Janiva
Magness |
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Janiva
Magness
What Love Will Do
Alligator Records
Janiva
Magness has yet to produce a recording that has done nothing
but amaze us here at The Blues You Can Use. Janiva has that
soulful voice that keeps you captivated and yearning for more.
"What Love Will Do" is just another addition to
your ever growing list of MUST HAVE Contemporary Blues collection!
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Homemade
Jamz Blues Band |
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Homemade Jamz Blues Band
Pay me No Mind
NorthernBlues
This
is the youngest Blues Band... and after hearing them rip through
each track like aged veterans... you will understand how truly
talented they really are. They are keeping Blues Alive...
and they are THE band to watch for years to come.
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Eddy
"The Chief" Clearwater |
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Eddie
Clearwater
West Side Strut
Alligator Records
This
is one of the best discs to come out this year... if not the
last 5 years... with great artists like Lonnie & Ronnie
Brooks, Otis Clay, Billy Branch!! This is one of the must
have CDs for 2008. Pick up your copy today.
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Shun
Kakuta |
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Shun
Kakuta
Rising Shun
Yotsuba Records
I never thought it would come to the day that I would find
someone whom has mastered the Fender Telecaster as good as
the late great Albert Collins did years ago... that was until
I heard Shun with his new CD "Rising Shun".
Shun Kakuta, born in Japan just outside Tokyo, has worked
with almost every living legend in the Blues over the years
(including the "King of the Blues" - BB. King and
the "Queen of the Blues" Koko Taylor.) "Rising
Shun" gives you a glimpse of Shun's amazing talent, playing
explosive guitar with every track. The CD is like capturing
lightning in a bottle... to get the full effect... you will
just have to see him play live!
Pick up "Rising Shun"... this is where it's at.
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Koko
Taylor |
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Koko
Taylor
Old School
Alligator Records
Koko Taylor's long awaited CD is finally set for release on
April 3, 2007... and you better step in line to pick up this
amazing release by the undisputed "Queen of The Blues"!
From the open track "Piece Of Man", which is already
getting the attention of our radio fans everywhere, to the
last track of "Young Fashioned Ways"... the Blues
is hot... and Koko belts out the tunes with wit and power
that will have screaming for more. "Old School"
may be the title of this amazing new CD from the Queen, but
it my opinion it's also an appropriate title since she is
taking these rookie Blues singers back to school with each
and every track. This is the Blues... sung by a woman who
lives and breaths the Blues... a woman of whom is a legend
both in the studio and out... this is Koko Taylor at her best.
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Mac
Arnold |
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Mac
Arnold & Plate Full O' Blues
Nothin' To Prove
Self-Released
With very few true Bluesmen still around with enough experience
under their belt to provide genuine sound and stories... that's
where Mac Arnold and his amazing band step in and steal the
show. Mac has that weathered vocals that reminds me of Big
Daddy Kinsey or BB King as he sings of all he knows and just
lays it out for you with emotion and strength that could only
be built up from surviving the Blues life as long as he has.
This is the Blues... built upon experience and some great
musicianship. Pick this one up for a fine addition to your
collection.
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Kenny
Wayne Shephard |
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Kenny
Wayne Shephard
10 Days Out...Blues From The Backroads (CD/DVD)
Reprise / Wea
Kenny Wayne Shephard has been a long time blues guitar genius
from a young age, however in previous recordings had never
quite had that sound and emotion that captures the true spirit
of the Blues. On "10 Days Out" Kenny Wayne Shephard
not only captures that sound like lightning in a bottle...
but he is starting to master it. The CD also has him playing
with the likes of Blues greats Clarence "Gatemouth"
Brown, B.B. King, Etta Baker, and more. I do believe Kenny
Wayne Shephard has had his chance with some of the best of
the past... playing with them in the present... now lets see
what he takes with him into the future. Will it be the Guitar
hotdog of his youth... or the more educated and disciplined
man of the blues. We will see... but this is a CD of Live,
Studio, and on the fly tracks that doesn't have a bad track
on it.
This is the next generation... and it's starting to look pretty
good.
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Ronnie
Baker Brooks |
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Ronnie Baker Brooks
"The Torch"
Watchdog Records
Ronnie Baker Brooks, son of blues legend Lonnie Baker Brooks,
has been setting stages on fire all over the word with his
amazing live shows, and "The Torch" captures this
raw energy all on one disc. This is Guitar Rockin' BLUES at
it's best and shows just how far Ronnie has come since his
1998 release "Gold Digger". This is the first LP
of the year that I will come out and official say will be
in our top 10 of 2006!
