Ruf Records artist: Jeremiah Johnson - Heavens To Betsy - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Heavens To Betsy, from Jeremiah Johnson, and it's a full mix of rock, country, pop, and blues with plenty of guitar. Opening with southern rock flavored, White Lightning, Jeremiah Johnson explores a firm American tradition but, bypassing the dual guitar lead and inserting tight, expressive riffs with plenty of sting. Backed by Tony Anthonis on bass, and Benet Schaeffer on drums, a solid opener. Power blues rocker, Soul Crush has definite Led Zep swagger with guitar, bass and Frank Bauer on sax all reinforcing the lead. Johnson steps up with his pinched harmonic lead and hits it square on the nuts. His vocals are right on and this track rocks. Another solid rocker is American Steel with a driving beat and just a little back beat. Always with that country vein and stinging guitar riffs, this is another strong entry. Albert King's Born Under A Bad Sign has the tempo kicked up a little and with the addition of Bauer on sax it is a little mellowed out. Johnson's vocal treatment has a rock feel and his riffs have a definite contemporary feel with plenty of sting. Wrapping the release is high energy country rocker, Preacher's Daughter, with it's walking bass line and full vocal compliment from Bauer, Tony Antonelli and Pete Matthews. Cool closer. 

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Sid Whelan - Waitin' For Payday - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Waitin' For Payday, by Sid Whelan and it's a mix of different tastes and flavors. Opening with Nina Simone, a cool, laid back jazzy ballad, with exceptional presence on acoustic guitar and mic, Whelan creates a stark similarity to Simone's own fragile vocal presentation. Very cool. On Midnight In The Country, Whelan does an interesting blues/country mix with a slower pace and interesting electric guitar bends and riffs. Backed by  Trevor Bridgewater on bass and Robert Weiss on drums this track has some nice teeth. Legba  Ain't No Devil is a really cool track with a primary bass and percussion  by Valerie Naranjo, Jimmy Greenfield, Dave D'Ambrosio and Richard Huntley under Whelan's falsetto vocals and soaring electric guitar. A definite African influence this track is one of my favorites on the release. Another cool track, The Promise, is a jazz oriented track with structured vocals and interesting horn overtones by Michael Lee Breaux, Ron Horton and Art Baron. With it's anchored bass and drum platform, Whelan's guitar soloing is meaningful and fluid but not overdone. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Break It Down, a fairly straight forward radio style track with a solid melody and vocals but with an intricate interwoven vocal pattern, cool percussion, a funky bass line and well integrated keys by Matthew Whittaker. Very solid closer.  

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Marie Martens & The Messarounds - Travelled - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Travelled, by Marie Martens & The Messarounds and it's old school blues rock. Opening with Change My Ways, Marie opens with a great slide riff and this band really has the grit of the early Yardbirds (if you don't know them check out the beginnings of Jeff Beck, Clapton and Page). With Ronnie Cacioppo on percussion, Jimmy B Natural on bass and Tom Selear on drums. I like Martens' slide style and with solid bass and driving drums...what's not to love. Very cool! On Keep On Loving Me, Martens steps out on guitar and her riffs are loose and fluid, consistent with the time and is a breath of fresh in todays climate. Just listen to the throaty rumble that she's getting on Mama Won't Allow Me. It's her basic style and those old Teisco (?) pickups that gives it that Hound Dog Taylor feel. Excellent! Listen to this fat slide work on Movin' On! Using just the basic slap drumming technique, Selear really emphasizes Martens' raw sound... really strong! The band continues to rock on through Kokomo Blues. Talk about rattling the rafters. This release is a blast! Hound Dog's own Give Me Back My Wig is next up and that fat fat slide work and grinding tone is just terrific. Closing the release is the Stones' Ventilator Blues. The overdriven, almost "blown up" driver sound that Martens is getting out of her amp makes me jealous as hell. Gotta go home and work on that. Managing this fat sound and on this, one of the Stones great songs is a terrific closer for a really super release.

