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Nelsen Adelard Band Blues Still Got A Hold On Me Blue Track Records Blues Still Got A Hold On Me is the reissue of Nelsen's first album, originally released in 1999. This one grabs the listener from the first note and holds on for all it's worth throughout. Adelard is a well-rounded performer…a solid vocalist, excellent guitarist, more than proficient on harp and he plays keyboards. In short, Nelsen Adelard does everything short of walking on water…and does it well. He's also an exceptional songwriter, writing nine of the CD's ten tunes. From straight-ahead Blues tunes to Jump and soulful ballads, this band handles it as well as anyone I've heard to date…and I've heard them all. I've always stated that, generally speaking, an artist is only as good as his backing band. This band has what it takes to get the job done and then some. This piece is so sweet that I almost feel I owe the band an apology for not being familiar with their work. There's not a cut on the CD that I would not recommend highly. If this one is not available through your local record store, check out www.nelsenadelard.com. It's worth the effort. - Bill Wilson Dave Arcari Come With Me Buzz Records 32006 I guess there isn't much of a delta in Glasgow but given the international flavor the Blues has been acquiring lately it is no shock that Dave Arcari tackles Country Blues with aplomb and style. Like Brennon John, Dave Arcari writes most of his own material. Except for John Hurt's "Stagolee" and Willie Johnson's "Nobody's Fault But Mine" the songs on this CD are Arcari compositions. There is both a darkness and a hellbent energy to this album. Dave Acari has a loud, rough baritone that reminds me of Dave Van Ronk. Shouts, growls and gravelly yells punctuate these performances. The guitar work is steady and strong, the rhythm muscular. Most of the tracks standout strongly but the show piece is "Gravel Road." Fans of Ben Andrews, Brennon John and Jonah Gregory will like this. Well worth seeking out even if it takes a little work. Check out www.davearcari.com. - Smokin' Joe Miklos Deanna Bogart Real Time Blind Pig 5107 While I had seen Deanna Bogart several times in concert, I had never met her until one night when she filled in for Ann Rabson for a show with Saffire - the Uppity Blues Women. She did a stellar job and, this old man lost another piece of his heart. Now, down to business. Real Time is Deanna's second recording on Blind Pig and her sixth overall. Pianist, saxophonist, singer, songwriter and dynamic vocalist, Bogart is the consummate entertainer. She knows how to read a crowd and has the ability to deliver whatever it takes to get the job done. Real Time is an eclectic mix of styles that she manages to blend seamlessly for a CD that is sure to be counted among the classics, in the scope of real time. I found myself closing my eyes and being swept away in the music…a rare thing indeed in this age of one hit wonders and synthetic mumbo jumbo that gets passed off as real talent. Blues, Jazz, Rock, Folk and some down home country undertones make this an offering with a bit of something for everyone. Picking a favorite tune (or least favorite, for that matter) was impossible. So many styles are represented and each is exceptional. From slow burning "belly rubbers" to barrelhouse piano, I was impressed. The musicianship is flawless, arrangements are beautifully done… in short, this is a keeper. Had I never heard of Deanna Bogart, this one alone would be enough to make me a fan for life. It comes highly recommended. - Bill Wilson Brennon John Babbling Beasts XI Self Release Brennon John of Altoona PA is representing the Billtown Blues Association as our solo artist at the International Blues Challenge this winter. As people who attended our local competition and the Blues Fest at Hughesville know Brennon John is a powerful and dynamic performer. He's also a talented songwriter. 95% of John's songs are his own. They're damned good, like "You've Got To Move" (not the traditional Gospel song but John's own). He's passing through, got nothing to lose. "To The Moon" is a moody piece that has nothing to do with the TV show The Honeymooners. The lyrics are outright literate. Brennon John creates Blues with a poetic bent. There's a minor problem with this CD. It's a trifle under recorded. Well that's what the volume and bass buttons are for. Use 'em. Babbling is satisfying lyrically, melodically and rhythmically. Brennon John will hopefully go far. The CD is available from the artist at his performances. Go see and hear him. Intensity. - Smokin' Joe Miklos Brennon John Variations 1 Self-Produced Brennon John plays Blues in much the same respect as Bob Dylan or Dave Van Ronk play Blues. Brennon John is a first-rate songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, vocalist and a superb storyteller. As it was with the wandering minstrels, John weaves an elaborate tapestry in music as a background for his timeless stories. Yes, Brennon John is a blues player…and in good company. All tunes listed on the CD are originals with the exception of track 13. Cut 13, a "ghost track" was arranged by Brennon, adapted fr om Son House's rendition of "John the Revelator"…a great cover of a timeless classic. Variations 1 is a delightful piece that is sure to find a permanent place in my personal play list. The arrangements are superb, the musicianship, immaculate and the delivery, flawless. Add the artist's