The Elgins’ Volume 3 on Devil's Tale music is an October release by this international band made up of three Americans who play under the moniker The Silver Kings, a Norwegian  Øyvind Stølefjell (vocals,piano, guitar) and an Italian Alberto Vigliarolo (vocals and harmonica). The founder and leader of this of this global ensemble is Mark Mumea (guitar and drums). He is joined by Big Jon Atkinson (vocal, drums, guitar and harmonica) who was a featured artist in the October edition of our ezine. Jerry Careaga (bass) rounds out this ensemble. They are also joined by Mumea’s fellow former L.A. Juke, Mark Bukich (harmonica). Volume 3 is a gigantic, twenty four song time machine, where incredibly skilled musicians, who are true students of the genre, along with vintage equipment and recording techniques, put the listener in a chair in a barbershop in Helena, Arkansas, circa 1951 listening to Sonny Boy Williamson’s first Trumpet Records sides like our jukebox selection, Eyesight To The Blind. – D.M.

Carl Sonny Leyland and Kim Cusak’s Stompin’ Up Stairs is a collection of traditional stomps, boogies and jazz. It is a delightful release. Leyland has played with everybody from Anson Funderburgh and Deke Dickerson to Lowell Fulson and Big Sandy. On this set he shines with interesting arrangements of classics. Leyland has a deep feel for this material. Kim Cusak adds his traditional based clarinet to the proceedings and the rhythm section, which includes guitarist Joel Paterson, is right on the money. Our jukebox selection? Carl and Kim’s take on the Robert Johnson Classic, Ramblin On My Mind. – C.L.

Lou Pride’s brand new CD entitled, Ain’t No More Love In this House on Severn is superb. Pride's subtle and sweet voice has always been a favorite here. With the soulful, minor keyed backup of the Severn house band of Johnny Moeller and Steve Gomes along with Robb Stupka and David Earl’s production skill, Pride's strengths shine through on this collection of originals & covers. This is a deeply soulful and reflective music. A fine example of this is our jukebox selection, Holding Back The Years. – C.L.

Gene “Birdlegg” Pittman has done the Texafornia thing, only in reverse. The longtime Oakland, California, blues man recently moved to Austin and resumed his career in the capitol of Texas. The veteran singer, harmonica player and songwriter’s brand new release on Dialtone Records is simply entitled, Birdlegg. He is joined by a group of first call central Texas blues men including pianist Nick Conolly, guitarists Mike Keller and Omar Dykes, drummer Jason Moeller, bassist Johnny Bradley and the ubiquitous Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff on saxophone. Label owner Eddie Stout serves as the record's producer and he helps to coax a full band sound for this offering of mostly Pittman originals. One of these is a tune with a Bo Diddley beat about an Oakland street where all the brothers and sisters meet, San Pablo. – D.M.

My Street, on Severn Records, is the debut recording by Ursula Ricks who is a longtime Baltimore based soul-blues artist. Produced by David Earl and Steve Gomes with horns by Chicago legend Willie Henderson, My Street showcases Ursula's astounding vocals and fresh approach to song writing. She's backed by the label's studio house band, with special guests Kim Wilson on harmonica and Johnny Moeller on rhythm guitar of The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Additionally Sugar Ray & the Bluestones' guitarist 'Monster' Mike Welch is featured. In addition to eight originals penned by Ricks, My Street highlights the Bobby Rush classic Mary Jane and Curtis Mayfield's Just a Little Bit Of Love all delivered by the big-voiced singer who's star is clearly on the rise. Our jukebox selection is the album’s opening track, Tobacco Road. – C.L.

Chris James and Patrick Rynn have stayed true to traditional Chicago blues throughout their recording career and Barrelhouse Stomp is no exception. Featuring some heavyweight guests like Jody Williams, Henry Gray, Aaron Moore, Eddie Shaw and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith in collaboration with long time co-horts, Rob Stone and David Maxwell, the recordings are a textbook example of how to play ensemble blues. High points include Jody Williams' instrumental tribute to his former boss, Bo Diddley and David Maxwell's amazing interpretation of Vicksburg Blues which is our jukebox selection from this album. – C.L.

Whoever said you can’t teach an old dog, new tricks, never walked into the Severn Records studio in Maryland to make a CD. Bryan Lee, who has been known for decades now as an over the top, blues–rockin’ guitar wanker, just made a good record. No, I’m not kidding. You folks know I don’t kid about such things. This ten song collection of straight ahead blues entitled, Play One For Me, finds the Louisiana native in the fine company of his new label mates, guitarists Johnny Moeller and Steve Gomes. Lee’s vocals on this outing are the best of his career and his guitar playing actually adds to rather than detracts from the overall enjoyment of this revelatory release. My jukebox selection is Evil Is Going On which features another new member of the Severn Records stable of artists, Kim Wilson, on harmonica. – D.M.

New World Blues Roots is a brand new album that was recorded by pianist Barry Cuda along with conguero Uganda Roberts. Barry is a Key West based musician where tourists of that island enclave are the beneficiaries of his dedication to traditional blues stylings.  The rigors of Barry’s travels are primarily limited to pushing his acoustic upright piano from one imbibatorium to another in the tropics. Whether the pina colada pounding vacationers know it or not, the man known as the Pianimal, is a world class blues talent and blues historian of the highest order. This brand new album, which was recorded on July 17th and 18th, 2013, is a record whose songs I am having trouble extricating from my jukebox, not that I am trying too hard. Barry and Uganda breathe fresh life into some old war horses. Their take on everything from the old Bluebird recording of West Dallas Drag to Ray Charles’ Mess Around are extraordinary. My jukebox selection however is one of two Professor Longhair numbers on the CD, Lovely Lady. – D.M.

Our November Monthly Artist Spotlight shines on Big Chico. He is yet another artist who delivers a fine recording from the Chico Blues label out of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Big Chico should not be confused with the label’s founder and owner who is known as Chico Blues. By any other name, the brand new album entitled, My New Blues is a healthy portion of just that, new blues Chicago style. Big Chico is a fine harp player and guitarist whose is an earnest singer. The album benefits greatly by having special guest Lurrie Bell on a few familiar covers such as a ten and a half minute version of the Bob Geddins’ penned Tin Pan Alley, which features Bell on guitar and vocals. Our jukebox selection however is a Big Chico original, the self explanatory instrumental, Chromatic Style.  - D.M. 

Finnish guitarist and vocalist Jo’ Buddy has been poking a stick at blues for over thirty years now. Inside Out, with its "perfectly wine headed Jimmy Reed vibe" (as Rick Holmstrom calls it), is another crude and rude record of almost blues and roots. There are few artists who aspire to these "ignant" sounds (Little Victor comes to mind) and even fewer who can pull it off. Our jukebox selection is a great example of this, I got a Li'l Gal which features the Original Crawfish Kings and Masa Orpana.- C.L.

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