Rose Cottage Records artist: Peter Karp - Magnificent Heart - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Magnificent Heart, from Peter Karp and has nicely blends rock, blues and folk throughout the release. Opening with Sitting On The Edge Of The World, Karp on lead vocal and guitar and Kim Wilson on harmonica find a solid balance in contemporary blues with John Ginty on B3, Niles Terrat on bass and Michael Catapano on drums. She Breaks Her Own Heart has a cool, swampy, R&B feel with a cool sax solo by David Kasper and horn work by Jacob Wynne on trumpet. The Grave has a cool, low slung feel with Karp pulling out his slide and Wilson adding some real nice harmonica and Ginty adding real depth on B3. The Cold City Horns really funk up Let It On Out, with a solid bass line by Terrat and nicely woven guitar and horn jamming. Very cool. Going Home is a roots blues style track with ace harmonica work by Jason Ricci, slick resonator slide work by Karp and military style snare drum work by Capano.  Wrapping the release is smooth ballad, Face The Wind, featuring Karp on vocal with Jim Eingher on piano and Ginty on B3. Solid closer for a cool release. 

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OFEH artist: Blind Lemon Pledge - Goin' Home - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Goin' Home, by Blind Lemon Pledge and he gets a great Delta sound going. Opening with I Feel Like Going Home, Pledge is on steel string guitar and slide with his wailing vocal with Peter Grenell on bass, delivering the word. Very original sound for a great opener. On Come Back Baby, another solid entry, Pledge shows a solid blend of his artful acoustic guitar work, some even sounding Mali influenced, and vocal strength on another Delta style track. Very nice. JJ Cale's Crazy Mama is a strong contemporary entry with moderate changes from Cale's original. With the jangle of the resonator on his finger picking and the warmth of the slide, this is a nice remake. Fenton Robinson's Loan Me A Dime gets a new look with more of an understated take than I've heard from the many interpretations. There's no grand electric guitar blow out as with most remakes, but Pledge manages the track nicely delivering a solid entry. Lonnie Johnson's It's Too Late To Cry is another stand out track with a firm, T-Bone Walker like framework under his stylized vocals and a more fluid guitar soloing approach giving it a real cool feel. Hard not to love Robert Johnson's Love In Vain with no frills but solid acoustic guitar riffs and vocals. Very nice. Wrapping the release is spiritual Little Black Train with warm vocal blending and handclaps. A real nice closer for a real cool release. 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Tyler Morris - Living In The Shadows - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Living In The Shadows, from Tyler Morris, and it's a cool blues rocker. On this, his second release, Morris plays lead guitar and sings with band mates Terry Dry on bass, Matthew Robert Johnson on drums and Lewis Stephens on B3 and Wurlitzer. Gary Moore's hard driving rocker, Movin' On, sees the band on full tilt with Morris throwing every rock based riff you can think at it. Quick fingered runs, and bends with just a bit of distortion to make it sound dirty gives this track it's sting. Joe Louis Walker and Mike Zito guest on vocals on Tony Joe White's Polk Salad Annie. Maintaining that original swamp rock feel this is a cool track with Morris working the slide nicely  over the steady drumming of Johnson. Bluesy ballad, Temptation, is Morris' best showcase of his vocal strength and Stephens' B3 enhances the tension giving Morris a nice platform to play melodic blues runs on guitar. Amanda Fish steps up to the mic on blues rocker, Better Than You adding some real nice R&B style vocal texture. Morris keeps a cool rhythm line and lays in double stop riffs adding just the right pepper to possibly my favorite track on the release. Boogie track, Why Is Love So Blue, has a great bottom end and the grinding guitar riffs of Morris gives it that Texas swagger. Original track, Young Man's Blues has a real nice bass drone with solid vocals by Morris and a strong guitar exchange between Morris and the stellar Ronnie Earl. Taken From Me is another of my favorite tracks on the release with it's lightly funked up rock beat that I associate with Mountain and early Leslie West. With a real nice drum beat by Johnson, straight up vocals and fat guitar accents by Morris, a nicely balanced track. Wrapping the release is a driving boogie, I'm On To You, with a thumping bass line and tight drums giving the track a meaty feel. Morris sets it up nicely and slams it home on this one with just the right amount of slash, making this an excellent closer. 

