Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind - Behind The Veil

Album: Behind The Veil
Size: 157,2 MB
Time: 67:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: Front

1. Casco Bay (4:36)
2. 5-10-15 (Feat. Joe Krown) (5:21)
3. Baked Potato (4:17)
4. Cirque Du Soleil (4:06)
5. Wrong Kind Of Easy/Nobody But You (5:47)
6. Ain't She Fine (4:24)
7. St. James Infirmary (8:07)
8. Why Don't We Sleep On It (Feat. Joe Krown) (4:52)
9. Terrors Of Nightlife (6:48)
10. No Way (Feat. Joanna Connor) (6:07)
11. Shipwreck (5:26)
12. Hip Hug-Her (Feat. Joe Krown) (7:52)

Behind the Veil, the latest offering from New Orleans-based harmonica titan Jason Ricci and his band, The Bad Kind, showcases the depth and sheer scope of his harmonica skills against a solid song-oriented backdrop. Ricci, rightfully a celebrated and distinguished figure in the modern blues scene, teamed up with Tony Daigle to produce the album, which was recorded at the Dockside Studio in Maurice, Louisiana. In addition to Ricci on harmonica and vocals, the band consists of Ricci’s wife Kaitlin Dibble (vocals), Brent Johnson (guitar, backup vocals), Jack Joshua (double bass, electric bass, vocals) and John Perkins (drums).

Additionally, the album features notable guest appearances. Joe Krown takes charge of piano and Hammond B3 organ on tracks 2, 8, and 12, lending his galvanizing approach to the compositions. Ricci’s Gulf Coast labelmate and guitar extraordinaire Joanna Connor adds her mastery to the mix, contributing guitar brilliance on track 10, while singer Lauren Mitchell graces the album with some enveloping backup vocals. /Fidel Bessera, Blues Rock Review

Behind The Veil mc
Behind The Veil gofile

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Joanna Connor - Best Of Me

Size: 91.3 MB
Time: 38:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. House Rules (Feat. Josh Smith, Eric Demmer, Grooveline Horns) (3:43)
02. Pain And Pleasure (Feat. Josh Smith) (3:30)
03. Best Of Me (Feat. Grooveline Horns) (3:54)
04. Highway Child (Feat. Joe Bonamassa) (3:32)
05. I Lost You (3:57)
06. Two Of A Kind (Feat. Grooveline Horns) (3:55)
07. All I Want Is You (3:33)
08. Mercury Blues (Feat. David Abbruzzese) (3:33)
09. Shadow Lover (Feat. Mike Zito) (3:01)
10. Greatest Of These (2:34)
11. Shine On (Feat. Gary Hoey & Jason Ricci) (3:29)

Special guests on Best of Me by the acclaimed Joanna Connor include labelmates Eric Demmer (saxophone) and Jason Ricci (harmonica) and guitarists Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, Gary Hoey and Gulf Coast president Mike Zito (guitar) David Abbruzzese on drums and the Grooveline Horns. Best of Me was produced by Shaun Gotti Calloway, Jason J Roc Edwards, and Joanna Connor, and recorded at Studio2424 in Chicago.

Joining Joanna Connor (guitar and vocals) on the recording is her regular “Wrecking Crew” touring band with Shaun Gotti Calloway (bass) Dan Souvigny (guitar and keys), Curtis Moore Jr. (keys) and Jason J Roc Edwards (drums and vocals.)

“There are musicians that play together and may do it extremely well,” Joanna said about the Best of Me recording sessions. “Then, there are musicians that move as one, that share moments of creating music that is mystically telepathic. The group of musicians we assembled here created a free-flowing and fiery blend of soul, rock, funk and country, all rooted in the blues.”

Joanna continued. “Making this record with the go ahead from Mike Zito and Gulf Coast Records to have free rein was uplifting and inspiring. This recording definitely brought out the’ best of me,’ and solidified my band as a force to be reckoned with. Guitar power and nuance is evident on this record but so are convincing vocals, soul-stirring keyboard work, tighter than tight horns and a rhythm section that propels and compliments each song. The album touches on my maturing as a woman, facing mortality with grace and thanks, celebrating love won, love lost, lust and passion, the pain and pleasure of having this human experience. I hope the listener enjoys this record as much as we had making it.”

Joanna Connor was born in Brooklyn, New York, raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, and after beginning her career there at the age of 17, packed a suitcase, a Fender Twin Amp, a guitar and bought a bus ticket to the Blues Mecca of Chicago, where her goal was to be in a cracking blues band learning from the best . A mere month after moving to the Windy City, Delta blues heavyweight Johnny Littlejohn hired her.

Dion Payton then enlisted her to be a part of his 43rd Street Blues Band, where they held residencies at the hallowed Checkerboard Lounge and the Kingston Mines blues clubs, and were the backing band behind every major talent in the city. Joanna went on to tour with sax great AC Reed before starting her own band at the urging of the Kingston Mines owner. Blind Pig Records signed Joanna in 1989 and released several records on her before she went on to become the second artist to sign with Ruf Records, subsequently releasing many records for the German-based label, which led to a decade of touring throughout Europe.

In 2002, The House of Blues in Chicago offered Joanna and her band a weekly residency, and with her additional residency at the Kingston Mines, Connor made the decision to come off the road touring grind for a while and work locally four nights per week, while raising her two children as a single mom. Joanna also recorded several albums for the highly-respected MC Records during that decade.

In 2019, one of the videos of her fierce guitar work caught the eyes and ears of one of the most prominent guitarists of the modern era -Joe Bonamassa – as well as director Adrian Lynne (Flash Dance, Fatal Attraction). Lynne offered her a scene performing in the movie, Deep Water, starring Ben Affleck. At the same time, Joe Bonamassa and his KTBA Records label gave her the opportunity to make a studio album. Both projects happened right before the COVID 19 epidemic and subsequent lockdown. The KTBA album, 4801 South Indiana, was released in February of 2021 to immense critical acclaim and a number one spot on the Billboard blues chart. The Deep Water film was released on Hulu in March, 2022.

