J.P. Soars Let Go Of The Reins Whiskey Bayou Records Besides fronting his own band J.P. Soars is a member of the all-star “Southern Hospitality” also featuring Damon Fowler, Victor Wainwright and drummer Chris Peet. In 2013 Tab Benoit produced their debut album “Easy Livin’”. When Benoit decided to begin his own label Fowler was […]
Annika Chambers Kiss My Sass Vizztone Label Group Annika Chambers competed in the 2012 International Blues Challenge and although she did not win her talent was recognized and she was signed to Montrose Records. The gospel influenced Chambers’ released her debut album “Making My Mark” with the Houston All-Stars in 2014. That album co-produced by […]
The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling Lucky Guy! Alligator Records Nick Moss has been at the forefront of the Chicago Blues scene as both a member of the Legendary Blues Band learning the old school style from Willie “Big Eyes” Smith; and spending three years with the Jimmy Rogers band. Moss formed his own […]
Mark Cameron On A Roll Cop Records Mark Cameron hails from Minnesota where he has been making music for over forty years. In the early seventies he began performing in folk rock bands. In 1984 Cameron founded the twin cities based “Citizen’s Patrol” and released three albums with them. He turned to the blues and […]
Terry Hanck I Still Get Excited Vizztone Label Group Chicago born Terry Hanck, saxophonist, singer and songwriter, was influenced by the blues and jazz of the late fifties and sixties. Hanck moved to California in 1967. Hanck formed the Grayson Street Houserockers before appearing on Elvin Bishop’s “Struttin’ My Stuff” in 1975. Hanck joined the […]
Delbert McClinton and Self-Made Men + Dana Tall, Dark, & Handsome Hot Shot Records The Texas troubadour Delbert McClinton was born in 1940. He worked in a blues band that backed Sonny Boy Williamson II, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Howlin’ Wolf and Jimmy Reed. In 1962 McClinton played harmonica on Bruce Channel’s “Hey Baby”. Ten years later […]
Diana Rein Queen of My Castle Gulf Coast Records Diana Rein is the daughter of Romanian immigrants who migrated here in 1981 when she was three years old. At the age of eight her parents brought her to a Chicago Blues Club where she fell in love with the music; her primary influence is Stevie […]
Zac Harmon Mississippi BarBQ Catfood Records Zac Harmon is from Jackson Ms. where he grew up in a musical family. His father, a pharmacist, played harmonica while tending to the needs of local musicians including Muddy Waters, BB King, Albert King, Ike & Tina Turner, and Little Milton. Young Zac began his professional career as […]
Joe Restivo Where’s Joe? Blue Barrel Records Joe Restivo was raised in Memphis, the son of a local mom and Brooklyn born navy veteran. At the age of twelve he was playing guitar in punk bands, but by the time he graduated high school he was hanging out on Beale watching the legendary blues and […]
Chris Bergson and Ellis Hooks Live in Normandy 2 Shirts Records New York born Chris Bergson grew up in Somerville, Ma. He began taking guitar lessons at a young age and developed his appreciation for jazz and blues. He listened to everything from Muddy Waters to Miles Davis. Bergson moved back to New York City […]
Tom Euler Blues Got My Back Independent Although only in his early twenties Tom Euler has been compiling quite a resume. In 2014 the Hartfield, Virginia native entered jazz legend Lee Ritenour’s “Six-String Theory” Guitar Competition, with entries from 48 countries, and finished in the top five among blues players. As the lead guitarist in […]
Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues Roots And Branches: The Songs of Little Walter Alligator Records Billy Branch was born in Chicago in 1951, and raised in Los Angeles. In 1969 when he was eighteen Branch moved back to Chicago to attend The University of Illinois. That summer he attended the first Chicago Blues […]
Ross Osteen Band Williwaw Independent The Ross Osteen Band is a blues band out of Hendersonville, North Carolina. The band formed in 2014, is a power trio led by favorite son Osteen on guitar and vocals. Osteen has shared the stage with Jimmy Thackery, Kim Wilson and Buddy Guy. Rounding out the band is the […]
