Blues Root Productions artist: Debbie Bond - Blues Without Borders - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 9, 2021), Blues Without Borders, from Debbie Bond and considering our times and the proximities of remote players, quite remarkable. Thanks to cyber space, this album was completed in five separate studios and in the US and UK. Opening with High Rider Blues, Debbie Bond on vocal and guitar works with Rick Asherson on harmonica and  Micky Barker on drums for a cool opener. Let Me Be is my choice for radio track on the release with a straightforward melody, Bond on vocal and and some bluesy lead guitar, Asherson on keys and Barker on drums. The best vocal showcase on the release is Blue Rain with it's solid blues bottom and traditional blues riffs. Radiator, a soulful rocker features a cool sax solo by Brad Guin. Another strong soulful rocker is Let Freedom Ring with it's heartfelt lyrics and firm melody and tight keyboard backing by Asherton. Wrapping the release is country flavored rocker, Road Song with Bond on lead vocal and guitar, Asherson on harmonica and backing vocals. Solid closer. 

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Bible & Tire Recording Company release: The Last Shall Be First - The JCR Records Story, Vol 2 - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (June 18, 2021), The Last Shall Be First: The JCR Records Story, Vol. 2 and it's a great followup to last years release. Opening with Little Wooden Church, by The Silver Trumpets set a cool R&B pace with solid harmonies and cool guitar. The Calvary Nightengales with My Robe is one of my favorites with really rich lead lead vocal, solid backing vocals and cool electric guitar accompaniment. High energy, Stand By Me, by The Dixie Wondeers, jumps off of the record with super vocals and enthusiasm. Very cool. Another great track is Until My Days Are Gone by The Masonic Travelers with not only super vocals throughout but contagious energy. Excellent! Soulful, When I'm Gone, by The Dixie Harmonizers has great depth and richness. I like the basic approach of I'm A Changed Man, by The Dixiland Singers. With it's traditional call and response and solid singing, perfect. The Spiritual Harmonizers pump it up on It's a Needy Time with super lead vocal and grate harmony, bass guitar, light snare and cymbal. Wrapping the release is The Breckenridge Singers and Man on the Moon. A great track for closing with powerful lead vocal and bluesy understated guitar. Excellent closer.

 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Deb Ryder - Memphis Moonlight - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (June 11, 2021), Memphis Moonlight, by Deb Ryder and it's a cool, R&B based blues release packed with talent. Opening with I'm Coming Home, a sassy R&B track features Ryder on lead vocal with Tony Braunagel on drums, Johnny Lee Schell on guitar, Mike Finnigan on B3, Travis carlton on bass, Mark Pender on trumpet and some super sax riffs from Joe Sublet. Cool opener. With a bluesier feel and a touch of gospel on These Hands, Ryder really hits the groove vocally and Alastair Green's addition on slide is a super perk. Schell's backing vocals and the addition of Pieter Van Der Pluijm on harmonica adds real texture. Driving rocker, Blues Is All I Got had a solid bass line by Schell andwith Braunagel on drums and van Der Pluijm on harmonica. Classic slow blues, Love Is Gone is a real standout giving Ryder a chance to show the richness of her vocals and featuring the king of blues guitar phrasing, Ronnie Earl, with a nice extended solo. Just Be Careful is another uptempo blues number with Schell on lead slide guitar and Ryder working the blues nicely. Second Chances is a cool track with country influences with the addition of Joey Delgado on guitar, Steve Delgado on backing vocal, David Hidalgo on accordion and Steve berlin on sax. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Most of All a smooth ballad, again playing into the strength of Ryder's vocal strength and with Ronnie Earl playing melodic lead guitar to a very simple bottom with Braunagel, Schell and carlton on bass. Very nice closer. 

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Humu Records artist: Jarkka Rissanen & Sons of the Desert - Cargo - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cargo, from Jarkka Rissanen & Sons of the Desert, and I think it's just the right kind of cool! Opening with Tomcat, a laid back R&B based track with Latin and Blues/Jazz influences, it just cruises like an early WAR record. With Jarkka Rissanen and Markus Vaisanen on guitars, Ilpo Komulainen on bass and Esa karki on drums and percussion, this is a solid opener. Title track, Cargo, is a real nice instrumental ballad featuring Rissanen on lead and baritone guitar melody. Although this track doesn't have the signature guitar riffs nor does it even attempt Jeff Beck's phenominal fretwork, I that Beck would gravitate to this sound. I know that I do. Excellent! Pow-Wow has a modernized Delta sound and a dash of hill country percussion with Rissanen on slide guitar and Vaisanen soloing on electric guitar over a firm bass line by Komulainen and sweet tom tom work by Karki. Very cool. Roll Call is another high strung rocker with artistic guitar work. With it's driving beat by Karki and Komulanian and great guitar interplay by Rissanen and Vaisanen, this music is good for your head. Wrapping the release is Once Upon A Time, an aeiry, Troweresque style composition with nicely flowing guitar melody, not in the form of rapid fire notes, but with blues feel and phrasing. Very nice closer for a solid new release. 

