Kern Pratt - Broken Chains - New release Review

I just received the newest release, Broken Chains, from Kern Pratt and the boy can play. Opening with Greenville Mississippi Blues, an Elmore James like track with nice slide riffs and Eden Brent on piano. Lights Are On But Nobody's Home is up next with a compliment of horns including Lacy Blackledge on trumpet, Bob Henderson on sax, Pete Verbois on bari and Chris Belleau on trombone. There is some exceptionally warm sax work here that you should check out and Kern absolutely smokes the guitar on this slow blues number. Excellent! Somewhere South Of Mississippi has a radio style format but nice and clean... well written. David Hyde runs a nice bass line on this track and Denise Owens on backing vocals adds a bit of warmth. Black Hannah is a high stepper with tight drums by Nelson Blanchard, nice vocals with Kern and Owens and tight horn work from Blackledge, Henderson, Verbois and Belleau. Nice blues rock guitar riffs lay out nicely on this track making it a sure radio crossover track. Cotton Pickin' is a cool upbeat blues track a great lead guitar line and sax melodic response. One that I will point out that my old pal Stilladog will likely really dig. I do! Don't Leave Me Baby has a Rhumba beat with Blanchard really digging in. Kern shares the guitar stage with Kenny Neal and along with Henderson and Verbois really crank this track up. It Hurts Me Too takes a more traditional feel with Luc Borms on harp and Pratt on acoustic guitar. Very nice! Handcuffed To The Blues gets more into a funky rock feel with an Albert King style guitar attack. Pratt, Owen, Elaine Foster and Blanchard get an almost gospel blend on vocal on this track. Very cool! Smokin' Gun features Denise Owen on lead vocal backed by Pratt for another radio track. There are some nice vocal harmonies on this track and Kern does some some hot riffs off as well. Soulshake, a classic revival style track from the 70's is up next and the vocals are blended nicely, the horns are hot and the drums are tight. Sit back and wait for the hot sax solo! Excellent! Closing the release is Broken Chains, an Eerie resonator guitar solo by Wes Lee. Almost ends too quickly. Very nice!

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New Music from Eden Brent and more Eden Brent picks up the pieces of her Jigsaw Heart with a soul-baring set of new songs

Take Eden Brent to a Nashville studio and you still hear the Mississippi Delta. Recording in the historic RCA Studio A with producer/guitarist extraordinaire Colin Linden, the blues-piano powerhouse stretched her musical legs, ambling into soulful Americana territory. But by reaching back to Mississippi, recalling memories, old friends and all she learned from her piano mentor Boogaloo Ames, she combined an immensely satisfying array of American music styles — blues, gospel, soul, country and R&B — to forge her deepest, most reflective album yet. Read the full article »

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"Crafting her own genre that mixes blues, roots and her own vision, this is an unflinchingly gorgeous album that never strikes a false note..."  –Midwest Record Recap "It smoked a hole in our soul..."  –Blues Music Magazine

Final Recordings of Counterculture Legends Asylum Street Spankers Unearthed

Look: it’s embarrassing for such an acclaimed band as this to have to admit that they honestly don’t remember where their final album came from. What becomes clear upon listening to these recordings is that none of these songs has ever been recorded by the Asylum Street Spankers before. What’s even clearer is this: the band is in their finest form ever here, living up to their firmly cemented reputation as an acoustic powerhouse. Who else can blend string-band virtuosity, multi-instrumental skills, tight vocal harmonies and counterculture wit like this? Read the full article »

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"One of the most ribald and irreverent roots music acts of our time... they've got hearts of gold, even if they have blood of chemicals and minds of mirth."  –The Independent Weekly "A roots-rock riddle, nestled in a satirical Vaudeville enigma, packaged in an old-timey radio-show puzzle and slathered with hippie-fried mystery sauce..."  –Tampa Weekly Planet

Independent Music Awards voting closes soon

Congratulations to The Claudettes and The Soul of John Black, who each recently took home honors in the 13th annual Independent Music Awards. Each were nominated in two categories, and The Claudettes won Instrumental Album of the year (Infernal Piano Plot...HATCHED!) while JB's song "Higher Power" won Soul Song of the year. Well done, boys! The judges have spoken, but the general public is also invited to vote in each of these categories for the IMA’s "Vox Populi" award. Visit the links below to check out these songs, albums and videos... and vote!

