1) John Long Stand Your Ground Delta Groove Music

It has been said that the blues is the aquifer which feeds all the tributaries of American music. By presenting blues music in a straight, naturalistic way, John Long demonstrates this concept with the crystalline clarity of a fresh mountain stream. Elements of gospel, country, folk balladry and even sounds reminiscent of the singing cowboy traditions of the west come shining through in his music. The irony is by not making concessions towards the marketplace of mediocrity and by simply standing his ground, John Long has created music which has something for just about anybody. Wonderful contributions to this album are bassist Big Bill Stuve, pianist Fred Kaplan and master of the brushes Washington Rucker. This album from Delta Groove Music represents some of the finest country blues heard in decades. (For a full album review visit the archive section of our site.)

2) Raphael Wressnig & Igor Prado The Soul Connection             Chico Blues Records

This Chico Blues CD release is part of a multi-media offering by the 38 year old Austrian master of the Hammond B3 organ and Brazilian guitar phenom Igor Prado. Wressnig considers himself a multi-genre artist and that pretty much describes the music on The Soul Connection. Blues, jazz, funk and soul get stirred up into a tasty gumbo of groove. Vocalists Wee Willie Walker, David Hudson and Leon Beale all take turns between tasty instrumental workouts by Wressnig and Prado. The band is comprised of the rhythm section of the Igor Prado Band which is brother Yuri on drums and Rodrigo Mantovani on bass. As always, they are superb. Frequent collaborator, “Sax” Gordon Beadle, handles tenor duties and does all the horn arrangements. (For a full album review visit the archive section of our site.)  

3) Mitch Kashmar West Coast Toast Delta Groove Music 

West Coast Toast represents the triumphant return to the studio for the consummate blues musician Mitch Kashmar. It also signals the latest triumph from Delta Groove Music. This is their third release of 2016 and continues a marvelous trend, following on the heels of their stunning spring offering from John Long and the tremendous collaboration between Big Jon Atkinson and Bob Corritore. The album also features the fine musicianship of the legendary Junior Watson on guitar, Bill Stuve on bass along with the dean of the west coast blues piano Fred Kaplan and drummer Marty Dodson. Mitch Kashmar’s West Coast Toast is a masterpiece. (For a full album review visit the archive section of our site.)

4) The James Hunter Six Hold On! Daptone Records

Under the banner of The James Hunter Six, the guitarist and vocalist offers up ten brand new, original songs. Is this any way for a revivalist to behave?  The band inhabits this material with the same natural grace as their leader. They are drummer Jonathan Lee who is enjoying his twentieth anniversary with Hunter, bassist Jason Wilson, while on piano and organ is Andrew Kingslow. The sax section consists of Lee Badau on baritone and Damian Hand on tenor.  Hunter has explosive chops on the guitar which he often unleashes in a somewhat quirky and unorthodox manner. He seems to harness his talent and makes the right choices for each tune. With Hunter it is all part of the unique tapestry that imbues Hold On! with a continual stream of musical ideas which are simply a lot of fun. Subsequently, this record doesn’t sound like just another guitar centric romp down memory lane. Hold On! feels like James Hunter is driving a 1960 Jaguar XKE convertible on a brand new highway on his way to meet a beautiful woman. (For a full album review visit the archive section of our site.)

5) Sugar Ray and the Bluetones Seeing is Believing Severn Records

The seminal blues band of our time and space delivers with the consistency of a Donald Trump Tweet.  Now thirty five years down the road, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones remind us what it is about blues music we love. Seeing is Believing is filled with great story telling delivered with the urgency, potency and panache of true masters of the form. Sugar Ray Norcia is on everyone’s list as one of the premier singers and harp players of his generation. Joined once again by the Bluetones who are Anthony Geraci on piano and Hammond organ, drummer Neil Govin and bassist Michael “Mudcat” Ward as well as “Monster” Mike Welch on guitar, this represents the longest running line-up in the blues field. Seeing is Believing is a worthy addition to the band’s prodigious catalogue and a must have for any real blues fan. Highly recommended...(for an in depth interview with Sugar Ray Norcia as well as the band’s keyboard player Anthony Geraci visit the archive section of our site)

