RICKY ALEXANDER JUST FOUND JOY Turtle Bay Records Rickey Alexander, soprano saxophone/clarinet/vocals; Kevin Dorn, drums; Rob Adkins, bass; Brennen Ernst, guitar; Jon Thomas & Dalton Ridenhour, piano; Jon-Erik Kellso, trumpet/cornet; SPECIAL GUEST: Vanisha Gould, vocals. This album turns back the hands of time. With the exception of a solitary Alexander original composition (Promenade), the songs […]
Bruno Råberg Tentet Evolver Orbis Music Sweden-born, U.S. based bassist/composer Bruno Råberg has made 14 recordings as a leader and more than 50 as a sideman since coming to the U.S. in 1981. For this project, Evolver, Råberg returns to a large ensemble format for the first time in 22 years with players familiar to […]
Jake Hertzog Longing to Meet You Self-released Guitarist and composer Jake Hertzog has performed and composed across multiple genres and served as musical director for pop stars. For Longing to Meet You he convened a jazz quartet comprised from their mutual time attending the Manhattan School in New York. They are altoist Matt Woroshyl, bassist […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Randall Deaton On “Silver Bullet Bluegrass – A Tribute to Bob Seger” ABOUT LONESOME DAY RECORDS Located in Booneville, KY, the company was established in 2002 by audio engineer and record producer Randall Deaton. The label has released top charting Bluegrass and Country albums and singles […]
JEREMY GIGNOUX ODD STILLNESS Alberta foundation for the Arts Jeremy Gignoux, violin/viola/composer; Jiajia Li, bass flute/dizi; Keith Rodger, double bass; André Wickenheiser, trumpet; Carsten Rubeling, trombone; Robin Tufts, drums; Rebecca Bruton, voice; Mark Dejong, bass clarinet. Somewhere between restraint and wonder, the string instrument master, Jeremy Gignoux offers this experimental album of ambient instrumental music. […]
Reverend Freakchild Bare Bones Treated and Released Records This is the Reverend Freakchild’s 18th album, recorded in Boulder Colorado. It is performed on a national resonator guitar. It is a 2 CD set including live rendition’s of songs from last year’s, “Songs Of Beauty For Ashes Of Realization”, played solo. The Rev. opens with “All […]
Making a Scene announces the 2024 Independent Blues Awards, highlighting diverse blues artists, record companies, and publicists. Voters can explore nominees via Spotify, enhancing engagement and artist visibility. Categories include Male/Female Artist, Traditional/Contemporary/Blues Rock Bands, and more. Extended voting till Sept 15, 2024. Ensure full ballot completion to vote.
#indieblues #roots #makingascene #soul #spotify #musicbusiness #indie #blues #rootsrock #americana #newblues #newmusic #originalmusic #rock #podcasts #Fridaymotivation #MusicFridays
Koppel Blade Koppel Time Again Cowbell Music This organ trio emerges surprisingly. We’ve gotten used to the trio albums, three of them, from altoist Benjamin Koppel, drummer Brian Blade, and bassist Scott Colley. We’ve also witnessed that same threesome performing in front of Anders Koppel’s brilliant symphonic piece, The Mulberry Street Symphony. Yet, close followers […]
CHAD EDWARDS WYOMING ROADS Independent Label Chad Edwards, piano/organ/composer; Robert Kyle, saxophones/flute; Hussain Jiffry, basses; Kevin Winard, drums/percussion. The Chad Edwards project comes lilting through space like a gliding seahawk. The very first tune, “Wyoming Roads” is an original by the pianist. He was inspired by a road trip where he set out to feel […]
Laurie Lewis Trees Spruce and Maple Music Laurie Lewis is an icon in the worlds of bluegrass, old time, and folk, a mentor to such vital artists of today such as Molly Tuttle and an inspiration to peers which Linda Ronstadt and Kathy Mattea, as just a couple of examples. Longtime fans of Lewis know […]
ANTONIO ADOLFO LOVE COLE PORTER AAM Records Antonio Adolfo, piano/arranger/vocals; Lula Galvao, guitars; Jorge Helder, double bass; Rafael Barata, drums/percussion; Dada Costa, percussion; Jesse Sadoc, trumpet/flugelhorn; Danilo Sinna, alto saxophone; Marcelo Martins, tenor & soprano saxophones/flute; Rafael Rocha, trombone. Since childhood, Antonio Adolfo says that the music of Cole Porter has been the soundtrack of […]
