Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan, Bharath Rajakumar - Best Of Three

Album: Best Of Three
Size: 124,7 MB
Time: 53:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

1. Junior Watson - Bluelake Boogie (2:43)
2. Junior Watson - Let's Get High (3:22)
3. Junior Watson - Happy Hoppy (2:34)
4. Junior Watson - My Lil' Baby (2:54)
5. Junior Watson - Straighten Up Baby (2:36)
6. Fred Kaplan - Ford 150 (3:40)
7. Fred Kaplan - Attention Please (3:31)
8. Fred Kaplan - Crawlin' (2:46)
9. Fred Kaplan - Made In Maceo (2:48)
10. Fred Kaplan - Fred's Blues (4:24)
11. Bharath Rajakumar - Somebody Else (3:26)
12. Bharath Rajakumar - Boogie Woogie (3:19)
13. Bharath Rajakumar - Reelin' (3:33)
14. Bharath Rajakumar - Cursed (5:06)
15. Bharath Rajakumar - Tonight With A Fool (3:00)
16. Junior Watson & Friends - Instrumental Bonus Track (3:53)

In the past few years, Fred Kaplan, Junior Watson and Montreal harmonica player Bharath Rajakumar have participated in old-school, live-off-the-floor recording sessions in Montreal and L.A., resulting in both Kaplan’s instrumental album "Hold My Mule" and Watson’s "Jumpin’ Wit Junior". This limited edition collector's item release is also a result of their collaboration.

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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VA - Lockdown Sessions

Size: 234 MB
Time: 84:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2020
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

CD 1:
01 Tommy Schneller,Tomi Leino - Lockdown Blues (3:12)
02 Aki Kumar, Andreas Arlt - Can't Get Too Close (1:53)
03 Muddy Arlt, Micha Maas - Personal Shutdown (3:11)
04 Abi Wallenstein, Roger Wade - Death Letter Blues (4:51)
05 Fred Kaplan, Andre Werkmeister - Mean Old Quarantine (3:33)
06 Michael Van Merwyck, Victor Puertas - Low-Down Lockdown (4:24)
07 Roger Wade, Andreas Arlt, Jack O Roonie - Get Me Outta Here (2:17)
08 Timo Gross, Krissy Matthews, Micha Maass - Blow A Poor Man Down (3:38)
09 Christian Bleiming, Andreas Bock - Boogie Galore (2:28)
10 Little Victor, Roger Wade, Jack O Roonie - The Death Of Louisiana Red (4:07)
11 Andreas Arlt, Marion Wade, Micha Maass - Home Alone Stomp (2:59)
12 Kai Strauss, Aki Kumar, Fred Kaplan - World Crisis Blues (4:06)
13 Black Petti, Joe Felisko - Be Ready When He Comes (2:51)

CD 2:
01 Larry Garner, Michael Van Merwyk, Roger C. Wade - Why You Lie (3:58)
02 Nicolas Duportal, Víctor Puertas, Jack O Roonie, Andre Werkmeister - Hey Sweet Marie (2:33)
03 Abi Wallenstein, Víctor Puertas - Destination Mississippi (3:17)
04 Big Daddy Wilson, Veronica Sbergia, Víctor Puertas, Gary Winters, Tommy Schneller, Jurgen Wieching, Andre Werkmeister - Come See About Me (3:46)
05 Roger C. Wade, Andreas Arlt - I Know (2:44)
06 Tommy Schneller, Marion Wade, Jack O Roonie - Low-Down Lockdown (4:46)
07 Michael Van Merwyk, Ferdinand Kraemer - Get Me Outta Here (3:49)
08 Veronica Sbergia, Max De Bernardi, Joe Filisko - I Can Tell The World (2:36)
09 Christian Bleiming, Jack O Roonie, Micha Maass - Lockdown Shuffle (2:34)
10 Aki Kumar, Tomi Leino, Fred Kaplan - Everything Has Changed (4:24)
11 Nathan James, Víctor Puertas - Come What May (3:19)
12 Jens Turowski, Gary Winters, Tommy Schneller - Give Me My Heart Back (3:03)

This may be an authentic-sounding blues CD but it has emerged in a most unusual way courtesy of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting social distancing and lockdown of normal activities, including live music and recording. As a result German-based British harmonica player Roger C. Wade got these tracks together with artists from eight countries sending their contributions via the internet. In fact some of the musicians had never actually met the people they are playing with! Roger first contacted other German blues players like guitarist Kai Strauss and saxophonist Tommy Schneller but then also added artists from the UK, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Finland and France. He then followed this by getting contributions from several top American players including Larry Garner, Fred Kaplan, Nathan James, Aki Kumar and Big Daddy Wilson.