6) Thom and the Tone Masters Rhythm Shot

French guitarist Thom Hirsch, whom I’ve never met, made an album specifically for me. That probably isn’t the case since well...we’ve never met. Yet Rhythm Shot sure sounds like it. This all instrumental affair features some of my favorite sounds, swinging guitar blues with, as the album title implies, a big shot of rhythm. Hirsch, of The Blues Eaters fame, with whom he recorded four albums, released this, his first project outside that group in 2016.  It has some great covers which include a couple of Mickey Baker numbers, tunes by Earl Hooker and Pee Wee Crayton and even a Nick Curran favorite, Stompin’ at the Fort. The band even visits the world of Ellingtonia for an exciting rendition of Things Ain’t What They Used To Be. These go along with some Hirsch originals. Hirsch and this fine band demonstrate a real feel for American music. I now own a brand new album that has eleven songs and forty three minutes of my all-time favorite music. Thanks my friend. Au revoir...or until we meet again...for the first time... (for an interview with Thom Hirsch visit the archive section of our site)

7) Big Jon Atkinson & Bob Corritore House Party at Big Jon’s   Delta Groove Music

This Delta Groove Music release might appear to be the big coming out party for young Jon Atkinson. It is actually Atkinson’s third CD under his own name. He is joined by Bob Corritore on harp. This outstanding CD comes on the heels of 2015’s Back Down South and 2014’s Boogie With You Baby, both on the Bluebeat Music label. This album features guest vocalists Alabama Mike, Willie Buck, Dave Riley and Tomcat Courtney on seven of the album’s sixteen tracks. House Party at Big Jon’s is an old school, modern masterpiece which will sit side by side with all of those “desert island discs” that are so universally cherished. House Party at Big Jon’s is an indispensible addition to any blues library. (For a complete album review as well as an interview with Big Jon Atkinson visit the archive section of our site)

8) The Knickerbocker All-Stars Texas Rhody Blues

The latest release (their third) by this ensemble, as the album’s title suggests, pays homage and explores the connection and mutual affection of the Rhode Island blues scene and their counterparts in Texas. Roomful of Blues co- founder and guitarist Duke Robillard plays and sings on three tracks which feature the guitar playing of the T-Birds co-founder Jimmie Vaughan. Vocalists Sugar Ray Rayford, Brian Templeton and Willie J. Laws make great contributions. The rhythm section of bassist Brad Hallen and drummer Mark Teixeira on loan from the Duke Robillard Band are terrific and exhibit just the right amount of swing that this music requires. The big star on Texas Rhody Blues may be “Monster” Mike Welch of Sugar Ray and the Bluestones fame. His guitar playing holds its own with his extremely accomplished and much senior counterparts Robillard and Vaughan. To put it simply, the entire album is a beauty and one of the best releases of this past year. Highly recommended...

9) Nico Duportal Dealing With My Blues Rhythm Bomb Records

French guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Nico Duportal has long been one of the world’s great purveyors of vintage American music. He and his band are fun, hip, swinging and soulful. Here they offer up thirteen original tunes mostly penned by Duportal. His Rhythm Dudes are upright bassist Thibaut Chopin, drummer and percussionist Pascal Mucci, tenor sax man Sylvain Tegerizo and Alex Berntein handles the baritone sax duties. All the members of this band provide backing vocals. The big news here is the addition of keyboard player Olivier Cantrelle to the mix. Original ideas which are rooted in several musical traditions, including but not limited to the blues, flow out of Duportal and his band mates like a Parisian fountain. It is great fun to hear Nico Duportal grow as an artist. Dealing With My Blues may be their strongest offering to date.

10) Rusty Zinn Last Train to Bluesville Bluebeat Music

This is a huge twenty song, seventy two minute masterpiece of straight ahead blues which features Zinn along with a whole cadre of first rate blues men. This release comes courtesy of Bluebeat Music. Charlie Lange told me that “Rusty came by and dropped off about 100 hours worth of music which he had recorded through the years. He asked me if I would like to try and do something with the material.” Charlie went on to explain that he had worked on this project for about a year. The results are spectacular. The material on Last Train to Bluesville came from five separate sessions which were all recorded in the 90’s when Zinn was a young prodigy. None of the material had been previously released making this a special treat for fans of the extremely talented Rusty Zinn. Last Train To Bluesville is an instant classic and a must for any blues library. (Last Train to Bluesville sits in the Monthly Album Spotlight in this month’s edition)

11) Sven Zetterberg Something for Everybody 

The Godfather of the modern European blues scene, Sven Zetterberg, has, by my count anyway, somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 releases under his belt and his batting average (please excuse a baseball metaphor) is extremely high. For fans of this Swedish hep cat Something for Everybody has something for southern soul-blues fans. He, along with co-producer and guitarist Anders Lewen, offers up original tunes mixed in with some covers from that music fertile I-10 corridor between San Antonio and New Orleans. Lewen, formerly of Knockout Greg and Blue Weather, has been a ubiquitous presence on the Scandinavian blues music scene and his longtime association with Zetterberg has always yielded great results and Something for Everybody is no exception. 

