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February 2012 Blues Connections this month pays tribute to the one and only Etta James who was widely acknowledged as one of the greatest singers of all time! After thrilling audiences for well over 50 years, Etta was diagnosed with leukemia last year and sadly passed away on 20th January 2012. Originally born Jamesetta Hawkins on 25th January 1938, her big break came after auditioning for Johnny Otis, who simply reversed her first name Jamesetta to construct her stage name Etta James and had her record the 1955 R&B hit 'Roll with me, Henry' (renamed 'Dance with me, Henry' due to its risqué title). Soon afterwards Etta joined Chess Records and entered her 'golden era' making her debut album At Last! that spawned more hits including the title track that she will always be remembered for... Etta continued to gain popularity throughout the 1960's despite struggling with drug addiction, notably recording the blues classic 'I'd Rather Go Blind' in 1968. Like many artists of her generation, she continued to tour with limited success during the 70's & 80's before recording 'Seven Year Itch' that was followed by a whole string of other great albums until her death. During her lifetime Etta James sang gospel, rhythm & blues, rock & roll, soul, blues and jazz receiving countless accolades along the way and was inducted into the 'Rock & Roll Hall of Fame' in 1993 & 'Blues Hall of Fame' in 2001 as well as the 'Grammy Hall of Fame' in both 1999 & 2008. Etta James had a voice that tells you she was a survivor from all that life can throw at you as endorsed in her autobiography 'Rage To Survive'. Knowing that her health was failing her, the lady took time out last year to make one final "swan song" on her album The Dreamer released in November 2011. Coincidentally, only 3 days before Etta died, the multi-talented Johnny Otis otherwise known as the "Godfather of Rhythm & Blues" who first discovered her, also left us in his 90th year... R.I.P. |
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January 2012 Blues Connections wishes blues lovers everywhere a very 'Happy New Year' and what better way to start celebrating 2012 than getting the Chess Blues (4CD Box Set) covering the golden era of blues music made in Chicago between 1947 & 1967 that for any blues aficionado is essential listening! Last year saw an amazing influx of new blues musicians playing a diverse range of blues on both sides of the Atlantic... so for all the latest information, check out Artists & Venues/Gigs on www.bluesconnections.com for news and touring dates! Don't forget that by going along to local gigs and supporting 'live music' plus having a great night out... you are in fact helping to keep the blues alive!
Blues Connections has also forged direct links with KCOR - Kansas City Online Radio, so now you can listen to blues/rock radio at it's very best around the clock! Simply click on the cool logo below to listen...
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December 2011 James Armstrong was born into a world of music having a father who played jazz guitar and a mother who sang the blues. Having picked up the guitar early in life, he started touring in his late teens and was fortunate enough to work with the likes of Albert Collins, Big Joe Turner, Keb Mo and Sam "Bluzman" Taylor to name but a few! His promising 1995 debut album Sleeping With A Stranger drew comparisons to Robert Cray before a life threatening stabbing incident briefly curtailed his career a couple of years later. A born survivor and undeterred, he made his second album Dark Night whilst recovering in 1998, bringing in Michael Ross to help out on lead guitar with Joe Louis Walker & Doug Macleod also making guest appearances. After recording the critically acclaimed Got It Goin' On in 2000, he received WC Handy Award nominations the following year for his song 'Pennies & Picks' as well as 'Best Contemporary Male Blues Guitarist'. Blues At The Border marks a welcome return to the recording studio for James Armstrong, who releases his first new album in eleven years this month on Catfood Records. A tribute to former mentor Sam "Bluzman" Taylor 'Everything That's Good To Ya' (Ain't Always Good For Ya) gets us straight in the groove, followed by the soulful 'Somebody Got To Pay' & 'Baby Can You Hear Me', both co-produced & written by bassist Bob Trenchard. The title track 'Blues At The Border' inspired by frustrating post 9/11 border controls, unleashes some sensational slide guitar that gets even more low down and dirty on 'Devil's Candy'. 'Nothing Left To Say' glides into soul blues before the funky 'High Maintenance Woman' & 'Good Man, Bad Thing' raise the tempo! James Armstrong always lends a certain 'authenticity' to proceedings and his autobiographical 'Young Man With The Blues' surely has to be the best original blues song written this year... an absolute gem! 'Brand New Man' takes the band into improvised jazz territory ahead of a soul shuffle cruise on 'Long Black Car' that closes the set. Blues At The Border successfully blends traditional & contemporary blues with James Armstrong delivering superb guitar licks and soulful vocals that will resonate for a long time to come! Check out James Armstrong for all his latest news and tour dates and click downloads to sample more great music from the man below... |
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November 2011 Not since Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend led a 'Marilyn Monroe' procession through church performing the blues classic "Eyesight To The Blind" by Sonny Boy Williamson II in the 1975 Tommy (The Movie), has a sculpture of Marilyn Monroe caused so much controversy! The Who recorded what is widely believed to be the first rock opera Tommy in 1969 which was later released as Tommy (The Movie) in 1975. Directed by Ken Russell it featured Roger Daltrey as 'Tommy' and all members of 'The Who' as well as Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Elton John, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Jack Nicholson and many more in an all star cast.
The 26 feet tall sculpture 'Forever Marilyn' was unveiled last July perhaps appropriately in the "Windy City" just north of the river at Pioneer Court on 'The Magnificent Mile' in Chicago, portraying that iconic pose when draft from a subway grate lifted her dress during filming of the 1955 movie 'The Seven Year Itch'. Although loved by snap happy tourists, the sculpture by Seward Johnson seems to have split local opinion amongst Chicagoans and will continue to do so until it moves to another city sometime during 2012. 'Forever Marilyn' may not quite have the healing powers depicted in Tommy (The Movie) by Ken Russell, but she certainly has opened a lot of people's eyes! |
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October 2011
David "Honeyboy" Edwards won numerous awards during his lifetime, culminating in a 2008 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live in Dallas recorded with Henry James Townsend, Robert Lockwood Jr. & Pinetop Perkins, followed by 2 Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2010. David "Honeyboy" Edwards recorded several original blues hits, and also wrote a fascinating autobiography The World Don't Owe Me Nothing published in 1997 with the help of writer Janis Martinson and Michael Frank (Founder of Earwig Records), his manager and long time associate who also released many of his latter day records. David "Honeyboy" Edwards was an authentic part of blues history who witnessed its migration from deep down the Mississippi delta north to the nightclubs of Chicago. He played and made friends with the best of them and was also known as the last living musician to have played with blues legend Robert Johnson. Later he became one himself... R.I.P. |
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September 2011 Beth Hart is one of the most powerful female blues/rock singers to emerge since Janis Joplin and recently she recorded a collaboration with guitar maestro Joe Bonamassa entitled Don't Explain. Having crossed paths out on tour and previously worked together making 'No Love On The Street' for Bonamassa's recent Dust Bowl album, it soon became apparent to Bonamassa that his guitar would provide the perfect foil for Hart's vocals. Almost inevitably Don't Explain was recorded earlier this year at Village Recorders, West Los Angeles in California, drafting in Kevin "Caveman" Shirley to produce & mix an album full of soul covers interpreted as only Hart & Bonamassa could, giving new blood to classic songs! Don't Explain showcases Beth Hart baring her heart and soul on vocals & Joe Bonamassa playing guitar as only he can, delivering classic songs from a golden bygone era that belonged to divas like Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin and Etta James coupled with more contemporary numbers worthy of inclusion. Backing band is the same Bonamassa successfully assembled for his album 'The Ballad Of John Henry' featuring Anton Fig (drums & percussion), Blondie Chaplin (guitar) & Carmine Rojas (bass) with Arlan Scheirbaum joining them on keyboards. Don't Explain immediately has Hart pleading for mercy, probably just as Ray Charles would have imagined when he first wrote 'Sinner's Prayer', and the thought invoking Tom Waits song 'Chocolate Jesus' is so sassy, it would not sound out of place sung in a Parisian nightclub! Next cue piano for a flawless rendition of Melody Gardot's sultry jazz ballad 'Your Heart Is As Black As Night' and add slow blues guitar to make it complete. The Bill Withers song 'For My Friend' is transformed into the ball breaking blues/rock anthem that perhaps it was always meant to be, and portrays just what an incredibly versatile voice Hart really has. The next two remarkable covers of 'Don't Explain', made famous by Billie Holiday and 'I'd Rather Go Blind' immortalized by Etta James, sum up exactly why this album was conceived in the first place. Another Etta song, 'Something's Got A Hold On Me' also gets a worthwhile makeover here followed by one of the most passionate and sincere versions of Brook Benton's 'I'll Take Care Of You' that you will ever hear. A superb remake of 'Well, Well' provides the one duet on this album with Joe & Beth taking over Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett's vocals. Somehow this recording wouldn't be complete without the soulful sound of Aretha Franklin, and that is accomplished on the final track with a rework of her fabulous 'Ain't No Way', that is given all the reverence it truly deserves! Don't Explain is where sensational singer Beth Hart and gifted guitarist Joe Bonamassa world's collide to pay homage to some of the greatest artists and most beautiful music ever made... simply breathtaking! Don't Explain is scheduled for release on September 26th in Europe and September 27th in the U.S. and for further info check out... http://hartandbonamassa.com/ |
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August 2011 Michael Burks continues to overwhelm audiences on both sides of the Atlantic, delivering his trademark powerhouse electric blues performances that earned him the name... 'Iron Man'! Born just north of Chicago in Milwaukee back in 1957, his father and grandfather both played the blues and from a very early age it became clear that he was going to continue the tradition. In the early seventies his father moved the family back to their roots in Camden, Arkansas and decided to build a 300 seat roadhouse at Bradley Ferry where Michael later fronted the house band 'The Burks Troupe'. They played everything from Hendrix to Earth, Wind & Fire, while also rubbing shoulders with the likes of Johnnie Taylor, Little Johnny Taylor, Freddie King and Rufus Thomas when they passed through, until its demise in the mid eighties. After finding work at Lockheed Martin as a mechanical technician, Burks formed a new band playing local clubs before gaining popularity out on the festival circuit that inspired him to cut all eleven originals on his self-produced 1999 debut album From The Inside Out. Following rave reviews and nominations for various blues awards, he was signed by Alligator Records and made the critically acclaimed Make It Rain.
I Smell Smoke unleashed his explosive Flying V guitar once more and forged with his soulful vocals it put Michael Burks undeniably on the blues map, receiving various nominations at the 25th W.C. Handy Awards the following year. After touring relentlessly on different continents, Burks finally made it back into the studio in 2008 to record Iron Man, an album where his singing hits you with heartfelt lyrics just as much as his potent guitar! Michael Burks remains one of the most powerful blues artists in the world today... see him live and get well and truly blown away at a venue near you by checking out his tour dates! |
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July 2011 MonkeyJunk are Steve Marriner (lead vocals, harmonica, guitar & keyboards), Tony Diteodoro (lead guitar & background vocals) & Matt Sobb (drums, percussion & background vocals), who after meeting up on the Ottawa blues scene in 2008 decided to play what they themselves describe as a generous helping of swamp rhythm and blues, soul boogie and bedroom funk! Following on from their impressive independent release Tiger In Your Tank in 2009 and success at the Maple Blues Awards, MonkeyJunk won 'Best New Artist Debut' at the 2010 Blues Music Awards in Memphis and now make their first recording for Canadian roots label Stony Plain Records with To Behold available 21 June 2011.
To Behold takes you on a musical journey down so many roads worth revisiting, driven by the multi talented Steve Marriner whose vocals and sweet harmonica leave you craving for more! With Tony Diteodoro playing some damn fine guitar and Matt Sobb providing rhythm they first lead us into the tormented 'Mother's Crying', that is contemporary delta roots music reminiscent of another cool band called Delta Moon. The only cover here of an old Hank Williams song 'You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)' is delivered in true Sonny Landreth style and 'Right Now' gives a generous helping of funk with guitar licks that flashback to the psychadelic Motown era. As soon as that Hammond organ sounds and you hear "There's a bottle on the table" on the remorseful 'Let Her Down', you know these guys have it nailed on a song Bobby Cray could easily embrace and on this outing it's as good as it gets! Marriner shows he can also sing soul blues like the best of them on 'With These Hands', that also features Tracey Brown & Kelly Prescott on soulful backing vocals. Of the remaining noteworthy tracks, the melancholy 'While You Are Mine' should end up a firm live favourite, along with an instrumental centred around what can only be described as a harp blowout by Steve Marriner aptly named 'The Marrinator'! MonkeyJunk took their name from something Son House once said... "I'm talkin' 'bout the blues, I ain't talkin' 'bout monkey junk"! Well a lot of people are now talkin' 'bout MonkeyJunk and if you ain't a 'MonkeyJunky' yet, something tells me you sure might be once you've listened To Behold! |
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June 2011 Since emerging on the British blues scene 7 years ago, Matt Schofield has never ceased to amaze his audience and with the release of Heads, Tails & Aces in 2009, he finally received the recognition he truly deserves being awarded 'Best British Blues Guitarist' and 'Best British Blues Album' at the 2010 British Blues Awards. After embarking on his first US tour last year, Matt Schofield has been taking his music to the world playing concerts in Canada, Europe and Asia where he also jammed alongside Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang and Shemekia Copeland at the Mumbai Blues Festival in India. Matt Schofield is once again at his compelling best playing guitar & vocals on Anything But Time released this month by Nugene Records, that features new drummer Kevin Hayes (ex Robert Cray Band) along with regular stalwart and keyboard wizard Jonny Henderson, who unconventionally also plays bass on keys and was voted 'Best British Keyboard Player' at the 2010 British Blues Awards. Produced by John Porter and recorded in New Orleans, three of the ten tracks also include special guest Jon Cleary on keys to add that distinct New Orleans feel to proceedings. All but two of the songs on Anything But Time are co-written with Dorothy Whittick, leaving renditions of Steve Winwood's 'At Times We Do Forget' and Albert King's 'Wrapped Up In Your Love' to acknowledge some of his influences. The opening title track 'Anything But Time' puts you straight in the groove and there is plenty to admire here from the slow burning 'See Me Through' to the blues driven 'Where Do I Have To Stand' and 'Don't Know What I'd Do', although the inclusion of the rap tinged 'One Look (And I'm Hooked) was perhaps a little surprising? The upbeat 'Shipwrecked' is also well worth a mention along with the excellent 'Share Our Smile Again' that closes the set, but the pick of the crop has to be the sublime Hendrix fuelled 'Dreaming Of You' that a lot of fans will soon hope to experience live! Matt Schofield as always is able to eloquently express himself through his guitar without being overly self indulgent, but what also makes this album so special like its predecessor, is the way it successfully blends genres allowing music to be played 'on the edge' with a sense of adventure whilst at the same time remaining tight and cohesive. Anything But Time confirms Matt Schofield as one of the most innovative guitarists in the world today, able to seamlessly fuse blues with jazz, funk and rock and after listening to this... I'm sure you'll agree! |
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May 2011 Anyone who has ever seen a Joe Bonamassa concert somehow knew that he would play some part in the future of the blues, and notice no sitting on the fence here as one listen to 'Sloe Gin' and each bend of his guitar strings will inevitably pull you over! Even after making so many great records over the last decade, his latest offering Dust Bowl does not disappoint and probably is as he says in his liner notes, his best album to date! Right from the chugging beginning of 'Slow Train' to the last fading notes on 'Prisoner', there is a cohesion not present on some of his previous outings and more importantly you witness his voice coming of age. Credit must go to everyone involved in the making of this superb recording, not least his best friend Kevin "Caveman" Shirley who had more than one hand busy putting the whole thing together and also produced the album. John Hiatt & Vince Gill drop by to lend a hand on covers of their songs, whilst Glenn Hughes from Black Country Communion also sings on Free's 'Heartbreaker'. Some of these tracks are so good, they should make his live repertoire for years to come, especially originals like 'Slow Train' and the impressive title track, although no doubt many people would also love to see renditions of 'The Meaning Of The Blues' & 'Prisoner' when he tours.
Dust Bowl should wet the appetite of most people not yet
familiar with the music of
Joe Bonamassa, and
if after drooling over his back
catalogue you decide you want more, make sure you treat yourself to the incredible
Live From Nowhere In Particular that includes...
