Best known until recently as guitarist with the great Harmonica Shah Band, Howard Glazer is an electric guitarist in the mold of Kim Simmons, Johnny Winter and the blues…
Adelmo Fornaciar, known to the world by his nickname, Zucchero, which means "Sugar" in his homeland of Italy, has struck gold with his new release Zucchero & Co.
Injection of pure blues hits the surface with one spin of the new release of the Zen Blues Quartet (titled the same) from Shunyata Records. Stinging and crafty displays …
Here’s a debut CD by a rough and ready newcomer to the California blues scene. Michele Lundeen is the first-place winner of the San Diego Blues Challenge and …
The cover art on Mojo Stu’s new CD pictures his National Reso-Phonic, an instrument that’s always as easy on the eyes as it is on the ears. The Philadelphia s…
02 Apr
Buried Alive In The Blues (CD/DVD Set) by Chicago Blues Reunion
Saturday, 02 April 2005
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
The Chicago Blues Reunion wants to make sure you are Buried Alive In The Blues when you attend one their concerts. Not just anyone can pull off something so power…
With his guitar strapped to his back in search of his destiny in Chicago, Riley B. King left the Mississippi cotton fields forever and became the legendary B.B. King. Hi…
Pure emotion! Bluesman Chris Beard pours it out in abundance on his Live Wire session. Recorded live at concert in Grand Rapids and Chicago, the 48 year old g…
After many years leading free-jazz tinged units spiced with Ornette Coleman patented harmolodics and rocking electric blues, guitar innovator and vocalist James Blood Ul…
In his 5th CD, New Orleans bluesman Mem Shannon carries on the traditions of the Crescent City’s music. While the city’s musical styles differ widely, the sound is i…
28 Feb
My World: The Definitive Collection by Smokey Robinson
Monday, 28 February 2005
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Smokey Robinson's status as a singer and songwriter of rhythm and blues is the same as Sugar Ray Robinson achieved in boxing: the undisputed champion. My World: The Defi…
23 Feb
Live In Nottingham (Preview CD) by Family Style
Wednesday, 23 February 2005
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Recorded "Live" at the Running Horse, Nottingham, UK on Saturday September 18th 2004Release date 3rd March 2005 http://www.therunninghorse.ukpub.net/…
Coining the phrase Bluezion for his versatile down-home jazz and blues inspired grooves, saxman James Evans has reached a new pinnacle in his career. Evans played…
Coining the phrase Bluezion for his versatile down-home jazz and blues inspired grooves, saxman James Evans has reached a new pinnacle in his career. Evans played…
11 Feb
The Duke Meets The Earl by Ronnie Earl & Duke Robillard
Friday, 11 February 2005
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Here’s a fine new CD to tempt the palates of traditional and electric blues aficionados. Two outstanding New England guitarists team up for a kick-ass blues party with some…
11 Feb
The Future Of The Blues - Vol 2 by Various Artists
Friday, 11 February 2005
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Here’s a fine budget priced sampler from NorthernBlues Music. The five-year-old Toronto company is owned and operated by a devoted blues fan. Fred Litwin jumped into…
05 Feb
Progressive Blues Experiment by Johnny Winter
Saturday, 05 February 2005
Published in
Progressive - CD Reviews
This album was a demo at one time, like any other album. However, there was a distinct difference with this particular recording in comparison to your every day studio demo…
03 Feb
Make Do With What You Got by Solomon Burke
Thursday, 03 February 2005
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Solomon Burke, the self-professed king of rock and soul, lives up to his billing with a new album titled Make Do With What You Got. The man recorded his first album …
02 Feb
The Best of the Modern Years by Etta James
Wednesday, 02 February 2005
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Duke Ellington’s highest compliment for someone was "beyond category," a rarefied level where "categorizations," labels, appellations, etc. mean little or nothing. Ray Char…
Here’s an important blues release for fans of Hubert Sumlin. About Them Shoes is a collection of the guitarist’s recent material featuring some big name guests. With…
Singer/guitarist Rory Block has been at it for awhile now - "it" being the business of playing & singing the blues, with particular emphasis on country blues (also known as…
February saw NorthernBlues release new CDs by two Cuban born bluesmen. It’s an invasion! Both Eddie Turner and…
Looking for a blues guitarist in the tradition of Jimi Hendrix? Eddie Turner is probably a good bet! Turner was born in Cuba, raised in Chicago and educated in Color…
The Downchild Blues Band, Canada’s ’Premiere Blues Band’ for the past 35 years, has recently released their brand new, Juno-nominated CD, …
19 Jan
The Best of the Modern Years by Johnny "Guitar" Watson
Wednesday, 19 January 2005
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
To paraphrase Myron Cohen, "Everybody got to come from someplace" -- Charlie Parker begat Cannonball Adderley and Phil Woods, Thelonious Monk begat Andrew Hill, and so on. …
When you listen to the many different types of jazz, do you ever wonder how jazz came to be? Where were its roots? How did it evolve? It mainly started with the progression…
