Eli Cook Delivers A Musical Whiplash With High-Dollar Gospel Out On 8/18

Eli Cook Delivers A Musical Whiplash With New Album

High-Dollar Gospel

Out August 18 On C.R.8 Records Label Debut

“Mystifying” – John Mayall

“Everybody knows the story of the crossroads, where blues guitarists go at midnight to trade their souls to the devil for musical prowess. It’s just a myth, of course, but if it were true, firebrand Eli Cook could have bragging rights, as his scarifying solo-country blues chill like a hellhound on your trail.” -  Guitar Player (2007)

Eli Cook is a mystifying soul. He’s a keen observer, a provoking thinker and has swagger.

All under that messy blonde hair is a passionate heart with fingers of silver and gold that recalls John Lee Hooker, Chris Smither, and Chet Atkins, mixed in with a dirty, grungy sound. It’s clean playing mind you; it’s just his fingers are covered in the dirt left over from the crossroads.

High-Dollar Gospel preaches a high voltage bolt to your ears and shakes you loose.

Coming from Albemarle County in Virginia at the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Eli Cook grew up listening to the blues, country, classic rock and alternative rock. He grew up with no TV and radio shows like Prairie Home Companion were his Saturday night entertainment. Life moves slowly in this rural area of the world giving him time to hone his skills with his voice and guitar chops. At 18 he was opening up for B.B. King – a few years later he’s playing in Canada – and then the next week he’s blending in with his hometown locals. Talent like this shouldn’t go unnoticed, and Eli has been smoldering in the underbelly for far too long.

“It’s what was around me, and I just tried to pick up on everything and everybody, including Doc Watson and Chet Atkins. In fact, hearing Chet fingerpick made me realize I didn’t need a band.” (Source: Guitar Player 2007)

Produced by Eli Cook at Full Moon Recording Studios in VA, High-Dollar Gospel opens up with a slow bang with “Trouble Maker” – taunting and questioning his muse to join him.  Acoustic picking and slide drive the classic hoedown backs the cautionary tale “The Devil Finds Work.” The haunting “Mixing My Medicine” contains the cavernous sound of a detuned custom 12-string guitar; an instrument played famously by Leadbelly and Blind Willie McTell.  Cook slows down Muddy Waters’ melancholy “Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had” into a terrifying, heart of darkness lament, his voice reaching a bottomless depth of sorrow. The orchestral 12-string guitar underscores the metaphoric boast of “King Of The Mountain” that shows off Eli’s huge growl of a voice with its anthem-like chorus is a showstopper.

“Got my spirit vision mama, she's callin’ me

head-on collision when a heart runs free

when I'm high, lordy people, don't nobody mess me round

I seen every kind of evil; got to get on out this town” – King Of The Mountain

High-Dollar Gospel isn’t all balls to the wall, for his take on “44 Blues” is a brilliantly inventive version of Howlin’ Wolf’s classic propelled by his tapping foot. Dylan’s “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” is made less declamatory than the original as Cook slows and lightens his approach without losing the romantic heat. He again flashes his slide accompaniment skills on the jaunty “Month Of Sundays” in a poetic entreaty to a paramour. (Click on Eli’s face for an acoustic performance of “Month Of Sundays”)

Eli Cook explains his album title as “I was brainstorming ideas that would evoke the imagery of the American South. The phrase ‘high-dollar’ is an old one, and ‘gospel’ is the Southern church music that brought us Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and countless other iconic musicians. The two phrases together can have several connotations, but the one I think of is the feeling of disillusionment that seems to be more and more pervasive. I think a lot of young people feel a sense of apathy and a loss in direction, generally speaking. People need inspiration, and it seems like that is becoming harder to come by.”

“He’s in the vanguard of young, 21^st-century blues rockers!” – Tinsley Ellis

The growl in his voice shows off an emotional connection to the music as a tool rather than decoration, and with your eyes closed, you could be listening to Howlin’ Wolf or Chris Cornell. On Aug. 18with High-Dollar Gospel, Eli shows you what you can’t imagine, something so strong and melodic, so don’t be afraid to look and listen.

“Artists often talk about the blues as a living and growing thing and not just a style of music fit for museums. Cook puts that theory into practice and moves things forward.” - Slant Magazine

Guitarist Dudley Taft Unleashes Torrents of Blues-Rock Sounds on New CD, "Summer Rain," Coming September 15 from American Blues Artists Group Label

Guitarist Dudley Taft Unleashes Torrents of Blues-Rock Sounds on New CD, Summer Rain, Coming September 15 from American Blues Artists Group Label

CD Dedicated to America’s Men & Women in the Military 

CINCINNATI, OH – Blues-rock guitar master Dudley Taft announces a September 15 release date for Summer Rain, the newest disc from the Cincinnati-based artist on the American Blues Artist Group label.

Summer Rain is his fifth studio album, consisting of 11 all-original songs, and dedicated to the men and women of the armed forces who accept tours of duty in far-away places, leaving their families behind. A running theme of anguished separation and endless toil run through the album.

“I have the greatest respect for those men and women who serve in the military, especially those who are deployed halfway around the world in the hot spots of sectarian conflicts,” Taft says. “This album pays tribute to these soldiers who sacrifice much of their lives to defend freedom and to support their families. The separation from their loved ones and significant others must weigh heavy on their hearts.”

