New Blues News – 4/16/2019
New Blues News – 4/16/2019
Bob Corritone – Do The Hip-Shake Baby! (Sumac/VizzTone): Harmonicat Bob Corritone decided to throw a party with some friends and it certainly sounds like everyone had a great time! Special guests include Alabama Mike, Sugaray Rayford, Oscar Wilson, Henry Gray, John Primer, Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry, Jimi “Primetime” Smith, The Fremonts, Andy T’s band featuring Anson Funderburgh, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Johnny Main, Bob Stroger, Fred Kaplan, Bob Welsh, LA Jones, Adrianna Marie, Nathan James and more! The songs include blues and jump tunes such as “Trying To Make A Living”, “You Better Slow Down”, “The Twist”, Muddy’s “Love Deep As The Ocean”, Jimmy Reed’s “Bitter Seed”, Jimmy McCracklin’s “Gonna Tell Your Mother” and the best version of Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips” in the universe! This is a solid blues affair! Click here and scroll down to listen one of the best blues party around!
Murali Coryell – Made In Texas (Self-produced): Murali Coryell (guitar, vocals) offers this disc as a tribute to his father Larry who passed not long ago. He has gathered a number of well-known musicians including Augie Meyers (keys), Paul Oscher (harmonica, piano), Ernie Durawa (drums), Speedy Sparks and Chris Alcaraz (trading off on bass), Peggy Stern (Fender Rhodes, backing vocal), Jimmy Shortell (trumpet), Russell Remington (tenor sax), Joe Morales (alto sax), David Hamburger (pedal steel), Harry Wilkinson (drums) and a cameo on one song by Larry Coryell. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Tony Holiday – Porch Sessions (VizzTone): Singer/harmonica player Tony Holiday has pulled together a terrific group of bluesicians to play in predominately duos or trios, using their electric instruments but playing in the older blues style. They even played on the front porches of some of the great players of days times gone by. The musicians include harmonica masters Charlie Musselwhite, John Nemeth, Bob Corritone, Aki Kumar, Mitch Kasmar, Jake Friel, and Ronnie Shellist; guitarists Kid Ramos, John Primer, Rockin Johnny Burgin, Landon Stone and Mathew Wilson; with drummers Joel Meza Jr, Danny Banks, and Alex Pettersen on a few songs and Kid Andersen (bass). The outcome is classic and yet very fresh. This is beautiful homage to the history and depth of the blues. Click here to listen to samples of all of the songs.
Mary Lane – Travelin’ Woman (Women Of The Blues): “A longtime staple of Chicago’s West Side blues circuit, singer Mary Lane was born November 23, 1935 in Clarendon, Arkansas. After honing her skills in local juke joints in the company of Howlin’ Wolf, Robert Nighthawk, Little Junior Parker and James Cotton, Lane relocated to Chicago in 1957; backed by Morris Pejoe, she soon cut her debut single “You Don’t Want My Lovin’ No More” for the Friendly Five label. A favorite among peers for her dulcet tones, she nevertheless did not record again for several decades, remaining virtually unknown outside of the Chicago blues faithful; finally, in the early 1990s, Lane recorded a handful of tracks for the Wolf label, leading to 1997’s full-length Appointment with the Blues.” (https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mary-lane-mn0000319087/biography) “This recording seems to be a follow up recorded in 2017. Apart from one selection, Travelin’ Woman is a 50/50 collaboration between Lane and Tullio—he created the sumptuous, marvelously evocative musical backdrops with a skin-tight group of studio musicians, and she supplied the deeply moving lyrics and vocals. Special guests include Gene “Daddy G” Barge, Billy Branch, Dave Specter, Corky Siegel, and the late Eddie Shaw.” (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/marylane) This IS the BLUES! A certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid Of Cracks”! Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Sugaray Rayford – Somebody Save Me (Forty Below): Sugaray Rayford offers a new collection of big band soul blues crafted by Eric Corne (composer, harmonica, acoustic guitar) and including special guest Rick Holstrom (guitar) with Matt Tecu (drums), Taras Prodaniuk (bass), Sasha Smith (Hammond B3, Rhodes), Mark Pender (trumpet), Ron Dziubla (sax), Richard A. Rosenberg (trombone) and strings and vocal accompaniment on a couple songs. Rayford has typically preferred to blend blues and soul and this disc offers more of the uptown foundation while offering more variety. It’s an intriguing collection and certainly worth checking out. Click here to listen to “The Revelator”, the opening song on this disc.