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American Showplace Music artist: Biscuit Miller and the Mix - Chicken Grease - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Chicken Grease, from Biscuit Miller and the Mix and it's a cool mix of blues, funk and soul. Opening with Here Kitty Kitty, a cool R&B track with a potent bass line by Miller who also has the lead on vocal, backed by Doctor Love on drums, Bobby B Wilson on guitar and Alex "Southside" Smith on guitar and John Ginty riding high on B3 and electric piano. Super opener. Lap steel master, Marcus Randolph sits in on 609, adding his special sauce. A driving rocker with an firm bass line, this track keeps the heat on with great vocals, and tight work from Ginty, Wilson and Smith. Title track, Chicken Grease, is so funky you can smell it. Miller really works the bass and his vocal phrasing is perfect. With a cool interplay between Wilson, Smith and Randolph, this track is hot! R&B track, Watching You is smooth as silk with warm vocals by Miller and just the right bottom and nice backing vocals by Love, Wilson and Smith. Dripping blues number, Creeping, nicely features Miller's lead vocal skills and with clear, round guitar tones, and clever phrasing, this track sets a very nice blues frame. Wrapping the release is Get Ready with a fluid funk feel. Ginty and Miller set up an excellent bottom and with cool vocal teaming, this is a funky cool closer. 

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Ben Rice & R B Stone - Out Of The Box - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Out Of The Box, from Ben Rice and RB Stone and it's a lot of fun. Opening with rock n roller, Hot Rod Mama this band is cranking right out of the chute. With solid vocals, revving guitars and slick slide from Rice and Stone and with Dave Melyan on drums, Joseph Barton on bass and Jimi Bott on trombone, this track smokes! Driving blues rocker, Hey Politician, has a great steady beat, CCR style vocals and super slide. It's the grinding guitar tone and the driving rhythm that gives The Swamp East Boogie it's electrifying feel. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's relentless push. Very cool! With it's taste of country, Crushin' On The Bartender has a strong radio appeal and the tasty slide work gives it just the right edge. Rich, warm hollow body tones fill the background of Train of Time, an easy set slow blues number featuring only lead vocal and slide. Wrapping the release is Lobo Jam with it's thumping drum work by Melyan and relentless slide work by Stone and Rice. This is a really strong closer for a solid release. 

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Ruf Records artist: Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado - Come On In - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Come On In, from Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado and I really like it. Opening with title track, Come On In, Thorbjorn blends many musical styles and comes up with a tasty blend with a great interweave of guitar (Risager and Joachim Svensmark), keys (Emil Balsgaard), sax (Casper Wagner and Hans Nybo), trumpet and trombone (Peter W Kehl), bass (Soren Bojgaard) and drums (Martin Seidelin). Very cool. Breezy, Nobody But The Moon, has an easy, radio touch and a solid melody. I really like Risager's voice, with a strong, deep timbre reminiscent of Richie Havens. Sin City, with it's stomp rhythm has a real nice slide guitar accent over the basic guitar rhythm and excellent vocals by Risager. Always with well crafted instrumentation, Risager's music is terrific. Breaking into a wide open shuffle, Over The Hill is a great blues track. Risager really steps up vocally with horns blazing behind him and responding guitar riffs as punctuation. A honking sax solo by Wagner sets up nicely and the band plays full tilt closing it out. The richness of Risager's vocals are really showcased on On And On, a well played ballad with suspenseful guitar and keys carrying the accompaniment. Excellent! Wrapping the release is acoustic blues, I'll Be Gone with Risager singing over a light acoustic finger picked blues vamp. Adding in some real nice acoustic slide, this is a solid closer. 

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Guy Belanger - Eldorado - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Eldorado, from Guy Belanger and it's pretty cool. Opening with instrumental, Carving The Wind, featuring Guy Belanger interweaving his harmonica work with Robert MacDonald on guitar over the bass work of Marc-Andre Drouin and Michael Dufour on drums. A pure Latin beat sets the tone for instrumental title track, Eldorado, with it's crisp rhythm and swaying feel. Belanger crafts a really nice melody and MacDonald shapes flowing guitar tones that almost sound like the wind. Very nice. A track with an overall blues feel and real tension, When Will I Know features Belanger on lead vocal and harmonica and Bob Stagg on b3, piano and Wurlitzer. This is a really sensitive track with a great radio sense. One of my favorite tracks on the release is light funky jazz rocker, Wicked with it's super bass line from Drouin, and Belanger on harmonica melody and including a real nice guitar solo by MacDonald. Another track with roots in the blues is Hummin' with some really nice blending between Eric Longsworth on cello and MacDonald on acoustic guitar and understated harmonica work by Belanger. With an almost Tower of Power (with no horns) feel, Ganga has you bobbing in no time and with harmonica lead, excellent guitar work by MacDonald, the addition of Paul Picard and the hard work of Drouin on bass. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Stillwater, an interesting, almost anthem track, with strong harmonica effects and a firm guitar, bass, drums underpinning. This is a smooth closer for a real interesting release. 