warm inviting stage presence to the mix and the result is hard to beat. Billtown is honored to have Brennon John represent us in the solo category at the International Blues Competition as the runner-up of our 2007 Festival Auditions. If this CD is any indication, this may be the year the trophy comes to Billtown - Bill Wilson Tommy Castro Painkiller Blind Pig 5111 Now we're in Blues territory all the way. Tommy Castro's new CD Painkiller is a solid piece of contemporary Blues. Castro's soulful voice and tasty guitar make for one solid album. Aside from his basic band Castro gets some help from the likes of Dave Maxwell, Angela Strehli and Coco Montoya. The horn arrangements are particularly good. Standout tracks: the title track and "Big Sister's Radio." - Smokin' Joe Miklos Jimmy Cavallo with Ron Spencer and Jumpstart You Better Believe It! Blue Wave 149 This is Jimmy Cavallo's second album for Blue Wave and a testament to his long and groundbreaking career. The Jimmy Cavallo Quartet got started playing the R&B clubs of North Carolina while Jimmy was in the Navy in 1949. They covered songs by Wynonie Harris and Louis Jordan. What Cavallo performed and still performs is a musical form called Jump Blues an early form of R&B. This is a kind of music that I and kindred friends refer to as Rock n' Roll before it was called Rock n' Roll. Cavallo almost hit it big with "Fannie Brown" and recorded for pioneering DJ Alan Freed on Coral Records. So much for history. What's here is the 78 year old Cavallo blowing first tenor sax and singing a full throated baritone. Ron Spencer and Jumpstart are perfect foils for Cavallo. Astoundingly except for a scant few guitar overdubs this album was cut live in the studio. All of Cavallo's solos are live and except for the minimal guitar dubs the entire album was done in one take. This CD really jumps and rocks. If you dig Big Joe Turner, Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Fats Domino, this is the album for you. - Smokin' Joe Miklos Christopher Dean Band Where I Need To Be Lost World Music Christopher Dean had worked for some time backing the legendary Big Jack Johnson. Where I Need To Be is his third solo release and quite frankly, really refreshing. Christopher has found his own voice, smooth and extremely soulful. It was also nice to see the contributions of Mike Mettalia on harp and Bev Conklin on background vocals…always nice to see area favorites hard at work. Granted, the vocals on this release could use some work, but, overall, I liked this one. Chris is a nice guy, doing what he loves and it shows. The band is solid, the arrangements are great and there's some really sweet guitar work here. What the album may lack in refinement is more than made up for by the band's obvious love for the music. There's some nice work here, well worth more than just a casual listen. Without a doubt we will be hearing more from this band. Keep up the good work guys! - Bill Wilson Davis Coen Ill Disposition 219 Records 1015 Davis Coen is a singer/songwriter with a real gift. Ill Disposition is his fourth release and has a great down-to-earth feel. This is one that will come back often to my player. Having played a good many street corners in my youth, I loved "Busker's Blues", the original tune that opens the disc, but I found all his originals great. His love of blues is clearly evident in his originals. The cover tunes are well chosen and respectful of the originals. Coen is very well grounded in nearly all musical styles, incorporating blues, country, folk and good old-time rock & roll for a style that is refreshing, extremely easy to listen to and distinctly his own. The influences of Bob Dylan and Tom Waits are evident, but equally evident are the deep blues roots and a love for a good old-fashioned boogie. In short, Ill Disposition has something for everyone, whether you like your music with a country blues twist or find yourself wanting to rock. There is a quality here that cannot be put into a box…and I wouldn't want to. This one is well rounded, beautifully orchestrated and played flawlessly. The more I hear from this guy, the more I like it. The music has been left in capable hands. Davis Coen, while perhaps not a household word is here to stay. I, for one, find his straight ahead honest approach refreshing. Keep up the good work. - Bill Wilson Doug Cox & Salil Bhatt Slide To Freedom Northern Blues Music 0039 A magical blending of traditional American Blues and the music of India, Slide To Freedom finds that common ground and works it for all it's worth. Aside from two tunes, "Payday" by Mississippi John Hurt and "The Soul of a Man" by Blind Willie Johnson, all songs were originals by the artists involved. The music that was recorded during this landmark session flows as smoothly as water. Is relaxing, meditative and easy on the ear. True, it may not sit well with Blues purists, but the similarities between the two cultures and musical forms do indeed exist. Both are highly spiritual and reflective, to say the least. While I might not see a new genre of music being born here, what I do see and hear is an interesting cultural exchange. The fact is that, if we get right down to where the rubber meets the road, we are all essentially the same. So many of our differences are in the trimmings. Well, I've spent enough time on my soapbox. While this album will not be played constantly in my home, you can rest assured it will be played…and thoroughly enjoyed. No, I