Cara Being Blue - Grit - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Grit, from Cara Being Blue and it's got grit! Opening with title track, Grit, Cara Lippman shows a heap of swagger with thick, soulful lead vocals and solid backing vocals by Mandy Vixen. Guitar lead by Val Lupescu, keys by Eric Robert, drums by Flip Winfield and bass by Jonathan Nixon and solid horn punch by Miqui Gutierrez on sax, and Varney Green on trombone. Rock flavored ballad, One Day, has classic lines and nicely showcases Cara's voice. Lupescu's melodic guitar lead gives the track a regal feel and Tim Gonzalez on harmonica a bluesy flavor. Jack Pearson lays out a nice guitar intro on slow blues ballad, You Don't Wanna, with tight accents by Matt Doctor on drums. Robert's keyboard soloing on this track really adds a nice contrast to the overall tension of the track. Very nice. Nicely articulated guitar soloing by Lupescu gives Old Feelin' a great footing out of the gate, warmed by Gonzalez's gripping harmonica overtones. The tempo and overall feel of this track is very nice. Bring on the horns for Kind Kinda Man,  an up-tempo shuffle track. Robert's keys, cool trombone work by Greene and sassy sax work by Gutierrez are super accents to Cara's casual vocal attack. matt Doctor is up on drums on My Doggie giving it a pure "Stubblefield" rhythmic  funk. Cara manages the band nicely with blues phrasing and Gonzalez steps up nicely with fresh harmonica riffs. Very nice. Wrapping the release is country flavored, Some Fun with Winfield ripping some flashy "chickin pickin" riffs and Cara letting her hair down for some fun wrapping it up. 

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True North Records/ New Sun Records artist: Crystal Shawanda - VooDoo Woman - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, VooDoo Woman, from Crystal Shawanda and it's off the hook. Opening with Willie Dixon's Wang Dang Doodle and Shawanda wastes absolutely no time showing that she means business. With a powerful voice and the greasy slide work of DeWayne Strobel, backed by Stephen Hanner on harp, Dave Roe on bass and Louis Winfield on drums, this track is powerful! Title track, Koko Taylor's VooDoo Woman has a rock edge with crafty harp riffs and a tight bottom. Again, Strobel's slide work had a strong influence on the overall sound supporting Shawanda's powerful vocals. One of my favorites on the release is Big Mama's Hound Dog with a snappy rock edge. Shawanda handles the shift in tempo like an old pro with sure dynamics and Strobel's rock riffs are clean and distinct. A definite high point on the release is Shawanda's cover of Etta James' I'd Rather Go Blind. He voice really lends itself to this particular song and the warm female backing vocals, complimented by Peter Keys on B3 really makes this track sing. Dorothy Moore's ballad, Misty Blue stands strong among the other giants on this track with solid sax work by Dana Robbins. Very nice. Ballad I'll Always Love You shows a more pure, less guttural vocal side of Shawanda and in a more radio focused track featuring writer Tommy Stillwell on guitar. Wrapping the release is acoustic based Blue Train with Strobel on resonator under mostly sole vocal by Shawanda. With just the right touch of backing vocals and a nod to original field songs, this is a solid finisher for a very cool release.

Biglittle Records artist: Big Shoes - Step On It - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (February 23, 2018), Step On It, from Big Shoes, and it's slick. Opening with Duplex Blues, lead vocalist and guitarist, Rick Huckaby leads this easy shuffle blending vocals with Will McFarlane on guitars, Tom Szell on bass, Mark T Jordan on keys and Kenne Cramer on guitar. Andy Peake adds drums and is joined on percussion by Bryan Brock. Light, funky, jazz rocker, There You Go, has a real nice rhythm and interwoven soloing by Huckaby, Cramer, McFarlane and Jordan. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Latin flavored, Don't You Do Me That Way with nicely stylized guitar lead, a solid piano solo from Jordan and snappy percussion rhythms. Excellent! A solid radio candidate is Ain't Nobody Loves You Like Me, with nicely blended vocals, punchy horn work and a smooth slide guitar solo by McFarlane. Pop rocker, Give It To Me Now is another strong radio track with a super melody and catchy rhythm. Wrapping the release is Honey Pie with it's slinky rhythm, country blues styling and clever vocal interweaving. The vocals are the hit on this track but super piano riffs by Jordan and cool slide by McFarlane give it that extra dose of gas. Nice closer for a solid release.

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Eight O'Five Jive - Swing Set - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Swing Set, from Eight O'Five Jive and it's a swinger. Opening with Make Mine A Double, lead vocalist Lee Shropshire has the house rockin with the strong support of Andy Scheinman on guitar, Patrick Mosser on sax, Bill Bois on bass and Duane Spencer on drums. With a more casual style, Lee gets full vocal backing by the band on Ragged and Andy twists in a stylistic solo leading to a rich solo by Patrick. Get Away is a real hot footer with smoking riffs by Andy and Patrick. Very cool. Backing off a bit, Put It Back, has a smooth Louis Jordan kind of feel with warm sax work under Lee's vocals. One More Glass Of Wine has a real nice jazz club pace with smart solo's by Andy and Patrick. Very nice. Another smoker, Ridu Green's My Mumblin' Baby is a great track with hot sax work by Patrick and again hot licks by Andy...possibly my favorite track on the release. Cool swinger, A Little Bit of Bourbon, is a great closer and totally in the spirit of this music. This band really has the feel of the era and creates a sense of being in the time. Very nice set.



