New Blues & Gospel News – 10/31/2017

New Blues & Gospel News – 10/31/2017

New Blues:

AJ Crawdaddy –  Slow Cookin’ (Renown): AJ Crawdaddy aka Angelo J. Rossi, former member of Pablo Cruise, smooth California rock band of the 70’s and 80’s has shifted over to his other love – smooth, swinging uptown blues similar to Roomful of Blues in the swing department, but certainly a step ahead on the funk-o-meter. In addition to Rossi (guitar, lead vocal on two songs), the band features Baxter Robinson (piano, lead vocal on 3 songs), Jimmy Dewrance (harp, lead vocal on 3 songs), Greg Jones (bass), Peter Booras (drums, percussion), Michael Peloquin (sax), and Marcel Marchetti (trumpet) with guest players Nate Ginsberg (piano, B3), Endre Tarczy (piano, bass, guitar), Simon Govan Smith (guitar), Kid Andersen (guitar) and Jim Pugh (B3). The disc includes originals by Rossi (1), James Dewrance (2), and Tarczy (1) and covers of such great songs as Wynonie Harris’ “Drinkin’ All By Myself”, Lowell Fulson’s “Too Many Drivers At The Wheel”, Robert Nighthawk’s “Someday”, Jesse Mae Robinson’s “Cold Cold Feeling”, BB King’s “Fine Lookin’ Woman” and Jimmy Reed’s “She Don’t Want Me No More”. The covers are given a completely new treatment that suits the band just so well. Locate this disc as fast as you can! A certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid Of Cracks”! Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.   

Black Stone Cherry – Black To Blues (Mascot): Veteran heavy metal blues band offers covers of mostly Chicago classics, including “Built For Comfort”, “Champagne And Reefer”, “Hoochie Coochie Man”, and “I Want To Be Loved” with the addition of Don Nix’s “Palace Of The King” (originally popularized by Leon Russell) and “Born Under A Bad Sign” (written by Booker T. Jones and William Bell and popularized by Albert King and Cream). The band includes Chris Robertson (vocals, guitar), Ben Wells (guitar, vocals), Jonathan Lawhon (bass, vocals) and John Fred Young (drums, harmonica, vocals). Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Albert Castiglia – Up All Night (Ruf): Singer/guitarist/songwriter Albert Castiglia turns loose his seventh cd and it is full of grit, grime and his explosive guitar. With its affinity for loud blues rock, Ruf seems to be the perfect label for him, even if he’s got more “I’m on a crash course, blues with an attitude, my down-home is way out of control” than most of today’s blues rockers. Songs include “Hoodoo On Me”, “Three Legged Dog”, “95 South” (yes, that highway), “Woman Don’t Lie” and “Unhappy House Of Blues” and there is some hard blues that had to pass through the back country attitude across the program. Supporting musicians include Jimmy Pritchard (bass) and Brian Menendez (drums) with guest appearances by Mike Zito (guitar), Lewis Stephens (keys), Sonny Landreth (slide) and Johnny Sansone (harmonica). Click here to listen to the title song.     Click here to listen to a second song from this disc.   

Corey Dennison Band – Night After Night (Delmark): The Corey Dennison Band’s second release for Delmark features Dennison (vocals, guitar), Gerry Hundt (guitar, organ, harp), Nik Skilnik (bass) and Joel Baer (drums). Dennison played in Carl Weathersby’s band for twelve years before forming this band in 2016. The music is tough and straight-forward; hard core, no nonsense Chicago blues with a direct attack that has often brought comparison to Magic Slim & The Teardrops. That being said, there is a power in their performance that is direct as dynamite while being faithful to the hard sounds of prime Muddy Waters. Eight of the songs are originals with five are covers, including Carl Weathersby’s “Love Ain’t Fair” and a blasting version of Jimmy Reed’s “Down In Virginia” among others. If straight up electric Chicago blues isn’t in your vocabulary, grab this disc immediately! If it is, I expect you starting checking it out already! Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers – Big Road (VizzTone): Blues singer/musician Erin Harpe has covered a lot of ground since her musical beginning 20 years ago, first shifting from flute to guitar, then building her band Lovewhip, a rock pop band, then shifting to traditional folk blues and eventually forming the Delta Swingers who do a variety of classic blues songs mixed with original funky rockin’ blues. Harpe has a strong voice and lots of style. In addition to her vocals and guitar, the band includes Jim Countryman (electric and ukulele bass), Matt “Charles” Prozialeck (electric and acoustic harmonicas) and Kendall Divoll (drums, percussion). Michael Casavant joins in on organ and accordion on a few songs. Their style mixes old style country blues with a strong nod to the brassy styles of the red hot mamas and syncopated blues. They’re right at home with straight up electric blues as well. Song selection includes funky versions of classics like “Kokomo” (Mississippi Fred McDowell) and Tommy Johnson’s “Big Road” and electric songs with a taste of country funk, like “Shake Your Hips”. Three songs are originals and they do a killer folk blues take on Randy Newman’s “Guilty”. They’re fun and often funky. A certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid Of Cracks”! Click here to catch a teaser with slices of the songs on this disc.   

