Your Complete Guide to the Chicago Blues Scene
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Your Complete Guide to the Chicago Blues Scene |
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Red Hot ‘n Blues Reviews
October 2020
By Marty Gunther
Sugar Ray and the Bluetones featuring Little Charlie –
Too Far from the Bar
(Severn Records CD 0077)
www.sugarrayandthebluetones.com
One of the best bands in the world for the past 35 years, Sugar Ray and
the Bluetones team up with two of the most stylish guitarists ever –
Little Charlie Baty and Duke Robillard – to deliver a disc of some of
the tastiest blues you’ll hear this or any year.
The 15 cuts here feature some of the final recordings of Baty – the late
West Coast legend who left us suddenly last Spring – along with the
lush, polished vocals and harp of Sugar Ray Norcia. The lineup that
includes perennial BMA nominee Anthony Geraci on keys as well as
reigning bassist of the year Michael “Mudcat” Ward. Robillard produced
the set and trades licks with Little Charlie on four numbers.
Silky smooth throughout, it’s difficult to pinpoint highlights, but be
sure to check out “Don’t Give No More Than You Can Take,” “Too Little
Too Late,” “What I Put You Through,” “I Got a Right to Sing the Blues,”
“The Night I Got Pulled Over” and “Reel Burner.” This group’s earned
dozens of honors through the years, and there’ll be more on the horizon
with this one!
# # #
Libby Rae Watson & Burt Deivert –
She Shimmy
(Hard Danger Records)
Mississippi native Libby Rae Watson and ex-pat American Burt Deivert
have been delivering the real-deal acoustic blues for a combined 80-plus
years, but team for the first time on this sensational set that blends
modern originals seamlessly with familiar classics.
Watson is a former student of Sam Chatmon, a ‘20s superstar who teamed
with brother, Bo Carter, in the Mississippi Sheiks. This one’s produced
in association with the
Swedish Arts Council, where Deivert is based. They get assists from a
quartet of harp players, including Charlie Musselwhite, as well as
guitarist Eric Bibb and others, delivering an understated treasure.
Standout cuts include the original “She Shimmy,” which describes a lady
partying on a Saturday night in Clarksdale, Miss., the Carter standard
“I Want You to Know,” the sexually charged Chatmon number, “Ashtray
Taxi,” and originals “I Won’t Cry,” “Cuckoo Crowed” and “Big Joe,” which
describes Watson meeting guitarist Big Joe Williams on a Magnolia State
plantation.
# # #
The Lucky Losers – Godless Land
(VizzTone Label Group)
www.theluckylosers.com
Bay Area vocalists Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz have been firing on
all cylinders since teaming with producer Kid Andersen in 2018 for
Blind Spot, which received
multiple nominations in the Independent Music Awards before capturing
top prize for soul-blues artists of the year in 2019. As good as that CD
was, this one – their debut release on Boston’s VizzTone label – is even
better.
A rarity in the blues because they consistently sing in duets, the Lucky
Losers are backed by an all-star lineup as they rip and run through a
sprightly set of originals and covers that bridge the full, jazzy
spectrum of roots. The roster includes Berkowitz on harp with
contributions from Ben Rice, Ian Lamson, Danny Caron, Derrick “D-Mar”
Martin and others.
This thoroughly enjoyable set speaks about the struggles we all face in
modern times. Among the winning cuts are “Half a Nothing,” “Mad Love Is
Good Love,” “Be You,” “Catch a Tiger by the Tail,” “My Good Eye,” “What
Makes You Act Like That,” “The Good Fight” and “The Ragged Heart.”
# # #
Al Basile – Last Hand
(Sweetspot Records 9927)
One of the most sophisticated bluesman on the scene today, Rhode
Island-based cornet player, vocalist and poet Al Basile’s latest disc is
a spectacular, all-original project built atop a unifying theme. It’s a
jazzy/bluesy story from the man’s prospective of a May-December romance
that – in his opinion – ends far too soon.