cannot see it reaching number one on the charts, but it is well written, beautifully arranged and flawlessly performed. Thanks guy! Nice work. - Bill Wilson Crucial Blues Rockin', More Guitar, Acoustic Alligator Records 122, 123 & 124 Alligator Records has released another three volumes in their "Crucial Blues" series…Rockin', More Guitar and Acoustic. Granted, there is nothing here that the diehard Alligator fans have not heard or do not already have in their collections, but the budget-priced various artist CDs do serve a purpose, pulling together great collections of tunes based on a single theme. Where else, other than satellite radio (or if you're lucky enough to have a local Blues radio hour), will you find this convenience? I possess every CD listed in the series to date, but this series has given me reason to pull some classics, blow off the dust and reminisce. I have rediscovered gems that should never have been left to gather dust. The titles in this series allow me to sample a dozen or more pieces from the vaults of Alligator Records on each and every disc. These pieces are a bargain…even for the seasoned collector. - Bill Wilson Tinsley Ellis Moment Of Truth Alligator 4916 With a dozen albums to his credit, eight on the Alligator Records label, Moment Of Truth may be Tinsley Ellis' best work to date. About as diverse as it gets, Moment of Truth offers everything from hard rockin' heavies to sweet soulful ballads. If you're a fan of guitar, this one may be just what the doctor ordered. Reminiscent of Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and masters long passed, this one is both technically great and emotionally charged…tastefully done from start to finish. My biggest regret with this one is that it came to an end. Not one to swoon over blues rockers with all their pyrotechnics and lightning fast licks, I found Moment of Truth a cut above the competition. Perhaps I was feeling nostalgic, but this one hit the spot! Ellis' songwriting abilities are showcased here, with ten of the CD's twelve tunes penned by the guitarist. Needless to say, I am impressed. This one deserves a good listen. - Bill Wilson Guitar Shorty We The People Alligator 4911 The reviews I've read about this CD have referred to it as Blues Rock. Guitar Shorty has been around for quite a while playing in this style. I prefer to categorize his music as Contemporary Blues alongside Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King and Mike Dugan. This is Blues alright; good Blues. Hot and heavy, Shorty does crank it out. This album is indeed electric Blues, and some of the lyrics are outright clever, for example from "I've Got Your Number," a cheatin' woman song: "I've got your number and it's 666," penned by Bob Halligan Jr. Shorty's guitar work is down, dirty and full of hot licks barreling along like its comparison "Runaway Train." Guitar Shorty is no slouch as a writer as witnessed by "We The People," "What Good Is Life?" and "Cost Of Living." The state of Texas has given us a slew of killer guitarists. Guitar Shorty is no exception. - Smokin' Joe Miklos The Hellhounds Halfway Between Somewhere And Nowhere Deltabilly 7240 The Hellhounds are a quartet that espouse the North Mississippi Hill Country brand of Blues. Following the lead of Junior Kimbrough, the late R.L. Burnside and T-Model Ford they come off every bit as raucous and authentic. This CD consists of mostly one chord boogies that are played loud and loose. Vince Flora overblows a heavily amplified harp that just roars. Paul Butterfield would have been proud. Johnny Beemiller's attack on guitar owes some to John Lee Hooker and like Hooker he injects it with a highly personal style. All the songs here were written by Beemiller / Flora: not derivative, original. Ron Rummage on bass walks all over the place and drummer Steve Potts hammers it strong and uses some powerful cymbal crashes. Production is by the legendary Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. and the MG's. Aside from the lovely Southern Rock style ballads "Everything" and "Deltaville" the songs are insistent Hill Country boogie rendered loud and proud. Not a bad track here but there are standouts: "Downtown," "2 Inch Ball Hitch," "Blackened Tuna," and "Smoke That Stuff" (a diatribe against crack use). The cover art is pretty cool too. If you like your boogie at full power this is the CD for you. Boogie chillen! - Smokin' Joe Miklos Dave Hole Rough Diamond Blind Pig 5114 Australia's Dave Hole has long been one of my favorite slide guitarists. With his overhand playing style, terrific tone and lightning delivery he consistently drops off high energy Blues. Rough Diamond again fills the bill. The album kicks off with "Rough Diamond Child", funky and punchy followed by the shuffle "Can't Stop Loving You" both written by Hole. There are some great covers here. Robert Johnson's "Rambling On My Mind" gets a burning workout. There's a surprizingly effective Blues take on Buddy Holly's "Think It Over." This is a solid CD of slide guitar. Dave Hole has never cut a bad album and he just racked up another good one. Dave Hole is consistently spontaneous and creative. He's not down under, he's over the top. - Smokin' Joe Miklos The Holmes Brothers State Of Grace Alligator 4912 Since signing to Alligator the Holmes Brothers have been on a roll. Their Gospel based potpourri of Blues, Gospel, Rock, Country and Roots music is intriguing. They are minimalist; live they perform as a trio with Sherman