2003 review archive
A Woman Like Me - Bettye LaVetteAlone with the Blues - Keith Dunn
Bendin' the Blues - Melanie Mason
Best Blues Money Can Buy - Willie Lomax Blues Revue
Big Shoes to Fill - Watermelon Slim
Blues from the Delta - Skip James
Born Under A Bad Sign - Albert King
Come Together - Biscuit Miller
Crazy Kind of Life - Bill Perry
Demo - Cherri and the Violators
Doctor Velvet - Nick Curran and the Nitelifes
Genuine Houserockin' Christmas - Compilation Disc
Good For Stompin' - J Street Jumpers
I Feel Like Goin' On - Ronnie Earl
I Get Evil - Sam Lay
I Smell Smoke - Michael Burks
Key to Love: Celebration of Music of John Mayall - Debbie Davies
Kickin' It - Hamilton Loomis
Larry "Papa Blues" Travis - Larry Travis
Muddy Waters: His Best: 1947-1955 - Muddy Waters
Pay It Forward - Luther Allison
Polaris - North Mississippi Allstars
Prisoner of the Heart - Mary Ann Redmond
Real Live - Becky Barksdale
Roadhouse Research - Smokin' Joe Kubek with Bnois King
Rock 'n Roll City - Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater
Runaway Soul - Ruthie Foster
Slingshot Professionals - Kelly Joe Phelps
So Many Rivers - Marcia Ball
Soul Be It - Deborah Coleman
Soul Serenade - Derek Trucks Band
Strange Dreams - Savoy Brown
That's Right - Roomful of Blues
The Live One - Dave Hole
The Road We're On - Sonny Landreth
The Very Best of John Lee Hooker - John Lee Hooker
This Town - Pete Special
To the Top - Cody Seybert
Triple Threat - Tommy Castro, Jimmy Hall, Lloyd Jones
Use What You Got - Janiva Magness
Vietnam Blues: The Complete Recordings of J.B. Lenoir - J.B. Lenoir
Wait For Me - Susan Tedeschi
Which Way is Texas? - Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets
Whole Lotta Love - Candye Kane
Wrong Side of the Street - The Groove Hogs
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Title: Come Together
Artist: Biscuit Miller
Label: Blues Bass Entertainment, 2002
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - January, 2003
Long time bassist for Lonnie Brooks, Biscuit Miller's first foray into his own music is a real treat. Raised in the Chicago suburb of Englewood by his grandmother, Biscuit was surrounded by gospel and blues and it reeflects in this disc. Joined by both Lonnie and Ronnie Brooks along with Carl Weathersby and Anthony Gomes, this cd is a joy to listen to. Everything from funky beats to playful tunes like Let's Go Fishing (a duet with Nellie "Tiget" Travis), to reflective moments on Mother's Love, this disc has it all. In other words, buy it!!
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Title: Wrong Side of the Street
Artist: The Groove Hogs
Label: Trawf Records, 2002
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - January, 2003
On this their first release, The Groove Hogs stretch out and make things happen. The 10 piece band hails from Wisconsin and is just now starting to get outside that state's border. They need to get way out and be heard. If you like Roomful of Blues or Tower of Power then you'll love this band. Having seen all three live, their sound is more Tower of Poewr. Produced by Jim Gaines and masteredd at Ardent Studios in Mempphis, this album is lacking the power and punch of seeing the band live, but it would be hard to capture the energy. Still, it's worth having for those days when your get up and go has got up and gone. This cd will bring the tap back to your toes and give you asevere case of happpy feet. See them this summer at the Kalamazoo Blues Festival.
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Title: Wait For Me
Artist: Susan Tedeschi
Label: Artemis, 2002
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - January, 2003
This 11-track collection is the follow-up to Tedeschi's critically aclaimed, gold certified 1998 release Just Won't Burn, an album that earned her a "Best New Artist" Grammy nomination in 2000. Wait For Me features several new originals written and produced by Tedeschi, as well as as inspired readings of songs by Bob Dylan (Don't Think Twice) and Paul Pena (Gonna Move) among others. Veteran producer/engineer Tom Dowd helmed some of the Wait For Me sessions, and contributors on the album include Tedeschi's husband and young guitar hero Derek Trucks, southern music stalwart Col. Bruce Hampton, and legendary pianist, Chuck Berry collaborator, and rock & roll architect Johnnie Johnson. While it doesn;t reaach out and grab me like her first album, it's not to say that this isn't a bad thing. Her voice is still soulful and brings out soothing to lets go party, but it's lacking something I just can't put my finger on. See if you can find it and let me know.
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Title: Soul Be It
Artist: Deborah Coleman
Label: Blind Pig, 2002
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - January, 2003
The first live album from blues guitarist and singer Deborah Coleman is a sheer delight, chock-full of evidence that someday she'll be conswidered one of the brightest stars in blues. Soul Be It starts off nice and easy, with the up tempo-yet-relaxed Brick. That's just to warm you up, however. By the time I'm A Woman rolls around, Coleman's guitar playing catches fire. As for her voice, it's more like Turkish coffee than hot chocolate; there's a richness to her singing that everyone willl appreciate. The final track Goodby to Misery, is a revelation. In a mere eight tracks, Coleman takes her listeners from the opening bars (bars' opening?) at 9 pm all the way to 2 in the morning, with relentless energy. Coleman has to be one of the hardest-working women in the business, but all her work pays off in this live recording, which has the nuances of a studio recording, but has that extra punch that only a live show can deliver. Having seen Deborah at the Kalamazoo Blues Festival in 1998 and again recently at the Frauenthal Center, you can see the growth in her musically and as a performer. One young lady to keep an eye on.