A founding member of Roomful of Blues, Basile’s a stellar tunesmith and
vocalist whose works have been covered by Ruth Brown, Johnny Rawls, and
others. He’s backed here by Duke Robillard’s regular band: keyboard
player Bruce Bears, bassist Brad Hallen and percussionist Mark Teixeira.
Like Me & the Originator,
Al’s 2018 release that weaved poetry and a musical storyline,
Last Hand comes up aces on
all counts. It’s the total package for anyone who loves blues served
with a heaping helping of class.
# # #
Various Artists – Tom Walbank
Presents Hootmatic Blues
(Self-produced CD)
https://tomwalbank.bandcamp.com/releases
A British émigré based in Arizona, harmonica player Tom Walbank began
this project innocently enough: by wanting to connect with two other
harp players to produce a song in the styles of country blues legend
Sonny Terry and Elder Roma Wilson, a Detroit-based street-corner
musician who recorded trios with his sons. The effort was so successful
that this extensive digital CD was the result.
The lineup started with Joe Filisko -- America’s foremost proponent of
country blues -- on board along with his British counterpart, Gareth
Tucker. The roster also includes world-class talents Bob Corritore, Paul
Oscher, Phil Wiggins, Aki Kumar and Andrew Alli and others. A skilled
harp player himself, Walbank appears on about half of the 22 cuts, 21 of
which are instrumentals and dazzling solos.
The highlights here are too numerous to mention. But if you’re a fan of
traditional country harmonica, this one will definitely please you. Even
better, it’s an inexpensive download that delivers big bang for your
buck.
# # #
CD Woodbury – World’s Gone Crazy
(Self-produced CD)
CD Woodbury bounces back from a career interrupted by health issues to
deliver a welcome follow-up to his debut album, which had him at the
cusp of stardom a few years ago. A two-time International Blues
Challenge semi-finalist, he alternates slide and single-note electric
guitar throughout, varying his stylings from Hill Country to soul blues,
funk and more.
Based in Seattle, where he flew under the radar as a sideman for decades
with Mark DuFresne, Randy Oxford and others, Woodbury’s previous
release, Monday Night!,
peaked at the No. 8 spot in international independent blues radio
charts. A contemporary artist, he has a straight-ahead delivery and
possesses a strong singing voice mixing originals and well-chosen
covers.
“Follow the River Home” opens the action with a Hill Country feel before
the horns kick in for “Walk Around Music,” a soul-blues pleaser. Other
highlights include “Emerald City Blues,” “Memphis Heat,” “South of South
Hill” and “Can’t Eat That Stuff No More.”
# # #
Wily Bo Walker & Danny Flam –
Ain’t No Man a Good Man
(Canyon Records)
Scottish multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Wily Bo Walker teams once again
with Danny Flam, the Grammy-winning leader of the New York Brass, for a
long-awaited follow-up to their powerful 2015 release,
Moon Over Indigo, and this
one’s a winner, too.
Backed by both Flam’s ensemble as well as Walker’s acoustic and electric
bands, this collection of contemporary blues is flushed out with the
help of Chicago Gospel Choir members The Brown Sisters and The Cenovia
Cummins String Quartet. It’s a good thing that Wily’s a powerful singer
because the wall of sound this group creates rolls over you like a
tsunami from the jump.
A tight mix of blues, blues-rock and more, some of the best cuts here
include the opening title cut, “Fool for You,” “Did I Forget,” “Velvet
Windows (Treme Trippin’),” “Ain’t Hungry No More,” “Time to Forget About
You” and “Build My Gallows…(Ain’t No Return).”
# # #
Paul Gillings – Invisible Prison
(Self-produced CD)
Based out of Suffolk on the east coast of England and a junior World
Harmonica Champion in 1993, Paul Gillings steps out of the shadows as a
top session musician to play everything but percussion here as he
delivers a flashy, all-original set of modern blues.
