New Blues Review 10-29-2024
By Jack Roy
Jerron Paxton – Things Done Changed (Smithsonian Folkways Records)
Bio – “Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton has earned a reputation for transporting audiences back to the 1920’s and making them wish they could stay there for good. Blind Boy Paxton may be one of the greatest multi-instrumentalists that you have not heard of. Yet. And time is getting short, fast. Jerron performed to a sold out audience at the Lead Belly Tribute at Carnegie Hall on February 4, 2016 along with Buddy Guy, Eric Burdon, Edgar Winter, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and other stars. It is no exaggeration to say that Paxton made a huge impression. In the two years since his incredible performance at that star-studded show in one of the world’s great concert houses, Paxton’s own star has been rising fast. He opened for Buddy Guy at B.B. Kings in NYC; for Robert Cray at the Reading PA Blues Festival, and performed at numerous other festivals including: Woodford Folk Festival & Byron Bay Blues Festival in Australia; Calgary Folk Festival in Canada; Jewel City Jam in Huntington WV; Freihofers Jazz Festival in Saratoga Springs FL; Clearwater Festival in Croton-on-The Hudson NY; Fayetteville Roots Festival in Fayetteville AR: Cambridge Folk Festival in the UK., Harvest Time Rhythm & Blues Festival in Ireland; and headlined the 2017 Brooklyn Folk Festival. Jerron Paxton is a two-time participant in the Keeping The Blues Alive Cruise and is the new Artistic Director of the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival & Workshop at Centrum in Port Townsend, WA. Paxton was featured on CNN’s Great Big Story and appeared in the multi award winning music documentary AMERICAN EPIC produced by Robert Redford, Jack White & T-Bone Burnett. In October and November 2018 Jerron ‘Blind Boy’ Paxton will be touring the U.S. with the musicians from this groundbreaking AMERICAN EPIC SESSIONS music documentary.”
Review – If you are into prewar genre of Blues, this guy will flip all the switches. His voice is so authentic and strong and being an incredible instrumentalist has projected into greatness in his young years. “Baby Days Blues” shows what a great harmonica player this guys is and he follows this with It’s All Over Now”, a great banjo tune you would swear was out of the early 20’s! I think all the tunes on this CD are top notch, including “Things Done Changed”, “So Much Weed” and “Mississippi Bottom” but I think my favorite is “All and All Blues”, listen here. I will give this a 10++ on Blues Content and a 10++ on Music Content.
Tas Cru Band – Live (Subcat Records)
Bio – “Cru is a well-seasoned performer and entertainer. He knows how to read an audience. By intuition, Cru adjusts his sets on the fly to make sure he reaches them. While this is a skill acquired from years of performing, having a repertoire of well over 100 original songs to draw on certainly gives him a leg up on most others. Indeed, above all else Tas Cru is a songwriter. “He is a real writer,” says Bruce Iglauer – owner/producer of the renowned Alligator Records. High praise comes from Downbeat magazine, describing Cru as one of the most unique of roots musicians plying his trade today; “With fresh melodies and his trademark well-crafted lyrics, Cru has the ability to cast a magical hook.” According to Tas, himself, “I insist that words serve more than to treat the listener like a hitch-hiker desperate to reach the guitar solo!” Tas Cru – always original and where the songs matter, lyrics speak, and melody gets room to breathe!”
Review – Tas is true warrior of the blues, his music seems to cross genre’s but always has a great Blues Feel. This album is filled with all of his live audience favorite tunes. He is backed by and incredible group of musicians including Mia Casale, who has performed on all of Tas’s studio albums. Tom Terry on bass and vocals has a long history playing with other blues artists including Jason Ricci, Chris O’Leary, Alexis P. Suter and Paul nelson. Phil Diiorio plays drums and also adds vocals. Scott Ebner fills out the group on piano and organ. I really like the whole album including some of favorites “Brown Liquor Women”, “Have A Drink”, and “Grizzle N” Bone” but I think my favorite is “You Keep The Money”, listen here. I will give this a 10 on Blues Content and a 10 on Music Content.
