Blues news
A new video has been released by The Bert Jansch Foundation as part of a project called Around The World In 80 Plays. In what would have been the legendary guitarist and singer-songwriter’s 75th year, the Foundation launched three special Yamaha LL TransAcoustic guitars to travel around the globe from guitarist to guitarist, each playing a song or tune inspired by Jansch. Sarah McQuaid, soaring high on the back of her latest highly acclaimed live album, The St Buryan Sessions, is included in this prestigious event. She is in good company, with fellow icons including Richard Thompson, Johnny Marr and Tommy Emmanuel. Sarah explains: “I was tremendously honored to be invited to take part. It was incredible just to handle an instrument that’s been played by so many guitarists I’ve worshiped from afar for so long, and to see their signatures on it and to sign my own name under theirs was almost surreal.”
Ray Charles successfully mastered and forever changed the blues, jazz, gospel, rock, pop, and country music landscapes. Charles’ staggering achievements over a 58-year career include 17 GRAMMY Awards, induction into the Blues Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame, a Lifetime Achievement and the President’s Merit Award, the Presidential Medal for the Arts, France’s Legion of Honor, the Kennedy Center Honors, the NAACP Image Awards’ “Hall of Fame Award,” and numerous other music Halls of Fame, including those for Jazz and Rhythm & Blues, all testament to his enormous influence. Charles’ Tangerine Records has announced that it is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of one of Charles most important and impactful albums A Message from The People. This special remastered 50th Anniversary edition of the landmark recording, will be available June 17th on Vinyl, CD and all streaming services for the first time in more than 10 years. Originally released on April 4, 1972, A Message from The People remains one of Charles’ most celebrated albums, as well as the most socially conscious work of his six-decade career.
The 2022 GRAMMYs took place on April 3rd at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. Among the winners were Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Cedric Burnside! Ingram won the Contemporary Blues Album category for album 662, beating The Black Keys and Steve Cropper. In his acceptance speech, he thanked “God, my family, my manager and Alligator Records.
The “Godfather of Americana Music” is bringing the good times with his latest single “One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer.” Originally made famous by Amos Millburn (‘53) and John Lee Hooker (‘66), the iconic drinking anthem is reinvented today by 81-year-old legend Delbert McClinton. Recent releases include Bob Wolfman – Tribute To A Friend, Doc Lou & The Roosters – Back To Louisiana, Betty Padgett – Ridin’ with the Blues, and Big Al & the Heavyweights – Love One Another.
Walter Trout will stage several dozen appearances across the U.S. in the coming months. He’ll begin in Atlanta, GA on March 21, and continue for appearances also in May and July. His broader itinerary features several UK shows and many primary European festivals throughout the summer alongside participating in Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea II from August 23-28 in the Mediterranean. Joining Walter on all U.S. appearances are Teddy “Zig-Zag” Andreadis on keys, Johnny Griparic on bass, and Michael Leasure on drums.
Robin Trower will be releasing his new studio album, No More Worlds To Conquer, on April 29th via Provogue. Few would dispute that the title of Robin Trower’s latest album is a fair summary of the thumbprint he has left on the musical universe. But as he reminds us, it should not be misinterpreted as his mission being accomplished. “I definitely feel like I’m still reaching,” he considers, “with the guitar, and the songs, and everything else.”
A thirteen-time Blues Music Award nominee, Trudy Lynn received the Living Legend Blues Award from the Houston Blues Society in 2019, as well as the Jus’ Blues Music Foundation’s Willie Mitchell Lifetime Artist Award. On the eve of her 75th birthday and 57th year in show business, Lynn is set to release her 18th full length album Golden Girl.
Danielia Cotton injects her own brand of indie soul and Americana on her version of Charley Pride's 'Roll on Mississippi', while also possessing the late great Charley’s dynamism. Her new album, Good Day, is set for a March 18th release date. Steeped in classic Motown and rock and roll, the album proves Danielia’s versatility.
Country and soul might seem worlds apart, but they come together on the new collection from Eli Paperboy Reed – Down Every Road, out April 29 on Yep Roc Records. Down Every Road stems from an idea that Reed has contemplated since the earliest days of his career, setting Haggard favorites against the soul music that he’s become best-known for in his own celebrated work.
Memphis International Records presents Ann Peebles & the Hi Rhythm Section Live in Memphis on vinyl LP, CD and digital formats on April 29. The album, produced by David Less, is the only known live recording of Peebles and Hi Rhythm, the ensemble numbering a total of nine players behind Peebles as she offered her best known repertoire on the night of February 7, 1992 on a program billed “An Evening of Classic Soul.”
Truth Hurts, the second album from Brooklyn-based Regina Bonelli, is out now. Backed by the True Groove All-Stars band and under the production guidance of Tomás Doncker and James Dellatacoma, the album is a guitar-driven journey.
Bob Stroger has worked with legends from Otis Rush to Jimmy Rogers, Sunnyland Slim, Louisiana Red, Snooky Pryor and many others, earning Blues Music Awards in 2011 and 2013. He has performed on over 30 Delmark albums, and at the age of 91, he has joined forces with Brazil’s The Headcutters for his first solo Delmark album, That’s My Name, which was just released. Stroger was born on a Missouri farm, and his family arrived in Chicago when he was 16, settling into an apartment behind Silvio’s nightclub. A self-taught guitarist, he formed a family band (The Red Tops) before joining Eddie King’s band. In the late 70s he began touring with Otis Rush, ultimately playing on his Live in Europe and Lost in the Blues. His work as a session musician brought him together with Sunnyland Slim, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Carey Bell and Pinetop Perkins.
