Album Reviews

Joyann Parker and 15 others perform on Roots, her 3rd album, which will be released in September 2023. This follows her 2021 album “Out of the Dark” and her first album released in 2018, titled “Hard to Love.”

In 2019, Gabe Stillman was a finalist at the 35th Annual International Blues Challenge and was the recipient of the Gibson Guitar Award.

On their third Alligator Records album, Chicago native guitarist Nick Moss and New Jersey native harpman Dennis Gruenling bring a hard hitting selection of new tunes that harken back to the Chicago, Texas, and West Coast blues sounds from the 1940’ through the 60’s.

If I had extra thumbs, I’d give this album more than two thumbs up, but my days as a carnival geek are over.

The 51 minute album contains 12 cuts of all original compositions. The vibe is pretty consistently in the blues/rock vein, except for a few slow burners...

Guess how many official record label Hendrix albums have been released since his passing over 50 years ago?

From Tulsa, Oklahoma, the self-taught guitarist got his start in the blues business touring in the backing band for Oklahoma legend, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown...

From Tulsa, Oklahoma, the self-taught guitarist got his start in the blues business touring in the backing band for Oklahoma legend, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown...

Steve Strongman was shut down by Covid. Don’t let the name fool you, he’s not with the circus, he’s a musician.

Here’s a couple of blues artists that have both recorded and performed as solo acts and in support of others. Annika may be described as soul/gospel, Paul as blues/rock.

There ain’t no sitting still when this is playing, you feel the energy from the horns.

Elvin Bishop and his trio are backing John up, as well as Kid Anderson and Alabama Mike, and they recorded at Kid’s Greaseland Studio... some of the best blues today come from Greaseland.

I don’t care how old Buddy Guy is, he’s still outta sight!

I’d describe it to you, but since it doesn’t sound like the sounds I’ve heard before, I can’t. There’s a fun aspect to that, and I believe that is the intention.

What did this band do during lockdown? Clearly, they got busy and didn’t mess around. Their new release, I Am The Moon, is a 4 album set.

I have absolutely no idea how “Putumayo” is pronounced. There are tracks by some blues legends and a few by performers that are less known, but it’s all the blues we pledge allegiance to.

This is an album of traditional blues that is well and sparsely played. No, not parsley, sparsely.

One thing I appreciate is his ability to play the harp in different styles and the one that suits the song.

Have any of you folks heard Danny Cox’s song Black Lives? You should. Not because he’s a KC legend, but because it delivers.

If you’re not a Bonnie fan, this album is the best reason I can think of to get on board.

Nine songs, eight originals and a cover of Baby Won’t You Please Come Home. Guest musician sitting in on keyboards on four tunes is Victor Wainwright.

Several of these numbers are delivered with sass and that is part of Trudy Lynn’s style. “If your phone don’t ring, it was me”, “Is it cold in here or is it you?”

A wayward collective themselves, of shifting experimental improvisationalists, this cd captures the band before they drifted into Turkish Underground Psyche Extravaganza and ended in 1998.

Eight of the twelve songs are up-tempo rockers, two are mid-tempo, one is gospel and one is a slow blues waltz.