1. 'Bridge To Better Days' 2. 'Walk
In My Shadows' 3. 'So Many Roads' 4. 'India/Mountain Time' 5. 'Another
Kinda Love' 6. 'Sloe Gin' 7. 'One Of These Days' 8. 'Ball Peen Hammer' 9. 'If
Heartaches Were Nickels' 10. 'Woke Up Dreaming' 11. 'Django/Just Got
Paid' 12. 'High Water Everywhere' 13. 'Asking Around For You'
14. 'A New Day Yesterday/Starship Trooper/Wurm'. |
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April 2011 Crossroads To Freedom is written and performed entirely by Chris Dair and is his first album dedicated purely to the blues from the Mississippi delta all the way to the streets of Chicago and beyond! What is refreshing is that there appears to be no limitation as to how Chris Dair interprets the way his guitar should be played, having jammed with the best of them down the years including Jeff Beck, Peter Green, Rory Gallagher, Jimmy Page, Mark Knopfler and the great Bukka White to name but a few! Crossroads To Freedom gets straight down to business with 'No Reason Blues' that is classic Chicago blues harking back to the Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf era! Influences abound here as you would expect from such a seasoned artist, with a somewhat mystical sounding 'See The Stars' offering more than a hint of Ravi Shankar, before the Santana inspired instrumental 'Obsession' transcends over proceedings. Some of these recordings might easily lend themselves to a film soundtrack, that incidentally is not new territory for this man who is not afraid to experiment, as is well demonstrated on the innovative title track 'Crossroads To Freedom' which delivers some very interesting psychedelic blues! 'Please Don't Let Me Go' cruises into some really cool jazz tinged blues ahead of the vintage sounding 'Never Comin' Home Blues', which is given some authentic worn vinyl treatment that many listeners may find intriguing? Right from the first note on 'I Feel The Need', you become spellbound as his guitar riffs and smooth vocals combine to find the perfect blend and are only set free once a wailing harmonica introduces 'Lovin' You Too Much', as he connects his wah-wah pedal to unleash some screaming guitar SRV style! The laid back 'Last Fall' and 'Leavin' Town Blues' lead us well into JJ Cale chartered territory and on 'Ya Smile At Me', he even finds time to mix in some rare juice harp with some good ole country blues. Listening to 'Goldwater Mountain', you discover a fabulous example of American acoustic roots music (reminiscent of the early Doobie Brothers), before 'Lost In Wasted Time' delivers a dreamy guitar solo that even Roy Buchanan might have taken his hat off to! Crossroads To Freedom is the album you always wanted to own and could never remember the name of, and it also marks the moment Chris Dair stepped out of the shadows to become a genuine blues artist in his own right! Check him out on his website at http://www.chrisdairmusic.net/ where you can also order a signed copy of the Crossroads To Freedom CD, and discover what you've been missing! |
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March 2011 Blues Connections would like to pay tribute to blues/rock guitarist/singer Gary Moore whose sudden death rocked the music world when news broke that he died in his sleep of a heart attack on 6th Feb 2011 while on holiday in Spain. Although probably best known for his solo work in the blues/rock world, he played numerous times with rock band Thin Lizzy and also experimented with other musical genres including jazz fusion with Colosseum II as well as hard rock and heavy metal which can be heard on his earlier albums during the 70's & 80's epitomized by the live 1984 release We Want Moore! The 1990 release of Still Got The Blues saw him leave his rock god image behind, immersing himself into the blues like never before resulting in a whole string of fine blues albums throughout the 1990's and into the new millennium. For the uninitiated, many of those songs can be found on the excellent double album compilation The Best Of The Blues made up of both studio and live tracks including collaborations with some of the blues greats like BB King, Albert Collins and Albert King. One of his greatest influences was undoubtedly Peter Green whom he recorded Blues For Greeny for as a tribute in 1995, made up entirely from Green compositions featuring him playing the fabled 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard guitar that Green gave to him when he left Fleetwood Mac. Gary Moore is a guitar legend with a voice to match who thankfully was with us long enough to leave a moving musical legacy that we and future generations can continue to experience and savour! RIP Gary as we will miss you... |
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February 2011 Todd Sharpville has just released a new album on the German Mig-Music record label that may well define his musical destiny entitled Porchlight, a blues album cut from the shreds of his bitter divorce and emotional breakdown along with the recent passing of his father, that fuelled him to sing and play the blues like many other mainstream artists have long since forgotten as it's not what you play, but how you play it that counts... man ain't that the truth! Although born into UK aristocracy, Todd Sharpville plays killer blues guitar unmistakably American style that is largely down to his early musical influences as well as touring with the legendary Joe Louis Walker during his formative years. Never afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, his songs always express themselves which makes compelling listening and here he is backed by Jessie Williams (bass), Mark Teixeira (drums), Bruce Bears (keyboards), Doug James (Baritone Sax), Mike Tucker (Tenor Sax), Scott Aruda (Trumpet) & Carl Querfurth (Trombone). Porchlight is addictive right from the outset with lyrics describing a hopeless case of love on 'If Love Is A Crime' (then she's got me doing time for sure) coupled with guitar licks reminiscent of early Bobby Cray! Duke Robillard produces a really fine mix on the album whilst also adding guitar on 'Lousy Husband (but a real good dad)', a track outlining Todd's plight and the irony of marital fallout. 'Used' needs no introduction as we've all been there before which this track eloquently sums up before Sharpville turns in a truly 'Claptonesque' performance on 'Why Does It Rain'. On the lively 'Can't Stand The Crook' (who chose to lie about his war), he voices his condemnation of the Bush/Blair era before the whole band (including horn section) join him whilst he views the world through a glass half full on 'Everything Will Be Alright'. CD 1 finishes with the warm sounding 'Old Feeling' that brings Bruce Bears to the fore on Hammond Wurlitzer along of course with some more heavenly blues guitar from our host! Time to change discs and normally an album as good as this would sit in my CD player on continuous play for days and unfortunately didn't purely down to it being issued as a double CD, that was perhaps excessive given that the total playing time amounts to just over 83 minutes? Could a few tracks have been archived for another day ('If That Ain't Love What Is' written by Shel Silverstein, 'Whole Lotta Lady' & 'Busted In Pieces' on here spring to mind) or maybe the thinking behind the double record format of approx 38 & 45 mins respectively was aimed towards the release of a double vinyl LP at some point... who knows? CD 2 begins to roll fast with the whole band at full throttle on 'When The World Is Not Enough' before former mentor Joe Louis Walker joins Sharpville for a unforgettable guitar jam making each note count on the classic slow burning 'When The Blues Come Calling' that is as good as it gets! Other choice cuts are the gospel sounding 'Legacy Of Greed' that tells of an ill wind blowing and the nearly nine minutes long... 'Misery' where Kim Wilson adds harmonica to proceedings, which incidentally he also does exquisitely on 3 other tracks! The ending title track laments the death of his father singing of the 'Porchlight' shining at our journey's end bringing this remarkable album to a close. Porchlight by Todd Sharpville is fine blue blooded blues that makes essential listening as it probably resembles little that you currently have in your record collection and once heard proves simply irresistible! |
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January 2011 Blues Connections wishes blues lovers everywhere a very 'Happy New Year' for 2011... Last year saw an amazing influx of new blues musicians playing a diverse range of blues on both sides of the atlantic... so for all the latest information, check out Artists & Venues/Gigs on www.bluesconnections.com for news and touring dates! Don't forget that by going along to local gigs and supporting 'live music' plus having a great night out... you are in fact helping to keep the blues alive!
Blues Connections has also forged direct links with KCOR - Kansas City Online Radio, so now you can listen to blues/rock radio at it's very best around the clock! Simply click on the cool logo below to listen...
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December 2010 One Ticket, One Ride is the legacy Australian blues/roots artist Geoff Achison kindly left us of his musical journey that lasted nearly 2 years living and touring in the United States and was recorded during that period at Bakos Amp Works in Atlanta, Georgia with some of its finest musicians. One Ticket, One Ride releases 14 original songs from Geoff Achison at his dazzling best on vocals & guitars displaying his outstanding versatility for writing songs across different genres that include... blues, roots, jazz, classical, funk and R&B. Highlights include 'Sent To The Edge' that emphasizes his rhythm section of Ted Pecchio on bass and Tyler 'Falcon' Greenwell on drums who are prevalent throughout, whilst 'Magic Belt' and 'Tying My Heart To A Stone' leave you in no doubt that this guy can certainly play the blues! The introduction of strings from his native homeland on certain tracks like 'A Pocketful of Spells' is inspiring and leaves its acoustic signature as does 'Dogwood Days'. The title track 'One Ticket, One Ride' definitely has its roots down in Dixieland making you want to boogie whilst 'Soul to Soul' and 'Bridge' are where everything comes together on this album almost as a celebration and are simply irresistible! The catchy theme to 'Give Me Back My Numbers' features some great virtuoso performances and before you thought you had heard everything on this outing... 'Testosta Rhonda' also brings R&B into play! One Ticket, One Ride showcases the exceptional talent that is Geoff Achison as a guitarist/singer/songwriter able to craft fine songs from different genres onto one single album, although time will tell if that same diversity proves too much of a challenge for the listener or whether they are discerning enough to appreciate the ride! Also released is the memorable live concert collaboration with renowned multi-instrumentalist Randall Bramblett performed at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, Georgia on 13th June 2010 entitled Jammin' in the Attic, where they are joined by Yonrico Scott on drums and Ted Pecchio on bass whilst Oliver Wood plays electric guitar on several tracks. Geoff Achison includes 'Sent To The Edge' and the title track off his excellent One Ticket, One Ride album along with lengthy versions of 'Tell Me Something', 'Rule The World' and 'Jungle' that will no doubt appeal to his ever growing fanbase! Randall Bramblett renowned for his work with Steve Winwood, Traffic, Sea Level, Bonnie Raitt, Widespread Panic...etc weighs in with some great songs of his own like the exquisite 'Queen of England' as well as 'Nobody's Problem', 'My World', 'Driving To Montgomery', 'See Through Me' and 'Get In Get Out'. The combination of these remarkable musicians is so infectious that it results in an unforgettable concert that thankfully was recorded and is now available for everyone to enjoy! |
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November 2010 Diamonds In The Dirt is the second stunning album by spiraling blues star Joanne Shaw Taylor who is again given licence to thrill on her Fender Telecaster at Bessie Blue Studios in Tennessee with legendary producer Jim Gaines who records 10 new breathtaking original gems featuring Steve Potts on drums, Dave Smith on bass, Rick Steff on keyboards and is scheduled for release in November 2010 by Ruf Records. Diamonds In The Dirt captures Joanne Shaw Taylor on fire with a collection of love songs expressing her hopes and fears forged from crash and burn experiences on her journey through life since her widely acclaimed debut album White Sugar. Cue acoustic guitar and deep smoky vocals like the quiet before a storm on 'Can't Keep Living Like This' and wait for the whirlwind to follow that emanates straight from her scorching Fender Telecaster and thunderous rhythm section that simply blow you away! Nearly two years on from her last outing and this young lady needs to get a lot off her chest as she exorcises the past with 'Dead And Gone' and sings of finding "New life in this fight" on 'Same As It Ever Was' before moving into overdrive and telling of a brave new world on 'Jump That Train' that is a real bone shaker! 'Who Do You Love' delivers some her finest guitar licks to date leading into the title track 'Diamonds In The Dirt', a love song which brings her smoky voice to the fore that is winning awards like Best British Female Vocalist at the 2010 British Blues Awards and it's fair to say adding female musician and songwriter to that accolade wouldn't be far from the truth! Joanne Shaw Taylor attributes the heavier sound on this album largely to her now living in Detroit and 'Let It Burn' and 'World On Fire' aptly demonstrate that influence rocking you to the core with the latter using a similar baseline to the chord structure found on 'Kiss The Ground Goodbye' off her previous album White Sugar. 'Lord Have Mercy' is perhaps the defining moment here though as Taylor presses the self destruct button crying out... "I'm going down so slow" and "It's hope that deserts me" while exploding into some of the heaviest virtuoso lead guitar we have come to witness from her yet, that may provide a clue as to which direction she is heading musically... amazing stuff! Having survived the storm... Taylor shows her acceptance of 'The World And It's Way' in a slow soulful tune that softly brings this session to a satisfying close. Diamonds In The Dirt goes a long way to fulfilling the hype and expectation surrounding Joanne Shaw Taylor who continues to fascinate her audience by remaining natural and true to herself (which is part of her appeal), although one can't help but sense that the best is still to come and no doubt somewhere down the road she will make the cut and shine like the diamond she truly is... bring it on! |
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October 2010 Mojo as its name suggests is probably the closest Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers will ever get to making a pure blues album with Tom Petty orchestrating his usual magic as a songwriter on guitar & vocals leaving Mike Campbell to cast his spells on lead guitar. Keyboard maestro Benmont Tench augments proceedings on various pianos and organs whilst Ron Blair plays bass, Steve Ferrone plays drums & percussion and Scott Thurston adds additional guitar & Harmonica. Unlike previous albums, Mojo captures the band jamming during various 'live' sessions in the studio (mostly without the use of overdubs) creating a diverse range of fabulous new songs, some influenced by other great artists and many with both feet firmly in the blues! First up is the fast rocking 'Jefferson Jericho Blues' that opens with a lurid tale about Thomas Jefferson before the band decide to reveal their psychedelic side on the dreamy 'First Flash of Freedom' that has some great moments throughout followed by the upbeat 'Running Man's Bible' which certainly gets the pulse racing! On 'The Trip to Pirate's Cove' we discover a musical treasure that resembles 'Slabo Day' by blues legend Peter Green before a compelling 'Candy' and melancholy 'No Reason To Cry' lead us into the powerful 'I Should Have Known It' that salutes vintage Led Zep! 'U.S. 41' tells a tale from the Great Depression country blues style whilst 'Takin' My Time' unleashes some great heavy delta blues before 'Let Yourself Go' features Scott Thurston giving his all on harmonica. 'Don't Pull Me Over' is the rhythmic reggae wildcard on this album and if you thought pure blues was 'risky' for these guys... then check this one out! Mike Campbell's Gibson Les Paul Sunburst cries out into the night sublimely on 'Lover's Touch' before delivering haunting guitar licks (worthy of Mick Taylor back in his heyday with the Stones) on 'High In The Morning'. The hopeful 'Something Good Coming' is classic Petty that would easily grace any of his previous outings whilst the excellent 'Good Enough' provides a fitting climax to one of his more interesting collaborations with the Heartbreakers and again confirms that Mike Campbell definitely has his mojo working! Mojo may not have been the record everyone especially diehard Petty fans were expecting from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, but it surely marks a change in direction towards the blues that a lot of people will find refreshing and no doubt savour for a long time to come. |
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September 2010
Blues Connections this month proudly presents 'The Future of British Blues' through KCOR - Kansas City Online Radio Broadcast can be heard 'live' between 2pm - 4pm Central USA Time (8pm - 10pm UK BST) on Saturday 11th September 2010 'The Future of British Blues' podcast is available HERE to listen or download from KCOR after the above date!
Programme host is Troy Schell
Featured on the show will be the latest music from Joanne Shaw Taylor, Matt Schofield & Danny Bryant who are amongst the cream of emerging British blues artists! Joanne Shaw Taylor is given licence to thrill with her Fender Telecaster and deep soulful vocals on White Sugar producing a sound that is sending shock waves through radio stations worldwide! Matt Schofield has with the release of Heads, Tails & Aces finally made the album that everyone knew he was capable of producing the perfect fusion of blues/jazz/rock! Danny Bryant's RedEyeBand continue to deliver "blues rock with passion" and Just As I Am is destined to be their most successful album to date!
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August 2010 Snowy White is no stranger to the blues and although having recorded and graced the stage with many of his contemporaries down the years including Peter Green and David Gilmour, he has retained his own unique guitar style that sets him apart from the rest! His Snowy White Blues Project are set to follow up the success of their studio album In Our Time Of Living with the release of In Our Time...Live that captured the band live this year during their European tour at De Boarderij, Zoetermeer, Holland with Snowy White on guitar & vocals, Matt Taylor on guitar & vocals, Ruud Weber Jr on Bass & vocals and Roy Martin on Drums & Percussion (replacing drummer Juan Van Emmerloot who played on the original studio album).
