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BAD TOWN BLUES -Buffet Flats - Bad Moon Records
This is another fine collection from Bad Town Blues which sees them having moved on considerably from their first CD to great effect. Highly recommended, as is catching the band live. Persuade your local venue to book them, you will not be disappointed! Ashwyn Smyth – 30th December 2007
BOB DYLAN - Modern Times - Sony/BMG
Ashwyn Smyth – 30th December 2007 HOG ON A LOG - Nicky Moore & The Blues Corporation -Signature Bootleg Records
Ashwyn Smyth – 30th December 2007
Crucial Blues Collection – Various Artists - Alligator Records Over the last 35 plus years, Bruce Iglauer’s Chicago based Alligator Records has established itself as one of the foremost contemporary blues record labels and home to some of the world’s premier blues and roots rock talent. With a roster of artists that started with Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers in the early 70’s and continues to expand – Alligator have just signed the fabulous Janiva Magness, winner of the Blues Music Award for Best Contemporary Female Artist Of The Year in 2006 and 2007 - the label has a wealth of material from which to compile some fine budget priced sampler CDs under the Crucial Blues Collection banner. There really is something for all tastes here with CDs featuring harmonica, slide guitar, guitar, live cuts, acoustic tracks, Hopefully, from that list of just a few of the contributors to these CDs, you are beginning to get the feel for it all. 110 tracks reflecting Alligator’s history and, therefore, some of the history of the blues over the same period reflecting many of the different styles within the genre.
Slide guitar lovers will not be disappointed with the twelve tracks on ‘Crucial Slide Guitar Blues’ which include no less than three artists paying tribute to Hound Dog Taylor, Sonny Landreth’s slidelicious ‘Taylor’s Rock’, Luther Allison’s great take of ‘Give Me Back My Wig’ and Michael Hill’s Blues Mob’s wonderful take on ‘She’s Gone’. Taylor himself also features with the excellent ‘The Sun is Shining’. Also of note is Australian guitarist, Dave Hole’s ‘Out of Here’, one of a number of tracks on these CDs from this artist who has released no less than 7 albums on Alligator. Two of the CDs feature regional variations with ‘Crucial Chicago Blues’ showcasing some of the great names from the Windy City
Those of you looking for a dose of rocking blues need look no further than ‘Crucial Rockin’ Blues, one of the three most recently released CDs in this series. This features one of three tracks in the set which sees Lonnie Mack sharing centre stage with the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan, here on ‘Hound Dog Man’. Roy Buchanan is featured with Johnny Sales on a storming version of Edwin Starr classic, ’25 Miles’ and the Holmes Brothers declare they are going to ‘Run Myself Out of Town’. A complete change for ‘Crucial Acoustic Blues’, 13 excellent acoustic cuts that include father and son Carey and Lurrie Bell with ‘Stop Running ‘Round’, a great track from their ‘Second Nature’ collaboration, Lonnie Mack with Stevie Ray Vaughan and one of my favourites, ‘Oreo Cookie Blues’ and a smashing Koko Taylor and Keb’ Mo track, ‘The Man Next Door’. ‘Crucial Live Blues’ features 13 great live tracks, all of great quality and full of life. Particularly so is ‘Call My Job’ taken from Son Seal’s first live album recorded in 1978, ‘Born with the Blues’, from Chicago blues legend, Lonnie Brooks’ only live CD and Luther Allison’s monster take on ‘Cherry Red Wine’ recorded at the Chicago Blues Festival following his return from his European sojourn. The final two CDs are nirvana for guitar lovers. ‘Crucial Guitar Blues’ and ‘More Crucial Guitar Blues’, each containing 12 tracks, These are CDs which do exactly what they say on the tin! They offer a tantalizing taster of what is in store if you buy the artists’ full albums and are also a great way of listening to some very fine music. Congratulations to Alligator on nine excellent CDs that would be a very fine addition to the collection of any lover of the Blues!
The Shakey Vick Blues Band featuring Chris Youlden Got Blues If Ya Wannit – Widespace Records
Take seven musicians with a lifetime’s experience of playing and living the Blues, put them in a studio and record the result and you have a CD containing eleven great tracks which mix golden oldies with some excellent contemporary originals. Call it ‘Got Blues If Ya Wannit’ and you have a CD which does what it says on the tin! All OK so far? But, I hear you say, hardly a new concept! Agreed. But when those musicians are former Savoy Brown vocalist Chris Youlden, the legendary Shakey Vick, former Yardbird and Nine Below Zero Barcoder, Alan Glen, fellow Barcoder and keyboard meister Bob Hadrell, drummer and the third third of the Barcodes, Dino Coccia, former Kingsnake and one of Europe’s outstanding double bass players, Jim Mercer and Shakey Vick’s long time guitarist and former recorder player, the man in black, Alan Vincent, you have something a ‘bit special’ to say the least. And so it is with this excellent CD, which is slated for release soon. Featuring a couple of fine tracks penned by Youlden, including the very wry ‘Don’t Write Me An Obit’, two more penned by Dino, including the excellent jazz tinged ‘Angle of Dissent’, Vick’s glorious ‘Redemption Blues’ and a band composition a rollocking instrumental jam called, evocatively, ‘Hammersmith Palais Swing’, there are also great versions of Eddie Boyd’s oft covered ‘Five Long Years’, an lovely ‘Elevator Blues’ and the gem that opens the CD, an oh so moody and atmospheric ‘That’s Alright’ – pure heaven! There is a great deal of excellent music today that is presented under the Blues banner and this is very necessary for the survival of the genre. If you like your Blues a bit more traditional, particularly if, like me, your love of the music dates back to the 60’s BritBlues boom, then this is definitely a CD that you must have in your collection. Not that this is old fashioned stuff, it just has that lovely, real bluesy feel of days of yore! Ashwyn Smyth – 2nd November 2007
THE WILDCARDS Raising Hell
As ever, there is a well balanced mix of original material and covers including a wild calypso style take on Louis Jordan’s wonderful ‘Run Joe’, a cracking version of the classic ‘St James Infirmary’ which has a wonderful New Orleans funeral feel to it before bursting into a wild up tempo guitar duel and the band tip their hats to harp legend Gary Primich with whom they toured earlier this year covering one of his songs, ‘Hoodoo Preacher’. Original material sees four Vince Lee compositions including the epic set closer, ‘Hard Luck Tale’, one of two tracks which features lovely Hammond from Paul “Bomber” Harris and two from With this great new CD, the Wildcards reinforce what a creative and highly individual band they are. I am sure it will sell like crazy, it certainly should. Definitely a CD of the year contender. 16th September 2007 ROY METTE Plugged Blues Matters!
Roy finds inspiration for his songs everywhere and has a wonderful way with words and this collection is no exception with classics such as the opening track ‘Why I Got the Blues’, the clever ‘One Too Many Whiskeys’ – “woke up in the gutter and it was raining so hard/Tyre tracks down my old guitar”, beautiful love songs such as ‘I’m With You’ and ‘This Life Will be the Death of Me’, the utter devastation of the wonderfully mournful ‘Self Destruction Central’, the Del Trotter style “this time next year we’ll be millionaires” optimism of ‘When My Ship Comes In’ – “one day when Eric Clapton rings just to play/We’ll say ‘Sorry Ricky, too busy old thing’”. ‘Hard Times (Prayer for the Sole)’ and ‘Low Tide at There are also two excellent instrumental tracks, the delicious ‘Absent Friends’ which exemplifies Roy’s wonderful talent as a guitar player, and the closing track of which more later. The CD is thoughtfully put together, opening with slower material and gradually building to the closing tracks, two fine up-tempo numbers, the bouncing ‘Weeping Like A Willow Tree’ with the typical Mette lyric: “As if I care, the dirty stinking little rancid whore”. Now don’t mince your words Special mention must go to This is, put quite simply, a consummate piece of work from a musician whose star should be far higher in the firmament than it is. It is a CD which deserves to find a home in the collection of anyone who loves really fine original music and is certainly a strong contender for CD of the year as far as I am concerned. Ashwyn Smyth – 12th September 2007 Also published in Blues Matters! Little Toby
Those familiar with Toby will know that he is much travelled and has honed his craft with many of the great names from the Blues world. He is also a lover of playing live and many of his anecdotes come from experiences surrounding live gigs. Toby is also the master of the double entendre – try listening to ‘I’m Gonna Try Some of That’ without grinning but especially listen to Toby’s introduction to the song. The CD offers an excellent mix of Toby’s own fine original material and some great covers of songs by the likes of Blind Boy Fuller. Listen too to his very original take on the oft sung ‘St James Infirmary Blues’ which gives this well known song a complete makeover. There are great instrumentals such as ‘Blame it on the Bass Player’, a good opportunity for Toby to display his finger picking mastery, and no CD from Toby would be complete without some rags and ‘Sundance rag’ is a joy. As is a wonderfully updated version of ‘Frankie & Johnny’ which unfortunately Toby did not play during his recent Too many tracks to mention them all but Toby covers the whole spectrum, and the inclusion of many of Toby’s explanations, comments and anecdotes, serves to add to the atmosphere and enjoyment of this excellent new CD giving it added life!. Another one from Toby to file under ‘O’ for outstanding! Ashwyn Smyth – July 2007 Also published in Blues Matters!
