Jeff Dale and the South Woodlawners - Blues Power - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to preview the most recent release, Blues Power, by Jeff Dale and the South Woodlawners, and it's different. As I listen to it I think... the blues meets Captain Beefheart (Willie the Pimp). Opening with Toxic Stew, a cool, unassuming Jeff Dale leads on vocal and slide guitar and there's that deep tone of Pat Zicari's bari sax...woah. Derek Phillips on keyboards, Charlie love on guitar, Orlando Wright on bass and Tim Austin on drums makes up a solid band. Title track, Blues Power has a "revival" sound with handclaps and acapella vocals. Winding up, Wright's bass line and Austin's drums provide an excellent bottom for Dale's slide work. Another cool, swampy track is Middle Class Moan with it's unwieldy swagger, funky vocals, and the great mix of instrumental players with the add of Glen Doll on sensuous harp and the trumpet riffs of Lee Loughnane and group backing vocals. Very cool. With a Bo Diddley beat compliments of Clark Pardee, Best Kind of Trouble is a party gone to rumble. With Dales vocal and slide, Sherry Pruitt and Marvin Etzioni on backing vocals, this track is gone to fast. with it's rockabilly feel, Let's Buzz is hopping. Pat Zicari has his sax humming and Jon Siembieda gets that guitar rhythm going. On Undercover Man, a funky New Orleans style blues rocker, Dale sets a really nice groove and Dale and Carmelo Bonaventura lays out some nice guitar soloing with Aaron Barnes on bass and Brian Lara on drums. broken down blues track, Black Crow is a cool, old style blues number with Dale on cigar box and slide guitar, Siembieda and Bonaventura on guitars and Aaron Barnes on bass. Wrapping the release is piano boogie, Can I Boogie running hard with Dale on vocal and full horn compliment. Zicari busts loose with another hot sax solo and Phillips piano work is really cool. Great closer for a fun release. 

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Debra Power - That's How I Roll - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, That's How I Roll, from Debra Power and it's a full boat of piano laden blues. Opening with All Night Playing The Blues, Debra Power knocks down the door with her powerhouse singing and terrific piano playing. Backed by Chris Byrne on bass and Lyle Molzan on drums, this track is rolling. Title track, That's How I Roll is a slick shuffle with Power way up front on vocal and punchy horns on the top with Mike Clark on tenor sax, Pat Bellveau on bari and Ian David Hartley on trumpet and featuring Tim Williams on slide guitar. Bluesy ballad, Don't Ever Leave Me, shows the richness of Power's vocals with my closest comparison being Rod Stewart. Her piano playing is solid and complimentary and Mike F. Little's B3 work  making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. I'm Comin' Around is a cool piano boogie that really shows off Power's piano prowess and Joey Landreth adds real flair with his slide soloing. Very cool. R&B ballad, Let Me Love You Tonight is another solid showcase for Power's voice and Russell Broom's lead guitar work meshes really nicely with the piano and B3 work of Little. Wrapping the release is power blues rocker, Side On Sue with heavy handed drum work by Molzan and harp work by Steve Pineo. Byrne's rumbling bass line and guitar by Landreth makes this an excellent closer.

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Ruf Records artist: Michael Lee - Self titled - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release by Michael Lee and it's terrific! Opening with Heart of Stone, a rumbling blues rocker, guitarist/lead vocalist, Michael Lee sets a great pace. With a strong swagger, anchored by Scott Lee on bass, Colin Campbell on B3 and Blaine Crews, Michael has it going here, backed by Preston Lewis on sax, and Evan Templeton and Jordan Carr on trumpet. Super opener. On soulful ballad, Don't Leave Me, Lee really gets the chance to show how great a vocalist he is with warm backing and Charley Wiles' blues guitar riffs topping it off. very nice. My absolutely favorite track on the track is deep drenched soul track, This Is with great vocal phrasing and harmonies and electrifying guitar work by Lee. I really like this release, but this track alone could carry a release. Excellent! Can't Kick You is a super radio track with a strong story line and a definite radio (shuffle) beat. Lee's rework of BB King's trademark song maintains a lot of the original soul of the original track, but adding a rock bass line and his own signature vocal and guitar style. Very nice. Another soulful ballad, Here I Am really showcases Lee's vocals again with strong horn support from Templeton and Carr. Another candidate for radio track and favorite track on the release. Having may favorites is a strong indication of an evenly strong release. Wrapping the release is bass driven rocker, Go Your Own Way starting out slow and deliberate and then double timing it with rock guitar riffs before bringing it back down a really hammering it on guitar. This is a really cool closer for a really strong release. 

