CD Reviews on projects by Indie Blues Artists
Although John Pagano has been recording under the name JP Blues since he was in his teens, The John Pagano Band is about to release their first album, One More Round, under their new band name. Although the name has changed, the solid blues-rock and excellent original material has not. Pagano is a strong vocalist […]
Jake Tavill is a surprising young artist with a new album titled Twisted Ideology. It starts out with a modern urban song, “You’re Gonna Love Me,” which introduces us to Tavill’s fresh, catchy vocal style. Then he uses piano and vocal to create a eerie, childlike atmosphere for a haunting ballad about life and death, […]
Stanton Moore With You in Mind The Songs of Allen Toussaint Cool Green Recordings/Mascot Label Group Stanton Moore is a New Orleans funk, jazz and rock drummer. He is a founding member of the jazz rock band Galactic with whom he has recorded ten albums. He also records as The Stanton Moore Trio with organist […]
Jeanne Lozier “Queen of Your Dreams” The New York area is a mecca of unsigned talent. Among our undiscovered gems is Jeanne Lozier. Possessed of a unique voice and powerful determination Jeanne has succeeded where others have struggled. She has self-produced a remarkable first album “Queen of Your Dreams” which thoroughly displays her talents as […]
King James & The Special Men Act Like You Know Special Man Industries King James & The Special Men play original songs in the style of 1940’s, 50’s & 60’s R n’ B. The band is led by Jimmy Horn who grew up in Utah. As a young man he was mesmerized by his dad’s […]
Joshua Jacobson Good Little Thing Fatmouth Records The rural Appalachian Mountains and the rolling plateau region to the east known as the Piedmont includes both Virginias, the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, parts of Alabama, and Pennsylvania. White and black musicians from these mountains and cities influenced each other as they were exposed to a broader […]
Randall Bramblett Juke Joint At The Edge of The World New West Records Randall Bramblett was born in Jessup, Georgia in 1948. He attended the University of North Carolina where he studied religion to prepare himself for the seminary. He abandoned his theological studies to pursue writing music as he was inspired by Bob Dylan, […]
Willa and Company Better Days Building Records Willa Vincitore is the former Willa McCarthy. She was a background vocalist and member of The Chris O’Leary Band and appears all three of O’Leary’s studio albums including his Blues Music Award winning debut “Mr. Used To Be”. Her husband, Sean McCarthy, was O’Leary’s drummer but unfortunately Sean […]
The Mark Robinson Band Live at The Five Spot Blind Chihuahua Mark Robinson hails from Bloomington Indiana. After college he moved to Chicago and played guitar with Jimmy Johnson, Son Seals, Koko Taylor and Lonnie Brooks. When he returned to Bloomington to take a job he played guitar with soul bluesman Tad Robinson and Americana […]
Tucci Olivia Hideaway Records The Tucci Band is from Sarasota Florida. They are led by Steve “Doc” Tucci. The band is well versed in R n’ B, Blues and Southern Rock. They were formerly known at The Toler Tucci Band and had previously released 2012’s “Doc’s Hideaway” on Larry McCray’s Magnolia Records. Unfortunately “Dangerous” Dan […]
Doug MacLeod Break The Chain Reference Recordings Doug MacLeod was born in New York City in 1946. He became interested in the blues and found that when singing he no longer stuttered. While living in St. Louis MacLeod began playing acoustic country blues guitar and switched to bass when playing jazz or electric blues. His […]
Jim Allchin Decisions Sandy Key Music Jim Allchin was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and attended The University of Florida. He earned his M.S. and PhD at Georgia Institute of Technology and Stanford University. Allchin went to work for Microsoft where he helped to develop Windows operating systems including Windows 98, Windows Vista and Windows […]
The Cash Box Kings Royal Mint Alligator Records The Cash Box Kings were formed by harp player Joe Nosek in 2001. They released their debut album “Live! at The King Club” in 2003. Chicago born vocalist Oscar Wilson joined the band in 2007. In 2011 The Cash Box Kings signed with Blind Pig Records and […]
Delta Wires is a seven-piece California blues band They were literally born in Oakland over 30 years ago as a college project for lead vocalist and harmonica player Ernie Pinata. Born in Oakland is the band’s seventh album and as the press release states, “demonstrates a further maturation of the group’s West Coast blues style.” […]
Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind Approved By Snakes Ellersoul Records Jason Ricci has been the recipient of many awards including the coveted Blues Music Award for Blues Instrumentalist – Harmonica which he won in 2010. He is also the only openly gay male star in the blues community. As a performance artist of the […]
Hot Roux Hometown Blues Hi Hat Records Jerry McWorter is the leader of Hot Roux. Inspired by Levon Helm, of The Band, McWorter formed the Louisiana styled swamp rock trio in order that there be a rhythm section to backup artists like James Harman, Lynwood Slim and Albert Lee. Expanding into a trio they recorded […]