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Delmark Records artist: Jimmy Johnson - Every Day of Your Life - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Every Day of Your Life, by Jimmy Johnson and it got real feel. Opening with swamp funky, title track, Every Day of Your Life, old school Chicago bluesman, Jimmy Johnson on lead vocal and lead guitar shows his unique style. I high pitched, almost howl is how I'd describe it lending to a real bluesy feel. Joined by Rico McFarland on guitar, Roosevelt Purifoy on piano and B3, JR Fuller on bass, Pooky Stix on drums and Tymphanie Monique on backing vocal, this is a super opener. Rattlesnake is a really nice high stepping blues track with an excellent mix of jazz and blues guitar riffs. With Brother John Rattke on piano, B3 and guitar, Curt Bley on bass, Ernie Adams on drums, and Julia A Miller and Elbio Barilari on backing vocals, this is a real cool track. Fenton Robinson's classic, Somebody Loan Me A Dime is always a great showcase both vocally and on lead guitar and Johnson's particular fluid guitar burst styling is particularly effective on tracks with decent space between the vocal and turnaround of a phrase. Also of note is a beefy piano solo by Rattke giving the track a nice balance. Another favorite track on the release is R&B framed, Strange Things Happening with it's low slung groove. Fuller's bass line sets a perfect pace and Johnson's guitar feel is really strong. Clocking at over 6 minutes, this track has great presence. Wrapping the release is Lead On Me, a pure soul track featuring Johnson singing over his own piano accompaniment. This is a cool track and with true feeling, is a solid closer for a really strong release. 

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Red Tint Records artist: Big Mike & the R&B Kings - This Song's For You - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, This Song's For You by Big Mike & the R&B Kings and I really like it. Opening with New Orleans Funk infused, Last Night with Big Mike Perez on lead vocal and a pounding bass line and a tight drum kit from Jorge Leal and Oberon Jackson Jr. , this band is hopping. Rex Canieso and Paul Provotsy are laying down some great guitar lines and a hot sax solo by Bob Sass and Tajh Derosier is super. Great opener. On slow blues, Played A Fool, Big Mike really gets the chance to show just how good a lead vocalist he is and his vocals are smooth and soulful. Ultra smoky sax work over the firm bass line by Big Mike will sit you back in your seat...get ready! To top it off, feel the blues solo that Canieso lays down here. Very nice! Getting into a super James Brown like groove, Big Mike really works his bass line and the light ride cymbal work of Leal is perfect. Another aggressive sax solo blows the lid off of this track and Ben Joseph really pushes the heat on organ. Mr. Big Funky is a hard driving heavy bottomed party track with the band playing full out. Radically cool. Buddy Guys power track, Someone Else Was Steppin In has an even funkier feel with that James Brown roll. Big Mike's vocals are spot on, a ripping guitar solo really spanks it and the backing of Joseph on organ really drives this boat. Wrapping the release is mellow, light jazz like, Are You Serious with nice sax work and a strong guitar solo closing out what I'd say is a pretty strong release. 

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Jim Stephens - Yellow River - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Yellow River, from Jim Stephens and it's a cool mix of rock and R&B. Opening with foot stomper, Torture Me, Jim Stephens on lap steel surrounds himself with a full barrage of horns including Big Sam Williams on trombone, Jeffrey T Watkins on tenor sax, Lori La Patko on alto sax, Ian Smith on trumpet, and with a solid bottom by Desmond Milk Williams on drums and Jerry Henderson on bass. R&B track, Keep On, features cool harmonized vocals by J Thomas B-B Wonder, Aerial Skye and D Roisin with Shaun Matrin on piano, Watkins with a cool sax solo and Ian Smith with a super trombone solo. With a more traditional approach to the blues, Stephens takes the lead on vocal, adding harmonica and guitar to Rice N Greens over cool piano work by Roisin. Stephens really digs in on his lap steel on Yellow River, a country fused blues rocker with Cajun like roots. Wrapping the release is title track, Working Together, a horn powered ballad featuring Thomas, Wonder and Skye on lead vocal. This track has classic radio styling and is a solid closer for this release. 