Michael Powers – Prodigal Son – Baryon Records
This CD offers a fabulous variety of material mixing highly original originals with superbly original covers that almost make you wonder whether in fact the song is the one you know from way back then. Take as an example Michael’s utterly different version of Hendrix’ classic, ‘Voodoo Chile’, underpinned by a solid slow drumbeat and featuring some superbly understated guitar (dobro & electric) and mandolin, or his superb version of Sonny Boy Williamson’s ‘It’s A Bloody Life’, the first of a number of tracks featuring some gorgeous upright bass, or his wonderful reworking of Dylan’s ‘Every Grain of Sand’ (I love the Hammond on this track) which builds majestically from a quiet acoustic opening to a magnificent climax, smashing! There is a beautifully down and dirty take on Jimmy Reed’s ‘Oh John’, the moody & mournful ‘Signed DC’ which features some Moody Blues style Mellotron – lovely!, the romping Blind Gary Davis’ ‘ You Got To Go Down’ complete with washboard or the rocking Yardbird influenced ‘Train Kept A Rollin’’ which closes the CD Mix in his own material, the wonderfully funky ‘White Lightning’ for example or the excellent heavy blues-rock of ‘Wild Side’ or the rocking CD opener, ‘Going Down’ or the out & out rock’n’roll of ‘Lay The Hooch’, or the beautiful front porch acoustic guitar playing of the instrumental ‘Compassion’, an absolute gem. And then there is the title track, a song with a feel that reminds me of so many different songs and artists but the overall feel is definitely JJ Caleish, but it is by the same token utterly original and is blessed with some beautiful lyrics. Oh & if you think you might have heard Michael before, think back to the AdLibs sixties cult hit, ‘The Boy From NYC’. Michael was one of the band members! So here we have what is certainly the best CD I have heard this year and one which I unreservedly recommend. With Paul & me liking it, it must be good!!!! Ashwyn Smyth – 15th February 2007
Big Gilson with Bruce Ewan & the Solid Senders – Live at the Blue Note, NY - TopCat Records
Being a live CD, many of the 10 tracks are lengthy which means that there is far greater freedom in the songs and the interpretation and which, for me, adds to the enjoyment. There is a nice mix of material with Big’s own songs sitting very well alongside some great covers including Little Walter’s ‘Blue & Lonesome’ and ‘I Got to Go’, both of which give Bruce a chance to dazzle with some great down & dirty harp playing, Roy Buchanan’s ‘Messiah Will Come Again’, a great guitar led track and the aforementioned Elmore James classic ‘Shake Your Moneymaker’ which features some really excellent playing from guest guitarist Bobby Radcliff. Big pays his personal tribute to Roy Buchanan with the opening track, a nice guitar led instrumental entitled ‘Tribute to Roy Buchanan’ and follows this with two more originals, ‘Cab Driver Blues’, a nice guitar and harp fest, and the up tempo ‘Ghreen’s Boogie’ which all the contributors really appear to enjoy! The final track is a great 9 minute epic take on ‘Drivin’ Wheel’ and serves to round off this excellent CD in fine fashion, all in all a very enjoyable record ofwhat sounds as if it was a great evening. Big Gilson is touring the Ashwyn Smyth – 13th February 2007 Also published in Blues Matters!
Steve Hooker – Stagger Lee is Back – NV Records
Track six has an almost swampy feel to it with great gospel overtones. ‘Bloodline’ is the second of two tracks on the CD featuring Bridget Metcalf on backing vocals or as Steve describes it , as “chanteuse” and the swampy groove continues with the penultimate track, a rip roaring instrumental called ‘Swamp Trick’ complete with croaking frogs. The CD concludes with ‘Candyman’, a track which in some respects completes the circle with its reference to Stagger Lee – “Could he play the Blues like Stagger Lee/Piano man from So here we have a CD which has a simplicity and rawness which in many respects make it very refreshing when put up against some of the highly polished and produced collections around. Here is an honesty and earthiness that must owe something to Steve’s thirty or more years on the scene during which time he played with the likes of Wilko Johnson and many other fine musicians many of whom have gone on to find fame if not fortune. With its rockabilly and blues influences the CD stands out and as an excellent example of the fine musical tradition that resides along the Ashwyn Smyth – 13th February 2007
Jamie Williams Band – Blues in Heaven
The final track is the title track and is a much rockier affair with a lyric with which all blues lovers will identify; ‘If they don’t play blues in heaven, then I’m going to hell!’ Amen to that Jamie. So, the first collection from the Jamie Williams Band was certainly worth waiting for and leaves me eagerly wanting more. This CD can only serve to, deservedly, further enhance their growing reputation and status. 5th February 2007 Kenny Wayne Shepherd – 10 Days Out – Blues From the Backroads
This really is a fabulous collection with some simply superb tracks, so much so that it is well nigh impossible to pick out standouts. Each of the 15 tracks sees Kenny playing with one or more legends and the result is pure heaven as far as I am concerned. There is a wonderful live feel to the recordings which is probably no real surprise given that not many of them were recorded in studios. ‘Knoxville Rag’, a fine example of Piedmont picking, with Etta James was recorded in her kitchen, ‘Tears Come Rollin’ Down’ in Henry Townsend’s front room and a number of the tracks were recorded at a live concert in There, Kenny performs with surviving members of Muddy Waters' and Howlin' Wolf's bands. The concert included Pinetop Perkins, Bob Margolin, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Henry Gray and Hubert Sumlin along with guests Wild Child Butler, Lazy Lester, I adore the great version of ‘The Thrill is Gone’ which sees Kenny and BB trading licks and has a wonderful vibe to it. In With 15 tracks, a running time of one hour seventeen minutes plus a great DVD, this is one hell of a package and worth every penny. This is, in my opinion, something of a landmark and a must for every blues lover’s collection. 5th February 2007
Black Snake Moan – Film Soundtrack – Various Artists – New West Records
Jackson plays Lazarus, ‘a reformed bluesman who attempts to reform the sex-addicted Rae’ a role described as ‘possibly Ricci’s juiciest’, and for the film he took guitar lessons and “honed his singing chops” to perform a number of songs which see him teamed with the likes of Alvin Youngblood Hart, Kenny Brown, Big Jack Johnson and Jason Freeman on classics such as ‘Stack-O-Lee’ and, of course, ‘Black Snake Moon’. And it has to be said that if acting ever loses its attraction, Also contributing are the Bobby Rush, Precious Bryant, John Doe, Outrageous Cherry, Scott Bomar and Son House, some variety! I really enjoyed listening to this CD over and over and if it is a good reflection of the film I will be queuing to watch it when it opens. There are some really excellent tracks, both old & new although particular favourites are ‘When the Lights Go Out’ by the black Keys and John Doe’s ‘The Losing Kind’. Add to that the great ‘Old Black Mattie’ from RL & the Allstars spare ‘Mean Ol’ Wind Died Down’ and I reckon you have a really fine sampler even without the film! Very highly recommended. Also published in Blues Matters! Charlie Wood – Lucky – Inside Sounds
Here is a collection of 13 wonderfully varied tracks recorded, mixed and produced by Charlie who also plays just about every instrument himself as well as providing virtually all the vocals (what a gorgeous voice he has!). Fellow Inside Sounds artist Billy Gibson provides some tasty harp on some tracks as well as the vocal on ‘Beale Street Blues’ whilst saxes on some tracks are courtesy of Kirk Smothers and Lucy Hathcote provides BVs. All bar four tracks are originals and even the covers are excellent, especially the gorgeous, seductive and silky smooth ‘The River’s Invitation’, a wonderful version of Percy Mayfield’s song. There are loads of different styles on this CD and so just about everyone will find something that suits, try the cool ‘Sneaky’ or the bouncy ‘If It Makes Me A Dollar’, or the lovely take on Mose Allison’s ‘One of These Days’. It is easy to understand why Charlie has been named “Beale Street Entertainer of the Year” (2003) and also honoured by the This is a really excellent CD from someone of whom I had never heard but who I know would go down so well if he toured the UK & Europe. And the title is wrong. It is no stroke of luck that such this is such a cracking CD. It is down to one Charlie Wood and his great talent. Danny Bryant’s RedEye Band – Live – Rounder
The fact that all bar three tracks of this CD are Danny’s own compositions also pays tribute to how he has matured both as a singer & guitarist but also as a writer. But it is as a guitarist that Danny is best known and most widely hailed and this CD certainly demonstrates why. From the opening bars of track one – ‘Heartbreaker’ to the throbbing finale – ‘Good Time Woman’, Danny wrings out musical magic from his guitar, whether it is straight-ahead rocking or the beautiful singing guitar which typifies his playing and is perhaps best displayed in his glorious cover of Dylan’s ‘Girl From The North Country’. I know that his playing is not to everyones’ taste and thank God for that for life would be very samey if everyone played & liked the same stuff! Like him or not, Danny’s playing is very honest and gets into your soul, so many of us can identify with the lyrics of ‘This Is The Blues’ whilst the dirty guitar which underpins it is so right for the song and we cannot fail to be affected by the emotion and depth of feeling of ‘Always With Me’ which Danny dedicates to his wife, the lovely Kirby. Certainly any Danny Bryant fan will want this CD in their collection as will many others who want something to remind themselves of a talented artist caught live on a night when the stars were shining brightly and his guitar was smoking! Erja Lyytinen – Dreamland Blues – Ruf Records
