CD Reviews on projects by Indie Blues Artists
Andy Lindquist Stand Abide Endure This album is really special for a number of reasons. Firstly it’s the 75th album of Andy’s career an achievement in its self. Secondly it’s a return of another blues album which I have to say finds Andy in his natural musical habitat. Vocally Andy on this album has given […]
The Brothers March 10, 2020/Madison Square Garden/New York, NY Peach The Brothers is like having the Allman Brothers greatest hits performed live in one handy 4-CD package. Given that only one member of the original lineup, Jaimoe, is still alive, this is the second incarnation of The Allman Brothers Band (2001-2014) plus some guests who […]
Steve Dawson at the bottom of a canyon in the branches of a tree Pravda Besides having one of the longest and strangest album titles seen in some time, Chicago-based singer- songwriter Steve Dawson brings us a powerful album of loss and rebirth. Dawson is vastly underrecognized and underrated but has long been one of […]
Adam Schultz Soulful Distancing Blue Heart It’s rather common for an established bluesman to have a younger protégé that he is mentoring, with Buddy Guy and Quinn Sullivan being perhaps the most recognizable example to most blues fans. But Pennsylvania’s Clarence Spady has an apprentice too, 18-year-old guitarist Adam Schultz. After a long recording hiatus, […]
Robert Billard & The Cold Cuts Stop Self-released Robert Billard, formerly mostly a folk singer and now a bluesman, may be the only one of that ilk living in Nunavut, Canada’s newest province, a massive, sparsely populated territory of northern Canada, forming most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Its islands have expanses of tundra, craggy […]
Sean Chambers That’s What I’m Talkin About This album is a tribute to Hubert Sumlin, a musician who had a huge influence on Sean’s life and future career in music. For a number of years Sean was a member of Hubert’s touring band , an experience that Sean will tell you himself made a significant […]
Various Artists A Sweet Relief Tribute to Joey Spampinato True North This is an amazing group of artists all generously donating their proceeds from these recordings to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund to support NRBQ founding member/bassist/songwriter Joey Spampinato with his current health issues. Joey’s wife Kami Lyle and producer Sheldon Gomberg rallied a group […]
Gerald McClendon Let’s Have a Party Delta Roots Chicago soul singer Gerald McClendon, the “Soul Keeper,” makes a quick return from 2020’s Can’t Nobody Stop Me Now, a major statement, which he now quickly follows with Let’s Have a Party. McClendon first got a lift from 2019’s Delta Roots release, Battle of the Blues: Chicago vs. Oakland, […]
Patti Parks Whole Nother World VizzTone Working nurse and blues belter Patti Parks hails from Buffalo, NY but made the trek to Baton Rouge, LA to record Whole Nother World, her second full-length release, at Kenny Neal’s studio. After hearing Parks at the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge, Kenny Neal signed her to his Booga […]
Deb Ryder Memphis Moonlight Vizztone Label Group Deb Ryder got her start when as a teenager she would open for visiting artists at her father’s nightclub. She wound up opening for Etta James, Big Joe Turner, Charlie Musselwhite and Taj Mahal. Ryder recorded her debut album “Might Just Get Lucky” in 2013. Her fifth studio […]
Tia Carroll You Gotta Have It! Little Village Foundation Tia Carroll has been performing in California’s Bay Area for decades. She made her own successful albums in both Italy and Brazil, This is the album her fans have been waiting for and her first stateside studio recording. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by […]
Mary Hott with The Carpenter Ants Devil in the Hills – Coal Country Reckoning Self-released You may be thinking that The Carpenter Ants may not be the most inviting band name, but this is as an important concept album as you’ll find. Singer-songwriter Mary Hott is a seventh generation West Virginian who has devotedly researched […]
