Big Al's Blues Howlers & Jim Liban - Get It While It's Hot

Size: 98,1 MB
Time: 42:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Electric Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Front

01. Jack Hammer (2:10)
02. Straighten Up My Act (2:59)
03. I'm A Sinner (6:24)
04. Without Her (3:23)
05. The Cadillac Kid (3:34)
06. Sweet Like Sugar (5:28)
07. Let You Go (4:57)
08. Talk Is Cheap (2:57)
09. Boogie Jump (6:49)
10. Get It While It's Hot (3:36)

"Big" Al Dorn & The Blues Howlers bring an original, authentic and polished Blues sound with a sprinkle of West-Coast Swing to go with it. Super Smokin' Grooves, coupled together with savage, powerful harmonica and stinging guitar, they play original tunes with a fiery passion with nods to Blues legends John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, the Three Kings, all the great harp players, along with legendary local players like Reverend Raven, Jim Liban, The Blues Disciples and MANY MORE!!!!!! This band is an absolute force to be reckoned with, and a “Must See”!!!!!

“Big” Al began his career playing on the east-side of Milwaukee before reaching the legal age. Upon hearing a John Lee Hooker record with Jimmy Reed on harmonica, Al started focusing on harmonica instead of guitar. After 3 years of dropping and picking up various instruments and genres of music, Al realized that the Blues was where his heart truly laid. Over the years, Al has toured, played with and opened for several Legendary Blues artists and bands such as Billy Branch, Corky Siegel, Jim Liban, Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys, Paul Filipowicz and Many More!!!

“Big” Al Dorn & The Blues Howlers are true professionals, honoring their influences such as John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Little Walter and of course, The Greats William Clarke and Rod Piazza.

Eventually, "Big" Al's talent began to be noticed and praised by the veterans of the Milwaukee Blues community. At 14 years old, he met and forged a long lasting friendship and collaboration with local Blues legend Reverend Raven.

Through the Reverend, "Big" Al has met, played with, and been apart of some of the biggest names of the Midwest Music Industry. He occasionally loans his talents to other local bands.

Having played in many top Wisconsin bands, "Big" Al not only adds West Coast Swing & Jazz to his unique sound, but remains completely TRUE to his Blues Roots.

Get It While It's Hot

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Steve Cohen - Looking Back

Size: 117,8 MB
Time: 50:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Harmonica Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front & Back

01. Holding Onto You (4:05)
02. Harmonica Romp (3:48)
03. Baby Just To Be With You (Live) (4:14)
04. Leroy In Rio (4:42)
05. The Answer Is Lying With You (3:36)
06. Taste And Compare (4:04)
07. What Is It About Love (2:51)
08. Funky Driveway (3:22)
09. Roadmap (3:56)
10. No Time To Stop Drinking (2:14)
11. You The Whole You (5:13)
12. In One Ear (2:49)
13. Homeless Blues (5:18)

LOOKING BACK is a retrospective compilation from Milwaukee based blues musician Steve Cohen. The performances were taken from 5 different projects dating back to 1985. All 13 songs were written by Steve Cohen.

Among the musical luminaries that are present on this recording are Junior Brantley (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Roomful of Blues, Fabulous Thunderbirds), Greg Koch (Fender clinician, Koch-Marshall trio), Jim Liban (Short Stuff), and Peter Roller (Yank Rachell). Bassists Dave Kasik (Bryan Lee) and Kurt Koenig, drummers Vodie Rhinehart and Bob Mueller, and conga player John Ricco are also present, as well as a cameo from Milwaukee gospel quartet The Masonic Wonders. Several songs are from recordings by the perennial Milwaukee blues band Leroy Airmaster, in which singer/guitarist Bill Stone is prominently featured.

Steve Cohen does all of the front line singing, most of the harmonica playing, and also plays guitar on several songs.

Steve Cohen has been an important part of the Milwaukee area blues scene for 5 decades. He has been a part of numerous ensembles, playing prolifically since he started performing while still in high school, in 1969.

He has released 9 projects of his own and played as a sideman on dozens more.

He is the author of 5 harmonica instruction books published by Hal Leonard, and has played the harmonica parts for over a dozen other Hal Leonard harmonica play-along instruction books including Little Walter, Bob Dylan and most recently Muddy Waters.

As an educator, he taught blues history at UW Milwaukee for 5 years, and was associated with the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music for 3 years. He has had many private students.

He has worked as a booking agent under the auspices of the Blues Central Booking Agency which he created in the 1980’s, and has booked thousands of dates for hundreds of non-commercial bands and musicians, both local and national.

He has also worked as a DJ at WMSE, and has written music reviews for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal and the Shepard Express.

Both as a harmonica player and with his band, Steve has won a dozen WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) Awards, and he served on the WAMI board of directors for two different 3 year stretches.

