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Hey Blues Fans,
This weekend is another Blues packed one as the summer Blues festival season roars onward. Our good friends in Greely, Colorado have their Greely Blues Jam this weekend. The festival features a great line up including The Informants, Too Slim and the Taildraggers, Shemekia Copeland, Sonny Landreth and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. See their ad below in this issue or visit their website at www.greeleybluesjam.com for more information.
In other areas of the US there is the Tinner Hill Blues Festival in Falls Church, VA, the Bricktown Blues & BBQ Festival in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the Virginia Blues & Jazz Festival in Hot Springs, Virginia, the Thirsty Ear Festival in Santa Fe, New Mexico, The State Street Blues Stroll in Media, Pennsylvania and Famous Dave's BBQ & Blues Festival in Minneapolis, MN among MANY others.
But if you could have your druthers, the place to be this weekend is Chicago, IL for the Chicago Blues Festival!
Chicago IS the Blues capital of the world, the only places on the planet where you can find Blues music 7 days a week, 365 days a year! And this is where all the Blues Blast Magazine staff will be this week covering the many events that start on Wednesday.
This year the Chicago Blues fun starts off with a kickoff event for charity put on by the Recording Academy's Chicago Grammy branch on Wednesday night at the most famous Blue club in the world, Buddy Guy's Legends. The show features performances by Billy Branch, Carlos Johnson, Dave Herrero, Matthew Skoller, Nellie "Tiger" Travis, Otis Clay, Otis Taylor, Wayne Baker Brooks and many others. Rumor has it that both Buddy Guy and Lonnie Brooks might just join in all the fun too!
Then on Thursday night there is the Harp & Soul Festival put on by the folks at Blues On The North Shore at Space in Evanston. The event includes Bob Corritore & Friends with Chris James, Patrick Rynn, Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith, Billy Flynn and special guest Sam Lay. Other performers include Int'l Blues Challenge Winner Grady Champion and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith.
Then on Friday the Chicago Blues Festival kicks off in Grant park with more than a HUNDRED artists on six stages Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The fest runs 11:30am to 9:30pm each day. WHEW!!! That's a lot of Blues! And it is FREE! The list of performers is HUGE, to see the complete lineup CLICK HERE
But guess what, that's not all! After the fest each night the music continues at Chicago's legendary Blues clubs into the wee hours of the night. Plus on Sunday morning before the fest starts Delmark Records holds their annual Blues Brunch at the Jazz Record Mart.
Then after the fest on Sunday the folks at Blues On The North Shore continue the fun again at Space in Evanston with another event called Three Generations of Blues that features David "Honeyboy" Edwards, John Primer and Grady Champion.
So if you can make it to Chicago, lucky YOU! Look the the folks in the Blues Blast T-shirts and say hello!
James "Skyy Dobro" Walker reviews a musical production called Low Down Dirty Blues. Plus we have six CD reviews this week! Mark Thompson reviews a new CD by Mississippi Heat. Bruce Williams reviews a new CD by Ten Foot Polecats. Greg 'Bluesdog' Szalony reviews a new CD from Gina DeLuca. Ian McKenzie reviews a new CD by Clare Free. John Lee Williamson reviews a new CD by Theresa James & The Rhythm Tramps. Steve Jones reviews a new CD by Rick Taylor . All this and MORE! SCROLL DOWN!!!
Live Blues Show Review
Low Down Dirty Blues - June 5, 2010
Northlight Theatre - Skokie IL
A Musical By Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman
Directed by Randal Myler
Music Director Dan Wheetman
"People ask me why we Blues singers don't talk more between songs. I said, 'Hell, I can't explain nothin' by talkin'!'" spoken by Mississippi Charles Bevel, the actor portraying an unnamed 70-something, dapper Bluesman. His words reveal the theme of this delightful and sexy, world premiere musical. Featuring 22 classic Blues songs, the Northlight Theatre's stage production of "Low Down Dirty Blues" centers on the song lyrics and song performance, relying on no story line and only little on dialogue and monologue.
The authentic looking setting for the 85 minute revue is a South Side Chicago Blues bar after closing time, around 3 a.m. The only thing missing is the smoke. Backed by three musicians (piano, bass, guitar) without speaking parts, four singers/entertainers (two men and two women) gather to swap stories and songs filled with passion, soul and sexual double entendres. The audience is made to feel like a part of the club with no props or lines of delineation between the "stage" area and the front rows of the audience floor. There was plenty of clapping along, laughter, and audience reactions.
