Aki Kumar’s 2014 release Don’t Hold Back on Greaseland Records was, as you might suspect, recorded at Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California. On hand to back vocalist, harp man and songwriter Kumar for this session was that wonderful cache of blues talent that resides in the shadow of the Golden Gate. The band is anchored by drummer June Core, bassist Vance Ehlers and guitarist Johnny “Cat” Sourbrand. Bay area blues stalwarts also making fine contributions include of course Andersen, as well as Rusty Zinn and others. Guitarist and vocalist Jon Lawton of Little Jonny and the Giants fame steps up to the mic and sings one of his original tunes, Freight Train. It is one of the album's many highlights in this terrific thirteen track mix of originals and covers. It is fun to hear young Aki Kumar emerge as a real player in the talent rich Bay Area blues scene.  – D.M.

Bernie Pearl’s Take Your Time was featured back in February’s Monthly Album Spotlight. It continues to be a favorite here at the JUNCTION. Pearl recently had a record release party at a very special intimate venue called Alva’s Music in San Pedro, California. During this invite only evening of music, the guitarist and singer played material from this 2014 offering which features vocalist Barbara Morrison on three of the album’s fourteen tracks. Longtime Pearl sidemen bassist Mike Barry, drummer Alan Trepangnier and tenor sax man Bobby “Hurricane” Spencer were on hand at Alva’s and they accompany the veteran Long Beach, California, based musician on Take Your Time. At Alva’s, Pearl played a re-arrangement of Big Joe Williams adaptation of John Lee (Sonny Boy 1) Williamson’s Sloppy Drunk. He dedicated the song to a fourteen year old blues musician and one of Pearl’s accomplished students named Robert Eliff, who was in the house that evening.

March 25^th marked the much anticipated release date of singer and harmonica player John Nemeth’s eighth album, Memphis Grease. It is his first studio album in four years and his debut on Blue Corn Music. The CD was recorded in Scott Bomar’s Electraphonic Studios in Memphis. John was backed by Bomar and his band the Bo-Keys which are the perfect fit for Nemeth’s soul-blues sensibilities. The brand new CD, like everything else in Nemeth’s catalogue is first rate. If there are two things that seem to be in short supply when it comes to contemporary blues albums, it is good original songwriting and great vocalists. Nemeth has always had both these bases covered and Memphis Grease is no exception. Ten of the thirteen songs in this program are, in fact, Nemeth originals, but our jukebox selection comes from the Otis Rush songbook and is the album’s opening track, Three Times a Fool. – D.M.

The Chris Ruest Band, based out of Austin traveled down to Houston last year to record, Live at Shakespeare’s. This is a generous seventeen song, sixty five minute program of covers as well as some Ruest originals that has a decidedly Texas feel. Drummer JD DiTullio and the great bassist Ronnie James round out this trio. Ruest is a thirty nine year old native of Bristol, Connecticut, but has been a resident of the Lone Star State since 1999. His first stop was Dallas where he absorbed many of the influences from players in that part of the state. He does versions of a couple of Sam Myers' tunes, which were staples of the late Dallas based blues giant’s repertoire when he was the singer in Anson Funderburgh’s Rocket’s. One of these Myers' gems dates back to the 1950’s, Sleeping in the Ground. – D.M.

Rip Lee Pryor is the son of the late Chicago blues legend Snooky Pryor. Nobody But Me is Rip Lee's debut recording for Electro-Fi Records where his dad recorded from 1998 until his passing in 2006. Rip Lee has been making a real name for himself with his solo live performances. The mixture of original and classic blues on the album showcases his distinctive vocal, harmonica and guitar work to great advantage. Our jukebox selection is the old Smokey Smothers’ tune I Got My Eyes on You. – C.L.  