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Title: Bendin' the Blues
Artist: Melanie Mason
Label: self-released
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - February, 2003
Melanie Mason is a triple threat when it comes to music. Songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist was the least she'd settle for. Learning the guitar at age 12, Melanie drew from the works of Jimmy Johnson, Eric Clapton, Albert Collins and others. As she matured, her career took off in the Washington D.C. area and she never looked back. Her cd features nine original cuts and three covers. Melanie performs all the guitar work and is joined by Mickey Meiklejohn (harmonica), Sam Goodall (bass), Mike Utz (drums), and from Severn Records, special guest Benjie Porecki (keyboard). Keep an eye out for this young lady, she's just getting started.
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Title: Real Live
Artist: Becky Barksdale
Label: Spinout
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - February, 2003
Anybody who heard this Port Arthur, Texas wailer at Blues on the Mall last year knows just what a punch she packs. This cd was recorded live in the Spinout's recording studio in Burbank, California, and features ten previously unreleased original tracks and a dramatic cover of Willie Dixon's classic, I Just Wanna Make Love to You. The rough textures of her voice combined with the raw passion of her music invites comparison to another Port Arthur native, Janis Joplin. While Becky is flattered by it, she is striving to create her own persona as a dynamic singer and guitarist. On stage she combines fluid, fiery guitar licks with supple edgy vocals to rock the blues with convincing authority. I just hope she comes back to the area soon.
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Title: Alone with the Blues
Artist: Keith Dunn
Label:
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - February, 2003
Keith Dunn has recorded a cd -- where he is playing harmonica and singing alone, without any other musicians -- for the entire cd. There are compilations that have been released in this format, but as far as I know (and that isn't far), he is the first to have consciously recorded such a project from beginning to end in one session with no over-dubs. Keith has been a major player on all three of America's coases - east, west and gulf - and has been working and living in Europe since the 1970's. Drawing on the rhythms of Sonny Boy II, the field hollers of Leadbelly, the broad tone of Little Walter and the punch and attitude of Junior Wells, Dunn has brought a fresh sound to the acoustic harp.
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Title: This Town
Artist: Pete Special
Label: self release
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - February, 2003
Many of you might recognize the name Pete Special; he was one of the founding members of Big Twist & the Mellow Fellows, releasing five albums on the Alligator label until the death of Twist in 1990. During 1991-92, Pete toured with The Band (Bob Dylan's backing group), after which he returned to Chicago and formed the Pete Special Band. The latest incarnation being Pete Special Trio featuring drummer John Mahoney and harmonica player Benjamin Ruth. Blending a basic earthy sound with the raw interplay of his growling vocals and guitar virtuosity, this band brings the legacy of Chicago's R&B scene into the new millenium.
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Title: Runaway Soul
Artist: Ruthie Foster
Label: Blue Corn
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - February, 2003
Born in Gause, Texas, a small town 180 miles southeast of Dallas, Ruthie grew up surrounded by the rich, soulful sounds of gospel and blues. She counts among her influences, Sam Cooke, Sarah Vaughan, Mahalia Jackson, Etta James, and Lightnin' Hoplins. She earned a degree in commercial music at McClennan Community College and spent the next four years touring with the U.S. Navy band Pride, which ended up in New York, where she landed a contract with Atlantic Records. Ruthie appeared at many of the top venues and opened and performed with such artists as Josh White Jr., Matt "Guitar" Murphy, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Paul Shaffer. Runaway Soul features a wonderful selection of original tunes and classic covers of Brownie McGhee and Big Maybelle and a soul-stirring rendition of Death Came a Knockin'. This is one lady that is highly under-rated and needs to get her message out.
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Title: Roadhouse Research
Artist: Smokin' Joe Kubek with Bnois King
Label: Blind Pig, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - March, 2003
On their Blind Pig debut after seven discs for the Bullseye Blues label, guitarists Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King continue the stuning guitar interplay that has kept them in demand throughout their storied career. Kubek's hard-hitting Texas-style guitar evokes memories of Albert or Freddie King, while Kin'gs jazz-based riffs fall somewhere between Santana and T-Bone Walker. The combination of these two distinct styles gives the band a unique sound that separates it from the balance of the guitar army that is marching its way through the blues, playing the same old riffs with the same old sounds. Also separating them from the blues masses is the fact that eight discs into their career they are still recording virtually all original material. This time out the pair turn their attention to a variety of subjects including their dislike for hip-hop and rap, Cryin' Shame; the need for people to stop wasting time and get the important things done, Better be Getting it On; the need to have a pocket full of cash (and the joy of getting it), Got to Get Paid; and the fact that the blues have survived this high-tech world and have a history of sorrow and pain that eclipses today's troubles and diseases, The Blues is Still with Us. On the love front, King looks to lure his lady into his lair on the mid-tempo Make it Right, which he delivers with an earnest, seductive plea. While they can croon to the ladies, the pair also leer with the guys as revealed on Healthy Mama, where King counts off the anatomical attributes of an intended conquest; with distorted vocals that reveal lust more than love. Each cut is a guitar lover's delight with the slow scorchers, Runnin' Blind and Standing in my Door and the jazzy Tell me Why being particularly tasty. This material is roadhouse tested and ready for your enjoyment.
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Title: Doctor Velvet
Artist: Nick Curran and the Nitelifes
Label: Blind Big, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - March, 2003
On his Blind Pig release after stints with rocabilly legend Ronnie Dawkins, Texas rocabilly queen Kim Lenz and alt-country star Wayne Hancock, Nick Curran announces in a big way that he's a force to be reckoned with in his own right. With a chameleon-like vocal delivery that sounds like David Johannson in his Buster Poindexter mode one moment, like Roy Brown or Cab Calloway the next, and then like a young Kim Wilson, Curran tears his way through thirteen wild cuts that touch on everything from rockabilly to country to jump blues to slow scorching blues. Most artists who try their hand at such a wide range of material inevitably fall flat on some of it - or, in too many cases - all of it. Not Curran. His jump material, Doctor Velvet, and One More Time set a high standard which is met handily by his straight blues, Can't Stop Loving You, his country-tinged ballad, Please Don't Leave Me, his vintage rock, Don't be Angry Cold, Cold Heart, his upbeat West Coast/T-Bone Walker-style blues, Midnight Hour and Beautiful Girl, and by the mysterious, mambo inflected, Drivin' Me Crazy. Listening to Curran's guitar work, it is clear he has spent lots of time in the vintage guitar wood shed. Don't be put off by Curran's zoot suit, fur collar and slick pompadour on the cover of this disc. Beneath the wardrobe he runs true blue. A great start to a career that should have long legs.
