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.
By Rhetta Akamatsu What happens when you take one former opera singer (Eliza Neals), one guitar legend (Howard Glazer),and a total of 17 musicians, send them to 5 studios and try to create something new in modern blues-rock? You get a phenomenal album called 10.000 Feet Down. To try to describe the sound of this […]
Elvin Bishop Big Fun Trio Alligator Records Elvin Bishop has been active on the Blues scene ever since he met Paul Butterfield in 1963. He left The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and formed his own band, The Elvin Bishop Group, in 1968. This is Bishop’s twentieth studio album and twenty-eighth album overall. A lot has […]
Lisa Biales The Beat of My Heart Big Song Music Lisa Biales hails from Oxford, Ohio. She attended Ohio University in Athens. Her first full length album was released in 1999. Her last album 2013’s “Belle of The Blues” was co-produced by EG Kight and Paul Hornsby. “The Beat of My Heart” is Biales’ ninth […]
Big Bill Morganfield Bloodstains on the Wall Black Shuck Records In 1999 Big Bill Morganfield, the youngest son of the late McKinley Morganfield a.k.a. Muddy Waters, released his first authorized studio recording. It was the result of a fifteen year odyssey of self discovery. On “Rising Son” Morganfield surrounded himself with personnel who had played […]
Thornetta Davis Honest Woman Sweet Mama Music Thornetta Davis was born in Detroit. Davis released her first full length studio recording “Sunday Morning Music” in 1996. Her song “Cry”, from that album, was featured in an episode of “The Sopranos”. She appeared at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Fest and sang onstage with Bonnie […]
Now that I have the February news, it turns out to be a busy blues weekend! There’s lots of stuff to choose from, including Tinsley Ellis at The Variety Playhouse and Francine Reed at Eddie’s Attic, plus much more! Just a quick update on Eddie Tigner, who I know Atlanta area blues fans have had […]
John Ginty featuring Astor Pheonyx Rockers American Showplace Music John Ginty is an in demand organ player appearing on approximately sixty albums for other artists. Ginty’s grasp of American contemporary music enables him to play in a variety of different contexts. In 2013 Ginty starting working with producer Ben Elliot of American Showplace Studios and […]
Cary Morin has a voice that is as strong and expressive as to Van Morrison’s and the sensitivity of James Taylor, but his songwriting is strictly his own and even on the three songs on Cradle to the Grave that he did not write, his interpretation is highly personal. The music varies from blues to […]
Reverend Freakchild has just released a new album called Preachin’ Blues, and on it, that is exactly what he does. Preachers have always found music a powerful tool to share a message, and so does Freakchild. Freakchild has experimented with many blues-based styles but this one is purely traditional..The songs were all recorded live in […]
Book Review The Blues: Why It Still Hurts So Good By Marie B. Trout, PhD Dr. Marie Trout has written a book about me. If you are reading this then it’s probably about you too. Why do I/we love the blues? The book starts “where a study of the blues normally ends. It is written […]
A ROOM WITH A VIEW OF THE BLUES by Richard Ludmerer Favorite Vinyl that made me love The Blues These albums are not supposed to be the best blues albums of all time They are albums in my collection that influenced me and made me love the blues Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee The Keys […]
John Mayall Talk About That Forty Below Records John Mayall is the influential British bluesman who formed his band The Bluesbreakers in 1963. A great guitarist, harmonica player, singer, songwriter and bandleader he is still going strong after more than fifty years. Mayall’s band members have included guitarists Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Harvey […]
Rae and The Royal Peacocks are something new and special in the blues universe. On the verge of their trip to Memphis to represent Atlanta in the International Blues Challenge, they have released their first EP, Blues at Its Juke-Joint’ Finest, and it is, indeed, fine! The group takes its name from lead singer Rebecca […]
Eight O’Five Jive Swing Set Red Rudy Too Tunes Eight O’Five Jive are a jump blues band. Their first album was 2014’s “Too Many Men”. That album consisted mostly of covers of songs by Big Maybelle, Memphis Minnie, Clyde McPhatter, Peggy Lee, Etta James and Big Jay McNeeley. The arrangements by the band were fabulous. […]
Ronnie Baker Brooks Times Have Changed Provogue Records/Mascot Label Group Ronnie Baker Brooks was born Rodney Dion Baker in January, 1967. Brooks is a Chicago blues, and soul blues guitarist and vocalist, and the son of Lonnie Brooks. Brooks joined his father’s band in 1986 and appears on his father’s 1988 Alligator records album “Live […]
Robert Mugge loves making films, and he loves music, especially roots music like bluegrass and the blues, music that comes from deep in the soul in a very direct and honest way. His films feel that way, too. In 2003, Mugge was deeply concerned about the state of Mississippi blues. Things were changing as performers […]
Tom Craig and Soul Patch “Get Ready For Me” Independent Vocalist, songwriter and guitarist Tom Craig was first inspired by Jazz vocalists. He first discovered Frank Sinatra with The Count Basie Orchestra; and Ella Fitzgerald too. Craig even studied to be a Jazz vocalist while in College. Craig later discovered the classic soul sounds of […]