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Jersey Swamp Cats - Go Cat Go - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Go Cat Go, by the Jersey Swamp Cats and it's a lot of fun. Opening with classic, Jump Jive and Wail, The Swamp Cats are running hard right out of the chute. With Gerry Gladston on lead vocal and piano, Don Leich on vocal and guitar, Larry Ghiorsi on bass and Chris Reardon on vocal and drums this group is really humming. With a hot guitar solo by Leich and a hot piano solo by Gladston, this track is a great opener.  Boogie track, Cupcake! has a super swagger and call and response between Gladston and the band on backing vocals and Leich's guitar work is tasty and stinging. Very nice. Too Tired is a cool driving shuffle with a great loping bass line by Ghiorsi and strong vocals. I really like Leich's guitar lead on this track with a lot of movement and crisp riffs and again, Gladston is hot on the keys with excellent piano soloing. Very nice. With a great New Orleans feel, Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing, has strong rhythmic bottom and a relentless guitar lead. Backing horns and solid vocals make this one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is Shiny Gray Corvette, a driving rock n roller with a multi lead vocal format over pumping JLL style piano work and excellent guitar lead. This release is a bundle of energy that doesn't let up from the first note. 

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Cheyenne James - Burn It Up - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (October 30, 2019), Burn It Up, by Cheyenne James and she's a vocal powerhouse. Opening with classic blues track, Grits Ain't Groceries, James establishes a firm footing and pounds it out, backed by Rock Romano on bass, Dave Carter on guitar, Randy Wall on keys, and Jim Brady on drums. In Chicago, Muddy Waters style James rolls into Gypsy Mama with great energy and featuring Steve Krase on harp. I Didn't Know has a bit of two step country flavor with Krase on harp and with Eric Demmer on sax and Lamar Boulet on Trumpet and Flugelhorn. Wall's keyboard work stands tall on this track highlighting James' vocals. On Latin rhythmed track, Lay Me Down, Mark May adds some real nice guitar riffs, paired with Wall's piano work and Krase on harmonica making it one of my favorites on the release. Pouring on the soul, a cover of Ashford and Simpson's Let's Go Get Stoned has great presence. I think it is James' most essential vocal work on the release with full horns by Demmer and Boulet and clean riffs by Carter. Very nice. Van Morrison's ballad, Steal My Heart Away, has a real nice feel with slide work by Carter and solid vocals by James and a warm organ blanket making this the most likely radio track on the release. Wrapping the release is Willie Dixon's, You Know You Love Me Baby and it's cool walking bass line by Romano. This track just clicks with great bari sax work by Demmer on the bottom, great vocals by James and harmonica by Krase in the middle and guitar riffs by Carter and Boulet on trumpet on the top. Super closer. 

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Jim Zeller - Blues From Another Planet - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Blues From Another Planet, from Jim Zeller and it's cool. Opening with blues rocker, I Grew Up In Black And White, Jim Zeller is back with his latest and most interesting release. With it's slightly funky, almost David Bowie like feel, the track has a great rhythm and Zeller's harp playing is very cool. Backed by Jimmy James on guitar, Carl Dutremble on guitar, Marc Deschenes on bass and Bernard Deslauriers on drums, solid opener. On shuffle, Life is Good, Zeller is solid on vocal and harmonica with cool guitar riffs by James and Dutremble and Zeller's harp work is hot. Very nice. Slower blues number, Violins Began to Play, is one of my favorites on the release with some of Zeller's best vocals and nice piano work by Larry Cohen. Featuring tasteful harmonica playing by Paqquale Cerascuolo, a real nice track. The man With The Harmonica is a real nice ballad with harmonica lead. A smooth, movie theme song style track which also features an excellent guitar solo, very nice. Wrapping the release is Lydian Bossa Nova, a short instrumental with Zeller on harmonica and only the minimal of percussion by Deslauriers and Olivier St-Pierre on shakers. Solid closer for Zeller's best release yet. 

