Direct from Norway to my ears comes the latest CD by the exceptionally talented and accomplished guitarist, Håkon Høye. As a member of the two-time Norwegian Grammy-decorated Billy T Band, as well as owner of Big H Records established in 2007, it's fair to say that “Hawk” knows a thing or two about fashioning great music. Nights at the Surf Motel is his 2nd solo release, which explores darkly soulful, swamp rock grooves that permeate with savory elements of blues, gospel, soul and R&B. Håkon's sinewy, slinky guitar lines weave throughout reflecting inspiration from sources such as Pops Staples, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Jimmie Vaughan and Rick Holmstrom. – JSF  

Over the past several years, Johnny Burgin has emerged as a real talent in the blues world. He has put out one interesting and enjoyable recording after another. This 50-year-old, former University of Chicago student learned his craft from some of the blues masters from the Windy City. Here Johnny Burgin is doing what he does best and that is play the straight natural blues with a decidedly Chicago feel. Back in January of this year Burgin performed at the Redwood Café in Northern California. He played with his regular rhythm section of bassist Chris Matheos and drummer Steve Dougherty. They were joined by some real bay area-based heavyweights like Kid Andersen, Aki Kumar, Nancy Wright, Rae Gordon and Charlie Musselwhite. This fourteen-song performance of all original material released on the Delmark label is a beauty. 

If you’re not already hip to Italian blues guitarist Breezy Rodio, his newest CD is as good a place as any to start digging into his music. If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It is Breezy’s second solo release for Delmark Records. Here we find him confidently flexing his songwriting chops on eight of the album's sixteen tracks. Flashes of B.B. King, Albert Collins, T-Bone Walker and Albert King echo throughout Check out the song Dear Blues for an example of all four. There are a lot of familiar faces on board to join in on the fun too, including Monster Mike Welch, Kid Andersen and Quique Gómez, as well as label mate Corey Dennison.  – JSF 

From Italy to my doorstep comes the third release, What Is Wrong with You?, by the Saronno-based Jesus on a Tortilla. Led by vocalist/harmonica player Lorenzo “Mumbles” Albai, Jesus on a Tortilla represents one of the more recent additions to the Italian blues scene. Established in 2011, these gentlemen's passion and dedication for the golden era of Chicago blues is evident throughout the grooves found on their latest CD, which features six self-penned originals tucked alongside classic material from the songbooks of Jimmy Rogers, Elmore James, Lee Jackson, Sonny Boy Williamson and Smokey Smothers among others. - JSF 

Live, No Jive represents the crackling synergy between West Coast blues harmonica titan Mitch Kashmar and Germany’s own houserockin’ trio, the Blues & Boogie Kings. For years these guys have been Mitch’s go-to band of choice whenever he tours Europe and the results etched into the grooves of this silver souvenir platter speak volumes to all the miles they’ve obviously logged together. Pianist Niels von der Leyen knocks out pounding boogies, guitarist Jan Hirte coaxes swinging blues licks off his fretboard, and drummer Andreas Bock keeps things shuffling and grooving along nicely, each collectively providing all the necessary support and inspiration for Mitch to effortlessly strut his stuff in style. An excellent setlist laced with tight arrangements round out this can't miss release. Get it! – JSF 

The album’s title 25 Years of House Rockin’ Rhythm’ N’ Blues! might lead some fans to think that this is some kind of career retrospective, compilation or a rehashing of older material. It isn’t. It is all brand new, original material which is a celebration of what makes this Stockholm, Sweden, based ensemble of international musicians so good. In the blues rich part of the planet known as Scandinavia, trickbag has emerged as heavyweight champions. 25 Years of Houserockin’ Rhythm’ N’ Blues! is the knockout punch that proves this point. This album receives my highest recommendation and is a very serious candidate for the 2019 BLUES JUNCTION Productions Album of the Year. 

This, their second offering on the Rhythm Bomb record label, is something very special. It, as the album title implies, is a celebration of the band’s 30^th Anniversary and on Dirty Thirty they celebrate in grand style. This release, which will be enjoying a December 13^th street date, is a beautiful three-disc package. The first two CDs are complete previously released albums. They are 2012’s Come Along and the 2014 release Businessmen from their days at Crosscut Records days. Both these two CDs have a bonus track of a previously unreleased song. The third disc is made up of brand-new recordings of old Blues Shacks tunes. It also includes four brand new songs written by the brothers, Andreas and Michael “Maddy” Arlt. 

This collection of vintage instrumental, guitar-centric covers of songs from the Beatles' catalog features the guitarist's signature blend of vintage jazz, exotica, blues, rockabilly, western swing and country. Here Paterson uses classic Beatles songs as a sonic template for this mid-century musical journey. Recorded in Chicago at Reliable Recorders and at Paterson's home studio, Let It Be Guitar! features Joel on guitar, pedal steel, and lap steel; Beau Sample on bass; Alex Hall on drums; and Chris Foreman on Hammond B3 organ. - C.L. 

This two-disc 29 song package is a three decades long career retrospective with a twist. There are 21 previously unreleased tracks. All of the recordings on Al Blake’s XX Large Bag of Blues Volume 1 feature Blake in solo, duo and trio settings. You, of course, can hear Al sing, play guitar and harmonica. He is joined by Fred Kaplan, the titan of the blues piano, as well as world renowned, blues harmonica master Kim Wilson on a handful of tracks. Here Wilson lends some of the tastiest harp playing in his long and distinguished career. One song features the exceptional country blues guitar of Nathan James. This package comes with a twelve-page booklet with liner notes written by yours truly and a complete song by song annotated discography by Al Blake. 

Rick Estrin is on the short list of greatest harmonica players in the world. He is also on that same list as a songwriter. Intelligence, irony and wit are his calling cards and he deals them with deft precision on Contemporary. His band, The Nightcats, remains one of the premier blues ensembles working today. They put Estrin’s material in a smart, sophisticated, uptown urban package that is distinctive. Fresh, creative and rooted in decades old blues traditions is the brand that Rick Estrin & the Nightcats have created and they remain the genres' most consistent practitioners.

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