Recent Reviews, April 2012

Lurrie Bell, The Devil Ain't Got No Music (Aria B.G.)*.  Interesting and musically satisfying change of pace from Mr. Bell.  Acoustic, and gospel if you listen to the words.  But as Mr. Bell points out in the liner notes, the music is no different from the blues.

Petey Hop , The Levee (Hoptone)* Petey “Hop” Hopkinson is well-known here in the Hudson Valley as one of our great guitarists, and a tireless performer up and down the river.  This album features all original songs, in a variety of Americana styles.  The opening cut, Out All Night (1) is a jump tune with some hot guitar and wailing sax.  Westside (7) is the most straight ahead blues number in the set.  Sweet Little Girl (11) throws some rock n’ roll guitar over sax and piano-fueled R&B energy.  My favorite is the slower blues of Why Should I Complain (3).  – NAD 04 /12

Treasa Levasseur, Broad (Factor)*  This is a little different, and hard to peg, in a good way.  Ms. Lavasseur  is a Canadian singer and songwriter with an engaging voice, and apparently, an affinity for backing bands (there are four different ones on this release).  Not every cut is going to work on a blues show, but some of them, like Much Too Much (1), A Little Pride (2) and What We’re Worth (8) are like a blues band on an R&B bender.  And Feel Good Time (4) has nothing to do with the blues, but the slow soul beat makes it work anyway.  – NAD 04/12.

B.B. King, Live At Royal Albert Hall 2011 (Shout! Factory)#*  This won’t be remembered as the King of the Blues’ best live album, but it is nice to have a document of the late model B.B.  True to a real performance these days, there is a lot of patter and the feeling is like sitting around with friends and playing music.  Guests like Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks  contribute to that comfortable vibe, and allow him to revisit old standards without completely repeating himself.  But my pick is just him and the band on  See that My Grave is Kept Clean (3).  That is one he hasn’t recorded live before, and with a spoken introduction it exemplifies the living room groove.

Janiva Magness, Stronger For It (Alligator).  Ms. Magness sounds more in control of her powerful voice than ever, as she makes every bluesy and soulful song her own.  Her path has taken her to a very personal contemporary sound that is still grounded in the blues.  My picks are Make it Rain (3),  Ragged Water  (6), I Thought I Knew You (9), 

Mud Morganfield, Son Of The Seventh Son (Severn).  There is no mistaking the family resemblance here. Everything on the album, from the title to the instrumentation and of course that voice is crafted to remind us of and pay tribute to Mr. Morganfield’s father McKinley (better known as Muddy Waters).  The only surprise is how well it comes off.  Even without the direct connection to Muddy, this is just a great Chicago Blues album.  I’m playing just about everything, but I especially like the title track (1), Love to Flirt (2), and Midnight Lover (8). –NAD 03/12

Pristine, Detoxing (Bluesnews)*  I’m thinking this band would provide an excuse for a trip to Norway, because I really should study the whole scene they arose from, especially if I can get somebody else to pay for it.  But pipe dreams aside, this is an engaging psychedelic blues album with a unique sound featuring the interplay of Heidi Solheim’s captivating voice and Espen Elverum Jakobsen’s hypnotic guitar.  My pick for a familiar song to hear their sound on is Whipping Post (4).  For a fine original, the long and slow The Last Day (7) is my choice.  – NAD 03/12

Paul Rishell, Talking Guitar (Mojo Rodeo).  This master guitar picker has been on the scene a long time, long enough to have played with Son House, John Lee Hooker and Johnny Shines (to name a few) and long enough to have tutored Susan Tedeschi and many others.  But these songs have been around a lot longer.  On this CD, Mr. Rischell plugs into that continuum, and channels the purest of acoustic blues.  Guitar players will hear the precision and the intricate finger work, but the rest of us can just sit on that back porch rocking chair, relax and enjoy.  My favorite solo cut is M&O Blues (3), with its sublime slides.  Of course, the back porch is more fun when your friends show up, and Mr. RIschell is  joined by musical partner Annie Raines on a few cuts , including my picks  I’m Gonna to Jump and Shout (6) and Michigan Water Blues (13). –NAD 03/12

Tommy Schneller,  Smiling For A Reason (Cable Car Records)*  A bit of a surprise from Germany, this band swings  with soulful tunes, funky keyboards and slick horns.  My picks are Cleaning Lady Blues (1) and Never Found me a Girl (8). – NAD 03/12

Tail Dragger & Bob Corritore, Longtime Friends in the Blues (Delta Groove)*  These longtime friends met at a memorial service for Howlin’ Wolf, a heritage that is evident throughout the CD.  Mr. Dragger’s vocals are full of rough power, punctuated by the ace band, while Mr. Corritore’s harp provides spirited fills.  My picks are I’m Worried (1), Birthday Blues (3, but be careful before you dedicate this to a listener!), and Boogie Woogie Ball (9).  –NAD 03/12

Eddie Taylor, Jr., So Called Friends (Wolf)*  This is a greatest hits compilation of sorts, but the truth is I have not heard any of it before so it just comes across as a really good Chicago blues album from a relative youngster (he’s a little past 40, but that still counts as young in this game).  The CD is a mix of songs by famous names in the blues and originals that fit right in.  I’ve been playing a bunch of cuts, but especially So Called Friends (5), and Got to Make this Money (14). – NAD 04 /12