All of the basic tracks on Summer Rain were recorded in Taft's own studio, which he purchased from the legendary Peter Frampton in 2013. Appearing for the third time with Taft is Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Reese Wynans, who played keyboards for Stevie Ray Vaughan. “Reese always has the best instincts and manages to take each song up a notch,” Taft comments. “Check out the vibe he creates on the track ‘Live or Die!’ Jason Patterson plays drums on all but two tracks, with Mike Tapogna on the skins for the other two. Newcomer Kasey Williams handles the bass duties, except for three songs played by long-time collaborator John Kessler. My daughter Charmae adds some backing vocals to the title track song.”

A self-confessed guitar gear fanatic, Taft used several of his newly acquired mid-sixties Fender amps on most of the songs, along with the Tonehunter TNT to fill out the sonic palette.

The opening track, “Flying on Love,” is a bit of a departure sonically. “I reached for my fuzz pedal and layered guitars over a couple of killer drum loops and had Jason play on top of those,” he says about the recording session. “The title track, ‘Summer Rain,’ clocks in a little under six minutes, telling the tale of laboring miserably far from home under the hot sun hoping for the rain to wash away the pain and cool things down.”

“Edge of Insane” is a lighter take on a jilted lover, while “Pistols at Ten Paces” has a hint of political commentary, uncharacteristic for Taft.

The final track, “Find My Way Back Home,” winds up the stories on the album, with the protagonist finally returning home after a long separation from his family.

Dudley Taft’s music career began in high school when he founded the band Space Antelope with friend Trey Anastasio (of Phish). He then expanded his creative juices as a guitarist and songwriter with two prominent Seattle bands of the early 1990s, Sweet Water and Second Coming. Both had major label deals and Taft enjoyed success with songs on the radio, in movies and television.

In 2007, Taft started his solo career by playing songs from Freddie King, ZZ Top and Albert Collins, to name a few. His first solo effort, Left for Dead, was released in 2011. Deep Deep Blue followed in 2013, and along with Left for Dead, was released in Europe on the M.i.G. label. Screaming in the Wind debuted in 2014. His last album, Skin and Bones, was released in 2015 and resonated both with blues and rock critics and radio station deejays. It also yielded several widely seen videos, including “Lonesome Memphis Blues,” and a killer take on Johnny Winter’s “Leland Mississippi Blues,” both filmed on location.

Dudley's music can be heard on most every streaming site, Sirius XM Radio and your favorite local blues show. His music has been featured in movies and on television, most notably “The Sixth Sense” and on “That Metal Show,” “Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels” and many more.

Dudley Taft recently returned from an extensive European tour, which included him playing before a crowd of over 10,000 people at a Polish music festival. 

Building Records artist: Willa Vincitore - Better Days - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Better Days, by Willa Vincitore and it's solid. Opening with shuffle track, Love Looks Good On Me, singer Willa Vincitore lead a super band of Lee Falco on drums, Brandon Morrison on bass, Chris Vitarello, Jay Collins on sax, Reggie Pittman on trumpet, Pete Hop on acoustic guitar and Scott Milici on keys. A bluesy shuffle, this track has cool bones but explodes into a full gospel style track with super horns and a nice guitar solo by Vitarello. On funky, Stop, Drop and Roll, Vincitore lays out some of her best vocals on the release with cool key work and excellent sax punctuation by Collins. Excellent! On country flavored rocker, Hey Little Sister, Chris O'Leary joins on vocal and harp. Title track, Better Days has a very contemporary "neo soul" sound with an easy feel and nicely blended vocals highlighted by under the lead soloing. On country flavored two stepper, Mama Needs Some Company, Vincitore really pulls out a bluesy throat and slide work by Vitarello adds super swagger. Crazy Man has a cool funky bottom, sassy guitar, solid vocals and a tight horn chaser. Say What is a real hot funky number with a nice bass line. Milici pumps up the rhythm and Collins and Pittman punctuate. Very nice. Rich vocals by Vincitore really hit the mark on Opposite of Lonely, a funky bottomed jazz number. I particularly like Pittman's "Miles like" approach to the trumpet solo and Vitarello tasty guitar solo is framed nicely by tight drumming by Falco. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Demons, an acoustic, delta blues style track. Nice resonator work by Vitarello nice frames the isolated vocals on Vincitore. A pure, old school blues, this is a nice closer for a cool 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”

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Vector Recordings artist: Lee Roy Parnell - Midnight Believer - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 11, 2017), Midnight Believer, by Lee Roy Parnell and it's smooth. Opening with Hours In Between, a rich, pop driven track, Lee Roy Parnell shows why he's known for his soulful voice and solid songwriting. With bluesy guitar riffs, a thumping bass line courtesy of Steve Mackey, Kevin McKendree on keys and Lynn Williams on drums, this is a great opener. Title track, Midnight Believer, really has that Muscle Shoals, Pete Carr/Boz Scaggs sound. Parnell clearly has a super feel and for this Blue Eyed Soul. A definite radio track, Ponchatrain, is as solid a ballad as you're likely to find with a warm melody, nicely blended vocals and subdued instrumentation. Too Far Gone is another terrific soul track with warm vocals and cool keyboard work by McKendree. Sunny Days, a quiet acoustic based ballad features Parnell way out front singing lead vocal with only minimal backing, and nice slide guitar and backed by the Fairfield Four, an American Institution known for Gospel vocals. Very nice. Want Watcha' Have kicks it up a few notches with a high stepping rocker and giving Parnell a chance to present not only a funkier side but to lay in some real rocking guitar riffs. His guitar voice is warm and clean. Funky, New Orleans flavored Going Uptown has a super marching drum rhythm and cool female backing vocals but my favorite part of this track is the fluid slide work of Parnell. Very nice! A little dab of country on Tied Up And Tangled gives it a bit of a Bonnie Raitt/Little Feat feel. Soaring guitar in the style of David Lindley and a cool vocal duet with Etta Britt give this track real air. Wrapping the release is soft country rock ballad, Some Time Ago, a track that among 10 other solid tracks could easily be a big seller. I love Parnell's guitar tone on the slide solo of this track adding real heat to his soulful composition. This is a super closer to a special 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”

