VizzTone Label Group artist: Bob Corritore - Women In Blues Showcase - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Women In Blues Showcase by Bob Corritore and there are some real gems here. Opening with You're Gonna Be Sorry, Barbara Lynn on vocal and guitar is joined by Corritore on harmonica, Maxine Johnson and Laydee Jai on backing vocal, and Bill Tarsha on drums. A cool, early blues rock sound makes this an excellent opener. One of my favorite tracks on the release is soulful, I Just Need A Friend, by Carol Fran. Johnny Rapp on guitar, Paul Thomas on bass, and Chico Chism on drums really support this excellent vocal track perfectly. Koko Taylor is front and center on What Kind of Man Is This with great Chicago swagger. Joined by Bob Margolin on guitar, Frank Krakowski on guitar, Bob Stroger on bass, Adriana Marie on bass and Willie Big Eyes Smith on drums, a real cool track. Shy Perry does a great job  belting out Dixon's Wang Dang Doodle with Corritore on harmonica and Brian Fahey on drums. Diunna Greenleaf 's rocker, Don't Mess With The Messer really is a mover and Greenleaf's vocals are gritty and powerful, backed by Fred Kaplan on piano, Troy Sandow on bass, Andrew Guterman on drums and a terrific bari solo by Doug James. Wrapping the release is Francine Reed on Why Am I Treated So Bad. I gotta say I really love Reed's voice and the choice to place her last on this release is a great one. With  Kid Ramos on guitar, Johnny Main on guitar, Mike Hightower on bass, Michael Reed on backing vocal and Brian Fahey on drums, this is an excellent closer for a really strong release.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Little Village artist: Diunna Greenleaf - I Ain't Playin' New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Ain't Playin' (May 20, 2022), from Diunna Greenleaf and it's chocked full of R&B, blues and soul. Opening with Koko Taylor's Never Trust A Man, Diunna Greenleaf on lead vocal slips into a funky blues, Albert King style, With Jerry Jemmott on bass, Jim Pugh on keys, Kid Andersen on guitar and Dmar Martin on drums with Mike Rinta on trombone, Aaron Lington on sax and Jeff Lewis on trumpet. Power opener. In Big James Montgomery's If It Wasn't For The Blues, Greenleaf really shows powerful phrasing and excellent command for that funky blues that we all love so much. With a great bass line by Andersen, Lington on flute, Rinta on trombone and Lewis on trumpet, and Igor prado on lead guitar, this is a really strong track. Original shuffle, Sunny Day Friends has a loose feel and Greenleaf really slides into the pocket. Jemmott's bass line is terrific, Andersen's guitar lead is strong and  Pugh adds some real nice piano as well. A darker, deeper track, Long John Hunter's I Don't Care is one of my favorite tracks on the release with superb guitar soloing by Andersen and warm sax additions by Eric Spaulding and Sax gordon. Really nice. Joe Medwick's, Damned If I Do, R&B track really gest a blues workout by Greenleaf and her vocal richness and again Andersen just smokes the guitar with strong horn backing by Rinta, Lington and Lewis. Gospel track,  I Know I've Been Changed, is another powerful demo for Greenleaf's voice with Alabama mike on additional lead vocal and Nic Clark on guitar. Very nice. Johnny Copeland's Let Me Cry is another terrific track with stellar guitar intro by Andersen, excellent piano contributions by Pugh and some of Greenleaf's best vocals on the release, wrapped in the horn work of Spaulding. This is excellent! Wrapping the release is upbeat R&B style track, Deitra Farr's My Turn, My Time with a driving funky bottom by Dmar, Jemmott and Vicki Randle (percussion) and and the addition of Lisa Leuschner Andersen on backing vocals. Solid closer for a terrific release. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Bob Corritore & Friends - Spider In My Stew - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spider In My Stew, from Bob Corritore and Friends and it's terrific. Opening with Tennessee Woman, Corritore on harmonica is joined by Oscar Wilson on vocal, Tony Tomlinson on guitar, Shea Marshall on piano and sax, Patrick Skog on bass and Alan West of drums and percussion. A solid Chicago style track with a Latin beat, this is a solid opener. Moving into a full on romp, Sugaray Rayfield has the lead on vocal on Big Mama's Soul Food, backed by Kid Ramos on guitar, Blake Watson on bass and Marty Dodson on drums. Great vocals by Rayford, Corritore's always always fine harmonica work and saucy guitar work by Ramos give this track real zing. Diunna Greenleaf is upfront on Don't Mess With the Messer and with a snappy drum beat by Andrew Guterman and hot sax work by Doug James, this track is strong. Lurrie Bell delivers really inspired lead vocal and guitar on title track Spider In My Stew with Bob Margolin and Corritore's lower octave harmonica work is terrific. Excellent! Johnny Rawls leads with vocal and guitar on Sleeping With The Blues and it's sensitive BB King approach is rich. Why Am I Treated So Bad is one of my favorites on the release featuring Francine Reed on lead vocal. Her voice is unmistakable and with brother Michael on backing vocals, Corritore soloing on harmonica, Ramos and Johnny Main on guitar, Mike Hightower on bass and Brian Fahey on drums, the deck is stacked for best track on the release. R&B track, Look Out features Alabama Mike on lead vocal with Junior Watson on guitar, Fred Kaplan on piano, Corritore on harmonica, Kedar Roy on bass and Andrew Guterman on drums ramping up the release for the big closer. Wrapping the release is a great rendition of Bob Dylan's I Shall Be Released again featuring Francine Reed. Joined by brother Michael, Ramos and Main on guitars, Hightower on bass and Fahey on drums, this is a strong closer for a really strong release. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Ruf Records artist: The BB King Blues Band - The Soul Of The King - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Soul of the King, from The BB King Blues Band and the title hits the nail on the head. Opening with Irene Irene, Russell Jackson has the mic and Kenny Wayne Shepherd plays scorching hot guitar riffs making this an excellent opener. The hear of the band is James Boogaloo Bolden on trumpet, Eric Demmer on lead sax, Jackson on bass, Walter King on sax, Herman Jackson on drums, Darrell Lavigne on keys, Lamar Boulet on trumpet, Wilburt Crosby on guitar, Brandon Jackson on drums, and Raymond Harris on trombone. Kenny Neal is up next on Sweet Little Angel covering both lead guitar and vocal. His playing is more mellow but no less soulful as he gets a good grip on the track in BB King style. Diunna Greenleaf's supreme vocal styling is There Must Be A Better World Somewhere and Demmer literally blows the doors off with his sensational sax soloing. Excellent! Solid soul on She's The One with Demmer on lead vocal and sax. The man is hot and his sax screams... check it out! Funky, Taking Care of Business has Jackson back on lead vocal backed by Bolden and Richardson. Crosby and Demmer trade rich solos giving this track real tension over the punchy horn work. Very nice. Regal Blues (A Tribute To The King) features Joe Louis Walker on lead vocal and guitar. With a solid shuffle rhythm Walker gets the band rockin' … you can almost see BB King's softly clenched fist clapping into his extended open palm. Bolden has the lead on Pocket Full Of Money, with a nice groove. Jackson's bass line sets the tone and Lamar Boulet blows a great trumpet solo. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Michael Lee on lead guitar and vocal on BB King's classic, The Thrill Is Gone. A soulful but bouncier track than typical of King, an excellent closer for a solid release. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Dialtone/VizzTone artist: Bloodest Saxophone - Texas Queens 5 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Texas Queens 5, from Bloodest Saxophone and it's powerful. Bloodest Saxophone has been playing old school sounds since 1998. Opening with I've Got A Feeling and Diunna Greenleaf on lead vocals these guys show that they mean business. With Koda Shintaro on tenor sax, Coh on trombone, Osikawa Yukimasa on bari sax, Shuji on guitar, The Takeo on upright bass, and Kiminori on drums and percussion this track has real punch. Lead vocalist Crystal Thompson really pounds out the blues on Losing Battle with really nicely presented guitar by Johnny Moeller on guitars over strong brass and sax work. Excellent! Instrumental, Pork Chop Chick is a terrific