Joe Bonamassa Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 J&R Adventures Joe Bonamassa cannot possibly have an off switch, only one that adjusts the mode. If he’s not out promoting an album onstage somewhere in the world, he’s likely in a studio working on the next one. Blues Deluxe Vol. 2 marks his 51st in 23 years, considering […]
Dave Keller It’s Time To Shine Montpelier, Vermont’s Dave Keller has been schooled by the very best. He studied acoustic blues with guitarist Paul Rishell, and soul blues with guitarist Robert Ward. After releasing the Dave Keller Band debut in 1998 he began to be mentored by Mighty Sam McClain who lived in nearby New […]
Ray Bonneville On the Blind Side Stonefly Juno Award winner and multiple Juno nominee, the Quebec-born, well-traveled and currently Austin-based blues and roots artist Ray Bonneville returns with his tenth solo album, On the Blind Side. This is Bonneville’s post-pandemic release, and understandably may be even more introspective than some previous efforts, leaning a bit […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you an Interview with The International Treasures Doyle Turner and Ted Hajnasiewicz are two gifted musicians who have come together to create something truly extraordinary. There is a palpable synergy when they appear together on stage. Tugging on heartstrings and bringing smiles to faces since 2020, your Minnesota neighbors […]
David Bennett Cohen Seems Like a Good Time for the Blues Self-released Blues pianist David Bennett Cohen has been on the scene for over sixty years and yet, as hardly a household name, his resume would be the envy of many, even those that are indeed well recognized. He’s a founding member of Country Joe […]
Ghalia Volt Shout Sister Shout Ruf We have one quick clarifier before we get started. The title may cause some, like this writer, to think this is a tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe and an album of the same name did just that. The Belgian-born, ever-evolving, once one-woman band Ghalia Volt is not in that […]
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Ethan Philion Gnosis Sunnyside We covered bassist Ethan Philion’s debut as a leader, 2022’s Meditations on Mingus on the pages. Now Philion returns with his second, a departure from the large 10-piece ensemble he led then, paring down to a quartet to render mostly his own originals on Gnosis. The rarely heard term means knowledge […]
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder Sonicwonderland Telarc The internationally recognized and Grammy-winning pianist and composer Hiromi, unveils her new quartet, dubbed Sonicwonder for a slight departure in her sound that now incorporates electronics and funk. For the first time Hiromi is also playing electric keyboards and synths while trumpeter Adam O’Farrill uses pedals. Hadrien Feraud is the bassist […]
Miho Hazama – m_unit Beyond Orbits Edition Composer and conductor Miho Hazama celebrates the tenth anniversary with her m_unit on Beyond Orbits, her version of the concept of Afro-futurism, explored by many creative musicians before her, most notably Sun Ra. Although the “Afro” piece of the equation doesn’t fit, Hazama’s concept is built on her […]
Matthew Shipp The Intrinsic Nature of Shipp Mahakala There well may not be a more prolific musician than pianist and composer Matthew Shipp, who since arriving in New York in the ‘90s has over one hundred releases under his name no fewer than eight since the inception of 2022. He is now regarded as one […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Willie J Laws 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 […]
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HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Jeff Plankenhorn Jeff Plankenhorn’s songwriting, expressive vocals, and musicianship are front and center on his latest album, Alone At Sea, produced by Colin Linden (Bruce Cockburn, Keb Mo.) New sonic territory is explored on this gem of a long player. The title track, “Alone at Sea,” is […]
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #214 with his Guest Chris Denman of The Southbound Snakecharmers Robert Jon & The Wreck Stone Cold Killer The Southern River Band Stan Qualen Southall All I Have Sunflower Fox & The Chicken Leg Naughty Little Girl The Record Company I Found Heaven Joanne […]
André Bisson Latchford Self-released It’s somewhat rare to hear an artist for the first time on his tenth album release and in the case of Canadian soul/R&B/roots singer-songwriter André Bisson, it raises the obvious notion of ‘look at what I’ve been missing.” Bisson has been on the scene for twenty years, boasts numerous awards and […]
