CD Reviews on projects by Indie Blues Artists
George Freeman George the Bomb! Featuring Billy Branch Southport This is the epitome of “less is more.” George Freeman is a legendary Free 91-year old jazz-blues guitarist who does not waste one note and has such an inherent feel for each genre, befitting the title. Yes, he is the bomb! Freeman can remember when Charlie […]
Bill Toms and Hard Rain LIVE (featuring The Soulville Horns) Bill Tom’s “writes songs that stir emotion, challenge the mind, and move the tail feather”, and that ladies and gentlemen defines rock ‘n’ roll. Bill Toms is a working man. Being a Pittsburgh Pennsylvania guy that ethic is forged into you. He works at being […]
Ally Venable Texas Honey Ruf Records Ally Venable is a powerful young blues singer from Texas with roots that clearly show that proud tradition of blues-rock fostered by Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top, and so many others. Now, at not yet twenty, Venable is releasing her third album, Texas Honey, produced by fellow Texan Mike […]
Rick Vito Soulshaker Vizztone Label Group Rick Vito is best known as being a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1987 until 1991 when he took over for Lindsey Buckingham. Vito’s first solo album was 1992’s “King of Hearts” on Atlantic Records. In 2001 Vito won a Blues Music Award for writing the Song of the […]
Mighty Mike Schermer Bad Tattoo Firedog Records/Vizztone Label Group As a youngster Mike Schermer played guitar, trumpet and clarinet. He played in school and in various bands. Then one night in 1984 he saw Albert Collins and it was a life changer. Schermer soon expanded his influences to include T-Bone Walker, Howlin’ Wolf, Ray Charles, […]
Arlen Roth Tele Masters Aquinnah Records Arlen Roth released his first album “Guitarist” in 1978 and it won the Montreux Critics’ Award for “Best Instrumental Album”. He recorded “Foolin’ Around” in 1993 with Danny Gatton and Duke Robillard, and a documentary commemorating the event. In 2008 he recorded the sequel “Foolin’ Around Woodstock”, with Levon […]
Kenny Parker Hellfire Rock-a-while Michigan born Kenny Parker began playing guitar in a local band when he was fourteen. While still in high school he discovered blues guitarists Albert and B.B. King. After graduating college he worked in a General Motors auto factory and began to moonlight at night. He worked with Detroit’s Louis “Mr. […]
Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon Solstice New West Luther Dickinson has a penchant for making albums with all-star female casts, but none larger than on this outing with the collective name of “Sisters of the Strawberry Moon.” Inevitably, The Wandering (Amy LaVere, Sharde Thomas, Shannon McNally and Valerie June comes to mind. […]
Michael Jerome Browne That’s Where It’s At Borealis Records Michael Jerome Browne was born in South Bend, Indiana. His family moved to Montreal when Browne was still in his teens. Browne had mastered the guitar and harmonica and toured Europe as a one man band before returning to join the Stephen Barry Band. He released […]
Murali Coryell Made In Texas Shake-It-Sugar Records Murali Coryell is the son of jazz fusion guitarist Larry Coryell. As a youngster he started playing drums but soon switched to the guitar. Wanting to forge his own musical path Murali released his recording debut, the soul-blues “Eyes Wide Open”, in 1995. Four years later he formed […]
Matt Andersen Halfway Home By Morning High Romance Music/True North Records Matt Andersen is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from New Brunswick, Canada. In 2010 Andersen finished first in the solo/duo category at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. He is a seven time Maple Blues Award winner; and winner of two European Blues Awards. “Halfway […]
Dennis Brennan & the White Owls Live at Electric Andyland VizzTone Dennis Brennan has been a fixture of the Boston Blues scene for the better part of three decades now. His reputation precedes him. Many of us have long expected a blues album that’s finally here. Oh, let’s be a bit more accurate. Brennan is […]