12) Duke Robillard and his All-Star Combo Blues Full Circle    Stony Plain Records

After a year’s absence due to shoulder discomfort and some kind of inflammation with what Duke refers to as Les Paulsy, the great one is back and wielding a much lighter Strat. His new album is a beauty and the master of taste and texture is sporting a rather sharp, crisp tone not unlike one of his contemporaries, who makes a guest appearance on Blues Full Circle, Jimmie Vaughan. He also was able to sit down and write several new tunes for Blues Full Circle to go along with some old tunes he had sitting on the shelf. The result is a very satisfying album. Singers Kelly Hunt as well as the great Sugar Ray Norcia make great contributions to this album as well. Highly recommended... (For a full album review visit the archive section of our site.)

13) Trickbag with Friends Vol. 2

Let’s start with the obvious questions; who is Trickbag and who are their friends? Many of our longtime readers are familiar with this band as they have been the subject of features here in the JUNCTION in the past. Trickbag is an international amalgamation of musicians based in Sweden who have been at the forefront of the talent laden Scandinavian blues scene for many years. It is comprised of vocalist Tommy Moberg, Lars Näsman on double bass and backing vocals, pianist and organist Fredrik Von Werder, harp man Steve “West” Weston, guitarist extraordinaire Tomi Leino and drummer Peter Norin. Ok, so who are these friends? They are Kim Wilson, James Harman, Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Rusty Zinn, Steve Guyger, Kid Andersen, Aki Kumar and Nathan James. That is a boat load of talent. Believe me, it is put to good use on Trickbag With Friends Vol. 2 As much as I enjoyed 2013’s ...with friends Vol.1, this record is even better. It is a real beauty.

14) Mighty Mojo Prophets Record Store Mojo King Music

In a world full of watered down, blues-light or blues-rock or whatever you want to call that other crap, the Mighty Mojo Prophets present us with fifty five minutes of unapologetic, straight ahead natural blues. All thirteen original tracks have a gritty, greasy sound born out of various blues dialects, but all bear the personal stamp of vocalist Tom Eliff and guitarist Mitch Dow. This is the third album released by this pair of kindred spirits under the Mighty Mojo Prophets banner. It may very well be their best. This is pretty extraordinary considering how high they set the bar on their previous two studio outings. Eliff and Dow are joined by long time Prophet Dave Deforest on bass. Tom Richmond plays diatonic as well as chromatic harp. Long time Long Beach blues stalwart Mike Malone plays piano and organ. The drummer is Al Ricci. If you think the blues has nothing new to say, that might be because you haven’t heard the Mighty Mojo Prophets yet. (You can read a full album review by visiting the archive section of our site.)     

15) Dennis Gruenling Ready or Not Vizztone Label Group 

Once again the veteran harmonica master is backed by his longtime musical collaborators Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones. This time out the New Jersey based Gruenling writes all of his own material. His vocals, while not unusually strong, don’t hinder the performance, which is very often the case.  This pro really knows how to sing and deliver this material with a real sense of musicality not always present in this day and age, when vocals are simply an afterthought. This, Gruenling’s seventh album, takes listeners through some straight ahead blues, jump blues, rhythm & blues along with some vintage rock & roll. Gruenling and the band really swing throughout this wonderful thirteen song extravaganza. This record is simply a lot of fun and is highly recommended. (You can read an interview with Dennis Gruenling by visiting the archive section of our site)

16) Barrelhouse Chuck Remembering the Masters

Barrelhouse Chuck is a master of blues piano and is carrying on the tradition that he learned directly from Little Brother Montgomery, Pinetop Perkins, Sunnyland Slim, Detroit Junior and others. Barrelhouse Chuck melds these disparate styles into his own and is joined by his long-time collaborator Billy Flynn, who is one of the best blues guitarists practicing the craft today. Lluis Coloma, who is Europe’s leading exponent of blues and boogie woogie piano, and Scott Grube, who plays traditional pre-war blues piano in Chicago also make fine contributions to Remembering the Masters. (The recently departed barrelhouse Chuck is the subject of our Monthly Artist Spotlight this month)

17) Konstantin Kolesnichenko Hypnotized!