jump track with super horn solos, driving rhythm and a real nice guitar exchange between Moeller and Shuji. Very nice. Lauren Cervantes is upfront on Latin track, Run Joe. Masterful rhythms, authentic vocals, tight percussion and wild powerful horns give this track real spunk. A really tasty guitar solo on It's Your Voodoo Working leading to a sassy sax solo by Shintaro give Jai Malano all the support she needs to carry the lead on this one. Don't Move Me gets a real swing and Moeller gets the track moving behind Thomas and the punchy brass on this one. The Grapevine really gets the feet tapping with Cervantes leading the way on an extremely horn lively route with a wild bari solo byYukimasa. Excellent! Wrapping the release is soulful, Cockroach Run, with it's grinding sax work and an aggressive guitar solo by Moeller capping off a really fun and bluesy release. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Lost Cause Records artist: Clint Morgan - Scofflaw - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Scofflaw, from Clint Morgan and it's a winding road of interesting passages. With an intro of children singing This Little Light of Mine, this release covers gospel, blues and country styles. Waco almost smells of John Wayne with a heavy bottom by bassist Dave Roe and Jerry Roe on drums and with Clint Morgan on piano and vocal with raggedy nice guitar by Kenny Vaughan. Early rocker, Wild One maintains a lot of it's country flavor but rips with some nice guitar and piano work and Morgan's vocals are perfect. I Got A Gun is an easy country rocker with Jonathan Yudkin on violin with Morgan painting a cool lyrical story. I Don't Know Where To Turn is a cool boogie woogie track with real nice piano work backing Morgan's duet with Diunna Greenleaf on lead vocals. Dripping country, Vaughan lays out some real nice guitar work on the bluesy track. Eastham Farm has a lot of Johnny Cash in style balanced by nice harp work by Jim Hoke, additional rich vocals by Greenleaf and just the right touch of horns. Country flavored, D.B. Cooper Blues, is right down the middle pre pop country with solid vocals, piano and guitar work. Very strong. David Allen Coe's, I Love Robbing Banks gets a fresh coat of paint with a really hot sax solo and tight drums. Morgan is very comfortable in singing this kind of music along with his piano, sounds like he was born to do it. A Johnny Cash flavored, Bad Man Blues, has the solid acoustic guitar/bass vamp, tight little snare riffs and even steel guitar riffs giving this track it's classic sound. Love it! Boogie track, Thief In The Night, has the droning bass line and low key vocals setting up nicely for a pretty nice guitar score. Bob Dylan/Johnny Cash penned, Wanted Man has the sounds of a prison cam song with effective drum stomp and backing acoustic slide. Morgan's vocals nicely score on the Johnny cash connection and violin and electric guitar work add nicely to the fabric of the tune. The Face In The Mirror is a nicely introspective track with a subtly blistering guitar solo by Vaughan. Two stepper, A Sackful Of Cash, is high energy with a carnival of sounds but with great piano work, sexy sax and flashy country style guitar riffs. Very cool! Bessie Smith's Send Me To The 'Lectric Chair holds that New Orleans blues sound with the rolling piano, bluesy guitar and wailing clarinet, making it one of my favorite tracks on the release. Old hymn, Softly And Tenderly, Jesus is Calling is a duet with Maria Muldaur, handled with the utmost respect backed by piano, mandolin, guitar and dobro. Very nice. I Done Made It Up In My Mind, a spiritual number written by Muldaur, is nicely performed featuring Muldaur on lead vocals. Morgan's secondary vocals are clean and uplifting and his piano and organ work is top notch. The release is closed with an alternate take of I Got A Gun. Gritty and full of western, this is a n appropriate closer for a really western release...dig the guitar effects! This is a really interesting release and make certain you check the liner notes which is plastered with outlaw photos (one in a wooden box) and notorious characters of all kinds.



  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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VizzTone News - Memphis and More!!