Looking Back

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Jim Liban & Joel Paterson Trio - I Say What I Mean

Size: 112,9 MB
Time: 48:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Electric Blues, Rockin' Blues
Art: Full

01. I Say What I Mean (3:44)
02. No More Alcohol (3:46)
03. Must've Been Dreaming (2:58)
04. Stop On By (2:59)
05. Tell Me Everything (3:08)
06. Cottonweed (2:18)
07. Sad, Tired And Worried (3:02)
08. I Am Satisfied (3:34)
09. Cold Stuff (3:16)
10. Real Good Deal (4:48)
11. Quick Draw (3:45)
12. Thank You For The Dance (2:52)
13. Right Hand Blues (3:48)
14. Selfish Man (4:53)

Ladies & Gentlemen, Jim Liban!
Joel Paterson's newest platter for Ventrella Records, "I Say What I Mean," focuses the spotlight squarely on Milwaukee harmonica ace and songwriter Jim Liban. Long held in high regard by fellow musicians of every stripe and Midwestern blues aficionados, Liban leads a crack session crew through 11 original lyrics and 3 instrumentals tracked at Chicago's Hi-Style Studio. While the production is unabashedly vintage, Liban's songs and warm, engaging vocals lend the proceedings a timeless quality rare in contemporary recordings.
The synergy Paterson mentions in his thoughtful liner notes is immediately evident in the disc's eponymous opener - tough guitar, a swaggering beat, and HUGE harp tone. As a matter of fact, every song on the disc could be described that way! Liban and Paterson present us a groove album that is equal in artistic achievement and danceability, one where no song or style fusion seems out of place; in fact, tunes like "Must've Been Dreaming" call to mind the entirely plausible daydream of James Cotton jamming with Carl Perkins at Sun.
What sets this album far above the rest, however, is Liban's songcraft in both lyric and melody. He peppers his songs with memorable and meaningful lines like "Last night was my last call," on "No More Alcohol" and confidently doubles Paterson's guitar on "Real Good Deal." Every elegant instrumental break fits its song, and the arrangements keep the listener intrigued on repeated spins. There's little doubt; Jim Liban & Joel Paterson's "I Say What I Mean" is a long-overdue masterpiece of American roots music. Highly recommended. ~Gerry Hundt

I Say What I Mean

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Steve Cohen & Jim Liban - Hot Air

Year: 2001
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:42
Size: 98,6 MB
Styles: Acoustic blues, harmonica blues
Scans: Full

1. Parchman Farm (3:15)
2. Ain't That Lovin You (3:15)
3. Rocket 88 (2:59)
4. My Babe (3:30)
5. Big Boss Man (4:39)
6. Louise (5:49)
7. Walkin Blues (5:35)
8. Roadmap (4:09)
9. Done All My Singing (4:43)
10. Louisiana Blues (4:44)

This CD is so musically natural and unpretentious, that it can be said, without hesitation, this is one of the best roots recordings to come out this year. Cohen, instead of concentrating on his first instrument of choice, harmonica, astutely applies his big talent to exceptional vocalizing and his T-Bone Walker-esqe guitar playing and lets Liban show 'em how on harp. A true musician's musician, Liban has forged his own identifiable sound that pays homage without slavish imitation. This is a modern interpretation of rural delta blues - such as the field recordings captured by the Lomaxes. A high level of musicianship is achieved by both players on this CD, and the choice of material is excellent.

Hot Air mc
Hot Air zippy

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Jim Liban Blues Combo - Blues For Shut-ins

Year: 1999
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:02
Size: 106,8 MB
Styles: Electric blues, harmonica blues
Scans: Full

1. Wash Out/Sidetracked (3:34)
2. Mean Old World (3:46)
3. Blues For Amos (4:07)
4. Stop On By (3:09)
5. Ain't That Somethin' (4:11)
6. Red Headed Woman/I Just Keep Lovin' Her (2:33)
7. Hey Baby (4:10)
8. Musta Been Dreamin' (2:43)
9. Can't Hold Out Much Longer (4:03)
10. Funky Woman (3:23)
11. Cryin' For My Baby (3:44)
12. Sugar Sweet (2:56)
13. Liban & Son (2:31)
14. Amazing Grace (For Rooney) (1:06)

Here is an album that should seduce most lovers of good old Chicago blues. The rhythm section is tight, no frills and very minimal in its backing of a lazy harmonica style. Jim Liban switches easily from a green bullet sound to an acoustic sound and from hand effects to horn section style octave slaps. Jim has certainly digested his Sonny Boy, Junior Wells and Little Walter influences.

The production is good, and the album includes plenty of self-penned songs and the rest are well-chosen covers, including a great version of the famous "Mean Old World". This is a very nice album - if you don't know Jim Liban yet, this is the way to start doing so.

