New Release RUF 1260: Mike Zito, Bernard Allsion, Vanja Sky - Blues Caravan 2018

Mike Zito, Bernard Allsion, Vanja Sky Blues Caravan 2018 Release: 19.10.2018 Format: CD + DVD Video Label: Ruf Records GmbH EAN: 0710347126027 This was no ordinary club tour. This was the Blues Caravan 2018. If you’ve followed Ruf’s rolling revue since it started life in 2005, you’ll already know that these shows are must-see events, throwing together three stellar artists on one bill – then letting the chemistry do the rest. Traditionally, the Blues Caravan lineup has showcased the label’s breaking talent – from Aynsley Lister to Samantha Fish – and given fans a chance to catch the blues titans of tomorrow before they go ‘boom’. But in 2018, it’s time to mix things up. On this year’s Blues Caravan, you’ll not only find one young gun with a dazzling career ahead of her, but also two heavyweights with a sky-high reputation. Let’s welcome them to the stage… This CD / DVD release revives a unique Blues Caravan! A unique live piece to experience the Blues Caravan of 2018 again and again! The accompanying DVD was recorded on 27.01.2018 at Café Hahn in Koblenz! Ruf’s tireless dedication to the blues means it hunts far beyond the US and UK for its new signings – and the label has struck gold with Croatian gunslinger Vanja Sky. Channelling the fire and flair of Rory Gallagher, Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan, this 23-year-old hot-tip has already broken out in her home country and bordering Balkan States. On this CD / DVD she presents songs from her first studio album "Bad Penny". Vanja says, „I’m very excited to play on the Blues Caravan 2018,” she says, “and looking forward to meeting a lot of new people and sharing my music with them. My shows are filled with great energy and I always give everything when I’m on stage. I’m gonna play songs from my debut album, and also some cover songs – so people can definitely expect some great music and fun.” Some surnames command instant respect on the blues scene. As the son of the mighty Luther Allison – the late Chicago blues titan who was Ruf’s first signing back in 1994 – Bernard Allison has added to the family legend and carved out his own mythology as a world-class songwriter and performer. For this year’s Blues Caravan, he’ll be drawing on an acclaimed back catalogue that includes 1997’s US debut Keepin’ The Blues Alive and 2000’s classic Born With The Blues, and slipping between genres as only a master can. “My show is all about sharing my musical talent and presenting different styles like blues, rock and funk. There’ll be lots of energy, because I feed off of my fans and love interacting with them on and off stage. You can expect a fun time – the Allison way!” says Bernard. If you’re remotely serious about modern blues, you’ll have followed the twists and turns of Mike Zito’s fascinating career. The Missouri-born bandleader overcame his crippling early addictions to become one of modern America’s sharpest songwriters, and few artists have written with such stark eloquence as he did on 2011’s Greyhound album. In 2012, Mike threw us a curveball, lining up alongside Devon Allman and Cyril Neville as a key member of Royal Southern Brotherhood – and went on to stay with the supergroup for two critically feted albums. But the call of his own muse was too strong, and in 2014, Mike burst straight back into his solo career with Keep Coming Back and Make Blues Not War. “I have long wanted to join the Blues Caravan and run away, so I’m excited,” he says. “My shows are energetic and passionate: I try hard to give everything I’ve got and make every note count. You can expect rocking blues guitar, with a dose of soul vocals, and a mix of my best songs.”

RUF Records artists: Dani Wilde, Victoria Smith, Samantha Fish - Girls With Guitars the DVD - New Release Review

The show opens with Are You Gonna Go My Way, a Lenny Kravitz track loosely based on Procol Harem's Whiskey Train. The girls are all in short skirts and heels with Fish front and center but I can tell you these girls mean business! Vocals are shared by Fish and Wilde with each taking a verse and then trading off lead riffs. Both girls play tele's but Wilde plays a conventional Tele with a cutting sound and Fish a Tele special with humbuckers for a fatter sound. On Don't Go Making Me Cry, a Wilde original, Wilde takes the lead on vocal and plays some smokin' riffs on this R&B flavored track. She has an unconventional picking style, more like a bass player and makes it work well for her. Next up is James Gang's (Joe Walsh) Funk # 49. This is a classic rock track and both Wlide and Fish take a crack at the mic. Smith is really holding down the bottom well with her 4 string P bass and she gets a chance to show her chops a bit on this track. Next up is Red Blooded Woman, another Wilde original. Fish takes a breather and the band operates as a trio. Wilde has a very solid voice and her clean guitar tone and palm muting technique is especially noticeable on this track. Wilde looks to be playing through a Blackface Twin and the tone is right on. Fish rejoins for Screamin' Jay Hawkins' I Put A Spell On You. She takes the lead on both guitar and vocal and makes it her own. I really think that she does a nice job on it keeping with the basis of the original but putting her own flavor on it and not overdoing the theatrics as some others have done recently. The guitar refrain on this track really smokes. Fish follows up with an original track, Leaving Kind loosely based on Rollin' and Tumblin'. Fish plays a few short riffs on slide in conventional tuning. On Money To Burn, another Fish original, Wilde plays some really sweet guitar riffs sounding very San Francisco based including some nice harmonic overtones. Fish's vocal are really strong on this track but the guitar work by Wilde on this track is the ticket. Fisk does play a pretty hot riff of her own on this track through what appears to be a tweed deluxe. This is a really cool track. I've only had the pleasure to review one of Wilde's recordings but if she plays like this often, I am anxious to hear more! Falling, a Wilde original, gets back into the R&B styling. Wilde really does have a solid voice and it does carry her tracks well. Wilde's guitar picking style is unconventional enough that I find myself studying her work. Kind of a mix between a bass player and Derek Trucks. Nice track...really! Juice Me Up, another Wilde original, is a straight up rocker. Fish and Wilde trade riffs and Smith and drummer Denis Palatin keeps a tight ship. Smokey Robinsons' Who's Loving You of course keeps things in the soul vein and Wilde keeps the lead vocal role. Wilde has obviously studied this musical style because she executes it like she has lived it as opposed to some plastic cover as is often seen in contemporary blues covers. Up next is Fish original Down In The Swamp. I really like the repeating vamp by bass player Smith on this track and it gives Fish a really nice platform to sing and rip over. Mississippi Kisses, a Wilde original, shows Wilde in a different guitar light on a fast boogie track. Want to turn this track up if for no other reason ...just to hear Smith on bass. Wilde and Fish alternate throwing down guitar riffs and this is a great track! Wilde takes a break and a Fish original, Other Side of The Bottle is up next. A slinky little track, Fish shows a different vocal style and it's very effective. Wilde returns for another Fish original, Runaway. Fish takes her most aggressive solo of the evening and actually kicks off her heels and walks the audience to play in the crowd. The end is here and the concert is concluded with Steve Miller hit Jet Airliner.

The bonus section includes a really nice acoustic track featuring Wilde singing in a Breman record store accompanied acoustically by Smith and Fish, candid dressing room interviews with the girls and footage of the band setting up and signing autographs.  I gotta tell you, this is a really strong recording and the news is Dani Wilde! Everyone knows that Fish can really play and sing but Dani Wilde really turns up the heat and comes out of the shadow on this recording.

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