Here's the latest VizzTone news blast.  There's been a lot happening, so it's a long one!  To make it easier to navigate, here's a little Table of Contents. Read on for: BLUES MUSIC AWARDS BLUES PARTY ON BEALE AWARD SEASON AGAIN!    COMING SOON SNEAK PEEK - NEW VIZZTONE ARTISTS! ARTIST NOTES VIZZABLE MUSIC WELCOME TO THE VIZZTONE ROOM

BLUES MUSIC AWARDS     We had a natural ball in Memphis last month, as expected.  We were proud to root for all our nominees at the Blues Music Awards, and thrilled to see Diunna Greenleaf accept the Koko Taylor Award, Traditional Blues Female Artist.  We watched great performances by Little G Weevil, Gracie Curran, and Bob Margolin (performing on the eve of his birthday with Ronnie Earl.) Here are a few pics. Diunna Greenleaf accepting her long-overdue Koko Taylor Award!  (photo by Louis Blackwell)

Bob Margolin with Ronnie Earl "Acoustic Blues Artist" nominee Little G Weevil striking a blue mood (Photo by Louis Blackwell) "Best Blues Song" nominee, Ruff Kutt Blues Band's James Goode ..and "Best New Artist Debut" nominee Gracie Curran tearing it up with guests Peter Parcek and Richard Rosenblatt. SNACK TIME!   And what would the BMA's be without the ever-popular SNACK TIME after-party!?  That's Dave Keller, Sax Gordon Beadle, Richard Rosenblatt, Dennis Gruenling, first-time snacker James Montgomery, Amy Brat, Laura Chavez, Dave Gross, Kurt Kalker, Michael Bram, Dean Shot, Matt Raymond, and Greg Nagy. (not pictured: Ricky Stevens, Dick Shurman, and Zaida Zoller.)  Yes, this is what happens in Memphis at 3AM.  ;-) VIZZTONE BLUES PARTY ON BEALE     Our annual BMA Blues Party On Beale was nothing short of amazing!  We kicked it off and 9:30, and rocked the Rum Boogie until well past 2:00 AM.  Bob Margolin was our congenial host, with a house band featuring Dave Gross, Matt Raymond, Michael Bram and Dean Shot.  The evening featured performances by Bob Margolin, Candye Kane, Laura Chavez, Debbie Davies, Mitch Woods, EG Kight, Bob Corritore, Diunna Greenleaf, Dave Gross, Long Tall Deb, Colin John, Cathy Lemons, Dennis Gruenling, Little G Weevil, Michael "Leroy" Bram, Dean Shot, Gracie Curran, Terry Hanck, and Richard Rosenblatt. Debbie Davies, Michael Bram, Dave Gross, Laura Chavez Bob Margolin, Matt Raymond, Cathy Lemons, Phil Berkowitz Michael Bram, EG Kight, Bob Margolin Bob about to become Laura's human guitar strap, Rosy pretending nothing is unusual Amy Brat with "Contemporary Female Artist" nominee Candye Kane - bangs rule!

AWARD SEASON AGAIN! Now that we're starting to catch our breath and regroup from the Blues Music Awards, it's time to think about the next wave of awards, this time from three major Blues Publications! BIG CITY BLUES: Ruff Kutt Blues Band is nominated for the Big City Bues award, COOLEST BLUES SONG IN THE WORLD 2014 for their song "That's When The Blues Begins" – James Goode, writer / Zac Harmon, vocalist / Anson Funderburgh, guitar.  You can VOTE NOW until June 30 by clicking the Big City Blues logo. LIVING BLUES AWARDS – Bob Corritore is nominated in the harmonica category for the third year in a row - he won last year!  Place your vote at www.LivingBLues.com, now until July 15. BLUES BLAST MUSIC AWARDS:  Blues Blast Magazine is having their annual awards ceremony and celebration in Champaign, Illinois on October 23, 2014.  Voting is from July 15 - Septmeber 15, 2014.  For more info or to vote, click the Blues Blast Music Awards logo, above.  Nominees inclues: Candye Kane - Female BLues Artist Bob Corritore - Male Blues Artist Dave Riley & Bob Corritore -  Acoustic Blues Album Little G Weevil - Acoustic Blues Album COMING SOON! GINA SICILIA EP     Critically acclaimed singer-songrwiter Gina Sicilia traveled to the Muscle Shoals, Alabama, area to soak up the Southern Soul vibe for her new 5-song EP, The Alabama Sessions.  This is Gina’s first self-produced release, and features her powerful, sultry vocals over five new original compositions.     The Alabama Sessions EP wil digitally released by VizzTone on July 29.

CHRIS O'LEARY BAND LIVE ALBUM     Chris O’Leary’s first two albums established him as a driving force in modern blues.  Former front man for Levon Helm’s Barn Burners, Chris leads his horn-driven band through his ultra-cool songs, taking the lead with powerful vocals and harmonica.  Live at BLUES NOW was recorded March 2014 in Basel, Switzerland with special guest, veteran blues guitarist Alex Schultz.