Bob Corritore’s most recent offering on Delta Groove Music, Taboo seems to be appropriately titled as the thought of a harmonica player making an all instrumental album, whose name isn’t Toots Thielman, seems well...taboo. Corritore, however makes it work by sharing the spotlight with a whole host of blues mega talent including guitarist Junior Watson as well as pianist Fred Kaplan. The rhythm section of bassist Kedar Roy and drummer Richard Inness are just about as good as it gets. There are two tracks which feature Jimmie Vaughan on guitar. These numbers also feature the patriarch of the B3, Papa John Defrancesco and baritone sax man Doug James. These are album highlights, but our jukebox selection features the outstanding core band. The tune entitled Fabuloco (For Kid) is a blues rumba and is a lot of fun. – D.M.

Kai Strauss has played guitar with Memo Gonzales for the past decade or so. He has released his first solo CD, Electric Blues with some stellar singers helping out. They include Sugar Ray Norcia and Darrell Nulisch. This collection of classic Chicago style blues is tough and killer. Great vocals, intense low down guitar and a solid rhythm foundation makes this the left field surprise of the springtime. There is a tough version of Wolf's Commit A Crime but it is a cover of Guitar Shorty's minor key gem Hard Life that features some solid guitar and intense vocals from Sugar Ray. - C.L.

Mark Hummel’s The Hustle Is Really On is the harmonica player and vocalist’s brand new Electro-Fi Records release. The album features three outstanding guitarists, Anson Funderburgh, “Little” Charlie Baty and Chris “Kid” Andersen. Eight of the album’s fourteen tacks are billed as the Golden State-Lone Star Revue; these songs were recorded in Chicago and feature Charlie and Anson along with native Californian Doug James on sax. Anson’s long time drummer and long time Texan, Wes Starr, who is one of the blues’ great shuffle drummers is also on board for these tracks. The remaining six songs were laid down at yet another outstanding session which was recorded at Andersen’s Greaseland Studios. These songs feature Sid Morris on piano and bay area first call drummer June Core, and as you might suspect, Kid Andersen on guitar. It is the bass of R.W. Grigsby that can be heard on all fourteen of the album’s selections. This is a solid outing that features a variety of interesting covers. Our jukebox selection is the Percy Mayfield penned number, Give Me Time To Explain. – D.M.

Florida based tenor sax giant Terry Hanck has an April 15^th release scheduled and it is billed as The Terry Hanck Band and Friends. The album entitled, Gotta Bring It On Home To You on Delta Groove Music is a welcome follow up to his 2011 Delta Groove Music release entitled, Look Out. The CD features four Hanck originals and some great choices of cover material including tunes penned by Maxwell Davis and Elvin Bishop, with whom Hanck played for ten years. There is much to recommend about this album, which naturally includes the wonderful sax playing of Hanck.  That might be enough for anybody (including myself) to forget that he is also an outstanding vocalist. It is also fun to hear the guitarist Johnny “Cat” Sourbrand, who has been with Hanck something along the order of ten years. He continues to thrill listeners with his sharp incisive playing which features great chops, choices and tone. One of my favorites from Hanck’s repertoire has always been the Tommy Rigley, New Orleans r&b rave up, Jam Up. Hanck is joined here by baritone sax man Doug James who is all over our jukebox this month. Bob Welsh adds some tasty piano parts to this irresistibly fun tune. – D.M.

Kid Ramos has something old that, for many blues music fans, might be something new. On April 15^th, Rip Cat Records is going to re-issue the long out of print album, Two Hands One Heart. This record has been a personal favorite of mine for nearly twenty years. Guest vocalist Janiva Magness sings on three tracks, but it is Ramos’ old buddy Lynwood Slim who steps up to the mic to sing on ten of the album’s original sixteen tracks. The album has a decidedly west coast, jump blues sound with jazzy T-Bone Walker inspired guitar lines thrown liberally into the mix. With that in mind, I chose the T-Bone tune, You Don’t Love Me as our jukebox selection. It is material like this that Kid was seemingly born to play and Slim was born to sing. In short this album is one of the great blues releases of the last generation. Note: This CD is in our April Monthly Album Spotlight. – D.M.

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