10:49 reviewed by Mark Thompson

10:49

Aaron Williams & the Hoodoo

self-released

www.aaronwilliamsandthe-hoodoo.com

10 tracks/44:14

I really enjoyed It Ain't Easy, the first release from Aaron Williams & the Hoodoo. And in July I finally had the chance to see them live when they did the opening set at the Sterling Main Street Blues fest. The trio played with a full-throttle intensity captured the attention of the crowd and garnered several standing ovations.

Much of their set that day was material from their new release, which shows the band at their best. Williams is an energetic guitar player and a commanding singer. He gets support from Eric Shackelford on drums and Z on bass and percussion. Both men handle the lead vocal on several cuts. Special guest Jimmy Voegeli adds his dynamic keyboard efforts throughout the disc.

The title track is an acoustic piece with Williams sharp slide guitar licks contrasting nicely with Ken Olufs country-style harmonica playing. The two men share the lead vocal as they describe the pain felt at the end of a failed love affair. The band then cranks up the volume on “Devil's Playground”, with Williams getting a dark, menacing sound from his cigar box guitar. Shackelford sings with conviction on his original, “Red Head Woman” with Voegeli pounding away on the piano. Williams once again coaxes a mammoth tone out of his cigar box instrument on “Boom Boom”.

The group attacks “Sick and Tired with buzz-saw guitars and throbbing bass that gives you an idea of how the Dave Bartholomew classic would have sounded like if the Ramones had ever covered the song. Even when the pace slows, the group maintains their fiery intensity as Williams delivers a passionate vocal on “My Turn”. Voegeli fleshes out the arrangement on the organ, creating a haunting mood that is punctuated by another dazzling solo from Williams. “It Is What It Is” has a propulsive rhythmic foundation and Z lets everyone know that he too is a talented singer.

Williams plays some Elmore James style slide guitar on “Let Me Love You” and Z brings some funk to the proceedings on his original tune, “Tease Me, Please Me”. The closing track, “She's Good at What She Does”, sounds similar to a number of other songs on the disc and fails to generate much excitement despite another strong contribution from Voegeli on the organ.

Williams, Shackelford and Z bring plenty of youthful energy to the stage – and have managed to capture much of that exuberance on this recording. They have won numerous MAMA awards (Madison Area Music Awards) including top honors as the 2010 Artist of Year, a testament to the loyal fan base the band has built up their hometown. Don't let this one slip by – give Aaron Williams & the Hoodoo a chance to rock your world!!

Reviewed by Mark Thompson

Three Kings reviewed by Rick Davis

Three Kings

Jeff Golub

Entertainment One Music

www.jeffgolub.com

13 Tracks

Jeff Golub is well established in the jazz world with six contemporary jazz solo albums and another three CDs as the leader of the jazz band Avenue Blue. In his youth, he started playing the music of blues rock artists like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimi Hendrix. He took the blues one step further by listening to Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, and of course B.B. King, Albert King, and Freddie King. Listening to Wes Montgomery, inspired him to direct his attention to study at Berklee Music College in Boston. Golub's career started as a sideman working with artists like Rod Stewart and Billy Squire in New York as early as 1980.

It was after this that he began his career as a jazz guitarist with his first solo recording, Unspoken Words for Gaia records in 1988, but really emerged as band leader and instrumentalist with the release of Avenue Blue in 1994 for Mesa Bluemoon/Atlantic records. When asked to review his latest CD Three Kings, a blues tribute, it was quite a surprise to discover that Jeff's career had taken a totally different direction as a blues artist. This is a follow up to Golub's first blues release Blues For You in 2009. Three Kings is of course a tribute to the music made famous by the three blues legends B.B. King, Albert King, and Freddie King as they toured the world throughout their illustrious careers. Jeff has returned to the blues this time with Henry Butler on piano and vocals, Andy Hess of Gov't Mule on bass, and Josh Dion on drums, percussion, and vocals. The all star cast is highlighted with Henry Butler on vocals and piano on "Let The Good Times Roll," "Born Under A Bad Sign," "Have You Ever Loved a Woman," "Oh Pretty Woman," and "I'm Tore Down." He brings in Robben Ford on "Sidetracked" and Sonny Landreth on "In Plain Sight." Other tunes on the CD include "Help The Poor," "Everyday I Have The Blues," "Freddie's Midnight Dream," "Stumblin' Home," an instrumental arrangement of "The Thrill Is Gone," and the tribute song written by Henry Butler himself, "Three Kings."

