Ruthie Foster – Just Say Yes Sun Records www.ruthiefoster.com There’s no one in the blues world more soothing than Ruthie Foster, who won a best contemporary blues Grammy last year with the album Mileage. But she does something different on this follow-up, which is certain to compile awards, too. Sure, she delivers her usual collection…
GA-20 with Charlie Musselwhite – Blues Now New West Records www.ga10band.com Led by Charlie Musselwhite’s longtime guitarist, Matthew Stubbs, Boston-based GA-20 are a trio who’ve rocketed to the top of the industry in the past few years with their own brand of modern 1950s West Side Chicago blues. And octonarian Charlie’s found the Fountain of…
Albert Castiglia – Grits & Glory Gulf Coast Records www.albertcastiglia.net With a bustling solo career along with gigging with Mike Zito in the Blood Brothers and touring with Bill Murray, guitarist Albert Castiglia is one of the busiest men in the blues world. But he still managed to find the time fulfill a lifelong dream…
Chris O’Leary – Blue Collar Alligator Records 5032 www.thechrisolearyband.net As the title of this one suggests, vocalist/harp player Chris O’Leary is a hard-working bluesman who’s built a huge international following after spending seven years as the frontman in Leon Helms’ band. He’s also an artist who packs raw emotion and real-life themes into every tune…
Young Rell – Same Little Village Foundation www.youngrell.com Don’t be fooled by the cover photo of Young Rell – aka Harrell Davenport. He’s an old soul at age 19 and already one of the most accomplished singers/guitarists/harp players in the world today – so much so, in fact, that Billy Branch and a long list…
Curtis Salgado – Legacy Rewind: Live in ’25 Nola Blue Records www.curtissalgado.com Possessing one of the best set of pipes in the universe, Curtis Salgado has made plenty of magic in his 50-year career, but this stellar, hour-long pleaser is something else entirely. Captured at The Triple Door, a showroom in Seattle, Wash., it’s the…
Freddie King – Feeling Alright: The Complete 1975 Nancy Jazz Pulsation Concerts Elemental Music www.elemental-music.com The recent Record Store Day served up a major treat for blues fans: A compilation of live recordings of the legendary Freddie King at the height of his power and career. Captured at a series of concerts in the French…
Eric Bibb – One Mississippi Repute Records RRCD001 https://www.ericbibb.com/ Three-time Grammy nominee Eric Bibb casts a magic spell every time he steps in front of a mic, and the acoustic master is at his best with this 13-song release. It transports listeners into the not-to-distant past and the turbulent present, too, as it calls out…
There weren’t many albums in the bucket for this month’s column, but — man — it turned out to be a great one. It’s loaded and delivers a cross section of the best that blues has to offer: several of the biggest names, a forgotten treasure, a couple of incredibly deserving newcomers, a taste of…
By Marty Gunther This edition of Red Hot should take away a little of the winter’s chill. Fans of Chicago blues and blues guitar should absolutely love this one because it’s got a heavy dose of both along with a couple of surprises, too. Tinsley Ellis – Labor of Love Alligator Records 5031 www.tinsleyellis.com One…