VARIOUS ARTISTS | | MOTOWN’S BLUES EVOLUTION MOTOWN 31453-0613-2 LUTHER ALLISON THE MOTOWN YEARS 1972-1976 MOTOWN 31453-0612-2 AMOS MILBURN : THE MOTOWN SESSIONS 1962-1964 MOTOWN 31453-0611-2 While Motown is not remembered for its blues sessions, three releases in the label's Motown Masters Series should be warmly welcomed by blues fans. It should be noted that Motown's blues were not far removed from the rhythm and blues of the period. In fact on the compilation, "Motown’s Blue Evolution," perhaps only Luther Allison’s high energy tracks will strike some listeners as straight blues, the ..read more

Charlie Sayles liners by Ron Weinstock Charlie Sayles has come away from playing blues on the Streets of New York and Washington, D.C. Today, he might be found headlining at various Washington DC area clubs like City Blues, or Afterwords, or open at Tornado Alley for Kim Wilson. One might find him at festivals including the Smithsonian Festival of American Folk Life, the D.C. Blues Festival or the Pocono Blues Festival, or he might be at Carnegie Hall for a folk music concert that was part of Carnegie Hall's centennial celebration, In addition to tours of England and Europe, Charlie also has ..read more

Robert Lockwood Jr. | Got To Find Me A Woman Verve It has been quite awhile since Robert Lockwood, Jr. had a new album, and for it to be on a major label makes it more welcome. There are guest appearances by Joe Louis Walker and B.B. King who each appear on two tracks. One surprise is that Gene Schwarz, Robert's long-time bassist was not on this session, replaced by Richard Smith, along with saxophonist, Maurice Reedus; harmonica player, Wallace Coleman; guitarist Charles ‘D.C.’ Carnes; pianist, Robert ‘Red Top’ Young; and drummer, Jimmy ‘Gator’ Hoare. While Robert has previously recorded a ..read more

I have been slow on writing new material, so here is a review from 1997, Bobby Patterson Second Coming Ultrax / Ichiban Bobby Patterson, who made some recordings for Ronn some years ago, has a new album out on the Ichiban distributed Proud/Ultrax. A singer and guitarist, Patterson’s vocals bear some resemblance to those of Bobby Parker. Patterson has produced a first rate album of modern soul-blues. He shows himself to be a terrific vocalist as he digs into these songs, most of which are originals dealing with typical lyrical themes of back door men and relationships falling apart. More tha ..read more

Here is a composite review of several Delmark Blues reissues that appeared in Issue 218 of the Jazz & Blues Report (1997). I likely received review copies from Delmark.Some of these may still be in print and others may be available used. Check out delmark.com for availability on disc, vinyl and digital downloads. These releases are among the latest recordings from Delmark Records’ back catalog to be issued on compact disc with additional tracks (including alternate takes and unissued songs) expanding each of these from their original vinyl format.  Luther Allison’s first album, Love ..read more

Larry Garner Baton Rouge Verve / Gitanes | recall some statement by one of the new hot-shot teenage ‘blues’ guitarists out there responding to the question of how can he play the blues given his lack of experience by responding that it was hard being a teenager. Whether one takes this as another sign of the dumbing of America, one notes that while this act might get written up in People Magazine or whatever and be hyped by one of the Blues Brothers, that modern day minstrel act, Larry Garner, perhaps one of the most gifted singer-songwriters in the blues world today, can’t get his new Verve ..read more

On the heels of their second batch of Original Blues Classics, Fantasy (under the guidance of Lee Hildebrand) has delved into the vaults of Stax Records to issue five albums of blues, soul and gospel. Of these Jammed Together (Stax MPS-8544) by Steve Cropper, Pops Staples and Albert King, is the only one that falls within Cadence’s coverage. Originally released (I believe) around 1970, this represented Stax’s attempt to hype their artists with a "Super Session’  type album combining three of the more noteworthy guitarists on their label on a bluesy program. (What’d I Say/ Tupelo/ O ..read more

Kurt Crandall - Starts on the Stops - YesterYear Records Kurt Crandall mailed his new CD (I believe his fourth album to me), and after giving it a couple of spins, I checked out his website and discovered he is well-traveled as well as a seasoned performer. Currently living in the Richmond, Virginia area, Crandall has had stops in Kansas City, Washington D.C., Macon Georgia, Chicago, and Seattle. While living in Washington, he played with Jesse James & the Raiders, a band led by the late Jesse James Johnson, who played with Bo Diddley when the music legend lived in Washington. Crandall ha ..read more

Jose Ramirez - Major League Blues - Delmark Originally from Costa Rica, singer-guitarist-songwriter Jose Ramirez has been making a name for himself in the Blues World. While residing in the Washington, DC area, he won the 2019 DC Blues Society's Battle of the Bands. He then competed in the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge, where he finished second overall. Ramirez was poised to start touring in support of his debut album "Here I Come" when the Covid-19 pandemic put a wrench in his plans. He now lives in Florida and makes his Delmark debut with "Major League Blues," which he w ..read more

This one is a totally unexpected release that is likely to be one of my favorite records of 1994. A  singer who this reviewer had never heard of prior to this recording, Juanita Williams has been the lead vocalist for the Airmen of Note (U.S. Air Force) for the past 20 years and traveled around the world, as well as regularly singing with her church choir.  She grew up listening to Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ruth Brown and sees herself as partly carrying their torch.   The wide-ranging repertoire on her initial release gives an idea of her b ..read more