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Billie Williams - Hell To Pay - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hell To Pay, from Billie Williams and it's deep. Opening with Damn, a dark, lumbering blues rocker, Williams leads this tempest of a storm on vocal with strong guitar support from Stew Cutler, Jeremy Mage on power keys, Double Z on heavy bass and Tony Allen on tight drums. On radio track, Start All Over, Williams fleshes out the track with the addition of Rob Sussman and Dan Levin on trombone, Seneca Black and Jim Hynes on trumpet, Stan Killian and Chriz Eminizer on sax Manuel Quintana and Jeff Lipstein on percussion and a full round of backing vocalists. Drink From My Cup has a cool backbeat and a cool pace. Mage lays down some real nice piano lines and the snappy drumming by Allen and the punchy trombone work by Levine and Sussman really sets a great foundation for Williams. Wrapping the release is my favorite track, Ten Million Sisters, a modern plantation style track with rich vocals and stomping percussion by Williams and backing by Ardys Flavelle, Anni Krueger, Veronica Nunn, Gail Ann Dorsey, Eric Redd, Lindsey Webster, Double Z, Gabrielle Montoute, Marissa Von Bleicken, Ruth Ungar and Tracy Toler - Phillips. Excellent!

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Wild Heart Records artist: Charlie Wooton Project - Blue Basso - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 23, 2019), Blue Basso, from Charlie Wooton Project and it's really good. Opening with funky rocker, Jaceaux, Wooton sets a terrific bass line with Keiko Komaki heating up the keys, Doug Winbish on bass and Jermal Watson on drums. Excellent opener. Rolling into a cool radio style R&B number, Arsene Delay has lead vocal on Reflections. Her vocals are sweet and float on the tune with glistening key work and jazzy guitar riffs by Daniel Groover. Come On Come Over has a great funky bottom, and instrumental style vocals, an aggressive bass line and a snappy drum line. One Night is a bluesy ballad with my favorite vocals by Delay. Anders Osborne sits in with a real nice guitar solo giving the track a bit more sting. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Fulton Alley with really funky bass and guitar lines. This track, which really crosses over into fusion really humps. Excellent! Guitar wiz Sonny Lanreth steps up on Tell Me A Story and his wicked slide. Delay's vocals are deep and rich and with it's Latin framework, really cuts a nice swath. On Front Porch, an country style acoustic blues, Landreth is back and this time on resonator, paired with Wooton and Groover trading riffs. Very nice. Wrapping the release is the Rolling Stones, Miss You, with a hot New Orleans style drum line and really funky bass work from Wooton. Eric McFadden sets a melodic guitar lead trading off with Delay on vocal. As the track winds up it also winds out with a flurry of guitar riffs and that steady thumping bass line by Wooton. Very nice closer for a very cool release. 

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COP Records artist: Mark Cameron - On A Roll - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, On A Roll, from Mark Cameron and it's a flavorful slice of contemporary blues rock. Opening with Trouble Brewin' an upbeat shuffle, Cameron on lead vocal and guitar, leads the way with Rick Miller on harp, Scott Lundberg on bass, Dan Schroeder on drums and Sheri Cameron on woodwinds. Title track, On A Roll is a solid rocker with definite radio appeal. I like Cameron's guitar phrasing and the trim beat of this track. Dicey is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a walking bass line and suspenseful feel. With it spoken lead vocal and cool backing vocals by Rick and Scott, topped by the reverb saturated guitar...very cool. A strong bass line by Lundberg and punchy horn work by Sheri really Next Stop Is The Blues off nicely. Another lively blues rocker, Movin Out has a great driving rhythm with real nice harp work by Miller and simple but tight guitar work by Cameron. Mojo Shuffle is another real nice track with a cool shuffle framework and nice bluesy guitar solo by Mark and a tight bottom. Wrapping the release is Dreams, a laid back ballad featuring mark up front on vocal over a lightly salted backing. With warm sax work by Sheri and firm bass work by Scott, this is a cool closer for a solid release. 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Heather Newman - Rise From The Flames - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rise From The Flames, by Heather Newman, and it's got style. Opening with blues thumper, I'm Coming For You, Heather Newman picks up where she left off on her VizzTone debut release, Burn Me Alive. A powerful, slashing vocal style, coupled with the relentless guitar lead of Keith Ladd, and solid backing by Ryan Matthew keys, and Adam Watson on drums. On gutsy shuffle, She Sure Looks Like Me, it's Newman's bass line that sets the pace and her vocals are really effective with some harmonic paring. Lonely on Beale is a cool track with a cool backbeat. Newman really works the vocal lines and Ladd gives his guitar a nice workout making one of my favorite tracks on the release. With it's James Brown bottom, compliments of Watson and with the addition of sax by Michael Lefever and trumpet of Teddy Krulewich Coming Home has real snap. Again, Ladd steps up with some tasty guitar lead and Newman's rich vocals anchor this track square in the groove. Latin rhythm infused, What Goes Around has great movement and Newman lays down some of my favorite vocals on the release. Wrapping the release is straight up radio track, That's All, with it's smooth melody and nice vocal pairings. This is a cool release build squarely around the strong vocal work of Heather Newman. Nice job.