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Title: Prisoner of the Heart
Artist: Mary Ann Redmond
Label: QW Music Group, 2002
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - March, 2003
With a supple voice and a delivery that switches gears easily from jazz to soul to pop to blues, Mary Ann Redmond is a gifted vocalist. On this release she applies herself to a handful of originals and covers by the likes of Paul McCartney, Maybe I'm Amazed, Sam Cooke, You Send Me, and Jimmy Cliff, Many Rivers to Cross. Those looking for a blues belting mama won't find her here. Redmond's approach to the material is much closer to what you might find at a late night piano bar where the lights are low, the drinks are strong, and lust is in the air. Heartfelt and jazzy, most of the material smolders rather than burns. Think Al Green delivering his classics Tired of Being Alone or Let's Stay Together and you'll be in the right ball park. She slinks her way through the classic Since I Fell for You and Cliff's Many Rivers to Cross with the same sultry passion that made the good Rev. Green a household name. While most of the material clips along at a slow dance pace, Redmond does pick things up on a couple of numbers includng the funky Blind to Love and the title cut. This is music for the next time you want that late night sensual groove without all the smoke at the bar. Isn't it time to send the kids to bed?
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Title: Strange Dreams
Artist: Savoy Brown
Label: Blind Pig, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - March, 2003
On the thirdy discs it has cut since it turned heads as a British blues band in the late '60's, Savoy Brown has covered everything from acoustic blues to straight out rock and roll. With countless changes in direction and personnel, the band has been able to keep things fresh without finding itself mired on the oldies circuit rehashing its dusty hits (and it has had plenty, including I'm Tired, Tell Mama, Street Corner Talking, and All I Can Do is Cry) for glaze-eyed fans looking to recapture youthful glory. On this, its debut on the Blind Pig label, the band lays down a '70's-era blues rock groove that focuses on atmosphere more than pyrotechnics. Leader Kim Simmonds' earthy vocals and light, almost jazzy, touch on the guitar keep the ten cuts collected here from straying tooclose to the blooze and boogie graveyard whee most blues rock tunes are mercifully buried. Thing Robert Cray on guitar and Dave Mason on vocals and you'll be in the right ball park as to how this sounds. The only real shortcoming with this disc is the pacing of the songs. With nearly all the cuts locking into an unhurried, mid-tempo pace, they tend to run together over the course of the disc. A couple of real change-ups in tempo or style wuld have made this a more compelling listen. Overall, though, a solid effort.
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Title: Lary "Papa Blues" Travis
Artist: Larry Travis
Label: self release
Reviewed by: "Dirty" Ed - March, 2003
Larry Travis is a blues guitarist, extraordinarily gifted in a fluid, jazzy style and blessed with soulful vocals which set him aside from the norm. Born in 1948, Larry started playing at the tender age of 14 in a Niagra Falls, New York band called The Citations, and he hasn't looked back since. After years of extensive touring on the west coast, Larry settled in the Las Vegas area, where he took the timme to release this self-titled cd. Larry starts the cd with a couple of originals, Heart Break >Woman and Like a Bluesman. His guitar style seem a cross between T-Bone Walker and Jimmy Johnson. The next two tracks, Blues in My Mind and Are You Ready for the Blues are showcases for his amazingly soulful vocals. Track five, I Drink Alone, picks up the tempo a little bit, giving his second guitarist Bill Tracy a chance to stretch out and show his talents. Following that is a tune, Slowdown, which give a tip of the hat to The Allman Brothers. Track seven, my all-time favorite, entitled Nineteen Years Old, showcases how Larry's guitar work blends with keyboardist Dan Bells. Track nine, Put the Shoe on the Other Foot, is guaranteed to get you on the dance floor; and track ten, another humorous original, will keep you smiling and in the party mood. The next time you're in the Las Vegas area, check out the local blues scene and find out where Larry is playing; you will be entertained. For booking or club dates, call (702) 871-1245. I give this cd a B+. Keep the Blues Alive.
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Title: The Road We're On
Artist: Sonny Landreth
Label: Sugar Hill, 2003
Reviewed by: "Dirty" Ed - March, 2003
Sonny Landreth has come back to his roots - The Blues. Sonny is one bad-ass slide player. Landreth plays the slide guitar in a distinctive style that combines fretted notes with the bottleneck slide, palm and thumb picking techniques producing a sound that is often said to resemble many instruments playing at once. Sonny has played with some of the best, such as John Mayall, Clifton Chenier, and John Hiatt. To hold his own with this caliber of players, you know he has finally become one of their peers. The Road We're On, Sonny's eighth cd, comes right out smokin' with the opening track of True Blue. The next two cuts keep the same high energy going. Finally, on track five does he mellow out a little bit with A World Away, a beautiful song. Thacks five and six step the tempo up a pace, but I notice I'm sitting on the edge of my chair and tapping my foot to the beat. I'm sold on this cd already and tere's six more cuts to go! The Promised Land again showcases his signature slide work on track seven. Believe me, the remaining five tracks are all just as hot as these. On this, his second release for the Sugar Hill label, Landreth again teams with long-time collaborator R.S. Field to make magic. In can only tell you from the bottom of my heart, go out and buy this cd; you won't be disappointed. I give this cd a strong A+.
