CD Reviews on projects by Indie Blues Artists
Al Basile Mid-Century Modern Sweetspot Records In 1973 when Duke Robillard was putting together the original Roomful of Blues he chose Al Basile as his first trumpet player. Both of them left that band in 1975 but they have remained friends as Robillard has produced all of Basile’s albums. This is Basile’s thirteenth studio recording. […]
An Italian blues artist named Mike Sponza has a great passion for the ancient Italian poets , so he decides to create an album called Ergo Sum (Latin for “Therfore I am,”) with songs based on translations from these writers, first into English and then into ‘blues.” Sounds like a crazy idea, right? But then, […]
Isaiah B Brunt A Moment in Time Isaiah B Brunt Music Isaiah B. Brunt was born in New Zealand where he learned guitar, ukulele, and lap steel from his father. He became an Australian studio owner and record producer to assimilate enough knowledge before working on his own music. In 2010 Brunt was awarded the […]
Earl Thomas Crow Earl Thomas Music Earl Thomas Bridgeman Jr. was born in 1960 in Pikeville, Tennessee. Thomas was 22 and on his way to becoming a dentist when he suffered an accident. Upon regaining consciousness he decided instead to pursue his passion…to become a singer. His first album was 1991’s “Blue…Not Blues” on Bizarre […]
Wendy Rich is a revelation to this writer, as It’s All Nothing is the first time I have heard her, but it won’t be the last.. She has such a perfect blues voice, with the sort of maturity Bonnie Raitt has always projected. She sounds like a grown woman with the experience to sell a […]
Dennis Gruenling fea. Doug Deming and The Jewel Tones Ready or Not Vizztone /Back Bender Records The first time I ever saw Dennis Gruenling was at Mike Moss’ “Blues 2000 and Beyond” at the old Playboy Club in Vernon, N.Y. He was the harp player who sat in with “Filthy Rich and The Poor Boys”. […]
The Paul DesLauriers Band Relentless Big Toe Productions In 1992 Paul DesLauriers co-founded the band “Black Cat Bone”. Their debut recording 1994’s “What A Way to Make A Living” and 1995 follow up “Bone-ified” established them as “Canada’s hottest blues rock band”. They wound up opening for Colin James when he was on tour in […]
Doug MacLeod Live in Europe Under The Radar music group Doug McLeod was born in April of 1946 in New York City. As a child he had a terrible stutter except when he sang. He started on bass but learned to play finger picking and bottleneck guitar as a sideman. He worked with Big Joe […]
Mick Kolassa Taylor Made Blues Swing Suit Records Mick Kolassa, although born and raised in Michigan, has spent the last several decades living in and around Clarksdale Ms. This is Kolassa’s third recording in as many years. In 2014 Kolassa released “Michissippi Mick” and followed up last year with the “Ghosts of The Riverside Hotel”. […]
The Lucky Losers In Any Town Dirty Cat Records The San Francisco based Lucky Losers are singer, songwriter Cathy Lemons and singer, songwriter, harmonica ace Phil Berkowitz. They are a vocal duo whose influences include Stax styled soul, blues, classic country and New Orleans funk. Their debut album “Winning Hand” was an ambitious album of […]
The Terry Hanck Band From Roadhouse to Your House Live Vizztone Label Group Terry Hanck was born in Chicago in 1944. A saxophonist, singer, and songwriter Hanck was influenced by the blues and jazz of the late fifties and early sixties. Hanck moved to California and was a member of the Berkeley based Grayson Street […]
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne is back with his third album for Stony Plain Records, Jumpin’ and Boppin’ and it is pure joy from start to finish. Wayne started his career as a child prodigy over 60 years ago, and yet his verve and enthusiasm comes through in every note like this is his first album. […]
Sea Level “Sea Level/Long Walk on a Short Pier” (2 LP’s on 1 CD) www.RealGoneMusic.com Keyboardist Chuck Leavell organized Sea Level as a quartet in 1976 after the Allman Brothers Band’s first breakup of their post Duane Allman era. Sea Level’s bassist Lamar Williams and percussionist/drummer Jaimoe were also Brothers giving Leavell’s band a somewhat […]
