The Smoke Wagon Blues Band - The Ballad of Albert Johnson - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Ballad of Albert Johnson, from The Smoke Wagon Blues Band and we got some tasty stuff here. Opening with title track, Ballad of Albert Johnson, a romping boogie with a great bass line courtesy Jason Colavecchia on bass and strong lead vocals and harmonica by Corey Lueck. With Mike Stubbs on guitar, Brandon Bruce on keys, Gordon Aeichele on sax, Steve Sherman on guitar, and Tibor Lukacs on drums, this is a strong opener. Bluesy ballad, Ain't Gonna Be Your Fool is a great showcase for Lueck's vocals and a super radio track. New Orleans flavored, Lay Say Lay has a great beat with great piano work by Bruce and snappy drum work by Lukacs and percussion by Sherman, topped off with really nice sax work by Aeichele and backing vocals by Stubbs, Bruce, Sherman, Colavecchia and Lukacs. Poor Man Blues has a great shuffle feel and gives Lueck a wide open stage to play his harmonica and he does a terrific job, followed by a soulful sax solo by Aeichele. Very cool. Another cool boogie track, Can't Take The Blues has an infectious groove with a strong bass line, super vocals, a solid sax solo by Aeichele and a tight mix. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Steaming Comrades Harp Boogie, a live track with a rhythmic Bo Diddley beat. Lueck leads the way on vocal and harp kind of reminding me of an old John Mayall performance and the band pumps it up all the way. Cool closer. 

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Nola Blue Records artist: Gregg Martinez - MacDaddy Mojeaux - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, MacDaddy Mojeaux, from Gregg Martinez (pronounced Mart nez with a silent i) and it's a cool soul and R&B set. Opening with Ray Charles' I Believe to My Soul, vocalist Gregg Martinez puts his own  R&B spin on  this classic track with a voice that shows loud and clear why he has lead such bands as King Fish, The Heat and The Boogie Kings. Backed by Tim Courville on drums, Charles Ventre on Hammond, Tony Daigle on percussion, Claude Salles on trombone, Allan Linker on trumpet and Ronnie Eades on sax, this is a great opener. Followed by Don Nix's Same Old Blues, Martinez digs deep down for a great soulful blues ballad, accented nicely by stinging guitar work. Very nice. Skylark's Wildflower is up next with a traditional soul mix but there's no taking from Martinez's pure vocals and style. Very nice with solid background vocals by Carla Benson and Evette Benton. One of my favorites on the release is original shuffle, Eva Delle strong vocals by Martinez with his swampy rhythm, Sonny Landreth on slide guitar, Anthony Dopsie on accordion and punchy horns. Tyrone Davis', Can I Change My Mind, is a perfect fit for Martinez and his vocal style. Plenty of people have covered this track but this and Billy Price/Roy Buchanan's cover stand out in my mind. Very nice with strong sax by Eades. Wrapping the release is a change up ballad, Randy Newman's, Marie. Every bit a soulful as any other track on the release but with a straight ballad delivery over piano. This is a solid closer. 