Golub's guitar work is superb and vocals rival his guitar solos.  One has to question whether he is better at blues or jazz as a guitarist. I think the CD best answers that question. He is one of those rare talented artists who is at the top of his game no matter what the genre. His career has taken him from an accomplished jazz artist to an equally talented R&B and blues guitarist with just two albums. What is next for Jeff Golub?

Hopefully his deep passion will continue for the blues. Three Kings is one explosive musical tribute.

Reviewed by Rick Davis

Greyhound reviewed by Steve Jones

Greyhound

Mike Zito

Eclecto Groove Records

www.mikezito.com

11 tracks

For some people the third try is the charm.  For Mike Zito, every trip to the plate has been a home run.  This completes a trifecta: a career that has started with three great CDs.  Zito plays, sings and writes with great expressiveness.  Original songs that tell sad but interesting stories, a guitar that is fiery hot, and vocals that are gritty and authentic make for another great album by this young and burgeoning super star.  Is this blues?  Well, not really.  It is more so rock done in a dark and country roots music sort of way, but it damn good stuff.  I loved his previous CDs and I love this one, too!

Zito opens with “Roll On”, where he sings of looking for new love, where he’s got to “keep on moving and baby roll on”.  He picks out a steady and poignant guitar solo that complements the lyrics and beat.  He follows that up with the title track.  He away and adds more great lyrics, more deep and dark feelings and we’ve still got ten tracks to go.  It’s really a country rocker but man, it ain’t the pop country we are bombarded with- this is truly good stuff.  The next two tracks Zito co-wrote, and both have Biblical references.  “Judgment Day” (written with Gary Nicholson) and “Show Me the Way” (written with Osborne), which are also deep and dark songs that Zito delivers with his characteristic style.

Zito starts acoustically on “Stay” and is all acoustic on “Motel Blues”.  He delivers the same intensity in his work without the big electric sound- he is equally adept on his Strat and on his acoustic guitar.  To note, the last three songs on the album seem to be in a slightly different order than as listed on the cover, but despite the errant ordering they and the other tracks are all superb- exceptional lyrics of despair and hope, hardcore performances and a guitar that sings as well as he does.

Zito to is joined by Carl Dufrene on bass and vocals, Brady Blade on drums and vocals and Anders Osborne on back-up vocals and guitar.  Osborne has done some superb stuff of late on his own and in producing and playing with others.  He is hitting his own homeruns and deserves credit for driving in some runs here- solid production and backing work! 

This is another exceptional album from a young man who burns with passion and displays it in his songs and performance.  This is well worth adding to your music collection.

Reviewed by Steve Jones

Memphis Jewel reviewed by Harmonica Joe

Memphis Jewel

Jackie Johnson

Catfood Records

www.catfoodrecords.com   

11 tracks/42:07

Jackie Johnson’s CD, “Memphis Jewell”, released by Catfood Records, is a very well done and interesting recording. Not being familiar with the works of Jackie Johnson, I took the time to listen to this CD several times before deciding where to go with a review of it.

“Memphis Jewell” features a great mix of quality musicians but the outstanding thing here is the powerful and flexible voice of Jackie Johnson. This is truly her instrument. Three guitar players are featured on this recording. This list includes Johnny McGhee, Lance Keltner and Evan Leak. McGhee was a former guitarist for Marvin Gaye and Dianna Ross. Keltner’s credentials include being a guitar player with Rod Stewart. A very accomplished horn section fills up the CD with a very powerful full sound. This horn section includes Andy Roman, Mike Middleton and Robert Claiborne. Also in the mix are some fine background singers including Reba Russell’s talent on seven tracks.

The highlight song, to me, on “Memphis Jewell” is “Love You Still”. This tune is really a good duet with Jackie Johnson and Johnny Rawls. Both of these performers are fantastic vocalist in their own right but together they become very powerful. “Love You Still” has the whole package with the duet, the horn section, Johnny McGhee on guitar and Dan Ferguson on keyboard. This tune is really good stuff.

Other songs featured on “Memphis Jewell” include “”Tears of a Clown” and the bluesy “It Should Have Been Me” and Abner Burnett’s “Brightside”. Two tracks were also co-written by Jackie and her husband. These songs are “DoYa” and “Will You Be Mine”. Everything on this CD is done well and very enjoyable, but as you see, it is a mix of R&B, funk, gospel and blues.