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Cliff Stevens - Nobody But You - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nobody But You, from Cliff Stevens and it's smooth radio style rock with solid guitar riffs. Opening with How Long, Cliff Stevens hits the road running with a solid entry checking all the boxes. A cool blues rocker with solid vocals and a low key, understated boogie beat. Title track, Nobody But You, has a cool, swinging pace with a nice walking bass line courtesy of Domenic Romanelli, joined by Eric Suave on keys, and Sam Harrisson on drums. Stevens steps out pretty nicely on guitar on tis one in a Robbin Ford style. Very nice. Little By Little is a smooth paced bluesy ballad with solid vocals, a nice melody, nicely paired backing vocals by Kim Feeney and a flowing guitar solo by Stevens. My favorite track on the release is instrumental, Cry Baby with it's walking bass line, aggressive lead guitar and fat organ solo. Very nice. Come Back is a real nice rocker with a straight up bottom and features Stevens on slide guitar with Harrisson really hanging tight on drums. Another of my favorites. Wrapping the release is poppy shuffle, Truth Don't Lie with great percussion, a snappy rhythm and warm vocals. Stevens gets his country style picking in on this number for a happy closer. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Diana Rein - Queen Of My Castle - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Queen of My Castle, from Diana Rein and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Yes I Sing The Blues, a cool shuffle, Rein is up front on vocal and lays down solid blues drenched rock riffs. Backed by Michael Leisure on drums, Dave Osti on bass, and Drake Munkihald Shining on keys, a solid opener. Title track, Queen of My Castle is Rein's best vocal track with clean bluesy guitar riffs as accents. One Foot In is a lumbering rocker with a funky rhythm guitar line, solid vocals and a nice blues guitar lead. One of my favorite tracks on the release is driving rocker, It's You, with a springy guitar rhythm and a real nice bass line. Slick lead guitar riffs and nice backing vocals by Steve Polacek, Vaughn Polacek, Lincoln Clapp, Melissa Bonning, Julia Clapp and Mackenzie Clapp give the track just the right texture. R&B track, Chill of the Night is the definite radio track with it's perfect melody and smooth vocals. A full, rich organ solo by Shining leads into a stellar guitar solo by Rein giving this track a real sheen. Wrapping the release is instrumental, Zoe, my favorite track on the release with just the right amount of tension and clean and richly expressed guitar lead. Having the classic lines of a SRV instrumental, this is sure to be a fan favorite. Very nice closer. 

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VizzTone Label Group Artist: Nancy Wright - Alive & Blue - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Alive & Blue from Nancy Wright and it's electrifying. Opening with Bugalu, a honky sax instrumental number with a James Brown kind of rhythm, Nancy Wright shows she really knows how to fill the pipes with air. With distinguishable fat sax tone and phrasing, Wright is backed by Paul Revelli on drums, Tony Lufrano on keys, Jeff Tamelier on guitar and Karl Sevareid on bass. Super jam opening. Jo-Jo has a cool walking bass line and a cool 50's jazz feel. Wright really takes flight on this track with excellent lower register work, slick trills and octave jumps. Lufrano grinds in solid on the organ followed by a sick guitar solo by timelier as well. Great track. Funky pop number Warranty has a really nice bass line by Sevaried accentuated by Tamelier with his wah wah fused guitar work. Wright's lead vocals on this track are her best on the release and her sax work really wailing.  Bernie's Blues is a really nice track but it's Tamelier that has his day on this track with some excellent guitar lines before Wright comes back and lays it out! On King Curtis' Soul Serenade, Wright really shines on my favorite track on the release. Owsley was quite a soulful player and Wright squeezes every bit of soul out of this track. Excellent! Wrapping the release is instrumental shuffle, Rutabagas, and Wright blows down to doors to give you something to chew on. Tamelier's guitar soloing is aggressive and lyrical, and Lufrano's organ work fat and chewy making this and excellent closer for a strong release.

