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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!


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Showing posts with label Earwig Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Earwig Music. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Earwig Music/Unisun Productions artist: Lady J Huston - Groove Me Baby - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Groove Me Baby, by Lady J Huston and it's a cool set of blues, R&B and soul. Opening with Your Call, a cool shuffle with Lady J Huston on lead vocal, complimented by Adrea Rohlehr on backing vocal, Ben Shafer on tenor sax, Darryl Bassett on lead guitar, Frank Dunbar on bass, James Gugle on drums, Jason Cooper on lead guitar, and M. Lew Winer III on bari sax. Huston plays a cool flugelhorn on Tearing Me Apart, a nice slower blues ballad, with Anna C. Allen on backing vocal. Very nice. With a light Latin rhythm on, Corona You Make Me Sick!, Huston mixes it up and adds a sweet trumpet solo. With Dunbar on bass, Winer III on tenor sax and Nichaus Iv on lead guitar, a real cool track. Pure R&B oozes on title track, Groove Me Baby. Adding synth herself, and joined by Rohlehr on backing vocals, with Ashton Channing Proctor on rhythm guitar, Shafer on flute, Bwayne Smotherson on backing vocals, Charles Smotherson Jr on drums, Bassett on lead guitar, Dunbar on bass, and Jocelyn Rugaber on electronic keys, this is the definite radio track on the release. Wrapping the release is a live version of At Last, made popular by Etta James. Huston's vocals are deep, backed by Bassett on lead guitar, Dunbar on bass, Gerald Warren on drums, and with sweet tenor work by Winer III. Solid closer. 


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Monday, September 27, 2021

Earwig Music Company artist: Rusty Ends Blues Band - Self Titled - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release from Rusty Ends Blues Band and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with What's Next, a crisp, up tempo shuffle, Rusty Ends on lead vocal and guitar pairs up with some muscular harmonica work by Jim Rosen and backed by Dave Zirnheld on bass and Gene Wickliffe on drums. Cool opener. Secrets In The Street has a warmer feel with  Rod Wurtele on B3 and a fluid guitar lead by Ends. With a bit of a Freddie King, Sinner's Strut is a cool shuffle with Ends leading the way on guitar harmony and with Danny Kelly on drums and added percussion by Barry Shaw. Slower blues, Something Wrong Going Wrong, gives Ends a chance to showcase his blues phrasing. Hi vocal styling reminds me a bit of Mike Bloomfield. One of my favorite tracks on the release is rocker, I'm Searching, with it's driving bottom, Wurtele on piano, solid vocals by Ends and relentless harmonica by Rosen. Latin rhythm permeates High Beams with hot New Orleans style, emphasized by the tight piano riffs of Wurtele. This is a great track with a story line that most guys can relate to and will be a concert favorite. Wrapping the release is ballad, The One Wish, with  a soulful melody over a thick B3 base. Ends shows some really poised phrasing on his guitar solo on this one with traces of Roy Buchanan. Nice closer. 


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Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Earwig Music Company artist: Andy Cohen - Tryin' To Get Home - New Release Review

 


I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tryin' To Get Home, from Andy Cohen and it's a cool, rural blues release. Opening with Blind Boy Fuller's Step It Up And Go, Andy Cohen wastes no time in showing that he's a serious student of the blues and a solid vocalist. His finger picking work is strong and his vocal delivery perfect. Excellent opener. Cohen shows broad versatility sitting behind the piano on Louis Jay Meyers Memorial Stomp. This is a really nice piano blues and with great feel, and a strong composition by Cohen. Another Cohen original, Puffin' That Stuff is one of my favorites on the release. A short finger picked guitar rag, this track will be a favorite in concert and on the disc. Very cool. Mississippi John Hurt's Talkin' Casey, is a classic blues story track with Cohen punctuating Casey's story with acoustic slide. Very nice. Reverend Gary Rag is a great tune and a cool tribute to Davis by Cohen. With his fleet fingered runs and classic patterns, this track is tight. RG Davis's trademark track, Death Don't Have No Mercy, is always a favorite and Cohen's handling of it is strong. Blind Blake's West Coast Blues is another finger twister and Cohen works it over nicely with articulate string runs and vocal engagement. Excellent! Wrapping the release is another Cohen original, Planxty: Miss Joanna Swan a nicely paced blues rag with an imbed melody over the picked rhythm. I real nice closer for an excellent acoustic blues release in the vein on Blake or Davis.


