The Mighty Mojo Prophets’ inaugural album is also the first release on the Southern California based label Rip Cat Records. This spring 2011 self titled release is a good one. We have been grooving to the song West Coast Blues which features album guest and label mate Johnny Mastro on harp. This terrific up and coming band is led by vocalist Tommy “Big Son” Eliff and guitarist Mitch “Da Switch” Dow. Read more about this band and enjoy a candid conversation with Tommy and Mitch in this month’s BLUES JUNCTION.

Candye Kane’s August release on Delta Groove Records is entitled Sister Vagabond. This record is a collaboration with guitarist, co-producer and song writer Laura Chavez. The song Down with the Blues however was written by Steve White. Steve died of cancer during the making of this CD and didn’t live long enough to hear Candye sing this song. Candye is a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few years ago. Paul Fasulo the drummer in Candye’s band was recently diagnosed with liver cancer. To learn more about efforts to help musicians who are currently battling this dreaded disease see the Paul Fasulo Jumbo Jam, An Open Letter from Candye Kane, Ruff Cut Blues Band & the HART Fund in this month’s edition of BLUES JUNCTION. 

The Fowler Street Stumble is an instrumental tune by the Ruff Kutt Blues Band from the 2011 release entitled Mill Block Blues. The band is a collection of veteran musicians pulled together by the album’s producer and guitarist, Anson Funderburgh. This tune was co-written by Funderburgh and his long time keyboard player John Street. Anson took some time off from recording and touring as he too is a cancer survivor. The proceeds from the sale of this album go to the Handy Artist Relief Trust (HART) administered by the Blues Foundation. BLUES JUNCTION is proud to make this record available to our readers. Check it out here.

Rod Piazza and the Almighty Flyers’ June, 2011, release on Delta Groove entitled Almighty Dollar features one of my favorite tunes, the Lloyd Glenn penned Blue Shadows. This song also has guest Flyer Rusty Zinn playing guitar. Rod and Honey Piazza are joined by their fellow Almighty Flyers, drummer Dave Kida and guitarist Henry Carvajal. Vocalist Johnny Dyer and sax man Johnny View also make guest appearances on one of the more solid albums that Rod has put out in recent years.

Elvin Bishop’s May, 2011, release on Delta Groove is a live album entitled Raisin’ Hell Revue has some of our favorites sharing the spotlight with Elvin and Red Dog. Vocalist Finis Tasby, guitarist Chris “Kid” Andersen and saxophonist/vocalist Terry Hanck are also on board. But it is John Nemeth on loan from Blind Pig records who practically steals the show with his take on the Ray Charles classic, The Night Time is the Right Time. Nemeth has emerged as one of the preeminent singers of his generation.

Lil A & the Allnighters album Special Project has this L.A. area based band doing the old Amos Milburn tune, Chicken Shack. The record was produced by long time Southern California blues impresario Art Martel. Lil A & the Allnighters features Alex “Lil A” Woodson out front on harp and vocals. The band also includes guitarists Joe Conde and Anthony Contreras, drummer A. J. Martel and bassist Norm Gonzales. This young band’s stock is on the rise. To keep up with this band check the page on this site, entitled Straight Up Blues.

Red Lotus Review is another up and coming band out of San Diego. This band has a stripped down, low-fi, retro-cool approach that I like and I hope to hear more from them in the coming years. The Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller) tune Unseen Eye features the fine vocals and harmonica of Karl Cabbage. This track is from their self released, self produced, self titled 2010 EP. The band played at the San Diego Blues Festival on September 16th.

Sugar Ray and the Bluetones’ Severn records release is scheduled for October 12^th and it is a killer. The title track to this album, Evening, is one of my favorite T-Bone Walker tunes and that is sayin’ something. It is also one of my favorite slow blues as well. This album marks the return of the musical pairing between Norcia and “Monster” Mike Welch. This tune is typically not a vehicle for the harmonica although Norcia lends his fine harp work to the track which gives it a very smoky, dark atmospheric vibe.

Shawn Pittman’s 10^th album Edge of the World was released on May 17th. It is his Delta Groove Records debut. When I pointed out to Shawn that the song, That’s the Thing has a heavy Guitar Slim influence, he told me that’s exactly what he was shooting for. The album is full of originals, save one Howlin’ Wolf cover. In other tunes Pittman channels some Texas guitar icons like Johnny “Guitar” Watson and Jimmie Vaughan. Oh…and by the way, Pittman is a good vocalist who happens to play every instrument on the album except the horns.