Heather Newman Rise From The Flames Vizztone Label Group Omaha’s Heather Newman got her start as second guitarist and vocalist with The Nick Schnebelen Band and she appears on his “Live At Knucklehead’s Vol. 1” released in 2016. When Newman left that band she decided to switch to bass. Six months later she made her […]
Nancy Wright Alive & Blue Vizztone Label Group/Direct Hit Records Nancy Wright is a west coast saxophonist, a highly respected and in-demand session musician, and former member of The Frank Bey Anthony Paule Band. In 2016 she released her third solo album, the critically acclaimed “Playdate!”, also on Vizztone. Since 2017 Wright has received three […]
![3106 [Converted]](https://www.makingascene.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Mindi-Abair-No-Good-Deed-400x400-340x250.jpg "3106 [Converted]")
Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers No Good Deed Pretty Good For A Girl Records Mindi Abair is a two time Grammy nominated Jazz saxophonist who released her eighth solo album “Wild Heart” in 2014. That year she started to guest on blues releases including Jeff Golub and Brian Auger’s “Train Keeps A Rolling”; and on […]
Dawn Tyler Watson Mad Love Independent Canadian Dawn Tyler Watson studied Jazz and Theatre at Concordia University in Montreal. She was featured in several movies but achieved success playing a 1950’s cabaret singer in the 2004 film “Jack Paradise (Les Nuits de Montreal)”. The resulting soundtrack featuring Watson was nominated for a Prix Jutra, the […]
Chuck Mead Close To Home Plowboy Records In 1993 Kansas native Chuck Mead was one of the founding members and front men for the Alternative Country band BR549. Their self-titled 1996 album, the first of seven recordings, produced three charting singles, three Grammy nominations and a Country Music Association Award. The Americana roots music artist […]
Nils Lofgren Blue With Lou Cattle Track Road Records Nils Lofgren was born in Chicago in 1951. As a youngster he studied classical accordion for ten years before focusing on rock and learning to play guitar and piano. Lofgren formed the band “Grin” in 1968. Soon later, at the age of 19, he met Neil […]
Savoy Brown City Night Quarto Valley Records Savoy Brown, the British blues band, was formed by Kim Simmonds in London, in 1965. Their first album, released in the United Kingdom, was 1967’s “Shake Down”. They began to achieve success in the U.S. with the release of their seventh album 1971’s “Street Corner Talking”. The band […]
Terry Robb Confessin’ My Dues NiaSounds Born in Canada, Terry Robb is one of the most heralded acoustic guitarists on the International scene. Moving to the Pacific Northwest, at an early age, his original music draws on Delta blues, ragtime and jazz traditions. His primary influences include Lightning Hopkins, Reverend Gary Davis, and Merle Travis. […]
Keb’ Mo’ Oklahoma Concord Records Keb’ Mo’ is a blues, Americana and roots music stylist. He released his first album under his birth name Kevin Moore back in 1980 but it wasn’t until he re-surfaced fourteen years later, using his childhood nickname Keb’Mo’, that he received “overnight” success. The self-titled “Keb’ Mo’” album, often referred […]
Griff Hamlin and The Single Barrel Blues Band I’ll Drink To That Independent Griff Hamlin started taking guitar lessons at the age of nine. As a teenager he was inspired by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Freddie King, Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, and B.B. King. Hamlin started playing professionally in 1992 when he formed a quartet with […]
Darrell Nulisch The Bigtone Sessions Vol. 1 Bluebeat Music Darrell Nulisch, vocals and harmonica was the original singer with Anson Funderburgh and The Rockets and first recorded with them on 1979’s “Live At Cactus Jacks”; Nulisch stayed with Funderburgh through 1985. From 1986 until 1989 Nulisch was a member of Mike Morgan and The Crawl. […]
Michele D’Amour and The Love Dealers Heart of Memphis BluesKitty Records Michele D’Amour hails from the Seattle area. She started by playing piano and singing in church. In her early teens she was a published poet. She soon began writing her own songs, and singing with several bands; and in 2017 won the Grand Prize […]