There is a great variety of styles here from the jump blues of the opener 'Lockdown Blues' - "Strange times we live in, just keep keeping to yourself" to the Chicago band blues of 'Can't Get Too Close' and 'Personal Shutdown' which also both tell lockdown stories - "I've got to love my baby from six feet away..." Abi Wallenstein & Roger Wade do a nice acoustic cover of Son House's very appropriate 'Death Letter Blues' and there is more nice acoustic blues from Little Victor and Kai Strauss, with Black Patti and US harp star Joe Filisko closing the first CD with the low down and dirty 'Be Ready When He Comes'. CD2 starts with a bang with Larry Garner and company, Tommy Schneller blows a nice bluesy instrumental and Christian Bleiming plays beautiful boogie boogie piano. Big Daddy Wilson contributes some soulful gospel, as does the wonderful Veronica Sbergia on 'I Can Tell The World'. And the quality carries on right to the last tracks courtesy of Aki Kumar and Nathan James and especially Jens Turowski whose closing track 'Give Me My Heart Back' is one of the collections' many highlights. Roger deserves much praise for getting this collection of tracks together it is completely successful and I hope that it makes lots of money for the musicians involved. ~G.E. Harrison

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The William Clarke Blues Band - Rockin' The Boat

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:53
Size: 118.8 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues, West Coast blues
Year: 1988/2011
Art: Front

[7:20] 1. Deal The Cards
[5:36] 2. Keep It To Yourself
[4:50] 3. All About My Girl
[7:21] 4. I Had My Fun
[5:00] 5. Red House Just A Little Love
[9:09] 6. Iodine In My Coffee
[7:53] 7. After Hours
[4:42] 8. Boogie Woogie Woman

Bass – Willie Brinlee; Drums – Eddie Clark; Guitar – Joel Foy; Piano – Fred Kaplan; Vocals – Leonardo Watkins (tracks: 5); Vocals, Harmonica – William Clarke. Recorded Live at The Starboard Attitude in Redondo Beach, California April 11, 1987. Live recording from the master of harmonica William Clarke. This recording was released as an album in 1987. Music has been out of print since then.

Born in Inglewood, California, Clarke played guitar and drums as a youngster and learned the blues through The Rolling Stones records. He began playing harmonica in 1967 and played locally in Los Angeles, while he held a day job as a machinist. He soon struck up an association with George "Harmonica" Smith; the pair began playing regularly together in 1977, lasting until Smith died in 1983.

Clarke began releasing albums in 1978 on small local labels. In 1987 he was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for his record Tip of the Top, and after sending a demo tape to Alligator Records, he secured a national recording contract. His debut for Alligator, Blowin' Like Hell, arrived in 1990, and he followed the release with international touring. "Must Be Jelly", a song from the album, won the Handy Award for Blues Song of the Year.

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Paul Barry - Blow Your Cool

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:44
Size: 95.6 MB
Styles: West Coast blues
Year: 2018
Art: Front

[3:40] 1. Hawaiian Eye
[3:58] 2. What Did I Do So Wrong
[7:15] 3. Tribute To W.C
[3:31] 4. You Can't Beat The Horses
[4:47] 5. Drinking Muddy Waters
[5:42] 6. Spoonful
[2:44] 7. You Got To Step Back
[3:52] 8. More Than I Can Give
[2:49] 9. Low-Down
[3:23] 10. Blow Your Cool

Paul Barry - Harp & Vocals; Jeremy Johnson - Guitar; Bill Black - Bass; Victor Span - Drums; Max Ray - Saxophone. Guests: Wee Willie Walker - Vocals; Fred Kaplan - Piano; Mitch Kashmar - Harmonica; Tim Wick - Keyboards; Tampa Spatz - Piano.

With "Blow Your Cool", Paul Barry taps into that swinging sound associated with the modern West Coast blues scene, employing original tunes along with his swinging harmonica. Importantly, it is the spirit and soul of Southern California blues man, William Clarke, that is deeply infused in the music on this CD. Many West Coast notables appear on "Blow Your Cool" and they include Fred Kaplan, Wee Willie Walker and Mitch Kashmar. The sound is fabulous and the cover art reminds one of the Blue Note label in the late 50’s and early 60’s. This CD is a true contender!

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Nick Trill & The Thrillseekers - True Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:17
Size: 99.1 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[4:11] 1. Always Thought (Feat. Rob Rio)
[3:22] 2. Chickn Box Blues (Feat. Fred Kaplan)
[3:59] 3. Going Down Slow
[2:38] 4. Good Rockin' Nick (Feat. Fred Kaplan)
[2:43] 5. Hey Baby
[4:29] 6. Hiddy Ho' (Feat. Rob Rio)
[4:28] 7. Little Girl
[4:44] 8. Ninety-Nine (Feat. Rob Rio)
[4:35] 9. Packing Up
[4:30] 10. Times Is Hard (Feat. Bob Hall)
[3:33] 11. True Love (Feat. Fred Kaplan)

Nick was born in England but moved to New York at the age of three. When a friend gives a pile of plates to Nick, when he was at Junior High School, he was immediately infected by the blues virus. The blues of Paul Butterfield, John Mayall and Canned Heat changed his life. This music was totally new to him and will never let him go. As of 1977 he has been busy with all kinds of occupations in 1978 to create the Crawling Kingsnake Blues Band, which he later dubbed in Teenage Beat, named after a song by Little Walter. With Teenage Beat, he gets the opportunity to perform performances with Steve Guyger, Bill Dicey, Robert Ross, The Holmes Brothers, Hubert Sumlin and James Cotton. In 1995, Nick Trill decided to move to South Florida and set up his new formation Nick Trill And The Thrillseekers.

