Every week our staff of CD Reviewers bring you the best in Independent CD releases. Making a Scene is considered the number 1 resource for the independent musician and the fans that love them.
Val Starr & The Blues Rocket Lighter Side of The Blues Sandwich Factory Records Raised in Southern California Val Starr began singing and playing guitar when she was twelve. It was the bands of the 1960’s and 1970’s, and female singer/songwriters Carole King and Joni Mitchell that were her early influences. Her mom loved the […]
The Mary Jo Curry Band Front Porch Independent Springfield Illinois’ Mary Jo Curry is a classically trained singer, and pianist. In 2011 Curry heard music on the street, emanating from a small club, and the sounds pulled her in. That was the first time Curry heard the blues. She wound up becoming the band’s singer […]
Sinne Eeg & The Danish Radio Big Band We’ve Just Begun BFM Jazz Jazz vocalist Sinne Eeg has been spreading her spell beyond her native Denmark where she is a huge star, to other locales in Europe and the U.S. Now that she’s combined songwriting with her classy interpretations of standards, she is quickly becoming […]
Chickaboom Tami Neilson Outside Music Canadian-born, New Zealand-based vocalist Tami Neilson releases Chickaboom! through Outside Music on February 14, 2020. Valentines Day! What’s not to love about that! Chickaboom! is revivalist rockabilly with clickety-clack percussion and a stomp-n-holler groove. With a vocal range that sways and phrasing that evokes artists like Amy Winehouse, St. Paul […]
Lisa Mills The Triangle Melody Place Mississippi native Lisa Mills spent ten years playing guitar and singing in the coastal areas of the south before releasing her debut recording in 2000. In 2004 she appeared as a vocalist on The Big Town Playboys 2004 album “Roll The Dice” featuring Jeff Beck and Robert Plant. She […]
Sam Hirsh Quite Frankly Umadas Music Pianist, composer and educator Sam Hirsh makes his debut as a bandleader with Quite Frankly, recorded to celebrate the pianist’s thirtieth birthday and tenth year as a staple musician in the jazz scene in Los Angeles. Joined by a bicoastal cadre of world-class improvisers, Hirsh introduces a set of original tunes inspired […]
Robin McKelle Alterations Doxie Alterations is jazz vocalist/composer Robin McKelle’s follow-up to her 2018 Melodic Canvas which we covered on these pages. While that was mostly an album of originals, McKelle chooses here to, as she says, “fuse jazz, soul, r&b, blues and rock while keeping continuity in the music.” These are mostly familiar songs […]
Robert Vincent In This Town You’re Owned Thirty Tigers If it’s possible for an Englishman to be an Americana artist, then singer-songwriter Robert Vincent would be the first in line. Vincent continues to put his distinctive stamp on the genre as evidenced by the reception and acclaim received at this past year’s AmericanaFest. He is […]
PARADISE BOOGIE Eric Harabadian & Lisa Hagopian Vision 561 Prod. After you have lived in any metropolitan area for some length of time you begin to sense a certain rhythm that is the essence of the city. There are always sounds, smells, and visions that are unique experiences found nowhere else. Detroit Michigan USA is […]
The Pilgrim: A Wall-To-Wall Odyssey Marty Stuart Marty Stuart’s book – The Pilgrim: A Wall-To-Wall Odyssey, releases on Valentine’s Day. A coffee table book that through real stories and Marty’s personal archived photos, help chronicle the spiritual and artistic journey that culminated in Stuart’s 1999 concept album, The Pilgrim. Based on true events from his […]
Pacific Mambo Orchestra The III Side Self-released The Grammy-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra (PMO) was founded in 2010 by Mexican-born pianist Christian Tumalan and German-born trumpeter Steffen Kuehn. The 20-piece ensemble is the only active Latin Big band on the US West Coast, comprised of some of the Bay Area’s top talent. In addition, this aggregation […]
Calle Loiza Jazz Project There Will Never Be Another You Self-released This one has a rich story. Calle Loiza is the famous street in Santurce, Puerto Rico with a storied history of culture and artistic creativity. The Bomba rhythms are known to have origin near there. Some core members of this group met at a […]