Holmes on bass, Wendell Holmes on guitar and the wonderfully understated, melodic Popsy Dixon on drums. All three have honed voices. The harmonies are spectacular. State Of Grace is enhanced by some backing musicians and female background singers. Given the Brothers predilection for Country Gospel and C&W it is not surprizing that Rosanne Cash shares vocals on Hank Williams' "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You." There are a couple of Lyle Lovett tunes and a George Jones / Johnny Mathis composition. If the C&W is not surprizing some of the other covers are. Nick Lowe's raucous "(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love And Understanding'' gets slowed down and given the full Gospel treatment. Amazingly it works. John Fogerty's "Bad Moon Rising" gets a Zydeco arrangement and it works too. The Wendell Holmes originals are just as good. "Gasoline Drawers" is one hoot of an upbeat love song. Vocal harmony, three rich voices and impeccable musicianship are what this CD are all about. Not to be missed. -Smokin' Joe Miklos Dave Holt Band Now or Never Lucky Lobster Records Solidly based in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area but deeply rooted in the music and culture of New Orleans, the Dave Holt Band delivers a righteous set of classic New Orleans tunes on their most recent release. While, honestly, not a fan of New Orleans style cover bands as a rule, I opted to give this one a try. After all, what can I lose but precious time? I was immediately taken in by the heart and soul pouring through my speakers. These guys are dedicated to what they're doing and are extremely well rooted in the music. Quite frankly, I expected to hear some half-hearted (though perhaps fun) zydeco style tunes designed to capture the "party" crowd. What I got was a well-rounded, very diverse set that ran the full spectrum and managing to capture a fair glimpse into the heart of the people who call the region home. These are passionate people, working hard…and when the time is right, playing and partying with their whole hearts. Lancaster, PA is a long way from Louisiana, but when it's right, it's right and Dave Holt Band's Now Or Never! is right on the money. Keep up the good work! - Bill Wilson Fruteland Jackson Tell Me What You Say Electro-Fi 3401 Fruteland Jackson is part of a dying breed…one of those guys who leans toward the old styles and acoustic. Tell Me What You Say is a pure delight. Not only is Jackson in top form, but the supporting musicians are incredible. Chris Whitley on guitar, Julian Fauth on piano, Kevin Fox on cello and Bucky Berger on drums round out the recording exceptionally well. Adding Diana Braithwaite's vocals on Jimmie Davis' "You Are My Sunshine" was the icing on one sweet cake. Fun, enlightening, easy on the ears and socially relevant, Tell Me What You Say is one of the most powerful and refreshing pieces I've heard in ages. Fruteland Jackson is a modern master working in an old style. The arrangements are beautiful, often somewhat haunting. After numerous times listening to this disc, I am still finding something fresh, new and exciting. The CD also highlights Jackson's songwriting abilities. He wrote (or co-wrote) every tune on the disc with the exception of Davis' "You Are My Sunshine." This one sounds as if it had been written and performed in the 20s or 30s. This one's a keeper. - Bill Wilson The Jony James Blues Band What About Tomorrow Blue Wave 151 It seems there's a lot of Blues Rock kicking around lately. This is the second Jony James Blues Band album to appear on Blue Wave. James handles the guitar and vocals with Rod Horning on bass and Kent "Boom Boom" Teech on drums. You got it: power trio. James has a fluent guitar attack and is quite skilled at dobro. All the songs on the album were written by James and range in length from four to seven minutes long. Naturally this allows James to stretch out. This CD is the ammunition for all of you who love guitar slingers. The pace leans to slow Blues and Blues ballads. The vocals are a little thin but the music showcases the guitar. Isn't that what power trios are about? - Smokin' Joe Miklos Candye Kane Guitar'd And Feathered Ruf 1127 I've been aware of Candye Kane's (supposedly her real name) existence for awhile but have never heard her stuff. Because of her trashy image I tended to think of her as flashy throwaway junk. When this CD appeared in the Blue Notes mailbox and Bill Wilson said, "Joe, this one is yours," I cringed. Imagine my astonishment when I discovered that Kane had a short ranged, full toned expressive voice reminiscent of Billy Holiday. These are smooth, slick and somewhat jazzy vocals. There's a reason for the title of this album: guest guitarists include Junior Watson, Dave Alvin, Bob Margolin, Sue Foley, Kid Ramos, Ana Popovic, Bob Brozman, and Popa Chubby. This is a feast for lovers of Blues guitar. Don't let the technical expertise of the guitar cats override Ms. Kane's vocal ability. She's remarkably adept. After all she orchestrated this thing. I keep coming back to this recording. Standout track: "My Own Worst Enemy." If I've got to go to the red light district, this is the one I'm headed for. - Smokin' Joe Miklos Ben Bowen King Sidewalk Saints Talking Taco Music 153D Listing two musicians and a compilation of instruments that includes Resonator/slide guitar, harmonica, jaw bow, one string fiddle, Coke bottle, kitchen spoons, suitcase, bass drum, tambourine, bass