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

Blues For Shut-ins mc
Blues For Shut-ins zippy

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The Jim Liban Blues Combo - Live At Romie's

Size: 94,4 MB
Time: 40:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1996
Styles: Electric Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. Tonight With A Fool (3:48)
02. That Ain't It (4:50)
03. Chicken Shack (4:50)
04. Call My Job (4:36)
05. 29 Ways (3:52)
06. Don't Mess With The Messer (2:06)
07. Baby (2:27)
08. Emily (4:22)
09. Take Out Some Insurance (2:30)
10. Blues After Hours (6:55)

Personnel:
Jim Liban - Harp & Vocals
Joel Paterson - Guitar
Steve Dougherty - Drums
Dave Kasik - Bass

It's easy to get drawn into Jim Liban's playing, what you have to respect about Liban is that he has the musical vocabulary and technicianship to cover a range of genres and styles. "If you want to get a real feeling for Jim's blues harp playing, nothing beats 'The Jim LIban Blues Combo Live At Romie's'- it some of his best recordings, if not the best." -tmf714.

Jim offers a very hip and innovative style that really wails. Jim Liban has a rare skill; he controls the pitch of his bent notes microtonally, precisely and purposefully. He works one note for a long time, playing with the pitch. Liban just goes off, and blows some crazy stuff.

Live At Romie's

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Lonnie Brooks - 2 albums: Wound Up Tight / Hot Shot

Album: Wound Up Tight
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:02
Size: 91.7 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 1986
Art: Front

[2:58] 1. Got Lucky Last Night
[3:41] 2. Jealous Man
[4:30] 3. Belly Rubbin' Music
[3:35] 4. Bewitched
[3:54] 5. End Of The Rope
[5:17] 6. Wound Up Tight
[3:17] 7. Boomerang
[3:23] 8. Musta' Been Dreaming
[5:24] 9. Skid Row
[4:00] 10. Hush Mouth Money

Bass – Noel Neal; Drums – Jimi Schutte; Guitar – Johnny Winter, Larry Clyman, Osee Anderson; Harmonica – Jim Liban; Keyboards – Tom Giblin.

More energetic efforts with a decidedly rocked-up edge. Johnny Winter, long an ardent admirer of Brooks back to the Guitar Junior days, drops by with a passel of fiery guitar licks for the title track and "Got Lucky Last Night." ~Bill Dahl

Wound Up Tight mc
Wound Up Tight zippy

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Album: Hot Shot
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:53
Size: 86.8 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 1983
Art: Front

[4:19] 1. Don't Take Advantage Of Me
[3:17] 2. Wrong Number
[3:21] 3. Messed Up Again
[3:27] 4. Family Rules
[3:43] 5. Back Trail
[4:33] 6. I Want All My Money Back
[3:26] 7. Mr. Hot Shot
[3:33] 8. Brand New Mojo Hand
[5:35] 9. Mr. Somebody
[2:35] 10. One More Shot

A return to rollicking good-time form, boasting the roaring "Don't Take Advantage of Me" and "I Want All My Money Back," relentless rocking revivals of Otis Blackwell's "Back Trail" and J.B. Lenoir's "One More Shot," and a faithful remake of Lonnie Brooks' own "Family Rules" from the Guitar Junior era. ~Bill Dahl

Hot Shot mc
Hot Shot zippy

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Third Coast Blues Collective - Music Friends

Size: 122,2 MB
Time: 52:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Modern Electric Blues
Art: Front

01. I Believe (4:10)
02. Voodoo Rain (4:03)
03. Farmer John (2:56)
04. Do Your Duty Judy (4:56)
05. Directly From My Heart To You (4:35)
06. I'm Going Home (3:30)
07. Comeuppance (4:09)
08. Song Of Everything (3:52)
09. Sho Nuff (3:43)
10. Spanish Wine (5:13)
11. Boogie Sol Hoopli (3:52)
12. Recession Blues (7:16)

Third Coast Blues Collective is a loosely affiliated group of musicians bound by friendship, mutual respect, and a love of blues and roots music. We present unique combinations of the best blues talent from SE Wisconsin and Chicago in performances that deliver exceptional quality, excitement, and energy. Our performances can be scaled to any size venue from major festivals to clubs.

Music Friends contains original tunes by the artists and covers from Doug Sahm, Little Richard, Don & Dewey, and Prince Conley. The recording features 26 musicians and vocalists including Greg Koch, Matt Liban, Jim Liban, Michael Ledbetter, Jimmy Voegeli, Perry Weber, Bill Camplin, Robin Pluer, Andrew Koenig, and more.

