Chris O’Leary The Hard Line Alligator Records Chris O’Leary plays entertaining roadhouse blues styles from boogie woogie to Southside Chicago and Louisiana stompers. These performances emote passion and authority.His forceful harmonica accentuates his powerful songwriting. His first album “Mr. Used To Be” was nominated for a Blues Music Award and won a Blues Blast Award for […]
Emma Wilson Memphis Calling Emma Wilson was the “Emerging Blues Artist of The Year” at the UK Blues Awards in 2022. As a result Wilson returned to Memphis to record this new album. Emmy Award winning Producer Scott Bomar brought in legendary Memphian musicians including organist Charles Hodges, bassist Leroy Hodges, and Booker T. and […]
Sue Foley LIVE in Austin Vizztone Lable Group Sue Foley has become a perennial Blues Music Award winner having won The Blues Music Female Artist of The Year award, also known as the Koko Taylor Award in 2020, 2022, and 2023. This live recording is a career retrospective. Although her most recent albums are “The […]
Dave Keller It’s Time To Shine Montpelier, Vermont’s Dave Keller has been schooled by the very best. He studied acoustic blues with guitarist Paul Rishell, and soul blues with guitarist Robert Ward. After releasing the Dave Keller Band debut in 1998 he began to be mentored by Mighty Sam McClain who lived in nearby New […]
E.G. Kight Sticks and Strings E.G. Kight opens her latest studio recording with “Talk to Me”, her self penned original. Five more songs were co-written with Tom Horner her “go to” writing partner. Kights guitar playing gives her expressive vocals just the “right” touch much liker her contemparies Doug MacCloud and Eric Bibb. Kight is […]
Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones Groovin’ at Groove Now Endless Records Recorded live in Switzerland, this is the follow-up recording to “Complicated Mess” on Eller Soul Records. After a short introduction from the band they open with an instrumental including solos from bassist Gohman and saxes played by “Sax” Gordon and Terry Hanck. Deming […]
Gaye Adegbalola Satisfied An Anthology Vizztone lable Group Gaye Adegbalola was a member of “Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women” from 1984 thru 2009. The Anthology includes selections from her nine solo projects. Songs include the classic blues of Ma Rainey “Prove It On Me” and “Jelly Bean Blues”. Born Gaye Todd, Adegbalola, got her […]
Joe Krown Tribute Sledgehammer Blues Joe Krown played keyboards with many people who influenced him. When I first heard Krown he was the keyboardist for Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. Krown played alongside his band mate alto-saxophonist Eric Demmer. Krown’s last project was in a duo performance with Jason Ricci. Krown opens with an instrumental tribute to […]
Barbara Blue From the Shoals Pittsburgh native Barbara Blue left home in 1977 for Phoenix Az. From 1980 through 1987 Barbara lived in Detroit playing with the “City Limits Blues Band”. She returned to Pittsburgh and she started recording her own music after meeting Tony Braunagel on the blues cruise. She recorded with the Phantom […]
Tas Cru Riffin’ The Blue Tas Cru “Riffin’ The Blue” is a set of eleven Tas Cru Originals. Featured alongside Tas on two tracks is guitarist Mike Zito. Keyboardist Bruce Katz is featured on all songs except for one with organist Bill Barry. The wonderful overall sound is rounded out by the rhythm section of […]
Vanessa Collier Live At Power Station Vanessa Collier is from Clarksville, Md. She attended the Berklee College of Muisc in Boston and graduated with multiple degrees including Music Production. She toured the U.S. and Turkey with the Grammy winning Joe Louis Walker. Her self-produced debut introduced her mixture of blues. Since then Collier won Instrumentalist-Horn […]
Buddy Guy The Blues Don’t Lie RCA Records “The Blues Don’t Lie” is the follow up album to the “Blues is Alve and Well” featuring producer, songwriter, and drummer Tom Hambridge. Also featured are Reese Wynans Hammond Organ; Michael Rhodes, bass; and Rob McNelley guitar. Guest artists are Mavis Staples, Elvis Costello and James Taylor. […]