guitar, Salvation Army cymbals, "Amen corner" and vocals/moans, the "Sidewalk Saints" manage to get their point across beautifully. Ben Bowen King and Covita Moroney drive their point home with a subtle elegance seldom heard in the overpowering abundance of sound that is contemporary music. A small handful of artists rose to the top in this genre based on the records they made during the 20s and 30s, but they numbered far more. The Rev. Gary Davis, Rev. I.B. Ware, Blind Willie Johnson, Dock Boggs (regarded as one of the founders of Country music), Joseph Spence and Mississippi Fred McDowell come to mind. Many believe in the Lord's command to go into the highways and byways, taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every creature. Whether you're looking for an avenue to proclaim the "Good News" or just looking for something to uplift your own spirits (or those of a friend), Sidewalk Saints will surely fill the bill. As I stated earlier, during the 20s and 30s there were a number of guitarists who played their music on America's street corners. Whether that was done to spread the Gospel or simply to pick up a bit of spare change, the music from the era is a snapshot of the roots of Americana music. It contains elements of the blues and African-American music as well as touches of ragtime jazz and Appalachian ballads and it needs to be preserved and remembered. I found the Sidewalk Saints to be refreshing, entertaining, easy to listen to, more than a bit spiritually uplifting and, in general, well worth the 46 minutes it took to give it a listen. The album had a few weak moments, but I, for one, will be listening to it repeatedly. - Bill Wilson Marie Knight Let Us Get Together: A Tribute to Rev. Gary Davis MC Records 0058 Like the Reverend Gary Davis, Marie Knight is a preacher and lives in Harlem. She had spent twenty years with Sister Rosetta Tharpe as a singer, songwriter and performer. Let Us Get Together is her first full-length recording in twenty years, a tribute to the Rev. Gary Davis, and features the talents of Larry Campbell on all stringed instruments (except for the acoustic bass, provided by Lincoln Schleifer) throughout the recording. The CD also features Kim Wilson on harmonica. All that said, Let Us Get Together is as inspirational as it gets. Davis, who played predominantly in the piedmont style, penned nearly all the tunes on the album. A huge fan of the Reverend Gary Davis, familiar with Marie through her work with Sister Rosetta Tharpe and an ordained minister myself, I found this one to be purely delightful. Knight is in great voice, the instrumentation is immaculate and the piece is moving on a spiritual as well as an emotional level. Add to that the fact that this one is exceptionally easy on the ears. The folks at MC Records may have just made God smile. I know I did! Whether you're a believer or not, Let Us Get Together is worth more than one good listen. If you do happen to be a believer this one will serve as a source of strength and inspiration to be sure. - Bill Wilson Bob Margolin In North Carolina Steady Rollin' Records 001 Bob Margolin is one of a small handful of musicians for which I have nothing but respect. He has spent a lifetime studying at the feet of the masters, to this day backing them whenever the opportunity arises. This was then and is now, a labor of love. Known primarily for his work in Chicago Blues, Bob is a unique artist with extremely diverse tastes. In concert, he is likely to pull tunes from any number of styles, each receiving his own unique spin. In short, Bob Margolin is an exceptional musician, who knows how to read his audience and what it will take to get the job done. I have yet to see him when he does not accomplish that goal. Now to the task at hand. In North Carolina features Bob Margolin…front and center and alone. Bob plays all instruments (acoustic and electric guitars, slide guitar, bass and some drums), does all vocals and provided most of the photos for the CD cover. A hauntingly beautiful piece of work, In North Carolina showcases Bob's talents, showing the veteran Bluesman, at times, in a whole new light. An exceptional musician, compelling vocalist and superb songwriter, Margolin does it all with a certain flair that is uniquely his own. Opening with a straight-ahead Chicago blues tune from Muddy Waters, Bob goes into a haunting original (the title track) that is one of the most beautiful pieces I've heard to date. "In North Carolina" is followed by "You Rascal You", perhaps most notably remembered by Louis Armstrong. The more I listen to this CD, the more I like it. Of particular interest are the seven original tunes. Anyone can do a cover…most can do a fairly decent cover if the song tickles their fancy. Bob Margolin is the real deal. One of my favorite tunes on the CD is "Bring Me Your Blues", a Margolin original that, quite frankly, rubbed me the wrong way when I first heard it. The haunting vocals and the overall tenderness of this number caught me off balance, to say the least. Closing out the disc is a spoken word piece that Bob wrote for Blues Revue Magazine a while back, showcasing his storytelling ability. Take the time to give this a good listen. In short, Bob has done it again…left this fan with a smile on his face. - Bill Wilson Stacy Mitchhart Gotta Get The Feeling Back Again Dr. Sam Records 009 Mitchhart covers all his bases to be sure, from hardcore Blues to blues/rock covers from Led Zeppelin and the Allman Brothers. While