Bluesology: Ghalia Volt s One Woman Band, Mick Kolassa, Sugar Ray and more
Mike Greenblatt s monthly Bluesology column inspects the recent notes of Ghalia Volt s One Woman Band, Mick Kolassa, Sugar Ray and more.
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Any new
Mick Kolassa album is cause for celebration. This longtime champion of the blues helped The Blues Foundation become a guiding force in this music and, indeed, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of
If You Can’t Be Good, Be Good At It (on his own Endless Blues Records) helps support that effort. And what an album! Give Jeff Jensen some credit here. The leader of his own band has settled into a groove with Kolassa over the latter’s last few album and here his guitar shrieks split the black night like lightning. Whether it’s Howling Wolf (“Who’s Been Talking”) or even James Taylor (“Lo And Behold”), the Kolassa/Jensen production gives the attention-to-detail highs priority while not sacrificing the big bass bottom. Kolassa’s voice has neve
Article Contributed by Devious Planet | Published on Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Ally Venable, the 21 year-old guitarist from Kilgore, Texas, is pleased to announce the release of her 4th long player,
Heart of Fire via Ruf Records on February 26, 2021.
The pandemic might have silenced the music scene, shuttered the live circuit, and kept artists from their fans. But with
Heart Of Fire, Ally Venable, is coming off the ropes swinging. Defying dark times and rolling up the amps, this fourth release from the acclaimed singer-songwriter is a record to rattle your speakers and signpost better times ahead. My vision was to spread a positive message of love, says Venable. The world needs that right now.
Filled With Sound: Bette Smith, Joe Bonamassa, Colin Hicks, Brian Lisik and more
Mike Greenblatt reviews a varied amount of sounds in Filled With Sound, from Bette Smith to Joe Bonamassa to Brian Lisik . and more!
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Bette Smith’s
The Good The Bad and The Bette(Ruf Records) ain’t no blues album. Although this bad Brooklyn bitch has belted the blues in the past, she’s rocking out now with a ferocity unmatched in any of her previous efforts. To that end, she’s got Drive-By Trucker Matt Patton co-producing, North Mississippi Allstar Luther Dickinson on guitar and Drive-By Trucker Patterson Hood on vocals. Considering DBT gave the world Jason Isbell, and they’ve already backed up Bettye Lavette, it’s a match made in honkytonk heaven. Sequenced to tell her story, it’s an album that could be made into a movie. Smith took to hard partying to counter-balance her childhood scars. “Whistle Stop” is the highlight, and she sings it as if her life depends upon it. Bett
Close runner-up: Who are You by Joel Ross.
Here are the others that I consider keepers for the long haul, listed alphabetically by album title: The Art of Intimacy, Vol 1 by Jeremy Pelt Artemis by Artemis The Color of Noize by Derrick Hodge Cri$el Gems by Paul Bryant Dinner Party by Terrace Martin The Dockside Sessions by Brad Walker Fly Moon Die Soon by Takuya Kuroda Happenings: Live at the Village Vanguard by Gerald Clayton Kindred Spirits by Charles Lloyd King Butch by Butcher Brown Life Goes On by Carla Bley Meeting in Progress by Nutria Night Dreamer by Gary Bartz and Maisha