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Title: Key to Love: Celebration of Music of John Mayall
Artist: Debbie Davies
Label: Shanachie, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - April, 2003
As a long time friend and a former band mate of John Mayall's wife Maggie, Debbie Davies deserves praises for bringing this cd to life. The oft-ovelooked Mayall has brought many fine musicians to the attention of America. Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and one of Grand Rapid's favorites, Walter Trout, are among the few that have been tutored in the way of the blues by this English master. Debbie has included many of my favorite Mayall songs including Room to Move with guest James Cotton on harp. Along with Cotton are Mick Taylor on Hard Road and Peter Green on Nature's Disappearing. If you are a fan of both Debbie Davis and John Mayall, then don't waste anymore time reading this. GO BUY IT!!!
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Title: Born Under a Bad Sign
Artist: Albert King
Label: Stax, 2002
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - April, 2003
If you are an Albert King fan (and who isn't), then this reissue is a must have for you as much as it was for me. Born Under a Bad Sign dates backs to a time when albums were just a way to release a group of singles and were designed for jukebox and radio play and seldom ran more than three minutes. That meant the artist had to make a big impact quickly and firmly. In blues, the songs tended to ramble on and had to be curbed to produce performances with punch and power. There are few better examples of that process in action than Albert King's 1960's tracks like Crosscut Saw, Born Under a Bad Sign, and his story of hot whispers during the hot wash cycle, Laundromat Blues. With his distinctive thick voice and no-nonsense guitar work, Albert brought absolute blues credibility to the well-made commercial single. Even cuts such as the aching slow blues classic As the Years Go Passing By have become blues classics. This reissue with the original album cover art is one of the foundation stones of a blues collection and a must have for any serious blues lover.
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Title: That's Right
Artist: Roomful of Blues
Label: Alligator, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - April, 2003
On their 17th disc, longtime Roomful of Blues members Rich Latille, Bob Enos, and Chris Vachon introduce yet another cast of band mates. Most notable is the substitution of Mark DuFresne for Mac Odom on vocals. With this change, the band has stepped away from the rock and soul blues that marked Odum's tenure with the band, and has traveled back in time to the little big band sound that was the band's primary calling card when fronted by Sugar Ray Norica. While Odum was a fine singer, his soulful vocals dictated a different musical approach than the rocket-fueled horn-driven numbers that were the band's claim to fame before his arrival. DuFresne, on the other and, is adept at the light phrasing that keeps the beat moving without gathering dust. That's not to say that DuFresne can't squeeze plenty of emotion out of a phrase: check out the slow, grinding blues of How Long Will it Last, the steamy mambo groove of Ocean of Tears, the stately I'll Keep on Trying or the pleading I Just Got to Know to hear him lay himself bare. As good as these numbers are, things really get cooking when DuFresne goes into high gear with the band on the fleet-footed numbers including You're Driving Me Crazy, Tennessee Woman, T-Bone Walker's I Think Your Wig is Gone and Big Joe Turner's Lipstick, Powder and Paint, where DuFresne channels Big Joe's big booming vocal style over a hot horn chart that simply begs for the dance floor to fill up. While the change in vocal styles would by itself make this a different-sounding disc than the band's recent releases, the biggest change comes from the fact that the horns are back front and center. From the very first notes of the title cut, it is clear that this is a horn band with a rhythm section unlike the last couple of discs which tended to sound more like a blues band with horns adding color now and then. The glorious sound of wailing saxophones and trumpets is back with a vengeance. The energy generated by this reunion with its vintage sound bursts through loud and clear on number after number. While guitarist Chris Vachon still bends plenty of strings on this disc, particularly on the slower grinders, he moves well out of the way when the horns get cranked up. Overall, a fine release that finds Roomful of Blues reinventing itself into the band it was a few years ago.
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Title: The Live One
Artist: Dave Hole
Label: Alligator, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - April, 2003
On his seventh Alligator release, slide guitarist Dave Hole unleashes eleven cuts of hot wired blues. The auditory equivalent of grabbing onto a live 220 volt wire while standing in water, this disc will leave many blues fans bruised and battered - and asking for more! With his gruff vocals adding a counterpooint to the screaming slide work, Hole is simply unrelenting in his attack. While the in-your-face attack is an attribute that will please many, it will also send any number of traditional blues fans heading towards the exits. Even though Hole employs finesse and subtlety as he harnesses his wild electric power, the skill is likely to be missed by those who can't get by the sheer density of the wall of sound he builds. With the exception of the instrumental Berwick Road, this set rarely dips below high gear and maximum volume. Like Jimmy Hendrix, who gets a nod here with Purple Haze, Hole paints with a much different brush than most blues guitarists. You either get it or you don't. Those that get Hedrix will dig this disc in a big way. Those who don't, won't like this much, either. Fans will recognize many long time favorites including Short Fuse Blues, Jenny Lee, Take Me To Chicago, and Bullfrog Blues.
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Title: Demo
Artist: Cherri and the Violators
Label: self release
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - April, 2003
This seven song demo set by WMBS members Cherri and the Violators features three originals and covers by the likes of Saffire, Coco Montoya, and Albert Collins. Comprised of Cheryl Bendig on vocals, Paul Bendig on bass, Johnny Schweitzer on drums, and Tony Burke on lead guitar, the band's roots in rock bands show through with their affinity to scortching guitar breaks and chugging rhythms. With a big, brassy voice that belies her diminutive stature and occasionally recallls Austin blues belter Lou Ann Barton, Cheryl swings and sasses her way though the songs with a confidence that takes even the covers beyond mere barroom repetition. Speaking of confidence, Burke isn't afraid to get in your face with plenty of fleet-fingered runs up and down the fretboard. Fortunately, he is anchored by the solid rhythm section and never lets the guitar frenzy get in the way of the songs. Overall, a decent set of mainstream blues rock.
