Making a Scene Presents Richard Ludmerer’s Top 40 Blues CD’s of 2019 (in no particular order) Chris O’Leary Seven Minutes Late Watermelon Slim Church of the Blues Sugaray Rayford Somebody Save Me Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Kingfish The Texas Horns Get Here Quick Jimmie Vaughan Baby Please Come Home Albert Castiglia Masterpiece The Cash Box Kings […]
Making a Scene Presents Richard Ludmerer’s Top 40 Indie Blues Recordings of 2018 (In no particular order) Richard Ludmerer was the first writer that believed in what we were doing here at Making a Scene! He has become a valuable partner and a big reason we have become successful! He is unarguably one of the most […]
Peter V Blues Train Running Out of Time Independent Peter Veteska was born in Manhattan and grew up in Jamaica Queens. As a youngster Peter delivered newspapers in order to save enough money to purchase a used Les Paul guitar. He learned to play by listening to Eric Clapton and The Allman Brothers. He played […]
The Blues This Christmas a reprint by Richard Ludmerer I always look forward to the holiday season as a time when I can break out my Christmas albums. This is a ritual that began years ago when my wife and I were first dating. She wanted to listen to some Christmas music and I began […]
Shaun Murphy It Won’t Stop Raining Vision Wall Records Shaun Murphy had been a featured vocalist with “Little Feat” for sixteen years. In 2009 she decided to leave that band to pursue her passion for the blues. Her album “Ask for The Moon” received three Grammy nominations and won two Blues Blast Awards. On her […]
Ebony Jo-Ann Save Your Love For Me Independent Ebony Jo-Ann is a New York vocalist and actress with numerous television, movie and theatrical credits. She has been featured on television’s “Law and Order”, in the Adam Sandler films “Grown Ups” and “Grown Ups 2” and on Broadway in “The Sunshine Boy’s”, and “Ma Rainey’s Black […]
Mack Avenue Superband Live From The 2015 Detroit Jazz Festival Mack Avenue Records The Mack Avenue Record label “follows a tradition of record labels, no matter what genre, having a sense of pride in their roster”. The Superband was born when they first appeared in Hart Plaza at the 2012 Detroit Jazz Festival. The ensemble […]
Magic Sam Blues Band Black Magic Delmark Records Samuel Gene Maghett a.k.a. Magic Sam was born in Grenada, Ms. in 1937. Sam learned to play the Blues by listening to Muddy Waters and Little Walter. In 1956 Sam moved to Chicago and signed with Cobra Records. His singles included “All Your Love” and Willie Dixon’s […]
Tommy Z Blizzard of Blues South Blossom Records Tommy Z hails from Western New York State. As a teenager his guitar influences included Stevie Ray Vaughan, Freddie King and Buddy Guy. Tommy began entertaining our troops overseas as part of the USO/AFE in 2003. He has shared the stage with B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Jeff […]
Wendy DeWitt w/ Kirk Harwood Getaway Wette Music Wendy DeWitt is a boogie-woogie, stride and barrelhouse piano player known for her powerhouse left hand. She has played with Otis Rush, Sam Moore and many others. She formed her band Blue Saloon in the late 1980’s and released her first album “Wendy DeWitt and Blue Saloon” […]
Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys Live at The Big Bull Falls Blues Festival Nevermore Records Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys just hosted the Tuesday night jam on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. Born and raised in Chicago guitarist Reverend Richard Raven has been playing the blues since he […]
Danielle Nicole Wolf Den Concord Music Group Danielle Nicole born Danielle Nicole Schnebelen grew up in Kansas City. Her mom, Lisa Swedelund instilled in her an appreciation for all kinds of genre based music. Early inspirations included Koko Taylor and at sixteen Danielle began to sing lead in her father’s band “Little Eva and The […]
Wee Willie Walker If Nothing Ever Changes Little Village Foundation In 1960 Wee Willie Walker was a member of the gospel group The Redemption Harmonizers. After relocating in Minnesota he would often return to Memphis and in 1968 he recorded nine secular “sides” for Goldwax Records. Four of these were leased to Checker Records a subsidiary […]