Mitch Woods – Happy Hour (MoMoJo Records)
Bio – “Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88s have been the torchbearers of a great American blues musical heritage, not for three years but three decades. Taking their inspiration from the great jump n’ boogie outfits of the late 40s and early 50s, they breathe fresh life into the music that gave birth to rock n’roll. Woods styled his group after the jumpin’ n’ jivin’, shoutin’ n’ honkin’, pumpin’ n’ poundin’ bands of Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris, Joe and Jimmy Liggins, Amos Milburn, and Roy Milton. Adding a healthy dose of New Orleans rhythm and blues, piledrivin’ piano, and some of his own contemporary playful lyrics, Woods and His Rocket 88s forge their own brand of music they call “rock-a-boogie.” Born in Brooklyn in 1951, Mitch Woods began playing classical piano at eleven, but his real initiation into blues and boogie piano had already been assured at age eight. “My mom would hire this superintendent of the building, a black man, Mr. Brown, to take me to school, and we stopped off at his cousin’s house, where somebody was playing boogie-woogie piano. It really hit me.” Woods was putting together bands in Greenwich Village by his mid-teens. By the time he entered the University of Buffalo, Woods was sitting in at local clubs and discovering records by boogie-woogie pioneers Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, and Pete Johnson. Woods came to San Francisco in 1970, and for the next five years performed as Mitch Woods and His Red Hot Mama (with singer Gracie Glassman). One night Oakland guitarist Hi Tide Harris heard Woods opening for Charlie Musselwhite and was reminded of the sound and theatrics of early R&B pioneer Louis Jordan. Indeed, Jordan has always been a primary influence on Woods. “I actually did see Louie Jordan in Oakland. He was the bridge between swing and rock and roll. He would do a five or six piece band, get a lot of power out of that.” That kind of power was to become rallying cry for Mitch’s next project, Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88s, which started in 1980 and quickly rose to the top of the Northern California club circuit. Their first album, Steady Date (Blind Pig Records) got hot reviews in 1984 and led to appearances at two San Francisco Blues Festivals, openings for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Blasters, The Neville Brothers, and James Brown. By 1987, Woods was doing a six-country Europe tour highlighted by a rousing performance at the Belgium Rhythm and Blues Festival.”
Review – Mitch takes you back to that big band, jump blues days. His voice is perfect for this genre and his band is about as good as it gets with Mitch Woodson on Piano, Vocals, Kid Anderson on guitar, Larry Vann on Drums, Dave Somers on Sax and Kedar Roy on Bass. Some of the tunes that stood out to me was “Broke”, “Crying For My Baby” and “Shakin The Shack” but I think my favorite is “Mr. Boogie is Back In Town”, listen here. I will give this a 10+ on Blues Content and a 10++ on Music Content.
Vanessa Collier – Do It My Own Way (Phenixfire Records)
Bio – “Vanessa N. Collier is an American blues, funk, and soul saxophonist, singer and songwriter. She has been nominated for twelve Blues Music Awards, including B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year, and Horn Player of the Year, and has won four of them (Horn Player of the Year in 2019, 2020, and 2024 and Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year in 2022). Collier was nominated in 2017 for a Blues Music Award in the ‘Instrumental – Horn Player of the Year’ category. She also won first place in the ‘Lyrics Only’ category of the 2017 USA Songwriting Competition. She undertook the second leg of her 2017 European tour with Ruf Records’ Blues Caravan. Collier also teaches around 30 students at her own studio and is active in the Blues Foundation’s ‘Blues in the Schools’ programs. In 2018, Collier was nominated in two categories at that year’s Blues Music Awards; ‘Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year’ and ‘Instrumental – Horn Player of the Year’. She released her third album Honey Up on Phenix Fire Records in July 2018 at the Briggs Farm Blues Festival. Honey Up spent nine weeks on Billboard in the Top Blues Albums Chart. In 2019, she was again nominated in two categories at the Blues Music Awards; ‘Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year’ and ‘Instrumental – Horn’ for the second year in a row. On May 9, 2019, she won the latter award, and did so again in 2020.”
Review – Love this album, a real step back in time to age of Old School Soul! As good as this album is, it nothing compared to her live shows, she absolutely the best front person for band out there!! Vanessa has taken full control of this CD with writing all the songs, arranging all the horns and producing and it really shows. Joining Vanessa on the album are legendary Hi Records organ player Rev. Charles Hodges (Al Green, Bettye LaVette, Ann Peebles, Alex Chilton, Robert Cray) and frequent Collier collaborators, including Blues Music Award-winning guitarist Laura Chavez (Sue Foley, Mike Ledbetter & Monster Mike Welch), bassist Scott Sutherland (Elvin Bishop), and drummer Byron Cage (Otis Taylor). Again another CD this week that I love all the tunes, they have their own DNA but have a similar feel, only criticism is that it might be too over produced for me. Some of my favorites are “Elbow Grease”, “Wild As A RainStorm” (really showcases Vanessa’s voice and “Shoulda Known Better” but I think my favorite is “Rosetta” a tribute to Sister Rosetta, listen here. I will give this a 10+ on Blues Content and a 10+ on Music Content.
