CD Reviews on projects by Indie Blues Artists
“Pride and Joy: The Story of Alligator Records” www.MVDvisual.com Blu-Ray Disc For forty-five years Alligator Records has remained one of the truest Blues recording labels since their humble Windy City beginnings. Bruce Iglauer founded the company in 1971 and still remains; as owner, chief cook and bottle washer, and boss. Iglauer’s first release was by […]
Big Jon Atkinson & Bob Corritore House Party at Big Jon’s Delta Groove Music Bob Corritore was born in Chicago in 1956. He relocated to the Phoenix area and began working with Louisiana Red. Corritore also played in a band with Janiva Magness. He started a weekly radio program “Those Lowdown Blues” on WJZZ and […]
While Ivas John is new to me, Good Days a Comin’ is actually his fifth. It is the first, however, to be completely acoustic. The trend to a return to acoustic music more often is a welcome one, allowing listeners to experience once again the power of this less embellished form in the hands of […]
The Rides Pierced Arrow 429 Records The Rides a bonafide super group with youth, legendary hit making, and chops are comprised of: Thirty-five year old, five time Grammy nominated and two-time Blues Music Award winning, guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd who has recorded with Hubert Sumlin and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. Two-time Rock and Roll Hall […]
Shari Puorto My Obsession Blue Rock Music Shari Puorto was raised in Orange, CT. She moved to California sometime in the late 1990’s and began performing all over the state. Her musical influences include rock and blues singers Janis Joplin; Bonnie Raitt and Etta James. Puorto’s vocal tone and control have been compared to Bonnie Bramlett. […]
Tweed Funk Come Together Tweed Tone Records Tweed Funk” is a Memphis based blues, roots and soul band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band is led by vocalist Joseph “Smokey” Holman. In the mid-1970’s Smokey and his group “Love’s Children” were signed to Curtis Mayfield’s Curtom label. Holman also worked with Rufus Thomas. The remaining members of […]
Albert Castiglia Big Dog Ruf Records Albert Castiglia’s big break came when he was hired to play guitar for Junior Wells. Castiglia stayed with Wells until his passing in 1998. After moving to Chicago Castiglia joined Sandra Hall’s band and toured with her until 2000. Castiglia released his debut album “Burn” in 2004. He collaborated […]
The Mighty Orq has been performing solo and with his band since 2002, but many new fans discovered him when he reached the finals of the 2016 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Now, he has a new album, Love in a Hurricane, and those new fans will have the opportunity to enjoy and share his […]
With Jimbo Mathus, you never know what you are going to get except that it will be brilliant. This one, over all, is more rock-oriented, beginning with the raw “Gringo Man,” to the country rock of “Can’t Get Much Higher” and the sexy, sultry “Play With Fire.” “Stop Your Crying” slows things down and employs […]
Shaun Murphy It Won’t Stop Raining Vision Wall Records Shaun Murphy had been a featured vocalist with “Little Feat” for sixteen years. In 2009 she decided to leave that band to pursue her passion for the blues. Her album “Ask for The Moon” received three Grammy nominations and won two Blues Blast Awards. On her […]
The Bo-Keys Heartaches By The Number Omnivore Recordings The Bo-Keys are a soul/jazz band from Memphis, Tennessee. They were originally formed in 1998 by bassist Scott Bomar to be a backup band for the legendary Stax artist and songwriter Sir Mack Rice; best known for “Mustang Sally”. The Bo-Keys were comprised of veteran Memphis sidemen […]
Festival Express New Line Entertainment DVD In 1970 the following bands got on a train and rode across Canada stopping to play in Toronto, Winnepeg and Calgary. The film which shows footage of them both in Concert and “ridin that train”, sat in a garage for thirty years. Imagine being on a week long train […]
Sugar Blue Voyage MC Records James Whiting aka Sugar Blue was raised in Harlem, NY. His mother was a singer and dancer at the Appollo Theater. Blue’s aunt gifted him with his first harmonica and he wailed along with Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder songs. He was further influenced by Jazz greats Dexter Gordon and […]
The Record Company Give It Back To You Concord Music Group The Record Company’s Chris Vos grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm outside of New Munster, 50 miles south of Milwaukee. He was first inspired by Hendrix, Harrison, Fogarty, and Winter; so he got himself a guitar. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and […]
Blues For Big Walter Various Artists Ellersoul Records This album follows on the success of 2013’s “Remembering Little Walter” released on Blind Pig Records. That Grammy nominated album was produced by Mark Hummel. It featured harmonica aces Hummel, Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Boy Arnold, James Harman and Sugar Ray Norcia. This new Big Walter tribute on […]
Brothers Brown Dusty Road Funky Joint Records/335 Records This is a great recording by four fabulous musicians. They aren’t brothers and should not be confused with the Brown Brothers, a country rock duo, from Virginia. The bands sound is a combination of blues, jazz, Americana, and rock n’ roll. To further confuse the issue two […]