SNEAK PEEK - NEW VIZZTONE ARTISTS! NEW VIZZTONE ARTIST - ROB STONE!     VizzTone proudly welcomes harp-playing vocalist Rob Stone to the family! Rob brings a hard-hitting fresh energo to traditional Chicago blues, Centered in Chicago and LA, Rob has established a solid reputation with his first three albums and high-powered live shows in the US and around the world — he's doing a three week tour of Japan in August.  Esteemed journalist Bill Dahl writes, Rob Stone "respects Chicago Blues enough to blow the dust right off it!"     Rob's new CD features a band including Chris James, Partick Rynn, Willie Hayes and David Maxwell. Special guests include Eddie Shaw, John Primer, and Henry Gray.  Oh yeah, you're gonna dig this one!  Look for an early September release of Rob's new CD, Gotta Keep Rollin.  You'll be hearing MUCH more about Rob Stone in the near future! NEW VIZZTONE ARTIST - ERIN HARPE AND THE DELTA SWINGERS!     We are particularly thrilled to welcome Boston's Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers to the VizzTone family.  Erin learned to play Delta Blues guitar at an early age from her father, Maryland area bluesman Neil Harpe. She showed an immediate affinity for the finger-picking style of Memhis Minnie and Kansas City Joe. Erin's travels brought her an appreciation of World music styles, particularly Afro-Beat and reggae.  Landing in Boston, she did solo blues gigs, simultaneously started a electro-funk dance band called Lovewhip, and self-released a couple of acoustic blues CDs.      A few years ago, Erin formed the Delta Swingers, a deep blues-based group that was also a dance band with a wealth of influences.  The sound was aptly christened "Charles River Delta Blues"  The Delta Swingers immediately won the Boston Blues Challenge, and went to Memphis for the International Blues Challange, made a lot of friends, and got to the semi-finals. THe band won a Boston Music Award, and Erin returned to the IBC with her harp player to compete in the solo/duo category.     The Delta Swingers are:  Erin Harpe on guitar and vocals, Bob Nisi on drums and background vocals, Jim Countryman on bass, and VizzTone co-founder Richard "Rosy" Rosenblatt on harmonica.  The new record was recorded in Boston, then mixed and mastered by Dave Gross at Fat Rabbit Studios, with guest appearances by Dave Gross and Bob Margolin.  Coming pretty soon, we'll keep you posted!

ARTIST NOTES MIKEY JUNIOR, JR!     Mikey Junior was on the road with an all-star band, promoting his critically-acclaimed, radio-charting new VizzTone album, Traveling South, heading towards Memphis to hit the BMAs and perform at the VizzTone Blues Party on Beale, when suddenly...  Mikey's newest production, his first child, decided he wanted to make an early appearance.  Mikey returned home to help welcome Michael Grayson Hudak, born May 4, 2014, and let the very capable band of Dave Gross, Michael Bram, Matt Raymond and Dean Shot carry on without him.  Young Michael is doing fine, and exhibiting excellent taste in music!  By the way, have you seen Mikey Junior's official music video?  CLICK HERE FOR THE MIKEY JUNIOR VIDEO! LITTLE G WEEVIL, TV STAR     Little G Weevil has been having a hell of a year or so.. Winning the 2013 IBC in the solo/duo category, releasing his VizzTone debut to widespread acclaim, BMA and Blues Blast Award nominations, and now... TV stardom?      Much to his surprise, Little G Weevil has been tapped as of the judges on the X Factor TV show - the Hungarian version - for the next season.  The X Factor - created by Simon Cowell - (American Idol) is a British television music competition to find new singing talent, contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. As the biggest talent competition, the show airs in many countries all over the world. This is the 5th season in Hungary with the first blues musician judge ever in the history of the show. (check out the above video to see the press fawning over him - it's in Hungarian, but you get the picture!)     "Blues musicians hardly ever get invited to a mainstream show like this. I`m very proud to represent my genre. I hope that my presence will help gravitate more people towards blues and blues related music. With over 2000 gigs behind me, 7 albums in the EU and the US, i know i can help the contestants a lot and i`m very excited." - says Weevil     In between shootings you find Little G on the road. Last weekend he appeared on a festival in the Netherlands. He's currently on a Hungarian tour, with dates followed in Spain. His next US tour is in September. FIONA BOYES, NOTES FROM THE ROAD     Eight weeks = eight countries; greetings from the road! I am currently in the final stages of a big tour that started in the USA at MerleFest, NC, and has taken me to fantastic gigs round Europe.  