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Walter Trout & The Free Radlcals Face The Music (Live On Tour) Provogue Rec. PRD-7121 2 A tremendously good import for all to enjoy captures the Walter Trout Band live on tour in 1999. Currently a resident of Huntington Beach, California, Trout still retains huge European and British followings, and that is not without very good reason. You see Walter is on every guitarist poll and often ranks above names like Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton. Curiously, it is from a classic rock guitar stance that Trout fires off his rounds. Shooting down competition is not Trout's game though, and you recognize that about three songs into this live set. Trout and The Free Radicals's sound is rooted in the power rock stuff of artists like Leslie West and Mountain, Alvin Lee and Ten Years After, or Hendrix with his Band of Gypsies. Incredibly incendiary, yet uniquely spirited with blues sensibilities, Trout lights a fire under the pile and steps back to let it rip. The grind opens with Trout's own seven-minute "Got A Broken Heart" and moves forward with the more spectacular ten-minute "The Reason I'm Gone". Pushing his Washburn guitar to the extremes, he clocks it through the moving "Come Home" and into "Marie's Mood". The essential Trout found here has his guitar and intense vocals backed by a snap trio of musicians. Paul Kallestad on the big Hammond B-3, and the rhythm handled by bassist James Trapp and drummer Bernard Pershey. Closing out with the extended blues of "I'm Tired Of Sleeping Alone" and the cbsing "On The Rise", Trout laces up a fine product. With all the artful studio stuff aside, Trout still sounds progressively fine! Look forthis fine rock and blues to filter into record stores soon! Mark A. Cole www.mascotrecords.com or, www.waltertroutband.com John Prlmer Knocking At Your Door Telarc CD-3456 This is John Primer's debut release for the Telarc label. On it Primer displays the skills he's honed as sideman to Muddy Waters and Magic Slim. John's solo career has been productive as well with recent releases on Code Blue and Wolf Records. Primer's Chicago blues virtues are extolled on all. Curiously, he never misses a beat in his flawless recordings and performances, because he's always giving the audience his all. Primer has also been accustomed to playing with cutting edge accompaniment and this is no exception. Knockin' it down with Primer are the brothers McCray from Michigan: the courtly Larry on second guitar and ironman Steve on the drums. The incomparable Matthew Skollar is here blazing on the harmonica register, as fingemman Ken Saydak is tinkling the keyboards and Chicago's Al Brown is laying down the bass beats. Producer Mike Vernon also chips in with his contribution on the percussion. On this effort Primer takes time to explore a little acoustic guitar, like on "Excited By Your Charms", in addition to his normal electric executions. With a firm and familiar foundation, Primer carves his riffs and casts his vocals adrift over a sea of straight blues material mostly from his own hand. With covers from Jimmy Rogers, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Johnny Shines, and a couple more, Primer arranges a nice plate of blues. Never overdone and essentially true to tradition, Primer convinces. From the beginning title cut "Knocking On Your Door" to the romp of "Change Your Evil Ways" and continuing throughout, Primer aims to please. The solid Chicago flavored blues set laid down here is stellar in its participants and resulting music. This one has all the gusto you're looking for. M. A.Cole ANN RABSON Struttin' My Stuff M.C. Records MC-0041 One third of the fabulous Saffire, Ann Rabson is also well-known for her solo and duet performances. She has led and holds a vibrant allegiance of fans that love her rollickin' brand of boogie and blues. Her work as a vocalist, guitarist, and pianist, is also augmented by her composing and arranging. On this disc, it seems she's had a good set of hands on the reins, even co- producing the effort with label owner Mark Carpentieri and her manager Bonnie Tallman. Beside her own compositions, Ann tums in renditions of work by Amos Milburn, Chuck Berry, Brownie McGhee, Memphis Slim, Sarah Brown, and Eddie Bo. She also utilizes works written or co-penned for piano by contemporaries Olney & Owen, Norm Bellas, and Randy Friel. Accompaniment for Rabson, on this sole endeavor include Marty Ballou on upright bass, and Richard Crooks on drums and percussion. Ann, in addition to all vocals, plays piano, kazoo, and acoustic and electric guitars. The tracks are rendered in solo, duet, and trio formats. Ann rockets out of the tube with the rag piano and her boogie "Beggin' For You, Baby". With sweet jazzy