Talkin' The Blues

This episode opens with Finnish blues act, Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip, with a fine new studio album recorded in Wales; veteran Mississippi musician and bandleader Johnny Rawls has a new release of blues and southern soul pieces; the Kelly Richey Band from the Rust Belt goes into the studio to make a modern blues-rock trio recording; and the Dave Muskett Acoustic Blues Band releases a live recording from the historic Slippery Noodle Inn in Indianapolis.

This episode begins with a new release by Benny Turner, brother of and bassist for the late Freddie King; acoustic guitarist Tim Williams from Canada; Wendy deWitt and Kirk Harwood team up on their album of drums and piano duos; and Calvin Conway from Chicago releases his first solo album.

This first episode for 2016 includes fine funk from the Toronto family band, Blackburn; Houston, Texas guitarist Jonn del Toro Richardson has his first solo album; and the Andrea Marr Band releases a live recording from the House of Blues in their hometown of Melbourne, Australia.

This episode opens with Reverend Shawn Amos, heir to the Famous Amos cookie fortune but a bluesman and ordained minister in his own right; Les Copeland plays acoustic and quiet electric guitar to support his vocals on his new release; Nikki Hill comes from New Orleans with a band that rocks like 1967 Stones; and Eddie Cotton plays the blues out of Jackson, Mississippi.

This program features new music from the Beat Daddys, formerly of Mobile/now from Nashville; Chicago's veteran Dave Weld & the Imperial Flames offer a new rocking blues album; Kathy & the Kilowatts reissue an Austin TX album from the 1990s; and David Michael Miller from Buffalo releases a blend of traditional and contemporary blues on his new CD.

This week's program opens with veteran Detroit bluesman Harmonica Shah; Webb Wilder's new release rocks the roots; Pennsylvania native Deb Callahan sings Sweet Soul; Eric Bibb and JJ Milteau celebrate the music of Lead Belly with a release that combines live and studio tracks.

This program opens with some amazing alternate takes of 1965-66 songs by Bob Dylan from a new album in the 'Bootleg Series', followed by contemporary blues and Americana by Portland, Oregon singer/songwriter Karen Lovely and great dance R&B grooves from the Jimmys out of Madison, Wisconsin.

This week's show features the fourth album from Canadian roots blues group MonkeyJunk; April Mae & the June Bugs from New Jersey; Chicago blues veteran Jimmy Burns; Lara Price from the west coast; and acoustic duo music from JJ Appleton and Jason Ricci.

Featuring this week world-traveling Texas guitarist Eugene Hideaway Bridges; New England vocalist Diane Blue; acoustic artist Andy Cohen; and classic Chicago duo Chris James & Patrick Rynn.

This episode of Talkin' The Blues concentrates on some new releases from small ensembles, opening with piano/drums duo The Claudettes; D'Mar & Gill operate as a guitar/drums duo; and Andra Faye & Scott Ballantine play mostly acoustic blues with Andra operating string bass, mandolin and fiddle behind her vocals.