Ian Siegal

Ian Siegal CD coverThe Picnic Sessions
Nugene Records

Once again Ian Siegal returns to the Mississippi Hill Country, teaming up with his pals The Mississippi Mudbloods. Back in the United States for the annual Mississppi Hill Country Picnic, they decided to take the opportunity to head into Zebra Ranch Studio in Coldwater and lay down a few tracks. But the direction taken this time out is unique and comforting. Instead of the usual studio path of recording multiple takes in sound enhancing rooms to get things just right, the guys sat in a semi-circle, camp-fire style, and laid down songs that came to them at the spur of the moment and picking up the nearest instruments at hand, which also adds to the flavor and intimacy of the album.

On the The Picnic Sessions, British blues guitar/songwriter Ian Siegal is joined by renowned modern Southern bluesmen Alvin Youngblood Hart, Cody Dickinson, Luther Dickinson and Jimbo Mathus. As seen on the last two releases that Siegal has put out with The Mississippi Mudbloods, he fits in perfectly with this bunch.

Only four songs on this album have been released previously by Siegal, “How Come You’re Still Here,” “Beulah Land,” “Gallo Del Cielo,” and “Hard Times (Come Again No More).” The cover of Townes Van Zandt’s “Heavenly Houseboat Blues” is a true gem in the mix. A gentle flowing song led by Siegal’s raspy vocals backed by the hums and choruses of the full group. The remainder of the tunes are all new and showcase his varied range of musical approaches, including the humorous spoken-word story he relates for “Talkin’ Overseas Pirate Blues,” the Delta blues derived “Keen And Peachy,” “Stone Cold Soul,” or the soft country feel of “Wasted Freedom.”

Ian Siegal proves that despite being a foreigner, he certainly knows a thing or two about laying down some truly deep rooted blues and Americana sounding music. And The Picnic Sessions is a personal love letter written by Siegal and his friends just sitting around having a little fun while the tape rolled in the studio. It is a feel good recording for certain.

Total Time: 39:46

Pistachio Anyone? / Stone Cold Soul / How Come You’re Still Here? / Sweet Pea / Heavenly Houseboat Blues / Beulah Land / Turn Around And Show It To Me / Keen And Peachy / Wasted Freedom / Herman Sings / Gallo Del Cielo / Hard Times (Come Again No More) / Talkin’ Overseas Pirate Blues / Now It’s A Party / Only Tryin’ To Survive / Appreciation

Breezy Rodio

So Close To It
WindChill Records

Breezy Rodio CD coverFabrizio Rodio is another transplanted musician who’s found a home in an American blues mecca, and he certainly fits into the mix like he was born to it. Originally from Italy, “Breezy” Rodio has settled into Chicago with his extraordinary new release, So Close To It. Not only does he cover some of the greatest songs from the city’s masters, he also writes tunes that sound as if they’d been written by those famed musicians. This album is pure Chicago blues bliss — from start to finish. Breezy Rodio has it goin’ on!

It doesn’t hurt that Breezy has established himself well enough that many of the best players want to work with him. Special guests on the album include artists such as Billy Branch, Carl Weathersby, Lurrie Bell, Chris Foreman, and Joe Barr. Breezy also recorded with Chicago guitarist Linsey Alexander on both So Close To It and his first release from 2011 Playing The Game. Between these albums, Breezy also released a reggae album, showing that he can work his musical magic in other genres too.

Throughout the album, Breezy conveys his respect for those musicians who’ve influenced him, especially BB King, as Breezy covers three tracks best known for King’s versions, “When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer” (originally written by Sonny Boy Williamson), “Sneakin’ Around,” and “Please Accept My Love.” There are also two numbers associated with T-Bone Walker, “Too Lazy” and “Evil Hearted Woman,” one linked to Ray Charles, “Just About To Lose Your Clown,” and even an Elvis Presley tune, “One Broken Heart For Sale.”

His own originals are every bit as captivating as the covers. Stylistically, they jump all over, from the guitar bites of “Mary” or “I Win Some More,” to the ballad of “The Day I Met You,” to the slow blues on “How Much Can A Poor Man Take.” Rodio’s guitar is full of tone and right on the money.

In the long run, when everything has been said and done and the disc stops playing, So Close To It drips and oozes pure Chicago blues, and no matter how you shake it, Breezy Rodio has captured that city’s sound. Who said that you had to be American to capture that blues feeling?

