Jackie Payne I Saw The Blues Blue Dot Records Jackie Payne was born in Athens, Ga. in 1946. At the age of seventeen he released his first single “Go Go Train” on the Jetstream label. As a result he toured with the Stax revue which then featured Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, and Carla Thomas. […]
Slam Allen Feel These Blues American Showplace Music Raised in Alabama, Slam Allen played drums in his families soul band “The Allen Brothers”, led by his father and uncles. Therefore Allen was schooled in the music of Otis Redding, Albert King, B.B. King, James Brown and Wilson Pickett. It wasn’t long before Allen picked up […]
Classic American Ballads Various Smithsonian Folkways This is the twenty-fourth installment in the Smithsonian Folkways award winning Classic series which began in 2002. The old English traditions of “broadside” ballads were adapted by American musicians as they carried the news of the day in the form of narratives. These songs were written between 1836 and […]
Moondog Medicine Show Let It Go Independent This is Moondog Medicine Show’s second cd. Their first cd “Elixir” was released in 2013. The band is fronted by Lana Spence. Spence is one of a dozen Janis Joplin type replacement singers used by Big Brother and The Holding Company from 1987 – 1997 and again between 2008 […]
Eight O’Five Jive Too Many Men Red Rudy Too Tunes Eight O’Five Jive were the winners of the 2014 Nashville Independent Music Award for “Best Live Blues Performers”. This 12 song jump blues “operetta”, as they humorously call their debut album, is a set culled from vintage Rhythm and Blues recordings. The band is led […]
Doug MacLeod Exactly Like This Reference Recordings Doug MacLeod has been nominated for thirteen Blues Music Awards. He finally won in 2014 for both Acoustic Album of the Year, “There’s a Time”; and more importantly as Acoustic Artist of the Year. His song “The Entitled Few”, from that album, also received a 2014 nomination as […]
Ghost Town Blues Band Hard Road to Hoe Independent The Ghost Town Blues Band represented the Memphis Blues Society in both 2013 and 2014 at The International Blues Challenge. A finalist in 2013 they took 2nd place in 2014. It seems that with time this band just gets better and better. This is the bands third […]
Tad Robinson Day into Night Severn Records As a fan of Memphis styled music there are few singers that affect me the way Otis Redding and Al Green did way back in the late sixties and early seventies. One of them is Tad Robinson. Robinson is a blue eyed soul singer. This is his sixth […]
Barbara Blue Memphis Blue: Sweet, Strong and Tight Big Blue Records Barbara Blue was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa. She moved to Memphis in 1997 and has been performing there ever since. She has been named “The Queen of Beale Street” and on Friday May 8, after the ribbon is cut on the brand new […]
Dave Stryker Messin With Mister T Strikezone Records In 1980 guitarist Dave Stryker left Nebraska and moved to New York City. He joined Jack McDuff’s band and toured with him from 1984 to 1985. From 1986 thru 1995 and again from 1998 thru 2000 Stryker toured with tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. Today bandleader Stryker leads […]
Hyde and Seek Featuring: Earl Thomas, Lady Bianca, Rev. Paul Smith, & Ron Thompson Neil Barnes Music Producer Neil Barnes put together this gospel blues ensemble because he finds this music especially moving. He hand picked the first few participants and the rest of the project just fell into place. All of the band members […]
Bernard Allison Group In The Mix Jazzhaus Records This is a new more lyrical and improved Bernard Allison. Allison’s guitar is further back in the mix on most of the tracks and his vocals the best of his career. He sounds more relaxed and without a need to prove his guitar prowess. This is less […]
The Mike Henderson Band If You Think It’s Hot Here… Eller Soul Records Mike Henderson has been a member of the Bel Airs who recorded for Blind Pig Records in 1984. In 1988 The Fabulous Thunderbirds recorded his song “Powerful Stuff” which he had written for The Kingsnakes of which he was also a member. In […]