inflections, she comes through with sterling electric guitar on "The Blues Don't Care". Her cabaret-styled voice fits these selections like a glove. She knows how to kick the groove into gear with cuts like "Hassle Attack" and "Barnyard Boogie". Her takes on Milburn's "Let Me Go Home, Whiskey" and Lucille Bogan's "Struttin' My Stuff' respectively honortheirwriters. I can't tell you about the whole thing, but look for raucous acoustic blues, a bit of boogie fever, and solid historic treatment of great piano material, A prominent left hand keeps fine time and the engine runnin' for Rabson's fluid right-hand runs and phrasings. She equally responds on the guitar with hard bottom chording and particular high-noted picking. The blues don't come from a more honest source than this. Ann Rabson has plied her way to solo and group notoriety and this disc reflects all that and more. Take the time to look into this disc, you'll be more than pleasantly surprised! Mark A. Cole M.C. Records; P.O. Box 1788; Huntington Station, NY 11746: or, www.mc- records.com MOJO MAMAS Blue Chicago BC 5005 Grana Louise: Good Woman Go Bad/ Somebody Done Told Me// Shirley Johnson: Paycheck In My Pocket/ Prisoner of Love// Big Time Sarah: Gonna Have a Murder On Your Hands/ Love Fever// Zora Young: Daughter Of A Son Of A Gun// Gloria Shannon: One Eyed Man/ Baby, Won´t You Please Come Home// Maggie Burrell: Pride and Joy// Mary Lane: I Wonder Why/ Coming Home// Pat Scott: Today I Sing The Blues/ Let ´s Do It Again These eight mojo mamas can often be heard at one of Blue Chicago´s three clubs in Chicago when they ´re not touring around. This CD is a sample of some of the best female vocalists around. All but two of these women sing two consecutive songs, and often there is a diversity between the two songs. This CD is a mix of entertaining R&B and blues tunes sung by talented women of various backgrounds, ages, and experiences. Various top musicians play imaginative arrangements on the fourteen tracks. All these positive factors add up to an excellent CD. What follows is a brief excerpt on each performer. For more details, listen to the CD and read the liner notes. Grana Louise whose first name rhymes with Rene, just moved to Chicago a few years back. She hails from Minnesota and is a music history buff with a theatrical background. She sang at the 2000 Chicago Blues Festival. On this CD, her powerful vocals are evident in two songs, including her own creation, a supper club R&B style of “Somebody Done Told Me.” Shirley Johnson tours with a gospel group when she´s not singing the blues. She sings a catchy R&B number and gives an excellent bluesy rendition of Percy Mayfield ´s “Prisoner of Love.” Big Time Sarah is 0ne of the most traveled veterans on the CD. Her direct, street-wise vocals can be heard on two tracks. She is also featured on this CD also as an extended live visual performance at one of the Blue Chicago clubs for those who have a computer. Zora Young has also been performing for most of her life. She has sung at the Chicago Blues Festival numerous times, and tours Europe nearly three times a year. Her dramatic, nasal-toned vocals can be heard in her own song, “Daughter of A Son of a Gun.” This CD is a recording debut for Gloria Shannon who has her own jazz and blues band that plays various venues in the Chicago area. It is hard to believe that the same person that sings a harsh, jazzy R&B song, is the same person that sings a smooth, mellow version of “Baby, Won ´t You Please Come Home.” But Gloria does that here. Maggie Burrell only recently started singing professionally. She does a tender love version of “Pride and Joy, “a song by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Mary Lane, who was born in 1935, has heard the blues most of her life, and she ´s still going strong, singing with the regulars at the Blue Chicago Club. She does a mellow blues and a catchy song she wrote entitled, “Coming Home.”Even though Pat Scott sang in a Chicago church at the age of three, she only considered singing professionally after she married into a musical family. Lately she ´s been touring with Willie Kent and The Gents and working with various Chicago bands. On this CD she sings a soulful version of “Today I Sing The Blues,”and a sexy song, “Let ´s Do It Again,”which is reminiscent of the Marvin Gaye style. All of these eight women are singing the real thing straight from their hearts.Their songs are varied and very easy to listen to. This tasteful album is a fine sample of some of the best female vocalists in Chicago. If you can ´t go to Chicago and see them in person, or catch them when they ´re out your way, you can at least enjoy their music on this recommended CD. Let these mojo mamas cast their spell on you! MARIA BAINER Eddie C. Campbell Hopes & Dreams