The 'Blues Torch' is burning a little brighter now that Ronnie
is carrying it for a new generation of Blues fans all around
the world.
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Fernando
Jones |
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Fernando Jones
"Whodoyuvoodu"
Mysoundworx
Fernando Jones' latest release has blues as original and creative
as it's title. "Whodoyuvoodu" incorporates a mixture
of both Electric & Acoustic Blues with hints of Soul,
and even Jazz. Fernando has taken the Blues that we all grew
up with and made it his own original sound. Having met Fernando
Jones in the studio... it is hard to believe such a introverted
soul could produce such an amazing release with both vision
and passion. Having performed Blues since he was 4 with some
of Chicago's largest acts could have helped... however I feel
Fernando is where it's at for a new generation, and he will
be there to teach each and every one of us along the way.
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D.C.
Bellamy |
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D.C. Bellamy
"Give Some Body To Somebody"
If it wasn't for Jim O'Neal from Living Blues Magazine turning
me on to this disc... I may have never heard the great music
of D.C. Bellamy. Not only is this one smokin' disc... I couldn't
find a bad song on it! Having played with amazing artists
like Bety Everett, Donny Hathaway, and many more in R&B
bands D.C. decided to come out with his debut CD on the Rooster
Blues label in the fall of 2000. Since then, D.C. has made
amazing improvements both in his sound and songwriting with
this sophmore release. Whereas his brother the late great
Curtis Mayfield took the R&B world by storm... D.C. is
a man that has the energy, talent, and just knows how to bring
the Blues with every lick... and my listeners are loving every
second of it!
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Tab
Benoit |
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Tab Benoit
"Brother To The Blues"
Telarc
"Brother To The Blues" is an introspective release
which displays Tab's talents and guts to dip into Country,
R&B, and still have time to tease us with a little more
of his "Blues from the Bayou" that he does far too
well.
It's great to see Tab take hold of his roots and pay tribute
to those of whom brought him to where he is today. Do I like
this CD?... I think it's daring, creative, diverse, and a
CD for music lovers..... however I do suggest this LP to fans
of Tab Benoit... but if you want the full effect... pick up
his previous 11 recordings that sound completely different
first.
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Blue
Plate Special |
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Blue Plate Special
"Can You Dig It"
Prime Entertainment
This is guitar driven Blues served up just right! Had our
phone lines tied up for hours when we played tracks off this
LP. Ron Michaels
snarling vocals rips into each track and tells you how it
is... and Harry Binford smokin' guitar work treats you right
throughout the disc. All this and these boys come from Chicagoland.
All I can say is "Can You Dig It"... HELL YEAH!!!
.... and I'll do it again too!
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Blues
Is Truth |
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Blues Is Truth
"Live In London"
Self Released
Blues is rich in the hearts of those
in England... with Eric Clapton, John Mayall, and many others
bringing their own style of blues across the water. This is
also true with Blues Is Truth.
"Live In London" takes you down in the cellar with
some soulful guitar work and vocals from McHugh... and drummer
Mendonca & bassist Soundy giving it some power and backbone.
If you mixed Canned Heat with Muddy Waters in a blender...
you would have a knock you on your ass kind of drink called
Blues Is Truth...... and it will have you coming back for
more.
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John
"Soul Man" Castro |
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John Castro
"Sessions With The Legends"
Self Released
Amazing vocals and an All-Star lineup! Koko Taylor is an amazing
addition to this diverse disc of Blues, Soul, and RnB all
done to perfection by John Castro. It's now understood why
they call him "Soul Man"!
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Guitar
Shorty |
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Guitar Shorty
"We The People"
Alligator Records
Guitar Shorty pumps out some of most
explosive guitar-driven Blues with a rock edge that will
smack you so hard in the head your mama will feel it.
On "We The People" Guitar
Shorty picks up where he left off with his previous release
and will have you movin' and groovin' with every track.
When thinking about great guitar slingers like Albert Collins,
Stevie Ray Vaughn, or even Otis Rush... I thank God that
Guitar Shorty is still around to catch him live on stage
and watch a legend at work.
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Nellie
Tiger Travis |
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Nellie Tiger Travis
"Wanna Be With You"
DA-MAN RECORDS
One powerful release with such soulful vocals that will make
you feel each word as only Nellie Tiger Travis can. "Wanna
Be With You" captures Southern Soul at it's best... like
capturing lightning in a bottle.
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