Total Time: 66:39

When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer / So Close To It / Just About To Lose Your Clown / Walking With My Baby (She So Fine) / Sneakin’ Around / Time To Come Back Home / Too Lazy / Mary / The Day I Met You / I Can’t Get Enough Of You / Please Accept My Love / I Win Some More / One Broken Heart For Sale / How Much Can A Poor Man Take / Evil Hearted Woman

The Sportin’ Lifers

Cigars, Billiards & Lunches
Self Produced

Okay — I’ll just get this over with right from the start. I Love This CD! Finally, a 99% original blues recording that doesn’t rely upon blues rock, high volume, and phrases repeating over and over! This album refreshing and real, thought out, group of selections recorded within a blues framework that totally works. I’m talking about the The Sportin’ Lifers new CD. The promo copy I received is called Jumpin’ Rhythm & Blues!

This is Whit Drapers baby and he deserves a ton of credit for such an outstanding piece of work. Out of 14 tunes his name is on the credits for 13 of them! His guitar work is flawless and his lyrics are hip, make sense, and fit each tune or groove — Texas, West Coast, Mickey Baker, Lonnie Mack, Gatemouth guitar throughout!

Vocalist Erin Wallace is also on the credits with Whit for 3 tunes and is an outstanding writer herself. Her  ability to interpret Whit’s lyrics is the sign of a gifted singer. I first heard Erin about 6 or 7 years ago at a Journey To Memphis competition at Trails End in Oregon City and she blew me away! She even takes on a Little Esther tune “(I’ve Got A) Longing In My Heart” which is no easy chore. There’s fabulous singing on every tune!

Let’s not forget the rest of the fine band. Steve “Thousand Dollar” Cleveland (should be more than $1,000.) on keyboards does a solid, tasty, creative job on every tune. Loved his piano work and check out the organ intro and solo on “You Sure Look Good In The Dark.”

Veteran Sax Man Brad Ulrich also contributes really cool horn lines and solos. Brad really has an understanding of many styles on his horn (Jazz, Blues, Oldies, Honkers, New Orleans) and his playing really contributes to this CD’s sound. He’s a pleasure to hear!

Another couple vets in this band are bassist Don Campbell and drummer Fred Ingram. Both have been playing here in the Northwest for decades and it shows. Don plays string bass on the whole recording and (with Fred) even leads off intros on 3 tunes. They both get a little solo action on “Flaneur’s Blues” and are responsible for solid playing on every song!

This band sounds like it has a ball every time it gets together — what a great mixture of talent, and they don’t play loudly! You can hear what the musicians are doing and how they fit in.

I would like to tell you about every tune on the recording (I liked all of them) but I’m just going to throw out some of the key phrases from my notes when I listened to it. Lyrics! New Orleans sounds. Hip changes. Great Vocals! West Coast guitar. Ballads! R&B! Jump Blues! Jazzy! Moody. Well thought out! Sweet vocals! Cool Horns! Piano! Organ! Old Rock sound! Sax Solo! Tasty! Sassy! Heartfelt Vocals! Funky! Guitar Damn! Clarinet! Stroll! Blues!

I think you get the picture! Sportin’ Lifers! Check them out Live and get this recording! WOW!

Total Time: 51:29

Bad Idea / (I’ve Got A) Longing In My Heart / Count On Me Baby / Born At Night / Up To You  / If You Wanna / Take A Number / I’m Just Lookin’ / I’m Never Blue / Seasick / Don’t Tell The Neighbors / My Baby Broke My Heart / You Look Good In The Dark / Flaneur’s Blues

By Bill Rhoades

Stacy Jones

Whiskey, Wine & Water
Self Produced

Stacy Jones CD coverThere is much to say about an artist who can transverse various genres and is still able to appeal to all the different directions that she’s taking. That is exactly what Stacy Jones does on her latest release Whiskey, Wine & Water. She has taken one step back from the blues focus of previous recordings and has her sights aimed a little more at alternate country and indie music, but it still has enough of the blues feeling holding it all together — kind of like Lucinda Williams, maybe. I certainly hear that in a track like ”Dreams” for example. But I hate to compare an artist doing their own thing with somebody else and I really like the path that Stacy is taking.

The blues is definitely evident in the first track, “Can’t Do Nothin’ Right.” Stacy rips into some vicious slide guitar here as Rick Bowen drives the pace on drums. Stacy remarks in the liner notes that she was with a group of people who she was seriously pissing off when she wrote this song and made everything better by claiming that couldn’t do anything right. It’s a jumping number that will get your blood pumping right away.

On “Momma” she is joined by guest Mark Riley for a bluesy Southern rock approach. Stacy’s voice soars alongside Riley’s slide work, who also appears on three other tracks. “Keep On Keepin’ On” holds a nice boogie pace with Stacy displaying more of her exceptional multi-instrumental talent as she works the harmonica. On the album she also plays piano, organ, various guitars, and even ukulele. I love the way that the title song, “Whiskey, Wine & Water,” rolls into an A Capella group sing-along accompanied by handclaps and foot-stomps midway through before breaking out with another harmonica burn leading to the climax of the number.

Alongside Stacy Jones’ own abundance of musical skills, she is joined by her long-time band members, the aforementioned Rick Bowen on drums and Tom Jones on bass, with support from Keith Sutton and Scott Denton on guitars and guest Jon Parry providing fiddle that offers a country feeling throughout.

Whiskey, Wine & Water is a terrific disc that should open more doors for Stacy with a pleasant blend of cross-over tracks. Four albums into her career and things are definitely looking upwards for this award-winning artist.

Total Time: 41:45

Can’t Do Nothin’ Right / You And Me, Tonight / Dreams / Hole In My Sole / Whiskey, Wine & Water / 4 Days More / To Be Loved / Momma / Keep On Keepin’ On / Lost Lovers Waltz / San Antonio / Waiting

Hambone Wilson

Thayer Hambone Wilson
Self Produced

Hambone Wilson CD coverOriginally from Virginia but now residing in Washington, Hambone Wilson is an eclectic musician whose music covers the full spectrum of Americana, from the blues to rockabilly to country to R&B. All this rootsy material comes out splendidly on his latest recording, Thayer Hambone Wilson. The man knows his route around a guitar fretboard and plays some mighty dangerous slide work, too. You can feel the influence of his background in Virginia and the Washington, DC area as this album echoes with the sounds of regional greats like Roy Buchanan and Danny Gatton.

Wilson surely celebrates all aspects of roots and brings along some mighty heavy hitters to help him out. Bass player Kenny Gadney of Little Feat fame, Rainbow’s Dave Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic saxophonist Greg Thomas and piano player Willie MacCalder from the Powder Blues Band are all among the musicians on hand to help out.

The album’s selections are quite diverse. It opens with a Rolling Stones’ kind of edge with jumpy “Dance, Dance, Dance” that features Greg Thomas blowing some dynamic sax. Wilson’s trademark blistering slide guitar is prominently displayed in tracks like “Murder Me” and “Born To Rock,” and it then takes a country blues feel on “Two Mules” or swampy flavoring on “Run To The River” where he just might save his soul. “Torn, Twisted And Blue” has a Dylanesque feel, while “Wasting Time” with John McLung on pedal steel and “Tumble Weed” are just good old country numbers.

Wilson has a knack for delivering memorable songs in short bursts. None of the songs on the disc surpass the four-minute mark, with most hitting under just three minutes. But he says a lot within the time frame, which in itself is also somewhat of a throwback to old radio play and the length of what could fit on an old shellac pressing.

Overall, Hambone Wilson has pieced together a terrific mix of music that should appeal to most anybody in one form or another. He should not be labeled as a specific genre. No musician with this type of mettle that can stretch easily between styles should be pigeon-holed. Thayer Hambone Wilson is flat out a nice collection of fun songs that should have your toes a-tappin’ and your fingers a-poppin’. Enjoyable start to finish.

Total Time: 41:16

Dance, Dance, Dance / Cheating And Lying / Sweet Virginia / Tunble Weed / Rocking My Blues Away / Torn Twisted And Blue / Murder Me / Sue Who? / Two Long Arms / Born To Rock / Run To The River / Two Mules / Wasting Time / Good Grief / Virginia Creeper / Blue Boy

Igor Prado Band and Delta Groove All Stars

Way Down South
Delta Groove Music

Igor Prado CD coverThis is some of the most fun, jumping West Coast sounding blues that has come out in some time, and the funny thing is that the band is actually from Brazil. The Igor Prado Band released a sensational debut on Delta Groove a couple years back that set the tone, proving that these guys have studied and practiced this American music form for some time. They know how to do it right, and Delta Groove has backed them for their sophomore disc, Way Down South, with a bevy of heavy hitting blues masters.

These guys kick out the doors with a variety of blues approaches and hit their target with every one they go after. The album is filled with great cover material from artists like Ike Turner, Jimmy Rogers, Muddy Waters, Paul Gayten and Elmore James among others. The guest artists thrive throughout the recording too, with harmonica players leading the pack, including Mitch Kashmar, Rod Piazza, Omar Coleman, Randy Chortkoff, Wallace Coleman and the late Lynnwood Slim. Throw in some mean vocalists with Kim Wilson, Mud Morganfield, J.J. Jackson and Sugaray Rayford, and add guitar monsters Junior Watson and Mike Welch and you have a killer grouping, but they’re all there to support the Igor Prado Band, who are terrific in their own right.