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Rounder Records Completes Move to Nashville

ROUNDER RECORDS COMPLETES MOVE  TO NASHVILLE Concord Music Group Acquires Treasured Children's Label Music For Little People,  Imprint Will Operate Under Rounder  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MARCH 6, 2014 - Rounder Records, a division of leading independent music company Concord Music Group, today announced the completion of the company's relocation from its longtime base of Boston, Massachusetts to its new home in Nashville, Tennessee.  The region's vibrant creative community and dynamic business environment offer Rounder an enormous opportunity to build on its legacy as one of America's most revered music labels.  Located in The Gulch, Nashville's popular shopping and entertainment district, Rounder's new headquarters (1209 Pine Street, Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37203) is centered in the heart of the city's thriving metropolitan core. A major force in a broad range of musical genres including Americana, bluegrass, country, folk, rock, Cajun/Zydeco and children's music, Rounder Records has helped shape American roots music for over 40 years. Its outstanding artist roster includes Alison Krauss, Steve Martin, RUSH, Gregg Allman, Raffi, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Carlene Carter, Steep Canyon Rangers, Tony Trischka and rising stars such as J.D. McPherson, Della Mae and others. Concord Music Group and Rounder are additionally delighted about the effort to broaden their presence in children's entertainment, anchored by the recent acquisition of the beloved record label Music For Little People.  The company will operate as an imprint under Rounder, which shares a long and complementary history in children's music.  A premiere children's music showcase for 25+ years, Music For Little People releases have featured artists such as Willie Nelson, Faith Hill, Taj Mahal, Los Lobos, Laurie Berkner, AC/DC's Brian Johnson, Pete Seeger and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, to name but a few.  Music For Little People founder Leib Ostrow will continue to be an essential contributor to the label going forward.  A slate of new projects is scheduled for release in 2014 and beyond. Headed by President John Virant, Rounder's Nashville team includes Vice President of A&R Scott Billington, newly appointed Vice President of A&R Tracy Gershon and Director of Project Management Eliza Levy.  Rounder will continue to be supported by Concord's integrated national sales and marketing services. Rounder Records founders, Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton Levy remain in the Boston area and continue to be actively engaged in the company, producing and consulting on various Rounder projects. "Rounder has always been driven by the music, and we're thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute and be part of the Music City community," said Rounder President John Virant. "In many ways, the move to Nashville feels like a natural transition," stated Concord Music Group President and CEO Glen Barros.  "The region's deeply rooted, artist friendly culture and its surrounding business community make it the ideal home for Rounder.  Additionally, Music For Little People is a great label that will strengthen Rounder's commitment to quality entertainment for children.  We couldn't be more excited about this next chapter in the company's incredible story." About Rounder Records: Rounder has been at the center of American roots music the last 40 years.  The self-titled 1975 record by J.D. Crowe and the New South (featuring future stars Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice and Jerry Douglas) revitalized bluegrass and inspired such modern superstars as Rounder's own Alison Krauss, who is the most decorated female artist in the history of the GRAMMY® Awards and has also sold over eight million albums and DVDs.   Her collaboration with Led Zeppelin front man Robert Plant on the album Raising Sand emerged as one of 2007's major critical and word-of-mouth sales success stories. The album was RIAA-certified platinum in early 2008 and won five GRAMMY® Awards including Album and Record of the Year in 2009.  An unequaled leader in the preservation and re-release of precious historic recordings, Rounder has brought the music of Jelly Roll Morton, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and Mississippi John Hurt back to vibrant life.  In addition, their dazzling work on the epic anthologies from the Library of Congress and the Alan Lomax Collection has been universally respected and admired. About Concord Music Group: Based in Beverly Hills, CA privately held Concord Music Group, is one of the largest independent record and music publishing companies in the world and owner of a rich and historically significant catalog of recordings. A small sampling of the company's active roster includes such renowned artists as Sir Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Alison Krauss, Chick Corea, James Taylor, Booker T. Jones, George Benson, Steve Martin, Valerie June, Christian Scott, Gregg Allman, Elbow, Ben Harper and Esperanza Spalding.  Concord's stellar catalog includes legends such as John Coltrane, John Fogerty, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Little Richard, Otis Redding, Thelonious Monk, Isaac Hayes, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett, among many others. The company's celebrated family of labels includes Concord Records, Concord Jazz, Hear Music, Fantasy, Stax, Milestone, Riverside, Specialty, Telarc, Heads Up, Prestige and famed American roots label Rounder Records. The group's artists and music have won over 200 GRAMMY® Awards, an affirmation of the company's mission to enrich lives by providing enduring music in creative and innovative ways. Concord Music Group's releases are distributed throughout the world by Universal Music Group and are regularly licensed for use in major motion pictures, television and advertising. In March of 2013, Wood Creek Capital Management, LLC acquired Concord Music Group in partnership with an individual investor group that includes members of Concord's senior management. As an investment manager at the forefront of intellectual property investing, the investment in Concord underscores Wood Creek's belief in the lasting and appreciating value of great music content around the globe.

Somebody Will -- Bill Griese

Nashville-based Griese writes and perfoms original music that is packed with feel and heartfelt lyrics. Bill's smooth voice and laid-back approach often lead to comparisons to the great James Taylor. His acoustic-pop style is both familiar and fresh. Bill has two original CDs, "For This Day" and "Too Long Coming," and several singles available on iTunes -- including the father-daughter song "On Three" and his fun, new release "Taylor Swift's Ex!" In a major departure from his usual sound, Bill recently released a high-energy football song called "R U Ready," featuring a guest appearance by the rapper Heathen. Get/Hear Bill's original music...

