Shots Of Blues

Various Artists "Shots Of Blues, Volume 1" LISTEN    1. "Forever Young"      Gregg A. Smith & Bobby Rush, Carl Marshall & Lucky Peterson   2. "Don't Get Too Comfortable (Live)"    Travis "Moonchild" Haddix   3. "That Kinda Love"      Clarence Dobbins   4. "One Stop Man"     Ken Tucker   5. "Trouble Blues"   Vel Omarr   6. "A Little Snack"    Travis "Moonchild" Haddix   7. "Alberta"  Carl Marshall   8. "Howling For My Darling"     Uvee Hayes   9. "Looking For My Baby"     Chick Willis 10. "Street Walking Woman"    Ken Tucker 11. "Pain In The Gas Lane"  Dicky Williams 12. "Amnesia"    Nellie Tiger Travis

Down Loading My Music For Free.

I have talked about other artists having their music stolen on the internet, and I even found a few of my songs out there as well, but this really concerns me.  I was on a file sharing page and this is what I found.

Tom Gary Blues Band

Search: Tom Gary Blues Band
File Name: Tom Gary Blues Band.rar
Last Download: 1/4/111 
Number of Downloads:157894
High Speed Status: AVAILABLE

It is not that my music was stolen, but it is hard to tell what all of that means.  It shows Tom Gary Blues Band, and the number of downloads at 157,894!  If it is the album then I am out 1,578,940 $  If is just the single then I am out 150,000 $  I don't know how true this is.  I find it unlikely that, that many people would download my CD, but it is troublesome that you can download my art and if that many people downloaded it, then I really got screwed.  I didn't invest a couple of thousands dollars, which I never got back (so i lost money on the CD) to have a couple hundred thousand people STEAL MY SONGS!  

I will have to do more research, but needless to say this hurts!

Tom 

Blues Historian

Bob Corritore Blues News

August 25, 2010

• Bob Corritore / Harmonica Blues climbs to #9 in the Roots Music report! The initial reception to Bob Corritore / Harmonica Blues on the Delta Groove label has been great! It entered the Roots Music Reportblues chart last week at #39 and this week it jumped up to #9! Click here to see the report! To see Josh Hathaway's blogcritics article click here. The first batch of reviews (all very positive) have come in and can be seen by clicking here. Thanks to all the DJs, programers, writers, and reviewers for the great support, and thanks to everyone at Delta Groove for their strong promotion and visibility!
• Bob's Fall Performances  With a new release, Bob Corritore has an active gigging schedule for the fall. Here are the dates so far:

09/05/10: Phoenix, Arizona - Rhythm Room -Down Home Blues Festival and CD release party, withHenry Gray, Kid Ramos, Carol Fran, Dave Riley, Richard Innes, Rhythm Room All-Stars

09/16/10: Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room - Dave Riley & Bob Corritore open for Southern Culture On The Skids

09/18/10: Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room, Bob's Birthday Celebration! Appearing will be Rhythm Room All-Stars, Dave Riley, George Bowman, and Long John Hunter.

09/24/10: Tucson, AZ - Rhythm & Roots Productions' Plaza Palomino Courtyard Concert Series -Rhythm Room All-Stars

09/25/10: Bisbee, AZ - Bisbee Blues Festival The Rhythm Room All-Stars. Also appearing on the festival are Tab Benoit, Shemekia Copeland and others. For more information click here.

10/01/10: Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room, Amanda's Roller Coaster, harmonica showcase DVD filming

10/02/10: Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room, Amanda's Roller Coaster, harmonica showcase DVD filming

10/03/10: Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room, Amanda's Roller Coaster, harmonica showcase DVD filming

10/09/10: Helena, AR, Delta Cultural Center Annex with Bob Margolin, Bob Stroger, and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith  as an auxiliary event of the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival 12:30 pm set. Note that the recently deceased Calvin "Fuzz" Jones was scheduled to appear at this event. For more information on the festival click here.