The songs tell the stories from struggles to joy as lived by African-Americans from the South to Chicago. "Home of the Blues" is Chicago's title based on such rich history and today's continuing Blues scene. Across the 22 songs by such luminaries as Muddy Waters, Ma Rainey, Sophie Tucker, Howlin' Wolf and Pearl Bailey, the mood shifts from sexual exuberance, often with kitchen allusions, ("Jelly Roll Baker;" "My Stove's in Good Condition") to heartache and weariness ("Grapes of Wrath;" "Good Morning Heartache") to end with the thrill of living ("Everyday I Have the Blues").
The cast is superb with energy and wonderful voices. Mississippi Charles Bevel and Felicia P. Fields (both Tony Award nominees), Gregory Porter and Sandra Reaves-Phillips all have multiple awards from Broadway and performance stages to television. The supporting musicians, Frank Menzies on piano, James A. Perkins, Jr. on guitar, and Michael Manson on bass, are fantastic but not the focus.
If you are going to the Chicago Blues Fest this weekend, June 11 – 13, check it out for an interesting side trip while you are in town. It is an animated and exciting musical good time and definitely recommended!
At Northlight Theatre, 9501 N. Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL, call 847-673-6300, www.northlight.org, tickets $39 – $54, Tuesdays thru Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 7 pm, matinees at 1 pm on Wednesdays, Saturdays at 2:30 and Sundays at 2:30 pm, running time is 85 minutes without intermission, through July 3, 2010.
Contributors to this review: Susan Walker and Doreen Barton. Photos by Michael Brosilow .
Reviewer James "Skyy Dobro" Walker is a noted Blues writer, DJ, Master of Ceremonies, and longtime Blues Blast Magazine contributor. His weekly radio show "Friends of the Blues" can be heard Saturdays 8 pm - Midnight on WKCC 91.1 FM and at www.wkccradio.org in Kankakee, IL
For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.
Featured Blues Review 1 of 6
Mississippi Heat - Let's Live it Up!
www.mississippiheat.net
14 tracks/60:13
On their third release for Delmark, Mississippi Heat offers up another recording of no-nonsense, 1950's-style Chicago blues that packs quite a punch This veteran aggregation has a romping, stomping good time blasting through this collection of lively original tunes.
Piere Lacocque is still on-board as the leader, songwriter and ace harmonica player. The role of lead vocalist goes to Inetta Visor, whose powerful voice and commanding presence invigorate every track she appears on. Kenny Smith on drums and Stephen Howard on bass provide the solid rhythmic foundation. Giles Corey will certainly gain lots of new fans once people get a chance to hear his dynamic guitar playing on this disc. One of the first-call session players in Chicago, Christopher "Hambone" Cameron delights with his contributions on piano and Hammond B-3 organ. Add Carl Weathersby or John Primer on guitar and you have a potent blend of veteran musicians that prove there is still life in the aging tradition.
There are plenty of highlights including the title track, which opens the proceedings with a blast of energy with Visor shouting out this celebration of life as Corey, Weathersby and Lacocque trade solos at a lightning pace. Equally fine is "Peace Train", with Visor delivering a rousing vocal with gospel intensity supported by Kay Reed, Mae Koen and Vanessa Holmes on backing vocals. Cameron impresses with some superb fills on the organ and Corey adds a short but very tasty solo.
Visor and Cameron co-wrote "She Died From a Broken Heart", which should receive consideration when it comes time for nominations for song-of-the-year awards. Lacocque's harp moans and cries in support of Visor's haunting vocal while Weathersby brings things down to a slow-burn with some exquisite guitar picking. The Chicago Horns - Kenny Anderson on trumpet, Hank Ford on tenor sax, Bill McFarland on trombone and Sam Burkhardt on alto sax - appear on four songs, adding punch to the broken-heart tale "Another Sleepless Night", that features another outstanding vocal from Visor. They also punctuate the driving tempo on "Don't Cry For Me". Weathersby evokes memories of his former boss, Albert King, by adopting the string-bending style and biting tone favored by King on "Been Good to You" and the lone cover on the disc, Sugar Pie DeSanto's hit "I Want to Know".