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Treated and Released Records artist: Reverend Freakchild - The Bodhisattva Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Bodhisattva Blues, from Reverend Freakchild and as always, he puts a cool spin on the blues. Opening with I Can't Be Satisfied, Freakchild puts a funky spin on Waters' stellar hit with loads of acoustic slide and Chris Parker on drums. Excellent! Willie Dixon's Little Red Rooster also gets a more low slung treatment with cool slide and vocals by Freakchild. Scott Hackler does a real nice job of rolling the piano on this one and with Malcolm Oliver on bass and Parker on drums, solid shot. John Lennon's Yer Blues has always been one of my favorite rock/blues tracks and Freakchild must share that sentiment with his cover. With Mark Karan on lead guitar, Robin Sylvester on bass, Hugh Pool on harmonica, Melvin Seals on organ and Parker on drums, this track is packing. Rev Gary Davis' Death Don't Have No Mercy gets a more contemporary almost folk rework and Freakchild's voice carries the load nicely. I mean his acoustic slide work is strong and Jay Collins' flute work gives the track an almost Othar Turner fife feel. Very interesting interpretation. Wrapping the release is Freakchild acapella on traditional song, And We Bid You Goodnight. This is a real solid release and one that continues to show Freakchild's love for the blues and capability in delivering it from a fresh perspective. 

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Adam Karch - Everything Can Change - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everything Can Change, from Adam Karch and it's an interesting mix of acoustic and electric fused folk/blues music with solid vocals. Opening with It's Your Song, a contemporary, radio style track with a solid melody and clean acoustic guitar work, Adam Karch shows his stuff on vocal and guitar, backed by Richard Deschenes on bass and Marc-Andre Drouin on drums. JJ Cale's classic, After Midnight gets a substantial rework and I like it. Starting with acoustic slide and fine finger picking, Karch's stylistic vocal phrasing really changes the track and it's as cool as the original. Very nice. Porch Groove (Sunday Morning) is a real relaxing meandering melody on acoustic guitar. Very nice. Another nice cover is Bob Dylan's Don't Think Twice, It's Alright. Karch has one of those voices that is warm and refreshing and his picking style is clean and concise. Very nice. Wrapping the release is another Porch Groove (Saturday Evening) with a more contemporary finger picked melody. Karch is a talented musician and vocalist who has put together a real nice release. 

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VizzTone Label Group artists: John Primer & Bob Corritore - The Gypsy Woman Told Me - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the latest release, The Gypsy Woman Told Me, by John Primer & Bob Corritore and it's a great dose of contemporary Chicago style blues. Opening with Keep A-Driving, Primer on vocal and guitar really does a nice job of setting the stage with Corritore supporting nicely and with solid piano work by Bob Welch, Kedar Roy on bass and June Core on drums. With a bit of boogie built in, Knockin' On Your Door, with Primer again leading on vocal gives Corritore a nice chance to spread a bit with great harp tones and Primer's guitar work is tight and well phrased. Lil Son Jackson's Gambling Blues is one of my favorite tracks on the release with quick paced acoustic guitar and fleet fingered lead by Primer and a fatter harp part by Corritore. Primer's own, Little Bitty Woman falls right from the Muddy Waters tree with a bouncy, Chicago blues pace, riding harp and Waters like slide work by Primer. Very cool. Slow blues, Walking The back Street Crying is one Primer and Corritore can both sink their teeth into with super vocal and instrumentals throughout. Sonny Boy's My Imagination gives Corritore a nice time in the spotlight and his harp is A1. Primer's vocals are of course spot on but this track is here for Bob to shine and he really does a nice job. Another favorite is Left Me With A Broken Heart featuring Billy Flynn on guitar, Ben Levin on piano, Mike Hightower on bass and Brian Fahey on drums. Corritore's harp work is particularly expressive and I always like Flynn's guitar styling. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Ain't Gonna Be No Cuttin' Loose with a driving shuffle pace and featuring a real nice solo by Corritore. Flynn again works the guitar nicely working with Corritore to a powerful ending. Solid release. 