With the Thrillseekers he recorded the album 'Juggling The Blues' in 1999. Nobody less than Junior Watson plays on this CD as a guitarist. In addition, Nick Jimmy Pugh, currently a member of the Robert Cray Band, has been prepared to play the key players. Also for his subsequent production, "Laid Off" from 2006, which he collects with Robert Rand, he again knows the necessary top musicians to gather. On such six tracks, Mark Hummel and his Blues Survivors are present as a guest and accompanist band. And now again, for the album 'True Love', Nick has surrounded some renowned blues musicians. For example, the pianists Fred Kaplan, Rob Rio and Bob Hall will support the Thrillers on this album. The band ends with Going Down Slow of St. Louis Jimmy Oden who gets a spicy shuffle performance. Also the second track Hidy Ho has a lot of pace and a threatening groove with Rob Rio's excellent piano work. In Little Girl, the tire takes some gas back, it seems, but thanks to a nice guitar ride and a rhythm guitar slightly upset, these slowblues are still grooving. At Times Is Hard, Nick is playing acoustic harp and that fits in with Bob Hall's rolling piano game. Nick gets support from The Fishettes in this swing backing vocal. Fred Kaplan takes care of the piano work in the shuffle Good Rockin 'Nick and the slow blues Chickn Box Blues, which also features a beautiful guitar. Nick takes care of the acoustic harp in the up-shuffle True Love, which is also the title of the album. With a very upset rhythm guitar in the rocking Packing Up, the CD comes to an end. Nick Trill turns out to be an excellent mouthpiece that controls his diatonic harp both acoustically and reinforced with a fine edge. In addition, he has a very nice and flexible voice. The Thrill Seekers are thanked by Nick for their great dedication, but there seems to be so much that you can assume that Nick is working on alternate occupations. Guitarists Mark Korpi and Mark Otis, I want to mention in particular because they make such a nice contribution to this CD. ~Martin van der Velde (Translated from Dutch.)

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Junior Watson - Jumpin' Wit Junior

Year: 2012
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:09
Size: 123,0 MB
Styles: West Coast blues
Scans: Full

1. Butter Top (3:02)
2. Knee High Boogie (4:20)
3. Stackyard Blues (3:01)
4. Bo-Nanza (4:06)
5. Velvet Mood (4:01)
6. Happy Hoppy (2:33)
7. Dragnet Blues (6:39)
8. Lucky Ticket (2:20)
9. Beverly's Hillbilly (3:36)
10. Jumpin' Wit Junior (2:46)
11. One Night With You (3:39)
12. There'll Be A Day (3:13)
13. Mr. Downtime (3:45)
14. Boppish (2:57)
15. The Barn Burner (3:05)

Following in his pattern of releasing one CD every decade, Junior Watson showcases his incredible talent with this set of jumpin guitar workouts featuring Fred Kaplan on piano, diatonic devil Bharath on harmonica and some incredibly nasty sax work from Gordon Beadle. His guitar playing is rooted in blues, swing, jump, while occasionally taking on a television theme or throwing in some cartoonish riffing for fun.

Whatever route Junior’s strings take, he is always in command of the controls. Junior sure knows how to have fun while plying his well-honed craft. "Jumpin’ Wit Junior" reveals little twists and turns and he affords a lot of soloing time to his cohorts. Junior has a knack for making the familiar sound new and interesting.

Personnel: Junior Watson (guitar); Fred Kaplan (piano); Kedar Roy (bass); Richard Innes (drums).

Guest artists: Gordon Beadle (saxophone); Bharath Rajakumar (harmonica); Costa Zafiropoulos (bass); Ben Cassie (drums).

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Fred Kaplan - Hold My Mule

Year: 2012
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:12
Size: 143,6 MB
Styles: Blues, piano blues, instrumental
Scans: Full

1. Barn Burner (3:00)
2. BBQ Boogie (3:34)
3. Bunk's Blues (4:47)
4. Jambalaya Jump (2:58)
5. The Swag (4:17)
6. Partida Walk (3:54)
7. Second Chance Blues (5:30)
8. Bouncin' (2:26)
9. Jalapeno Hop (3:26)
10. Ready Freddie (3:04)
11. Souled Out (2:48)
12. Mr. Downtime (3:45)
13. Tropical Ivories (3:17)
14. Love From Above (4:06)
15. Strollin' (3:23)
16. Nubie's Blues (5:06)
17. Crawlin' To N'Awlins (2:42)

This is lively music to dance to, music to cuddle up with, music for all occasions. Fred Kaplan is a wonderful pianist/organist, and after spending a bunch of years playing piano for the Hollywood Fats Band (most of that time with Richard Innes on drums) Fred is releasing his "Hold My Mule", seventeen original songs all written by Kaplan and they are all instrumentals. These recordings were an accumulated effort, completed over a two year time period.

All the tracks were recorded live, with no over-dubbing. Nearly every song on this record has a remarkable moment such as in "Jumbalaya Jump" where Junior Watson just kills it on guitar. Each of the guys play beautifully for the whole CD, weaving in and out, front and back, with solid support from the rhythm section. Great musicianship throughout!

Personnel: Fred Kaplan (piano), Gordon Beadle (saxophone), Junior Watson (guitar), Kedar Roy (bass), Richard Innes (drums), David Kaplan (guest artist, congas).

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Big Rhythm Combo - Too Small To Dance

Size: 149,9 MB
Time: 64:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1997
Styles: Rockin' Blues, Modern Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. Let It Go (3:32)
02. (I Have) Nothing Left (3:11)
03. I Can't Deny It (5:56)
04. Sure Cure For The Blues (4:17)
05. I Wanna Hug Ya Kiss Ya Squeeze Ya (3:47)
06. Don't Start Cry'n Now (3:32)
07. Kiss You In The Morning (4:24)
08. Cleveland Ohio Blues (4:08)
09. Oil Can Harry (3:05)
10. I Stepped In Quicksand (5:34)
11. Susan Anne (4:32)
12. That Mellow Saxophone (2:51)
13. Song For Mr. Tiny (3:10)
14. Now Or Never (4:06)
15. Tell Me That You Love Me (3:17)
16. Big Fat Mamas Are Back In Style Again (2:56)
17. Too Small To Dance (2:31)

Big Rhythm Combo: Lynwood Slim (vocals, harmonica); Fred Kaplan (guitar, piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Kid Ramos (guitar); Tyler Pedersen (bass); Richard Innes (drums).Additional personnel includes: Spyder Mittleman, Jeff "Big Dad" Turmes (saxophone); Tom Dennison (trombone).Recorded at Clearlake Audio, Burbank, California in November 1993.

