Welcome to the June, 2022, edition of BLUES JUNCTION. We left you for a while and for that I am very sorry. WE MOVED! That’s right after coming to you from the “Little Word Factory by the Sea” for the past twelve years, we are now “publishing” from Atascadero, California. Don’t worry, I didn’t know where it was either. Hell, I’m not even sure how to spell it. It is a charming little farming community between San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles in California’s Central Coast. The main agricultural yield in this part of the state is grapes. It is about 200 miles north of Huntington Beach. It is exactly halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Our new mailing address is:

BLUES JUNCTION Productions
7343 El Camino Real, Suite 327
Atascadero, CA 934322-4697

I might elaborate further on this recent move but for now, I’ll stick to the music. After all, it isn’t about me. It’s about this glorious, classic American music and the people who create it and give our lives such joy. Plus, we have some catching up to do. Let’s get to it.

I’ll start out by directing your attention to some new recordings which caught my attention. Veteran songwriter, guitar player and singer Mighty Mike Schermer has a brand-new album out entitled Just Getting Good and it’s a beauty. Its not a blues album, but it is OK to say so out loud and tell you I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Big Creek Slim & Rodrigo Mantovani have a new album out as well. These gentlemen are two of my favorite musicians to have emerged in the new millennium. Stone In My Heart is the second collaborative album between these two consummate bluesmen.

The Phantom Blues Band is back with Blues for Breakfast. It is an adult portion of soul. This album drops on July 4^th, coinciding with the band’s performance at the Waterfront Blues Festival, in Portland, Oregon. These albums are the newest entries in our ongoing Recommended Listening Feature. Additionally, Blues for Breakfast sits in our Monthly Album Spotlight.

Bassist Rodrigo Mantovani is in our Monthly Artist Spotlight. Enjoy an interview I conducted with the uber-talented blues man around the same time he recorded Stone In My Heart in the fall of 2019.

On June 21^st, we celebrate the Summer Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere. At least I do and in doing so will no doubt be spinning my favorite versions of the song Summertime.  I will discuss this in a piece I call…you guessed it Summertime. I even share with you my favorite versions of the song. What would BLUES JUNCTION be without a Dave’s Top Ten List?

This month we also observe one of those “Hallmark” holidays called Father’s Day. For various cultural and social reasons, it is not as big of a deal as Mother’s Day. If you will allow me a little editorial leeway…maybe that is as it should be.  Be that as it may, I have a Father’s Day story that I hope you will enjoy.

Enjoy these and other features in this edition of BLUES JUNCTION.

I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t update our readers on Konstantin Kolesnichenko. He is the Ukrainian harmonica player whose music our readers have become familiar with over the past seven years or so. I am very glad to report that as of 6/6/22 he is doing as well as can be expected. He is carrying on as usual despite air raid sirens and only occasional rocket attacks in his hometown of Dnipro. He is selling some original artwork online and directing 100% of the proceeds to the Ukrainian Military to fight off the Russian’s who have attacked their country.

We purchased this print on 6/6/22 and plan to hang it prominently in our new home. It will serve as a daily reminder of how fortunate we are 1) to have such talented friends; 2) that my country isn’t under attack by Putin and the Russian army; and 3) to have Muddy watching over us.

As Konstantin puts it.

“Most of you don’t know me personally, but you know me as a Ukrainian harmonica player. All planet is watching how my country is fighting against Russia. Many of you have offered me money. Me and my family don’t need money, but our army does. Recently PayPal allowed Ukrainian residents to receive money. So, if you want to help, you can send your donations to my PayPal account and I’ll forward them to the official foundations or volunteers who helps our army.

My paypal is: wheel.k@gmail.com

Any amount is much appreciated. Many thanks to all who have already donated. You are in my heart forever!

Ukraine is not a rich country, so Civilian support is necessary for the military’s success.

Ukraine has made great strides around better equipping its military, modernizing, but it’s pretty obvious we still do need this kind of crowdfunded support. Ukrainian resistance is built on the backs of our army, volunteers and our partners support from the peoples of the world.                                     

Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes! Glory to Ukrainian Army!”

It is good to be back and I look forward to renewing our association.

When I begin my day (like I did today) by visiting with Konstantin it puts the rest of my day in perspective. I might be a little sore from moving boxes around and unpacking but I’m not being awakened by air raid sirens and rocket attacks. Konstantin’s casual, unassuming courage is very moving.

I look forward to hearing from you and catching up on my correspondences to you. In the meantime, be well and be in touch.

- David Mac