I'm not particularly a Led Zeppelin fan (and much prefer Muddy Waters over the Allman Brothers) I found the covers quite good, downright refreshing. Frankly, I liked them even better than the originals. Stacy's an incredible guitarist, able to walk that fine line between technical expertise and raw emotional power, a great vocalist and one hell of a songwriter. Gotta Get The Feeling Back Again is his ninth release and as solid as it gets. With the backing of a rock-solid band, Mitchhart moves from Chicago Blues to classic blues/rock and great soulful slow burners without missing a beat. This is one of those soulful, emotionally charged pieces that has a little bit of something for everyone. If you're a fan of Blues guitar, this one's a good bet. - Bill Wilson Coco Montoya Dirty Deal Alligator 4913 Dirty Deal by Coco Montoya (Alligator 4913) is another modern Blues album that packs a punch. Montoya's style has matured; the music is well crafted without sounding sterile as he's sometimes done in the past. The studio band is excellent and Montoya gets some expert help from Little Feat members Paul Barrere, Ken Gradney, Richie Hayward, and Bill Payne. Dirty Deal turns up the funk factor. - Smokin' Joe Miklos Darrell Nulisch Goin' Back To Dallas Severn Records 0041 Darrell Nulisch is back, with his sixth solo release. A founding member of Anson Funderburgh's Rockets, one thing remains constant…he loves to have a good time. Because of that fact his fans have a blast. Goin' Back To Dallas is no exception. Very much reminiscent of the Fabulous Thunderbirds or Delbert McClinton, this one is straight-up, pure Texas get-down fun… played from the heart with an emotional power that reaches straight to the heart of the listener. This release is simple and honest with no high tech gimmicks, no theatrics and no games. What you hear is what you get. The result is as powerful a piece as I've heard in quite some time…one of those CDs that will be coming back to my playlist often. Goin' Back To Dallas is destined to be counted among the classics. Nulisch is in top form, an exceptional vocalist and more than proficient on the harp and the band is tight and right on the money. This one flows seamlessly from swing to ballads and straight-ahead Blues. It's most definitely a keeper. - Bill Wilson Paul Mark and the Van Dorens Trick Fiction Radiation 5899 Speaking of Bluesy Roots Rock, here's a cat who's slipped right past me for five albums. Paul Mark and the Van Dorens new release Trick Fiction (Radiation 5899) has a good share of gritty Blues intermingled with Rock that owes a little to Credence Clearwater Revival. Paul Mark has a tough, booming baritone and is no slouch on guitar. Highlights: "Fritos, BBQ and Scotch" and the topical songs "Big Glass Building" and "Wholly Rollin'." I think I just became a fan. - Smokin' Joe Miklos Pinetop Perkins Born In The Honey Sagebrush Productions SB101 At the age of 93, Pinetop Perkins is going stronger than ever. Sagebrush Productions, out of Santa Fe, New Mexico, have released a DVD/CD combo on the life and times of the living piano blues legend. The DVD features his life story highlighted by insightful interviews with those who knew him best, his fellow blues performers…many of them legends in their own right. Sam Carr, Bobby Rush, Ann Rabson, Lonnie Brooks, Dr. John and more come forth to embellish his story. Interviews and performance footage blend seamlessly to tell the story of the man, his music, and the lifestyle that is the Blues. Pinetop Perkins is a survivor. Attacked by a woman, he lost the ability to play guitar and centered on piano. An amp blew up in this ear causing hearing loss and he even survived an encounter with a train. There is a magic about Pine that is greater than the sum of all its parts. This DVD offers a little insight into the magic that is Pinetop Perkins. Piano man, guitarist, drummer, car mechanic, storyteller, ladies man and performer extraordinaire, meet the one and only Pinetop Perkins. The accompanying CD features nine cuts recorded live in Chicago with Pinetop on piano, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on drums, Bob Stroger on bass and "Little" Frank Krokowski on guitar. The tenth track on the CD is a previously unreleased studio recording titled "Rather Quit Her Than Hit Her" which features Pinetop along with Bob Corritore on harp, Johnny Rapp on guitar, Paul Thomas on bass and Chico Chism on drums. Straight-ahead Chicago Blues played by the finest performers in the business are the icing on the cake that is this multimedia extravaganza. In short, this piece belongs in the collection of every man, woman and child who consider themselves to be Blues lovers. This is one of the finest pieces I've heard all year…but, bear in mind, I am biased. Pinetop has been an influence on my life through his music since I was ten (if not earlier) and someone I consider a friend for some years now. That said, Born In The Honey would be a good deal at twice the price. 'Nuff said! - Bill Wilson Bill Perry Don't Know Nothin' About Love Blind Pig 5104 Blind Pig recording artist Bill Perry has a good eight albums to his credit. A fiery guitarist and phenomenal songwriter, Perry got his start playing behind Richie Havens in the 80s. From there he signed to Pointblank in 1995. 