Too Small To Dance

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The Hollywood Blue Flames - Deep In America (2 CD)

A tasteful and elegantly modern blues band with jazzy overtones, the Hollywood Flames came together in 1975 on the West Coast as the Hollywood Fats Band, led by guitar phenom Michael “Hollywood Fats” Mann and featuring Larry Taylor on bass, Richard Innes on drums, Fred Kaplan on piano and Hammond B-3, and harmonica whiz and vocalist Al Blake. The group specialized in a kind of informed update of the classic electric blues bands of the 1950s, but were also capable of eerily accurate acoustic versions of old country blues standards from the 1920s or shifting into New Orleans piano romps, keeping traditions alive while giving them a sonic push forward at the same time. Mann’s death in 1986 brought the band to a close until 2005 when the original members reunited as the Hollywood Blue Flames, this time with guitarist Kirk Fletcher aboard, and continued making vital blues music in the same vein as the original group.

Deep in America is the band’s third album released under the Hollywood Blue Flames name, and while it would be wrong to say that Mann isn’t missed, Fletcher plays on these tracks like the only feasible substitute. It works, and it works for the same reason the Hollywood Fats Band worked -passion and intelligence. These guys know the history of the blues but they seem to understand the genre’s emotional center as well, with tracks like the perfectly and wearily poised “Leavin’ California”, and they also don’t forget that people need to step it up and dance - check out the easily rolling piano shuffles “Crescent City Rock” and “Hushpuppy” for proof of that. A second disc is included in this package that features vintage live cuts from the original Hollywood Fats Band - so in a way, Mann is aboard here, too. /Steve Leggett, AllMusic

Album: Deep In America - CD 1: Deep In America
Year: 2010
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:36
Size: 118,9 MB
Styles: Blues, West Coast blues
Scans: Full

1. Nit Wit (2:12)
2. Rambler And A Rollin' Stone (6:40)
3. Crescent City Rock (2:24)
4. My National Enquirer Baby (4:32)
5. Music Man (3:13)
6. Leavin' California (3:37)
7. Jalopy To Drive (Aka Sonny Boy's Jump) (3:51)
8. Bad Boy Blues (3:40)
9. I Don't Care (3:23)
10. Rocky Mountain Blues (2:54)
11. Hip-Hoppin' Toad (4:09)
12. Hushpuppy (2:38)
13. Fly Like The Eagle, Cry Like The Dove (4:07)
14. He's A Blues Man (4:10)

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Album: Deep In America - CD 2: Hollywood Fats Band - Larger Than Life Vol. 2
Year: 2010
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:36
Size: 157,7 MB
Styles: Blues, West Coast blues
Scans: Full

1. She's Dynamite (4:55)
2. Blue And Lonesome (3:34)
3. Hide Away (4:18)
4. Kansas City (7:36)
5. Half Steppin' (5:03)
6. Read About My Baby (5:43)
7. Nit Wit (5:44)
8. Blues After Hours (7:42)
9. Jumpin' With Duncan (9:55)
10. Lonesome (2:43)
11. Shake Your Boogie (6:02)
12. Baby, Let's Play House (5:15)

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The Hollywood Blue Flames - Road To Rio (2 CD Set)

A tasteful and intelligent modern blues band, the Hollywood Blue Flames came together in 1975 on the West Coast as the Hollywood Fats Band, led by guitar phenom Michael "Hollywood Fats" Mann and featuring Larry Taylor on bass, Richard Innes on drums, Fred Kaplan on piano and Hammond B-3, and harmonica whiz Al Blake. The group specialized in a kind of informed update of the classic electric blues bands of the 1950s, keeping the tradition alive while giving it a push forward at the same time. Mann’s death in 1986 brought the band to a close until 2005 when the original members reunited as the Hollywood Blue Flames, this time with guitarist Kirk Fletcher aboard, and continued making vital blues music in the same vein as the original group. A debut album under the Hollywood Blue Flames name, Soul Sanctuary, appeared in 2005 followed by Road to Rio in 2006 and Deep in America in 2010. /Steve Leggett, AllMusic

This 2-CD set features brand new recordings by the Hollywood Blue Flames featuring 2005-06 Blues Music Award Nominee Kirk "Eli" Fletcher on guitar, a special guest appearance by Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds) on harp, plus 3 bonus tracks with West Coast guitarist Junior Watson. The 2nd disc includes never before issued live recordings of the original Hollywood Fats Band from '79-'80 featuring blues legends Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson and Roy Brown, plus a rare vocal performance by the one and only Michael "Hollywood Fats" Mann on the song "Nasty Boogie Woogie". /Amazon

Album: Road To Rio - CD 1: Road To Rio
Year: 2006
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:36
Size: 128,1 MB
Styles: Blues, West Coast blues
Scans: Full

