New Blues News – 1/27/2020
New Blues News – 1/28/2020
Tinsley Ellis – Ice Cream In Hell (Alligator): Times were that guitarist Tinsley Ellis played straight-ahead, slightly mellow blues, but those days are clearly past. Ellis has always been a solid guitarist, but now his slides and leads have a truckload fire and a solid blend of rock and blues. Ellis also wrote all of the songs on this disc. The band includes Kevin McKendree (organ, piano and rhythm guitar on one song), Steve Mackey (bass), and Lynn Williams (drums), and Jim Hoke (sax) and Quentin Ware (trumpet) add their horns on two songs. This is a solid from beginning to end. Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.
G. Love – The Juice Glove (Philadelphonic / Thirty Tigers): G. Love has broadened his direction and added to his style. He still has that pop music style at the center of his music and I’d say he continues to be a person who certainly likes to have fun. This set has a slice of funk, country, jive and plain ole fun! He also has some wonderful accompaniment from Keb’ Mo’ (guitar, vocals, percussion), Marcus King (guitar, vocals), and Robert Randolph (sacred steel guitar), with Ron Artis II (lead guitar, vocal), Roosevelt Collier (sacred steel), Brian Allen (bass), Mike Hicks (B-3, clavinet, piano, keys, backing vocals), Marcus Finnie (drums, percussion) and Akil Thompson (guitar). Pop at its peak and if you’re not tapping your toes or shaking what you’re got, call for an appointment with your MD immediately! This is Love at his best. Absolutely infectious! Click here to listen to the opening song.
Kern Pratt – Greenville, MS …what about you? (Endless Blues): “Kern Pratt is a riveting and soulful guitarist and songwriter from the great state of Mississippi who is currently making outstanding blues music that the world needs to hear. His latest album, Greenville, MS…What About You?, came out November 15th, 2019 on the Endless Blues Records imprint and is as fine a record as you’re likely to encounter this year. The set features Pratt and a top-flight group of musicians laying down three originals and seven covers that show Pratt to be an understated-yet-powerful talent capable of playing smooth, swampy blues a la J.J. Cale full of engaging vocals and exceptionally well-phrased guitar parts. Rather than host one more overdone head-cutting session, Pratt uses dynamics, tone, and an intuitive melodicism to keep us listening closely.” (https://www.rockandbluesmuse.com/2020/01/23/review-kern-pratt-greenville-ms-what-about-you/) This disc is truly laid back in the best sense of the performance and feeling in this set. Three of the songs are originals and the covers range from Bobby Alexander’s “Hard Working Man” and Mick Kolassa’s “Baby’s Got Another Lover” to Bobby Rush’s “Chicken Heads”. The main band includes Bob Dowell (bass, keys, synth, trombone guitar) and a constantly changing crew of musicians from one song to the next and special guest players, including Clayton Ivey (organ) and Jeff Jensen (guitar). Click here to listen to samples of each of the songs on this disc.
Val Starr & The Blues Rocket – Lighter Side Of Blues (Self-produced): “With ‘Lighter Side Of The Blues’ I really wanted to capture the joy that the blues instills in the hearts of those who love it. Because I enjoy all types of blues, I chose to embrace multiple styles from traditional shuffles and ballads, to New Orleans, country rock, and R&B inspired blues. The stories told in my songs are generally more light-hearted in nature and sometimes lyrically humorous. Some of the songs contain my own little recipes for happiness.” (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/valstarrthebluesrocket4) This appears to be the band’s fifth release. They are based in Sacramento. The music is laid back and features Val Starr (vocal, rhythm guitar), John Ellis (bass, slide guitar), Timothy Brisson (lead guitar), Frankie Muniz (harmonica) and Paul Farman (drums) with guests Todd Norgan (keys), Horacio Socarras (percussion), and Danny Sandoval and Saxophone Zot (trading off on sax). Click here to listen samples of the songs on this disc.
Matty T. Wall – Transpacific Blues Vol. 1 (Hipsterdumpster): This is singer/guitarist Matty T. Wall’s third release and he has some impressive back-up. The trio features Wall, Ric Whittle (drums) and Stephen Walker (bass) with guest appearances by Dave Hole, Eric Gales, Kid Ramos, Walter Trout and Kirk Fletcher each guesting on one song. The trio plays “Stormy Monday”, “I’m Tore Down” and “Crossroads” on their own. The songs are well known and the honor of sharing songs with such luminaries as the above guitarists certainly attracts attention, I appreciated hearing Wall’s solos more prominantly. Obviously, all of the guitarists are terrific players, but they also obscure Wall’s playing when five of the eight songs feature much more recognized players. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
