Tinsley Ellis - Moment Of Truth ( Alligator Records)
The release sheet of this album says that one of the influences of Tinsley Ellis is "Cream" (amongst others), while listening to the first song on the album: "Say To Much", there\'s no doubt about it: Cream all over!
But with the hand of Tinsley Ellis, he is not copying music, No! He gets (or got) his inspiration from a lot of bands of that era.
Ellis is an ace of a songwriter and he is able to prove that in 10 of the 12 songs on the "Moment Of Truth" album. The sound of his Gibson Les Paul is striking: lots of sustain. His voice is raw and powerful.
It\'s not only up tempo Blues Rock on the album: "You\'re Gonna Thank Me" is a perfect bluesy ballad. "Tell The Truth" reminds me of the great "Southern Rockers" with harmony vocals of Michelle Malone.
In my opinion his best guitar playing is to be heard on the song: "Too Much Of Everything", a very "touching" tune. "Bringin\' Home The Bacon" is a song in the best tradition of Blues-Rock. I think "Freeway Soul" is the only poor
song on the album. The version of Isaac Hayes (a.o) "I Take What I Want" is real refreshing. "Sleep On It" brings back the blues in the album.
"Stare At The Sun" is one of the best tunes on the album (in my opinion), it proves that Tinsley Ellis is far more than just the average blues rocker! "Shadow Of Doubt" a country song written by Gary Nicholson is the perfect end of a perfect, various album by the hard working, heartfelt singing, sprarkling playing Tinsley Ellis.
Shakura S\'Aida - Blueprint (Independent)
"What the....." was my first reaction when I put on this album by Miss Shakura. What a voice!
I think she is the coming lady of soul blues. With a voice that\'s equal to people like Denise LaSalle, Dinah Washington, Etta James, Bettye LaVette and many other female R&B vocalists.
She has rounded up a great band: James Bryan: Guitar/Dennis Keldie: Keyboards/Howard Ayee: Bass/Michelle Josef: Drums and Simon Wallis on Saxophones. Appearing as guest musicians: David Rotundo on Harmonica, Harrison Kennedy on vocals, guitar and harmonica and Jackie Richardson and Shannon Marcla on background vocals.
James Bryan also produced this great album.
Let this album be a blueprint for the career of Shakura S\'Aida. She is truly wonderful!!!
Aynsley Lister - Upside Down (Ruf Records)
On this 10th release for Ruf Records Aynsley kicks off with "Find My Way Home", a song that reminds me a lot of the British Blues Rock scene in the 90\\\'s. This is the sound what made band like "The Hoax" popular.
It seems natural to me.... maybe Aynsley grew up, listening to bands like "The Hoax" from the Davey Brothers.
There are 12 tracks on this album and Mr. Lister wrote everyone of it, and produced the entire album. He has become more versatile. His voice is superb and his guitar sounds better as before.
It\\\'s not only blues rock on this album, "Beautiful" for example is a very touching, emotional played song written and performed for his daughter. Great songwriting! "With Me Tonight" gets us straight back to blues rock.
The combination between electric and acoustic guitar is in very good balance and proves that Aynsley Lister is not "just" a blues rocker. He is a very good songwriter and performer.
Blues Guitar Women - Time Bomb (Ruf Records).
In 2007 the celebrated (Ruf) Blues Caravan made an extended tour in Europe, Canada and the United States.
With over 60 (!) performances they got to know each other very well I guess. I am talking about Sue Foley, Deborah Coleman and Roxanne Potvin.
To "celebrate" this succesful tour Ruf Records comes with an album of these female guitar aces.
Kevin Bowe did a great job producing this record! The sound is fantastic.
The three ladies are singing in turn on the album. Exept for the very strong opening instrumental: Time Bomb.
People who know me, know that I have a weakness for women in Blues (Well..... for women in general).
Also on this album, I love to play the album (both private as on the radio stations), one of my favourite tunes is "Strong Enough To Hold You", written by Miss Potvin.
All in all you will find various styles of blues on this album. All influences from the individual (great) talents of Deborah Coleman, Sue Foley and Roxanne Potvin. This album is highly recommended!
