New Blues News – 8/21/2017
New Blues News – 8/21/2017
Steve Azar & The Kings Men – Down At The Liquor Store (Ride): Singer / songwriter / guitarist Steve Azar offers his fifth disc. He has had notable success in country and pop fields and has constantly been a spokesman for the Mississippi Delta region. He writes some touching songs about friends and older souls who encouraged and befriended him. Backing musicians are Walter King (horns), Ray Neal (electric guitar), David Briggs (B 3, piano, keys), Regi Richards (bass), Herman Jackson (drums), Jason Young (congas, percussion), Doctor Alphonso Sanders (horns), and Jimmie Lee Jr (B 3, piano). Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Chris “Bad News” Barnes – Hokum Blues (VizzVizzTone): Barnes and company present a second disc of covers of The Hokum Boys – Tampa Red, Georgia Tom and Big Bill Broonzy – whose recordings were released in the 20s and 30s. The songs include such nuggets as “Let Me Play With Your Poodle”, “It’s Tight Like That” and “Somebody’s Been Using That Thing”. In addition to vocalist Barnes, backing musicians include Steve Guyger (harmonica), Jimmy Vivino (guitar), Will Lee (bass), Shawn Pelton (drums) and Bette Susan (piano). Sorry kids – adults only here!! Click here to listen to the title song and several others from this disc.
Jimmie Bratcher – This Is Blues Country: Classic Country Songs In Blues Style (Self-produced): Guitarist/singer Jimmie Bratcher selected ten classic country songs ranging from Hank Williams’ “Honky Tonk Blues” and Jimmie Davis’ “You Are My Sunshine” to Merle Haggard’s “Today I Started Loving You Again” and Don Gibson’s “I Can’t Stop Loving You Again” and performs them in a blues mode. The performance is dominated by Bratcher’s large vocals and generally loud guitar in a blues rock mode not so different from a large segment of country rock being released these days. A couple songs are performed in a soul mode, which seems to work better to my ears. Supporting musicians include Rick Yard (bass, vocal), Terry Hancock (drums, vocal), Aaron Mayfield (B3, piano), Larry Van Loon (B3, Wurlitzer), Amanda Fish (vocal), and Sean McDonald (slide guitar). Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Andrew Chapman aka JoJo – Well, It’s About Time! (UpIsland): This is a tribute disc to the late Andrew Chapman by former band members and friends. They began work before Chapman died, but in order to complete a full disc, they pulled some old recorded vocals and added a new accompaniment. The music is pop oriented, slightly stylistically reminiscent of the Beatles’ “Revolver” or “Sgt. Pepper’s” without the orchestral and tape effects, as well as some “swamp” and country or pop sides. The musicians are Terry Wilson (bass, guitar, keys, piano, backing vocals), Tony Braunagel, Willie Ornelas and James Christie (drums), Stephen Bruton and Billy Watts (guitar), John Herron, Jeff Paris, Jack “Rabbit” Bundrick, and Robbie Leff (keys), James Pennebaker (lap steel), Molly Thomas (violin) and Teresa James and Shake Russell (backing vocals). Click here to listen to a few sample selections from this disc.