Wayne Riker – Soulfully Sliding (Self-produced): Guitarist Wayne Riker has followed many paths during his life, while obviously music is his main love. Since 2008, he has recorded and released eight CD’s, all containing original instrumental compositions. Three have been acoustic, but this is electric and features six originals which cover numerous styles. Riker is supported by Kevin Cooper (bass) and Tyler Buckley (drums). The styles shift from one cut to the next: blues, rock, funk, swing, gospel, and fusion. Riker is truly a terrific player and this disc should appeal to blues, jazz and folk fans alike. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.   

The Supersonic Blues Machine – Californisoul (Provogue): This is the second release by The Supersonic Blues Machine, a band that features Lance Lopez (guitars/vocals/songwriter), Fabrizio Grossi (bass, producer, songwriter), and Kenny Aronoff (drums) with guests “Billy Gibbons, who returns with pen and guitar (“Broken Heart”), Steve Lukather (Toto) throws down some stunning licks (“Hard Times”), Eric Gales, who is back in the fold (“Elevate”), Robben Ford brings his bag of soulfully sophisticated chops (“Somebody’s Fool”), Walter Trout brings some silky slow blues (“What’s Wrong”), and the party is rounded out with Alessandro Alessandroni Jr. on keyboards, Serge Simic (co-writer and background vocals on “Love” and “Hard Times”), and Andrea and Francis Benitez Grossi (background vocals). You may come for the stars, but you’ll stay for the whole show.” (Webpage = http://supersonicblues.com/about/) This blues rock is truly super sonic. Click here and click on the top two tunes which are both on this disc.   

Bill Toms & Hard Rain – Good For My Soul (Terraplane): This is the ninth release since 1997 by Bill Toms and Hard Rain, a band dedicated to soul and soul blues since their first release in 1997. Toms simultaneously recorded with Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers during much of this time. Toms plays guitar as well as singing. His voice has quite a bit of road wear, but his lyrics and the instrumental backing make up for that. The band includes Tom Breiding (guitar), Steve Binsberger (piano, organ), Phil Brontz (tenor sax), Steve Graham (trombone), J.D. Chaisson (trumpet), Tom Valentine (bass, lead vocal on one song), and Bernie Herr (drums). Additional musicians include Will Kimbrough (guitar, mandolin, backing vocals), Benny Banack (bari sax), John DeCola (accordion), Rick Witkowski (guitar, backing vocal), Steve Wellons (backing vocal) and Will Kendrick (percussion). The band is in great form throughout and all of the songs are originals and solid with occasional gospel touches. Click here for a live performance of a song on this disc.   

Mitch Woods – Friends Along The Way (eOne): Mitch Woods has been spreading the boogie for over 40 years, including in one of the Virginia Blues Festivals in Charlottesville in the 1990’s. Woods is still playing up a storm and he has lots of guest support raising some sand: Van Morrison (vocal, tambourine); Taj Mahal (vocal, guitar), Elvin Bishop (vocal, guitar); Ruthie Foster (vocal, guitar); John Hammond (vocal, guitar); Charlie Musselwhite (vocal, guitar, harp); Joe Louis Walker (vocal, guitar); Maria Muldaur (vocal); Kenny Neal (vocal, guitar, harp); Cyril Neville (vocal); James Cotton (harp); John Lee Hooker (guitar, vocal); and Marcia Ball (piano, vocal); and Larry Vann (drums). Yes, it’s STAR TIME and it’s time to boogie – slow or fast. A certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid Of Cracks”! Click here for an introduction to this disc.       

New Gospel:

Blind Boys Of Alabama – Almost Home (BBOA): Seventy years into their recording career, the Blind Boys Of Alabama still command our attention and respect. The dozen songs on offer were recorded in four different studios: producer John Leventhal in New York, Vance Powell and Charles Driebe in Nashville, Chris Goldsmith in Seattle and Steve Berlin at FAME studio in Muscle Shoals. Supporting musicians change as do the locations and feature John Leventhal (various instruments); Kevin Barry (lap steel); Victor Jones (drums); Jesse Brooke (percussion), Steve Berlin (bari sax); Anthony Meade (trombone); Lauren Elledge (violin, viola); Kristin Holovnia (cello); and the Blind Boys Band, featuring Joey Williams (guitar); Peter Levin (piano, organ); Ray Ladson (bass) and Austin Moore (drums). The result is a nice variety of sounds. The  group is old but makes the most of their voices and they still have great dynamics. They are a national treasure. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc, plus an extra not contained on the CD.   

Kopasetically,

Professor Bebop

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