Welcome to the November, 2016, edition of our feature driven, monthly on-line magazine for the discerning blues music fan.

With our national election going on in the background, what we do around here at times can seem awfully darn trivial. However, here at the JUNCTION we live to celebrate the American culture and its arts. More specifically we celebrate our music. When thought of in that context I don’t think our pursuit is the least bit trivial.   

One of the most moving experiences is listening to artists from all over the world who hold American music in the highest regard. This month as it turns out eight of the eleven selections which made the cut and are celebrated in our Recommended Listening feature are from cats from all over the globe. I didn’t set out to make that the case. It just turned out that way.

Here in the Western Hemisphere Brazil and Canada as well as the United States are represented in this feature. Europe weighs in with artists from the U.K., France, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Austria and Denmark. All made great contributions to the language of the blues.

I can’t think of a better way, other than a peaceful transition of power, to celebrate the American ideal. One of these great albums comes from a multi-national collaboration between Sao Paulo, Brazil’s Igor Prado and Raphael Wressnig of Austria. They made a spectacular album on the Chico Blues label entitled The Soul Connection which sits in our November Monthly Album Spotlight.

In last month’s Recommended Listening feature I came across an album by a French guitarist with whom I wasn’t familiar. Well that changed in a fat hurry when I heard this spectacular recording. I reached out to him and conducted an interview. His name is Thomas Hirsch and his band is known as Thom and the Tone Masters. That album, entitled Rhythm Shot, I love so much I just had to meet this man and share that discussion with our readers. This month's Monthly Artist Spotlight shines onThomas Hirsch.

Our Re-Visited feature looks at a bunch of old recordings by the indomitable Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm. These sides, which originally were released between 1956 and 1957 on the King/Federal label, were rounded up and put out by Charly Records from the U.K. in 1991. It is called Trailblazer and in my view represents some of the greatest sides from the great era of rhythm and blues.

While on the topic of “old noise” as Charlie Lange calls it, he put together a fine assemblage of the Re-Issue Rodeo. These are all single artist compilations and are all available at his Bluebeat Music website.

Thanks always to all of our readers who took the time and trouble to contact me with your thoughts on what you read here each and every month. It is great to hear from you all. I hope each and every one of you, especially here in America, has a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

As I visit with these dedicated musicians from around the world one thing remains a constant. The United States remains the envy of the world. Our culture, and yes even our government despite its problems, is looked upon with awe. Are we the greatest nation on earth? I don’t know, but for now, it’ll do. As always be well and be in touch.

-  David Mac