CD Reviews on projects by Indie Blues Artists
Cassie Keenum & Rick Randlett Hauntings Fox Run Records Cassie Keenum hails from Alachua, Fl. sixteen miles outside of Gainesville. She is a singer songwriter with a soulful voice who performs in a duo with Rick Randlett. Randlett discovered the blues while in college. He listened to bands like Cream, The Yardbirds, and early Fleetwood […]
Chris “Bad News” Barnes Hokum Blues Vizztone Label Group Chris Barnes has been a writer and performer for The Carol Burnett Show, Saturday Night Live, Seinfield, 30 Rock, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He began his blues music career opening for acts at the legendary blues club, Tramps, where he would take audience suggestions and improvise […]
Corey Dennison Band Night After Night Delmark Records Corey Dennison hails from Chattanooga, Tennessee. He got his first guitar when he was six years old. He used to hang out with his harp playing uncle so his early influences were Junior Wells, Albert Collins and Albert King. Dennison also fell in love with the soul […]
Jimmy Carpenter Plays The Blues Vizztone Label Group Saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter began playing professionally in 1980. He toured with both Tinsley Ellis and Jimmy Thackery. In 2004 Carpenter played on “Whiskey Store Live” with Thackery and Tab Benoit. He settled in New Orleans shortly thereafter and found work with Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Eric Lindell. […]
Benny Turner My Brother’s Blues Nola Blue Records Once Benny Turner and his older brother Freddie left Texas for Chicago his brother began to make a name for himself as Freddie King. Freddie became a guitar god while Turner backed him up on bass. Turner left for awhile to play with R n’ B singer […]
Wee Willie Walker And The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra After A While Blue Dot Records Born in Hernando, Mississippi Wee Willie Walker’s career spans six decades as he is one of our last real soul singers. He recorded nine sides for the Memphis based Goldwax label in 1968. More recently between 2004 and 2011 Walker […]
Milligan-Vaughan Project Mark One Records Malford Milligan is a Texas based soul, blues and rock singer who attended the University of Texas. He started a local Monday night blues jam and wound up beginning a life in music. In 1994 Milligan helped form the band Storyville with David Grissom, David Holt and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s […]
Johnny Rawls Waiting For The Train Catfood Records Johnny Rawls was born in Hattiesburg Mississippi in 1951. Having mastered the guitar Rawls’ schoolteacher arranged for him to back musicians when they were on tour through Mississippi. In 1975 Rawls joined O.V. Wright’s band and became his musical director until Wright’s passing in 1980. The Ace […]
Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers The East-West Sessions MindiAbair.com In 1979 Randy Jacobs was a core member of the funk pop band “Was (Not Was)” an early project of producer Don Was (Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones) where he worked with singer Sweet Pea Atkinson. He was also a member of 1993’s Soul […]
Jonny Lang Signs Concord Music Group Jon Gordon Langseth, Jr. a.k.a. Jonny Lang was born in Fargo, North Dakota in 1981. He started playing guitar at the age of twelve. His father took him to see the Fargo based “Bad Medicine Blues Band” and Lang was hooked. He started taking lessons from the bands guitar […]
Steve Howell and Jason Weinheimer A Hundred Years From Today Out of The Past Music Texas born Steve Howell now lives in the greater Shreveport, La. area. He has immersed himself in the rural blues of the south. Howell re-creates obscure traditional country blues with his finger picking style and warm voice. His third album […]
Walter Trout We’re all in this together Provogue/Mascot Label Group Walter Trout was born in Ocean City, N.J. After moving to LA he worked with Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker and Joe Tex before becoming Canned Heat’s guitarist in 1981. In 1985 he left them and joined John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers where he […]
Scott Ellison Good Morning Midnight Red Parlor Records Scott Ellison hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1977 guitarist Ellison backed up country music star Jesseca James and in 1981 joined up with Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. In the mid 1980’s Ellison relocated to Los Angeles and found work with The Box Tops, The Marvalettes, The Drifters, The […]
