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среда, 25 февраля 2026 г.

Saverio Maccne - Southern Light

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2023
Time:40:17 
Size:93,4 MB 
Label:Velvet Utopia Records 
Styles:Blues/Blues Rock 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. No One Does That Magic Like You - 3:25
 2. Ain't Got Nothing But My Sorrow (Bad Gambler) - 5:15
 3. Mysterious Love - 5:08
 4. Riding On My Mind - 4:27
 5. She Was A Wonder - 3:34
 6. Endless Nights Blues - 4:30
 7. Soul Breaker (Don't Keep Lying To Your Heart) - 4:25
 8. Dream Road - 4:50
 9. Black Clouds - 4:39

A former conservatory student who was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saverino Maccne has been playing professionally since age 14, playing his own powerfully intense, original brand of blues. A world traveler since age 20, he’s now based out of the Lapland region of Norway, and he delivers music with a bite on this interesting CD.
Primarily a guitarist but also doubling on keys, trumpet and bass, Saverino recorded this set in Norway, Argentina and the Netherlands. He delivers his lyrics in unaccented English with backing from an international ensemble that adds Latin spice to their blues-rock attack.

The Coal Men - Everett

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2024
Time:37:53 
Size:87,2 MB 
Label:Vaskaleedez Records 
Styles:Roots Rock/Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Black Cat - 3:19
 2. Radio Bell - 4:35
 3. Rather Be Right - 4:03
 4. Love This Town - 2:56
 5. Heart Exposed - 3:21
 6. Come Back Joe - 3:04
 7. Johnny Sins - 2:54
 8. I Hear Trains - 3:50
 9. Silver Tails - 3:07
10. Accidental Memory - 2:48
11. Hammer Like Bill - 3:50

One of the top trios in Nashville with five previous CDs to their credit, The Coal Men haven’t released a full-length album in eight years, but they return in style with his this stunning and satisfying mix of blues and roots – a spirited combination that will have you yearning for more. Led by guitarist/vocalist Dave Coleman and featuring Dave Ray and Paul Slivka on drums and bass, they’re joined by Jan Gunderman (Sheryl Crow), pianist who tickles the keys on a 1950s Everett upright piano that formerly resided in Nashville’s Downtown Presbyterian Church.Produced by The Coal Men’s founding guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Dave Coleman at his Howard’s Apartment Studio in Inglewood, TN, Everett is The Coal Men’s first full-length release in nearly eight years.  The album sees the long-running trio – comprising Coleman, co-founding drummer/backing vocalist Dave Ray, and bass guitarist Paul Slivka (Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers) – fully embracing their streamlined electric guitar-bass-and-drums approach adding only accent melodies and sustain textures from a 1950s Everett upright piano Coleman purchased from Nashville’s Downtown Presbyterian Church. As played by Jen Gunderman (Sheryl Crow, The Jayhawks), Lane Kiefling (solo artist, and piano tuner of the Everett), and Coleman, the addition of the upright epitomizes the inventive production style Coleman has developed at his popular Howard’s Apartment Studio while also bringing a distinctive emotional color to his ever-expressive songcraft.“‘Black Cat’ is a commentary of a dangerous but magnetic attraction,” says Coleman. “Written with Taylor Bates, this song is The Coal Men’s attempt to blend the music of Tony Joe White and Marc Bolan of T-Rex. Howard’s Apartment Studio features at least five felines, so their swagger is an influence.” From there, the bittersweet “Rather Be Right” and the anthemic “cry of appreciation” to Joe Strummer, “Come Back Joe,” Coleman draws simple, straightforward character studies exploring the unique relationships between people and the places they inhabit, some deeply personal, others more hyperbolic, but all richly constructed and resonant with the veteran musician/songwriter’s two-decades-plus adventures in Nashville and beyond.“We’ve kept our course in these nearly 25 years as a band and I hope some folks find this record relevant and inspiring in the time it’s released,” says Coleman. “The voices, songs, playing, and recordings are curated by experience and genuinely our own. I hope they resonate with listeners who find it refreshing.” Hailed by Todd Snider as “one of Americana music’s great songwriters,” Dave Coleman grew up near the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in rural East Tennessee, where he thought he’d join his mother as a park ranger, but once he hit the stage in a local band, music took over. Coleman headed to Nashville where he graduated from Belmont University while writing and gigging with legendary guitarist Duane Jarvis (Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Dwight Yoakum). By 20, he had already begun making his name around Music City, hired to write songs for famed publisher Acuff-Rose Music while building up work as a guitarist alongside Matthew Ryan, Stephen Simmons, Jessi Alexander, and a young Taylor Swift.In 1999, Coleman and Dave Ray founded The Coal Men and quickly staked a claim among Nashville’s finest outfits, earning critical applause and the support of such like-minded artists and musical heroes as Snider, The Delevantes’ Bob Delevante, Buddy Miller, and the late, great John Prine for their amplified brand of evocative Americana. Since then, the band – joined in 2012 by bass guitarist Paul Slivka – have steadily unleashed a series of critically acclaimed albums, including 2013’s Escalator and 2016’s Pushed To The Side, while also sharing stages with such like-minded acts as Snider, Avett Brothers, Darrell Scott, and Chris Knight, among others. Now, with the long-awaited Everett, The Coal Men are poised to climb even higher, fully manifesting the rich craft and triumphant energy that has defined the band since its very start. 