Michael Doucet Lacher Prise Compass Records Louisiana born Michael Doucet is best known as the founder and leader of the Grammy winning Cajun band Beausoleil. Doucet has twenty-five albums with Beausoliel, one with the band Coteau, five with the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, and one with the Fiddlers 4. Doucet is a fiddler who plays an […]
Chicago Farmer Flyover Country Cody Diekhoff is a songwriter-singer. People know him as “Chicago Farmer” and his sixth studio album, Flyover Country, released February 7th 2020. A country boy from Illinois, these songs speak to and sometimes for the working class. Diekhoff teamed up with the hot Texas, Band Of Heathens, as his backing band […]
Harper and the Midwest Kind Rise Up As soon as you hear the opening notes of “Rise Up,” the title song of Harper and the Midwest Kind’s new release 11, you will know it is something unique. After all, how many roots anthems start out with the didgeridoo? The album is coming out on February […]
Marshall Crenshaw Miracle of Science Shiny-tone Records The Detroit born Marshall Crenshaw released his self-titled debut in 1982. That first album included the Top 40 hit “Someday, Someway”. Crenshaw followed with 1983’s “Field Day” which contained the single “Whenever You’re On My Mind”; and his 1985 album “Downtown” containing the hit “Little Wild One”. His […]
Josh Deutsch/Nico Solfiato Trio Redshift Musica.org (from Italy) The duo of trumpeter Josh Deutsch and guitarist Nico Solfiato have been active since 2006 when they first met in Boston. They draw on multiple genres, sometimes covering classical and pop in addition to jazz. Sometimes they are totally acoustic but are not averse to electronic loops […]
Tinsley Ellis Ice Cream in Hell Alligator Records Tinsley Ellis was born in Atlanta in 1957 and raised in south Florida. His friend’s older brother took them to see B.B. King and the performance inspired Ellis to become a blues guitarist. Ellis returned to Atlanta in 1975 and joined his first band with bassist Preston […]
Climax Blues Band Hands Of Time I have to admit I’ve always been a fan of the Climax Blues Band ever since I heard “Couldn’t Get It Right” all those years ago. In recent years I’d lost contact on where the band was at musically or otherwise. That was until I saw them perform on […]
Eric Brace & Last Train Home Daytime Highs & Overnight Lows Red Beet Records Eric Brace & Last Train Home release their eleventh collaboration Daytime Highs & Overnight Lows on Red Beet Records. These are traveling songs, perhaps traveling through time as they evoke a feeling from another era while being new at the same […]
The Phantom Blues Band Still Cookin’ Vizztone Label Group The Phantom Blues Band originated as Taj Mahal’s backup band. They first appeared on 1993’s “Dancin’ The Blues” and won a Blues Music Award for Traditional Blues Album of The Year. They went on to appear with Taj again on two Grammy Award winning albums: “Taj […]
Randall Bramblett The Meantime (10th Anniversary Edition) New West This marks the tenth anniversary of Randall Bramblett’s “piano trio” album, The Meantime, which New West is commemorating with remastered versions, two previously unreleased tracks, and a vinyl issue for the first time. The album is one that is rather criminally under-recognized in Bramblett’s catalog but […]
Vance Gilbert Good Good Man Vance Gilbert is superlative, and he has outdone himself on his latest album, Good Good Man. The songs on Good Good Man are soulfelt, funky, Jazz-infused, with a wall of sound quality and an impressive list of guests that include blues and singer/songwriter Chris Smither, Tommy Malone of the Subdudes […]
The Chris Bevington Organisation Cut And Run We all know that moment when we experience something that’s really special. These moments can be rare enough, but when they do happen,there can be no doubt. We know instantly that something magical happened. Last weekend in Skegness at their annual rock and blues festival, I had such an experience. The […]