Building Full Of Blues - Fathead ( Electro-Fi Records)
The Canadian bases and Juno Award winning band "Fathead" have recorded "Building Full Of Blues" on the Electro-Fi label, a strong CD with lots of variety in it. Guest vocalist Shakura S\\\\\\'Aida does a great job
on the album.
I had to listen to the album more than once to recognize the quality of it. Fathead is as steady as a rock, yet smooth as silk. The songs: Jellyfish Blues, Fire In The Hole and Building Full Of Blues are jewels.
Now I know why this band has already won one Juno Award. Now go on guys..... you are ready for the second!
The Backbones - Two Track Wonders ( New Road Music)
The story of this 7 track album is so great: "On a late saturdaynight in Belgium in between sets in a small bluesclub just outside Bruxelles, Big Pete receives a phonecall from his friend Rob Van Boekel at the New Road Studios in Holland. the band that had booked the studio had split up, which ment there was a good weekend of recording to be wasted."
To make this story a little shorter...: Pete told his band mates about this, and after the set they packed up their gear, made the trip to Holland and started recording. The result: this new album with 7 great blues tracks. With songs from Otis Spann, Junior Wells, John Brim, Frank Frost, Lowell Fulson and Elmore James.
In fact this is what "The Backbones" are, Europes most versatile blues band. They have worked with: Mitch Kashmar, "Monster" Mike Welch, Hook Herrera, Matt Schofield, Dede Priest, Alex Schultz and many others. This album proves that they are "Simply The Best".
More info about the backbones on their website: www.thebackbones.com
T-99 - Vagabonds ( Cool Buzz Records)
The latest album of the Dutch based blues/roots band T-99 turns out to be a very versatile album. The three (vagabond) musicians: Mischa Den Haring, Martin De Ruiter and Donné la Fontaine swap instruments and vocals on a lot of tracks on the album. This makes the album even more interesting than it is already.
All 13 songs are written and composed by the band. It is fascinating to hear in what way they have captured the essence of the songs, everything just "fits to a Tee".
It\\\\\'s not easy to put a "label" on the music T-99 plays; I hear electric blues, piedmont style, roots rock, a little bit of surf (French lyrics!), dirty swamp sounds and even some old rockabilly style. But that is what T-99 makes such a great band and that is why "Vagabonds" is such a great album to listen to: over and over again.
Morning Sun - Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley (Electro - Fi Records)
"Morning Sun is an affectionate tribute to the classic "Bluebird Records" blues sounds of the 1930\\\\\'s and 40\\\\\'s"; that is what the liner notes say in the album. Diana and Chris are a perfect blues couple.
You\\\\\'re able to hear the chemistry between these two great musicians, that\\\\\'s going on in the songs.
The inspiration for the 13 songs on the album came from people like: Memphis Minnie, Tampa Red, Lonnie Johnson, Bessie
Smith, Big Bill Broonzy. Well, a lot of artists get their inspiration of these icons, but both Diana Braithwate and Chris Whiteley know exactly how to translate this into their self penned songs.
"Blessing In Disguise" is SO BEAUTIFUL, I play it over and over again. Whiteley is a true multi instumentalist but credit also goes to Al Cross on Drums, Terry Wilkins on Upright Bass, Drew Jurecka: Saxophone and Jesse Whiteley on Piano.
"Mr. Subway Man" is another proof that this duo has succeeded in their goal to find the blues sounds of the 30\\\\\'s and 40\\\\\'s.
An Excellent Album!
Rick Holmstrom- Late In The Night (MC Records).
After the "experimental" Hydraulic Groove album in 2002, Rick Holmstrom seems to be back at his roots. His MC debut: "Late In The Night" is an album that will apply more to the blues fans than the 2002 album. Several styles of blues are represented on this album; from jazzy blues to rock and delta blues, and don\\\\\'t forget the swampy sounds!
On the bass on of the masters of the instrument: Jeff Turmes and Stephen Hodges on drums makes this a great, tight band.