Scott Ellison – Good Morning Midnight (Red Parlor): Scott Ellison (guitar, vocals) has considerable experience playing rock, rock’n’roll and soul backing such artists as The Box Tops, The Shirelles, The Drifters, The Coasters, Gary “US” Bonds and Peaches & Herb, among others, all before starting his own bands. He has a full voice and a smooth delivery. He also co-wrote all of the songs on this release. The sound is polished blues rock that showcases a variety of styles: some straight up shuffles, some funky, some swing blues, some clearly reminiscent of Eric Clapton’s sound and style. There is a shifting cast of players that also adds to the variety of the disc. In addition to Ellison on guitar (with some slide, bass and vocals), the disc features Chris Campbell (sharing lead vocals); Charles Tuberville (guitar, bass, drums); Brad Absher (baritone guitar); Jon Parris, Gary Gilmore, Matt Kohl and Ron Martin (switching on bass); Jon Glazer, Brian Lee, Danny Timms and Hank Charles (switching off on B-3 and piano); Chuck Blackwell, David Teegarden, Robbie Armstrong, Rod McCrorey and Tim Smith (switching off on drums), Mike Bennett (trumpet), Steve Ham (trombone) and Jimmy Junior Markham (harmonica). There’s no new ground being broken here, but the performance is solid throughout. This is his sixth release. Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats – Groovin’ In Greaseland (Alligator): Rick Estrin (harmonica, lead vocals) is a national treasure! His harp will “flat domino”your lame act and his lyrics are guaranteed to put a smile on your face! 30 years of prime blues! He wrote ten of the songs here and co-wrote one more. Songs like “Dissed Again” and “I Ain’t All That” are instant classics. The Nightcats lineup includes guitar slinger Kid Andersen, Lorenzo Farrell (organ, piano, Wurlitzer) and Alex Pettersen (drums) with guests Jerry Jermott, Joe Kyle Jr, Bobby Yamilov and Kid Andersen sharing bass duties, Nancy Wright (tenor sax), Terry Hanck and John Halbleib (horns), and Jim Pugh (electric piano). Go get it RIGHT NOW! A certified “Professor Bebop Wax Devoid of Cracks”! Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Hard Swimmin’ Fish – One Step Forward (Self-produced): Hard Swimmin’ Fish resides between Virginia and Maryland or traveling between the two and they play a brand of blues that will put a dip in your hip and a glide in your stride! The band includes Demian Lewis (guitar, vocals), Waverly Milor (harmonica, vocals), Jason Walker (drums, percussion) and Randall Ball (bass), with Carl Disque adding sax on “Sorry Baby”. The group is funky, earthy, sassy and a rollicking stack of fun! This is the third of four discs and if they don’t inspire you to do some stepping or toe-tapping, then “Jack, You’re Dead”! All but one song are originals. The band will be back in Cville on September 29 (Durty Nelly’s). And the disc? It is a “Certified Professor Bebop ‘Wax Devoid Of Cracks’”! Click here and scroll down to “One Step Forward” to listen to the songs on this disc.
Joshua Jacobson – Good Little Thing (Fatmouth): Country blues fan, singer/guitarist/composer Joshua Jacobson presents his first release offering seven original songs and recreations of older blues from Charlie Weaver, Willie Cobbs, Tampa Red, Thomas Dorsey and Blind Willie McTell. Jacobson plays several styles of guitar from slide to 12 string. The performance pays homage to the classics, but reflects Jacobson’s own style as well. He is accompanied by Damon Fowler (slide guitar), Matt Walker, Pedro Arevelo and Hill Roberts (trading off on bass), Aaron Fowler (percussion, washboard), Jeffrey Arevelo (percussion), Clark Stern and Chris Flowers (trading off on piano), Mookie Brill (harmonica), Allan Jolley (banjo) and special guest Dickey Betts on one cut. Good times music, well performed. Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.
The Peacemakers – The Peacemakers (Stop & Listen): The Peacemakers are a blues rock band from Austin with an emphasis on blues and a real dose of rock’n’roll. The band includes Corey Keller (drums, vocals), Mike Keller (guitar, vocals), Johnny Bradley (bass), Greg Izor (harmonica, vocal) and Willie Pipkin (guitar). Mike Keller wrote two songs, Greg Izor wrote four, and two are band originals. The remaining cuts are covers of much older and frequently Chicago connected songs. The band clearly has promise as demonstrated by those songs that are rock’n’roll blues originals. They are clearly most comfortable and creative in that zone. The harmonica playing is very good and the guitars do burn. Click here to catch a brief live sample of the band.
George Thorogood – Party Of One (Rounder): George Thorogood has been a boogieing blues blaster of note since his first release in 1977. The man has scorched more guitar strings than most of us have ever seen – and there is some evidence that he can still melt those strings now. But most of this performance is acoustic and a tribute to the early masters, including Robert Johnson, Elmore James, Brownie McGhee, Elmore James and John Lee Hooker. He does stretch out at times in this “party of one” and honors more recent heroes like Gary Nicholson, Willie Dixon, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and even Bob Dylan. It’s a good performance but get ready for the shift before you listen because it won’t burn the house down. Click here for an introduction to this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
