New Blues & Soul News 2/11/2020
New Blues & Soul News – 2/11/2020
Albert Cummings – Believe (Provogue): This is apparently singer/guitarist Albert Cummings’ tenth release. His repertoire is rooted in blues and rock with a big sound. Six of the eleven songs are his own compositions and the covers range from Sam & Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Comin’” to Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love” and Leon Russell’s “Me And My Guitar” to blues nuggets from Willie Dixon in the form of “My Babe” and “Red Rooster”. Cummings has a large voice that is only outdone by his cranked up guitar. Cummings also has a slice of older electric country in his voice. Click here to check out “Queen Of Mean”, a Cummings’ original from this disc.
Marcus King – El Dorado (Fantasy): This is Marcus King’s first “solo” release after three successful releases with his quartet. Enter Dan Auerbach with numerous guitars and basses and a host of back-up musicians too numerous to identify in this short overview. Auerbach has clearly got his own special technique and it is terrific. In fact, Auerbach does a great job as does Marcus King. There is variety and presence that Auerbach typically creates and the presence of King. Nice variety and since of urgency in the songs themselves. Country to blues with a splash of rock and soul and it does grow on you! Click here and scroll down to sample the songs on this disc.
Mick Kolasso – Blind Lemon Sessions (Endless Blues): “This is a totally acoustic album of blues and Americana music, some old, some new, some covers and some originals. Mick Kolassa is a well regarded blues artist whose love of all types of blues has led him to call his style “Free Range Blues”. Mick has released six previous albums of blues music, some acoustic and some electric – all of it fun!” (https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/mickkolassa7) Four of the twelve songs are originals. The other eight span from Lonnie Johnson’s “Jelly Roll Baker” and Blind Blake’s “Ditty Wah Ditty” to Taj Mahal’s “Cake Walk In to Town and Lennon and McCartney’s “Help”. There’s a lot of fun to have here. Click here to listen to samples from this disc.
Gary Moore – Live From London (Provogue): Singer/songwriter/guitarist Gary Moore turned it loose with some solidly rockin’ bluzz rock! “He was a Northern Irish guitarist and singer-songwriter. According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Moore had a “restless career trajectory—taking in blues, rock, heavy metal, jazz-fusion and other styles over four and a half decades”. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Moore) If you need more proof than this disc, check your ears and brain! This live set featured Moore on vocals and guitar with Vic Martin (keys), Peter Rees (bass) and Steve Dixon (drums). Sensational! One of the very best sessions by anyone who played this kind of jam blues. Yes it is!!!! Six originals and terrific takes on songs like John Mayall’s “Have You Heard’, Otis Rush’s “All Your Love”, JB Lenoir’s “Mojo Boogie”. Recorded on Dec 2, 2009. This is a certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid of Cracks”! Click here to listen to the opening song on this disc and it’s just warming up!
New Soul:
Jaye Hammer – The Best of Jaye Hammer (Ecko): Here’s the most recent disc from Jaye Hammer with an unreleased opener, “Give It To Me” and a dozen recent releases and an added “club mix” of “Party Mood”. Most of the songs are medium tempo and the sound is smooth. Hammer takes the lead, but none of the songs are his compositions. Things are smooth and swoony throughout this party. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