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Thursday, September 26, 2019

Earwig Music Company artist: Les Copeland - One More Foot In The Quicksand - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One More Foot In The Quicksand, from Les Copeland and it's honest. Opening with blues rocker, Change Of Pace, Les Copeland sets up on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Cameron Ward on bass and Scott Grant on drums. On Big Bill Broonzy's When I Been Drinking, Copeland goes it alone with electric guitar. This is a particularly cool tract with solid vocals and excellent country blues style guitar accompaniment. Very cool. Freddie King's Woman Across The River gets a real funky edge. The base arrangement remains intact but Copeland's added funk gives it a really fresh feel. Copeland lays in some real nice riffs and Ward's bass lines are excellent. Another cool, country style blues track, Perfect Man Like You, blends solid vocals by Copeland, backed by flat picking and slide guitar overlays. Very nice. Slow blues number, Uncle To Aunt, gives Copeland a real nice opportunity to just stretch and show his blues chops. With only the minimal of bass and drum backing, Copeland shines. Tiny People is a real cool tune with a great melody. Featuring Copeland on lead slide (melody), this is certainly one of my favorite tracks on the release. Ray Charles' Hallelujah I Love Her So gets a savvy swing alternating Copeland vocals with cool jazzy guitar soloing. Very nice.  Another nice country blues rag is I'd Be Nothing with straight up Piedmont picking and tight vocal delivery. Title track, Just Another Foot In The Quicksand, adds a jazzy approach to a traditional country style blues. With some real nice articulation and bluesy accents, a real nice job. Closing the release is I Gotta Get Up, a jazzy R&B style track with a lot of commercial potential. This release has a number of approaches to the blues with a constant theme in acoustic style blues guitar. Take a listen.