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Watermelon Slim - Traveling Man - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Traveling Man, from Watermelon Slim and it's quite good. Recorded Live at The Blue Door in Oklahoma City in 2016, these recordings capture the authenticity and focus of Slim's work. The first set, recorded on September 24, opens with Blue Freightliner, Slim on resonator slide guitar and vocal captures the spirit of the original delta blues. Deliberate, foot stomper, Northern Blues is one of my favorites with a great little guitar dun and perfect balance. Very nice! Substituting harmonica for guitar on Jimmy Bell, Slim shows another facet but the sound is still pure and all delta. Very cool. Wrapping the first set is Holler #4, a stripped down blues track with a skeletal framework set by slide resonator and pure hollering blues vocals. Solid closer. Set 2 (disc 2) was recorded at The Depot on February 28 and opens with a more commercial track, Let it Be In Memphis. Slim carries the melody of this more certain melody with ease , accenting the edges with lightning slide play. Traditional blues track, John Henry has a great fleet pace and short turn around slide riffs accent the track nicely. A particularly cool track in this second set is Devil's Cadillac, a eerily bluesy ballad. Not only is the story great but Slim's slide technique gives a minor tone and feel. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Dark Genius, a straight forward folk track with a blues overtone. This is a really solid set of tracks and definitely a show I'm happy to gear.

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World Talent Records artist: The Forrest McDonald Band - Blues In A Bucket - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues In A Bucket, from The Forrest McDonald Band, and it's a solid release of blues, funk and soul. Opening with New Orleans soaked, Boogie Me Till I Drop, Andrew Black leads the way on vocal with Forrest McDonald on guitar, Lee Gammon on bass, John McKnight on drums, Matthew Wauchope on piano, Jimmy King on trumpet and Norman Franks on sax. Cool opener.  Slow Blues, Blues In A Basement is an excellent showcase for Blacks lead vocal, with super organ work by Wauchope, really hot guitar riffs by McDonald and with Jon Schwenke on bass and Tony Carey on keys, one of my favorite tracks on the release. Another track with real style is Windy City Blues which is a great stage for McDonald's guitar chops. With warm horn backing and Blacks soulful vocals, a solid entry. McDonald had the mic on Misery and Blues and blended in call and response with his own guitar lead, and a cool harmonica solo by Pix Ensign and solid brass reinforcement, one of my favorite tracks on the release. Becky Wright takes the mic on Powerhouse and her powerful soul richness gives this track real heat. Wrapping the release is another New Orleans hi stepper, Let The love In Your Heart with a super lively rhythm. Wright and Black share the lead vocal spot and with tight drumming by McKnight, Ensign on harmonica and the firm backing of King and Franks, an excellent closer. 

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Angel Forrest - Hell Bent With Grace - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hell Bent With Grace, from Angel Forrest, and it's a solid rocker. Opening with Menie the Monster, a sure footed rocker, Forrest shows excellent poise with a gritty edge on lead vocals, backed by Denis Columbus on acoustic guitar and bass, Ricky Paquette on guitar, Bernard Quesy on B3, Alec Mc Kelchenson on bass, and Sly Carombe on drums. Get It On has just the right amount of funk with a hot bottom, and great drum work by Carombe and some real nice guitar riffs by Paquette. The Blame Game has all of the components of a radio track with the strong melody line, solid backing vocals by Paquette and just a light tint of country with a memorable guitar solo by Paquette. Bluesy ballad, Marigold, is my favorite track on the release with strong vocals by Forrest, a really nice melody and rich Wurlitzer tones and guitar interweave by Quesy and Paquette. Wrapping the release is Bane Lorraine, a strong rocker with a steady beat. The band pulls out the stops on this one with a loose instrumental overture stretch which gives the release a bit more weight.  

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Val Starr & The Blues Rocket - Lighter Side of the Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Lighter Side of the Blues, from Val Starr & The Blues Rocket and it's a cool mix of 40's style pop and blues. Opening with Say Goodbye to The Blues, Val Starr leads on vocals and with solid vocal harmonies and super sax work from Danny Sandoval and Saxaphone Zot. Slow blues, All or Nuthin' Man is a nice showcase for Starr on vocal with rich, soulful phrasing and with cool harmonica work by Frankie Munz and the lead guitar work of Timothy Brisson. Snappy, 24 Hour Blues is a certain radio track with a strong bass line by John Ellis and a tight drum rhythm by Paul Farman under my favorite vocals on the release. Classic, Big Boss Man gets a minor rework giving Munz the opportunity to lay out some cool harp riffs and calling up a strong piano solo by Todd Morgan. Wrapping the release is The Blues Doesn't Pick or Choose with a tight bottom, solid duet vocals by Starr, strong harmionica soloing by Munz and a real nice guitar solo by Brisson. This is a cool closer for this release. 

