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Hambone’s Blues Party
Top Spins for July 2011
Terry Hanck
Look Out, Delta
Groove.
Saxman and vocalist Terry Hanck was born in Chicago and first
made a name for himself playing with Elvin Bishop in the
1970s. He can be heard on Bishop's big hit "Fooled
Around and Fell in Love." He currently lives on the West
Coast and often gigs in Florida, too. I saw him perform at The
Back Room in Boca Raton a few years back and he blew me
away. Terry is the coolest cat in the room. He has put out a
number of excellent self-produced CDs over the last few years.
This new one, his first major label release, is the best CD I
have heard all year. The record cover says "Greasy Soul Rockin' Blues" and that sums up how Terry plays. He is a
fine vocalist and demonstrates his skills on some slow ballads.
Guitarist "Kid" Andersen played on and produced this CD, which
contains some nice originals and obscure covers. If there
is justice in the music world, Terry will finally hit it big.
Andrew Diehl & The Nightmen
Chill,
Self-Release
Young guitarist and vocalist Andrew Diehl has put out a rockin'
self-produced CD. Backed by the all-star rhythm section of
Marty Binder and Harlan Terson, Andrew plays with a maturity
beyond his age. Andrew will be performing live
on Hambone's Blues Party on 8/4.
John Mays
I Found a Love,
Electro Fi
Canadian soul singer John Mays' new CD is full of classic
soul covers. It takes some guts and some pipes to cover OV
Wright's "You're Gonna Make Me Cry," Tyrone Davis' "Can I Change
My Mind," and The Impressions' "I Found a Love," among other
classic soul tunes, but John Mays pulls it off without any
shame. Born in Dawson, Georgia (home of Otis Redding),
John lives and gigs up in Canada now and takes his time, like
the old school masters, when singing so soulfully.
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
2120 S. Michigan Ave,
Capitol Records
Everyone knows the title of the CD is the address of Chess
Records. This is George's tribute to the Chess Family and their
"great artists who recorded at 2120 S. Michigan." George plays
his standard high-energy rockin' blues licks on a number of
Willie Dixon songs including "Seventh Son," "Spoonful," "Help
Me," and "My Babe." Buddy Guy shows up on "Hi-Heeled
Sneakers." Made "In Stereo" and produced by Tom Hambridge, one
has to wonder why this album was mostly recorded in Encino, CA.,
when he could have recorded it in Chicago.
Jeff Golub Band
Three Kings,
eOne Music
Guitarist Jeff Golub pays homage to The Three Kings of Blues:
B.B., Freddie and Albert. Once an icon on the smooth jazz
scene and Rod Stewart's guitarist in the 1980-90s, Jeff goes
back to his blues-rock roots on this new release. He
covers a number of well-worn blues classic songs associated with
these Kings. Robben Ford, Sonny Landreth and Henry
Butler come along for the ride. Sadly, it was announced
last week that Jeff suffered a collapse in the optic nerves of
both his eyes and has lost his sight.
Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges
Rock and a Hard Place,
Armadillo Music.
Guitarist Hideaway Bridges brings his brand of Texas blues alive
and jumpin' with another fine release. His singing has
improved over the years and this new album is the perfect summer
time release. Ballads, blues and boogies feature a full band
with horns and a B-3. There’s nothing fancy here, just
thoroughly enjoyable Texas blues from a relatively
unknown-in-these-parts bluesman. Take a listen, you will dig it.
Earl Thomas
Introducing The Blues Ambassadors,
ETM
Earl Thomas is a West Coast soul singer who has Memphis roots
and European style. I saw him at the Chicago Blues
Festival a number of years ago and still remember vividly his
terrific performance. Mostly slow burners with a few hard
charging tunes, this CD is demonstrative of Earl's vocal
stylings. He always covers one classic rock song on his
releases and this time it’s Steve Miller's "Jet Airliner."
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