Tishamingo sounds like they have paid their dues and have the Wear n’ Tear to prove it. This is a great album. Getting a reminder frequently of the best jam band fro…
14 Jan
More Music From Ray (CD/DVD) by Charles Ray
Friday, 14 January 2005
Published in
Other - CD Reviews
I suppose that I am like many others, I have discovered the music of Ray Charles after his death. It is most unfortunate, but as they say-better late than never. I knew he …
05 Jan
In Your Arms Again by John Hammond
Wednesday, 05 January 2005
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Like the name of the record company, listening to this music one can imagine a bluesman playing on the edge of a whiskey-soaked, country back porch during the dusk as the s…
Big Joe Duskin’s new record "Big Joe Jumps Again!" lets the good times roll. For his first studio recording in 16 years, he’s assembled something of a ‘Cincinnati All-Stars…
14 Aug
Real Live (2-CD set) by Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush
Saturday, 14 August 2004
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush have captured a remarkably live "feel" in their recent 2-CD set called Real Live. This incredibly interesting CD was recorded live at…
05 Aug
It's Halloween - Trick or Treat by Paul James Band
Thursday, 05 August 2004
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Blues guitarist extraordinaire Paul James has put his boundless creative energy into creating a short but ‘Halloween candy’ sweet two-song Hallow…
Johnny Neel made his mark many moons ago in the Allman Brothers Band and his song writing credits range from Delbert McClinton, Cyril Lance, Willie Nelson, Government Mu…
28 Jul
Rancho Texicano: The Very Best of ZZ Top by ZZ Top
Wednesday, 28 July 2004
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Other - CD Reviews
At 35 years and counting, ZZ Top has enjoyed the longest run of any major rock band without experiencing any changes in its original line-up. The Texas trio of guitarist Bi…
The Holmes Brothers keep on trucking with their mix of rhythm and blues, soul, blues and gospel. This is their second album for the Alligator label but their "genuine house…
Kurt Crandall tries hard. Tries hard with various flavors of the blues Chicago Blues, West Coast Swing, and Kansas City Jump. Playing the Blues is deceptively simple, but i…
03 Jul
Lackawanna Blues (Soundtrack) by Various Artists
Saturday, 03 July 2004
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Need a good dose of blues after that hard grueling day? Well this CD is it! It's the soundtrack to an HBO film called Lackawanna Blues. In listening to good blues, y…
29 Jun
Blues Extensions, Vol 1 by Paul Speidel Band
Tuesday, 29 June 2004
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Paul Speidel is a blues/jazz electric guitarist from the Boston area. Paul grew up around the Chicago area, and you can definitely hear the influence in his style of…
Now that Ray Charles has moved on to the spirit world it is up to us to carry on his legacy and celebrate his life and music until the end of our days. Genius Loves Comp…
Al Basile takes a tremendous amount of pride in his words and music. The words, in very definitive sense, shape the music’s personality of the well-known art form called th…
Joe Bonamassa’s latest CD "Had to Cry Today" has no shortage of smokin’, let ‘er rip, blues/rock guitar blowing. Being 27 years old (not too young, but young enough to ment…
Carlos Johnson’s "In And Out" is a Japanese release that’s found its way home.That’s good because it would be a shame to miss the Chicago bluesman.Johnson, who cites his…
09 Jun
Stompin At The Savoy: The Original Indie-Label 1944-1961 by Various Artists
Wednesday, 09 June 2004
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
The 4 CD set Stompin' At The Savoy: The Original Indie-Label 1944-1961 is one of the most significant reissues in recent memory, presenting a unique window into the …
20 May
The Best of Lightnin Hopkins by Lightnin' Hopkins
Thursday, 20 May 2004
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Every song in this collection is a Lightnin' Hopkins blues classic. Jazz listeners who have a feel for the blues will embrace this wonderful collection, for it is truly a f…
19 May
O-Genio-Ray Charles 1963 Live in Brazil by Ray Charles
Wednesday, 19 May 2004
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
You know what is nice about writing a review on Ray Charles? He was celebrated while he was here in the world of the living, not after his passing.O-Genio-Ray Cha…
17 May
Whiskey Is My Habit, Women Is All I Crave - The Best of Leroy Carr by Leroy Carr
Monday, 17 May 2004
Published in
Other - CD Reviews
When "urban blues" is mentioned as a style, most folks envisage the electric blues of Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Buddy Guy, but singer/pianist Leroy Carr was perhaps the f…
Mare Edstrom should have titled her CD The Blues Are Inside Her instead of Inside The Blues. It becomes obvious by listening to her new release that the blues is a p…
A commonly used term in music now is Black Americana. I am hearing it more often now and it is because the music fits the culture that drives it. Regardless of placing musi…
IN AND OUT is a memorable encounter of contemporary jazz with blues motifs which only Carlos Johnson can do so well in his special way. The performances are excellent, and …
The SPV label has certainly gained a head of steam this year by signing on some legendary acts with musical oomph. Jim Capaldi is the latest addition to their ever-growing …