Rooster Blues Records R2638 Recording at Blue Heaven Studios in Salinas, Kansas with some old Chi-Town friends and with a troupe of musicians from around Kansas City, Chicagoan Eddie C. Campbell managed to put a polish to his already sterling Windy City blues. Few in this business deserve wider attention than Eddie Campbell, who has led the bands of Jimmy Reed, Koko Taylor and Willie Dixon, and played in the bands of Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and Otis Rush. That just the some of the fellow legends that this bluesman has stroked the ax for. Campbell also has a European following, after living there for years, that rivals the appreciation he gets in the States. This release should however change all that, cause this is one of the finest examples of Chicago blues to come out this decade. Decidedly Chicago, the whole of the parts, exhibits a slow easy pace that is characteristically Eddie in his nonchalant laid-out attitude! Behind Eddie‘s stunning guitars, vocals, and harp are his favorite drummer Robert Huckleberry Hound‘ Wright and his old friend, Billy Boy Arnold also blowin‘ harp. Bobby Bland bassist Loui Villeri fills out the rhythm section. Keyboard action is shared by Ernest Lane on piano, and Jeff Jones on the organ. The horn section is saxist Kenny Glover, trombonist Tim Perryman, and trumpeter Lester ‚Duck‘ Warner. All eleven tunes that grace this disc were written or copenned by Campbell. It all comes off with a flair gained only through decades of blues action. Eddie certainly has it, and he‘s still here maneuvering his way through the blues taking the path of least resistance. This release should open new and old eyes alike! Mark A. Cole Rooster Blues Records; P.O. Box 40997; Memphis, TN 38104:or, www.roosterblues.com North Mississippi All Stars Shake Hands With Shorty Tone-Cool Records CD 34047 11 772A The intensity of rhythm, the syncopated beats, and the outrageous jam nature of North Mississippi rural blues was all too powerful for these young rockers bornbluesmen. The strength of the North Mississippi All Stars music comes from deep hill country blues elements that have infiltrated their heavy southern rock beginnings. A basic trio that has incorporated the musical presence of assorted friends and guests, The All Stars have been climbing the ladder of success opening and in support of bands like the Radiators, Gov‘t Mule, Galactic, R. L. Burnside, Fred McDowell, the Spin Doctors, and Jakob Dylan. Their own incredibly eclectic sound still straddles the rock, punk, and blues fencelines, if, in your mind, any such boundaries exist! Two brothers are the core of the band, along with bassist Chris Chew who also helps out on the vocals. Luther Dickerson takes the string lead playing electric, bottleneck, lapsteel and acoustic guitars, and the mandolin. Cody delivers the drumming and snap rhythms. Both brothers contribute to the vocals load, as well. The host of special guests includes Alvin Youngblood Hart, Cedric and Garry Burnside, Othar Turner, East Memphis Slim, Jimmy Crosthwait, Richard Price, Steve Selvidge, Jimbo Mathis, the Tate Country Singers, and Harmony Four. Brothers Luther and Cody Dixon are Memphis natives who moved a little farther south into the fertile Mississippi northlands. Once there they formed various rock bands and toured the rock clubs of the south. Their music, however, began to fall under the spell of local musicians like Junior Kimbrough, Othar Turner, and R.L Bumside. Falling into the hypnotic groove medicine of these blues shamen, the All Stars apparently came into being in their present form. From the raucous and acidic opener, „Shake ‚Em On Down“ to the closing nineminute plus, „All Night Long“ you‘ll find fused rock and blues with heavy and hard, yet simple rhythms and complex layered guitar usually taking the form of open-tuned slide. With harmonies that recall R.L., sometimes the fife and drum cadence of Othar, and someti mes the rockin‘ Allman Brothers blu es beat, the North Mississippi All Stars are forging their own brand of contemporary North Mississippi sound and pounding the beat to prove it. Look and listen for them coming to a spot near you! Mark A. Cole Tone Cool Records; 6 Abbott Road Annex; Wellesley Hills, MA 02481: or, www.tonecool.com Irma Thomas My Heart‘s In Memphis Rounder Records 11661-2163-2 This release is subtitled The Songs of Dan Penn . Take New Orleans‘ favorite R & B and blues singer, Irma Thomas, and pair her off with Memphis-soul writer Dan Penn and this is the result. Writing new and vibrant material for this effort and leading Irma through the new and four of his classic tunes, Penn co-producing with Scott Billington have come up with a winner. Dancing from pop, R & B, and funked-out soul, these blues bounce with an elegant