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Black Hen Music artist: Maya Rae - Can You See Me? - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the debut release, Can You See Me?, from Maya Rae who demonstrates strong vocal skills and a fine hand for melody to match her lyrical skills. Opening with title track, Can You See Me?, Maya Rae who has a clear, pop style voice, with traces of Joni, Fiona and other successful folk style vocalists backed by guitar whiz Steve Dawson, Jamie Dick on drums, Jon Estes on bass, Kai Welch on keys and uke, and backing vocals by Allison Russell and JT Nero. Very nice opener. With just a dash of country styling, The Sun Will Come Out Again is another strong composition with a solid melody, and includes vibes by Charlie McCoy, Kristin Weber on violin, and Larissa Maestro on cello. I really like the delicate vocal treatment and musical contrast by Rae on Picture Frame and the vocal harmony work on Storm Leaf really makes for a nice pair of tracks. Bluesy, Freedom Fighter, is one of my favorites on the release with Welch on Wurlitzer, Dawson on slide and adding Sam Howard on vocal. Moon Girl has one of those paces that just captivates you and the vocal backing by Russell and Nero beautifully compliment Rae's own lush lead. Wrapping the release is Goodnight River, a simple ballad with only the minimal of backing by Dawson, Dick, Howard and Welch. This is a very nice closer for a solid release. 

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Mark Telesca - Higher Vibrations - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Higher Vibrations, from Mark Telesca and it's a cool acoustic showcase. Opening with original track, 99 Years, Telesca demonstrates an articulate and interesting guitar style while accompanying his solid vocals on this bluesy folk track. Cool opener. Another original track, Turn On A Dime, leans more heavily on Telesca's story telling and his ability to create a cool ambiance with his vocals and guitar. Very nice. Fred McDowell's Louise  gets a nice dose of acoustic slide guitar, further enhancing Telesca's rework of this blues classic. I also like his cover of Robert Johnson's Come On In My Kitchen with clean acoustic guitar work, slide and his own contemporary vocal blues styling. With a cool finger picked style, Papa's On The House Top, has a certain brightness that really makes Telesca shine. Al Green's, I'm A Ram, is toned down substantially but maintains the writers forcefulness in it's own way with  understated guitar work and solid vocal phrasing. Wrapping the release is original shuffle (boogie), Something Just Ain't Right with it's driving rhythm and smooth guitar turn arounds. I really like Telesca's delivery on this one making it a cool closer for a fun release. 

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Deltaphonic - The Funk, the Soul & The Holy Groove - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Funk, the Soul & The Holy Groove by Deltaphonic and I really like it. Opening with what sounds like a book from George Clintons book of funk, Liars really hits a terrific groove. With Andrew T. Weeks on vocal and guitar, Paul Provosty on lead guitar, and Trenton O'Neal and Ciaran Brennan on drums, this thing is super. Jerry Henderson on bass and  Andriu Yanovski on keys add critical funk to an already funk track. Excellent opener. With a thumping bass by Henderson and a cool guitar riff by Provosty, bouncing off of the snappy rhythm of O'Neal Bad People has that perfect New Orleans feel. Weeks' vocals are wild and Provosty's guitar playing is intelligent and hot. If It Don't Bleed has a lumbering rhythm, maintaining it's overall funky feel but with solid vocal harmonizing with Josh Kagler. A real nice change up is soulful ballad, The Denouement, with it's strong melody and super vocals and full organ treatment. Very nice. Wrapping the release is high stepping, See Red, with a great drum line and super bass riffs. Weeks' vocals are always great and Provosty rips a super guitar solo on this one making it an excellent closer to a totally enjoyable release.

