CD Reviews on projects by Indie Blues Artists
Johnny Ray Jones, steeped in the L.A. blues scene, was mentored by Sam Taylor and performed with various legends. His albums, “Feet Back in the Door” (2017) and “Way Down South” (2021), feature notable musicians. His latest work, “Mystic Chiefs,” delivers a club-like blues experience with standout covers of Red Devils and Willie Dixon songs.
The Scott Weis Band’s 8th release, “Live In Europe,” marks their 20th anniversary with a soundboard recording of their sold-out shows. Celebrating Weis’s resilient journey, the album features contributions from four songwriters and showcases the original lineup reunited after ten years. The band continues to deliver passionate performances for their loyal fans.
Mark Hummel, a blues harmonica player born in 1955, founded The Blues Survivors in 1980 and released his debut in 1985. Hummel’s album “True Believer” features covers and originals, showcasing his tone and passion. Notable tracks include collaborations with musicians like Billy Flynn and Junior Watson. Hummel’s career spans five decades with numerous accolades.
Katie Knipp, starting with the clarinet at age ten, developed her musical career through singing, playing piano, and songwriting despite personal struggles. She released multiple albums, including “Take it With You” and “Me,” achieving Billboard success. Her music, praised for its creativity and emotional depth, resonates deeply with listeners.
Doug Duffey And Badd, a North Louisiana-based quartet, specialize in original Bluesiana Bayou and Delta Soul Music. With their fourth studio album, “Ain’t Goin’ Back,” they merge Memphis soul and New Orleans R&B. The band, active for 32 years, has songs on Billboard charts and features members contributing on various instruments.
Piper & The Hard Times’ debut album “Revelation,” recorded in Nashville and Franklin, features twelve original, blues-based songs infused with R&B, soul, and rock. The band, named “Best Blues Band” at the International Blues Challenge, delivers dynamic performances led by Al “Piper” Green, showcasing strong songwriting and musicianship.
The Trevor B. Power Band, based in northwest New Jersey, released their album “Are We Ever Free” with co-writer Dave Fields. The album, recorded and mastered at Farm 189 Studios, features a mix of rock and blues. Power’s music, influenced by varied experiences and collaborations, inspires listeners to embrace life and dance.
Cody Dickinson, known for supporting roles in The North Mississippi Allstars, makes his solo debut with “Homemade,” showcasing his skills as songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. The album blends Mississippi Hill Country blues with elements of southern soul, rock, and pop. Assisted by his daughter and Tikyra Jackson, Dickinson explores family themes and diverse musical styles.
“Thankful” by Jack Pearson features spiritually rooted and inspiring songs showcasing Pearson’s exceptional musical talent. Known for his roles in The Allman Brothers Band and as a session guitarist, Pearson recorded all instruments and vocals on the album. Songs like “Sign of the Times” and “It’s All About You” display his diverse style and virtuosic string skills.
Chris Bergson, a guitarist influenced by jazz and blues, started his musical journey in Boston, later moving to New York City. Over the years, he has released several albums, blending blues, jazz, country, folk, and soul. His latest album, “Comforts of Home,” features his emotive vocals, intricate guitar work, and contributions from notable musicians.
Shelton Powe’s album “Same Train” captures the essence of Piedmont blues with a blend of gospel, fingerpicking instrumentals, and traditional folk influences. Featuring collaborations with artists like Johnny Ray Daniels and Tim Duffy, the album offers an intimate portrayal of music deeply rooted in family and community traditions.
“Struck Down,” the 16th album by The Fabulous Thunderbirds, marks their 50th anniversary with nine new tracks and a cover of Memphis Minnie’s “Nothing in Rambling.” Kim Wilson’s harmonica prowess and collaboration with guitarist Steve Strongman shine, alongside guest contributions from Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, and ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons.