Jon Gindick Love At The All Night Café Independent Jon Gindick was born in California. In the 1960’s influenced by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, he acquired his first guitar and harmonica. Gindick attended the University of California at Berkley where he began playing music. After graduation Gindick tried […]
Tony Campanella Taking It To The Streets Gulf Coast Records Back in St. Louis in the 1990’s Tony Campanella used to run with a guy by the name of Mike Zito. Campanella was from the northside and Zito from the southside but they were both Italian, Catholic and shared a love for the Blues and […]
Southern Avenue Keep On Concord Music Group The band “Southern Avenue”, named after the street that leads to “Soulville” the original home of Stax Records, combines soul-blues and gospel infused R n’ B. They released their self-titled debut and took home the 2018 Blues Music Award as Best Emerging Artist Album. When Israeli born guitarist […]
Instru Mental Various Artists Bigtone Records “Big” John Atkinson is the owner and President of Bigtone Records. This all instrumental album was one of several albums the label just released. The eleven tracks are either original or re-arranged by the artists listed on the cover. These were recorded at different sessions by Atkinson and Danny […]
“Big” Jon Atkinson Raw Blues Bigtone Records In 2014 “Big” Jon Atkinson recorded his debut album “Boogie With You Baby” on Bluebeat Music and it received rave reviews. Two years later the guitarist/vocalist collaborated with the Blues Music Award winning harmonica ace Bob Corritore and they released “House Party at Big Jon’s”; the album received […]
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Kingfish Alligator Records Christone “Kingfish” Ingram grew up near Clarksdale, Mississippi. Born into a musical family, his mother Princess Pride is first cousin to country music’s Charley Pride, and he started playing drums at the age of six. At nine years old he switched to bass. His mother enrolled him in a […]
The Texas Horns Get Here Quick Severn Records Tenor saxophonist Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff has played on approximately 200 recording sessions starting out in the 1980’s on Blacktop Records. He appears on albums by Earl King, Marcia Ball, Anson Funderburgh, Ronnie Earl, and many others. He played on 1999’s “Lone Star Shootout” with guitarists, Lonnie Brooks, […]
Alexis P Suter Band Be Love Hipbone Records Alexis P Suter’s roots are in the church and she possesses a powerful bass/baritone voice. B.B. King once remarked “It’s a rare thing to share the stage with great talent like that young lady”. Suter also wound up opening for Levon Helm over 90 times. Suter’s debut […]
The Forty-Fours Twist The Knife Rip Cat Records The Los Angeles based 44’s caused quite a stir when they released their debut recording “Boogie Disease” in 2011. The album was produced by ex-Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist Kid Ramos who also played on four tracks. They followed up with 2012’s “Americana”; and a 2015 live set called […]
Jimmie Vaughan Baby, Please Come Home The Last Music Company Jimmie Vaughan is the older brother of Stevie Ray Vaughan. While SRV was forming Double Trouble his older brother was founding The Fabulous Thunderbirds. In 1979 The Fabulous Thunderbirds with lead guitarist Vaughan released their debut recording “Girls Go Wild” on Takoma/Chrysalis Records. Jimmie stayed […]
Albert Castiglia Masterpiece Gulf Coast Records Albert Castiglia’s credentials include apprenticeships with Junior Wells and Sandra Hall. He recorded his debut album in 2002. He signed with Bluesleaf Records in 2006 and released four albums including 2008’s “These Are the Days”; the lead off track “Bad Year Blues” resulted in his first Blues Music Award […]
The Cash Box Kings Hail To The Kings! Alligator Records The Cash Box Kings were founded in 2001 by Joe Nosek. Oscar “43rd Street” Wilson joined in 2007. Born in Chicago in 1953 Wilson grew up in the company of blues royalty such as Junior Wells, Elmore James and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. Chicago’s 43rd Street […]
