roots rock

Celso Salim & Darryl Carriere About Time Tower High/Wide Tracks Music This new album by Celso Salim & Darryl Carriere presents a soulful blend of Salim’s guitar and Carriere’s harmonica. Salim relocated from Brazil, where he established a solid solo career, to Los Angeles in 2014 becoming one of the busiest and most respected guitarists […]

Johnny Burgin Ramblin from Coast to Coast Straight Shooter Records Johnny Burgin attended The University of Chicago to study writing but soon fell into the Chicago Blues scene. His first professional gig was backing the vocalist Taildragger. Burgin later toured with both Pinetop Perkins and Sam Lay. He also worked with many others including Eddie […]

Frankie Boy and the Blues Express Young Man Blues Independent Frankie Maneiro also known as Frankie Boy opens “Young Man’s Blues” with a narrative and tribute to Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson. The band was winner of the 2019 and 2022 Granite State Blues Society Blues Challenge. They also represented New Hampshire at the International Blues […]

The Sugar Darlings Thirsty For Your Love Independent The Sugar Darlings are an up and coming band out of Montreal formed in 2020. They are the winner of the Quebec to Memphis competition representing the Montreal Blues Society at the 2024 International Blues Challenge. They were also nominated for “New Group Of The Year” at […]

Paul Oscher Live At The Tombs House of Detention, NYC Blues Fidelity Recordings Paul Oscher received his first harmonica when he was twelve. He taught himself how to play while working his day job delivering groceries. At the age of fifteen Paul was already playing Black clubs in Brooklyn. Paul was seventeen when he was […]

Chris Badnews Barnes Badnews Travels Fast Gulf Coast Records “Hokum,” according to Webster’s: a word probably created as a blend of “hocus-pocus” (meaningless talk or activity) and “bunkum” (nonsense). “Hokum blues,” as defined on Wikipedia: “A particular song type of American blues music which uses extended analogies or euphemistic terms to make humorous, sexual innuendos.” […]

Big Harp George Cooking with Gas Blues Mountain Records George Bisharat a.k.a. Big Harp George is a San Francisco singer, songwriter and harmonica player. He favors the chromatic harp which gives his music a Jazz like sound. Formerly George was a criminal defense attorney and award winning professor at the University of California. Early harp […]

Reverend Shawn Amos Soul Brother No. 1 Immediate Family Records This is the Reverend Shawn Amos’ newest recording on Immediate Family Records. Amos is the son of Wally Amos founder of the Famous Amos chocolate chip cookie brand and singer Shirlee Ellis professionally known as Shirlee May. Born in New York City Amos attended film […]

Anthony Geraci Tears in My Eyes Blue Heart Records Keyboardist Anthony Geraci plays tribute to the old masters on his second album for Blue Heart Records. Included are two studio sessions, the first four songs were recorded in Massachusetts, while the remaining seven songs are from a session recorded in Prague. Geraci’s seventeen Blues Music […]

Deb Ryder Live and Havin Fun Vizztone Label Group “Live And Havin’ Fun” from Deb Ryder is her sixth album and first live recording. Included are fourteen originals including two completely new songs written by executive producer Deb and her husband bassist Ric W. Ryder. The album opens with “Fun Never Hurt No One” with […]

Steve Howell and the Mighty Men 99 1/2 Won’t Do Steve Howell is from the greater Texarkana area. The music there is steeped in tradition and Howell finger picks the guitar in a style we attribute to traditional country blues. Howell often covers time honored pop tunes reintroducing them as tradition. Smithsonian Folkways would define […]

Sue Foley One Guitar Woman Stony Plains Records “One Guitar Woman” is a sequel to 2005’s “Blues Guitar Women”. That two-CD set included a Contemporary Blues session and a Traditional Blues session and the performances included supporting musicians. This time Sue plays everything solo on this “a tribute to the female pioneers of guitar”. “They […]