Laura Rain & The Caesars Gold LRC Records Laura Rain grew up in the Detroit suburbs. Her mother loved Funk and took Laura to see live music as often as possible. Her dad loved Opera. Rain started listening to Aretha Franklin when she was fifteen. Rain got started in the Detroit blues scene as a featured […]
The first thing you have to figure out about the Brothers Brown is that there are two of them named Paul Brown, one from Los Angeles and one from Nashville. Once you know you aren’t reading the lineup wrong you can relax and enjoy this bluesy bands’ debut album, Dusty Road. (The other members of […]
Tangled In Layman Terms Independent The 2015 Bradenton Blues Festival was held on December 5th. It was produced by Paul Benjamin for Realize Bradenton. The headliners included Mike Zito, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, and Janiva Magness. In between the sets we were introduced to the young duo of Cole and Logan Layman whom are […]
Jeff Chaz is labeled on his website as “The Bourbon Street Bluesman,” and on “Sounds Like the Blues to Me,” that New Orleans influence is strong. He is a strong guitarist and vocalist and a clever songwriter. Before he switched to guitar, he played trumpet and trombone, which gave him a real fill for jazz. […]
Golden State Lone Star Blues Revue fea. Mark Hummel, Lil Charlie Baty, & Anson Funderburgh Electro-Fi Records This is the debut release of what is being billed as a new supergroup. They are led by Mark Hummel, a Grammy nominated blues harmonica player, vocalist, songwriter and bandleader. Hummel formed his band The Blues Survivors in […]
I believe that Jeff Jensen, Bill Ruffino, and Robinson Bridgeforth are the most exciting group to hear or see live on the contemporary blues scene. Having had the pleasure of seeing them a number of times, I can assert that this CD does a great job of capturing the sheer exuberance of Jensen live, although, […]
Mark Cameron Playing Rough Cop Records Mark Cameron is from Minnesota. He began performing in folk rock bands in the early seventies. In 1984 Cameron founded the twin cities based “Citizen’s Patrol”. Between 1986 and 1990 that band released three albums. Mark turned his focus to the blues and finally released his solo debut “Life […]
Curtis Salgado The Beautiful Lowdown Alligator Records Curtis Salgado was born in the town of Everett, Washington in 1954. By 1980 he was already a member of The Robert Cray Band and helped to launch Cray’s career as he plays harp on Cray’s debut recording “Who’s Been Talkin”. Salgado is also credited for turning John […]
Steve Dawson Solid States & Loose Ends Black Hen Music Steve Dawson is originally from Vancouver, Canada. He has produced or played on over 80 albums mostly recorded at his Henhouse Studio. His Black Hen Music label has given us musical treasures such as 2009’s “Things About Comin’ My Way”: A Tribute to the Music […]
Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues Give It Away Plantation One Productions/Burnside Distribution Mac Arnold was born in Ware Place, South Carolina in 1942. He was raised on a sharecropper’s farm. He and his brother Leroy used to make guitars from gas cans, wood and wire. Arnold’s first band was J. Floyd and The […]
Walkin’ Cane Mark Tryin’ To Make You Understand – Remastered Enable Records Mark Brehm was anointed Walkin’ Cane Mark by none other than Willie Dixon. He was recovering from an injury at the time. Mark was nineteen and he had just starting singing with some Phoenix based blues band. In 1989 Mark became the front […]
Los Jazz Vatos El Jefe Lounge Side Records Los Jazz Vatos is the brainchild of Ernie Durawa. Durawa was born in San Antonio but lives in Austin. As a drummer Durawa possesses a unique ability to totally transcend stylistic barriers. Durawa has performed with Charlie Byrd, Larry Coryell, Herb Ellis, Townes Van Zandt, and Willie Nelson. […]
God Don’t Never Change The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson Alligator Records “The Soul of a Man” is the song written by Blind Willie Johnson that opens this tribute. It is also the name of a 2003 documentary film which was part of a series on the Blues produced by Martin Scorsese. This was the first […]
Janiva Magness Love Wins Again Blue Elan Records/Fathead Records Janiva Magness was born in Detroit, Michigan. She wound up in the foster care system and was placed into a dozen homes before she got pregnant at the age of 17. Inspired by the intensity of an Otis Rush performance “Otis played as if his life […]
Guy King Truth Delmark Records Guy King was born in Israel. He moved to the states and settled in Chicago. King joined Willie Kent’s shuffle driven blues band and served as both lead guitarist and band leader until Kent’s death in 2006. After starting his own band King played Buddy Guy’s Legends, Rosa’s Lounge and […]
Dennis Jones has provided a quality blues album with “Both Sides of the Track,” which does indeed, move from the heavy side to the smoother, more traditional side of the genre. With the heavier material on the album, like the opening “Enjoy the Ride,” “It All Depends ” “The Machine,” “Nobody’s Slave,” and “I Can’t […]
Mike Pachelli Fade to Blue Fullblast Recordings Michael Pachelli was raised in Youngstown, Ohio. His earliest guitar influence was Wes Montgomery. He studied classical guitar at Youngstown State University before moving to New York City to study bebop with Joe Pass and Pat Martino. He has toured with Brother Jack McDuff and Albert King among […]
Bonnie Raitt Dig in Deep Redwing Records Bonnie Lynn Raitt was born in Burbank, Ca. in 1948. She is the daughter of Broadway musical star John Raitt. She went to a Quaker school in New York before enrolling at Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Raitt befriended blues promoter Dick Waterman and in the fall of […]