Angela Strehli Ace of Blues New West Records Angela Strehli “Ace of Blues” is Strehli’s first album in 17 years co-produced by her and her husband Bob Brown. Many will remember her 1990 album “Dreams Come True” with Marcia Ball and Lou Ann Barton and as part 2009’s Blues Broads also featuring Tracy Nelson. Strehli’s […]
Mud Morganfield Portrait Delmark Records This is Mud Morganfield’s newest album. Included are seven originals and seven covers. The covers include Muddy Waters “You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had” and John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson’s “Good Morning Little School Girl. This is Mud’s first album for Delmark Records. All but the first track […]
Annika Chambers and Paul DesLauriers Good Trouble Vizztone Label Group Annika Chambers and Paul DesLauriers are the lovers featured here. DesLauriers is the winner of many Maple Blues Awards and 2-time winner of the MB “Entertainer of the Year”. Annika is a 2-time winner of the Blues Music Award for Soul Blues Artist of the […]
The Lucky Losers Standin Pat Vizztone Label Group The Lucky Losers “Standin’ Pat” is the latest from our duo also featuring guitarist Ian Lamson on 2 tracks, Chris Burns keyboards, Endre Tarczy bass, and Jon Otis, drums. Produced at Greaseland, producer and guitarist Kid Anderson appears on all tracks with a horn section including saxophonists […]
Rory Block Ain’t Nobody Worried Rory Block’s “Ain’t Nobody Worried” celebrates the great women of song with 10 covers and one original. Block opens with “I’ll Take You There” originally a crossover gospel song now with a rhythm track. The next song is Gladys Knight and The Pips “Midnight Train to Georgia”. Other covers include […]
Bob Corritore and Friends You Shocked Me Bob Corritore and Friends features harp master Corritore and various vocalists including Alabama Mike, Diunna Greenleaf, John Primer and Sugaray Rayford, and Johnny Rawls. Additional vocalists include Willie Buck, Oscar Wilson and others. Contributing musicians include bassist Bob Stroger, and guitarists Bob Margolin, Jimi Primetime Smith, Kid Ramos, […]
Mike Morgan and The Crawl The Lights Went Out in Dallas MC Records Mike Morgan and The Crawl: is brought to us from Mark Carpentieri and MC Records. Although he never won a Blues Music Award I was overwhelmed upon meeting his harp played the great Lee McBee at the award show in 2007. Guest […]
Jimmy Carpenter The Louisiana Record Gulf Coast Records A two-time Blues Music Award-winning sax player Jimmy Carpenter, who’s also been nominated recently for a Blues Blast Magazine award for best horn player, has something special in-store for his fans with the release of his new CD Jimmy Carpenter was an important part of Mike Zito […]
The Rock House All Stars Let it Bleed Revisited: An Ovation from Nashville Back in 2003 an album appeared on Telarc Records. It was various artists covering blues renditions of songs made popular by the Rolling Stones. The vocals were by blues artists including the late Lucky Peterson, Tommy Castro, Tab Benoit, Joe Louis Walker, […]
Herman Hitson Let the Gods Sing Herman Hitson is a psych rock and funk pioneer who worked the chitlin circuit with James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Joe Tex and others. The recovering addict also worked with Hank Ballard and is a music maker foundation partner artist. Co-producer and guitarist Will Sexton calls Hitson a music communicator […]
John Primer Hard Times John Primer “Hard Times” is produced by Rick Barnes at his Rax Trax Studio in Chicago. Featured are Primer’s brother Steve Bell, Harp; Lenny Media, drums; and Dave Forte, bass. Special guests include Rick Kreher, rhythm guitar, the sensational Johnny Iguana, piano; and Primer’s daughter Allya on one vocal. Primer is […]
Shemekia Copeland Done Come Too Far Alligator Records Today Shemekia Copeland is the soul blues voice of her generation. A sort of understatement since early on she has won numerous accolades. She is the second female Entertainer of the Year and first black woman to combine her talent and deep social conscience. Most of the […]
The Steve Strongman Blues Remedy Volume 1 Stony Plains Music “Hard Luck” opens this rocking good time. On most of the tracks Strongman plays guitar, harmonica and bass and takes writing credit. The only co-writes are when he features a special guest. Special guests include fellow Canadians; Steve Marriner on one track. Vocalist Harrison Kennedy […]
