Every week our staff of CD Reviewers bring you the best in Independent CD releases. Making a Scene is considered the number 1 resource for the independent musician and the fans that love them.
Daniel Norgren Wooh Dang Superpuma Wooh Dang is the first worldwide release from Swedish musician Daniel Norgren and it’s a mix of jazz, new age, and contemporary folk. Said another way, it’s practically impossible to pigeonhole it as it moves from the ambient tones of electronica in the opening “Blue Sky Moon” to the spare, […]
Larry Griffith Bonafide Larry Griffith is a beloved musician around Atlanta and for this, his fifth album, he is joined by some fantastic musicians from a city that breeds fantastic musicians: Barry Richman is on guitar, Rashan Smith on drums and keys, Dana McCarthy on bass. Michael Milsap is also on keys. Tom Regeski is […]
Jay Anderson Deepscape Steeple Chase Bassist and composer Jay Anderson has appeared on over 400 recordings including nearly 100 for this Steeple Chase label. This, at long last, marks his return as a leader. His others as leader were from the early 90s.We don’t have nearly enough space to document all the artists that Anderson […]
Lauren White Life in the Modern World Café Pacific Los Angeles-based vocalist Lauren White teams with the superb vocalist and in-demand producer Mark Winkler for her third album, the eclectic storytelling Life in the Modern World, a collection of rarely covered standards from classic writers and interpretations of tunes from more contemporary ones. These tunes […]
Rosie Flores Simple Case of the Blues The Last Music Company Rosie Flores was born in San Antonio, lived in San Diego and now resides in Austin. The guitarist/vocalist is an artist who blends rockabilly, honky-tonk, Western swing and blues. Flores released her self titled debut recording in 1987 on the Reprise Record label. In […]
Adam Carroll I Walked in Them Shoes This is an exciting time for Adam Carroll fans. The Texas troubadour is releasing a new album on April 12, 2019. They don’t come around often so it’s time for a humble celebration. I Walked In Them Shoes is the ninth release for the artist and follows an […]
Tokyo Tramps If I Die Tomorrow Tokyo Tramps fit into a familiar origin story: young musicians come to America to get closer to the music, meet and form a band. What is unusual is that these two musicians came from Japan. Satoru Nakagawa had just graduated high school when he came to the States in […]
Molly Tuttle When You’re Ready Compass It’s rare when an artist can win Americana Instrumentalist of the Year without having released a full length album, but such is the case with flat-picking guitar phenom and singer-songwriter Molly Tuttle who now debuts with When You’re Ready. Blessed with a crystalline, honest voice and boundless instrumental talent, […]
Jimbo Mathus Incinerator JImbo Mathus has a new album, out April 5, that, like everything he does, is surprising in the best sort of way. It is called Incinerator and except for the overdubs it was recorded in 2 days at Dial Back studio in Water Valley, Mississippi. In order to fully concentrate on the […]
George Freeman George the Bomb! Featuring Billy Branch Southport This is the epitome of “less is more.” George Freeman is a legendary Free 91-year old jazz-blues guitarist who does not waste one note and has such an inherent feel for each genre, befitting the title. Yes, he is the bomb! Freeman can remember when Charlie […]
Bill Toms and Hard Rain LIVE (featuring The Soulville Horns) Bill Tom’s “writes songs that stir emotion, challenge the mind, and move the tail feather”, and that ladies and gentlemen defines rock ‘n’ roll. Bill Toms is a working man. Being a Pittsburgh Pennsylvania guy that ethic is forged into you. He works at being […]
M. Lockwood Porter Communion in the Ashes Black Mesa Communion in the Ashes is flat-out rock n’ roll, a rallying cry, a series of anthemic songs by M. Lockwood Porter and his five-piece band designed to build hope amongst the surrounding doom. Yes, this about community and moving forward rather than wallowing in despair. It’s […]