The South Austin Moonlighters Travel Light Station House Records The South Austin Moonlighters are a roots-rock band. A group of local music veterans got together in 2011 just to have a good time. Included were bassist/mandolinist Lonnie Trevino Jr. who had previously toured with Mike Zito, played with singer-songwriter Drew Womack, and was soon to […]
B.B. King Blues Band The Soul of the King Ruf Records When B. B. King passed away on May, 14th 2015 the world mourned. He also left behind this fabulous ten piece band. They pay tribute to his memory on “The Soul of the King”. In order to help keep the tribute vibrant the thirteen […]
The Duke Robillard Band Ear Worms Stony Plain Records Duke Robillard is one of the most heralded recording artists, guitarists and producers in the blues genre. He founded Roomful of Blues in 1967 but left that band two years later to form his own. Between 1985 and 2017 Robillard released thirty-three albums; the last being […]
Carlo Ditta Hungry For Love Orleans Records Carlo Ditta is a Grammy nominated New Orleans record producer with over thirty years experience. On his own Orleans Records label Ditta produced albums by Professor Longhair, Mighty Sam McClain, Coco Robicheaux, Rockie Charles and others. Recently he produced “Fried Rice & Chicken”, a Little Freddie King compilation; […]
Harpdog Brown For Love & Money Dog House Records Harpdog Brown was born in Alberta, Canada and adopted into a musical family. His mother played guitar and he picked up the instrument when he was fifteen. He formed his own blues band in the early 1980’s, but didn’t release his debut recording until 1993. His […]
Steve Katz The Juggle Independent At the age of fifteen Steve Katz was already studying guitar with Dave Van Ronk and Reverend Gary Davis. He met guitarist Stefan Grossman and together they spent time rediscovering bluesmen Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James and Son House. Living in Greenwich Village Katz and his friends, Grossman, Maria Muldaur, […]
Cara Being Blue Grit Independent Cara Lippman is a native of Hopkinton. Ma, a Boston suburb, who was mentored by that cities “Regal Queen of the Blues” Shirley Lewis. Cara relocated to Nashville over a decade ago to hone her live performance skills. Quickly she became a pro blues jam host and eventually wound up […]
Peter Ward Train To Key Biscayne Gandy Dancer Records While growing up guitarist Peter Ward and his brother were bitten by the blues bug. Influenced by the music of Muddy Waters and Little Walter they would attend as many live concerts as possible. Peter backed Jimmy Rogers, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Lowell Fulson and others when […]
Bob Corritore & Friends Do The Hip-Shake Baby! Vizztone Label Group/Southwest Musical Arts Foundation Bob Corritore is a Blues Music Award winner with a total of six nominations including one again this year as Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica. His last album was 2018’s “Don’t Let the Devil Ride”. Corritore is also back with a […]
John Clifton In The Middle of Nowhere Rip Cat Records Harmonica player John Clifton and his brother Bill founded the MoFo Party Band in the late 1980’s. Their 1999 debut recording “Call the Doctor!” made numerous “Best” lists and they followed up with three more albums. As a result Clifton was often featured with Mark […]
Bad Influence Got What You Need Bad Blues Records The Bad Influence band was formed in 1988 by Michael “Jr.” Tash. They recorded their debut album “Where You Been” in 1997. The bands 2001 follow-up recording, had my favorite album title, “Tastes Like Chicken”. Their last, self produced, recording 2011’s “Under The Influence” helped to […]
Willie Buck Willie Buck Way Delmark Records William Crawford a.k.a. Willie Buck was born in Houston, Mississippi. Buck relocated to Chicago in 1953. Though still a teenager an older relative snuck him in to see Muddy Waters when Waters was in his prime. The sound of that classic band had such an impact on Buck […]
Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith & The House Bumpers Drop The Hammer Big Eye Records Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith is a native Chicagoan who learned the drums from his father the late Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. His father was the drummer for Muddy Waters for over eighteen years. Other drummers who inspired him were Odie Payne, […]