Billy The Kid - She Got A Hold On Me

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2012
Time:25:38 
Size:59,0 MB 
Label:Jeree Records 
Styles:Blues/Blues Rock 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Nothing To Lose - 3:52
 2. Say You Wanna Woman - 2:53
 3. Born Under A Bad Sign - 3:43
 4. She Got A Hold On Me - 3:32
 5. Disturbed By The Peace - 3:00
 6. Free From Your Spell - 5:20
 7. One More Chance - 3:14

Billy The Kid And The Regulators won over the Blues Society of Western Pa taking first place honors among the acts at the Blues Challenge in Pittsburgh in 2013 earning them a spot at the 2014 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. The Band competed with acts from all over the world in Memphis January 22-25, 2014, earning them the 3rd Place Win among the best blues bands in the world! Their Sophmore CD "She Got a Hold on Me", released in April 2012, wowed judges at the 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in which it placed in the top 5 best CD's submitted from around the world for the Best Self Produced CD. Billy the Kid and the Regulators earned a spot in the 2008 International Blues Competition in Memphis TN by winning the Appalachian Blues Challenge for the West Virginia Blues Society. 

Steve de Swardt Blues Band - Live on Sunday Night in Jamboree

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:1997
Time:71:24 
Size:163,9 MB 
Label:Mas I Mas Records 
Styles:Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Steal Away -  5:12
 2. I Got The Blues -  9:43
 3. I Need A Song -  3:40
 4. Won't Change My Job - 10:28
 5. I Got The Feeling - 16:41
 6. Ali-Funk -  4:50
 7. Running Out Of Steam - 13:39
 8. Everyday I Have The Blues -  7:09

What a fantastic concert we had from the great veteran Steve de Swardt and his young musicians! Today's performance featured vocals, bass, and guitar! Enjoy!

Scott Taylor - Lonelier With You

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2014
Time:43:46 
Size:100,5 MB 
Label:TS Publishing LLC 
Styles:Blues/Modern Electric Blues/Blues Rock 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Spirit Moves You - 4:01
 2. Seasons of Change - 1:17
 3. Change - 4:23
 4. Lonelier With You - 4:26
 5. Corporately Owned - 4:25
 6. Sing About Now - 5:01
 7. All That I Want - 4:13
 8. The Cycle - 5:21
 9. The Blame - 4:25
10. Spiritual Famine - 6:08

Taylor Scott started a blues band at age 14 and spent his teen years learning as much of the genre as he could while performing the music live on a weekly basis. Now, at age 20, Taylor's music has expanded, developed, and taken on a life of it's own. Blending a wide array of influences from soul, funk, and blues to jazz, gospel, and rock 'n' roll has allowed Scott the freedom to create something new yet familiar, universal yet unique. The result is 'Lonelier with You.' The consistent honesty and emotion of the songwriting is obvious. The heartfelt lyrics tell stories of life experiences and often offer new perspectives on the 'status quo.' Just as the songwriting provides the foundation, the musical performance makes the album soar. Backed by a phenomenal band, Scott's emotional guitar playing and expressive vocals are free to deliver the music's message with conviction. After listening to 'Lonelier with You,' one comes away with the feeling of knowing truly who the artist is. Don't miss out on this album by a young artist who is clearly on his way.

Jimmi & The Band Of Souls - Live, Baby, Live!

