Eddie Stout strikes again. That’s right the impresario of Austin’s historic Eastside is at it again infecting our ear holes with down home, straight ahead blues from the other side of town. While Austin gained notoriety decades ago for its influx of white blues men, many of the highest caliber mind you, a blues scene had already been percolating on the other side of the tracks or in this case I-35. Stout and his Dialtone Records have acted a like a modern day Lomax and continue to record musicians who heretofore were unknown outside of their own stomping grounds. This brand new release gathers up bluesmen Pee Wee Calvin, Soul Man Sam, Bobby Gilmore, Mac McIntosh, Ray Reed, Jabo and Birdlegg. They take us to a back yard BBQ and foam. This stuff is cooler than an ice house “tall boy.” Highly recommended...  – D.M.                                                                                                                           

From Sweden comes this all star band with players from some of the best European blues bands of the past decade.  Fredrik Von Werder, from Knockout Greg & Blue Weather, now playing with Trickbag, Tommy Moberg from Trickbag and The Beat From Palookaville as well as Thomas Grahn and Claes Parmland from the now disbanded Blues Downtown are featured here. A strong down home blues sound with faithful covers of Sonny Boy, Billy The Kid Emerson, Jerry McCain and Arthur Gunther among others are featured here. – C.L.

This brand new 2017 offering from Southern Routes Records is the best Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm compilation ever. This 28 track R&B bonanza was compiled by Charlie Lange. Here Charlie pulls material from those formative Memphis and Saint Louis years of Turner’s career. Great vocalists abound including Billy Gayles, Jackie Brentson, Clayton Love, Houston Boines and others. They are placed next to great artists who would soon break out on their own and become big stars in their own right in the blues field including Elmore James, Bobby Bland, Little Milton and Howlin’ Wolf. The playing here has a fierce intensity that had roadhouses roaring in the 1950’s. This music would soon be given a new name...rock&roll.  – D.M.

This could be one of the best compilations of the unique post war California R&B sound available. While it mines the obscure and un-reissued recordings from this period, all the performances are solid and embody the best of California jump blues. The disc starts with the horn heavy traditional jazzy R&B sound of the early years and quickly moves into the more up tempo ensemble sound that turned into rock&roll. A big bonus on this disc is the numerous recordings of both Teddy Bunn and Chuck Norris, most of which have never been reissued. Their jazzy distorted sounds add real flavor to the proceedings and drive the songs along. Taken from impossibly rare 78 rpm releases this set is a real winner. – C. L.                                                                     

Don Bryant began his secular career fronting Willie Mitchell’s band in West Memphis in the late 60's. Long before Willie's golden touch made hits with Al Green, Otis Clay, Syl Johnson and others, the Four Kings were a staple of the Memphis nightlife with Don in the lead spot. In the early 70's he met and married Ann Peebles and had kids, all the while writing songs including the smash hit I Can't Stand the Rain. At 74, Bryant still has a muscular and nuanced voice. The band and production do a lot to give this record some real punch. They say everything old is new again and this wonderful record is a real gem not to be missed.  – C.L.  Editor’s note: Also available on VINYL

The Kokomo Kings first release Artificial Natural was a favorite here at Bluebeat Music for over a year. With the flood of releases we listen to that is a real accomplishment and this second release promises more of the same. Featuring Martin Abrahamson and Harmonica Sam and the always tasteful Ronni Busack Boyson on guitar this up tempo romp of rockin’ blues and rock & roll shows they still have what it takes. The musicianship is first rate and the songs have a sly, insinuating message that carries the performances beyond "just ok" – C.L.

If you put vocalist Oscar Wilson in front of an all-star Chicago blues band, what do you call it? The Cashbox Kings would be a perfectly acceptable answer. However, this time you’d be wrong. It is simply an Oscar Wilson solo album entitled One Room Blues. This Airway Records release, which was co-produced by label owner and tenor sax man Sam Burckhardt along with the ubiquitous guitar virtuoso, Joel Paterson, is a beauty. Paterson and Burckhardt are joined on the bandstand by organist and piano player Pete Benson as well as upright bassist Beau Sample. Drummer and recording engineer Alex Hall rounds out the band. They took some very familiar blues tunes out for a ride and in the process found head room in some old favorites. Wilson was up to the task, as he breathes new life into some blues classics. (For a complete review of this album see our Monthly Album Spotlight.)  - D. M.