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Dwane Dixon - Betting On A Gambling Man - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Betting on a Gambling Man, from Dwane Dixon and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with rockabilly style title track, Betting on a Gambling Man, Dwane Dixon plays every note on the release with super vocals, solid guitar lead, bass and drums. On A World Of Hurt, Dixon's guitar tone is fat and meaty with cool Frank Marino like phrasing, broad stereophonic wizardry and a tight bottom. laying back in the pocket a bit on I Buried Your Bones, Dixon crafts a cool western style ballad on what may be my favorite track on the release. With it's solid melody, nicely blended vocals and a cool harmonica solo, it's likely the top radio selection on the release. Cool shuffle, Whiskey You Don't Lie, has a strong bass line and power vocals. A swinging country rocker, this track really moves. Wrapping the release is instrumental. The Awakening, with it's heavy bottom and eastern flavor. Dixon uses this "Stranglehold" like rhythm to dive the guitar fever into the ozone. Very cool.

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Tommy Z - Plug In & Play - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release Plug In & Play, from Tommy Z and I really like it. Opening with Pumpin' (Let's Have Some Fun), a full bodied texas blues shuffle, Tommy lets the riffs roll off of his fingers like molasses.  His riffs are sweet, fat and juicy and his phrasing is solid. With Tom Scime on keys pumping up the fullness, Tommy really lets it fly and  David Hulett on drums and Dave Herr on bass, this is a really solid opener. Slow blues, Please Come Back To Me, is one of my favorites on the release with strong vocals by Tommy and controlled lead work that is really effective at raising the tension, balanced with Scime's organ work. Very nice. Title track, Plug in And Play has Rolling Stones or LS style attack on a driving rocker. Tommy MacDonald's bass playing and Tom Hambridge on drums have this track anchored and Z's vocals work great with his guitar swagger. Scowler has a strong radio melody and solid vocal blending by Z over a heavier more contemporary rock guitar tone giving it broader commercial appeal. Wrapping the release is Sticky Lips is a cool, jazzy number with a deep groove. A walking bass line by Dave Herr and light drums by Hulett under the rich organ work of Scime and the rich lead guitar work of Z makes this and excellent closer. 

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Circus Mind - Joy Machine - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Joy Machine, from Circus Mind and it's a funky music party. Opening with Are You Ready?, lead vocalist and keyboard player, Mark Reehler sets the pace backed by Chris Crosby on bass, Dave Berg on guitar, Dane roth on drums and Steve Finkelstein on percussion and featuring Brandon "Taz" Niederauer with an outrageous guitar solo. Solid opener.  Air Waves is another track with a funk laden backbeat but leaning more to jazz rock. With strong vocal blending and cool percussion by Finkelstein, this track has cool radio appeal. Longing Song is laid back and adventurous featuring rechler backing himself on keys and with a cool guitar solo by Nels Cline. One of my favorite tracks on the release, JazzFest Time has that New Orleans pumped up street jazz sound featuring Pablo Rodriquez on trombone, Michael Amendola on alto sax, Damien Pacheco on trumpet and Richard Bomzer on bari sax. This track really hums with the great percussion, punchy horn section and a terrific trombine solo by Rodriquez. Excellent! Three Muses has a real pop edge with Kevin Griffen on vocal and fat slide work by slide guitar work by Berg. Wrapping the release is Troubled Times, a solid pop track with Bill Titus with backing vocals by Elsie Testone and WW Washington and featuring some  key guitar riffs by Washington as well. A brassy send off a la BST wraps this release returning it to it's funy beginnings. 

