New Blues News – 5/5/2020
New Blues News – 5/5/2020
Charlie Bedford – Go To Go (Blue Heart): “Charlie Bedford is a guitarist/vocalist from Melbourne, Australia. He is backed up by Tim Anderson (drums), David Carr (bass, guitar, backing vocals) and Tim Wild (backing vocals) with guest players Chris Hanger (harmonica) and Daryl Roberts (keys). Bedford composed all but one song on this disc. He also shows a grasp of blues and rock. I regret I am unable to find sample from this disc.
Scott Ellison – Skyline Drive (Red Parlor): Journeyman guitarist/singer Scott Ellison has been performing since the seventies. He played with Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown in 1981 and became a backing musician for rock’n’roll shows featuring artists like The Box Tops. The Shirelles, Marvelettes, JJ Jackson, The Drifters, The Coasters, Gary “US” Bonds and Peaches & Herb. He eventually formed his own band and began recording. Ellison has continued to record when he can and he works as a backup musician. Ellison has joined forces with singer Chris Campbell. He plays guitar and sings lead with Campbell on their shared songwriting which mostly leans to a blues rock combination. They have recorded with a shifting set up of backing musicians on bass, drums, Hammond B3 and one song with harmonica. I regret I am not able to find a sample from this disc.
Rusty Ends & Hillbilly Hoodoo – The Last Of The Boogiemen (Self-produced): Rusty Ends and Hillbilly Hoodoo offers a version of proto-rock’n’roll that was popular in the fifties – a little bit of slow to medium boogie with touches of the base of rock’n’roll that would form in the later 50s. Sort of blues’n’boogie. Rusty Ends offers a dozen original samples. Ends sings and plays guitar with backing from Uncle Dave Zirrnheld (bass, backing vocals), Gene Wickliffe (drums) and Gary Falk (tenor sax) reminiscing those old days. Click here to catch “Cheap Wine”, the opening song.
Steve Howell, Dan Howell & Jason Weinheimer –Long Ago (Out Of The Past): “On his ninth album , “Long Ago,” Texas guitarist and vocalist, Steve Howell, continues a remarkable creative run that has lasted over a decade exploring the depths of the great American songbook. “I am a lover of American music from the first half of the 20th century. I like it rural, urban, country blues, traditional jazz, Appalachian music, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll. I love it all, “says Howell about his mission to play as much music as he can. This new release finds Howell collaborating once again with bassist Jason Weinheimer and jazz guitar journeyman Dan Sumner, joining him on arch top and flat top acoustic guitars, to produce a trio recording that is absolutely the definition of easy listening.” (https://www.bluestownmusic.nl/steve-howell-dan-sumner-jason-weinheimer-long-ago/) Super laid-back takes on this set featuring such standards as “Singin’ The Blues” and “Do Nothing ’Til You Hear From Me” and a few surprises like Horace Silver’s “Song For My Father” with lyrics by Ellen May Shashoyan (i’ve never heard lyrics on this tune until new) and Dave Frishberg’s “Z’s”. Howell has a worn singing style, but the feeling to the songs is engaging. Guitarist Dan Sumner (guitar) and bassist Jason Weinheimer complete the package. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Anni Piper – Blow Up Doll (Self-produced): “’Blow Up Doll’ (Sugar Daddy Records 2020) is the latest release for Piper and the second on her own label. Already an internationally acclaimed recording artist, her latest achievement is becoming a semi-finalist in the 2019 International Songwriting Competition. Picking up a bass guitar at age 14, Piper completed a Bachelor of Contemporary Music degree at 19 years of age. Finding it difficult to resume her performing career following the birth of her son, Piper recorded her debut album ‘Jailbait’ in 2004. The all original album was meant to be a good quality demo and wasn’t intended for commercial release. To Piper’s surprise, she was immediately signed to Black Market Music, Australia’s most prestigious blues label and began touring throughout the country. The ‘Jailbait’ album won multiple awards including Best New Talent at the Australian Blues Music Awards, the ABC Radio National ‘Fresh Air’ contest, and 2nd place at the Australian National Songwriting Contest.” (http://www.annipiper.com/about/about.htm) This is her seventh release and six of the eleven songs are original compositions. Her covers span from Mississippi Fred McDowell’s “Get Right Church” and Willie Dixon’s “Built For Comfort” to Lowell George’s “Sailin’ Shoes” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac”. Her originals are very strong even in the midst of these fine covers. Click here to listen to the songs on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