Hypnotized! is the third album from this extremely talented Ukrainian harmonica player. This all instrumental affair has what Kolesnichenko describes as having that elusive, sentimental feeling. This entire CD lives in that wonderful place where jazz and blues gets all mixed up. This was recorded back in August of 2016 and will remind listeners of those wonderful Prestige and Blue Note albums from the late 50’s and early 60’s. Guitarist Paul Seedorenko and organist Mikhail Lyshenko make wonderful contributions to this intoxicating album. Picture listening to Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, Bill Jennings or Jack McDuff with a diatonic harp and you get the picture. This is tasty stuff to be sure. (For an interview with this talented musician check out the archive section of our site)

18) John Blues Boyd The Real Deal Little Village Foundation

In the case of John Blues Boyd, Jim Pugh this time hits on a blues man with a more traditional blues pedigree. John Boyd is from Greenwood, Mississippi, and is the cousin of blues great Eddie Boyd. However, he took a circuitous route to the blues. Boyd was a hard working man who, after his wife of 49 years passed away in 2014, discovered an undeveloped talent as a songwriter. This original material is sung with what Rick Estrin describes as, “pure old school charm” and the The Real Deal has plenty of that. Again, produced and recorded by Kid Andersen with the great coalition of California’s greatest bluesmen, this is a terrific straight ahead blues album of the highest order. 

19) J Beyer Time of Gathering

This album is easily the surprise of the year. The entire affair sounds like something that could have been recorded by the hippest, most soulful cats on the planet circa 1960 at Rudy Van Gelder’s famous studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, for the Blue Note or Verve labels. This was actually recorded by the most soulful, hippest cats on the planet in 2016 at the famous Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California. Guitarist Jed Beyer along with Jim Pugh on piano and organ, guitarist Rusty Zinn, bassist Kedar Roy and drummer June Core lead the charge through some very bluesy/jazz material or jazzy/blues if you prefer. Chris Cain is also on board playing both piano and saxophone...who knew. (I encourage our readers to visit the archive section of our site and read a complete album review followed by a discussion with Jed Beyer.)

20) Alabama Mike Upset the Status Quo

Michael Benjamin aka Alabama Mike released his third album in 2016. It is yet another gem from Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studios. As per usual, the Andersen produced project features some of the best Bay Area musicians including Jon Lawton, Bob Welsh and Big Kid himself on guitars as well as Jim Pugh on the Hammond B3. He also brings in legendary bassist Jerry Jemmot. This talented singer explores some contemporary themes within the context of some traditional grooves. He then turns around and drags Jimmy McCracklin’s Think and Little Johnny Taylor’s Somewhere Down the Line to new and exciting places. The entire album is everything one would want in a blues album; great musicians in service of fine, mostly original, material, backing an exceptional singer. Highly recommended...  

The Next Twenty (alphabetical order by first name)

Aki Kumar Aki Goes to Bollywood Little Village Foundation 

This release on Jim Pugh’s Little Village Foundation label is one that could only be released on this label. It is the essence of what the Little Village is all about, the presentation of new and exciting music that no label in their right mind would touch. Aki Goes to Bollywood offers up something to offend everyone, which is why I like the record so much. Kumar takes pop songs from his native India and blends them with traditional blues. Hey, what’s not to love? This isn’t so much east meets west. It is east smashes into west (or visa versa) on a muddy road somewhere in Mississippi or Calcutta...I can’t decide which. Either way, Aki Goes to Bollywood represents the height of creativity and fearlessness. Aki Kumar should be commended for embracing his past and blending that with his adopted true love, the blues. While this record may not be for everyone, it is for those with an open mind, adventurous spirit... and sense of humor. 

Benny and the Flybyniters Watch Yourself

Vocalist and guitarist Benny Peters has led this ensemble through some pretty cool recordings through the years. Since 1999, Benny and the Flybyniters have released one terrific album after another. Their latest, Watch Yourself, is no exception. This Australian based ensemble plays with originality, freshness and verve. Saxophone and guitar wrestle for the listener’s attention in a way that is both fun and compelling. Peters is at least an adequate singer whose limitations in this department do not distract from the overall performances. 