Kid and Lisa “Little Baby” Andersen Spirits and Soul Little Village Foundation This two-CD set includes “Spirits” Kid Andersen’s first solo studio recording while his wife provides harmony to his vocal leads. On the second CD they trade places and Lisa “Little Baby” Anderson becomes the leader. Kid first came to national attention as the […]
Black Cat Bones Troublemaker Codacopina Music Formed in 2004 Black Cat Bones is a five-piece rockin’ Blues band with original compositions. “Troublemaker” is the band’s fifth studio album and first since 2019’s “Tattered And Torn”. Their name is derived from Muddy Water’s “I Got My Mojo Working” and the phrase “I got a black cat […]
Christopher Wyze & The Tellers Stuck In The Mud Big Radio Records Christopher Wyze was awarded a “One To Watch” songwriter award by the Nashville Songwriters Association Intl.; this is his debut recording. Eight of the songs were co-written by Chris and his producer Ralph Carter. Two more were written by Chris (a.k.a.Chris Wirthwein) and […]
Billy Price Person Of Interest Little Village Foundation This new Billy Price studio album was produced by the Grammy winning Tony Braunagel, of the Phantom Blues Band, and recorded, engineered, and mixed by his band mate Johnny Lee Schell. Billy Price was born William Pollak, in 1949, in Fair Lawn, N.J. In the seventies he […]
Steve Dawson Ghosts Pravda Well over a decade ago, closer to two, at SXSW I witnessed an impressive performance by Steve Dawson, fronting his Chicago-based band, Dolly Varden. Yes, that Steve Dawson, not to be confused with roots, blues, and folk-rocker, Canadian and Nashville-based Steve Dawson. The former has released several solo albums too and […]
Damon Fowler Barnyard Smile Landslide Barnyard Smile is the renowned slide guitarist and singer-songwriter Damon Fowler’s ninth release and third for Landslide Records. Fowler offers a handful of soul driven originals, plus innovative Bo Diddley and Jerry Reed covers and a touch of Americana roots rock. Those not familiar with Fowler’s solo work may recall […]
Jay Gordon and Blues Venom Live at Woodystock 2022 Shuttle Music Jay Gordon grew up in Chicago where he is known for his slashing guitar and passionate vocals. While his influences include Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, he has his own style. Gordon has recorded 17 CD’s the last being 2019’s “Slide Rules”. […]
Rory Block Positively 4th Street: A tribute to Bob Dylan Stony Plain Records “I grew up in Greenwich Village and was a teenager when Bob Dylan’s songs were becoming huge hits. We didn’t think it unusual to spot John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix or Bob Dylan walking down West 4th Street…My father’s place of business, The […]
Black Country Communion V If Joe Bonamassa were a baseball player, he would make all four umpire’s heads spin by the way he slides from base to base. Original, blues-based rock music, classic American blues, British rock and blues, R&B, and even acid funk; you name it, and Bonamassa plays and sings it exceptionally well. […]
Reverend Freakchild Bare Bones Treated and Released Records This is the Reverend Freakchild’s 18th album, recorded in Boulder Colorado. It is performed on a national resonator guitar. It is a 2 CD set including live rendition’s of songs from last year’s, “Songs Of Beauty For Ashes Of Realization”, played solo. The Rev. opens with “All […]
The Name Droppers Starshine Horizon Music The Name Droppers is a relatively new band consisting of drummer/vocalist Bobby T. Torello; Scott Spray, bass; Ron Rifkin, keyboards; and Rafe Klein, guitar. Torello is a member of the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame and toured with Michael Bolton, Grace Slick, Johnny Winter, and others. I first heard […]
Tas Cru All Natural Cage-Free and Fan Feed: Live Sub Cat Records Tas Cru lives in Chaumont, New York, not far from the Canadian border. He released his debut recording in 2008. Tas states his unusual stage name was bestowed on him by a Quebecois fan and roughly means “raw potato”. At the International Blues […]
Jesse Dayton The Hard Way Blues Hardcharger / Blue Elan Records Ever see the TV show Somebody Feed Phil? When Phil Rosenthal (the man behind the historic sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond) becomes especially excited by some kind of ethnic food during an episode, he shakes his hands up on the sides of his head and […]
Markey Blue/Ric Latina Project Blue Eyed Soul Sound Soul Records This is the new album from the songwriting team of Jeannette “Markey” Blue and Eric “Ric” Latina. Formerly on Eller Soul Records they are now on Soul Sound. The number of musicians involved in this production is considerable so please forgive me if I don’t […]
Sam Joyner Come what May: I’ll Always Love You Independent Sam Joyner was born and raised in SE Chicago 25 miles from Gary Indiana. His father, the Reverend Joyner, made sure that Sam spent his summers down south. Joyner’s mostly original music is a combination of urban Chicago blues and Louisiana styled R n’ B. […]
Gerald McClendon Down At The Juke Joint Delta Roots Records Gerald McClendon is widely known as the “Soulkeeper”. Born and raised in Chicago he began singing along with the music he heard on the radio. His love for music included R&B icons Marvin Gaye, Wilson Pickett, and Otis Redding. McClendon’s love for music allows him […]
Toronzo Cannon Shut up and Play Alligator Records Toronzo Cannon was born on Chicago’s southside in 1968. As a youngster he would sit outside Theresa’s Lounge listening to the sounds spilling onto the street. He purchased his first guitar at the age of twenty-two. The blues guitarist’s early influences included Albert Collins and Albert King. […]
Cass Clayton Band Midnight in a Bottle Independent This is the new Cass Clayton Band album “Midnight in a Bottle” being released today. The album is divided into two sides. Side A includes five songs opening with “Rear View Mirror” and we get to hear the smoky-sweet vocalist Cass Clayton for the very first time. […]
Greensky Bluegrass The Iceland Sessions with Holly Bowling Thirty Tigers Handmade music this multifaceted, fearless, and inspiring, guarantees a listener’s immersion in the experience right along with the players—repeatedly. Greensky Bluegrass, out of Kalamazoo, Michigan 24 years ago, somehow manage to raise their own bar each time they record. Last summer, they took to a […]
Jeff Pitchell Brown Eyed Blues DeGuello Records Jeff Pitchell has recorded with J. Geils, Rick Derringer, Dave Mason, James Cotton, and Clarence Clemons. Jeff received international recognition when he toured Europe and even played with the Commitments. Jeff won “Best Guitarist” in the State of Connecticut when he was 15. Jeff has won two songwriting […]
Curtis Salgado Fine By Me Little Village Records This new album by Curtis Salgado has been recorded at eight different studios, four of them in Portland, Oregon; while the remaining four were recorded in California, one each at Taylor Made Studios in Los Angeles; one at Sound Design in Santa Barbara; one at Jesi-Lu Studios […]
JP Soars Brick By Brick Little Village Records In February 2009 JP Soars and his band The Red Hots took home first place by winning the International Blues Challenge held annually in Memphis, Tennessee. Soars had released his independently produced album debut “Back Of My Mind” the previous year. In 2011 Soars followed-up with “More […]
Alastair Greene Standing Out Loud Ruf Records This is Alastair Greene’s new album set for release on 5/17. The album was recorded in two separate sessions. The longer Nashville Session was recorded between January 5th and January 9th, 2024 and includes eight songs. Recorded at the House Of Grease in Nashville, the album is co-produced […]
Matt “Guitar” Murpny True Blues Brother: The Legacy of Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy Nola Blue Records Matt Murphy was born in Sunflower, Mississippi in December of 1929. He was raised in Memphis and moved to Chicago when he was nineteen. Murphy’s blues career was launched by the early 1950’s and includes working with Howlin’ Wolf, Little […]
Rick Estrin and the Nightcats The Hits Keep Coming Alligator Records For over thirty years Rick Estrin was the frontman for Little Charlie And The Nightcats. During the time with them he won two Blues Music Awards; Song of The Year and Best Instrumentalist-Harmonica. When Charlie Baty retired from touring in 2008 Estrin re-formed the […]
John Minnock A Different Riff: Minnock Sings Shire Dot Time Admittedly, it took time to get to this one, still shaken by vocalist John Minnock’s passing in late February. Yes, A Different Riff: Minnock Sings Shire is unfortunately a posthumous release, his fourth album and his third for Dot Time, having covered the earlier two […]
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 […]
Anders Osborne Picasso’s Villa 5th Ward/Missing Piece Records New Orleans-based singer-songwriter Anders Osborne returns with Picasso’s Villa after a five-year hiatus. Remarkably, it marks his seventeenth album. The singer-songwriter-guitarist has achieved almost living legend status in the Crescent City but somehow has never reached the widespread appeal that his talent deserves in a career that […]
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 […]
Rees Shad The Galahad Blues Self-released Rees Shad is one of the most prolific artists on the scene, having released some 30 albums in his three decades as a recording artist. He’s a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and storyteller rife with unexpected themes and ideas. Beyond that he is a polymath of first order, a luthier, a […]
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 […]