The Name Droppers Starshine Horizon Music The Name Droppers is a relatively new band consisting of drummer/vocalist Bobby T. Torello; Scott Spray, bass; Ron Rifkin, keyboards; and Rafe Klein, guitar. Torello is a member of the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame and toured with Michael Bolton, Grace Slick, Johnny Winter, and others. I first heard […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Eliza Neals This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living […]
Making a Scene Brings you Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #248 with his Guest Pete Williamson of Mammal 3 Force Masks Off Alice Cooper The Congregation The Plague Living In The Past Night Laser Don’t Call Me Hero Atomic Freak Riot Stone Angels Supercharged The Now Too Hot To Handle Bison Hip Parasite […]
Tas Cru All Natural Cage-Free and Fan Feed: Live Sub Cat Records Tas Cru lives in Chaumont, New York, not far from the Canadian border. He released his debut recording in 2008. Tas states his unusual stage name was bestowed on him by a Quebecois fan and roughly means “raw potato”. At the International Blues […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Eliza Neals Standing before one of America’s truest art forms with an unconditional passion to give the Blues everything she’s got. Eliza Neals, a Detroit born blues-rock star on the rise, honors the gut-wrenching, soul splitting intent the American roots of contemporary blues represents with inspired songwriting, […]
Jesse Dayton The Hard Way Blues Hardcharger / Blue Elan Records Ever see the TV show Somebody Feed Phil? When Phil Rosenthal (the man behind the historic sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond) becomes especially excited by some kind of ethnic food during an episode, he shakes his hands up on the sides of his head and […]
The Bobby Broom Organ-Sation Jamalot Steele This year’s reviews from yours truly are not as heavily populated with organ trios as in years past but this throwback album by Bobby Broom’s Organ-Sation may well compensate in spades. These are live performances from 2014-2019 of familiar pop songs and standards, in the tradition of his once […]
JIHYE LEE ORCHESTRA INFINITE CONNECTIONS Motema Music Jihye Lee, composer/conductor; Adam Birnbaum, piano; Matt Clohesy, bass; Jared Schonig, drums; Keita Ogawa, percussion; Alex Goodman, guitar; Ben Kono, alto saxophone/piccolo/flute; Dave Pietro, alto saxophone/flute/alto flute; Jason Rigby & Jonathan Lawary, tenor saxophone/flute/clarinet; Carl Maraghi, baritone saxophone/bass clarinet; Brian Pareschi, Nathan Eklund, David Smith & Stuart Mack, […]
Freddie Trujillo I Never Threw a Shadow At It Self-released I Never Threw a Shadow At It is Portland-based singer-songwriter Freddy Trujillo’s fourth solo release. Trujillo is also the bassist for The Delines and Richmond Fontaine, two bands that this writer enjoys. Like his previous releases, Trujillo digs deep into his personal experiences growing up […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you Gerry Casey’s Interview with Pete Williamson of Mammal Like some scarecrow prophet, vocalist Ezekiel Ox spits out his passionate diatribe with a wild-eyed maniacal zeal, fusing rapid-fire rhetoric and soaring melody, while guitarist Pete Williamson lays down the sort of riffage that’ll have any punter’s fist unconsciously forming […]
Nir Felder III la.reserve In a year when we’ve been blessed by so many terrific guitar records from the likes of Julian Lage, Bill Frisell, Gilad Hekselman, and others, we welcome back Nir Felder with his third solo release, III, now on a new label, the burgeoning la.reserve. The Katonah, NY native enlists mostly the […]
Markey Blue/Ric Latina Project Blue Eyed Soul Sound Soul Records This is the new album from the songwriting team of Jeannette “Markey” Blue and Eric “Ric” Latina. Formerly on Eller Soul Records they are now on Soul Sound. The number of musicians involved in this production is considerable so please forgive me if I don’t […]
SEAN HONG WEI & JEREMY MONTEIRO THE NEW JERSEY SESSIONS Jazz Note Sean Hong Wei, tenor saxophone; Jeremy Monteiro, piano; Jay Anderson, bass; Evan Sherman, drums; Houston Person, tenor saxophone; Alex Sipiagin, trumpet. This hard-bop group opens with the Charlie Parker tune, “Dewey Square” showing that they love to ‘swing’ with as much power and […]