Now being a part of the Gulf Coast Records family, Joanna Connors career path is in full-bloom, playing with sympathetic musicians and a support staff all in lock-step, along with a common purpose and goal of reaching for the top of the blues world. Joanna’s tsunami of musical energy and passion is now unleashed on record with Best of Me. ~Martine Ehrenclou

Best Of Me MP3
Best Of Me FLAC

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Damon Fowler & Friends - Live At The Palladium

Size: 182.9 MB
Time: 79:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front & Back

01. It Came Out Of Nowhere (Feat. Dan Signor) ( 5:50)
02. The Guitar (Feat. Dan Signor) ( 7:52)
03. I've Been Low (Feat. Dan Signor) ( 6:59)
04. Some Things Change (Feat. Jason Ricci, Dan Signor) ( 6:42)
05. Don't Feel Like Going There Today (Feat. Jason Ricci, Dan Signor) ( 7:47)
06. Tax Man (Feat. Jason Ricci, Dan Signor) ( 8:45)
07. Up The Line (Feat. Jason Ricci, Dan Signor) ( 9:48)
08. Fruit Stand Lady (Feat. Eddie Wright, Dan Signor) ( 5:46)
09. Old Fools Barstools And Me (Feat. Eddie Wright, Dan Signor) ( 7:36)
10. Sugar Shack (Feat. Jason Ricci, Eddie Wright, Dan Signor) (11:50)

Roots guitar and lap steel hero Damon Fowler wows us all with tunes, tones, and talent on his new in-concert release Live at the Palladium.

The record is Fowler’s ninth solo effort and was captured live in front of a revved-up crowd. It all went down on Fowler’s native Florida turf, in the city of St. Petersburg. Those assembled were treated to a performance by one of today’s finest and most nuanced guitarists and songwriters backed by a high-octane band. The live recording was produced by Fowler and George Harris and delivers the same experience to all of us who couldn’t make the gig.

Damon Fowler is a complex, multifaceted musician who does a lot more than just stand up and blast out guitar solos. His guitar work and songwriting connect blues, country, funk, Americana, and storytelling in a vivid and personal way that obliterates genre lines as needed. His lap steel playing is soaring and dynamic, adding its own entire level to his coolness, and his vocals are honest and engaging.

When you hear it all come together live, as on this release, you’ll realize that Fowler is one of the players creating the future of American music in front of us all in real time. Accompanied by his regular road band of Justin Headley (drums) and Chuck Riley (bass) and special guests Jason Ricci (harmonica), Eddie Wright (guitar), and Dan Signor (keyboards), Fowler is in his element and unforgettable. This was one of those magic nights musicians and fans live for and it’s a blessing that it was preserved for future generations.

After a brief introduction, DF and friends hit the stage. Fowler rips off a few sweet guitar licks alone then leads the band into the swampy funk of “It Came Out Of Nowhere.” The groove is laidback but heavily funky and provides the perfect beginning to a jam-loaded show. Fowler puts down some tight rhythm work while singing then dives headlong into one of his inventive and colorful solos. Dan Signor shines on piano here, too, and does a lot to open up the energy of the song.

“The Guitar” is one of Fowler’s most impressive creations and an example of just how vast his range gets. It’s a talking blues/spoken word story song that tells a first-hand tale of having a sword-from-the-stone experience with a beat-up old guitar in a dusty, forgotten pawn shop. Damon lays it out over a crisp, minor groove and also adds the appropriate amount of guitar mastery. We won’t spoil the ending for you but it does get a little ghostly. It’s a brilliant, dramatic piece of performance art the likes of which you won’t encounter in too many other places. If you remember one song from this record, it’ll be this one.

Fowler heads back into swamp rock territory with the hypnotic “I’ve Been Low.” Justin Headley’s drum beat drives the song hard, keeping the band and crowd lit up. Fowler’s overdriven guitar tone is a thing of beauty, full of sparkle and bloom. The band pushes this one over the edge into an almost free-form improv section before taking things back home that’s exciting and unpredictable. This is why we love live music.

When it comes time for the real blues, Fowler breaks out with the slow and lowdown “Taxman.” Jason Ricci injects his mighty harmonica into the sparse arrangement and shines brightly. Fowler follows on guitar and also sings passionately throughout this story of IRS devastation. The whole thing is all vibe and you’re going to feast on it.

This night was magic from end to end and the best way to consume it is to put it on and let it blast. Be sure not to miss “Fruit Stand Lady” and “Old Fools, Bar Stools, and Me.” Fowler and his band are able to go from scream to whisper and back again with the style and grace of giants and that makes Live at the Palladium one of 2023’s first must-have albums. ~Mike O’Cull

Live At The Palladium MP3
Live At The Palladium FLAC

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Ricci / Krown - City Country City

Size: 152.1 MB
Time: 65:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. City Country City (5:14)
02. Down N' Dirty (5:17)
03. Badger The Witness (4:37)
04. My Mama Told Me So (6:19)
05. Feel Good Funk (4:47)
06. It Starts With Me (4:32)
07. Down At The Juke (5:47)
08. Upshot (5:39)
09. Drifting Blues (8:05)
10. The Jimmy Smith Strut (4:18)
11. Just A Playboy (5:20)
12. Ode To Billy Joe (5:15)

New Orleans musicians Jason Ricci and Joe Krown, known collectively as the duo Ricci/Krown, completely reinvent the idea of a two-piece roots group on their new release City Country City. Set to drop October 22nd, 2021 on Mike Zito’s Gulf Coast Records, the record pairs up Ricci (harmonica, vocals) and Krown (organ, piano) with noted Big Easy guest drummer Doug Belote for a new-style organ trio session that kicks major backside and flies in the face of every harp-and-guitar duo you’ve ever heard.