Big Creek Slim Keep My Belly Full

Big Creek Slim, a.k.a. Marc Rune, was born and raised in Ikast, a small town in Central Denmark. He traveled in the United States for a spell around 2008, playing music and writing songs. He now lives with his family in Florianopolis, Brazil, in a cabin by the ocean. On his latest CD he is joined by Nathan James and Peter Nande who co-produced the sessions which make up this release of rural down home blues and spirituals.  Nande is an outstanding harp player and Nathan James is one of the bright lights of contemporary blues on guitar.  Slim has a natural voice that carries the tunes which range from covers of classics to some real authentic originals

Big Harp George Wash My Horse in Champagne    

Back in 2014 I heard a CD by a veteran musician who was releasing his debut CD under his own name.  That album entitled Chromaticism caught my ear and I wrote an entire album review which you can find in the archive section of this site. His 2016 sophomore release, entitled Wash My Horse in Champagne is even better. It features thirteen original tunes filled with humor, irony and some age old themes given a fresh perspective. He again made his way to Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studios and used some of the same Bay Area heavyweights including guitarist Charlie Baty, bassist Kedar Roy and others who helped make Chromaticism such a hit. Wash My Horse in Champagne is infused with some jazz flavoring and utilizes some pages out of the same chromatic cookbook that William Clarke, George “Harmonica” Smith and especially Paul Delay used so effectively. (You can read an interview with Big Harp George in the archive section of our site)  

The Blue Shadows Rip Cat Records

Before the legendary blues band The Red Devils caught the attention of producer Rick Rubin, and then subsequently Mick Jagger and Johnny Cash, in the early 90’s there was The Blue Shadows. That band came about as a result of the breakup of the original Blasters. They were also a precursor to The Knitters and as mentioned The Red Devils. Various incarnations and iterations of all these bands have come and gone through the years but The Blue Shadows brand remained mostly dormant until this release by Rip Cat Records. The band consists of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Javier (Jake) Matos. He is joined by drummer Bill Bateman and bassist Johnny Bazz of The Blasters. A whole slew of special guests appear on this 2016 release, most notably Dave Alvin and Kid Ramos who both play guitar on a couple of tracks. From scorching rockers to down home traditional blues and everything in between, this self titled release is as ambitious as it is fun. Matos’ originals highlight this interesting slice of Americana.

The Blues Swingers Politically Incorrecto

This Santiago, Chile, based blues band continues to make one solid blues album after another. However, at the very end of 2016 they have uncovered the secret formula and have produced a real winner. Politically Incorrecto is their strongest album to date. Guitarist and vocalist Nicolas Wernekinck leads the charge of this four piece ensemble. Harmonica man Erwin lost also makes fine contributions to this album. It’s one thing to have original tunes...it is quite another to have good originals. The Blues Swingers write excellent material which is the most elusive missing ingredient in the blues world. This album is like a dance party that will also put a smile on your face.

Bone Tee and the Slughunters Country Boys

This French ensemble plays everything from vintage rock&roll to rockabilly with blues flavoring and they do it with original ideas and some fine chops. It might be blues with rockabilly and vintage rock&roll flavoring, but who cares. It is simply great music. Songs like French Car, A Pen to a Swine and Thorn Tree show that sardonic wit goes a long way to making music fun. Led by Zimmerlin Guillaume aka Bone Tee, this is a band worthy of your attention.

Cadillac Kings The Secret of My Success

This is the fifth album offered up by this veteran British outfit. Led by singer, harp man, slide guitarist and principal songwriter Mike Thomas, The Cadillac Kings give listeners a healthy, fourteen songs and fifty eight minutes of mostly original blues. What is refreshing about this versatile band is that they vary their instrumentation. Thomas does not pull his harmonica out of his pocket on every song. He is also a gifted slide guitarist who puts that aspect of his arsenal on display very judicially. As a result both instruments make a statement. The band’s pianist Tim Penn also plays accordion on a few numbers. This gives this band the flexibility to visit many stops along the blues highway from New Orleans, Chicago, Texas and Los Angeles. Mostly up tempo numbers highlight this fun set.

