Category Archives: Albums

11 Guys Quartet delivers big sound on Small Blues and Grooves

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Mike

While we’re on the topic of great new releases from the VizzTone Label Group, here’s another one well worth checking out. Although their names may not be as familiar as those in the band about which we told you in last week’s post, the members … Continue reading →

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Blues supergroup the Phantom Blues Band is Still Cookin’ with hot new album

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Mike

There aren’t many blues bands today that can compare with the Phantom Blues Band in terms of either talent or longevity. They may be best known for their role backing the legendary Taj Mahal on several projects — earning two Grammy Awards along … Continue reading →

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Forrest McDonald Band puts some of its best Blues in a Bucket on latest release

Posted on February 15, 2020 by Mike

We liked the Forrest McDonald Band‘s earlier album Turnaround Blues so much that we wondered if we’d ever hear another one quite that good from them. Not that the band’s 2017 follow-up album Stand My Ground was anything to sneeze … Continue reading →

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Before you cast your votes for the Blues Music Awards, be sure to check out Best Emerging Artist nominee Ben Levin’s Before Me

Posted on January 17, 2020 by Mike

Just before Christmas, we told you about young blues pianist Ben Levin‘s holiday song “Forgot Mrs. Claus“. Between that single and the recent unveiling of this year’s Blues Music Awards nominees, which included Ben among its Best Emerging Album candidates, we figured … Continue reading →

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Georgia bluesman Eddie 9V hits the ground running on debut album Left My Soul in Memphis

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Mike

Among the most pleasant of surprises to cross our desk in 2019 was the debut release from a young Georgia bluesman who goes by the name of Eddie 9V. Don’t let his mere 23 years of age fool you: this guy has a sound much deeper than his … Continue reading →

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“XTRA XTRA, read all about it: the blues is back in town” on fifth installment of Blues from the Burgh compilation

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Mike

The Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania (BSWPA) delivers another terrific compilation of tracks from local and native blues artists on this fifth edition of the society’s Blues from the Burgh CD series.  This latest installment kicks off with songs from two strong female singers, … Continue reading →

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Mojo Risin’: Belfast singer and guitarist Dom Martin delivers blues without borders on debut album Spain to Italy

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Mike

You may remember us posting recently about the latest album from the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, in which we praised the band for its ability to strike just the right balance of gritty and smooth on its albums. Another great example … Continue reading →

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Johnny Burgin reconnects with West Coast friends on Johnny Burgin – Live

Posted on November 12, 2019 by Mike

We’ve mentioned the name Johnny Burgin here a few times before, with Burgin having appeared as a guest guitarist on recent projects such as Tony Holiday’s Porch Sessions and the Howlin’ Wolf tribute album Howlin’ at Greaseland. While it’s been great to get a … Continue reading →

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Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues pay homage to harp great Little Walter with Roots and Branches

Posted on October 29, 2019 by Mike

There have been plenty of projects paying tribute to the music of legendary harmonica player and singer Little Walter (Walter Jacobs) over the years, but that didn’t stop modern-day harp master Billy Branch and his band The Sons of Blues from undertaking the task as well on their newest … Continue reading →

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Admirers and friends such as Bob Margolin, Victor Wainwright, North Mississippi Allstars, and Amy Helm gather in tribute to late Sean Costello on Don’t Pass Me By

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Mike

One of the biggest tragedies to hit the blues world over the last few decades — right up with the helicopter crash that killed Stevie Ray Vaughan, in our opinion — was the passing of another extremely talented young guitarist and singer named Sean Costello, who died of … Continue reading →

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