Club dates and Jazz/Blues festivals in Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Holland - even managed to fit in an arty photo shoot with Italian rock photographer, Cristina Arrigoni! LONG TALL DEB     Long Tall Deb continues to knock 'em dead with her band the Werewolves of Alabama (long story, ask her sometime!) at shows and festivals around the world.  ReverbNation liked her song "Married to the Blues" so much, they made her Featured Artist of the Week.  Deb and the Werewolves are currently working on a brand new single, while gearing up for a busy festival season to include a performance at the Ottawa Blues Fest and a tour of Italy! DOUG DEMING & DENNIS GRUENLING with THE JEWEL TONES     Doug, Dennis and Jewel Tones are in the middle of major summer tours through the US, and also appearing in France. They headlined at the First Annual Brevard Blues Festival recently with special guest Anson Funderburgh. (Pictured above: Anson Funderburgh, Dennis Gruenling, Doug Deming, Andrew Gohman, Brian Phillips) On this tour they will also hitting the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, Field Of Blues Festival, and Vache de Blues festival in France, as well as blues venues and concerts all over the east coast & midwest.   EG KIGHT - MULTI-TALENTED MUSICIAN, SONGWRITER, PHOTOGRAPHER     Starting the year out on a good note, EG Kight's song, “Blue Dawn”, written with Tom Horner and Sunny Stephens, aired on ABC Family's "The Fosters" show in February. Then she teamed up with "Belle of the Blues" Lisa Biales, and together as the "Peach Pickin' Mamas" they toured Indiana and Ohio. Last month, Kight took to the Rum Boogie stage in Memphis for the VizzTone jam, and had a blast jammin' with Bob Margolin.     EG is also a photographer, and has been asked by a book publisher to use one of her photos for the cover of a book on the life and times of Robert Johnson. (See above!) The book is set to be released later this year.     Kight's upcoming tour dates include a museum of art in Knoxville, a Billiards club in Chattanooga, the BBC in Tallahassee, the Bradenton Blues Festival, more clubs, and several house concerts and private parties. Find all dates at www.EGKightMusic.com BOB MARGOLIN - STEADY ROLLIN' AS ALWAYS     Bob reports:  "I'm still steady rollin' for my own gigs, but my shades misted up on the eyes side when my dear friend Diunna Greenleaf won the Koko Taylor Traditional Blues Woman for 2014 at the Blues Music Awards. I am inspired by her music and her friendship and we're conspiring to write some songs together and record and tour. Diunna is a treasure!" RUFF KUTT BLUES BAND     James Goode, old coach and producer/bassist/songwriter for the Ruff Kutt Blues Band, has been writing and producing new songs for future projects.  Right now the title song from their VizzTone CD, "That's When The Blues Begins", written by James and featuring Zac Harmon on vocals and Anson Funderburgh, is nominated for 2014 COOLEST BLUES SONG IN THE WORLD by Big CIty Blues magazine. James won this same award last year!  (pictured above)   There's just about one week left to vote, so let's go for two in a row - CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW! DAVE GROSS     In the studio and on the road, Dave Gross is an amazing perpetual motion machine!  (Arty photo by Jen Taylor!)  Dave reports:     "I've been in the studio the last few weeks finishing up overdubs and mixing for Erin Harpe's upcoming album, as well as finishing the master for The Chris O'Leary Band's upcoming live release. I was touring earlier this year with Candye Kane & Laura Chavez, in the Northeast and Canada, as well as many regional and road performances with Mikey Junior (as well as many throughout the rest of the year). I'll be traveling from 6/26-7/26 playing guitar with Chris O'Leary, across the country and up to the Northwest and then back in the studio for a few new exciting projects in August!" MICHAEL BRAM     Michael "Leroy" Bram is widely known for playing drums with the stars - but he's also a a hell of a blues singer/songwriter/guitarist/harp player, as his VizzTone album and his Memphis performance will attest!              Michael reports: "Writing and in pre-pre-production for next album... Just returned from  "Traveling South" tour with Mikey Jr.... which ended up being the Mikey-less Mikey Jr Band due to his wife going in to labor during the first gig!  