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2022
Time:75:10 
Size:177,4 MB 
Label:Self-Released 
Styles:Blues/Boogie-Woogie Blues/Blues Rock/Modern Electric Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Hold On, I'm Coming (Live) - 6:25
 2. The Temple (Live) - 5:15
 3. Satan's Complaint (Live) - 2:50
 4. I'm Gonna Learn To Sing This Song (Live) - 4:47
 5. Say You're All Mine (Live) - 3:26
 6. Boogie Woogie Woman (Live) - 5:37
 7. Virginia (Live) - 7:10
 8. One Drop Of God's Whiskey (Live) - 4:10
 9. Sweet Jesus Blues (Live) - 3:34
10. I'll Be There (Live) - 3:46
11. Got My Mojo Working (Live) - 5:52
12. To Be Alone with You (Live) - 3:32
13. Blues After Sunrise (Live) - 5:06
14. I'm Losing You (Live) - 4:42
15. Load Off My Mind (Live) - 4:54
16. I'm Blue (Live) - 3:56

Jimmi and the Band of Souls are a soulful, high-energy, award-winning band from Minnesota.
They play boogie-woogie. They play slow and lonely. They play toe tappin’, deep groovin’ and hard drivin’. They’ll lift your spirits with their contagious energy. They are the only band to represent Minnesota twice in the International Blues Challenge.  They have played in festivals all over the Midwest and opened for rock legends like Canned Heat, Vanilla Fudge and Devon Allman. Two of their albums, Aquarius (2025) and The Devil You Know (2011), were voted the best blues albums in Minnesota. The band is committed to hosting at least one benefit a year. In 2022, they raised over $11,000 for the people of Ukraine. In 2023, they hosted a benefit for the Takoda Institute, a Native American school in Minneapolis and in 2024, they co-hosted a benefit for Minnesota music legend, Scott Sansby. “It’s about giving back,” says Jimmi. “While we have breath, let’s use our talents to create community and build a better world for all of us.”
"I found that Jimmi Langemo, Jimmi, as all his friends call him, has a steady, reliable, singing voice with a large second tenor range with some first tenor and first bass singing range. A unique singing style of Minnesota blues that is a touch of jazz and a few songs in this CD are a splash of country. Meaning all of these songs in this CD will attract people of different genres. 
 I have heard this band in live music. This CD was recorded at a live concert in Hayward, Wisconsin. You can listen to Jimmi & The Band Of Souls reach out to the people who are at the concert. Connecting with the old fans and new.
Singing soulfully is Jimmi the leader of the band. Jimmi also plays the guitar, slide guitar and the harmonica. Always on beat and blends well. Never over powering. Perfection! Jimmi wrote all the songs. Definitely a great talent he has. Writing about life and emotions in this CD.
Jay LeClair plays guitar with grandeur and poise. Always on beat and blends in well. Great solo parts.
Nate Heinz does two solo vocals in “Say You’re All Mine” and “Got my Mojo Working” Nate also does back up singing with Jimmi. I like the slightly raspy blues voice of Nate. It is always good to have several singers in any group. Nate plays the bass guitar and helps keep the beat of the music, giving the soul and beat of the group.
Lastly we have Richard Medek on the drums. I can feel the drums and they are always keeping the band on track with the rhythm of the music. That is a true talent indeed.
On the cover of Live, Baby, Live is a picture of Jimmi on stage by Dreya Morrigan Layman. Posed in a pause and his head lowered with his beloved hat. The background is blurred. Jimmi is in control of the music on stage with his present. 
I found Jimmi’s music on this CD very uplifting, exciting and the best of the best. A five start review. I don’t give anything lower than five star music reviews. That includes CDs. 
I have to say, once I received this CD, I listened to it almost every day. I love all the songs on this CD. I do have a few favorites, but I will find those of Jimmi & The Band Of Souls fans. You can hear them on this CD and at live concerts.
So yes, I give this CD five stars. I also recommend you see them live! Jimmi & The Band Of Souls were picked on the the top band in the Twin Cities area for 2025 by their peers! Congratulations!" ~ Mitzi Beliveau/

The Blues Against Youth & The Restless Livers Collective - Good Morning Bad Feeling / Deprecation Road


Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2017
Time:44:01 
Size:101,1 MB 
Label:Self-Released 
Styles:Blues/Country Rock/Alt-Country/Rock 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Good Morning Bad Feeling - 5:03
 2. That Reason Why - 3:38
 3. It's Been a Long Time, Mama - 3:48
 4. Another Pretty Country Song - 3:48
 5. Got Blood in My Rhythm - 2:50
 6. Lonesome Road - 3:06
 7. Records and Fish - 8:23
 8. Barbed Times - 3:55
 9. Soul Mercenary Blues - 4:13
10. Rising Sun Blues (Live) - 5:12

10" EP by The Blues Against Youth's extended version: "The Restless Livers Collective.Three bonus tracks feature in this Jewel Case edition:
"Barbed Times" from "Barbed Times" 7", a new version of "Soul Mercenary Blues" and a previously un-released track "Risin' Sun Blues" recorded live on a rooftop by Roof Session Strasbourg.
You will finally get the chance to satisfy your needs by handling a real Compact Disc and feel free to either put it in your old fashion CD player, or use it as a mirror for any bad or good habit you might have!~ The Blues Against Youth (Roma, Italy)


вторник, 24 февраля 2026 г.

Steve Conn - River of Madness

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:1995
Time:42:29 
Size:98,1 MB 
Label:D'Ville Record Group 
Styles:Rock/Cajun /R&B/Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Mardi Gras Morning - 4:45
 2. River of Madness - 3:48
 3. Good Intentions - 4:00
 4. Love Is The Word - 3:43
 5. Midnight On The Delta - 4:27
 6. Time and Time Again - 3:29
 7. Where Do We Go From Here? - 4:59
 8. Morning Light - 4:40
 9. The One and Only Truth - 3:52
10. In An Angel's Arms - 4:42

Next, let’s pay a visit to the small central Louisiana city of Pineville, the home of Steve Conn, who his website notes has played piano, organ or accordion with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson, Sonny Landreth and Albert King, among many others. He also writes his own music and to date has released five albums. His first, River of Madness, appeared in October 1995. Conn’s music sounds as rich and tasty as a Louisiana gumbo!

Bluesmix - Flat Nine

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2016
Time:45:31 
Size:104,5 MB 
Label:Bluedust Records 
Styles:Blues/Electric Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. On Fire - 4:15
 2. Break My Back - 4:09
 3. Well Well - 4:35
 4. Magentise - 4:19
 5. Fortune Fails You - 4:06
 6. I Really Want You Around - 4:44
 7. Running Through Rain - 4:33
 8. Heartbreaker - 3:41
 9. Strange Feeling - 3:35
10. Time Was on My Side - 4:05
11. You Blow My World Away - 3:25

In the 1970s, the London pub/club rock/blues scene was thriving. The Hope and Anchor in Islington and the famed Marquee club in Wardour Street were the main venues where such greats as Dr Feelgood, Nine Below Zero, Ducks Deluxe, Eddie and the Hot Rods and Balham and the Alligators turned up in their battered twin-wheel based Transit vans, unloaded the gear themselves, set up with amps on top of beer crates and transformed cold, ordinary rooms into sweaty, crammed to the rafters dens of musical heaven night after night. No one needed drugs or to be plastered on 2-for-1 booze to get high, when the bands were in full flow. Those days are long gone, often replaced with karaoke, tribute bands or DJs¦..but there is a resurgence of interest in that type of venue and that type of night. A new and pleasing demand for real musicians playing real instruments, turning up the amps to 11 a la Spinal Tap! With a nod toward retro RnB and blues.
One such band who have helped to spearhead this movement over the last few years is Bluesmix. Four talented musicians and songwriters who have quietly got on with the business of making good music and pleasing records, picking up quite a loyal following and praise in high places. They are London-based with the majority of their gigs down the smoke, unashamedly performing and recording a sound from yesterday, which throws soul, funk, blues, rock and jazz into the pot and sprinkled with plenty of power, energy and attitude to dish up a splendid gumbo of musical magic.
Their current CD, Flat Nine, was previously released but it is having a re-birth as new people discover it, new radio gobs on sticks praise it and new hacks write about it. While new fans pick up a copy at their gigs and tell their friends too, this album has a longer than average shelf life.