Anni Piper More Guitars Than Friends Sugar Daddy Records Anni Piper is an Aussie who was first influenced to pick up a guitar by listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Although sometimes called “Australia’s First Lady of The Blues” her music is oftentimes more roots-rock than otherwise with touches of Nashville and Americana. She released her […]
Toronzo Cannon The Chicago Way Alligator Records Toronzo Cannon was born on Chicago’s south side in 1968. While growing up Cannon would sit outside Theresa’s Lounge listening to the sounds of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells spilling out onto the street. He purchased his first guitar when he was 22. His early influences included Albert […]
Luther Dickinson Blues & Ballads A Folksingers’s Songbook: Volume I & II New West Records Luther Dickinson, guitar; and his brother Cody, drums; were born in Memphis the sons of legendary musician/producer Jim Dickinson. Luther’s discography includes early recordings with bands such as “D.D.T.” and “Gutbucket”. After years working as part of the rock club […]
Benny Turner When She’s Gone Nola Blue Records Benny Turner and his older brother Freddie lived on the West Side of Chicago. Guitarist Freddie chose to use their mother’s maiden name and became the legendary Freddie King. Turner played bass in his brother’s band and toured with him until King’s death in 1976. Soon after […]
Ebony Jo-Ann Save Your Love For Me Independent Ebony Jo-Ann is a New York vocalist and actress with numerous television, movie and theatrical credits. She has been featured on television’s “Law and Order”, in the Adam Sandler films “Grown Ups” and “Grown Ups 2” and on Broadway in “The Sunshine Boy’s”, and “Ma Rainey’s Black […]
Magic Sam Blues Band Black Magic Delmark Records Samuel Gene Maghett a.k.a. Magic Sam was born in Grenada, Ms. in 1937. Sam learned to play the Blues by listening to Muddy Waters and Little Walter. In 1956 Sam moved to Chicago and signed with Cobra Records. His singles included “All Your Love” and Willie Dixon’s […]
Tommy Z Blizzard of Blues South Blossom Records Tommy Z hails from Western New York State. As a teenager his guitar influences included Stevie Ray Vaughan, Freddie King and Buddy Guy. Tommy began entertaining our troops overseas as part of the USO/AFE in 2003. He has shared the stage with B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Jeff […]
Wendy DeWitt w/ Kirk Harwood Getaway Wette Music Wendy DeWitt is a boogie-woogie, stride and barrelhouse piano player known for her powerhouse left hand. She has played with Otis Rush, Sam Moore and many others. She formed her band Blue Saloon in the late 1980’s and released her first album “Wendy DeWitt and Blue Saloon” […]
Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys Live at The Big Bull Falls Blues Festival Nevermore Records Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys just hosted the Tuesday night jam on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. Born and raised in Chicago guitarist Reverend Richard Raven has been playing the blues since he […]
Steve Howell and The Mighty Men Friend Like Me Out of The Past Music/Burnside Distribution Steve Howell was born in Texas and lives in the greater Shreveport, La. area. Howell has immersed himself in the rural blues of the south. Howell’s first recording was the independently produced 2006 “Out of The Past. Howell followed up […]
Danielle Nicole Wolf Den Concord Music Group Danielle Nicole born Danielle Nicole Schnebelen grew up in Kansas City. Her mom, Lisa Swedelund instilled in her an appreciation for all kinds of genre based music. Early inspirations included Koko Taylor and at sixteen Danielle began to sing lead in her father’s band “Little Eva and The […]
Wee Willie Walker If Nothing Ever Changes Little Village Foundation In 1960 Wee Willie Walker was a member of the gospel group The Redemption Harmonizers. After relocating in Minnesota he would often return to Memphis and in 1968 he recorded nine secular “sides” for Goldwax Records. Four of these were leased to Checker Records a subsidiary […]
Jimmy Adler Grease Alley Sprucewood Records Jimmy Adler is from the Pittsburgh area. His early influences included Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones and that led to discovering the music of B.B. King, Elmore James, and Jimmy Reed. He later discovered T-Bone Walker, Duke Robillard, and Little Charlie Baty. Guitarist Adler formed his own band […]
David G Smith is a singer/songwriter who, on his 3rd studio album, First Love, delivers 10 original songs.He sounds very much like James Taylor. But on First Love, there is a theme running through the recording of learning to face and deal with the unknown which, on the lighter sounding songs especially, gets a little creepy […]
Duffy Bishop Find Your Way Home Lil’ Spinner Records Blues bands are mostly regional. In other words they can’t afford to travel further than they can drive in a day. Members also can’t afford to give up their day jobs. When a band relocates the news is significant. Duffy Bishop began performing in rock bands […]
Johnny Rawls Tiger in a Cage Catfood Records Johnny Rawls was born in Hattiesburg, Ms. in 1951. In the mid seventies guitarist Rawls joined O.V. Wright’s band and became his music director. After Wright died “The Ace of Spades Band” stayed together thirteen more years and wound up backing Little Milton, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Johnny […]