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Universal Music Enterprizes artist: Peter Frampton - All Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to pose the newest release, All Blues, from Peter Frampton and I think it's his best effort in years. Frampton Comes Alive was great in it's time but this release shows maturity and poise. Opening with Willie Dixon's I Just Want To Make Love To You, Frampton reworks this classic track without adding a lot of fluff. With Rob Arthur on keys, Adam Lester on guitar, David Labruyere on bass, and Dan Wojciechowski on drums this is a great basic core. Kim Wilson adds strong harp riffs throughout and Frampton shows that he knows more than the basics about blues with his more traditional based guitar riffs. Very nice. On Taj Mahal's She Caught the Katy, Frampton adds even a little more of a funky bottom than Mahal used and the track feels really good. The firm bass work by Glenn Worf and stiff woodblock by Wojciechowski give this track legs and Frampton uses them nicely to propel fluid guitar riffs. Very nice. Instrumental cover of Carmichaels' Georgia On My Mind shows Frampton's beautiful guitar work at it's best with luck phrases and clean articulate runs. Very nice. With a fresh Bo Diddley beat, Frampton's slide work really sets Dixon's, You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover, off nicely.  With the full disclosure that I'm a firm Miles Davis fan, Davis' All Blues is up next and Frampton dials the guitar back to all clean and with guest star, Larry Carlton, and a crisp piano solo by Arthur, sets up an excellent and very notable cover of this classic track. Excellent! On Jimmy Oden's Going Down Slow, Frampton and Steve Morse trade flaming blues riffs with a modern twist giving a different flavor for most any listener. Wrapping the release is Don Nix's Same Old Blues with a real gospel presentation, emphasized by Arthur's keyboard work and Frampton's best vocals on the release. His guitar playing is soulful and well stated without over statement. Very nice closer for a very solid release. 

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The Togs - Originals - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Originals, by The Togs, a pair of musicians from France. Togs is Peter Callate on lead vocal and guitar and Stag Augagmeur on rhythm guitar. Opening with Migrant's Song, Callate leads off with clean acoustic guitar accompaniment  and his own unique voice. Following a basic folk blues format he and Augagneur really set a clean pace. On Someday, addition of piano adds dimensionality and clever additional guitar fingering shows solid instrumentation. With it's quick pace, Hold Me Tight is one of my favorites on the release. It has solid vocals and clear, almost Jimmy Page like acoustic guitar strumming. Second Chance has a particularly strong melody and composition with emotional vocals by Callate almost bringing to mind one of my favorite contemporary singers, Frank Black. Wrapping the release is Lonely Hearts with a strong acoustic punky rock feel and an interesting electric guitar solo. This is a solid closer for an interesting release. 

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Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters and Colin James Both Set to Play Big Blues Bender at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on September 6

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters and Colin James Both Set to Play Big Blues Bender at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on September 6

LAS VEGAS, NV – - Four-time Blues Music Award-winning guitarist Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, as well as acclaimed Canadian guitarist Colin James, are set to play the 2019 edition of the Big Blues Bender on Friday, September 6 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Both sets will take place at “The Joint”: Colin James from 6:30 – 7:45pm; followed by Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters from 8:15-9:45pm.



Ronnie Earl, who has won “Guitar Player of the Year” honors four times from the Blues Foundation, was the hit of the most-recent Blues Music Awards show in Memphis with his show-stopping live performance of the Junior Wells classic, “In the Wee Hours.”



Earl is following that up with the August 30 release of the latest Stony Plain Records album (on CD and vinyl formats) from the blues guitar master and his band, the Broadcasters, Beyond the Blue Door. Ronnie Earl believes in the power of music to heal the mind and spirit, and that’s quickly evident in the 15 tracks on his new disc. Special guests on the album include David Bromberg, acoustic guitar and vocals; Kim Wilson, harmonica and vocals; and Greg Piccolo, tenor sax.



The core group of Broadcasters will be performing at the Big Blues Bender: Ronnie Earl, guitar; Dave Limina, Hammond B3 and piano; Diane Blue, vocals; Paul Kochanski, bass and Forrest Padgett, drums.



Beyond the Blue Door confirms Earl's status as one of the most soulful blues/soul/jazz guitarists working today. He’s also a DownBeat magazine winner for “Blues Album of the Year,” an Associate Professor of Guitar at Berklee College of Music and has taught at the National Guitar summer workshop in Connecticut. 



Perhaps David Bromberg, himself a master guitar craftsman, said it best about him: “Ronnie Earl is an incredible musician. He plays with more emotion than anyone else who plays blues, or really anything, today, and he gets me every time I hear him. The Broadcasters are the quality of musicians you would expect Ronnie to be playing with: solid, tasteful, and moving. You can’t be better than that.”