Music Friends

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Jim Liban (With The Joel Paterson Trio) - I Say What I Mean

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 48:15
Size: 110.5 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:41] 1. I Say What I Mean
[3:43] 2. No More Alcohol
[2:54] 3. Must've Been Dreaming
[2:56] 4. Stop On By
[3:06] 5. Tell Me Everything
[2:15] 6. Cottonweed
[2:59] 7. Sad, Tired And Worried
[3:30] 8. I Am Satisfied
[3:13] 9. Cold Stuff
[4:45] 10. Real Good Deal
[3:41] 11. Quick Draw
[2:49] 12. Thank You For The Dance
[3:45] 13. Right Hand Blues
[4:52] 14. Selfish Man

The idea to record an album with Jim Liban hit me in 2013 during a Sunday afternoon gig in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I hadn’t played with the harmonica legend in a few years, and the last time we shared the stage in 2010 it seemed like he was tiring of it all. After nearly fifty years in the music business and a recent period of personal tragedies and loss, Jim was quietly withdrawing from the music scene. But it was obvious that afternoon, that time had healed a few wounds. The fire, soul and harmonica mastery were still there as strong as ever; and we went on to rock the crowd just like the old days. It was clear from the first note I heard that day—Jim Liban was back, and I knew we needed to make a record.

I called Jim the next day in a manic state and left a rambling message on his answering machine (yes, Jim still has an answering machine). I told him that I wanted to produce a record for him, and that he should come down to Chicago and record it with my band at Hi-Style Studio. We would dust off some of his old original tunes. We would record together in the same room with vintage gear and small amps like the blues records we love. We would do everything our way and make a traditional—and original—blues album. Jim called me back the next day and responded to my grandiose idea with his signature dry wit, “Does this mean I have to buy new harps?”

“I Say What I Mean” is not just a comeback. It is a snapshot of a life in blues, a tribute to all of our blues heroes, a loving tribute to Jim’s late wife, and a reunion with one of my heroes and first musical influences. These fourteen original blues songs are proof that Jim Liban says what he means, and indeed means just what he says. ~ Joel Paterson

I Say What I Mean mc
I Say What I Mean zippy

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The Jim Liban Blues Trio - Hot Tongue And Cold Shoulder

Size: 83,5 MB
Time: 35:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Full

01. All Corned Up (3:08)
02. Hot Tongue And Cold Shoulder (3:11)
03. I've Got A Job (5:12)
04. Maxwell Street (3:28)
05. I Say What I Mean (3:34)
06. Someday Baby (2:35)
07. Big Fat Woman (3:35)
08. If You Think (3:28)
09. I'm A Selfish Man (2:27)
10. You Can't Hurt Me Anymore (2:14)
11. 145 Blues (2:21)

This CD is the work of three exceptional blues musicians from the Milwaukee area. The trio consists of Jim Liban on harp, vocals and baritone guitar; Jim Schutte on drums; and Perry Weber on guitar and vocals. Simply stated, these fellas are the real deal. Jim Liban is one of the top blues harp players in the world, but woefully under recognized, and is a soulful singer as well. Schutte and Weber have exceptionally strong blues pedigrees (as does Liban), which can be seen below:

Jim Schutte:
He has been a professional drummer with internationally renowned Blues artists from 1972 – Present. Professional recordings include "I Smell a Rat" with Lester Davenport and Jimmy Dawkins, "The American Living Blues Festival Live in Europe" with a host of blues legends, "Hot Wire '81" with Jimmy Dawkins, "Beauty Isn't Always Visual", with Bryan Lee, "Serious" with Luther Allison, Wound Up Tight with Lonnie Brooks and Johnny Winter, and "Bayou Lightening Strikes Again" with Lonnie Brooks. In addition, taught Blues workshops in France for the French government organization, The Federation National of Activities Musical.

Perry Weber:
Currently fronts Perry Weber & The DeVilles, formed in early 2007. The band plays a mix of Blues/Roots/Americana music. Before forming The DeVilles, the members of the group had toured and/or recorded with such luminaries as: Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Jr. Wells, Bryan Lee, Hubert Sumlin, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Jim Liban, and Nick Moss....just to name a few!!

THE CONCLUSION?
The entire CD has a loose, stripped down juke joint vibe - just guitar, drums, harp and vocals on most tracks. No tricks or gimmicks here, folks. Shoot, the closest thing present to an electric bass guitar (sorry Cornbread) is a baritone guitar. Jim Liban’s harp tone is HUGE, both amplified and acoustic and his vocals are very good. The guitar work of Perry Weber is of the Eddie Taylor less-is-more style (Tasty!) and the drums drive the songs along without overpowering them. A true blues ensemble sound in the spirit of the master of Maxwell Street. Let’s give it a 4.5 on the blues-o-meter (that’s 9 on a 10 scale – not bad at all!)

Hot Tongue And Cold Shoulder

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