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Guitarist Steve Dawson Is Ready to Shake the "Rattlesnake Cage" on New Black Hen Music CD Coming February 18, 2014

 

Guitarist Steve Dawson Is Ready to Shake the Rattlesnake Cage on New Black Hen Music CD Coming February 18, 2014

All-Instrumental Solo Disc Showcases a Master Guitar Player

NASHVILLE, TN – Black Hen Music announces a February 18, 2014 release date for Rattlesnake Cage, the all-instrumental latest CD from master guitarist Steve Dawson. The album’s original 11 tracks showcase Dawson in a no-frills setting: just him, his guitars and a microphone to record all the beautiful tones emanating from his fingers.

Rattlesnake Cage is the album that Steve Dawson’s growing numbers of fans have been waiting for and finally gives them the opportunity to hear Steve interact with his guitar in a way that has never been captured on record before. Until now, hearing the sweet melodies and deep soul of Steve playing solo guitar has been a treat reserved for live audiences in intimate settings.  These new simple and unadorned recordings hearken back to the “American Primitive” sound that John Fahey and other artists such as Peter Lang and Leo Kottke recorded on Fahey’s iconic Takoma record label in the sixties – instrumental music informed by the deep traditions of blues, ragtime, jazz and even Hawaiian music, but taking those influences in unexpected directions.  The opening track, “Blind Thomas at the Crime Scene,” which takes its title from Fahey’s earliest nom de plume, is the recording that most clearly communicates Dawson’s respect for the American Primitive aesthetic, and gives the listener the clearest indication of what’s to come.

Recorded using a single vintage tube microphone that had recently been rescued from decades of hanging from the ceiling rafters of an old theatre in Detroit, listeners can hear every detail and nuance of each note. The effect of hearing a recording this open and pure is quite astounding. Dawson’s gear list for the sessions included a jumbo Larrivee guitar that he’s played for over 20 years, a Weissenborn Hawaiian guitar built by Michael Dunn, a National tricone and a Taylor 12-string guitar.

After countless successes in the industry both as a performer and producer in his native Canada (including 7 Juno Awards as an artist and producer), Steve has relocated to Nashville, Tennessee to begin a new chapter in his career. Rattlesnake Cage reflects all of the places Dawson has been and everything he’s heard, resulting in some of the loveliest melodies of his career as a recording artist.  As much as these songs can be unobtrusive and listened to in the background at low volume, if a solo instrument is going to hold its own like this in the spotlight, the music being played on it has to have very good bones, and be able to stand up to some pretty intense scrutiny. For all their simplicity and deceptive moments of tranquility, a closer listen to songs such as “Lighthouse Avenue” or ‘The Flagpole Skater Laughs from Above,” brings to the forefront that this is music with fire in its belly.  Fans of Reverend Gary Davis will recognize the musical references in “The Altar at Center Raven” that evokes an imaginary scene at the pulpit where he preached.  In the same way, “The Medicine Show Comes to Avalon’ bounces along a razor’s edge between antique and future sounds with its heartfelt homage to the music of Mississippi John Hurt. Yet, for all of the influences Dawson tips his hat to, the sound that emerges on these recordings reflects a confluence of a lifetime’s listening to and collecting vintage songs that fuses with Dawson’s contemporary sensibilities and mastery of modern recording techniques.

In the same way guitar performances from Bert Jansch, Ry Cooder or Mississippi John Hurt can be recognized after hearing just a few notes, Steve Dawson has established a voice for his instrument that is as distinct as any of theirs to become one of the most identifiable sounds in modern roots music. The 11 songs on Rattlesnake Cage represent the first chance on record to hear Dawson explore the infinite possibilities offered by his pallet of acoustic guitars without any effects, or even a human voice to separate him from his audience.  It’s rare to experience such direct communication in any kind of music these days, but the songs on the record remind us that the sound of a single instrument creating patterns out of the silence is as old as music itself.

The fluidity of Dawson’s playing makes what he does sound so effortless that it’s easy to forget that it takes years of disciplined practice to achieve such an apparent simplicity. There are lots of guitar virtuosos out there who can reel off a dizzying array of notes at lightning speed, and Steve can certainly do that, but at a certain point, great players realize that sometimes less is more. Nothing on this record is superfluous.  This is music that doesn’t show off or needlessly strut its stuff.  Like a perfectly aged single malt, these compositions come to us fully seasoned and mature.

“One magazine has referred to Steve Dawson as the T-Bone Burnett of Canada. I tend to think of him more as a Canadian version of Ry Cooder… his fine slide guitar and storytelling, everything seeming to flow effortlessly.” – Toledo Blade

“Anyone who can hear Dawson play and not be moved is made of stone!”

– Penguin Eggs Magazine (Canada)

For more information, visit www.stevedawson.ca and www.blackhenmusic.com.

Guitarist Sean Chambers Steps Outside the Box to Record with First-Time Producer Reese Wynans on Upcoming "The Rock House Sessions," Due October 15

Guitarist Sean Chambers Steps Outside the Box to Record with First-Time Producer Reese Wynans on Upcoming

The Rock House Sessions, Due October 15

New Album Recorded in Nashville Using an All-Star Cast of Musicians and Songwriters

Extensive National Touring Planned to Support New Disc

NASHVILLE, TN – When Tampa Bay Area-based guitarist Sean Chambers began planning for his next album release, he decided to do things differently than he had on previous albums and looked northward to Nashville with its amazing studios, musicians and songwriting talent. The result will be released on October 15 when Sean’s new album, The Rock House Sessions, comes out on Blue Heat Records.