John Primer The Soul of A Blues Man Blues House Productions Alonso “John” Primer was born in Mississippi but moved to Chicago where he played the blues clubs on Chicago’s south side; he was a regular at Theresa’s Lounge at 48th and South Indiana Avenue. He was also a member of Willie Dixon’s Chicago Blues […]
Brandon Santini The Longshot American Showplace Music Brandon Santini hails from the Piedmont region of North Carolina. He relocated to Memphis in 2003 and began fronting the Delta Highway Band. In 2009 they received a Blues Music Award nomination as Best New Artist. Santini released his own debut recording “Songs of Love, Money and Misery” […]
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Gnomes and Badgers Seven Spheres Karl Denson’s star is rising. He will be replacing Bobby Keys on the upcoming Rolling Stones tour. He continues to back Lenny Kravitz and play with the Greyboy All-stars, but he’s long been a beacon in the jam scene with his Tiny Universe band, finding time […]
Rockin’ Johnny & Quique Gomez Dos Hombres Wanted Vizztone Label Group Rockin’ Johnny Burgin went to The University of Chicago to become a writer but fell into the Chicago Blues scene. He found work as a guitarist with Taildragger, Pinetop Perkins, Mary Lane and Sam Lay, and recorded six albums under his own name for […]
Big Al and The Heavyweights World Full Of Trouble Eller Soul Records Big Al Lauro, who is from The Big Easy, started recording his original Louisiana based roots music around 2001 with the release of both Big Al and The Heavyweights “Hey, Hey Mardi Gras” and “Ultimate Mardi Gras”; and followed up with 2002’s “Late […]
Atlanta musician and vocalist Kathie ‘Holmes is about to release her first album, Trouble Comes In Threes. While she is a classically trained musician, her heart belongs to the blues. She plays keyboards with a rollicking New Orleans style, sings and writes her own songs, and plays the flute. Yes, flute! The flute may not […]
Mary Lane Travelin’ Woman Women of the Blues Although 83-year-old Chicago blues veteran Mary Lane has not released an album in twenty years, we did cover her on these pages for last year’s Chicago/ Blues Legends/ Today. That project was helmed by the late Mike Mettalia, who passed away much too soon just last week […]
Vegas Strip Kings Jackpot! GutBukit Records Two of the founding members of the Vegas Strip Kings were part of the band “Contino” who recorded “Back Porch Dogma” on Blind Pig Records in 2012. That band morphed into the Vegas Strip Kings and they recorded their “(Live)” album in 2015. The live album was mostly covers […]
Nick Schnebelen Crazy All By Myself Vizztone Label Group Nick Schnebelen is from Kansas City where he grew up in a household surrounded by music. “Music’s been in my blood for generations” as both of his parents were professional musicians, as were his grandparents and great grandfather. Schnebelen is a founding member of the band […]
Sugaray Rayford Somebody Save Me Forty Below Records Sugaray Rayford is the ex-Mannish Boys front man. This is the fifth album under his own name; the last being 2017’s “The World We Live In”. Rayford also has fourteen Blues Music Award nominations including two for 2019. He has received a BMA nomination as “B.B. King […]
Tommy Castro and the Painkillers Killin’ It Live Alligator Records Tommy Castro has been playing rockin’ blues for the last thirty years. He has released fifteen albums and been nominated for twelve Blues Music Awards winning six times. Two of those BMA trophies are for the “B.B. King Entertainer of The Year” award, the highest […]
Augie Meyers I Know I Could Be Happy If Myself Wasn’t Here El Sendero Records In 1965 Doug Sahm formed “The Sir Douglas Quintet” with childhood friend Augie Meyers. The band had a top twenty hit with “She’s About a Mover”. They were busted for pot in Texas, moved to San Francisco and re-formed with […]
Peter Rogan Still Tryin’ to Believe Melt Shop Proving that’s it’s never too late to begin, this is the debut album from 57-year-old Peter Rogan, already a songwriting winner in the Great American Song contest. Rogan wrote or co-wrote all dozen songs on the album with 17 musicians and back-up singers, thereby fulfilling a lifelong […]