Finished the tour with Dave Gross and Dean Shot culminating in 4 glorious days in MEMPHIS, where we were the house band and featured performers at the Vizztone Label Showcase at Rum Boogie Cafe. What an Awesome night where I got to perform and hang with many new friends! The Memphis stop included the BMA's.... so many great performances but my favorite thing was that I got to put my photographers hat on and got great shots of James Cotton, Bob Margolin, Ronnie Earl and more! I also got to spend some time in Clarksdale where we saw Candye Kane's wonderful band and I got to shoot some portraits of one of my heroes, Watermelon Slim! ...a trip full of music and photography. My favorite.     I recently scored a new residency gig at the New Rochelle Radisson every Thursday. Steady is good! Look for news on an upcoming tour on drums with grammy award winning singer Jason Mraz, and future gigs with Mikey Jr, Dave Gross, Johnny Nicholas; as well as upcoming gigs under my own name.... keep it greasy!" MITCH WOODS, RIDING IN STYLE     MItch Woods is rolling strong, and in high style!  He reports: “Heading off to Europe for a whirlwind summer tour appearing at Notodden Blues Festival (Norway), Umbria Jazz Festival (Italy), and Ascona Jazz Festival (Switzerland)….should be a blast!" TED DROZDOWSKI'S SCISSORMEN     Ted just back home to Nashville, after a week of teaching in Colorado at an innovative self-discovery program for artists. He also did some playing along the way, including guesting with Otis Taylor.  Back home, he proceeded to pack Nashville music room The Family Wash to the rafters to help celebrate the hometown debut of the new Ted Drozdowski's Scissormen line-up featuring Sean Zywick and Pete Pulkrabek!

DEBBIE DAVIES Debbie Davies, pictured here backstage at BB Kings NYC for Johnny Winter's birthday party, is looking forward to upcoming summer festivals and a very special series of shows with Chris Cain mid summer.

JAMES MONTGOMERY James reports:  "Just finished 3 nights in a row – all benefits – with our band and the amazing Grace Kelly!! (pictured here) Old pal Jonathan Edwards was on one of them! All of them were EXTREMELY powerful shows! We started with her when she was 12!  Look for more with Grace in the near future!  Our Vizztone CD is flying off the bandstand with out new T Shirts!"

VIZZABLE MUSIC It's been a rewarding time for VIzzTone's sister promo company, Vizzable Music!       GRACIE CURRAN     We were happy to work with Gracie Curran from square one all the way to the BMAs.  Gracie's album, Proof of Love, was produced in Richard Rosenblatt's Vizzable Studios, promoted by Vizzable Music to press, radio, and the world, then nominated for a Best New Artist Debut Blues Music Award. Thats the way it's supposed to work, right!  ;-)      LUTHER DICKINSON     It was a pleasure to promote old friend Luther Dickinson's recent CD, Rock n' Roll Blues.  It's what Luther describes as "folk country punk blues", and it's a beauty, rolling up the punk rock exhuberance of his early years and the blues and folk music traditions that are his birthright into a careening autobiographical album, full of wit, irony, and joy.  Not really a blues album, but most people love it.  We got a lot of press and radio attention, as well as an interview on Elwood's Bluesmobile.     JEREMY BAUM     Next up - Jeremy Baum!  We'll be telling you much more about this release VERY soon, but here are the basics:       Jeremy Baum plays the Hammond Organ and leads his own band, which is rooted in the blues and funky soul-jazz sounds of the late 60s (think Booker T and the MG’s, the Meters, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff!)  Jeremy has been a successful sideman, working with Shemekia Copeland, Levon Helm, The North Mississippi Allsatars, Debbie Davies, Chris O’Leary, John Hammond Jr., and many more.  He has played in nearly every state in the USA, in over 20 countries in North America, Europe and Asia, at countless music festivals, at Carnegie Hall, and many television appearances including Late Night with David Letterman. The man has paid some dues!     Back in the studio for his sophomore release, The Eel, Jeremy Baum knocks it out of the park with 10 Hammond organ and piano driven arrangements.  Backed by a stellar cast of musicians, this album is a great listen from start to finish.  Special guests include, among others, Jay Collins, Eric Kalb, Michael Bram, Scott Sherrard, Chris Vitarello, Miles Mancuso, Dennis Gruenling, and Chris O’Leary.     You'll be hearing a lot more about Jeremy Baum, soon!