Elizabeth King Living In The Last Days Bible & Tire Recording Co. After a terrible car accident King was told she would never walk again and so she has since pledged herself to the Lord. Elizabeth King, primarily recorded singles, but she quit recording Sacred Soul in the mid-seventies to raise her fifteen children. Producer […]
Chris Bergson All I Got Left 2 Shirts Coincidentally as we sit down to write on this day of Levon Helm’s birthday, we have one of his many disciples – singer-songwriter, blues guitarist Chris Bergson, offering his new solo effort, All I Got Left. It’s solo in the true sense of the word as you […]
Etta James The Montreux Years Montreux Sounds/Montreux Media Ventures Jamesetta Hawkins was born in 1938, known professionally as Etta James, she was an American singer who performed in various genres, including blues, R&B, soul, and Jazz. Starting in 1954, she gained fame with hits such as ”At Last”, “Tell Mama”, “Something’s Got a Hold on […]
Wee Willie Walker Not In My Lifetime Blue Dot Records Born in Hernando, Mississippi, Wee Willie Walker’s career spanned six decades as he was one of the last real soul singers. He recorded nine sides for the Memphis based Goldwax label in 1968. More recently, between 2004 and 2011, Walker recorded three albums with the […]
Kendall Carter Introducing Kendall Carter Lladnek Music Recently one of my review comments was that organ trios are far from dead. In fact, we’ve seen several contemporary twists on the idiom lately, but newcomer B3 master Kendall Carter mostly embraces the tradition on this soulful, bluesy debut. Impressively he teams with one of today’s most […]
Dara Tucker Dreams of Waking Green Hill Productions The blues readers of these pages probably know the name Dara Tucker, ostensibly a jazz vocalist on this outing – Dreams of Waking – Music for a Better World. She co-wrote and sang on the title track for ‘Keb Mo’s Grammy winning Oklahoma. Tucker indeed hails from […]
Donna Herula Bang at the Door Self-released Donna Herula, a killer slide and resonator player and singer-songwriter, is releasing her third album, Bang at the Door. She brings ten originals, a co-write, and three well-chosen covers. While Herula’s slicing guitar is usually front and center, she is joined by quite a cast including FJ Ventre […]
Various Artists 50 Years of Genuine Houserockin’ Music Alligator Records Alligator, the Chicago based label, is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. In 1971 Alligator President Bruce Iglauer started operating out of his efficiency apartment. The first album issued was “Hound Dog Taylor and The Houserockers”. The catalog now contains over 350 titles. Iglauer has stuck to […]
Maria Muldaur Let’s Get Happy Together Stoney Plain Records Six-time Grammy nominee Maria Muldaur was raised in Greenwich Village. In 1963 she began her recording career as a member of The Even Dozen Jug Band. She left the following year and joined The Jim Kweskin Band where she married Geoff Muldaur. As a duo she […]
Rale Micic Only Love Will Stay Whaling City Sound Organ trios generally take the soul-jazz path, to the point where such a configuration is too easily stereotyped. Guitarist Rale Micic will argue that he still brings plenty of soul in this quartet setting, Slavic soul that is. As such, it is a refreshingly different sound […]
Tony Joe White Smoke from the Chimney Easy Eye Sound Smoke from the Chimney, a nine-song album of never-before-heard Tony Joe White tunes, is the posthumous album that most thought never existed. Produced by Dan Auerbach and rounded out by Nashville’s most seasoned studio musicians, Smoke from the Chimney started as several unadorned voice and guitar demos […]
Van Morrison Latest Record Project: Volume 1 BMG Perhaps no artist was more upset about the pandemic lockdown, at least to the point of railing against it in song, as the ever prolific Van Morrison. And yes, he used the time to generate a ton of new material, indicating that this tongue-in-cheek entitled Latest Record […]
Bob Corritore & Friends Spider In My Stew Vizztone Label Group/SWMAF Records Bob Corritore was born in Chicago and as an adolescent got hooked on blues harmonica. He studied and received playing tips from some of the cities finest, including Carey Bell, Big Walter Horton, and Junior Wells. Corritore moved to Pheonix when he was […]
