New Blues News – 3/9/2021
New Blues News – 3/9/2021
A.J. Croce – By Request (Compass): “Over the past three decades, A.J. Croce has established his rep as a piano man and serious vocal stylist who pulls from a host of American traditions and anti-heroes — it’s part New Orleans, part juke joint, part soul. While his last album, JUST LIKE MEDICINE, paired him with soul legend Dan Penn and an all-star cast of players, his new album was born of memories — of favorite artists and shows, but mostly, of late-night gatherings with groups of friends, many of them fellow musicians, with Croce at the piano taking requests. Croce revisits these musical evenings with BY REQUEST, 12 personally curated covers that traverse decades and genres, propelled by his spirited, loose-and-easy piano mastery and emotive vocals. It’s a tribute to Croce the music fan as well as Croce the musician that both the variety — from pop to RnR to soul — and execution is inspired, aided by a full band and horns. BY REQUEST is the first album Croce has released since losing his wife of 24 years, Marlo Croce, after a sudden heart ailment.” (https://store.compassrecords.com/products/by-request) Croce is playing quite well (piano, organ, electric piano, and electric guitar) and the band is playing just fine too. Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.
New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers – Volume 2 (Stony Plain): Luther Dickinson explains the process: We invite a cast of characters to a session/party, asking each player to bring a couple of songs. Musicians take turns leading and accompanying and before you know it, a record falls together.” (Liner notes) The players are Charlie Musselwhite (harmonica, vocals), Alvin Youngblood Hart (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Jimbo Mathus (guitar, vocals), Jim Dickinson (piano, vocals), Luther Dickinson (guitar, mandolin, bass, vocals), Cody Dickinson (drums, washboard, vocals), Chris Chew (bass) and Paul Taylor (tub bass). They certainly have a good time – no gloss or rampant blues rock, but it works just fine. I regret I am unable to find a sample from this release.
Trevor B. Power – What Is Real (Farm 189 Records): “New Jersey music man Trevor B. Power can be added to the vanguard of disciples, who have studied the works of American songwriting master Woody Guthrie, who famously said “I can only write what I see.” Power joins the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Joe Strummer, whose music reflects the world at hand and a portrait of the struggles of ordinary people trying to make a living in extraordinary times. His sophomore record, “What Is Real,” is the result of witnessing the spectacle of 2020 and a world pandemic. Power returned once again to Sonic Boom Studios, collaborating with multi-instrumentalist, engineer, and producer Anthony Krizan along with friends and special guests. The sound remains the same with that muscular mix of Jersey shore rock ‘n’ roll infused with blues, roots and soul that draws comparisons to the works of The Alarm, John Mellencamp, and CCR, centered on Power’s gritty vocals that always seem to sound happy and sad at the same time. The ten new tracks have a melancholy undertone that go beyond a blues rock party, and, although it has its fun moments, is a deeper statement from an artist with something more to say.” (https://blindraccoon.com/clients/trevor-b-power/) I regret I am unable to find a sample from this release.
Curtis Salgado – Damage Control (Alligator): “With over 40 years of recording, performing, touring and songwriting under his belt, Salgado is revered worldwide for his ability to wring every ounce of soul out of every song he performs. He is famed not only for his powerhouse live shows and ten previous albums, but also for his songwriting. In 2018 he won the Blues Music Award for Song Of The Year for Walk A Mile In My Blues from The Beautiful Lowdown…. With Damage Control, Salgado has created what he calls “a rock ’n’ roll record with lyrics that hit.” The album was produced by Salgado and recorded in studios in Tennessee and California with three different groups of world-class, road-tested blues and roots musicians. The 13 songs—12 originals and a raucous cover of Larry Williams’ Slow Down (famously covered by The Beatles)—will surprise and delight longtime Salgado fans.” (https://www.curtissalgado.com/curtis-salgado-damage-control/) Backing players include Kid Andersen (guitar), Jerry Jemmott (bass), Mike Finnegan (organ), Jim Pugh (piano) and Kevin Hayes (drums) and Johnny Lee Schell (guitar) among others. Click here to listen to the opening song on this release.
Sauce Boss (Bill Wharton) – Peanuts (Swampside): “Bill Wharton brings his swamp-funk, slide guitar-one-man band, and a pot of gumbo all across the US and to Canada, Europe, and Asia. The Sauce Boss cooks gumbo while performing; serving up bowls to the audience at the end of the shows. He has served well over 200,000 people for free at his legendary live shows. Sauce Boss is the guy Jimmy Buffett sings about in “I Will Play for Gumbo”. Albert Castiglia’s version of Wharton’s blues anthem, “Let the Big Dog Eat” hit #1 on the Roots Music Report. The tune was also in the soundtrack of Jonathan Demme’s movie “Something Wild”. Bill’s music is featured throughout the soundtrack in the just released rockumentary, “Jimmy Carter Rock and Roll President”. The movie is getting raves. 96% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, RogerEbert.com calls it, “fresh water in the middle of a desert”, and the Los Angeles Film Awards presented Wharton with “Best Original Score” for his work in the film. They also awarded the movie “Best Documentary Feature,” “Best Editing,” and “Best Picture!” Jimmy Carter himself said of the film, “I wouldn’t change a thing.” (https://www.sauceboss.com/epk) Click here to listen to samples of some of the songs on this release.