Duffy Bishop Find Your Way Home Lil’ Spinner Records Blues bands are mostly regional. In other words they can’t afford to travel further than they can drive in a day. Members also can’t afford to give up their day jobs. When a band relocates the news is significant. Duffy Bishop began performing in rock bands […]
Johnny Rawls Tiger in a Cage Catfood Records Johnny Rawls was born in Hattiesburg, Ms. in 1951. In the mid seventies guitarist Rawls joined O.V. Wright’s band and became his music director. After Wright died “The Ace of Spades Band” stayed together thirteen more years and wound up backing Little Milton, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Johnny […]
Bob Margolin My Road Vizztone Label Group For seven years Bob Margolin was the guitarist in The Muddy Waters Band. He even appears with Waters in Martin Scorcese’s movie “The Last Waltz” released in 1978. In 1980 Margolin left Waters to start his own band. Margolin recorded 1989’s “The Old School” for Powerhouse Records; 1993’s “Down […]
Jonn Del Toro Richardson Tengo Blues Vizztone Label Group Jonn Del Toro Richardson grew up in the Houston, Tx. area where he learned a broad range of music styles from Latin and Mariachi to the Blues. Richardson became a member of Diunna Greenleaf’s “Blue Mercy” band and when that band won the 2005 International Blues […]
Joseph A. Rosen Blues Hands Schiffer Publishing Ltd. This is photographer Joe Rosen’s first book. He is a free lance photographer working out of New York City. His work has appeared in Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated among other publications. Rosen is also a fan of Blues music. Rosen began photographing the Blues in 1976. […]
Diane Blue Blues in My Soul Regina Royale Records Diane Blue has shared the stage with Luther Guitar Jr. Johnson; Irma Thomas; Big Jack Johnson and others. In 2006 Blue released, “Here I Am”, her independently produced debut recording. In 2010 Blue won the Massachusetts Blues Challenge and went onto compete in the International Blues […]
Our Blues Reviewer Richard Ludmerer has given us his TOP 20 Picks for 2015 (in no particular Order) .. and we wanted to share these with you all. If you click on the picture of the Cd it will take you to Richard’s Review of that CD along with other goodies! […]
Eric Bibb and J.J.Milteau Lead Belly’s Gold Live at the Sunset & more Stony Plain Records Eric Bibb began to receive recognition in 1997 when he released “Me To You” on the Code Blue label. That album featured guest appearances from Pops & Mavis Staples, and Taj Mahal. In 2004 Bibb signed with Telarc Records […]
Toni Lynn Washington I Wanna Dance Regina Royale Records Toni Lynn Washington has sometimes been called Boston’s Queen of The Blues. During her early career she sang in gospel choirs, entertained our troops as part of Bob Hope’s USO tour and was showcased at numerous festivals. Between 1995 and 2000 Washington released three albums on […]
Mike Zito & The Wheel Keep Coming Back Ruf Records Guitarist Mike Zito began his career in the St. Louis area, where he released some recordings on his own before signing with Eclecto Groove Records. Eclecto Groove was a new subsidiary of Delta Groove and in 2008 they released Zito’s first internationally distributed album. “Today” […]
The 2015 Bradenton Blues Festival “The Bradenton Blues Festival on the west coast of Florida is an annual festival featuring a stellar lineup of top blues artists. Food, drink, and an array of vendors complement the live music to create an awesome experience. The proceeds from the Bradenton Blues Festival support Realize Bradenton’s youth, art and […]
Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames Slip Into A Dream Delmark Records Chicagoan Dave Weld has been around the blues most of his 63 years. Weld has played with Hound Dog Taylor, Otis Rush, J.B. Hutto and others. At Hutto’s house he first met Lil Ed Williams. Together they started Lil Ed and The Blues Imperials. Weld […]
