Gulf Coast Records artist: Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind - Behind The Veil - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Behind The Veil, from Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind, and as always it's a feast for the ears. Opening with Casco Bay with it's waltz tempo has a really cool swagger. Ricci on lead vocal and dynamic harmonica tone sets the pace with Kaitlin Dibble on backing vocal, Brent Johnson on guitar and backing vocal, Jack Joshua on bass and vocal and John Perkins on backing vocal makes this a really interesting opener. Switching to New Orleans R&B sound on 5-10-15, Dibble has the lead on vocal, a really strong harmonica solo by Ricci and Kid Andersen's guitar work really set this track apart. Very nice. Bobby Rush's Ain't She Fine is a great track with an aggressive, funky rock beat. I love the lead vocal lines and Johnson's guitar work in concert with Joshua on bass and Perkins on drums, all wrapped by Ricci on harp is terrific. Classic, St James Infirmary is a smart pick for this band giving Ricci a great showcase for his vocal style and excellent harp soloing and Johnson to spin a strong solo on guitar as well. Terrific, terrific track. Funky, Why Don't We Sleep On It, is another really strong track with some dialogue between Ricci and Dibble who trade lead vocal lines over a potent bass riff by Joshua. Joe Krown on B3 adds tension and Johnson's stinging guitar lead is perfect. Wrapping the release is Booker T's Hip Hug-Her with it's tight instrumental bottom courtesy of Krown, Perkins, and Johnson, melody on harp by Ricci.  Hot guitar work by Johnson and smoking harmonica work by Ricci take this track home with Krown on B3 making this an excellent closer for a truly excellent release. 

 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Joanna Connor - Best of Me - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Best of Me, by Joanna Connor and it's wild. Opening with funky blues number, House Rules, Connor dons her notorious slide guitar, accompanying herself on lead vocal, also featuring Josh Smith on guitar, and backed by a serious horn section of Fernando Castillo on trumpet and flugelhorn, Carlos Sosa on sax and flute, Raul Vallejo on trombone, together the Grooveline horns, Shaun Gotti Calloway on bass, Jason Edwards on drums, and Curtis Moore Jr on organ. Super opener. Title track, Best of Me, is a smooth, soulful, ballad featuring really nice vocal by Conner and nicely articulated lead work making hits an ideal radio track. I Lost You is another slow blues with excellent vocal and guitar lead by Conner, complimented by Dan Souvigny on rhythm and keys. Blues driver, Mercury Blues, really gets rolling with Conner pushing on vocal and letting the slide fly, joined by David Abbruzzese on drums. Very cool. Wrapping the release is blues rocker, Shine On with Gary Hoey joining on guitar and Jason Ricci joining on harmonica. With a really great beat, heavy riffs by Hoey, a driving bass line by Calloway and a tight drum bottom by Edwards, this is a solid closer to a real 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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Joanna Connor On The Exorcist Friday