• The Soul of John Black – A Sunshine State of Mind – R&B/Soul Album
• The Soul of John Black – “Higher Power” – R&B/Soul Song
• The Claudettes – Infernal Piano Plot...HATCHED! – Instrumental Album
• The Claudettes – “The Claudettes: Live in the Studio” – Long Form Music Video

Yellow Dog Records artist: Eden Brent - Jigsaw Heart - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (May 6, 2014), Jigsaw Heart, from Eden Brent. This new release has a definite weight toward country music but remaining all Eden. The opening track, Better This Way is a solid ballad illustrating clearly why Eden is regarded so highly for her vocal skills. A slow, easy waltz paced ballad, it's a nice opener. Everybody Already Knows busts out with honky tonk pride, Brent swinging on piano as she hammers out cool piano riffs. Title track, Jigsaw Heart, has a definite country feel again in ballad rather than easy pop style. There is a definite class to her songs separating them from today's pop country efforts by other artists. Dan Dugmore add a nice easy steel guitar counter to Brent's vocals. Very nice and air bound. Opportunity has a gospel/R&B feel and is one of my favorites on the release. Brent gets into a super groove and really delivers vocals nicely against her own rhythm piano. Drums by Gary Craig bass by John Dymond and Colin Lind on guitar and with super vocal backing woven into the fabric of the track by Ann and Regina McCrary. Easy blues track with a gospel base, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free features not only fine vocals but a slick slide guitar solo by Linden. Very nice. The Last Time has a distinctive country ballad feel. The clarity of Brent on piano contrasted against the sounds of Kenzie Wetz on fiddle create a nice environment for this subtle track. Panther Burn maintains a country sub feel with bouncy piano riffs and gospel/revival like vocals. Let's Go Ahead And Fall In Love has a definite southern delta blues feel. Brent really leads the way on keys and her vocals are tops. Chris Carmichael on viola and Dan Dugmore add to this New Orleans sound, woven together like a dixieland band. Cool track. Tendin' To A Broken Heart is a straightforward blues ballad. Brent has this style down to an absolute science and her vocal with piano accompaniment (and light drums) is superb. Locomotive has a train trestle rhythm and an open country delivery. You can tell that Brent is just having a pure ball with this release. Get The Hell Out Of Dodge is a quirky little rag tune with nice acoustic guitar accompaniment by Linden and fiddle by Wetz. He blues styling on vocal is really clean and warm. This track features one of the longer instrumental interludes on the release in a nice laid back format. Valentine is a simple heartfelt ballad to wrap the track. Charmichael on violin adds nice warmth to a simple backing of acoustic guitar by Linden and John Dymond on bass.

  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”

 Not from this release but a good representation of Brent's style:


 

Eden Brent - Jigsaw Heart

There's a ton going on with the Mississippian:

