25 Jan
DVD: Live at Montreux 1992 by Albert Collins
Friday, 25 January 2008
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
This companion to the concurrently released audio CD bearing the same title features the late, great Texas guitarist Albert Collins and his revved up band, wooing the au…
Guitarist/composer Jon Zeeman states that this project splits his strengths here on this rather well-conceived album between jazz, blues, and funk--that magical fusion p…
28 Jul
Hope Radio by Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters
Saturday, 28 July 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Ronnie Earl is the recipient of more accolades and awards than practically another blues artist extant. This unique artist and guitarist supreme always delivers the good…
By the time these original recordings were completed, early-to-late 1990s, the late John Lee Hooker was comfortably in Elder Statesman (Statesperson?) Status. Somebody a…
David Wilcox is a rockin’ blues legend in Canada with over 30 years of proverbial dues paying under his belt. By the 80s, he was playing hundreds of gigs a year and bega…
07 Jul
Groovin For Little V by Jan Korinek and Groove
Saturday, 07 July 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Only in the wide world of jazz can one get the kind of rich, free, diverse, and stylish tunes such as that found on this Hammond-rich, blues-deep trio’s project, Gro…
28 Jun
Breakin It Up by Muddy Waters Johnny Winter James Cotton
Thursday, 28 June 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
For fans of the late great Muddy Waters and other blues luminaries like Johnny Winter and James Cotton, there’s a new treat in store. Live recordings of the 1977 tour fe…
Trained as a guitarist, Charlie Hunter has played in various bands before going solo where he worked on a number of music projects, released a slew of albums and fronted…
David Gogo is a superb blues guitarist whose live shows are always a welcome treat! Gogo’s recent CD Skeleton Key shows off Gogo’s guitar wizardry quite well.
High Country Blues is the second glorious release by Harrison "Sweet Taste" Kennedy that's come to my attention within the last year. After hearing Voice St…
06 May
Dirt Road Blues by Saturday Night Fish Fry
Sunday, 06 May 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Each of this band’s first three releases has had a specific theme. Their first one featured Jump Blues; Rhythm and Soul was a gathering of covers by lesser know…
02 May
The Essential Magic Slim by Magic Slim
Wednesday, 02 May 2007
Published in
Other - CD Reviews
When you're a blues guy with a sobriquet including the words "magic" and "slim," you'd better have the goods. The Essential is a best-of collection drawing upon…
At first glance, a CD entitled Back to Back by Mr. B (Mark Lincoln Braun) and Bob Seeley would appear to be nothing more than a mirror image of tunes recorded by …
Ever youthful, Rompin' Ronnie Hawkins has reissued his much-acclaimed 2003 CD entitled Still Cruisin'. It’s also his most current CD to date. The exuberance Ronni…
14 Apr
Find Out For Yourself! Buzz Thompson Live … At the Red Dog by Buzz Thompson
Saturday, 14 April 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Buzz Thompson’s debut CD, Find Out For Yourself! Buzz Thompson Live .... At The Red Dog is a beautiful, soulful, musical creation throughout its entire 64 minutes…
09 Apr
LIVE--A Nite at Tipitinas by Mem Shannon
Monday, 09 April 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Mem Shannon is a triple-threat. He summons up the spirit of New Orleans like few others, mainly because his funky grooves are saturated with lessons supremely learned fr…
07 Apr
Revue: The Best Of Paul Reddick by Paul Reddick
Saturday, 07 April 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Revue: The Best Of Paul Reddick is an overview of a period of intense creativity by Paul Reddick that garned his acknowledgement as one the preeminent contempor…
Mason Casey hails from upstate New York and is now resides in Holland. Back in the 90s, he worked at several NYC clubs and drew the attention of Popa Chubby, who seldom …
It’s always a long feel-good moment when you get to settle back and enjoy the type of smoky, raspy, blues that Pete Alderton’s Living On Love offers. Ald…
It would take an entire separate page to list out the awards conferred upon Jack De Keyzer. He’s deserved every single one of them, but his latest release Blues Thin…
17 Mar
Double Slide by Brian Cober & The Nationals
Saturday, 17 March 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Brian Cober & The Nationals are a Toronto blues institution, and have recently reissued their third great CD, called Double Slide. The title comes from the fact t…
Guitar great (and Juno Award winner) Paul James has a new CD out, appropriately called Lost in the Blues. This CD is completely new and "all-original" Paul James …
Gina Sicilia may be the best blues singer on the music scene today and she still is only 22 years old. Her CD Allow Me To Confess demonstrates maturity that belie…
15 Feb
Power Of The Pontchartrain by Tab Benoit with Louisiana's Leroux
Thursday, 15 February 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Southern Louisiana native and guitarist/vocalist Tab Benoit has been a significant proponent of raising awareness and funds for Louisiana’s vanishing wetlands. And on hi…
Guitarist and composer Scott Sawyer has worked for over 30 years with artists like Nnenna Freelon, Charlie Byrd, Jack Wilkens, David Murray and Jon Lucian, to name a few…
12 Feb
Power Of The Pontchatrain by Tab Benoit
Monday, 12 February 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