Zac Harmon Right Man Right Now Blind Pig Records Zac Harmon hails from Jackson, Ms. As a young man guitarist Harmon backed up Z.Z. Hill, Sam Myers, and Dorothy Moore. Later Harmon moved to Los Angeles and became a songwriter/producer. Harmon worked with the reggae band Black Uhuru and they received a Grammy nomination in […]
Al Basile B’s Expression Sweetspot Records Al Basile first met Duke Robillard in 1969. Robillard talked Basile into joining Roomful of Blues in 1973, and Basile became Roomful of Blues’ first trumpet player. While with them he played with Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Red Prysock and Joe Turner. In 1975 he left to become a teacher […]
Georgie Bonds Hit It Hard Roadhouse Redemption Records As a young man Bonds got into trouble with the law. After doing his time he pursued his love of horses and spent the next fourteen years as Philadelphia’s village blacksmith. Then in the early 1990’s he began to host the open mic blues jam at Warmdaddy’s, […]
Chris James Patrick Rynn Trouble Don’t Last Vizztone Label Group Chris James and Patrick Rynn have been playing together for some twenty five years. They even spent five years together in The Sam Lay Blues Band and appear on his live album “Feelin Good”. In 2008 they recorded their debut “Stop And Think About It” […]
Deb Callahan Sweet Soul Blue Pearl Records Deb Callahan is from the Boston area where at an early age she studied African American music and art. It was at the age of twenty that she first sang in a blues rock band. She moved to Philadelphia to pursue a career in social work and didn’t […]
D.L. Duncan 15 South Records D.L. Duncan began his career as Dave Duncan. In the early 1990’s Duncan became the lead guitarist in the newly re-located Goose Creek Symphony. He appears on their live album 1996’s “The Goose is Loose”. Anyone who knows this band knows that they were a country rock hybrid and a […]
The Knickerbocker All-Stars Go Back Home to The Blues JP Cadillac Records When “Roomful of Blues” was first born in 1967 original members Duke Robillard and Al Copley would host weekly jams at The Knickerbocker Café in Westerly, Rhode Island. It was at the Knick that their horn section evolved. Last year’s recording “Open Mic at […]
Tommy Castro & The Painkillers Method to My Madness Alligator Records Tommy Castro has been nominated for twelve Blues Music Awards winning “Album of The Year” for both 2007’s “Painkiller” on Blind Pig Records and 2009’s “Hard Believer” on Alligator Records. As a result Castro was also named “B.B. King Entertainer of The Year” in […]
The Bob Lanza Blues Band From Hero to Zero Connor Ray Music Bob Lanza has been a member of the Northern New Jersey blues scene for quite some time. Lanza apprenticed with Johnny Copeland and Floyd Phillips from whom he learned to serve the blues. In 2009 Lanza invested and self produced his well received […]
Mighty Mike Schermer Blues In Good Hands Vizztone Records Mighty Mike Schermer was inspired by Albert Collins and T- Bone Walker. Schermer was the guitarist in The Soul Drivers with harp ace Andy Santana, drummer June Core and bassist Steve Ehrmann. They were a legendary bay area band that backed up Willie Dixon, Jimmy Rogers, […]
Andy Santana (and The West Coast Playboys) Watch Your Step! Delta Groove Music Andy Santana is a triple threat. He is a vocalist, guitarist and harmonica player. His bands have played the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, The Bay Area Music Awards, The Hollywood Hall of Fame Festival, The Santa Cruz Blues Festivals and […]
Todd Wolfe Band Long Road Back American Showplace Music Todd Wolfe was born in the Forest Hills, Queens, section of New York City. He started playing guitar in garage bands as he was inspired by rock guitarists George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Wolfe recorded and toured with Sheryl Crow from 1993 until 1998. He has […]
Omar & The Howlers The Kitchen Sink Big Guitar Music Omar Kent Dykes was born in McComb, Mississippi in 1950. His first album, Omar and The Howlers “Big Leg Beat” was released in 1980. In 1987 Dykes signed a recording contract with Columbia Records and that year’s release “Hard Times in the Land of Plenty” […]