The Rock House Sessions features a number of firsts: it’s the first album he’s recorded as Sean Chambers rather than the Sean Chambers Band; producing for the first time is legendary keyboard player Reese Wynans (best-known for his long tenure as a member of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s band); and it’s his first recording exclusively using studio musicians, as Sean and Reese drew from the deep talent-laden pool of Nashville musicians and songwriters. The album was recorded at the studio of another acclaimed keyboardist – Kevin McKendree (Delbert McClinton Band) – named The Rock House, hence The Rock House Sessions.

“This project was a lot of fun for me, and working with all the spectacular musicians involved was a great experience for me,” Sean says about the sessions. “We recorded at The Rock House studios in Franklin, just outside of Nashville. I was originally only talking with Reese about playing on the new album, but as the discussion began to expand and we started discussing different song ideas, song arrangements and as I got more of his input and ideas regarding this project, I quickly realized that I had the producer I was looking for. I ran the idea of producing the album by Reese, he gave it some thought and a couple days later we talked and he agreed to produce the album.”

“I had a blast making the Sean Chambers Rock House album,” added Reese Wynans. “It was a chance for Sean to try a little something different, and a chance for me to try my hand at producing. I think it worked out really well.”       

The core band on the album aside from Sean on lead vocals and lead guitar includes Reese Wynans on keyboards, Tommy MacDonald on bass and Tom Hambridge on drums. Special guests include  Rob McNelley on guitar, TJ Klay on harmonica, Chaz Trippy on percussion, Etta Britt on backing vocals, Bob Britt on guitar, Steve Herman on trumpet, and Jim Hoke on sax.

“As Reese and I spoke about the project further, we started entertaining the idea of using some heavy hitters to play on the CD with us,” Chambers says. “Before you knew it, we had an all-star lineup of musicians ready and available to record the album with us. Tom Hambridge, who produced a Grammy-winning album for Buddy Guy, played drums on the CD and also brought some really great songs to the table.”

Besides three new original Sean Chambers compositions and the Tom Hambridge contributions, The Rock House Sessions includes “Choo Choo Mama,” written by Alvin Lee; “Holding On” written by Gary Moore; and “Come To Poppa,” written by Willie Mitchell and Earl Randle but made famous by Bob Seger. Other tracks include new songs by Gary Nicholson, Kenny Greenberg and Rick Vito.

“I decided I wanted to record an Alvin Lee song on this album,” Sean says, “especially with Alvin having recently passed away, and him being one of my favorites going back to when I was a kid. I thought it would be a good way to pay my respects to him, kind of a tip of the hat by recording one of his numbers.

“Reese and I also chose to record Gary Moore’s ‘Holding On’ because we both really liked the track, and again, Gary was one of my favorite guitar players and I wanted to include a song by him if I could.”

Sean Chambers will support the release of The Rock House Sessions with his most extensive cross-country touring yet. Plans call for dates beginning in early fall through the end of the year, with a specific tour itinerary forthcoming. Sean Chambers is booked by The Jo-Ann Freda Agency (joannfredaagency@gmail.com).

“I think that people will really enjoy this album; it has a little bit of everything on it,” Sean offers. “My good friend (and Blue Heat label owner) Jeff Fischer and I have done some good work together on the last two CDs, but I believe this one is our best!”

For more information, visit www.seanchambers.com.

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Ruf Records artist: Bart Walker - Waiting On Daylight - New release review

I just received the new release, Waiting On Daylight from Bart Walker and it's really strong! Walker, a new artist with Ruf has put together a package of great material that really nicely displays his skills and a performer. Opening with It's All Good, Walker wastes no time getting on the slide. This track reminds me a lot in rhythm to Stealin' Watermelons, a great Elvin Bishop track with a bit of funk and a bit of country in the rock. Walker is a modern slide player with southern influences sounding a lot more like Derek Trucks than Elmore James but really playing with his own guitar voice. Cool track. Black Clouds opens with a swampy bass riff by Dave Smith and then followed by grinding guitar riffs along the lines of Mule.Steve Potts has a good had with the drums and this blues rocker sets a firm footing. Walker is certainly no stranger to the guitar ripping gret guitar riffs throughout the track and his voice is well suited for the band. Took It Like A Man is a rock track with a funky back beat.. Walker has great fat tone on this track with super grind. On Girl You Bad, Walker is using what sounds like a loaded P90 with tone that blasts the paint off of the wall. This is great stuff. Waitin On Daylight is a honest ballad with twin guitar leads. This could easily be that track with the hook that gets all the radio play. Happy is an aggressive blues rocker with grinding guitar rhythm guitar and breaking into a full blown "Call Me The Breeze" crap kicker. Hipshake It is a modern take on JB Hutto's track but done really as an uptempo rocker with voracious slide. This is a another great track. 99% is a solid blues rock track giving Walker a productive space in which to really unleash the dog. he is relentless on his guitar and I'm certain blues rock fans everywhere are gonna really dig this. The release completes with an obtuse but very nice version of the Allman's Whippin Post. This is more quiet track done in a more bluesy melancholy manner. I like this version of it better than than most covers that I've hear (Frank Zappa's was pretty cool). It shows real thought and feeling. Walker doesn't allow the opportunity to rip a hole in it get away from him and his guitar is likely bleeding after this track. Very nice job!