+ NPR <3s her, calling her "irresistibly fresh" and having profiled her in 2010: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129300778
+ She came up apprenticing with Abie "Boogaloo" Ames, a local piano player in the Greenville area, and the two made for a close friendship and musical partnership for 16 years. A PBS documentary "Boogaloo and Eden: Sustaining the Sound" was made about them.
+ Eden's a three-time Blues Music Award-winner.
+ USA Today made her a Pick of the Week: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2010-08-16-the-playlist17_ST_N.htm
+ For her new album 'Jigsaw Heart,' she traveled to Nashville, TN to record with producer and multi-instrumentalist Colin Linden (Lucinda Williams, Lindi Ortega, a member of Bob Dylan's band).
+ Eden was born and raised in the Greenville, Mississippi area to a family that's been in the towboat business for generations.
+ Her sister Carole wrote and Eden recorded the definitive version of "Misssissippi Flatland Blues," which was recently quoted in the New Yorker, in a Calvin Trillin feature on Mississippi hot tamales.
+ She studied classical piano growing up and moved to jazz in college.
+ 'Jigsaw Heart' was made in Nashville's famous RCA Studio A, which was designed by Chet Atkins and has been used to record such artists as Leon Russell, Waylon Jennings and Dolly Parton.
+ In addition to her normal touring schedule, Brent has also performed at The Kennedy Center, the British Embassy and with B.B.King at the 2005 presidential inauguration.

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Buddy Guy and Dr.John will be heating up Jackson, MS this summer!

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

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

Send Me To The 'Lectric Chair - Eden Brent

Eden Brent (born 15 Nov, 1965 in Greenville, Mississippi) is an award-winning American musician on the independent Yellow Dog Records label. A blues pianist and vocalist, she combines boogie-woogie with elements of blues, jazz, soul, gospel and pop. Her vocal style has been compared to Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie and Aretha Franklin.

Brent studied jazz and music at the University of North Texas, graduating with a Bachelors degree in Music.

Along with other awards, Brent garnered two 2009 Blues Music Awards - one for Acoustic Artist of the Year, the other for Acoustic Album of the Year (Mississippi Number One). In 2006, she won the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge.

Brent has appeared around the country at recognized venues and events including the Kennedy Center, the 2000 Republican National Convention, the 2005 presidential inauguration (sharing the bill with B.B. King), the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, the British Embassy, Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival, the Edmonton Blues Festival, the annual B.B. King Homecoming, and aboard the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise
Write on our Facebook Wall or post your Photos of great blues events! -  ”LIKE”

Jan. 2012 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise Part II - correspondent Stilladog

When we hit St. Croix, USVI, it was just in time for the St. Croix Blues Festival. This festival began at noon and was spread out across various bars all afternoon culminating in a huge gathering at the Verne I. Richards Memorial Park stage in Frederiksted at dusk where the featured artists were Coco Montoya, Shemekia Copeland, and the Low Rider Band (formerly known as WAR... the band can't legally market themselves as WAR, but I can say that).

After a hike of 1.25 miles through "the jungle," as my wife called it, I hit a place called Rhythms At Rainbow Beach. They had a local band called the St. Croix Blues Society playing. These guys jammed and played well beyond the 12-3 time frame. I ended up here due to a prior commitment to deliver some Tom Jenkins BBQ Sauce down from Ft. Lauderdale to the keyboard player of the St. Croix Blues Society, Tom Eimer. And what I discovered at Rhythms is that Harry Nilsson was right. You put de lime in de coconut and drink em bot togetta, put de lime in de coconut den you feel betta. The Lime In The Coconut is their signature drink and it alone was worth the hike!

By the time I got to the festival stage Coco Montoya was just starting up. He did an abbreviated set due to technical sound difficulties but it was very inspired. About half way through, a typical Caribbean rain squall hit the festival. But we all had so many Bushwhackers, Cruzan Confusions, and Voo Doo Juice in us (on top of the Lime In The Coconuts) it didn't really matter. Coco kept jamming and we absorbed it all.

I had never seen Coco Montoya play before and was surprised to find that he is a left handed picker using a right handed guitar, a la Jimi Hendrix.

After a brief respite from the rain, another squall hit and we headed back for the ship where we sat on our balcony and listened to Shemekia Copeland and Low Rider Band.

The next day in St. Maartens, N.V. was spent at the beach but was not without music. We were thoroughly entertained by The Might Dow, aka Isadore York, and his steel pan band. Well known as the Calypso King of St. Maartens, The Mighty Dow proved that what Etta James said is true, "It's all blues."