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 This track isn't on the release but thought it deserved a listen:

Americana Music Society - Red Hot: A Memphis Celebration Of Sun Records - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Red Hot: A Memphis Celebration Of Sun Records by the Americana Music Society and it's really cool. This recording, co-produced by singer-guitarist Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars and Tamara Saviano, the Nashville based writer-Producer and author of Without Getting Killed or Caught, with all proceeds to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Opening with swinging R&B track, John Paul Keith sings Red Cadillac and a Black Mustache featuring Jim Spate on soulful sax. Valerie June digs deep on Carl Perkin's Sure To Fall (In Love With You) joined by Jimbo Mathus and Amy laVere on backing vocals showing real American home grown country. Very nice. On Charlie Rich's Lonely Weekends, Shawn Camp takes the lead backed by spate on sax and Lauren Mascitti and John Paul Keith on backing vocals. Bryan Hayes is front and center on Charlie Rich's Ways of a Woman In Love backed by Emily Barker and Amy LaVere on backing vocals. This is a simple country tune and has great style. On Billy "The Kid" Emerson's R&B classic, Red Hot, Chuck Mead, Kevin Fonteyne, Drake Milligan and Jonah Lees rock it. Bobby Rush takes the blues right down main street with Tough Titty, one of my favorites on the release. Amy LaVere nails swing track, Ten Cats Down with real nice guitar soloing by Will Sexton and Emily Barker on backing vocals. Jimbo Mathus rocks Jerry Lee Lewis' High School Confidential. Mathus is in his own universe when he pours it on and he is channeling here. Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues gets a cool cover by Alvin Youngblood Hart with solid vocals and twangy guitar. Luther Dickinson brings on the Mississippi Hill sound on Howlin' Wolf''s Moanin' at Midnight. Joined by Lightnin' Malcolm on guitar, not only breathes a cool 6 min plus but extends to an addition jam for another 7. This is an excellent closer for a really nice release.
Another feature of this package is a super 15 page color insert with quips and humor. Very cool. 

  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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Big O Records artist: Joseph Veloz - Offerings - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 15, 2017), Offerings, from Joseph Veloz and it's terrific! Opening with Just Jammin', Veloz shows his heavy fusion influences with terrific bass lines and excellent beat. Shawn Kellerman really manages the electric guitar and Jim Alfredson on keys and Andrew "Blaze" Thomas rounds out this terrific band for this smokin' hot opener! Biscuit Miller joins on vocal on Eddie Kirkland's Good Good Day. Super backing by Alfredson, Thomas, Kellerman and Veloz give this track a nice warmth. On funky, Mules For Biles (Blues For Miles) is a really nice track with thick bass work and clean guitar lead by Erich Goebel and rich organ work by Alfredson making this one of my favorites on the release. Excellent!   Lucky Peterson joins on lead vocal on Jukin' and Shakin', and hot funky (Tower of Power like) track driven by the excellent bass work of Veloz with Ray Podhornik on trumpet, David Rodenburg on sax and blazing hot guitar soloing by Kellerman. He Loves Me (God's Promise) is a really nice jazz pop track with a super melody. Featuring nice key work from Jim David, and cool bass lead from Veloz, this is a cool track.  Greg Nagy takes the mic on I Like Me Better When I'm With You, a smooth R&B number. Also adding his guitar signature to the track and with Scott Veenstra, a solid radio track. Dolly Parton's Jolene maintains much of the original character featuring Jennifer Westwood on lead vocal and particularly nice slide work from Kellerman. Dylan Dunbar steps up with a nicely articulated lead guiitar solo and John Lee's piano work adds nicely. Wrapping the release is a cover of Prince's Kiss. Veloz really works the bass over giving this track a hot bottom and lead vocal is handled by Joey Spina's soulful self. Alfredson's organ work really adds nicely to the overall track and Kellerman lays out another nice guitar solo but it's Veloz who cuts loose in this track and takes it for a nice ride. Super closer.

  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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Rockin' Johnny Burgin July and August Shows

