CD Reviews on projects by Indie Blues Artists
Vin Mott Rogue Hunter Independent While still a teen Vin Mott got bitten by the blues bug. It was the sound of the harmonica as played by Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and James Cotton. Mott studied at Boston’s Berklee College of Music and graduated with a degree in songwriting in 2011. He returned to NJ […]
Coyote Motel Ted Drozdowski Rock and roll is alive and well. To make my point I introduce you to Coyote Motel. This newest album from Ted Drozdowski has a real vintage feel to it. Ted Describes it as Evolutionary Cosmic Roots Music. It’s both sonic and soulful. It’s a good description. From the first needle […]
Chris O’Leary 7 Minutes Late American Showplace Music Soon after Chris O’Leary was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps he joined Levon Helm and The Barnburners. As lead singer and front man he toured with Levon for six years. He eventually left the Barnburners to form his own band. He released his Chris O’Leary […]
Tomislav Goluban Chicago Rambler Spona Records Tomislav Goluban was inspired by harp masters Sonny Boy Williamson, Paul Butterfield, Gary Primich and others. The Croatian musician, whose surname translates to Pigeon in English, formed Little Pigeon’s Forhill Blues Band in 1997. His debut recording Pigeon’s Flight was released in 2005, and followed up in 2007 with […]
Truett Lies and Lightning Truett has just released his second EP, Lies and Lightning, and it may just be five songs but how happy your ears are going to be! It all starts with an irresistible drumbeat, provided by Paul Hammer, leading directly into a thicket of wild guitar riffs and somewhat distorted vocals for […]
Benny Turner & Cash McCall Going Back Home NOLA Blue The central question around many blues releases goes like this –“Is there anything new here?” Be careful. One quick view of these tracks from Benny Turner and Cash McCall such as “Spoonful,” ‘Built for Comfort” and “It Hurts Me Too” might cause many to quickly […]
Brooks Mason Brooks Independent Brooks Mason has just put out his first solo EP., “brooks,” and you really should give it a listen. He’s only 22, but many of us around Atlanta have been hearing him play with his brother for years. The music he really loves is straight blues from the 50s and 60s, […]
Gaye Adegbalola The Griot Vizztone Label Group Gaye Adegbalola, born Gaye Todd, was given the name Adegbalola by a Yoruba (African) priest. She was a founding member of the group Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women and was with them for twenty-five years; they recorded nine albums before they ended their run in 2009. In 1990 Gaye […]
Seth Rosenbloom Keep On Turning HOLMZ Music Blues-rock guitar slingers are a dime a dozen these days, making it difficult to break through the clutter. Seth Rosenbloom has as good a chance as any though, with incendiary playing and superior songwriting. After all, it is mostly about the songs in the final analysis. Shredding can […]
The Boogie Kings Disturbing the Peace BluJazz/Spirit Bob Baldori and Arthur Migliazza bring four-handed boogie-woogie thunder on their collaborative and aptly named, Disturbing the Peace. Images of freight trains, highways, loud juke joints and boisterous road houses ring through this resounding set that often sounds like a full band. Yes, it’s generally loud and raucous […]
Music Maker Relief Foundation Blue Muse Big Legal Mess Records/Music Maker In 1989 Tim Duffy was a student at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill completing his master’s degree in Folklore. Duffy was documenting blues musicians including James “Guitar Slim” Stephens for the Southern Folklife Collection. Shortly before Stephen’s passing he urged Duffy […]
The Kentucky Headhunters Live at the Ramblin’ Man Fair Alligator Records The Young brothers and their cousin Greg Martin were playing in bands together since 1968. They formed The Kentucky Headhunters with Doug Phelps in 1986 and released their debut recording “Pickin’ On Nashville” in 1989. The album sold over two million copies and garnered […]
Niecie Trouble With A Capital T Ride The Tiger Records Niecie was born in Detroit but prefers to tell people she was “born and raised in Motown”. During an early gig with a rock band in Lincoln Nebraska, vocalist Niecie was heard by Magic Slim who told her “Girl, you need to sing the […]
Eden Brent An Eden Brent Christmas with Bob Dowell Little Boogaloo Records/Yellow Dog Records Eden Brent is a three time Blues Music Award winner with ten nominations overall. She has won the Acoustic Artist of the Year, Acoustic Album of The Year and the coveted Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year Awards. Her last […]
Willa Vincitore Choices Self-release Willa Vincitore is the pride of the Hudson Valley region of New York, an area as steeped in the traditions of American music as much as any region. After all, it boasts Woodstock, Levon Helm’s Barn, and countless great musicians in roots, blues, and jazz. Even though Willa is relatively new […]
Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers The Christmas Swing Juicy Juju Records/Vizztone Label Group Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers were formed in 2010. They won the Boston Blues Challenge twice to compete in the International Blues Challenge held annually in Memphis. In 2014 the band released their debut recording “Love Whip Blues”. Their follow […]
Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers All I Got For Christmas is The Blues Pretty Good For A Girl Records Mindi Abair and Randy Jacobs of The Boneshakers scored big with their album “The EastWest Sessions” and it finished #27 on the Roots Music Reports Top 200 Blues Album Chart for 2017. Abair has eight previous […]
Making a Scene Presents Viola Krouse’s Top 42 Americana CD’s for 2018! Viola is one of the newest writers to come on board to the Making a Scene Family. She is highly respected in the world of Americana artists. He CD reviews are insightful and has the ability to find great music that is on […]
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 […]
Making a Scene presents Rhetta’s Top 15 Indie Blues CD’s of 2018! Rhetta Akamatsu is a highly respected journalist and published writer! Her books, available on Amazon.com, have run the gamut of subjects from Music, women in history to Ghosts and Haunted history (*see links below to get your own copies of her books)! We […]
Katie Henry High Road Independent Katie Henry, until now, has been one of New Jersey’s many musical treasures. This is her debut recording which will let others hear her vocal and instrumental talents. Henry plays several instruments including the locally made Vintage Vibe piano, acoustic piano, guitar, and clavinet. If that sounds “keyboard heavy,” she’s […]
Beth Hart Live at The Royal Albert Hall Provogue/Mascot Label Group DVD Beth Hart has a total of twelve studio albums including several collaborations with Joe Bonamassa. Her last solo studio album “Fire On The Floor” resulted in three Blues Music nominations and her winning the 2018 BMA for Best Instrumentalist – Vocals. Earlier this […]
Eric Bibb Global Griot Stony Plain Records Eric Bibb, the son of Leon Bibb a singer-songwriter popular during the folk music scene of the 1960’s, grew up surrounded by the folksingers of the time including Leadbelly, Odetta, Pete Seeger, Paul Robeson and Bob Dylan. Other influences include Joan Baez, Richie Havens and Taj Mahal. Bibb […]
Confessin’ The Blues Various Artists BMG/Universal On December 2nd 2016 The Rolling Stones released “Blue & Lonesome” their first all blues recording. The band hadn’t intended to make the album but in order to loosen up in the studio they laid into the Little Walter classic that would become the title track. Over the next […]
Diane Durrett LIVE Diane Durrett has a voice like sugar, but she can also get sassy. She is a born storyteller as well as a singer/songwriter who easily captures many moods. Thanks to this new live album recorded at the popular Eddie’s Attic music venue, you and I have the pleasure of experiencing her skills […]
Paul Oscher Cool Cat Blues Fidelity Recordings Paul Oscher was born in Brooklyn, New York and began playing harmonica at the age of 12. Oscher became the first Caucasian musician to become a member of the Muddy Waters Band. He played harmonica with Muddy from 1967 until 1972. Not only did he play with Muddy […]
In Layman Terms Strong Roots Endless Blues Records Sandy Layman is a part-time musician and a full-time mom. She began dragging her two children to open mics at an early age. Since 2013 her daughter Logan has won several Emerging Artist awards. She and her older brother Cole were featured in the August 2014 issue […]
Chug it Down and Go Dan Seymour and Mark Robinson Blind Chihuahua Records Chug It Down And Go is the debut album by Dan Seymour and Mark Robinson. This collaboration of two great friends and better musicians releases November 10, 2018 on Blind Chihuahua Records. This release is a “jug-band” album of sorts and each […]
Peter V Blues Train Shaken But Not Deterred Independent Peter Veteska learned to play guitar by listening to Eric Clapton and The Allman Brothers. As he grew older his musical tastes changed to jazz. In 2008, with more time on his hands, Peter was able to re-connect with his passion for playing. He formed the […]
Roy Schneider& Kim Mayfield Reckless Saints Shiny Gnu Thanks to roots artist Gurf Morlix for describing Roy Schneider and Kim Mayfield’s sound better than this writer can. His term “blue twangled folk n’ roll” is perfect. This husband and wife team runs the gamut from engaging acoustic folk to driving bluesy tunes, with hints of […]
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne “Inspired By The Blues” Stony Plain Records Keyboardist Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne Spruell was born in Spokane, Washington in 1944. His mother instilled in him a love for the music of Nat King Cole, Little Willie John and Fats Domino. Wayne was further influenced by the music he listened to while […]
Joe Louis Walker/Bruce Katz/Giles Robson Journeys To The Heart Of The Blues Alligator Records Guitarist/vocalist Joe Louis Walker is a blues icon. He is one of the most productive bluesmen of the last half-century being an in demand musician since 1965. Walker has played with everyone from “Lightnin’ Hopkins to Jimi Hendrix to Thelonious Monk”. […]
Cary Morin When I Rise When I Rise is the newest album by singer/songwriter Cary Morin and delivers a potent Blues/Roots Message. The Music that shapes our formative years stay with us forever. These songs reflect Cary Morin’s upbringing. Shaped by life’s experiences, these songs are given breath by a world traveler with a keen […]
Kevin Burt Heartland & Soul Little Village Foundation The latest installment from West Coast’s Little Village Foundation and Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studios is Iowa-based Kevin Burt, the 2018 IBC Winner in three categories. Burt took the honors for Best Solo/Duo, Best Solo/Duo Guitarist and Best Harmonica Player. The irony of that is that Burt’s greatest […]
