Author: American Blues Scene Staff

Daniel Ivankovich is better known in the blues community as “Chicago Slim,” both as the leader of the Chicago Blues All-Stars, and often playing guitar around town. But Ivankovich is also a trauma/spine surgeon, who heads OnePatient – Global Health Initiative, a nonprofit that specializes in musculoskeletal health and wellness and serves residents of underserved communities throughout Chicago. Dr. Daniel Ivankovich Photo: Dr. Karla Ivankovich When COVID hit in 2020, Ivankovich had to put his musical career on hold because many of his colleagues went MIA – because they didn’t want to step up. But when his patients from underserved…

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Windy City Wednesday is the newest offering from American Blues Scene where we share classic and sometimes forgotten blues albums from some of the most iconic Chicago blues men and women ever to grace wax. This edition focuses on the album Gotcha! by Barkin’ Bill Smith. This is a jewel of pure Chicago blues. Stylistically, Barkin’ Bill was close to the great Joe Williams, whose warm, reassuring vocals, says Bill, have always been “like a friend” as well to singers like Percy Mayfield, Jimmy Witherspoon, Big Joe Turner, Wynonie Harris, Brook Benton, and other crooners and shouters of the ’40s…

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GRAMMY-nominated alternative blues/hip-hop artist G. Love has shared the official music video for his new single “Laughing In The Sunshine,” the next preview from his upcoming album Philadelphia Mississippi, due out June 24 via Philadelphonic Records/Thirty Tigers. ‘Laughing in The Sunshine’ was written with Chuck Treece and it’s a summertime classic, a cool glass of lemonade and love. Performed by an all-star cast including myself, Chuck, Luther Dickinson, Tikyra Jackson, Boo Mitchell, Amy Bellamy and Sharisse Norman, it’s sure to get you off your seat and looking for a backyard BBQ to strut your stuff. Living, Loving, Laughing people all…

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Five-time GRAMMY winner Keb’ Mo’ released a live performance video for the contemplative and optimistic “Marvelous To Me” from his critically acclaimed new album Good To Be out now via Rounder Records. Keb’ Mo’ is currently in the midst of a European tour and will kick off a US tour this June, including a number of dates supporting Sheryl Crow. The inspirational song finds Kevin Moore, best known by his stage name Keb’ Mo’, hopeful for a brighter future during troubled times: It’s a crazy world, a crazy timeMaybe this is the way it was meant to beI got a…

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Following the release of her critically-acclaimed album The Moon & Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers in March 2021, GRAMMY-nominated artist Valerie June embarked on a highly anticipated U.S. tour that kicked off in March and continues through May. Now the celebrated singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is releasing a dazzling cover (and accompanying performance video) of one of the most achingly romantic songs of the ’90s, Mazzy Star’s “Fade into You.” While the track has been covered many times since its initial release in 1993, it should come as no surprise that Valerie pulls in her exquisitely tender balance of modern and…

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Examining the visceral emotional territory of a pandemic and the world’s reeling in its rolling aftermath, multi-Platinum-selling and award-winning artist Sass Jordan readies herself to rock the blues once again with the announcement of her new album, Bitches Blues — available June 3rd via Stony Plain Records. Following rave reviews of her 2020 all-blues offering Rebel Moon Blues, the Billboard Best Female Rock Vocalist winner mines even more of her expansive talent in the genre to deliver eight new tracks — including originals “Change Is Coming,” “Still The World Goes Round” and more. A pioneer of powerful, gritty female-fronted rock,…

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