Rockin' Johnny Burgin July and Aug Cali Dates: It's great to be back in California after a fun tour in Sweden with Aki and some great shows in the Midwest and at The Chicago Blues Festival..  The shot above is by Franky Bruneel and was taken at the Mary Lane show at the Fest-- what a great time!  Here are the upcoming Cali and road dates for the next couple of months: Today, Fri, July 7: Smoking Pig BBQ, Fremont, 9-12 This Sat, July 8: Mission St BBQ, Santa Cruz, 6-8 w Andy Santana This Sat, July 8: Joe's Place, Boulder Creek, 9-12 Thurs, July 13: American Legion Post 474, Half Moon Bay 7-10 Fri, July 14: Poor House Bistro, San Jose Sat, July 15: Solis Winery, Gilroy 1-4 Sat, July 15: Hopmonk, Sonoma, w Aki Kumar 8-11 Sun, July 16: Power House Pub, Folsom, w Kyle Rowland, 3-6 Tues, July 18: Mission St BBQ, Santa Cruz, 6-8 w Andy Santana Thurs, July 20: Little Lou's BBQ, Campbell, w Aki Kumar Sat, July 22: Odd Fellows Hall, Nevada City, ft Freddie Roulette Mon, July 24: Jo Bar, Portland, OR Tues, July 25: Catfish Lou's, Portland, OR special guest of Rae Gordon AUG DATES Aug 6:  CALGARY BLUES FESTIVAL w Toronto based blues harp player/songwriter/singer Sugar Brown Aug 10: Hollihan's, White Bear Lake, MN Aug 11: Park Ave Bar, Oshkosh, WI Aug 12: Schooners, Minneapolis, MN Aug 13: BAYFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL, Duluth, MN Aug 13: The Blind Pig, Duluth MN:  Bayfront Blue Fest Afterparty! Tues Aug 15 and 22: Mission St BBQ, Santa Cruz, CA 6-8 duo shows with special guests Sat, Aug 19: Tavern on the Green, Windsor, CA solo show 4-6 Thurs, Aug 24: Salt Lake City, TBD Fri, Aug 25: The Green Pig, Salt Lake City, UT, w Tony Holiday Sat, Aug 26: Sandy, UT, w Tony Holiday Sun, Aug 27: The Corner Bar, Fremont, NE 4-8 Mon, Aug 28: The Fremont, Des Moines, IA, solo show Tues, Aug 29: Shaw's Crab House, Chicago, IL, w Kenny Smith Thurs, Aug 31: Thursday Night Out Concert, Marion Ct, Downtown Oak Park, IL Fri, Sept 1: The Smoke Daddy, Chicago, IL Sat, Sept 2: Celtic Knot Public House, Evanston, IL duo show Sun, Sept 3: River Roast, Chicago, IL 12-3 Sun, Sept 3: Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago, IL 9.30-12.30 East Coast Tour!   SEPT 7-19  HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE 9.9, Chan's, Woonsocket, RI, The Beehive in Boston, and dates in CT, MASS, NJ and NY.  Check the shows page for full details. More rave reviews are coming in on the new Rockin' Johnny Burgin CD "Neoprene Fedora"-- to listen to it on youtube, click here, and to purchase or download a copy, click here. Thank you and see you at the shows! Johnny

Reverbrocket Records artist: The Gordon Meier Blues Experience - Magic Kingdom - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Magic Kingdom, from The Gordon Meier Blues Experience and it's vintage Chicago blues at it's best. Opening with Howlin' Wolf's Howlin' For My Darlin', Gordon Meier is front and center on lead vocal and guitar with Lester Veith on drums and Mark Friedman on bass. Meier's vocals are deep and resonant and Dean Shot's guitar tone screams old style. John Primer's Stop Draggin' That Chain Around has great swing with backing vocals by Friedman, super slide by John Taino and harp by Dennis Gruenling. Excellent! Taino is back on slide again on original track, Just Keep Ridin'.  Really cool. Red Headed Woman is a real nice boogie with a solid a solid boogie guitar line and clean riffs. Jimmy Rogers' Gold Tail Bird is nice and slow featuring Gruenling on harp. Meier's best vocals on the release and chilling guitar work make this one of my favorites on the release. A track that screams out from the release, Johnny Otis' Signifyin' Monkey, is really funny and gritty. (Stilladog...you need this!) Predominately vocal and keys (Tom Hammer), this track is a hoot!  Muddy Waters' Gypsy Woman is thick with Chicago blues. With traditional guitar riffs and super harp by Gruenling under Meier's vocals and tasty guitar soloing, really nice track. Wrapping the release is Freddie King's. The Stumble. An excellent closer for any show and in this case a super closer for a super release with top notch guitar work from Meier and organ from Hammer.

  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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Karen Lovely - Fish Outta Water - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fish Outta Water by Karen Lovely and it's quite good. Opening with title track, Fish Outta Water, Karen Lovely is joined by Rick Holmstrom on guitar, Taras Prodaniuk on bass and Matt Tecu on drums. On Willie Dixon style, Twist My Fate, Lovely shows substantial vocal girth with Sasha Smith on piano and Eric Corne. Very nice. With a Country Western flair, Waking Up The Dead has a cool retro sound that I really like, with Doug Pettibone on guitar, Alan Mark Lightner on percussion, and David Rahlicke on cornet. Big Black Cadillac is a strong radio contender with a Country rock twist. Lovely's vocals are strong and i particularly like Holmstrom's guitar work. Hades' Bride is another strong track with a great melody and a Western ballad style. Lovely's voice works nicely in this flavor and clean guitar work by Al Bonhomme, warm cello tones from Richard Dodd and really nice violin lines by Eric Gorfain that dress the track beautifully. Wilson Pickett like, Molotov Cocktails has a cool R&B feel with Buddy Guy like guitar riffs from Pettibone. Very cool. Wrapping the release is The River's Wide, a cool ballad with a strong melody. The song has very nice stepping melodic sequences, coaxing the best from Lovely with warm Hammond work Phil Parlapiano and stylistically cool guitar work by Pettibone making this a strong closer for a very cool 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”

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Artist Spotlight: Vancouver's The Mojo Stars

