Live EP From Estonian Duo

On Friday, August 5, the Estonian duo Andres Roots & Anneli Kadakas released a new live CD, "FiESTa!" Recorded on May 28, 2016 at the Endla Theatre in Pärnu, Estonia during the XXX anniversary concert of the jazz festival FiESTa, the 5-track EP marks the first time drummer Kadakas and slide guitarist Roots have played together in 20 years, as well as their first public performance together – in 1996, Kadakas was the drummer in Roots' first band that never played a gig. Roots' previous release, the compilation LP "Roots Music" that featured collaborations with Dave Arcari (UK), Steve Lury (UK), Black River Bluesman (Finland), L.R. Phoenix (UK), Bert Deivert (USA), Lorete Medne (Latvia), Eric "Red Mouth" Gebhardt (USA), Jantso Jokelin (Finland) and many others, topped the Estonian album charts in April – no small feat for a half-instrumental blues album. Anneli Kadakas is one of the most in-demand jazz and rock drummers in Estonia, having worked with artists such as Vennaskond, Rock Hotel, Rasta Orchestra, Eurovision winner Dave Benton's Latin Band and the Canadian blues harp virtuoso David Rotundo.

Blu Harp Records artist: Harper and Midwest Kind - Show Your Love - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Show Your Love, from Harper and Midwest Kind and it's quite different. Opening with Hell Yeah, a straight up rocker, harmonica, didgeridoo and djembe player and vocalist, Peter Harper is joined by Will Rideoutt on guitar, James Norris on bass and Carl Lewis on drums. A pop style track with indigenous roots, it's a clever opener. Bluesy rocker, What's Goin Down, features trademark harp playing by Harper as well as nice vocal harmonies and cool slide work Rideoutt. Title track, Show Your Love,  opens with a march style drum beat evolving into a funky rocker with tight guitar riffs. Drive Brother Drive is particularly melodic with nice vocal blending, african style percussion and infused harp work. Bluesy, I Can't Stand This, is my choice of tracks on the release with it's "Philly" sound and soulful vocals. Al Hill adds solid electric keys to the track and Paul Randolph holds down the bottom on bass with Dane Clarke on drums. It's All In The Game has a real interesting bottom enhanced by Harper's work on the didgeridoo. Norris' bass work is a workhorse on this track and Lewis' drum work is tight. With a loose airiness to the track, Harper's vocals are solid and his harp lines float. Smooth and melodic, It's Time To Go, has a great formula for plenty of radio play with warm vocal harmonies. We Are In Control has a funky groove and hot drum riffs. Great vocal phrasing and nice harp lines carry this track. Let's Move is a cool motoring track with a dance feel. Short, concise lyric patterns and guitar riffs make this track hit. Hey What You Say has a modern beat under a classic R&B style track. Harper's vocals are pure and his harp playing well placed. Rideoutt's backing vocals are smooth and spot on. Wrapping the release is I Look At Life, an easy paced rock ballad with an almost Joe Walsh style melody. I really like the vocal harmonies on this track and Rideoutt's guitar work balanced with Harper's harp work gives the track just the right touch to make this a choice closer. Very nice.



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Canada's Tami Neilson Shares New Song, "Holy Moses," from Her Forthcoming Album, "Don't Be Afraid"

CANADA's TAMI NEILSON

Shares “HOLY MOSES” from her forthcoming album 

  DON'T BE AFRAID

U.S. Release September 30th on the Outside Music Label, plus Appearances at Upcoming Americana Music Festival

  

Stream First Single, “Holy Moses,” Here 

https://soundcloud.com/outside-music/tami-neilson-holy-moses/s-iPapk

PHOTO BY Tony McKay

Canadian singer Tami Neilson will release Don't Be Afraid, the follow-up to her award- winning CD, Dynamite!, September 30th  in the U.S. on the Outside Music label, distributed by Redeye Worldwide. Tami will embark on a tour beginning September 15 in Canada and will include two shows in Nashville at the Americana Music Festival.
  

Don't Be Afraid was released in Tami's adopted country, New Zealand, last year and debuted at the top of the charts, and most recently, the song, “The First Man,” was shortlisted for the Silver Scroll, the most prestigious music award in New Zealand, which Tami won in 2015 for her song, “Walk (Back to Your Arms).”