No stringed instruments were needed for Ricci/Krown to burn up a stack of hot tracks for City Country City and the change in texture that creates is refreshing and attention-getting. Captured at Jack Miele Production Studios and co-produced by Ricci, Krown, and Miele, City Country City explodes with an innovative take on American music and shows us all just how much territory remains to be explored out there.

Both Ricci and Krown are roots music veterans with big-league skills and solid reputations. Ricci is a multiple Blues Music Award-winner whose sound and feel command much respect in the industry and Krown is a Crescent City legend who is presently the keyboardist in Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s band. Mix in New Orleans drum monster Doug Belote and you get an absolute powder keg of a trio that’s ready and able to explore blues, funk, jazz, or any other style you’d care to name. Ricci is one of the most copied harp players in the business. He spent time living and playing with Junior and David Kimbrough in Mississippi, did sideman duties with Big Al and The Heavyweights, and currently performs with his new band Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind. Krown held down the keyboard spot for Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown from 1992 until Brown passed in 2005 and has also toured with Mavis Staples and Allen Toussaint.

From the opening Hammond organ strains of the title cut “City Country City,” Ricci and Krown take listeners on a melodic and rhythmic excursion like no other. The track blends humid Louisiana grooves with percolating funk, open space, and a willingness to go wherever the moment requires. It’ll slice through the acres of guitar music you listen to like a hot knife and bring you to an understanding of the power of being different. You’ll be hooked at once. Ricci’s harp tone is warm and righteous and Krown’s B3 puts down a chordal environment no fan will want to leave.

“Down and Dirty” rolls into a wonderful shuffle feel that needs no explanation to blues lovers. Krown’s keyboard phrasing is on-point here and he makes the most of drummer Belote’s mighty pocket. Ricci also throws down his own praise-worthy lines and adds in just the right touch of dirt needed to keep the jam lit up. Up close in a New Orleans club, this would be heaven.

“Feel Good Funk” makes good on the promise of its title and features a cool vocal performance from Ricci. The beat is hypnotic to the highest degree and the three players do their level best to make anyone within earshot shake it all the way down to the ground. Ricci’s harmonica soars over the syncopation bubbling below him and Krown’s organ licks match him step-for-step. Grant Green’s “Upshot” is equally kinetic and features more outstanding organ work from Krown. Whether he’s popping out rhythmic chords or spinning articulate jazz-tinged lines, he’s unquestionably masterful.

One of the best cuts on the record is the closer, which is an instrumental cover of Bobbie Gentry’s mysterious masterpiece “Ode To Billy Joe.” The original vibe-filled swamp/pop hit gets funked up and turned into something amazing that you never once thought it could become. Ricci blows the vocal melody on the harp with a lot of the same hazy phrasing as Gentry’s original take and his tone is sweet and clear. It’s the “don’t you dare miss it” song on this set, so you’d best not. All in all, City Country City is the unexpected roots music smash of 2021 and belongs in all of our rotations. There’s simply nothing like it. Ricci/Krown for the win. Highly recommended. ~Mike O’Cull

City Country City MP3
City Country City FLAC

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Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind - My Chops Are Rolling!!

Size: 119.9 MB
Time: 50:58
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Harmonica Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Break In The Rain (5:01)
02. Don't Badger The Witness (3:16)
03. Fuck The Falcons (Who Dat Nation) (4:48)
04. Going To California (5:33)
05. If You Should Lose Me (3:39)
06. My Chops Are Rolling (5:24)
07. Sleeping On Biscuits (4:21)
08. Snow Flakes And Horses (3:09)
09. The Way I Hurt Myself (7:35)
10. Think It Over (3:22)
11. Who Dat Nation (4:44)

Here we have in our excited sweaty hands, the lastest from Jason Ricci and his band of over achievers, 'The Bad Kind'. Jason and the Band held engineer / producer Rich Morpurgo captive, for several days last year, at his Midwest Audio Recording Studio. It seems Rich does his best work under pressure. Yet this is where the magic happens along with hard work, ton's of Talent and a well seasoned band of veterans. This, along with honest, creative song writing, two 'mooncat cool' covers (featuring the soulful vocals of Kaitlin Dibble) this record is another musically diverse, hip platter of funky blue perfection. No need to talk about the genius or 'chops' of these cats as you probably already know this. Jason is an award winning and innovative harmonica player, some say the best in the world,as one award proclaims. An imaginative song writer, truly one of a kind. Dig it.

My Chops Are Rolling!!

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JJ Appleton & Jason Ricci - Beautiful Slop

Size: 94,4 MB
Time: 39:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Harmonica Blues
Art: Front

01. Don't Take Advantage Of Me (3:55)
02. Hurt Myself (6:02)
03. I Got The Feeling (3:37)
04. Distraction (3:04)
05. Geaux Nuts Kidz (3:22)
06. Don't Badger The Witness (4:08)
07. Standing In The Safety Zone (3:10)
08. Brighter Days (3:41)
09. For The Very Last Time (3:25)
10. Stay (5:24)

From a Dirty Memory to a Beautiful Slop.