She is only on one cut but Rhonda Preston makes it clear that Visor isn't the only woman around capable of singing the down-home blues. She manages to wring every bit of emotion she can out of the cheating tale of "Daggers and Tears". Primer steps into the spotlight on three tracks - his laidback vocal style offering a nice change of pace to the women. He gives his guitar fretboard a serious workout on "Betty Sue" and his original composition, "I Got the News Today", typifies the Mississippi Heat approach - take a standard blues progression, play it like it's never been done before and make it fun. The closing tune, "Until We Meet Again" gives Cameron a chance to stretch out on the organ and he takes full advantage of the opportunity, trading licks with Corey and Lacocque at a rapid pace.
This is the total package - great tunes, heartfelt vocals and fine musicianship from start to finish. Piere Lacocque is the glue that has held this band together for eighteen years and through numerous personal changes. His unique and creative approach to playing the harp is the final piece that elevates this recording out of the current pack of blues releases - the perfect antidote for those seeking relief from the onslaught of rock albums masquerading as blues music. Delmark and Mississippi Heat serve up a generous helping of the Chicago style, played with vigor, class - and highly recommended !!
Reviewer Mark Thompson is president of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL.
5th Annual T-Bone Walker Blues Fest
Music City Texas Theatre - Linden, Texas
Malford Milligan
Robin & the Bluebirds
Dorothy "Miss Blues" Ellis
Buddy Flett
Emily Elbert
Guitar Shorty
Henry Gray & the Cats
19th Street Red
Sumter Bruton
Diddley Squat
Kayla Reeves
Pleasant Hill Quilting Group
Guitar Hero Competition – Friday & Saturday
Call (903) 756-7774 for more information or visit
www.tbonewalkerbluesfestival.com
Ten Foot Polecats - I Get Blamed For Everything I Do
Hillgrass Bluebilly Records
www.myspace.com/thetenfootpolecats
In the early 70's, I was in the right place at the right time because thanks to my friendship with Lefty Dizz I was jamming with some great Chicago blues artists. Lefty was quite the ambassador of blues, he knew all the blues stars, and they all seemed to like him. When I was playing with Lefty, we would hang out all the time, and on nights we weren't working, we'd go find other joints where we could sit in and play. Dizz and Hound Dog Taylor were very close and often we would end up at Florence's or somewhere and play with Hound Dog for hours. Those two could really put away the bourbon, too….Old Grandad. As I listen to the new Ten Foot Polecat album, "I Get Blamed For Everything I Do", I can't help but hearken back to those old days with Hound Dog Taylor, mainly because these guys employ the same 'bass-less' configuration. With The Houserocker's , it was 2 guitars and drums. Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserocker's had Brewer Phillips playing bass lines on his guitar while Hound Dog played slide on his guitar, so the sound was similar to the Ten Foot Polecats in a way.
The Ten Foot Polecats don't achieve a groove using a bass guitar, the 'bottom' is instead derived from the drummer's bass drum beat and the lines and rhythm of the guitar. It's a minimalist approach and does make one wonder if it's kind of a gimmick, but music doesn't always have to follow the expected path to work. A lot of Prince's early work was devoid of a big bass part, unlike the other hit music at the time, and that sound he created helped influence other interesting musical experimentation.
The first cut of the album is called, "Chicken Head Man" and shows off just how strong a groove Jim Chilson on guitar and Dave Darling on drums can create, and the absence of a bass isn't a factor. These two musicians are locked together in these inspired arrangements and both play superbly throughout the album. For me, half the fun of listening to this album is the interaction between guitar and drums. Without bass, the sound is naked and primitive, but so full of clarity and energy. On track3, "Tears On My Windshield" you can hear the band with a bass guitar, and it's a whole different sound. It sounds like another band altogether, and maybe that's the point. "Tears On My Windshield" is a great song, but it sounds like many other blues songs. With just guitar drums and vocals (and harp, of course), The Ten Foot Polecats have found their own sound and they do it very well.
Vocalist and harmonica player Jay Scheffer delivers the goods with his gravelly voice and commitment to the songs. While his harp lacks the tonal depth heard from a more virtuosic player, it serves to add another dimension to the final product, and an alternate instrument to feature during solo sections. Scheffer's harp playing is showcased very well on "Scratch Ticket" (track 5).
