By Marty Gunther
Red Hot ’n Blues Reviews for January 2025
The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra featuring Willy Jordan – What Are You Waiting For?
Blue Dot Records BDR CD 111
Anthony Paule and his Bay Area-based nine-piece orchestra have compiled eight BMA nominations in recent years with two dearly departed giants -- Wee Willie Walker and Frank Bey -- on the mic, delivering an updated, original take on the sounds of the ’60s and ’70s. And they keep on soaring with silky-smooth vocalist Willy Jordan in the fold.
Also a world-class percussionist best known recently for his work with Elvin Bishop, Jordan joins a veteran unit anchored by Paule on guitar, Tony Lufrano on keys and a four-piece horn section. The set was produced by Gabriel Shepard and the late, legendary Jim Gaines. And it’s a powerful, exceptionally well-modulated mix that gives Jordan plenty of space to shine.
Must listening for any fan of blues-drenched R&B, get down to “You Ain’t Old ’Til You Cold,” “What Are You Waiting For?,” “You’re Somebody Else’s Baby Too,” “Back Up Plan,” “Where’s Justice?,” “Bruised,” “No Tofu” and “After a While.”
Kat Riggins & Her Blues Revival – Revival
House of Berry Productions
Kat Riggins is a woman on a mission. The Miami native may be small in stature but she’s a powerhouse with a gritty voice that draws comparisons to Koko Taylor. And she dedicates this disc to her sole passion: the preservation of the blues for future generations.
A soulful, potent mix of azure R&B, soul, gospel and rock, the two-time BMA nominee’s backed by Tim Mulberry on keys, bass and percussion, with Erki Guess on guitar and label owners Shaelyn Mulberry and Mark Barner on backing vocals.
Ten originals that pack a punch, tune in to “Lucky,” “Revived,” “Southern Soul,” “Set Me Free,” “Mojo Thief,” “Chasin’ Time,” “Old Time Way” and “Healer.”
Benny Turner – BT
Nola Blue Records
The first-ever electric bassist in gospel music and the lifelong bandmate of his brother, Freddie King, Benny Turner is definitely blues royalty. The octogenarian celebrates his peers on this disc, delivering fresh versions tunes from Dee Clark, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Hank Ballard and more while incorporating three of his own originals to boot.
Benny’s at the top of his game here. He’s joined by Rock & Roll Hall-of-Fame guitarist Billy Davis, horn player Sax Gordon and Mississippian multi-instrumentalist Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport, who’s already a dyed-in-the-wool blues superstar at the tender age of 17. They’re produced by Grammy winner John Porter.
Give a listen to “Bump Miss Susie,” “The Walk,” “When I Call on You,” “Born in This Time,” “Smoke My Peace Pipe (Smoke It Right),” “Drunk,” “Sleepy Time in the Barnyard” and “Who Sang It First.”
Blue Moon Marquee – New Orleans Sessions
Self-produced CD
A duo who’ve been delivering their own brand of blues, ragtime and more to the world for the past decade, Blue Moon Marquee -- guitarist A.W. Cardinal and upright bassist Jasmine Collette -- teamed with Duke Robillard in 2022 to deliver the award-winning Scream, Holler & Howl. And they deliver an outstanding follow-up that focuses on the sounds of New Orleans.
Based in British Columbia, they recorded this set live and off-the-floor at Bigtone Records in the Big Easy, where they joined forces with Big Jon Atkinson on harp, Danny Abrams on sax, B.C. Coogan on piano and Nicholas Solnick and Brett Gallow on drums.
It’s a rousing mix of originals and tunes from the early 1900s. You’ll dig “Black Rat Swing,” “Ain’t Going Down,” “Shake It and Break It,” “Let’s Get Drunk Again,” “What I Wouldn’t Do,” “Red Dust Rising,” “Some Ol’ Day” and “Got the Blues So Bad.”
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne – Ooh Yeah!
Stony Plain Records SPCD1517
Keyboard player Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne has been thrilling audiences for 60 years with his boogie-woogie stylings. But Wayne finally struck gold last May, when he captured the BMA’s Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year honors. And the Washington state-born, Ontario-based octogenarian lets out a shout of joy on this disc that folks can hear around the world.
A deep-in-the-pocket, all-original, full-band effort, the frequent JUNO and Maple Blues Award winner is joined by a baker’s dozen of top North of the Border talent -- including Jimmy Bowskill on bass, strings, guitar and banjo, a full horn section and vocalist Salina, too.
Dig deep into “Ooh Yeah,” “Whatcha Gonna Do Now,” “Baby, I’m Your Man,” “My Point of View,” “Trying It Out,” “Wishing Well,” “Blacklist,” “I Wish Things Were Different” and “That Crazy Monkey.”