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Title: Slingshot Professionals
Artist: Kelly Joe Phelps
Label: Rykodisc, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - May, 2003
Kelly Joe Phelps is an understated guitarist who would rather enhance the material he does rather than overwhelm the listener with hot guitar licks. On this disc he remains the bluesy singer, but instead of doing the solo troubadour again, he's enlisted stellar support from musicians Bill Frisell and Steve Dawson (guitar), Jesse Zubot (violin), Scott Amendola (percussion), Chris Gestrin (keyboard/accordion), Petra Haden (vocals), Andrew Downing and Keith Lowe (bass), to help him create his richest arrangements to date. While you can hear many influences, he defies categorization on this disc. Pick it up for a pleasant surprise.
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Title: Polaris
Artist: North Mississippi Allstars
Label: Artemis, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - May, 2003
The North Mississippi Allstars have done it again on this, their third release. While their mimicry of the Allman Brothers is still there, they've taken it a step farther and made it their own style with the addition of Duwayne Burnside (R.L.'s son) on guitar. Although they stray into the world of hip-hop on a tune (Be So Glad), the band returns to its deep blues roots on songs like the Junior Kiimbrough penned Meet Me in the City. With all its original swing and stagger, this song is a showcase for Luther Dickenson's slide guitar. The Only One features an accoustic guitar intro and then delves into a steel guitar-style string-bending epic. Rumor has it that the Allstars MIGHT be appearing at the Intersection later on this year; if they do, don't miss the chance to see an outstanding band.
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Title: I Feel Like Goin' On
Artist: Ronnie Earl
Label: Stoney Plain Music, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - May, 2003
The low profile artist has again made a cd worth its weight in gold. Recorded live in the studio, this cd shifts from gospel (with guests The Silver Leaf Singers) to a solo appropropriately titled All Alone with the Blues. This cd is tough yet expressive and always soulful as only Ronnie can be. There are no "hooks" or hype, just intensively moving blues from a gifted guitarist.
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Title: A Woman Like Me
Artist: Bettye LaVette
Label: Blues Express Records, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - May, 2003
I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Bettye LaVette perform live and it's a mystery to me that a singer as great as she is could be so little known in the U.S. Her recording career started in 1962, and through her new release she has maintained a high level of integrity seldom found with any singer. A Woman Like Me is a no frills, straight to the heart killer that was produced by Dennis Walker, who penned and produced some of Robert Cray's hits. Even though the recording and arranging are excellent, the star of this cd is LaVette's vocals. From gritty to heart-wrenching soul ballads, this is one cd that is a must have in your collection.
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Title: Pay it Forward
Artist: Luther Allison
Label: Ruf Records, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - July, 2003
To me, Luther Allison is the pinnacle of blues. This compilation cd, released on the Ruf label, is just another example of what the blues can and should sound like. Featuring Bernart Allison, Joanna Connor, Otis Grand, The Holland Horns, and many more, this cd is a keeper. I had the privilege of seeing Luther perform several times, and each was a thrill better than the last. While no cd can capture the essence of a life show, this one is a must have in your collection. I could go on and on, but the most important thing is to have you listen and form your own opinion.
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Title: Crazy King of Life
Artist: Bill Perry
Label: Blind Pig, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - July, 2003
Don't ever confuse Bill Perry with a straight-forward blues guitarist. He's a blues rocker from the word go. On this, his second effort on Blind Pig, Bill shows that the slide guitar isn't anything new to him as he blisters his way through the eleven tracks on this cd, ten of which he wrote or co-wrote with producer/sideman Vinnie Vivino. From the first notes of opener Trouble in the Shotgun, he dishes out some of the finest slide playing around. But he can also roll back the pace, as evident on the title track, as he settles into a slow roll, with Vivino providing some tasty piano work. I like Bill's gruff vocals, and his guitar work speaks for itself. If you've never seen him live, make a point to catch his show at Blues on the Mall on July 30th.
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Title: I Smell Smoke
Artist: Michael Burks
Label: Alligator, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - July, 2003
Michael Burks has what it takes to be a top notch player in the world of blues. With flawless guitar work and a wonderfully rich voice, this twelve-track cd will not be a disappointment to anyone. As a third generation bluesman, Michael's roots run deep. Growing up in Camden, arkansas, his family built a juke joint literally with their bare hands. There as a teenager, he led the house band, backing touring R&B and blues stars. When Michael becam a family man, he hung up his guitar and took a steady job; but when his daughter became a teenager and the marriage dissolved, he once again heard the calling of the blues. By word of mouth only, Burks was booked at the Chicago Blues Festival, where Alligator owner Bruce Iglauer, in his words, "was knocked on his butt" by his impassioned performance. And the rest, as they say, is history. Again, producer Jim Gaines was tapped to produce this cd and once you hear it, it will be forever on your cd player.
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Title: Whole Lotta Love
Artist: Candye Kane
Label: Ruf Records, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - July, 2003
On her debut Ruf Records release (after a long stint on the Bullseye label), blues belter Candye Kane rips and roars her way through thirteen cuts about the joys of both quick carnal pleasure and longer-term emotional attachment. As with her prior efforts, Kane uses blues, rock, gospel and soul as the musical vehicles for her tales. While some of the tales have been told before, such as the seemingly mandatory tale about the virtues of her plus-size Fit, Fat & Fine, and Going Back Where I Belong, a quick reminder of her bi-sexuality, everything here is delivered with Kane's typical passion and wit. What sets this disc apart from some of its predecessors is her inclusion of cuts that stretch her stylistic boundaries even more than usual. Ragtime piano fuels I'm Not Getting Older, with funk finding its way into the mix on I Got a Secret, a tale about one-sided love, driven by scratch guitar and horns. What's That I Smell is another well-executed excursing into new territory, with its Piedmont-style acoustic blues about cheatin', delivered as a duet with Charlie Musselwhite. Kane even picks up the late night torch on the slow, sultry When the Hangover Strikes, which sounds like something off a Dinah Washington dics, but with lyrics that only Candye would pen. More typical of her prior discs are the rocking I'm a Sucker and the cheater's tale, 27 Times, the straight blues of A Lion in my House, and the slinky harmonica-driven Put it All in There, a song about males, of, well, various sizes. The title cut is a straight out rock and roll reading of the Led Zeppelin classic. Wrapping up the stylistic journey are the wonderul Memphis gospel meets Philly soul of Wrap Around Joy and Something's Got a Hold on Me. Overall this is another fine release by an artist who deserves wider attention in the blues world.