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Toucan Cove Recording artist: Seth Power - Souvenir Acoustic - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Souvenir Acoustic, by Seth Power and it's a clean acoustic pop set. Opening with His Heart, with it's light piano and crisp percussion, Power's vocals are soft and nicely laid on acoustic guitar accompaniment. Imagine That is nicely crafted with an emphasis on rhythms and swaying movement. Power has a voice that is well suited to small clubs as targeted by his current touring schedule. My favorite track on the release is Zero Sum (Love Game) with it's bluesy ballad format and sweet melody. The radio star on the release is Get Up with it's forward rhythm, strong vocal blending and horn reinforcement.  Another bluesy ballad, Notice is another favorite with a strong melody and a delicate vocal touch. Closure is a nicely composed ballad with sensitive vocals and nice guitar accompaniment. Leading into wrapping track, His Heart with lively percussion and sultry acoustic guitar work, this is an appropriate way to close. 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Eric Hughes Band - Postcard from Beale Street - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Postcard from Beale Street, by Eric Hughes Band and it contains a variety of music styles and turns. Opening with shuffle, Ain't Whipped Yet, Hughes is upfront on lead vocal and sweaty slide with Walter Hughes on backing guitar and vocal, Leo Goff on bass, and Brian Aylor on drums. Great guitar tones by Eric give this track a great spice. Oh, Booze! has a terrific, early Beale feel with solid vocals by Eric, with trumpet by Marc Franklin, Kirk Smothers on sax and Mick Kolassa on tussolin, spoons and backing exclamations. Ballad, Homesick Angel is the definite radio track on the release with a strong melody, solid backing vocals and tight accompaniment. Straight up acoustic blues ballad, Blackberry Patch has Eric on lead vocal and slide resonator over Walter on guitar. Simple and solid. Blues rocker, Waiting For That Day has a super boogie (woogie) feel with a great bass line by Goff, organ by Steff and harmonica by Eric. Possibly my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is It's 4:20 Somewhere, a bouncy track with a nice mixture of harmonica, guitar and slide with an almost Klezmer sound. Cool closer for an interesting release. 

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Delta Roots Records artist: Gerald McClendon - Can't Nobody Stop Me Now - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Can't Nobody Stop Me Now, from Gerald McClendon and it's a solid dose of old school soul and R&B. Opening with title track, Can't Nobody Stop Me Now, Gerald McClendon sets a real nice soul groove featuring Herb Walker, Joe Burba and Mark Wydra on guitar, Roosevelt Purifoy on keys, Art Love on bass and Twist Turner on drums. With punchy horns by John Brumbach and Skinny Williams on sax, this is a super opener. Soulful, Where Do We Go From Here, is one of my favorite tracks on the release with strong vocals and wailing sax by Williams. Runnin' Wild has swagger with cool trumpet work and some of McClendon's best vocal work on the release. Another of my favorites is It's Over Now, a bluesy ballad with a great melody and nicely defined guitar work. Slow blues number, You Can't Take My Love, has a really sassy sax solo by Williams further accenting it's overall soulful melody and nicely phrased vocals. Wrapping the release is I Think About You, a really nice soul track with easy horns, surrounding the warm vocals of McClendon and with another power solo by Williams on sax. This is a really cool release and one that competes with the original soul music of the 60's. Very nice. 

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Stony Plain Records artist: Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne - Go, Just Do It! - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Go, Just Do It!, from Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, and he covers the gamut from R&B to Rap. Opening with title track, Just Do It, a funky, R&B blues number with Dawn "Tyler" Watson singing along with Wayne on lead vocal, and with Russell Jackson on super bass, pumped by Jerry Cook on sax, Vince Mai on trumpet, Yuji Ihara on guitar, Joey DiMarco on drums and of course Wayne on keys. Solid Opener. Percy Mayfield's, You're In For A Big Surprise features Diane Schuur on lead vocal with Wayne and is my favorite track on the release with it's smooth, bluesy feel and strong vocals and super sax work by Cook. Very nice. Shuffle, Motor Mouth Woman is another favorite on the release with a moving beat, swinging vocals, nice piano work from Wayne and solid horns. JJ Cale's, Call Me The Breeze, maintains a bit of Cale's original rural feel but with just the right dose of soul, cool piano work by Wayne and a nice dash of blues courtesy Tank Doucette on harp. With it's "band" feel, Bumpin' Down The Highway is a great instrumental with strong lead sax work by Cook, soulful trumpet work by Mai and swinging piano work by Wayne. Excellent! Wrapping the release is another solid driver, Let The Rock Roll with Wayne right up front on piano. This is an excellent showcase of his piano styling and a solid closer. 