1. Road To Rio (3:45)
2. Everybody's Blues (2:44)
3. Coffee Grindin' Man (3:12)
4. Steady Rollin' (4:02)
5. Long Black Cadillac (3:53)
6. Gumbo Grinder (3:04)
7. Gone Away (Feat. Kim Wilson) (2:52)
8. 3rd Degree Burn (4:19)
9. Let's Rock A While (4:37)
10. Dr. Blake's Boogie (2:38)
11. Black Chili Pepper (3:41)
12. Sharpest Man In Town (3:19)
13. Junior's Boogie Rocket (Feat. Junior Watson) (Bonus) (2:24)
14. Let Me Love You (Feat. Junior Watson) (Bonus) (6:16)
15. Honeydripper (Feat. Junior Watson) (Bonus) (3:43)

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Album: Road To Rio - CD 2: Hollywood Fats Band - Larger Than Life
Year: 2006
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:55
Size: 144,2 MB
Styles: Blue, West Coast blues
Scans: Full

1. Fats Fries One (3:56)
2. Nasty Boogie Woogie (5:00)
3. Baby Let's Play House (4:43)
4. Side Tracked (4:06)
5. Kidney Stew (Feat. Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson) (3:59)
6. Cleanhead Blues (Feat. Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson) (5:19)
7. Shake, Rattle 'N Roll (6:45)
8. Rockinitis (3:41)
9. This Little Voice (3:37)
10. Love For Sale (Feat. Roy Brown) (8:15)
11. Boogie Woogie Blues (Feat. Roy Brown) (6:52)
12. Motel Time (5:36)

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Johnny Tanner - Juke Joint Rambler

Size: 102,7 MB
Time: 44:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Chicago Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Front

01. I Got To Go (Feat. Rusty Zinn) (3:15)
02. Lovey Dovey (Feat. Jr. Watson) (2:41)
03. Searchin' The World Over (Feat. Jr. Watson) (3:48)
04. Bring Her Back To Me (Feat. Jr. Watson) (3:11)
05. I Done Got Over It (Feat. Jr. Watson) (2:50)
06. It Ain't Right (Feat. Jr. Watson) (2:38)
07. Blue Vapor (3:57)
08. Checking On My Baby (Feat. Rusty Zinn) (3:05)
09. I Didn't Know (2:25)
10. Stop Breaking Down (Feat. Fred Kaplan) (3:42)
11. Run Around Woman (Feat. Jr. Watson) (2:50)
12. Nobody But You (Feat. Billy Flynn) (2:48)
13. Lighthouse For My Soul (Feat. Jr. Watson) (3:29)
14. Out Arizona Way (Feat. Billy Flynn) (3:17)

Veteran straight-ahead harmonica player and vocalist Johnny Tanner steps away from his regular unit, His Aces, based in Phoenix, Ariz., for this all-star laced retrospective gathered from two California recording sessions – Pasadena in 1997 and Berkeley in 2001. The resulting product is a well-paced collection of blues that, despite sitting in the can for the past 14 years, delivers with a warm, contemporary feel.

Tanner has been active musically for the better part of the past 40 years. One of his first bands, the Seattle-based Blue Lights Band, featured Barrelhouse Chuck on keyboards, and produced one song – “When Mt. St. Helen’s Blows It’s Top” – that received wide airplay after the volcano erupted a short while later. He’s toured widely and shared the staged with a who’s who of the blues scene, including Sunnyland Slim, Lazy Lester, Lil’ Ed and Eddie C. Campbell, among many others. His harp playing is rock-steady in a traditional style on both diatonic and chromatic, and his energetic tenor vocals swing steadily throughout.

Two of the most prominent West Coast guitar players – Junior Watson in Pasadena and Rusty Zinn in Berkeley – are featured prominently throughout in sets that vary between jump and Chicago stylings. The Southern California set also includes the Hollywood Fats band rhythm section – Fred Kaplan on keys, Larry Taylor on bass and the late Richard Innes, to whom the CD is dedicated, on drums – aided by sax players Jeff Turmes and Tom Faberge. Innes also holds down the bottom on the Bay Area set with Randy Bermudes on bass. Chicago veteran Billy Flynn shares guitar duties with Zinn and takes the lead on two numbers.

The Little Walter standard “I Got To Go” kicks off the set, aided by a steady guitar-driven rhythm pattern from Zinn and Flynn, before Watson propels “Lovey Dovey” with a driving guitar solo beneath and between Tanner’s vocals. The Tanner original “Searchin’ The World Over” follows, featuring a high-register harmonica solo in the style of Jimmy Reed, as he sings about a lost love. The theme continues for the horn- and keyboard-fueled “Bring Her Back To Me.”

A traditional vocal take on Guitar Slim’s “I Done Got Over It” features the horn section before Tanner launches into “It Ain’t Right,” the first of two Little Walter covers in the set. Next up, the original, “Blue Vapor,” is a slow burner that provides plenty of space for Johnny to work out on the diatonic in a number that shines above the rest. Another tip of the hat to Chicago follows, with Tanner sandwiching covers of two Sonny Boy Williamson tunes — “Checking On My Baby” and “Stop Breaking Down,” — around Howlin’ Wolf’s “I Don’t Know.”

Two originals — “Run Around Woman” and “Lighthouse For My Soul” – bookend Little Walter’s “Nobody But You” (featuring Flynn) before another original, the instrumental “Out Arizona Way,” concludes the set.

