Billie and the Kids are a loosely knit, eight piece ensemble of very talented musicians from the Zagreb Republic of Croatia. They are fronted by vocalist Ana Klabucar. She is a 26 year old chanteuse who imbibes this New Orleans style rhythm & blues exploration with all the energy and excitement that this music deserves. This seventeen song dance party has no less than ten originals all written by the band’s musical director and double bass player, Jurica Stelma. One of my favorites from this album is their take on the old Big Maybelle tune, I’ve Got A Feeling. If you enjoyed the other two 2015 releases on Rhythm Bomb Records by Nico Duportal & His Rhythm Dudes and Jai Malano (backed by Nico and said Dudes) this might be your cup of tea. – D.M.

April 28^th was the release date of their eighth album, Holding Court. The album lives up to, and even in many ways exceeds, the expectations of this long time fan of the CBK. This is the band’s third album on Blind Pig Records and represents the crowning achievement to this trilogy. Holding Court continues the CBK tradition of great ensemble playing in the relaxed style of the Memphis and Chicago post war blues bands of the late 40’s and 50’s.  This album sits in our Monthly Album Spotlight with a full review.  –D.M.

This is one of the great releases from 1968 on DELMARK. This expanded re-issue features five additional tracks and a sixteen page booklet with never before seen photos and goodies. This album features a great band which includes Lee Jackson, JR Pettis and Dave Myers along with special guest Sunnyland Slim on piano and organ. – C.L.

The J.B. HUTTO reissue fest continues with yet another release. These recordings come from a session in London in the late 70's. Hutto is his usual boisterous self with aggressive guitar and raw and direct vocals. There is one live cut from the 100 Club as well as some early singles from Johnny Littlejohn including the wonderful Bloody Tears On My Pillow. This marvelous set has been re-mastered and is making its very first appearance on CD. – C.L.

The upcoming sophomore release by Big Jon Atkinson is a wonderful step forward from this young blues mega-talent. His terrific debut CD, released one year ago, Boogie With You Baby,was also on Bluebeat Music. I gave that CD a full review and it received my highest recommendation. Atkinson’s new CD is even better. Back Down South again continues the tradition of the young, but already accomplished multi-instrumentalist and terrific singer playing straight ahead natural blues. This time out he shows off his abilities as a song writer. This album is given a full review here in the May edition of our ezine. – D.M.

Tad Robinson’s recordings always straddle the line between blues and soul and this new release falls squarely in the modern soul bag. Lush arrangements, stellar, soulful playing from a cast of guitar heavyweights (Anson Funderburgh, Johnny Moeller and Alex Schultz) and wonderful production from label boss David Earl make this a record not to miss. The twelve track digi-pack explores the depths of Tad's remarkable gift of expression through song in a collection described as, "personal reflections on the way we connect, love and remember." – C.L.

“Hey Mac this sounds more like a jazz album.” Damn right it does and it sounds great. Yeah, I know, I get pegged as some kind of blues purist, but the truth is I have nothing against any kind of music unless...you know, it sucks. I will also confess to a deep love of jazzy blues and bluesy jazz and that is what this album all about. The instrumental tenor sax/organ/drum trio album is the perfect marriage of jazz and blues. As the excellent liner notes written by Bob Porter point out, “... jazz means different things to different people...” For Gordon this means Gene Ammons, Willis “Gator Tail” Jackson and Arnett Cobb amongst others. On this late 2014 release, Gordon again goes over the pond to find the right musicians to suit his muse of the moment.  We have a full review of this outstanding release here in the current edition of BLUES JUNCTION. – D.M.

This fourteen song collection came from the long gone “Blues Unplugged” concert series held in The Karen and Richard Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the campus of California State University at Long Beach. These shows featured four separate acts performing solo in mostly acoustic settings. The show would also feature various combinations of the four artists sometimes playing supporting roles to one another. This CD follows that same format. This was the perfect setting for Alvin to interpret his own material. One of my favorites is Dry River. Alvin’s homage to that long vein of concrete known as the San Gabriel River, which is only blue on a map, is even more poignant today. Alvin, the steely eyed realist and optimistically hopeless romantic all rolled into one, paints word pictures better than any songwriter who comes to mind. – D.M.

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