New Blues & Soul News – 5/25/2018
New Blues & Soul News – 5/25/2018
Johnny & The MoTones – Highway 51 (Altenburgh): John Altenburgh formed his band after loaning some very old recording equipment to the SUN studio for their exhibit. That’s been over a decade ago and Johnny is currently releasing his fifth disc (no longer produced at SUN). Altenburgh plays piano and sings and is accompanied by Mitch Viegut (guitar, vocals), Bruce Lammers (bass), Ryan Korb (drums), John Greiner (tenor sax) and Pat Phalen (trumpet). There are guest appearances by Travis King (drums), Thomas Banks (bass), Paula Hall (backing vocals), Tom Washatka (tenor sax) and Ben Peterson (trumpet). The songs are all originals by Altenburgh or Viegut. The sound is blues rock with some soul backing. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Artur Menezes – Keep Pushing (Self-produced): Brazilian guitarist / singer / songwriter Artur Menezes has now moved to the US and was awarded the “Albert King Award” for Best Guitarist and 3rd place on Band Category at the International Blues Challenge 2018. This man has terrific style – he plays with fire but just enough fire. He doesn’t just throw a mess of over-the-top fireworks, but he can play like greased lightning without generating that cluster of overlapping noise that many “over-the-top” players spray. Menezes is in charge whether he’s speed playing or leaving those empty spaces that can create as much meaning and style filling them can at times. He also composed all ten songs on this disc. The backing musicians are right in the groove as well: Daniel Aged (bass), Gary Novak (drums), Carey Frank (Hammond organ, keys), Jamelle Adisa (trumpet/flugelhorn), Dan Boisey (tenor & bari sax), and Josh Smith adds rhythm guitar on four songs. This is blues rock at it’s finest. Click here to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Ally Venable Band – Puppet Show (Connor Ray): Kilgore, Texas singer/songwriter/guitarist Ally Venable released her first disc four years ago at the age of 14 and she immediately gathered a lot of attention! This is her second release and it is a solid display of guitar skill, songwriting savvy, and singing with control and style. Her band includes Elijah Owings (drums) and Bobby Wallace (bass) and guests Gary Hoey (guitar, 1song), Lance Lopez (guitar, 1 song), Eric Steckel (keys, 3 songs) and Steve Krase (harmonica, 2 songs). My ears tell me she can play and sing with the best. It is blues rock with a good blues base. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Webb Wilder & The Beatnecks – Powerful Stuff! (Landslide): Here’s a visit back to the 80’s and early 90’s when Webb Wilder explained he played “both ROCK and ROLL”. At the time he and the band started playing this music, it was mostly called Southern rock. It wasn’t really considered blues partly because it drew from such a diverse set of styles, including rock and roll, soul, country and other stuff they liked. Most of these songs were covers of songs by writers like Homer Banks, Bobby Shad, Tina Turner, the Kershaw Brothers, Johnny Paycheck and even Little Richard Penniman. These recordings were collected from several different sessions and the backing musicians include Webb Wilder (vocals, guitar), Donny Roberts (guitar, vocals), Jimmy Lester or R.S. Fields (drums), Denny “Cletus” Blakely (bass, vocals), Kelley Looney, Rich Ruth, Rich Ruth, Scott Baggett, Willy Weeks, and Billy Prince (trading off on bass), Gary Gazaway (trumpet), Jim Hoke (tenor, bari sax), Hugh Garraway (sax), David Grissom (guitar), Wally Wilson (piano) and Al Kooper (organ). Most of the shifts have to do with the number of different sessions on this release. This is fun, hip and ROCK AND ROLL! Previously unreleased. Click here and scroll down to listen to samples of the songs on this disc.
Mike Zito – First Class Life (Ruf): Mike Zito (vocals, guitar) rounded up Lewis Stephens (piano, B3, Rhodes/Wurlitzer), Matthew Johnson (drums), Terry Dry (bass) and Bernard Allison (guitar, guest on one song) and turned out one of his best releases ever according to my ears. He also wrote eight songs, co-wrote one with Bernard Allison and covered two others. Zito has often been a hot blues player, but he really swings on this disc and his vocals are terrific as well. That encourages dancing in my head and house. Click here to listen to the title song.
New Soul:
Robert Finley – Goin’ Platinum (Easy Eye Sound): Singer Robert Finley began a career in music several decades ago, but when declared legally blind he had to give up his job(s) as a worker. Eventually, he received help from the Music Maker Relief Foundation which helped him restart his career. In 2016, he released his first disc, “Age Don’t Mean A Thing” which also featured The Bo-Keys. The soulfulness of the work, eventually attracted Dan Auerbach of the Black Eyes and the result of that combination resulted in “Goin’ Platinum”. Finley has an imposing voice and with musical backing provided by Auerbach (guitar, bass, mellotron), Jeffrey Clemens (drums, percussion), Ray Jacildo (key bass), Bobby Wood (piano, glockenspiel, vibes), Russ Pal (guitar), Clint Maedgen (sax), Ronell Johnson (trombone), Ashley Wilcoxson and Leisa Hans (backing vocals) to support the powerful singing by Finley on songs composed by Auerbach, Nick Lowe, Pat McLaughlin, David Ferguson, John Prine, Bobby Wood and Roger Cook. This is a wonderful disc. It is imposing and spellbinding. A certified “Professor Bebop Wax Devoid of Cracks”! Click here to listen to the opening song on this disc.
Kopasetically,
Professor Bebop