In Our Time...Live delivers ten from thirteen tracks off the original studio album as well as revisiting some old favourites including White's own 'Land Of Plenty' along with two Peter Green standards 'Long Grey Mare' and 'World Keep on Turning'. Acoustic versions of 'I'm So Glad', an old Skip James number and Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee's 'Walk On' precede a blistering rendition of the Freddie King classic 'Woman Across The River' that emulates the Allman Brothers twin lead format. In Our Time...Live is a blues project with a twist as Snowy White remains resolute throughout whilst also allowing his fellow musicians to express themselves, in particular Matt Taylor who continues to amaze, especially on the lengthy title track he also wrote... 'In Our Time Of Living'! |
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July 2010 Blues Connections this month takes you way down to the Louisiana swamplands in search of the 'Swamp Fox' a.k.a. Tony Joe White who plays his own inimitable brand of swamp blues! Since his first big hit 'Polk Salad Annie' over 40 years ago and subsequent album releases during the 70's & 80's, he became better known for his songwriting scoring songs like 'Rainy Night In Georgia' for Brook Benton as well as a string of other hits including the classic 'Steamy Windows' and three more tracks for Tina Turner on her multi-platinum selling 'Foreign Affair'! That led to their inclusion on his critically acclaimed 1991 album Closer To The Truth which he toured Europe with supporting various luminaries before making The Path Of A Decent Groove and Lake Placid Blues along with other works. A return to his roots in Louisiana now sees him cooking up an irresistible groove of deep psychadelic blues fused with country roots music that you can hear during most of his recordings over the last decade on his own aptly named Swamp Music label. Tony Joe White still remains an enigma to many, yet is revered for his music and songwriting amongst his contemporaries including Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler and JJ Cale who lent a hand on his 2006 album Uncovered. His 2008 release of Deep Cuts featuring revamped versions of earlier songs coupled with fascinating new funky tracks goes a long way to defining swamp blues music and chances are that you may have to wait a while to catch him play live... so in the meantime you can check his music out for yourself by simply clicking Here! |
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June 2010 Danny Bryant's RedEyeBand are best known for playing "blues rock with passion" fronted by Danny Bryant on lead guitar & vocals backed by his father Ken Bryant on bass with Trevor Barr on drums, and their sensational new album Just As I Am is destined to be their most important release to date! Just As I Am features eight new songs with the opening power chords on 'Shut Out The Light' setting the standard for what is to follow by rocking you to the core, whilst the blistering guitar on 'Blues For Buddy' helps pay tribute to Buddy Guy and some of the great blues legends. The melancholy ballad 'For the Last Time' cools down proceedings somewhat before a track echoing the great Robin Trower... 'Every Time The Devil Smiles' brings everything back to the boil, paving the way nicely for the compelling title track 'Just As I Am' that overwhelms you with one lead break after another. A well executed heavier version of John Hiatt's original 'Master of Disaster' makes a welcome addition to the album and leads us into the haunting melody of 'Day By Day', a sad story of despair that is also given the Trower treatment. Next up is a track that finds the RedEyeBand in full flow with Danny singing of lessons learnt 'The Hard Way'... a real heartbreaker! The last track 'Alone In The Dark' is a tragic tale of loss written by Danny Bryant following the deluge caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans that moves you to tears... a slow burning classic over eight minutes long that arguably takes its place alongside such classics as 'Stairway To Heaven' and is without doubt worth the price of this album alone... quite simply awesome! Just As I Am just about sums up where Danny Bryant is in the blues/rock world today... up there with the very best! Blues Connections first covered Danny Bryant's RedEyeBand eight years ago after their first studio release Watching You! that included ten originals and spawned the memorable 'Falling Tears'. Since then his passion for the blues has proved relentless, with the band touring continuously across europe with 6 more albums containing his passionate vocals and crying guitar solos that have now become his trademark. |
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May 2010 Eric Clapton continues to leave a legacy few musicians can ever hope to emulate, and his importance to blues music can never be overstated as without him it would never have become as popular as it is today. After becoming a guitar god to many after playing through the 60's and early 70's with The Roosters, Casie Jones & The Engineers, The Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, Derek & The Dominos, his lifestyle took its toll resulting with him retreating into isolation to fight drug addiction and personal problems in 1971, making only a brief appearance on August 1st the same year at George Harrison's 'Concert for Bangladesh'. Encouraged by his good friend Pete Townsend of The Who, he made his legendary Rainbow Concert comeback in London with two concerts at the Rainbow Theatre on January 13th 1973 supported by friends Pete Townsend (Guitar/Vocals), Ron Wood (Guitar/Vocals), Steve Winwood (Keyboards/Vocals), Rick Grech (Bass), Jim Capaldi (Drums), Jimmy Karstein (Drums) & Rebop (Percussion) that helped bring him back from the wilderness and pursue a solo career... the rest as they say is history! Having featured only 6 songs on its initial release... 'Badge', 'Roll It Over', 'Presence Of The Lord', 'Pearly Queen', 'After Midnight' & 'Little Wing', the Rainbow Concert has since been re-mastered & reissued with 8 more live tracks fortunately recorded by Glyn Johns that sensational evening... 'Layla', 'Blues Power', 'Bottle Of Red Wine', 'Bell Bottom Blues', 'Tell The Truth', 'Key To The Highway', 'Let It Rain' & 'Crossroads'. Eric Clapton has since released numerous albums, regularly playing concert tours worldwide whilst always remaining true to the blues and is the only person ever to be inducted into the 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame' three times with The Yardbirds and Cream as well as a solo artist. In 1998 he opened the Crossroads Centre for drug and alcohol abuse (the addictions that nearly killed him) on the island of Antigua and continues to support this cause with concerts and the sale of his guitars. Although incomplete (as any Clapton aficionado will tell you) due to his extensive back catalogue, Complete Clapton is as good as anywhere to start for anyone unfamiliar with his music... |
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April 2010 Blues Connections this month takes a look at the fascinating music of Chris Rea who tasted limited success with various mainstream releases from 1978 before unleashing his dark side onto an unsuspecting British public in 1989 using cutting lyrics and blues slide guitar to tell of his disillusionment with modern day living on The Road to Hell that deservedly made its way to the top of the UK album charts!
Albums that continued in a similar vein included God's Great Banana Skin (1992) and The Blue Cafe (1998) before a life threatening bout of pancreatitis proved nearly fatal in 2001 making him realize that his future belonged to the blues! What followed marked not only a serious change in direction, but also a prolific period of recording new blues material beginning with the release of Dancing Down The Stony Road (2002) as well as setting up his own record label 'JazzeeBlue' in 2003 that spawned Blue Street (Five Guitars) (2003), The Blue Jukebox (2004) and an astonishing 11 CD + 1 DVD box set containing new material and his own artwork as album covers entitled Blue Guitars (2005)...
Chris Rea thankfully continues to make great records playing the blues... so make sure you catch him on tour whilst you still can or you may just live to regret it down that stony road! |
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March 2010 If you're very lucky... you might just catch Delta Moon rolling down the tracks to a venue near you playing their new album Hell Bound Train, featuring the unmistakable whisky voice of Tom Gray on lap steel guitar perfectly in synch with Mark Johnson on bottleneck slide guitar along with Franher Joseph on bass and Darren Stanley on drums & percussion. One listen to this album and it's easy to see why Tom Gray was voted 'Blues Songwriter of the Year' at the 2008 Roots Music Association Music Industry Awards and had songs recorded by Cyndi Lauper, Manfred Mann and Bonnie Bramlett to name just a few! Hell Bound Train is raw contemporary southern blues music that has its roots firmly down the Mississippi delta! Atlanta based Delta Moon feature dual slide guitars and a tight pulsating rhythm section that forge infectious tunes with honest heartfelt lyrics that defy any listener not to be moved, because if these songs can't get you doing the 'Dixie Chicken'... then you know your goose is well and truly cooked! Only after the first five tracks have got you onboard do the band find time to tip their hats to Mississippi legend Fred McDowell, covering his classic 'You Gotta Move'. Five more original cuts follow confirming what you probably already know, which is that something special sure makes Hell Bound Train compelling listening! Could it be your emotions have been stirred by those damn fine lyrics howled at the moon, telling tragic tales of life on the edge influenced by each roll of the dice, or maybe it's the sound of twin slide guitars and infectious rhythms urging you to get up and boogie that make it so addictive... maybe I should let you decide? Simply click here to listen or download all the tracks on Hell Bound Train by Delta Moon or see where they are playing live On Tour! Should you crave more down to earth delta blues songs like those found on Hell Bound Train check out... Delta Moon (2002), Delta Moon 'Live' (2003), Goin' Down South (2004), Howlin' (2005) and...
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February 2010 Rhythm & Blues is the latest release out on the Putumayo world music label featuring a genre that first surfaced stateside as dance music in the 40's & 50's before later exploding in discos around the world during the 60's & 70's! First up is Lavelle White launching into 'I've Never Found a Man to Love' that is typical of the sounds worshiped on the northern soul dance floors of England during the 1970's. James Hunter follows with a raw rendition of 'Til Your Fool Comes Home' giving us a true taste of New Orleans before New York band Cracked Ice give a spirited rework of Candi Staton's 'Sweet Feeling'. A change of rhythm next with The Quantic Soul Orchestra performing the infectious 'Who Knows', that prominently features the vocals of Panamanian singer Kabir. The soulful sound of Stax is heard here with an obscure recording of 'My Honey and Me' by The Emotions before another Stax icon Sam Moore joins Keb Mo & Angie Stone to roll out their very own take of Willie Dixon's classic 'Wang Dang Doodle'. Catherine Russell adds a song written by Sam Cooke to the mix singing 'Put Me Down Easy' before Ruthie Foster's incredible voice delivers 'Cuz I'm Here' that could easily have been an Al Green classic! The unmistakable sound of Big Easy legend Snooks Eaglin delivering 'A Mother's Love' is quickly contrasted by the retro sound of emerging star Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings singing '100 Days, 100 Nights'. Fittingly, the album has a distinct New Orleans feel to its finale, sounding out with Rocky Charles on 'Before I Find the Right Girl for Me' and 'River Is Waiting' performed by local Crescent City legends Irma Thomas and Henry Butler! Rhythm & Blues is most certainly a worthwhile addition to the Putumayo catalogue as not only does it sample the music and dance that swayed a golden era, but also provides a reference that will no doubt influence future generations! |
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January 2010 Blues Connections wishes blues lovers everywhere a very 'Happy New Year' for 2010 and this month we look at Chicago based guitar phenomenon Melvin Taylor whose ability to merge blues seamlessly with jazz and rock leaves one breathless! Inevitably, his playing is compared to that of his influences... BB King, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, George Benson and Wes Montgomery which is testimony in itself to his undisputed talent. Melvin Taylor should really come with a government music warning, as just like Hendrix he takes risks ignoring tradition whilst fusing blues standards with jazz/rock that takes you on a fascinating journey into the unknown... Should you visit the windy city, be sure to check this living legend out as he can still be found regularly playing Rosa's Lounge out there on the west side! Melvin Taylor was born in Jackson, Mississippi, moving with his family to Chicago at the age of three where he grew up listening to blues and jazz in its heartland, and it was whilst sitting in on blues sessions with his uncle that he fell in love with the guitar. He joined a local band called 'The Transistors' performing popular music before moving on down to Maxwell Street and some west side clubs to hone his skills playing the blues. He came to the attention of Pinetop Perkins who needed a guitarist for his Legendary Blues Band on his European tour and whilst there Taylor cut his first two albums Blues On The Run (1982) and Plays The Blues For You (1984) before returning to the U.S. to later record Melvin Taylor & The Slack Band (1995), Bang That Bell (1997), Dirty Pool (2002) and...
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December 2009 The last year has seen an amazing influx of new blues musicians playing a diverse range of blues on both sides of the atlantic... so for all the latest information, check out Artists & Venues/Gigs on www.bluesconnections.com for news and touring dates! Don't forget that by going along to local gigs and supporting 'live music', plus having a great night out - you are in fact helping to keep the blues alive!
Blues Connections has also forged direct links with KCOR - Kansas City Online Radio, so now blues lovers everywhere can listen to blues/rock radio at it's very best around the clock! Simply click on the cool logo below to listen...
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November 2009 Quintus McCormick and his excellent blues band can be found almost any night of the week playing downtown clubs in Chicago providing the musical heartbeat for the windy city. Hey Jodie!, his first recording on Delmark Records boasts 14 carefully crafted compositions of his own plus one standard, and is the result of playing the blues and paying his dues for the last 20 years that also included stints as sideman with J.W. Williams, James Cotton, Lefty Dizz and Otis Clay! Still only 52 and playing like his life depended on it, Quintus McCormick looks set to play an essential part in the future of the blues as he sounds just like an original chip off the old block, and there ain't gonna be too many of those struttin' around in years to come! Hey Jodie! is unmistakeably a blues album to the core as is clearly epitomized by his gifted guitar licks and the howlin' harmonica of Ted Reynolds, especially on tracks like 'What Goes Around Comes Around'. That said... it's Chicago blues that tips its hat to the sounds of Detroit where he was born as his soulful vocals testify on 'There Ain't No Right Way To Do Wrong' as well as the beginning title track. A beautiful album and as good a blues release as you will hear this year and I'm sure I won't be the only one thinking that! |
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October 2009 Mr. Groove Band have just released Rocket 88 Tribute to Ike Turner that contains interesting reworks of songs Ike Turner recorded & produced including Ike & Tina Turner material up to 1973 that became some of the best known tunes of all time! Mr. Groove Band are Darryl Johnson on lead vocals, Tim Smith on Bass, Roddy Smith on guitars, Tim Gordon on saxes & woodwinds, Steve Willets on piano & organ with Tony Creasman & Donnie Marshall playing drums & percussion on different tracks. Also featuring with the band are guest vocalists and ex-Ikettes Bonnie Bramlett & Audrey Turner along with 'The Groovehouse Horns'. Rocket 88 Tribute to Ike Turner kicks off with a remake of the 1951 hit 'Rocket 88' credited to Jackie Brenston & his Delta Cats, a single that Ike played on (widely acknowledged as the first ever rock 'n' roll record) leading into 'No More Doggin' where vocalist Darryl Johnson's soulful pedigree shines through on vocals. An acoustic version of the blues standard 'Rock Me Baby' precedes the slow burning 'I Smell Trouble' that lends itself to some excellent solo improvisation before giving way to 'Funky Mule', a typical Ike Turner instrumental! An immensely funky 'Bold Soul Sister' sung in true James Brown fashion preludes the anthem 'River Deep, Mountain High', and to do it justice Audrey Turner joins DJ on vocals to roll it out one more time! Sly & The Family Stone's soul classic 'I Wanna Take You Higher' has each band member strutting their stuff prior to Bonnie Bramlett taking the lead on a jazzy version of one of Ike & Tina's greatest recordings 'Proud Mary'. 'Taking Back My Name' (also the name of Ike's autobiography) brings Audrey Turner's powerful voice to the fore on a song she completely possesses before the band bring back DJ on lead vocals to cover an incredible version of the old Beatles classic 'Come Together'. Ending the set with 'Nutbush City Limits' in an improvised jazz format really does take the song into new territory making the whole album a thoroughly credible tribute to the music of innovative genius, guitarist, producer and bandleader Ike Turner. Also included as a bonus track is the previously unreleased instrumental 'Prancing' that was recorded by the legend himself during sessions for Risin' with the Blues that won the 'Best Traditional Blues Album' at the 2007 Grammy Awards!
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September 2009 Jeff Golub is the guitarist you could have seen onstage in the 1980's with Billy Squier as well as later mesmerising people with his guitar solos on world tours with Rod Stewart including the DVD 'One Night Only', and you can still hear him on many of the albums they recorded together. Widely acknowledged as a contemporary jazz/rock guitarist, he has just released a predominantly blues based album entitled Blues For You, that was recorded 'live' in the studio with Shawn Pelton on Drums, Kenny White on Keyboards and Tony Garnier on Acoustic/Electric Bass! John Porter famous for his work with Buddy Guy & countless others produced the album and there are special guest singing appearances from Billy Squier on 'Everybody Wants You', John Waite (The Baby's) on 'Lost Mind', Marc Cohn (Walking in Memphis) on 'I Don't Worry About A Thing' and Peter Wolf (J. Geils Band) on 'Rooster Blues' as well as Kirk Whalum playing sax on one of the tracks! Blues For You takes you for a steady walk down the avenues of blues, jazz, rock & soul that should satisfy most of his admirers culminating in his most bluesy excursion to date, although some may miss the intensity of the hard edged guitar solos that he became known for in his formative years! Should you want to hear more... check out the Jeff Golub website & related links to experience a truly fascinating artist! |
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August 2009 Blues Connections this month pays tribute to one of the greatest and largely unknown guitarists of all time... Roy Buchanan whose sound and technique including what later became known as 'pinch harmonics' were certainly unique and indeed influential to many of his contemporaries! Starting out in the 1950's on steel guitar he switched to electric, playing in various rock and blues bands during the 60's before a stint with 'The Snakestretchers' at the start of the 70's. This led to his first solo album on Polydor Records where you can hear his favoured 1953 Fender Telecaster cry on tracks like 'Sweet Dreams' & 'The Messiah Will Come Again', although he went on to use many other guitars trying out different techniques down the years... What followed was a prolific period of blues recordings that were captured in the studio and live in concert during the 70's & 80's including You're Not Alone which really broke the mould as it included covers of Joe Walsh's 'Turn To Stone' & Neil Young's 'Down By The River' on what could have been described as a blues/rock space concept album!
