VizzTone Label Group artist: Tony Holiday - Porch Sessions - New release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tony Holiday's Porch Sessions and I really like it. Vocalist and harmonica player, Tony Holiday has put together a great release here with a who's who of the blues business. Opening with Pick-Pocket Fingers a cool shuffle track Holiday on lead vocal is joined by James Harman on harmonica, Kid Ramos on guitar, Landon Stone on guitar and Kid Andersen on bass, this is a cool opener. John Primer steps in on lead vocal and guitar on They Call Me John Primer with featured harp work by Bob Corritore and Holiday and Joel Meza Jr. on drums. I always love Primer's slide style and Corritore has beautiful tone. Very nice. An easy, funky track, A Woman Named Trouble, showcases John Nemeth and Jake Friel with Holiday on vocal and harmonica. This is a funky funky track with a great bass line by Anderson. Excellent! Mitch Kashmar and Ronnie Shellist join Holiday for Three Way Party and slower but soulful guitar and harmonica soloing gives this track a rich feel.  Guitar boogie, Goin' To Court features Harman and Ramos and it's hot. With a great rhythm guitar line by Stone, Harmon plays for style and Ramos smokes the frets. Very nice. On Coin Operated Woman, Holiday has the mic again and Chicago guitar man, Rockin' Johnny Burgin fans the frets. Holiday is front and center on harp and does a really nice job balancing his smooth vocals and lead harp and Burgin is restrained but his riffs are tight and aggressive. Wrapping the release is This Time I'm Gone For Good featuring the excellent vocals of William Kidd. Holiday's harmonica nicely surrounds the deep richness of Kidd with only a touch of Stone's precision guitar punctuation. Very nice closer for a strong release. 

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Delta Groove Music artist: Mitch Kashmar - West Coast Toast - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, West Coast Toast, by Mitch Kashmar and it swings. Opening with hot shuffle, East of 82nd Street, Mitch Kashmar on harp is joined by Junior Watson on guitar, Fred Kaplan on keys, Bill Stuve on upright bass and Marty Dodson on drums. Mitch really rocks it on this one and Watson is throwing fire from the frets. Super opener. With a Latin flavor,Willie Dixon's Too Many Cooks, has a cool groove featuring Mitch on lead vocal, claves and harp. Dodson's precision playing and glistening chords from Watson set the pace and Kaplan's solo on piano is strong. Henry Glover's Young Girl is up next with Chicago style. With a solid bottom Kashmar vocals are tops and his harp playing is soulful and adventurous. Cool swinger, The Petroleum Blues, has a super 12 bar feel and and Kashmar sits nicely in the groove. Watson nails it on guitar again with a really nicely styled guitar solo. Slowing the pace down a bit, Mood Indica, gives Kashmar the chance to really milk the blues from his harp. Kaplan's piano work is really cool and blended with Watson's guitar work, this is my favorite track on the release. Cool boogie track, Don't Stay Out All Night, rides nicely on Stuve and Dodson's bottom giving Kashmar space to stretch vocally and Watson to trade solo's with Kashmar. Gritty Chicago blues, My Lil' Stumptown Shack, is as pure as it gets. Kashmar's vocals are deep and a super weaving of blues instrumentation by Kashmar, Kaplan and Watson are planted solidly on the work of Stuve and Dodson. One of my favorites on the release is Alcohol Blues with a straight groove and a nice walking bass line by Stuve. Kashmar's vocals are clear and his harp solos sit nicely on Watson and Kaplans work. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Canoodlin', a silky smooth jazz instrumental which at over 7 minutes gives Kasmar, Kaplan and Watson each super opportunities to dish out some solid solos. Excellent closer for a tasty release.