JOHN AMBROSINI SONGS FOR YOU Independent Label John Ambrosini, piano/vocals/keyboards/background vocals/arrangements/all piano solos; David Phelps, acoustic & electric guitars; Zachary Swansen, acoustic bass; Matt Miller, drums; Steve Finkelstein, percussion; Rich Lamb, keyboards. Randy Brecker, trumpet; Ada Rovatti & Joel Frahm, tenor saxophone; David Binney, alto saxophone; William Galison, harmonica; Brian King, vibraphone; Rich Lamb, string […]
PHIL RANELIN THE FOUND TAPES LIVE IN LOS ANGELES: 1978 – 1981 Org Music Phil Ranelin, trombone/composer; Billy Childs, piano; Tony Dumas, bass; Ralph Penland, drums. “When I moved to Los Angeles in 1977 to join Freddie Hubbard’s band, I thought I would be content playing with one of the greatest trumpeters ever. However, after […]
Grant Langston aLAbama Self-released The Stetson atop Grant Langston’s head on the cover photo, along with the not-so-subtle title screams country music, but there’s a lot more here than those suggest. This veteran, heretofore uncovered by this writer, is no newcomer. This is his tenth album, a mix of contemporary themes and pure honky-tonk, presaging […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you an interview with Joey Verskotzi VERSKOTZI is the award winning, LA based artist, producer/multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Joey Verskotzi. Known for his diverse sound, VERSKOTZI has received praise from The Fader, Ear Milk, The Source, Notion, We Found New Music, All Things Go, Celeb Mix, Kings of A&R, and […]
Sam Joyner Come what May: I’ll Always Love You Independent Sam Joyner was born and raised in SE Chicago 25 miles from Gary Indiana. His father, the Reverend Joyner, made sure that Sam spent his summers down south. Joyner’s mostly original music is a combination of urban Chicago blues and Louisiana styled R n’ B. […]
Tony Romano Three Chord Monte TRM With a play on words, from Elvin Jones’s “Three Card Molly,” and the card game of a similar name, guitarist Tony Romano entitles his own solo jazz album, filled with original compositions, Three Chord Monte. Romano has spent most of his career as a sideman for vocalists but issued […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you an interview with The Stetson Family! The Stetson Family walk the line between alt-country and bluegrass with their free-wheeling, spirited songs, awash with soaring harmonies. Described in American Songwriter Magazine as “champions of fresh bluegrass but with a bedraggled soul of rock and roots,” the band takes their […]
LAUREN HENDERSON SOMBRAS Brontosaurus Records Lauren Henderson, vocals/composer/arranger/producer; Joel Ross, vibraphone; Sean Mason, piano; Jonathan Michel, bass; Joe Dyson, drums/percussion. Joe Dyson’s percussion licks open the first tune on Lauren Henderson’s new album as her smokey, seductive voice sings “Fuego.” Henderson has added the vibraphone of Joel Ross to the mix and the instrument adds […]
JO HARROP THE PATH OF A TEAR Lateralize Records Jo Harrop, vocals/composer; Larry Klein, bass/producer; Anthony Wilson, guitar; Victor Indrizzo, drums/percussion; Jim Cox, piano/Fender Rhodes/Hammond B-3 organ; David Piltch, bass. Here is an artist that immediately snatched my attention with her very first song called “Beautiful Fools.” What a great and unique title! I grabbed […]
#indieblues #roots #makingascene #soul #spotify #musicbusiness #indie #blues #rootsrock #americana #newblues #newmusic #originalmusic #rock #podcasts #Fridaymotivation #MusicFridays
Jon Gordon 7th Ave. South ArtistShare Having spent quite a bit of time in NYC in the early to mid-1980s, it’s certainly easy to relate to saxophonist and composer Jon Gordon’s salute to the mecca of jazz in the city at that time, 7th Ave. South. The street was lined with jazz clubs, the venerable […]
NICK FINZER LEGACY: A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF J.J. JOHNSON Outside in Music Nick Finzer, trombone; Renee Rosnes, piano; Rufus Reid, bass; Lewis Nash, drums. This latest CD released by trombonist, Nick Finzer is a tribute and centennial celebration to J.J. Johnson. Johnson is considered one of the most influential and pioneering trombonists in jazz history. […]