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Friday, June 10, 2016

Earwig Music Company artist: Andy Cohen - Road Be Kind - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Road Be Kind, from Andy Cohen and it's quite interesting. Opening with Five and Ten Cent Blues, Andy Cohen shows when he get his impeccable reputation as a blues man and finger picker. Rich acoustic guitar tones and fluid picking makes this a great opener. Seldom Seen Slim is a cool country ballad written by Luke Baldwin. Short and sweet, a cool pictoral ballad. Sonny Terry's Spread The News Around is another terrific display of Cohen's finger work. Title track, Road Be Kind, is a solid ballad by Scott Alarik. A nice balance between vocal and guitar accompaniment. John D Loudermilk's instrumental, Windy and Warm is playful and rich. Cohen's guitar work is well structured and nicely executed. More Wood is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a happy little melody and deep acoustic guitar feel. Steve Fromholtz's High Country Caravan is a solemn ballad with Cohen laying it all out there vocally. Weems Doyle's Mysterious Mose is a wild ride '30's track with all of the playfulness of the original. Catch Cohen tickling the fretboard as he makes all of the sound effects of this crazy track. Cool! Fort Sumner Dance has a blend of jig and bluegrass with some real nice acoustic riffs. The Goodnight-Loving Trail by Utah Phillips is an easy paced country waltz with a pictorial melody of the rugged road. Brownie McGhee's Seaboard Train is a hot country blues with snappy riffs. Talkin' Hard Luck is a David Bromberg/Bob Dylan like rant that was played by Chris Bouchillion and Peg Leg Sam among others with a super acoustic guitar run carrying it. Blarney Pilgrim/Jig McCoy is a really interesting acoustic number in the manner of Irish folk tunes. Really well executed and with beautiful guitar tones ... excellent! Bill Ellis' John Ate The Locust and the Honey is a nicely crafted folk hymn with tight guitar riffs. The release is wrapped by classic rock ballad Blackbird. Very much an experience in acoustic guitar exploration, a fitting conclusion to a very crafty release.
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Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Earwig Music Company artist: Les Copeland - To Be In Your Company - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, To Be In Your Company, from Les Copeland and it's lively and entertaining. Copeland, Honeyboy Edwards' traveling companion, working partner and student for 15 years, has released his second collection and this one's a doozy. Opening with title track, To Be In Your Company, Copeland sings about his friend, Honeyboy as he lays down a rudimentary Piedmont style pattern on acoustic and soloing over the top on electric guitar. Very nice. Slipping and sliding on acoustic, Borderline tells the story of crossing and being detained in border towns. Stealin' has a certain period styling and a mellow acoustic sound. I particularly like Copeland's vocals on this track with a bit of loose vocal improvisation. Henry Townsend's Why We Love Each Other has a really nice meter, with Cat Wells joining on harmony. Knucklehead is a track about the interplay between Copeland and his wife, Sarah. With his Herb Ellis hollow body tuned to open D, this track has a really unusual acoustic jangle. Cool. Jim Stafford's Swamp Witch is up next with poetic like descriptions. Primarily a folk tune, this is cool expressive track. A simple ballad, Something Nice and Sweet, has a nice melody, expressive lyrics and backing vocals by Sari. Jelly Roll Morton's Whinin' Boy is played pretty straight up and will always bring to mind Hot Tuna's version. A cool blues track, it's easy to appreciate the sensitivity of Copeland's voice. Friend, is a light blues based ditty, about the wife stealer. Copeland's acoustic guitar work on this track are particularly clean and effective. If I Was A Bad Man, has a really gritty feel and traditional slide blues styling. Copeland really slays it on this one so listen up. Bessie is a really sensitive track recounting Honeyboy and his admiration for his wife. Very nice! Gordon Lightfoot's Ribbon of Darkness is a simple modern folk ballad with a sweet melody and articulate guitar interplay with Copeland's vocals. Bob Dylan's Moonshiner has a certain poetic feel to it showing Dylan's strong sense of writing. Copeland keeps his adornment to a minimum giving the song a refreshing feel. Ray Davies' track, Sunny Afternoon is one of my favorite tracks with few variations from the Kinks original. Toned down to a simple acoustic country track how it was likely originally written gives it a warm feel. I'd Be Lonely Too is an upbeat track featuring a duet with Sari and more prominent guitar lead without breaking the simple folk rhythm. Billy Joe Shaver's I'm Just An Old Chunk of Coal has a lot of spring in it's rhythm and Copeland's finger picking technique is tight. Very nice! Slashing slider, Crosstown is driven by a train rhythm. Copeland's vocals have a lot of the old country styling giving the track an authentic old time feel. Wrapping the release is I Dream About You, a snappy country blues track. One final country blues solo shows some smoke and it's done. Very cool release.

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Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Earwig Music Company - Angels Sing The Blues - New release review