Don’t Be Afraid was nearly left unfinished. With only two songs completed and six weeks left to write, Tami unexpectedly lost her father, the patriarch of The Neilson Family band, who Tami had toured across Canada with as a young girl opening for an array of country royalty including the formidable Johnny Cash. It was the encouragement from her family to forge ahead. "I actually inadvertently wrote the title track (without realizing it would be for the album) the week Dad died,” Tami remembers. “'Don't Be Afraid' was the last song Dad wrote, while in the hospital. He had written the melody, lyrics and everything, but he was on oxygen and could barely breathe to speak. He told me that it was driving him crazy that he had this new song stuck in his head, but had no way of offloading it. It's an awful feeling, I know, so I said I would bring him in his guitar so he could play it and I'd record it on my phone. He did a verse, so I got the melody, but then his levels dropped dramatically (that's the hidden track on the album, “Dad's Demo”), but we didn't get the chorus, or the melody for the chorus."

Don't Be Afraid finds the soul taking precedence over the country as Tami found herself listening to a lot of gospel music around the time of her father's death and discovering a kinship with the legendary singer, Mavis Staples. "I've always been a massive Staples fan,” says Tami.” I had ordered the new Pop Staples album, which was released days before Dad died, and I ordered it in Canada so I could take it into the hospital for him to listen to. It arrived the day after he died, and of course I sobbed about that, but I will always be so grateful for that album helping me get through that grieving process."

Recorded in Ben Edwards' New Zealand Sitting Room studio, the songs were again recorded live, the musicians all in the room playing together. The album features Delaney Davidson and all the gents that played on the Dynamite! album, including a duet with Marlon Williams on the soon-to-be classic, “Lonely.” The album features a Tina Turner throwback in lead single ”Holy Moses;” the swinging country of “Only Tears;” a bluesy swagger in “So Far Away,” which was recently featured on the hit TV show, Nashville; and the southern soul of “Burn My Body.” The album is bookended by the title track and the haunting hidden demo track sung by Tami's father, Ron. 

"There are a lot of reasons I chose Don't Be Afraid as the title, and one of them is that, musically, as an artist it's a departure for me. There are definite moments where I have had to go, 'Don't be afraid of this, this is who you are,'" Neilson says. "This album is the guts of me. I guess 'departure' is the wrong word because it's all the same palette and same family, but whereas Dynamite! was a lot of light, bright colors, Don't Be Afraid is deeper, richer colors - still in that same family but a different level."

Don't Be Afraid marks Tami as a new soul staple. It's a raw, deep and hopeful album that finds Tami singing out her grief. "Last year was an insane year, I had the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows all in one year," she recalls. "And I guess that is what the album is, it reflects that constant cycle of life."

Please Visit

Tami Neilson 

Toronto based Outside Music is one of Canada's leading independent labels, releasing albums from The Weather Station, Jill Barber, The Besnard Lakes, Hidden Cameras, The Sadies, and more. Outside Music is distributed by Redeye Worldwide.