Hot Wires was released the year before his life was controversially cut short in August 1988 when he was arrested for public intoxication and later found hanged in his cell by his own shirt the following morning... a verdict of suicide was hard to accept by those close to him! Roy Buchanan may have died that night... but his musical legacy lives on through his recordings and across the airwaves... amen! |
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July 2009 Larry McCray was born in Magnolia, Arkansas, USA in 1960 and over a decade later moved up to Saginaw, Michigan. Listening to his sister Clara who played Freddie King classics, he also became influenced by Albert & BB King along with Albert Collins, Elmore James and Magic Sam amongst others. Working on the GM assembly line during the day... he honed his guitar skills by night playing in a variety of local bands. He eventually recorded his first album 'Ambition' which spawned the hit 'Nobody Never Hurt Nobody With The Blues' that was quickly followed by Delta Hurricane which typifies his sizzling blues guitar solos and soul-drenched vocals!
More albums followed... most notably 'Born To Play The Blues' in 1998 and after forming his own Magnolia record label... 'Believe It' in 2001 before recording his first live album 'Live on Interstate 75' in 2005 and his excellent self titled studio release Larry McCray a couple of years later. These days you can find Larry McCray playing gigs and festivals throughout the states and if you get the chance make sure you catch him as he will surely blow you away... just like a Delta Hurricane! |
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June 2009 Matt Schofield has with the release of Heads, Tails & Aces finally made the album that all his fans and critics knew he was capable of... combining his versatile and gifted guitar/vocals/songwriting with his band to produce a perfect fusion of blues/jazz/rock which makes compelling listening! Matt Schofield is on Guitar & Vocals and his new look 4-piece band features the steadfast Jonny Henderson on Hammond C3 Organ, Wurlitzer Electric Piano & Piano and welcomes Jeff 'The Funk' Walker on Upright & Electric Bass and Alain Baudry on Drums & Percussion. Heads, Tails & Aces features 11 dynamic tracks with 9 originals cruising through slow burning blues and blues/jazz/rock improvisations with guitar breaks approaching 'meltdown' that quite simply explode! What makes this album so special is its freshness and sense of adventure allowing music to be played 'on the edge' successfully fusing genres whilst at the same time sounding tight and cohesive! Heads, Tails & Aces is without doubt one of the most significant releases of 2009 portraying exactly why Matt Schofield is slowly but surely becoming acknowledged as one of the most innovative guitarists in the world today and after listening to this... I'm sure you'll agree! |
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May 2009 Kenny Wayne Shepherd is the blues guitarist/singer/songwriter out of Shreveport, Louisiana who just over a decade ago was being hailed as the modern day Stevie Ray Vaughan with his first 2 albums Ledbetter Heights & Trouble Is... going Platinum in the United States! Trouble Is... holds the record for the longest running album on the Billboard Blues Record Charts and it also spawned his anthem 'Blue On Black' that went to Number 1! With Noah Hunt on vocals proving to be the perfect foil for KWS's guitar and music echoing Bad Company & SRV they rock and are for many irresistible!
Since then he has toured extensively releasing Live On & The Place You're In as well as playing with many of the blues greats culminating in the release of the double CD/DVD collaboration 10 Days Out (Blues From The Backroads) with fascinating performances and interviews taken down in the delta heartland with many known and unknown blues legends! Kenny Wayne Shepherd has not surprisingly just had a Signature Series Stratocaster named after him underlining that he is one of the most important blues/rock artists to have emerged in recent times and hopefully will continue to be for a long time to come...! |
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April 2009 Louisiana Red born Iverson Minter is a true giant of the blues who inspires everyone he plays with or listens to him by the sheer depth and emotion of his performances! Being fortunate enough to have played with many of the great blues masters like Muddy Waters & John Lee Hooker etc... we get to feel their spirits as they pour over into 12 of his own original's on Back to the Black Bayou! Louisiana Red plays guitar & vocals whilst Little Victor... a long time admirer of Red's gets to produce this gem as well as play guitar and harmonica along with Robert Alexander Pettersen on drums and Bill Troiani on upright bass! Add Kim Wilson, Bob Corritore & Jostein Forsberg on harp, Dave Maxwell & Reidar Larsen on piano, The Hawk on guitar & Peter Lundell on Percussion and you have one hell of a groove! Back to the Black Bayou is the album you have always wanted to own... either to listen to or get down with as each track is a living history of the blues that you will enjoy reliving with every beat of your heart! |
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March 2009 Rocky Jackson has been around quite a while and his sound tells you just that when you listen to Squeeze Here which has all the hallmarks of a seasoned bluesman delivering both contemporary and traditional blues! Although born in Austin, Texas it was whilst at high school in Detroit, Michigan that Rocky first picked up a guitar learning many styles including folk, rock 'n' roll, r & b, soul and of course the blues. He eventually moved to LA where he finally realized his ambition of playing the blues with The Magic Blues Band before forming Rocky Jackson & The Ignitors rolling out a stunning mix of Texas, Chicago and Delta blues coupled with Detroit soul! Squeeze Here allows you to savour Rocky playing his own diverse range of blues from the hip swinging opening track 'Every Woman Got It' to the slow burning 'Blues for Texas' as well as classic delta blues on 'Leavin' Mississippi'! He also finds time to tip his hat on a couple of tracks to one of his greatest influences... Willie Dixon with some scorchin' lap steel guitar on 'Backdoor Man' & bottleneck on 'The Same Thing' as well as giving a worthwhile rendition of John 'Duke' Logan's... 'Let's Buzz'! One things for sure... the world is a much better place with people like Rocky Jackson out there singing the blues... Check out one of the coolest website intros on the web at... http://www.rockyjackson.com |
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February 2009 Joanne Shaw Taylor is yet another young & gifted blues artist out of the Ruf Records stable and with her debut album White Sugar she is well and truly kicking up some dust! Flown over to Bessie Blue Studios in Tennessee to record with the legendary Jim Gaines along with seasoned session musicians David Smith on Bass and Steve Potts on drums... she is given licence to thrill with her Fender Telecaster and deep soulful vocals on ten of her own songs producing a sound that will send shock waves through radio stations worldwide! Joanne Shaw Taylor most notably owes her roots to Stevie Ray Vaughan & Albert Collins and thankfully these can be heard throughout her repertoire! What is so refreshing about White Sugar is that you catch a glimpse of a rising star that will surely shine down the road and hopefully a venue near you very soon... just make sure you are there to experience her when she does at the outset! |
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January 2009 Blues Connections wishes everyone connected with the blues a very 'Happy New Year' for 2009! Should you want a fascinating insight into blues history... then look no further than BLUES ODYSSEY, a book written by ex-Rolling Stone Bill Wyman who takes you on a journey to music's heart and soul! BLUES ODYSSEY is an illustrated history of the blues from its roots in darkest Africa, that was born out of suffering through slavery and 'The Depression' up the Mississippi delta to the bright lights of Chicago and the world beyond! Bill Wyman gives his own fascinating insight into the myths and legends surrounding the blues and as he says in his introduction... "The Blues isn't just a style of music, it's an attitude of mind... blues is life and life is the blues"! BLUES ODYSSEY not only pays homage to some of the blues greats and legends, it also charts how the blues became the most important influence on modern day music making it an essential reference book for music lovers everywhere! |
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December 2008 The last year has seen an amazing influx of new blues musicians playing a diverse range of blues on both sides of the atlantic... so enjoy! For all the latest information, check out Artists & Venues/Gigs on www.bluesconnections.com for news and touring dates! Don't forget that by going along to local gigs and supporting 'live music', plus having a great night out - you are in fact helping to keep the blues alive!
Blues Connections has now also forged direct links with KCOR - Kansas City Online Radio, so now blues lovers everywhere can listen to blues/rock radio at it's very best around the clock! |
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November 2008 ZZ Top definitely have One Foot In The Blues and the other one firmly in the boogie and how these guys manage to get so many classics on just one album defies belief! This is without doubt Texas blues at its very best!
Rancho Texicano is the best of ZZ Top fittingly on a double CD which helps it avoid the typical 'flaws' debate about song selection although duplicating some of the tracks as radio edits here has not helped that cause! Still mind blowing blues though and no CD collection is complete without ZZ Top! |
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October 2008 David Kimbrough Jr has with his 2006 release of Shell Shocked delivered a clear statement that he intends to tread deep in his father's footsteps after dealing with many of life's addictions portrayed through his songs in Shell Shocked! To listen... Click Here! David Kimbrough Jr is the son of delta bluesman Junior Kimbrough whose legacy included some memorable classic blues songs including 'Done Got Old' later recorded and made famous by the legendary Buddy Guy! Shell Shocked echoes Jimi Hendrix, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and the Stax Memphis soul scene successfully mixing the sensual psychadelic vibes with the blues mainstream! Should you want music to get down and boogie to you need look no further as this album takes you there and back again... incredible! |
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September 2008
Blues Connections has now forged direct links with KCOR - Kansas City Online Radio, so now all blues lovers can listen to blues/rock radio at it's very best round the clock!
KCOR streams from studios in Prairie Village, Kansas (suburb of Kansas City) Created in 2007 by a team of individuals interested in returning "Locally" owned and operated Radio to Kansas City. Providing an outlet for Local/National/International Independent Rock, Blues-Rock Artists and Unique & Entertaining Talk Radio. |
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August 2008 No Trouble At All is the brand new release from the Matt Taylor Band that is fuelled by seven original contemporary blues tracks and some very innovative covers of classic material! Matt Taylor delivers vocals and guitars whilst Jonny Dyke plays the keys and Pete Radcliff the drums and they are joined by Hayley Sanderson and Mick Wilson on backing vocals! No Trouble At All has all the hallmarks of a band at its creative best with each member feeding off the other trading licks and crafting some unforgettable songs! 'I Found A Love' sets the pattern for the whole album with a love story ending in a guitar solo that fades way too soon and 'Get Outta My Way' continues along the same vein before giving way to the beautiful ballad 'Let Your Hair Down' that echoes the Eagles in their prime! 'You Are The Only One' is another well crafted love song that precedes a retro rework of Bob Dylan's 'To Be Alone With You' that has you swinging those hips before a tale of escapism has you boogieing down 'The Open Road'! Hayley Sanderson steps forward to lend her country girl vocals to 'So Far From Home' whilst classic covers of Sheryl Crow's 'Everyday Is A Winding Road' and Greg Allman's 'It's Not My Cross To Bear' prove worthy interpretations! Another Matt Taylor original 'Snakes' has a certain Santana feel about it leading to a haunting rendition of the Jose Gonzalez song 'Lovestain' that simply blows you away! The title track 'No Trouble At All' completes this fine set before 3 (radio edits) 'You Are The Only One', 'The Open Road' & 'Everyday Is A Winding Road' wind things up! No Trouble At All from the Matt Taylor Band is unpredictable and laden with gems that you will no doubt hear for a long time to come! |
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July 2008 Willie "Big Eyes" Smith was Born In Arkansas which is also the title of his latest album full of his own original blues songs! Starting out playing harmonica in the 1950's most noticeably with Bo Diddley on the Willie Dixon song 'Diddy Wah Diddy', he later became the multi-award winning drummer you can find on many Muddy Waters records during the 60's and 70's. He later helped form the Legendary Blues Band in 1980 with Pinetop Perkins (piano), Louis Myers (guitar), Calvin Jones (bass) and Jerry Portnoy (harmonica) making many critically acclaimed albums whilst also backing many of the greats including Buddy Guy and Howlin' Wolf as well as Muddy Waters on 'The Last Waltz' soundtrack and John Lee Hooker in the movie 'The Blues Brothers'!
Born In Arkansas harps back to the golden age of blues like you used to hear every night on the south side of Chicago, and taking you back there is the legendary Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on Harmonica/Vocals with his son Kenny Smith on Drums, Bob Stroger on Bass, Billy Flynn & Little Frank Kokowski on Guitar and Barrelhouse Chuck on piano. If you can't get enough of Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and the blues the way it should be played on Born In Arkansas then check out his previous recording Way Back in 2006! |
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June 2008 Sonny Landreth has just released the most refreshing album that will hit your CD deck this summer... From The Reach features David Ranson on bass and Mike Burch on drums along with special guests Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, Vince Gill, Nadirah Shakoor, Dr John & Jimmy Buffett! From The Reach isn't what many might perceive as just another record where stars 'sit in' for a session to pay their respects... instead it was conceived as more of a collaboration alongside each artist as a tribute to their music and influence. 'Blue Tarp Blues' captures Mark Knopfler with Sonny in true zydeco stompin' form whilst the blues comes shining through as you would expect with Eric Clapton during 'When I Still Had You' & 'Storm Of Worry'. And what Sonny Landreth album would be complete without at least one instrumental like the intense 'Uberesso' or 'The Milky Way Home' when Texas guitar slinger Eric Johnson helps step it up a notch! The cajun influenced 'Howlin' Moon' showcases the talents of Dr John & Jimmy Buffett and 'Let It Fly' features singer Nadirah Shakoor. Robben Ford adds his signature to 'Way Past Long' before being joined for 'Blue Angel' by Vince Gill whose vocals reveal Sonny's country roots especially on 'The Goin' On' and the end track 'Universe'. Sonny Landreth is the king of the Louisiana slide guitar and From The Reach endorses his popularity among his contemporaries whilst continuing the standard he set with his groundbreaking album... The Road We're On
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May 2008 Steve Winwood is one of the most gifted contemporary musicians ever to take the stage, performing as a multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter throughout his career in various band formats and projects. After backing many of the blues greats like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, T-Bone Walker & BB King on their UK tours whilst still a teenager, he later played in such groups as Spencer Davis, Blind Faith and Traffic before going solo. Probably most famous for his trademark vocals, guitar and Hammond B-3 Organ, he has never ceased to amaze everyone in the music world as he has woven a magical musical tapestry for over 40 years leading to his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004!
Nine Lives is his latest album, aptly named as you experience him going down yet another avenue on the long and winding road he has chosen to tread, that is reminiscent of his Traffic days and back to his breathtaking best! Don't miss Steve Winwood 'Live In Concert'... see Tour Dates Nine Lives CD + DVD contains his latest 'Nine Lives' CD plus a DVD capturing over 40 minutes in the studio performances as well as the music video of his latest single 'Dirty City' featuring Eric Clapton! |
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April 2008 Ardent Studios at 2000 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38104 U.S.A. has played an essential part in American music heritage! Initially the overflow to Stax, the studio soon became part of Soulsville USA in the same way as Detroit based Motown was called Hitsville USA. The Memphis soul sound that came out of Stax and Ardent was the unique combination of black and white musicians, songwriters and producers working closely together, changing the way music was made forever! John Fry (pictured in Ardent Studios One below) founded Ardent Records in 1959 by recording his first 45's in his family's garage and later opened Ardent Studios in 1966 on National Street in Memphis before moving to their current location in Midtown in 1971!
Just some of the legendary artists who have recorded at Ardent Studios are Booker T & the MGs, BB King, Luther Allison, Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, REM, Isaac Hayes, Al Green, Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top, Bob Dylan and Big Star whose drummer Jody Stephens now manages the studios! |
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March 2008 Well... it's the eleventh hour man and time for you to get out and see the last of those original blues legends whilst they are still there for you to experience! The last year has seen an amazing influx of new blues musicians playing a diverse range of blues on both sides of the atlantic... so enjoy! For all the latest information, check out Artists & Venues/Gigs on www.bluesconnections.com for news and touring dates! Don't forget that by going along to local gigs and supporting 'live music', plus having a great night out - you are in fact helping to keep the blues alive!
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February 2008 Dave Specter has been on the Chicago music scene serving up his own cool mix of blues and jazz guitar for over 2 decades recording and performing with many of the greats including Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rodgers, Magic Slim, Lonnie Brooks, Willie Kent, Ronnie Earl, Steve Freund, Otis Clay, Pinetop Perkins, Sunnyland Slim and many more... Live In Chicago is his brand new CD/DVD due for release April 22nd 2008 on Delmark Records with special guests Tad Robinson, Jimmy Johnson, and Sharon Lewis! Recorded at Buddy Guy's Legends and Rosa's Lounge during August 2007 it features Brother John Kattke: keyboards, Harlan Terson: bass, Marty Binder: drums.