Memphis profile. James Robertson or Steve Potts on drums and James Kinard on bass provide the bottom. Michael Toles plays the fanciful guitar, and keyboards duties are shared by Marvell Thomas, and co-songwriters Spooner Oldham, Carson Whitsett and Swain Schaefer. On the homs are Jim Spake on tenor sax, Scott Thompson on trumpet, and Howard Lamb on trombone. Irma handles all lead vocal work and is backed by the singers ELS (Elaine Foster, Lisa Foster, and Erica falis), and Dan Penn himself on the opening title tune. These are tender, introspective , and romantic ballads and tunes of love. Rearrangements of the classics „I‘m Your Puppet“ and „Zero Willpower“ jump out to grab your attention all over again! This release wili be popular across the musical genres; grabbing a soul label but flirting with pop, blues and R & B fiavors! Irma Thomas‘ voice will knock you out here, as it‘s backed with jazzy guitar, funk-laden organ lines and a non-stop rhythmic grind! Irma layers her delicate vocal delivery atop all in a mannerthat is sultry, smooth and magnificent! More music from Muscle Shoals, and the hits keeps rolling with this one from Irma Thomas and collaborator Dan Penn. A rightful addition to her body of work that sports seven other releases with this label. Take a ride back in time for some of that ageless Memphis soul music; don‘t forget ... you need to let let Irma conduct your tour! Mark A. Cole Rounder Records; One Camp Street; Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140:or, www.rounder.com Mary Taylor Victim Of Love JSP Records JSPCD-2139 One of JSP‘s strengths is the quality of their producers; another is the constant flow of new blood they bring into the blues recording industry. Both of these things are going on here, with Johnny Rawls and Bruce Feiner at the production helm and Ms. Mary Taylor behind the studio microphone. A New England resident, Mary Taylor is currently working outta Connecticut. A veteran performing artist, television host, and well-known gospel singer, Ms. Taylor will open your eyes also with her classical delivery and soulbred R & B resonance. The material was written and co-penned by Feiner and Rawls. Two inherent advocates of southern soul and Memphis R & B, Rawls and Feiner have worked together for years; Johnny fronting his own band, and often with the accompaniment of agent/tenor saxophonist Feiner and his Nutmeg Horns (with baritone saxman Robert Feiner and trumpeter Jamie Finegan). Along with Mary, Johnny Rawls on rhythm guitar and backup vocals, and the Nutmeg Horns are Mike Nunno on bass and Jason Arnold on the drums. Brad Wheeler‘s harmonica is found on one cut, and Bruce Feiner does double duty playing organ and piano on four tracks and logging in the synthesized strings on two more. Lead guitarists splitting the action are Burt Teague, Gary Ciuci, and Gene Donaldson. Once into that southern Memphis soul groove, happening with the opening high-stepper „Mama‘s First Rule“, they musicians never fall away. The grind is slow, soulfilled, and comes across like ghostbusters. It‘s heartening to hear the haunting echo of Stax Records, and that oozes forth on this disc. Heated deliveries, well-written songs, and major southern soul facets all rolled into one product. Mark A. Cole JSP Records; P.O. Box 1584; London N3 3NW; England: or, Tel: +44 20 8346 8663 Liz Mandville Greeson Ready To Cheat Earwig Music CD 4945 The Chicago blues scene sports many ladies of the blues. One of the youngest and most vibrant is Liz Mandville Greeson. Having ground her way around the circuit with the likes of bandleaders Willie Kent, Aron Burton, and the late George Baze and also the Ladies of Chicago tour a few years back, Liz has paid and continues to pay the dues necessary to gain recognition in the blues. On this her second Earwig release, Liz wears her blues like so many dresses, and shows off her own songwriting like a tailor his ware! The band backing Liz‘s elastic vocal character is a conglomerate of veterans and guests. Dave Jefferson on the drums and Dave Kaye on the bass provide the bottom. Allen Batts is here on keyboards, helped out on three cuts by Phil Baron. Guitarists sharing the duties are Michael Dotson, Chris Winter, Charles Crane, and Mike Gibb. Ron Sorin is heard on the harp and the horns belong to Phil Perkins, Paul Howard, and Bill McFarland. Background vocalists include Bruce Thompson, Precious Jewel, Teela Owens, Del Brown on two cuts, along with Jimmy Burns, and Johnny Drummer on one song. Liz handles all the arrangements and the effort is produced ty Michael R.Frank. You‘ll find Liz‘s music out front talkin‘ about life and its relationships: It‘s stories of love and love of stories. Watch the funk explosion on the opening R & B styled title tune, „Ready To Cheat“, then hear it