TVR/VizzTone Label Group artist: Terry Hanck - From Roadhouse To Your House - Live - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, From Roadhouse To Your House, from Terry Hanck Band and it's outrageous! Opening with Good Rockin' Goin' On, this live release is smoking right out of the block. Everyone knows that Hanck is a great sax player but he's constantly pushing it on this release and I think everyone will be mighty pleased! Hanck lays out squealing sax work over Jimmy Pugh's organ work with Johnny "Cat" Soubrand on guitar, Butch Cousins on drums and Tim Wagar on bass. With Wagar setting a super groove, Hanck takes the lead on vocal, Pugh hits a cool organ solo followed by Soubrand on guitar and Hanck coming back to push it over the top. Excellent opener! Cousins sets the tempo on boogie woogie track, Flatfoot Sam. Hanck has the place rockin' and Pugh plays the boogie like a real pro. Chuck Berry like riffs fly from Soubrand's fretboard and Hanck rips it up on sax. Smokin! Next is a tribute to R&B sax man Jr. Walker, with Junior's Walk 2016. This track really oozes Road Runner and with Pugh covering the organ, Hanck really sets you back in your seat with classic Walker style riffs. Very nice! Chuck Willis' slinky track, Whatcha Gonna Do When Your Baby Leaves You, hits a real nice stride with clean guitar soloing and nice piano work by Pugh. Fifties R&B style track, Smilin' Through My Tears, provides a cool backdrop for some of Hanck's best vocals with excellent guitar work under the melody. Hanck plays a particularly soulful sax solo on this number and Soubrand's guitar work is gripping. Very nice! H B Barnum's, I Don't Love You No More, has a real New Orleans flavor reinforced by the piano work of Pugh and Hanck again grabs the track by the short hairs and shakes it every time he touches his sax. Very cool! Louis Jordan's Ain't That Just Like A Woman is an absolutely perfect track for this band and Hanck really wails it on sax. A super driving bass line from Wagar and Commander Cody tempo gives this track the heat. Excellent guitar work from Soubrand and hot sax work from Hanck really makes this one sail! Classic R&B track, Can I Change My Mind, written by A J Masters, maintains it's light jazzy feel and fleet fingered riffs by Soubrand and Wagar compliment soulful sax lines by Hanck. Excellent! Dave Spector's Octavate'n features rich guitar lead by Soubrand with a healthy dose of organ by Pugh. Hanck's sax work is aggressive and well phrased making this track one of my favorites on the release. Low slung blues track, Peace Of Mind, really gives Soubrand to shine on his blues runs. Soulful sax lines from Hanck close this one out. Super! Wrapping the release is a quick paced Chicago style blues number, Cupid Must Be Stupid. Hanck and Soubrand lead a 6 minute jam making this an ideal closer for a really hot concert. Anyone who walked away from this concert disappointed, passed 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”

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DAVID BROMBERG announces "low down, dirty country blues" LP out 10/14 (Red House)

DAVID BROMBERG - “THE REASON MAN CREATED STRINGED INSTRUMENTS” (JERRY JEFF WALKER) - RETURNS WITH NEW ALBUM ‘THE BLUES, THE WHOLE BLUES, AND NOTHING BUT THE BLUES’ OCTOBER 14, 2016 ON RED HOUSE RECORDS FIRST SINGLE “WALKIN’ BLUES” STREAMING NOW: http://bit.ly/2apqgz8

On October 14, David Bromberg -- a godfather of Americana, decorated multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, gifted song interpreter and lauded bandmate to the stars -- will release The Blues, The Whole Blues and Nothing But The Blues (Red House Records). Produced by Levon Helm and Bob Dylan’s longtime collaborator and three-time Grammy winner, Larry Campbell, Bromberg’s first album since 2013 is a wonderfully curated selection of deep cuts from the blues genre, in addition to original compositions. Bromberg found his inspiration for the album when he heard Willie Nelson repeat a quote from Texas fiddler Johnny Gimble: "There's only two kinds of music - the Star-Spangled Banner and the Blues."  Hear a blustering take on Robert Johnson’s “Walkin’ Blues” here: http://bit.ly/2apqgz8 Through Bromberg’s unparalleled playing and gift for interpretation, a crack band and Campbell’s tasteful horn arrangements, the record reaches electrifying heights as well as intimate acoustic moments, breathing fresh life into the songs of Robert Johnson, Bobby Charles, George “Little Hat” Jones, Ray Charles, and Sonny Boy Williamson, among others. Ray Charles’ “A Fool For You” is one of many album stand-outs, featuring just David on a spellbinding solo acoustic guitar performance and vocals. David learned the song “Why Are People Like That?” from a Muddy Waters record, a song written by one of his favorite writers: Bobby Charles. Bromberg dug deep into recorded music, sometimes finding songs with mysterious origins such as “How Come My Dog Don’t Bark When You Come ‘Round,” or “900 Miles,” an old country song imagined as if Howlin’ Wolf were to play it. Read David’s liner notes here: http://bit.ly/2aPCp0G Bromberg is “an American music icon” (Dr. John), and counts Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Emmylou Harris, Jerry Garcia, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, The Eagles, and so many more as collaborators, fans and friends. This is Bromberg’s 18th  album, the latest in a solo career that began in 1971 on his self-titled debut. The David Bromberg Quintet will bring their exuberant live show across the east coast this fall, including a trio of “Belated Birthday Bashes” featuring Tom Rush, Larry Campbell, and Teresa Williams. Full dates below. TRACK LIST 1.      Walkin’ Blues (Robert Johnson) 2.      How Come My Dog Don’t Bark When You Come ‘Round (Unknown) 3.      Kentucky Blues (George “Little Hat” Jones) 4.      Why Are People Like That? (Bobby Charles) 5.      A Fool For You (Ray Charles) 6.      Eyesight To The Blind (Sonny Boy Williamson) 7.      900 Miles (Traditional) 8.      Yield Not To Temptation (Deadric Malone) 9.      You’ve Been a Good Ole Wagon (John Willie Henry) 10.  Delia (Traditional) 11.  The Blues, The Whole Blues and Nothing But the Blues (Gary Nicholson & Russell Smith) 12.  This Month (David Bromberg) 13.  You Don’t Have to Go (David Bromberg) TOUR DATES 7/21 –   The Levoy Theatre – Millville, NJ 7/22 –   Stephen Talkhouse – Amagansett, NY 7/23 –   Daryl’s House Club – Pawling, NY 8/26 –   Roy’s Hall – Blairstown, NY 8/27 –   Bearsville Theatre – Woodstock, NY 9/22 –   The Center for the Arts – Natick, MA 9/24 –   Iron Horse Music Hall – Northampton, MA 10/4 –   Count Basie Theatre – Red Bank, NJ* 10/6 –   Birchmere – Alexandria, VA^ 10/7 –  The Keswick Theatre – Glenside, PA* 10/14 – Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center – Westhampton Beach, NY 10/15 – Infinity Hall, Norfolk, CT 10/16 – Higher Ground – South Burlington, VT 10/21 – Colonial Theater, Bethlehem, NH 10/22 – Portland House of Music, Portland, ME 10/23 – Tupelo Music Hall, Londonderry, NH 11/4 -    Center for Ethical Culture, NY, NY 11/12 – Stoughton Opera House, Stoughton, WI * w/ Tom Rush, Larry Campbell, and Teresa Williams ^ w/ Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams http://www.davidbromberg.net/

