New Blues News – 5/5/2017
New Blues News – 5/5/2017
Godboogie – Play Music & Dance (VizzTone): This Canadian blues group, featuring singer/harp player/accordion player/composer and former guitarist/singer with Spin Doctors Eric Schenkman, guitarist/bass Shawn Kellerman and drummer Gary Craig, is gathering a lot of attention with the release of this new disc. This is blues rock in full: heavy on the rock with a solid blues base. The guitar is not about speed or playing the maximum number of notes and that helps keep things in a good space. All songs are originals and pack a punch. There’s some good harp as well. I regret that I am unable to find a sample from the disc, but click here to watch a live version of the title tune from 2015.
Milagro Saints – Stranger Times (Moon Caravan): Rock/Americana group from Raleigh, NC, featuring Stephen David Ineson (lead vocal, rhythm guitar), Lee Kirby (harp, piano, clavinette, organ, accordion), Roberto Morales (guitar, lap steel), Steve Bowen (drums), Stephen Samosky (bass) and Jack wins-Low (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, vocals, trombone) with guests Joyce Leigh Bowden (backing vocals), Karen Delahunty (vocal) and Greg Elkins (pedal steel). All but one song were composed by Stephen David Ineson. There is also a very nice cover of Woody Guthrie’s “Deportees”. This is the group’s fourth release. The music is solid and varied between thoughtful ballads and some rockin’ blues-inflected stomps. THIS BAND WILL VISIT LAMBETH COMMONS AT WTJU TONIGHT FROM 8 – 9 PM. Click here for more information. Click here to listen to “Rail Rider” and “Shadow Man” from this disc.
John Primer & Bob Corritone – Ain’t Nothing You Can Do! (Delta Groove): Blues legend John Primer (guitar, vocals) is a tremendous shaper of the Chicago blues sound from the mid-1970s to the present – first joining Willie Dixon’s Chicago Blues Allstars, then serving as lead guitarist in Muddy Waters band 1979 – 1983. When Muddy passed in 1989, Primer joined Magic Slim’s Teardrops for 14 years. Since that time, he has led his own bands. This is his second collaboration with harp player Bob Corritone, a true master of Chicago and other classic harmonica styles. The pair cover a wide range of classic styles with songs written by Sonny Boy Williamson II, Magic Slim, Howlin’ Wolf, and three original compositions. Fans of Magic Slim will certainly feel at home here, as will fans of classic Chicago blues harp. Back-up musicians include Henry Gray and Barrelhouse Chuck (piano), Big Jon Atkinson and Chris James (second guitar), Troy Sandow and Patrick Ryan (bass) and Brian Fahey (drums). This is classic Chicago Blues. A certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid of Cracks”! Click here for an introduction to this disc.
Vintage #18 – Grit (Self-produced): Vintage #18 is a DC band playing straight-up soul blues on their first release. The band includes Bill (#18) Holter on guitar, Alex Kuldell (drums) and Mark Chandler (bass) with bandleader Robbin Kapsalis offering her smooth, soulful vocals. There is a definite rock element on guitar breaks, but this outing differs from most blues or soul bands who let their rock elements take over. Kapsalis gets the props a great singer deserves and that offers the audience the best of both worlds. They certainly have grit and they have some serious style. Make you want to stay up ALL night! Click here for an introduction by the band.
Monster Mike Welch and Mike Ledbetter – Right Place, Right Time (Delta Groove): This disc insists that you pay attention to it! The first thing that grabs you is the powerhouse voice of Mike Ledbetter. The man is so soulful that you are instantly needing to know who THAT singer is! Then you have some of the best playing that Monster Mike Welch has ever laid down. If that’s not enough, the band features Anthony Geraci (piano, Hammond B3), Ronnie James Weber (bass) and Marty Richards (drums) with guests Laura Chavez (four guitar solos), Sax Gordon and Doug James (saxes) and Kit Holliday and Jeannette Ocampo Welch (backup singers). If you already like Welch, you’re all set. If not, you MUST check it out! Smokin’ and stylin’! Killer soul and blues, you just can’t lose!!!! Click here and scroll down until you see the track listing for this album to hear samples of each song on the disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