The link with that CD is continued with Erja’ solo effort being produced by Ian parker who also shares writing credits on some of the tracks all of which, bar one, are originals. The tracks were also recorded back in The CD kicks off, unusually, with a cracking slide guitar instrumental, ‘Skinny Girl’ which is followed by a lovely mid-tempo number ‘Why A Woman Plays The Blues’ which is our first opportunity to hear Erja’s fine voice as well as some lovely guitar. The one cover on the CD is a very good take on the oft covered Elmore James ‘It Hurts Me Too’ and the only other song not at least a co-operative effort involving Erja is Ian Parker’s excellent ‘Mississippi Callin’’. Miss Lyytinen is clearly an accomplished guitar player, with both pick and slide, and it really is impossible when hearing her singing not to think of Bonnie Raitt. She also has great ability to deliver a song whether it be the straight ahead blues of ‘Good Lovin’ Man’ or the moody title track which again features some lovely slide or the fine instrumental ‘Voyager’s Rest’ which sees Erja displaying an all too brief real appreciation of subtle National guitar picking. Congratulations to all involved in what is an excellent CD from this talented young lady of whom I believe we will hear a great deal more. Samuel C Lees Band – Bigg Mann – Blues Matters
The CD kicks off with three rocking cuts, including the title track, which give Sam plenty of opportunity to rip it up on the guitar and to demonstrate his not inconsiderable vocal talents. Track 4, ‘Its Not Your Fault’ comes as a lovely surprise, a beautiful, emotion drenched number with some soaring guitar, this is a song that would make an excellent main stream single and is followed by a great acoustic instrumental, ‘Dusty Road Blues’ which is, sadly, little more than a minute long and leaves one wanting more. ‘Little Girl Lost’ is a fine mid-tempo track featuring some nice keyboards which add to the mix whilst ‘The Memory That Stills Holds Me’ has great lyrics that will touch many a listener’s heart. Another change of style sees the band into more traditional blues territory with ‘Dance Hall’, a track with a great driving bass line and a sure-fire floor filler. ‘The Other Side of the Day’ is another beautifully bluesy track, again underscored by nice organ and more of Samuel’s excellent guitar. Only two tracks left and ‘Drag’ is a rocker with definite shades of Hendrix amongst others, a complete contrast to the beautiful, ‘Set Me Free’ with its ethereal organ and lovely acoustic and slide guitar and a fine closer to this very varied and exciting CD. With all 11 tracks being originals penned by Samuel, either solo or with assistance from the boys in the band or others, this is an excellent debut CD which is a credit to Samuel and his fellow musicians. It offers a great variety of tracks which are big, meaty and full of vigour, rock blues originals with balls, interspersed with acoustic gems and some fine straight ahead blues demonstrating a breadth of ability that should mark the Samuel C Lees Band as one to watch! Also published in Blues Matters! Johnny Lang - Turn Around - A&M Records
However, in a road to This is a CD which it would be wrong to file under Blues, it sits more comfortably in the rock/soul/gospel/Christian category if there is such a slot. There is some very funky material and none more so than track 2, 'Bump In The Road', one of a number of songs on the theme of redemption and he shares a gospel flavoured duet with Michael MacDonald on 'Thankful' as well as being joined by Sam Bush on mandolin and Buddy Miller on guitar for 'On That Great Day'. A complete contrast to the all the other tracks is the acoustic and extremely personal 'Only A Man' which sees Jonny sharing vocals with his wife, Haylie to great effect as well as featuring some beautiful violin from Nickel Creek's Sara Watkins. So what to make of this CD? For me it has its moments, there is some undeniably exciting guitar work, but I would never consider it to be Blues. Can there be Christian Blues? Discuss! That Jonny is talented is indisputable although his singing style is not one that I particularly enjoy, however much it sounds on occasions like Stevie Wonder! For lovers of this kind of music this will, I am sure be a very well received CD and will because of his reputation may procure more mainstream attention for what is essentially Christian music. Will I be listening to it a lot? I doubt it!
Also published in Blues Matters! Ruf Records Anthology – 12 Years of Where the Blues Crosses Over – Various Artists – Ruf Records – CD & DVD
Unusually for a retrospective collection this opens with the most recent material with tracks from Sue Foley – ‘New Used Car’ - and Walter Trout with Jeff Healey – ‘Workin’ Overtime’ – (Jeff has a Ruf Records release slated for 2007) and finishes with Luther Allison’s challenge to Thomas Ruf back in 1994 – ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is’! Along the way we are treated to great tracks such as Ian Parker’s ‘It Hurts A Man’ from his great 2004 live CD, Candy Kane’s very personal ‘White Trash Girl’, a great track from Omar & the Howlers – ‘White Crosses’ – catch the lyrics, Larry Garner’s soulful ‘Where the Blues Turn Black’, Ana Popovic’s groove, ‘Love Fever’, Kevin Coyne’s cult ‘Whispering Desert’ from 2000, the same year as Aynsley Lister’s excellent ‘In The Beginning’. From 1999 we have Canned Heat with a track featuring some great harp – ‘See These Tears’, from 1997 the atmospheric acoustic duo Friend’n’ Fellow’s ‘Home’ (the duo had a 2006 Ruf release too) and the label’s second year of life is commemorated by ‘Live Together’, a stonking guitar fest from Bernard Allison. As an added bonus the CD is accompanied by a 13 track DVD all bar one of the tracks being from the last 3 years. Whilst many of the acts featured on the CD are included the DVD also has tracks from Blues Caravan (Ian Parker, Aynsley Lister & Erja Lyytinen), Bob Brozman, Robin Trower and the Imperials. Al this for the price of a CD! This is an excellent CD and represents an really interesting and varied compilation with all tracks chosen by Thomas himself serving to demonstrate the great service Ruf Records have done us by bringing us so many excellent and varied acts, something which I very much hope they will continue do for many years to come. Congratulations to all concerned and happy 41st Birthday to the man himself for last December, this is a great birthday present to us! The Red Flags – Hundreds of Sunshine – Folkwit Records
After several listens I am still none too sure! It is beautiful stuff, gentle, thought provoking, stripped back with very sparse instrumentation, a real pleasure to listen to, definitely music to sooth the savage breast and certainly the sort of thing to play at the end of a particularly difficult day! It is, in my opinion, more country style than anything else although the nice use of harmonica on some tracks gives them a distinctly bluesy feel – ‘One-way Train’ – although Keith does not have a traditional bluesers voice, whilst occasional accordion lends a TexMex nuance – ‘Down Across the Border’. Some of the lyrics have a certain psychedelic feel to them – ‘Ambient Lemon Dream’. ‘Haunted House’ opens & closes with some harmonica which creates a really spooky feel but for me there is no single track that steps up & hits me between the eyes. Perhaps that is the way a CD like this should be. It makes for great listening whilst not seeking to stir you other than perhaps in the most cerebral way with the lyrics of the songs which each tell something of a story. Much as I love acoustic music, there are so many stunning proponents of the genre on the blues circuit that the Red Flags’ CD does not stand out in that company. It is beautiful but it does not fly my flag although I am sure that there will be many who disagree!
Blue on Black – Turning Up One does not normally associate the lovely It could be that this tour is the influence behind numbers such as the opener, “Badass Dude” which features a glorious Pontiac, the nice & cool “Black Cadillac” which has a wind in the hair cruising the Interstates feel and, of course, the smashing Shelby Mustang (oops its wet dream time) in the excellent “Big Boss”. There are numbers which reflect some of the guys’ influences whether it be the Quo on “Boys in Trouble” (be great to hear them cover this) or ACDC on “Smokin Gun”. There is some very different electronica effects on “Zbd”, some nice acoustic slide guitar on “King’o’Spades” and some heavy fuzz guitar blended with some splendidly wry lyrics on the politically incorrectly titled “Rock ‘n’ Roll Bitches”. However, standout track for me has to be the beautifully moody “Cold Wind Blows” which features some lovely guitar work from Londoner Keith Rowe. Mention and plaudits must also go to Welsh born bassist, Steve Jones and This is good rockin’ stuff and in the crowded rock blues field, Blue on Black definitely stand out from the crowd.