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Swing Suit Records artist: Brandon Santini - This Time Another Year - New Release Review

I just received the new release, This Time Another Year, from Brandon Santini and it's a cooker! Opening with Got Good Lovin', harpist Santini wastes no time taking a shot at contemporary harp champs like Magic Dick. A hot blues rocker, Santini has a cool voice and can really get the harp flaming. Bill Ruffino on bass and James Cunningham on drums hold down the bottom and Jeff Jensen flys through with some slick riffs of his own on guitar. This Time Another Year, along the lines of Help Me, is a great track with roots deep in the blues with really great harp tone. Santini holds the band back to a simmer as he builds the pressure vocally and then drop in on harp for the swat. Really masterful. Jensen coaxes some nice riffs from the strings and Santini has the control of Jim Morrison just waiting to unleash the dogs. What You Doing To Me, is a great New Orleans tempo track on chromatic harp. Santini has a real great sensitivity for when and how to reel in the track. Interesting guitar work backed by Victor Wainwright on vocal and piano makes this a particularly strong track. Late In The Evening, a slow blues track, really highlights Santini's vocal work and really makes you wonder how this guy isn't hugely successful already... or if you're living under a rock. (Maybe I am!) This is a terrific track and Wainwright plays as nice a blues piano solo as you've heard in years. I mean this is terrific. Jensen has a nice sensitivity to this track and plays a strong but sensitive guitar passage. Up pops Santini to take it home. All I can say is wow! This is really really strong! Dig Me A Grave moves into the R&B style and Santini shows his versatility and style. Jensen opens with a really nice solo and Santini has such a strong voice... instrumentation overall.. and particularly intermittent riffs by Jensen (great tone by the way) and ongoing lead harp work from Santini make this a particularly airplay worthy track... and I like it too! Bye Bye Bird, an old Williamson/Dixon track gets a light acoustic guitar, drums and harp treatment. This release is just consistently really super. Things You Putting Down is a great New Orleans blues style track and again Santini shows that he has a really super voice. A really strong harp player, Santini shows that you don't always have to be fast or high to get your point across. Jensen plays another solid solo on this track and the band remains contained. Been So Blue gets Santini out front right away and Jensen plays some really jazzy chords under the melody taking the blues to a richer spot. Santini gets his harp singing, showing a nice compatibility between the blues and it's jazz brother partner. Help Me With The Blues is a really hot track. This is the kind of harp track that even people who aren't hot on harp love. (Think Hoy Hoy Hoy or Wammer Jammer). This is a fast paced jump track and Jensen does his share of crankin the spring, followed by the superb Wainwright. Santini steps in and throws on the gas... ouch... that is hot!! Williamson track Raise Your Window (One Way Out) gets a Latin kind of beat and Santini again shines on vocal and harp. Taking it down low, Santini shows some real pyrotechnics. The final track on this outrageously cool recording is Fish is Bitin', a cross between Cajun and Rock a Billy. Showing a nod to Ledbelly, this track is a cool wrap up for a really enjoyable and remarkable release. Excellent!

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Nashville-Based Singer-Songwriter Rian Greene Set to Debut His New CD, "Drown the Miller," June 4 on Post Oak Records

Nashville-Based Singer-Songwriter Rian Greene Set to Debut His New CD, Drown the Miller, June 4 on

Post Oak Records

Latest Album Produced by Brian Harrison and Features Nashville All-Star Backing Musicians

NASHVILLE, TN – Singer-songwriter Rian Greene announces a June 4 release date for his new album, Drown the Miller, on Post Oak Records, which showcases his keen eye for a lyric and rootsy Americana take on country music. Produced by Brian Harrison (Shelby Lynne) and recorded primarily at The Rendering Plant in Nashville, Drown the Miller features Rian Greene’s unique blend of Americana music and traditional country sounds backed by a cadre of Nashville all-stars with pedigrees from work with such stars as Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings and Buddy Miller. The recording sessions feature Bryan Owings on drums, Phil Senseny on bass, John Jackson on guitar, Phil Madeira on keyboards, Robby Turner on steel guitar and Tom Littlefield on harmony vocals.

Drown the Miller spotlights Rian Greene’s attention to detail and carefully crafted compositions.  For the new CD, Rian brought in 19 demos to producer Brian “Brain” Harrison and drummer Bryan Owings, who helped him narrow it down to the 11 album tracks.

“I was living in Knoxville and spoke with a few great musicians, like bassist Phil Senseny, about wanting to make a new record,” he recalls. After a couple of weeks and a trip to Nashville, things came together indeed for Drown the Miller. “I’m very proud of the songs and all the performances from everyone involved,” Rian notes. “Brian’s production worked great in complementing and bringing out the best in the songs. There’s not a whole lot of fat on it—if a song didn’t need a bridge, there wasn’t one; if it didn’t need a third verse, it didn’t get one.” Subsequently, Drown the Miller is a succinct, easy album to listen to, with depth and subtleties that reveal themselves through multiple listens. That is the mark of a good album.

With a sound rooted in traditional country music, Drown the Miller correspondingly offers Rian’s uniquely fresh perspective. A mature, well-crafted work, this highly anticipated second album proves that his honest, no-frills lyrics and melodies stand up perfectly alongside the best Americana music of today. Lead single “The Best I’ve Ever Had” recalls some of the finer moments of  Tom Petty and The Jayhawks, while tracks like “Stranger in My Arms” and the title track reveal a poignantly honest talent. On the new album, Rian Greene wisely surrounds himself with some of the more well-respected pros in music. “I didn’t know who the other players would be, but I knew they’d be good. Once John Jackson came in to play guitar, it was a dream come true. If someone would have told me as a 16-year-old concert-goer that the guitarist I saw on stage with Bob Dylan (John Jackson) would play with me someday, I would never have believed it,” Rian adds. “Making a record with such great musicians was an honor, and it made the whole process an absolute pleasure. I can’t wait to do it again.”