The Wood Brothers Kingdom In My Mind Oh the things we tell ourselves. Kingdom In My Mind is the latest album release by The Wood Brothers. This is the seventh studio release by the band, and it is marvelously experimental. As favorite on mine, a Wood Brothers’ live show is captivating. For the band to […]
Mick Kolassa Blind Lemon Sessions Endless Blues Mississippi-based guitarist/vocalist and blues historian Mick Kolassa traveled to Germany to make this album, apparently the first of three that will result from his trip. Specifically it relates to the invitation from Thomas Schleiken, who runs Blind Lemon Records. (For those of you familiar with the artist Blind […]
Tas Cru Drive On Subcat Records Tas Cru lives in Chaumont New York not far from the Canadian border. He released his debut recording in 2006. Tas states his unusual stage name was bestowed on him by a Quebecois fan and roughly means “raw potato”. At the International Blues Challenge in 2014 Tas won a […]
Jeff Rupert – George Garzone The Ripple Rupe Media The Ripple isn’t trying to mimic that most classic tenor tandem, Sonny Rollins and Trane on “Tenor Madness.” That iconic piece stands alone. Instead, tenors Jeff Rupert and George Garzone pay tribute to the legendary “Prez,” Lester Young. In fact the title refers to the far-reaching […]
Lizzie Thomas New Sounds from the Jazz Age Self-released Lizzie Thomas is a jazz vocalist in love with The Great American Songbook as are many. Yet, she brings an improvisational take on these songs, never content to just do them the same way. As she says, “I can call a tune for the rest of […]
Justin Varnes Survival Instinct: The Evilution of the Pack Self-released The title undoubtedly piqued your curiosity and there is no misspelling. Instead drummer and leader Justin Varnes is bringing awareness to one of the root causes of violence; our need to belong to a pack coupled with our need to blindly protect that pack. Thousand […]
Mark Hummel Wayback Machine Electro-Fi Records Mark Hummel was born in New Haven, CT in 1955, but his family relocated to Los Angeles soon later. While in high school he studied the music of Muddy Waters, Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson. He frequented the Ash Gove, an LA nightclub, where he witnessed Sonny Terry, […]
Waylon Thibodeaux Here We Go Again Rabadash Records Waylon Thibodeaux was born on the Louisiana Bayou. A native of Houma, Louisiana he started as a drummer until he heard fiddlers Johnny Gimble and Stephan Grappelli. He began studying the violin at the age of eight and won the Louisiana State Fiddling Championship when he was […]
Bywater Call Gypsy Soul Records This is the new self-titled debut by Canada’s Bywater Call. The Toronto based southern soul, blues and roots ensemble has already made their mark at Blues Festivals including the Tremblant International Blues Festival; the Quebec City Donnacona Blues Festival and The Markham Jazz Festival. The band’s influences include New Orleans […]
Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado Come On In Ruf Records Thorbjorn Risager founded, Blue 7, his first band in 2002. His debut album “Live 2004” resulted in Risager being named the Danish Blues musician of the year. When the band became an octet they took the name Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado. They […]
Tom Breiding Love Commits Me Here AmeriSon Singer-songwriter Tom Breiding writes a specific kind of Americana song, ones devoted to laborers and union workers. Hailing from West Virginia, he has been doing so for his entire career due to his intense connections with union members and groups. Several on Love Commits Me Here highlight his […]
G Love and Keb’ Mo’ The Juice Philadelphonic/Thirty Tigers This is the eighth album for Philly born and raised, now Cape Cod resident G. Love (aka Garrett Dutton), a masterful multi-instrumentalist with a diverse set of influences, a knack for reinvention and a penchant for collaboration. You may be familiar with him through his usual […]
Grace Potter Daylight From the first notes of the first song, Grace Potter’s new solo album, Daylight, it is obvious that this is a powerful and highly personal album. it is her first album in four years and her second since the break up of her band, The Nocturnals. It comes after a tumultuous break, […]