ease into the swing flavored „Great Big Man“. The depth of her blues is intrenchable and instantly identifiable on tunes such as ‚Mhe Friendly Stranger“ and „Those Kisses“. Liz moves its through a roastin‘ set of fourteen songs that piles her sultry attitude atop some excellent material. These are top-notch vocals from Greeson that stretch the gamut of styles from blues to swing and back b soul and R & B. Excellent homs sounds and exemplary guitar is common throughout! Mark A. Cole Earwig Music Company Inc.; 1818 West Pratt Blvd.; Chicago, IL 60626: or, www.earwigmusic.com Jimmy Johnson Every Road Ends Somewhere Ruf Records 51416-1455-2 Jimmy Johnson‘s low-keyed Chicago presence has always pleased those who have come across his music before. His past work with Magic Sam, Jimmy Dawkins, and Otis Rush has cemented his West Side sound with a dose of soul which he picked up earlier in his career, perhaps accom-panying Denise LaSalle and Otis Clay. His solo recordings have been gems ... this effort is no different. Recorded in France with a full horn complement, this CD has a jazzy, big band blues sound with heavy percussion, grand guitar, and heartfully soulful vocals. Jimmy‘s artfully played guitar and vocals are backed by John Randolph on rhythm guitar, Anthony Morris on the bass, and William Ellis on the drums. Kenny Lee is found on the keyboards and Arnaud Frank lays on the percussion.The horn section includes Frank Lacy on the trombone, Claude Egea on the trumpet and flugelhorn, and Paul Cerra on the tenor sax. These early 1997 sessions include the guitar work of Luther Allison on one track as well. From the opening original „Roots Of All Evil“ to the closing cut „Everyday Of Your Life“, Jimmy‘s poignant lyricism and classic arrangements by Lacy, Cerra, and Johnson make this a great collection. It is well-suited to the horns and drum-laden deliveries. Jimmy‘s guitar shines throughout with jazz inflected chording and the pointed picking characteristic of West Side Chicago. Seven original tunes by Jimmy and three covers include great individual efforts, like Cerra‘s woeing sax on „My Baby By My Side“. This will delight Johnson fans and new listeners as much! A definitive blues lesson from a Chicago master! The release is dedicated to the memory of Anthony Morris and Luther Allison. ¶ Mark A. Cole Ruf Records; P.O. Box 258; Oxford, WI 53952-9998 T.W. Henderson & The Blues of Cain The Wilderness Years Bluetrack Records BRCD001 From across the Big Pond comes the music of guitarist and vocalist T.W. Henderson. The „Texas Blues Wolf“ has been transplanted to Galway, Ireland on a self-imposed sabbatical to find his Euro-Celtic roots and to explore that relationship to his sound. The Fender maestro has turned some grueling life situations to musical benefit with the release of this introspective and reflective matelial. With eleven self-penned tunes, T.W. runs the gamut of subject matter. Fire, smoke and steel blaze as Henderson puts this quartet through its paces. The band is timely, game, and primed for Henderson‘s lead action. Surrounding Henderson‘s string work and seasoned vocals are Sam Kelly on drums and Dave Clarke on that funked up bass. The keyboards are rung with style by Peter Zivkovic. Totally electric and hard-chargin‘ by most accounts ... stellar six stringin‘ built on well-structured and often funky rhythms. The piano work of Zivkovic is light, airy, and well presented ... never overbearing. When you think this is just rockin´ stuff ... you get kicked back by cuts like „Don‘t Deny Me Baby“; a nine minute blues operette. Henderson opens with a moving „Song For My Father“, then cranks through ten more including the swampy sounding „Howl Into The Midnight“.These are rock-powered blues with dynamic Texas-styled guitar! Henderson certainly has found his vehicle for deliverance ... hard rock blues! ¶ Mark A. Cole Bluetrack Record: P.O. Box 1028; Oxford OX3 8XX; England: or:e-mail: bluesarchive.com Various Artists Tangled Up In Blue: Songs Of Bob Dylan House Of Blues Music Co. 51416-1458-2 The adolation of young Bob Dylan for American blues has never diminished. He incessantly listened to blues greats, and has recorded the works of Bukka White, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie McTell, Willie Brown, and Blind Willie Johnson. He, as well, has performed „Cocaine Blues“ by Rev. Gary Davis at many of his 1999 tour venues. There was also a large blues component in Dylan‘s last triple Grammy award-winning album, Time Out Of Mind completed in 1997. Opening this release is the eclectric Taj Mahal spicing up „It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry“. Mavis Staples follows it up with a gospelinflected take on „You Gotta Serve Some- body“, and „Lay Lady Lay“ is romantically crooned by the incomparable Isaac Hayes. R.L. Burnside is joined by Buddy Guy, James Cotton, and Derek Trucks for a steamy hoedown on „Everything Is Broken“. Luther ‚Guitar Jr.