CD Reviews on projects by Indie Blues Artists
Janiva Magness Love Wins Again Blue Elan Records/Fathead Records Janiva Magness was born in Detroit, Michigan. She wound up in the foster care system and was placed into a dozen homes before she got pregnant at the age of 17. Inspired by the intensity of an Otis Rush performance “Otis played as if his life […]
Guy King Truth Delmark Records Guy King was born in Israel. He moved to the states and settled in Chicago. King joined Willie Kent’s shuffle driven blues band and served as both lead guitarist and band leader until Kent’s death in 2006. After starting his own band King played Buddy Guy’s Legends, Rosa’s Lounge and […]
Dennis Jones has provided a quality blues album with “Both Sides of the Track,” which does indeed, move from the heavy side to the smoother, more traditional side of the genre. With the heavier material on the album, like the opening “Enjoy the Ride,” “It All Depends ” “The Machine,” “Nobody’s Slave,” and “I Can’t […]
Mike Pachelli Fade to Blue Fullblast Recordings Michael Pachelli was raised in Youngstown, Ohio. His earliest guitar influence was Wes Montgomery. He studied classical guitar at Youngstown State University before moving to New York City to study bebop with Joe Pass and Pat Martino. He has toured with Brother Jack McDuff and Albert King among […]
Bonnie Raitt Dig in Deep Redwing Records Bonnie Lynn Raitt was born in Burbank, Ca. in 1948. She is the daughter of Broadway musical star John Raitt. She went to a Quaker school in New York before enrolling at Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Raitt befriended blues promoter Dick Waterman and in the fall of […]
Anni Piper More Guitars Than Friends Sugar Daddy Records Anni Piper is an Aussie who was first influenced to pick up a guitar by listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Although sometimes called “Australia’s First Lady of The Blues” her music is oftentimes more roots-rock than otherwise with touches of Nashville and Americana. She released her […]
Toronzo Cannon The Chicago Way Alligator Records Toronzo Cannon was born on Chicago’s south side in 1968. While growing up Cannon would sit outside Theresa’s Lounge listening to the sounds of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells spilling out onto the street. He purchased his first guitar when he was 22. His early influences included Albert […]
Luther Dickinson Blues & Ballads A Folksingers’s Songbook: Volume I & II New West Records Luther Dickinson, guitar; and his brother Cody, drums; were born in Memphis the sons of legendary musician/producer Jim Dickinson. Luther’s discography includes early recordings with bands such as “D.D.T.” and “Gutbucket”. After years working as part of the rock club […]
Benny Turner When She’s Gone Nola Blue Records Benny Turner and his older brother Freddie lived on the West Side of Chicago. Guitarist Freddie chose to use their mother’s maiden name and became the legendary Freddie King. Turner played bass in his brother’s band and toured with him until King’s death in 1976. Soon after […]
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 […]
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 […]
Steve Howell and The Mighty Men Friend Like Me Out of The Past Music/Burnside Distribution Steve Howell was born in Texas and lives in the greater Shreveport, La. area. Howell has immersed himself in the rural blues of the south. Howell’s first recording was the independently produced 2006 “Out of The Past. Howell followed up […]
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 […]
Jimmy Adler Grease Alley Sprucewood Records Jimmy Adler is from the Pittsburgh area. His early influences included Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones and that led to discovering the music of B.B. King, Elmore James, and Jimmy Reed. He later discovered T-Bone Walker, Duke Robillard, and Little Charlie Baty. Guitarist Adler formed his own band […]
David G Smith is a singer/songwriter who, on his 3rd studio album, First Love, delivers 10 original songs.He sounds very much like James Taylor. But on First Love, there is a theme running through the recording of learning to face and deal with the unknown which, on the lighter sounding songs especially, gets a little creepy […]
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 […]
R.B. Stone is back with his 3rd blues-based release, a follow-up to his successful “loosen Up.” It’s a non-stop, entertaining recording from the first notes of “Hill Country Stomp,” to the last notes of the ending jam, “Sstandin’ on Top of she World.” R.B. handles vocals, harmonica and guitar, including cigar boxguitar on a couple […]
Grateful Dead “Dick’s Picks Volume Three” Pembroke Pines, FL 5/22/77 (2-CD’s) www.RealGoneMusic.com This is a prime edition snapshot of the Dead’s 1977 late springtime tour that was recorded at the now defunct Sportatorium in Florida. Releasing the entire evening performance would’ve necessitated a three disc box-set, and the powers at www.Dead.net didn’t think there would […]
Pinetop Perkins and Jimmy Rogers knew and liked each other. They were fishing buddies. They had a lot in common, both having been born in Mississippi and made their way to Chicago, although by different paths. But they had never played together on stage until Little Mike brought them together in the 80’s. It turned […]
Here is 54 “Indie Blues” CD’s of 2015 that you should know about. Why 54? Well no reason other than that was the year I was born and I felt it was a good number to use. Everyone uses top 20, 50, 100 .. me, I march to a much different drummer. Now as this […]
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 […]
by Rhetta Akamatsu It’s time to look back at 2015 and pick some don’t miss albums I was going to do 5 but I just couldn’t choose. So here are 10 albums every roots music lover should have in their collection, in random order. Voo Davis – Midnight Mist Voo Davis was born in Alabama […]
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 […]
Santa Barbara blues group Crooked Eye Tommy has only been around since 2013 and Butterflies & Snakes is their debut album. Yet the band delivers a professional, smoking and very entertaining recording. Of course, this is not Delta blues. California blues tend to have a lot of Southern rock roots and owe more to The […]
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 […]
Wilson Pickett “Mr. Magic Man: The Complete RCA Studio Recordings” (2 CD’s) www.RealGoneMusic.com This two CD box-set encompasses Wilson Pickett’s four RCA albums: “‘Mr. Magic Man,” ‘Miz Lena’s Boy,” “Pickett in the Pocket,” and “Join Me and Let’s Be Free” from 1973 through 1975 with four previously unreleased CD singles. The best tracks were recorded […]
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” […]
2015 Stocking Stuffers: For Heightened Holiday Cheer – A Half Dozen Grab-bag CD’s The Soulful Strings “The Magic of Christmas” www.RealGoneMusic.com Originally issued via the Cadet subsidiary of Chess Records this collection makes its debut on CD. Chess/Cadet house-band studio players; harpist (not harmonica) Dorothy Ashby, Charles Stepney, Lenard Druss, Bunky Green, Phil Upchurch, Cleveland […]
Trudy Lynn Everything Comes With a Price Connor Ray Music In 2014 Trudy Lynn received her fifth Blues Music Award nomination. This time it was in the category of Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year, a.k.a the Koko Taylor award. Lynn’s last studio recording was the “Royal Oaks Blues Café” also on the Connor […]
Blues Thunder is a bit misleading as this CD from Brad WIlson is not all that stormy for the most part. The California blues singer and guitarist is cool, polished and very entertaining. Wilson wrote all the songs and produced the album at three different studios. He is backed by a band which is very […]
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 […]
The Karp-Foley Band Live For Hope OCRF.org The Karp-Foley band has released this two-cd live set to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. This release coincides with Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. All proceeds from the digital sale and download will benefit OCRF in loving memory of Peter Karp’s late wife Mary Lou Karp who early […]
Monkeyjunk Moon Turn Red Stony Plain Recording Co. Monkeyjunk consists of Steve Marriner, lead vocals, baritone guitar, keyboards, and vibes; Tony Diteodoro, lead guitar, and backing vocals; and Matt Sobb, drums, percussion, and backing vocals. In 2010 this Ottawa based trio won the 2010 Blues Music Award for Best New Artist. They have also been […]