J.P. Reali – Blues Since Birth
Reali Records
Friends since freshmen year at American University in Washington, D.C., and 40 years ago since they were bandmates, it took guitarist J.P. Reali and drummer/mandolinist Jim Larson decades to reunite musically. And they do it in style here, with the nine originals J.P. penned during the pandemic.
An award-winning performer and teacher who’s now based in Delaware, Reali is a road-worn tenor who writes material that’s intimate, relatable and delivered in the first-person. Keyboard player Josh Borden and bassist Gill Glass round out the lineup.
Give a listen to “The Devil’s Take,” “The Virus Blues,” “It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry,” “Drunk and in the Way,” “The Bad Dog Blues,” “Eileen Left,” “Cold Steel Blues” and “Blues Since Birth.”
Memphis Royal Brothers – same
Royal Records MWMS1225
Composed of Grammy and Oscar winners, star-studded guests and other talents that make the Bluff City the mecca of all things blues and soul, the Memphis Royal Brothers hit the bricks running with this debut effort.
Produced by Boo Mitchell and Richard Bolen, the lineup includes Rev. Charles Hodges and Lester Snell on keys, Gary Bolen and Michael Toles on guitars and Steve Potts on drums, and a four-piece horn section led by Marc Franklin. Also featured are: Bobby Rush, Charlie Musselwhite, Jim Lauderdale, Wendy Moten and Marcus Scott (Tower of Power) on vocals.
Don’t miss “Good God I Got the Blues,” “Goin’ South,” “Brand New Heart,” “Ready to Rise,” “Gimme Back the Keys to My Cadillac,” “What Mothers Do” and “I Fall to Pieces.”
Stefan Hillesheim Band – Live at Rosa’s Lounge
Stella Blue Music SBM-SH-01
A German immigrant who was an honors student at Los Angeles’ Musicians Institute, guitarist Stefan Hillesheim cut his teeth playing gospel on the West Coast before touring as a rocker. But he’s now one of the fastest rising stars in the Chicago blues scene. And he shines on this terrific follow-up to his successful 2023 debut, When I’m Gone.
Stefan possesses a polished, haunting style on slide and a pleasant tenor. He’s backed by a top-notch Windy City lineup that includes Sumito “Ariyo” Ariyoshi on keys, Darryl Wright on bass and Dionte McMusick on drums.
An hour-long set, you’ll enjoy “Sins of the Father,” “Leaving You Behind,” “You’re My Family,” “Harlem Avenue Lounge,” “One Cloudy Day,” “Seduced By the Blues,” “Put Some Respect on My Name,” “Dealing with the Pain” and “Will You Remember Me.”
Pure Prairie League – Back on Track
Pure Prairie League Records
A seminal Southern-rock band in the ’70s and ’80s, Pure Prairie League’s roster has gone through multiple changes during the past 54 years, but one thing’s for certain: They still produce beautiful music that resides squarely on the intersection of blues, country and rock. And this disc should have them topping the charts once more.
It’s a powerful, but velvety set. The band reinvigorates its sound with keyboard player Randy Harper, guitarist Jeff Zona, bassist Jamie Camic and drummer Scott Thompson on vocals and founding member David Call on steel guitar. The set was produced by longtime PPL bassist/bandleader Michael Reilly, and former vocalist Gary Burr sits in.
Rock out to “The Beginning,” “Picture Perfect Life,” “I Believe I Could Fall in Love with Loving You,” “Crazy World,” “Modern Problem,” “I’m the Lucky One,” “Price of Love,” “Six Feet of Snow” and “Back on Track.”
Eliza Neals – Colorcrimes
E-H Records
A blues-rocker from Detroit known for her balls-to-the-wall vocal delivery, Eliza Neals adds a whole lot of soul to the mix in this set, delivering her best album yet. Eliza co-produced this effort with guitarist Michael Puwal and late Grammy winner/Rhythm & Blues Hall of Famer Barrett Strong, who penned three songs in the mix.
It’s a star-studded offering that includes Buddy Miles organist Mark “Muggy Do” Leach, guitarist King Solomon Hicks and an eclectic group of artists who work with Mitch Ryder, Damon Fowler, Robert Randolph, Alice Cooper and other major acts.
Tune in to “Heal This Land,” “Banned in Jackson,” “Colorcrimes,” “Something’s Better Than Nothing,” “Love Dr. Love,” “Sugar Daddy,” “Found Me Another” and “Friday Night (All Day Long).”
King Bee & the Stingers – Live from the Slippery Noodle
Self-produced CD
A six-piece show band based out of Indianapolis, Ind., King Bee & the Stingers did their ancestors proud when they took the stage for this set, which was recorded at their hometown club, one of the most important stops on the blues highway since the 1940s. Fronted by Sarah Menefee, a rich, wall-rattling alto, they literally rocked the room.