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Lost Cause Records artist: Clint Morgan - Troublemaker - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 16, 2021), Troublemaker, from Clint Morgan and it's a lot of fun. Opening with Hangman Woman a cool country flavored rocker, Clint Morgan is on lead vocal with a casual Johnny Cash like approach. backed by Wendy Moten and the McCrary Sisters on vocal, Doug Lancio and John Del Toro Richardson on guitar, Kevin McKendree on piano, David Santos on bass, and Kenneth Blevins on drums, this is a hot opener. On traditional track, Go Down, Moses, Morgan's lead vocal, complimented nicely by Ann McCrary and Regina McCrary over a nicely orchestrated backing this track is very strong.  On a cover of Johnny Cash's Big River, Morgan nicely blends Cash's style with Ray Charles and the addition of Lancio's baritone guitar work and Jim Hoke on sax really hits the spot. One track that stands out as totally different is spoken word over a blues rocking rhythm, It's Rough Out Here with jamming guitar riffs, McKendree on piano and a tight drum bottom by Blevins. Very cool. Hoke and McKendree really jam it out on She takes My Money, a rockabilly style track with some really laid our rocking guitar riffs. Another track, Hurricane Harvey, with casual spoken words and echo like spoken vocal and McKendree on percussion but with acoustic slide by John Del Toro Richardson and nicely woven atmosphere is a swampy winner. Kinky Friedman adds guest vocal with Morgan and the McCrary sisters on comedic country blues, Somebody Put A Walmart On The Farm, with sparkeling piano work by McKendree and nice fiddle work by Jimmy Stewart. This isn't your typical top track but I think it has all of the components of a crowd favorite. Another crowd favorite likely is The Cover Of Living Blues, (a take on the Cover of Rolling Stone), with Bob Margolin on vocal and slide and solid backing warmth by The McCrary Sisters. Title track, The Troublemaker is a really interesting overview of traditional track, The Old Rugged Cross with Morgan on vocal and piano. This is a really interesting interpretation and a cool choice for closer with bluesy fiddle by stewart added. A bonus track is a different take on The Cover of Living Blues featuring Watermelon Slim on lead vocal and cool piano by Morgan and margolin on slide. Excellent closer. 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Chris Gill - Between Midnight and Louise - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Between Midnight and Louise, from Chris Gill and it's a cool folk blues release. Opening with Thank You For Another Day, Chris Gill slips right into the pocket with this nicely finger picked country blues instrumental. With thoughts of Honey Boy Edwards and Hubert Sumlin, delta style blues, Song For Honeyboy has great bones with Gill showing his absolute knowledge of delta style guitar playing. Very cool. Another beefy, delta style track is Fleas and Ticks showing really nice acoustic blues guitar riffs and a solid melody/vocal combo.  With a solid grip on a baritone  guitar, Gill really makes his slide talk. Fat tones and slide belong together. Magic. Wrapping the release is title track, Between Midnight and Louise. This track has a more contemporary ballad feel with a quiet melody played through a 31 National Duolian. It's metal body rings nicely throughout the lush melody. Cool closer. 

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Donna Herula - Bang At The Door - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (May 21, 2021), Bang At The Door, from Donna Herula and it's a cool mix of country, blues and pop. Opening with title track, Bang At the Door, Herula shows a real strength at pop music blending a strong melody backing herself on resonator, and with FJ Ventre on bass and Dana Thalheimer on drums. With a Latin beat, Pass The Biscuits is a cool track with a captivating beat. Herula's vocals and resonator work over the  snappy drum work of  Thalheimer, Doug Hammer on piano, Ventre on bass Tony Pons on trumpet and Rebecca Toon on backing vocals is a solid track. Acoustic ballad, Promise Me features Tony Nardiello on acoustic guitar, Jon Shain on mandolin and Ventre on bass under the solid vocal and resonator of Herula. Black Ice is one of my favorite tracks on the release with Herula playing in a pure country blues finger pick/slide technique backed by Ventre on percussion. Very nice. Bukka White's Fixin' To Die gets a really nice rework with an aggressive rhythm and hot slide riffs. Very nice. Got What I Deserve is an interesting blend of country, rock and blues with Herula singing duet with herself, backed by Anne Harris on fiddle, Jon Shain on acoustic guitar and Ventre on bass and tambourine. Blues rocker, Something's Wrong With My Baby, has solid radio appeal with strong vocal and melody, supported by Herula's effortless slide resonator backing. Wrapping the release is Blind Willie Johnson's The Soul Of A Man with a modern yet acoustic rock style update. Herula on lead vocal and resonator, backed by Katherine Davis, Nardiello, Jon Shain and Rebecca Toon on vocal and Ventre on bass. This is a subdued yet cool release with solid blues roots. 