It was an unlikely phone call made in 2014 that brought Jason Ricci and JJ Appleton together. “You don’t have an acoustic album yet, let’s make one” said JJ. A few song writing sessions, a live to video and pro tools recording in NYC with Tedeschi Trucks bassist Tim Lefebvre, and the album Dirty Memory was birthed.
Cut to a multi-week long stay in the top 10 iTunes Blues charts and the Roots Music Report, headlining Festivals and venues from the tip of icy Maine, to steamy New Orleans - it was quite a run. It became obvious to Appleton, Ricci and their fans, that a new album was in order.
The duo took over bassist/producer Derek Nievergelt’s Brooklyn basement studio for two days. 90-degree heat and no AC. The swampy heat set the stage for what can only be described as 10 recordings dripping with raw grit, groove, acoustic soul and sweat: Their new album “Beautiful Slop”.
Ricci, a harmonica legend and winner of the 2018 Blues Award for Best instrumentalist/Harmonica, has broken another barrier melding perfectly his Sonny Terry on speed style with beautiful melodic, flowing riffs that consistently bring a smile or tear throughout the record. Appleton’s original songs and unique takes on some very unusual covers shows the duo’s penchant for keeping people guessing as to what they’ll do next.
The much anticipated October 2018 release of “Beautiful Slop” will be in conjunction with a 10- day tour throughout the Northeast, New England and Mid Atlantic.

Beautiful Slop MP3
Beautiful Slop FLAC

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Jay Willie Blues Band - Jay Walkin'

Size: 100,9 MB
Time: 41:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. Wish I Hadn't Called Home (Feat. Jason Ricci) (3:39)
02. Jay Walkin' (3:25)
03. Hitting On Nothing (Feat. Malorie Leogrande) (2:13)
04. The Other Side (Feat. Malorie Leogrande) (3:56)
05. 44 Blues (Feat. Jason Ricci) (4:26)
06. I Feel So Good (3:02)
07. Move Over (3:01)
08. Sinner's Prayer (3:02)
09. Step Aside (3:01)
10. Go To Guy (2:26)
11. How Blue Can You Get (4:55)
12. Soul Of A Man (4:09)

We are proud to release Jay Walkin', the Jay Willie Blues Band's fifth consecutive release with Jochen Becker and his New York based ZOHO Music label.

What is consistent with all these releases is that the cover songs on them pay tribute to the 1950s and 60s Soul and Rhythm & Blues artists who created some of the best music of our time.

This time we dug even further back to 1929, featuring a song by Roosevelt Sykes, and 1930 with a song by Blind Willie Johnson.

This eclectic mix is complemented by our originals that we trust you will find infuriating, crude, and tasteless .... no, just kidding ! ... edifying, dance-able, and entertaining.

While we believed that our last release from 2016, Hell on Wheels (ZOHO ZM201612) would be a tough act to follow for us, our opinion is now that this record is our best to date. This was our first project with Engineer Paul Opalach and Long Hill Recording Studio here in Shelton, CT. Our drummer Bobby T Torello had worked with Paul on past projects and suggested that I talk with Paul about a session. The studio might not be fancy to look at, but it was proof that a book should never be judged by its cover.

The first track that we did together during the free session was Dale Hawkins' recording of Wish I hadn't Called Home. I am a fan of Dale Hawkins' best known for his song Suzy Q and wanted to record this less popular song from 1961 that still has that Louisiana Swamp Rock boogie vibe that Dale is noted for. I had sent Paul the original Dale Hawkins acoustic version to familiarize him with the song. After Bobby made the introductions with Paul, I plugged in my guitar to play our interpretation of the track with Bobby T.

Review:
To my surprise, Paul had already recorded the bass and electric drums to a click track so that he had a good baseline to work with. Bobby then did his drum track, Paul did the bass track over and I finished overdubbing the guitar and vocals.

A wise man once said that there will always be the blues. The blues are timeless and are as much a child of the city as it was of the country. The blues will therefore always have its followers and they are likely to find much to enjoy within the musical walls of ''Jay Walkin' '' by the Jay Willie Blues Band.

This album is a solid effort that plays very much to the crowd with the selection of covers and originals equally likely to please both the blues club and roots festival audiences. There are no surprise song choices here, and none were expected, because the Jay Willie Blues Band are all about the performance and that, on the evidence here, is their area of expertise. Complementing their down to the crossroads musicianship is a guest voice the energetic ''Malorie Leogrande'' who duly adds a sassy style to both the lively ''Hitting on Nothing'' and the reflective ''The Other Side'' to thus ensure that your ears don't get twelve bar blues bored.

Like I said, the blues are timeless and the Jay Willie Blues Band are the kind of band who won't ever need a watch. --Blues Bunny Music Reviews

Jay Walkin'

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Jason Ricci - 2 albums: Approved By Snakes / Down At the Juke

Album: Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind - Approved By Snakes
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:43
Size: 173.3 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues, Rockin blues
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[ 8:17] 1. My True Love Is A Dope Whore
[ 6:54] 2. Something Just Arrived
[ 9:15] 3. Demon Lover
[ 3:36] 4. My Mom's Gonna Yell At You
[ 9:12] 5. Broken Toy-I Fink U Freaky
[10:02] 6. Listen Here
[ 7:16] 7. Terrors Of Nightlife
[ 4:54] 8. I Got Cleaned Up
[ 4:02] 9. I'm Too Strong For You
[ 5:31] 10. Disconnect
[ 6:39] 11. 515

This is Jason's first release as band leader in seven years. Of course, he's been busy with other projects including being a special guest on the, late great, Johnny Winter's Grammy winning CD. Jason's TV performance on the induction of the great Paul Butterfield Blues Band into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, was quite an honor. Jason is an amazing innovator of the blues harmonica (and beyond) but this CD is about Jason and his great New Orleans band, The Bad Kind. Their new material further showcases the growth of their incredible talents. This new recording is going to smash any preconceived notions of genre boundaries. I don't think they've come up with a name for the music these cats make. We just call it 'Jason Ricci & the Bad Kind'.