In the wake of his refreshingly straight-forward debut album—the Dusty Wakeman produced See Things Like You—Nashville singer-songwriter Rian Greene quickly earned the reputation of being a “songwriter’s songwriter.” While the album received world-wide airplay and heavy VH1-Country rotation for the single, “The Shotgun Side,” Rian was really just getting started. As both a solo performer and a member of the award-winning San Diego band The Hideaways, Rian put years of touring experience under his belt, as his live show mixed in solid, original songs with his encyclopedic knowledge of country standards and classics. He has worked with artists ranging from Lucinda Williams and The Flatlanders, to Asleep at the Wheel and The Beat Farmers; and, as a band leader he has played with Gordon Waller of Peter & Gordon, and early Beatles collaborator, Tony Sheridan.

Americana radio promotion for Drown the Miller is being handled by Bill Wence Promotions (billwencepro@earthlink.net).

For more information, visit www.riangreene.com.

Honey Babe/No Happy Home - Arthur Gunter

Arthur Gunter (May 23, 1926 – March 16, 1976) was an American blues guitarist and musician. He was best known for his song "Baby Let's Play House", which was later a hit single for Elvis Presley. Gunter was born in Nashville, Tennessee, a musician from an early age; as a child, he was in a gospel group with his brothers and cousins called the Gunter Brothers Quartet. In the early 1950s he played in various blues groups around Nashville, and began recording for Excello Records in 1954. In November 1954, Gunter recorded "Baby Let's Play House" for Excello (2047), which became a local hit. It became nationally known later that year when Elvis Presley recorded a version for Sun Records. "Elvis got that number and made it famous. But I didn't get a chance to shake his hand," Gunter would later say. His first royalty check, received that same year, was for $6500. Gunter continued to record for Excello until 1961. His regular band broke up in 1966 and he moved to Pontiac, Michigan, performing only occasionally thereafter. He died of pneumonia in 1976 at his home in Port Huron, Michigan

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Mustang Sally - Sweet Charles Sherell

"Sweet" Charles Sherrell (born Charles Emanuel Sherrell, March 8, 1943) is an American bassist known for recording and performing with James Brown. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Sherrell began his career playing drums with fellow Nashville residents Jimi Hendrix and Billy Cox, practicing at a club a block from Hendrix's residence. Sherrell learned to play the guitar by washing the car (a Jaguar) of Curtis Mayfield in exchange for guitar lessons. Sherrell soon began teaching himself to play the bass after buying one from a local pawn shop for $69, which led him to join Johnny Jones & The King Kasuals Band, Aretha Franklin's backing group. Sherrell joined James Brown's band in August 1968 and played on some of Brown's most famous recordings of the late 1960s, including the No. 1 R&B hits "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud", "Mother Popcorn", and "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose". In the 1970s, Sherrell rejoined Brown and performed with The J.B.'s. He later played with Al Green and Maceo & All the King's Men. He also released some recordings under the name Sweet Charles, including his first solo album, Sweet Charles: For Sweet People, on James Brown's label People Records.  

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John Henry - Blind James Campbell String Band

Blind James Campbell (September 17, 1906 - January 22, 1981) was an American blues singer and guitarist. He is mostly remembered for his 1962-1963 recording for the Arhoolie label with his Nashville Street Band. James Campbell was born in Nashville, Tennessee on September 17, 1906. He later became known as Blind James Campbell after an accident at a fertilizer plant left him permanently blinded. In 1936 he formed a band and began playing folk, country, pop, jazz and blues music at parties, dances and for other local events. The Nashville Street Band consisted of fiddler Beauford Clay (born 1900) who was a great influence on Campbell's playing, second guitarist Bell Ray (born 1909), bass horn player Ralph Robinson (born 1885), and trumpeter George Bell. Campbell and his band appeared to be quite content with the steady work they were receiving, and did not seem to have any desire to pursue a career in recording. However, Chris Strachwitz of Arhoolie Records became interested in the band after hearing a field recording of them made by a fellow blues fan, Donald Hill. Hill had recorded Campbell in the spring of 1959 and again in April 1961. Hill's recordings include Campbell singing country songs as well as blues. He also recorded Cambpell and his string band on a street corner in downtown Nashville and recorded him with Beauford Clay. Both the original tapes and digital copies of Hill's recordings have been deposited at Library of Congress as a part of the Hill/Mangurian collection of field recordings made between 1958 and 1961. After listening to Hill's tapes, Strachwitz set off to Nashville to find and record Campbell and his band. After two recording sessions with Campbell and his band in 1962 and 1963, the Arhoolie LP, Blind James Campbell And His Nashville Street Band (Arhoolie 1015) was released in 1963. While these recordings never excelled Campbell into prominence, and the history of James Campbell and his band since the 1963 recordings is hazy, Strachwitz revisited these recordings and released them on CD in 1995, along with additional tracks from both recording sessions. Certainly, these recordings show evidence of a street band of considerable skill and quality, who were able to play American music from a variety of genres. James Campbell died in Nashville, Tennessee on January 22, 1981. 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”

We're Gonna Rock - Cecil Gant

Cecil Gant (April 4, 1913 - February 4, 1951) was an American blues singer and pianist. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Gant worked local clubs through the mid 1930s up until the Second World War, when he enlisted in the United States Army. Though his piano was blues-based, vocally he was a crooner of considerable cross-over appeal. He sang at a War Bond rally in Los Angeles, California, signed with the Gilt Edge record label, and recorded the self-penned ballad "I Wonder" late in 1944, billed as "Pvt. Cecil Gant." "I Wonder" reached number one on the Billboard Harlem Hit Parade (as the R&B chart was called then) and sold impressively nationwide. Gant then went on tour billed as "The G.I. Sing-sation," dressed in Army khaki and breaking attendance records at major venues, attracting both black and white audiences. As well as singing in the dream vein of his hit, Gant could deliver a pleasant blues and energetic boogie-woogie; versatility shared by his West Coast contemporaries, Charles Brown and Ivory Joe Hunter. Gant had other releases on King Records (1947), Bullet Records (1948-49), Downbeat/Swingtime (1949), and Imperial Records (1950), but his moment of jukebox glory was gone. Some of his later recordings were rockabilly boogies utilising a Nashville studio guitarist, a few steps away from the soon-to-emerge rock and roll. However, he did not live long enough to see that new trend. Gant died of a heart attack in Nashville in 1951, at the age of 37. He is buried in Highland Park Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 favorite band!

DELTA GROOVE “BLUES STIMULUS PROGRAM” WINNERS!

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	DELTA GROOVE “BLUES STIMULUS PROGRAM” WINNERS! Delta Groove Music is very pleased to announce the participants in their first annual Blues Stimulus Program, an opportunity for blues talent around the world to become members of the successful Delta Groove Family.  Over the last decade, Delta Groove Music has set the new standard for producing, promoting, and booking exciting blues and roots music talent.  Now they’re sharing in their success by inviting emerging blues acts to submit their recordings for review, and each year Delta Groove will choose two U.S. and one foreign blues act to come on board with one of the biggest success stories in blues in this millennium!  After much careful review and painstaking consideration over the last several months, the producers and talent scouts at Delta Groove have chosen the Nashville-based Andy T and Nick Nixon Band, and Portland, Oregon’s Kevin Selfe as this year’s U.S. participants in the Blues Stimulus Program.  Guitarist Andy T and singer/guitarist Nixon are both veteran blues players who enjoyed long and successful careers on their own for years before joining forces to create one of the most dynamic and soulful blues bands in Nashville – a town with no shortage of great musicians.  Andy T’s fiery yet tasteful guitar provides the perfect backdrop to Nixon’s deeply bluesy, church-schooled vocals, an appealing combination that caught the attention of Texas blues guitar legend Anson Funderburgh, who produced and guests on their debut CD for Delta Groove. Virginia native Kevin Selfe is one of the most exciting and tasteful young blues guitarists and singers on the scene today, with that golden combination of reverence for the masters and the fire and passion of an artist from a new generation, out to write his own chapter in the blues history books.  Selfe has been on the scene since 1997, and appeared on numerous CDs with The Fat Daddy Band and Little Roger and The Cheap Thrills.  In 2005 he formed Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes in his native Roanoke, VA, eventually relocating to the other side of the country in Portland, OR.  Since then he’s continued to hone and perfect his own unique sound, using his mastery of traditional blues as a springboard into his own exciting blend of cutting edge attitude and original songs that speak to several generations of roots music and blues fans. The debut CDs on Delta Groove by Andy T - Nick Nixon Band “Drink Drank Drunk”, and Kevin Selfe “Long Walk Home”, are scheduled for release by Delta Groove in February of 2013.  ANDY T - NICK NIXON BAND Andy T - Nick Nixon Band "Drink Drank Drunk" Featuring: Anson Funderburgh John Garza Christian Dozzler and more! "Andy was a great musician when we started and I think he's an even better player now. His dedication to the music that he loves is unstoppable…And Nick is one of the greatest singers in blues today. When people hear his voice, they are moved." – Anson Funderburgh "Andy T Band, featuring James "Nick" Nixon is one of those amazing artists that rarely surface today." – Bman's Blues Report "Nick and Andy T are both world class performers with a show that offers something for everyone." – Peter Fleming co-founder, Nashville Office – AirPlay Direct   KEVIN SELFE Kevin Selfe "Long Walk Home" Featuring: Jimi Bott Mitch Kashmar Gene Taylor and more! "Selfe plays with rare thoughtfulness and taste…his clean tone and deep well of approaches keep things fresh." - Blues Revue "They have originality of lyrics, individuality of playing their chosen instruments and a collective output which ranks at the best of the modern era in blues" - Blues Matters "Kevin draws the crowds to the band with fiery fretwork that gets"wanna-be" guitar heroes excited and professionals listening closely." – Greg Johnson, President, Cascade Blues Association FOR MORE INFO VISIT US AT: WWW.DELTAGROOVEMUSIC.COM

Scuttle Buttin' / Marry Had a Little Lamb - Michael Vance Trio

Michael Vance is a 24 year old guitarist/ vocalist/ songwriter who was born and raised in Nashville TN. Having only picked up his first guitar at the later age of 16, in the short span of 8 years, is now performing in the ranks with world–class musicians, including Derek St.Holmes ( Ted Nugent), Shaun Murphy (Eric Clapton, Bob Seger), Johnny Hiland, The Wooten Brothers, James "Nick" Nixon, Darrel Roberts of Motown, Mitch Mitchell (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) in 2007 as well as studio sessions Nahsville studio drum legend Milton Sledge. But perhaps the most surreal moment of Michael's young career came when legendary rock star, Robert Plant, lead singer of Led Zeppelin happened in to Nashville's Hotel Preston one night. Michael was playing with his band and on a break they came to pay homage to the rock great and get a photo. Robert commented that he not only liked the band but thought they were great. With influences like Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and many more, The Michael Vance Trio (MV3) has quickly made a name for themselves in and out of the Nashville community. 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 favorite band!