The main attraction of “Memphis Jewell” is the vocal quality of Jackie Johnson. She has a great range of moods and feelings that encompass all genres of music. Jackie has a sound and style of her own that gives us the feeling of Sade, Etta James, Gladys Knight and Carla Thomas. On all tracks of “Memphis Jewell” Jackie brings her own take and style to them.

After all is said and done “Memphis Jewell” is a very good CD filled with great tunes, fine musicians, singers and a big full sound. Catfood Records and Jackie Johnson have done a fine job on this project. Would I recommend that you buy this as a great blues CD? Probably not, but I will say that I will listen to “Memphis Jewell” many time in the future and enjoy it. Jackie Johnson is truly a Memphis Jewell.

Reviewed by Harmonica Joe

Knowledge You Can't Get in College reviewed by Mark Thompson

Knowledge You Can't Get in College

R.J. Mischo

Greaseland Records

www.rjblues.com

14 tracks/52:24

My first exposure to R.J. Mischo came back in 1997 when I purchased a copy of Ready to Go, a recording featuring Mischo and the Teddy Morgan Blues Band with singer Percy Strother. It was a killer disc that still sounds great whenever I pull it out for another listen.

His latest release finds R.J. continuing to deliver his high quality brand of blues. And his taste in guitar players is still as good as ever, with Chris “Kid” Andersen and Rusty Zinn helping out in fine fashion. The rest of the band includes Sid Morris on keyboards, Kedar Roy on bass and June Core sharing the drum chair with Hans Boss. The setlist includes nine original tunes from Mischo and a handful of deep blues from the likes of Roosevelt Sykes, Big Lucky Carter and the legendary New Orleans guitarist, Snooks Eagllin.

Mischo is a talented songwriter with a knack for turning descriptive phrases like “I got a $2 shine on a 50 cent soul”, taken from the opening cut “Two Hours From Tulsa”. Mischo recounts the rigors of life on the road as he hurries to get back home, while taking time to demonstrate his skillful use of the chromatic harp. “Too Cool For School” is a jumpin' instrumental with R.J. trying to blow the reed out of his harmonica and Andersen burning up his fretboard. The title cut is highlight, featuring more of Mischo's expert wordplay over a slinky rhythm as the leader tries to school a woman who has been to a fancy college – but Mischo warns her that she has never been to school.

Zinn makes his first appearance on “Ain't Nothin' New”, dominating the track with his clean tone and taut licks. The band sets up a rollicking rhythm on a cover of “Ruthie Lee”, with Morris doing a fine interpretation of the Sykes piano style.”Teacher's Pet” is another instrumental with Mischo and Zinn taking a more subdued approach while still impressing with their instrumental prowess. Mischo's expressive vocal on “Big Plans” is another highlight and he belts out a warning on “Don't Look Twice” regarding the consequences for any man brave enough to check out his woman. Mischo struggles to overcome financial disparity as he competes with a “Rich Cat” for a woman's affections. Zinn tries to win her over with one of his dazzling guitar solos. The liner notes warn that“Down to the Bottom” has a vinyl LP simulation and cautions listeners that there isn't anything wrong with their stereo system. The cut does more finely wrought harp playing from Mischo.

This disc is one of the best recordings in R.J. Mischo's career. There is never a dull moment, thanks to the leader's strength as a composer and the combined musical talents of the outstanding band Mischo has backing him, not to mention his fine singing and harp blowing. Don't be afraid to spend your hard-earned entertainment dollars on this disc and let R.J. Take you to school !!!

Reviewed by Mark Thompson

Mr. Used to Be reviewed by Mark Thompson

Mr. Used to Be

The Chris O’Leary Band

Fidellis Records/Vizztone Label

www.thechrisoleary-band.com

11 tracks/48:12

For most of you, the name Chris O’Leary will not ring any bells, although long-time fans of Levon Helm will remember O’Leary from his days as a member of Helm’s Barnburners band.  The rest of us should gladly settle for the opportunity to hear this former Marine’s exciting debut recording.

O’Leary is a powerful singer, blessed with a voice that make you feel the range of emotions he explores on the all-original program. He is also a talented harp player, doing some robust blowing on the “Tchoupitoulas” with its strong New Orleans influence and shifting to the potent Muddy Waters Chicago blues style on “Christine” with guest Bob Margolin on slide guitar. The rest of the band includes Chris Vitarello on guitar, Sean McCarthy on drums, Frank Ingrao on bass and Willa McCarthy on vocals. Other special guests include Bruce Katz on all keyboards and the Bonneville Horns – Chris Difrancesco on baritone & tenor sax along with Andy Stahl on tenor sax.

