Steve Krase Band — Just Waitin’ Label: Connor Ray Music Houston-based harmonica master and frontman Steve Krase‘s new album —Just Waitin’— proves that the blues are, in fact, a celebration. Not only is Krase is a world class harmonica player, he has the added gift of demonstrating how the harmonica can set a stage ablaze when … Continue reading
Tag Archives: blues music
New Blues: Rory Block — ‘A Woman’s Soul’
Rory Block — A Woman’s Soul Label: Stony Plain Records Release date: July 6, 2018 Five-time Blues Award winner Rory Block, among many other impressive titles, might be called the Queen of the Well-Thought-Out Albums. She has put her vast musical talent to amazing use, creating important albums, full of purpose. So many of her … Continue reading
Backtrack Blues Band — ‘Make My Home In Florida’
Backtrack Blues Band — Make My Home In Florida Label: Harpo Records “If you don’t mind, we’re gonna keep it in a blues vein.” That was the lead-in to the agreeable “Your Funeral and My Trial,” and it was just fine with me. On their new live album, Make My Home In Florida, Backtrack Blues Band delivers … Continue reading
Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival — ‘Badlands’
Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival — Badlands (Release date: 2/2/18) North Dakota Blues-Rock artist Jennifer Lyn has a clear love of blues rock. and on her new album, Badlands, she treats it with the intimate adoration it deserves. What’s even more exciting is her obvious appreciation for country, folk, and gospel music as well. There are influences … Continue reading
This Year’s Blues Music Awards Nominees
Winners will be announced at the Blues Foundation’s Gala Ceremony on May 10th In Memphis The nominees for the 39th Annual Blues Music Awards represent a prestigious collection of acclaimed performers and rising stars that reflect the breadth and diversity of today’s blues music scene. It encompasses North Mississippi All-Stars’ updated Hill Country stomps and Mavis Staples’ gospel-infused soul as well as Taj … Continue reading
Need Meaningful Inspiration? Eric Bibb’s ‘Migration Blues’ Will Get You There
Eric Bibb — ‘Migration Blues’ Label: Stony Plain Records The album offers a blend of originals and American folk classics (Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” and Bob Dylan’s “Masters Of War”), all of which deal with refugee or migrant crises. In the liner notes, Eric Bibb cites Cicero: “To be ignorant of what occurred … Continue reading
New Roots: Beth Garner — ‘Snake Farm’
Beth Garner — ‘Snake Farm’ (Release date: 2/24/17) Don’t let the title scare you away; this album is a very good time. Nashville-based roots singer/guitarist Beth Garner’s new album, Snake Farm, features mostly original songs written or co-written by Garner, with the exception of the title track, authored by Texas country legend Ray Wylie Hubbard. It’s great … Continue reading
THE BLUES—Why It Still Hurts So Good (by Marie B. Trout, PhD)
THE BLUES—Why It Still Hurts So Good by Marie B. Trout, PhD (Yakkabiz Publishers, 337 pages, available to order on Amazon.) Oh, the first line of the blues is always sung a second time, The first line of the blues is always sung a second time, So by the time you get to the third … Continue reading
New Blues: Trudy Lynn — ‘I’ll Sing The Blues For You’
Trudy Lynn — ‘I’ll Sing The Blues For You’ Trudy Lynn carries on in the tradition of the great female Texas blues vocalists with her energetic and gutsy performances. I’LL SING THE BLUES FOR YOU is Trudy Lynn’s third release with Connor Ray Music. The album consists of ten tracks, including original works and interpretations of songs by … Continue reading
New Soul/Blues: Tasha Taylor’s ‘Honey For The Biscuit’
Tasha Taylor — ‘Honey For The Biscuit’ Label: Ruf Records There’s nothing “rough” about Tasha Taylor, except, maybe, for her record label (Ruf Records). Everything else about here is smooth. As smooth as… well, as smooth as honey. Tasha Taylor was born to sing and play the blues; a daughter of Stax soul legend Johnnie Taylor, … Continue reading
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