This enthusiastic and well played release features strong, natural vocals and dynamite band support on a wide ranging song list that covers such diverse artists as Wynona Carr and Pee Wee Crayton.  Wonderful fat horn arrangements featuring Denilson Martins offer a smooth ride for the songs and producer Rodrigo Mantovani keeps the groove throughout with his bass playing.  One of the many highlights is the duet with Wee Willie Walker on the Dee Clark classic, Nobody But You which retains the lazy lope of the original and a spirited cover of Christine Kittrell's Mr. Big Wheel. – C.L. 

Chris Ruest continues to make excellent traditional blues records and this could be his finest.  The disc features guests Knockout Greg on harmonica and Gene Taylor on piano throughout. Billy Bremmer guests on guitar for two songs and Marti Broom sings on another. Wes Race does a spoken word number to close out the album. The songs are mostly originals, but have a lived-in feel.  Chris has a strong unaffected voice and a guitar style that supports the songs perfectly. This is a good one. – C.L. 

For over two decades, James Hunter has recorded fresh and soulful sides with enthusiasm and conviction.  Whatever It Takes mines the pop/soul/blues groove of his previous Daptone release. This time he digs deeper into the late 60's production sounds that producer Bosco Mann has been mining for some of the Daptone artists over the past few Sharon Jones’ releases. For blues lovers there is a blistering guitar instrumental reminiscent of Johnny Guitar Watson...superb! – C.L. 

More "Contemporary" than "Contemporary Blues" the songs on The Sun Never Went Down were nearly all written on a five-string banjo, but it doesn't sound like music you would normally associate with that instrument. Besides banjo, the instrumentation includes bass (acoustic and electric, sometimes on the same track), voices, drums and percussion, brass and woodwinds, electric piano, and guitars. Plus, some other less easily identifiable sounds. These songs are not personal and address ideas about history, how it is remembered, recorded, and represented. Songs about memory, desire, and survival are featured here on this interesting album. – C.L. 

It is great to have Big Nick Moss back in the tribe. He left us for a while to explore the world of blues-rock. He has a new band of mostly young yet excellent players who speak the same blues language we so love around here at the JUNCTION. Featuring the harmonica stylings of modern master Dennis Gruenling, these two kindred spirits are on the verge of releasing their Alligator debut on March 9^th. The album was co-produced along with Moss by Kid Andersen. It was Andersen who engineered and mixed the album as well at his Greaseland Studios in San Jose. Special thanks to Tom Hyslop for getting this CD in my hands. It is Tom who wrote the liner notes for this wonderful release. -D.M. 

The Teacher’s Rules is the second album released by this veteran guitarist and vocalist who hails from Brazil. This 2017 Chico Blues Records release somehow had eluded my ears…until now. Better late than never and I’m happy to say this recording is a real revelation. Ferreira is an exceptional guitarist and vocalist. His singing might put one in mind of Sugar Ray Norcia and that, of course, is a major compliment. Covers and originals are split right down the middle on this fine program which mines the Texafornia blues sounds I enjoy so much.  Instrumentals and vocal tracks mix nicely in this wonderful set that also features excellent band support. This is a real winner and comes highly recommended.  – D.M. 

It’s been a while since we last heard from the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, native and long-time Austin, Texas, resident.  This pink paisley Telecaster slinging red head has a brand new 2018 release The Ice Queen. The Ice Queen is a wonderful twelve song look into the heart of an extremely gifted individual who, for the first time in a long time, harnesses that talent in a very compelling way.  Congratulations go out to Holger Petersen of Stony Plain Music, producer Mike Flanigin and of course to the Ice Queen herself, the incomparable Sue Foley. Welcome back. -D.M.

David Kiefer (AKA San Pedro Slim) has always written songs that reflect the urban reality of life today with sometimes humorous, sometimes biting lyrics. This new set features some real gems from the laconic Valentine’s Day at the Motel 6 to the low down Low Pay Loser Blues. All but one of the 12 songs are originals with producer Kenny Huff contributing No Overtime.  The sound is modern blues-based backed up with solid contributions from guitarist Joe Conde and keyboardist Mike Malone. – C.L.  (For more on David Kiefer, see the feature entitled Monthly Artist Spotlight.)   

This collaborative effort between seasoned veterans of the Chicago blues scene captures today's best players showcasing their craft in a traditional session of originals.  Featuring Steve Freund, Tad Robinson and Ken Saydak, Back To Chicago captures a three-day session produced by Dick Shurman in late 2017. The results are wonderful. Each of these artists have had long careers in blues and their playing shows it. Never overplayed, with vocals shared equally throughout the set, this is how it should be done. - C.L. 

This, the second album for Victor Puertas & The Mellow Tones, is a gigantic leap forward for this talented Barcelona based band. This ensemble led by vocalist, harmonica player and pianist Victor Puertas reveals that they have a deep understanding, sensitivity and respect for the blues form and the talent to express themselves in this language. An album’s worth of covers is sandwiched between two Puertas originals. The covers have the band traveling all over the blues highway. They interpret songs by everybody from Junior Wells and Little Walter to The 5 Royales and from Dave Bartholomew to Elmore James and J.B. Lenoir. Highly recommended… - D.M.                                               

On Blow Your Cool, harp man, vocalist, songwriter and band leader Paul Barry taps into the swinging sound associated with the modern West Coast blues scene. He gets lots of help from Californians pianist Fred Kaplan and fellow harmonica man Mitch Kashmar. Long time Minnesota resident Wee Willie Walker guests as well and his outstanding vocals can be heard on four tracks here. Saint Paul based blues stalwart Jeremy Johnson handles all the guitar duties. This one is a real winner. (for a complete CD review see our Monthly Album Spotlight feature in this edition of BLUES JUNCTION) -D.M. 

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