William Bell This is Where I Live Stax Records William Bell was born William Yarbrough in 1939. He was part of the Memphis based Stax Records roster that included Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers and Isaac Hayes. In 1961 he released his first hit single “You Don’t Miss Your Water”. This was […]
When you’ve been playing blues-rock for 30 years, you learn your trade. That’s what Too Slim and The Taildraggers have been doing, and Blood Moon shows them at their best. The trio consists of Tim “Too Slim” Langford on blistering lead guitar and vocals, Jeff “Shakey” Folkes on drums and Robert Kearns on bass. Langford […]
Lady A Loved, Blessed & Blues Dexter Allen Entertainment Anita White a.k.a. Lady A hails from the Pacific Northwest. Her high energy and sometimes sultry/sometimes husky voice has been compared with Tina Turner. She has opened for Denise LaSalle, Little Milton, Dr. John and Shemekia Copeland. She has also toured or been on stage with […]
Honey Island Swamp Band Demolition Day Ruf Records The Honey Island Swamp Band was formed when four New Orleans residents found themselves stranded in San Francisco. Hurricane Katrina had wrecked havoc to their city and they were unable to return home. They hardly knew each other when they established a Sunday night “residency” at John Lee […]
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne Jumpin’ & Boppin’ Stony Plain Records Kenneth Wayne Spruell a.k.a. Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne was born in Spokane, Washington in 1944. He is a blues and boogie-woogie pianist, singer and songwriter. Wayne recorded his debut album “Blues Boss Boogie” in 1988. Wayne won a Juno award, the Canadian equivalent of our […]
Royal Southern Brotherhood The Royal Gospel Ruf Records This blues-rock super-group recorded its first self-titled album in 2012. While touring Europe the following year they developed into a tight unit and recorded the Blues Music Award winning “Songs from the Road – Live in Germany”. Their sophomore studio recording 2014’s “Heart Soul Blood” was also […]
Nick Moss Band From the Root to the Fruit Blue Bella Records Nick Moss has been nominated for eighteen Blues Music Awards in eight different categories including Traditional, Contemporary, Blues Rock and as Instrumentalist – Guitar. This new two-disc studio recording features one Traditional or Roots flavored disc and one Modern or Fruit flavored one. […]
On A Little Too Late, Travis Green offers 10 original songs, backed by an all-star group of musicians including Kid Andersen (guitar and producer), Randy Bermudes (bass), Jason Hansen (drums), Jim Pugh (keyboards), Nancy Wright (sax), and Lisa Leuschner Andersen and Courtney Knott (backup vocals)The songs are an interesting blend of blues, country and rockabilly […]
Quinn Sullivan Midnight Highway GBG Records Quinn Sullivan was born in New Bedford, Ma. in March of 1999. He is a blues guitar prodigy who played with Buddy Guy when Guy appeared at The Zeiterion Theater also in New Bedford; Sullivan was only eight years old. Sullivan made a guest appearance on Guy’s 2008 Grammy […]
Mark May is a powerful and energetic guitarist and vocalist who, along with the Mark May Band and the Soul Satyr Horns, recently released his 6th album, Blues Heaven. He is also joined on the album by a few talented friends, such as Greg Martin (Kentucky Headhunters), Hadden Sayers, Eric Demmer (Gatemouth Brown) and Steve […]
Lisa Mann Hard Times, Bad Decisions Lisa Mann Music Lisa Mann was born in West Virginia. As a child she and her sister were relocated to Portland to escape an abusive father. Originally inspired by rock bands she graduated to the blues at age 19 when she began her professional career. Early influences included Etta […]
Walter Trout Alive in Amsterdam Provogue Records Walter Trout was born in Ocean City N.J. in 1951. He migrated to Los Angeles and found work with Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, and Joe Tex. In 1981 Trout became the guitarist in Canned Heat and he stayed with them until 1985. Trout joined John Mayall’s […]