Shakin’ Woods – The Blues Groove Sessions #1 (Self-produced): Shakin’ Woods is a blues band based in Washington, D.C., a strange place to be these days (though I suppose every place is strange in these uncertain times). The band is made up of Rich Russman on vocals and guitar, Paul Dudley on drums, George Belton on bass, and Austin Day on keyboards and guitar. George Belton had played with Rich Russman before, performing on his 2015 solo album, First In Line. You might also know Rich Russman from his other bands, The Creaky Bones (formerly known as The Virginia Southpaws) and The Jones. The Blues Groove Sessions #1 is Shakin’ Woods’ debut release, a four-song EP featuring mostly original material. It is the first of three planned releases, all of the tracks for these three EPs apparently already recorded. The music on this first release is blues, but with funk elements. (http://michaelsmusiclog.blogspot.com/2021/01/shakin-woods-blues-groove-sessions-1.html) Click here to listen to samples from this release.
SuBourbon Blues Project – Where Concrete Meets The Grass (Self-produced):“Nashville based song-writer/singer by night (or any free time). Small business owner by day. I try to bring a unique, gritty, live feel to Blues, Southern Rock, Outlaw Country….and any other genre I want to dabble in. Hope you like!” (https://soundcloud.com/user-981311934) This appears to be singer/songwriter Chris Ford’s second release. He is backed by Tim Gonzales (harmonica), James Fletcher (guitar), Jon Fletcher (drums), Mitchel Fletcher (bass) and Jordan Logue (B3) with Randy Coleman (bass), Kenne Kramer (guitar), Mark T. Jordan and Ric McClure (drums) taking over on two songs. Ford has a strong declarative vocal style. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this release.
Various Artists – Wildroots Sessions, Volume 1 (Wild Roots Records): “With the release of WILDROOTS SESSIONS VOLUME 1, Victor Wainwright and Stephen Dees celebrate 16 years of a musical partnership that began in 2005. After the 2015 release of the critically acclaimed award winning record BOOM TOWN, The WildRoots are back!Only this time out, there’s a different focus. Stephen and Victor felt it was time to spotlight all the great players and singers who have been a big part of all their past and current collaborations. In addition to Victor, WILDROOTS SESSIONS VOL. 1 will also feature lead vocals by John Oates, Beth McKee, Nick Black, Stephen Dees, Patricia Ann Dees, Anthony “Packrat” Thompson, Robert “Top” Thomas (Smoke House), Billy Livesay (Clarence Clemmons/The Livesays), Mark Hodgson (Midnight Creepers), and Chris Merrell (Dicky Betts).Core members, Victor – Piano, Organ, Vocals; Stephen – Guitars, Bass, Percussion, Vocals, Production; and Patricia Ann – Saxophone, Vocals, Flute, Bass; are joined by WildRoots alumni Billy Dean – Drums, Charlie DeChant – Saxophone, Greg Gumpel – Guitar, Stephen Kampa – Harmonica, Ray Guiser – Sax, Nick Black – Guitar, Vocals, Ray Guiser – Saxophone, and Alberto Cruz – Drums.Guest musicians of note include Michael Shrieve (Rolling Stones Best Drummers of All Time: #10/Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame with Santana), Bryan Bassett – Guitar (Foghat/Wild Cherry), Lucky Peterson — Hammond Organ, Pat Harrington – Guitar (The Train), Todd Sharp – Guitar (Rod Stewart/Delbert McClinton), David Kent- Piano (Hall & Oates) and Eddie Zyne- Drums (Hall & Oates/Foghat).The WildRoots team understands the music and its traditions; steeped in a variety of Blues, Soul, and Roots Rock ‘n’ Roll, with exceptional songs and musicianship.” (https://437751dc-8b52-44b3-aefa-f3e13b38423a.filesusr.com/ugd/6605e5_2b8f9c47901244c39917fc97b619290e.pdf) Click here for several brief samples of songs on this release.
Various Artists – Brighter Days Ahead (Colemine): “From label owner Terry Cole, “It was on March 16, 2020 that we closed up our storefront as the reality of a worldwide pandemic began to spread across the Midwest. We had no idea how it was going to impact our shop, our label, or the artists we represent. We were all fortunate to have our family members stay safe and healthy; however, the livelihood of many of our friends and artists were drastically and immediately impacted. No tours, no live performances, record shops closed, pressing plants shut down, etc. And while the level of uncertainty was unnerving, from that uncertainty came the idea for Brighter Days Ahead. We knew we wanted to continue to release new music, but proceeding with our heavy 2020 release schedule as planned seemed ill advised. So the idea was to release individual tracks from many of our artists on a weekly basis and as a musical family, we could all help shine light on each individual artist weekly. Strength in numbers! So throughout the summer and into the fall, that’s what we did. We released several dozen tracks and the weekly announcements certainly garnered a strong sense of community for our artists and fans alike. We’re very proud to present Brighter Days Ahead: a compilation from our talented stable of artists on both our Colemine and Karma Chief imprints.” (https://thesoundofvinyl.us/products/colemine-records-presents-brighter-days-ahead-1) The style is generally mellow soul both in their sound and singing. Click here to listen to the songs on this release.
Various Artists – Record Kicks Funk Sides, Vol. 2 (Record Kicks): “With its motto “The explosive sound from Today’s scene”, Milan-based independent label Record Kicks, together with similar outfits like Daptone Records, Jazzman, Freestyle or Timmion, has been pitching the so-called “Deep Funk” scene for nearly 15 years. After the previous installment “Soul Sides Vol.2” now it’s time to “Funk Sides Vol.2″ another irresistibly infectious compilation made of 12 heavy funk stompers. Featuring tracks from Marta Ren & The Groovelvets, The Liberators, Hannah Williams & The Affirmations, Dojo Cuts, Calibro 35 and many more.” (https://recordkicks.bandcamp.com/album/record-kicks-funk-sides-vol-2) Many of these performances represent the blend of soul and funk that keeps the dance floor full. This is a certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid of Cracks!” Click here and see if this doesn’t put dip and a glide in your slide!
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