Sean Chambers Welcome To My Blues American Showplace Music Sean Chambers learned by fronting a Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute band. “Strong Temptation”, his debut recording, was released in 1998. While in Memphis in support of that album, Chambers was asked to sit in with Hubert Sumlin, the former guitarist for Howlin’ Wolf. As a result […]
Sandy Carroll Blues & Angels Catfood Records Sandy Carroll hails from McNairy County in West Tennessee; two hours east of Memphis. Carroll spent her early career singing in venues throughout the South. Carroll returned to Memphis, her musical home, and took up residency at Lafayette’s Corner club in 1983 when she co-wrote the single “If […]
Delta Moon Babylon Is Falling By Rhetta Delta Moon is arguably the finest “swamp rock and blues: group around. Babylon is Falling,” their 10th album is both comfortably familiar and different enough to please any fan and let casual listeners know what they have been missing. There are 5 original songs and 6 covers, so […]
John Akapo Paradise Blues Mensch House Hawaii usually conjures up that special sound of the Hawaiian slide guitar, not acoustic blues but Taumei “Big John” Akapo is here to change that perception. This is a breakout record that represents the big vocal sound and adept guitar picking that residents and visitors to Hawaii have heard […]
Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones Complicated Mess Eller Soul Records Doug Deming was born and raised in the greater Detroit area. Deming is a guitarist whose influences include R n’ B and Jazz pioneers T-Bone Walker and Charlie Christian. His debut recording “Double Down” was released in 2002. Deming came to national attention with […]
Maria Muldaur Don’t You Feel My Leg The Naughty Bawdy Blues of Blue Lu Barker The Last Music Company Maria Muldaur was born and raised in Greenwich Village. In 1963 she began her recording career as a member of The Even Dozen Jug Band. She was Maria D’Amato at the time and the following […]
Fiona Boyes Voodoo in the Shadows Reference Recordings/Blue Empress Fiona Boyes has been Australia’s foremost blues artist for over two decades now. She spends considerable time in the states touring and she’s earned six BMA nominations, including Acoustic Album of the Year and Best Acoustic Artist in 2017. Her career trajectory continues to rise, and […]
Dave Keller Every Soul’s a Star Catfood Records Dave Keller makes Montpelier, Vt. his home. He studied acoustic blues with Paul Rishell and in 1993 recorded a cassette called “Deep Down in My Soul”. After releasing the Dave Keller Band debut in 1998 he began to be mentored by Mighty Sam McClain who at this […]
Blue Largo Before the Devil Steals Your Soul CoffeeGrinds This is one mega project. Aside from the two principals, Alicia Aragon and Eric Leiberman. There are 15 supporting musicians, three recording sites, two engineers, two mixers, and two producers. This duo/band, Blue Largo, make their comeback with a strong statement, covering a few genres and […]
The Knickerbocker All-Stars Love Makes A Woman fea. Darcel Wilson and Thornetta Davis JP Cadillac Records In 1967 Duke Robillard and Al Copley hosted weekly jams at The Knickerbocker Café in Westerly, Rhode Island. It was at the Knick that “Roomful of Blues” was born; it was here that the horn section evolved. Back in […]
Dry Johnson Long Live Them Blues Connor Ray Music Bassist Terry Dry and drummer Matt Johnson are currently the rhythm section in the Mike Zito Band. Zito states “I met Matthew Robert Johnson and Terry Dry in St. Louis around 2002 when I opened a show for Hadden Sayers, I still remember thinking they sounded […]
Jim Allchin Prime Blues Sandy Key Music Jim Allchin worked for Microsoft where he helped to develop Windows operating systems including Windows 98 and Vista. Allchin retired from Microsoft and has been pursuing his love of guitar. Allchin released his third studio recording “Q.E.D.” in 2013. Interestingly the title refers to “quod erat demonstrandum”. The […]
By Rhetta Akamatsu I thought that Appleton and Ricci’s Dirty Memory was my favorite album of the year, but then along came this one and it’s even better! The only other musician involved in this powerful acoustic album is bassist Derek Nievergelt, a brave man indeed, who does a fine job keeping up. Nievergelt and Appleton also produced […]
Kat Danser Goin’ Gone Black Hen This may introduce many of you to Edmonton, Canada blues artist Kat Danser, a three time nominee for a Western Canadian Music Award and a national Maple Blues Award – Best New Artist of the Year, winner of the Ambassador of the Blues Award (Blues Underground Network) and the […]
Lindsay Beaver Tough as Love Alligator Records Lindsay Beaver is from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She grew up in a working class family. Her parents loved soul music and as a child she used to sing around the house. At age 11 she fell in love with hip, hop which led her back to blues and […]
Johnny & The Headhunters That’s All I Need Independent Johnny Ticktin is from the Washington D.C. area. He first picked up the guitar at the age of six and started playing in local bands. He graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Psychology but spent most of his free time listening to […]
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