Ruf Records artist: Layla Zoe - Breaking Free - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Breaking Free, from Layla Zoe, and it's powerful. Opening with Backstage Queen, a power blues rocker, you know you are in for something special. Layla Zoe has a special voice and has surrounded with a terrific band featuring Jan Laacks on guitars and Hardy Fischotter on drums. This is a power setting sounding like nothing I've heard since John Bonham died with over the top drum work. Excellent! Why We Hurt The Ones We Love, highlights the richness of Zoe's voice with subtle organ work and acoustic guitar by Laack. With nicely crafted electric guitar soloing, the track has a blend of Marshall Tucker Band and the Rolling Stones. Slide genius, Sonny Landreth, lays in beautiful slide riffs on Wild One, a slinky track with glistening guitar chords and nice tom tom work by Fischotter. Very nice! Blues ballad, Highway of Tears, features a really soulful lead guitar melody and an emotional vocal delivery by Zoe. A powerful track. Title track, Breaking Free has an interesting funk, rock feel with a blues balance. With a super balance of lead and backing vocals over a solid melody, this is a strong radio contender. Funky, Work Horse, has a strong blues base and a great rhythm. With this groove it's a sure thing. Sweet Angel is a mellow, pop track with smooth lap steel guitar work creating texture under a nicely crafted melody. Run Away is a lumbering blues rocker with strong vocals and interesting ambiance guitar chords and strong lead guitar riffs. Laacks conjures up some really hot riffs against the rock hard drum work of Fischotter making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Jagger/Richards composition, Wild Horses, has always been one of my favorite rock tracks and Zoe presents a real sensitive version of the track with some of her richest vocals on the release, accompanied only by Laacks on acoustic guitar and backing vocals. Blues ballad, A Good Man, with a light country rock flavor, is pure radio strong. Laacks adds clean guitar backing and Fischotter's drumming is precise and clever. Wrapping the release is He Loves Me, a solemn ballad featuring Zoe accompanied by Gregor Sonnenberg on keys. Very nice closer to a strong release.