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Title: So Many Rivers
Artist: Marcia Ball
Label: Alligator, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - July, 2003
On her follow-up to her W.C. Handy Award-winning 2001 release, Presumed Innocent, piano queen Marcia Ball turns her attention to matters of the heart, with virtually every song either raving about a good relationship, moaning about bad ones, kissing off deadbeet mates, or looking for a new love. Joined by an all-star cast of guitarists, including producer Stephen Bruton and Pay Boyak from her touring band, as well as a Hammond B3 organ and both the Los Angeles and Texas Horns, Ball cuts a wide path through American roots music. While most Alligator Records releases are blue to the core, Ball throws ample doses of southern soul, roadhouse rock, New Orleans jazz, Tex-Mex grooves and steamy ballads into the mix. With a voice that is tough and boisterous one moment, tender and aching the next, Ball handles the wide range of material here without a single misstep. Given the strength of her vocals and her stellar backing crew, it is easy to overlook Ball's skill on the piano. While she can take control of a song with flee-fingered leads and pounding rhythms, like Dr. John, she really makes her mark with quick syncopated flourishes around the edges of the groove that grab your attention and help to set the songs apart from the countless releases by lesser talents who focus all their attention on the beat. Simply put, a great release that will likely find its way into many year-end top ten lists.
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Title: Kickin' It
Artist: Hamilton Loomis
Label: Blind Pig, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - August, 2003
On his Blind Pig Records debut, guitarist/vocalist Hamilton Loomis treads between the twangy roadhouse blues of Delbert McClinton and the blooze rock of the Black Crowes, with a pinch of Tower of Power thrown in for spice. The McClinton side of his personality shows up on the sultry soul blues of Get My Blues On and No, No, No, while the Black Crowes side of things is evident in the harmonica-fueled 99 Miles and the low-key lament about tough times, and the hope of better days ahead, Something's Gonna Come My Way. Elsewhere, Loomis digs into horn-heavy funk blues, Be Mine Anyway, and jazzy grooves, Better Man and the biting Take a Number (Stand in Line), where he realizes that he's not the first to get burned by the woman who just gave him the kiss off. With a voice that often recalls Tommy Castro as much as it does McClinton and the Black Crowes' Chris Robinson, Loomis can handle a broad range of vocal material. His guitar chops are equally versatile, evoking Santana one moment and Albert King the next. As befitting his Texas roots, Loomis follows Jimmie Vaughan's less-is-more approach, with economical fills and leads. While his press kit is heavy with raves about him being the next guitar god, I'm not sure there's anything unique enough here to merit such accolades. That being said, this is nevertheless an enjoyable effort that deserves some attention.
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Title: Which Way is Texas?
Artist: Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets
Label: Bullseye Blues & Jazz, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - August, 2003
After a four-year recording hiatus, Anson Funderburgh and crew deliver the raw-boned Texas blues and fifties-style rock that have kept them on the road for twenty-five years. True to form, the band relies on substance and finesse rather than instrumental flash to make its point. While Funderburgh can bend the strings with the best of them, he's content to fill in the spaces around vocalist Sam Myers' harmonica, Gentleman John Street's stinging piano and the brassy horn charts laid down by The Texas Horns (Mark Kazanoff on tenor and alto sax, John Mills on baritone sax and Gary Slechta on trumpet). That's not to say that he's a mere rhythm player here -- cuts like Can We Get Together and Toss and Turn prove to the contrary. It's simply that ithis is a band, not a guitar solo project where the other musicians simply provide a backdrop for endless soloing. With echoes of Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker fueling much of the sound, Myers regales listeners with tales about getting rid of a no-good woman, Some Sunny Day, which features some fine single string soloing by Funderburgh, the celebration the ladies throw when he's back in town, Hoodoo Party, which is driven by New Orleans-style piano, and the time that is wasted if growing up means all you have left to do is get old, Don't Turn the Child Away from Heaven. As an added treat for longtime fans, the disc features Funderburgh's first recorded vocals on One Woman I Need and Toss and Turn, both of which reveal that he could keep the Rockets in flight should Myers be unable to suit up for a gig. Overall, another fine release from this veteran band.
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Title: Rock 'n' Roll City
Artist: Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater featuring Los Straitjackets
Label:
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - September, 2003
Roll back the rug and get ready to party! This thirteen-cut collection kicks Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater beyond his blues roots into the wild and raucous world of rockabilly, surf, and R&B. Featuring backup from the masked surf quartet Los Straitjackets, Clearwater channels the likes of Chuck Berry and Carl Perkins into the mix on You're Humbuggin' Me and Hillbilly Blues. The mysterious groove of the instrumental Monkey Paw and the loping county blues groove of Back Down to Earth let you slow down a bit, while Before This Song is Over is a slow dance in the making. Overall, a nice diversion from the standard blues diet.
