New Blues & Soul News – 2/12/2019
New Blues & Soul News – 2/12/2019
Atomic Road Kings – Clean Up The Blood (BigTone): The Atomic Road Kings turn back the clock stylistically speaking to remind us of the straight-forward Chicago style perfected by Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Little Walter among others during the 50s and early 60s. Eric Von Herzen carries that torch while Jon Atkinson sings in the straight-forward declarative vocal style of the day. The rhythm section is includes Bill Stuve (bass) and Malachi Johnson (drums) and Robert Welsh adds piano on one song. The guitar duties are shared among Jon Atkinson, Scot Smart, Danny Michel and Tony Delgado. If you don’t know the style, the frills aren’t there but the music will shake you to your soul! This is a certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid of Cracks!” Click here to check out samples.
Big Joe & The Dynaflows – Rockhouse Party (Severn): Big Joe Maher has been missing from the scene for a while, but he has now re-grouped with four original songs and one composed by Yates Kendree and Robert Frahm (guitars). The band is completed by Tom “Mookie” Brill (bass, vocals) and Kevin McKendree (piano, organ) with a guest appearances on guitar (1 song) and backing vocals on two songs. Their covers include oldies composed by Roosevelt Sykes, Percy Mayfield, and Dave Bartholomew among others. Most of these aren’t often covered but will bring back memories for the older set. I regret I am unable to find a sample of songs on this disc.
Dirty Red & The Soul Shakers – Cloudless Day (Self-produced): This group honors the older style of blues as played by Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells, Little Walter, Slim Harpo, RL Burnside, Buddy Guy, and others who played hard blues that shaped rock but didn’t copy it. Dirty Red has a voice like a bulldozer and he plays full bore harp like William Clarke and he wrote or co-wrote all but one song on the disc: Willie Dixon and Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Help Me Baby”. The other players are Ike Lamb (vocals, electric guitar), Forrest Worrell (vocals, drums), John Stendel (bass) and the Dirty Red Brass Section, including Matt Blagg (trumpet), Kevin Webb (trombone) and Chris Hicks (sax). I regret I am unable to find a sample of songs on this disc.
Ric Harris – Open For Business (Self-produced): Singer/songwriter/lead guitarist Ric Harris offers his first release of blues or blues inflected music. Some of the songs are rather clever. Supporting musicians are Zach Avery (rhythm guitar, vocals), Marty Binder (drums), Ray Cumpian (harmonica), Gwen Klemenz (vocals), Steve Kostakes (keys, vocals) and Harlan Terson (bass). Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Colin Linden & Luther Dickinson – Amour (Stony Plain): They call themselves the Tennessee Valentines, featuring Colin Linden and Luther Dickinson on guitars, Dominic Davis (bass), Bryan Owings (drums), Fats Kaplin (violin, accordion) and Kevin McKendree (piano, organ). There are also alternating guest singers: Rachael Davis, Ruby Amanfu, Sam Palladio, Jonathan Jackson and Billy Swan. At times, it seems like a porch sing out for the evening as often done in the old days, especially with the songs mostly being old favorites like “Careless Love”, “Crazy Arms” and “I Forgot To Remember To Forget” and the most recent being Kris Kristofferson’s “For The Good Times”. As is often expected with the Dickinsons, the songs are altered in some way so they are unique, but don’t look for any rocking unless you’re listening in a rocking chair! Click here to listen to the hottest number on the disc.
Willie May – Blues Like That (Self-produced): Blues man Willie May offers his 19th release and this blend of blues and folk and traditional electric folk is the most engaging I have heard. The selections here are a collection of different styles and personnel, but the base line-up is guitar, bass, and drums with a sprinkling of keys and harmonica (a few songs) and a bit of sax. The variety of setups adds significantly to the overall disc. He has a strong vocal approach as well. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
The Good, The Bad And The Blues – The Good, The Bad And The Blues (Third Street Cigar): “You can’t just play the blues, you’ve got to be the blues.” That’s how drummer/lead singer, Hollywood Mike Darby describes his band and their kind of SOUL-blues. They have this thing down! His co-leader, Aayan Naim (lead guitar, percussion, backing vocals) has written three and co-written three other songs on this disc. Other players are B.J. Love (keys, backing vocals), Gordon Henry (bass, backing vocals), Travis Geiman (trombone), Ray Benson (congas) and Ric Wolkins and Mark Lemle of the Toledo Horns. These guys ARE the blues! A certified Professor Bebop “Wax Devoid of Cracks”! Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Walter Trout – Surviver Blues (Provogue): Veteran blues man Walter Trout delivers a batch of terrific remakes of classic blues numbers like “Me, My Guitar and The Blues” (Johnny Dawkins), “Sadie” (Hound Dog Taylor), and even the timely “Be Careful How You Vote” (Sunnyland Slim). Back-up musicians are Michael Leasure (drums), Johnny Griparic (bass), Teddy Andreadis and Skip Edwards (keys) and special guests Sugaray Rayford and Robby Krieger (slide guitar). All of the songs are important blues numbers and are pertinent for the terrific updating by these excellent musicians. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Watermelon Slim – Church Of The Blues (NorthernBlues): Watermelon Slim is back with the latest edition of his “ever-expanding career of ramshackle grandeur”! Slim centers his vocals around hollers, reminiscent of the older days. Half of the songs are originals and the covers include remakes of songs ranging from Fred McDowell, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters to Allen Toussaint and Gene Barge. Slim’s backing players are John Allouise (bass) and Brian Wells (drums) augmented by guests Bob Margolin (guitar, 3 songs); Sherman Holmes (vocal, 1 song); John Nemeth (vocal, 2 songs); Red Young (keys, 6 songs); Nick Schnebelen (slide guitar, 1 song); Joe Louis Walker (electric guitar, 1 song); Albert Castiglia (electric guitar, 2 songs); Chris Wiser (keys, 3 songs); Ike Lamb (electric guitar, 2 songs) and Matt Blagg (trumpet), Kevin Webb (trombone) and Chris Hicks (sax) of the Church of the Blues Brass. Of special interest is Slim’s “Charlottesville (Blues For My Nation)”. This disc is as strong as any Slim has done and that is mighty fine blues, commentary and frequently stacked with humor. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
New Soul:
Jaye Hammer – Double Trouble (Ecko): Jaye Hammer is back with one of the best releases he has done. Mostly ballads with a few uptempo dances, these songs are written for dancing. The only drawback is for listeners who don’t want to dance. The repetition can really detract from the potency of the songs. That being said, Hammer is in good voice and is mostly front and center. Titles include “She’s My Baby Forever”, “Groupie Girls”. “Let Me Hammerize You”, “Coming Home To You” and a tribute to great soul and blues stars who have passed away. I regret I am not able to find any samples from this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