Cleveland Fats – The Way Things Go – Honeybee Records – HB3302
20th November 2006
Derrin Nauendorf – Rattling Wheel – Rising Records – DN06
After five years where everything Derrin has achieved has been due to his own efforts, no agent, no recording contract, no management, selling nearly 12,000 CDs from the back of his car, he has now found the music industry taking notice of him with numerous radio plays by the likes of Bob Harris, his first ever commercially released studio album and now a band! It is the CD we are concentrating on here and what a CD! “Rattling Wheel” is unmistakably Derrin Naundorf and features 11 wonderful original tracks which so effectively display his feeling for words, his wonderfully evocative voice, his great guitar playing and which showcase his talent. Take the magnificent “Where Two Men Go Tonight”, a number which builds steadily to an ethereal climax marked by the Asian infused vocal of Buz Singh with brother Ron’s harmonium underscoring a track which nearly did not make it to the final album play list. If I had to pick a favourite track this would be it but all tracks are so good that it is a crime to pick out one above all others! From the up tempo opener, “Universal Demands” right through to the closing “All the Faces”, this CD is a joy giving ample opportunity for both Derrin and his fellow musicians to shine, particularly Arnie Cottrell whose mandolin, electric and slide guitar adds another layer to a number of the tracks (he also produced the CD along with co-producers Neil Segrott (engineering, mixing and mastering) and Derrin himself) and to Jamie O’Keefe on drums and Rick Foot on double bass. This is a CD that constantly returns to my CD player and I just don’t tire of it. If you want to hear one of the talents of the early 21st Century, then get this CD and go and catch Derrin live, it will be a musical experience you will not forget, I promise you. Ashwyn Smyth – 14th November 2006
Big Boy Bloater & His Southside Stompers – What You Been Prayin’ For? – Bloat Records - BRC2006
12 wonderful r’n’b (the real kind) tracks, some covers although covers of less well known numbers and some stonking originals with vocal duties being mainly undertaken by Bloater, very much in the blues shouter mould, but with two great tracks featuring the super cool voice of baritone sax player, Li’l Lisa Jane who, together with Tim Chimes on tenor, creates a sound that is dirrrrty in the best possible sense, and, along with the great piano playing of Deacon Turner, creates a wonderfully full sound that oozes with energy and drive. Standout tracks for me are the classic blues style title track and ‘I Wanna Do More’, Li’l Lisa’s sings ‘I wanna do more and more for my baby’ and you wish that she were singing just to you”! I love this CD and congratulate all involved. Now I just have to go and see the band live! 12.11.06 Also published in Blues Matters! Ricky D & the Red Flames – Don’t Cross Me Out – Laughing Sam Records
But that is not what is required by our beloved editor so here goes. Judging by the opening tracks this a CD which would be more at home being reviewed in a metal mag rather than one devoted to the blues. In the sleeve notes Ricky D voices “private thanks to my heroes: Jimi Hendrix & Rory Gallagher (among many, many others)”. The CD comprises 14 tracks all bar one written by Ricky Dias (Ricky D) and or the drummer, Chris Jamison and was recorded at Laughing Sam’s Studio in The one cover is a thrash rock take on Willie Dixon’s ‘ You Can’t Judge A Book’ and it follows one of the more bizarre tracks, ‘Come Back to Me’, a slow track featuring Elvis style vocals – why? Sorry I just don’t get this CD. I am sure there are those who will love it but it is not for me! 12.11.06 The Chevrons – Get Up and Dance
In a crowded market place, this CD does not stand out and that is likely to be its biggest drawback. This is not a CD that does anything for me I am afraid! 12.11.06 Also published in Blues Matters! Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band – Master of the Game Delta Groove Records – DGPCD110
Payne’s voice has such passion and feel and for the last 15 or so years has been the voice of the Johnny Otis Revue whilst Edmonson’s guitar has been honed over two decades playing with the likes of James Cotton, Van Morrison & Maria Muldaur amongst many others. All bar 4 of the 13 tracks are originals offering a wide variety ranging from the up tempo ‘Woman in 12.11.06 The Jives – Live at the New Crawdaddy Club – Moroccanrollrecords 5505
12.11.06 Also published in Blues Matters! Alex Alvarez (Alex “A) Barcelona born Alex is a 28 year old guitarist who has been a professional musician for the last 11 years during which time he has played with UP Wilson, Larry McCray, Paul Orta , the Steve De Swarte Blues Band and Sam Cockrell & the Groove, with whom he has travelled twice to the Canada and the US where they are opening for BB King in Minneapolis. The CD which contains 13 tracks features Alex on guitar & vocals, fellow Spaniard Javier Mas on guitar & vocals, Chicagoan Rick Perkins on keyboards & vocals, Zimbabwean Steve de Swarte on bass & vocals and American Julian Vaughn on drums. There are also some uncredited horns used to great effect on some tracks. The overall effect of this CD is some very funky and very listenable to playing with some really exciting guitar playing and a really tight ensemble creating a most enjoyable collection. Unfortunately the copy I received had no track listings so I cannot tell you anything about the songs, who wrote them etc. What I can tell you is that on the basis of this CD, Alex A can be very proud of his music and would, I guess, be well worth catching live. If you were at the BB King gig in 12.11.06 Also published in Blues Matters1 Lightning Hopkins – Nothin’ But The Blues – Blue Label – SPV 97761 CD
This collection contains what are clearly some early recordings but the quality is excellent and compliments must go to Clear Sound & Vision who mastered the CD. Now I know that there are those who really cannot get into the original man & guitar style of traditional blues and lose interest very quickly. For me, this is what I grew up listening to and as a result I love this CD, it is almost like having the man & his guitar in the room with you. Thank you Blue Label, I look forward to hearing the others CDs in this collection some of which have already been released. These will be great additions to all blues lovers collections. 12.11.06 Matt Sery – A More Perfect Union – Riff Rat Records – RRR71159
12.11.06 Mark Easton Limousine – Bandwagon – BMM 317.2
This CD features 12 excellent and varied tracks, 9 originals written by Mark, the three covers being a rollicking version of Hound Dog Taylor’s ‘Give Me Back My Wig’, an excellent powerful cover of Rory Gallagher’s ‘Bullfrog Blues’ and the traditional ‘John the Revelator’. Particular favourites of mine are the opening track, the driving ‘Make Up Your Mind’, the intriguing ‘Orange Flowers’, the lovely gentler ‘Walking Home’ which features some lovely violin from Jonathan Dower as well as Mark’s beautiful slide guitar and the rip-roaring finale ‘Not Blues Enough’ which will, I am sure ring bells with just about every blues band everywhere! An excellent CD which makes great listening and shows that Mark Easton Limousine continue to develop and do what the are so good at. Great slide guitar, good lyrics and plenty of variety. A cracking CD, just wish Australia was not so far away! 12.11.06 Also published in Blues Matters!
The Hitman Blues Band – Live at Stonybrook University – Nerus Records
14th August 2006
Angela Brown & the Mighty 45’s – Live – In a Dangerous Mood
9th August 2006
Tim Hain & Sunny Side Up – One Man Went to Mojo – Note Records
Tracks vary from great reggae style takes on standards such as ‘The Wind Cries Mary’ and Stephen Stills great song, ‘For What It’s Worth’, Albert King’s ‘Down Don’t Bother Me’ or the dub style ‘Need Your Love So Bad’ to straight ahead blues numbers such as ‘That’s What the Blues Is All About’, ‘Feels So Fine’ or the Hookeresque ‘An Old Bluesman Never Dies’, written by Zakiya Hooker or ‘Feel So Nice’. There is a wonderful take on Dorothy Moore’s classic, ‘Misty Blue’ which features Tim duetting with Clea Llewellyn and sees the song given a lover’s rock makeover. A corker! For this CD, Tim has not only got himself a superbly tight but flexible band in Sunny Side Up but also boasts a guest list that is almost too large to fit on the CD! Names such as the aforementioned Errol Linton sit alongside vocalist Paul Cox & guitarists Andy Cortez and Robin Bibi, names perhaps more familiar than the 18 other musicians credited as special guests! The end result is a CD that offers a great listening experience, some purist pleasing blues, some fabulously infectious West Indian rhythms which are so authentic that I am transported to palm fringed beaches and azure seas! Although there are, perhaps, one or two tracks which are some way off the standard set by the rest, overall this is undoubtedly a gem of a CD and I look forward to catching Tim live soon. Sue Foley – New Used Car - RUF 1116 Award winning Canadian guitarist & singer Sue has been around on the scene for quite a while and most recently has been busy putting together Ruf’s excellent Blues Guitar Women CD and carrying out interviews for her eagerly awaited forthcoming book ‘Guitar Woman’ so it is good that she has managed to find time to put together this new which is now available on Ruf Records. The CD opens with the title track, a fine up-tempo number featuring Sue in a girlie, almost giggly mood and showcasing some fine guitar. Track 3, ‘When I get Back To You’ has a lovely laid back summery feel to it with some more good guitar and some nice shimmering Hammond, a feature on a number of tracks especially the six minute slow tempo song ‘Absolution’ which could almost be described as a power Blues ballad if there is such a thing! It is a very well put together number featuring some more lovely guitar, keyboards, Hammond and a wonderfully down & dirty feel, I bet this is blast live! With all bar one track written by Sue (two co-credited to Lynn Miles) one gets the feeling that there is a great deal of Sue in the songs, particularly numbers such as ‘Mother’, the sparsely soulful acoustic ‘Long Tomorrow’, the heartfelt ‘Deep Freeze’; certainly ‘Little Things’ will strike a chord with many women and maybe some men! The CD is well put together with a rocking opener a gentle, thoughtful middle and then an up-tempo conclusion. This is my first encounter with Sue Foley, a woman about whom I have heard much. I thoroughly enjoyed this CD and am sure that Sue’s many fans will too. If like me you are unfamiliar with Sue, this could be just what you need to make her acquaintance! So grab a copy of the CD stick it in your player and luxuriate in Sue’s musical company.