“Dress Blues” finds O’Leary paying tribute to his years in the Marine Corp over a jumping rhythm, adding a few lines about the politicians who stay safe at home while they send troops off to fight their wars. On the title track, the leader displays his clever sense of humor as he describes his satisfaction at being an ex-lover. “Grease Monkey Mama” is pure rockabilly with a sound like the early days of Elvis Presley’s career. As strong blast from O’Leary’s harp opens “Grass is Always Greener” and later  Vitarello delivers a biting solo while Katz fills the arrangement with his soulful organ playing.

“Walk the Walk” is an up-tempo romp with the leader and Willa McCarthy sharing the vocal over sharp blowing from the horn section. The band rocks even harder on “King of the Jungle”, dedicated to O’Leary’s son. Vitarello lays down some nasty slide guitar while O’Leary shouts and hollers over the song’s raging rhythm. “Blues is a Woman” shows that O’Leary can sing the hell out of a slow blues with Vitarello once again tearing it up on guitar. Another highlight is “Water Risin’ “, with O’Leary’s singing at times sounding like Kim Wilson on another cut that rocks from start to finish.

How good is O’Leary? All you need to know is that he was nominated in the Best New Artist Debut category this year for the Blues Music Awards and the BluesBlast Music Awards. That level of recognition doesn’t come easy but one listen will quickly show you that O’Leary deserves every bit of praise that he gets for this excellent recording.

Like a Flower reviewed by Rick Davis

Like A Flower

Kaye Bohler
Self-Released
www.kayebohler.com
10 Tracks

Kaye Bohler has been compared to Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and Tina Turner. The truth of the matter is her deep, smooth, powerful rhythm and blues vocals are like no one you have heard. She is well known across the Northern California Coast at such venues like Monterey Bay Blues Festival in Monterey, Ca, The Little Fox Theater in Redwood City, The Palms in Winters, and the Blues by the Bay Festival, entertaining blues fans for the past 25 years. If you are looking for first class rhythm, blues, and soul, Kaye has just the voice to go beyond your expectations! In reference to her first three CDs, statements about her like "Power House Blues Woman and Entertainer" and the "Rhythm and Blues Singing Baby of the Blues" are a testimonials of her talent.

Her forth CD Like a Flower, once again is a superb collection of rhythm, blues, and soul charged with emotion and backed by an all-star support cast. Lead guitar assignments are shared by Robben Ford, Tommy Castro, Danny Caron, Garth Webber, and Sammy Varela. Like a Flower, written Kaye, opens with the tune "He Helps Me" is a tribute to her soul mate for the day by day life support. "How Do I Get There" implements a superb horn section as Bohler sings with conviction for guidance to get through this thing called life! "Wasted On You" begins with a smooth sax solo and smooth background vocals and builds with Kaye's powerful, soulful vocals posing the question of has my love been "wasted on you?" "Constant State Of The Blues" is an over emotional testimonial of a caregiver riding that emotional roller coaster day and day out. Superb guitar solos by Danny Caron and Garth Webber create a nice tempo on this tune. "I Got To Know" opens with the fiery guitar riffs by Tommy Castro and blazing sax solos by Nancy Wright combining with the pure blues vocal quality of Kaye's vocals. "Another Mans Arms" delivers a funky R&B tune with some of the best 60's style guitar solos imagined created by Garth Webber. "Two Things At Once" is slow, rich, mellow tune with smooth lead guitar solos by Sammy Varela. "Got a Good Man" opens with a Texas blues guitar sound and brings the horn section back along with Tony Lufrano on Keys. Kaye belts out with jubilation she has found the perfect mate and intends to keep him right next to her! "My Heart Beats For Him" is a total shift to a Billie Holiday style jazz tune with Kaye showing her audience the stunning versatility of her voice. She will melt you with her seductive, charming vocal style on this one! She completes this treasury of soul with a pure rhythm n’ blues title track "Like a Flower" featuring Robben Ford on guitar and once again Kaye Bohler making her statement on vocals.

This Lady is the real deal and supported by a highly talented group of musicians!
Kaye Bohler will make a believer out of any R&B or blues music lover! I can only hope to someday see a live performance.

Reviewed by Rick Davis