David T and Friends Racing Time Racing Time is a re-release of the third album by David T and Friends. It is the work of a large and exuberant group, consisting of twelve core members and various guests. Together they celebrate the original music of David Tannenbaum, who plays guitar and sax, writes, arranges and […]
Tony Holiday Porch Sessions Vizztone Label Group Tony Holiday used to play guitar and front the Salt Lake City based Tony Holiday and the Velvetones. When he switched to harmonica he recruited the then young prodigy Landon Stone as the band’s guitarist. The band won the Salt Lake City Weekly Music Awards and was named […]
Eric Jerardi Occupied Niche Records Guitarist Eric Jerardi won the Ohio University battle of the bands in 1989. He won again two years later as the Midwest’s “Best Unsigned College Band”. He recorded his debut album in 1995. Since then he has shared the stage with Little Feat, toured with Robin Trower, and has been […]
Atomic Road Kings Clean Up The Blood Big Tone Records This is the Atomic Road Kings debut recording but the individual members are not new to lovers of the blues. The core band includes Big Jon Atkinson, lead, rhythm guitar and vocals, who came to prominence with his third album, 2016’s “House Party at Big […]
John Mayall Nobody Told Me Forty Below The Godfather of British Blues, John Mayall is now 85 years old, but you’d never guess it from his prolific output in recent years since he signed with co-producer Eric Corne’s label, Forty Below Records, in 2013. Mayall’s long overdue induction into the Blues Hall of Fame was […]
Tedeschi Trucks Band Signs Fantasy Records/Concord Music Group Susan Tedeschi was born in Boston, Ma. She released her debut album in 1995 but came to national attention with the release of “Just Won’t Burn” on Tone Cool Records in 1998. At the same time the Jacksonville Fl. guitarist Derek Trucks was achieving fame with his […]
Katarina Pejak Roads That Cross Ruf Records Katarina Pejak hails from the Serbian city of Belgrade, where her father ran the local jazz and blues nightclub. Listening to her father’s record collection she became inspired by Tom Waits, Norah Jones, Bessie Smith, Otis Spann and others. She decided she should stretch her classical piano […]
Packrat’s Smokehouse Men of the Swamp LIVE If you are looking for genuine traditional blues with a strong swamp flavor, Packrat’s Smokehouse is for you! They have just released their fifth album, Men of the Swamp Live. The band hails from New Smyrna Beach, Florida and consists of Anthony “Packrat” Thompson on lead vocals and […]
Seth Walker Are You Open? Royal Potato Family It’s been one heck of a moment or two lately. Normal has turned on its head. We are all in this together, and together we can make a difference. Are You Open?, the new album by Seth Walker releases February 15 on Royal Potato Family and asks […]
Big Joe and the Dynaflows Rockhouse Party Severn The rowdy proceedings here match the album title, Rockhouse Party, even though the title is drawn from the name of co-producer and stellar keyboardist Kevin McKendree’s studio in Franklin, TN. Big Joe is D.C.-based drummer/vocalist Big Joe Maher, making his fourth album for Severn Records. This is […]
Tiffany Pollack/Eric Johanson Blues In My Blood Nola Blue Records Tiffany Ann Pollack is a product of the musical mecca known as New Orleans. At an earlier age Pollack began to write songs and sing. Her first professional gig was singing background vocals for Russell Batiste & Friends. She eventually formed her own band Beaucoup […]
The Trevor B. Power Band Everyday Angel Independent The Trevor B. Power Band is based in northwest New Jersey. Power grew up in a household with parents that loved all kinds of music. He received his first guitar when he was fifteen and began playing the rock n’ roll of the sixties and seventies. He […]
John Fusco and the X-Road Riders Self-titled Self-released Anytime the Dickinson brothers get involved, you need to pay attention. This time it’s younger brother Cody, drummer in North Mississippi All-Stars but multi-instrumentalist here in support of another multi-instrumentalist John Fusco, the award-winning screenwriter for the film Crossroads. Guests include Luther Dickinson and cohort, Memphis rap […]