Jake Shimabukuro & Mick Fleetwood – Blues Experience (JS Records)
Bio – “Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and the legendary Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac have come together to release a groundbreaking instrumental blues album, Blues Experience, on October 18 via 40 Below Records. This unique collaboration blends the distinct sounds of Shimabukuro’s genre-defying ‘ukulele performances with Fleetwood’s powerful and iconic drumming, creating a fresh, experimental take on blues-rock.The Blues Experience album features a collection of eight cover songs along with one original composition, “Kula Blues”. Over the past two decades, Jake Shimabukuro has proved that there isn’t a style of music that he can play. While versatility for any musician is impressive, Jake showcases his transcendent skills as he explores his seemingly limitless vocabulary, with a variety of genres, on perhaps the unlikeliest of instruments: the ‘ukulele. Called “one of the hottest axemen of the past few years [who] doesn’t actually play guitar” (Rolling Stone), Jake Shimabukuro has become one of the most exceptional and innovative ‘ukulele players in the history of the instrument—an artist who has drawn comparisons to musical titans such as Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis. As drummer and co-founder of one of the best-selling bands of all time, FLEETWOOD MAC, Mick Fleetwood has sold over 100 million records worldwide and established his place in rock ‘n roll music history. Having created a distinctive sound that endures today, the GRAMMY-award-winning artist was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. With countless chart-topping albums and singles, the band’s 1977 album Rumours remains one of the best-selling albums of all time. Fleetwood completed the An Evening With Fleetwood Mac Tour in 2019 and, in 2015, the On With The Show world tour, where he toured as a five-piece for the first time since 1998, featuring the five band members from the classic and most successful lineup back together, with Christine McVie rejoining band mates Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, and Stevie Nicks. The tour sold out arenas across the globe and showcased the classic hit songs from the band’s career that spans more than four decades.”
Review – What a strangely exciting album!! Kind of reminds me of Joe Satriani but on ukulele!! I love their take on so many great songs like “Rollin and Tumblin”, “Whiter Shade Of Pale” and Gary Moore’s ” Still Got The Blues” but I think my favorite is Neil Youngs “Rockin The Free World” here is live performance, listen here. I will give this a 9 on Blues Content and a 10 on Music Content.
Benny Turner – BT (Nola Blues)
“A veteran musician of more than fifty years, Benny Turner has played everywhere from the Chitlin’ Circuit, to Europe, Japan, Australia, and all points in between. Content to be a sideman in support of the many giants he has worked with, in 2010 the time came for Benny to take his rightful place in the spotlight on center stage, to the delight of blues fans worldwide. Born in Gilmer, Texas on October 27, 1939, Benny and his older brother, blues legend Freddie King, learned to play guitar from their mother, Ella Mae (King) Turner and her brothers Leon and Leonard King. While Freddie was captivated by the guitar and wanted to be a performer, Benny just enjoyed the music and the opportunities to share it with the older brother he admired and adored. The boys used to race home from school to catch the last few minutes of a radio show called “In the Groove,” where they heard the music of artists such as Louis Jordan, Charles Brown, Hank Williams, and T-Bone Walker. After the family moved to Chicago in the early 50’s, what began as parallel exposure and experiences for the brothers ultimately diverged as Freddie went in one direction and Benny pursued other opportunities that came his way. While best known today as a bass player, Benny played guitar during many of his gigs in the early years, both locally in Chicago and on the road. A last-minute request to sit in with Freddie’s band to cover for Robert Elem at the Squeeze Club gave Benny his first introduction to playing bass, with some “on-the-job training” at its finest! During the late 50’s Benny played guitar with gospel group The Kindly Shepherds, and is on a handful of their recordings for the Nashboro label (guitar and background vocals) from that time. He was also playing bass with Freddie King at legendary Chicago clubs such as the Squeeze Club and Walton’s Corner. While at Walton’s Corner, Benny met R&B singer Dee Clark, and was invited to join him on the road. Within a few days, his first exposure to touring and life on the road began, at none other than The Apollo Theater in New York, and continued at other legendary theaters including The Uptown Theater in Philadelphia, The Howard Theater in Washington DC and The Regal Theater in Chicago. Benny played in the band with Phil Upchurch, and cherishes their friendship to this day. It was an exciting time, during which Dee had his Billboard hit “Raindrops” (1961).”