To me this is an ultimate "car CD", driving a vintage convertible on a long stretch of road. The instrumentals are just waiting to be picked up by Tarantino in one of his upcoming movies. It would be a dream come true to see this trio perform live. Hopefully that will be the case someday soon!
Boyd Small - Diamond Boy (Rounder Europe)
Drummer, singer, songwriter, entertainer (Hell I\\\\\\\'ve even see him play the Bass for Monti Amundson on the Bullseye Festival in Holland) Boyd Small recorded an album with some of his Portland friends: Monti Amundson, Lloyd Jones, Peter Damman, Josh Fulero and Willy Barber. On this 11 song album Boyd wrote 5 of them. Other songs from: Jimmy D. Lane, Johnny Otis, Big Joe Turner, J.T. Meire and Hubert Sumlin.
"Diamond Boy" is a real treat! A very tasteful album, steeped in the blues. The appearance of his guest musicians makes it even better! And with Boyd on drums and singing this is a 5 star album.
Fruteland Jackson - Tell Me What You Say (Electro-Fi Records)
On "Tell Me What You Say" Jackson proves again that he is a master of classic Delta Blues and Piedmont Blues. I am very, very impressed by this acoustic album. Together with his musical partners: Chris Whiteley: Guitar, Harmonica and Trumpet; Diana Braithwate: Vocals; Julian Fauth: Piano; Kevin Fox: Chello and Bucky Berger on Drums and Percussion, Fruteland Jackson succeeds to make a gripping album from the first to the last song. The song "Blues Over Baghdad" is heartrending. Chello and Trumpet accomplish an atmosphere in the song that gets frightening, it captures the athmosphere of a war zone.
As an extra Fruteland tells a story on two of the tracks. The opening track is an a-cappela blues song with the fine voice of Jackson. Another thing that moved me on this album are the liner notes by Fruteland Jackson, for example: "The Blues is the poor man\\\\\\\'s psychologist, a private counseler, and a friend".
This album is not just a blues CD, it is a blues document, filled with honest emotion!!!!!
Ain\\\\\\\'t Just Temporary - Hamilton Loomis (Blind Pig Records)
In his attempt of "bringing Blues music in the 21st century", Hamilton Loomis seems to be very successfully. On Hamilton\\\\\\\'s second Blind Pig release he proves that he does not holds on to just blues music. With 9 self penned songs and two covers, he walks several musical paths: you will be able to hear blues, rock, gospel and even some funky stuff on the song "My Pen".
His mentor Bo Diddley also contributes at this album with the song: "You Got To Wait". One of the highlights on this album.
Loomis proves once more on this album that he is a multi instrumentalist; besides vocals he is playing keyboard, bass, guitars, harmonica and even drums!
All in all this is a very good, varied album. Loomis proves that he is not "Just Temprorary". He is here and here to stay!!!!
Alligator\\\\\\\'s Various Artist Anthologies (Alligator Records)
Again Alligator Records delivers three outstanding compilations of Blues Artists. A great introduction to blues music. The sampler production is made by Bruce Iglauer and Bob de Pugh.
Whether you a "beginner" in blues music or a "veteran listener" these samplers are really worth their money. As a radio deejay I love these compilations, they always come in very handy. With these latest three albums the "Crucial Blues Series" add up to a total of 11 CD\\\\\\\'s!!!!
Candye Kane - Guitared and Feathered ( Ruf Records)
Super Blues Diva Miss Kane has surrounded herself on this album with some Super guitar blues heroes: Bob Margolin, Junior Watson, Dave Alvin, Sue Foley, Jeff Ross, Kid Ramos, Ana Popovic Bob Brozman and Popa Chubby. Despite all these great names her own band is as steady as a rock. Her son Evan on Drums, Heine Andersen on Guitars and the inimitable Bill Stuve on Bass. Other guest musicians are her oldest son Tommy Yearsley II and Billy Watson on Harmonica.
Guitared and Featherd turns out to be a very good, varied album. With music you will expect from Miss Kane but also some really surprising tracks. For instance: "I\\\\\\\'m Gonna Cry Today" with Jeff Ross playing a Del Arte guitar in a way Django would do it!