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Gulf Coast Recordings artist: John Blues Boyd - What My Eyes Have Seen... - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, What My Eyes Have Seen..., from John Blues Boyd, and it's tasty. Opening with shuffle track, In My Blood, John Blues Boyd has the mic with silky smooth vocals, backed by Kid Andersen on guitar, Jim Pugh on piano, Quantae Johnson on bass, June Core on drums, and Eric Spaulding and Jack Sanford on sax. Solid opener.  Title track, What My Eyes Have Seen... is a really cool track with soulful vocals by Boyd over a dark bass line/guitar lead by Johnson and Anderson. There is quite a bit going on here with super percussion from June Core and Kid Andersen, Jack Sanford on sax, John Halblieb on Trumpet, Ric Feliziano and Pugh on organ. Excellent! Straight up blues number, A Beautiful Woman (For Dona Mae) is strong vocally with nice guitar soloing by Andersen and featuring Nancy Wright on sax. 49 Years is a real nice slower blues number with strong piano lines by Pugh, wailing sax by Spaulding and super blues phrasing by Andersen on guitar. Funky, I Got To Leave My Mark, puts you in mind of Albert King, with excellent guitar riffs by Andersen (who also plays organ and percussion), and a solid horn backing by Spaulding, Sanford, Halblieb and Feliziano. Wrapping the release is My Memory Takes Me There which really highlights Boyd's vocal strength surrounded by only the basics with Andersen on organ. Nice closer for a solid release.

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Patsy Thompson - Fabulous Day - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fabulous Day, from Pasty Thompson and it's a solid radio release. Opening with title track, Fabulous Day, Patsy Thompson establishes the playing field and belts out a cool radio track. Backed by Chris Rolin and the illustrious, Red Volkert on guitars, Bruce Morrison on bass, Chris Meister on drums, Andy Smyth on piano, Mike Sarryshyn on fiddle and Bruce Boulton on steel guitar. Country flavored, Picking You Up, has a great feel, Volkert's deep fretted riffs set the track off nicely and the winding steel riffs of Boulton are a great accent. Latin flavored, Passion is one of my favorite tracks on the release with nice fiddle runs by Sarryshyn and nicely executed Spanish style guitar lead by Rolin. Another track with a solid country flavor is Joy Ride with a strong melody, nicely harmonized backing vocals, a nice guitar solo by Rolin and cool steel accents by Boulton. Wrapping the release is a bluesy country track, I Think About You,  with a healthy swing, cool bass lines, fiddle solo by Sarryshyn, another cool guitar solo by Volkkert. This is Thompson's best vocal effort on the release and a solid closer. 

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Jim Diamond review - Friends & Family - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review to most recent release, Friends a & Family, from Jim Diamond Review and it's a swinging party. Opening with I'm Cryin', Jim Diamond Boyington leads the way on lead vocal and some stellar guitar riffs. I love the bari work of Ryan Stiles and John Reese Pleasant's organ really works nicely, backed by Beth Deminski-Boyington on drums, Chris Herndon on rhythm guitar, Mark Wagner on bass and Joe DiGiuseppe on tenor. Great opener. Tight Mini Skirt is a cool jump track featuring Hank Mowery showing real nice harmonica solo throughout. Sometime In June is a cool instrumental which almost seems to want to break into a Latin rocker but maintains a southern R&B flavor with Stiles again ripping a solid bari solo and cool organ work from Pleasant. Jim's guitar solo is nicely phrased and extended. Very nice. Funky, I'm Walkin', has a great bass line by Wagner, with Nick Mowery screaming a strong guitar solo and DiGiuseppe adding a cool tenor solo. One of my favorite tracks on the release is straight up blues number, Hi-Dee-Hey, Hi-Dee-Ho with a great lope and killer slide by Joe Litteral and Mowery on lead vocal and harp. Very cool. Wrapping the release is easy paced 15 Below with dark sax work by Ray Warfield. Pleasant gets a chance to shine on this one with a solid organ solo and Jim's guitar work is exciting with quick burst riffs closing the track. 