Madison Violet Everything’s Shifting Big Lake/Passenger Sounds Madison Violet is Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIssac. The duo first met in Toronto in 1999 only to discover that their fathers were high school classmates. They are genre crossing instrumentalists with flawless harmonies. Hailing from small Scottish towns, in close proximity to Nova Scotia, their sound has […]
Ally Venable Texas Honey Ruf Records Ally Venable is a powerful young blues singer from Texas with roots that clearly show that proud tradition of blues-rock fostered by Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top, and so many others. Now, at not yet twenty, Venable is releasing her third album, Texas Honey, produced by fellow Texan Mike […]
The Mekons Deserted Bloodshot Believe it or not, the British collective, The Mekons, have been putting out their unique, genre-agnostic undefinable folk-punk (for lack of a better term) for over forty years now, having begun in 1977. Consider them a bizarre folk-rock aggregation equivalent to those in jazz like Sun Ra’s various units or those […]
Rick Vito Soulshaker Vizztone Label Group Rick Vito is best known as being a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1987 until 1991 when he took over for Lindsey Buckingham. Vito’s first solo album was 1992’s “King of Hearts” on Atlantic Records. In 2001 Vito won a Blues Music Award for writing the Song of the […]
Mighty Mike Schermer Bad Tattoo Firedog Records/Vizztone Label Group As a youngster Mike Schermer played guitar, trumpet and clarinet. He played in school and in various bands. Then one night in 1984 he saw Albert Collins and it was a life changer. Schermer soon expanded his influences to include T-Bone Walker, Howlin’ Wolf, Ray Charles, […]
Arlen Roth Tele Masters Aquinnah Records Arlen Roth released his first album “Guitarist” in 1978 and it won the Montreux Critics’ Award for “Best Instrumental Album”. He recorded “Foolin’ Around” in 1993 with Danny Gatton and Duke Robillard, and a documentary commemorating the event. In 2008 he recorded the sequel “Foolin’ Around Woodstock”, with Levon […]
Kenny Parker Hellfire Rock-a-while Michigan born Kenny Parker began playing guitar in a local band when he was fourteen. While still in high school he discovered blues guitarists Albert and B.B. King. After graduating college he worked in a General Motors auto factory and began to moonlight at night. He worked with Detroit’s Louis “Mr. […]
Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon Solstice New West Luther Dickinson has a penchant for making albums with all-star female casts, but none larger than on this outing with the collective name of “Sisters of the Strawberry Moon.” Inevitably, The Wandering (Amy LaVere, Sharde Thomas, Shannon McNally and Valerie June comes to mind. […]
Michael Jerome Browne That’s Where It’s At Borealis Records Michael Jerome Browne was born in South Bend, Indiana. His family moved to Montreal when Browne was still in his teens. Browne had mastered the guitar and harmonica and toured Europe as a one man band before returning to join the Stephen Barry Band. He released […]
Andy Statman Monroe Bus Shefa This kind of review opportunity does not often happen. Mandolinist Andy Statman played at this writer’s wedding (Yes, that was ages ago) and at the time Statman was already a well-established musician who accompanied David Bromberg, Doug Sahm, Vassar Clements, David Amram, Tony Trischka, Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead, […]
Tom Culver Duke’s Place Café Pacific Leveraging his acclaim from Tom Culver Sings Johnny Mercer, I Remember You, Culver now digs into the Duke Ellington’s songbook on Duke’s Place. These are songs that are certainly familiar, sung by an artist who clearly loves singing. Culver’s enthusiasm is comparable to that of Tony Bennett’s and while […]
Steve Poltz Shine On Red House Records It’s just the light we need. These songs were written during a time of hard hits and dark moments. Steve Poltz is a songwriter. It is his job to guide us through the chaos. Steve has done this by choosing love over hate, and light over dark. This […]
Murali Coryell Made In Texas Shake-It-Sugar Records Murali Coryell is the son of jazz fusion guitarist Larry Coryell. As a youngster he started playing drums but soon switched to the guitar. Wanting to forge his own musical path Murali released his recording debut, the soul-blues “Eyes Wide Open”, in 1995. Four years later he formed […]