Review – Great old school Blues and Funk by the one of guys that have paid their dues in the music circuit! Kind of reminds me of a little early Rock and Roll and Soul with that early electric Blues feel. Many combinations of musicians on this album but includes many of the following Lead Vocals – Benny Turner, Background Vocals – Tiffany Pollack, First Rhythm Guitar – Will McFarlane, Second Rhythm Guitar – Bobby Gentilo, Banjo – Benny Turner, Bass – Benny Turner, Upright Bass – Charlie Burnett, Piano – Keiko Komaki, Wurlitzer, Hammond B-3 – Clayton Ivey, Percussion – Bobby Gentilo, Drums – Jeffery “Jellybean” Alexande. Some of my favorites on this CD are “When I Call On You”, “Born In This Time”, and “Smoke My Peace Pipe” but I think my favorite is “Drunk” Straight a head 12 bar Blues, listen here. I will give this a 10+ on Blues Content and a 10 on Music Content.
Kat Riggins – Revival (House Of Berry Records)
“Big-voiced blues/soul vocalist Kat Riggins comes across as seriously inspired and fully human on her new album Progeny. Released June 24th, 2022 on Gulf Coast Records, the set is intended as a tribute to Riggins’ own childhood and coming of age. It’s also a big shot of her own truth, delivered as she lived it. Gulf Coast Records founder and contemporary blues star Mike Zito assembled a high-value studio band to back Kat on these sessions that featured himself on guitar, Matthew Johnson on drums, Doug Byrkit on bass guitar, and Lewis Stephens on keyboards. A few special guests dropped in to keep things spicy, including guitarists Melody Angel and Albert Castiglia and rapper Busta Free. The real star is, of course, Riggins and her ability to transform love, anger, passion, and pain into original music that tells her own story in a strong, poetic way. South Florida’s Kat Riggins first fell in love with music through the diversity and enormity of her parents’ record collection. Through her folks, Kat discovered R&B, soul, country, gospel, hip-hop, and rock, influences that are still part of her sound today. Still, Riggins considers herself a blues artist and has devoted her life to crisscrossing the globe keeping the genre alive and kicking through her own Blues Revival Movement. She aims to reawaken people to the sincerity of the blues and how it reflects real life. “It’s about the raw emotion in every note,” she says, trying to explain why she does what she does. “If I can move someone to feel what I feel when I sing a song, then it’s all worth it.””
Review – Incredible Blues/Soul voice, strong and very versatile in her music style. Here arrangements and lyrics are incredibly complex and very pleasing to the ear. Ten original songs by Riggins and producer Tim Mulberry are filled with vivid lyricism that showcases the joyous benefits of the blues. Mulberry is also featured on bass, drums, keys and horns; the remaining Revivalists are Eric Guess on guitar with background vocals from Shaelyn Mulberry and Mark Barner. Some of my favorites on this CD are ‘Revived”, “Set Me Free” and “Old Time Way” but I think my favorite is “Healer”, listen here. I will give this a 10 on Blues Content and a 10++ on Music Content.
Mississippi MacDonald – I Got What You Need (APM Records)
“Mississippi MacDonald is a 3 times British Blues Awards nominee, from London, England. He has been playing since he was 11 years old and has travelled extensively on the US blues trail, meeting, amongst others, Pinetop Perkins, Willie Big Eyes Smith, Otis Clay and BB King. In 2010, he was part of the team that purchased a gravestone for the late Hi Records recording artist and soul legend, OV Wright. Mississippi’s albums, “Dress For The Money” and “American Accent” reached number 1 and 3 respectively in the UK IBBA Blues Charts. American Accent was one of the top 10 IBBA albums of 2016, and was the “Blues Is Back” Album of the Year, 2017. Mississippi MacDonald and Steve Bailey: With The Soul Fixers was released in September 2017 to critical acclaim. Named as one of the IBBA top 12 picks of 2017 and Saint FM’s Blues Is Back Shows Record of the Year, the record got significant international airplay, including on BBC Radio 2’s The Paul Jones Show, who described it as a “Splendid…. a really really excellent album”.”
