Talkin' The Blues

This episode opens with rising Chicago blues stars the Omar Coleman Band with a live recording; Israeli-born Bat-Or Kalo releases a unique blues album recorded in Oklahoma City; and Mike Sponga from Italy combines millennia-old Greco/Roman poetry with mid-20th century Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters lyrics in an unusual blues concept album.

This episode features Paducah, Kentucky’s Lew Jetton & 61 South with their new album, Rain; the Sassy Brown Band from Birmingham who recently won the Shoals blues band competition and will represent the area at the International Blues Competition in Memphis during January 2017; and amazing blues from Argentina’s Gonzalo Bergara, best known for acoustic gypsy jazz, but a great Texas-style electric bluesman as well.

This episode features Canadian harmonicist/vocalist Jordan Patterson’s return to recording; Dallas, TX veteran bluesman Jim Suhler issues a live recording of his band Monkey Beat; NYC blues singer Billie Williams brings out new original R&B songs; and Mark Cameron from Minneapolis offers some great grooves and guitar slinging.

This episode opens with Tinsley Ellis’ new album, Red Clay Soul; a ragtime/hokum early roots duo from New Hampshire named Miss Maybell & Slimpickin’s offer a new album of period- sounding original material, and veteran Chicago bluesman Mike Wheeler offers a batch of strong originals.

This episode opens with the latest album from Muscle Shoals hit songwriter, Donnie Fritts; from the Bay Area, Big Harp George releases another album of differently-textured blues featuring his chromatic harmonica work; Nashville’s Allen-Lamun Band offers contemporary blues-rock; and Canadian one-man-band sensation Steve Hill’s latest:  Solo Recordings Volume 3.

This episode features a restructured band from Milwaukee named TweedFunk, who have changed from their edgy roots music to a slicker southern soul sound on this release; John Long from Denver turns in an amazing set of acoustic Delta and other roots blues performances; and Houstonian Mark May offers a contemporary blues album with lots of tasty guitar playing.

In this episode, harmonica ace Sugar Blue releases a new album of blues and world music; Canadian guitarist Steve Dawson combines electric and acoustic slide for a fine roots release;  late 1940s blues songs from venerable pianist Memphis Slim; and North Carolina’s Reed Turchi turns up the atmosphere while plumbing the depths of experience in his new release.

This episode opens with a 1976 album by B.B. King, showing his experiments with stylistics during that pre-disco period; Curtis Salgado releases his best album of new blues and soul songs; and Swamp Cabbage features ironic/satiric lyrics sung in a voice reminiscent of Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart over rootsy electric guitar trio structures.

This episode features the Golden State Lone Star Blues Revue, an all star gathering of top line players working traditional 1950s blues styles; Skip James’ album from 1964 when he had been ‘rediscovered’ after being absent from blues recording since 1931; and Ilana Katz Katz, an old-style fiddle player who works classic and original blues into her repertoire.

This episode opens with a comparison of the Skip James' original 1931 recording of "I'm So Glad," with the live version released by Cream in 1968; Janiva Magness releases Love Wins Again; and Peter Karp offers a live band recording in NYC featuring veteran Rolling Stones guitarist, Mick Taylor.