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Stony Plain Records artist: Maria Muldaur with Tuba Skinny - Let's Get Happy Together - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let's Get Happy Together, from Maria Muldaur and Tuba Skinny and it's captures the sound of the 20's and 30's. Opening with I Like You Best of All, Muldaur on vocal and Shaye Cohn on wild cornet, Todd Burdick on the anchor ... tuba, Barnabus Jones on super trombone, Jason Lawrence on 6 string banjo, Craig Flory with a great clarinet solo, Greg Sherman on guitar, Max Bien Kahn on guitar and Rubin Rupuzzi on washboard. I really like the clarinet / cornet play off each other. It sets the stage nicely and Jones is a strong trombone player so his work with Muldaur's vocals are classic. Taking the pace down quite a bit on Delta Bound, Flory and Jones again really work the track and Burdick's tuba work is terrific under Muldaur's vocals. I Go For That has great pace and excellent instrumental weaving that is so important in this period music as well as all Dixieland music. Very nice. One of Muldaur's showpiece vocals on the release is Big City Blues, originally performed by 30's star Annette Henshaw. Wrapping the release is Road of Stone, a special track to Muldaur who says it was recorded by Sweet Pea Spivey, sister of Victoria Spivey who discovered her. With trumpet lead and cool clarinet wailing, cornet and trombone soloing, this is a perfect closer for a cool release. 

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Blue Dot Records artist: Wee Willie Walker - and The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra - Not In My Lifetime - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Not In My Lifetime, from Wee Willie Walker and the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra and I really like it! Opening with R&B track, Don't Let Me Get In Your Way Wee Willie Walker is strutting up front with the mic, backed by Anthony Paule on guitar, Tony Lufrano on keys, Endre Tarczy on bass, Kevin Hayes on drums, Bill Ortiz on trumpet, Charles Mcneal on tenor sax, Rob Sudduth on bari sax, Derek James on trombone and terrific backing vocals by Larry Batiste, Sandy Griffith and Omega Rae on backing vocals. Shifting into soul, Over and Over is one of my favorite tracks on the release with excellent vocal phrasing and warm vocal  backing. Another sweet soul tune is Darling Mine with great feeling and strong guitar solo phrasing by Paule. With a high strut, Jon Thomas' Heartbreak really kicks in with the horns and organ blazing. Ortiz lays out a really nice trumpet solo giving this track a real kick but of course it's Walker's vocals that really set sail. Slow blues, Suffering With The Blues has a great feel with warm horns and light jazz like guitar underpinning. Paule gets a real chance to shine here and his guitar feel is spot on. This is definitely one of the bluesy highlights of the release with excellent tone and phrasing. Wrapping the release is cool shuffle, 'Til You've Walked In My Shoes and Walker directing a great closer. His vocals are strong and with stylistic guitar work by Paule, punchy horn work by Ortiz, McNeal, Sudduth and James, this track is a really tight closer. Excellent! 

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Blue Heart Records artists: Rob Stone, Elena Kato & Hiroshi Eguchi - Trio In Tokyo - New release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (May 21, 2021), Trio In Tokyo from Rob Stone, Elena Kato and Hiroshi Eguchi and it's a solid entry in Chicago blues. Opening with shuffle, No Money, Stone on vocal and harmonica leads the way with Elena Kato on piano and Hiroshi Eguchi on bass. This is a cool acoustic piece with tight rhythm work. With R&B bones, Come Back Baby really showcases the strength of katon on piano under the lead vocal work of Stone. Very nice. Big Jay McNeely's classic R&B track,  There Is Something On Your Mind, gets an even bluesier feel with harmonica and the solid piano work of Kato under the strong vocals on Stone. Jump track, Jack You You're Dead, made popular by Louis Jordan and later by Joe Jackson is punched up with the fleet finger work of Kato, strong the bass line of Eguchi and the punchy harmonica and vocal work of Stone. Blow Fish Blow! is a strong instrumental featuring the lead harmonica soloing by Stone. Hot track and my favorite on the release. Wrapping the release is a powerful rendition of Ledbelly's Goodnight Irene featuring Stone on lead vocal and Kato adding gospel like piano support. Solid closer for a solid release. 