Fiona Boyes Box & Dice Reference Recordings/Blue Empress Records Coming from Australia didn’t hold Fiona Boyes back. Perhaps the distance served to filter out the mediocre; so that she only listened to and learned from the very best. Between 1990 and 1999 her band The Mojos released five albums. Boyes’ first album under her own […]
Chris O’Leary Gonna Die Tryin’ American Showplace Music Chris O’Leary is an ex-marine who returned to the states and began apprenticing with Levon Helm and The Barnburners. In 2011 The Chris O’Leary Band received a Blues Music Award nomination in the category of Best New Artist for their debut recording “Mr. Used to Be”. In […]
Shemekia Copeland Outskirts of Love Alligator Records Shemekia Copeland was born in Harlem in 1979. She is the daughter of blues icon Johnny “Clyde” Copeland. She inherited the urge to perform and released her first studio recording on the Alligator Records label in 1998 when she was only nineteen. “Turn The Heat Up” resulted in […]
Andy T-Nick Nixon Band Numbers Man Blind Pig Records In 2013 the Andy T- Nick Nixon Band released their widely acclaimed debut “Drink, Drank, Drunk” on Delta Groove Records. Their follow up recording 2014’s “Livin It Up”, also produced by Anson Funderburgh, earned the band a 2015 Blues Music Award nomination in the category of […]
Smoky Greenwell New Orleans Blues Jam: Live At the Old U.S. Mint Greenwell Records Smoky Greenwell learned the harmonica in Memphis and Nashville and moved to New Orleans in 1981. He has shared the stage with Snooks Eaglin, Coco Robicheaux, George Porter Jr, Walter “Wolfman” Washington and many others. He is best known as Lee […]
The Ragpicker String Band Grosswendt, Flower and Del Grosso Yellow Dog Records The Ragpicker String Band is the trio of mandolinist Rich Del Grosso, guitarist Mary Flower, and multi-instrumentalist Martin Grosswendt. Their collective talents and appreciation for pre-war folk blues make this an excellent recording. Del Grosso is a blues mandolinist who plays in a style […]
Buddy Guy Born to Play Guitar RCA/Silvertone Buddy Guy was born in Lettsworth, La. in 1936. He made his first guitar, a two-string diddley bow, before obtaining an acoustic Harmony. In the early 1950’s Guy began performing with bands in Baton Rouge. By ‘57 he had relocated to Chicago. In 1965 and 1966 Guy recorded […]
Mick Kolassa Ghosts of The Riverside Hotel Swing Suit Records Mick Kolassa was born in Michigan but has lived in the greater Clarksdale, Mississippi area for over twenty years. He is part of the Memphis blues scene and a member of the Board of Directors of The Blues Foundation. His first album released just last […]
Joel Zoss Florida Blues Bluzpik Joel Zoss is a singer, songwriter and award winning author. Although born in Pennsylvania Zoss grew up in New Jersey, Minnesota, and Rhode Island. He graduated from The College of The University of Chicago in 1966. Zoss spent his summers in Martha’s Vineyard where he began performing with Alex and […]
JJ Appleton and Jason Ricci Dirty Memory Old Boy Network JJ Appleton was born in 1976. His father was a Dartmouth professor who turned him on to the Folkways Records catalogue. At the age of ten Appleton saw Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and got hooked on the Blues. Other influences include Albert King, Stevie Ray […]
The 2015 Pennsylvania Blues Festival Last year Michael Cloeren amicably received his marching papers from Blue Mountain. He had produced his Pennsylvania Blues Fest there for the last four years having moved it there from the original Big Boulder site in Lake Harmony. Soldiering on, Michael Cloeren found refuge at The Split Rock Lodge back […]
John Ginty No Filter American Showplace Music John Ginty is an organist and founding member of Robert Randolph and The Family Band. He appears on their 2002 “Live At The Wetlands” album and also on their 2003 “Unclassified” studio recording. He is also an in demand session player appearing on approximately sixty albums for other […]