Bandleader Igor Prado is a guitarist and vocalist who signs lead on a couple of tracks — Jr. Walker & The All Stars “Shake & Fingerpop” and Joe Tex’s “You Got What It Takes. His guitar playing is over the top, with mixes ranging from swing to jazz to deep, back-in-the-alley blues. His brother Yuri Prado fills the drum grooves and Rodrigo Mantovani works the bass lines while sax man Denilson Martins blows some fine licks on a handful of numbers.

The mix of selections on the disc cover a lot of ground, but truly does keep within West Coast and Chicago blues patterns. Highlights are many; the whole album is stellar. Of special note is Mud Morganfield’s reading of his daddy’s song “She’s Got It,” with the Igor Prado Band sounding as if they grew up in Chicago rather than Sao Paulo. Mitch Kashmar does some outstanding harmonica work along with great vocals on Jimmy Rogers’s “What Have I Done.” And the acoustic duet between Igor Prado and harmonica man Omar Coleman on “Trying To Do Right” at the end is worth the price of the disc alone. This sensational album shows that while this music may be American by birth, the rest of the world is getting ahold of it as well. This is one album worth hearing!

Total Time: 53:22

Matchbox / Ride With Me Baby / She’s Got It / Baby Won’t You Jump With Me / What Have I Done / Shake & Fingerpop / Talk To Me Baby / If You Ever Need Me / You Got What It Takes / Big Mama Blues / You Better Believe It / Rooster Blues / Trying To Do Right

James Clem

Sugar Moon
Self Produced

James Clem CD coverJames Clem, highly regarded for his guitar work and love for traditional, Piedmont and Delta style acoustic blues takes on another of his passions in his latest recording, playing the ukulele. Over the years he has performed both locally and internationally at ukulele festivals and showcases, so it should be no surprise that he has put together a collection of old time favorites, including standards, westerns, and blues, mostly from the 1920s and 30s, and these numbers really swing. They’re fresh and delightful, and you may recognize a number of the tracks instantly, but there are also new takes on other numbers where the ukulele would be the last instrument that you’d guess could take them on.

The album, Sugar Moon, was recorded live in the studio direct to analog tape at Nettleingham Audio in Vancouver, WA with all the musicians playing alongside one another. Ron Rogers engineered and mixed the album and also provided his own guitar work, back-up vocals on a few numbers, and even shared a little kazoo with Clem on the Jesse Fuller classic “San Francisco Bay Blues.” Kevin Nettleingham completed the mastering.

The musicians involved with the project are all sensational. The core band included Ken West offering rhythm guitar and mandolin, while Craig Snazelle worked out the stand-up bass. Guests artists found Don Campbell on bass for “Truckin’ My Blues Away,” Darka Dusty playing accordion on “Fat Cat,” and both Johnnie Ward and Reggie Houston on saxophone. Perhaps my favorite selection on the album is “Swing, Brother, Swing” where Mary Flower joins Clem on alternating vocals and who also showcases her delightful guitar work alongside his ukulele.

Other fun pieces are nice readings of “Chinatown, My Chinatown,” “Caught Us Doin’ It,” “That’s My Weakness Now,” Bob Wills & Cindy Walker’s “Sugar Moon,” and Merle Travis’ “Fat Gal.” But as a whole, this is a splendid recording to hear and will surely find you smiling and singing along. Don’t be fooled that the ukulele is a lesser instrument, like anything else in the right hands it can sound like a million bucks. And in James Clem’s hands that is exactly how it comes across. Fun, fun, fun, Sugar Moon is a welcome refreshing breath of air.

Total Time: 42:09

My Window Faces The South / Swing, Brother, Swing / I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter / Fat Gal / Low Down Dog / On The Sunny Side Of The Street / Sugar Moon / Chinatown, My Chinatown / Cow Cow Boogie / San Francisco Bay Blues / Exactly Like You / Caught Us Doin’ It / I’m An Old Cowhand / That’s My Weakness Now / Truckin’ My Blues Away

My Own Holiday

Reason To Bleed
Eclecto Groove Records

My New Holiday CD coverThere is an amazing world full of new music derived directly out of the blues. Whether it is categorized as blues, Americana, roots or indie music, new musicians are approaching this music tastefully and honestly. It does not necessarily follow the standard I-IV-V progression, but has emerged from younger musicians who have grown up listening to various styles of modern music but still acquiring an affinity with the blues as well. It makes for an interesting and exciting blend.