As far as my favorite cuts, I have to admit that I love "Tears On My Windshield", but I also really dug "Dryspell", a song where you can just feel how much these guys love to play. "Squeeze" is another goodie, written by Scheffer and featuring some great guitar licks by Chilson. Another great original on this release is "So Good To Me", which has a swampy groove and is a lament about lost love. I also really enjoyed their interpretation of RL Burnside's "See What My Buddy Done".
I really dug this album, and recommend it to all blues-lovers, especially if you like foot stomping down-home blues.
Reviewer Bruce Williams is seasoned Blues musician (Junior Wells, Lefty Dizz and The Chicago Fire, Jimmy "Fast Fingers" Dawkins, Mark Hannon Blues Band). He learned the blues from some of Chicago's masters and has shared the stage with legends such as Willie Dixon, Jimmy Rogers, Sammy Lawhorn, Hound Dog Taylor and Jimmy Johnson. His band appears at clubs and festivals throughout the Midwest. He hosts a weekly radio program on WRLR FM Public Radio and produces music out of his home based Highland Lake Records Studio.
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Alabama Blues Project - Northport, AL
Alabama Blues Project 2010 Summertime Blues Camp will be held July 19-23 at Covenant Presbyterian Church on Hargrove Road in Tuscaloosa, AL. For more information please contact Cara Smith at (205) 752-6263 or cara@alabamablues.org. You may also find out much more about our Summertime Blues Camp by clicking here to visit our 2009 review.
Los Angeles Blues Society - Los Angeles, CA
The Los Angeles Blues Society is pleased to announce their Tenth Open Jam to be held on Sunday June 20th, 2010 from 2pm to 6 pm at Main Street Restaurant, 4902 Main St. Yorba Linda, CA. The host band will be Blues Straight Up. All jammers and friends welcome. Come down to jam, listen and have a great time. For more info visit www.lablues.org.
Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation - Chicago, IL
Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation will be hosting their annual "Hot Blues Nights" event during the Chicago Blues Fest weekend. The show starts on Saturday, June 12th @ 9pm! For only a $10 minimum donation/person, you can enjoy some live music with special guest Johnny Drummer, tour the historic Chess Studios, feast on some food and refreshments, and overall have a "Wang Dang Doodle" of a time. The event will be held at 2120 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60616. For more information visit www.bluesheaven.com .
Madison Blues Society - Madison, WI
More than 4,000 Blues fans are expected at the 8th Annual Blues Picnic on Saturday, June 19. There'll be 9 1/2 hours of FREE music from 11:30AM to 9:00PM featuring Tate and the 008 Band, Shake Daddys, Joe's Blues Kids, Cash Box Kings, Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin' Altar Boys, John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band and Grana' Louise. We'll have lots of great food, drinks and beer and don't miss out on the Prize Raffle and the 50-50 Cash Raffle. Get the full story at http://www.madisonbluessociety.com/picnic10.htm
Washington Blues Society - Seattle, WA
The Washington Blues Society's local competitions for the 2011 International Blues Challenge will be held on Sunday, June 20th and Sunday, June 27th at the award-winning Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle. Depending on the number of entries received, there may be an additional competition on July 11th or July 25th. The preliminary solo/duo competitions will be held on either Sunday, June 27th or one of the July dates above. Competition finals will be held on Sunday, August 22nd at the the Snohomish Taste Of Music Festival.
Any Washington State blues act may enter, and the act must include at least one who is a member of the WBS. Band entry fee is $30.00 and solo/duo entry fee is $15.00. Entry deadline is Thursday, June 10th. For complete info see the website at: www.wablues.org or email president@wablues.org.
Crossroads Blues Society - Rockford, IL
Crossroads Blues Society is producing their very first Blue festival this year. The Byron Crossroads Blues Festival will run from noon to midnight on Saturday, August 28, 2010, in downtown Byron, Illinois.
The festival lineup includes The Resistors, noted artists Filisko and Noden, The Cashbox Kings, Westside Andy/Mel Ford Band and Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames. For more information visit the Crossroads website at: www.crossroadsbluessociety.com
Columbia College - Chicago, IL
The 2010 Youth Blues Camp will be held at Columbia College Chicago Music Center, 1014 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago July 4 – 9, 2010 by Artistic Director, Fernando Jones. For complete information visit www.BluesKids.com.