There’s a timelessness to the blues, and that feature is clearly evident here. Available through CDBaby or Amazon, Tanner delivers a disc that’s just as fresh as the days it was recorded. Perfect for anyone who loves traditional blues delivered in a clean, uncluttered manner. Fine musicianship’s on display throughout. ~Marty Gunther

Juke Joint Rambler

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Fred Kaplan - Signifyin'

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:24
Size: 133.7 MB
Styles: Piano blues
Year: 1997
Art: Front, Back

[3:19] 1. Side Pocket
[3:38] 2. Chocolate Drop
[4:13] 3. Four Thirty-One A.M. Blues
[3:14] 4. Droppin' In
[2:09] 5. My Help Is On The Way
[2:12] 6. Bigfoot Swing
[2:58] 7. Roadhouse Special
[4:40] 8. Lock Down
[3:28] 9. Royal Biltomer Boogie
[5:04] 10. Fred's Blues
[3:17] 11. Sunnyland Special
[4:25] 12. The Honeydripper
[4:50] 13. Slow Freight
[2:55] 14. L.G. Boogie
[4:53] 15. Signifyin'
[3:02] 16. Gumbo Grinder

What's puzzling is why it's taken years for Kaplan to release a solo challenge. After all, he is a member of the Hollywood Fats Band, and has supported some of the cream of the crop of the Southern California blues scene -- James Harman, William Clarke, Junior Watson, and Robert Lucas. Could it be he shies away from front stage glory, and instead uses his hands to speak on the ivories? Even with the generous solo space granted on this release, he remains humble and prefers to praise his mentor, Lloyd Glenn and the Almighty. No meat by-products and cereal fillers here -- great rib-stickin, ' back-to-basics piano blues are featured here. ~Char Ham

Signifyin' mc
Signifyin' zippy

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Big Jon Atkinson - Boogie With You Baby

Size: 107,8 MB
Time: 45:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Modern Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. Boogie With You Baby (3:26)
02. Natural Born Lover (3:00)
03. Mean Ole Train (4:36)
04. Go Away (2:48)
05. Feel So Worried (3:46)
06. Like Wolf (3:47)
07. Don't You Know (2:56)
08. Where'd You Stay (2:59)
09. Throw This Poor Dog A Bone (2:07)
10. Try Me One More Time (3:07)
11. Left My Happy Home (2:59)
12. Long Leanie Mama (2:32)
13. It Ain't Right (3:40)
14. Please Help (3:14)

Since moving to Southern California less than a year ago, twenty four year old Jon Atkinson has made a big splash on our Nation’s western shore. Atkinson is a man of immense talent, drive and determination. He has established himself as an in demand sideman, as he can play virtually any instrument. Big Jon also possesses that increasingly elusive commodity, the ability to sing the blues.

He has been spotted up and down the Southern California coast from Ventura to San Diego playing harp, guitar, bass or drums as well as singing with a couple of generations of blues luminaries including James Harman, Al Blake and Kim Wilson. He has recorded an album with Mark Mumea’s Silver Kings and recently completed this, his first solo album, Boogie With You Baby on Bluebeat Music.

Boogie With You Baby was recorded with another extremely gifted musician, Nathan James. James’ Sacred Cat studio in the Northern San Diego County enclave of Oceanside is where Big Jon surrounded himself with big talent such as pianist Fred Kaplan and James’ Rhythm Scratchers’ bassist Troy Sandow and drummer Marty Dodson. Two and half days after walking into the studio, Atkinson and company had a fourteen song gem. Atkinson even wrote three of the selections here.

The originals fit nicely with some of the most obscure diamonds in the rough I have ever heard. Songs by Lightnin’ Slim, Jon Brim, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells, J.B. Hutto and others are re-imagined and given a confident, relaxed feel that stay true to the original sound. These recordings could sit right alongside the originals (if you could find them), some of which I don’t even have in my library. For example, Jon found a Muddy Waters original that is nowhere to be found in my 22 album collection on Muddy. Atkinson can quickly add the title “The Indiana Jones of the Blues” to his resume’ for digging up these buried treasures.

For this, his first album, Big Jon Atkinson chose not to feature his guitar playing, which is also exceptional. He, instead, is heard singing and playing harmonica and doing so with verve and style. The guitar duties, save one track, are in the very capable hands of Nathan James. James eschewed his custom made “Washtars” for this outing and sticks with more traditional axes, a ‘59 Fender Jazz Master and a Gibson ES 175.

The addition of Fred Kaplan is a welcome treat. He plays piano on four tracks giving these numbers an extra dynamic and helps to enhance the old timey feel of the album. The consummate rhythm section of Sandow and Dotson is first rate.

The debut album of Big Jon Atkinson is cause for celebration which can commence soon as the CD is scheduled for a mid May release. Boogie With You Baby receives my highest recommendation. ~David Mac

Boogie With You Baby FLAC

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Raoul & The Big Time - Hollywood Blvd

Size: 110,9 MB
Time: 47:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Chicago Blues, Harmonica Blues, West Coast Blues
Art: Full

01. Nothin' Gonna Take Me Down (Feat. Rick Holmstrom, Donny Gerrard) (4:49)
02. Hollywood Blvd (Feat. Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan) (3:53)
03. Someday (Feat. Franck Goldwasser) (5:10)
04. High Roller (Feat. Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan) (2:59)
05. Amphetamine (Feat. Rick Holmstrom) (2:49)
06. Get Out Of My Life Woman (Feat. Rusty Zinn) (3:32)
07. Left Coast Fred (Feat. Fred Kaplan, Junior Watson) (3:27)
08. Why Am I Treated So Bad (Feat. Rick Holmstrom, Donny Gerrard) (4:17)
09. Tired (Feat. Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan) (5:50)
10. Spoken For (Feat. Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan) (4:33)
11. Curtis Charm (Feat. Curtis Salgado) (2:58)
12. In The Shadow Of The Pine (Feat. Johnny Sansone, John Showman) (3:28)

"American roots music is like a big stew. Blues, Rock and Roll, West Coast Swing, Jazz and even Bluegrass are just some of the spices in the mix. Raoul and his band The Big Time, with help from some friends have cooked up a winning recipe for their new disc “Hollywood Blvd”.