S.E. Willis and the Willing Too Much Love Mr. Suchensuch Records S.E. Willis was the piano player in the Elvin Bishop Band when they were named Band of the Year in 2015. He had been with Bishop since 1999. “Too Much Love” is Willis’ seventh recording under his own name the last being 2014’s two-cd […]
Comin Right At Ya, Or How a Jewish Yankee Hippie Went Country Ray Benson by Rhetta Akamatsu As he explains in Comin’ Right At Ya, Ray Benson was indeed born a Yankee, growing up in Philadelphia, He is also Jewish and was a hippie when he formed Asleep at the Wheel 50 years ago. Yet […]
Tony Irving & Massimo Magee Vitriol and the Third Oraculum 577 Records This is today’s free jazz from two London artists. It’s either your thing or it’s clearly not. There’re no fence sitting for music like this. For reference points think of John Coltrane’s Interstellar Space, a duo with drummer Rashied Ali. Or, the long […]
Kayle Brecher Kayleidoscope Penchant Four Kayle Brecher’s interpretation of the opening “My Favorite Things” lets you know right away that she is a unique, imaginative jazz vocalist. She respects the tradition but is also willing to take some chances. Brecher currently resides in Philadelphia but is a native New Yorker who began her career in […]
Andrew Robert Eustace Different Sides “Different Sides”is the latest offering from this young man from Glasgow Scotland. Scotland and Glasgow in particular has a fine reputation for being a hotbed of musical talent. Different Sides certainly fits in perfectly with that fine tradition of blues rock that is fiery, full of passion, and soul. The lyrics […]
Jimmy Johnson Every Day of Your Life Delmark Records Jimmy Johnson was born James Earl Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi in 1928. He played piano and sang gospel before moving to Chicago in 1950. He took a day job as a welder and played guitar at night. Since 1959 Johnson worked with Freddy King, Albert […]
Betty Fox Band Peace in Pieces Tony Cavanagh Productions Betty Fox recorded her debut “Too Far Gone” in 2012 and followed up with 2015’s “Slow Burn”. The St. Petersburg based Fox is a five-time winner of Tampa Bay’s “Best of The Bay” awards. For her third studio recording she decided to make a pilgrimage to […]
11 Guys Quartet Small Blues and Grooves Vizztone Label Group Vizztone Label Group President Richard Rosenblatt was a harmonica player and session musician when he started out in the 1970’s. In 1985 he launched Tone-Cool Records and the first album released on that label was the 11th Hour Band “Hot Time in The City” with […]
Will Jacobs & Marcos Coll Takin Our Time Gaztelupeko Hotsak Will Jacobs went to high school in Winnetka, Illinois where he was the guitarist in the Grammy winning New Trier High School Jazz Band in 2008. The following year Jacobs was the winner in the Youth Division of the Chicago Blues Challenge sponsored by […]
Tomislav Goluban Memphis Light Spona It seems as if harmonicists are intent on being the first ones heard in this new year. This is the fourth review this writer is written for a harmonicist led group across two different outlets and we’re only in the first full week of the new year. Each certainly has […]
NuffyoStuff Andy Lindquist If you like your southern rock done Skynyrd style, or you’re partial to some classic “Free”, or Vintage “Whitesnake”, Well have I got a treat in store for you. NuffyoStuff sounds the the title of the latest album offering from some aspiring rap artist. Now knowing Andy’s huge pool of creativity I’ve […]
The Jimmys Gotta Have It Brown Cow Productions The Jimmys are an R n’ B band formed by Jimmy Voegeli in 2008. By day the Wisconsin native works on his family’s fifth generation dairy farm with 200 Brown Swiss dairy cows. At night Voegeli is an award winning musician. In the liner notes Voegeli thanks […]
Chris Shutters with Jimmy Burns Good Gone Bad Third Street Cigar This is odd combination that works evenly and unevenly, depending on the tune. but guitarists/vocalists Chris Shutter and veteran Chicago bluesman Jimmy Burns (billed as Special Guest) have plenty of high moments on this collaboration. To the plus side, there is ample variety with […]