8th June 2006
Full Circle – Walter Trout & Friends – RUF 1117 The first new studio CD from Walter Trout in five years has to be something which his legion of fans have been craving and now the wait is over! After an unfortunate evening when I caught Walter live for the first time, I was quite prepared to not like this CD which made it an even greater pleasure when I stuck it in the CD player and let the magnificent opening track - all 8 plus minutes of Walter & John Mayall together - wash over me. Honest, that is all it took, one track but what a track! However, a CD is not about one track and this collection of 13 tracks contains some real variety as typified by the gloriously acoustic ‘Firehouse Mama’ which sees Walter playing with Eric Sardinas to produce a track which captures the “living room” jam which they were seeking or the rollicking instrumental ‘Slap Happy’ featuring Junior Watson, r the wonderful slow blues ‘A Busy Man’ with James Harman or the wonderfully moody organ rich instrumental, ‘After Hours’, which lives up to its title and features the superb Hammond B3 of Deacon Jones. There is much here to please the what the sleeve notes describe as “blues purists” which cannot always be said of Walter’s work but he teams up with the prodigious Joe Bonamassa to produce a track which they dedicate to blues purists – “Let’s give ‘em the reason they hate us!” – the result a very fine track very much in the rock blues field ‘Clouds on the Horizon’ which was written in the studio and recorded on the first take. The CD is credited to Walter “and friends” and what a collection of friends! As well as those already mentioned there is Jeff Healey (their track ‘Workin’ Overtime’ is to be released as a single), one time fellow Bluesbreaker , Coco Montoya, fellow Ruf artist Bernard Allison, Guitar Shorty & Finis Tasty. This is a fine CD which has restored my faith in Walter as a musician and artist. Hugely enjoyable, the album sees some legendary guitarists and musicians trading licks and taking part in guitar workouts which are exhaustingly pleasurable! This one will be in my CD player for a long while! 7th June 2006 Big Dez – Night After Night
The band has built itself quite a reputation on the European Festival and club circuit and on the basis of this CD it is easy to see why. Phil’s vocals are spot-on and only occasionally can you tell that he is singing in a “foreign” language, whilst his guitar work pays credit to the time he has spent in the US jamming with the likes of Luther Allison, WC Clark & Billy Branch and playing alongside Texas legend Uncle John Turner (drummer with Johnny Winter & Lightnin’ Hopkins) and many others. Harpist Marc blows up a beautiful storm with some great leads whilst Bala delivers some blistering organ breaks and solos. The rhythm section is solid and always there but never over the top. The CD contains an excellent variety of styles, tempos and approaches. There is a lovely, almost jazzy feel to the delicious “Suspicion” which features a beautiful keyboard continuo and some stinging guitar whilst the fine mid-tempo “#2” affords each member of the band an opportunity to shine in turn and just has to be one of those numbers which is a classic live! “2710 S Lamar” is a breakneck instrumental belter which is all too short, and look out for the great moody trumpet solo from Gary Slechta on “Stroll for Madeline”, a gem. This is a cracking CD and a great introduction to Big Dez. I for one am looking forward to catching them live and what a pleasure it is to hear some great Blues from France, even if they do come via Texas! Vive les blues, vive Grand Dez!! Danny Bryant’s RedEye Band – Days Like This – Blues Matters! – BMRCD20058 – 10 tracks – 42.15
Add to this the almost heavy metal guitar based track, “Heart Working Overtime”, the lovely, soaring instrumental, “Back in Baltimore”, the mid tempo “Long Time Coming”, more lovely guitar as only Danny does, “Last Man Standing” with some very thoughtful lyrics, “Blues All Over Me” a gorgeous slow blues, one of several tracks that Danny describes as blues jam “us playing off each other live in the studio” The final two tracks are the wonderfully bouncy “Good Time Woman”, a bit of a departure for Danny featuring as it does keyboards from Chris Cooper which creates the suggestion of a brass section that really enhances this rocking number and another of Danny’s trademark and gorgeous slow rock ballad style number. “Always With Me” dedicated to Danny’s lovely wife, Kirby and featuring Danny’s beautiful emotion drenched vocals, delicious ringing guitar and more keyboards. Danny is the longest serving artist on the Blues Matters! label and this is his 4th CD for the label and their 30th CD in all. How appropriate, then, that it should be such a smasher with Danny showing only too well how his writing, singing and playing have all matured way beyond his years. Recorded once again at Purple Studios in Trowse, Norwich and engineered by Richard Hammerton, this will delight Danny’s fans and should also bring him to the attention of many others. Congratulations and thank you to all concerned for another fine CD, definitely the best yet! DIXIEFROG 20TH ANNIVERSARY – CELEBRATING 20 YEARS DEDICATED TO THE BLUES – 2006 ROOTS & NEW – Various Artists - Dixiefrog
There is certainly something here for everyone, whatever your favourite tipple, and it is difficult and unfair to try to pick favourites although tracks that standout for me are Taj Mahal’s quirky take on the Jagger/Richard hit ‘Honky Tonk Women’, Van Wilks great version of one of my favourite songs from the ‘60’s, ‘Morning Dew’ and Tom Principato’s deliciously seductive and sensual ‘Tango’d up in the Blues’, a glorious instrumental with wonderful shades of Carlos Santana. So, if you want a double CD with 32 hugely varied tracks from some of the best artists around, some of whom are new to me, this is the one for you. It is a collection that is being played a great deal at Digital Blues towers & I sure will spend plenty of time in your CD player too! Highly recommended and thank you Dixiefrog. Pilgrimage – Mississippi to Memphis – Aynsley Lister, Erja Lyytinen & Ian Parker – Ruf Records
The variety of material is beautiful, the CD kicks off with a piece of classic Lister thrash blues, “1010o”, a perfect opener which is followed by two excellent Parker compositions, a classic blues number, “All The Time” which develops into a gospelly style number with some down and dirty guitar and is six minutes odd of heaven & “Heal Me Love”, one of Ian’s beautiful mid-tempo ballad style numbers that builds beautifully and features some lovely organ. Erja’s first offering as composer is a lovely, emotion dripping cri de coeur, “Last Love Song” on which, as with most of the numbers, the trio of artists share vocal duties, again most effectively. There is also a glimpse of how Erja got her nickname with some deliciously understated slide guitar. “You Don’t Know” bounds along and features some great contrasting guitar and vocal styles and leads us to Ian’s “Too Much to Hide”, another classic Parker track, the sort of thing at which he excels, a slteady but funky beat, some gorgeous guitar and thoughtful lyrics. Aynsley treats us to a classic acoustic guitarfest which is different from anything else on the CD and evokes a back porch somewhere out in the mangroves, a kerosene lamp guttering and attracting the insects, the air thick with tobacco smoke and musicians doing what they do. “Blues Caravan” again features some great guitar work as the three trade licks over a slowish but rock steady funky beat. NuBlues fans will be thrilled by the rap break from Erja in the middle of the song, most effectively worked into the song. Erja shows the breadth of her capabilities with “Funky mama”, a song which lives up to its title and could it be a description of Erja herself? This is followed by “Dreamland Blues” which is another fascinating acoustic number, again very much in back porch blues style and lovely with it. Aynsley’s final offering is an up-tempo track, “Twinkle Toes Willie” which has a positively country feel to it and is not one that you can sit still to, the feet must move! Track 12, “Time Bares Witness” is another of Ian’s impassioned ballads which have almost become his trademark and which is gorgeous. The final cut on the CD is described on the CD as Jam with Mr Tater, the Music Maker and features Ian & Aynsley having a ball! What a great CD this is, congratulations to all at Ruf for the concept and bringing together three excellent young musicians and to the musicians themselves for producing such an enjoyable, varied and enthralling collection of numbers. Due to tour in 2006 as the Blues Caravan – The New Generation, there are already dates set in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for January & February, (details at www.bluescaravan.com) we have to hope that Ruf will bring this fabulous triumvirate to the UK because that will be a show not to miss. Meantime get the CD to for close to an hour of great music. 18th December 2005 Summer Rain – John Crampton
Track two sees another Crampton key identifier, “Swamp Stomp” is a classic instrumental which cannot fail to get your body moving. With thirteen tracks, 12 of which are originals, there is the usual variety that one always gets from John. Listen to the lovely “Isabella” or the slow “Three O’Clock Blues” or the infectious and evocative “Train Song”, the haunting “Stay”, the throbbing title track or the excellent cover of “Smokestack Lightning” to see what I mean. As ever, this CD demostrates just what a one-off John is and why he continues to build a reputation, very well deserved, that sees him being asked to play venues and Festivals ever further away from the South Coast. I have seen him play many times and he never disappoints, always coming off stage soaked in perspiration having given his all. This CD can only serves to enhance his reputation still further. 18th December 2005 Rags & Bones – Ernie Hawkins – Say Mo’ Music
I also love Ernie’s honesty. Talking about “Texas Easy Street” he writes “I learned (stole) this song from Joe LaRose of Kent Ohio. One thing about when you steal a song from somebody, then you both have it. The folk process”! Blues Revue said of one of Ernie’s earlier releases “…a ray of sunshine, a perfect cure for the winter doldrums” and this so aptly sums up this CD as well. This is a CD that may have a fairly narrow appeal but if you love fine Piedmont country blues then you will love this CD. With delicious acoustic guitar playing, spare vocals, some nice harp from Marc Riesman on a couple of tracks, the excellent Maria Muldaur giving a wonderful gospel feel to one track with great vocals and several other guests, this is music which draws influences from many places including Gershwin, Biederbecke and world music as well as Blues originals, but it never loses its roots. Thanks Ernie for a CD that is a standout and such a pleasure. Ernie also does some pretty good instructional stuff – see www.erniehawkins.com for details. 18th December 2005 funkydory – Still – Pre-release CD – No label - 11 tracks – 57.18
Disparate influences are manifest, such as the positively Indian/oriental guitar intro to the title track “Still” which then breaks into a fine driving funk session with some more great guitar from both Jules & Marc. Of the new tracks “Northside” alternates between a delicious slow and bluesy tempo which will delight the diehard blues fans and ably demonstrates the breadth of ability in this band before breaking into a funky chorus and then back again to the slow tempo stuff before we are back to a real up-tempo funkfest of guitars which is followed by a delicious slow slide guitar interlude. This number has everything – lovely as is the rest of the CD. If you don’t know funkydory, do yourself a favour and find out about this really fine band of talented and gifted musicians who are taking the scene by storm. Badger your local venue to book them, buy their CD and enjoy their success. This is a very exciting debut disk which should have a wide appeal. Janiva Magness – Do I Move You? – NorthernBlues Music – NBM 0033 – 11 tracks
The 11 tracks offer great variety such as “I Want You To Have Everything” which has an almost Motown feel to it, or “Don’t Let Your Memories”, a beautiful acoustic track written by Jeff Turmes who also plays lovely guitar on this track, or the superb Chicago style “Workin’ on Me Baby”, dirty guitar and drums – oh I love this! Or try the title track, a wonderful mean & moody version of Nina Simone’s “Do I Move You”? Oh yes Janiva, you certainly do! With shimmering Hammond, moody keyboards, sparing guitar and the sort of laid back rhythm that can only lead to sex, this is an absolute gem! Janiva is in a swing mood with Colin Linden’s song, “I Give Up”, one of several numbers which have some lovely sax from Jeff Turmes (he gets everywhere). “Stealin’ Sugar” has a lovely ‘old’ feel to it with a bar room piano some lovely slide guitar and a great foot tapping rhythm The CD closes with a great rollicking version of the classic and oft covered “A Man Size Job” which Janiva makes all her own here. With this relaese, NorthernBlues Music once again demonstrate their commitment to bringing some of North America’s finest artists to the listening public. The CD is produced jointly by Janiva and Colin Linden who is behind many of the label’s releases and features some wonderful guitar from special guest Rick Holmstrom as well as a top class band. Delbert Clinton said of Janiva that she “sings with a rare conviction. She will not be denied”. This is a really excellent CD which should bring this very talented lady a great deal more very well deserved exposure. Little Toby Walker – Toby Walker plays well with others
Add to this the harp playing of Bob “Hootch” Paolucci and George Christ, the lovely bass work of Tom Griffith, Larry Sribnick and Ernie Sykes and Buddy Merriam’s mandolin all serve to bring further dimensions to Toby’s work whether it be one of his lovely covers such as Blind Boy Fuller’s “She’s Got Something There” (a lovely pairing of slide guitar and harmonica), the heartfelt “Nine Hundred Miles From Home” (a great version of this old number featuring some more great slide plus bass and mandolin) or Toby originals such as “Been on the Job Too Long”, a song which cannot fail to ring bells with all wage slaves, “You Got Something On The Side”! or the Piedmont style instrumental “Turner’s Retreat”. The CD also sees Toby performing songs co-written with Tom & also with Martha Trachtenberg, who provides vocal harmonies on one track, and it offers the listener a superb showcase of the great talent that is Little Toby Walker – just listen to the last track, a beautiful instrumental working of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” that brings tears to the eyes! So the CD more than lives up to its title and truly does what it says on the tin! Another wonderful collection from Toby and one which should have pride of place in your collection under ‘O’ for outstanding! 17th February 2006 Mike O’Leary – Vagabond Devil & the Whore EP - No label - 6 tracks – 28.38
Mike’s song writing clearly comes from the heart and his songs have a degree of anger flowing through them, whether they be railing against perfidious politicians – we know all about them given the current shenanigans – “Politician Blues”, ruing the passing of the years – “Wild Blue Yonder”, warning the ladies off – “Trouble”, a number that stands out for me as it is a rather slower tempo than the others and features some lovely guitar work, how the World is going to hell – “Model Neighbourhood” and “Dirt City”, the home of cheap beer & whisky and a number from 1997, “Slain” which sees Mike in solo acoustic mode but with some ethereal choral backing, most effective and some gorgeous distorted guitar in the background. In general the material is very much as described, “Rock n’Blues” and on the heavy edge of that genre and so may be a bit “in your face” for some but with the two aforementioned more laid back tracks, there is certainly some choice here. Recorded at the Sound Magic Studios by Steve Tsoi and backed by the Missionaries – The Captain on drums, Keith Sargent on lead guitar and John T on bass and BVs – Mike can be proud of this CD. It reflects him and his songwriting well and is a good introduction if you do not know him. For those that do, I am sure they will want a copy to enjoy at their leisure. Also published in Blues Matters! The Spider and …….. The Nightflies – 14 tracks – 62.17
With three band members involved in writing the material, there is a fine variety of songs including a lovely reworking of the band’s first recorded track, “Delta Moon”, which appeared on the “Essex Delta Blues….A Sampler CD” as did “No Prince Charming” a Mark Sibley solo composition which appeared on the same CD as the swansong of his former band Gator Blues and is a great example of his wonderful way with words! Kevin Webb’s guitar work is a joy to listen to, hinting at a wide range of influences and demonstrating his own great talent, whether it is with the early 60s sounding “Hungry For Your Love”, the Spanish flavoured opening to “Delta Moon”, the slow & moody “Hitman”, the light and deft touch in the break in “No Prince Charming” or the straight ahead rockers like “Lucky Man” or “Between God & the Devil” or “Nightfly”. As always, Mark’s vocals are delivered with his usual attack and excellent phrasing whilst his harp is never flashy but always just right, listen to “I Don’t Know” for some beautiful playing. Wayne & Andy sit behind Mark & Kevin and keep the show on the road superbly. For me a particular feature of previous work by both Mark & Kevin has been the clever and thoughtful lyrics and we are treated to some gems on this CD whether it be the desperation of “Want You Gone”, the wry wit of “No Prince Charming” which contains the line “It’s just my moth ain’t attracted to your flame” or the track which I have been playing loads and which deserves wider, commercial recognition, “(Staying Alive On) The M25” with its insanely catchy chorus. All in all a superb debut CD from a band which should be on every venues’ must have list, which should be on Festival bills all around the country and a CD which should be in your collection. Also published in Blues Matters! Oblivion Road – Bad Town Blues – Bad Moon Records
The CD opens with a very funky Clive Mulcahy composition “Rock Solid” which does what it says on the tin and is an ideal opener. This is followed by the title track, another of Clive’s compositions, a lovely mid-paced track which sees him in a pensive mood reflecting upon life and the universe generally. Instrumentally, Ray Bartrip on keyboards, Adam Norton on harp and Clive Mulcahy on guitar each have a chance to let themselves go to superb effect underpinned by a lovely flowing bass line from Jamie Lawrence and interesting drum work from Reg Patten, a pattern (no pun intended) which is retained in track 3, a really very catchy instrumental called “Sue’s Blues” composed by Ray and dedicated to his lovely lady. With a lovely gospel feeling to the keyboard riff, this track is one of a number that features Ray on his beloved Hammond, a really nice feature. A complete change of style next with Clive’s composition “Ramona Had A Baby” which features some lovely swampy slide guitar and bar-room piano and which leads on to a classic pair of Bartrip compositions, “Your Cheatin’ Ways” which features some of Adam’s lovely overblown harp and, for me, a tiniest hint of “Stray Cat Strut” with Reg using brushes and Ray on his Hammond again to lovely effect. “The Butcher’s Daughter” appeared first on the “Essex Delta Blues…..A Sampler” CD released last year and has proved a very popular number live but for the CD the band have reworked it slightly with Clive playing acoustic slide guitar and Adam playing a wonderful “rasping” harp. Not even half way through, track 7 “Bad Town Blues” opens slowly and dramatically before breaking into an excellent mid-tempo number featuring some great guitar from Clive, some positively psychedelic Hammond (listen closely on headphones to the break at around three minutes in and take a trip!) and more smashing harp from Adam. Track 8 is typical Bartrip boogie which should be covered by Chas & Dave although they would not make as good job of it as do Bad Town Blues. “All Dressed Up” sees Chigwell Fats pounding the ivories fit to bust and the rest of the band doing their bit to drive this great number along. A complete change of tempo and style for the Clive composed “Quit Jivin’ Me”, a considerably slower tempo and very funky with a very slightly ‘Smokestack Lightning’ feel to the guitar and harp riff. Adam’s harp really shines in Ray’s “Next Thing You Know”, again a slower tempo number with lovely thought provoking lyrics and Ray is also involved on the next track “It Ain’t Easy To Please Me” an excellent romping r’n’b shuffle with lyrics by Adam. “The Code”, another Clive composition has a really jazzy/soul feel to it with Jamie very busy on bass including a lovely bass solo, Clive treating us to some almost Hendrixian guitar, all in all something rather different from the guys including some almost ethereal harp from Adam. “Something’s Wrong” from Ray is a slow and smoking number which is over 8 minutes of heaven opening with some delicious harp and then running the gamut with the band taking turns to take the spotlight. This number can only be superb played live as must be the up tempo instrumental “Supernatural Ball” again featuring some phased Hammond to confuse your brain if you listen on headphones. The CD closes with a big surprise which may be a shock for some, yes Bad Town Blues play reggae! Clive has composed a lovely number “Skinny Brown Girl” which has a totally tropical Caribbean feel to it and which Clive’s voice suits very well. This is great way to round off this varied, interesting, exciting and immensely satisfying album. Bad Town Blues are to be congratulated on producing a collection which is a very definite quantum leap from their previous, very good and very well received CD. Make sure you get your copy when it is released soon, you will not be disappointed. Also published in Blues Matters! OMAR & THE HOWLERS – Bamboozled – Live in Germany - Ruf
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At last, a new CD from the excellent Bad Town Blues and well worth the wait. With Giles King now on harmonica, the band have third songwriter upon whom to call and this collection sees seven Clive Mulcahy compositions, three from 
OK, so this was released in late 2006 but I did not get my hands on a copy till 2007 which means that, in my book, it is a strong contender for the CD of 2007! At 65, Dylan has produced – yes the credited producer, Jack Frost, is Mr Dylan himself – what, in my opinion, is his best ever CD. Opening with the driving ‘Thunder On The Mountain’ which features a classic Chuck Berry style guitar break, the mood changes with track two, the laid back, lounge singer style ‘Spirit On The Water’ and changes again for a great driving version of ‘Rollin’ and Tumblin’’, a song for which Dylan claims credit but, in truth, is the oft covered classic blues number which has enjoyed many title variations into which Dylan has incorporated some original lyrics. There is more variety with the country tinged waltz ‘When The Deal Goes Down’, his song of a slave owner’s love for ‘Nettie Moore’ and a song which brings New Orleans back into focus, ‘The Levee’s Gonna Break’. This is the Blues album for which we have been waiting for so long. It has long been recognised that Dylan was always been touched by the Blues and now he has come out!!! A classic collection that is a joy to listen to and a fine tribute to one of the musical giants of the past 5 decades and a CD that will sit well in every true music lover’s collection.