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Cleopatra Blues artist: Shirley King - Blues For A King - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues For A King, from BB King's daughter, Shirley King and it's jam packed with blues and legends. Opening with Joe Louis Walker's All Of My Lovin' , King is up front on lead vocal backed by Walker on guitar and Jurgen Engler on guitar, bass and drums. Holding firm on a R&B setup, King sets a straight 60's styling radio track. With super guitar work by Elvin Bishop under King's bluesy vocals, I Did You Wrong has a cool shuffle beat and a tight bottom. An unexpected rock gem, Steve Winwood's Can't Find My Way Home features Martin Barre with some excellent guitar and is one of my favorites and also possibly King's best vocal effort on the release. Gallow Pole maintains it's folk roots but with a rock edge and underlying guitar work by Harvey Mandel with really is a strong compliment. A rework of a Jr Wells track features vocal and harp by Wells, adding guitar by Walker, bass by Engler and strong vocal leads by King. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Etta James' At last using the conventional arrangement and featuring Kings own vocals. With the addition of Steve Cropper on guitar, a solid closer. 

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Gravel & Grace - Self Titled - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release from Gravel & Grace and and it showcases the pair's pop sensibilities. Opening with R&B track, Scares Me, Ava Grace leads the way with solid vocals, and solid sax work by William Melendez , backed by Issac llewis on guitar, Ricky Galvan on guitar, Ava on keys, Joshua Broom on bass and Raymond Vazira on drums. Bottles is the definite radio track on the release with a strong melody, Fiona Apple like lead vocal by Grace and a screaming sax solo by Melendez. Rihanna's soulful ballad, Love On The Brain is a cool showcase for the versatility of Grace's vocal style and nice backing vocals by Earl Matthews. With a New orleans spin, Matthews leads off on Picture Perfect. With it more traditional blues format, cool piano work by Grace and nice guitar soloing, this is my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is Wash My Blues with it's pop blues styling. Nicely crafted sax intro, piano work and solid vocals by Matthews make this a strong closer for the release. 

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The Last Music Company: Dr. John - Ske-Dat-De-Dat, The Spirit Of Satch - New on vinyl

The Last Music Company has released Dr. John's tribute to Louis Armstrong, Ske-Dat-De-Dat, on vinyl on June 5, 2020. I had the opportunity to review this newest release and it's a lot of fun. Opening with What A Wonderful World, Dr John joins up with Nicholas Payton on trumpet and the Blind Boys of Alabama for a Mac stylized version of this Armstrong classic. Payton floats on the melodic rhythm and Mac's vocals are tops. Bonnie Raitt joins on I've Got The World On A String and an easy swing. Both Mac and Raitt seem very comfortable with excellent lead vocals, bluesy guitar riffs, clarinet and full horn backing. Very nice. In traditional Mac/New Orleans Jazz style, Gut Bucket Blues is one of my favorite tracks on the release, again featuring Payton on trumpet and with strong horn backing and some really tasty drumming. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child features Anthony Hamilton on lead vocal with smooth soulful backing and solid horn work. The McCrary Sisters and Ledisi do a totally spiritual version of Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen with powerful rich vocals, organ and strong piano work from Dr. John. Excellent! Mac is back up front on piano and vocal on Wrap Your Trouble in Dreams, joined by The Blind Boys of Alabama and Terrance Blanchard. This is a particularly cool track with Mac's classic New Orleans blues styling, blended with the warm gospel backing of BBA and the cool jazz styling of Blanchard on trumpet. Very cool. More traditional New Orleans style blues on Dippermouth Blues is a great track with Mac on lead vocal and piano and a super new Orleans beat. James 12 Andrews (Trombone Shorty) hits the trumpet on this one and it's another of my favorites. Shemekia Copeland contributes her own lush vocals to Sweet Hunk of Trash, a funky New Orleans number. With cool trombone work and tight drumming, another strong track. Easy jazz ballad, Memories of You features mac on lead vocal and piano but it's the terrific trumpet soloing of Arturo Sandoval that really sails this one. Sandoval plants himself and just wails. Excellent! Wrapping the release is a totally Dirty Dozen-ized When You're Smiling with a great tuba bottom and with excellent, trumpet led, march style jazz. Snappy percussion and mac on piano works really nicely with Mac's lead vocals. It's nice that Last Music has captured this on vinyl. Very cool. 

