roots

Leonard “Lowdown” Brown Blues Is Calling Me Music Maker Foundation Houston-based blues and soul singer Leonard “Lowdown” Brown is making his debut at age 70. In the tradition of Music Maker Foundation artists, he is again proving that it is never too late. Brown has been performing for four decades but finally made it to […]

Duke Robillard & His All-Star Band Six Strings of Steel M.C. If you’re a follower of Duke Robillard, you’ll notice that he’s changed labels and is back on M.C. Records, where he issued his 2017 Duke Robillard & His Dames of Rhythm. The label change doesn’t produce many other changes, thankfully, as his regular bandmates […]

Arlen Roth and Jerry Jemmott Super Soul Sessions Blue Heart Okay, maybe the title is bit of borrowed interest from the classic Super Sessions album featuring Stephen Stills, Mike Bloomfield, and Al Kooper but it too boasts its share of gems and “super” talent. Guitarist Arlen Roth has long been hailed as a Master of […]

Nic Clark Everybody’s Buddy Little Village Young roots/blues singer-songwriter Nic Clark has seen more than his share of troubles, heartbreak, and derision as anyone, but you’d never necessarily pick up on that from the positive, bright outlook in his songs. It’s as refreshing as when Steve Forbert first burst on the scene. Clark’s music is […]

Mike Guldin and Rollin’ & Tumblin’ The Franklin Sessions Blue Heart The Franklin Sessions comes a little more than a year after Mike Guldin and Rollin’ & Tumblin’s release, Tumblin’, which has sessions recorded at Kevin McKendree’s Rock House studios in Franklin, TN. It’s difficult to pick up a roots or blues album these days […]

Jan James TimeBomb It has been over thirty years since Jan James released her first album Last Train. That record gained her a rather large fanbase in Europe.  With creative partner guitarist Craig Calvert by her side, her latest and twelfth release Time Bomb is drenched with feeling and soul.  James’ musical-wheelhouse is centered in American roots, and embraces each petal: R&B, Soul, Country, Rock, […]

Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones Groovin’ at Groove Now Endless Records Recorded live in Switzerland, this is the follow-up recording to “Complicated Mess” on Eller Soul Records. After a short introduction from the band they open with an instrumental including solos from bassist Gohman and saxes played by “Sax” Gordon and Terry Hanck. Deming […]

Boo Boo Davis Boo Boo Boogaloo At almost eighty years old, St. Louis bluesman James ‘Boo Boo’ Davis is still busy creating some of the most authentic blues being recorded today.  Born in Drew, Mississippi in 1943, Davis grew up being surrounded by music, playing drums in a family band.  In 1972, he landed an eighteen-year-long gig playing weekends at Tabby’s Red Room in East St. Louis.  In 1999, Davis cut […]

Tracy Nelson Life Don’t Miss Nobody BMG      Ms. “Mother Earth” may have taken a long break, but she sure hasn’t missed a beat. Tracy Nelson celebrates her calling with Life Don’t Miss Nobody, her first new album since 2011’s Victim of the Blues. Nelson began recording acoustic blues in 1965 in her hometown Madison, […]

Gaye Adegbalola Satisfied An Anthology Vizztone lable Group Gaye Adegbalola was a member of “Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women” from 1984 thru 2009. The Anthology includes selections from her nine solo projects. Songs include the classic blues of Ma Rainey “Prove It On Me” and “Jelly Bean Blues”. Born Gaye Todd, Adegbalola, got her […]

Dean Zucchero Electric Church for the Spiritually Misguided Originally from New York City’s East Village, Dean Zucchero now calls New Orleans his home.  I first became aware of him through his work through the music of Ghalia Volt.  I had reviewed two of her albums, and Zucchero had made a big impression on me with his performance on bass guitar.  His debut album Electric […]