Formed almost ten years ago, Vancouver’s The Mojo Stars wasted no time establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the local blues scene. With deep roots in blues and soul, combined with a rock driven edge, this multi-talented band has been collecting a large following starting from their debut performance at Vancouver International Jazz Festival to their upcoming tour of 2017. Comprised of front man Randy Clarke, guitarist Mark Rankin, and later including local heavyweights, drummer Loren Etkin (Long John Baldry) and bassist Lee Oliphant, the band’s first year saw them playing at local clubs, pubs, casinos and private events. In 2009, they recorded their first CD, Devil’s Advocate, a collection of ten original songs penned by Clarke and Rankin. The album received extensive airplay and was featured on blues radio programs in Canada, the US and Europe. The end of 2010 saw the group on hiatus, but two years later they returned reinvigorated, adding new members, B3 player Kenny Boychuck (long time Jerry Doucette collaborator) and sax man Tom Gould to the lineup. Playing their return gig at the newly- opened Columbia in New Westminster, The Mojo Stars sold out the 500-seat-room and treated both old and new fans to the freshly written material. Now, The Mojo Stars have released their new album Under The Influence (February 17, 2017). The 11-track recording features six live cuts and is laden with catchy, heavy riffs, Stax-like grooves and soulful vocals. The Mojo Stars will be performing locally to celebrate the release and heading out on tour later in 2017.  themojostars.com “Under The Influence is feel good blues, a lively mixture of 5 studio and 6 live cuts, and the energy of the performances is infectious… The band is tight, the performances are solid and occasionally inspirational.  Under The Influence is capable of heavy lifting if you’re feeling down and your soul needs a boost… what could be better than that?” – Gonzo Online/The Rock Doctor “Their music is adorned with a powerful and effective combination of  dynamic rock, funk, soul and blues, and such fusion guarantees above all a great and inspired musical story.” – Blues Corner / Soundguardian Learn more:  themojostars.com www.facebook.com/themojostars  soundcloud.com/themojostars/under-the-influence

Jim Allchin - Decisions - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Decisions, from Jim Allchin and his records just keep getting better. Allchin's first two releases garnered strong review but I believe that this one is his best yet. Opening with Artificial Life, a boogie rocker, Allchin has his amp dialed in just perfect and it getting super tone. With strong support from Michael Rhodes on thumping bass, Reese Wynans on B3 and Tom Hambridge on drums this is a strong opener showcasing Allchin's chops and cool phrasing. Latin rocker, The Mexican End has a solid melody and horn punctuation by Bill Bergman on sax, Lee Thornburg on trumpet. Allchins vocals are solid and his guitar playing tight. Driving rocker, Bad Decisions, has the solid rhythm of Don Nix's Goin' Down with searing guitar riffs making this one of my favorites on the release. High intensity, Just Plain Sick is a super hot number in the style of Clarence Gatemouth Brown. Allchin really rips it up on this one and the piano and organ of Wynans is spot on. Excellent! Slower blues number, Friends, has particularly soulful guitar runs and smokin' soulful bends. Excellent! After Hours stands out really nicely with volume swells and lead solo guitar melody that seems to float. Kenny Greenberg joins on guitar with Steve Mackey on bass and James Wallace on keys. With contemporary blues vibrato akin to Joe Bonamassa, Allchin really gets it rolling on Don't Care with "showy" guitar riffs, a rock solid bass line by Rhodes and cool B3 by Wynans. Understated blues ballad, Stop Hurting Me, has great bones and a sweet piano solo by Wynans. Horn warmth by Bergman and Thornburg really set the stage for Allchin to lay it out there with some of his best riffs on the release. Wrapping the release is Destiny, a more progressive track with Allchin out there with his guitar and only minimal backing. His guitar with effects really floats nicely on a bed of piano and organ making it an excellent closer for a strong 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”

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Real Gone Music artist: Larry Coryell - At The Village Gate - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the Larry Coryell's At The Village Gate, a essential fusion release from a live concert performed in 1971. Opening with The Opening, an original composition Larry Coryell on guitars and vocal is joined by Mervin Bronson on bass and Harry Wilkinson on drums. Starting with a simple guitar line, The Opening is reinforced by the same line on bass and anchored by the drum part allowing Coryell wide open space to improvise. This is classic Coryell and a great tune. After Later has a lighter feel and fleeter tempo and an almost pop melody wanting to emerge fro this jagged tempo. Coryell really opens up on this track blistering the strings and giving you a mental workout. Very cool! Chick Corea's Entardecendo En Saudade is up next with a driving drum rhythm and Coryell experimenting with phase shifting and working chords against wammy bar and feedback as he literally torches the audience with riffs. Excellent! Jack Bruce's Can You Follow? is up next with it haunting melody and daunting rhythm. Coryell's work is always on top but I am really obsessed with Wilkinsons drumming on this track. Terrific. Wrapping the release is Beyond The Chilling Winds featuring Julie Coryell in duet with Larry on vocal. Akin to a Jimi Hendrix track, BTCW has  complex inter-workings with a simple melody working itself into a monster jam where Coryell really unleashes. This is a great opportunity to hear Coryell at his prime.