The Friends Of The Blues - Watseka, IL
2010 Friends of the Blues shows - June 15 - Albert Castiglia 7 pm , River Bend Bar & Grill, June 22 - Al Stone, 7 pm , River Bend Bar & Grill and August 10 - Sean Chambers, 7 pm , River Bend Bar & Grill For more info see: http://www.wazfest.com/JW.html
Illinois Central Blues Club - Springfield, IL
BLUE MONDAY SHOWS - Held at the Alamo 115 N 5th St, Springfield, IL (217) 523-1455 every Monday 8:30pm $3 cover. June 14 - Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat, June 21 - The Texas Groove Blues Band, June 28 - Bryan Lee, July 5 - Little Joe McLerran, July 12 - Michael Charles Band, July 19 - Laurie Morvan, July 26 - Bill Evans Birthday Bash
River City Blues Society - Peoria, IL
The River City Blues Society present the Main Street Blues Party featuring: Eric "Guitar" Davis & Doghouse Blues on Saturday June 12th, 2010 from 4pm to 10pm on Main Street in Downtown Pekin, Illinois.
Also they have more of their weekly Blues shows during the summer season. The shows start at 7:00pm at Good Fellas Pizza and Pub, 1414 N 8TH St Pekin, IL. Admission for all shows is $4 or $3 for RCBS members. Shows currently scheduled are: Wednesday June 16th, 2010 - Albert Castiglia, Wednesday June 23rd, 2010 - Chris Beard, Tuesday June 29th, 2010 - Bryan Lee, Thursday July 15th, 2010 - Joel Paterson and Wednesday July 28th, 2010 - Andrew "Junior Boy" Jones.
Gina DeLuca - Blue Eyed Soul
Fell's Point Diva Records
www.ginadeluca.net
Time-55:24
Sometimes an artist comes along to jar the most jaded of music lovers. Such is the case with Gina DeLuca. Times like these make my gig easy....My pen has a direct connection shooting up my arm to the bluesheart center of my brain and my words spew forth. No great revelations or innovations here. All the various elements are just were they should be in just the right amount. Her stunning natural blue-eyed smoky soul voice is out front. She isn't a blues shouter thank God. No oversinging here, she emotes or holds back when needed. The production by Dave Nachodsky and Gina herself is spare allowing her vocals to shine. No heavy-handed horn section, gloppy backing vocals or strings to muck up the works. Each guitar solo makes sense in the context of the song. On "Dreaming(A Stalker's Love Song)" only a rollicking barrelhouse piano backs her, giving the listener the experience of hearing a saloon style torch song. The same approach is used on "Blues Gone Grey" to good effect.
Soul blues is the feeling here. Even in the more soul leaning tunes some blues guitar creeps in. Her voice has a mellow toughness to it, at times recalling Dusty Springfield. Her rendition of Saffire The Uppity Blues Women's ode to the night after "Cold Pizza And Warm Beer" is given a harder take than the original thus removing the novelty aspect. The yearning in her voice on her original "When You Were Mine" will melt you in your tracks. Ten of the thirteen tracks here are penned by Gina showing she's not just an interpreter of somebody else's vision. Her finest creations for me are on two successive belters "I'm Ok" and "The New Me". Kajun Kelly's crunchy guitar propels the saucy "The Good Life Of A Bad Girl". "Days Of Soul" is a paen and list of the music that is the prevalent flavor throughout this disc. Upon hearing her reading of Roddy Barnes' "Go Where The Bad People Go" it makes a guy want to follow her into hell. Which wouldn't be such a bad deal because the lady happens to be quite a looker to boot.
If she stays on track and continues writing songs to suit her sultry vocals and dosen't allow some hot-shot blues label and/or producer to veer her into a course of sappy, overblown porportions we should hear much more of her in a big way..
Reviewer Greg 'Bluesdog' Szalony is from the New Jersey Delta. He is the proprietor of Bluesdog's Doghouse at http://bluesdog61.multiply.com.
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Guitarist Seeking Work
Older/experienced guitarist who played with Texas Bluesman, Johnny Clyde Copeland before his passing away looking for gig with touring band. Also available for recording session work in and around Northern Il., So. Wisconsin area. I can be reached at….@....bluzgtrman2k@hotmail.com or 815-235-6020 from 7:00Am to 3:30Pm Mon.-Fri. or @ 608-214-7868 after 3:30pm or weekends. Have gear,will play….