I just received the newest release, Angels Sing The Blues featuring performances by Liz Mandeville, Mary Lane, Al Short, Shirley Johnson and Johnny Drummer and it's cool! Opening with Al "Guitar" Short on the Johnny Guitar Watson track, A Real Mother For Ya, backed by Johnny Drummer on keys, Walter Scott on rhythm guitar, Anthony Palmer on lead guitar, Kenny Hampton on bass, Tino Cortes on drums this release starts off with a kicking funk. Danny O'Connor takes the mic on Cold Women With Warm Hearts and a rolling James Brown rhythm driven by O'Connor's own bass lead. Very nice! Johnny Drummer is up next and a slick guitar intro by Palmer opens Gonna Sell My Cadillac, Buy Myself A Mule. This track has a great feel with extended guitar work by Palmer and Drummers vocals are tight, complimented by his own harp work. Slowing it down a bit, Drummer leads a low slung groove in easy style. Palmer steps up with some real nice riffs on this track giving it a real bluesy feel. R&B style track, Get Your Lovin' Where You Spend Your Time, features Shirley Johnson on lead vocals and she takes command. Compact guitar riffs and simple phrasing makes this track a solid radio contender. Mary lane takes center stage on Just As Grown As You and with a solid 12 bar rhythm and prominent keys from Drummer delivers a stike right down the alley. On Ride In Your Automobile, Lane gets the band involved with backing vocals from Mike Pappas and Alvin Short for a cool driver. Drummer is back up front on Rockin' In The Juke Joint and this is a cool rumble. Shirley Johnson is back up front on I'm Gonna Find Me A Lover, a high stepping R&B track with some of her best vocals on the release. Hamptons bass work on this track stand out nicely with compliments by Palmer. Again on Unchain My Heart, Johnson takes total control with thick, rich, vocals. Drummer's organ work on this track sets up just the right amount of tension, along with a slick guitar solo from Palmer, making this one of the strongest tracks on the release. Mary Lane really grinds out a classic on You Can Have My Husband, Please Don't Mess With My Man. With solid organ backing, nice bass work from Hampton and tight drums from Cortes, Palmer rips a real nice solo on this one. Very nice! Liz Mandeville takes center stage on Use What You Got and she gets hot and sassy. This is a hot track with heavy overtones and a sweet guitar riffs. Continuing with I Just Want To Make Love To You, Mandeville really works it and Drummer's harp and organ add nicely with hot guitar riffs from Palmer. Very cool! On John Prine classic, Angel From Montgomery, Mandeville, Lane and Johnson team up for a solid soulful rendition supported by Amber McMillan and Taniesha Brock on backing vocal and John Elwood Migliaccio and Scott Harper on sax. Very smooth. Wrapping the release is a funky, Run A Red Light, with plucky guitar and bass riffs and Mary Lane showing her stuff just one more time.

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Monday, September 21, 2015

Earwig Music Company artist: Tommy McCoy - 25 Year Retrospective - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, 25 Year Retrospective, from Tommy McCoy and it's exceptional! Opening with The King Is Gone, a really nice tribute to BB King structured along the lines of The Thrill Is Gone. McCoy really does a nice job of capturing the spirit of BB and the band, with McCoy on vocal and guitar, Theodore Alexiou on guitar, Demetris Georgopoulos on bass, John Dinoulas on drums and Kostas Tenezos on harp is spot on. R&B track, I Got A Reason, has a light pop feel and features Babis Tsitivigos on sax. The Change Is In has more of a rock feel but maintaining a bit of R&B. Mark McCoy on bass, Calvin Cratic on guitar, John Street on keys and Pat Geoffrey on keys set a nice stage for a fine biting guitar solo from McCoy on guitar, nicely complimenting his vocal led melody. Blues driver, No Love Without Any Green, has a great rhythm line fed my Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton. McCoy rips a hot guitar solo on this track with a crisp drumming and solid bass. Tropical Depression, a soulful ballad, finds McCoys vocals floating on an easy melody by Mondo Bizarro onbass, Chaz Trippy on drums and John Street on drums. Ludella has a polished jazz rocker feel. Featuring William Harris Jr. on bass, Popcorn Chuck Louden on drums and Lucky Peterson on B3 this track it developes a nice solo shootout between Peterson on B3 and McCoy on guitar. Nice! Love n' Money is one of my favorite tracks on disc one featuring Shannon and Layton again plus Street. A guitar instrumental, this track gives McCoy a really nice opportunity to stretch on guitar and he takes the chance and doesn't waste a note. Excellent! Blues fused, They Killed That Man, features only McCoy on acoustic guitar and vocal with Ed Lanier on upright bass. Very expressive. Blues Thing has a bit of a Freddie King feel with Peterson on B3. This tracks is hot! A Man Who Cried has a R&B format with Harris Jr. on bass, Louden on drums and Peterson on B3. Bitter Soul To Heal is an absolute smoker! Featuring Harris Jr on bass, Popcorn on drums and Peterson on keys. Peterson and McCoy each take really nice solos on this track making an absolutely excellent blues number. Talkin' To Myself has a country 2 step feel featuring Chris Lomas on bass, Tony Baylis on drums and Fred Skidmore on keys. Nice changeup and a good rocker. Ace In The Hole has a bit of a funky feel with nice slide work from Jimmy Bennett. Mark McCoy hits the bass with Levon Helm on drums, Garth Hudson on B3 and George Triconi on piano and McCoy on vocal, guitar and mandolin. A definite Band influence with a cool solo from Hudson. Very nice! A quiet ballad, Angels Serenade wraps disc one with the same lineup but adding Anastasia on piano with it's waltz like tempo.