Raoul Bhaneja is the catalyst for this fine music. He and his Toronto band, The Big Time, are among a number of talented Canadian musicians who haven’t had the chance to be heard extensively in the US. Raoul is a singer, harmonica player and talented songwriter, having written eight of the twelve tracks on this disc. He is also a busy actor both on stage and in front of the camera. The Big Time is all about creating original music for today, inspired by the genius of the past. This is their tribute to the music he and his band love — the Chess Blues sound of the 50s and contemporary West Coast Jump Harmonica Blues. He has enlisted some of the best West Coast players including former members of The Hollywood Fats Band, Canned Heat, and The Mighty Flyers, along with most of the current members of Mavis Staples’ band: all musicians Raoul has admired and learned from over the years. It brings an authentic sound to the project.

There are four instrumentals here and each of them adds to the flavor of the album. Two are recorded with Los Angeles-based greats Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan, Richard Innes, and Larry Taylor. “Left Coast Fred” is a West Coast jump swing number and the title track “Hollywood Blvd” sounds as if Slim Harpo and Ramsey Lewis were working together. The third instrumental “Amphetamine” finds Raoul working with Jeff Turmes, Rick Holmstrom and Stephen Hodges, to create a sound that feels like it could have been recorded by Little Walter and The Aces back in the 1950s.

The last instrumental “Curtis Charm” features Curtis Salgado blowing harp with Raoul while The Big Time provide in the pocket backup. There are four covers along with eight original songs. “Get Out Of My Life Woman”, written by Alan Toussaint and done first by Lee Dorsey is performed by Raoul and The Big Time with additional guitar work by Rusty Zinn, another fine California-based guitar player, who has worked with Kim Wilson and Mark Hummel as well as recording his own solo releases.

“Someday” is a Bobby “Blue” Bland tune that features guitarist Franck Goldwasser laying down some very tasty guitar licks. My favorite cover is “Why (Am I Treated So Bad)” done by The Staple Singers in 1967. Here Raoul is backed again by current members of Mavis Staples’ band, a perfect pairing for the tune. Lastly is a cover of a very early Bluegrass tune “In The Shadow Of The Pine” with New Orleans musician Johnny Sansone and fiddler John Showman playing behind Raoul.

Sounding just as strong as the covers, the other four tracks “Nothin’ Gonna Take Me Down”, “High Roller”, “Spoken For” and “Tired” are original songs written by Raoul that exhibit some very clever lyrics. For instance, “High Roller” has the chorus “Fortune’s smiling upside down, I’m a high roller with a frown”.

Grab a bowl and a spoon and have yourself a huge helping of this wonderful musical dish that Raoul and The Big Time have created for us. It’s good to you as well as good for you." ~Blues broadcaster Bill Wax

Hollywood Blvd

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Kim Wilson - My Blues / My Blues Sessions: Kim's Mix Vol 1

Album: My Blues
Size: 136,0 MB
Time: 57:59
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1997
Styles: Texas Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. Everything I Do Is Wrong (4:17)
02. Trying To Make A Living (3:01)
03. Five Long Years (6:44)
04. Gumbo Blues (3:33)
05. Things Ain't Right (3:53)
06. Tell Me Why (2:08)
07. Break It Up Baby (2:31)
08. Hop, Skip And Jump (2:36)
09. Date Bait (3:44)
10. West Helena Woman (3:59)
11. Too Late Old Man (3:11)
12. Everything's Gonna Be Alright (4:22)
13. Your Funeral And My Trial (4:21)
14. Oh Baby (3:36)
15. My Blues (5:55)

Since the last Fabulous Thunderbirds album didn't feature any of the current band members except founder Kim Wilson, one may fairly ask what the difference is these days between a T-Birds record and a Wilson solo disc. The answer, at least on the basis of this one, seems to be that, while the T-Birds sessions find Wilson coming up with mostly original material in a blues-rock mode, his solo work consists mostly of covers in a straight electric blues mode. Here Wilson evokes such heroes as Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, and, especially, Little Walter in three live-to-tape sessions cut in the fall of 1996 with a band led by pianist Fred Kaplan and bassist Larry Taylor. Junior Watson and Rusty Zinn alternate on guitar, while some tracks instead feature a two-man horn section of Scott Steen on trumpet and Tom Fabre on tenor saxophone. They acquit themselves well, though as with all such ventures, the obvious question for the record buyer is, why not listen to the originals instead? ~Review by William Ruhlmann

My Blues

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Album: My Blues Sessions: Kim's Mix Vol 1
Size: 138,2 MB
Time: 58:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Texas Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. Oh Baby Take 1 (3:37)
02. Oh Baby Alt Take 2 (4:35)
03. Bea's Boogie Take 3 (2:54)
04. Irene Take 5 (3:09)
05. Everything I Do Is Wrong Take 2 (4:27)
06. Tryin To Make A Livin Take 1 (3:10)
07. Tryin To Make A Livin Take 2 (3:01)
08. Mambo Crazy Take 1 (6:03)
09. Hop, Skip, Jump Take 4 (2:36)
10. Blue Eyed Baby Take2 (4:32)
11. Come And Get It Take 1 (4:40)
12. Gumbo Blues Take 2 (3:30)
13. Break It Up Take 5 (2:46)
14. Born Blind Take 2 (2:50)
15. Tell Me Why Take 7 (2:43)
16. Inst Take 3 (3:50)