10/10/10: Clarksdale, MS - Hopson's Plantation, making a guest appearance at Pinetop Perkins' annual homecoming celebration! Many artists will perform at this event! 

10/15/10: Mesa, AZ - Dave Riley & Bob Corritore opening for Eric Bibb at Piper Repertory Theater at the Mesa Arts Center. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

10/22/10: Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room, Rhythm Room All-Stars

10/23/10: Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room, Rhythm Room All-Stars

10/28/10: Chicago. IL - Buddy Guy's Legends - Dave Riley & Bob Corritore perform as part of the Blues Blast Music Awards ceremony. Note that for this event Dave & Bob will appear in a band setting withDave Riley Jr. on bass, and Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith on drums.

11/12/10 to 11/24/10: South American tour of Brazil and Argentina. Dave Riley & Bob Corritore to appear with the Adrian Flores Band (specific dates and venues forthcoming)

11/26/10: Rhythm Room with Rhythm Room All-Stars

11/27/10: Tempe. AZ - Tempe Center For The Arts - Bob Corritore & Friends with Bobby Jones, Leon Blue, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, and Brian Fahey. Click here for more info and to purchase tickets.

•  A list of available Phoenix, Arizona vintage blues, gospel, and soul recordings. Earlier this year the Southwest Musical Arts Foundation released a compilation of vintage Phoenix Blues titled Flyin' High, A Collection Of  Phoenix Blues, Rhythm, and Spirit from the 1950's and 60's (for those seeking more information on Flyin' High, Click here). This has brought a new awareness to Phoenix's rich but largely uncelebrated blues history. But Flyin' High is just one of a number of satisfying vintage Arizona Blues, Soul, and Gospel reissues. Here is a list for active collectors, of wonderful CDs that partially uncover the musical treasures from this Southwestern, desert city:

1) Ray Sharpe / Linda Lu,  Bear Family  BCD 15888 AH (Ray recorded this classic blues rocker in Phoenix!)

2) Various artists  Eccentric Soul: Mighty Mike Lenaburg (producer), Numero 011  (2 disc vinyl release this fall)

3) Various artists  Soul Side Of The Street  Hadley Murrell (producer)1964-1972,  Dionysus BA 11103  (also 1 disc vinyl LP)

4) Eddie & Ernie / Lost Friends,  Kent  CDKEND 214

5) Dyke & The Blazers / We Got More Soul, BGP CDBGP2 180  (also 2 disc vinyl LP) Note that Dyke & The Blazers recorded the original "Funky Broadway" in Phoenix and make references to the Broadway Street of Phoenix, Arizona

6) The Servicemen / Meet The Serviceman,  Wind Hit WH-100

7) Rev. Louis Overstreet / Recorded live in Phoenix, AZ.  Arhoolie 442  (recently released on vinyl on Mississippi Records MR-049)

8) And of course Flyin' High, A Collection Of  Phoenix Blues, Rhythm, and Spirit from the 1950's and 60's on the Southwest Musical Arts Foundation label,  SWMAF 07

Special thanks to Phoenix music historian John "Johnny D" Dixon for providing this list, and for his amazing efforts in making many the above releases happen.

• Blues Blast Music Awards voting closes August 31st. The voting for the 2010 Blues Blast Music Awards will close on Tuesday, August 31st. Voting is open to anyone who is a Blues Blast Magazinesubscriber. Subscriptions are free and you can sign up as part of the voting process. Please note thatDave Riley & Bob Corritore / Lucky To Be Living,  is nominated under the category of "Best Traditional Blues Recording." To see a complete list of all nominees and to vote please click here. The awards, put on by Blues Blast Magazine, will take place on Thursday, October 28th, at Buddy Guy's Legends new location of 700 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60605. With this being the 3rd year for the Blues Blast Awards, the event and the recognition that it provides, has now become a proven and institutionalized part of the blues infrastructure.
• Thomas Yearsley in train accident. Thomas Yearsley, the longtime bass player of the Paladins, and the former husband of Candye Kane, was hit by a train on August 16th, while trying to save his dog Swango, who was stuck on the tracks. The dog did not make it, but Thomas survived with a a broken leg and a banged up head. A web site has been set up for Thomas at www.helpthomas.com. Thanks toCandye Kane and Dave Gonzalez for this information.
• Albert King performs "Blues Power" on YouTube! Please enjoy this great clip of blues master Albert King in an electriying live performance of "Blues Power". Click here to see.