 Opening disc two is Little Feat's Spanish Moon with all of the complexity of Little Feat's original. McCoy on guitar and vocal is joined on guitar by Branson Welsh, Mark McCoy on bass, Levon Helm on drums, Garth Hudson on B3 Triconi on piano and Tim Eddy adding really full horn work. Excellent! Poverty has a Isley's feel with Ken West on Bass, Tony Coleman on drums, Street on keys, Charlie De Chant on hot sax and Larry Mergillano on trumpet. Angel On My Shoulder, Devil On My Back has a bit of a swampy sound with a super complex funky drum beat. Joel Tatangelo on slide, Al Razz on bass, Pug Baker on drums and Tim Heding on B3 really deliver on this track making it another favorite on the release. Guitar solos from McCoy and Tatangelo as well as super keys and hot drums make this track a smoker. Swing track, Black Eldorado Red kicks butt with nice piano work from Commander Cody. McCoy on guitar and vocal is complimented by Pat Bregan on guitar, Mike Chavers on bass on James Vernardo on drums. Hot! Lay My Demons Down, is a soulful track with gospel overtones. It's slow, smokey, feel accented by punchy guitar riffs from McCoy makes this one of the nice tracks on the release. With Harris Jr on bass, Popcorn on drums and Lucky Peterson on supple organ solo's, this is a definite must hear. Smokin! Late In The Lonely Night has a Robert Cray R&B bluesy feel and I personally think that may be the best showing of McCoy's vocals. McCoy's guitar riffs have more bite on this track joined by Razz on bass, Pug Baker on drums and Tim Heding on B3. Another super track this release just keeps piling them up. Ok...Pink Floyds Money, gets a jazzy makeover and I really like it. It has a definite Shannon/Layton feel joined by DeChant on sax. I have noticed a number of times during this recording the clarity and presence. DeChant's sax solo is a clear example and McCoys own guitar solo is hot! Excellent! Broke, You're A Joke is a funky track with a bit of country. Very cool blend. With Joel Brodsky on bass and Calvin Cratic on drums this is a tight little blues rocker. Tommy takes a break again on this disc with Sugar Cane for a solo acoustic number and a more rural feel. Simple, straight forward, nice! Language Of Love, kicked off by a hot drum riff by Dave Reinhardt on drums and Karen Caruthers and Karyn Denham on vocal, this track has a life of it's own. Featuring McCoy on some of his best lead vocals, Rob McDowell on bass and Karen Caruthers on piano this track has a really nice feel. McCoy rips a new one on his guitar solo setting you back in your seat. My Guitar Won't Play Nothin' But The Blues is a silky shuffle track with Razz on bass, Baker on drums and Heding on B3. With a few tempo changes the track speaks. Jive Dive has a blues feel but with a jazzy delivery. Featuring horns and Keys by Street and Brice Waibel on bass with Trippy on drums this track features some hot guitar riffs to compliment it's swagger. Cars, Bars and Guitars is a basic 12 bar number with only McCoy, Razz and Baker. With it's easy shuffle feel, McCoy lays some really nice riffs in the groove. Space Master, with it's funk overtones features Tatangelo on slide, Razz on bass, Baker on drums and Heding on B3. Tatangelo lays out a pretty nice slide solo and an extended drum solo from Baker and McCoy sews it shut with a ripping solo of his own. Very cool! Ray Charles' R&B track, Hey Now, really hits the groove. With Jimmy Bennett on rhythm guitar, Mark McCoy on bass, Levon Helm on drums, Garth Hudson on B3 and laying down a hot sax solo, George Triconi on piano and Tim Eddy on horns and of course McCoy singing his lungs out...and smokin guitar work, this is a super track! Wrapping the release is pop track, Blue Water Runs Deep, with Jimmy Bennett on rhythm and slide guitars, Mark McCoy on bass, Levon Helm on drums and George Triconi on piano. This is more calm track overall chosen for the closer but I will comment that McCoy's and Bennett's guitar work at the end is pretty solid. I really enjoyed reviewing this release and I suggest that you go out and get one to review for yourself. It's a good one!