A dynamic singer whose attack on the reeds is somewhat reminiscent of
Sugar Blue, albeit with far fewer pyrotechnics, Gillings has been
featured on Jools Holland’s UK TV show as well as the
Mickey Mouse Club and
Good Morning America in the
U.S. He’s all blues here, comfortable in several other formats, too,
including gypsy folk as a current member of the group Zingaro Blue.
A pair of boogies – “Start Over Again” and “I Ain’t Never Played an
English Song with an English Guy” – open the action. Some of the other
pleasers include the instrumental, “KWS,” “Help You” – which is based on
Blue’s harp riff on the Stones’ “Miss You” -- the melodic “I’m Never
Gonna Change” and “Waiting Blues.”
# # #
Shawn Pittman – Make It Right
(Continental Blue Heaven CD 2036)
Now based in Broken Arrow, Okla., after a couple of decades in Texas,
Shawn Pittman is a stylish guitarist and vocalist who mixes Delta,
contemporary blues and more in this outstanding set, which was recorded
in Denmark last year in the midst of a European tour.
The 13th release in a career that’s included touring with Susan Tedeschi
and work with many of the brightest lights in Austin and Dallas,
Pittman’s in a power-blues format here, backed by a top-notch Danish
rhythm section as he slices and dices his way through an inventive set
that comes across with a dirty sound only achieved by using vintage
equipment.
If you love deep-in-the-pocket guitar runs, you’ll adore this one. Some
of the bright spots include the Jimmy Reed-inspired “Done Tole You So,”
Eddie Taylor’s “There Will Be a Day,” the slow blues “How Long,” which
hints of Otis Rush and Magic Sam, and the self-penned neo-soul pleaser,
“I’m Done.”
# # #
Mark May – Deep Dark Demon
(Gulf Coast Records)
Texas-based blues-rocker Mark May delivers a tasteful, mixed bag of
azure treasures in a follow-up to
Blues Heaven, which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard album charts.
The guitar slinger’s in top form, mixing up fiery grunge, soulful
ballads, blues shuffles and Latin-tinged pleasers that will surprise you
at each turn.
The former vocalist/guitarist for both Dicky Betts and Great Southern,
Mark penned all 11 cuts, and demonstrates why he’s one of the favorite
performers on the Lone Star State bar circuit. The lineup includes Shawn
Allen (Keeshea Pratt Band) and a guest appearance from label owner Mike
Zito, who contributes lead guitar for one cut.
“Harvey’s Dirty Side” provides a balls-to-the-wall attack to open before
the shuffle “BBQ and Blues” lays down a steady groove. You’ll also enjoy
“Rolling Me Down,” “My Last Ride,” “For Your Love,” “Something Good” and
“Invisible Man.”
# # #
Crooked Eye Tommy – Hot Coffee
and Pain
(Blue Heart Records BHR/003)
Fronted by brothers Tommy and Paddy Marsh, Crooked Eye Tommy is a
rock-solid band from Southern California that features twin guitar leads
in a style similar to the Allman Brothers or Stevie Ray and Jimmie
Vaughan without straying far from the blues root. They’ve been honored
with six trophies in the Ventura County (Calif.) Music Awards, and swing
from the hip here.
This five-piece unit has made it to the International Blues Challenge
semi-finals on two occasions, and Tommy and Paddy were finalists in the
solo/duo category earlier. Their sophomore release includes six blues
and roots-rock originals and three covers, and features a guest
appearance by vocalist/keyboard player Teresa James.
The band lays down a heavy groove from the opening notes of Son House’s
“Death House Letter” and power forward throughout. Must listens include
“Sitting in the Driveway,” “Hot Coffee & Pain,” “Baby Where You Been?”
(featuring James), “The Time It Takes to Live” and a take on Sonny
Landreth’s “Congo Square.”
# # #
JD Taylor – The Coldwater
Sessions
(VizzTone Label Group VT-JDT-01)
Harp player/vocalist JD Taylor has served as the front man for Little
Boys Blue -- one of the most beloved bands in Memphis -- for the past 25
years, but steps into the spotlight here to deliver a soulful,
star-studded set that should launch his name into the top stratosphere
of the industry.