The Coppertone, Amanda Zelina

Amanda Zelina guitarist, and vocalist for the band The Coppertone has a new CD coming out called Hidden Dreams.  I have a video below of one of her songs.The song is blues rock, but I did notice on her myspace page that she does do some acoustic blues as well.

To buy her CD go to her website:


http://www.thecoppertone.com/

Amanda Zelina///The Coppertone: Wood & Wires Productions from Adrian Vieni on Vimeo.

Chick Willis Update

The latest single by Chick Willis is RED HOT!

they've called him the "stoop down man", the "don of the blues" but now
Chick Willis is the
"Houdini Lover"
** click HERE

edited version of a song found on the hit CD "HIT & RUN BLUES"





contact chick 770-465-4036

Andy Coats Update

Search Amazon.com for andy coats

Hey everyone,

I hope you are all doing well.  As you may know, I have been on a little hiatus for the last couple of months, recovering from the loss of my father, who died in February. 

Once again, I send my sincere thanks to all of you who showed so much love and support during that difficult time – it means a great deal to me and my family. 

I’m sure that my Dad would want us to try to carry on, and therefore I have some announcements:

**My newest CD, “Folk the Blues,” is now available and for sale – copies are $12 plus shipping and handling. 

If you’d like to buy a copy, please respond to this email and we can make arrangements via mail, PayPal, or whatever you prefer. 

Please be sure to visit the following link and listen to samples from the new CD:

http://andycoats.com/folktheblues/index.html

In the near future, the new disc will also be for sale on CD Baby, iTunes, and many other internet outlets available nowadays.  Please stay tuned for details!

** We’ve got some great, upcoming shows in the next couple of weeks. 

First, the Bank Walkers and I will be rocking at one of our favorite local bars:

May 1, 10 pm - 2 am
Andy Coats and the Bank Walkers
O'Malleys Irish Pub
5228 Hollyridge Rd., Raleigh NC
919-787-1234 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              919-787-1234      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

And then, I’ll be heading down to “Little Washington” to do a special concert at a great new venue there. 

May 8th, 7:30 - 10 pm
Andy Coats, solo
Concert at Union Alley Coffee House
$8 for Members/ $10 for non-members
158 W. Main St.
Washington, NC 27889
252-945-5515 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              252-945-5515      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
http://www.unionalleycoffee.com/events.html

I hope you are all doing well, and hope to see you down the road sometime soon!

Best,

Andy

www.andycoats.com
www.myspace.com/andycoats
www.myspace.com/andycoatsandthebankwalkers

Blues Historian Review: Arthur Adams: Stomp The Floor

Arthur Adams, Stomp The Floor, is a great CD of classic southern soul blues. This release from Delta Grove was sent to me a few weeks ago for review. Adams has all the soul of those classic Malco artists from the 80s who kept the blues alive. It's that awesome blend of soul and blues that is very popular in the south, and should be all over the nation. Adams also can play some great jazz guitar as well. Around The Sun, is one of those smooth jazz cuts that you wouldn't necessarily hear on a blues CD. Perhaps my favorite cut is You Can't Win For Loosing. A great classic song of living the blues. I am going through some health issues right now. I was driving some 45 miles to a specialist, and trust me when you are driving a long ways to the doctor time seems to slow down. Arthur Adams You Can't Win For Loosing, helped me a great deal, and as I am dealing with this stuff, I keep letting the song help me through the day. As Arthur Adams says, You Can't Win For Loosing, but you gotta keep trying! Those are words to live by.

This is the best CD that I have heard this year. So put this on your Christmas list, or give it as a gift!

Murali Coryell Update

Great CD Review of "Sugar Lips" by The Blues Blogger-http://thebluesblogger.com/809/murali-coryell-sweet-new-release-sugar-lips-cd-review

Buy "Sugar Lips" @ CDbaby http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/murali7

Buy "Sugar Lips" @ Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Sugar-Lips-Murali-Coryell/dp/B002UOKXUQ/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_lnk

Performing Live:

Monday, December 21st, 2009
Murali Coryell Band w/Dorian Randolph-drums & Steve Aldi-bass - 9:30pm
The Bitter End

147 Bleecker St
New York, NY 10012
(212) 673-7030

Price: $10

Christmas with Murali
Give the gift of Music! and get the latest CD "Sugar Lips" at The Bitter End

Thursday, December 31st, 2009
Murali Coryell Band w/Dorian Randolph-drums & Steve Aldi-bass - 9:00pm
Frank Guidos Little Italy

14 Thomas St.
Kingston, NY 12401
845-340-1682

Price: $49.95

News Years Eve entertainment and dinner package @ delicious Frank Guidos Little Italy!

Thursday, January 7th, 2010
Murali Coryell Band w/Dorian Randolph-drums & Steve Aldi-bass - 8:30pm
The Tin Angel

20 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 928-0770

Price: $10

Friday, January 8th, 2010
Murali Coryell Band w/Dorian Randolph-drums & Steve Aldi-bass - 9:00pm
Madams Organ

2461 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 667-5370

Price: TBA

Saturday, January 9th, 2010
Murali Coryell Band w/Dorian Randolph-drums & Steve Aldi-bass - 9:00pm
Black-Eyed Sallys

350 Asylum St
Hartford, CT 06103
860-278-7427

Price: $10

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
Murali Coryell Band w/Lorenzo Farrell-bass & J. Hansen-drums - 7:30pm
Don Quixote's International Music Hall

6275 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018-9710
(831) 335-2800

Price: $10

Friday, January 15th, 2010
The Coryell Brothers-Featuring Murali and Julian Coryell - 7:45pm
The Mint

6010 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
323-954-9400

Price: $10

Friday, January 22nd, 2010
Murali Coryell-solo acoustic - 6:00pm
TBA

Newburgh, NY

Price: N/A

Party to promote efusjon-acai berry energy drink

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010
Murali Coryell Band w/Dorian Randolph-drums & Steve Aldi-bass - 9:00pm
Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ

201 Worthington St
Springfield, MA 01103-2304
(413) 736-6000

Price: Free!

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010
Murali Coryell-solo acoustic - 3:00pm
Barnes and Noble

1177 Ulster Avenue
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 336-0590

Price: Free!

Promoting the CD release of "Sugar Lips" by Murali Coryell

Sunday, January 24th, 2010
Murali Coryell Band w/Dorian Randolph-drums & Steve Aldi-bass - 6:00pm
The Grog

13 Middle Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
978 465-8008

Price: $7

w/Parker Wheeler & Friends

Friday, January 29th, 2010
solo acoustic - 8:00pm
Caffe Lena

47 Phila St.
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
518-583-0022

Price: TBA

named Best Small Venue in North America by the International Folk Alliance!

Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Murali Coryell Band - 9:00pm
The Slippery Noodle Inn

372 S. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46225
317-631-6974

Price: $5

national blues night

Saturday, February 6th, 2010
9:00pm
The Blue Shop

320 N 4th St
Burlington, IA 52601-5314
(319) 758-9553

Price: TBA

Sunday, February 7th, 2010
Murali Coryell Band - 8:00pm
BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups

700 S Broadway
St Louis, MO 63102-1602
(314) 436-5222

Price: $10

Friday, February 12th, 2010
9:00pm
Nathan P. Murphy's

218 S Campbell Ave
Springfield, MO 65806-2048
(417) 863-1909

Price: TBA

Murali Coryell

Nellie Tiger Travis: I'm In Love With A Man I Can't Stand

NELLIE "TIGER" TRAVIS CDC1028 NELLIE 1 Before You Grab This Tiger By The Tail (Southern Soul Blues Version) 2 Clean It Up 3 In In Love With A Man I Can't Stand 4 Let's Get It Poppin' 5 I'm With You Baby 6 Do What He Didn't Do 7 Don't Ever Leave Me Again 8 Understanding (Is Better Than Money) 9 Queen Of The Blues (tribute to Koko Taylor) 10 MOD (Man On Drugs) 11 I'm A Tiger 12 In The Vibe Room/None But The Righteous Nellie 'Tiger' Travis "I'm In Love With A Man I Can't Stand" Nellie is truly a "Queen Of Soul/Blues". Her previous CD, "I'm A Woman", was a major success and this new 12 song set will take her to the next level. Already, her song "Queen Of The Blues", dedicated to late Koko Taylor, is making waves in Chicago and throughout the South...but that's just an appetizer. This new CD serves up all the items on Nellie's menu of strengths from catchy Southern Soul bumpers like "Clean It Up" and "Do What He Didn't Do" to Soulful slowies like "I'm With You Baby" and "Don't Ever Leave Me Again", with Party Blues numbers such as "Before You Grab This Tiger By The Tail" and even a little Gospel for dessert at the end! Nellie has been singing throughout the Midwest & Deep South areas for years and has standing engagements overseas, performing in Greece, Germany, Brazil, Italy and Japan. This release is the most anticipated release in the genre of Soul/Blues" **SPECIAL PRE-ORDER OFFER** From BLUESCRITIC.COM Get the Nellie 'Tiger' Travis "I'm In Love With A Man I Can't Stand"Plus a limited edition full color poster with the first 100 orders! HERE

Murali Coryell Update

Latest email from Murali Coryell

The long anticipated release of the new Murali Coryell CD "Sugar Lips" featuring Larry Coryell & Joe Louis Walker and produced by Tom Hambridge is here and will be available in stores November 17th. Make sure get one ASAP! Murali Coryell will be performing live:

Saturday, October 10th, 2009
9:00pm
59 Bank St.

59 Bank St.
New Milford, CT 06776
(860) 350 5995

Price: Free!

Saturday, October 17th, 2009
7:00pm
The Van Dyck Restaurant & Lounge

237 Union St.
Schenectady, NY 12305
518.348-7999

Price: $10Friday, October 23rd, 2009
Murali Coryell Band w/Dorian Randolph-drums & Steve Aldi-bass - 9:00pm
Tin Pan Alley

7909 Albany Post Rd
Red Hook, NY 12571
(845) 758-4545

Price: Free!

amazing food!Saturday, November 7th, 2009
Murali Coryell Band w/Dorian Randolph-drums & Steve Aldi-bass - 9:00pm
Towne Crier Cafe

130 Route 22
Pawling, NY 12564
(845) 855-1300

Price: $20

Saturday, November 14th, 2009
Murali Coryell Band w/Dorian Randolph-drums & Steve Aldi-bass - 9:00pm
The Hideout

596 Court St
Binghamton, NY 13904
607-217-7185

Price: $6

Thursday, December 31st, 2009
9:00pm
Frank Guidos Little Italy

14 Thomas St.
Kingston, NY 12401
845-340-1682

Price: $49.95

News Years Eve entertainment and dinner package @ delicious Frank Guidos Little Italy!