They keep the heat on high throughout this 16-song effort, which features Grant Boat on guitar, Wes Schrimsher on keys, Mark Carnes on harp and a deep-in-the-pocket rhythm section composed of former Pinetop Perkins sideman Jeff Shew on bass and Paul Karaffa on drums.
Bop along to “Statesboro Blues,” “Where Were You,” “Ain't That Kind of Woman,” “Four Roses,” “Don't Move So Fast,” “Once Had a Man,” “I'm Feelin' Alright,” “Bad Things,” “Shakin' to the Bone,” “Late-Night Crew” and “Sweet Little Angel.”
Muddy Gurdy – Seven
Buda Music/Socadisc
Led by guitarist/vocalist Tia Gouttebel and fusing the sounds of zydeco and French folk music, Muddy Gurdy has been entertaining audiences and piling up awards on both sides of the Atlantic for the past decade. And they strike gold again with this joyous but bittersweet release, which is their first since the passing of Marco Glomeau, the group’s percussionist and Tia’s life partner.
As usual, the band’s trademark sound is anchored by Gilles Chabenat’s hurdy gurdy. Fabrice Bony handles drums in a lineup studded with a galaxy of Louisiana talent, including fiddler Bobby Michot, percussionist/vocalist Big Chief Juan Pardo, accordionist Ruben Moreno, the Broussard Sisters and students from Myrtle Place School in Lafayette, La.
Put on your dancin’ shoes for “Jambalaya,” “I Got Loaded,” “Morning Comes,” “Jure in the Morning,” “Un Pas Vers Toi,” “Louisiana Blues,” “Almost Lost My Mind,” “Laisser Mon Coeur” and the plaintive “Plain Gold Ring.”
The Pszenny Project – Smokey Bourbon
Self-produced CD
Based out of the Midlands of South Carolina, The Pszenny Project are a hard-driving blues-rock quartet that blazes from the jump of this sophomore effort, showing why they’re the Charlotte Blues Society’s representative in this month’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
Led by guitarist Mark Pszenny, who possesses a pleasant, rough-edged voice, they deliver a traditional but original mix of blues, funk and rock that’s certain to get you up and moving on the dance floor. The all-original set features keyboard player Moses Andrews III, bassist Jay Ellington and drummer Jason Corley.
Lend an ear to “I Digress,” “Trouble with the Man,” “She’s Long Gone,” “Smokey Bourbon,” “Shake It,” “I Get Lost,” “What the Funk,” “Baby Cries,” “It’s Up to You,” “I Told You So” and “Highway Jammin’.”
John Hammond – Bear’s Sonic Adventures: You’re Doin’ Fine
Owsley Stanley Foundation
Here’s a must-have treat for any John Hammond fan: This 45-track masterpiece was captured at the Boarding House in San Francisco in 1973 by the brilliant Owsley Stanley – aka Bear – who’s best known as the board operator of the Grateful Dead. It’s completely different than any other recording in John’s 60-year career.
A genius on many levels, Bear was one of the most inventive sound engineers ever. In addition to his work for the Dead for decades and cooking up his own brand of LSD, he was an obsessive sound master whose focus was to capture ALL of the ambiance of a live performance, thanks to mics carefully placed around the room to catch the crowd as well as the star.
From the opener, “Wang Dang Doodle,” to the closer, “It’s Too Late, She’s Gone,” there are far too many highlights to mention here. And, even better, the three-disc set is packaged within a 70-plus page book that takes readers on a deep dive into Stanley’s legacy and into John’s show, too. Don’t miss it!
Blind Gary Davis – Harlem Street Singer
Craft Recordings CR00748
One of the most popular and influential Piedmont-style artists ever, South Carolina native Blind Gary Davis was one of the last itinerant street singers in America during the 1960s. And he gets to live again on 180-gram vinyl thanks to the rerelease of this album, which set hundreds of young artists on paths along the blues highway during his life. There’s a history lesson in every groove.
A master who taught Blind Boy Fuller how to play, Gary possessed a powerful voice and distinctive attack on the six-string. A deeply religious man, he never strayed far from gospel in his performance. The set was recorded by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder at a time when the music was finally starting to make its way from the cottonfields to the big city.
Essential listening, take a deep dive into “Samson and Delilah,” “Let Us Get Together Right Down Here,” “I Belong to the Band,” “Great Change Since I Been Born,” “Death Have No Mercy,” “Twelve Gates to the City,” “Tryin’ to Get Home” and “Lord, I Feel Just Like Goin’ On.”
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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.