Dylan Triplett Who is He Vizztone Label Group Produced by bassist Larry Fulcher Triplett’s debut includes contributions from guitarist Johnny Lee Schell and on organ the late Mike Finnigan. The album was recorded at the Blue Lotus Studio in St. Louis. Other guitarists include Dr. Wayne Goins and special guests Chris-tone Kingfish Ingram, Sean McDonald, […]
Dave Specter Six String Soul: 30 Years on Delmark Delmark Records Dave Specter opens Disc one with the song “Buzz Me Baby” and the line “buzz me baby, I’ll be waiting for your call, if you forgot the number you don’t have to call at all. Specter is always evolving utilizing tempo changes as on […]
Bob Margolin and Bob Corritore So Far Vizztone Lable Group Bob Margolin vocals and guitar, and Bob Corritore harmonica are both previous Blues Music Award winners. Corritore who holds eight nominations overall, won a BMA for “Historical Album of the Year” in 2011. Bob Margolin has 13 nominations overall and has won five which is […]
Brad “Guitar” Wilson Brad “Guitar” Wilson Not to be confused with another Brad Wilson, Brad “Guitar” Wilson is an exciting entertainer. Considered more than a talented guitarist he is also a talented entertainer having toured with the legendary group “Chicago”. Wilson has opened for Buddy Guy, Cheap Trick, “.38 Special”, Marshall Tucker, and Tommy Castro. […]
Sass Jordan Bitches Blues Stony Plain Records Sass Jordan starred in the off-broadway Janis Joplin show “Love Janis”. She also toured the world with “A Bowie Celebration”. She started her solo career with a single “Tell Somebody” in 1988 and won a JUNO award, Canada’s equivalent of our Blues Music Awards. She earned three more […]
Nick Daniels and The Groove Krewe Run to Daylight Sound Business Services On Ivan Neville’s “Dumpstaphunk: Where Do We Go from Here” Nick Daniels III plays bass and is one of three featured vocalists. In the Groove Krewe Daniels steps upfront. The songs are written by Dale Murray and guitarists Rex Pierce and Nelson Blanchard. […]
Dave Weld Nightwalk Delmark Records Dave Weld was born in Chicago in 1952 and his interest in the Stones, Clapton and Mayall started changing in high school when he heard Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin Hopkins, and B.B. King. After high school Weld moved to New Mexico and studied jazz and met and jammed with Gatemouth Brown. […]
Charlie Musselwhite Mississippi Son Alligator Records Charlie Musselwhite’s last Alligator recording “100 Years of Blues” was recorded with Elvin Bishop and the album resulted in Blues Music Awards for both Album of The Year and Traditional Blues Album. Musselwhite has also been the winner of the Traditional Blues Male Artist and he continues to display […]
Brad Absher and the Superials Tulsa Tea Horton Records Brad Absher was one of several guitarists who played on Annika Chambers debut album released in 2014. Later that same year Absher released his own debut album combining original songs with selected covers including William Bell’s “You Don’t Miss Your Water Until Your Well Runs Dry” […]
Delbert McClinton Outdated Emotion Hot Shot Records “Outdated Emotion” is Delbert McClinton’s 30th album. It’s difficult to know where to begin when reviewing such a prolific artist. McClinton combines elements of jazz, rock and blues into his own homemade stew. In 2013 Delbert reunited with Glen Clark. The pair had recorded “Delbert and Glen” in […]
The Hogtown Allstars Hog Wild “The Hog Town Allstars” debut album is appropriately named “Hog Wild”. It consists of some truly dynamic and experienced players. Collectively they have earned more than 20 Maple Blues Awards, five JUNO awards, two Lifetime Achievement Awards and countless other blues and jazz awards. The band features former DownChild Blues […]
Anthony Geraci Blues Called My Name Blue Heart Records The first time I ever heard Anthony Geraci was on his previous recording “Take It from Me” where he was paired playing piano with Sugar Ray Norcia who was on harmonica and vocals. At the time Geraci also fronted his own band and the previous year […]