Karen Lovely Fish Outta Water Independent Karen Lovely hails from Massachusetts. She started performing in 1987 but didn’t start singing blues until twenty years later. She was living in the Pacific Northwest when she released her 2008 debut recording “Lucky Girl”. Lovely competed in the band competition at the 2010 International Blues Challenge and finished […]
Gordon Meier Blues Experience Magic Kingdom Independent This album is a great introduction to an accomplished guitarist and vocalist. Gordon Meier has been part of the Western New Jersey blues scene for quite some time. For the last twenty five or more years he has been in a Morris County band called The Midnight Street […]
Low Society Sanctified Rezonate Records This is the third album from the band called Low Society. The band is the brainchild of lead singer Mandy Lemons and guitarist Sturgis Nikides. They released their debut recording “High Time” in 2011. Their follow-up was 2014’s “You Can’t Keep a Good Woman Down”. The title track from that […]
Andy T Band Double Strike fea. Alabama Mike, Nick Nixon & Anson Funderburgh American Showplace Music When guitarist Andy Talamantez left the West coast he settled in Nashville. Andy used to lead the Nashville Blues Society’s Sunday night jam and it was there that he first met James “Nick” Nixon. Once they became partners in […]
Linsey Alexander Two Cats Delmark Records The seventy four year old Linsey Alexander was born in Mississippi and raised in Memphis. He has been part of Chicago’s North Side blues scene for over two decades. He released his debut recording in 2004; “Someone’s Cooking in My Kitchen” included the song “Hoochie Man” and that has […]
Amy Black Memphis Reuben Records Amy Black began her recording career as an alternative Country or Americana artist. In 2013 between her first and second albums Black released a four song EP called “The Muscle Shoals Session”. Recorded at the Fame studio that session spoke to her soul and Black changed her musical direction. Black […]
Kilborn Alley Blues Band presents The Tolono Tapes Run It Back Records The Kilborn Alley Blues Band was formed some seventeen years ago. Their very first album was self-titled and released in 2003 on Peedee Records. No other information on this recording is available. The bands next four albums were on Nick Moss’s Blue Bella […]
Gina Sicilia Tug of War Blue Elan Records Gina Sicilia is from the greater Philadelphia area. She released her first studio album “Allow Me To Confess” in 2006 one year before graduating from Temple University with a degree in Journalism. Sicilia had been writing songs since the age of twelve so she had ample material […]
Guitar Slim Jr. The Story of My Life Orleans Records Rodney Glenn Armstrong a.k.a. Guitar Slim Jr. is a New Orleans blues guitarist and singer and the son of Eddie “Guitar Slim” Jones. Guitar Slim is best known for his million selling hit single “The Things That I Used to Do”. The elder Slim died […]
Polly O’Keary and The Rhythm Method Black Crow Callin’ Independent Polly O’Keary grew up in a log cabin with no plumbing or electricity. At the age of nineteen she had a husband in prison and an 8th grade education. Twenty years later she was a bassist for touring blues bands including “Too Slim & The […]
Brad Stivers Took You Long Enough Vizztone Label Group Brad Stivers grew up in California where his father instilled in him a love for roots music. In school he took up both sax and trombone. After moving to the greater Marysville, Washington area Stivers and his brothers played guitar. Influenced by B.B. King, Stevie Ray […]
Laura Tate Let’s Just Be Real Gold Records Laura Tate is from Dallas, Tx. where she began performing when she was nine years old. She studied acting in New York City and toured in theatrical productions. She soon found herself on the production side of the business directing music videos, documentaries and commercials. She now […]
North Mississippi All-stars Prayer For Peace Sony Legacy The North Mississippi All-stars were formed in 1996 by Luther and Cody Dickinson the sons of Memphis record producer Jim Dickinson. The North Mississippi Allstars released their first studio album “Shake Hands With Shorty” in 2000. That album received a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Contemporary Blues […]
Janiva Magness Blue Again Blue Elan Records Janiva Magness had some hard beginnings as she was a foster care child. Inspired by an Otis Rush performance she found her calling. She recorded her first album in 1991. She has since been nominated for twenty-six Blues Music Awards winning seven times. Magness won the BMA for […]
Selwyn Birchwood Pick Your Poison Alligator Records Selwyn Birchwood was born in Orlando but grew up in the Tampa Area. He first picked up the guitar at the age of 13. By seventeen he was into Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, Freddie King and Albert Collins. He went to see Buddy Guy live and was so […]
John Nemeth Feelin’ Freaky Memphis Grease Records John Nemeth has an adventurous soul. Originally from Boise, Idaho he convinced his wife to move from their Oakland, California home to Memphis. Nemeth’s soul was always in Memphis, the home of Blues, R n’ B, and Rock n’ Roll. In 2013 he released his eighth album “Memphis […]
John McNamara Rollin’ With It Bahool Records/Black Market Records John McNamara is an award winning soul blues singer from Australia. He released his debut recording “One Voice, One Guitar” in 2014. In 2015 he competed in the International Blues Challenge and was a semi-finalist. This is McNamara’s follow-up recording. In order to “roll with it” […]