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Delmark Records artist: Linsey Alexander - Live At Rosa's - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live From Rosa's, from Linsey Alexander, and it really captures Alexander in his element. Opening with cool shuffle track, Please Love Me, Alexander on lead vocal and guitar starts electrifying the audience right from the first note. Joined by Sergei Androshin on guitar, Roosevelt Purifoy on keys, Ron Simmons on bass and "Big" Ray Stewart on drums, they set a tight groove. On blues classic made popular by Freddie King and later Eric Clapton, Have You Ever Loved A Woman, Alexander really digs in on guitar and with essential organ work by Purifoy, lays down my favorite track on the release. Alexander's vocals are real and his soloing inspired. Another cool shuffle is Goin' Out Walkin' and Alexander works his guitar against his vocals nicely. Hi steppin' Snowing In Chicago has a cool driving beat with fluid guitar lines and energized organ soloing by Purifoy. Wrapping the release is funky, Going Back To My Old Time Used To Be, with a cool bass line by Simmons, and with just the right amount of organ and electric piano by Purifoy. Stewart's drumming is tight and Alexander steps up with some real nice soloing of his own to wrap up this solid set. 

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Delmark Records artist: Johnny Burgin - No Border Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, No Border Blues, from Johnny Burgin and I really like it. Opening with One Day You're Gonna Get Lucky, a straight Chicago blues shuffle featuring Iper Onishi on vocal and harp, Takagiman on drums, Hirinori "Zee" Yanaga on drums Yoshi Mizuno and of course Johnny Burgin on guitar. Excellent opener. Burgin takes the mic on Sunnyland with Yoshimi Hirata on bass, Lee Kanehira  on piano, Kaz Nogio on harp, Mizuno on guitar and Takagiman on drums. This is an excellent track with strong harp work and Burgins always super vocals. Piano Boogie, Pumpkin's Boogie is a great showcase for Lee Kanehira on vocal and piano and Burgin on guitar and with the addition of Ataka Suzuki on drums and Yanaga on bass. Burgin has the mic again on Rattlesnake joined by Mizuno on guitar, Onishi on harmonica, Takagiman on drums and Yanaga on bass. Burgin has the mic again on Old School Player, an easy shuffle with Onishi, Kanehira and Mizuno. Onishi's phrasing works really nicely with Burgin's own giving this track a particular continuity. Very nice. Burgin has such an ease with the way he sings that it's refreshing in blues music. Two Telephones features Minoru Maruyama on guitar with Stephen Daugherty on drums , Chris Matheos on bass and Burgin on lead vocal. A cool slower blues gives Maruyama a nice opportunity to show his stuff. Samurai Harp Attack features Onishi, Nogio and Kotez on a cool harp driven shuffle with Yanaga on bass and Takagiman on drums. Very cool. Wrapping the release is the Japanese version of Sweet Home Osaka (Chicago) with Burgin, Kanehira and Tanaka on vocal, Nogio and Onishi on harp, Kanehira on piano, Yanaga on bass and Suzuki on drums. It's cool to see a blend of cultures for a singular music. Johnny always puts together a great project and this one is no exception. Super job! 