My Own Holiday is a California-based duet using the bare-boned basics of Joey Chrisman on guitar and Nick Bartolo on drums. Obviously they’re going to be compared with other such pairings like The White Stripes or The Black Keys because of the full crunch sound they derive from heavy backbeats and driving guitar. But My Own Holiday takes their music into their own realm. Their recent release, Reason to Bleed, doesn’t always live on the hard edge; it also plays with sounds that could cross over into popular radio or even approach folk music. And the songwriting is outstanding.

The opening cut, “Hold On Me” is dark and foreboding, with a hard driving guitar and pounding drums that ensnare you from the offset. Then, on “Razorblades” Chrisman lays it out in the open about those untruthful people whom he’d rather chew on razorblades than listen to — it’s a brilliant visual image and cuts right to the bone. They sing praise of the musical contributions of “Memphis” and they offer acoustic mastery on tracks like the country tinged “Right Back Where I Started.” They can also get down and raunchy with “On The Floor Blues.”

This is definitely an album that so-called “blues purists” aren’t going to like. It’s not traditional by any means, but it is modern and it is authentic, true blues at its core when you give it a deep listen. My Own Holiday is taking the blues into the future making it accessible for the modern world listeners. Cutting edge music that comes at you from all directions. All good, too.

Total Time: 44:10

Hold On Me / Razorblades / Two Coins / Memphis / Devil In Me / Reason To Bleed / Whiskey In The Well / On The Floor Blues / Smile / Stone Free / Stranded / Don’t Shine On Me / Right Back Where I Started

Catfish & The Hollywood Hound Dogs

Rite On! Rite Now!
Self Produced

Catfish CD coverFor anyone looking for an album that will get your pulse racing, look no further than Catfish & the Hollywood Hound Dogs’ Rite On! Rite Now! This is great grind-it-out West Coast blues with more than a hint of rockabilly, reminiscent of bands like Hollywood Fats or Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers — crunching harmonica riffs enmeshed with a swinging guitar that bring you right into the mix with the opening salvos of “Hound Dog Boogie.”

Front man, harmonica player, and vocalist Gilbert “Catfish“ Mares penned all but two of the numbers on this album, and you can tell that he has studied his West Coast blues history. Jumping and pounding just the way you like it, Catfish is joined by the slashing guitar stylings of Anthony Contreras, the “done-right” bass of Mark St. John-Jones, and the powerful drumming of Evan Caleb Yearsley. And since Thomas Yearsley of The Paladins engineered and mixed  Rite On! Rite Now! you know that there is going to be a steady pace of quick grooves throughout.

The two covers are both songs much covered by Hollywood Fats back in the day, “Rock This House” and “Too Many Drivers.” Both feature the stylings of guest Mike Malone, and Nathan James also takes part in the former.

You got to love this one. It’s full of attitude that’s going to make the speakers on your player smoke! Just try to sit still while listening to Rite On! Rite Now! I really don’t think it’s possible, and Catfish is destined to be the next name to watch when it comes to harmonica playing dynamos.

Total Time: 43:39

Hound Dog Boogie / Rock This House / Handsome Devil /Hot Rod Momma / High School Drama / Wrong Number / She Gotta Problem / Too Many Drivers / Super Bee / Fish Years / Fine, Foxy & Full Of Lovin’

Lauren Sheehan & Zoe Carpenter

Tillamook Burn
Self Produced

Lauren Sheehan CD coverThough this is a fairly brief five-song EP, it does prove the old adage that the acorn does not fall too far from the tree. Renowned roots performer Lauren Sheehan teams up with her daughter Zoe Carpenter to show us that they’re both quite adept at presenting superb Americana music at its finest on Tillamook Burn.

Sheehan is known for being a multi-instrumentalist and works her way through guitar, mandolin and banjo on the selections offered here. Carpenter blends her own guitar playing and the two alternate vocals and harmonize beautifully. Guest artists include Laura Quigley, Greg Clarke and Phil Wiggins.

The selections are all fairly well-known covers and traditional pieces. Wiggins displays his harmonica work on his version of the song “Roberta.” Other tracks include Blind Willie McTell’s “In The Wee Midnight Hours” and Geeshie Wiley’s “Skinny Leg Blues.”

The nice thing about so-called roots or Americana music is that it covers a wide range of popular music from the early twentieth century through to the modern era. Therefore, an album like Tillamook Burn can appeal to fans of blues, folk or country quite easily. With its vocal harmonies and the exquisite instrumentation on the recording, this is a very pleasing release and well worth spending some time to hear.

Total Time: 16:51

Corrina / Honey Baby Blues / Roberta / Skinny Leg Blues / In The Wee Midnight Hours