Kid Ramos on acoustic guitar is a real treat!!! So is Bob Margolin. Hey.. everybody has a wonderful part in this album, led by Miss Kane with her powerful voice, filled with emotion.
And "Hats Off" to Mr. Bob Margolin for a perfect production.
Off to the Candye Store!!!
Duke Robillard - World Full Of Blues ( Stony Plain Records).
Veteran blues guitarist Duke Robillard latest release "World Full of Blues" seems like a long life wish of the Duke. Mr. Robilard intentions to record a set of music that touches upon nearly all the areas of blues and blues related music is a GREAT SUCCES!! Only in the way the Duke can do it! In fact he takes you on a "Blues Cruise" to several styles and songwriters.
The album features many new Robillard originals along with fresh interpretations of songs by Memphis Slim, T-Bone Walker, Booker T. & The MG\\\\\\\'s, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and more.
Duke Robillard is supported by 13 other musicians, like: Mark Texeira, John Packer, Doug James, "Sax" Gordon Beadle, "Sugar" Ray Norcia and many others.
Grammy nominee Robillard succeeds in making a double CD which keeps fascinating and swinging for the full 115 (!!!) minutes.
If you like blues music and a not a so called "purist" this is an album that has to be in your collection, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!
Matt Schofield Trio - Ear To The Ground ( Nugene Records)
Schofield is listed in the Top Ten British Bluesmen of All Time by "Guitar and Bass Magazine". In my opinion: .. They are RIGHT!! He is a real champion on his instrument and as a composer. He proves this on his third release: "Ear To The Ground". Alternation of gritty blues-rock songs and rousing blues ballads in this album by Schofield. Assisted by Johnny Henderson on the Hammond Organ, Evan Jenkins on the Drums and (Wow I\\\\\\\'m so proud!) "Big" Pete van der Pluym from The Netherlands, on harmonica at the track "Someone".
It is really easy to hear what the influences are, he has listened to all his blues heroes (B.B. King, Albert Collins, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan).
I have seen Matt play a lot the last couple of years in various bands: of course his own Trio but also with the European Lester Butler Tribute Band. It is a treat to see and hear this guy play. And "Ear To The Ground" is by far the best album of Matt and his Trio yet!!!
BUY IT!!!
Michael Osborn - What Goes Around (Checkerboard Records)
Blues guitar "veteran" Michael Osborn (John Lee Hooker, The Ford Band, Charlie Musselwhite) comes with a brand new album. Together with his friend Robben Ford who plays guitars on several tracks. Bill Rhoades on vocals on two tracks and on harmonica.
I wrote "veteran" in the opening sentence: .. but Michael sounds as fresh as a young (blues) cat. Lots of energy and superb guitar licks, crystal clear vocals and very good song writing!
It\\\\\\\'s just like John Lee Hooker said: "Michael Osborn is one of the best blues guitarists around, he can really lay it down."
Roxanne Potvin - The Way It Feels (Ruf Records)
23 years old Roxanne Potvin comes with her second studio album: a convincing blues/roots album produced by Colin Linden. The Canadian based guitarist/singer combines blues songs with rootsy sounding ballads. It turns out to be a good combination. The first song "A Love That\\\\\\\'s Simple" is breath taking beautiful, with guest singer John Hiatt. I can\\\\\\\'t say what it reminds me of.. but that\\\\\\\'s really not important, the song is great! The interpretation of "I Want To.." (Joe Tex) is equal to the interpretation of Marcia Ball. The song "La Merveille" almost takes you to"Cajun Country".. I know, I know: Roxanne is bilingual, but it could have been written by a sad Cajun lady, and I mean that as a compliment.
Bruce Cockburn provides some great Jazzy guitar in "While I Wait For You". "Say It" gets you back to the blues!!!!! And How!!!!!
While listening to the song "Don\\\\\\\'t Pay Attention" where miss Potvin playes the piano, it seems that she is sitting right next to you in the room: great production!! Very intimate.