Nick Schnebelen Live In Kansas City Vizztone Label Group Nick Schnebelen was a founding member of the band Trampled Under Foot. First formed in 2000 the band released their self-titled debut in 2006. They won the band competition at the 2008 International Blues Challenge and Schnebelen took home the Albert King Award for “Best Guitarist”. […]
Taj Mahal/Keb Mo TajMo Tajmo Record/Concord Records Taj Mahal released his first two albums in 1968 when he was twenty six years old. He was a product of an older generation and his influences included Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Sleepy John Estes. His self titled first album included his version […]
Jon Zeeman Blue Room Membrane Records Jon Zeeman grew up near New York City. As a child he studied classical guitar and piano. He attended Ithaca College and settled in Manhattan where he began to take session work as a jazz fusion guitarist. His first album “Still Life” was released in Europe in 2003 and […]
Anthony Rosano and The Conqueroos Independent Anthony Rosano and The Conqueroos are a relatively new band. Formed in 2012 their debut recording was 2014’s “Get ROO’D”. They followed up with the live “ROO’D Awakening” in 2016. The Conqueroos are two time International Blues Challenge semi-finalists who have opened or shared the stage with Tab Benoit, […]
I am enthralled by You Can’t Do That! I’ve been a Beatles fan all my life and I can honestly say that I never imagined them this way. Bu oh, how well it works! Mick Kolassa and Mark Telesca are Beatles fans too, and at the 2016 International Blues Challenge in Memphis they started swapping […]
Steve Krase Should’ve Seen It Coming Connor Ray Music Steve Krase got his education playing harp with Jerry Lightfoot and The Essentials. In 2004 he formed his own band, “Steve Krase & The In Crowd”, and they won the award for Houston’s Best Unsigned Blues Band. The following year “The In Crowd” released their only […]
John Primer & Bob Corritore Ain’t Nothing You Can Do! Delta Groove Music Alfonso “John” Primer was born in Camden, Mississippi but moved to Chicago where he was a regular at Theresa’s Lounge located at 48th and South Indiana Avenue. He played in Willie Dixon’s Chicago Blues All-Stars and in The Muddy Waters Band. Later […]
Monster Mike Welch & Mike Ledbetter Right Place, Right Time Delta Groove Music When guitarist Mike Welch was only thirteen years old blues aficionado, actor and comedian Dan Aykroyd gave him the nickname Monster Mike. Welch released his 1996 debut recording “These Blues Are Mine” on the Tone-Cool Record label co-produced by Richard “Rosy” Rosenblatt. […]
Bobby Messano has been up and down the scale a time or two in a lot of years of playing music. He has been music director for Steve Winwood and Lou Gramm and for county artists Jimmy Wayne and Rodney Aikens. For his own solo work, he chose to play and sing the blues and […]
Hector Anchondo Band Roll The Dice Independent Hector Anchondo was born in Omaha but raised on a farm near Salem, Missouri. He picked up the guitar when he was sixteen and has learned quickly. He moved back to Omaha in 2000 because there were more places to play. He formed his first band, Anchondo, and […]
Chris Bergson Band Bitter Midnight 2 Shirts Records Chris Bergson grew up in a Boston suburb. He began taking guitar lessons at a very young age and developed an appreciation for jazz and blues. He listened to everything from Muddy Waters to Miles Davis. Bergson moved to New York City and began to sit in […]
Eric Bibb Migration Blues Stony Plain Records Eric Bibb is the son of Leon Bibb a singer-songwriter popular during the folk music scene of the 1960’s. The younger Bibb was given his first guitar at the age of seven. Growing up in New York City he was surrounded by the folksingers of that era including […]
Ruthie Foster Joy Comes Back Stone Truth Music/Blue Corn Music Ruthie Foster is still on a roll. The former gospel singer won her first Blues Music Award as Contemporary Blues Female Artist of The Year in 2010. Since then she won the BMA for Traditional Blues Female Artist a.k.a. The Koko Taylor Award five times. […]
Billy Price Alive & Strange Nola Blue/Vuzztone Label Group Billy Price was born William Pollak in Fair Lawn, N.J. in 1949. In the seventies he moved to Pittsburgh where he still works for Carnegie Mellon University. Price became Roy Buchanan’s vocalist and he appears on Buchanan’s 1975 album “Live Stock” on Polydor Records. Price formed […]
Lauren Mitchell Desire Lauren Mitchell Music Lauren Mitchell was born in Columbus Ohio. She began taking voice lessons at the age of nine and developed an interest in musical theatre. Her father had been into soul music and the blues but after her parents divorced he moved to Florida. Mitchell attended college in Columbus but […]
Samantha Fish Chills & Fever Ruf Records Samantha Fish was raised in Kansas City. She started out as a drummer but switched to guitar when she was fifteen. She recorded, “Live Bait”, in 2009 and got noticed by Ruf Records. She was part of Ruf’s 2011“Girls With Guitars” along with Cassie Taylor and Dani Wilde. […]
Rockin’ Johnny Burgin Neoprene Fedora West Tone Records Johnny Burgin was raised in Starkville, Ms. and Greenville, S.C. He went to The University of Chicago with the intention of becoming a writer but instead fell into the Chicago blues scene. He started backing up the Chicago blues vocalist Taildragger. Later he wound up touring with […]