The DVD features 4 original Dave Spector instrumentals plus 3 songs each by Tad, Jimmy & Sharon. Tad Robinson performs a great version of the country/soul tune "That's How I Got To Memphis" and 2 originals from 'Blueplicity', a previous collaboration recorded back in 1994! Jimmy Johnson covers "Feel So Bad", "You Don't Love Me" and "Out On The Road" and Sharon Lewis performs 2 originals along with a Son Seals song who Dave played with back in the late 1980's. There will also be a Specter interview/commentary on the DVD along with a surround sound mix. View a Trailer of the Live In Chicago CD that also features 4 original Dave Spector instrumentals along with 2 songs each by Tad, Jimmy & Sharon making this truly a blues celebration! |
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January 2008 Blues Connections wishes you all a very 'Happy New Year' for 2008 and this month we pay tribute to 'The King Of Rhythm' Ike Turner who passed away on December 12th 2007. Ike was an innovative genius as well as a guitarist, producer and bandleader and on the 1951 hit 'Rocket 88' (credited to singer/saxophonist Jackie Branston and his Delta Cats) he played on what is widely acknowledged as the first ever rock 'n' roll record! Make no mistake... Ike was no saint like many blues legends before him, but his music that influenced so many musicians will no doubt stand the test of time, as his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and St Louis Walk of Fame in 2001 testify! Following years of cocaine addiction and playing the villain in his well publicised volatile relationship with Tina, he finally returned to what he did best which was playing music... only this time he fronted a band like never before delivering some incredible roaring vocals, seething jazz/blues guitar and great boogie woogie piano! Risin' with the Blues released September 2006 signalled a dramatic return to form for one of the founding forces of rock 'n' roll! An hilariously funky 'Gimme Back My Wig' precedes Louis Jordan's jump blues hit 'Caldonia' which inspired Turner in his youth! Ken Frizelle's harp lends itself admirably on the raunchy 'Tease Me' and a rendition of Fats Domino's standard 'Goin' Home Tomorrow' easies you into some great guitar work by Lenny Rankins on 'Jazzy Fuzzy'. His fabulously funky 'I Don't Want Nobody' precedes Ike confessing to doing wrong in a gospel invoked 'Jesus Loves Me' anyway! The Holland/Dozier/Holland ballad 'A Love Like Yours' makes way for some excellent improvised jazz guitar on Horace Silver's 'Senor Blues'. Ike's sure got the blues as he extends Eddie Boyd's classic to 'Eighteen Long Years', the length of his relationship with Tina before screaming out his excellent 'Rockin Blues' which gets my vote as the best track on the album! A slow blues number ensues in the shape of Erskine Hawkins 'After Hours', showcasing this man's incredible talent on piano followed by more blues guitar heard on 'Big Fat Mama'. The album is finally rounded off with the funk influenced 'Bi Polar' which effortlessly brings you back again to the PLAY button! Risin' with the Blues forges variations on Blues/Jazz/Funk/Soul/Gospel giving you a musical fusion and clarity of musicianship seldom heard on CD and was definitely one of the outstanding cuts of 2006! |
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December 2007 Luther Allison was undoubtedly one of the most significant blues artists ever to pick up a guitar and Underground is an undiscovered gem recently unearthed by his son Bernard Allison in the home of his mother and Luther's wife Fannie Mae Allison. Captured in one take at Wonderful Records Studio and produced by bassist Bobby Rush with Bobby King on rhythm guitar and Robert Plunkett on drums, you discover Luther at the outset... young, hot and raw! What is clearly evident on these eight early tracks covering... 'Hideaway', 'Don't Start Me Talking', 'Drivin' Wheel', 'Cut You Loose', 'Easy Baby', 'You're Gonna Miss Me', 'Take My Love' and 'Rock Me Baby', is that burning intensity within that he delivers with his unique guitar sound and vocals which would stay with him throughout his career and become his trademark. Running nearly thirty minutes long, this CD is short by modern day standards. but hey... what we have here is not quantity, just sheer quality and of course a highly collectable piece of blues history! With his 1994 U.S. album Soul Fixin' Man also released as Bad Love in Europe, Luther finally got the recognition he so richly deserved winning 4 WC Handy Awards the same year! The following year he returned to his spiritual home... Chicago for the first time in 10 years to deliver an unforgettable performance at the Blues Festival which fortunately was recorded and can be heard on the incendiary double live album Live In Chicago!
Luther Allison was the ultimate entertainer and one of the few artists who knew how to sing and play the blues like it ought to be played... passionately with his mind, body and soul playing each note as if it were his last! Very few of his contemporaries could or still can light up the stage the way he did, for he had not only mastered his trade, but also in some way even authenticated it! Most people who knew the great man would probably agree that when he died... a lot of the blues died with him! "Leave your ego, play the music, love the people" was what he used to preach... and you can't argue with that... Amen! |
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November 2007 Blues Connections this month pays tribute to saxophonist Kirk Whalum who rose to fame performing with many of the greats including Barbara Streisand, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Luther Vandross and perhaps most notably Whitney Houston, playing one of the most popular sax solo's ever on her cover of Dolly Parton's “I Will Always Love You” for the award winning soundtrack 'The Bodyguard'. August this year saw the release of Ultimate which compiles many of the songs he made famous, although his complete back catalogue is worth a listen... especially For You which became his best selling album to date!
Kirk Whalum is an exceptional artist who allows you to connect spiritually and emotionally with his music. He is also a man of vision deciding to share his special 'gift' with others by mentoring students as Artist-In-Residence at the 'Stax Music Academy' in Memphis, as well as inspiring people the world over to express themselves by playing music from the soul! |
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October 2007 Cherry Lee Mewis is currently touring with her brand new 'unplugged' blues 'n' roots album Little Girl Blue indelibly stamped with her own raw gritty vocals inspired by Janis Joplin and Koko Taylor that capture the true emotion and essence of the blues! Classic tracks from Memphis Minnie, Robert Johnson, Janis Joplin and Jeff Buckley are produced by Max Milligan who plays guitars and former argent singer John Verity who also weighs in with a duet on Koko Taylor's 'The Man Next Door'. Also evident are Dave Jenkins playing double bass and Jeff Dakin on blues harp. Little Girl Blue also includes 'Ugly Night' co-written with Max Milligan as well as 'Cherry Wine', 'Where's My Good Man', 'Sweet Substitute', 'Baby I Don't Cry Over You', 'Nothin' In Ramblin', 'Red Hot', 'Wade In The Water', 'Shame, Shame, Shame', 'Mistreated', 'Cry Me A River', 'Mercedes Benz' and 'Everybody Here Wants You'! Hopefully Cherry Lee Mewis will remain true to the blues and help keep them alive as she can undoubtedly sing them like they used to be sung... down on the levee! |
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September 2007 David Gilmour releases his breathtaking new DVD recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall entitled Remember That Night on September 17th featuring Pink Floyd buddies Richard Wright on keyboards and Dick Parry on saxophone along with guest performances from David Crosby & Graham Nash as well as David Bowie! The DVD features many of the tracks from his third solo album On An Island, released last year to critical acclaim!
Also available on DVD is In Concert containing live footage from 2001's 'The Meltdown' concert plus additional tracks performed at the Royal Festival Hall in 2002. Extras include the blues classic 'I Put A Spell On You' sung beautifully by Mica Paris with Jools Holland on piano. David Gilmour is best known as the voice and guitar of the legendary Pink Floyd as well as one of Britain's most respected musicians by fellow artists and fans alike, and few musicians evoke emotions quite like this genius when in full flight on his Stratocaster! |
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August 2007 Otis Rush is most famous for his slow burning guitar sound that has had such on influence on so many other great blues guitarists including Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Jimmie Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan! He originally made his name playing blues on the west and south sides of Chicago where he recorded Willie Dixon's classic "I Can't Quit You Baby" in 1956 and soon afterwards "Double Trouble" and "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)" on the Cobra label. He later went on to record "So Many Roads, So Many Trains" for Chess and "Homework" for Duke records although unfortunately like so many of his contemporaries, he remained widely unrecorded! He continued to play the Chicago clubs and tour the U.S. and in 1975 he was eventually captured live in concert during a world tour in Japan on So Many Roads 'Live In Concert' and a DVD is also available entitled Live At Montreux 1986 that includes many of his classic tracks featuring him alongside other blues legends Eric Clapton and Luther Allison at the 1986 Montreux Jazz Festival! Otis finally came to prominence again during the 1990's and for one of these recordings he decided to go down to Memphis in 1998 where Willie Mitchell produced the incredible blues/soul mix on Any Place I'm Going which won him a Grammy the following year for 'Best Traditional Blues Album!
Otis Rush is without doubt one of the true originals of the blues and apart from being remembered by many for playing right handed guitars upside down left handed without restringing them... his slow burning blues guitar solos will continue to brighten up our nights! |
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July 2007 Whatever Makes You Happy from creative singer/songwriter/guitarist Jeff Lang at long last delivers his fascinating music to a wider audience in Europe and America after long establishing himself in his native Australia. As he meanders his way effortlessly through 15 of his own tracks including 4 short teasing instrumentals encompassing bluegrass, country, folk and roots music, you can't help but be seduced by the sheer quality of each song. Hats off also to Tim Hall who co-produced the album, Angus Diggs (drums/percussion), Grant Cummerford (bass) and others including Chris Finnen (acoustic guitar) and Chris Wilson (backing vocals). There's plenty to admire here commencing with 'The Save' which Lindsey Buckingham could quite easily have included on Mac's 'Tusk' album! After listening to the chilling 'Switchblade' & 'Alive In There', the latter blending national guitar with Matt Walker's harp, you realise you are in for something special and this is confirmed as he sings 'You Should Have Waited' with keyboards hammered out in true Billy Joel fashion. A sad story of rape is told on 'By Face Not Name', a duet sung with Suzannah Espie before the atmospheric 'Rain On Troy' that features Azo Bell's haunting singing saw... maybe a song John Martin might cover? 'Rejected Novelist Fails Again' has it all including an interesting backdrop of 'Sgt Peppers'! A violent love song 'You Tremble' is contrasted by the superb lullaby 'Sleeping' featuring lap steel guitar and Bruce Haymes on piano. You can't help but tap your feet to the addictive 'Slip Away' before we are driven into a frenetic chase by a mandolin and fiddle on 'The Road' ending with the instrumental title track. Influences abound here... especially Neil Young although make no mistake, Jeff Lang is an original artist in every sense of the word and Whatever Makes You Happy sends you down the road singing his songs that you will soon want to make your very own! Whatever Makes You Happy is a fine example of contemporary roots music and how it can be played today... miss it at your peril! |
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June 2007 Blues Connections this month celebrates the music of blues legend Luther Allison who tragically died of inoperable lung cancer on August 12th 1997. With his 1994 U.S. album Soul Fixin' Man also released as Bad Love in Europe, Luther finally got the recognition he so richly deserved winning 4 WC Handy Awards the same year! The following year he returned to his spiritual home... Chicago for the first time in 10 years to deliver an unforgettable performance at the Blues Festival which fortunately was recorded and can be heard on the incendiary double live album Live In Chicago!
Live In Paradise is an apt name for the DVD that was to be his last, capturing another electrifying performance live in Paris in April 1997. This concert sees him delivering yet another passionate explosion of blues guitar and soulful vocals including 'Bad Love', 'Pain In The Street', 'Just As I Am', Serious etc...! Luther Allison was without doubt the ultimate entertainer and one of the few artists who knew how to sing and play the blues like it ought to be played... passionately with his mind, body and soul playing each note as if it were his last! Very few of his contemporaries could or still can light up the stage the way he did, for he had not only mastered his trade, but also in some way even authenticated it! Most people who knew the great man would probably agree that when he died... a lot of the blues died with him! "Leave your ego, play the music, love the people" was what he used to preach... and you can't argue with that... Amen! |
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May 2007 Build Your Own Fire pays tribute to the music of unsung hero Eddie Hinton, immortalised here by blues/rock singer Jimmy Hall & The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Collective. As session guitarist with 'Muscle Shoals' back in the late 60's & early 70's, Hinton played and wrote classic hits for many great artists on the Atlantic label including Aretha Franklin and Percy Sledge although it was Otis Redding who had the biggest influence! Deciding to go solo as a talented singer/songwriter that had experienced the blues and whose singing was likened to Otis Redding, many began to see him as "the white Otis"! Sadly, he never fulfilled his potential and Capricorn Records folding just as his 1978 solo debut Very Extremely Dangerous was released, proved to be only the beginning of mistimed projects and tragic events right up to his death in 1995. Jimmy Hall always did have one of those voices to die for as well as being an accomplished harp and sax player, all honed during his days with 70's rock band 'Wet Willie'. Now we hear him singing the blues with his southern soulful vocals giving credence to Hinton's songs almost as though he was summoned to testify for the man himself! Produced by Tallan Ware... Greg Martin plays lead and Larry Byrom rhythm guitars whilst Clayton Ivey handles the keys, David Hood the bass and Jonathan Dees the drums. Delbert McClinton, Kira Small & Bruce Dees add backing vocals. All the songs covered here are Eddie Hinton originals you've probably heard before and the rest may surprisingly seduce you till you end up singing them yourself! Build Your Own Fire successfully acknowledges the amazing music of flawed genius Eddie Hinton, although one can't help but think it could also be dedicated to all those musicians, singers and songwriters just like him who never quite made it! |
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April 2007 A New Point Of View cut with nine new original songs reminds us exactly why Tad Robinson was twice nominated for a W.C. Handy Award and the sheer magic brought together on this album promises finally to give him the recognition he so richly deserves! His voice breaths blues & soul over the whole sessions that could so easily have stemmed from the Stax /Motown era, and Alex Schultz blends jazz/blues guitar flawlessly with the sweet soul explosion orchestrated by Willie Henderson creating the perfect stage for Robinson to express himself on! Severn Records David Earl produces a fine mix adding Kevin Anker on keyboards, Steve Gomes on bass, Robb Stupka on drums and Victor Williams on percussion. Henderson's renowned arrangement of horns and strings gives that distinctive soul sound of the 60's & 70's and this is more evident than ever on 'Long Way Home' that's reminiscent of 'Isaac Hayes' & 'The Temptations' in their heyday! Robinson's cover of 'Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)' is up there with the original and his rework of Van Morrison's 'Up & Down World' leaves us plenty to admire, whilst his upbeat 'You Get To Keep The Love' resembles the sound of latter day 'Hitsville USA' given a new twist! 'He's Movin' In (To Her Life)' is delivered in classic blues format with Schultz's guitar breaks being the perfect foil for Robinson's soaring vocals! His harmonica sounds an absolute treat as he shuffles through a funky 'More Good Than Bad' and 'Two Of A Kind Blues' that also features some haunting electric organ from Kevin Anker that brings back memories of 'The Doors'. 'Broken Hearted Man' could have come straight out of B.B. King's repertoire whereas 'When You're Ready' and 'Love Is Everything' definitely have their roots deeper in soul and whilst listening to the last track, you can't help strutting your stuff and keep coming 'Back For More'! Seldom does soul blues sound so good... probably because it's produced by only the finest and given a A New Point Of View! |
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March 2007 Where I Belong is the essential new album from Ian Parker whose significance as a musician and songwriter is becoming increasingly apparent to those in the blues world and beyond! As an evolving blues artist who remains true to himself proudly wearing his heart on his sleeve, Ian Parker is inevitably fulfilling his destiny as the 'Great White Hope' of British contemporary blues music! Following last year's Ruf Records Blues Caravan project and Pilgrimage album that "had a profound effect on his life and music", Ian is now reunited with his regular band... 'Morg' Morgan on keyboards, Steve Amadeo on bass and Wayne Proctor on drums who eloquently provide the musical canvass for Ian to express himself on this album as they have for most of his recent masterpieces... Where I Belong takes Ian back to his roots in blues & soul and is loaded with eleven great original songs that have the same feeling and intensity as his previous work whilst sounding even more diverse, with each love song searching for an answer or leaving a tale of heartache! Oh yes... the mesmerising guitar breaks that we all so know and love are still ever present, albeit not so extensive this time out as they have become more integral to the songs themselves! Ian Parker continues to fascinate his generation, as each exciting new chapter of his development unfolds. Like all great musicians, it's not so much what they play that's important, it's how they feel and deliver it that matters... and this man certainly knows how to do just that! |
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February 2007 Otis Grand has with the release of Hipster Blues confirmed his place at the very forefront of the British Blues renaissance! Fourteen tracks of pure blues and swinging magic, many his own compositions reminiscent of the type of music he grew up listening to during the 1960's... although some take their roots far earlier. A rich fusion of hip blues/soul/jazz/R&B runs throughout the whole set with Otis calling on his favourite guest vocalists Jimmy Thomas, Reuben Richards, Sugar Ray Norcia, Curtis Salgado George Bisharat and Serena Franklin as well as a fabulous array of musicians including 'The Oh Gee Horns' to complete this amazing mix! Willie Dixon's 'Every Girl I See' & Freddie King's 'Overdrive' are given a fresh rework as is the upbeat 'Three Time Loser' inspired by Wilson Pickett. The piano intro by Bruce Katz on his classic 'Satan's Blues' leads into one of the finest guitar solos you're ever likely to hear and 'Never Raise My Hand' and 'Guitar Lovin' Blues' bear similar hallmarks, showing just why Otis Grand is widely regarded as one of the greatest blues guitarists ever to take the stage! Time now to swing those hips to the sensational 'I'm Glad to Go' and 'Gordon's Complaint' which typify the sound heard across clubs, music halls and juke joints around that era, as do instrumentals 'Slo-Mo-Shun', 'Mooki Sooki' (Sleepwalk) 'The Memphis Push', 'Hipster Blues No5' and of course 'Nutcracker Rock'! Fittingly... 'Sad Blues (For Peter Green)', another white blues legend calls time on proceedings! Hipster Blues is an authentic blowback to the sound of a golden bygone era which not only changed music, but also filled dance floors and when listening to these tracks, you'll feel excited and hear why!! |
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January 2007 Happy New Year to you all in 2007 and a very warm welcome to Blues Connections... especially with so much to look forward to as Ruf Records celebrate 12 years of "Where Blues Crosses Over"! A Ruf Records Anthology containing both a CD and DVD has been released marking this occasion which features choice cuts and archive material from the following artists... Luther Allison, Bernard Allison, Walter Trout, Robin Trower, Sue Foley, Ian Parker, Aynsley Lister, Erja Lyytinen, Ana Popovic, Candye Kane, Omar & The Howlers, Larry Garner, Kevin Coyne, Canned Heat, Bob Brozman, Friend & Fellow, Imperial Crowns! Essential listening are: Walter Trout collaborating with Jeff Healey for a burning blues jam on'Workin' Overtime' from his Full Circle CD! Ian Parker playing 'It Hurts A Man' off his '...whilst the wind' live CD who is one of the most fascinating blues/roots performers of his generation! Ana Popovic who's guitar burns your soul on 'Love Fever' taken from her debut 'Hush' album! Essential viewing are: Sue Foley delivering 'Absolution' from her Live In Europe DVD that not only displays her fabulous guitar and vocals, but also her true roots in the blues! And finally... a previously unreleased video clip of Luther Allison immortalized through his own version of 'Bad Love' showing just how the blues really should be played that will bring tears to your eyes!!! Should you want to experience the very best of "Where Blues Crosses Over"... both past and present, then check out the Ruf Records Anthology and discover just what you've been missing! |
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December 2006 This year has seen an amazing influx of new blues musicians and undoubtedly a resurgence of existing blues artists touring on both sides of the Atlantic! For all the latest information, check out Artists & Venues/Gigs on www.bluesconnections.com for news and touring dates! Don't forget that by going along to local gigs and supporting 'live music', plus having a great night out - you are in fact helping to keep the blues alive!