Review – This will be the 3rd album that I have reviewed from Mississippi MacDonald and have loved each one. His high energy Blues and guitar playing make every tune a gem. Mississippi with his vocals and guitar playing creates a mood with his music supported by a great band including Eliott Boughen – Bass, Jim Kimberley – Drums, Phil Dearing – Guitars, Keyboards, Lucy Randall – Backing Vocals. Some of the tunes that stood out to me were “We’re Going To Make It”, “Stop, Think About It” (reminds me of Albert Collins a bit) and “Hard Luck And Trouble”, but I think my favorite is “Soul City One” a great instrumental, listen here. I will give this a 10 on Blues Content and a 10 on Music Content.
Ollee Owens – Nowhere To Hide (Ollee Music)
“Raised in the Canadian Prairies, music was always around Owens growing up. Artists such as Elvis, Odetta, The Band, Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt and Bob Dylan were formative in her teen years. But more than just listening, she took comfort in writing her own songs, seeing music as a way to process the chaotic nature of life and give visibility to her own feelings. And even when Owens took a 15-year respite in order to raise a family, she never fully put a cap on her passion for music, volunteering as a music therapist, occasionally performing, and always continuing to write songs. That hiatus would meet its end in 2015 at the famed Calgary venue The Blues Can where the late great Bill Dowey caught her performance at his “Blues Sunday School” jam and was immediately drawn to her raw and passionate sound, becoming one of her biggest supporters. Encouraged by the positive reception from audience and industry pros alike, Owens decided to pursue her dream of a career in music. Since 2016, Ollee has played stages across Alberta from the Badlands Amphitheatre’s Roots Blues and BBQ festival in (sharing the stage with the Hello Darlins, Matt Anderson, Dawn Tyler Watson) to Downtown Calgary’s Stephen Avenue live, the King Eddy, Festival Hall, Ironwood, and Blues Can. She has played countless community and private events and took part in the YYC Airport Music Program between 2018-2020. Her breakout singles “Every Step of the Way”(2021) and “Edge of Goodbye” (2022) firmly set her intentions as a talented artist who deals in authenticity, openness, and honesty paving the way for a lasting musical connection.”
Review – Not the voice I was expecting from the picture on the CD cover, what treat. A great soulful voice with lots of character that works really well with her Blues/Rock Genre. Recorded in Nashville with some of the best Session Musicians in the City including Guitar: Will McFarlane, Phil Hughley, Chris Rodriguez, Bass: Tommy Sims and Craig Young, Drums/Percussion: Bobby Blazier, Keys/Organ/Piano: DeMarco Johnson and Gabe Klein, Horns: Rahsaan Barber, Cord Martin and Roland Barber and Background Vocals: Joey Richey, Gene Miller and Minnie Pearl. Some amazing songs in this CD including cover of Bob Dylan’s “Lord Protect My Child”, “My Man’ and “Roots” but I think my favorite is the title song “Nowhere To Hide”, listen here. I will give this a 10 on Blues Content and a 10++ on Music Content.
Joe Flip – Old Soul Live (Self Produced)
“Joe Flip’s unique blend of blues-rock and Texas-style flair, played on his handmade oil can guitars, delivers high-energy grooves with a southern twist. His latest album, “Old Soul: Live”, reached #6 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart in 2024, following the success of “Home Sweet Home”, which was considered for a GRAMMY and charted in the top 40 Blues/Rock radio charts. With over 2 million YouTube views and 40,000 Spotify listeners, Joe has built a loyal global following. His music has earned multiple award nominations, including the Midwest Country Music Organization and Blues Blast Magazine Music Awards, making him a standout in the Americana and blues/rock scene. With every performance, Joe Flip brings a fresh and authentic sound, blending the timeless appeal of blues and rock with his unique creative vision. His dedication to the craft is unmistakable, and his music speaks to the soul of Americana.”
Review – Joe is the newest Young Gun in the Blues Genre following the foot steps of SRV and Albert King but he has the chops to back it up. On this album Joe covers a lot of great Rocking Blues Tunes and does a decent job holding on to the true artistry of each song. His version of “Little Wing” is incredible, I also enjoyed “Tube Snake Boogie”, “Anna Lee” and “Tush” but I think my favorite is “Tore Down” Freddie King tune and here is a live version with Joe’s oil can guitar, listen here. I will give this a 10 on Blues Content and a 10 on Music Content.