Double Duty Kim Simmonds Jazzin’ on the Blues Panache Records Savoy Brown Witchy Feelin’ Ruf Records Guitarist Kim Simmonds was born in Wales in 1947. In 1965 he founded the band Savoy Brown. Their first album was 1967’s “Shake Down” which wasn’t issued in the U.S. Both “Blue Matter” and “A Step Further” were released […]
Paul de Lay Band Live at Notodden ‘97 Little Village Foundation De Lay was an original, a chromatic harp player who incorporated a jazzy tone into his music; and an inventive songwriter with the ability to express his personal feelings in the songs that he wrote. He had a keen sense of humor, loved a […]
Lew Jetton & 61 South Palestine Blues Coffee Street Records Lew Jetton is a former local radio and television meteorologist and news anchor. In 1994 Jetton joined the Paducah, Ky based blues band “61 South”. When their lead singer left the band Jetton became their frontman. The band opened for Luther Allison, Koko Taylor, Little […]
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats Groovin’ in Greaseland Alligator Records Rick Estrin was born in the San Francisco area in 1949. He fell in love with the Blues and began playing harmonica at the age of fifteen. His style has been compared to both Sonny Boy Williamson II and Little Walter Jacobs. Early in his […]
Parnell is a Bluesman too! Lee Roy Parnell Midnight Believer Vector Recordings Lee Roy Parnell was born in Abilene, TX. in 1956. His father toured with Bob Wills and Parnell appeared on Wills’ radio show when he was six years old. In 1974 Parnell moved to Austin where he played with Kinky Friedman. He moved […]
Don Bryant Don’t Give Up On Love Fat Possum Records Don Bryant was born in Memphis in 1942. He began singing in his father’s gospel group at the age of five. The Five Bryant Bothers sang on Cane Cole’s radio show as The Four Canes. They later sang secular songs as The Four Kings and […]
Robert Cray Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm Jay Vee Robert Cray was born in Columbus, Ga. in 1953 while his father was serving in the Army. The family settled in Tacoma, Wa. In the early years Cray was in a band with Curtis Salgado called The Cray-Hawks. Cray’s debut recording was “Who’s Been Talkin?” in […]
Sonny Landreth Recorded Live in Lafayette Provogue/Mascot Label Group Sonny Landreth was born in Canton, MS. but lived in Lafayette, La. for many years. He now resides in Breaux Bridge, La. Landreth plays slide guitar but augments that by fretting behind the slide. His main influences include Robert Johnson, Charley Patton and Mississippi John Hurt. […]
Altered Five Blues Band Charmed & Dangerous Blind Pig Records/The Orchard The Altered Five Blues Band is a Milwaukee based quintet formed in 2002. They released their debut recording “Bluesified” in 2008 and followed up with 2012’s “Gotta Earn It” which received a rave review from Downbeat’s Frank-John Hadley. Their third all original album “Cryin […]
Stacy Jones Love is Everywhere Independent Stacy Jones is from the Seattle area. She started playing piano when she was four years old and began singing with her father’s band shortly thereafter. She also learned guitar and harmonica. Influenced by both Howlin’ Wolf and Lucinda Williams she formed her first band, Stacy Jones and the […]
Patrick Recob Perpetual Luau Mr. Lucky’s Blues Recording Co. Patrick Recob grew up in Topeka, Kansas and now lives in Kansas City. In the 1990’s Recob played with The Gary Primich Band. He later spent ten years playing with Lee McBee and The Confessors. After McBee died in 2014 Recob took over the vocals for […]
Andy Frasco travels with a huge group of musicians called the UN, who play instruments ranging from guitars and drums to a horn section which includes a tuba. All of them are capable of dancing with great exuberance. Frasco hmself is an afro-haired crazy man who interacts with an audience better than anyone I have […]
The Nighthawks All You Gotta Do Eller Soul Records The Nighthawks recorded their first album “Rock n’ Roll” in 1974. It was all covers but in 1977 they followed with “Sidepocket Shot” a mostly original recording. Since then they have always mixed covers with their own songs. My favorite Nighthawks albums include 1986’s “Hard Living” […]
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 […]