I get excited whenever I see a new Lisa Biales CD in the mail. The Beat of My Heart lives up to every expectation! Biales is one of the strongest performers in contemporary blues and here she also shows her amazing ability with soul and gospel. What a great instrument her voice is, subtle and […]
The Blues Foundation Presents The International Blues Challenge #32 The Blues Foundation’s “mission is to preserve blues heritage, celebrate blues recording and performance, expand worldwide awareness of the blues, and ensure the future of the uniquely American art form.” The foundation maintains two premier events. The Blues Music Awards “brings together Blues performers, industry representatives, […]
Peter Karp Alabama Town Rose Cottage Records Peter Karp was born in Leonia and raised in New Jersey and Enterprise, Alabama where his father, a retired military pilot, lived. Karp’s stepmother was an African-American woman who helped raise him. In New Jersey his birth mom would take Karp to concerts. As a teen Karp played […]
Wee Willie Walker & The Greaseland All-Stars Live at The Notodden Blues Festival Little Village Foundation Wee Willie Walker recorded nine sides for the Memphis based Goldwax label in 1968. It wasn’t until he was introduced to Rick Estrin that he was re-discovered. Walker’s 2015 album “If Nothing Ever Changes”, co-produced by Estrin and Kid […]
Making A Scene Presents Richard Ludmerer’s TOP 50 INDIE Blues CD’s Reviewed in 2016! These are presented in no particular order because they are all THAT good! We at Making a Scene pride ourselves on our CD reviews. We just don’t give you an insightful opinion, we give you the opportunity to watch the artists we […]
Si Cranstoun Old School Ruf Records When Si Cranstoun refers to “Old School” he is referring to the golden era of rock and R n’ B. His primary influences are Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke and Big Joe Turner. Cranstoun was born in Caterham, Surrey, England. Cranstoun’s father Bill promoted Ska and Reggae music and Cranstoun […]
Ilana Katz Katz Movin’ On Regina Royale Records Ilana Katz, fiddle, married Warren Katz therefore she became Ilana Katz Katz. Ilana is also a busker. She plays her fiddle in the Boston subway system collecting donations from who ever enjoys her music. She attended a Billy Boy Arnold concert where she met Ronnie Earl. Earl […]
Rory Block Keepin’ Outta Trouble a tribute to Bukka White Stony Plain Records Rory Block hails from Princeton, NJ but spent a lot of her formative years as part of the Greenwich Village folk music scene. At the age of fourteen she was introduced to the music of the Mississippi Delta. She recorded for Elektra, […]
It’s been more than 25 years since Travis Tritt began his musical career, yet on his 2-disc CD set, Travis Tritt: A Man and His Guitar – Live from The Franklin Theatre, he sounds as fresh and relevant as ever. While staying true to his roots, he shows that he is capable of crossing the line […]
Smoke Wagon Blues Band Cigar Store Independent The Smoke Wagon Blues Band, from Hamilton Ontario, was formed in 1996. Their now out of print debut was 1997’s “Smoke Wagon Blues Number 36”. They followed up in 2001 with the live “Low Down Righteous Blues”. “The One and Only” was issued in 2005 and resulted in […]
MonkeyJunk Time to Roll Stony Plain Records MonkeyJunk, the Ottawa Ontario based trio, is Tony “D” Diteodoro, rhythm and lead guitar; Steve Mariner, lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, harmonica and organ; and Matt Sobb, drums, percussion, and backing vocals. The band released its first album “Tiger in Your Tank” in 2009 and won the […]
The McKee Brothers Enjoy It While You Can Independent The accompanying publicity sheet states that “Enjoy It While You Can”…features great performances by a talented roster of players from Los Angeles and Michigan…” I will list them later. But who are these McKee Brothers that they can attract such a talented ensemble when this is […]
In June of this year, Heart played with an orchestra for the first time in a career spanning over 40 years, and they did it with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at The Royal Albert Hall in London, England. The 1080 video captures the beauty and majesty of the historic building and also provides plenty of […]
Taj Mahal Labor of Love Acoustic Sounds Taj Mahal was born Henry Saint Claire Fredericks in Harlem on May 17th, 1942. He was raised in a West Indian-American and African-American family. He grew up in Springfield, Ma. and in the early 1960’s studied agriculture at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He graduated and moved […]
Biscuit Miller Wishbone Bluebass Music David Miller was born and raised on Chicago’s south side. He was nicknamed “Biscuit” by his grandma as he wouldn’t get outta’ her kitchen. He learned to play bass from his friend’s older brother. He formed his first band “Clever” with another friend Ivan Wallace. The family moved to Minneapolis […]
By Rhetta Akamatsu Full disclosure: I received this album from Fiona Boyes for review. Fiona Boyes has a new album release, Professin’ The Blues, and on it, she does just that. Produced by the legendary Professor Keith O. Johnson of Reference Records and recorded at Skywalker Sound studios in California ,this is a perfect match of […]