Forever On My Mind, from Easy Eye Sound, the independent label operated by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, is the premiere release from Dick Waterman’s personal cache of ’60s recordings by some of the titans of Delta blues. His collection of quarter-inch tapes — which are being restored to remarkable clarity by Easy Eye Sound — have gone unreleased until now. The collection is due out March 18. Easy Eye Sound released a video of the title track, a previously not-on-record song from the pre-World War II blues originator, Son House. Directed by Robert Schober, the video combines stark images with ghostly orbs to make for a haunting visual.
Ray Charles successfully mastered and forever changed the blues, jazz, gospel, rock, pop, and country music landscapes. Charles’ staggering achievements over a 58-year career include 17 GRAMMY Awards, induction into the Blues Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame, a Lifetime Achievement and the President’s Merit Award, the Presidential Medal for the Arts, France’s Legion of Honor, the Kennedy Center Honors, the NAACP Image Awards’ “Hall of Fame Award,” and numerous other music Halls of Fame, including those for Jazz and Rhythm & Blues, all testament to his enormous influence. Charles’ Tangerine Records has announced that it is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of one of Charles most important and impactful albums A Message from The People. This special remastered 50th Anniversary edition of the landmark recording, will be available June 17th on Vinyl, CD and all streaming services for the first time in more than 10 years. Originally released on April 4, 1972, A Message from The People remains one of Charles’ most celebrated albums, as well as the most socially conscious work of his six-decade career.
The 2022 GRAMMYs took place on April 3rd at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. Among the winners were Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Cedric Burnside! Ingram won the Contemporary Blues Album category for album 662, beating The Black Keys and Steve Cropper. In his acceptance speech, he thanked “God, my family, my manager and Alligator Records.
The “Godfather of Americana Music” is bringing the good times with his latest single “One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer.” Originally made famous by Amos Millburn (‘53) and John Lee Hooker (‘66), the iconic drinking anthem is reinvented today by 81-year-old legend Delbert McClinton. Recent releases include Bob Wolfman – Tribute To A Friend, Doc Lou & The Roosters – Back To Louisiana, Betty Padgett – Ridin’ with the Blues, and Big Al & the Heavyweights – Love One Another.
Walter Trout will stage several dozen appearances across the U.S. in the coming months. He’ll begin in Atlanta, GA on March 21, and continue for appearances also in May and July. His broader itinerary features several UK shows and many primary European festivals throughout the summer alongside participating in Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping The Blues Alive at Sea II from August 23-28 in the Mediterranean. Joining Walter on all U.S. appearances are Teddy “Zig-Zag” Andreadis on keys, Johnny Griparic on bass, and Michael Leasure on drums.
Robin Trower will be releasing his new studio album, No More Worlds To Conquer, on April 29th via Provogue. Few would dispute that the title of Robin Trower’s latest album is a fair summary of the thumbprint he has left on the musical universe. But as he reminds us, it should not be misinterpreted as his mission being accomplished. “I definitely feel like I’m still reaching,” he considers, “with the guitar, and the songs, and everything else.”
A thirteen-time Blues Music Award nominee, Trudy Lynn received the Living Legend Blues Award from the Houston Blues Society in 2019, as well as the Jus’ Blues Music Foundation’s Willie Mitchell Lifetime Artist Award. On the eve of her 75th birthday and 57th year in show business, Lynn is set to release her 18th full length album Golden Girl.
Danielia Cotton injects her own brand of indie soul and Americana on her version of Charley Pride's 'Roll on Mississippi', while also possessing the late great Charley’s dynamism. Her new album, Good Day, is set for a March 18th release date. Steeped in classic Motown and rock and roll, the album proves Danielia’s versatility.
Country and soul might seem worlds apart, but they come together on the new collection from Eli Paperboy Reed – Down Every Road, out April 29 on Yep Roc Records. Down Every Road stems from an idea that Reed has contemplated since the earliest days of his career, setting Haggard favorites against the soul music that he’s become best-known for in his own celebrated work.
Memphis International Records presents Ann Peebles & the Hi Rhythm Section Live in Memphis on vinyl LP, CD and digital formats on April 29. The album, produced by David Less, is the only known live recording of Peebles and Hi Rhythm, the ensemble numbering a total of nine players behind Peebles as she offered her best known repertoire on the night of February 7, 1992 on a program billed “An Evening of Classic Soul.”
Truth Hurts, the second album from Brooklyn-based Regina Bonelli, is out now. Backed by the True Groove All-Stars band and under the production guidance of Tomás Doncker and James Dellatacoma, the album is a guitar-driven journey.
Bob Stroger has worked with legends from Otis Rush to Jimmy Rogers, Sunnyland Slim, Louisiana Red, Snooky Pryor and many others, earning Blues Music Awards in 2011 and 2013. He has performed on over 30 Delmark albums, and at the age of 91, he has joined forces with Brazil’s The Headcutters for his first solo Delmark album, That’s My Name, which was just released. Stroger was born on a Missouri farm, and his family arrived in Chicago when he was 16, settling into an apartment behind Silvio’s nightclub. A self-taught guitarist, he formed a family band (The Red Tops) before joining Eddie King’s band. In the late 70s he began touring with Otis Rush, ultimately playing on his Live in Europe and Lost in the Blues. His work as a session musician brought him together with Sunnyland Slim, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Carey Bell and Pinetop Perkins.
Forever On My Mind, from Easy Eye Sound, the independent label operated by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, is the premiere release from Dick Waterman’s personal cache of ’60s recordings by some of the titans of Delta blues. His collection of quarter-inch tapes — which are being restored to remarkable clarity by Easy Eye Sound — have gone unreleased until now. The collection is due out March 18. Easy Eye Sound released a video of the title track, a previously not-on-record song from the pre-World War II blues originator, Son House. Directed by Robert Schober, the video combines stark images with ghostly orbs to make for a haunting visual.