Todd Sickafoose Bear Proof Secret Hatch Bear Proof is 62 minutes of continuous music by a super group of creative musicians led by Tony and Grammy-winning bassist, composer, and producer Todd Sickafoose. The album was recorded in the since shuttered Fantasy studios (Berkeley, CA) and the delay in getting it issued likely attests to Sickafoose’s […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you The Turn it up Interview with Chris Denman of the Southbound Snake Charmers This dynamic four piece have been conjuring up their own unique brand of swampy blues since 2013. Led by the original Snake Charmer himself: vocalist and charismatic frontman Chris Denman, Brooke Maloney is on Drums, […]
Bowmanville Bowmanville Stoneagle Music Bowmanville is a Chicago-based quintet with a rather unique frontline of guitar, harmonica, and violin that straddles the gypsy jazz music of Django Reinhardt and those associated with “Hot Club” sonics, and Chicago blues. There are swing numbers, blues standards and originals in this infectious and inviting set that’s mostly instrumental […]
Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns Canboro Canborough Self-released Canboro Canborough is the second album from Toronto-based drummer/multi-instrumentalist Jim Casson and his band, The Green Lanterns. Admittedly, this writer is perplexed at how “Davis Hall” fits into this, except to guess that the character, like the song titles, relates to where Casson grew up on […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Willie J Laws Jr. A Texas guitar “gun slinger”, vocalist and song writer following in the footsteps of T-Bone Walker, Lightning Hopkins, Albert King and many others. This music is the kind of real Texas soul, all mixed up with classic R&B, country, blues/funk that grows […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Ben Gage Ben Gage is a songwriter from Akron, OH blending folk and roots blues. Ben Gage grew up in the rust belt of Northeast Ohio, spread out in the countryside along the great Lake Erie. His roots run deep alongside the hard working blue collars […]
Anthony Fung Fo(u)rth Self-released Canadian, now Californian-based drummer Anthony Fung grabs your attention with his album title even before hearing the first note. The insertion of the parenthetical ‘u’ rather obviously denotes that it’s his fourth album as a leader, yet ‘forth” owes to the advice bestowed on him by the late drummer Ralph Peterson […]
Michael Dease Swing Low Posi-Tone This writer was initially puzzled to see trombonist Altin Sencalar on a small combo album by the award-winning trombonist Michael Dease but when viewing the album cover that has Dease cradling a baritone saxophone, I began to better understand this latest effort, Swing Low. We call Dease lots of things […]
Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind Behind the Veil Gulf Coast Records Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind. What a suitable, vivacious name for this bunch, given all the ins and outs and ups and downs crisscrossing Ricci’s story. Ricci’s traits include being an on again off again drug abuser, and a spiritual, openly […]
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Making a Scene Presents The 2023 Independent Blues Awards Winners! This is the 8th year we have produced and honored independent blues artists with the Independent Blues Awards. The voting this year has broken all records and was the largest voting participation since we began. As always we believe that not only are the winners […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Ralph Beeby 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 […]
#indieblues #roots #makingascene #soul #spotify #musicbusiness #indie #blues #rootsrock #americana #newblues #newmusic #originalmusic #rock #podcasts #Fridaymotivation #MusicFridays
Making a Scene Presents Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #213 with his Guest Clara Rose The Rolling Stones Angry Laurence Jones I’m Gone The 100Watt Vipers In The City Tonight Jack Browning featuring Troy Redfern The Hangmen Midnight Riders Reach NYC All For Metal Goddess Of War Albany Down Same Damn Thing Climax […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you Gerry Casey’s Interview with Clara Rose Rose brings a raw rootsy blues edge to the vocals on her enticing folk and folk-rock efforts The album was recorded over two shows in Arthur’s Blues and Jazz Club (Dublin) and The Garage Theatre (Monaghan) in the spring of 2020. With […]
Bobby Zankel/Wonderful Sound 8 A Change of Destiny Mahakala For many of you this is your introduction to Philly saxophonist and composer Bobby Zankel. Yet even those familiar with Zankel are likely not familiar with the story he tells on A Change of Destiny. Let’s take them one at a time. Zankel spent the better […]
Slowly Rolling Camera Flow Edition Flow is the digital only release that follows Slowly Rolling Camera’s (SCR) 2021 Where the Streets Lead. The band hails from Wales and is now nearing their tenth year of recording where they blend jazz forms, some neo soul, trip hop, and electronica. A reference point could be Gogo Penguin but […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Ralph Beeby of Ralph Beeby and the Elephant Collective It’s possible to revere the greats without just copying them. Ralph Beeby & the Elephant Collective treat the Blues and classic rock as a jumping-off point, crafting bold new songs with dark, richly storied lyrics, and tunes […]