In May, Tab Benoit was named the Blues Male Artist of the Year and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. As you listen to the Louisiana native’s Power Of T…
10 Feb
Naughty, Bawdy & Blue by Maria Muldaur
Saturday, 10 February 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Good things always happen when like-minded artists gather together. This album brings together the legendary Maria Muldaur and James Dapogny’s Chicago Jazz Band, blues belt…
03 Feb
In The City – The Piety Street Sessions by James Blood Ulmer
Saturday, 03 February 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Following up his brilliant and critically-acclaimed 2005 solo acoustic guitar/vocals blues CD Birthright, James Blood Ulmer returns with a rollicking electric ens…
The blues is alive and rockin’ in Canada’s capital city. Ottawa’s young harmonica sensation Steve Marriner comes out swinging on Going Up, his debut for Dog My Ca…
It never fails that when blues are executed with precision, a burst of pure cool hits the air with vengeance. Albert King must be just jamming along with the sounds of t…
27 Jan
Dining Out by Cadillac Bill & The Creeping Bent
Saturday, 27 January 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Right from the start you know that Cadillac Bill & The Creeping Bent’s CD Dining Out is ‘different,’ to say the least. First up on the Creeping Bent me…
San Diego-based guitarist Patrick Yandall is a commanding force on New York Blues, his eighth release for Zangi Records. Conceived as a departure from the artist’…
25 Jan
Jimmy Hall & The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Collective by Jimmy Hall
Thursday, 25 January 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Jimmy Hall is right on it as he is always. Bet you can not listen to this album without totally getting into it. This album will make you want to get up and move with or…
16 Jan
Naughty, Bawdy & Blue by Maria Muldaur
Tuesday, 16 January 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Maria Muldaur has committed herself in recent years to honoring the great blues women of the past. Her May 15th release of Naughty, Bawdy & Blue takes us back t…
03 Jan
Definition Of A Circle by Otis Taylor
Wednesday, 03 January 2007
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
It is difficult to believe that the music industry narrowly escaped a major tragedy when in 1977 blues artist Otis Taylor retired from singing and playing for almost 20 …
There is an old cliché that has often been applied when assessing the potential of an individual and it goes like this, ‘He/she is a diamond in the rough.’ There are no …
Alex Di Reto - My Own SongAlex Di Reto album My Own Song is a nice collection of blues songs. All the music on My Own Song was recorded with only Alex voice and guitar. The…
17 Aug
Willie Poochs Funk-N-Blues by Willie Pooch and Tony Monaco
Thursday, 17 August 2006
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
This is a wonderful combination of contemporary jazz, funk, blues and some straight-ahead influences. Willie Pooch is a fine blues singer and Tony Monaco shines brillian…
15 Aug
Mojo Priest by Steven Seagal & Thunderbox
Tuesday, 15 August 2006
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
On Mojo Priest, Steven Seagal and Thunderbox's second album, there is a steady groove that is consistent throughout. The first song, "Somewhere In Between," con…
22 Jul
Energized - Live in Europe by Bernard Allison
Saturday, 22 July 2006
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Bernard Allison offers everything on Energized, a Ruf Record recorded live at the Musa in Germany in 2005. Allison opens up his disc with an instrumental, but d…
Ben Carroll’s debut album Lover Undercover displays warmth, passion, deep toned clarity and melodically strewn blues-pop vocals. His acoustic broths have equivale…
15 Jul
Willie Poochs Funk and Blues by Willie Pooch
Saturday, 15 July 2006
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Tupelo Mississippi has always been know as the birthplace of the King of Rock and Roll, but now it can also be known as the birthplace of the new King of the Blues, Will…
Tab Benoit is really at his best live at a nice crazy venue like the Rock ‘n Bowl in New Orleans, jamming like mad on the guitar, breaking string after string after string …
04 Jul
Wild Women Never Get the Blues by Marguerite Mariama
Tuesday, 04 July 2006
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
Whether the mood calls for blues or jazz, there is a sultry appeal when a vocalist can master both genres with ease. As strong as some of the greats may have been, Margu…
20 Jun
Essentially John Mayall: Special Edition 5CD Set by John Mayall
Tuesday, 20 June 2006
Published in
Blues - CD Reviews
British blues legend John Mayall’s musical persona might be akin to jazz drummer/bandleader Art Blakey’s mentoring of those who possess raw talent and display the goods …
Linda Hopkins released her first album in 25 years on her 82nd birthday in mid-December, 2006. She’s a very gutsy gal and still puts whitecaps on the beer when she shouts t…
If what you want is solid blues and soul from a champion piano player who lit up the Louisiana blues/soul scene in the 70s, Bobby Powell is your man. As notable a vocali…
Warm, passionate, deep toned clarity, and melodically strewn are some of the essential ingredients found in acoustic blues-pop vocals and broths. Ben Carroll’s debut alb…
Joe Bonamassa can only be described as a prodigy. How else would you describe someone who performed with BB King at age 12 and John Lee Hooker at 14? Since then, Bonamas…
It has always struck me as a bit of an oxymoron that Bob Dylan a man whose speech you could seldom understand is considered a legendary songwriter and performer. Another…