions to the recording included cameo appearances by: Roly Platt on harmonica, vocalist Mary McKay and Joaquin Nuñez on Cajon and percussion. The album serves up a mix of emotions from light and witty, (Axe to Grind, Rockin’ this Chair, This Feels Like One of Those Days and Lonely at the Top) to serious tunes like (Life’s a Mess, Maybe That’s Why and Those Winter Blues). Palmer also serves up some unique spins with the talking country-blues title track Like Elway and rockier Have a Wonderful Life, co-written with friend, guitarist and co-producer, Elmer Ferrer. Palmer doesn’t slide into any one genre easily. In past reviews, his musical sound has been compared to musically diverse talents like Willie Nelson and the early Downchild Blues Band. One thing is for sure, he continues to write and share his musical stories in an honest and straight from the heart fashion. The debut of Like Elway is sure to further showcase Palmer’s musical talent as a vocalist, and songwriter. “I continue to learn each time I go into the studio,” says Palmer, “I feel this is my best effort yet and I am extremely thankful to those who have helped me on my journey.”