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Mitch Kashmar "West Coast Toast" Featuring: Junior Watson, Bill Stuve, Fred Kaplan, and Marty Dodson West Coast Toast heralds the arrival of Mitch Kashmar's long-awaited third studio album from Delta Groove. Although fans had the live recording Live at Labatt (2008) and a CD reissue of his early '80s era LP 100 Miles to Go (2010) to tide them over, it's been ten years since his last full studio effort, Wake Up & Worry (2006). This time out, Mitch pays tribute to his legacy, tipping his musical hat to the unique sounds of West Coast blues with a program of well-chosen covers mixed in with his own original compositions, all filtered through his own individualistic approach to the blues, and distilled down into the essence of what the blues is today. Together with the stellar backing musicianship of Junior Watson (guitar), Fred Kaplan (piano), Bill Stuve (bass) and Marty Dodson (drums), Mitch Kashmar ably proves that the golden era of West Coast blues harmonica isn’t behind us – it’s still happening right now! "Few blues singers, songwriters, & harmonica blowers performing today can top Mitch Kashmar." - Living Blues Magazine "Kashmar has harmonica chops to spare and possesses an unsurpassed vocal prowess." - BLUES JUNCTION Productions “Mitch Kashmar is my absolute favorite blues harp player of his generation, and one of my favorites period! He's also a first-class vocalist - his singing really knocks me out.” - William Clarke "You're playing and singing are superb!" - Charlie Musselwhite LEARN MORE MITCH KASHMAR - FALL 2016 EUROPEAN TOUR DATES: 10/18/16: München, Germany - Alfonso's Live-Music Club 10/19/16: Chur, Switzerland - Calanda Restaurant 10/20/16: Rimsting, Germany - Blues Club Chiemgau 10/21/16: Sargans, Switzerland - Jazzclub 10/22/16: Luzern, Switzerland - Tschuppi's Wonderbar 10/24/16: Müllheim, Germany - Pur Pur "Blues Monday" 10/25/16: Emmendingen, Germany - Culture Mill Mehlsack 10/26/16: Kandern, Germany - ChaBah 10/27/16: Fürth, Germany - Kofferfabrik 10/30/16: Berlin, Germany - Hans Rosenthal House 10/30/16: Potsdam, Germany - Schiffsrestaurant John Barnett 11/01/16: Bremen, Germany - Meisenfrei Blues Club 11/02/16: Hannover, Germany - Marlene Bar & Bühne 11/04/16: København, Denmark - Mojo Blues Bar 11/05/16: Frederikshavn, Denmark - Frederikshavn Bluesfestival-Blues.dk RECENT RELEASES FROM DELTA GROOVE JOHN LONG "STAND YOUR GROUND" Featuring: Fred Kaplan, Bill Stuve and Washington Rucker "Long doesn't sample the old country blues; he inhabits it." - All Music Guide "John Long is a NATIONAL TREASURE."  - Al Blake / Hollywood Blue Flames “If you wanted to make an argument for reincarnation, John is it.” – Zach Zunis LEARN MORE BIG JON ATKINSON & BOB CORRITORE “House Party at Big Jon's” Featuring: Willie Buck, Alabama Mike,Dave Riley, Tomcat Courtney & more! “Nobody gets it done better than Bob Corritore.” – No Depression "Nobody gets it done better than Bob Corritore.” – No Depression LEARN MORE

New CD on VizzTone - Buy My Soul Back

GET THE NEW CD! www.kevinselfe.com Excited to announce the October 16 release of “Buy My Soul Back” on the VizzTone Label. The recording consists of 13 tunes, 12 of them originals, and features Jimi Bott, Allen Markel, Sugaray Rayford, Mitch Kashmar, Willie J Campbell, Gene Taylor, James Pace, Lisa Mann, Steve Kerin, Joe McCarthy, Brad Ulrich, Chris Mercer, Don Shultz, and Peter Moss. Get more info and tour dates at www.kevinselfe.com.  CONNECT WITH US! BOOKING kevin@kevinselfe.com +1 (540) 761-3957 ACCOLADES 14-Time Muddy Award Winner Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame Blues Blast Award Nominee Kevin Selfe has cemented his reputation as a masterful, dyed-through, true bluesman with his new release, Buy My Soul Back on the VizzTone Label.  This latest collection of songs reveals an unwavering dedication to the traditional blues school, and yields yet another deft homage to empty wallets, ne-er-do-wells, and the enduring theme of love's rapid melt. Selfe's transformation into a leading voice on the American blues scene was realized after landing on the Billboard and Living Blues Charts with his 2013 release, Long Walk Home.    Oft lauded for a traditional melodic sensibility broadcast through razor sharp guitar, Selfe's songwriting awakens, revealing an enriched sense of story telling, autobiography, and revelation.   Audiences from Virginia to Oregon, Selfe's former and current homes, thrill at his commitment to the role of high octane blues entertainer on the live stage -- where this new companion of songs was inspired, refined, and perfected.  Selfe's shows are part blues revival, part force of nature.   The list of blues stalwarts joining Selfe on Buy My Soul Back reads like a contemporary blues primer:  Sugaray Rayford, Jimi Bott, Mitch Kashmar, Lisa Mann, Gene Taylor, James Pace, Willie J. Campbell and host of others.  All combine to join forces with Selfe in a rich tapestry of traditional grooves seemingly forged in the speak-easies of mid-century Chicago, the Mississippi Delta, and rural Texas.  The tributes are authentic.  The energy is palpable.  The musicianship is extraordinary.  True blues fans will rejoice. REVIEW QUOTES "Kevin Selfe has followed up his highly successful album Long Walk Home with a recording just as strong if not more so. He showcases his knack for writing clever and catchy songs, sensational and tasty guitar work and his strong vocals to help him deliver the best package of music possible." Cascade Blues Association - Greg Johnson "thrilling set of blues originals from one of the genre’s rising stars" Blues Bytes - Graham Clarke "Punishing guitar work" Roanoke Times - Ralph Berrier LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEOS