Grammy Award ballots

NEWS FROM THE VIZZTONE LABEL GROUP The first-round Grammy Awards Ballots are out! First-round ballots have gone out to members of the Recording Academy, to determine who the final GRAMMY Award nominees will be.  This year VizzTone is proud to have thirteen artists represented on the official entry list!  Our congratulations to: MICHAEL BRAM • DOUG DEMING & THE JEWEL TONES • DENNIS GRUENLING CANDYE KANE (FEAT. LAURA CHAVEZ) • LONG TALL DEB • JAMES MONTGOMERY BAND ANN RABSON w/ BOB MARGOLIN • DAVE RILEY & BOB CORRITORE RUFF KUTT BLUES BAND • GINA SICILIA • LITTLE G WEEVIL MITCH WOODS • AUSTIN YOUNG & NO DIFFERENCE If you're a member of the Recording Academy, please consider voting for these great artists! But even if you're not, please check out full-song samples from these albums and many more at the VIZZTONE MUSIC STORE!

VizzTone's BMA Wish List

VizzTone's Blues Music Award Wish List! We are so proud of the artists we're working with at the VizzTone label group!  Of course, the BLUES MUSIC AWARD nominators haven't made their choices yet, but If it were up to us...we'd see some of the nominations listed below. Cick on the CDs to listen to the music, and we bet you'll agree! Candye Kane Coming Out Swingin' (feat. Laura Chavez) Coming Out Swingin’— the brilliant new record from feminist power poet and vocalist CANDYE KANE, her extraordinary guitarist and co-writer Laura Chavez, and her exceptional band. It’s a jukebox for the mind that moves the body and spirit with a broad selection of originals and hip covers. • CONTEMPORARY BLUES FEMALE ARTIST • CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM • GUITARIST (Laura Chavez) • BB KING ENTERTAINER • SONG: "Invisible Woman" • ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2013 IBC Solo/Duo Winner Little G Weevil Moving LITTLE G WEEVIL is an international Bluesman. Growing up in Budapest, Hungary, G fell in love with American Blues records, and soon became a successful Blues artist in his own country.  He felt the call of the American South and moved to the United States, living in Alabama, washing dishes and playing on Beale Street in Memphis, and finally settling in Atlanta Georgia. After winning first place as a solo artist at the 2013 International Blues Challenge , he recorded MOVING – a beautifully ambient album of deep, all-acoustic Blues. • ACOUSTIC BLUES ALBUM • ACOUSTIC BLUES ARTIST • ALBUM OF THE YEAR Ruff Kutt Blues Band That's When The Blues Begins Deep Texas Blues featuring Zac Harmon, Finis Tasby, and Anson Funderburgh. Texan James Goode describes himself as an “old rascal and beat-up coach”, but this Rockabilly Hall-Of-Fame inductee, songwriter, bass player, and creator of the RUFF KUTT BLUES BAND certainly knows how to field one hell of a Blues team. This all-star aggregation hits a deep Blues groove and delivers Goode’s songs with the assured, relaxed intensity of seasoned pros. • TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM • ALBUM OF THE YEAR Austin Young & No Difference Blue As Can Be Colorado’s multi-award winning teenage Blues phenom AUSTIN YOUNG is an electrifying performer and prolific songwriter. He has been devastating audiences at clubs, concerts and festivals. Blue As Can Be is a landmark worldwide debut from a young artist with a huge future. • NEW ARTIST DEBUT • GUITARIST Gina Sicilia It Wasn't Real On her fourth release, GINA SICILIA continues to evolve and demonstrate a unique ability to stitch different genres into one personal, authentic sound that is all the Soul of Gina Sicilia.  Stunning writing, beautiful sonic landscapes and vocals to die for, It Wasn’t Real is a fearless leap forward that delivers. • CONTMEPORARY BLUES FEMALE ARTIST • CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM • SONG: "It Wasn't Real" Long Tall Deb Raise Your Hands LONG TALL DEB Landolt delivers a solid dose of her patented “Soul/Gospel/Swamp” on her debut release, with striking performances on ten of Deb’s original songs with help from a bevy of heavy hitting guests. This is a tour-de-force for Long Tall Deb, and a joyous celebration of the arrival of an artist on the rise. • NEW ARTIST DEBUT • CONTEMPORARY BLUES FEMALE ARTIST • SONG: "Married To The Blues" feat Big Llou James Montgomery Band From Detroit To The Delta JAMES MONTGOMERY cut his teeth in the Detroit Blues scene of the late 60’s, moved to Boston, signed with Capricorn Records, and proceeded to lead a Blues band that was so hot they had budding local rockers like Aerosmith opening their shows. On the new CD, James traces his musical roots From Detroit To The Delta, with special guests Johnny Winter, Aerosmith’s Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford, James Cotton, the Uptown Horns, and seminal rapper DMC. Montgomery’s journey paysrespect to many styles of the Blues, from urban streets to Mississippi mud. • ROCK BLUES ALBUM • SONG: "Little Johnny" feat. Johnny Winter, Aerosmiths's Brad Hatfield and Joey Kramer and a sneak peek, coming in September... Dave Riley and Bob Corritore Hush Your Fuss This is timeless juke-joint blues, performed by modern masters.The "Mississippi meets Chicago" blues partnership of singer/guitarist Dave Riley and award-winning Chicago blues harmonica player Bob Corritore has toured extensively in the USA, Europe and South America.  HUSH YOUR FUSS!, their third CD together, is a real down-home blues throw-down, featuring rootsy, old-school storytelling blues that puts you in rural Mississippi by way of Chicago, all in the well-honed style of DAVE RILEY and BOB CORRITORE. • TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM • HARMONICA: BOB CORRITORE THANKS FOR LISTENING, WE HOPE YOU LOVE THE MUSIC AS MUCH AS WE DO!

Vizztone Label Group: Ruff Kutt Blues Band - That's When The Blues Begins - New Release Review

I just received the newest Ruff Kutt recording, That's When The Blues Begins, and I'm betting you're going to love it! Opening with Deep Elam Blues, Ruff Kutt wastes absolutely no time in getting gritty. Finis Tasby takes the lead on vocals and Zac Harmon and Anson Funderburgh the lead on guitar. The guitar working is stinging and Sax player Ron Jones really beefs up the bottom. Blues In My Blood with a strong funky back beat is up next featuring stinging guitar guitar work throughout. Don't It Make You Cry, a New Orleans soul influenced track gives Jones a great opportunity to play a super melodic solo. Oh Woman!, another strongly soul influenced track features some super vocals by Tasby and Jones pours on the heat on sax. Zac Harmon takes the lead vocals on Down So Low, a loping Texas style blues track with a healthy dose of slick guitar riffs. On Bare Foot Blues, Tasby returns to the mic and the band plays a swing style blues track. Wes Starr keeps things tight on drums and Gentleman John Street rides the keys. Funderburgh plays some really nice riffs on this track. The Blues Ain't A Color is a real clever track and a real swinger. Background vocals by Steven Richardson really give depth to an already rich lead vocal by Harmon. This track has some particularly hot guitar riffs on it as well. That's When The Blues Begins has a deep blues feel which takes strong depth from gospel styling. Vocal blending on this track is particularly strong and allows a nice spacing for really articulate guitar playing. I'm Over You Woman has a Albert King kind of sound again featuring Harmon on vocals. Going To Bluesville has a solid R&B strut. Funderburgh nicely punctuates Harmon's vocals with his guitar together with the band creating one of the most swinging tracks on the release. Let's Dance has a real nice groove and super horn work creating a super blues base. Tasby, back on vocals really delivers the goods on this track and Funderburgh plays a really relaxed but concise solo on this track making for a really cool track. On the finale, When A Bluesman Goes To Heaven, Harmon delivers a great punch on vocals and Funderburgh is right there dotting the i's. A guitar duet ensues on this track and the players nicely compliment each other. This a a really cool release and one that allows a number of really talented players to work together on a special project. I really like this release and I suspect that new fans will be made for the individual players as well as for Ruff Kutt!  

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!

Deep Texas Blues - Ruff Kutt Blues Band - FREE TRACK

BRAND NEW FROM THE VIZZTONE LABEL GROUP Ruff Kutt Blues Band That's When The Blues Begins free track download & listening party! Click HERE to get a free download and a special offer, and to hear the whole album! Deep Texas Blues featuring Zac Harmon, Finis Tasby, and Anson Funderburgh Texan James Goode describes himself as an “old rascal and beat-up coach," but this Rockabilly Hall-Of-Fame inductee, songwriter, bass player, and creator of the Ruff Kutt Blues Band certainly knows how to field one hell of a Blues team.  THAT’S WHEN THE BLUES BEGINS features fourteen songs written or co-written by Goode, performed by world class Bluesmen including vocalist/guitarist Zac Harmon, vocalist Finis Tasby, and producer/guitarist Anson Funderburgh.    The first Ruff Kutt Blues Band album, Mill Block Blues (2011), garnered critical raves and was so successful that Goode was able to donate $10,000 of proceeds to the Blues Foundation’s HART Fund, providing relief to Blues musicians in need.  When he decided to do a follow up, it went without saying that the first call would go out to Texas Blues guitar hero Anson Funderburgh, who anchored the first CD.  Anson was quick to sign on to produce the new CD, and soon they brought in internationally acclaimed Blues heavyweights Zac Harmon and Finis Tasby to form the nucleus of the team for THAT’S WHEN THE BLUES BEGINS. Rounding things out are Wes Starr on drums, Ron Jones on saxophone, and keyboardist/engineer Gentleman John Street. This all-star aggregation hits a deep Blues groove and delivers Goode’s songs with the assured, relaxed intensity of seasoned pros.  Sadly, these sessions are the last recordings Finis Tasby completed before suffering a debilitating stroke in December, 2012.  His many friends and fans have been sending prayers, support, and their hopes for his recovery. Zac Harmon, James Goode, Finis Tasby, Anson Funderburgh TRACKS: 01.  Deep Elam Blues 02.  Blues In My Blood 03.  Don’t It Make You Cry 04.  Oh Woman 05.  Down So Low 06.  Bare Foot Blues 07.  Blues Ain’t A Color 08.  That’s When The Blues Begins 09.  That Woman Gives Me Fever 10.  I’m Over You Woman 11.  Going To Bluesville 12.  Touched By Her Flame 13.  Let’s Dance 14.  When A Bluesman Goes To Heaven "The triple-threat of Harmon, Tasby and Funderburgh chase the blues away with an ease that belies their total artistic command."  — Dave Rubin CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A FREE TRACK, HEAR THE WHOLE CD, AND GET A SPECIAL DISCOUNT OFFER

mmm, mmm, mmMemphis! ... and coming soon!

BRAND NEW FROM THE VIZZTONE LABEL GROUP mmm, mmm, mmMemphis!  and coming soon.... Hey All Y'all (note the vernacular, we're getting in the mood) — Lots of VizzTone folks are heading to Memphis this week, so we wanted to take this opportunity to give one more shout out to our BMA nominees, talk about our Big Blues Party on Beale, and brag about our new and upcoming releases! So first of all, one more big CONGRATS and GOOD LUCK to the Blues Music Awards nominees from our VizzTone/Vizzable family: OUR NOMINEES... Ann Rabson w/Bob Margolin / Not Alone - Acoustic Blues Album Bob Margolin- Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year Phantom Blues Band - Blues Band of the Year Tony Braunagel (Phantom Blues Band, Robert Cray Band) - Drums Mike Finnigan (Phantom Blues Band) - Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Diunna Greenleaf (Vizzable Music Artist) - Koko Taylor Award        Click the CD to listen or buy at VizzTone.com   ;-) For those of you who'll be coming to Memphis, we can't wait to see you there!  And, if you're sticking around town for the Friday night AFTER the Awards, c'mon down to our amazing VizzTone Blues Party On Beale!  Check it out: See what I'm sayin'??  This is gonna be one party that is NOT TO BE MISSED! Lately we've been bragging about our BRAND NEW releases - Click the album covers to take a listen, and you'll understand why!                   ...and we'll tell you more about these soon (trust us on that!), but here's a quick peek at what's COMING VERY SOON.... Coming May 14! RUFF KUTT BLUES BAND THAT'S WHEN THE BLUES BEGINS Deep Texas Blues featuring Zac Harmon, Finis Tasby, Anson Funderburgh, and James Goode. Coming June 25 CANDYE KANE COMING OUT SWINGIN' featuring LAURA CHAVEZ We are SO PROUD to welcome our good friends Candye Kane and Laura Chavez to the family! Coming soon... LITTLE G WEEVIL MOVING • 2013 International Blues Challenge winner

Did you know... you can preview Every song from Every artist at www.vizztone.com!