Approved By Snakes

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Album: Jason Ricci - Down At The Juke
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:45
Size: 134.5 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:48] 1. Down At The Juke
[3:41] 2. Shakey's Jump
[4:15] 3. Mississippi Marc
[6:07] 4. Delta Dip
[5:29] 5. Things Aint What
[4:40] 6. Delta Nova
[6:59] 7. Can't Close Our Eyes
[4:08] 8. Snowflakes & Horses
[5:39] 9. No Progression
[6:18] 10. My Blood Is Yours
[7:38] 11. Soul Desire

Jason Ricci: Harmonica & Vocals; Bobby Little: Drums; Takeshi Imura: Bass; Akira Shimizu: Rhythm & Lead Guitars; Al Rollag: Rhythm & Lead Guitars; Enrico Crivellaro: Guitar; John Scalici: drums; Eric Deaton: bass/guitar; Kenney Kimbrough: drums.

Recorded in Memphis TN, produced by Billy Gibson this was my second recording ever. I was living with Junior Kimbrough and got Kenny to play drums on the CD. I was doing some North Ms style tunes a ways before any other white guys were except Kenny Brown and Eric Deaton who went on to back RL Burnside, Junior, T-Model and Paul Wine (Now of Afrosippi) I was doing 'em pretty punk though, The tune "Snow Flakes and Horses" was first recorded here. The Blues world at that time was not too into the Punk-Blues sound and I got some pretty rough reviews for it but now here it appears as chronological evidence! The Tunes on this are fun for sure and great for harp. I was still using a Bullet mic, It sounds great here. Enrico Crivellaro went on to play with James Harman and Etta James. Bobby Little on Drums use to play with Earl Hooker and it shows his drumming is incredibly unique, innovative at times quirky but always swings and supports and strange but effective ways. Bobby was working as an Icecream truck driver at the time, I was sometimes staying on Billy Gibson's couch when not in Holly Springs, Eric was still lying to his parents about college in Oxford so he cold play with RL and Junior, Billy was playing with a 15 or 16 year old Sean Costello and learning Jazz, Enrico Crivellaro was over from Italy visiting us while taking guitar lessons from Ronnie Earl, Akira and Takeshi were friends's of Billy's and were in Memphis from Japan both are monster players I think they were under 21 on this CD. Al was playing with everyone around Memphis at that time. Well Thats what happened...The Songs are fun there are some stand outs on this including me the Moon Cat on Guitar playing a Junior inspired original. It's fun to listen to a more traditional sounding me you can here my first influencences by the great Pat Ramsey. On tunes like No Progression I think you can hear the very first emergence of my style today creeping in. You all should dig this one. I love Ms March, Shakey's Jump, Should Desire... This CD has kick ass musicians all over it.

Down At The Juke

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Jason Ricci & New Blood - Feel Good Funk

Size: 150,0 MB
Time: 65:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2002
Styles: Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. From The Soul (4:33)
02. Feel Good Funk (6:25)
03. Comin' Home Baby (3:41)
04. Drifting And Drifting (9:10)
05. Hip Shake (8:18)
06. I'm Just A Playboy (4:43)
07. Everything I Play Gonna Be Funky (5:45)
08. Scratch My Back (4:44)
09. I-55 (6:14)
10. Careless Love (4:00)
11. Mississippi Mood (7:40)

Several years ago, Adam Gussow (of Satan and Adam fame), who also wrote a regular column in the late and much-missed magazine Blues Access, penned an article about a mild heart attack he suffered. At the time of his heart attack, Gussow was in Florida jamming with a young harmonica player named Jason Ricci. Gussow mentioned that he had known Ricci for a couple of years and was amazed at his improvement on the instrument since their first meeting. Over the years, Ricci has struggled mightily with personal and substance problems, has lived and played in the North Mississippi hill country with the Kimbrough family, and has put out a couple of independent releases.

Most recently, he’s been playing with Big Al and the Heavyweights. With his band, New Blood, Ricci has just released an absolutely stunning solo CD, titled Feel Good Funk, which could end up being one of the best blues albums of the year. Ricci is not only an amazing harmonica player; he’s a very affecting singer as well, and doesn’t try for the histrionics like some younger artists might. The CD is a mix of well done covers (“Shake Your Hips,” done here as “Hip Shake,” “Driftin’ Blues,” “Everything I Do,” and “Scratch My Back”) and moody instrumentals which have elements of jazz, funk, and blues mixed in. My favorite tracks are the instrumental tribute to Junior Kimbrough (“Mississippi Mood”), Ricci’s take on Charles Brown’s “Driftin’,” and the romping, stomping “Hip Shake.” The title cut, in which Ricci raps and blows over a nasty bass line, is also a keeper. The band also provides outstanding support throughout the disc. For fans of harmonica blues, or just fans of great music, this CD is a 'must own.

Feel Good Funk

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Billy Pierce - Shapes Of Soul

Size: 120,6 MB
Time: 51:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Louisiana Blues
Art: Front

01. Paycheck To Paycheck (Feat. Mark Mullins, Craig Klein & Greg Hicks) (3:59)
02. Me & The Misses (Feat. Jason Ricci) (5:49)
03. Acadiana (Feat. Michael Doucet) (3:43)
04. Tears Of Joy (Feat. Mike Zito) (6:46)
05. Shapes Of Soul (Feat. Charlie Wooton, Doug Belote & Keiko Komaki) (4:25)
06. Don't Give Up (Feat. Paul Wooton & Jeff T. Wakins) (4:11)
07. Red Dog Saloon (Feat. Michael Doucet) (3:56)
08. Katrina (Feat. Charlie Wooton, Keiko Komaki, Doug Belote & Jason Ricci) (4:39)
09. Iko Iko (4:27)
10. Delta Queen (Feat. Cindy Cashdollar) (4:38)
11. PC (Feat. Charlie Wooton, Keiko Komaki & Doug Belote) (5:00)

Recorded at Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana with some incredible players. Charlie Wooton on bass, Doug Belote on drums and Keiko Kamaki on keyboards.