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Jose Ramirez - Here I Come - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Here I Come, from Jose Ramirez, and it's a very cool, R&B flavored, contemporary blues release. Opening with title track, Here I Come, Jose Ramirez leads on vocal and guitar, backed by Jim Pugh on piano, Wes Starr on drums and Nate Rowe on bass. Showing his first solo, he's low slung and with plenty of Texas feel...think Jimmie Vaughan or Anson Funderburgh styling. Very nice. Slow blues, I Miss You Baby sounds like it's right out of the T Bone Walker songbook and with solid vocals by Ramirez and the backing of  Texas Horns (Mark ‘Kaz’ Kazanoff, John Mills and Al Gomez) this track is rich. Listen to Ramirez make that guitar sing... nice. Anson Funderburgh actually shows up on Gasoline and Matches and lays in some stinging riffs over the Horns, a funk bass line by Rowe. Very nice. Goodbye Letter is a real nice slower blues with some of Ramirez's best vocals on the release and excellent rolling piano work by Pugh. Sit back and let him stroke the strings... solid phrasing and great tone. Combining the guitar loping riff of SRV and the warm organ work of Pugh, Three Years has a real soothing blues feel and gives Funderburgh and Ramirez plenty of space to work. Very nice. Super soulful, As You Can See, is one of my absolute favorites on the release with strong lead vocals by Ramirez, and plenty of fat horn work. Ramirez holds back on his guitar until the tail of the track but it's a perfect short of heat at just the right moment. Excellent! Wrapping the release is strong shuffle, Stop Teasing Me, with cool organ work by Pugh under Ramirez's solid vocals. His lead guitar lines and the tight drum work is a perfect balance and with continued pressure from Pugh on his Hammond, this track is a stong closer for a really strong release. 

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Cleopatra Records artist: Joe louis Walker - Blues Comin' On - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Comin' On, by Joe Louis Walker, and it's a great blend of Blues, Soul, R&B and Rock musical styles. Opening with Feed The Poor, a funky blues rocker, Walker joins with legendary Jorma Kaukonen on lead guitar who brings a ragged edge to this otherwise soulful track. With John Bradford on bass, Dorian Randolph on bass, Juma Sultan on percussion and Bruce Katz on organ this is a strong opener. Carla Cooke contributes lead vocal on Someday, Someway, a real nice soulful blues ballad. Her vocals, backed by Walker, on guitar and vocal, and with Lee Oskar on harmonica, Eric Finland on piano, Randolph on drums and John Bradford, this is definitely one of my favorites on the release. Keb' Mo on slide guitar and John Sebastian on harp join Walker on 12 string laying down a real nice shuffle, Old Time Used To Be. Backed by Katz on piano, Scott Petito on bass, Randolph on drums and Sultan on percussion this track has a great feel. I love the heavy bottom funk on Bowlegged Woman, Knock-Kneed Man featuring Bradford on bass and Randolph on drums. Walker has the lead vocal on this one and does a great job with Waddy Wachtel on guitar, Rick Estrin on harp and Katz on organ. Nice and funky. Another soulful ballad, Awake Me, Shake Me,  featuring Cooke and Walker on lead vocal has real power with Walker really digging in on guitar. Very nice. With a real James Brown "boogaloo" beat, Uptown In Harlem features solid drumming by Byron Case and Jellybean Johnson winding it out on lead guitar under Walkers lead vocal. Cool. Wrapping the release is 7&7 Is, an Arthur Lee track with an early rock feel, featuring Charlie Harper on lead vocal and Arlen Roth on lead guitar. Roth slows this hypnotic pace down with some of the nicest blues riffs on the release, making is a solid closer.

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Louisiana's LeRoux - One of Those Days - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One of Those Days, from Lousiana's LeRoux and it's a modern blues rocker with a lot of flavor. Opening with title track, One of Those Days, lead singer Jeff McCarty is as solid as they come on this radio rocker with Jim Odem on lead guitar and background vocals, Rod Roddy on piano, Nelson Blanchard on Hammond, Joey Decker on bass and background vocal, Randy Carpenter on drums and Mark Duthu on percussion. With a cool melody and late Allman Brothers guitar runs, this track fits like an old glove. No One's Gonna Love Me (Like The Way You Do), is another strong radio track with tightly woven instrumental backing for McCarty's lead vocal. The R&B style track with a country rock flavor shows a strong influence by the Doobies and and super backing vocals give it a great feel. New Orleans flavored, Lucy Anna has a great botton thanks to Roddy and Carpenter with really strong backing vocals supporting McCarty. Sauce Piquante is a funky cool instrumental with nice instrumental stretches by Roddy, Odem, Leon Medica on bass and with tight drum lines by Carpenter. Wrapping the release is ballad, New Orleans Ladies featuring the vocal prowess of McCarty, featuring Tab Benoit on solo guitar, Tim Courville on drums and background vocals by Keith Landry, Travis Thibodaux, Chapel Hart, Bobby Kimball and Bill Champlain. 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Tony Holiday - Soul Service - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soul Service, from Tony Holiday, and is solid throughout.