‘ Johnson and Cotton also lay out a sultry „Pledging My Time“. Close Dylan friend and associate John Hammond does justice to „I‘ll Be Your Baby Tonight“, leading into James Solberg‘s brilliant work on „Ballad Of A Thin Man“. Alvin ‚Youngblood‘ Hart puts his spin on „Million Miles“, trailed by Leon Russell doin‘ „Watching The River Flow“ which he played on and produced for Dylan in 1971. „Wallflower“ is done by the Holmes Brothers, and Larry McCray with guest guitarist Ron Prince tear up „All Along The Watchtower“. The Band was Dylan‘s first touring band, and here they perform „One Too Many Mornings“ with the help of Derek Trucks. Dylan‘s made tremendous contributions across musical genres. It is only fitting that the blues community salute him. In borrowing, regrinding and refiguring blues into his own musical formulae, Dylan was ‚keepin‘ the blues alive‘ in his own way. Another grand collection of Dylan music and blues! ¶Mark A. Cole House Of Blues Music Company; 2201 Butteffield Rd., Suite 1400; Downers Grove, IL 60515 Cathy Jean I Want Cathy Jean Productions CJ97982 Cathy Jean is back with her second CD, and this time she not takin‘ any prisoners. Lust, love, regret, revenge all become fodder for Cathy‘s lyrics on this effort. Leading the band out front on the mike, Cathy continues to stretch her vocals with a sultry delivery and beautiful character. There are hot shuffles, sweet ballads, and heartfelt songs making this release one hot commodity. Helping Cathy out is a bevy of musicians including most prominently Keith Stafford on the guitars. Jon Carroll and Benji Porecki wail on the keyboards. Wade Matthews, J. T. Brown, John Preveti, and Randy Lippencott share the bass chores; and drummers Steve Loecher, Kevin Whisman and Bob Holden add their contributions. Ted Watkins jumps in on the harp, while Gali Sanchez is handles the percussion. Mike Crotty, Saul Miller and Jerry Queen fill it out on the sax. Other horns include Bruce Gates, Don New, Tim Leahey, Scott Holbert and Steve Churchill. Guest Mark Wenner of The Nighthawks also pipes in on harp, piano, percussion and vocorder. While there‘s plenty of somebody-done-me-wrong blues here, Cathy Jean‘s blues are a rock and pop influenced type. The overall genuine quality of both her vocals and writing are infatuating. The tunes are a mixed bag, and with all the lyrical vindictiveness aside, they are dynamite waiting to explode. Cathy Jean‘s got a great production here with powerful cuts and effervescent delivery. Take the time out to look this one up! ¶ Mark A. Cole Cathy Jean Productions; P.O. Box 7371; Baltimore, MD 21227 B.B.KING All Over Again Fruit Tree FT804 B,B,´s Theme, Why I Sing The Blues, Darling You Know I Love You, Caldonia, All Over Again, Everyday I Have The Blues, Sweet Little Angle, Jamming With Brubeck, The Trill Is Gone, Guess Who, Paying The Coast To Be The Boss Nichts „AUFREGENDES“ präsentieren die Italiener mit der Herausgabe der CD „B.B. KING - All Over Again“. Die Aufnahmen stammen aus 1983 - Cannes-Frankreich. Vielleicht können Jazz-Freunde dem „B.B.´s Theme“ etwas abgewinnen, - Bluesfreunde werden sicherlich `nervös` bei diesem Stück. Die Songs „Thrill, Sweet Little Angle, Payin´ the coast“... sind auf MCA Records deutlich besser und B.B.King orientierter dargeboten. Einziger Song der es wert ist zu genießen „“Guess Who““ ,hier dominiert neben B.B. der Posaunist, welcher ein tolales Gesangsangebot am Instrument intoniert. Die italienischen CD´s sind immer mit etwas Vorsicht zu genießen - beweist diese CD - keine Interpreten und keine Hinweise auf Daten und Fakten. Der einzige Hinweis Trakt 1 und 7 are previously unreleased. ¶ SF |
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COCO MONTOYA SUSPICION Alligator , ALCD4871¶ Enough is Enough, Casting My Spell, I Need Your Love In My Life, Fool/Don’t Take It Personally, Get Your Business Straight, Trading One Fool for Another, Beyond The Blues, Good Days, Bad Days, What I Know Now, You Didn’t Think About That, Nothing But Love. Coco Montoya is revved up and running on his fourth CD, and his first one on the Alligator label. His intense, emotionally charged vocals and guitar playing provide the predominant force, no matter what the rhythm patterns are. Montoya, who learned his chops from Albert Collins and polished them with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, is now fronting his own band. He averages over 200 tour dates a year and packs clubs and theaters around the world. Montoya co-wrote three of the twelve tracks on the album. Many of the songs are rock blues ones, with the emphasis on rock. Both his fiery guitar playing and