Colin Linden proves why he is so good at the dobro- and electric guitar all over the album. Miss Potvin: Good Job!!!!
Sharrie Williams & The Wiseguys - Live At The Bay-Car Blues Festival (CrossCut Records).
This is the way one should listen to this band: Sharrie Williams & The Wiseguys: LIVE!!! Yes, she has made some great studio recordings, but whenever you have heard her live it\\\\\\\'s hard to get back to the studio recordings. This new album captures the real Sharrie: energetic, soulful, rocking, swinging.
The "Princess of Rockin" Gospel Blues: hails from Saginaw, Michigan. She is backed by an almost European band (Lars Kutschke, guitars; Pietro Taucher on keyboards; Marco Franco on Bass and from Nashville Larrice Byrd).
The debut album of Miss Williams on the CrossCut label (Hard Drivin\\\\\\\' Woman) took her all over Europe and the United States, presenting her music to her fans.
Now whether it\\\\\\\'s a gospel song, a swinging blues song or that real down home blues: Sharrie has the voice to do it all and to do it REAL GOOD!
All 9 songs on this Live album are equal fascinating and it\\\\\\\'s hard to get the CD out of the player!. It\\\\\\\'s just too nice to listen to!!!
Thank you Sharrie!!!!!
The Billy Gibson Band - Live At Rum Boogie Cafe (Daddy-O Records).
Harmonica virtuoso Billy Gibson appears on many albums and appears as a special guest on many performances, this album is about his own band. Recorded Live at the Rum Boogie Café on Historic Beale Street, Memphis.
Backed up by a fabulous band Mr. Gibson proves that he is one of the best harmonica players at the moment. On this 8 track live album, three songs are self penned, the other ones are covers from: Willie Foster, Willie Dixon, Rudy Toombs, Eddie Taylor, John Lee Williamson and even Tony Joe White.
Billy Gibson is not only a giant on the "Mississippi Saxophone" but has a powerful, bluesy voice also.
The first cut of the album hits you like a hammer!!!!!! Billy proves why people write so great about him, he is blowing the harp like never before! The Willie Foster song "Love Everybody" is just excellent, with a mean guitar (David Bowen) and Bass (James Jackson) while Cedric Keel on drums provides the groove.
Another highlight of the album is the Eddie Taylor song "Bad Boy": over 16 minutes of real rockin\\\\\\\', swingin\\\\\\\' blues. Another positive surprise for me on this album is the interpretation of T.J. White\\\\\\\'s "Polk Salad Annie" with David Bowen on vocals.
If you have the chance? Go out there and catch these boys play live!!
The Mannish Boys - Big Plans (Delta Groove Productions)
I was very lucky to see this "Super Blues Band" perform live at the 2006 Moulin Blues Festival in Holland. At that time they had released their Live album (Live and In Demand). "Big Plans" is their second studio release.
The line up of this band is wonderful: Finis Tasby: vocals Johnny Dyer: vocals and harmonica, Frank "Paris Slim" Goldwasser: vocals, slide guitar and rhythm guitar, Kid Ramos: lead guitar, slide guitar and baritone guitar, Kirk "Eli" Fletcher: lead guitar and rhythm guitar, Leon Blue: vocals and piano, Randy Chortkoff: vocals and harmonica, Tom Leavey: electric bass, Richard "Big Foot" Innes: drums. If that should not be enough there are a bunch of guest musicians to tip your hat to: Jody Williams: vocals and lead guitar, Bobby Jones: vocals, Rick Holmstrom: rhythm guitar, Mitch Kashmar: harmonica, Rob Rio: vocals and piano, Larry Taylor: upright bass, Jeff Turmes: upright bass and alto sax, David "Woody" Woodford: tenor sax and baritone sax.
Okay, I might be prejudiced because I am a fan of a lot of these musicians, but it is a fact that this album is a real jewel! Maybe it is even more "complete" then the first studio release: "That Represent Man". In my opinion there is NO band who can mix Chicago style and West-Coast style into a high quality blues that reaches the sky.
The title says: "Big Plans":. I am just wondering....: Can it get any better t |