JD’s delivery might remind some listeners of Junior Wells on some cuts,
but he’s no copycat. He’s a soulful, melismatic singer and songwriter
whose material is contemporary but comes across with old-school appeal.
Bluff City legend the Rev. Charles Hodges chips in on organ, and members
of Southern Avenue contribute riffs, too.
All of the cuts here are worth multiple listens. Some of the standouts
include “Got Me Where You Want Me,” “Nothing Left to Say,” “At First
Glance,” “If It Ain’t Good,” “Honey Honey Baby,” “Anastasia” and “The
Coldwater Swing.” This CD’s going on my short list for potential
end-of-the-year honors.
# # #
JW-Jones – Sonic Departures
(Solid Blues Records)
Few people were riding as a high as JW-Jones was in January. The
Canadian had just won the Albert King Award as best guitarist at the
IBCs, his group -- Horojo Trio -- had captured top honors in the band
category and he was looking forward to a year of touring. But the world
stopped spinning, and this sensational CD is the result.
Jones is backed here by his regular power blues trio that’s augmented by
keyboard player Jesse Whiteley and a 13-piece horn section as they
deliver a mix of jump and some of the best big-band blues sounds you’ll
hear this year.
Be sure to tune in to “Blue Jean Jacket,” “Ain’t Gonna Beg,” a great new
arrangement of “Drowning on Dry Land,” the funktastic “Snatch It Back,”
“It’s Obdacious” and “When It All Comes Down.” This one will definitely
chase away the COVID-19 blues.
# # #
New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Riders –
Vol. 1
(Stony Plain Records SPCD 1416)
There are plenty of supergroups these days, but none more super than
this one. Composed of Charlie Musselwhite, Alvin Youngblood Hart,
ex-Squirrel Nut Zippers front man Jimbo Mathus, late Hill Country legend
Jim Dickinson and sons Luther and Cody, they deliver a warm and fuzzy
set of traditional blues.
This one’s a formerly hidden treasure conceived in a tour bus while
Musselwhite was on the road with Mavis Staples backed by the Dickinsons’
North Mississippi Allstars. It’s being released for the first time after
being recorded in 2007 during a multi-day jam at Dickinsons’ Zebra Ranch
in Coldwater, Miss. -- an event that proved to be so much fun, it gave
birth to an annual blues festival.
Charlie kicks off the action with “Blues, Why You Worry Me?” before
Alvin covers Charley Patton’s “Pony Blues.” Other pleasers include “Come
on Down to My House” featuring Jim, “Strange Land,” “Shake It and Break
It” featuring Jimbo, a Delta take on Jimi Hendrix’s “Stone Free” and
“Stop and Listen Blues.” If this album strikes your fancy, look for the
sequel -- Vol.2 -- sometime
next spring.
# # #
Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters –
Rise Up
(Stony Plain Records SPCD 1418)
Ronnie Earl and his Broadcasters deliver a classy, deeply spiritual
masterpiece with their latest recording, a 15-cut, 79-minute serving of
music – the majority of which was recorded in what he terms “living room
sessions” at home augmented with a bonus cut captured live at Daryl’s
House Club in Pawling, N.Y., late last year.
The idea for this project began prior to COVID-19 as the four-time BMA
guitarist of the year was recovering from surgery to alleviate a serious
case of sciatica. A mix of the tasty instrumentals he’s known for as
well as vocals delivered by Diane Blue, this warm, intimate, profoundly
moving set is introspective one moment and toe-tapping the next.
The highlights abound here beginning with a quiet, solo acoustic
instrumental take on the spiritual, “I Shall Not Be Moved,” followed by
the electric, full-band “Higher Love” featuring Diane, before yielding
for the bittersweet instrumental “Blues for George Floyd.” Other tasty
numbers include a tribute to the late Lucky Peterson, covers from Eddie
Taylor, Magic Sam, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Smith, Fenton Robinson and much,
much more. Highly recommended.
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