Michael John and The Bottom Line - Good Thing

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2002
Time:52:47 
Size:121,6 MB 
Label:Basowski Records 
Styles:Blues/Rockin`Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Angel Muffin - 4:18
 2. Dirty Tricks - 2:59
 3. It's A Good Thing - 5:01
 4. Feels Like Rain - 4:54
 5. Gonna Stay The Same - 4:16
 6. Understanding Woman - 2:36
 7. The Way That I Do - 3:03
 8. Blues Party - 2:44
 9. All Hell's Cutting Loose - 3:18
10. How 'Bout You? - 4:51
11. Another Bridge To Cross - 5:24
12. You Can, You Can - 4:36
13. My Baby's Sweeter - 4:42

Born May 23, 1960 in Venice Beach, CA Michael John grew up listening to a variety of music however; he knew at an early age his music love was Blues. In the early eighties he joined one of Southern California's favorite blues bands, The Back Pocket Blues Band, he was turned on to the contemporary side of the blues and there was no turning back.
Michael John's influences are many, and since the days of Back Pocket he has had the opportunity to meet and share the stage with most of them. Such as Buddy Guy the late Junior Wells, the late Albert Collins, the late Willie Dixon, Otis Rush, Lonnie Brooks, and recently with the Bottom Line they have performed with The Robert Cray Band, Taj Mahal and The Phantom Blues Band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Robben Ford, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Dickey Betts, Savoy Brown, Rod Piazza, Sonny Rhodes, Tommy Castro and his very close friend Coco Montoya who has not only influenced Michael and his music but also took part on his debut CD.

Kirk Nelson & Jambalaya West - Savor The Moment

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2024
Time:39:26 
Size:91,2 MB 
Label:Self-Released 
Styles:Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Bounce Around - 3:01
 2. Only 12 Bars In A Day - 3:48
 3. Stay In Your Lane - 3:14
 4. Back On Up The River - 4:11
 5. Must Be A Reason - 3:40
 6. Swingin' So Low - 3:48
 7. Tamale Man - 2:31
 8. Wake Up The Rooster - 2:43
 9. Turn Yourself In - 2:58
10. Radical - 3:18
11. Basin Street Blues - 2:43
12. I'm Beginning To See The Light - 3:27

Los Angeles-based singer-pianist Kirk Nelson has shared the stage and recorded with blues legends like Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Bo Diddley, The Neville Brothers, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Robert Cray.
In 2018, he founded Jambalaya West, with which he regularly performed at various Southern California venues, including The House of Blues. During the coronavirus pandemic, all performances were canceled. The band then realized this was an opportunity to write and record new material. This resulted in the release of the album "Lagniappe" in 2021. That album reached number one on the Roots Music Report jazzy blues charts in 2022.
In early January, Kirk Nelson & Jambalaya West released a new album. This album, "Savor The Moment," contains twelve songs: ten original compositions and two covers. On "Savor The Moment," Kirk Nelson combines his Midwest roots and West Coast influences with a generous dose of New Orleans funky jazz.
The party gets off to a flying start with the opening track, "Bounce Around." Funky jazz with trumpet, baritone sax, and trombone. "Only 12 Bars In A Day" gets us into the New Orleans spirit. Steve Crum's trumpet and Kirk Nelson's honky-tonk piano solo are delightful. The horn section, with a killer trombone solo by Dan Weinstein and the piano solo, swing alongside the tight rhythm section on "Stay In Your Lane."
The trumpets and trombone shine again in the soulfully sung "Back On Up The River." The fine guitar work is also impressive. Tom Cunningham solos beautifully on the funky jazzy "Must Be A Reason." When the tempo slows, as in the subdued sung "Swing 'So Low," it's simply a swing. With Tamale Man, featuring a famous trumpet solo by Cunningham, the atmosphere of New Orleans returns. The instrumental "Wake Up The Rooster" is pure funk with Hammond, synths, horns, and the fierce guitar licks of Joe Koepfli. "Turn Yourself In" is New Orleans jazz with clarinet, trumpet, cornet, tuba, and even a banjo. The rhythm section of Mitch Montrose and Brian Beal is in full swing in "Radical."
"Basin Street Blues," the 1928 Spencer Williams classic, and recorded by many, is also a joy to listen to in the Kirk Nelson & Jambalaya West version, especially thanks to the beautiful contribution of Weinstein on cornet and trombone. "I'm Beginning To See The Light," the 1944 jazz standard by Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Harry James, and Don George, is all about swinging. Conclusion: ‘Savor The Moment’ is an effervescent and exciting album that rocks the speakers.

Milton Hopkins & Jewel Brown - Milton Hopkins & Jewel Brown

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2012
Time:41:36 
Size:95,7 MB 
Label:Dialtone Records
Styles:Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Jerry - 4:18
 2. Can't Get Enough Of You - 2:55
 3. Daddy Daddy - 3:22
 4. The Whale Has Swallowed Me - 2:14
 5. Evening Breeze - 6:28
 6. There's A Light - 1:55
 7. Cry Me A River - 5:21
 8. I'm Shakin' - 3:02
 9. Back To The Shimmy - 2:43
10. I'm Leaving You Now - 3:57
11. How Can I Lose - 2:21
12. Tater Tots - 2:54

Hip gospel, laid-back soul, and cool grooves! This sound reaches back to major tours with Louis Armstrong and BB King, back to Houston's old Fifth Ward and Third Ward, back to the golden era of the blues. Jewel Brown and Milton Hopkins bring all this together on their  release on Dialtone Records.
Fifth Ward native Milton Hopkins is a cousin of Lightnin' Hopkins, the epitome of old-style Houston blues. In 1950, along with the great saxophonist Grady Gaines and others, the young guitarist joined a band called the Tempo Toppers backing the early R&B sensation Little Richard. By 1953, the Duke-Peacock Records impresario Don Robey had also recruited Milton to do session work with some gospel groups. Soon after that, he went on the road with the late, great Johnny Ace and Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton.
In 1956, Milton got the opportunity to play with his musical hero, Gatemouth Brown. Things were on the upswing as he reunited with Grady Gaines in The Upsetters, which soon became one of the premier R&B/Rock & Roll groups in the country--the band of choice for performers such as Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and the Drifters. Milton left the Upsetters in 1963 and moved to San Francisco where he worked briefly with Marvin Gaye and Lou Rawls and also had the chance to play with his famous cousin. In 1971, B.B. King, who remembered him from his days with the Upsetters, asked Milton to join the band. For the next nine years Milton Hopkins was B.B.'s rhythm guitar player, playing gigs all over the world.
While vocalist Jewel Brown was still in high school in Third Ward, Lionel Hampton invited her to tour Europe, but she chose to stay in school while singing locally with her brother¹s group. In 1955 she recorded a single for Don Robey's Duke label and began to perform beyond Houston. In Los Angeles in 1957, Jewel sat in with organist Earl Grant at the Club Pigalle and was hired on the spot. From there she went on to Dallas to work in a nightclub owned by the infamous Jack Ruby. Based on the strength of her performances there, the legendary talent manager Joe Glaser gave Jewel the opportunity to join either of two jazz greats: Louis Armstrong or Duke Ellington. She chose the former, and from 1961 to 1969 she was the featured vocalist with the Louis Armstrong band.
Jewel's subsequent career includes affiliations with Carrol Garner, Earl Grant, and Arnett Cobb, among others. In 1971, after twenty-three years of singing professionally, she took leave from the stage and returned to Houston to care for her ailing parents--and later to pursue a successful business career outside of music. Since then she has only occasionally displayed her considerable talents for live audiences, mainly at special events in Houston and New Orleans or on European tours with The Heritage Hall Jazz Band.
Now, Milton Hopkins and Jewel Brown come together on record for the first time. Backed by a band of first-rate players, these two musical veterans deliver a classic blues statement for the twenty-first century. The quality of the vintage testifies to the rich depths of the roots. Savor it and enjoy!

Big Joe Kennedy - Amalgamation

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2024
Time:46:57 
Size:108,8 MB 
Label:Self-Released 
Styles:Jazzy/New Orleans Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Messin' with the Kid - 4:18
 2. Working in the Coal Mine - 3:59
 3. Call My Job - 4:55
 4. Brickyard Blues - 3:36
 5. Fidgety Feet - 5:46
 6. Mahogany Hall Stomp - 4:20
 7. What a Wonderful World - 4:43
 8. Exactly Like You - 4:20
 9. They Can't Take That Away from Me - 4:14
10. The Very Thought of You - 3:31
11. Dorothy - 3:10