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November 2006
Some of the legendary blues, gospel, R&B, Country and Rock ‘n’ Roll artists who Sam Phillips recorded at the studio during its golden years between 1951 and 1960 were Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Ike Turner, The Prisonairs, Charlie Rich, Howlin’ Wolf and BB King. |
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October 2006
Some of the legendary artists who recorded at Stax during its golden years between 1961 and 1974 were Booker T & the MGs, Rufus & Carla Thomas, The Bar-Kays, Otis Redding, Judy Clay, William Bell, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, The Staple Singers, The Soul Children, The Emotions, Jean Knight, Shirley Brown, Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Floyd, Little Milton, Albert King and Isaac Hayes. Listen to Stax Gold: Hits 1968 - 1974 and experience Memphis soul at it's very best! |
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September 2006 Sugarhill Blues Festival kicks of its 1st Annual Blues Festival in 2006 on September 9/10 Sat/Sun in the Wiltshire countryside just outside the village of Liddington near Swindon just minutes from Junction 15 on the M4 motorway! Proposed line-up for this great blues event is as follows... Saturday 9th September... Doctor Feelgood, Paul Williams & Blue Thunder, Papa George, Matt Schofield, Robin Bibi Band! Sunday 10th September... The Hamsters, Connie Lush & Blues Shouter, Nicky Moore's Blues Corporation, Sam Kelly's Station House! Check out... Sugarhill Blues Festival for more information about what's on and where you will find major blues acts 'live' and out in the open!!! |
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August 2006 The King of Rhythm Ike Turner is back... make no mistake! Following years of cocaine addiction and playing the villain in his well publicised volatile relationship with Tina, he has finally returned to what he does best which is playing music... only this time he fronts the band like never before delivering some incredible roaring vocals, seething jazz/blues guitar and great boogie woogie piano! Risin' with the Blues, his forthcoming September 2006 release signals a dramatic return to form for one of the founding forces of rock 'n' roll! An hilariously funky 'Gimme Back My Wig' precedes Louis Jordan's jump blues hit 'Caldonia' which inspired Turner in his youth! Ken Frizelle's harp lends itself admirably on the raunchy 'Tease Me' and a rendition of Fats Domino's standard 'Goin' Home Tomorrow' easies you into some great guitar work by Lenny Rankins on 'Jazzy Fuzzy'. His fabulously funky 'I Don't Want Nobody' precedes Ike confessing to doing wrong in a gospel invoked 'Jesus Loves Me' anyway! The Holland/Dozier/Holland ballad 'A Love Like Yours' makes way for some excellent improvised jazz guitar on Horace Silver's 'Senor Blues'. Ike's sure got the blues as he extends Eddie Boyd's classic to 'Eighteen Long Years', the length of his relationship with Tina before screaming out his excellent 'Rockin Blues' which gets my vote as the best track on the album! A slow blues number ensues in the shape of Erskine Hawkins 'After Hours', showcasing this man's incredible talent on piano followed by more blues guitar heard on 'Big Fat Mama'. The album is finally rounded off with the funk influenced 'Bi Polar' which effortlessly brings you back again to the PLAY button! Risin' with the Blues forges variations on Blues/Jazz/Funk/Soul/Gospel giving you a musical fusion and clarity of musicianship seldom heard on CD and is definitely one of the outstanding cuts of 2006! |
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July 2006 Roadhouse lead by Gary Boner on gut-bucket vocals and lead guitar, have just released Broken Land which promises to be their most successful album to date! Drew Barron features on lead and rhythm guitars with Bill Hobley and Roger Hunt on bass and drums respectively. Time to break open some ice cold beers and a bottle of Jack Daniel's for 38 Special fans or those who like their music southern fried! 'White Water' and 'Sacrifice launch this fine raunchy R&B feast with 'The Big Easy' and the bluesy 'Redemption Street' focusing on the delightful female vocals of Mandie G & Fiona McElroy, whose contributions shine throughout the whole album. Classic Dylan standards follow in the shape of 'All Along The Watchtower' and 'Knocking On Heaven's Door', although it is the worthy album title track 'Broken Land' featuring twin leads that really takes proceedings into full flight! An interesting if almost gothic version of 'Pulp Fiction 2' complete with alto sax from Fred Schmid precedes a very MOR rendition of U2's 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' which is redeemed by some neat latin acoustic guitar and vocals on 'Mexican Nights'! The haunting anthem 'Last Train Home' echoing Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Freebird' fitfully rounds off proceedings and if you're still standing by this time you've only got yourself to blame! |
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June 2006 Walter Trout releases his first studio album in 5 years on June 23rd with a little help from his friends aptly entitled Full Circle featuring some of the artists he's enjoyed playing with over the last 35 years focusing on their individual styles, whilst giving his own inimitable feel to everything! It's no surprise that the generous opening track 'She Takes More Than She Gives' is arguably the best blues song on the whole album, as John Mayall has that extraordinary knack of extracting the very best out of any artist he collaborates with dating all the way back to his legendary 'Bluesbreakers'! A burning blues jam 'Workin' Overtime' featuring Jeff Healey continues this celebration of the blues and other gems include 'Wrapped Around Your Finger' with the ever energetic Guitar Shorty and 'A Busy Man' with James Harman on harmonica and vocals. Bernard Allison's guitar blows you away with 'When Will It Ever Change', as does Joe Bonamassa with 'Clouds on the Horizon' not forgetting the quintessential musician's musician Deacon Jones playing Hammond B3 organ on 'After Hours' injecting yet another dimension into proceedings! Walter Trout continues to be one of the best loved blues/rock artists in the world today influencing many of his contemporaries with his music, energy and encouragement and long may he run! Full Circle is a reflection of where the blues is today and a glimpse into its future! |
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May 2006 Sue Foley sure hits the ground running with her 10th release New Used Car right from the raunchy opening title track of the same name! Initially gigging around her hometown Ottawa, Canada she eventually headed south to Austin, Texas and on 'Make It Real' you can hear some of those raw southern rockin' influences before she lives out dreams and fantasies on 'When I come back to ya'. Fortunate to cut her teeth touring alongside blues legends Buddy Guy, Albert Collins and other luminaries, we are then given 'Absolution' that not only displays her fabulous guitar and vocals, but also her true roots in the blues and this thankfully is the longest take on the album. After unexplained interference on the intro to 'Sugar' we are then treated for her longing to 'Do It Again'! You need only hear the first few bars on her classic 'Mother' before you realise that this girl takes it all when she leaves you craving for more of the same (can't wait for an extended live version)... bring it on! The melancholy acoustic 'Long Tomorrow' preludes the scathing 'Little Things' that annoy and end a relationship and it's easy to lose yourself on 'Found My Love' before getting up to boogie on ''Deep Freeze' and the finger pickin' 'Change Your Mind'. New Used Car showcases Sue Foley coming of age placing her firmly in the driving seat and on the road to becoming a blues legend! Never a dull moment with this blues guitar woman as she changes gears and moves into the fast lane with easily her best cut to date! |
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April 2006 Robin Trower is back and touring as heavily now as ever... so to experience him live at a venue near you, see the US & European Tour Dates for his 'Living Out Of Time' tour and witness an event not to be missed by blues lovers everywhere! Living Out Of Time 'Live', a DVD recorded in Bonn, Germany at the 2005 Rockpalast Crossroads Festival has also been released to coincide with the current tour! Heavily influenced by his mentor Jimi Hendrix, Trower left the confines of Procol Harum to produce his own brand of psychedelic blues/rock which has now become a lasting musical legacy. With the release of his classic Bridge of Sighs album way back in 1974, Trower reached heights that most of his contemporaries can only dream of! The fundamental difference is that Trower drowns you in the blues like few others can and he consistently produces albums that simply blow you away! Trower remains one of the most underrated blues/rock guitarists of all time and for those of you not yet familiar with his music, do yourself a favour and check him out! You may not get another chance and you won't believe what you've been missing all these years! |
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March 2006 Blues Connections this month sadly pays tribute to Willie Kent who lost his battle against cancer on March 2nd 2006. Willie was voted 'Best Blues Bass Instrumentalist' for an astonishing 10th time last year at the 26th W. C. Handy Blues Awards 2005 in Memphis. Willie epitomized blues history itself working by day and playing delta blues by night making his way up the Mississippi river to Chicago where he eventually made his home and became known as 'The Sugar Bear'! He regularly played Blue Chicago and seeing him perform with his Blues Gents really was what the blues is all about! Singing songs from the delta, you could get up and boogie or just sit back and soak them up... the choice was yours! His shows were always what a blues night should really be like and we all will miss him! Anyone who knows Willie Kent will know that the world has lost a true gentleman and anyone who's seen him perform will know that Blues music has sadly lost one of its greatest ambassadors! |
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February 2006 Magic Slim (Morris Holt) is one of the few remaining survivors of those blues musicians who migrated from Mississippi to Chicago and still plays back-alley blues like it used to be played on the 'south side' with his band 'The Teardrops'. Thankfully this piece of 'magic' has been captured live on his latest release Anything Can Happen!
Get a real taste of Chicago blues and experience Magic Slim & The Teardrops on any one of their excellent cuts available from Blind Pig Records! |
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January 2006 Happy New Year to you all and a very warm welcome to Blues Connections in 2006... especially with so much to look forward to as a new generation of gifted blues artists emerge on Ruf Records with Aynsley Lister, Erja Lyytinen and Ian Parker! Although already established blues artists in their own right, they have now formed a Blues Caravan and are touring with their new album Pilgrimage Aynsley Lister is quite simply one of the best young exponents of blues/rock on either side of the Atlantic and if you need any further convincing, just listen to his back catalogue and 'Live' CD! Erja Lyytinen from Finland certainly knows how to combine all the elements of blues, jazz and folk music as she sings and plays slide guitar, which you can listen to on her website & 'Wildflower' CD! Ian Parker continues to be one of the most fascinating blues/roots performers of his generation and as another exciting new chapter unfolds his '...whilst the wind' live CD... captures him at his very best! Check out the Blues Caravan Tour Dates to experience these extraordinary artists together at a venue near you in what promises to be one of the outstanding gigs of the year! |
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December 2005 This year has seen an amazing influx of new blues musicians and undoubtedly a resurgence of existing blues artists touring on both sides of the Atlantic! For all the latest information, check out Artists & Venues/Gigs on www.bluesconnections.com for news and touring dates! Don't forget that by going along to local gigs and supporting 'live music', plus having a great night out - you are in fact helping to keep the blues alive!