Acclaimed guitarist Colin James released his 19th album, Miles to Go, last September on Stony Plain Records in the USA; True North Records for the rest of the world. Miles to Go is Colin James’ ambitious sequel to his critically-acclaimed 2016 CD, Blue Highways, and it continues James’ story with a collection of carefully curated songs handpicked from some of the greatest blues artists.  

In the months leading up to the recording, as James was reflecting on songs for the album he decided to reacquaint himself with a beautiful red Gibson ES-335.  It was just like the guitar he played as a teenager, but regretfully had to sell for rent money.


While James reconnected with this guitar, Miles to Go seemed to just flow onto the studio floor.

This album blends songs old and new, some of them completely reimagined and some almost perfect homages. But all are unified by a theme of undying love for the blues and the highest respect for the creators that led the way.


Known as one of Canada’s best blues musicians, it wasn’t until Blue Highways that James found himself on a blues chart: the album spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Roots Music Report’s Blues Chart. It also landed him one of his biggest hits: “Riding in the Moonlight,” a Willie Dixon song that James once covered when busking in the streets and subways of Toronto and Montreal that landed on a Spotify playlist garnering millions of streams.

“Blues has always been a pass-it-forward kind of thing,” says James. “It’s also surprisingly hard to write. You have to be careful how modern you get in your phrasing. Certain writers can write a song that sounds like it was done 40 years ago, but it’s deceptively hard.”

Colin James will also perform at the annual star-studded charity to benefit the Handy Artists Relief Trust (HART) on Wednesday, September 4. 100% of the proceeds benefit HART. For more information on the HART fund, visit blues.org/hart-fund. This event is ONLY open to attendees of the Big Blues Bender due to limited capacity Tickets are $35 – Standing Room Only Section; $65 – Reserved Seating Section.

When: Wed Sep, 4, 2019 @ 8pm (Doors 7:30pm)
Where: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Vinyl

Mind Smoke Records artist: The Hideaways - The Lost Tapes Vol. 1 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Lost Tapes Vol. 1, from The Hideaways, and it's terrific! Opening with Albert King's Let's Have A Natural Ball and it's on fire! With Chris James on lead vocal and guitar the band sounds more like Gatemouth Brown or Alvin Lee than King. Sean O'Neill on bass paired with Boom Boom Johnson on drums really drives the bottom and Scotty Micciche hits it hard on harp. Sensational opener. Doc Pomus' Lonely Avenue is a really cool sauntering shuffle with reverb drenched guitar soloing and it's steady beat. Junior Wells' Little By Little has super feel and James and Micciche paired on vocal makes for great stuff. Micciche takes a real nice harmonica solo on this one and really takes the track to a higher plain. James' guitar runs, double stops and fanning style fit this track to a tee. Excellent! Switching over to Chuck Berry style on Bye Bye Johnny, an strong rock n roll bottom gives James a wide open field to lay out blues fused rock riffs. Very nice! Another really hot track is Honey Boy with so much heat generated by James, Micciche, Johnson and O'Neill you feel they are going to run off the rail. Smoking!! Wrapping the release is T-Bone Walker's I'm Still In Love With You. bringing the pace way down, James vocals are exceptional and his guitar phrasing is perfect. This is an excellent closer for an exceptional release! 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Tullie Brae - Revelation - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Revelation, from Tullie Brae who mixes power vocals and a heavy rhythm section producing a solid rock sound. Opening with Price of the Blues, Brae belts with a  Grace Slick like swagger laying heavy on the bass line of Bill Ruffino, and adding her own slide work on with David Green on drums. Powerful opener. On ballad Mississippi Rain, we see the other side of Brae's sensitive vocals with excellent guitar phrasing by Jeff Jensen and bright piano highlights by Rick Steff. On blues rocker, Break These Chains, Brae strikes a nice medium with a bluesy vocals, deep raspy guitars by Jensen and nicely highlighted by Brandon Santini on harmonica. My favorite track on the release is soul track, New Shoes with it's straightforward radio melody. Smooth, gospel like piano work over the organ on this track really drives the bottom and Brae's vocals are spot on. My other favorite track on the release is Shine, another soul track with excellent backing pushing Brae to "Shine". Backing vocals by Mick Kolassa,  Dauniele Hill and Susan Marshall give this track that extra warmth and a sweet guitar solo by Jensen gives it a real Muscle Shoals kind of feel. Very nice.

  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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