Allen Toussaint “American Tunes” Nonesuch Records It would seem that “American Tunes” was/is intended to be the follow up to Toussaint’s 2009 “The Bright Mississippi.” In preparation for this album solo piano sessions were recorded in 2013, plus during the early fall of 2015 full ensemble tracks were assembled, several with special guests. Unfortunately: weeks […]
Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat Live at The Kessler Underworld Indie Records Jim Suhler is a Texas Blues guitarist who was born and raised in the Dallas area where he still resides. He was exposed to bands coming out of The British Invasion, Southern Rock bands and those Texas guitarists like Bugs Henderson, Stevie Ray […]
Tinsley Ellis Red Clay Soul Heartfixer Music Tinsley Ellis was born in Atlanta but grew up in south Florida. He released his first solo album “Georgia Blue” on Alligator Records in 1988. Ellis received a Blues Music Award nomination in the category Rock Blues Album of The Year for his 2009 album “Speak No Evil” also on […]
The Mike Eldred Trio’s Baptist Town tells a story in blues, all about the South and the many opposing forces that fill its history and still affect its present. Good and evil, sin and salvation, Black and White, joy and sadness, love and hate are all part of Southern tradition, and Eldred and his band […]
Little Charlie and Organ Grinder Swing Skronky Tonk EllerSoul Records Little Charlie (Baty) is a guitarist who enjoys playing the blues. But like other guitarists his own interest in where blues meets jazz was increased by listening to others. Organists Jimmy Smith and Jimmy McGriff have stated that they are blues players. An appreciation for […]
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band “Got a Mind to Give Up Living: Live 1966” www.RealGoneMusic.com “Got a Mind to Give Up Living” is a live performance from (fifty years ago) May of 1966 recorded at the Unicorn Coffee House in Boston, MA, two months prior to the groundbreaking Elektra LP “East – West.” Previously this […]
Alexis P. Suter Band All For Loving You American Showplace Music When I first heard Alexis P. Suter open for Levon Helm I knew I was hearing a great new talent. Suter’s second studio recording 2011’s “Two Sides” earned her a 2012 nomination as Best Soul Blues Female Artist of The Year. What I didn’t […]
Big Harp George Wash My Horse in Champagne Blues Mountain Records Big Harp George, whose real name is George Bisharat, is a retired professor from The University of California Hastings College of Law. He released his debut recording “Chromaticism” last year at the age of 59. That album earned him a 2015 Blues Music Award […]
It’s hard to think how to even start reviewing Reverend Freakchild’s Illogical Optimism. And not because I don’t like it, I love it. This is a 3-disc set. The first disc contains an eclectic mix of 15 songs. The second consists of a dozen radically different versions of the Reverend’s popular song, “Everything Is Now.” […]
by Rhetta Akamatsu The first time I ever heard of Clint Morgan was when I received Scofflaw to review. And do you want to hear my objective opinion? I was blown away pretty much. This is in no way an ordinary album. It is a celebration of the dark side of humor nature, and then […]
Alabama Mike Upset The Status Quo Greaseland Records Michael Benjamin aka Alabama Mike was born in Talladega, Al. in 1964. At an early age his father encouraged him to sing gospel. After a hitch in the Navy he wounded up in the San Francisco Bay area. He developed a love for the blues but didn’t […]
Alligator Records 45th Anniversary Collection Various Artists Alligator Records The 2016 Chicago Blues Festival, June 10th – 12th, will again be held in Grant Park. This year the festival is celebrating the 45th Anniversary of Alligator Records. The Chicago based label was founded in 1971 by Bruce Iglauer. An underfinanced operation Iglauer operated out of his […]
Will Porter Tick Tock Tick Gramofono Sound Will Porter was born in West Virginia in 1959 where as a youngster he sang gospel. He worked with both Skip James and The Reverend Gary Davis before leaving for New York City. He eventually wound up going west to San Francisco where he established a weekly residency […]