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November 2005 Bob Bowles has sensationally released his first original album 'Better Late That Never' showcasing his renowned guitar skills and singing his own self-penned songs! After years of playing/improvising blues/rock/gospel and R 'n' B standards... Bob has finally unveiled his own heart rendering collection of songs... some dating back to the last millennium! The resulting album combines 10 great tracks in various styles taken from Bob's repertoire that will surely stand the test of time with 'Little Angel' and 'I May Be Wrong' being particularly moving... although it's his fabulous 'Strange Woman' that really cuts the mustard! 'Better Late Than Never' is not just a long awaited CD... but a culmination of music born out of countless gigs down the years, and it is also testimony to one man's music helping bring people closer together! It has often been said that 'you must pay your dues to play the blues' and of those musicians who constantly play to earn that right... Bob Bowles is certainly one, as he is undoubtedly 'The Man Who Makes The Blues Come To Town'! |
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October 2005 Those immortal words... "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen" are never more appropriate than for the people of New Orleans who were hit by Hurricane Katrina on Monday 29th August 2005. Although devastated by the storm, New Orleans will without doubt survive and prevail due to the fact that the city forms a unique place in American history as a cultural musical heritage centre for jazz, blues, cajun and zydeco music, not forgetting of course the infamous Mardi Gras! Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown, a resident of New Orleans who helped pioneer the electric guitar and was famous for playing 'American music Texas style' died aged 81 after escaping the hurricane to his original hometown in Orange, Texas. Known for his deep voice and making his guitar sound like a fiddle, he also played a whole range of instruments in various styles. Sadly... one of the great blues originals has left us and thankfully his legacy will live on through his music! |
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September 2005 Blues Connections this month pays tribute to 'Mississippi Master' Little Milton who died recently on August 4th 2005. Born son of 'Big' Milton Campbell, he started recording with Sam Phillips at Sun Studios a sound that later became known as 'soul blues' music before moving on to the Chess/Checker, Stax and Delmark labels. An inductee into the 'Blues Hall of Fame', he will probably be best remembered for the many hits he performed including... 'We're Gonna Make It', 'Who's Cheating Who?', 'Grits Ain't Groceries' and 'That's What Love Will Make You Do'! Think of Me, an absolute gem of an album released shortly before his death leaves us a fitting legacy of this influential blues legend playing naturally from his heart and soul! Because of Little Milton and musicians like him... 'The Blues Is Alright'! |
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August 2005 Bruce Springsteen otherwise known as 'The Boss' is undoubtedly one of the most influential songwriters of his generation! The Essential Bruce Springsteen and Live in New York 2001 capture him at his best whilst his whole back catalogue is more than worth investigating. Once hailed in the 70's as 'The future of rock 'n' roll' with the release of Born to Run, his subsequent albums confirmed that he most definitely has roots in blues and country as well as mainstream music! His legendary three hour plus live performances with 'The E Street Band' were not only extraordinary in length and value for money, they also 'raised the bar' for modern day concerts! Few artists have consistently written such poignant songs about everyday working class American life and relationships and this was epitomized with Streets of Philadelphia in 1993 which helped raise Aids awareness. The chilling song he wrote in 1999 immortalizing an innocent killing in New York, American Skin confirmed just how much he was in touch with people on the street and a similar incident was sadly only to be repeated on the London underground in the wake of the terrorist bombings recently! Check out the man himself... Bruce Springsteen is the real deal! |
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July 2005 ...whilst the wind is the exciting new 'live' CD from singer/songwriter/guitarist Ian Parker who can be experienced touring with his band featuring... Ian Parker on Electric/Acoustic Guitars/Lead Vocals, Morg Morgan, ex-Parker's Alibi keyboard man on Piano/Hammond/Backing Vocals, Steve Amadeo, ex-Aynsley Lister Band on Bass and the talented Wayne Proctor on Drums. This 'live' CD taken from their amazing set played towards the end of last year at 'The Bluesgarage' in Hannover, Germany in December 2004 contains previously unreleased tracks including the compelling 'Power of the gospel' and 'By your side' confirming Ian's continued love and fascination for blues and roots music! A captivating '...whilst the wind' DVD with a different track listing recorded earlier in March 2004 at the 'Rockpalast' Crossroads Festival is also available with added extras featuring more music and interviews! Both releases illustrate the bands sound during different phases last year. As great guitar virtuosos have influenced previous generations with their music, the immensely gifted Ian Parker continues to fascinate his generation, as each exciting new chapter of his development unfolds. Like all great musicians, it's not so much what they play that's important, it's how they feel and deliver it that matters... and this man certainly knows how! |
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June 2005 Robben Ford has constantly been evolving his sound since he released his first recording, aptly named 'In Search Of The Blues' way back in 1972. That amazing ability to make jazz sound melodic and blues sound refreshingly new continue to be his trademark! His gifted guitar playing soon became utilized by a diverse array of artists including Jimmy Witherspoon, Joni Mitchell (whilst with L.A. Express) and also Miles Davis and Little Feat to name but a few! He further continued to experiment and cut more albums including Talk To Your Daughter in 1988 before releasing three more blues albums Robben Ford & The Blue Line, Mystic Mile and Handful Of Blues with his band 'Robben Ford & The Blue Line' in the1990's. Blue Moon (2002) and Keep On Running (2003) provide a excellent mix of blues originals and own compositions produced with the kind of excellence and pursuit of perfection that you would naturally associate with any Robben Ford album! |
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May 2005 The Soul Sessions released in September 2003 by 16-year old Joss Stone announced the arrival of a sensational new soul diva! Recordings of latter day soul songs covering Aretha Franklin to Carla Thomas which actually started off as a side project unexpectedly sold millions worldwide underlining her commercial popularity... except that is not what Joss Stone is really all about as anyone who has witnessed her strut her stuff onstage will testify! She sings like someone who has truly felt the blues and her voice has a depth of character which not surprisingly has comparisons made to the legendary Janis Joplin through to Betty Wright and Mary J. Blige! Joss Stone is still only 18 and touring with her new Mind, Body and Soul album, cut this time almost entirely with her own cleverly crafted songs including the evocative 'Right to be wrong' and the wonderful gospel based 'Security'!. These songs showcase her smoky voice backed by an incredible array of musicians making you feel right down into your soul! |
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April 2005 Vance Kelly & The Backstreet Blues Band perform regularly on the Chicago blues scene and I really cannot pay too high a compliment to the man, as he really delivers an awesome range of blues, funk and soul swinging any club reminiscent of ‘Prince’, making any night truly unforgettable! Known as Vance 'Candylicker' Kelly due to his 'hot' on stage performances, this guy is passionate girls, so if you can't get to see him in the flesh, make sure you check out his... Live At Lee's Unleaded Blues CD and hear what you've really been missing! Vance's contribution to the blues should not be measured purely by the many prestigious awards he has accumulated over the years, but by the way he rocks blues clubs nightly right into the early hours forming the backbone of the modern blues music scene. His breathtaking performances on electric guitar and vocals can't help but take you there... and back again ensuring everyone enjoys the ride! |
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March 2005 RIFF'S BAR "Where Music Matters" is the premier live music venue in the Swindon area! Check out their gig guide especially for all the superb blues music coming up shortly...
One Hell Of A Way To
Celebrate St Patrick's Day
-2 Great Blues Legends (One Show)! Studebaker John - has a deep understanding of the blues tradition that comes from hanging with the classic Chicago bluesmen, but he's created his own sound and style from these roots." -- Bruce Iglauer (Owner, Alligator Records). His raw amplified canonical work recalls past masters like Little Walter and Big Walter Horton, while his slide guitar style is descended from the styles of Elmore James and Hound Dog Taylor. On top of that Studebaker John is a powerful vocalist and talented songwriter. -- "Chicago Tribune" Sunday 27th March
Geoff Achison & The
Soul Diggers (Feat. Sam Kelly)
From blues bars
across the USA, to the Sydney Opera House, Australian-based blues-rock
guitarist Geoff Achison has been impressing audiences around the world
with his unique talent. "One
of the most gifted musicians to arrive on the scene..."The Times" |
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February 2005 Blues Connections this month pays tribute to one of the three 'Kings' of the blues... Albert King who along with B.B. King and Freddie King helped evolve the blues into the way it sounds today! Performing left handed on a Gibson Flying V guitar strung right handed became his trademark and he no doubt influenced Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many more great musicians with his unique style of playing! The tracks he recorded during the golden years of Memphis soul label Stax Records, many backed by Booker T and the MG's are probably what he will best be remembered for and many of these are captured on his comprehensive Stax compilation... The Best of Albert King. |
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January 2005 Happy New Year to you all in 2005! Blues Connections is pleased to announce that the legendary Robin Trower will at last be embarking on his first European Tour in a very long time and these concerts are something not to be missed by blues lovers everywhere. Heavily influenced by his mentor Jimi Hendrix, Trower left the confines of Procol Harum to produce his own brand of psychedelic blues/rock which has now become a lasting musical legacy. With the release of his classic Bridge of Sighs album way back in 1974, Trowel reached heights that few other guitarists can hope to aspire to! The fundamental difference is that Trowel drowns you in the blues like few others can and he has consistently produced albums that simply blow you away! Trowel remains one of the most underrated blues/rock guitarists of all time, probably due to the fact that he rarely tours these shores and for those of you not yet familiar with his music, do yourself a favour and check him out! You may not get another chance and you won't believe what you've been missing all these years! |
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December 2004 The year 2004 has seen an amazing influx of new blues musicians and undoubtedly a resurgence of existing blues artists from all over the world touring the UK. For all the latest information, check out Artists & Blues Links on www.bluesconnections.com for news and touring dates! Don't forget that by going along to local gigs and supporting 'live music', plus having a great night out - you are in fact helping to keep the blues alive!
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November 2004 Imagine... the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner at their very best... then you get the one and only legendary Etta James! Let's Roll... Etta's classic 2003 release confirmed her true status as 'Matriarch of the Blues' which she proudly recorded with her sons Donto playing drums and Sametto on bass. 'Somebody To Love' has Etta delivering the classic line... "Love ain't no good 'til you give it away"! On 'Wayward Saints of Memphis' she somehow manages to capture the whole essence of the place and on further listening... she rightly testifies 'On The 7th Day' (God made the Blues)! An absolute essential album from one of the most influential blues singers ever, who will no doubt continue to roll! Etta has been thrilling audiences for the last 50 years ever since she recorded the R&B hit 'Roll with me Henry' back in 1955, so it's no wonder that she was inducted into the 'Rock & Roll Hall of Fame' in 1993 and 'Blues Hall of Fame' in 2001. Etta's voice tells you she is a survivor from all that life can throw at you as endorsed in her autobiography 'Rage To Survive' and listening to her sing on her latest release Blues To The Bone makes you realise just that!
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October 2004 Sean Chambers can regularly be found blowing up a blues storm around the Florida coastline and not just during the hurricane season! Should you like your blues in the Jimi Hendrix or SRV vein... then Strong Temptation is the album where you can hear not only those early influences, but also experience an awesome display of his own guitar/singing/songwriting abilities! Sean Chambers already has received rave reviews and enthralled audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. His latest album Humble Spirits that he is now on tour with was released earlier this year and features special appearances from various guest artists and an acoustic title track! Let's hope his future albums continue to do his legendary idols justice. |
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September 2004 Jonny Lang born John Gordon Langseth Jr. on January 28th 1981 in Fargo, North Dakota is already widely recognised as a gifted guitarist/singer/songwriter and blues artist. With his first major release... Lie To Me recorded at the tender age of 16, the music world held its breath in astonishment! Jonny Lang's gravely voice sounds like a bluesman who's made that journey to the crossroads and back coupled with a guitar feel that echoes those experiences! With the release of his second album Wander This World a couple of years later, again produced and engineered by David Z, everyone realised what incredible talent was emerging and hopefully was here to stay. All the songs were again sang straight from the heart and given that very special Jonny Lang guitar treatment. Both Lie To Me and Wander This World turned platinum and Jonny Lang toured or played with most of the blues greats, whilst picking up various music awards and the accolades that go with them. Long Time Coming is Jonny's latest album which he is currently touring North America with and all concert dates can be found via his website www.jonnylang.com, where you can also listen to selected tracks. Given a different production and feel to it, this album marks a change of emphasis away from the blues towards mainstream rock that is certainly interesting and will probably appeal to a much wider audience. One thing is for sure...whichever path he eventually decides to take... the beautiful world of music will no doubt be a better place! |
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August 2004 The Bath International Guitar Festival 2004 plays host to some of the great names in blues music starting on Sunday 1st Aug when the Ian Siegal Blues Band & Heat featuring guitarist Pete Friesen play. Ian is widely regarded as one of the best singer/songwriters in modern day blues music! The blues/rock theme continues on Thursday 5th Aug when legendary ex- Rolling Stone and Bluesbreaker guitarist Mick Taylor takes to the stage. Local steel/slide guitarist Kevin Brown provides support, whose albums are now receiving the critical acclaim they so richly deserve! On Friday 6th Aug, this blues bonanza witnesses the incredible Kelly Joe Phelps performing his own brand of acoustic delta blues that is so down to earth, you can imagine yourself sat in your log cabin whilst watching the Mississippi river flow down the back of your CD player! For other events at the festival check out... http://www.igf-events.com/concerts.html BOX OFFICE: 01225 463362 / boxoffice@bathfestivals.org.uk / Online Reservations Form |
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July 2004 If there's one person who epitomizes blues history itself, it's Willie Kent who recently won 'Best Blues Bass Instrumentalist' for the 9th time at the 25th W. C. Handy Blues Awards 2004 in Memphis. Born in the Mississippi delta, Willie worked by day and played by night, making his way up the Mississippi river and eventually to Chicago, where he made his home and became known as 'The Sugar Bear'! Willie performs regularly at Blue Chicago and the set he plays with his Blues Gents is something that really shouldn't be missed by anyone visiting the windy city! I've seen a lot of blues bands in my time... and after seeing Willie Kent perform, he really is what the blues is all about! Singing songs from the delta, you can get up and boogie or just sit back and soak them up... the choice is yours and he usually has a couple of lead guitars with keyboards and drummer along with a guest blues 'diva' of the highest calibre to make the night swing! Comin' Alive is Willie Kent's latest album, where you will find Chicago blues performed 'live' at it's very best by the Mississippi master himself and his Blues Gents who are: Haguy F. King - Lead Guitar, Jacob Dawson - Rhythm Guitar, Dave Jefferson - Drums, Allen Batts - Piano/Organ, with Erskine Johnson guesting on Piano and Twist Turner on Organ! |
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June 2004 Blues Connections this month takes you In Search Of The Blues... down The Blues Highway and the Mississippi river from Chicago to New Orleans, encompassing the very roots of America's musical heritage derived from blues, jazz, soul and country music! Whilst indulging in the blues clubs of Chicago and St Louis, we discover the origins of Soul and how Rock n' Roll was born in Memphis! We also experience Country music in Nashville, Zydeco and Cajun music in the deep south before ending our journey with Jazz echoing through the streets of New Orleans! Our exploratory vehicle is via coach and rail on a Cosmos Dixieland & Rhythms Tour, visiting these extraordinary places where history was and still is being made! Most of all, we are able to listen to the music and meet some of the fascinating people who contributed to the history of the blues, and thankfully who still are playing it down The Blues Highway! Read The Blues Highway Book to learn more... but remember only you yourself can take you there! |
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May 2004 Martin Scorsese presents: The Blues, is a monumental project that celebrates how the blues so deeply influenced music and people around the world. The result is 7 astonishing films by 7 different directors, each exploring their own fascinating perspectives: 'Feel Like Going Home' - Martin Scorsese, 'The Soul of a Man' - Wim Wenders, 'The Road To Memphis' - Richard Pearce, 'Warming by the Devil's Fire' - Charles Burnett, 'Godfathers and Sons' - Marc Levin, 'Red, White & Blues' - Mike Figgis, 'Piano Blues' - Clint Eastwood. 7 Soundtrack CD's - featuring original recordings & blues classics handpicked by each director to compliment the films above are also available! The Best Of The Blues takes 21 tracks from the 5 CD deluxe boxed set that offers an overview of the 'The Blues' project! Other CD's from the series are The Blues - 'A Musical Journey' - a deluxe 5 CD boxed set of over 100 essential blues recordings and The Best of The Blues - a 21 track single-CD selection taken from the previous 5 CD set! In addition, 12 single-CD individual collections of influential blues artists from Robert Johnson to Eric Clapton have also been released! |
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April 2004 The Blues Highway is the essential travel & music guide book which follows Highway 61 and the Mississippi river, chronologically exploring the cradle of American music from New Orleans to Chicago. Written by award winning author Richard Wright, this comprehensive guide gives a fascinating view of the birth and roots of American blues and jazz music! For anyone who is contemplating making this amazing journey, this book offers a remarkable insight into the people, culture and cuisine along the blues highway, listing music festivals & events ranging from the sensational Mardi Gras in New Orleans to the Chicago Blues Festival! Also listed and mapped are the best music clubs and bars from shabby juke joints to smooth jazz clubs, including advise on what to see as well as where to stay and where to eat. Richard Wright has since founded Roots Of Rhythm travel for music lovers which offers the very best in jazz and blues cruises all along the blues highway. A pilgrimage awaits all you blues music lovers out there...! |
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March 2004 Chris Rea tickets are already selling out for a UK tour which kicks off in April promoting his latest album "The Blue Jukebox" which is due for release on March 22nd 2004. Chris these days is a man on a mission, and after recovering from a life threatening illness only a couple of years ago. he decided to make the record he always wanted to, but for one reason or another never got round to with... Dancing Down The Stony Road As current blues artists go... Chris Rea's latest works are up there amongst the best as his Albums testify, and you can witness this blues maestro very shortly for yourself by checking out his Tour Dates. Book now to avoid disappointment! |
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February 2004 This month Blues Connections looks at compilations and searches for the best selection of blues songs that not only gel together and are great to listen to, but actually do an artist justice? Well, if your looking for an album that does just that... then look no further than Blues At Sunrise, as this is as close as you'll ever get to the perfect blues album! When you look at the long catalogue of compilations on the market, they really don't come any better than this! Listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan always was very special! I remember being absolutely blown away by 'Texas Flood' on the car radio one night in Berlin, just after it's release in 1983. They were plugging tickets for the International Radio Exhibition the very next day, and that was the first time I ever experienced SRV & Double Trouble 'live'! Thankfully, SRV is one of the few artists who managed to capture not only his music, but the magic he created on CD, and this you experience on... Blues At Sunrise. Enjoy...! |
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January 2004 A warm welcome from Blues Connections to you all in 2004! Blues Connections begins this year by paying tribute to someone very special in the world of blues music - John Campbell (1952 - 1993) One listen to either of his classic One Believer or Howlin' Mercy albums will no doubt bring you to only one conclusion - this man lived and breathed the blues! His music encompasses everything that you would associate with the blues as he takes you right down into the darkness at the crossroads. John Campbell played his music raw and close to the bone as only he could. Just listen and experience for yourself, life down in the delta on the dark side of town with voodoo, despair, death, angels, love and loaded dice! (just make sure you've got your mojo working when you do)! Check out the excellent John Campbell tribute website, aptly named http://www.devilinmycloset.net |
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December 2003 The year 2003 has seen an amazing influx of new blues musicians and undoubtedly a resurgence of existing blues artists from all over the world touring the UK. For all the latest information, check out Artists & Blues Links on www.bluesconnections.com for news and touring dates! Don't forget that by going along to local gigs and supporting 'live music', plus having a great night out - you are in fact helping to keep the blues alive!
