Talkin' The Blues

This week's episode features Southern California's Dennis Jones, the Brothers Brown from Nashville and L.A., King Louie and La Rhonda Steele from Portland, OR, and roots music from Racky Thomas of Boston.

This episode opens with a deluxe reissue of the Magic Sam Blues Band's classic West Side Chicago album from 1969, Black Magic; Anni Piper, blues bassist/vocalist/songwriter from Australia who has emigrated to Florida releases a new album that shows a shift from her previous hard blues-rock style to one that has more straight rock 'n roll and country overtones; and the Oxy Morons from central Alabama play offbeat and classic string band music.

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.