Billy also had some very special guests, Michael Doucet on fiddle, Jason Ricci on harmonica, Bonerama Trombones, Jeff T Watkins of New Orleans suspects and James Browns Band, Cindy Cashdollar on lap steel and Mike Zito on guitar.

Shapes Of Soul

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Mike Zito - Make Blues Not War

Size: 125,4 MB
Time: 53:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Highway Mama (5:20)
02. Wasted Time (3:26)
03. Redbird (7:00)
04. Crazy Legs (3:52)
05. Make Blues Not War (4:11)
06. On The Road (3:47)
07. Bad News Is Coming (6:29)
08. One More Train (3:52)
09. Girl Back Home (3:01)
10. Chip Off The Block (3:32)
11. Road Dog (5:26)
12. Route 90 (3:50)

Featuring: Walter Trout, Jason Ricci and Zach Zito

Blues fans all felt a little, well, blue when Mike Zito announced that he was leaving the heavy-hitting supergroup, Royal Southern Brotherhood, but now that he’s announced his second solo album since his departure, we can all rest easy, knowing that this one-man blues-rock powerhouse is still on the scene.

Make Blues Not War marks lucky number 13 for Zito, a follow up to last year’s Keep Coming Back, and will be released by Ruf Records on November 18th. Grammy Award-winning producer Tom Hambridge co-wrote and produced the album, and once they arrived at the Sound Stage Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, the magic started flowing. “It’s a completely live album, where the musicians all set up and we just hit record and went for it,” Zito recalls. “The energy was awesome and sometimes we’d just be laughing so hard because it was all so intense and exciting.” On one song, the musical chemistry comes as no surprise; Mike’s oldest son, Zach Zito, picked up the guitar for a guest spot on “Chip Off The Block” (aww).

Make Blues Not War

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Joe Louis Walker's Blues Conspiracy - Live On The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise

Year: 2010
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:53
Size: 170,0 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Full

1. Slow Down GTO (w. Mike Finnigan) (6:08)
2. Ain't That Cold (w. Johnny Winter) (5:49)
3. You're Gonna Make Me Cry (w. Curtis Salgado & Mike Finnigan) (8:04)
4. Eyes Like A Cat (w. Tommy Castro, Tom Poole, Deanna Bogart, Keith Crossan) (5:46)
5. Ten More Shows To Play (w. Kirk Fletcher) (5:44)
6. Born In Chicago (w. Jason Ricci, Paris Slim, Nick Moss) (5:53)
7. Sugar Mama (w. Watermelon Slim) (11:59)
8. Tell Me Why (w. Duke Robillard & Todd Sharpville) (7:10)
9. A Poor Man's Plea (w. Kenny Neal) (5:15)
10. It's A Shame (w. Linwood Taylor, Kevin Burton, Henry Oden, Jeff Minnieweather) (5:25)
11. 747 (w. Paul Nelson, Tab Benoit, Mitch Woods) (6:33)

The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise is one of those excursions on which a batch of musicians are put on a cruise ship with their fans for a few days of playing on the high seas, which makes it an ideal occasion for a live album packed with guests. Joe Louis Walker, appearing with his regular backup band (Linwood Taylor on second guitar, Kevin Burton on keyboards, Henry Oden on bass, and Jeff Minnieweather on drums), welcomes 18 guests on these 11 tracks, most prominent among them Johnny Winter and Duke Robillard.

In fact, his interactions with such fellow guitarists are among the high points on the disc. Walker revisits his own repertoire, dating back to his debut album, Cold Is the Night ("Ten More Shows to Play") and its follow-up, The Gift ("747"), along with tracks from his last couple of records. His is an electric blues sound that, while rooted in tradition, also came along after such blues-rock acts as the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream, and there are occasional echoes of that style. It may be that, given the circumstances, the players were inclined to let themselves go a bit more than usual; after all, nobody had to worry about driving home.

In any case, the arrangements can be stretched out to the point of being a little loose and ragged, and the singing, while enthusiastic, can be too. Most of that singing is done by Walker himself, and it's possible that he makes a point in a sleeve note of saying the album has no overdubs or fixes as a way of explaining the occasional croakiness in his voice. Such imperfections are more than offset, however, by the enthusiasm with which everybody plays. /William Ruhlmann, AllMusic

Live On The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise mc
Live On The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise zippy

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Jim McCarty & Friends II - Live From Callahan's

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:53
Size: 164.6 MB
Styles: Rockin blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[ 9:38] 1. Fannie Mae
[11:00] 2. Put The Shoe On The Other Foot
[ 4:55] 3. Let Me Love You Baby
[ 5:19] 4. Jenny Jenny-Good Golly Miss Molly
[11:38] 5. Homesick For My Baby
[ 8:48] 6. Everyday I Have The Blues
[ 8:08] 7. Excello Boogie
[ 7:06] 8. I Got A Mind To Give Up
[ 5:16] 9. Born In Chicago

Detroit’s guitar-legend is back with a brand new CD “JIM McCARTY & Friends II.” The disc is a follow up to the original CD released a few years ago. Like the original CD the disc is a collection of “Live” recordings captured at the club when McCARTY got to jam with his peers. Featured on this disc are TOMMY CASTRO, COCO MONTOYA, JOE LOUIS WALKER, NICK MOSS, JASON RICCI, and the late “Gentleman of the Blues” JOHNNY BASSETT. Peter Jay captured the moment and mixed the disc down with McCARTY.