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November 2003 On The Beach originally released by Neil Young way back in 1974 has finally been re-mastered and issued by Reprise on CD. As part of the (in)famous "Doom Trilogy" with 'Time Fades Away' & 'Tonight's The Night', 'On The Beach' reflects Young's mood and feelings at this time, after the death of two of his closest friends, Danny Whitten - guitarist with his backing band Crazy Horse and Bruce Berry - guitar roadie for CSNY. As with many artists who's finest blues work is recorded whilst they are at their lowest ebb, 'On The Beach' is a classic recording which truly deserves it's place in blues history! |
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October 2003 Peter Green and his Splinter Group are kicking off their UK tour on October 18th in Truro, promoting their new album 'Reaching The Cold 100' which is available through the Peter Green Splinter Group official website. Out in the shops on general release from September 22nd is the band's first official live concert DVD. This was recorded at the Swan Theatre in High Wycombe earlier this year & includes a stunning acoustic set! Also featured on the DVD will be backstage footage and an exclusive interview with Peter Green himself! Make sure you don't miss this blues legend! The Best Of Peter Green Splinter Group is also available containing many of his classic cuts! |
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September 2003 Lightnin' Willie & The Poorboys have just completed their UK tour and left all those who were lucky enough to have caught them playing, crying out for more! Master musician Lightnin' Willie Hermes plays a diverse range of blues on electric/slide/national steel guitar, delivering self-penned compositions along with his own interpretation of classic blues songs. His extended rework of the late John Campbell's 'Couldn't Do Nothin' is worth the admission fee alone! Check out Lightnin' Willie on his website and don't miss him with 'The Poor Boys' next time they hit town! |
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August 2003 The exceptional singer/songwriter/guitarist Ian Parker is now touring with his exciting new Ian Parker Band. They are promoting their new live album Lost & Found, that can be obtained directly via their website. Current line-up has Ian Parker on Electric/Acoustic Guitars & Lead Vocals, ex-Parker's Alibi keyboard man, Morg Morgan on Piano/Hammond & Backing Vocals, ex-Aynsley Lister Band bassist, Steve Amadeo and the incredibly young and gifted ex-Robert Plant drummer, Andy Edwards. As great guitar virtuosos have influenced previous generations with their music, the immensely talented Ian Parker continues to fascinate his generation, as each exciting new chapter of his development unfolds. Like all great musicians, it's not so much what they play that's important, it's how they deliver it that matters... and Ian Parker certainly knows how! |
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July 2003 Check out some of the Great British Blues Festivals over the remaining summer months: 3rd International Gloucester Blues & Heritage Festival Monday 28th July - Sunday 3rd August 2003 14th Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne Friday 22nd August - Monday 25th August 2003 5th Hampshire Blues Festival At Fort Purbrook Friday 19th September - Saturday 20th September 2003 *Please check with the venues regarding any changes to artists etc to avoid any disappointment* |
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June 2003 Chris Scott 'The Blues Devil' is back and is now currently touring with his exciting new band called Chris Scott & The Faith Healers performing a new set of tunes from his brand new album entitled ‘Hands On’, which drags the blues kicking and screaming into the 21st Century…”. The songs he so passionately delivers are a testimony to his music, as they touch you as only his songs can do! To experience a Chris Scott gig is something that is not easily forgotten and an event that you can't wait to experience again! |
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May 2003 Pendle Blues Club will host an unforgettable Springtime Blues Festival at the Municipal Hall in Colne on Sunday 25th May 2003 starting midday and finishing sometime around midnight! Studebaker John & The Hawks top the bill supported by Big Jack Johnson & The Oilers, Danny Bryant's RedEyeBand, Sugurland Slim, The Upsetters & Standing Room Only (artists subject to change). |
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April 2003 Year of the Blues 2003 has been proclaimed as the The Year of the Blues by the United States Senate in recognition of the important role that blues music has played and continues to play in the worldwide development of the music industry. Check out all the memorable events celebrating 100 years of blues music and more at Mississippi - Year of the Blues along with all the other websites that pay tribute to this unique & inspirational music. See the Official Proclamation! |
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March 2003 The 15th Burnley National Blues Festival takes place over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend commencing Friday 18th April and finishing Sunday 20th April. To name just a few of the major acts who will be appearing starting Friday - Dr Feelgood, Danny Bryant. Saturday - The Chicago Heritage Blues Program featuring Eddy Clearwater, Willie Kent, Bonnie Lee. Sunday - The Great American Festival of the Blues featuring Bobby Parker, Louisiana Red, Deitra Farr, Otis Grand. A whole host of other artists will also be delivering a red hot blues weekend to remember.
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February 2003 Aynsley Lister is quite simply one of the best exponents of blues/rock on either side of the Atlantic! Everything I Need confirms him as one of the brightest stars in British blues music! He is currently touring Britain with his band before embarking on the European leg of his tour in April. The new album 'All or Nothing' features Aynsley Lister on Guitar & Vocals with James Townend on Bass and Alex Thomas on Drums & Backing Vocals. Ask anyone who's seen Aynsley perform and they will no doubt recommend that you go and see him for yourself in concert! Check out Aynsley Lister at a venue near you and experience him live!
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January 2003 The year 2003 will see an amazing influx of new blues musicians and undoubtedly a resurgence of existing blues artists from all over the world touring the UK. For all the latest information, check out Artists & Blues Links on www.bluesconnections.com for news and touring dates! Don't forget that by going along to local gigs and supporting 'live music', plus having a great night out - you are in fact helping to keep the blues alive!
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December 2002 Paul Byrd is probably not a name who you immediately associate with the blues! After being inspired to play guitar by Elvis and years later immersing himself in the blues after hearing Stevie Ray Vaughan, his travels have taken him all over North America where he has played with many blues greats like Otis Rush and Buddy Miles. He has also opened shows for ZZ Top, Jeff Healey and Bo Diddley etc! Got the gist! Paul is now based in Fort Worth, Texas and is currently recording his debut album for the Bluestone label entitled Paul Byrd & the Escalators, which should be available in the new year. Paul Byrd is already one of the finest living exponents of Texas blues and believe me, if you haven't heard of this guy now, you soon will as he is rather special... and if you need further convincing listen to his Without Further Adieu... CD which is available online from his website! |
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November 2002 Watching You! is the first studio release for Danny Bryant's RedEyeBand who are currently touring the UK. All ten tracks are Danny's own originals with no covers and not many bands can boast such a complete offering on their first outing! This is Danny's first studio release and these quite often turn out to be an artists best! All these tracks are his own original blues songs played straight from the heart and the whole album is worth critical acclaim, especially the last track 'Falling Tears', which leaves you comfortably numb!
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October 2002 CRAWDADDY are the exceptional and innovative guitarists Chris Scott & Steve Payne playing original compositions based on inspirations from acoustic roots music in and around the Mississippi delta. Chris Scott is an original and is unmistakably Chris Scott inspired through personal experiences and his fascination with acoustic roots music. The songs he so passionately delivers are a testimony to his music, as they touch you as only his songs can do! To experience a Chris Scott gig is something that is not easily forgotten and an event that you can't wait to experience again! Steve Payne is the internationally acclaimed guitar player/singer/songwriter who remains largely an enigma to most people in the music world, and his unique talents have earned him a reputation and many admirers leading him to play with the likes of BB King, Loudon Wainwright III, Dr John, Paul Butterfield, Mississippi John L Watson etc... For the few of us lucky enough to witness his performance in concert, he comes out into the light, and boy does he shine! Hope was a one off concert performed and recorded by CRAWDADDY and the Acoustic Orchestra at the Hope Centre in Bristol. There were no rehearsals for this performance & the only preparations were rough acoustic sketches of the tunes made available in advance to the orchestra, thereby compelling each player to rely on their listening & interpretive skills on the night itself. This result was an album that portrays the very best in folk, country, rhythm & blues acoustic roots music! |
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September 2002 This month takes a nostalgic look back to 1973 when Little Feat released their classic album entitled... Dixie Chicken which is still regarded by many as Little Feat's finest hour. When singer/songwriter/guitarist Lowell George produced Dixie Chicken, he also provided the catalyst for their recordings which followed. These songs are a celebration of the bands deep southern roots derived from around New Orleans, portraying their musical influences from blues and gospel through to Dixieland jazz culminating in this classic album. Listen to this and get a taste of the American deep south you won't want to forget, and also want to keep going back for! |
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August 2002 RIFF'S BAR "Where Music Matters", is rapidly becoming the West's number 1 live music venue. Run by musicians and refurbished since it was the Butchers Arms, RIFF'S is now the only place in Swindon where you can hear quality live music throughout the week. RIFF's also hosts unplugged nights where backing trax are banned due to the policy of providing customers with LIVE music only. Both local and international stars perform at RIFF'S. RIFF'S also boasts it's own in-house PA system and Lighting and a team of top in-house engineers.
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July 2002 The 13th Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival comes to Colne over the August Bank Holiday, starting Friday 23rd August through Saturday and Sunday and finishing Monday 26th August. A whole host of major acts will appear over the 4 days including Eric Sardinas, Aynsley Lister, Tommy Castro, Boyd Small, Lazy Lester, Big George Jackson, Earl Gaines, Charles Walker, Mo Indigo, Lucky Peterson and Mississippi John L Watson to name but a few. This is without doubt a major event in the British Blues calendar. |
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June 2002 Claude Bourbon 'The Frog with the Blues' has finally released his new CD, Stop Breaking Down which comes four years after his sensational debut album Bourbon Street. This multi-faceted musician begins by showcasing his guitar finger picking skills on 'Howlin at my door'. Two other original compositions unveil his sensitive side with 'I see your face' featuring Bob Ross on keyboards and later the melancholy 'It's not for you'. CB typically adds a couple of his own native French compositions to the mix with 'Ties trop bonne' and 'Toujours les mimes'. Robert Johnson's 'Stop Breaking down' is a worthy title track whilst 'When you got a good friend' by the same sees CB on slide guitar. Other highlights include the traditionally arranged 'St James Infirmary' and also 'Have you ever loved a woman' by Billy Miles. Stop Breaking Down confirms CB's presence on the British Blues Scene. For those of you not familiar with Claude Bourbon, check him out 'in concert' as he tours constantly around the UK and Europe. Most of all, many of the songs he plays are his own 'originals' and are well worth the trip! |
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May 2002 Emily Druce starts touring in May to promote her recently released album New Day, which features ten new compositions along with several of her own interpretations of blues classics including Robert Johnson's 'Come on in my kitchen'. This new release comes just two years after her accomplished debut album The Guilt Trip that established her as a sparkling new talent on the British blues scene. Emily will also continue to promote her new album by playing some UK festivals during the summer including the The Colne Rhythm & Blues Festival. |
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April 2002 Every now and again, someone comes along who's music just stops you right dead in your tracks. Kelly Joe Phelps is one such musician! Those of you lucky enough to have caught him on his recent Sky Like A Broken Clock world tour will know exactly what I mean.Kelly Joe has his own brand of acoustic country/folk/blues that is so down to earth, you can imagine yourself on the Delta sat in your log cabin whilst watching the Mississippi river flow down the back of your CD player! Once you've heard any one of his recordings, you'll be tempted to buy the rest of his back catalogue. From his very first cut, Lead Me On right through Roll Away The Stone and Shine Eyed Mister Zen, you realise that Kelly Joe Phelps with his unassuming voice and very own finger picking, pure slide guitar style must have a destiny. That looks now like being fulfilled, judging by the accolades he is now being given. |
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March 2002 Robin Trower has with the release of Go My Way marked a return to his best music since his classic Bridge of Sighs days back in the 70's. Trower's own brand of psychedelic blues/rock has often been compared with that of Jimi Hendrix and this becomes immediately apparent on first listening. The fundamental difference is that Trower drowns you in the blues like few other guitarists can. His collaborations over the years with successive vocalists have now given way to bearing his own heart and soul as a singer leaving Richard Watts as vocalist on three of the tracks. 'Go my way', the title track unleashes classic Trower as we know and love for over 9 minutes! What follows is an album which will undoubtedly stand the test of time as did his best earlier cuts. For those of you not yet familiar with his music, do yourself a favour and check him out! You won't believe what you've been missing all these years! |
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February 2002 The American Festival of the Blues is at Cheltenham Town Hall on Friday 1st March at 8.00pm. Acts include Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges and his band, Angela Brown and the Mighty 45's. Also performing on the night will be Michael Roach playing acoustic blues and king of the national guitar, Catfish Keith. Box Office (Tickets) 01242 227979.SMOKESTACK have been invited to record a session for the Paul Jones blues programme on BBC Radio 2 after the release of their debut CD ‘EL COBRA!’. The band who play a blend of traditional blues, jazz and sophisticated slide guitar have performed at blues festivals and venues both in the UK and abroad. The line-up boasts PHIL MILLS on vocals/guitar/slide guitars/harmonica, ROGER FERRIS on bass guitar and ALI VAN RYNE on drums/percussion. |
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January 2002 Eric Clapton has secretly married the mother of his new baby daughter. The 56-year-old guitar hero tied the knot with pretty Melia McEnery, age 25, in an emotional ceremony in Ripley, Surrey on New Year’s Day. Eric is rumoured to be giving up touring in the short term to spend more time with his family after more than 30 years on the road. Happy New Year Eric!
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December 2001 As the new year dawns, we take a nostalgic look back over the last year. John Lee Hooker, king of the boogie was undoubtedly this years greatest loss, making recordings right to the very end, whilst Stevie Ray Vaughan still continues to head various blues charts over ten years after his untimely death. The year 2001 has seen an amazing influx of new blues musicians and undoubtedly a resurgence of existing blues artists from all over the world touring the UK. For all the latest information, check out Artists & Blues Links on www.bluesconnections.com for news and touring dates! Don't forget that by going along to local gigs and supporting 'live music', plus having a great night out - you are in fact helping to keep the blues alive!
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November 2001 Parkers Alibi have announced that they will be disbanding in early February and pursuing separate musical paths. The highly acclaimed Ian Parker on guitar and vocals will be forming his new band Parker and taking keyboard player Morg Morgan with him. He will be joined by Matt Kay on bass (ex Ansley Lister Band) and Mark Barrett on drums (ex Hoax). See http://www.ianparkermusic.com/ for full details. |
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October 2001 The Essential Bob Dylan unleashes all that we have come to expect from the poetic genius whilst capturing arguably his most influential songs on 2 CD's. Disk 1 catalogues Dylan's early years and his 'prophetic' rise to fame, whilst Disk 2 confirms that he is still able to produce classics in the form of 'Blind Willie McTell' and more recently 'Things Have Changed'. Bob Dylan remains his enigmatic self whilst purveying a certain honesty and intensity about all his music, leaving us mortals hoping that he remains 'Forever Young'. As with all compilations, the inevitable 'flaws' debate will ensue regarding which tracks should or should not have been included? For someone buying Dylan for the first time or anyone who has taken a long sabbatical from his work over the last four decades, then this is indeed the ideal package for you! |
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September 2001 Sailing to Philadelphia climbs to the very top of the Blues Connections charts from Mark Knopfler! Even blues purists will be seduced by this gem which subtly blends haunting folk and country ballads with electric blues. Paul Franklin who is present throughout on pedal steel guitar and the sublime Aubrey Haynie on violin help create an unforgettable experience along with guest appearances by the unmistakable James Taylor and Van Morrison. These songs make compelling listening and successive plays confirm that this is undoubtedly Mark Knopfler’s best cut to date! So where does he go from here? Whichever road he chooses, his music can’t get any better than this! Can it? |
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August 2001 Check out 2 of the great summer festivals in the blues calendar over the August bank holiday weekend. The 12th Annual Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne and also the awesome Bishopstock 5th Annual Music Festival. Your only dilemma is in deciding which one to visit. |
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July 2001 John Lee Hooker The king of footstompin' boogie chillin' blues died in his sleep of natural causes at his home in Los Altos, south of San Francisco on Thursday 21 June at the age of 83. |
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June 2001 Welcome to the new Blues Connections website! Our aim is to connect you to the blues! Check out news, views and information on blues music and live gigs! This year has seen an amazing influx of new blues musicians and undoubtedly a resurgence of existing blues artists touring on both sides of the Atlantic! For all the latest information, check out Artists & Venues/Gigs on www.bluesconnections.com for news and touring dates! Don't forget that by going along to local gigs and supporting 'live music', plus having a great night out - you are in fact helping to keep the blues alive!
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