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Title: Use What You Got
Artist: Janiva Magness
Label: Blue Leaf Records, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith - September, 2003
As on her prior release, West Coast blues chanteuse Janiva Magness has assembled an enjoyable collection of tunes that cover a broad range of styles. With a stellar band including husband Jeff Turmes on bass, Zack Zunis on guitar, David Kida on drums, Andy Kaukin on piano and organ, and David Woodford on saxophone; she takes on fifties-style rock and roll ballads -- I'm Not Ashamed and Who Will the Next Fool Be?; rhumba -- I'm Lost Without You; slow, seamy grinders -- Stormy Blues; Memphis-style R&B -- All Night Worker; rocking blues -- Find a Fool and Matchbox; and horn-drenched big band-style blues -- Who's Gonna Help a Brother Get Further. Her strong voice, which occasionally recalls Angela Strehli, is a fitting vehicle for this broad array of styles, and she delivers each cut with enough conviction to make the tunes her own. A fine release worthy of your attention.
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Title: To the Top
Artist: Cody Seybert
Label: Self-released, 2003
Reviewed by: Dirty Ed - September, 2003
Cody Seybert -- what can I say -- here's a young man who must have been forn with a Fender Strat attached to his hip. He's traded licks with Tommy Castro, so that should give you a clue to his talent. On his first cd, 10 out of 12 cuts were written by Seybert, so he's more than just a guitar slinger. After listening to Voodoo Chile, I'd swear it was a 30 year-old playing. My favorites on the cd are Troubled Soul and To the Top. I think his vocals are a little weak on one cut, but what do you expect? -- he's only 15! I'd give this cd a strong A-.
To contact Cody, (269) 623-8225 or Heavyblues14@aol.com.
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Title: Drive
Artist: Robert Palmer
Label: Compendia, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - October, 2003
Robert Palmer conjures up MTV vision of a slickly dressed band singer leading a mock band of idential-looking women in tight black dresses. While everyone was ogling the women, they missed the most important part of that video - Robert Palmer's voice. This cd proves that the blue-eyed man of soul is alive and kicking. Track one of this cd is an outstanding version of Who's Foolin' Who, and while there are some uneven spots, (Crazy Cajun Cake Walk Band), the majority is a real pleasure to listen to. I'll admit when I first listened to this, I wasn't impressed, but it's one of those that the more you listen to it, the more you like it. Songs like the co-penned Lucky more than make up for any weak spots you might find. Welcome back, Robert!
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Title: Good For Stompin'
Artist: J Street Jumpers
Label: Severn, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - October, 2003
I admit it, I'm a horn junkie, so this cd is perfect for me. Big horn section, swingin' music and great vocals. I'm in heaven! The J Street Jumpers are a Washington, D.C.-based nine-piece band that, while a swing band, has added the ingredient that's missing in a lot of swing-style bands, and that's the jazz influence. With combining the sounds of the Harlem Swing, L.A. Jump, and raunchy New Orleans R&B, the Jumpers have hit a winning combination. My only chord of discontent (and I always have one) is that Arthur Gerstein's vocals are a tad weak, but are more than made up for by Carmen Velardes. Ranging from the great Helen Humes to Dinah Washington and Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen handles all with ease. This cd is a great blast to the past that will keep you dancing until your feet fall off.
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Title: Soul Serenade
Artist: Derek Trucks Band
Label: Sony, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - October, 2003
Don't even try to put this cd into a category; it won't fit. Talented guitarist Trucks has such a diversified and eclectic sound, it'll drive you nuts. The opening track is a combination of Miles Davis and Bob Marley. Go figure, but it works well. The only vocal track belongs to Greg Allman, and it's a perfect fit for the blues-drenched Drown in My Own Tears. Would I recommend this cd; in a heartbeat. Too many young guitarists self-destruct in a rock n roll frenzy, while Derek continues to explore the outer fringes with expertise.
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Title: Vietnam Blues: The Complete Recordings of J.B. Lenoir
Artist: J.B. Lenoir
Label: Evidence, 1995
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - November, 2003
J.B. Lenoir is an American treasure; even after forty years, his sound is fresh and vibrant. As one of the original Delta bluesmen, Lenoir's lyrical subject matter varies, and his percussive style of guitar playing makes it sound like more than one person playing. This 24-track cd captures every nuance of his style and varies from religious, to the struggle between man vs. woman, to Vietnam, and the wounding of James Meredity. Definitely a must have.
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Title: Muddy Waters: His Best: 1947-1955
Artist: Muddy Waters
Label: MCA, 1997
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - November, 2003
Born April 4, 1915, McKinley Morganfield got his nickname, Muddy Waters, while growing up in Rolling Forks, Mississippi. Moving to Chicago in 1943, Muddy changed the course of blues music forever. Like everybody wants to do when it's their time to go, Muddy died peacefully in his sleep at his Westmont, Illinois home on April 30, 1983, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy of music.
This collection contains classic Muddy -- raw, rough and to the point. Surrounding himself with the likes of Jimmy Rogers, Otis Spann, Little Walter Fred Below, and Willie Dixon, this is the first "super group" of blues. The music here goes from country blues to the Chicago sound and covers many of Muddy's hits, such as Mannish Boy, Rolln' and Tumblin', I Can't Be Satisfied. These 20 tracks are the footprint by which all others are measured and should be a part of any blues lover's library.
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Title: The Very Best of John Lee Hooker
Artist: John Lee Hooker
Label: Rhino, 1995
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - November, 2003
Of all the "Best of..." recordings of John Lee Hooker, I chose this one because you can hear his voice go from the deep, rough growl to the more polished tones of his later recordings. This disc contains all the best, including Boogie Chillin', Boom Boom, One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (no, George Thorogood didn't write this), and I'm in the Mood. You can't possibly get all of Hooker's recordings on one or two cd's, but because this one includes a duet with Roy Rogers on Robert Johnson's Terraplane Blues, it's the one I like. Rhino does an excellent job of using liner notes to briefly explain the origin of each song, and the recording quality is as good. This cd was never meant to be a comprehensive collection, but it's got some of the best and is well worth the cost to own it.