Mike Zito Make Blues Not War Ruf Records Mike Zito worked ten years at a downtown St. Louis guitar shop where an older employee taught him an appreciation for The Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton and B.B. King. He released “Blue Room” his first independently produced album in 1997. Follow up albums included 1999’s “America’s Most […]
Seattle quartet Gravel Road digs a little deeper into the world of Deep trance-blues and psychedelic jam chunk rock on Capitol Hill Country Blues, their sixth studio album released in December of 2016. The nine new tracks were recorded and mixed by legendary engineer Jack Endino in late 2015 & early 2016. The band’s signature […]
The Rolling Stones Blue and Lonesome Interscope Records The Rolling Stones started out as high school classmates listening to the blues. Their early influences were American blues artists Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed. Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts used to sit in with British blues artist Alexis Koerner when he played The Marquee. […]
Northwest super group Rust on The Rails is a collaborative ensemble that began as an acoustic based progressive rock meets world music hybrid that has evolved into a full force commercial rock band, ready to take its place in the upper echelon of Seattle music history with the release of their first full length album […]
Big Head Blues Club Way Down Inside: Songs of Willie Dixon Big Records The Big Head Blues Club is a project of Big Head Todd and The Monsters. The Colorado based band was originally formed in 1984. Todd Mark Mohr, guitar; Brian Nevin, drums; and Rob Squires, bass; all met while attending Columbine High School. […]
Mississippi Heat Cab Driving Man Delmark Records Mississippi Heat is one of Chicago’s best working blues bands. The ensemble has talent galore. Their leader Pierre Lacocque is the talented songwriter and harp player who formed the band twenty-four years ago. This is their twelfth recording overall and sixth for Delmark records. Lacocque has written eleven […]
Jason Elmore & Hoodoo Witch Champagne Velvet (Underworld Records) Jason Elmore describes his band’s new album ‘Champagne Velvet’ as “like a road trip from Dallas to Memphis, TN with a quick stop by the West Coast on the way. “ Hoodoo Witch; The Power trio lead by singer/songwriter/guitarist and Tequila aficionado Jason Elmore entered the […]
Dawn Tyler Watson Jawbreaker Independent Dawn Tyler Watson was born in England but raised in Montreal where she studied Jazz and Theatre at Concordia University. As an actress she was featured in several movies including 2004’s “Jack Paradise (Les Nuits de Montreal)” which translated means the “Nights of Montreal”; and in which she played a […]
Little Boys Blue Tennissippi Vizztone Label Group/Jaxon Records Little Boys Blue is a Tennessee based blues band originally formed in 1993. They may have taken their name from Aleck Miller who used the names Rice Miller and “Little Boy Blue” before renaming himself Sonny Boy Williamson II. Or possibly their name came from the song […]
Tas Cru Simmered and Stewed Vizztone Label Group/ Crustee Tees Records When talking about his last album Tas Cru states “after five albums everything fell into place, the songwriting, the performance, and the production.” That album 2015’s “You Keep The Money” was one of the hottest albums of the year. At the International Blues Challenge […]
Trudy Lynn I’ll Sing The Blues For You Connor Ray Music Trudy Lynn released 2006’s “I’m Still Here” recorded with the Calvin Owens Blues Orchestra. As a result she received two 2007 Blues Music Award nominations; one for Soul Blues Album of The Year and one for Soul Blues Female Artist of The Year. In […]
Mary Jo Curry Guitar Angels Records Mary Jo Curry is from Springfield, Illinois. She is from a big family and has seven older brothers all whom are musicians. She plays piano and studied theater and voice while in college. She has been with theatrical touring companies and sang with an 80’s cover band. Five years […]
JW Jones High Temperature Solid Blues Records Molson Golden Ale, Iceberg Vodka and JW Jones; these are among my favorite Canadian exports. Although Jones’ influences include fellow Canadians Ronnie Hawkins and Colin James he has absorbed all the blues, rock, and country music that has come before him. In 2000 Jones released his first album […]
The Jimmys Hot Dish Brown Cow Productions The Jimmys are a seven piece R n’ B and jump blues band from Wisconsin. The band was formed in 2008 by Jimmy Voegeli. By day Voegeli works on his family’s fifth-generation dairy farm with 200 Brown Swiss dairy cows. At night Voegeli is an award winning musician […]
The Rev. Billy C Wirtz truly is divine, as his press release claims, if you are not easily offended and love to laugh! Do not let the title of Rev. fool you into thinking this is a religious record or you are in for a terrible shock. With the help of the legendary Nighthawks, he […]
Mitch Kashmar West Coast Toast Delta Groove Music Mitch Kashmar was born in the beachside community of Santa Barbara, Ca. in 1960. He is a disciple of the California harp scene that includes George “Harmonica” Smith, William Clarke, Rod Piazza, and Kim Wilson. Kashmar has shared the stage with John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Turner, […]
Colin James Blue Highways True North Records Colin James Munn was born in Saskatchewan Canada in 1964. As a young man he and his band opened for Steve Ray Vaughan who suggested that he drop his last name. James released his first recording in 1988. He is probably most well known in blues circles for […]