Saturday, January 9th, 2010
9:00pm
Black-Eyed Sallys

350 Asylum St
Hartford, CT 06103
860-278-7427

Price: $10

Blues Historian Review: Ana Popovic, Blind For Love

This is one of the hardest reviews that I have had to do at Blues Historian. Ana Popovic is a blues guitarist, and a damn good one, but her latest disc is not a blues disc. Blind For Love is an eclectic collection of rock, funk, soul, and melodic jazz. The last song on the disc, Blues For M is blues, but that is about it. Yet, her amazing guitar playing certainly is blues through and through.

I think I can understand the need for Ana to move into other genres of music. I have certainly felt that myself. Playing, living, dreaming, and eating the blues can get old. Sometimes you want to stretch out and play or create something else. I went through a Billy Joel stage myself. Go figure!

I am not sure what the blues fanatics are going to think about Blind For Love, but I am sure that Ana's legions of fans will be happy with this CD. After all, her guitar playing is first rate, and her sultry raspy vocals are nice. Her band is tight throughout the disc, and it is a nice mix of styles. I suppose the only real problem is finding a market for this CD. I have read a couple of scathing reviews from the blues sites. However, I can only imagine that a follow up live disc, or her next release will get the blues purists back.

Blues Historian Review: George Thorogood And The Destroyers, The Dirty Dozen

The classic blues rocker George Thorogood has a new CD out called The Dirty Dozen. The 12 songs are listed on the disc much like a classic LP. In fact the CD comes in a nice cardboard sleeve just like the old days!

If you are a Thorogood fan this disk will be a treasure. George blazes through the CD with his classic blues rock slide guitar. Nobody plays slide like Thorogood. He rips it up like the good old days plus the band does a great job keeping up with the old master. Thorogood's whiskey soaked vocals are still strong and mighty. The man hasn't skipped a beat since his early days in Delaware.

The disc is a nice combination of older and new songs. They are seamless, and there is no drop off in quality between the six new songs and the older fan favorites. Thorogood also covers some classic blues songs like, Howling For My Baby, Highway 49, Treat Her Right, Blue Highway, and Hello Little Girl. I have never been a big fan of covers, but in Thorogood's hands, and in his own style, it makes the songs his own.

This disc is for the Thorogood fan, and fans of loud rip roaring slide guitar. It is a good addition to your Thorogood collection.

Blues Historian Review: Albert King With Stevie Ray Vaughan, In Session

The legendary record company Stax, has a new release of Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stax has taken an old TV recording from 1983 taken the audio track and released it as a CD called Albert King With Stevie Ray Vaughan: In Session. King and Vaughan were recorded in Hamilton Ontario. It is an interesting historical recording. Being from TV, the audio has some problems especially with the balance between the two players at the beginning at the disk. in fact, Albert tells Stevie he can't hear him during the first song and tells him to turn it up!

True audiophiles Will probably not like this disk, but I like it because you get the chance to hear a couple of guys who really liked each other trade licks and play guitar. It is really obvious from this disk just how much Stevie picked up from Albert King. At one part during the session King even kids Stevie about him stealing his licks while recording guitar for David Bowie.

The other thing that make Stevie Ray so remarkable is the way he lets Albert run the show. Stevie lets King shine. Which is directly opposite of what happened to Albert King when he appeared with Gary Moore. Anyone who had the chance to see the Moore's video which also featured Albert Collins know that Moore blew the doors off both blues legends. Although Albert did give Moore some good advice about not playing so may notes:-)

Stevie understood the blues better than most guitarists. You pay your respects to those who came before you. It is always the older blues performers show. Stevie only sings Pride And Joy but it is a treat because again he lets King add his own cool rhythm guitar to the song, and then lets Albert rip on his own solo.

This disc is a cool treat you need to grab this one to hear two of the greats from the last century.

Buy it HERE at Amazon.