After his scheduled set, The Mighty Dow continued to jam with the Kenny Neal Band who laid down an awesome groove for a sunny day at the beach! Kenny Neal employs nearly all his family (brothers, sisters, children etc.) in the band. Most noteworthy being his brother Frederick on keys who also hosted late night jams in the Piano Bar along with Mitch Woods and Eden Brent. And you must see Kenny's twin sisters Charlene and Darlene shake their sizable bootays! Let me tell you the James Brown Dancers got nothin' on those girls!!

The next act for review is the Homemade Jamz Band. Another family band which consists of two brothers and their sister, Ryan (vocal and guitar), Kyle (bass) and Taya (drums) Perry. In addition to giving a blues "tutorial" of sorts to public school children on St. Croix, these youngsters really rock it out! They also appear to be very nice and talented young folks who are only going to get better. Again, the blues is in good hands with kids like this playing it! Of note is Ryan Perry's custom guitar made from a Ford muffler and replete with dual tailpipes!!

Also appearing and representing the artwork of the cruise was my old buddy, James "Super Chikan" Johnson. Clearly Super Chikan was by far the most accessible, funny, and generally congenial artist on the cruise as he was on my last Blues Cruise in Jan. of 2010. He takes the time to talk with anyone who strikes up a conversation with him and is more than happy to clown around during an impromptu photo request. His music was great but the man is greater than what he plays.

Also appearing was Rod Piazza & the All Mighty Flyers featuring Rod on harp and his wife, the incomparable Honey Piazza, on keyboards. Rod might have had the tightest band on the ship. Among some very very professional performances, The All Mighty Flyers stood out. Ran into the Piazzas in the elevator where Honey and I reminisced about the time we were backstage for Aretha Franklin's Chesapeake Blues Fest performance. Honey told me that Aretha is getting married. But by the time I was on the plane for home, People magazine informed me that the nuptials were off.

I tried to catch some of Bettye LaVette but something about her rubbed me the wrong way. I think it was her stage presence or personality. At one point she said she was going to sing all her "hits" and ask the audience why they never sold. Bettye's recordings are great but I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to see her live. To be fair, those who stayed said she did a stirring performance on her cover of The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me."

I know Kenny Wayne Shepherd was the feature headliner of this cruise but I never bothered to go see him. I've seen KWS perform numerous times and he can really play. But he doesn't bring anything new to the table. I know Bman doesn't share this feeling but I can just as easily listen to my old Stevie Ray Vaughan records if that's what I want to hear. Word on the ship from those who did see him play was that his special guest, Buddy Flett, was the star of his show anyway. I tried to watch Kenny Wayne's last set from the TV in my stateroom as I packed to disembark, but after 4 tunes I switched over to the Weather Channel.

So that's about it in two nutshells. Bottom line here is that the Legendary Blues Cruise is first and foremost the best vacation you can ever have. And secondly, if you enjoy blues music the cruise is the place to be. They've got another one scheduled for October sailing out of San Juan, PR. If you can, get on it!!

Mississippi Flatland Blues - Eden Brent

Eden Brent is an award-winning American musician on the independent Yellow Dog Records label. A blues pianist and vocalist, she combines boogie-woogie with elements of blues, jazz, soul, gospel and pop. Her vocal style has been compared to Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie and Aretha Franklin. Brent also attended the University of North Texas.

Along with other awards, Brent garnered two 2009 Blues Music Awards - one for Acoustic Artist of the Year, the other for Acoustic Album of the Year (Mississippi Number One). In 2006, she won the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge.
Brent has appeared around the country at recognized venues and events including the Kennedy Center, the 2000 Republican National Convention, the 2005 presidential inauguration (sharing the bill with B.B. King), the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, the British Embassy, Portland’s Waterfront Blues Festival, the Edmonton Blues Festival, the annual B.B. King Homecoming, and aboard the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise.