The heat’s on high for this edition of Red Hot. It includes a few independent releases as well as works from Canada and France as well as an unbelievable 45-song, three-CD set from John Hammond that was recorded by Owsley Stanley, the Grateful Dead’s soundman, in 1973 and finally sees the light of day today.
By Marty Gunther Vaneese Thomas – Stories in Blue Overton Music www.vaneesethomas.com A honey-toned mezzo-soprano and Memphis treasure, Vaneese Thomas has built her career out of turning her innermost thoughts and feelings into emotion-packed tunes. And youngest daughter of Rufus Thomas stuffs all that into the grooves of this disc. The debut of the Overton…
By Marty Gunther Chicago Blues Lifters – Blues Scouts Big Eye Records Inc. BE-0006 www.chicagoblueslifters.com Composed of a cross-section of top Windy City talents, the Chicago Blues Lifters make a magnificent debut here, delivering all of the best qualities of the city’s music and much more. Tired of all the gloom and doom filling the…
By Marty Gunther Shemekia Copeland – Blame It on Eve Alligator Records ALCD5022 www.shemekiacopeland.com Shemekia Copeland hasn’t held anything back when it comes to social and political commentary in recent years. And she keeps the heat on high here. Dedicated to her mom, Sandra Lynn Copeland, it packs a wallop as she focuses her powerful…
By Marty Gunther Duke Robillard – Roll with Me Stony Plain Records SPCD1696 www.dukerobillard.com A guitar genius and music scholar who’s the equal of anyone across the blues, jazz and rock spectrum, Duke Robillard gets into his comfort zone with this disc. He and his band join reunite with several former Roomful of Blues horn…
Red Hot ‘n Blues Reviews by Marty Gunther Billy Price – Person of Interest Little Village Foundation LVF 1065 www.billyprice.com A giant in the music world since a three-year spell fronting Roy Buchanan’s band in the ’70s and a frequent BMA honoree, Pittsburgh-based tenor Billy Price possesses one of the silkiest, smoothest tenors in the…
Red Hot ‘n Blues Reviews by Marty Gunther Gerald McClendon – Down at the Juke Joint Delta Roots Records DR-1005 www.geraldmcclendon.com The style of soul blues that dominated Chicago’s South Side in the ’70s is all but a lost art, but it’s in good hands with Gerald “The Soul Keeper” McClendon, the silky-smooth vocalist who…
Red Hot ‘n Blues Reviews by Marty Gunther Toronzo Cannon – Shut Up & Play! Alligator Records AL50203 www.toronzocannon.com Toronzo Cannon has seen it all. After spending a lifetime behind the wheel of a Chicago Transit Authority bus traversing the mean streets of the Windy City, he finally started devoting all of his time to…
Red Hot ‘n Blues Reviews by Marty Gunther Rick Estrin & the Nightcats – The Hits Keep Coming Alligator Records www.rickestrin.com It’s always too long between Rick Estrin & the Nightcats’ albums. Give this stunner a listen and the driving rhythms, sensational guitar, harp and keyboard runs will grab you from the jump. And the…
Red Hot ‘n Blues Reviews by Marty Gunther Stefan Hillesheim – When I’m Gone Self-produced CD www.shblues.com A product of Koblen, Germany, who’s been based out of Chicago for the past two years, guitarist Stefan Hillesheim simply explodes onto the blues scene with this debut CD. It’s so packed with stellar licks, original ideas and…