Kim Wilson’s October, 2017, release Blues and Boogie is easily his best studio effort since1997’s My Blues. Here, Wilson sheds the baggage of his recent soul-pop-blues offerings under The Fabulous Thunderbirds banner and gets down to what he does best which, as the album’s name implies, is straight ahead natural blues…and boogie. This Severn Records release features a cadre of blues heavyweights and includes the late Barrelhouse Chuck on piano and the world’s greatest blues drummer, who we also lost just a couple of years ago, Richard Innes. Recorded at Nathan James' Sacred Cat Studios in Oceanside, California, this one is a real winner. 

This album has been something that fans of Jimmie Vaughan have been looking forward to for some time and it doesn’t disappoint. The fact that it was decided to put out a live record was, in my mind, a brilliant move. Live at C-Boy’s really captures a moment in time and puts listeners in an atmospheric setting that is vintage cool and vintage Vaughan…which of course is the same thing. Vaughan is actually a regular special guest with the B3 player Mike Flanigin and part of his trio which also included the legendary drummer Barry “Frosty” Smith, who passed away earlier this year. He has been playing in Austin with these two musicians for a few years now when he isn’t on the road with his own Tilt-A-Whirl band. These three give listeners a peek into an eight-song groove fest that reeks of low down blues with an uptown feel.

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 also plays piano on several tracks and alto sax on another. Produced by Kid Andersen and Jim Pugh, this is 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. It is this band that Cain is bringing to The Doheny Blues Festival later this month. 

After wading into the shallow waters of blues-rock John Nemeth is back and doing what he does best. That is singing a soulful brand of blues. This time he is fronting a nine- piece band known as The Love Light Orchestra.  It is a wonderful fit for the talents of Nemeth who sounds right at home singing in the style of Bobby Bland, Little Junior Parker and B.B. King. Recorded Live at the Bar DKDC in Memphis, this album is as refreshing and it is fun. The band's trumpeter says that the band's overall sound is inspired by Bobby Bland’s arranger Joe Scott. The entire band will be performing with Nemeth at this year’s Doheny Blues Festival.                                                                                                                                                 

Nikki Hill along with her guitar slinging husband Matt Hill, has been in almost constant touring mode for the past few years. This studio album sounds like it is a byproduct of their live performance sensibilities and flows like a well-crafted set list. The engineer of this runaway party train is Nikki Hill who wrote nine of the eleven songs on the CD. Nikki’s voice, which has an innocent, almost childlike charm, stands in sharp contrast to the dangerous assault Matt is applying to his instrument. The youthful urgency of her delivery is on full display here. One rocker after another comes at the listener at a frantic pace with all the zeal, energy and excitement that the Hills have been dishing out to live audiences night after night all over the world.         

Franchi is an emerging young star in the blues field. He has grown by leaps and bounds since coming onto the scene a few years ago. By way of illustrating this, and if you will excuse an over simplification, he has gone from being a Stevie Ray Vaughan devote to being a Jimmie Vaughan devotee. If he was able to connect those dots and make that leap, than Franchi has demonstrated a whole new level of sophistication and maturity in communicating in the language of the blues…not an easy thing to do. Anson Funderburgh produced this 13-track program and even plays lead guitar on two songs. Franchi will make his Doheny Blues Festival debut later this month.    

Nathan James latest release is a self-produced gem.  Featuring 100% original material and a guest list that includes James Harman and Kim Wilson, the recordings are unique and cover similar territory to the work of Jeff Turmes or James Harman.  Insightful and witty, with a prominent role for the B3 organ throughout, the format is bluesy without being traditional blues. – C.L. 

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