Nick Curran is back with a vengeance. This hard driving retro rocker mixes both the blues with 60’s garage band sound for this 2010 release. Nick and his band the Lowlifes made their Eclecto Groove Records debut with Reform School Girl. Nick teams with Blaster Phil Alvin for the Alvin/Curran penned rocker Flyin’ Blind. Nick has been fighting throat cancer for the past year and half. He had a reoccurrence this past summer which took him back off the road. You remain in our thoughts Nick. (To contribute to help with Nick's medical expenses, donate via PayPal using the email nickykay77@yahoo.com)

Big Joe & the Dynaflows’ You Can’t Keep a Big Man Down is vocalist and drummer Big Joe Maher and company’s 2011 release on Severn Records. It is a first rate album. The song Nothin’ but Trouble is a Maher original and features the band’s guitarist, Rob McNelley laying down some tasty T-Bone Walker inspired licks. Pianist and organist Kevin McKendree, bassist Bill Campbell and sax man Dennis Taylor round out the lineup of this terrific east Coast band. Big Joe and the Dynaflows really know how to swing and this record is a fine example of that. 

Pieter “Big Pete” van der Pluijm is a young talent whose stock will surely be soaring after listeners get a chance to hear this record, which will be out October 18th. The Dutch vocalist and harmonica player makes his offial American solo album debut on Delta Groove Records. The album, entitled Choice Cuts, features special guests Johnny Dyer, Kim Wilson, Paul Oscher, Kid Ramos, Rusty Zinn, Rob Rio and others. I chose the Smokey Smothers tune I Got My Eyes on You featuring Al Blake on harmonica. The track also has a nice Alex Schultz guitar solo. Alex along with bassist Willie J.Campbell and drummer Jimi Bott make up the core band of this fine album.

The 44’s 2010 release entitled Boogie Disease is on Rip Cat records. The tune Pull My Strings is a greasy original that features the album’s producer Kid Ramos on guitar. Kid plays on four of the album’s nine tracks. The 44’s are guitarist and vocalist Johnny Main, bassist Mike Turturo, drummer Jason Lozano and harmonica player Tex Nakamura. If you live in the Southern California area, check out the 44’s with special guest Kid Ramos at the Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa. See World Class Blues in the O.C. in this month’s edition of BLUES JUNCTION.

Duke Robillard’s Low Down and Tore Up on Stony Plain Records came out on the 20^th of September. It is a terrific album that features Duke doing the old Tampa Red Song, Let me Play with Your Poodle. The Rhode Island based guitar player, songwriter and vocalist returns to his more traditional blues roots after last year’s more blues–rock oriented material. It is absolutely amazing to watch Duke’s career unfold as his recorded output is staggering in its quantity and yet he retains an incredibly high batting average.

The new album by Billy Watson and His International Silver String Submarine Band entitled sEecret 8: Blues for the Modern Frontier is, as you might suspect, the eighth album from this idiosyncratic musician. The album's opening track Oh My Darlin’ flies out of your speakers as if Billy Watson was wearing a jet pack. The album also features the album’s producer Nathan James on guitar. The entire album was recorded in the key of “E”. You know…the people’s key.

Kirk Fletcher is a guitarist who has been referenced numerous times in the pages of BLUES JUNCTION but hasn’t had a tune played on the jukebox until now. His take on the instrumental tune by Jesse Ed Davis, Natural Anthem is just one of many great tracks on his 2010 Delta Groove Records release, My Turn. This tune also features some very tasty slide work by Dave Melton. Another aspect of this record listeners will find interesting is that this young but already accomplished guitarist makes his singing debut.

Renegade, Lightnin’ Malcolm's: Featuring Cameron Kimbrough (aka Cambro) new album is a thirteen song collection of originals all written by Lightnin’ Malcolm. This summer release from Ruf Records sounds like J.B. Hutto on steroids. If you like your blues down and dirty this record is for you. I chose the tune So Many Women from this record. I am not a huge fan of the droning North Mississippi sound but I respect the dedication of this young man and the urgency in which he presents his music.

In honor of Oktoberfest, I thought I would play one of my favorite summer releases. It is by Germany’s own Andreas Arlt. Heck, it is an August and September fest around here when this record is on the turntable. Andreas steps away from his brother Michael and their band B.B. and the Blues Shacks for a moment to record this solo album entitled, All Time Favorites. This record came out this past month on Crosscut Records. One of my favorites from this album is Shotgun Wedding. This album can liven up any October fest celebration. Just add beer.

Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone’s May, 2011, release on Short Stack Records is a dark, hard driving, often disturbing blend of blues, rock beats and otherworldly rhythms. The title track, The Lord is Waiting and the Devil is Too is a song that won’t leave your head once it’s there and like much of the album, is dark but entertaining. Produced by Anders Osborn, this is easily the most profund and best album of Sansone’s career. It is definitely one you won’t forget. This song is mesmerizing with a raw beat and hard hitting lyrics: “The Lord is waiting/ and the devil is too/better find the Lord/before I find you”.

On September 20^th, Old Hat Records put out an extraordinary album entitled Barbeque any Old Time: Blues from the Pit 1927-1942. The compilation of recordings from this period traces the history of blues music and barbeque throughout the early part of the 20^th century. This generous helping of 24 tunes that have been expertly digitally remastered also includes a very informative and entertaining full color booklet that chronicles the spread of blues and barbeque across America. Included in this “for carnivores only” album are songs by Memphis Minnie, Blind Boy Fuller, Barbeque Bob and others but I chose the title track by Brownie McGhee.