2001 saw his debut on Blind Pig with the release of Fire It Up. Don't Know Nothin' About Love is about as solid as it gets, and a good addition to the collection of any Blues guitar lover. The disc highlights Perry's songwriting abilities, with eight of the eleven tunes Bill Perry originals. It also shows the great diversity of styles he played. Bottom line, Nothin' About Love is a sweet piece of work. If his career had to come to an end, it ended on a good note. Give this one a listen. - Bill Wilson Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers Blues Quartet ThrillVille Delta Groove Music 118 A streamlined band by no means hurt Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers. ThrillVille is one of the unit's most refreshing CDs in years. The band has been winning top honors throughout the industry for some time, and I would expect this release to fare equally well. Rod and Honey are as strong as ever, Henry Carvajal is a noteworthy guitarist and with Honey picking up on the bass lines and Dave Kida on drums, the rhythm section is in good hands. The Blues Quartet comes forth with all the strength and power of the original unit and a spontaneity and freshness that only change can bring. The recording features a great mix of harmonica-based classics and original tunes that holds the listener's attention from beginning to end. From straight-ahead Blues to soulful ballads, some great R&B and some funky originals, ThrillVille is a great piece of work, but I would expect nothing less. - Bill Wilson Michael Powers Prodigal Son Baryon Records 005 Guitar fans hold on to your hats! Michael Powers is a winner. Born in New Jersey, in 1952, Michael waited decades to become an "overnight success". This one was a bit hard to pin down, however. It was quite different from his previous release, Onyx Root, also on Baryon Records. While I tend to dislike a lot of so-called blues-rock, having a hard time finding the blues amidst the rock, Michael pulls it off nicely. Prodigal Son has a hard enough edge to satisfy the most discriminating fans of rock & roll, yet is dripping with raw emotional power and passion. I was thankful that we were spared the almost obligatory Jimi Hendrix/Stevie Ray Vaughan tunes, even though Michael has what it takes to pull it off. Quite frankly he is talented enough not to have to rely on icons past to make his point. A nice mix of originals and covers, Powers originals are the highlights of the CD. The covers, originally done by Bob Dylan, Tiny Bradshaw, Sonny Boy Williamson, Gary Davis and more are all well done, each done with Michael's unique spin. In short, Prodigal Son is not one of those pieces that left my head spinning, but it is certainly worth more than one good listen. Adding their talents to the CD are Sonic Youth's Steve Shelley on drums, Jimmy Vivino on guitar and James Wormworth on drums. While this one might be a disappointment to Blues purists, Michael Powers has shown once more that he's got a lot to say and the talent to put his point across quite nicely. He'll be around for some time to come. - Bill Wilson The Rounders Wish I Had You Blind Pig 5110 Hailing from Oklahoma City, The Rounders have released their third CD (their first for Blind Pig) Wish I Had You. Sparse, snappy arrangements are their forte. Employing a basic five piece line up The Rounders take a Roots Rock approach. The Blues are very much in evidence with a little Country Rock a la Dickie Betts thrown in. A satisfying effort that at times sounds almost traditional. - Smokin' Joe Miklos Savoy Brown Steel Panache Records 152 Kim Simmonds has kept the venerable Savoy Brown band going for almost forty years. During this time a great deal of formative talent has passed through the ranks not the least being Chris Youlden and the future members of the boogie monster Foghat. Keeping the faith, Simmonds has stated that his goal with this CD was to do a back to basics Blues Rock recording: Blues with energy. Mission accomplished. This is no frills power trio stuff, refreshingly free of Stevie Ray Vaughan style posing, with lots of up-tempo numbers. The bulk of the material was penned by Simmonds except for covers of Lowell Fulsom's "Monday Morning Blues" and Peewee Crayton's "Daybreak." The band is lean featuring Gerry Sorrentino on bass and variously Mario Staiano and Dennis Cotton on drums. Simmonds handles all the vocals and there seems to be a bit of the Velvet Underground to his singing. If you like Blues Rock that's strong with a straightforward attack Steel is the ticket. - Smokin' Joe Miklos Mem Shannon Live: A Night At Tipitina's Northern Blues Music 0041 Mem Shannon drove cab in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter for fifteen years, starting at the age of twenty-two. This gave him an incredible wealth of experiences upon which to draw as a Blues singer and teller of tales…a job he does far better than most. Live: A Night At Tipitina's is his first live release in his twelve years of recording. Nothing short of a masterpiece, this one shows the veteran performer doing what he does and doing it as well as he's ever done. Live: A Night At Tipitina's captures the moment, leaving the emotional power, depth of soul and incredible groove intact…a rarity for a live recording, which often misses so many of those aspects. While many shy away from live recordings, this one deserves a good listen. This is Mem Shannon finding his groove and riding it for all it's worth. From Soul to Blues and Jazz Mem Shannon has his bases covered, and covered well. Shannon is one of the people of New Orleans and no amount of fame or recognition is going to separate him from that