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Title: Blues from the Delta
Artist: Skip James
Label: Vanguard, 1998
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - November, 2003
Nehemiah "Skip" James was born on the Woodbine plantation outside of Bentonia, Mississippi, on June 9, 1902. After dropping out of high school, James hobo-ed around and began making a living from his music. He then attended divinity school and became an ordained Baptist minister, where he worked outside of music until in 1964, he began working the college and folk circuits, riding the cress of the blues revival. In 1968, his health curtailed his active playing, and on October 3, 1969, cancer took its toll on him.
Of all the blues cds I own, this one is the most hauntingly beautiful one I have ever heard. Through James' falsetto vocals and sparse arrangements for acoustic guitar and piano, he reflects on the Delta where he was born. This cd combines tracks from the 1960's releases Today and Devil Got My Woman, but does so without the annoying clicks and hisses of James' earlier releases on Paramount. The 20 tracks, includng Hard Time Killin' Floor and I'm So Glad (no, Cream didn't write this), plus two songs that have never been released, make this a truly awesome collection of music from one of the unsung masters of blues music.
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Title: I Get Evil
Artist: Sam Lay
Label: Random Chance, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - December, 2003
Sam Lay has been a long-time fixture on the blues scene, playing with bands such as Seigal-Schwall, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, not to mention his start with Muddy Waters. On this cd, Sam not only lays down rock-solid drum tracks, but also plays guitar on four tracks and does all the vocals. This is Lay's first cd for Random Chance, and one can only hope it's not his last. Unfortunately, only one track was written by Sam, but that's no reason to shy away from this disc. He does a great cover of John Lee Hooker's Boogie Chillin', Lowell Fulsom's Black Night, and B.B. King's Rock Me Baby, just to list a few. Backed by Fred James (guitar), Ken Smith (bass), Celia Ann Price (keyboards), and Greg "Fingers" Taylor. This cd has found a permanent spot in my cd player and it should be in yours, too.
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Title: Best Blues Money Can Buy
Artist: Willie Lomax Blues Revue
Label: Big Boss Records, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - December, 2003
I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Willie Lomax and Shawn Brown at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival this past spring, and it was one great show. Shawn is back doing keyboard and vocal duties on this cd, and all I have to do is close my eyes and I can see them tearing up the stage. Brown's B-3 provides outstanding background as Lomax shows some tasty licks on every track. The only guest on this cd is Eric Gales, and they had the foresight to mix him on the left channel and Willie on the right. All the songs on this 10-track disc were written by either Lomax or Lomax and Brown, and prove that they are more than just players. Citing the three Kings, Albert Collins, T-Bone Walker, and Johnny "Guitar" Watson as influences, Lomax smoothly blends all the styles into one terrific and unique style of his own. Add to this Reynaldo Reyes, Jr. on drums (Santana, Steve Winwood); Jerry Martini on sax (Sly & the Family Stone); and, just to put the icing on the cake, the magic fingers of Phil Brown on the mixing board. Don't wait to buy this disc; it'll be a classic before you know it.
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Title: Genuine Houserockin' Christmas
Artist: Compilation Disc
Label: Alligator Records, 2003
Reviewed by: April Washburn - December, 2003
OK, picture this. It was 8 a.m. on a Monday morning, and I was in my sweat pants and WMBS sweatshirt, feeling grumpy and groggy. Being alone that morning, I decided to give this CD a listen. From the first song forward, I was dancing and grinning and feeling great. This disc covers a mad range of artists -- too many to mention. From the best Koko Taylor cut I've ever heard, to Carey Bell and Coco Montoya, this is a fantastic blues CD for the holidays. Other artists wailing out Christmas jams include Michael Burks, Lil' Ed, Saffire, The Holmes Brothers, Lonnie Brooks, Shemekia Copeland, and more. If you are entertaining this year, put this disc on and watch the party start!
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Title: Big Shoes to Fill
Artist: Watermelon Slim
Label: Southern Records, 2003
Reviewed by: Tim Richards - December, 2003
While Watermelon isn't exactly a household name, if this is a taste of what he can do, it won't stay unknown for long. Even though this Boston native has been around for years, mainstream acceptance has eluded him until now. A triple-threat artist with talent on slide guitar, harmonica, and road-weary raw vocals, Slim has played with Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, and the late John Lee Hooker during the course of his 30-year career. On this 12-track release, I dare you to get your feet to stay still. Straight forward lyrics and catchy melodies are abundant throughtout the entire cd, which makes it a must-have.
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Title: Triple Threat
Artist: Tommy Castro, Jimmy Hall, Lloyd Jones
Label: Telarc, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark "Smitty" Smith - December, 2003
Unlike all too many super-sessions where the sum is less than the parts, this summit meeting between guitarists Tommy Castro and Lloyd Jones and harpist/saxophonist/singer Jimmy Hall stands tall against any of their individual efforts. Backed by the incomparable Double Trouble rhythm section (Tommy Shannon on bass, Chris Layton on drums, and Reese Wynans on B4), Castro, Jones and Hall stretch beyond standard 12-bar blues and incorporate heavy doses of blue-eyed soul, R & B, and even a chunk of honky-tonk. The result is an inspired look back at roots music before corporate marketing and radio play lists required it to fit into specific formats. Scorching harmonica-driven blues, Be Careful with a Fool, fit naturally alongside James Brown-penned funk, Good Good Lovin', Sam & Dave style soul, Whole Lotta Soul, and end of the night ballads, Midnight to Daylight. Working equally well are a virtually unrecognizable cover of the Beatles' Help and the Jones-penned Delbert McClinton style rocker Sometimes, which will have toes tapping and fannies shaking from coast to coast. Top notch stuff from this collection of seasoned veterans.
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