Welcome to the November edition of BLUES JUNCTION. We again share with our loyal readers several brand new features, interviews and recommended listening via our Jukebox at the JUNCTION. This month we have ten songs loaded into our jukebox from ten brand new blues albums.

One of those songs comes from an album entitled My New Blues by Big Chico. This talented Brazilian is in the November Monthly Artist Spotlight.

I conducted an interview a couple of weeks ago with a young Canadian, JW-Jones, prior to his first ever performances in Southern California. Since that conversation JW and his fine band took the Southland by storm and finally let us west coasters in on what the rest of the world seemingly has been hip to for some time and that is that he is not only a top flight blues recording artist, but a first rate live performer. Kudos go out to Cadillac Zack and Art Martel for getting JW and his band up on the stage for four dates throughout the Southland.

My homework in preparation of my interview with JW included re-visiting his seven album catalogue of music. While listening to one of his records (homework is so fun these days), I glanced at some of the liner notes that are part of these album packages. One set of notes was written by JW’s fellow Canadian, Dan Aykroyd. November, 2013, marks the 30^th anniversary of the release of the album on Atlantic Records entitled Briefcase Full of Blues by The Blues Brothers. In the past thirty years there has been a raging debate surrounding this act as to whether their entry to the blues almanac is a positive contribution or a grotesque misrepresentation of this art form. I look forward to hearing from our rather astute readers on this topic. In the meantime, I have some personal reflections and thoughts on the entertainment institution known as The Blues Brothers.

From Brazil to Canada, I take you to another country, Texas. OK, it is one of the 50 U.S. states; I know that. “It’s Like a Whole Other Country” is after all the Texas Convention and Visitors bureau's official slogan. Texas is the size of France. It used to be a country. If you have ever driven through the state or lived there for a decade as I did, you sometimes have to remind yourself that this is not its own country and is just one of the 50 states. I, however, wouldn’t make it a point to remind a Texan of this fact. Texas does have some of the greatest people, food, college football and music anywhere. I always have a great deal of affection for Texas and so it was with great joy I hooked up with Austin, Texas’ own Eddie Stout. Eddie is the founder and president of Dialtone Records. Enjoy a conversation I had with Eddie a couple of weeks ago. I think you will agree his story is compelling.

While visiting Texas, I thought it might be fun to put back on the top shelf an essay I wrote some time back on the history of Houston Blues. Some of the artists Eddie Stout has brought to the attention of the public, including Little Joe Washington, Milton Hopkins, Jewel Brown and Earl Gilliam, have been mainstays on the Houston scene for decades. I don’t know how professional it is to play favorites, but I have to be candid and tell you this essay I pulled out of the archive section of our site entitled Big Blues in the Big H is a piece that is very close to my heart. 

I always get a big kick out of hearing from musicians on topics that are near and dear to their heart. Few things stimulate as much passion as discussions involving gear. San Diego, California, based blues guitarist Pete Fazzini, of the band Red Lotus Revue has some thoughts on blues and gear. A reasonable facsimile of this essay originally appeared on one of those blues Facebook groups. It was deemed so controversial that the post was taken down immediately. I reasoned what better place to share some well written, intelligent thoughts than BLUES JUNCTION. Thanks Pete for this contribution.

Thanks always for all the support. I love hearing from our readers. I love the fact that y’all (woops) are as opinionated and as passionate about this beautiful art form that we celebrate each and every month here at BLUES JUNCTION as I am. Be well and be in touch.

- David Mac