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Blue Heart Records artists: Rob Stone, Elena Kato & Hiroshi Eguchi - Trio In Tokyo - New release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (May 21, 2021), Trio In Tokyo from Rob Stone, Elena Kato and Hiroshi Eguchi and it's a solid entry in Chicago blues. Opening with shuffle, No Money, Stone on vocal and harmonica leads the way with Elena Kato on piano and Hiroshi Eguchi on bass. This is a cool acoustic piece with tight rhythm work. With R&B bones, Come Back Baby really showcases the strength of katon on piano under the lead vocal work of Stone. Very nice. Big Jay McNeely's classic R&B track,  There Is Something On Your Mind, gets an even bluesier feel with harmonica and the solid piano work of Kato under the strong vocals on Stone. Jump track, Jack You You're Dead, made popular by Louis Jordan and later by Joe Jackson is punched up with the fleet finger work of Kato, strong the bass line of Eguchi and the punchy harmonica and vocal work of Stone. Blow Fish Blow! is a strong instrumental featuring the lead harmonica soloing by Stone. Hot track and my favorite on the release. Wrapping the release is a powerful rendition of Ledbelly's Goodnight Irene featuring Stone on lead vocal and Kato adding gospel like piano support. Solid closer for a solid release. 

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Lucky Bear Records artist: Rob Lutes - Come Around - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Come Around, from Rob Lutes and I really like it. Opening with Knives, an easy folk rocker, singer/songwriter/guitar player, Rob Lutes sounds a bit like a modern day JJ Cale. With his country rock approach, the addition of dobro by Rob MacDonald, Solon McDade on bass, Bob Stagg on keys, and Mario Telaro on drums this is a cool opener. Lightning is another great track with Dylan like presentation and Band like orchestration. Very nice. Traditional track, In My Time of Dyin' has a cool lumbering blues (Maybe Mark Knopfler) feel and Lutes free flowing vocals really carry the track nicely over minimal guitar, drum and keys and with a chunky guitar lead. Very cool. Well saturated reverb on Amsterdam gives this primarily folk track a special feel. Lutes captures the essence of the moment and places it in time. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Away, a really nice acoustic instrumental between Lutes and MacDonald. The subtle blending of the two lead guitar phrasing is magical. A nice closer for a real nice release. 

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NOLA Blue Records artist: Clarence Spady - Surrender - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (May 21, 2021), Surrender, from Clarence Spady and it's great! Opening with If My Life Was A Book, Clarence Spady on lead vocal oozes soul. Sharing guitar duties with Adam Schultz, and backed by Jon Ventre on bass Scott Brown on keys and Andy Pace on drums, this is a solid opener. One of my favorite tracks on the release, When My Blood Runs Cold, is a strong, slower number which really gives Spady a terrific backdrop for his powerful vocal effort and his soulful guitar runs which when blended with brown's keyboard work creates the perfect tension. A strong contender for radio track on the release is title track, Surrender with it's great blues bones, has a great melody and again shows off Spady's soulful vocal work. Very cool. Another really hot track is Addiction Game with it's slinky blues feel (think Walter Wolfman Washington or Johnny Guitar Washington). This track is smoky and gritty and really hits the spot with well phrased guitar lead, Mark Hamza on organ, Tom Hamilton on sax and Shorty Parham on drums. Really nice! Boogie, Jones Falls Expressway is a great jam with plenty of stretching room, with a tight bottom set by Anthony Wilson on drums, a driving bass line by Hamza and super improv by Hamza on organ, sax by Hamilton and guitar by Spady. Great track...great ride. Wrapping the release is Pick Me Up, a funky blues rocker with great balance and feel. This is a really strong release and one you should definitely catch. 

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Maremil Music artist: Alex Lopez - Rising Up - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rising Up, from Alex Lopez and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Light It Up, a blues based rocker with a tight bottom Alex Lopez on guitar and vocal leads a tight ship of Kenny Hoye on keys, Steve Roberts on bass, and Kana Leimbach on drums. Title track, Rising Up, is a funky rocker with beefy organ work by Hoye and solid backing vocals by Latonya Oliver and Dana Merriwether giving  Lopez room for a cool solo of his own. Blues ballad, Not This Time is my favorite on the release with a memorable melody, solid instrumentation and inspired guitar work by Lopez. Very nice. Even Up The Score is a cool track built around the basic feel of Albert King's Born Under A Bad Sign... hard to go wrong with that bass figure. Wrapping the release is the radio track from the release, Smile with it's catchy melody and radio ready vocals. melodic guitar soloing and droning bass lines are the key to this solid entry.

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