his commanding vocals totally compliment each other and create a sense of urgency and deep feeling in the lyrics and rhythm patterns. He plays a song by Albert Collins, “Get Your Business Straight,” as a tribute to his mentor. He performs three songs which were written by David Steen, who plays rhythm guitar on five tracks. On the quieter side, Montoya renders an excellent performance of his own creations of the bluesy “Trading One Fool For Another,” and the beautiful, sixties soul song, “Nothing But Love.” He brings in a New Orleans influence with the catchy “Casting My Spell” song. The bands are comprised of a studio full of various, talented musicians. A few of these have recorded with Montoya on his earlier Blind Pig albums. A three-piece horn section adds energized dimensions in three of the songs. Coco Montoya’s latest album is highly charged and exciting, with some quiet,moving moments. Montoya has superb guitar artistry and powerful vocals which have a rich, deep emotional base. This album shows off his dramatic talents. Check it out! ¶ Maria Bainer Mojo Mike Mojo Mike Self-produced Recently, young Mojo Mike Cieslokowski shared the stage with Pinetop Perkins and Bob Margolin in Helena at the 1999 King Biscuit Festival. Though lots of harp players have had that distinction ... none of them have been eleven years old either. Yes, this harmonica whiz is still in school and has a curfew, but he still knows how to play the blues. This three-song demo CD is his debut; it was given to me by his mother, from whom you can order the disc. Mike is no joke, having played in front of audiences for three years now. He continues to make believers with every show and this EP will be another great introduction. While his youth makes him seem a novelty, listen to him play, sing, and pace a group through a song. With a professional glance or the throw of a hand, Mike keeps it tight, economical, and true blue! Mike is backed by the guitar of Joe Catarino, the bass of Mark Lamont, and the drums of Mark Gray. This opens with Mike doing noneless than Junior Wells „Messin With The Kid“. A natural he explosively crafts into his half-pint style. From under his fedora, he next wades into „Born In Toledo“; relyricising Paul Butterfield‘s tune. He does the same with Willie Dixon‘s, making it the closing „Hoochie Coochie Boy“. Don‘t be fooled, this kid has a handle on it. Support the blues of the next generation, pick up a Mojo Mike CD! ¶ Mark A. Cole Contact: Meta Cieslikowski; 3215 Sylvania Ave.Toledo, Ohio 34361:or, (419) 475-3070; or, e-mail: MojoMikes@aol.com Pete ‚Big Dog‘ Fetters Milkbone Underwear Two Sisters Records Pete ‚Big Dog‘ Fetters is from the Motor City where he still plays his trade today. This funster musician with his pliant sarcasm and social commentary imbedded throughout his work, is Detroit‘s answer to Allen Sherman. The real difference here is Fetter‘s deeper musical strengths and his tre-mendous sound. Pete Fetters throws up the vocals, rhythm guitar, lead and slide guitar, harmonica, and footboard action. This one-man band keeps his rhythm section barkin‘ with mad-dog lead action and attitude. The rest of the pack runnin‘ with Big Dog includes the drums and percussion of Dave Watson, and the bass of Darryl “Hoochie Coochie Man“ Lee. Recorded just outside Detroit, this effort by Fetters demands your attention! From the comical opening titletune „Milkbone Underwear“ through “Eating Chicken Wings“, with jaunts to standards like „Hoochie Coochie Man“ and “Me And Bobby McGee“, Fetters strokes the cuts with clever arrangements, blowout vocals, and great instrumentation across the slate. Great alternative listening when you have what Pete calls the „Two Banana Blues“. Doggone completely full-blooded ... looks like a ‚‘Hound Dog“ to me! Take a walk around the block with “Big Dog“ Fetters. Go ahead, strut your stuff! ¶Mark A. Cole Two Sisters Records; 9438 Houghton; Livonia MI 48150 TOMMY CASTRO LIVE AT THE FILLMORE Blind Pig Records, BPCD5059 Right as Rain/ Like An Angel/ Nasty Habits/ My Time After Awhile/ Lucky in Love/ I Got To Change/ Can’t You See What You’re Doing to Me/ Just a Man/ Can’t Keep a Good Man Down/ The Girl Can’t Help It/ Sex Machine San Francisco-based Tommy Castro is well on his way to stardom with his latest explosive and emotionally-charged CD which was recorded live at the famed Filllmore Audutorium in San Francisco. Tommy and his band put their all into this exciting CD of rock blues, blues, soul, funk and even a little rock’n’roll. In a decade, this group has gone from a popular bar band tointernational acclaim. Tommy was featured on the cover of the prestigious blues magazine, Blues Revue, and won local Bammie awards for “Outstanding Blues Musician” and “Outstanding Blues Album.” In addition, the band