Marty Gunther’s Red, Hot ’n Blues Music Reviews - April 2025
- chicagoblueseditor
- 2 days ago
- 9 min read
By Marty Gunther
Red Hot ’n Blues Reviews for April 2025
Johnny Iguana – At Delmark: Chicago-Style Solo Piano
Delmark Records 888
If you love the sound of Chicago blues piano, you’ll be dazzled by this set from Johnny Iguana, who’s learned from the greats, spent years with Junior Wells and recorded with Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. A passionate, exuberant outing, it’s an amazing effort that transitions from the straight-ahead Windy City blues to powerful, classical-infused, jazz-tinged originals and back again, reinventing city’s tradition for a new generation of fans.
Captured at Delmark’s Riverside Studio the old-fashioned way -- analog and in one take -- it’s an all-instrumental outing with Johnny reworking tunes by Little Brother Montgomery, Mel London, Chuck Berry, Magic Sam and Jay McShann, and tossing in five powerhouse originals of his own.
Definitely not old school, take a chance on “Bass Key Boogie,” “Heart of Gold (Neil Young),” “Stormy Night,” “Messin’ with the Kid,” “Tripping in a French Ambulance,” “You Never Can Tell,” “Welcome Distractions,” “Riff Raff,” “Roll ‘Em” and “Another One for the Cleaning Crew.”
Dean Zucchero – Song for the Sinners
Pugnacious Records
New Orleans bassist/tunesmith/producer Dean Zucchero struck gold two years ago with his Electric Church for the Spiritually Misguided, hitting the top of Billboard’s blues chart. And he follows up with this collection of 12 original, poignant original cuts – all of which feature guest stars at every turn.
Jimmy Vivino, Bobby Rush, John Boutté, Albert Castiglia, Mike Zito, Sean Riley, John Németh, Tiffany Pollack, Little Freddie King and several others join forces with Dean to cover everything from Saturday night hookups to patricidal nightmares, cohabitation and much more.
You’ll dig “Biting Through,” “South Side,” “She’s Saturday Night,” “Crawfish No More,” “Shine,” “Tone of the City,” “Mama’s Bottle,” “Cold Shot,” “Suicide for Jesus” and “Fowl Play.”
Sean Chambers – Live from Daryl’s House Club
Quarto Valley Records
The former bandleader for Hubert Sumlin and a man recognized by Britain’s Guitarist Magazine as one of the top 50 fret masters of the 20th century, Florida-born blues-rocker Sean Chambers has released fiery albums in the past, but he simply scorches with a deep blue flame during this live set.
It’s an intense, no-hold barred effort that features Sean’s new partnership with bassist Pat DeSalvo and drummer Garnet Grimm, formerly the rhythm section for late label mate Kim Simmonds in the final iteration of his band, Savoy Brown.
The song list features a fusion of several Chambers favorites with those of Kim, too. Bop along to “Cobra,” “Red Hot Mama,” “Louise,” “Street Corner,” “Bullfrog Blues,” “Trouble & Whiskey,” “You’re Gonna Miss Me,” “Louisiana Blues” and “Brown Sugar.”
Janiva Magness – Back for Me
Blue Elan Records
Every time seven-time BMA honoree Janiva Magness steps into the studio, you know you’re going to get music that packs a punch. And she outdoes herself with this intimate, unhurried masterpiece. It displays both her strengths and vulnerabilities as she bares her soul while dealing with life’s obstacles and overcoming them, too.
Guitarists Sue Foley, Joe Bonamassa and Jesse Dayton make guest appearances in a top-notch lineup that includes Sasha Smith and Phil Parlapiano on keys, TJ Norton on harp and a rhythm section composed of drummer W.F. Quinn Smith and bassist Ian Walker.
Painful and soothing, choice cuts abound. Give a listen to “Masterpiece,” “Back for Me,” “The Same Love That Made Me Laugh,” “November,” “Holes,” “I Was Good to You Baby,” “Down So Low,” “Do I Need You” and “Hittin’ on Nothin’.”
HeavyDrunk & Watermelon Slim – Bluesland Theme Park
HeavyDrunk Records
Don’t be fooled by the folk art album cover. This seemingly down-home album packs a thrill ride at every turn. It’s a partnership between two of the blues world’s most eclectic treasures: Watermelon Slim and vocalist HeavyDrunk – aka Rob Robinson – and his eight-piece horn band. They team to deliver a pleasing, hard-to-define album that combines different stylings throughout.
The horn section – Roy Agee (trombone), Emmanuel Echem and Lorenzo Molina (trumpets), and Evan Cobb and Maxwell Abrams (sax) – keep the heat on high with Kevin McKendree and Eric Bikales cooking on keys. And the journey features backup singers, too.
Hop aboard, fasten up and enjoy “Bluesland Theme Park,” “New Wine,” “Little Big Horn,” “Watermelon Girl,” “Road Food and Cheap Motels,” “You Make Me Want You,” “Better or Worser,” “Australia” and “Fresh.”
Max Hightower – Nothin’ but the Truth
MoMojo Records MMJ-373
A veteran road dog who’s traveled highways and byways with Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues out of South Carolina since the 2000s, harp player/guitarist Max Hightower finally steps to center stage with this disc, and he does it in style.
Recorded by Big Jon Atkinson at BigTone Studios in New Orleans, this all-original effort is chockful of the deep grooves and funk the city’s known for. Bassist Steadman “Fleetwood” Williams Sr. and drummer Brandon Phelps hold down the bottom with a revolving cast of Big Easy talent that includes Atkinson on guitar, Rob Davis on organ and James Beaumont on sax.
Get your funk on with “Double Bubble,” “It’s on Me,” “Damned If I Do,” “Here She Comes,” “Twitchy Witcha,” “Sweet Gum Tree,” “Too Much of Not Enough,” “Thick Jello,” “I Ain’t Lyin’,” “Snuggle Bug” and “Assmograph.”
The Bob Lanza Blues Band – Breadman’s Blues
MoMojo Records
A New Jersey Blues Hall of Famer, Bob Lanza has been serving up some of the tastiest guitar you’ll hear in the New York metropolitan area since 1979 while also delivering bread to residents, too. He’s toiled at the day job for 45 years, and he celebrates his retirement in the best way possible with the grooves you’ll hear here.
It’s a contemporary effort that features Vin Mott on harp, Nick Conti on horns, Eric Heilner on keys with a rock-steady rhythm section composed of Nick Fishman on drums and Steve Kirsty on bass.
Join the celebration by tuning in to “Johnny Jinhgo,” “Cutoff My Right Arm,” “Nicky’s Blues,” “Same Old Blues,” “Upside of Lonely,” “A Man Like Me,” “Fool Song” and “Rollercoaster.”
Mitch Ryder – With Love
Ruf Records RUF 1320
Rock legend Mitch Ryder has been delivering hits since his time with the Detroit Wheels in the ’60s, but the 80-year-old is at his bluesiest best here. One of the last musicians to play with Otis Redding, he teams with five-time Grammy-winning producer Don Was for this collection full of tough-but-tender tunes that differ from anything in his extensive catalog.
Four-time BMA nominee Laura Chavez holds down guitar alongside Brian “Roscoe” White, keyboard player Luis Resto, sax and flute player Dave McMurray with percussionists Jeff Canaday and Mahindi Masai and bassist Chuck Bartels.
Surprisingly slow and gentle, you’ll enjoy “Lilli May,” “Pass It to the Right,” “Sanguine,” “One Monkey,” the Latin-flavored “Oh What a Night,” “Wrong Hands,” “Too Damned Slow,” “The Artist” and “Just the Way It Is.”
Bob Corritore & Friends – Phoenix Blues Rumble
VizzTone Label Group/SWMAF Records SWMAF-22
The most prolific producer in the blues, harp player Bob Corritore’s vast collection of unreleased recordings has produced several sensational compilations in the past few years. And his journey continues with this set, which is dedicated to artists from the Arizona blues scene – almost all of whom deliver a Windy City sound.
Recorded between 1987 and 2017, Corritore’s runs on the reeds support an all-star roster that includes former Howlin’ Wolf drummer Chico Chism, a young Sugaray Rayford, King Karl, Dave Riley, Big Pete Pearson, George Bowman, Tommy Dukes, Dino Spells and Chief Schabuttie Gilliame -- all of whom are backed by top talent.
Choice cuts include “Big Fat Woman 480 Lbs.,” “Come to Me Baby,” “Walking in the Park,” “Jennie Bea,” “I Was a Fool,” “Real Bad Day,” “Nine Times Out of Ten,” “Leopard Speckled Baby,” “Laughing Blues” and “I’m Evil.”
Mark Muleman Massey – It’s Been a Long, Long Time
MuleTone Records
If anyone has a reason to sing the blues, it’s Mark Muleman Massey. The grandson of sharecroppers, he grew up in Clarksdale, Miss., and served time in the infamous Parchman Farm Prison, where he learned his craft from David Kimbrough, son of blues legend Junior.
A deeply emotive vocalist and guitarist with one other CD to his credit, Muleman’s joined by Memphis giant Travis Wammack and Billy Lawson on guitars, Clayton Ivey and Jim Whitehead on keys, Robbert Fossen on harp, a full horn section and backup singers.
Give a listen to “Been a Long, Long Time,” “Baby’s Gone,” “Can’t Tell Me Nothing About the Blues,” “Give Me Your Love,” “She’s Married to the Streets,” “My Used to Be,” “Going Back to Memphis” and “Your Good Stuff.”
Andrew Duncanson – California Trap
Run It Back Records 25000
Based out of Champaign, Illinois, where he also works with The Dig 3 and Kilborn Alley Blues Band, Andrew Duncanson possesses one of the sweetest voices in the blues universe. And he finally gets to shine on his own on this disc, which also features Bay Area sax player/producer Michael Peloquin.