What a great way to celebrate your 60th birthday – release your 7th CD and undertake a tour to the far corners of the 
Harmonica fans will find tracks on ‘Crucial Harmonica Blues’ such as Charlie Musselwhite’s ‘Make My Getaway’, Sonny Terry’s ‘Sonny’s Whoopin’ the Doop’ taken from the great ‘Whoopin’’ CD featuring Johnny Winter, Willie Dixon and Steve Homnick, James Cotton’s ‘Superharp’ from his 1984 album, ‘High Compression’ and Carey Bell’s lovely ‘Lonesome Stranger’.
including Pinetop Perkins’ 1970s recording of ‘Take It Easy Baby’, one of a number of jumping tracks from Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials, 2002’s ‘My Mind Is Gone’, Magic Slim’s take on JB Lenoir’s great song. ‘Mama, Talk To Your Daughter’, and Koko Taylor’s classic ‘Ernestine’ taken form her excellent ‘Royal Blue’ CD.
That great hotbed of high energy blues, Texas is featured, unsurprisingly, on ‘Crucial Texas Blues’ with Austin’s singer/pianist Marcia Bell declaring, ‘I’m Coming Down With The Blues’, Delbert McLinton ‘Standing on Shaky Ground’ recorded live for the Austin City Limits TV show, some great jump blues from Floyd Dixon with his own song, ‘450 Pound Woman’ and Johnny Copeland and Albert Collins in the ‘ Lion’s Den’.
including Austin’s W.C. Clark’s ‘Okie Dokee Stomp’, Michael Burk’s ‘ One More Chance’ as well as tracks from Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, Roy Buchanan and Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown to name but a few.
A couple of years after their first CD met with universal plaudits and established what was then a newish band as favourites throughout the UK, Europe & Scandinavia, the Wildcards are back with a new offering and it has to be said, they have done it again. 12 tracks of such variety that they give Heinz a run for their money! 
A new CD from 
Any new CD from Toby is always going to be eagerly awaited by his growing legions of fans and this, his latest, is no exception. Recorded live in the 
It is a fairly safe guess that if the inside of your CD sleeve contains notes written by one Paul Jones and if those notes start with the words ‘I’m a fan.’ then the CD accompanying the sleeve is going to be worth listening to and so it is with this excellent offering from Michael Powers, the recipient of three nominations in the 2007 Blues Music Awards as well as two in 2005. 
Big Gilson, the Brazilian Bluesman has released a prolific number of CDs in his home country and paid his dues over the last 14 years gigging both at home and in Argentina, the US and Europe during the course of which he has opened for Stevie Winwood, Johnny Rivers and BB King. Now, TopCat Records, the home of Texas Blues, releases this live collection recorded at the famed Blue Note in 
It has been some time since the rockabilly blues & soulman Steve Hooker has released a CD that is entirely composed of recently recorded material and it has been well worth the wait. With eight tracks, six of which are originals, this CD offers a nicely varied bill of fare which opens with the title track, a fine slide guitar instrumental. Track two, is another Hooker original, ‘
With an excellent track on the new Essex Delta Blues – Vol ll – A-Z CD serving as an appetite whetter, this 8 track offering from the Jamie Williams Band is very welcome. Opening with the only cover, ‘Midnight Train’ is a lovely mid-tempo funky number which appeared on the first Essex Delta Blues CD and received some very favourable comment. The band is a four piece featuring the prolific singer/songwriter Jamie on vocals and the very talented and skilful Ian Woolway on guitar and it is they who have written all the other tracks on this CD. Sean Collyer is rock solid on drums along side the band’s newest member, the excellent bass player, Josh Graham. ‘Honey 
I am fortunate that I do not often have to buy blues CD’s however, having read of Kenny Wayne Sheperd’s most recent release, my curiosity was roused and I had to have it. Unusually for me I actually bought it in my local record shop rather than on the net, so pressing was my desire to hear this CD. And I was not disappointed. The concept was for Kenny to travel through many US States, along with the legendary Double Trouble and Noah Hunt, to meet up with, jam and pay homage to those few remaining authentic blues greats, six of whom have, since the 10 day pilgrimage in June 2004, sadly passed on demonstrating all too clearly the value and appropriate timing of Kenny’s venture.
Good news for Blues lovers! February 2007 sees the release in cinemas of Black Snake Moon, ‘a darkly modern tale of love, betrayal, sex and salvation set in the Deep South’ starring Samuel L Jackson, Christina Ricci & Justin Timberlake. The film was filmed in and around 
Wow! And again wow! Of all the CDs which I received in December 2006, one stood out and was the one which spent the most time in my player. This one! For 16 years Charlie Wood has been the house keyboard player at King’s Palace on 
I forget how many times I have been fortunate enough to catch Danny live over the years but it has never been less than a highlight in the gig going calendar. Excellent as his various studio CDs have been, it is in live performance that he excels. The release of this live CD is long overdue therefore and I am sure that this will be an album which will be clamoured for by his many admirers and new converts who attend his gigs. Recorded live at one of Danny’s favourite venues, The Flowerpot in 
Dubbed by Finnish Blues News as the Bonnie Raitt of Finland, Erja Lyytinen first came to a wider audience as part of a trio of young blues artists (the other two were Aynsley Lister & Ian Parker) who toured extensively in 2006 as Blues Caravan and produced what for me was one of the best CDs of 2006, ‘Pigrimage – Misssissippi to Memphis’ also released by Ruf Records. This CD saw the three talented young musicians visiting studios in 
New Blues Matters! Vision signing Samuel C Lees has been around a while having started out with his own band “Texas Flood” in 2000, a name that perhaps gives a clue to at least one of Sam’s influences, His newly formed band is a trio which sees Samuel backed by Adam Ogilvey on bass and Andy Perfect on bass and they have a mission – “to bring the aspect of entertainment back into blues”.
Johnny Lang has built an enviable record over a ten year career that started at the beginning of his teens and saw his first album top the Billboard New Artist chart aged just 15. Much of his teenage years was spent with the likes of BB King & Buddy Guy and touring almost continuously with top acts such as the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith & Sting, along the way recording five albums and receiving a Grammy nomination achieving platinum & gold sales and sold-out headline concerts around the world. Like almost any teenager caught up in that world Jonny did drugs and booze and lived the rock'nroll lifestyle to the full.
Back in 1994, Thomas Ruf who was then the European agent for Luther Allison decided to start up a record label to showcase his man’s work. 12 years and more than 100 releases later, Ruf Records boasts a fine stable of artists from both Europe & the 
How nice to get sent something acoustic to review. Described as playing ‘the finest original Alt. Country/Americana in the known universe’ the Red Flags are singer/songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player Keith Mouland and stand-up bass and multi-instrumentalist KC (Harry) O’Shea and this CD features no less than 15 tracks of original material. I am always a bit suspicious when I see the term 
To spend nearly 20 years playing & touring with a man who grew up with the legendary Robert Johnson as his musical role model & friend would surely qualify as an enviable apprenticeship and this CD reunites Mark Hahn, his real name, with Robert Lockwood Jr., now in his 90s, whose mother was romantically involved with Johnson. 
I have had the pleasure of catching Australian Derrin Nauendorf playing live a number of times over the last five years, initially in a duo format with superb percussionist Dave Downing and latterly solo. Each time Derrin has amazed with his originality, talent and sheer presence so much so that I wrote this in a review of his January 2005 gig at the New Crawdaddy Blues Club: “
The title of this CD could be the response from Bloater’s many fans for it has been a while since there was a CD from this great band and this is the first featuring Bloater’s new line-up which has been going down a storm wherever they play. In my humble opinion this band is highly underrated and should be much better known than they are and this CD just proves my point.
It can be difficult being asked to review CDs because there are occasions when you don’t know what to say! There is also that school of thought that says if you can’t say anything positive then say nothing. OK end of review!
The Chevrons are a four piece rock band featuring a vocalist and harp player, Terry Sullivan, guitarist David Galt who also shares vocals, Tony Ellis on bass and Steve Grant on drums. The CD features all original material and opens with a rocking ‘Teardrop Blues’, a complete contrast to the title track which comes next which has an almost Latin feel to it and some nice acoustic guitar. The lighter mood continues with the next track and then is back to hard paced rock for ‘Hurtin in the Morning’ only to change back to laid back acoustic style ‘Here it Comes Again’, a track which barely lasts two minutes. This chopping and changing of style continues through the CD and means that it never really settles down and it is almost as if the band is uncertain where it wants to go. Some nice guitar on ‘Crazy’ a track that would be at home on a ‘Driving’ compilation and the CD finishes with ‘Dancing This Way’ which features some lovely uncredited keyboards and lasts all of one and a half minutes. Indeed the whole CD is only 28 minutes long.