Don Scott Glad to Have These Blues

The latest offering by blues troubadour Don Scott is an enjoyable ten song program which drives through the America of a bygone era. Scott is joined here by Rosanne Licciardi on the Cajon octo-snare. This Minnesota vocalist, guitarist and song writer shares his take on Jimmy Rogers’ What Have I Done, Chris Kenner’s Something You Got and even Chuck Berry’s Too Much Monkey Business as well as others. However, as on previous efforts, it is Scott’s own original tunes that captured my attention and are the album highlights on Glad to Have These Blues. I’m always glad to hear Don Scott play these blues.  

Harpdog Brown Travelin’ With the Blues

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, native and Vancouver, British Columbia, resident Harpdog Brown has put together a talent laden album appropriately entitled Travelin’ with the Blues. The CD was recorded at Big Jon Atkinson’s Big Tone Studios in Hayward, California, save two tracks which were recorded in nearby San Jose at Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studios. The record was produced by the well traveled Little Victor who is currently residing in England. Guests include pianist Carl Sonny Leyland, Big Jon, Kid, Rusty Zinn and Charlie Musselwhite. Despite the album’s west coast pedigree, the record has a decidedly Chicago blues feel where some well selected covers sit beside some fun originals such as Facebook Mama, a song to which, believe me, many of us can relate.

The Headcutters LIVE at Mr. Jones Pub Chico Blues Records

This is another big slab of down home, electric, post war Chicago blues from that little band from Itajai, Brazil, on the South Atlantic. The band sports two vocalists, harmonica man Joe Marhofer and guitarist Ricardo Maca. The band is anchored by bassist Arthur “Catuto” Garcia and drummer Leandro “Cavera” Barbeta. Argentine harp man Nico Smoljan guests on Big Bill Broonzy’s I Had a Dream. This, their fourth album on Chico Blues Records out of Sao Paulo, mines familiar territory and should be a treat for fans who like their blues performed the straight, natural way. Great stuff all the way around. (For an interview with Joe Marhofer of the Headcutters check out the archive section of our site)

Ida Bang & the Blue Tears Possibilities 

This is a band that is full of promise and dare I say, Possibilities. This, their first full length album, is a great first step for the Swedish band. Led by singer Ida Bang and her cohorts, they lead a charge through several blues textures, moods and tempos. This eleven song odyssey of all original material is elevated by the vocals of Ida Bang. She has a great set of pipes and seems to know how to use them. The Blue Tears are Leo Henriksson, John Bernstrom on guitars and Patrik Engstrom on bass. The drummer and percussionist is Leo Sund. They do a fine job backing their dynamic singer. Ida Bang & the Blue Tears won the 2015 Swedish Blues Challenge and Possibilities proves that honor was no fluke. This is a band that, with the right mentorship, could have a very bright future. Until then Possibilities serves as a terrific first step. 

Johnny Nicholas Fresh Air

Johnny Nicholas is a New England native who moved to the central Texas Hill Country and became the proprietor of the Hill Top Café. It is there he has held court for decades offering up an occasional recording. This latest self released CD is a thirteen song program featuring eleven Nicholas originals with Sleepy John Estes and Willie Dixon penned numbers thrown onto the mix for good measure. Everything Nicholas touches turns to gold as the singer and multi-instrumentalist adds deep soul and a down home feeling to each and every song. Fresh Air is just that, as this legend in his spare time hits it out of the park.

Kurt Crandall Take it Off

Crandall’s long overdue third release was worth the wait. The writing on this ten track program features some original ideas which are imbibed with the kind of wit often missing in a modern blues release. The well traveled Richmond, Virginia, based Crandall is a fine harp player. It is made clear that he has attended the William Clarke school of the west coast, jazzy blues. His instrumentals are his strength and he, along with a great backing band, turns out a fine CD. The great pianist and organist Bill Hied also makes wonderful contributions to Take it Off.

Lurrie Bell Can’t Shake This Feeling Delmark Records 

This new release from Lurrie Bell showcases all the passion, depth, rawness and uniqueness that has kept  Lurrie at the top of many real deal blues lists. His working band and frequent collaborator, harp man Matthew Skoller, provide the drive and the safety net while Lurrie walks the tightrope vocally and instrumentally. Everything about this record, right down to the jewel box, reeks of old school and that, by my way of thinking, is a very good thing. Congratulations to Delmark for yet another terrific release. Bob Koester and his company have been at this a very long time and are still releasing quality CDs, such as this one, on a regular basis. Kudos... 