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Thursday, March 6, 2014

Earwig Music Company artist: Johnny Drummer - Bad Attitude - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Bad Attitude, from Johnny Drummer and it's really good. Opening with funky R&B style Is It Love Or Is It Lust, with James Brown style and nice horn backing from Rodney "Hotrod" Brown on sax and Kenny Anderson on trumpet. On Chicago style blues track, Drummer has a familiar story with Another Rooster Is Pecking My Hen. A clever lyric and warm horn basics make this a cool track. Drummer takes a nice harp solo on this track and Anthony Palmer is right in there with some slick riffs on guitar. Bit Her In The Butt has a real cool funky feel along the lines of JG Watson. Title track Bad Attitude is a cool shuffle track leading off with Palmer laying down an easy stroll. Drummer has a nice delivery on vocal and Palmer keeps the riffs coming making this a real natural track. Make You Happy has a R&B feel in the most traditional sense. Authentic era horns bring up the rear and although Drummer doesn't have Al Green's voice, this track falls into his orbit. One Size Fits All is a high stepping strut with strong bass work from Kenny Hampton. Palmer lays down some of the finest hot stinging riffs on the release right here right now. Ronnie Hicks also adds a real nice electric piano solo on this track. Sure Sign Of The Blues comes from the roots of Morganfield. Easy going guitar work and harp work with a solid organ line from Drummer highlight his vocals. Don't Call Me Trash takes a clever look at the less fortunate keeping the instrumentation simple with tight horn call/response but allowing a hot burst of guitar flame in the door. Ain't No Secret In A Small Town is a solid blues track with cool instrumental arrangement throughout. Palmer really lets the dog out on this track with just the right amount of push. U-Turn On A One Way Street, again in the R&B format gives the floor over to Brown on sax and Palmer does step up with a smokin hot riff to polish the track off. On swing shuffle, Better Than Good, Drummer really gets the band rockin. Palmer shines again with stylized riffs and Drummer has the lyrics dancing. Closing out the track is Brown on sax. Cool. My Woman My Money My Whiskey is the track most likely to be remembered years from now. It has a low slung pace, lyrics that we can all relate to and a nicely articulated guitar solos off the beat. Very nice! Also of note is the guitar work of Sir Walter Scott, and drumming of Jeremiah Thomas and Terrance Williams. Wrapping the release is Star 69, a slick funky track. A heavy horned tune that struts like a banty rooster.