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Music Maker Relief Foundation partner artist singing weekly outside of nursing home

Pat "Mother Blues" Cohen, a Music Maker Relief Foundation partner artist sings weekly outside of a nursing home that's had an outbreak of COVID, where her brother lives. Pat's is a powerful story of artist giving back the way they can, even while the artist herself, with cancelled shows, little money, little digital literacy, and underlying health problems, is at a disadvantage. This is true of so most of the MMRF partner artists, primarily older black musicians. Pat had to leave New Orleans after Katrina flooded her house and was set to make a major comeback there with a slot at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest, which is obviously not happening now. She lives outside of Charlotte, NC these days. Following are pieces from PBS NewsHour, CNN, and Rolling Stone.com on Pat, as well as her compatriots Sam Frazier, Jr. of Birmingham, AL, Ironing Board Sam (also formerly from NOLA) of Montgomery, AL, and New Orleans' Alabama Slim, and how Music Maker works closely with each them. Goes without saying that the music is also killer. Frazier is supposed to get a kidney replacement soon and Slim has had an album put off due to the crisis.

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PBS Story

CNN Story
Rolling Stone Story

Bible & Tire Recording Company artist: Dedicated Men of Zion - Can't Turn Me Around - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Can't Turn Me Around, from Dedicated Men of Zion and it's terrific! Opening with boogie track, Father, Guide Me, Teach Me, with George Supplick on drums, Will Sexton on guitar and Mark Stuart on bass leading the way, the Dedicated men of Zion lay out a contemporary blues/spiritual smorgasbord. Featuring Anthony Daniels, Antwan Daniels, Marcus Buggs and Dexter Weaver on vocals this is tight. Slower blues number, A Leak In This Old Building, has the Dedicated Men's soulful vocals soaked in a sea of organ by Calvin Barnes, with only a steady drums beat and bass... excellent! Showing a bit of R&B style on I Feel Alright, these guys show their versatility and warm harmonies, backed by the horn work by Jim Spake on horns and Art Edmaiston on horns. Very nice. Title track, Can't Turn Me Around, is a great soul track with wrenching vocal lead and excellent backing vocal with not much more than the guitar accent of Will Sexton and keyboards by Barnes. Think a modern rendition of classic soul fusion band, WAR. Up next is a trio of traditional spiritual style tracks, You Don't Know, Leaning On The Lord and When I Look Back with plenty of punch. Back to the R&B style with It's A Shame and these guys definitely know how to deliver. With it's strong vocals, dance drum rhythm and horn backing, this track will have you dancing in your seat (if not on the floor). Wrapping the release with Work Until My Days Are Done, a straight up spiritual bringing the Dedicated Men back to the center and closing strong. If youo have never heard a great spiritual release, now's the time. If as close as you have gotten is Leon Russel and the Shelter People (which is great by the way), you owe it to yourself.

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Jim Gustin & Truth Jones - Lessons Learned - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Lessons Learned, from Jim Gustin & Truth Jones and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with I'd Been Drinking, a romping party track with a boogie rhythm, Gustin and Jones share the mic and horns blazing behind them. Gustin does a nice job on guitar with Steve Alterman on piano, Scott Duncan on bass, Chuck Strong on drums and Lawrence Tamez on sax with Jim Scimonelli on sax and Lee Thornburg on trumpet. Cool opener. Duncan sets the pace on bass on The Truth and Gustin's gravelly voice is perfect for this one. Again, Gustin steps up with a nice guitar solo over the power organ work of Alterman. One of my favorites on the release is I Hate To See You Go with another great bass drone, anchor snare drum and clever double entendre vocals. Ripping guitar and sax solos dress this track out nicely giving it a turbo boost. Very cool. A crisp rocker, Rockslide, showcases Gustin's vocal with just the right amount of cow bell, nice vocal blending with Jones, and that power horn section pushing. Very cool. Bluesy ballad, My Love Is True, showcases Tamez's lush sax work and puts Jones in her most prominent vocal spot on the release. Wrapping the release is radio style rock track, Three Things, with a solid duet with Jones and Gustin and structures keyboard backing by Alterman. Cool closer for a cool release. 