  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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Real Gone Records artist: Jesse Ed Davis - Red Dirt Boogie - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Red Dirt Boogie by Jesse Ed Davis newly released by Real Gone Music and it's a real nice slice of early 70's rock. Davis was on the who's who list of musicians with Clapton, Leon, George Harrison, Taj Mahal, the Dominoes, you name it. This release opens with Every Night Is Saturday Night from his self titled solo release. With it's communal party feel, it could easily be a part of the Mad Dogs with it's driving drum beat, New Orleans style trumpet and clarinet. Red Dirt Boogie has the swampy sound of Dr John and the vocal styling of Leon Russell. Further On Down The Road was co written by Taj Mahal and it definitely has his flavor (Think Ain't Gwine To Whistle Dixie). Davis sets up some of his best vocals on the release and has solid warm backing vocals Merry Clayton, Gloria Jones and Bobby Jones as wekk as sweet sax by Jerry Jumonvlle. Reno Street Incident has influences of both Mahal and Leon and is a strong track also from his first solo release. George Harrison's Sue Me Sue You Blues has great feel and a taste of Davis' slide work. Taj Mahal's take on Statesboro Blues featuring Davis on slide was influential on Duane Allman and his own take on the track. Another track with strong Leon features is You Belladonna You of course featuring Leon on piano. Excellent! Leon Russell's Alcatraz is great sounding so much like Leon's band...with a twist.  Great! Another terrific track is My Captain with spiritual overtones featuring Jesse on vocal, slide guitar and Leon on piano. Wrapping the release is unreleased Kiowa Teepee which certainly features a vibrant Clapton on guitar. This is a cool release that warrants a solid listen.

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STILL more press raves for re-release Guitar Slim Jr.'s debut album

Howlin' Wuelf Media

I'm including STILL more media breaks on Orleans Records'  re-release of The Story Of My Life, the Grammy-nominated debut album from singer-guitarist Guitar Slim Jr.  distributed by Select-O-Hits. This marks the album's first-ever release on vinyl and its first re-issue on CD since the late 1980's. I'm hoping you'll consider covering this release via album review or interview. Please let me know if you need the music. Slim Jr. aka Rodney Armstrong, the son of Southern Blues legend Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones, was already few decades into his music career when he recorded the album. The sessions took place in New Orleans, in the summer of 1987, at Big Easy Studio on Paris Avenue. ------------------------------------- Guitar Slim, Jr. (born Rodney Glenn Armstrong, August 24, 1952), in New Orleans, Louisiana is the son of Eddie Jones who of course was Guitar Slim. This album is a re-issue of the 1968 album of the same name that was nominated for a Grammy. Recorded in 1987 at The Big Easy Studio on Paris Avenue in New Orleans, two of the tracks have a direct connection to the UK with keys work on 'Bad Luck Blues' and 'Well I Done Got Over', delivered by Brit Jon Cleary who had been in New Orlins for only about two years following his emigration. The music is excellent. 'Real'' blues, many of the tracks straight 12 bar, some of them (Trouble Don't Last, Bad Luck Blues, Too Weak To Fight, Well I Done Got Over) come with a small horn section and one, 'Turn Back The Hands Of Time', with a vocal group. Throughout Slim's guitar work is fiery and inventive with a nice edgy tone. Not bad for 48 years ago! This one is strongly recommended, especially if you tire of what passes for blues today.   Ian Mackenzie/BluesInTheSouth.com June Rodney Glenn Armstrong a.k.a. Guitar Slim Jr. is a New Orleans blues guitarist and singer and the son of Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones. Guitar Slim is best known for his million selling hit single "The Things That I Used to Do". The elder Slim died in 1959 when he was 32 years old. His son was not yet eight years old. Guitar Slim was an inspiration to Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Earl King, Albert Collins, Lonnie Brooks and Buddy Guy. Guitar Slim Jr. talked and sang just like his daddy. He was given his first guitar by Huey "Piano" Smith and was nicknamed Guitar Slim Jr. by Earl King. He followed in his father's footsteps and along with a talented bunch of New Orleans sidemen recorded his own debut album in 1988. "The Story of My Life" was recorded at the Big Easy Studio on Paris Avenue and released on Orleans Records. The following year it was nominated for a Grammy Award as Best Traditional Blues Album. Guitar Slim Jr. recorded only two more albums. In 1996 he released "Nothing Nice" featuring the Memphis Horns on Warehouse Creek Records. His last album was 2010's "Brought Up The Hardway" on the ClyDesign Studio imprint. He now lives in Washington D.C. but is still a fixture on the New Orleans scene having last played The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2011. On April 22, 2017 Orleans Records re-issued "The Story of My Life" on both Vinyl and cd. The band includes Guitar Slim Jr., vocals and guitar; Shannon Powell (from The Preservation Hall Jazz Band) or Kerry Brown (from Guitar Slim Sr's band), drums; Rene Coman (from Alex Chilton and The Iguanas) or Charles Moore (from Deacon John and The Ivories), bass; Jon Cleary, piano; and Milton Batiste Jr., trumpet. The album was produced by Carlo Ditta. Seven songs were written by his father Guitar Slim, Sr. including the title track and "Well, I Done Got Over It", "A Letter to My Girlfriend", "Bad Luck Blues" and "Sufferin' Mind". Both "Turn Back The Hands of Time" and "Can I Change My Mind" were hits for Tyrone Davis; while "Too Weak to Fight" is from Clarence Carter. This historic re-issue is highly recommended. Richard Ludmerer/MakingAScene.org 6/8 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Story Of My Life, by Guitar Slim Jr. and it's really cool. GS Jr. (Rodney Armstrong) is the natural son of Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones). Opening with a classic Guitar Slim track, Trouble Don't Last, Jr. is front and center on guitar and vocals with Shannon Powell on drums, Rene Coma on bass, Milton Batiste on trumpet and Ernest Watson on sax. Title track, The Story of My Life, has a slower tempo and Jr. shows vocal skill along with pointed guitar riffs. Very nice. On Bad Luck Blues, Jr. maintains a lot of Sr.'s sty;e but he has his own flair with stinging riffs. On classic R&B track, Can I Change My Mind, Jr. shows a much smoother vocal style and his guitar playing is jazzy and fluid with Kerry Brown on drums, Charles Moore on bass and Keith Fazarde on keys. Hot! Reap What You Sow is my favorite track on the release with strong Sr. attributes and powerful vocal and guitar work by Jr. A lot more relaxed in delivery, I Done Got Over It includes backing horn work and hand claps with nice piano work by Jon Cleary. Wrapping the release is Sufferin' Mind with an early R&B flavor. With AJ Loria piano balancing Jr.s fluid guitar runs, and warm vocals and the backing vocals of Sylvia and Oneida Joseph, this is a solid closer for a fine release.  Bman/bmansbluesreport.com 6/19 Back in April, Orleans Records re-issued the Grammy-nominated blues album "The Story Of My Life" from Guitar Slim Jr. It will be the first ever release of the album on vinyl and will be also issued on CD for the first time in almost 30 years. The album was the debut release from Guitar Slim Jr. (son of legendary Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones) and features a classic blues sound that he adopted by being around his father at a very young age. Songs like "Bad Luck Blues" and "Reap What You Sow" showcases Guitar Slim Jr.'s exceptional skills on the guitar as he electrifies the music with jolts of energy. While he still performs live to this day, he has all but given up on studio recordings (his last studio album was released in 2010). To find out more about Guitar Slim Jr. and the new re-issue of his classic album "The Story Of My Life," please visit guitarslimjr.com. Jim Pasinski/ http://jpsmusicblog.blogspot.com 6/29 --------------------------------------- In the studio for The Story of My Life, producer Carlo Ditta teamed Slim with drummers Shannon Powell (Preservation Hall) and Kerry Brown (Lawrence Cotton, Guitar Slim Sr.); bassists Rene Coman (The Iguanas, Alex Chilton) and Charles Moore (Deacon John and the Ivories); and pianist Jon Cleary (a future Grammy winner and Bonnie Raitt band member). Milton Batiste Jr. (Olympia Brass Band, Professor Longhair and many more) blew trumpet and arranged the horn charts. Seven of the songs recorded came from the repertoire of Slim Sr., rounded out by renditions of soul hits by Tyrone Davis ("Turn Back the Hands of Time," "Can I Change My Mind") and Clarence Carter ("Too Weak to Fight"). Despite the album's preponderance of Slim Sr. material, Jr. never wanted to ride his daddy's coattails. "I just don't want to lean on my daddy," he says. "I'm supposed to. Everybody else doing it. Hendrix and them did it. Stevie Ray (Vaughan) and them did it." As a child, rubber bands served as strings for Rodney's first semblance of a guitar. Huey "Piano" Smith, the songwriter-pianist who performed with Guitar Slim Sr. in the early 1950s, later gave Armstrong his first guitar amplifier. Earl King, the classic New Orleans rhythm-and-blues artists who modeled himself after Guitar Slim Sr., was the first to call him "Guitar Slim." Slim Jr. made another connection to his father when he performed at the Dew Drop Inn with Oscar "Honey Boy" Moore, the drummer who'd been the third man in Slim Sr.'s early '50s trio with Smith.  Rodney would be a fixture on the Black New Orleans club circuit for the next 20 odd years that led up to the recording of his debut album. After its release, things started happening fast. In 1989, The Story of My Life was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Traditional Blues Album category. Slim opened for and befriended Texas blues star Stevie Ray Vaughan. He socialized with his daddy's contemporary, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. He knew Prince and Johnny Winter; reportedly he did some recording at Paisely Park. Unfortunately, a wild lifestyle kept him from properly capitalizing on all this. He has continued to perform live, but only entered the studio twice after The Story of My Life, releasing Nothing Nice in 1996 and Brought Up The Hardway in 2010. Nowadays, he lives a quiet life in the D.C. He thanks God he survived through his wild years. "The devil was trying get me, but Jesus didn't let me go. He held onto me. Like he's doing now." Meanwhile, the rest of us can enjoy this document of Guitar Slim Jr. at a point when the good Lord's hold wasn't quite so firm. www.orleansrecords.com/