EARLY IN THE MORNING - RICKY ALLEN

Richard A. "Ricky" Allen (January 6, 1935 – May 29, 2005) was an American blues singer from Chicago. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee and began his singing career as member of a church choir in his home town. He relocated to Chicago in 1960, and received a recording contract one year later at Age Records. He had a local hit with "You Better Be Sure" and in 1963, his hit "Cut You A-Loose" reached #20 in Billboard's R&B chart. Some of his recordings of the 1960s such as "It's A Mess I Tell You" and "I Can't Stand No Signifying," portended the emerging soul-blues style of the 1970s. After his retirement from the music industry in the early 1970s, he conducted a laundry and a limousine service. In 2001, he performed at the Mönsterås Festival in Sweden, and the following year at the Chicago Blues Festival. He died in 2005, aged 70. 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 favorite band!

Going Down Slow - St. Louis Jimmy Oden

James Burke "St. Louis Jimmy" Oden (June 26, 1903 – December 30, 1977) was an American blues vocalist and songwriter. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, Oden sang and taught himself to play the piano in childhood. In his teens, he left home to go to St. Louis, Missouri (c. 1917 ) where piano-based blues was prominent. He was able to develop his vocal talents and began performing with the pianist, Roosevelt Sykes. After more than ten years playing in and around St. Louis, in 1933 he and Sykes decided to move on to Chicago. In Chicago he was dubbed St. Louis Jimmy and there he would enjoy a solid performing and recording career for the next four decades. While Chicago became his home base, Oden traveled with a group of blues players to various places throughout the United States. He recorded a large number of records, his best known coming in 1941 on the Bluebird Records label called "Goin' Down Slow." Oden wrote a number of songs, two of which, "Take the Bitter with the Sweet" and "Soon Forgotten," were recorded by his friend, Muddy Waters. In 1948 on Aristocrat Records Oden cut "Florida Hurricane", accompanied by the pianist Sunnyland Slim and the guitarist Muddy Waters. In 1949, Oden partnered with Joe Brown to form a small recording company called J.O.B. Records. Oden appears to have ended his involvement within a year, but with other partners the company remained in business till 1974. After a serious road accident in 1957 he devoted himself to writing and placed material with Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf ("What a Woman!") and John Lee Hooker. In 1960 he made an album with Bluesville Records, and sang on a Candid Records session with Robert Lockwood, Jr. and Otis Spann. Oden died of bronchopneumonia, at the age of 74, in 1977 and was interred in the Restvale Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois, near Chicago. 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 favorite band!

Come And Go Blues - Gregg Allman

Gregory LeNoir "Gregg" Allman (born December 8, 1947 in Nashville, Tennessee) is an American rock and blues singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter, and a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2006. His distinctive voice placed him in 70th place in the Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". At the beginning of the 1970s, The Allman Brothers Band enjoyed huge success and a number of their most characteristic songs were written by Allman. Unusual for the time, the band was based in the Southeastern United States and their music, which has been called ‘Southern Rock’, a term derided by Allman, incorporates an innovative fusion of rock, blues, and jazz. Following the death of his older brother, guitarist Duane Allman in 1971, and a year later, bass guitarist Berry Oakley, both in motorcycle accidents, the band struggled on and continued to perform and record. In addition, Allman developed a solo career and a band under his own name. Allman’s solo music has perhaps a greater resonance of soul music than his work with ABB, possibly because of the influence of artists such as Bobby Bland and Little Milton, singers who he has long admired. Despite recent health issues, Allman still tours. Allman's memoirs of his life in music, My Cross to Bear, was released on May 1, 2012 After the death of Duane Allman in 1971, Gregg Allman started out on a solo career. His first album, Laid Back, was released in 1973 to a positive critical reception. It included a couple of reworked Allman Brothers songs, such as a horn-infused version of "Midnight Rider" that made it to #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and originals like "Queen of Hearts", the other ABB members felt did not quite fit the Allman Brothers sound. Gregg also covered a traditional gospel song "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" and former California roommate Jackson Browne's song "These Days." Allman in 2006 His solo career has continued intermittently throughout the subsequent decades, sometimes touring when the Allman Brothers Band is off the road. Generally, these solo efforts - first with the Gregg Allman Band, and later with Gregg Allman & Friends - eschew lengthy guitar solos and cast Allman more in the mode of his favorite soul singers. The bands often include a horn section and are more groove-oriented, mixing original songs with reworked Allman Brothers songs and covers of blues, R&B, and soul songs. Allman's second chart single came in 1987 with the #49 peaking "I'm No Angel", from the album of the same name. The album went on to be certified Gold for 500,000 copies sold and led to a renewed interest in Allman and to a reformation of the Allman Brothers Band less than three years later. His solo album, Low Country Blues, was produced by T-Bone Burnett and issued in early 2011. It is a collection of eleven blues standards and one new song written by him. The album was nominated as the Best Blues Album for the 2011 Grammy Awards. He has also made guest appearances on albums and concert videos by a wide variety of other artists, including a concert DVD celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of The Radiators, playing Midnight Rider with that band. In addition to his musical career, Allman took acting roles in the films Rush Week (1989) and Rush (1991), and in episodes of the TV series Superboy. He also had a brief speaking cameo in the Family Guy episode "Let's Go to the Hop". 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 favorite band!