Live From Callahan's

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Jason Ricci & New Blood - Done With The Devil

Year: 2009
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:01
Size: 142,2 MB
Styles: Modern electric blues, harmonica blues
Scans: Full

1. Done With The Devil (5:11)
2. Sweet Loving (3:48)
3. Holler For Craig Lawler (6:27)
4. Broken Toy (5:55)
5. Ptryptophan Pterodactyl (4:12)
6. I Turned Into A Martian (3:07)
7. As Long As I Have You (5:21)
8. How It Come To Be (3:42)
9. Life Of Denial (3:52)
10. Afro Blue (8:55)
11. Keep The Wolf From My Door (5:41)
12. Enlightenment (4:44)

When Jason Ricci & New Blood launched Rocket Number 9, their debut release for Eclecto Groove Records, they turned the blues world on their respective ear with a visionary and sonically bombastic recording that created a legion of new fans and spent a total of 7 weeks on the Billboard Blues Charts peaking at #4. Done With The Devil is easily Ricci & New Blood's most ambitious project yet.

An album filled with a diverse array of instrumentation that includes chromatic, diatonic, chord and polyphonia harmonicas; tuba, bass harmonica, electric and upright bass; electric, acoustic and dobro guitars; Hammond B-3 and various percussion, plus additional special guests including ace blues guitarist Shawn Kellerman. /Amazon

Done With The Devil mc
Done With The Devil zippy

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Billy The Kid & The Regulators - I Can't Change

Size: 101,2 MB
Time: 39:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Electric Blues, Funky Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. I Can't Change (3:47)
02. Ain't Gotta Prove Nothing (3:39)
03. What Are We Fighting For (4:18)
04. Story Of The Blues (5:01)
05. That Darn Cat (Feat. Jason Ricci) (4:01)
06. Who (Feat. Jason Ricci) (3:38)
07. Slender Man Blues (5:07)
08. Can't Stand To See You Go (Feat. Jason Ricci & Sean Carney) (4:10)
09. Saturday Night (Feat. Sean Carney, Jason Ricci & Damon Fowler) (3:50)
10. Me And The Devil Blues (Feat. Micah Kesserling) (2:22)

Personnel: Billy Evanochko - Guitar/vocals, Arnold Stagger - Bass, James Dougherty - Electric Guitar/vocals, Ublai Bey - Keyboard/vocals, Brian Edwards - Drums/vocals, Jon Vallecorsa - Guitar

Award Winning Blues:
2014 International Blues Challenge 3rd place winners
2013 International Blues Challenge Best self produced CD Top 5 Finalist
2013 Blues Society of western Pennsylvania 1st place winners

Billy the Kid and The Regulators are a high powered, guitar driven, rhythm and blues band based in Pittsburgh. Lead singer Billy Evanochko is widely-known across the Steel City for his impassioned lyrics, seductive vocals, and stinging guitar riffs. Together with his band, The Regulators, they deliver a well-balanced dose of funky rhythm and blues, with heart and soul being the main ingredient. Playing countless clubs and festivals throughout the country. The band attracts fans with their fresh mix and interpretation of the iconic R&B experience.

Billy the Kid & The Regulators won over the Blues Society of Western Pa taking first place honors among the acts at the Blues Challenge in Pittsburgh in 2013 earning them a spot at the 2014 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. The Band competed with acts from all over the world in Memphis January 22-25, 2014, earning them the 3rd Place Win among the best blues bands in the world!

Their Sophmore CD "She Got a Hold on Me", released in April 2012, wowed judges at the 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in which it placed in the top 5 best CD's submitted from around the world for the Best Self Produced CD.

Billy the Kid and the Regulators earned a spot in the 2008 International Blues Competition in Memphis TN by winning the Appalachian Blues Challenge for the West Virginia Blues Society.

"Billy Evanochko and company deliver a unique blend of contemporary blues with a big side of funk. This definitely is a band to be reckoned with" - Scott Tady, Beaver County Times

"The boy can flat out play." "Billy and the boys are one of the best kept secrets in the Blues. If you ain't heard of em, you better ask somebody!" - Michael Burks, Alligator Records Recording artist

"Billy The kid & The Regulators are the best band I've had as an opening act this year period." - Tinsley Ellis, Telarc Records Recording artist

I Can't Change

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JJ Appleton & Jason Ricci - Dirty Memory

Size: 103,0 MB
Time: 43:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Harmonica Blues, Acoustic Blues
Art: Front

01. Leaning Blues (3:18)
02. Nobody's Fault But Mine (3:23)
03. Can't Believe It's This Good (3:37)
04. New Man (5:14)
05. Jason Solo (6:03)
06. Just Enough (3:46)
07. At The Wheel Again (3:15)
08. Black Limousine (3:26)
09. Demon Lover (4:07)
10. Ain't No Use (4:12)
11. Come On Over, Come On By (3:30)

Dirty Memory is an acoustic collaboration with Jason Ricci featuring bassist Tim Lefebvre (Derek Trucks/SNL) and Neil Heidler (Eddie Harris).

Having traveled over many musical territories as a songwriter, singer, guitarist and producer, JJ Appleton has always used one compass - the blues. After seeing Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee at age 10, he was hooked and crooked.
JJ was born into the paternal influence of a political radical & musical genius who played his son 87.6% of the Folkways catalog. Rebelling as teens do, JJ left the sweet smells and deep snows of Vermont for New York City - moving on to paying the rent singing on Diet Coke commercials, co-writing with pop-tarts & charlatans, and all the while playing looong guitar solos in smoke filled halls of ill repute.

Cut to 2015.
A what-the-hell series of phone calls to hire led to a joining of forces between JJ Appleton and 2015 Grammy nominated Jason Ricci, a world heavyweight champion harmonica player, bluesman, songwriter and personality. Their new recordings are a rebirth and deep breath of fresh air for both parties. Recording 100% unplugged (nary a guitar pick up or bullet mic in sight), the upcoming release mixes gutbucket-noir Blues, Roots with dirt still on them, and a sprinkle of cajun Americana. Original compositions,updated traditionals and devotion to musicianship all blend to make a musical collection of real fire, fury fortitude, & fun….
In this modern world of likes and views, JJ Appleton hopes to bring another poetic collection to the library of American tradition. May the blues and it's friends be carried into the future with strong, humble and caring hands.

Dirty Memory

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Jim McCarty - 2 albums: Live! / Live From Callahan's

James William McCarty (born June 1, 1945) is an American blues rock guitarist from Detroit, Michigan. He has performed with Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, the Buddy Miles Express, Cactus, the popular Detroit rock band The Rockets, the Detroit Blues Band, and more recently, Mystery Train. He also recorded with Jimi Hendrix and Bob Seger. He plays in a heavy blues-rock style that has inspired fledgling guitar players for more than 40 years.

In 2006, he participated in a Cactus reunion, performing in New York City, Sweden, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. It coincided with the release of a new Cactus album, Cactus V. In 2007, Cactus played a Detroit date, a McCarty homecoming, to a sold-out, standing room only house.

In 2005, Les Paul recorded Les Paul and Friends: American Made, World Played, with an all-star band. He covered 69 Freedom Special, an instrumental tune co-written by McCarty and recorded while in the Buddy Miles Express. In February 2006, Les Paul won a Grammy for his cover of the song, thus propelling McCarty into another award-winning arena as songwriter. In 2009, a new band, the Hell Drivers were created. The members are Jim McCarty, Johnny "Bee" Badanjek, Marvin Conrad(bass), and Jim Edwards(vocals). A high-energy band, they play a variety of Detroit rock'n'roll from Iggy, The Rockets, Mitch Ryder, Bob Seger and more to great critical acclaim.

Album: Live!
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:27
Size: 131.5 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[ 5:35] 1. Treat Me Right
[10:50] 2. Temperature Is Rising
[ 7:45] 3. Killing Floor
[10:21] 4. The Thrill Is Gone
[10:04] 5. Help Me
[ 6:29] 6. Shake Your Money Maker
[ 6:20] 7. Oh Well

mc
zippy

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Album: Live At Callahan's
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 73:36
Size: 168.5 MB
Styles: Blues rock
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[3:44] 1. J&A Jump (Feat. Johnny A)
[7:13] 2. South Boulevard Blues (Feat. Johnny A)
[8:35] 3. Help Me (Feat. Jason Ricci)
[8:20] 4. Hi-Heel Sneakers (Feat. Duke Robillard)
[9:42] 5. West Helena Blues (Feat. Duke Robillard)
[4:52] 6. Tell Me What's the Reason (Feat. The Millionaires)
[5:22] 7. No Fun (Feat. The Millionaires)
[4:06] 8. Strollin' With the Bone (Feat. The Millionaires)
[7:57] 9. Sweet Sixteen (Feat. John Nemeth)
[4:23] 10. There's A Train Coming Down The Track's (Feat. Johnny Bee Badanjek)
[3:43] 11. School Days (Feat. Jimmy Thackery)
[5:33] 12. Cristo Redentor (Feat. Mystery Train)

mc
zippy

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Keith B. BROWN - Down The Line

Styles: Modern Acoustic & Electric Blues,
Recorded: 2011
Released: 2012
File: mp3 @ 320 k/s
Size: 96.71 MB
Time: 41:20
Art: Full

1. Down The Line (3:19)
2. Them Boys From Memphis (2:44)
3. All I Need (3:25)
4. Satisfy My Soul (2:39)
5. All The Wrong Moves (3:47)
6. Miss Ida Mae (0:49)
7. Bad Luck Child (3:32)
8. Kick It (4:00)
9. Cold Fever (3:49)
10. Got To Keep Movin' I (3:52)
11. Tell Me What You Say (1:56)
12. Sweet Pretty Music (4:10)
13. Got To Keep Movin' II (3:18)

Personnel: Keith B. BROWN - Guitars, Vocals
Etienne Prieuret - Guitar
Jason Ricci - Harmonica
Olivier Monteils - Drums
Mark Telesca - Bass

Notes: Keith B. Brown is recognized as one of the great bluesmen of his generation. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, his family originally hails from Greenwood, Mississippi in the heart of the delta. His mastery and knowledge of Delta Blues styles; ranging from Son House and Skip James to Bukka White, Robert Johnson and Fred Mcdowell, has put him in the forefront of a small but important new generation of African-american country-blues artists.

Keith B’s talent lies not only in faithfully interpreting the blues tradition, but also in his ability to modernize the style over time, his qualities as a songwriter, his honesty and conviction.

His recordings and his potent and fiery concert performances represent a homogenous coexistence of traditional blues and his more contemporary compositions.

If one adds that Living Blues Magazine, “the absolute reference” for the blues in the U.S., described the music of Keith B. as, “embued with riveting emotionalism, flawless musicianship and erudition”, we can understand why Keith B. Brown is now recognized as one of the hopes of the revival of contemporary acoustic blues.

His new album, “Down the Line”, includes 12 tracks entirely composed, arranged and produced by Keith B.

For the project, Keith surrounded himself with highly talented musicians: his old friends Mark Telesca on bass and Jason Ricci on harmonica, complemented by Etienne Prieuret on guitar and Olivier Monteils on drums. The general tone of the album is acoustic, very “Mississippi” with references to gospel, folk and country ever-present, bringing a very personal color to the work as a whole.

                                                               Down The Line
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