Co-produced by Kid Andersen and recorded at Greaseland Studios, Andrew’s backed by a world-class lineup that includes Jerry Jemmott on bass, Derrick “D’mar” Martin on drums, Jim Pugh on keys and Tia Carroll, Laura Price and Lisa Leuschner Andersen on backing vocals, plus a killer horn section that brings Memphis soul to the proceedings.
There’s a bit of honey in every groove. You’ll love “Relearning to Climb,” “Naw Naw Naw,” “California Trap,” “Town Saint,” “Outer Space,” “What Kind of Man,” an unbelievable redo of “This Land Is Your Land,” “Feeling Better Now,” “More Lows Than Highs,” It’s a Pleasure” and “Better Off Now.”
Ra’Shad the Blues Kid – Live in Clarksdale
Self-produced CD
Based out of the Pine Belt in southern Mississippi, Ra’Shad the Blues Kid – aka Larry McGill -- has been delivering his own brand of contemporary blues since 2011. And he cooks from the jump of this 13-song set, which was recorded in at Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero blues club in Clarksdale.
A young man who deserves far more attention than he receives, the guitarist is backed here by an eight-piece alignment that includes Gabriel Spells on keys, Jock Webb Sr. on harp, Christopher Gillard and Pierre Bramlett on second guitar and a rhythm section that simmers throughout.
Take a trip to the juke and tune in to “Feel Alright,” “Juke Joint,” “Do It Right,” “Bad Girl,” “That’s What You Are,” “Get High,” “Hey Baby,” “Hey Y’all,” “Move Sumthing” and “Juke.”
Steve Howell & the Mighty Men – Yeah Man
Out of the Past Music
A finger-picking guitarist inspired by Mississippi John Hurt and other first-generation talents, Steve Howell has never been shy about infusing other styles of music into his performance. And he deftly updates tunes that bridge the blues spectrum with this tasty treat.
Delivering stylishly laid-back covers culled from Blind Lemon Jefferson to Eddie Hinton and Bob Dylan, the Texas treasure is joined in the studio by guitarist Chris Michaels, bassist Jason Weinheimer and drummer Dave Hoffpauir for a set with timeless appeal.
Give a listen to “Lone Lonesome Blues,” “Yeah Man,” “20% Alcohol,” “One Mint Julep,” “I’m Glad for Your Sake,” “Just Like Romeo and Juliet,” “Dearest Darling,” “Lover Please,” “Wade in the Water” and “Crimes of Freedom.”
Kid Ramos – Strange Things Happening
Nola Blue Records NBR 039
One of the greatest guitarists on the West Coast, Kid Ramos is a man of deep faith, too. And when he received a request from a pastor friend to record a musical message of faith, he answered the call by recruiting a star-studded lineup of likeminded souls. The album that he produced here would make gospel and blues singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe break out into a broad smile.
Brian Templeton (The Proven Ones) delivers harp and shares vocals with Kid’s son, Johnny, with backing from Dave Limina (Ronnie Earl) on keys, Stephen Hodges (Mavis Staples) on drums and Mike Turturro (The 44s) on drums. Add horns and accordion and you’ve got something special.
A mix of covers and new tunes compiled by Templeton, raise your spirits with “Strange Things Happening Everyday,” “How I Got Over,” “I’m Working on a Building,” “Oh What a Meeting,” “An Answer for Isaac,” “Satan’s Jeweled Crown,” “Nobody But the Lord,” “More Love More Power” and “I’m a Pilgrim.”
B.B. King – B.B. King in France: Live at the 1977 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival
Deep Digs Records DDD03
Think you’ve heard ALL of B.B. King? Well, you’re in for a treat! Originally recorded by France’s national radio agency, this set sat in storage for 45 years but is an absolute treasure because it provides a time capsule that catches him working with what became the B.B. King Orchestra for the first time.
Prior to this recording and since the early ’60s, he’d toured with backing from drummer Sonny Freeman and Freeman’s band, the Unusuals. But this unit is chockful of what now are familiar bandmates and names: B.B.’s nephew/bandleader Walter King, Cato Walker III, Eddie Rowe, James Toney, Milton Hopkins, Calep Emphrey Jr. and others.
Don’t miss this skintight set, which includes “Blue Monk,” “Sweet Little Angel,” “I Like to Live the Love,” “Why I Sing the Blues,” “I Got Some Outside Help (I Don’t Really Need),” “The Thrill Is Gone” and extended takes of “I Need My Baby” and “Sweet Sixteen” and other pleasers.
About the Author: The blues came calling for Marty Gunther in the 1960s, when he witnessed Muddy Waters, Mississippi John Hurt, B.B. King and Howlin' Wolf perform at the Newport festivals in his native Rhode Island. A longtime Chicagoan who's now based out of Ohio, he's a professional journalist and harp player who studied under Sugar Blue before co-founding the Nucklebusters, a band that's filled clubs in south Florida since the '80s.