A melismatic vocalist, jazz trained keyboard player and author who cut his teeth in the Midwest alongside guitarist Michael Coleman and others, Big Joe Kennedy spent years in Las Vegas, but delivers a blue-to-the-root sound on this CD, which is infused with the spirit of his current home, New Orleans. He’s joined here by a smoking quartet of horn players – Zach Lange on trumpet, Stephen Walker on trombone, Marty Peters on sax and Jory Dexter Woodis on clarinet – as he puts a successful Big Easy spin on Chicago blues standards and powerful Gulf Coast covers.
The lights dim slightly. The small stage in the Beale Street lounge sits brightly lit with a spotlight tight on the piano player and one more loosely illuminating the other musicians. The band starts and the singer lays into a few well-known blues and New Orleans standards and a pop blues cut before switching gears into a great New Orleans jazz instrumental followed by another slick jazz instrumental. The crowd is now completely warmed up and the singer and band then take a voyage through jazz standards that the crowd all know and love. The piano player finishes the set solo, letting the crowd wind down and gets personal with the adoring crowd of listeners.
That’s pretty much how this album goes. Big Joe Kennedy is a great entertainer from the Midwest who spent many years in New Orleans absorbing the vibes of great jazz and blues and honing his skills as a musician. Weaned in the music scenes of Milwaukee and Chicago, Big Joe spent time getting a graduate degree in musical performance and headed for NOLA where he perfected his craft there since 2009.
He’s surrounded himself with a skilled set of players who also seem to enjoy being part of the entertainment. Joe handles vocals and piano, Mark Brooks is on bass and Doug Belote is on drums. The horns are Zach Lange on trumpet, Stephen Walker on trombone, Marty Peters on sax, and, on one cut, Joe Dexter Woodis on the licorice stick.
Big Joe and company open with blues and NOLA standards “Messin’ With The Kid,” “Working In The Coal Mine” and “Call My Job.” He then ventures over to “Brickyard Blues,” a more mainstream hit. He and the band give these cuts their all as they work to make them their own.
Then Kennedy switches over to a pair of jumping instrumentals, “Fidgety Feet” and “Mahogany Hall Stomp.” The prior cut drips New Orleans charm and the latter is a more straight jazzy number that Big Joe and the band romp through nicely.
Louis Armstrong introduced the entire world to “What A Wonderful World” and Big Joe puts his stamp on the song. Then he croons through “Exactly Like You” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” I grew up listening to my Mom’s radio station that played songs like these all day and still today am enamored with the standards sung by many of the great musical figures from the 1930s and beyond.
Then Big Joe goes solo on the old hit “The Very Thought Of You” and finishes with the instrumental “Dorothy,” a nice conclusion to this set of tunes.
The intent here was not to reinvent the wheel. Amalgamation is a live set of soulful and popular tunes that Big Joe Kennedy and his band deliver with gusto. There is not a lot of new ground covered here, but one can feel the joy and pride these guys are performing with. Kennedy sings with smoothness and plays with great feeling. The band is great, and the horns are up to the task of representing NOLA.
If you need a CD with happy and joyful standards that you throw in your CD player and just relax and listen to then look no further.

The Sean Carney Band - Live Blues On Whyte

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2008
Time:52:05 
Size:143,5 MB 
Label:Nite Owlz Records 
Styles:Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Introduction - 0:27
 2. It's My Life, Baby - 4:41
 3. All These Worries - 3:33
 4. Why Do You Lie - 4:46
 5. 29 Ways - 6:22
 6. Call My Job - 6:42
 7. Money's Getting Cheaper - 3:52
 8. Too Many Cooks - 4:15
 9. Life Of Ease - 5:03
10. What Can I Say - 8:11
11. Bad Side Baby - 4:09

Musicians:
Sean Carney - Vocals, Guitar;
Chris Brzezicki - Bass [Ampeg Baby Bass];
Organ [B-3],Piano -  Graham Guest;
Eric Blume - Drums.

It’s no accident that Sean Carney’s career has been arcing steadily upward. The Columbus, Ohio bluesman has it in his family genes, with jazz horn players in the previous two generations. Onstage locally he mastered his craft backing a wide array of local and national R&B greats such as Christine Kittrell and Jimmy “T-99” Nelson and making it known that he was a skilled and tasteful guitarist and vocalist. In 1998 he recorded his debut album 'Provisions'. He gained exposure and experience serving as Teeny Tucker’s musical director and co-writer. Offstage he was a tireless advocate for those same artists, the blues and jump they represented and the area’s musical heritage, writing articles, being a dj, promoting concerts and serving three terms as President of the Columbus Blues Alliance. Sean’s profile has gotten a major boost in the last more busy years, and in fact is decidedly international these days when European tours often in the company of major historical figures have become almost routine for him. Drummer Eric Blume, who performed with Sean for over a decade, and Sean founded Nite Owlz Records in 2006 and issued 'Life Of Ease'. He won the Albert King Best Guitarist award and took first place at International Blues Challenge (2007), and relesed the album 'Blues For A Cure'. In 2009 his Canadian recording 'Live Blues On Whyte' come out. He has performed worldwide with Big Joe Duskin, Duke Robillard, Charlie Baty, Willie Pooch, Hank Marr, Joe Weaver, Johnnie Bassett, “King Saxe” Gene Walker, Sir Mack Rice and Hal Singer as well as his own group. With his studio recordings with Duke Robillard and Jimmy Thackery, Sean reaffirms his importance and value as a part of the blues scene he has supported so tirelessly for so long. Recently, Sean Carney released an album with Shaun Booker, titled "Blue Plate Special" and he will be again in Europe (France, Greece, Belgium, Finland) for one more successful tour. (Bio-based Dick Shurman's info/texts).