Eli “Paperboy” Reed – 99 Cent Dreams (Yep Roc): Eli “Paperboy” Reed has a new set that should especially appeal to his long-term fans and those who love the hook and bounce of late 50s or early 60s rock’n’roll and pop that grew in up in Motown. It’s straightforward dance-able pop, though the lyrics are more grown up. Remember, they’re called “99 Cent Dreams”. On the other hand, Big Daddy Kane joins Reed adding some mellow rap and generating smiles all over. Check here to listen to the title song.
Mighty Mike Schermer – Bad Tattoo (Self-produced/VizzTone): This is an unusual Country blues disc, the “Country” is reminiscent of the Nashville sound and style common of the 60s mixed with backing musicians who are dedicated to the urban blues. Mighty Mike Schermer plays guitar and sings on all of the songs, which, by the way, are originals by him or co-written by him. He has a vocal style that would have been welcomed on stage at the Grand Old Opry in the down-home segments. His band, however, features Kid Andersen (bass, organ), Jim Pugh (organ, piano), Billy Price (backing vocals), Chris Cain (electric piano, guitar) and Rick Estrin (harmonica), with backing horns on some songs by Eric Bernhardt (bari and tenor sax) and Nancy Wright (tenor sax). There are several other musicians stepping in on drums, piano and other instruments on a song or two as well. Click here and select any of the songs under “Bad Tattoo” to catch the ring of this thing.
Tedeschi Trucks Band – Signs (Fantasy): Tedeshi Trucks Band is back with a disc that is as strong as any they have done. First of all, most of the band is back together: Susan Tedeschi (vocals, guitar), Derek Trucks (guitar), Kofi Burbridge (Wurlitzer, piano, Hammond organ), Tim Lefebvre (bass), JJ Johnson and Tyler Greenwell (drums, percussion),Kebbi Williams (sax), Ephraim Owens (trumpet), Elizabeth Lea (trombone) and Mike Mattison, Mark Rivers and Alicia Chakour (vocals) with guests Doyle Bramhall II and Warren Haynes (vocals) and Jonathan Kuo, Gabriela Pena-Kim (violins), Jorge Pena (viola) and Alexei Romanenko (cello). The performances are as tight and varied as can be and everyone is right on. They acknowledge their super focus was a determination to offer their best to bring the strongest positive energy they could independently and as the entire group. This is a certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid of Cracks”! Find it and relish every note! Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Various Artists – The Blind Raccoon & Nola Blues Collection, Volume 1 (Blind Raccoon/Nola Blues): This is a double disc sampler of releases offering one release from 2017, fifteen from 2018 and six from 2019. The styles include blues and soul inflected music. The artists range from Benny Turner (blues guitar, vocal), Tom Hambridge (drummer, songwriter, producer), Kathy Murray of the Kilowatts (singer), Blind Lemon Pledge (singer, guitarist) and Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps (singer, soul blues), among others. I regret I am unable to find a link to samples from this release.
Rick Vito – Soulshaker (VizzTone): Guitarist and singer Rick Vito is perhaps best known for his work with Fleetwood Mac from 1987 – 1991. He also received the famed W.C. Handy Award for “Blues Song of the Year,” for “It’s Two A.M.”as performed by Shemekia Copeland. He has recorded with numerous artists over the course of his career and this is his tenth release as a leader in his own right! Vito has terrific control and style that casts it’s spell on listeners. He is supported by Charles “Mojo” Johnson and Rick Reed (drums), Charles Harrison (bass on two songs), Kevin McKendree (organ, 1 song) and Mark Horwitz (organ on 2 songs). Mellow and groovy whether blues or gospelized! Just smooth and rockin’! Click here to listen to samples of three songs on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