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Backtrack Blues Band Brings It "Way Back Home" on New Harpo Records CD Coming on September 2

Backtrack Blues Band Brings It Way Back Home on New Harpo Records CD Coming on September 2

Special Guests Include 2016 BMA Winner Victor Wainwright

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Tampa Bay-based group Backtrack Blues Band announces a September 2 release date for Way Back Home, on Harpo Records, distributed in the USA by Select-O-Hits and in Canada on Flaming Cheese Records. This is the fifth CD from Backtrack Blues Band, which has won three consecutive Tampa Bay Music Awards for “Best Blues Band.” 2016 Blues Music Award-winner Victor Wainwright adds his major chops on piano throughout the album’s 10 tracks, a perfect blend of Chicago blues (a la Paul Butterfield Blues Band) and the rompin’, stompin’ Texas style of the early Fabulous Thunderbirds.

Members of Backtrack Blues Band are Sonny Charles – lead vocals, harmonica; Kid Royal – lead guitar; Little Johnny Walter – rhythm guitar; Joe Bencomo – drums; and Jeff “Stick” Davis – bass.  Founded in 1980, this talented blues quintet has been one of Florida’s longest-running original blues bands and takes its name from legendary harmonica player Little Walter’s instrumental, “Backtrack.” Since its inception, Backtrack has been tearing up stages all over the globe, including a recent sojourn north of the border to the Tremblant International Blues Festival in Montreal. Over its history, the band has performed with many of its musical mentors, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Gregg Allman, John Lee Hooker and Johnny Winter.

“This first class band has recorded one of the strongest traditional blues records to date,” writes Blues Music Magazine editor Art Tipaldi in the liner notes for Way Back Home. “Led by the double barrel attack of harmonica ace and lead vocalist Sonny Charles, and the biting Texas blues guitar of Kid Royal, the Backtrack Blues Band is now poised to carry its musical message to a larger audience.”

From the jumping opening track of “Goin’ to Eleuthera” (a song about a beautiful island paradise in the Bahamas), through the original songs and such covers as Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Your Funeral, My Trial” and “Checkin’ on My Baby,” to the driving closer, “Help Me Just This Time,” Way Back Home delivers a constant barrage of great blues riffs and flavors that create a powerful impression. At the core of the band’s sound are the stellar harmonica work and vocals of Sonny Charles and the stinging Texas blues guitar work of Kid Royal. With Little Johnny Walter laying down solid rhythm guitar parts and an in-the-pocket rhythm section of Jeff “Stick” Davis on bass and Joe Bencomo on drums, the Backtrack Blues Band sound is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

“On this studio record, we tried to capture more of a live analog sound,” says Sonny Charles about the recording sessions. “We think the CD has a warm and authentic feel that avoids the sterility that comes with many modern digital recordings.

“We had lots of fun making this album; it was a relaxed journey for the band.  Everyone had a great time playing the tunes, and we hope the joy of performing real blues shines through on this record.

“Way Back Home is our fifth album, and I guess we learned from our past projects. This CD really captures the tones and energy we were looking for when we planned the sessions. We think it’s, by far, our best recording effort and truly reflects the ‘Backtrack’ sound.”

Sonny Charles and Little Johnny Walter formed Backtrack in 1980, and have played together for over 35 years. Sonny is an accomplished blues harmonica player, whose tone and style are reminiscent of Little Walter and Paul Butterfield. His devotion to blues music runs deep, as he founded the Tampa Bay Blues Festival in 1995 in St Petersburg, Florida. The festival has since grown into one of America's largest and most-respected blues gatherings, winning a prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive Award (2011) from the Blues Foundation for Best U.S. Blues Festival.

Kid Royal, originally from London, Ontario, has appeared at many major blues festivals throughout Canada and America, and his style is influenced by the great Texas guitar players. He is widely respected as one of the very top guitarists in Florida.  

Joe Bencomo is an exceptional drummer, who has played in the best blues and jazz bands in Tampa Bay for over 40 years. Little Johnny Walter adds solid rhythm guitar and backup vocals to the band. He met Sonny at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where they first formed a band while attending college at UNC; and they've remained great friends and musical collaborators ever since those early days. Jeff “Stick” Davis is a gifted bass player, won a Grammy as a founding member of the Amazing Rhythm Aces, and has traveled the world, touring with BB King, John Mayall, Al Green, Jesse Winchester, Pure Prairie League, and others. He was also an in-demand bassist for many years at Memphis and Nashville recording sessions.

“Goin’ to Eleuthera” audio link:

http://backtrackbluesband.com/media/audio/samples/goin-to-eleuthera.mp3