Blues Music Reviewers Wanted
Blues Blast Magazine is looking for reviewers to review new Blues CDs, DVDs an books. If you have a background and experience with Blues music and like to write we can provide new music releases for you to review. Person must be willing to write a minimum of one review every other week. Reviewer keeps the CD/DVDs for writing the review. If interested please send a sample of your writing and a short bio of your Blues background to Please include your phone number with the reply.
13th Annual Prairie Dog Blues Fest
Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights Big James & the Chicago Playboys Guitar Shorty Jon Justice Eddie Turner
Eric Sardinas Shaun Murphy Band Big John Dickerson Show Debbie Davies & Robin Rogers Band Vernon Ray Harrington Sena Ehrhardt Band Hounds Tooth
Festival Website www.prairiedogblues.com
The only Blues festival held on an island in the middle of the Mississippi River!
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin on St. Feriole Island
Clare Free - Be Who You Are
Funky Mama Records
www.clarefree.co.uk
www.facebook.com/clare-free
Ten Tracks 39mins 11 secs
Clare Free is a Brit who has been playing guitar since she was 12 years old. She is a prolific songwriter and has worked with numerous top-flight musicians including Dino Baptiste who introduced her to Dana Gillespie with whom she worked on tours in India and at the Mustique blues festival (in the Caribbean). She cites her influences as a mix of blues, rock and country and this CD is a good example of all those elements although more blues/rock/pop than straight blues.
Impressively, all ten tracks on the album are self-penned. The opener, 'Let Me Down Easy' is a countrified piece with an opening guitar part that sounds like the best of Nashville. Next up is 'I Won't Lie' which IMHO is the bluesiest track on the CD, this has a nice rhythmic hook and features a guitar solo reminding me a lot of Jeff Beck. The lady has some nice chops!
Some of the tracks are barely bluesy at all. 'Fool To Pride' is a poppy song, but with what I suspect may be a self-revelatory lyric "Angry, I cut you, made you bleed. My razor tongue got free". Some nice axe work here too but not enough of it.
Another nice blueser is "She's An Evil Woman" with a melody which is just on the edge of my consciousness (one day I'll remember what it reminds me of). 'Whenever You Need Me' is kind of rather soppy 1960s pop-song and is best forgotten.
Admirably supported by Hannah Cope (bass and backing vocals), Rhys Firey (Kbds) and Pete Hedley (Dms) this outing shows off Clare's song writing and guitar playing skills to a Tee. A nice addition to the growing group of 'girls with guitars' like Joanne Shaw Taylor and Dani Wilde all of whom are enlivening the UK blues rock scene.
Reviewer Ian McKenzie lives in England. He is the editor of Blues In The South (www.bluesinthesouth.com) a monthly flier providing news, reviews, a gig guide and all kinds of other good stuff, for people living and going to gigs along the south coast of England. Ian is also a blues performer (see www.myspace.com/ianmckenzieuk) and has a web cast regular blues radio show on www.phonic.FM in Exeter (Wednesdays: 1pm Eastern/ 12 noon Central).
Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps - You Know You Love It
Jesi-Lu Records
www.teresajames.com
I really like this girl and her band! Teresa has one of those voices kinda Shirley of Shirley and Lee, Kinda Brenda Lee definitely a Lee connection there that's great a sound petete and very strong at the same time, tough and tender! Love it! They play "Dirty Fast" which you can walk to or make love to and really nice Scrunch-in Slow songs. Lowdown Pro, they are and the way to go!
I've seen them live and they're great! The surprise on their new cd is the wide range of material, style, presentation and production, very top shelf stuff. I'm a feel kind of guy so here's what we're feelin' and its good! Teresa is a West Coast Aritha Soul Machine then a "Bad Girl Brenda Lee" Dancin' Root, Midnite Rocker with a Jelly Roll. The Junk in the Trunk is Bumpin' !
On the slow tunes you can feel the rain comin' down your face mixin' with your tears in her vocal and those killer sections underneath her working hard breaking it down for all of us. they get it!