Opening with Payin' Rent on a Broken Home, a strong blues rocker, Tony Holiday on lead vocal and harmonica sets a cool strutting pace, backed by Landon Stone on guitar, Max Kaplan on bass, Danny Banks on drums with Ori Naftaly on guitar and Victor Wainwright on keys. Low slung shuffle She knocks Me Out, has a great feel and Holiday's harmonica tone is full and a tasty work solo by Stone is poised and tight. A cool island feel spins Day Dates (Turn Into Night Dates). With simplified drum rhythms and airy guitar work Holiday crafts this track nicely and blends vocally with Kaplan, complimented by melodic harmonica. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Ol' Number Nine, a rumbling blues rocker with nicely paired vocals and a rumbling bass line by Kaplan. Holiday's vocals are strong and his harmonica work reinforces the "train" theme of the track. Solid closer for a real cool release. 

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SeaSpeed Productions artist; Evelyn Rubio - Crossing Borders - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Crossing Borders, from Evelyn Rubio and it's a solid blues/R&B effort with with a lot of radio appeal. Opening with One More Last Time, a sassy R&B number with super lead vocals by Rubio and Lori Michelle on backing vocal. The band features David Grissom on guitar, Kirk Covington on drums, Zach Person on guitar, Red Young on keys and Larry Fulcher on bass. Very nice. Just Like A Drug is another track that screams for radio attention with it's Latin rhythm and complimentary guitar lead by Johnny Lee Schell and Rubuio on lead vocal sax. Mike Finnigan joins on keys, Jorge Orta Cro Cro on percussion and Tony Braunagel on drums making this a tight unit. He Did Me Wrong, But Did It Right, is a cool track with just the right amount of bluesy sway. Rubio shines on vocal and sax on one of my favorite tracks on the release. Rubio turns the jazz card with a real swinger, Cruel, where she works it like a pro on vocal with a definite tight sax edge and great organ work by Finnigan. Adding some funk to the mix on What A Way To Go gives this rocker just the right feel with Grissom on guitar and Covington on drums but not taking anything away from Rubio's strong vocals. Wrapping the release is a blues rework of Besame Mucho with really solid acoustic pinnings. With The mighty Orq on slide guitar, Sonny Boy Terry on harp, Fulcher on bass and stomp, Rubio belts out the bluesiest Spanish track you've likely every heard. Solid closer. 

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Red Parlor Records artist: Scott Ellison - Skyline Drive - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Skyline Drive, by Scott Ellison and I like it. Opening with Latin seasoned, blues rocker, I'm Missing You, Ellison on lead vocal and lead guitar is joined by Chris Campbell on backing vocals, Ron Getman on guitar, Jon Parris on bass, Robbie Armstrong on drums. With a solid melody, tight vocals and cool guitar lead, this is a strong opener. Title track, Skyline Drive is a cool shuffle with warm B3 under the cool vocal melody and with jazz influenced blues guitar. Very nice. Driving blues rocker, I'm All Wound Up is fueled by hot lead slide by Getman, the tight drumming of Chuck Reavis and Hank Charles on piano. It has great swagger making it one of my favorites on the release. These Blues Got A Hold On Me, has a slower more deliberate tempo with understated organ underpinnings and a real nice solo and Ellison takes time for a real nice guitar solo of his own. Very nice. Overwhelmed is a super blues rocker with real nice slide work by Getman and "Thorogood like" vocals by Ellison...  definitely another of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is Lonely In Love, an easy rocker with strong radio appeal. Ellison's vocals are solid with nice harmony by Campbell and focused guitar soloing over firm B3 backing. Solid closer. 

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