Bloodest Saxophone Texas Queens 5 Dialtone Records/Vizztone Label Group Bloodest Saxophone; is a horn driven R n’ B band, from Tokyo Japan. They were formed in 1998 by Koda Shintaro, who formed the band “to rule the world with the saxophone”. They have played with the great sax icon Big Jay McNeely and also with […]
JP Williams Blues Band Everblue Gizzifter Records JP Williams was born in New York City. He attended Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. where he began moonlighting at college coffee houses and local night spots. His acoustic music included folk, blues, and soul. He returned to NYC and performed at many famous venues, open mikes and […]
Glen Clark You Tell Me Glenco Records In the early nineteen seventies Glen Clark formed a duo with fellow Texan Delbert McClinton. They released the album “Delbert & Glen” and a year later followed up with “Subject To Change”. The duo blended blues with country, soul and rock. The two albums helped established both of […]
Watermelon Slim Church of The Blues Northern Blues Music William P. Homans III was born in Boston but raised in North Carolina where he first heard the blues. He rejected his family’s career aspirations and served in Vietnam. When he returned home in 1973 he became involved in “Vietnam Veterans Against the War” and recorded […]
Freshly Cut: jazz, blues and something extra in The Strands debut album. Patrick O’Heffernan Freshly Cut, the debut full length album by The Strands, will not only excite their local following, but introduce the wider world to Amanda Campbell’s languid pop/jazz and incisive love lyrics that manage to simultaneously chronicle ordinary life and higher principles. […]
Walter Trout Survivor Blues Provogue/Mascot Label Group After a residence in Los Angeles where guitarist Walter Trout found work with Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, and Joe Tex he became the lead guitarist in “Canned Heat”. He left them in 1985 only to join “John Mayall and his Bluesbreakers”. In 1989 he formed his […]
Ina Forsman Been Meaning To Tell You Ruf Records Nine years ago when vocalist Ina Forsman was only 17 she performed Etta James’ “All I Could Do Was Cry” on a Finnish TV talent show. Since then she began touring with Helsinki’s harp master Helge Tallqvist and Belgian guitarist Guy Verlinde, all the while honing […]
Santana In Search of Mona Lisa Concord Records Carlos Santana is a musical icon who has performed for three generations of listeners. To date he has sold 100 million records and won ten Grammy Awards. Among his other awards are being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; receiving the Billboard Latin Music […]
Vin Mott Rogue Hunter Independent While still a teen Vin Mott got bitten by the blues bug. It was the sound of the harmonica as played by Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and James Cotton. Mott studied at Boston’s Berklee College of Music and graduated with a degree in songwriting in 2011. He returned to NJ […]
Coyote Motel Ted Drozdowski Rock and roll is alive and well. To make my point I introduce you to Coyote Motel. This newest album from Ted Drozdowski has a real vintage feel to it. Ted Describes it as Evolutionary Cosmic Roots Music. It’s both sonic and soulful. It’s a good description. From the first needle […]
Chris O’Leary 7 Minutes Late American Showplace Music Soon after Chris O’Leary was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps he joined Levon Helm and The Barnburners. As lead singer and front man he toured with Levon for six years. He eventually left the Barnburners to form his own band. He released his Chris O’Leary […]
Tomislav Goluban Chicago Rambler Spona Records Tomislav Goluban was inspired by harp masters Sonny Boy Williamson, Paul Butterfield, Gary Primich and others. The Croatian musician, whose surname translates to Pigeon in English, formed Little Pigeon’s Forhill Blues Band in 1997. His debut recording Pigeon’s Flight was released in 2005, and followed up in 2007 with […]
