Browsing: Texas Blues

Ever since witnessing big brother Jimmie prodigiously moving around a three-string guitar, Stevie Ray Vaughan had a serious case of “Wow, me too!”

“Once you’ve been doing this a while, a festival like this becomes like a big family reunion.”

He likes it hard, fast, and loud. With that thought, his new release, ‘Should’ve Seen it Coming,’ delivers in spades.

Now some of you might be raising your eyebrows in surprise and thinking “A blues album from Willie Nelson? Really?” Yes, friends, he really did put out a blues album, and why not?

Before the debut of ‘No Glass Shoes,’ the talented young Houston native won the East Texas Awards Female Guitarist of the Year in 2015.

A legend in Texas, he was known for his biting guitar and swing flavored blues.

Lance Lopez was only five years old when he first held a guitar. He knew then, that was his calling…

Mike Zito strives for truth in his songwriting, his playing, and being a team member; helping the group realize their musical vision. He wants genuine quality in everything he does. Self-serving methods and practices don’t work for him: it’s all about the the song, the group, the music.

What we really liked about this album is the fact that Dykes pays tribute without ripping off the originals or reproducing them note-for-note. (And why should he?) The album is lively, raw, and definitely has that Texas garage jam feel, and tone. The players do a fine job of keeping you right on the edge of explosion, without betraying the raw elegance of the music. This is an exceptional album!

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.