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Sunday, September 29, 2013

Earwig Music artists: Chris James and Patrick Rynn - Barrellhouse Stomp - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Barrelhouse Stomp, from Chris James and Patrick Rynn and it's a roller! Opening with contemporary Chicago style blues track, Goodbye, Later For You, in traditional fashion, Rynn and James open the release featuring super harp support from Rob Stone and piano work from Aaron Moore. James is always solid on vocals and he lays down nicely phrased riffs on guitar. Just Another Kick In The Teeth has a funky swing to it featuring Eddie Shaw on sax (as well as Jonny Viau, Norbert W Johnson) and Jody Williams on guitar. Viau opens I Feel So Good with a honkin good sax solo and James does a nice job of delivering on this classic blues track with contributions from Willie Big Eyes Smith (drums) and Aarom Moore on piano. Messin' With White Lightning has a spankin quick pace and Jody and James are on it with guitar riffs. Hot piano riffs from David Maxwell highlight this track and Willie Hayes is tight on drums. On slower paced swing track, Before It's Too Late, James digs in with vocal acuity and Moore really shines on keys.  A Fact Is A Fact, a quick paced Chicago style blues features Viau and Johnson on sax and Eddie Kobek on drums. James' vicious slide work and Rynn's steady bass work really make this work. One of my favorite tracks on the release, It Always Can Be Worse, James plays really nice harp along with his vocals and guitar, backed nicely by Hayes, Maxwell and Rynn. I'm Gonna Stop Foolin' Myself has a real R&B feel to it with Johnson and Viau back on mighty sax and Williams lays down some fine riffs on guitar. On classic Vicksburg Blues, Stone is back on harp and Williams on guitar but it's James on vocal and Maxwell on keys that really take this track for a ride. Bobby's Rock is in the tradition of Freddy King with really super fluid slide work from James and fine sax work from Kobek, Viau and Johnson. Take It Easy is a jammin boogie with Maxwell leading the way on keys. This is another track that really highlights James' vocals. Last Call Boogie is a really cool track using the Latin beat under the blues. Full blast sax work, Kobek really smokin the drums, Gray really hammering the keys and nice double stop guitar work from James makes this a terrific wrap to a solid release.  

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Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Blind Raccoon & Earwig Music Showcase & A Bunch Of Other Happenings In Memphis This Week!



 
Blind Raccoon
Blind Raccoon & Earwig Music Showcase
Friday, May 10, 2 - 8:15 p.m.
Purple Haze Night Club, Downtown Memphis, One Block South of B.B. King's on Second
Featuring
Andy Cohen, Leo Hull, Tommy McCoy, Guitar Mikey
RB Stone, Johnny Drummer & Chris James and Patrick Rynn


Blues Hall of Fame Tribute Jam
Wednesday, May 8, 10 p.m. onwards
B.B. King's on Beale, Memphis


Yellow Dog Records All Star Showcase
Thursday, May 9, 12:45 - 3:45 p.m.
B.B. King's on Beale, Memphis


VizzTone Label Group's Blues Party On Beale
Friday, May 10, 10 p.m. onwards
Rum Boogie on Beale, Memphis


Friday, May 18, 2012

Earwig Music artist: Albert Bashor - Cotton Field Of Dreams- New Release Review


Just got a copy of Cotton Field of Dreams, the new release by Albert Bashor. The recording contains 14 original tracks and features a number of stars including Pat Travers, Bill Payne and Ron Holloway. The opening track, Jukin' Down On Johnson Street has a Latin feel but turns to a full swing on the chorus. The track gives you a genuine feel of the trip and has cool slide work of a pro. Rockin' Red Rooster is modeled after an Elmore James track and gets groovin' pretty fast.Bill Payne can be heard driving the piano throughout the song. Poodle Ribs is a funky rocker and Ron Holloway screamin' away on his sax is a nice contrast to Payne on piano. Put Me On Like You Do is a slower blues track with an acoustic feel with dobro and harp. So Blue has more of a pop blues construction to it and would be my choice for airplay. Holloway takes a real nice sax solo in this track and Shady Jones also guest vocals on this track which provides a nice compliment to the overall flavor. Cotton Field Of Dreams is an interesting Peter Green like song with airy guitars, vocals, horns and texture. One of my favorite tracks on the recording. Fetch Me gets back into the funky rhythm and finds Bashor bouncing solos with Pat Travers. No Place Like Home gets that warm country blues sound with brushed on the drums, dobro and organ. The recording finishes up with Lucky Man, a simple ballad with full band filler. Overall this is a real cool cd with a little bit of everything thrown in creating a bluesy, poppy recording with a lot of talented musicians.
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