On their first album Gone to Main Street this Italian based quartet played faithful renditions of early post war Chicago electric blues. Here they expand that conversation to include an old B.B. King number and even four originals that add a little West Coast jump and swing to the mix. It is a big leap forward for these dedicated practitioners of the form. Recorded over two days in February of this year Jesus On A Tortilla records the old fashioned way and the results are a shining example as to why that music is timeless. Jesus On A Tortilla is comprised of Lorenzo “Mumbles” Alai on harmonica and vocals, Kevin “Blind Lemon” Clementi on guitar, double bassist Massimilino “Ximi” Chiara and drummer Matteo “Shuffle” Ferrario. Special guest Henry Carpaneto’s piano is a very welcome addition to the proceedings.  – D.M.

Double Strike is clearly a transitional album for Andy T. His longtime vocalist and fellow musical companion Nick Nixon is retiring though he sings on six of the album’s thirteen tracks. However, without missing a beat, (pun definitely intended) Alabama Mike steps up to the mic and delivers the goods. The album’s co-producer, along with Andy T, is fellow guitarist and occasional collaborator Anson Funderburgh. Anson’s guitar plays a larger role here than on previous collaborations. They are joined by the Texas Horns of Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff on tenor sax, Al Gomez on trumpet and John Mills on baritone. This great ensemble leads listeners through a very satisfying program of mostly original blues. – D.M.

Veteran blues man Chris Cain's sound has often been compared to that of B.B. King. If you are a blues singer and guitarist that is never a bad thing. However, on this brand new Little Village Foundation release, Cain brings so much more to the session. Not only does Cain play his guitar evoking the sounds of Guitar Slim and Albert King, but plays piano on several tracks and alto sax on another. Produced by Kid Andersen and Jim Pugh, this might be the best album of Cain’s long career. He is joined by Pugh on organ as well as the rhythm section of bassist Larry Taylor and drummer Tony Braunagel. This release is a real winner. – D.M.

This self titled album comes from the next generation of Austin, Texas, blues men. These are all accomplished veteran players mind you who have kept this famous music town's blues flame burning while that town has exploded into a Texas sized version of its former self. The Keller brothers, Mike (guitar) and Corey (drums), are joined by guitarist Willie Pipkin , bassist Johnny Bradley and vocalist/harp man Greg Izor. If you like the Little Elmore Reed Blues Band or the music of Greg Izor, you will love The Peacemakers. The Peacemakers present some real low-down blues played the straight natural way – D. M.

This is the third album released by the German guitarist and vocalist in the last few years. 2014’s Electric Blues and 2015’s I Go By Feel were guest heavy preludes to this year’s offering. On Getting Personal Strauss does just that as he handles most of the vocal duties himself and wrote most of the material heard here. He comes out of the shoot with a decidedly contemporary sound, presumably to appeal to all the lame blues D.J.’s in the world before settling down into some nice grooves. Sax Gordon makes great contributions to this fine offering. – D.M.

This June 30^th   release is The Cash Box Kings’ (CBK) debut on Alligator Records. Don’t worry CBK fans it is still a great album. The recording hasn’t been Igularized or whatever you call that label’s “house sound” which is the bane of blues music fans everywhere. This great Chicago blues collective is led by vocalist Oscar Wilson and harp man/vocalist Joe Nosek. This band just keeps getting better with each recording and demonstrates that traditional Chicago blues can have a contemporary edge to it and swing at the same time. We will have more on the CBK and their new album in the July edition of BLUES JUNCTION. Congratulations to Alligator Records for putting out a traditional blues album.   – D.M.

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