Christopher Wyze — “Stuck in the Mud” — Big Radio Records If the blues knows how to sing life’s song, then singer/songwriter Christopher Wyze has learned that lesson well. The 13 original songs on his very first album, “Stuck in the Mud,” are steeped in that storied tradition, as Wyze blends the world of his fertile story-telling imagination into the essence of the blues. Wyze has been soaking up that essence for the better part of two decades, visiting its primeval sources in the Mississippi Delta and letting his own thoughts flow into his songs. Those chops earned him a “One to Watch” songw ..read more

Chris Cain — “Good Intentions Gone Bad” — Alligator Records Fairly often in this blog, I write about artists who may not be well-known nationally, but who definitely deserve a wider stage. Today’s choice, Chris Cain, is a good example of another kind of performer — one who has been on the national scene for decades, with fifteen acclaimed albums and multiple awards to his credit, and much praise from his peers. With all those accolades, it seems odd, but he still appears to be criminally under-recognized as a major talent when blues guitar gods are catalogued as household names. Cain is a top ..read more

The Fabulous Thunderbirds — “Struck Down” — Stony Plain Records “Struck Down” is not only the first album in eight years by the Fabulous Thunderbirds, it also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the band’s founding in 1974. Band members over the years includes big blues names like Duke Robillard, Jimmie Vaughan, Fran Christina, Kid Ramos, Gene Taylor, and Nick Curran, among others. The current band is Kim Wilson on vocals and harmonica, Johnny Moeller on guitar, Bob Welsh on keyboards and guitar, Rudy Albin on drums and Steve Kirsty on bass.  And co-founder Wilson, the only original T-Bir ..read more

It’s time for another round of blues music awards. In June, a group of music critics, journalists, festival promoters, music venue managers, musicians and other blues music industry professionals, nominated their choices for the Blues Blast awards in 23 categories. Fans can vote for the winner in each category starting July 15, at www.BluesBlastMagazine.com Voting is free and open to anyone, and ends Aug. 31. You may only vote once.  If you are not currently a subscriber, you are automatically signed up for the free Blues Blast magazine as part of the voting process. (Roadhouse tip ..read more

Curtis Salgado — “Fine By Me” — Little Village Curtis Salgado has been one of my favorite performers for a bunch of years now. I’ve seen him on blues cruises and at festivals, and he never fails to deliver honest, soulful music that seems to come from deep inside him, where the spirit of his music lives. Now, on his brand-new album, “Fine By Me,” Salgado is once again delivering a palette of songs that reflect his musical sensibilities — which indeed run wide and deep. But sometimes the artist says it best, and here’s how Salgado describes this session in the album notes: “Hello Music Lover ..read more

Eden Brent — “Getaway Blues” — Yellow Dog Records The last time I saw Eden Brent, it was several years ago, sometime after midnight, somewhere at sea, and I was sitting close enough to watch her fingers fly as she was still pounding out the music at the piano bar on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. She played boogie and blues and ballads, and left me hung out to dry, what with me being a fool for live music, piano blues, evocative vocals, and just about anyone who can do all that at once. Now I’ve been listening to her latest album, “Getaway Blues,” without all that visual stimulation ..read more

Rev. Freakchild — “Bare Bones” — Treated and Released Records The most Reverend Freakchild opens his latest and 18th album, “Bare Bones,” by offering the philosophical track “All I Got Is Now,” with a lyric that sets the tone for the musical thoughts that follow – an exercise in bluesy Buddhism and other mystical delights: “Yesterdays are history / Tomorrows are a mystery / All I got is now / But I keep forgetting that somehow.” But that’s just a fraction of the lyrical output on “Bare Bones,” all of which springs from the fertile Freakchild mind, which seems unceasingly occupied by erudite e ..read more

Gerald McClendon — “Down at the Juke Joint” — Delta Roots Records Sweet soul music – It’s that magical music whose classic sounds made history with legendary artists like Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Solomon Burke and many more. Those greats have disappeared, leaving only the echoes of their soulful essence. But there’s one soul stirrer whose voice still caresses a lyric like a lover should – Chicago’s Gerald McClendon. He’s a shamefully unheralded classic R&B stylist with a voice so smooth and a feeling so deep that he’s known as the soul keeper. And best of all, he ..read more

Toronzo Cannon — “Shut Up and Play — Alligator Records Toronzo Cannon is making a lot of noise with his music these days. He’s combining his powerful, traditional fiery Chicago blues licks with smart contemporary lyrical themes that pack their own punch. That combination makes for a passionate package of modern blues firmly planted in its primal roots. The 12-song session, co-produced by Cannon and Alligator president Bruce Iglauer, features a crackling crew of Cannon on guitars, vocals, and percussion; Brian Quinn on electric and upright bass; Cole DeGenova on keyboards and clavinet; Jason E ..read more

Billy Price — “Person of Interest” — Little Village Billy Price is indeed a person of interest to me. Being a native Pittsburgher myself (it was New Jersey native Price’s adopted hometown), I’ve had the good fortune to know him and listen to his soulful music for much of the half-century-plus that he’s been a Pittsburgh institution. I’ve seen him perform with the Keystone Rhythm Band, the Billy Price Band, and in small groups with just a keyboard or combo behind him. I’ve seen how he packed venues around Pittsburgh with appreciative fans. I’ve watched him perform tough, rocking shows with the ..read more