At last a CD I really like! The guys at Delta Groove have come up with a cracker here featuring the superb soul voice of Jackie Payne and the great 
Regulars at Festivals around the country may be familiar with this duo of Jeff Chapman on guitar & vocals and Al E Bye on harmonicas, a pairing which is deservedly building a solid reputation and drawing enthusiastic responses from audiences everywhere. Despite having recorded a studio album, the guys prefer to put out this six tracker recorded in June 2006 at one of 
The latest release in The Essential Blues Archive series, this CD contains 20 varied tracks from Sam ‘Lightnin’ Hopkins, described by Neil Slaven in his excellent sleeve notes as the “pride & paragon of Texas blues.” Opening with his very first recording, ‘Katie Mae’ a song with wonderful lyrics the playlist contains great variety with a joyously up tempo take on Tampa Red’s ‘Let Me Play With Your Poodle’. There is the instrumental ‘Lighnin’s Boogie’ and his adaptation of the Texas favourite ‘One Kind Favour’ which had been recorded as ‘See That My Grave Is Kept Clean’ by Blind Lemon Jefferson.
I listened to this CD right the way through waiting to find out why I was being asked to review it for a Blues magazine ‘cos blues it ain’t, no way. I believe that this probably falls into a category called Christian AOR(ish) and if there is not such a category then there should be because this is what Matt brings us. With synthesisers, guitars, lyrics that sing the praise of Jesus & Mother Mary, that question the meaning of life, church like organ, this is, I am sure, something that will go down very well with lovers of this sort of material. But in a Blues magazine? I don’t think so. My apologies Matt, but this does nothing for me!
This is the third CD from this excellent Gold Coast, Queensland outfit and it is a cracker, just like the other two. This trio led by Mark on vocals who also plays some awesome slide guitar as well as harmonica, features Kayne Butler on drums and Michael Forster on bass are well known in Oz playing all over a country where going to the shops can mean a four day round trip! Come & play in the UK Mark, everywhere is just next door!
Russell “Hitman” Alexander is a New Yorker who has been on the scene for a good few years and has appeared with an impressive list of “names”. With a couple of good studio CD’s under his belt, 2006 sees the release of a fine live CD recorded at NY’s Stony Brook University, which certainly does what it says on the tin! Those familiar with the Hitman will recognise that the majority of numbers are from his two studio CD’s and if you have caught him live, then tracks such as ‘Green Thing’ and the set closer ‘Mean Mistreater’ will also be very familiar as great crowdpleasers. 
Catching an artist or band live is really the only way to truly judge their performance. I am sure we can all recall seeing a band live or hearing a live CD that disappoints hugely having heard the same band’s studio offerings. Equally, a band’s live performance often turns a less than sparkling studio performance into something special. 
I have long been a lover of the bands and artists that seek to push the blues genre boundaries by injecting a dose of roots. Great acts such as Jerimiah Marques & the Blue Aces, Sam Kelly’s Station House or Errol Linton’s Blues Jibe to mention but a few. Now Tim Hain should be added to this list with his new CD of what he has christened “bleggae”. A fabulous mix of covers and original material, this CD has plenty to commend itself and is a turntable favourite at Digital Blues!
There are not too many French men (or women) who spring to mind when one thinks of purveyors of the Blues and so it was an added pleasure when this CD hit the doormat courtesy of Derek White from Rocking the Blues who is co-promoting a tour of the UK by this Paris based five piece in March & May 2006. Formed in 1996, Big Dez comprises Phil Fernandez, guitar & vocals, Bala Pradel, organ & keyboards, Marco Schaeller, harmonica, Lamine Guerfi, bass and Stephane Minana on drums (although the drummer on the CD is Nico Leophonte) and the CD is the band’s second. Recorded in Austin, Texas, the album includes some top guests including Preston Hubbard (Fabulous Thunderbirds) & Sax Gordon Beadle and comprises 11 very varied tracks, all bar two of which are Big Dez originals. (On these he is co-credited)
A new Danny Bryant CD is always going to be eagerly awaited and after 2004’s excellent “Covering Their Tracks” which contained mainly covers, Danny’s new CD is an all original material collection offering a lovely variety. Take the first three tracks and you have a wonderful cross section. “Losing Game”, not a new song but one that is popular both with live audiences and with the band, “Earl Shuffle”, a nice instrumental tribute by Danny to Ronnie Earl and the wonderful title track which sees Danny playing with his friend, mentor and hero, Walter Trout, on an eight minute plus guitarfest. Recorded in one take at 1 a.m. it is a track which will have all Walter Trout & Danny Bryant fans drooling! Listen too to the lyrics, some lovely lines to be heard!
This is a great double CD released to celebrate Dixiefrog’s 20th Anniversary and what a choice! There’s Eric Bibb, Duke Robillard & Ronnie Earl, Nagic Slim, our very own Nublues, Popa Chubby,George Hamilton V, Leon Redbone, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, Blind Boys of Alabama, Rob Tognoni & Gwyn Ashton and that’s just for starters! Whilst all the tracks date from the last eight years, they represent the fantastically varied stable of blues artists that have passed through chez Dixiefrog over the last 20 years and represent a very broad musical church. 
“What do you get if you take three young European artists, all musically rooted in the Blues, yet untraditional in their approach, on a journey of discovery to the American South?” So open the sleeve notes to this exciting new CD from Ruf which is an absolute must for your library if you care about the next generation of European blues musicians.
Anyone familiar with Brighton based John will know that he is one of those one man band type performers who gives out such energy and passion that it is often difficult to believe that it is just him playing. He is also a prolific producer of CDs which always sell well at live gigs. Summer Rain is the latest from John and offers a slight departure from his previous work in that there is quite a bit of multi-tracking to be heard as John plays a variety of instruments. Ever present however is his incredible power, his frenetic but always controlled guitar playing, percussive and melodic at the same time as is typified by the CD opener “Shoot Me Down in Flames”. 
I just get such a thrill when a CD like this comes along, a man, a guitar, a friend or two and some old style picking that dazzles. Ernie Hawkins is a new name to me who hails from Pittsburgh and this CD is a wonderful collection of 14 tracks with Ernie’s interpretation of numbers by the likes of the Rev. Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hirt, Louis Armstrong & Blind Willie McTell. As the CD title suggests, the playlist is a wonderful mix of vocal numbers as well as infectious rags, some of the latter being Ernie’s adaptaion of one artists song played in the style of another. For example “Guitar Chop Suey” which is described by Ernie as “From Louis’ Coronet Chop Suey…..I thought this was a perfect candidate for a Gary Davis type rag”.
funkydory are a band who have only recently celebrated their first anniversary but they have come a long way in that year. “Still” is their first “proper” CD and as well as five tracks which appeared on the previous “home-made” CD which the band were selling at gigs, there are no less than six spanking new tracks which just prove the point that this a band that has a great future, tight as you like with the fabulous vocals of Lorna Reilly, the super guitars of Jules Fothergill and Marc Le Guerrannic, newcomer Ian Mauracio on bass and Hayden Doyle on drums. Together they produce the funkiest of soul-tinged blues with not a little nod to jazz and are writing some really cracking material which suits their style so well.
Now when this beautiful and talented lady released her CD, “Bury Him at the Crossroads”, a couple of years ago, she was met with almost unanimous praise and deservedly so. And so it cannot fail to be with this new offering from a lady who has the voice and skill to belt out a number with the best of them but also to deliver a song with control, poise and conviction.
A new CD from Toby is always going to be a bit special and this is no exception. The fact that Toby plays well is indisputable but usually he plays solo. This CD sees Toby with a number of guests and only two tracks have him on his own. And what guests! Bob Margolin is a real life legend through his years of playing in Muddy Waters’ band and subsequently with many of the great names in the Blues firmament. Two of their three duets see Toby on his trusted Martin whilst Bob plays some lovely electric guitar that adds a whole new dimension to Toby’s vocals. Mind you the outstanding track of the three for me is “Beefsteak When I’m Hungry” which features Bob on slide giving it the Muddy Waters’ treatment. 
Anyone who has attended any of the “open mic” nights locally will be very familiar with the powerful presence that is Mike O’Leary, perhaps most familiar for his own composition, “Politician Blues”. Mike has now produced a beautifully packaged CD featuring six original songs with at very intriguing title. 
At last! The full album from this great band formed in late 2004 which brings together four highly experienced and talented musicians, Mark Sibley, vocals & harp, Kevin Webb, guitar, vocals & keys, Andy Bostock, bass and Wayne Bronze, drums. With 14 tracks, all originals from Messrs. Sibley, Webb and Bronze in various combinations or not as the case may be, six of which we have already tasted on the Pre Release Album Sampler which was produced on a very restricted basis in 2005, this really is a CD worth waiting for and which can only win the band more fans and deservedly raise their profile towards the level they richly deserve.
Things have been a bit quiet recently on the bad Town Blues front and now we know why! They have been working hard on this their second CD, and boy was it worth the wait! 15 all original tracks totalling in excess of 75 minutes music and such a variety of material including some surprises about which more later. 
Whilst I have often seen the name, until now I had not heard Omar & the Howlers’ music and what a great opportunity this live CD is to put that omission right! With Omar backed by John Hahn on drums & Barry Bihm on bass, this CD absolutely brims with a live vibe and Texas energy. Barely pausing for breath between each of track which range from the rip-roaring opener ‘Shake For Me’, the swampy ‘Mississippi Hoodoo Man’, the slow & laid back tones of ‘East Side Blues’, a good showcase for Omar’s stinging & expressive guitar playing, to the Bo Diddley style ‘Magic Man’ and the John Lee influenced ‘Boogie Man’. With all the tracks Omar originals bar the final track, a raving rocking set closer, Jerry McCain’s ‘‘Rock n’ Roll Ball’ which must have had the audience going wild, this is one very fine showcase for Omar & his band and certainly one which leaves me wanting to see him live and catch more of his music. It is also great value with more than 74 minutes of music over the 15 nicely varied tracks. And congratulations to Thomas Ruf for once again giving us another cracking live CD. This definitely earns the Digital Blues seal of approval!
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