Gerald McClendon Down At The Juke Joint Delta Roots Records Gerald McClendon is widely known as the “Soulkeeper”. Born and raised in Chicago he began singing along with the music he heard on the radio. His love for music included R&B icons Marvin Gaye, Wilson Pickett, and Otis Redding. McClendon’s love for music allows him […]
Toronzo Cannon Shut up and Play Alligator Records Toronzo Cannon was born on Chicago’s southside in 1968. As a youngster he would sit outside Theresa’s Lounge listening to the sounds spilling onto the street. He purchased his first guitar at the age of twenty-two. The blues guitarist’s early influences included Albert Collins and Albert King. […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Rick Vito This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a living […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring King Me Blues This is the Voice of Indie Blues, the future of the blues. Artists who embrace the diversity of the blues that always has and still is being created from it’s roots. These artists understand the blues is a […]
Making a Scene Brings you Turn it Up with Gerry Casey Show #247 with his Guest Trapper Schoepp Worley The Pirate Country Gangster The Cold Stares Coming Home The Dead Daisies Light ‘Em Up Krissy Matthews & Friends including Big Daddy Wilson & Alice Armstrong Pack It Up Black Stone Cherry When The Pain Comes […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with The Twins of Franklin The Twins of Franklin are not in fact twins, but best friends who fell in love belting show tunes and classical arias together in a dorm room. In the fifteen years since, they still have a lot in common. They’ve both become […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents Gerry Casey’s Interview with Trapper Schoepp “What’s most important to me is to be a link in the chain of folks singers before and after my time,” Trapper Schoepp says in light of his forthcoming album, Siren Songs. Recorded at Johnny Cash’s Cash Cabin in Hendersonville, TN, Trapper continues down the trail trod […]
Jason Robinson Ancestral Numbers 1 Playscape Recordings Saxophonist and composer Jason Robinson just released the first part of a comprehensive project tracing the roots and branches of his family tree on Ancestral Numbers 1 with the second part to follow in October. It’s an intriguing concept and one that’s rarely if ever been set to […]
Roger Kellaway Roger Kellaway Live At Mezzrow Cellar Music Group The renowned pianist, composer, and arranger Roger Kellaway mentions in the liners to his live album Roger Kellaway Live At Mezzrow something that makes the utmost sense but rarely mentioned, and at least here, rarely thought about. The pianist has, for the past twenty years, […]
Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp Magical Incantation Soul City Sounds Magical Incantation is astoundingly the nineteenth duo collaboration between Brazilian saxophonist Ivo Perelman and pianist Matthew Shipp. The duo began in 1996 with the saxophonist’s Bendito of Santa Cruz. Obviously at this point in their collaborative tenure, they can anticipate the other’s moves like the […]
Cass Clayton Band Midnight in a Bottle Independent This is the new Cass Clayton Band album “Midnight in a Bottle” being released today. The album is divided into two sides. Side A includes five songs opening with “Rear View Mirror” and we get to hear the smoky-sweet vocalist Cass Clayton for the very first time. […]
Kaia Kater Strange Medicine Free Dirt There’s been a buzz on social media lately led by Rhiannon Giddens about the importance of the ‘Black banjo.’ In that sense banjoist Kaia Kater’s Strange Medicine is certainly timely. Beyond that it shows the immense possibilities of the instrument beyond conventional ‘Americana’ or hybrid bluegrass or blues. Consider […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Rick Vito! Grammy-nominated guitarist, singer and producer, Rick Vito is perhaps best known as a member of the legendary supergroup Fleetwood Mac (1987-1991). His guitar work and songs are featured on their albums, “Greatest Hits,” “Behind The Mask,” “The Very Best Of Fleetwood Mac,” “The Chain,” […]