Music
Various Artists, The Big Beat: The Dave Bartholomew Songbook (Ace Records)
Initially, this one blew me away, but this could have been so much better. There’s no way to understate Dave Bartholomew’s contribution to popular music, so many musicians are included […]
Jazz Fest Focus: Henry Gray
Although Henry Gray has resided in Scotlandville for the past four decades, he is the obvious heir to the Chicago blues piano throne. Gray lived in the Windy City from […]
Big Joe & the Dynaflows, You Can’t Keep a Big Man Down (Severn Records)
Big Joe is a rarity in the blues world. He’s a drummer who doubles as a vocalist. That’s about as rare as a left-handed baseball catcher. His sound is akin […]
Barrence Whitfield & the Savages, Barrence Whitfield & the Savages (Ace Records UK)
Lookie, lookie—this here’s a real cookie. While the early 1980s spawned such musical atrocities as Ratt, Milli Vanilli and Bananarama, it was also an era that produced several great “retro […]
Various Artists, The Ace Story Volumes 1 & 2 (Ace Records UK)
While these tracks have been around the block more times than the mailman, it’s great to know they’re available again, conveniently on two discs. Although Ace was based in Jackson, […]
Roomful of Blues, Hook, Line and Sinker (Alligator Records)
Roomful of Blues’ latest continues a string of outstanding albums that stretches back nearly four decades. The New England-based band’s trademark sound is again evident here—lots of punchy horns and […]
Gregg Allman, Low Country Blues (Rounder Records)
Appropriately, on Gregg Allman’s first solo outing in over a decade, he’s chosen to record a CD that’s essentially a blues “tribute” album. To his credit, Allman sounds absolutely miserable […]
Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, Spread the Love (Stony Plain Records)
Recording an entire album’s worth of blues guitar instrumentals, and keeping the listener engaged, is an exceedingly difficult thing to do. Freddie King could do it. So could Albert Collins, […]
Various Artists, Sehorn’s Soul Farm (Charly Records)
Here’s a welcome return of an old friend (two actually), and a reminder that for every Irma Thomas, Lee Dorsey, the Meters, King Floyd and Jean Knight who made hits […]
Ray Charles, The Undiscovered Masters (Concord Records)
In discussing Ray Charles, local trumpeter Frank Mitchell once stated, “I don’t know who first called him ‘The Genius,’ but they sure hit the nail on the head.” That quality of […]