The Milligan Vaughan Project Announces Debut Album, "MVP," for August 4 Release on Mark One Records

The Milligan Vaughan Project Announces Debut Album, MVP, for August 4 Release on Mark One Records 

Austin-Based Duo of Singer Malford Milligan and Guitarist Tyrone Vaughan Launch Their New Group with CD Produced by David Grissom and Omar Vallejo

AUSTIN, TX – The dynamic Texas duo of celebrated singer Malford Milligan and guitar slinger Tyrone Vaughan have already begun their first extensive tour of the Lone Star State in-between Austin recording sessions for their first album, MVP, produced by David Grissom and Omar Vallejo, now set for release August 4 on Mark One Records.  MVP will be distributed on CD and digitally through CDBaby and The ConneXtion. 

Watch a special “making of” the MVP album here: 

The MVP album features nine studio tracks recorded in Austin at Arlyn Studios and 512 Studios, as well as two tracks taken from their live show debut at the One 2 One club in Austin during SXSW. The studio tracks include originals written by Milligan, Vaughan and producer David Grissom, as well as Buddy Guy’s “Leave My Girl Alone,” “Compared to What” (popularized by Les McCann) and Rev. James Cleveland’s “Two Wings,” a beautiful acoustic gospel tune with just Milligan and Vaughan. The two bonus live tracks include the Grissom-penned “What Passes for Love” and the Freddy King signature tune, “Palace of the King,” that closes the album.