Dumpstaphunk Where Do We Go From Here Mascot Label Group/The Funk Garage Art “Poppa Funk” Neville formed the New Orleans Funk band, Neville Sounds, in the early 1960’s and later changed their name to the Meters. With his brothers Cyril, Aaron and Charles, he also formed the Neville Brothers; and The Funky Meters with a […]
Eddie 9V Little Black Flies Atlanta blues man Eddie 9V is set to release Little Black Flies on Ruf Records May 28. While this is not Eddie ‘s first record, it is his first for an established record label. It was produced at Atlanta’s Echo Deco Studios Eddie’s brother, Lane Kelly. Even though he is […]
Joanna Connor 4801 South Indiana Avenue Keeping The Blues Alive Records Joanna Connor is a Chicago based singer & songwriter who was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was magnetically drawn to the blues of The Windy City. She has shared the stage with James Cotton, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy. Connor released her first recording […]
Randy McAllister Paperbag Salvation Reaction East Texas-born, South Dakota-based Randy McAllister is an acclaimed blues/roots artist, known principally for his soulful vocals and inventive songs both topically and structurally in a genre that often is far too predictable. McAllister didn’t arrive on the scene overnight. From Texas to Massachusetts to Alaska and then back to […]
Steve Cropper Fire It Up Provogue Records/Mascot Music Steve Cropper is the Memphis born guitarist, songwriter and record producer who began as a member of the Stax Records house band, Booker T. & the M. G.’s. Besides backing artists Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Rufus Thomas and Johnnie Taylor; he played on the Mar-Key’s hit […]
Will Porter Tick Tock Tick Gramofono Sound This is a re-issue of Will Porter’s “Tick Tock Tick” one of the most critically acclaimed soul drenched roots albums. Unfortunately, at the time it was a limited release. Will Porter was born in West Virginia in 1959 where as a youngster he sang gospel. He worked with […]
Jimmie Bratcher I’m Hungry Independent Kansas City’s Jimmie Bratcher was first influenced by 1960 guitarist Eric Clapton. Other guitar influences included Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, and B.B. King. He played in several bands but his substance abuse caused them to fail. He divorced but later reunited with his wife, abandoned music, and put his faith […]
Chris Cain Raisin’ Cain Alligator Records Now sixty-seven, Chris Cain was born in San Jose, California to a Greek mother and African-American father. As a teenager he began playing guitar and went on to study music at San Jose City College. Along the way he also mastered piano, bass, clarinet, and saxophone. Cain released his […]
Tomislav Goluban Express Connection Blue Heart Records Tomislav Goluban was inspired by harp masters Little Walter, Paul Butterfield and Gary Primich. The Croatian musician, whose surname translates to Pigeon, formed Little Pigeon’s Forhill Blues Band in 1997. His debut recording “Pigeon’s Flight” was released in 2005. Goluban traveled to Memphis to compete in the International […]
Various Artists Johnny’s Blues: A Tribute to Johnny Cash This is a 2003 compilation by American and Canadian blues musicians. I don’t know how I missed it back then. Like most compilations some songs work better than others But overall it is a worthwhile celebration of a beloved man and musician. The album begins with […]
Damon Fowler Alafia Moon Landslide Records Damon Fowler was born and raised a few miles east of Tampa. He first picked up the guitar when he was twelve; and has also mastered both the Dobro and lap steel. Fowler released his debut recording “Riverview Drive”, produced by Rick Derringer, in 1999. Two more independently released […]
Brigitte DeMeyer Seeker Spinach Pitts Music Seeker is the latest album from the inspiring and poetic songwriter Brigitte DeMeyer, and releases on March 26, 2021. Her melodies are a deep fusion of jazz and blues. Vocally, Brigitte has a range that effortlessly flows from soulfully sweet with just a hint of sugar to thick and […]
