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This week, Friday Blues Fix continues our look at some of the new releases that are coming your way during the fall months. This week's offering features a wide range of blues styles and at least one of these albums should fit your musical palate, whatever style of blues you dig.
(Sorry, having some difficulties adding audio files on some of these albums)
To begin, let's see what's happening in Memphis.....
Daddy Mack Blues Band - Blues Central (Inside Sounds): Longtime readers know that Mack Orr is a favorite of FBF, and this new disc does nothing to change that. Orr's sixth release finds him and his band still laying down that relentlessly nasty, greasy, funky Memphis blues, but what I really like is how the folks behind the scenes don't just give you more of the same with each release.....they have gradually added to Orr's sound with each release by adding harmonica, horns, keyboards, backing singers, etc...but they never stray far from the band's original sound. Orr's robust vocals and guitar are still front and center, but the band's airtight rhythm attack is the key to the whole thing. Over the years, I've discovered a lot of great Memphis blues acts, such as the Fieldstones, the Bluesbusters, and the Hollywood All Stars, and the Daddy Mack Blues Band follows closely in their footsteps and actually may end up being the best of them all.
Georgie Bonds - Stepping Into Time (BGB Music): Singer Bonds started out as a blacksmith, singing R&B as a pastime, but a friend's cassette tape of Robert Johnson steered him to the blues and after attracting the attention of blues man Sonny Rhodes at an open mic night, he's focused on singing the blues. After a couple of stumbles and setbacks, he's returned with this amazing set of ten originals and two covers that touch on a wide range of blues styles mixed with soul, funk, traditional and country blues. Bonds opens up with a chilling reading of the blues classic, "St. James Infirmary," that lets you know he means business and he just rips through this amazing album loaded for bear. He's well on his way to becoming one of the most compelling blues voices in a long time.
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Howard Glazer - Looking in the Mirror (Lazy Brothers Records): FBF friend Glazer is a veteran of the Detroit blues scene, and his versatile guitar skills allowed him to be selected as Outstanding Blues/R&B Instrumentalist at the Detroit Blues Awards earlier this year. He was also inducted into the Michigan Blues Hall of Fame last year. His latest album proves that his recent accolades are well-deserved. In addition to his guitar prowess, he's also shows that he's a talented tune smith as well, penning all twelve tracks, and a strong vocalist. He ably moves from traditional urban blues to country blues to psychedelic blues rock, paying tribute to the late Johnny Winter on one tune and even channeling Jethro Tull(!) on one track which features an electric flute. More than anything, you can really feel the love that Glazer has for this music with every note played and sung. This guy is a blues lifer and to me, this is his best release yet.
Lisa Mills - I'm Changing (Mills Bluz Records): Mills originally released this album in 2005, but was disappointed with the results, so she took the opportunity to recast it in her own musical vision, resulting in a vocal tour de force exploring blues, soul, roots, and gospel. Mills re-recorded several of the tunes, added a couple of new tunes, and included two magnificent covers. Her vocals are breathtaking and she's equally at home with Memphis-styled soul and blues, gospel, country, and even a bit of the islands mixed in. Of course, it doesn't hurt one bit that she's backed by an excellent band. It isn't often that people get a "do-over," so it's important to make the best of it when you do. I think Lisa Mills succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. This is a great disc that belongs in ANY music fan's collection.
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Nathan James - Hear Me Calling/Natural Born That Way (Sacred Cat Recordings): I first heard James as part of a duo with singer/harmonica player Ben Hernandez on their 2005 disc, Everybody Ought To Make A Change. The duo won the IBC in 2007 and continue to work together, but guitarist James has also managed to put together a rather compelling solo career. One Nathan James disc is usually enough to put a hop in my step, but two new discs from him are an even bigger cause for celebration. James recorded Hear Me Calling solo, playing acoustic guitar, National Resonator, his own invention of a washboard guitar, and percussion on an old suitcase converted into a foot drum kit. Playing a mix of Delta blues, Piedmont, and gospel, James sounds great on this mix of originals and covers from Curley Weaver and Lonnie Johnson. To check out some of the tunes, you can go here.
James' second release, recorded with his band (the Rhythm Scratchers), is called Natural Born That Way, and mixes old school rock & roll, New Orleans-flavored R&B, Swamp Pop, and blues. On this release, James covers two Earl King tunes, a Long John Hunter tune, and even Freddy Fender. In addition, he offers four of the songs that were on his new acoustic release as "plugged-in" versions on this disc and it's really neat to hear how differently they are interpreted in a band setting. This is an ideal pair of releases for fans of blues or roots music. Nathan James is a talented songwriter, and musician with an amazing range of talent. For samples of some of these tunes, go here.
Altered Five Blues Band - Cryin' Mercy (Omnivibe Records): I had not heard of this band, but they've been around since 2002. They have a pretty good thing going, combining some powerhouse guitar from Jeff Schroedl with a tight TIGHT rhythm section, and Jeff Taylor's sho' nuff real-deal vocals. Add the presence of hot-as-fire producer Tom Hambridge behind the controls and you've got an intense, high-energy set of blues that mixes rock and soul in equal measures. Schroedl's fretwork is really impressive and the band can really funk things up when they have to. The songs mostly touch on traditional blues topics, but they have enough of a modern bent to them that they sound pretty fresh and new.
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Blind Lemon Pledge - Evangeline (Ofeh Records): Besides having the coolest blues name ever, James Byfield is a talented singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. He plays everything from blues to folk to rock and country, but his latest disc has a little something from everybody from traditional blues to Louis Jordan-styled jump blues to New Orleans-styled R&B to blues rock to folk, jazz, Latin, and country. Though he's a very good guitarist, pay no attention to the names of the backing band....he actually played all the instruments on the album, using fake names in the credits. He's also a skilled graphic designer and designed the CD himself. Heck, he probably even catered the meals during the recording session. All in all, this is a great set of not just blues music, but American music in general. Don't let the funny nickname fool you....this is some serious music. Many thanks to NYC blues man (and fellow FBF'er) Michael Packer for cluing me in to Blind Lemon Pledge.
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