Joanna Connor To Perform On Fox TV show THE EXORCIST This Friday! More Right On Reviews From Vintage Guitar and More Northport N.Y. - It's great when we get our music on TV shows but it's even better when the artist is on the actual show! The Queen of Blues/Rock Guitar, Joanna Connor will perform a song for the Fox drama "The Exorcist." The date of broadcast is Friday November 18th, 9PM Eastern. Click the photo of Joanna Connor and one of the stars of the show Ben Daniels for more.                                                                                                          Joanna Connor & Ben Daniels on the set of "The Exorcist" Since our last update Joanna Connor's Six String Stories has received even more right on reviews! Since it's release on August 26, it has become one of the most celebrated roots releases of the year. This album mirrors her live shows crammed with soul, virtuosity, blues and eclecticism!  Vintage Guitar M.C. Records delivers Connor and her band in all of their upfront presence with an excellent recording containing rock solid imaging and a layered and resonant stage in which Connor’s guitar is free to leap and growl in all its twisted, raw and dynamic force.  Nelson Brill -  Boston Concert Reviews Connors sings and plays with relentless intensity and virtuosity - Lively-Arts.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Click the cover to listen to the entire recording The ability of Joanna’s guitar playing to pull back from the edge is a constant on the album….it is searing, paint peeling, sky writing fretwork from the guitar of Joanna Connor. The Alternate Root With her dazzling skills on full display 'Six String Stories' should win her an even wider audience. Living Blues 'Six String Stories' is her first studio album in 14 years, but thousands of gigs in the interim have only enriched Chicago-based Joanna Connor's fierce guitar skills and expressive, bluesy vocals. The Associated Press She’s one powerhouse of a slide blues guitarist, someone who attacks frets with a beautiful fury and doesn’t let go. Joanna Connor just put out her first release in 14 years and, wow, it’s a keeper. The Toledo Blade                                                  'Six String Stories' is well recorded with good songs and copious guitar wizardry. Chicago Blues Guide Once people hear Joanna’s new disc, no one is going to classify her as as anything other than first-rate. Blues Blast Magazine Her incendiary slide playing is absolutely breath-taking. - Elmore Magazine We're also very excited to release Joanna's first video from the new record. Check out "It's A Woman's Way." Joanna pays tribute all her sheroes in this one. Click the photo to view!                                                             We're also thrilled that for seven weeks that Joanna has been on  the Roots Music Report's Electric Blues Albums. She is currently no. 2, click the logo to see the entire list.                                                                                                                     Six String Stories is the one that the fans who pack her hometown gigs have been waiting for. You’ll still hear the scorching solos-- but there’s more to Joanna Connor than that. The disc’s ten tracks include tastes of gospel, rock, soul and funk; all with the gutsy singing and heartfelt playing that have always been her trademarks. Connor wrote eight tracks on Six String Stories with Marion Lance Lewis, a mainstay of her live band.                                                              Joanna Connor might be the best—or most original—blues-based slide guitar player you're likely to come across today. Or tomorrow. - Guitar World Since 2002 Joanna's focus has been on her family and playing in the Chicago area. Joanna picks up the story there, I was ready to lay down some new tracks in the studio.  I turned my focus toward exploring recording again. I'm at a point in my life where I feel in touch with who I am as a woman and a musician. Mark Carpentieri and his label were the first that came to my mind to contact. His good energy and knowing when to guide an artist and when to let them fly was important to me. I respect his labels catalog and his work and I am proud and happy to be back. The feeling is mutual Joanna!   Joanna Connor is celebrating 30 years of being in Chicago. Since her arrival she has toured in 25 countries and 49 states. Joanna was the first artist not on a major label to be signed to an endorsement deal by Gibson Guitars and Victoria Amps and has been featured in every major city newspaper and guitar magazine. Connor composed the soundtrack for Australian documentary "Being Dad,” and has shared stages with the likes of Jimmy Page, Los Lobos, Robert Cray, BB King, The Doobie Brothers, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Son Seals, The Neville Bros and a host of others. Click here for her complete bio: http://joannaconnor.com/bio/ Complete dates can be found at her website - http://joannaconnor.com/shows/ November Wed.  Nov. 16 - HOB- Chicago, IL 60601 Thur.-Sat Nov. 17-19th - Kingston Mines  - Chicago, IL 60614 Sun.  Nov. 20 - HOB- Chicago, IL 60601 Sat. Nov. 26 - Kingston Mines  - Chicago, IL 60614 Fri. and Sat. Dec 2 and 3 - Kingston Mines  - Chicago, IL 60614 Wed. Dec. 7th - Langunista Brewing Company - Chicago IL 60608 Thur. and Fri.  Dec 8th and 9th - Kingston Mines  - Chicago, IL 60614   ***

Statesboro Blues - Joanna Connor

The Joanna Connor Band is a frequent attraction not only at leading blues nightspots but also as a featured act at major festivals in the USA and Canada. Joanna has also developed a strong following in Europe, South America and Japan. As a result of many overseas appearances, in Germany she became very popular after being featured several times on national television.

Joanna Connor is a complete electric guitar package and vocalist extraordinaire. She covers the range of modern blues, slide guitar and blues rock with her own compositions very much influenced by funk, rock, jazz and world music as well as delta blues. Her sense of melody, phrasing and dynamics along with a very modern technique make her a very funky, soulful and compelling guitarist. As for vocal abilities, if Joanna wasn't a guitarist, she could easily be a lead singer in any band.

Joanna Connor Band has many CD's released during the years. They can be found in major bookstores and top music stores.
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