Matt Andersen Halfway Home By Morning High Romance Music/True North Records Matt Andersen is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from New Brunswick, Canada. In 2010 Andersen finished first in the solo/duo category at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. He is a seven time Maple Blues Award winner; and winner of two European Blues Awards. “Halfway […]
Dennis Brennan & the White Owls Live at Electric Andyland VizzTone Dennis Brennan has been a fixture of the Boston Blues scene for the better part of three decades now. His reputation precedes him. Many of us have long expected a blues album that’s finally here. Oh, let’s be a bit more accurate. Brennan is […]
John Primer The Soul of A Blues Man Blues House Productions Alonso “John” Primer was born in Mississippi but moved to Chicago where he played the blues clubs on Chicago’s south side; he was a regular at Theresa’s Lounge at 48th and South Indiana Avenue. He was also a member of Willie Dixon’s Chicago Blues […]
Ted Russell Kamp Walkin’ Shoes PoMo Roots veteran Ted Russell Kamp (TRK) is back with his eleventh solo album, Walkin’ Shoes, a fun and exhilarating ride through love, traveling, and a witty look at the idiosyncrasies of life changes as only a true troubadour can sing them. It’s an aptly named title for these 13-songs, […]
Brandon Santini The Longshot American Showplace Music Brandon Santini hails from the Piedmont region of North Carolina. He relocated to Memphis in 2003 and began fronting the Delta Highway Band. In 2009 they received a Blues Music Award nomination as Best New Artist. Santini released his own debut recording “Songs of Love, Money and Misery” […]
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Gnomes and Badgers Seven Spheres Karl Denson’s star is rising. He will be replacing Bobby Keys on the upcoming Rolling Stones tour. He continues to back Lenny Kravitz and play with the Greyboy All-stars, but he’s long been a beacon in the jam scene with his Tiny Universe band, finding time […]
Rockin’ Johnny & Quique Gomez Dos Hombres Wanted Vizztone Label Group Rockin’ Johnny Burgin went to The University of Chicago to become a writer but fell into the Chicago Blues scene. He found work as a guitarist with Taildragger, Pinetop Perkins, Mary Lane and Sam Lay, and recorded six albums under his own name for […]
Big Al and The Heavyweights World Full Of Trouble Eller Soul Records Big Al Lauro, who is from The Big Easy, started recording his original Louisiana based roots music around 2001 with the release of both Big Al and The Heavyweights “Hey, Hey Mardi Gras” and “Ultimate Mardi Gras”; and followed up with 2002’s “Late […]
Atlanta musician and vocalist Kathie ‘Holmes is about to release her first album, Trouble Comes In Threes. While she is a classically trained musician, her heart belongs to the blues. She plays keyboards with a rollicking New Orleans style, sings and writes her own songs, and plays the flute. Yes, flute! The flute may not […]
Mary Lane Travelin’ Woman Women of the Blues Although 83-year-old Chicago blues veteran Mary Lane has not released an album in twenty years, we did cover her on these pages for last year’s Chicago/ Blues Legends/ Today. That project was helmed by the late Mike Mettalia, who passed away much too soon just last week […]
Vegas Strip Kings Jackpot! GutBukit Records Two of the founding members of the Vegas Strip Kings were part of the band “Contino” who recorded “Back Porch Dogma” on Blind Pig Records in 2012. That band morphed into the Vegas Strip Kings and they recorded their “(Live)” album in 2015. The live album was mostly covers […]
Nick Schnebelen Crazy All By Myself Vizztone Label Group Nick Schnebelen is from Kansas City where he grew up in a household surrounded by music. “Music’s been in my blood for generations” as both of his parents were professional musicians, as were his grandparents and great grandfather. Schnebelen is a founding member of the band […]
Caleb Elliott – Forever to Fade Single Lock Forever to Fade is the impressive debut album from Louisiana singer/songwriter Caleb Elliott. Elliott tells his story, from preacher’s son in a cult-like religion to finding musical freedom in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. This is a swamp-art-rock record. There may not be many of those but think of John […]
Senor Groove Little Havana Zoho Senor Groove is a the latest band from the Smith brothers, bassist Tim and guitarist Roddy, who are flanked by Mercelo Perez (drums), Martin Bejerano (piano), and Murph Aucamp (percussion). For this session that focuses on the Cuban neighborhood in Miami named Little Havana, the quintet is augmented with a […]
AACM Great Black Music Ensemble Live at The Currency Exchange Volume 1 AACM Productions Yes, they are still performing, 53 years on. The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians based in Chicago has spawned the vanguard of avant-garde improvised music with such names as Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Jack DeJohnette, George Lewis, Lester […]
Sugaray Rayford Somebody Save Me Forty Below Records Sugaray Rayford is the ex-Mannish Boys front man. This is the fifth album under his own name; the last being 2017’s “The World We Live In”. Rayford also has fourteen Blues Music Award nominations including two for 2019. He has received a BMA nomination as “B.B. King […]
Tommy Castro and the Painkillers Killin’ It Live Alligator Records Tommy Castro has been playing rockin’ blues for the last thirty years. He has released fifteen albums and been nominated for twelve Blues Music Awards winning six times. Two of those BMA trophies are for the “B.B. King Entertainer of The Year” award, the highest […]
Adam Klein Low Flyin’ Planes Cowboy Angel Athens, Georgia has long been a spawning ground for great music. Beyond the more widely known names like REM and Widespread Panic, are some exceptionally talented roots musicians like Adam Klein. This is Adam’s seventh album, the. sonic follow-up to 2013’s Sky Blue DeVille. Like that one and […]
Augie Meyers I Know I Could Be Happy If Myself Wasn’t Here El Sendero Records In 1965 Doug Sahm formed “The Sir Douglas Quintet” with childhood friend Augie Meyers. The band had a top twenty hit with “She’s About a Mover”. They were busted for pot in Texas, moved to San Francisco and re-formed with […]
Peter Rogan Still Tryin’ to Believe Melt Shop Proving that’s it’s never too late to begin, this is the debut album from 57-year-old Peter Rogan, already a songwriting winner in the Great American Song contest. Rogan wrote or co-wrote all dozen songs on the album with 17 musicians and back-up singers, thereby fulfilling a lifelong […]
Jane Kramer Valley Of The Bones Jane Kramer releases her third full-length album Valley of the Bones on March 1st of this year. This is an album of original songs that evolve out of the heart. They make sense out of the things that wear you down and rip you heart. They are also about […]
Amy McCarley MECO Amy McCarley is a steely eyed musician on a mission. A native of north Alabama, McCarley is on a course that is true. MECO is the NASA acronym for Main Engine Cut Off. The songs chronicle Amy’s pursuit of a career in music after leaving the NASA contracting world. These are good […]
David T and Friends Racing Time Racing Time is a re-release of the third album by David T and Friends. It is the work of a large and exuberant group, consisting of twelve core members and various guests. Together they celebrate the original music of David Tannenbaum, who plays guitar and sax, writes, arranges and […]
Tony Holiday Porch Sessions Vizztone Label Group Tony Holiday used to play guitar and front the Salt Lake City based Tony Holiday and the Velvetones. When he switched to harmonica he recruited the then young prodigy Landon Stone as the band’s guitarist. The band won the Salt Lake City Weekly Music Awards and was named […]
Doug MacDonald Quartet Organisms Self-released Only last month we wrote about guitarist Doug MacDonald’s trio album View of the City but the prolific and rather restless MacDonald returns with a self-released quartet disc featuring some fine players. Like the title implies Organisms is an organ project, MacDonald’s third, as a leader, composer, and arranger. Interestingly, […]