Dave Keller It’s Time to Shine Tastee Tone In previous reviews of Vermonter soul/blues artist Dave Keller, this writer recalls a quote from Keller about preferring to be a big fish in a small pond than an artist competing with many in the same locale. Do you know any other national blues artists from Vermont? […]
Brad Turner Quintet The Magnificent Cellar Music The title seems to be hyperbolic but is not a term describing the leader of the Brad Turner Quintet. Instead, it references the great trumpeter, bandleader and composer Thad Jones, and specifically his 1956 recording The Magnificent Thad Jones. The title track does just that. The label Cellar Music, […]
Heather Lynne Horton Get Me to a Nunnery Pauper Sky Singer-songwriter Heather Lynne Horton delivers the richly ethereal Get Me to a Nunnery, transporting us to some otherworldly place that seems cushioned by clouds and sounds that echo well beyond mere earthly realms. It’s a sound forged by her violin, layered voices, and the keyboards […]
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The Count Basie Orchestra, Directed by Scotty Barnhart (with Guests) Basie Swings the Blues Candid Records (assisted by Alligator Records) ‘There ain’t nothin’ wrong with havin’ a good ol’ time,’ Mr. Sipp urges in “Let’s Have a Good Time,” the hip-shaking opening number to Basie Swings the Blues. Sipp, the saucy, dapper, alter ego of […]
Jeff Coffin – Jordan Perlson – Viktor Krauss Coffin/Perlson/Krauss Ear Up Records The prolific saxophonist and composer Jeff Coffin is back, this time with a chordless trio featuring his longtime drumming colleague Jordan Perlson and Nashville multi-genre first call bassist Viktor Krauss for nine tracks, to which each contributed. The trio recorded at Krauss’ home studio, […]
Making a Scene Presents the PODCAST of LIVE from the Midnight Circus Featuring Nick Wade 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 […]
#indieblues #roots #makingascene #soul #spotify #musicbusiness #indie #blues #rootsrock #americana #newblues #newmusic #originalmusic #rock #podcasts #Fridaymotivation #MusicFridays
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an interview with Legendary Rick Derringer Entertainer Rick Derringer was just 17 when his band The McCoys TM recorded the No.1 hit “Hang On Sloopy” in the summer of 1965, knocking “Yesterday” by The Beatles out of the top spot. The McCoys had enjoyed four years of successful touring, […]
Making a Scene Brings you Turn it up with Gerry Casey Show #212 with his Guest Tullie Brae Johnny And The Drivers Real Wild Child Johnny Mastro & MBs Shake It Spy The Two Five Ones Featuring Charlie McGettigan Southbound Snake Charmers Hell On Wheels HeadCat Motrhead featuring Larry Wallis Alice Armstrong Upbeat Baby Aerosmith […]
Veronica Swift Veronica Swift Mack Avenue To say vocalist Veronica Swift moves beyond jazz on her third album is a vast understatement. In her self-described ‘transgenre,’ self-titled album the range of artists and styled covered is beyond mere comprehensive in words alone, until one begins listening to find a surprising cohesiveness among tracks nodding to […]
Nick Wade Feeling Good Is Good Enough ESP It’s not often that a younger bluesman comes along, steeped in the country Delta blues. Enter Nick Wade, who has received a glowing endorsement from Guy Davis and Corey Harris, and surely many others who don’t grace the liner notes. Guy Davis says, “…a young cat with […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Brings you Gerry Casey’s Interview with Tullie Brae The soulful Blues singer and multi-instrumentalist credits her musical gift to Gospel music like so many great soul singers before her. Tullie’s musical journey began singing in church where her Daddy was a preacher and her Mom was a vocalist and musician . […]
Jerome Sabbagh Quartet Vintage Sunnyside As the title and cover art suggest, tenor saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh invokes tradition on the first album he’s ever recorded with a pianist. In fact, Sabbagh chose this supporting trio with utmost taste, tapping pianist NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron, bassist Joe Martin, and drummer Johnathan Blake to record a […]
HOME PAGE Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Chris Murphy For 25 years, and with no sign of slowing, violinist Chris Murphy has made a living by writing, performing and recording original music. For Murphy, the path forward is charted by looking backward, to the troubadours and minstrels of ages past. Forget the exaggerated […]
Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 2 Blue Heart The highly decorated Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps are on a roll. They return with Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 2, going for three in a row. The hot streak began with 2019’s Grammy-nominated Here in Babylon, followed by the first installment of Rose-Colored […]