Brandon Santini Live & Extended! Vizztone Label Group Brandon Santini grew up in North Carolina but moved to Memphis in 2003. Brandon played all the Beale Street Blues clubs and for seven years fronted the Delta Highway Band who received a 2009 Blues Music Award nomination as Best New Artist for their debut recording “The […]
Brad Hatfield For A Change Independent Coming back from a construction accident is not an easy thing to do. Left partially paralyzed ex-guitarist Brad Hatfield picked up the harp. Hatfield is a soulful singer and is “often compared to the likes of …Bobby Bland and Joe Cocker”. Hatfield’s 2012 debut “Uphill From Anywhere”, received him a […]
Jeff Jensen Morose Elephant Swing Suit Records The Jeff Jensen Band was formed in 2004 and performed at The International Blues Challenge in 2005 and 2007. Their self-titled first album was also released in 2007. In 2011 Jensen moved to Memphis and there found work with harmonica ace Brandon Santini. In 2013 Jensen released his […]
Benny Turner Journey Nola Blue Benny Turner and his older brother Freddie grew up in Gilmer, Texas where they were exposed to country blues and the music of T-Bone Walker. Once the family moved to Chicago’s West Side his brother began to make a name for himself as Freddie King. While Freddie became a guitar […]
Gov’t Mule Featuring John Scofield Sco-Mule Evil Teen Records In 1994 Gov’t Mule was formed as a side project by Allman Brothers Band members Warren Haynes, guitar; and Allen Woody, bass. Joining them was Matt Abts who had formerly played drums in The Dickey Betts Band. Gov’t Mule has ten studio albums and numerous live […]
Honey Island Swamp Band Cane Sugar Louisiana Red Hot Records When hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005 many residents found themselves stranded and unable to go home. Such was the case with Aaron Wilkinson (acoustic guitar, mandolin) and Chris Mule (electric guitar). Also in San Francisco at the time were evacuees Sam Price (bass) and […]
Linsey Alexander Come Back Baby Delmark Records Linsey Alexander was born in Holly Springs, Ms. on July 23rd, 1942. Alexander has lived in both Memphis, and in Chicago where he has been part of the North Side’s blues scene for the last two decades. Alexander’s debut recording 2004’s “Someone’s Cookin’ in My Kitchen” included a […]
Lead Belly The Smithsonian Folkways Collection Box Set Smithsonian Folkways Lead Belly, born Huddie Ledbetter in 1889, was incarcerated three times. The first time he was on a chain gang but escaped. In 1918 he was imprisoned because he killed a man in a fight over a woman. He was released in 1925 after writing […]
Chris Spedding Joyland Cleopatra Records Chris Spedding is a British guitarist who has been on the music scene some fifty years. In 1975 he scored big with the hit single “Motorbikin’”. He has worked with The Sex Pistols, Jack Bruce, John Cale, Paul McCartney, Robert Gordon, Roxy Music with Bryan Ferry, and King Mob with […]
Dana Fuchs Songs From The Road Ruf Records Back in April of 2001, the off-broadway production of “Love Janis” opened at The Village Theater. Dana Fuchs was one of several singer/actresses who alternated in the role of Janis Joplin. The performance included many of Joplin’s more familiar songs including “Piece of My Heart”, “Me and […]
Igor Prado Band & Delta Groove All Stars Way Down South Delta Groove Records As a left handed youngster Brazilian Igor Prado taught himself the guitar. In 2007 (after recording three albums under the name The Prado Blues Band) Igor released his first album as The Igor Prado Band and called it “Upside Down”. He […]
Shaun Murphy Loretta Vision Wall Records Shaun Murphy became a full time member of Little Feat in 1993. In 2009, after sixteen years with them, and after appearing on 16 Little Feat albums, Murphy made the brave decision to leave. She decided to concentrate on her passion for the Blues. This is Murphy’s sixth album […]
Live At BB King’s Blues Club, NYC Robert Gordon & Chris Spedding Elvis Birthday Celebration 1/7/2009 A re-print by Richard Ludmerer Actually Elvis’s birthday is 1/8 but it was celebrated last night at BB King’s Blues Club. Featured was the rockabilly great Robert Gordon. An ex-member of the New York band The Tuff Darts he […]