Trudy Lynn Golden Girl This is Trudy Lynn’s eighteen recording. Lynn often writes about domineering men and prostitution. Women like the “TV Mama” “the one with the big wide screen”. This all-original new recording features Kevin Mckendree keyboards, Yates McKendree guitar, Terry Wilson bass and background vocals, Teresa James background vocals, and Brennen Temple drums. […]
The Love Light Orchestra Leave the Light on Both the older and the newer recordings are produced by Matt Ross-Spang. The first album includes John Nemeth singing as he covers Bobby “Blue” Bland on the 1961 hits “Turn On Your Love Light”, and again on the 1966 hit “Poverty”. Nemeth also covers songs from Little […]
Tommy Castro A Bluesman Comes to Town Alligator Records This new album is produced by Tom Hambridge who also co-writes and plays drums. He is widely known as the drummer/producer Buddy Guy where he plays the same roles. Hambridge is also co-writer along with Castro and his regular writing partner. A Bluesman Comes to Town […]
Deb Ryder Memphis Moonlight Vizztone Label Group Deb Ryder got her start when as a teenager she would open for visiting artists at her father’s nightclub. She wound up opening for Etta James, Big Joe Turner, Charlie Musselwhite and Taj Mahal. Ryder recorded her debut album “Might Just Get Lucky” in 2013. Her fifth studio […]
Tia Carroll You Gotta Have It! Little Village Foundation Tia Carroll has been performing in California’s Bay Area for decades. She made her own successful albums in both Italy and Brazil, This is the album her fans have been waiting for and her first stateside studio recording. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by […]
Elizabeth King Living In The Last Days Bible & Tire Recording Co. After a terrible car accident King was told she would never walk again and so she has since pledged herself to the Lord. Elizabeth King, primarily recorded singles, but she quit recording Sacred Soul in the mid-seventies to raise her fifteen children. Producer […]
Etta James The Montreux Years Montreux Sounds/Montreux Media Ventures Jamesetta Hawkins was born in 1938, known professionally as Etta James, she was an American singer who performed in various genres, including blues, R&B, soul, and Jazz. Starting in 1954, she gained fame with hits such as ”At Last”, “Tell Mama”, “Something’s Got a Hold on […]
Wee Willie Walker Not In My Lifetime Blue Dot Records Born in Hernando, Mississippi, Wee Willie Walker’s career spanned six decades as he was one of the last real soul singers. He recorded nine sides for the Memphis based Goldwax label in 1968. More recently, between 2004 and 2011, Walker recorded three albums with the […]
Various Artists 50 Years of Genuine Houserockin’ Music Alligator Records Alligator, the Chicago based label, is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. In 1971 Alligator President Bruce Iglauer started operating out of his efficiency apartment. The first album issued was “Hound Dog Taylor and The Houserockers”. The catalog now contains over 350 titles. Iglauer has stuck to […]
Maria Muldaur Let’s Get Happy Together Stoney Plain Records Six-time Grammy nominee Maria Muldaur was raised in Greenwich Village. In 1963 she began her recording career as a member of The Even Dozen Jug Band. She left the following year and joined The Jim Kweskin Band where she married Geoff Muldaur. As a duo she […]
Bob Corritore & Friends Spider In My Stew Vizztone Label Group/SWMAF Records Bob Corritore was born in Chicago and as an adolescent got hooked on blues harmonica. He studied and received playing tips from some of the cities finest, including Carey Bell, Big Walter Horton, and Junior Wells. Corritore moved to Pheonix when he was […]
Dumpstaphunk Where Do We Go From Here Mascot Label Group/The Funk Garage Art “Poppa Funk” Neville formed the New Orleans Funk band, Neville Sounds, in the early 1960’s and later changed their name to the Meters. With his brothers Cyril, Aaron and Charles, he also formed the Neville Brothers; and The Funky Meters with a […]
Joanna Connor 4801 South Indiana Avenue Keeping The Blues Alive Records Joanna Connor is a Chicago based singer & songwriter who was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was magnetically drawn to the blues of The Windy City. She has shared the stage with James Cotton, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy. Connor released her first recording […]