The Hitman Blues Band is based in New York, and their blues is modern and influenced far more by soul and Motown than by the Delta or Chicago blues. The World Moves On contains 7 original songs. 1 cover and 4 reworked and remixed songs previously released. The re-released songs have had the Hitman horn […]
Bridget Kelly Band Outta the Blues Alpha Sun Records Outta the Blues comes a love story. Bridget Kelly was born in Hudson, Wisconsin and grew up in nearby Prescott. She went to The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts. She spent some time in Los Angeles before moving to […]
Brad Vickers & His Vestapolitans That’s What They Say ManHat Tone Records Brad Vickers was the bass player in Little Mike & The Tornadoes. He appears on 1988’s “Pinetop Perkins with Little Mike (Markowitz) and The Tornadoes After Hours” and also on 1990’s “Heart Attack” featuring four tracks with Paul Butterfield (believed to be Butterfield’s […]
Eric Clapton I Still Do Bushbranch Records /Surfdog Records In the 1960’s Eric Clapton’s work with the Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and Cream caused some to proclaim that “Clapton is God”. As a rock star his guitar playing was revolutionary. Initially there was a rumor that he was afraid to sing but Clapton quickly overcame […]
John D’Amato establishes that Born Blue is a blues album with the song titles that run through it: “Helicopter Blues,” “Chicken Blues,” and “True to the Blues,” for example. But it is two songs on the album that really establish his personal connection to the blues: “Born Blue” and “Blues Man.” The title song “Born […]
“Pride and Joy: The Story of Alligator Records” www.MVDvisual.com Blu-Ray Disc For forty-five years Alligator Records has remained one of the truest Blues recording labels since their humble Windy City beginnings. Bruce Iglauer founded the company in 1971 and still remains; as owner, chief cook and bottle washer, and boss. Iglauer’s first release was by […]
Big Jon Atkinson & Bob Corritore House Party at Big Jon’s Delta Groove Music Bob Corritore was born in Chicago in 1956. He relocated to the Phoenix area and began working with Louisiana Red. Corritore also played in a band with Janiva Magness. He started a weekly radio program “Those Lowdown Blues” on WJZZ and […]
While Ivas John is new to me, Good Days a Comin’ is actually his fifth. It is the first, however, to be completely acoustic. The trend to a return to acoustic music more often is a welcome one, allowing listeners to experience once again the power of this less embellished form in the hands of […]
The Rides Pierced Arrow 429 Records The Rides a bonafide super group with youth, legendary hit making, and chops are comprised of: Thirty-five year old, five time Grammy nominated and two-time Blues Music Award winning, guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd who has recorded with Hubert Sumlin and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. Two-time Rock and Roll Hall […]
Shari Puorto My Obsession Blue Rock Music Shari Puorto was raised in Orange, CT. She moved to California sometime in the late 1990’s and began performing all over the state. Her musical influences include rock and blues singers Janis Joplin; Bonnie Raitt and Etta James. Puorto’s vocal tone and control have been compared to Bonnie Bramlett. […]
Tweed Funk Come Together Tweed Tone Records Tweed Funk” is a Memphis based blues, roots and soul band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band is led by vocalist Joseph “Smokey” Holman. In the mid-1970’s Smokey and his group “Love’s Children” were signed to Curtis Mayfield’s Curtom label. Holman also worked with Rufus Thomas. The remaining members of […]
Albert Castiglia Big Dog Ruf Records Albert Castiglia’s big break came when he was hired to play guitar for Junior Wells. Castiglia stayed with Wells until his passing in 1998. After moving to Chicago Castiglia joined Sandra Hall’s band and toured with her until 2000. Castiglia released his debut album “Burn” in 2004. He collaborated […]