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The Jimmys - Gotta Have It - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gotta Have It, from The Jimmys and it's a cool blues and boogie collection. Opening with Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet, Jimmy Voegeli leads the way on piano and lead vocal with a great feel with Melodye Perry in harmony and with Perry Weber on guitar, Peterson Ross on sax, John Wartenweiler on bass, Kevan Feyzi on trombone, Mike Boman on trumpet, Kyle Samuelson on trombone, Al Falaschi on bari sax, Kurt Shipe on trumpet and Tony Braunagel on drums. Solid opener. Title track, She Gotta Have It, has super swing with lead vocals by Voegeli and backing by Perry and Marcia Ball. With a firm walking bass line and Weber's no frills guitar lead, Voegeli's piano work shines through. Cool boogie woogie track, Hotel Stebbins, is thick with a big horn section. Real nice. Drinkin' has a real nice slow feel with Voegeli singing over terrific piano lead. The horn section is full and tight and Webber's guitar punctuation is sweet. With it's Latin beat, Always A Woman, is punched up nice with Braunagel and Ingram on percussion. With the added vocals of Weber and Voegeli pulling out the B3 and nice sax work by Ross, this may be my favorite track on the release. Slow blues, Someday Baby, gives Weber a nice chance to stretch out a bit on guitar with solid lead vocals by Voegeli and with punchy brass adding punctuation and an excellent sax solo by Ross. Very cool. Wrapping the release is B3 soaked, Jose, with it's R&B sound. A soulful sax solo by Ross, cool percussion by Ingram and brassy melody is really a cool closer for this solid release. 

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Jangling Sparrows - Bootstraps and Other American Fables - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bootstraps and Other American Fables, from Jangling Sparrows and it's really cool. Opening with Estuaries, a rocker with a contemporary beat, rowdy vocals and a wide open guitar rhythm, this is a solid opener. All That I Was Never Afraid has a great "Frank Black" like feel with dynamic vocals and open jangling electric guitars by Paul Edelman and a strong melody, wrapped by stern lead guitar, firm bass work by Louis Stein and drums by Joe Grey. Highway Jawn is a really cool track with fleet fingered picking by Edelman and snappy snare work by Grey. This track has a definite country flair and brings to mind old Charlie Daniels. Boogie track, Label's All Mine has a great feel, formed by a walking bass line by Stein. Edelman story telling lyrics are accentuated by his dramatic delivery and loose guitar work making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is Bootstraps, an acoustic ballad by Edelman who shows his strong vocals and guitar styling. Solid closer. 

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Hamilton Loomis - This Season - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the latest release, This Season, from Hamilton Loomis and I got to tell you, it's the best seasonal album I've ever heard (non traditional of course). I typically will only review a "seasonal" release just before the holidays, but this one somehow slipped by (came in too late for my work load) and I decided to listen to it anyway. I always like Loomis' work. Opening with the title track, This Season, Loomis has that great soulful funky beat that he's known for. Puts you in a good mood right off. Mike Meade's bass groove is perfect, Brannon McLeod's drumming is tight and Loomis' own vocal, keyboard and guitar is tops. This is the radio track but think of it in the class of Sly or Stevie Wonder. Super opener. Another cool funky pop track is Lay Around and Love. It's got the beat, it's got the hook and Hamilton's delivery on vocal and harmonica is super. The more contemporary but traditional God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, shows up here as an instrumental and with just a rock drum beat, a simple bass line and his guitar wizardry, turns this classic into a Brian May like masterwork. This track is very "unlike" anything that I've heard Loomis do, but if you didn't know it was a Christmas song, you'd play it all year! Christmas Tears is a real cool blues number with Loomis' smart vocal style and solid guitar riffs. His phrasing is dynamic and fluid. Very nice. Chuck Berry flavored, Run Rudolph Run is a great rocker with low slung rock and roll guitar riffs and a some great stylistic bends. Super ballad, Love Again, has that super backbeat that Loomis is known for and his silky smooth vocals over Meade's bass line shows how a master can craft a great song for any occasion. Wrapping the release, Loomis pulls out all the stops and sings O Holy Night like a choir boy with light acoustic accompaniment.  It's rare that you hear someone as accomplished a musician as Loomis, and not a crooner, attempt such a piece and he kills it. Bravo pal! This is a great release and it will get airplay at my house all year.

You want to play a Christmas cd at your holiday party and have people actually ask you what it is because they like it? This is it!

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