"It might Be Memphis" Great work, my first favorite on this new cd. She lays it down for all the dance floor boys and girls from Texas to Beale Street in the best way! Everybody got Rendezvous BBQ Sauce stains on it and they lovin' it! Like I said in the beginning something you can walk and love to, and dance to.
Then on another tune she Bust Down that Funky Zoot Cat with her own Smokestack Lightnin' Heart Surgery. Nice and up to date with that soul from the origin - slick lightnin'!
On "Sunday Shoes" Teresa puts down a smokin honest lyric up in that Blue Church! A lovely re-walk down that aisle with happy tears showin' ! Mercy! my second favorite on this CD.
Teresa James and her Rhythm Tramps and the Bailout team she talks about have done it! Excellent Performances and Production with that hard to define secret sensual seduction down in the middle for you to find and really enjoy! "You Know You Love it" The Title track is Rockin', Stompin', Jumpin' , Line Dancin' Juke ala Austin City Wail!
This is a Sexy CC from front to back! Love it!
Reviewer John Lee Williamson is the head of Conjur Root Productions and a Veteran of the blues. He's based in Los Angeles and on the scene from the 50's til right now.
Rick Taylor - Lucky Room
Volunteer Records
www.ricktaylormusic.com
I have to apologize to Rick Taylor. He doesn't know that I need to, but I do. The first time I listened to this CD I was stuck in horrible traffic driving into Chicago. I think it took me over an hour and half to get downtown from O'Hare airport. I was in such a foul mood that after about a minute of each song I was hitting the button for the next track and after 11 minutes I was done, unimpressed. I think that if BB King and Buddy Guy had been sitting in my back seat jamming that day I would have snapped at them and told them to hold it down. The CD got put away for a couple of weeks, resurfaced, got properly listened to several times and it now elicits my apology.
Rick Taylor hails from North of the border, and this Ontario native can play the guitar! He spent 23 years in Vancouver until 2007 when he returned home and released a CD that he'd worked on for ten years that mixed many styles of music. In his new release he returns to his blues roots. Playing solo guitar, both acoustic and electric, he shows us his finger picking skills over these 11 tracks. His vocals are equally authentic and solid, a mix of bourbon and gravel; the accompanying notes hearken his style as being delivered on the torn paper cone radio speaker of a 1927 Buick. For Midwest and West Coast fans that are familiar with Hawkeye Herman, Rick is a veteran bluesman of a very similar style. Taylor also fills in on harp while Henshall "Washboard" Fats does some percussive work on washboards, suitcases, bean cans and drums.
The songs here vary from Big Bill Broonzy's "By Myself" to Joe Williams' "Baby Please Don't Go", an outstanding homage of the Mississippi Delta through early Chicago blues. Taylors fine finger picking will please guitar fans as he winds his way through a mix of traditional acoustic and electric blues. Leroy Carr's "Six Cold Feet of Ground" gets a stirring electric slide cover and Elmore James' "I See My Baby" is an acoustic romp over the fret board with Fats backing him nicely. "Blind Fiddler" is a rootsy John Brim cover with a haunting melody and delivery. The electric stuff is great, but one can tell this guy really is in his prime with the acoustic tracks.
Rick Taylor is consummate bluesman with a solid and exciting CD here. Roots music fans will thoroughly enjoy his guitar and vocal work on these 11 well-chosen tracks that showcase his excellent skill on the guitar and gutsy vocals..
Reviewer Steve Jones is secretary of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL.
Live Blues Calendar
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Blues CD's... For less than the cost of one small ad in a newspaper, you can advertise your shows, new CD or any Blues product. A great way to get the Blues word out!
Blues fans WANT to know about your Blues event of product. Call Bob at (309) 267-4425 or send an email to for a confidential quote today!
Blues Blast Magazine covers Blues all over!
We also offer effective advertising for Festivals and Club Owners, Recording Companies and Performers. Put your Blues advertisement on our homepage at: http://www.TheBluesBlast.com either as a sponsored event or as a featured event, product, recording or merchandise. We get 20,000 visitors and 1,000,000 hits A MONTH on our website!
More than 15,000 Blues Fans, Musicians, Recording Companies, Club Owners, Blues Societies and Festival Promoters in all 50 states and in 70 countries read the Blues Blast magazine each week. You can feature your event or product in the largest FREE internet Blues magazine delivered right to your inbox each week.
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