Rick Holmstrom See That Light LuEllie Records Rick Holmstrom was born in Fairbanks but later relocated to Southern California. While attending college he joined a local blues band and sat in with Smokey Wilson and Junior Watson. Holmstrom was the guitarist in The William Clarke Band from 1985 to 1988. He joined up with another […]
Steve Hill Desert Trip No Label Records After listening to Canadian guitarist Steve Hill’s Desert Trip a few times it’s been somewhat challenging trying to pinpoint just what film his amazingly cinematic music evokes. Now this writer is landing on the desolate landscapes of No Country for Old Men (on second thought, that’s true for […]
Blues Society of Central, Pa. Backyard Blues Blue Heart Records The Blues Society of Central Pa. has been hosting a weekly Thursday night jam for more than twenty-years. The 2020 pandemic forced the cancellation of the weekly event. The society switched gears to broadcast the sessions on their facebook page and to keep the blues […]
New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers Volume 2 Stony Plain Records Luther Dickinson explains how this 2007 recording session came to be. “The New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers …was conceived in the back of a tour bus…Alvin Youngblood Hart, Jimbo Mathis, and Charlie Musselwhite had hit the road together with the North Mississippi Allstars […]
Joe Lewis Band Up Next Independent James Joseph Lewis hails from Picayune Mississippi, an hour north of New Orleans. Most of the music he heard growing up was either blues or gospel and he started playing guitar at the age of ten. After struggling with the ups and downs of the music industry Joe was […]
JP & Ekat JP Williams Blues Band featuring Ekat Pereyra Gizzifter Records New York City born JP Williams attended Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. It was there that he began moonlighting at college coffee houses playing a mixture of folk, blues and soul. After college JP returned to the city and performed at open mikes, […]
Curtis Salgado Damage Control Alligator Records Curtis Salgado was born in 1954, in Everett Washington, approximately 200 miles from Portland. By 1976 Salgado was already a member of The Robert Cray Band and helped to launch Cray’s career as he plays harp on Cray’s 1980 debut “Who’s Been Talkin’”. Salgado is also credited for turning […]
Wildroots Sessions Volume 1 Wildroots Records Victor Wainwright was born in Savannah. He attended college in Daytona and moved to Memphis where he was employed during the day as an Air Traffic Controller at Memphis International Airport. At night Wainwright honed his piano skills in the clubs along Beale Street. He met bassist Stephen Dees […]
Dave Thomas One More Mile Blonde On Blonde Direct (Records) Limited Welsh born Dave Thomas is a veteran of the 60’s British Blues boom. By 1970 he had become the lead singer in the South Wales rock band “Blonde On Blonde”. He spent ten years as leader of the house band for England’s Shake Down […]
The Bluesbones Live On Stage Naked/Donor Productions The Bluesbones are a five-piece Blues-Rock band from Belgium first formed in 2011. The following year they released their debut album “Voodoo Guitar”. In 2012 and 2016 the band was the winner of the Belgian Blues Challenge, and finished second in 2017’s European Blues Challenge held in Denmark. […]
Neil Barnes Bald Guy With A Lot On His Mind Bar-B-Q Sound Recordings The San Francisco Bay Area’s Neil Barnes is a harmonica player strongly influenced by Paul Butterfield, Muddy Waters, Charlie Musselwhite and Lee Oscar. He was able to hangout, up close and personal, and witness Freddie King, Albert King and Albert Collins. During […]
Trevor B. Power What Is Real Farm 189 Records New Jersey’s Trevor B. Power began playing the guitar when he was fifteen. He was inspired by the rock n’ roll of the sixties and seventies, and spent most of his adult life playing solo acoustic at coffee houses and bars in the northeast and Arizona. […]
Ally Venable Heart of Fire Ruf Records The past year has left us needing music that is bold and uplifting and Heart of Fire is surely that. From the first sizzling notes of Venable’s guitar, you know you are hearing a guitarist skilled enoughto equal her Texas heroes, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, […]