Diego Mongue Band - While You Where Gone

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2023
Time:34:21 
Size:78,7 MB 
Label:Self-Released 
Styles:Blues 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. Intro - 2:17
 2. While You Were Gone - 3:41
 3. 44 Blues - 5:41
 4. Give Me Strength - 3:41
 5. Rollin' And Tumblin' - 3:26
 6. Sleepless Night Blues - 6:44
 7. Find My Way Again - 4:27
 8. Blues All Day - 4:19

A third-year music major at Williams College in western Massachusetts and the son of Gina Coleman, leader of the band Misty Blues, multi-instrumentalist Diego Mongue is already a proven talent who’s hit the top of the charts in blues, blues-rock and jazz fusion. And he keeps the heat on high with this debut release from his latest project. A force of nature on percussion here, Mongue leads a six-piece ensemble that includes Chantell McCullough on vocals, Joel Nicholas and Liam Giszter on keys, Carmeron Bencivenga on guitar and Chase Bradshaw on bass. They power through a set of attention-grabbing, multi-dimensional pleasers.While You Were Gone appears to be the debut album from the Diego Mongue Band, an intriguing combination based out of Berkshire County, MA. It’s difficult to know for sure, since the CD did not come with an EPK and the band’s website is somewhat light on detail. Having said that, however, While You Were Gone is also a fascinating listen, treading a fine line between blues, jazz-fusion and rock, beautifully produced and with some very impressive musicianship.Recorded at Studio9 Porches in North Adams, MA, (kudos to Patrick Gray Jr and Seth von Paulus for capturing a blisteringly powerful sound) While You Were Gone features eight songs (the CD does not provide writing credits, although only “44 Blues” and “Rollin’ & Tumblin'” were known to this reviewer) that are delivered with precision and passion. Opening with the aptly titled instrumental, “Intro”, which sounds like the Blues Brothers Band on acid impersonating early Deep Purple, each musician is given an opportunity to stretch out and warm up before the funky blues-rock of the title track and the introduction of singer Chantell McCulloch’s superb voice. Cam Bencivenga’s jazz-rock infused guitar solo is a highlight while the sudden and dramatic changes in tempo and structure are riveting. Mongue is a superb drummer who provides a very funky rhythm platform with Chase Bradshaw over which Joel Nicholas’s keyboards float.The origins of “44 Blues” have been traced back to 1920s Louisiana although Howlin’ Wolf’s 1954 version may still be the most well-known recording. Here the track initially starts with the same riffs Hubert Sumlin and Jody Williams laid down on Wolf’s recording before rapidly going off in a jam-band direction with some great keys from Nicholas and more heavy rock guitar from Bencivenga. The jazz-funk of “Give Me Strength” highlights McCulloch silky vocals and guest Liam Gizster’s keyboards before “Rollin’ & Tumblin'” is given a rocky re-working with nice tandem riffing from Bencivenga and Nicholas.The band slow things down for “Sleepless Night Blues” with Bradshaw taking over the guitar duties temporarily and more stunning vocals from McCulloch. Then “Find My Way Again” has neat interplay between bass, guitar and keys before the closing track “Blues All Day” ends the album on a toe-tappingly funky note, which somehow keeps launching into a heavy shuffle.While You Were Gone is a very impressive release from the Diego Mongue Band, which will appeal to any listener who enjoys their blues with a heavy dose of rock and jazz-fusion. Given that Mongue is currently still a student at Williams College in Williamstown, MA, we should be looking forward to a lot more music in the future from this exciting young talent.