has been the house band for three years for NBC-TV’s “Comedy Showcase.” Tommy’s talents are outstanding. His emphatic, impassioned vocals are captivating. He plays a guitar that can sting or scream or be masterfully melodic. His versatility as a song writer is evident in his rock and soul songs which comprise seven out of the eleven tracks on the CD. In some cases, he totallly wrote the song, while in others he enlists the help of his friends, including the bassist and drummer. Package all this with a charismatic, commanding stage presence, and you have a winner. All but two of the songs on the CD were recorded in his three previous Blind Pig Records.They gain a new vitality when performed before an enthusiastic, sold-out live audience. The energized, rock blues songs dominate. The longest track is a mellow blues, “My Time After Awhile,” in which the audience gets emotionally involved. His heart-rendering soul song, “Just a Man,” builds up to a most dramatic climax, as many of the songs do. One of the previously unrecorded songs, “The Girl Can’t Help It,” is an extremely fast and exciting rock’n’roll song. There is more high energy in the other new song, “Sex Machine,” which has sexual innuendoes, as you might guess. Two of the band members, saxophonist extraordinaire, Keith Crossan, and rhythm mainstay, Randy McDonald, have been with the group since its beginning in 1991. The band has become a tight, hard-working group and won the write-in catagory for “Club Band of the Year” at the Bay Area Music Awards for two years in a row. This four-piece band knows how to pack those punches. On this CD, two special guests, keyboardist, Jimmy Pugh of the Robert Cray Band, and trumpeter, Tom Poole, add special dimensions. This is an enhanced CD which means that there is a brief video part that can be viewed on pc and some Mac computers. There are some performance clips, with a bit from each performer. In addition, there is an interview with Tommy who says that performing is no fun without people to enjoy his music. He also states that their music does not revolve around his guitar playing, but around the songs, band, and overall perfomances, which he believes set the group apart from others. In addition, this performance is available on both VHS videotape and Digital Video Disc (DVD). The video programs vary slightly from the CD:the videos contain complete interview footage while the CD has four tracks not available on the videos. The live audience brings out the best of Tommy Castro and his band, as this CD testifies. Tommy’s vocals and guitar playing are strong, dynamic, and emotional. The large doses of rock blues, and the various blues, soul, funk, and rock’n’roll tunes, that often work up to a dramatic climax, give this CD an impressive appeal. This group knows how to entertain an audience with their powerful, high energy and emotional fervor. Check them out! ¶ Maria Bainer Duke Robillard & Herb Ellis Conversations In Swing Guitar Stony Plain Records SPCD 1260 This is a double generational attack by two veterans of swing, jump, blues, and jazz guitar. The elder Herb Ellis is reknown for his work in the Oscar Peterson‘s Trio and label work with Justice and Concord Jazz. Robillard, the former founder of Roomful Of Blues, multi-talented sessionist and solo artist, and Stoney Plain artist and producer is the second threat. Both masters of swing and jump blues, here, duet for a finely tuned, fully instrumental session of swing classics, R & B hits, and two Robillard penned tunes. One tune, co-written by Robillard, Ellis, Ballou and Richard called „Blues Brew“, is a steamily elegant composition with spectacular axe interchange. Redoing hits from Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, and Duke Ellington, both these guitarists are right in their element and extremely confortable with the material. For lovers of intricate guitar, jazz, bop, and swing ... this is your bag. String sensationalism at its best ... Ellis and Robillard push the swing, and like perpetual motion, it never does stop. Like his work with Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Arm-strong, Ellis knows how to make it work. Robillard has thrown down the axe with Kim Wilson, Dylan, Ruth Brown, Johnny Adams and John Hammond, so he‘s also all over this action. Putting these two generations of guitarists only made sense, con-sidering both of their diverse musical backgrounds. The result is this sensual setting with two of the greatest jazz and blues guitarists playing an intima-te seven piece collection of swing jump, and blues. This is for lovers of great music, not just swingsters! ¶ Mark A. Cole Stony Plain Records; P.O. Box 861; Edmonton, Alberta; Canada T5J 2L8: or:www.stonyplainrecords.com |
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