Matyas Pribojszki Band My Stories

Hungarian harp man Maytas Pribojszki is a member of The Blues Fools. They have made three albums which feature west coast William Clarke inspired music. Pribojszki released this solo album My Stories in 2016. The entire album was recorded in Hungary over two days last February, but mixed and mastered at Kid Andersen’s Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California. Pribojszki is joined by a wonderful three piece backing band and eleven special guests from around the globe. Eleven of the twelve tracks are Pribojszki originals and the young Hungarian seems to have a real knack for this often elusive aspect of the music. This is a real talent on the rise.

Paul Barry Blues Band Talk is Cheap

This late 2016 release represents the first solo album by the veteran Twin Cities based harmonica man Paul Barry. Barry has been playing professionally since the 70’s. In the 80’s he befriended the great William Clarke and became a protégé of the late blues man. In the 80’s and 90’s Barry played in two of the Twin Cities best blues bands Bobby Johnson and the Crowns as well as with Dave McCrae and the Blues Exchange. Early in 2016 Paul Barry released an album’s worth of material where he backed the great Otis “Smokey” Smothers shortly before Smothers’ death in 1993. The album That’s Alright was a wonderful surprise. On this brand new CD Barry is joined by guest vocalist Lila Ammons. She is the granddaughter of the great pianist Albert Ammons and niece of tenor sax great Gene Ammons. Barry is also joined by the cream of the Minnesota blues scene including guitarist Jeremy Johnson. This self produced album was mastered by Kid Andersen at his Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California.

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters Maxwell Street                        Stony Plain Records

Maxwell Street is a tribute to both the late great pianist Dave Maxwell and an homage to the Maxwell Street Market that was the home of the blues on Chicago’s south side for decades. This ten track sixty seven minute journey through the musical soul of Ronnie Earl reflects his contemplative nature, which he has been exploring for many years now. The lengthy songs allow Earl to stretch out and, as per usual he flexes his prodigious chops to great effect. This is the type of material which I often eschew and file under the heading of self indulgent bull sh*t. Why Ronnie gets a hall pass from me, I have no idea, but he does. Maybe it is the combination of talent, tone and taste which he imbues in every song.  Combine that with his unwavering commitment to the material he presents and you have a potent elixir for the soul. Dianna Blue’s contributions here are outstanding. Earl originals, mixed with some terrific covers make Maxwell Street an aural feast not to be missed. 

Stackhouse Tailgatin'

This is the second release by this down home group from the Netherlands. Their first outing Big Fish Boogie was a terrific recording. On Tailgatin’ this band proves that they are more than a one trick pony.  Working in the classic territory of Mississippi delta and Chicago groove, the band plays intentionally raggedy without sounding inexperienced. They quote many classics in their originals from the eerie vocal style of Skip James to the aggressive guitar tones of Cobra era Otis Rush. Vocalist and harp man Machiel Meijers and guitarist Willem Van Dullemen wrote eight of the thirteen sides with good covers of Johnny Shines, Tommy Johnson and Big Bill Broonzy and a real swampy instrumental by the entire band.

Tyler Pedersen Swingin’ In Space

This is the debut solo album from this veteran Southern California based bass player. The enigmatic Pedersen has been heard playing with William Clarke, Johnny Dyer, San Pedro Slim and was a member of the legendary band known as The Big Rhythm Combo led by Lynwood Slim. That band also featured Kid Ramos on guitar, Fred Kaplan on keyboards and Richard Innes on drums...not bad company to keep. In 2016, Pedersen emerges with an eleven song program of instrumentals produced by Nathan James at his Sacred Cat Studios in Oceanside. All songs were written and arranged by Pedersen who wields a four string guitar ala Tiny Grimes. As the album title implies, this album is full of some very swinging and adventurous material.

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Editors Note:  Each one of these 40 albums is music that has been enjoyed over and over again out here in the JUNCTION. Most were procured through Bluebeat Music, others purchased from the artists themselves. Others were provided to us as “promos” in the hopes of receiving a review in BLUES JUNCTON and making it on to our Top Forty Albums of 2016.

For the hundreds of artists who were thoughtful enough to send us your music in 2016 and didn’t make it into the JUNCTION, we thank you. Remember yours is a noble calling. Keep after it. Listen to the music you see on this list. These are very serious musicians who have a deep understanding, as well as a soulful connection to this music which comes from a lifetime of study, practice and wood shedding. They didn’t make it onto this list by accident. Congratulations to the Top Forty.

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