Allan Harris Black Bar Jukebox Love Productions Records Allan Harris is a Brooklyn born Harlem based vocalist, guitarist, bandleader and composer. He has ten recordings in his own name. Harris has been compared to Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole. He has played Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center and the 2012 London Olympics. […]
Smokin’ Joe Kubek & Bnois King Fat Man’s Shine Parlor Blind Pig Records This band is one of few that are built around a two guitar attack; however Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King may be opposites in their individual approaches to the guitar. Kubek played rhythm guitar in Freddie King’s band until his death, […]
Tinsley Ellis Tough Love Heartfixer Music Tinsley Ellis was born in Atlanta and discovered the guitar at a young age. While listening to The Yardbirds, The Animals, Cream and The Rolling Stones, he soon discovered B.B. King, Albert King and Freddie King. Ellis’ first band the Alley Cats also included Preston Hubbard who later played […]
Vaneese Thomas Blues For My Father Segue Records Vaneese Thomas is as close to Blues royalty as you can get. Thomas grew up in Memphis the daughter of Rufus Thomas, a rhythm and blues singer, whose career spanned a half century. Rufus Thomas recorded for both Sun Records and Stax Records; his 1963 hit “Walking […]
Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas, Rob Ickes Three Bells Rounder Records Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas, and Rob Ickes are the three premier resophonic guitar or Dobro players of our time. These tracks were recorded between May and September of 2012. Mike Auldridge was a founding member of The Seldom Scene. He formed the Seldom Scene in […]
Brad Absher & Swamp Royale Lucky Dog Montrose Records Brad Absher is from Lake Charles, Louisiana but now makes Houston his home. Absher has released five previous albums the most recent being 2010’s “Big Shugga”. He calls his band “Swamp Royale” because he was influenced by the Louisiana music he heard when he was growing […]
Rory Block Hard Luck Child: A Tribute to Skip James Stony Plain Records Rory Block’s picture hangs in the entrance to the offices of the Martin Guitar Co. They have a Martin OM-40 Signature Edition guitar named after her. Block is one of our greatest exponents of Country blues guitar. This is her fifth recording in her […]
Tas Cru You Keep The Money Crustee Tees Records Tas Cru now lives in Chaumont, N.Y. His first album “Biscuit” was released in 2006. Cru states his unusual stage name was bestowed on him “by a Quebecois fan”. In 2008 he followed up with “gravi-Tas”. His other recordings are 2009’s “Grizzle n’ Bone”, 2010’s “Jus’ Desserts”, […]
Lil Jimmy Dickens, jocular star of Grand Ole Opry dies at 94 Little Jimmy Dickens, the diminutive country singer and Grand Ole Opry star best known for his humorous novelty songs, such as “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose,” died Jan. 2 at a hospital near Nashville. He was 94. The Opry […]
Earls of Leicester Rounder Records My love for bluegrass began with Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and The Foggy Mountain Boys. Flatt’s voice, so laidback and clear, was the greatest American voice. He gave me an appreciation for a Bluegrass tenor and led me to discover other bluegrass and country music singers. As a youngster Scruggs’ […]
Through The Streets of the City New Orleans Brass Bands Smithsonian Folkways Recordings This is the newest album from Smithsonian Folkways’ African-American Legacy series. Included is a 34 page booklet authored by Dr. Michael White. He is a jazz music historian but also a clarinetist, composer, bandleader, producer and educator. He has six albums under his […]
Michelle Willson Fortune Cookie Live at Sculler’s Jazz Club EvilGal Music Michelle “Evil Gal” Willson had four great albums on the Bullseye Blues Record label distributed by Rounder Records. In 1994 she released “Evil Gal Blues”. Her “Evil Gal” nickname comes from her appreciation for Dinah Washington and she included songs from Washington and her […]
