Browsing: Reviews

The Chicago Blues All-Stars are “Red, Hot & Blue.” Released on the Azure Music label, Red, Hot & Blue is noteworthy on many levels. These musicians are all top-shelf Chicago players who have backed and played with music royalty including Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, gary Moore, Otis Rush, and Muddy Waters.

Well, blues fans, get ready to be wooed! Tommy Z’s new album, Sometimes, came across our desk today, and all we can say is “Wow!” Here’s a player that has paid his dues and put in his time.

Trampled Under Foot rumbles back with “Badlands”, a breathtaking and well executed album issued on their new label, Telarc International. TUF has grown exponentially since their last release, and the talent on display here is powerful!

Blues Enough, from the Hitman Blues Band is a really good time! Out on Nerus Records and clocking in at just under 49 minutes, this album is energetic and spunky.

This Time Another Year is a Brandon Santini showcase, simmering in places, and smoking in others. The album is mixed very well, and lets the music speak in a spirited voice.

With wit, intensity and thoughtful words, “Bliss Avenue” is an album that will bear play after play and then discussion as it is an open conversation from the lonely directed to the listener.

Kim Wilson’s singing has never been better! His harp playing is inspired, but brilliantly restrained, making it all the more poignant. Again, the band does a spectacular job, and the playing is impressive throughout. This is an excellent album, and definitely worth the long wait.

This is the best work Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters have put on disc in years. Good sound quality and a great mix make this album really easy on the ears too.

Hadden Sayers had made his success the hard way; he has earned it. He has talent and he’s honed that talent playing over 200 gigs a year. He has persisted in the face of shady deals, less than honest agents, and crooked record labels. But above everything else is his love of soul, desire to succeed, and dedication to playing some seriously mean guitar.

Jesse Dee is a soul singer from Boston. Yes, a soul singer. There is really no other term for what he does.