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Ruf Records artist: Victor Wainwright and The Train - Memphis Loud - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Loud, by Victor Wainwright & The Train and it's spicy. Opening with Mississippi, a cool party song with a kaleidoscope of musical tones including Wainwright on vocal and keys, Billy Dean on drums, Terrance Grayson on bass, Pat Harrington on guitar, Mark Earley on sax, Doug Woolverton on trumpet, Dave Gross on percussion, Mikey Junior on vocal, Reba Russell on vocal, Stephen Dees on vocals, Patricia Ann Dees on vocals, Gracie Curran on vocals and Peanut Reed on vocals. Title track, Memphis Loud is a real locomotive with instrumental horsepower. With Wainwright really hitting the electric piano and Earley and Woolverton pushing the horns, this track has a massive opening. Smoothing into a Louisiana flavored, country tinged, track, Sing, Wainwright and Dave Gross really work the vocals. Quieting down to a real nice ballad, Disappear, Wainwright shows his strong vocal feel with a nicely crafted undercarriage of piano, drums and bass. With a slick guitar solo by Gross over the organ and piano work of Wainwright, this is a really nice track. Golden Rule is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's complex rhythm pattern, almost like a Frank Zappa basis with warm vocals by Wainwright and Harrington who also lays in a real nice unstructured guitar solo of his own. Certainly one of the most memorable tracks on the release is South End of a North Bound Mule with it's clever lyrics and it's swampy, funky rhythm. With great vocals, some real nice guitar riffs by Harrington and Greg Gumpel and the vocal work of Wainwright and Reba Russell, this is a great track. Another fun track is My Dog Riley with super New Orleans style piano and horns and of course great horn and vocal backing. Wrapping the release is soulful ballad, Reconcile which, with the rich vocal styling of Wainwright and a strong guitar solo by Gumpel is a super closer. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: The Proven Ones - You Ain't Done - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, You Ain't Done, from The Proven Ones, and it's a solid blues flavored rocker. Opening with Get Love, a contemporary blues rocker with hints of Jim Dewer, The Fab Thunderbirds and SRV, lead vocalist Brian Templeton has a powerful voice, and with the stinging guitar riffs of Kid Ramos and Mack McCarthy on trumpet, and with Jimi Bott on drums, Willie J Campbell on bass, and Anthony Geraci on keys, a super opener. Gone To Stay pushes further into the grunginess of rock and with a Nirvana like attack, ventures further into the rock arena. Bott's driving drum work really give this track a firm footing. With a firm backbeat, title track, You Ain't Done is one of my favorites on the release with solid vocal blending from Mike Zito and LaRhonda Steele, a great trumpet compliment from Mack, cool slide work from Ramos and a rich organ solo from Geraci. Ruthie Foster lends her fabulous lead vocal to Whom My Soul Loves, a strong ballad with nice piano work from Geraci. Mack steps up with a real nice sax solo on this one too giving it that extra punch. Excellent! Latin flavored, Nothing Left to Give, has great movement in percussion by Bott and with strong vocal lead and full horn compliment gives it even more spice. Fallen has great swagger with the vocal attitude of Templeton, the ace drumming of Bott and perfectly crafted guitar riffs of Ramos. Mack's horn playing is anything but window dressing with this track being really punchy. Wrapping the release is Favorite Dress with all of the rock and roll feel of a prime time Stones track. This is an excellent closer for a really solid release. 

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