Since the last Fabulous Thunderbirds album didn't feature any of the current band members except founder Kim Wilson, one may fairly ask what the difference is these days between a T-Birds record and a Wilson solo disc. The answer, at least on the basis of this one, seems to be that, while the T-Birds sessions find Wilson coming up with mostly original material in a blues-rock mode, his solo work consists mostly of covers in a straight electric blues mode. Here Wilson evokes such heroes as Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, and, especially, Little Walter in three live-to-tape sessions cut in the fall of 1996 with a band led by pianist Fred Kaplan and bassist Larry Taylor. Junior Watson and Rusty Zinn alternate on guitar, while some tracks instead feature a two-man horn section of Scott Steen on trumpet and Tom Fabre on tenor saxophone. They acquit themselves well, though as with all such ventures, the obvious question for the record buyer is, why not listen to the originals instead? ~Review by William Ruhlmann

My Blues Sessions: Kim's Mix Vol 1

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Junior Watson - Long Overdue

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 62:58
Size: 144.2 MB
Styles: West Coast blues
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[2:39] 1. Certainly All
[4:31] 2. Lonesome Train
[4:17] 3. Biscuits
[5:09] 4. Frankie And Johnny
[5:14] 5. Mojo Boogie
[2:37] 6. That's What You Do To Me
[3:27] 7. The Woodpecker
[4:39] 8. Want Me Some Love
[3:55] 9. Big Boy
[2:19] 10. Long Time Baby
[3:10] 11. Special Lesson No. 1
[4:11] 12. Five Long Letters
[2:26] 13. Cool Evening
[2:12] 14. I Gotta Go (Back Home)
[5:24] 15. Lump In My Throat
[2:53] 16. The Train
[3:45] 17. Don't Leave Me Baby (The Easy Livin' Plan)

Giving jump blues and early R&B a kick in its baggy pants, Watson's aptly-titled solo debut revealed what only guitarists (the more conscientious of them) had known for more than a decade: Here is a 6-stringer of rare talent, with the unique ability to play authentically and spontaneously -- all-too-often contradictory paths in the late '70s blues revival. The best and most fitting compliment one could give a Watson solo is that it makes you laugh; this is blues of the rent party variety and Watson never lapses into the maudlin. Along with singers Brenda Burns and Lynwood Slim (on harp as well), Watson favors us with half a dozen surprisingly confident vocals. In fact, the only criticism is that his voice is sometimes too low in the mix. ~ Dan Forte

Personnel includes: Junior Watson (guitar); Larry Taylor, Richard Innes, Fred Kaplan, Bill Stuve.

Long Overdue

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Mark Dufresne - There's A Song In There

Size: 102,6 MB
Time: 44:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2000
Styles: Harmonica Blues, Modern Electric Blues
Art: Full

01. Seasoned Veteran (2:48)
02. The King, The Man, The One (3:33)
03. Two For The Price Of Ten (4:21)
04. Born To Lose (5:01)
05. Squeaky Clean (3:13)
06. A Song In There (3:12)
07. Call My Name (3:13)
08. Take It All (4:58)
09. The Deal You Get (2:44)
10. Tonight, Twice (5:19)
11. Out The Door (5:55)

All original material featuring one of the West Coasts finest songwriter, vocalists and harmonica players. Mark DuFresne has been endorsed by Hohner Harmonicas and has been Washington Blues Societies Best Male Vocalist, Best Songwriter, and Best Harmonica on many occasions. Backed up by the most in demand West Coast studio musicians.

Thanks to Kempen.
There's A Song In There

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Sugaray Rayford - Dangerous

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 67:45
Size: 155.1 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:18] 1. Country Boy
[3:56] 2. Stuck For A Buck
[4:35] 3. I'm Dangerous
[4:47] 4. Two Times Sugar
[5:17] 5. When It Rains, It Pours
[4:50] 6. Pretty Fine Mama
[3:20] 7. Depression Blues
[7:04] 8. Goin' Back To Texas
[4:47] 9. I Might Do Somethin' Crazy
[4:00] 10. In The Dark
[6:36] 11. Surrendered
[4:38] 12. Need A Little More Time
[5:14] 13. Keep Her At Home
[5:16] 14. Preaching Blues

Texas native Sugaray Rayford is a member of the Los Angeles-based supergroup The Mannish Boys and a featured vocalist on the band's award-winning 2-CD set Double Dynamite - winner of the 2013 Blues Music Award for Traditional Blues Album of the Year. Dangerous showcases Rayford's powerhouse vocals on a selection of mostly original material which covers a broad spectrum of styles including Chicago, Texas, Louisiana, West Coast and Delta blues, Soul and R&B. Special guests include Kim Wilson, Sugar Ray Norcia, Big Pete, Kid Andersen, Monster Mike Welch, Gino Matteo, Franck Goldwasser, Fred Kaplan, Anthony Geraci, Bill Stuve, Willie J. Campbell and Jimi Bott.

Recording information: Sideaway Music Studio, Shadow Hills, CA (05/27/2013/05/28/2013).

Dangerous

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