fact. This is a delightful piece, smooth flowing, easy on the ear and socially relevant. Mem Shannon sings about what he knows and is not afraid, if need be, to be brutally honest. This is the real deal and comes highly recommended. - Bill Wilson Chris Smither Leave The Light On Signature Sounds 2001 Singer-songwriter Chris Smither has a strong anchor in the Blues. His latest release follows in suit with some fine covers, traditional Folk and Blues and clever, literate originals. His first album for Signature Sounds shows Smither to be in powerful and distinctive form. Smither has always done covers with a sense of originality and creativity. This CD is no exception. Bob Dylan's "Visions Of Johanna" gets done up in waltz time to great effect. The traditional "Blues In The Bottle" and "John Hardy" get treatments that are heartfelt and at times chilling. As with all Chris Smither albums the best songs are his own. Leave The Light On has some real gems. The topical "Diplomacy" takes a shot at the current world situation. The title track is a passionate expression of love and faith. The real standout here is "Origin Of Species," a Mark Twain-like shot at biblical thinking and the Intelligent Design ideology. Like Twain's satire it comes off acidic and humorous. The damned human race indeed. Chris Smither's guitar work is lovely and melodically rhythmic. His backing musicians, especially guitarist David Goodrich, are spot on. This CD is a feather in the cap for one of our best Blues based songwriters. - Smokin' Joe Miklos Koko Taylor Old School Alligator Records 4915 Any rumors regarding the demise of the Queen are greatly exaggerated. Koko Taylor, long acknowledged "Queen of the Blues" is, while admittedly getting older, still able to decisively defend her crown. Having gone through health problems of late and having to cancel a number of concert dates as a result, Koko has returned to the Blues scene with a vengeance. Old School may be her best work to date. Strong of voice and spirit and backed by a killer band, Taylor has produced a CD that is certain to win multiple awards. She shows off her songwriting talents on this one, producing five new tunes for the album…more than on any of her previous releases. She also covers tunes penned by Memphis Minnie, Magic Sam, Lefty Dizz, Willie Dixon, E.G. Kight and more. Koko, along with Alligator Records put together a group of musicians who, along with her touring band, managed to capture the feel and spirit of the 50's blues scene. Mission accomplished! This is as "old school" as it gets… raunchy, growling, filled with raw emotional power. This is Blues at its best. From raucous, foot stomping barnburners to powerful slow burning tunes, it's covered with all the power of a great woman in her prime. Long live the Queen! Those divas waiting in the wings have just got to continue waiting…Koko Taylor has a lot left to say. In my book there will only ever be one Queen of the Blues. May she reign forever! - Bill Wilson Watermelon Slim and the Workers The Wheel Man Northern Blues Music 0038 Once again, Watermelon Slim and the Workers managed to blow my mind. Completely impossible to pigeonhole, Slim and company could probably be best described as pure Americana. This is music for the workingman by men who are not afraid to get their hands dirty. Too often in this day and age, Blues is upper class. I hear influences in here from just about everything. What I notice perhaps most is the pure raw emotional power and sheer honesty. I get the impression that every word is true and based on personal experience. I was once told to approach everything honestly and to be sure to point out flaws where I find them…try as I might, I could find none here. The musicianship is flawless, writing is impeccable, arrangements are wonderful, vocals are strong and powerful…hell, this may be the best thing I've heard since their last release. Aside from Slim's impeccable work on vocals, harp, dobro, slide guitar and percussion, the band is tighter than the proverbial gnat's backside. Adding even more to this powerful piece, this time around the band gets an assist from Magic Slim on guitar and vocals, and David Maxwell on piano. Talk about icing on the cake…this is as sweet as it gets. - Bill Wilson Matt Wigler Thirteen Vista Records 0101 I tend to shy away from the "child prodigies," but after recently being blown away by Deanna Bogart's performance at our local Blues Festival, I felt compelled to give this one a listen. Deanna produced his CD and performs on several cuts. She has stated that "there is a difference between being good for his age and simply being good." Matt Wigler is exceptional. This young man could hold his ground regardless of the competition. Thirteen is a hot, sassy mix of Blues and Jazz styles that seemingly could not be possibly coming from such a young man. The band is superb and Wigler's playing is phenomenal. With Deanna Bogart on sax, Mike Aubin on drums and Scott Ambush on bass, this is as solid as a unit gets…and they play together as a well-seasoned unit. I'm looking forward to seeing where this "kid" goes with his career. He could well go on to break new ground in the fields of Blues and Jazz. He is as good as anyone I've heard to date. With time and experience the sky is the limit. I recommend this one highly, not because "this kid is good," but because this is one fine piano player and a great CD. - Bill Wilson  |
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