The music on MVP is a powerful mix of blues, soul, rock and funk, with flourishes of jazz and gospel textured throughout. That sound emanates from the musical DNA of both Milligan and Vaughan and manifests itself throughout the new disc, whether it’s the driving kick of “Soul Satisfaction” and “Little Bit of Heaven;” the funky-jazz of “Compared to What;” the rockin’ “Dangerous Eyes”; the flat-out blues of “Devil’s Breath” and “Leave My Girl Alone” (each powered by Milligan’s soulful vocals and Vaughan’s blistering guitar attack); or the tender, soulful ballad, “Here I Am.”

    

Backing Milligan and Vaughan on the studio sessions are a cadre of all-star players, including Chris Maresh and Jeff Hayes on bass; Brannen Temple and Kenneth Furr on drums; Michael Ramos and Jay D. Stiles on keyboards; Jorge Castillo on guitar; and  Mike Cross on background vocals.    

The group has already been burning up stages in Texas on their first tour dates that will last through the rest of the summer. The Milligan Vaughan Project has recently been added as special guest on Bob Schneider’s July 14 show at Antone’s as part of that legendary Austin club’s July anniversary month of shows. They’ll also do a special pre-release in-store at Cactus Records in Houston the afternoon of July 15, preceding their show that night at Fitzgerald’s (as special guests for Tab Benoit). Additional shows scheduled thus far include July 21 at One 2 One in Austin; August 9 for SUN Radio at Guero’s Taco Bar in Austin, August 11 at The Guitar Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas, (outside of Dallas) and August 12 at The Texan Theater in Greenville, Texas.

After an inaugural performance for Austin’s SUN Radio, followed by their first public show at the One 2 One Club during the 2017 South by Southwest in March, Malford Milligan and Tyrone Vaughan are well on the way to establishing their own exciting musical identity.

The Milligan Vaughan Project (or MVP) is a musical partnership between Austin’s highly acclaimed vocalist Malford Milligan and guitar slinger Tyrone Vaughan (son of the legendary Jimmie Vaughan), both of whom have a rich musical history steeped in blues and rock ‘n’ roll.

Some of Tyrone Vaughan’s earliest memories go back to the early days of Antone’s, “Austin’s Home of the Blues.” Blues icon Muddy Waters once gave him one of his harmonicas on a notable night. He also found himself sleeping in Boz Skaggs’ guitar case and as a kid wearing out his toy guitars in no time. His first true guitar given to him on his 5^th birthday by his uncle Stevie Ray Vaughan was an old Harmony scored at the local pawn shop. Later on it was Stevie, Lou Ann Barton and WC Clark all pitching in and buying Tyrone a Fender Musicmaster. Stevie Ray was very proud of that small-neck guitar and happy that his nephew was following in his and his father Jimmie’s footsteps. Since those early years, he has performed with Billy Gibbons, Doyle Bramhall, Doyle Bramhall II, (Little) Jimmy King, SRV’s Double Trouble, Pinetop Perkins, John Popper and Eric Gales. In April of 2015, Vaughan joined Royal Southern Brotherhood, featuring Cyril Neville on vocals, for two albums on Ruf Records: one recorded at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals; and the other album recorded at Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana.

No stranger to the blues, Malford Milligan was born in Taylor, Texas, and in 1981 after a short stay in Lubbock as a student at Texas Tech, moved to Austin to begin studies at the University of Texas. Instead of academics, singing took precedent and Monday night blues jams became the beginning of a life in music. His local band, Stick People, launched his career as a talented singer. In 1994, he helped form the Texas super group, Storyville, with David Holt, David Grissom and the rhythm section from Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble: bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Storyville released two stellar albums on Atlantic Records, along with the independently released CD/DVD titled Live at Antone’s. As a session singer, Milligan has always been in great demand. He toured and worked on albums together with other outstanding musicians, including Hal Ketchum, Marcia Ball, Alejandro Escovedo, Sue Foley and Eric Johnson. He has also appeared on “The Voice” NBC-TV series in 2013 and has been named “Vocalist of the Year” at The Austin Chronicle Music Awards.

Both Malford and Tyrone have a deep love for the blues, along with a strong mutual respect for each other, and both share a part in Austin’s rich musical history. At the time when each were looking to see what the future held and what musical path they might take,  one phone call followed by a short meeting brought the two together,  and The Milligan Vaughan Project was launched. There is a feeling of family here. Though not technically related, the bond between them is strong. The stage is where they are both most comfortable and the synergy between these two musicians is already bringing audiences to their feet.

www.milliganvaughanproject.com

Milligan Vaughan Tour Dates

7/1                         Continental Club                                                              Austin, TX
7/14                       Antone’s w/Bob Schneider                                         Austin, TX
7/15                       Cactus Records In-Store (3:00 PM)                           Houston, TX
7/15                       Fitzgerald’s with Tab Benoit (evening)                    Houston, TX
7/21                       One 2 One                                                                          Austin, TX
8/9                         SUN Radio @ Guero’s Taco Bar                                  Austin, TX
8/11                       Guitar Sanctuary                                                              McKinney, TX

8/12                       The Texan Theater                                                          Greenville, TX
8/13                       KLBJ/Ernie's on the Lake                                               Austin, TX
10/1                       SRV Ride/Ernie's on the Lake                                      Austin, TX

Additional dates forthcoming ….