Blues Historian Review: The Isomniacs, At Least I Am not With You

I wonder if anyone told The Insomniacs, that it is not 1950, or perhaps they were caught in a time warp and amazingly showed up 50 years later. Either way, The Insomniacs certainly know how to rock circa 1950 style. These guys have a tight band that is the most authentic sounding retro band that I have heard. These guys are even more authentic than the Stray Cats back in the 80s. What is great about At Least I'm Not With You is that the band is not limited to 50s jump blues. They can play Chicago Blues almost note for note as the original HooDoo Man, or they can doowop with the best of them with their cover of Baby Don't Do It. If there is one knock on the band is that 6 of the 13 songs are covers. Most of the time I don't want to hear another band's version of someones elses song, but this group is so deeply drenched in the 50s, that I actually enjoyed hearing them tear it up.

Vyasa Dodson is a heck of a guitar player and singer. He is way too young to have been alive back when this music was created, but he certainly plays it like he lived it. The rest of the Insomniacs keep a great grove going, and they are very tight. I also like the recording quality. They kept it simple and the music is not overproduced, which gives the band an authentic 50s sound.

I like these guys because I am a kindred soul. I love music from the 50s. It is not a case of being nostalgic for the fifties, because first I wasn't around then, and second, it really wasn't Leave It To Beaver, suburbia, and white picket fences. There was way too much segregation, racism and conformity for my tastes, but the music was amazing. Blues, Rhythm and Blues, Country, Jazz, and Swing, all were competiting, combinding, and experimenting creating long lasting hybreds, like Rock and Roll, and Rockabilly.

The Insomniacs are from Portland, but are out on the road so keep an eye out for them. I guarantee a great time so get your face in the place Daddy O!

Blues Historian Review: Jason Ricci And New Blood, Done With the Devil

Jason Ricci has certainly paid his dues, and his new release Done With The Devil is one of the best blues CDs that I have had in my hands since starting Blues Historian. There is an old saying that to play the blues you have to live the blues. Ricci has certainly faced the blues head on in a political climate that until the election of Obama, didn't like different. (click here for more info.) This is one brave man. Yet, this is about not only the guts of a great performer, but also a CD of increadable blues. Ricci's last release Rocket Number Nine was eclectic, but great, Done With The Devil blows that away. The title song itself ties in the old legend of the devil and blues, but with a new twist. Ricci rejects the devil, and in my mind he is rejecting all of the dream weavers in the music business who try to stick forks in you. They are a sneaky bunch, and having delt with promoters, bar owners, blues societies, etc. my whole life, I was thinking they are a devilish lot:-)

Ricci is an amazing harp player. He just burns throughout the disc. Both he and the guitarist, Shawn Starski, just blow the doors off on this CD. This is the real deal folks. Smoke will come out of your speakers when you play this music! I now that there are going to be some purists who think that all harp players should sound like Little Walter, or the Chicago sound, but people like myself who were lucky enough to be around Kansas City in the mid to late 80s, know real harp,(check out Lee McBee, John Paul Drum, Mo Paul, and the late Provine "Little" Hatch) and they will recognize Ricci's enormous talent. Ricci is phenomenal on his harp. Furthermore he has the credentials to back it up. He played with Junior Kimbrough, and RL Burnside. That is the real deal folks.

The whole album rocks pretty much from beginning to end, with a few jazzy, eclectic numbers thrown in. He has a very touching and rocking salute to the late bluesman Craig Lawler, called Holler For Craig Lawler. (for more on his amazing life click HERE) His song Broken Toy whether autobiographical or not, is almost heart wrenching, because it talks about what it is like to be a misfit, and not fitting in. The very last song, Enlightenment, is an interesting idea. It is more reminiscent of his earlier CD. The only song that really has anything close to the punk blues label that some have thrown on him is I Turned Into A Martian. it certainly has some punk sensiblities in it, that it is quick, with funky background vocals, but then when he rips into his solo, it is all Charlie Musselwhite!

I know I say a lot of the CDs that I review are must haves, but this is one of those disks that people will treasure for a long time. It is time more people discover this kid, his harp playing, and his amazing band. Get out there and do your job and spread the word people!! Jason is the real deal!