Three New Releases from Hendrik Meurkens German born Hendrik Muerkens now lives in upstate New York. Originally a vibraphonist in the tradition of Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson Meurkens was inspired by the sound of Toots Thieleman’s harmonica. Today the self taught Meurkens is considered the most important jazz harmonica player since Thielemans. Meurkens was […]
Annika Chambers & The Houston All-Stars Making My Mark Montrose Records Annika Chambers a.k.a. U.S. Army Sergeant Annika Chambers served eight years in Iraq and Kosovo. Since she returned to the states this Houston native has been living her dream. This is her debut album. Producers Larry Fulcher and Richard Cagle have assembled an impressive […]
Georgie Bonds Stepping Into Time 8th Train Records Georgie Bonds grew up in the Germantown section of Philadephia. Bonds liked Rhythm and Blues but he loved horses even more and he dreamed of being a cowboy. He purchased his first horse in 1975 when he was 21 years old. Unfortunately a year later he got […]
Cyrille Aimee It’s A Good Day Mack Avenue Records This is the major label debut of jazz vocalist Cyrille Aimee. Vocally Aimee is a bit like Madeleine Peyroux but Aimee’s music is rooted in the gypsy guitar of Django Reinhardt. She also has affection for Brazilian guitar, and thus an understanding of bossa nova and […]
Phil Bowler & Pocket Jungle Phil Bowler & Pocket Jungle Zoho Music Phil Bowler is a Grammy winning bassist and sideman who played in the bands of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Horace Silver, Hilton Ruiz, and Wynton Marsalis, among many others. Twenty years ago Bowler also had his own jazz ensemble called “Pocket Jungle”. Now they […]
Robin Banks Modern Classic RB Music Robin Banks sometimes calls herself Miss Robin Banks to differentiate her from famous males with the same name. Banks hails from Canada just east of Detroit. She released her first album “Permanent Record” in 1997 and that year won Canada’s Maple Blues Award for “Best New Artist of The […]
S.E. Willis Turtle Dove Bounce/Live at the Poor House Mr. Suchensuch Records S.E. Willis aka Steve is the veteran piano player in The Elvin Bishop Band. During a two year period when Willis was ill he worked in his home studio recording his versions of some classic piano blues. He also contributes four original compositions. […]
Trigger Hippy Trigger Hippy Rounder Records Steve Gorman, the drummer who co-founded The Black Crowes twenty-five years ago, has started this new band. Gorman has enlisted some impressive talent. Singer Joan Osborne has seven of her own recordings to her credit including her triple platinum 1995 debut “Relish”. Singer, guitarist, keyboardist Jackie Greene performed with […]
Lucinda Williams Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone Highway 20 Records Lake Charles, La. native Lucinda Williams recorded her first album in 1978, but it wasn’t until ten years later that she began to be noticed. In 1988 she released her self titled album “Lucinda Williams” containing her song “Passionate Kisses”. In 1992 that […]
Lisa Biales Belle of The Blues Big Song Music Lisa Biales hails from Ohio where she first honed her skills. In 1991 while still at Ohio University she released her first recording. Her first full length album was 1999’s “Music Box” re-issued in 2007. In 2011 Biales had a small acting role in Francis Ford […]
Chris Bergson Band Live at Jazz Standard 2 Shirts Records Chris Bergson was born in New York but spent his formative years in Somerville, Ma. He returned to Manhattan in 1995 and began his career as a sideman for Jazz singers, including Annie Ross and Norah Jones. He embraced the blues but added his own […]
Candye Kane and Sue Palmer “One Night in Belgium” Motel Swing Music Sue Palmer is San Diego’s Queen of Boogie Woogie piano. Palmer was previously a member of The Candye Kane Band when they were still called the “Swingin’ Armadillos” and she appears on four of Candye Kane’s albums including “Diva La Grande” and 1998’s […]
