Showing posts with label Toronzo Cannon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toronzo Cannon. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Toronzo Cannon - Shut Up & Play!

Album: Shut Up & Play!
Size: 121,6 MB
Time: 52:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2024
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

1. Can't Fix The World (4:15)
2. I Hate Love (4:27)
3. Him (4:44)
4. Had To Go Through It To Get To It (3:53)
5. Something To Do Man (4:07)
6. Message To My Daughter (5:47)
7. Unlovable (3:28)
8. Guilty (4:07)
9. Got Me By The Short Hairs (3:43)
10. My Woman Loves Me Too Much (3:47)
11. If I'm Always Wrong (3:54)
12. Shut Up And Play! (5:59)

Modern blues at his creative best (not my quote), but oh so true. The opening song of this record (I can’t fix the world – I have to play these blues) immediately shows what we are dealing with here: a genuine string bending hard-hitting original bluesman from the windy city. All 12 on this record being originals, I think it is a hit.

Born in 1968, Toronzo has slowly been building up his career since 2007, started playing guitar when his sister gave him one for his 22nd birthday (although Toronzo’s website states that he bought it himself) and writing songs about his life and what he sees happening in the world around him. “People get used to everyday life, so it’s easy to miss the things around them. I know the problems of Chicago, the hardships. I write about those things.”

Shut up and play! is his sixth album, earlier releases were My woman, Leaving Mood, John the Conqueror Root, The Chicago Way, and The Preacher, the Politician or the Pimp, the latter two being highly regarded by England’s Mojo Magazine (#1 Best blues album in 2016, #2 Best blues album in 2019, respectively). His first musical explorations were in reggae, but growing up close to Theresa’s lounge, one of Chicago’s most famous South Side Blues Clubs, the blues was never far away.

Being a modern bluesman, Toronzo also transposes his lyrics to the times we live in. For example, in Message to my daughter, he touches upon what divorce means for children, and in Him he sings about what influence a former partner can still have in a new relationship. In his own words, he didn’t choose the blues, the blues choose him to become what he is now. And man, he can bend a string, Toronzo will grab you by the short hairs, for sure. Go see him. /Pascal Wilhelm, Bluestown Music

Personnel: Toronzo Cannon (guitar, vocals, percussion, handclaps); Brian Quinn (bass); Cole DeGenova (piano, organ, nord, clavinet); Jason "Jroc" Edwards (drums); Phillip "Dante" Burgess, Jr. (drums tracks 3 and 4); Matthew Skoller (harmonica track 10).

Shut Up & Play! mc
Shut Up & Play! gofile

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Toronzo Cannon - The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp

Size: 132,3 MB
Time: 56:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Chicago Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Full

01. Get Together Or Get Apart (3:31)
02. The Preacher, The Politician, Or The Pimp (4:12)
03. The Chicago Way (4:22)
04. Insurance (4:34)
05. Stop Me When I'm Lying (3:59)
06. She Loved Me (Again) (7:09)
07. The Silence Of My Friends (4:39)
08. The First 24 (4:38)
09. That's What I Love About Cha (4:31)
10. Ordinary Woman (3:51)
11. Let Me Lay My Love On You (3:54)
12. I'm Not Scared (6:52)

Toronzo Cannon is the most exciting bluesmen to emerge from Chicago in decades, playing brawny, rock-inspired guitar and singing original, slice-of-life lyrics that speak to today's listeners. The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp finds Toronzo raising the ante on his modern day blues vision, with 12 distinctive new songs that skillfully blend witty, 'ain't it the truth' anthems with searing topical observations. Through it all Toronzo burns on guitar and brings his lyrics to life with spirited, soul-drenched singing.

Updated: 12 tracks CD Rip version with full covers.
Originally posted on 19/Set/2019.

The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp

Monday, July 18, 2016

Toronzo Cannon - The Chicago Way

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:19
Size: 117.5 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[4:44] 1. The Pain Around Me
[3:49] 2. Bad Contract
[5:53] 3. Walk It Off
[3:27] 4. Fine Seasoned Woman
[4:26] 5. Jealous Love
[4:08] 6. Midlife Crisis
[5:14] 7. Chicken Comin' Home To Roost
[5:27] 8. Strenght To Survive
[4:28] 9. When Will You Tell Him About Me
[4:16] 10. Mrs. From Mississippi
[5:23] 11. I Am

Chicago born and bred blues guitarist/singer/songwriter Toronzo Cannon keeps the city’s blues flame blazing with The Chicago Way. Playing all self-penned material, Toronzo’s lyrics sting just as hard as his fretwork, and his singing resonates instantly with a gruff soulfulness that begs for repeated listening. From frisky shuffles and hard blues to buttery ballads and funky R&B, Toronzo Cannon blends all flavors of Chicago blues and makes them his own.

“Deep, contemporary Chicago blues...razor-sharp guitar and compelling, forceful singing” –Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Way

Monday, October 12, 2015

Toronzo Cannon And The Cannonball Express - My Woman

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:23
Size: 108.5 MB
Styles: Soul, Chicago blues
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:03] 1. My Woman
[3:31] 2. She's Gone
[5:01] 3. Toronzo Shuffle
[4:11] 4. Earnestine
[2:47] 5. Cannonball (Just Messin Around)
[3:10] 6. Best Love I Never Had
[4:50] 7. Ain't No Stranger (Revisited)
[5:00] 8. No Good Man
[3:31] 9. Don't Change Me
[3:17] 10. Back To The Weekend
[3:57] 11. Not Born To Lose
[3:59] 12. Young A Little While (But Old A Long Time)

"My music has a SOUL-edge on it..i'm a "4 on the floor" type of player." ~Toronzo Cannon & the Cannonball Express. Among the current crop of young Hendrix-influenced guitarists, Toronzo Cannon is one of the more articulate: no matter how wild he gets, he's always saying something in his solos, not just slinging notes around for the sake of it. His vocals are equally expressive, whether he's testifying on a soul-tinged number or braying a blues anthem--further evidence of his professionalism and focus. ~David Whiteis-Chicago Reader June/2005.

I've also been reviewed in Living Blues#187 Nov/Dec 2006 and The UK Blues and Rhythm #217 March 2007. I've played the Chicago Blues Fest 3 times and played in several States and been to Latvia (RIGA) twice.

My Woman mc
My Woman zippy

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Toronzo Cannon - 2 albums: Leaving Mood / John The Conquer Root

Growing up in the shadows Chicago's blues mecca, Theresa's Lounge, had a lasting effect on Toronzo Cannon. As a kid, Toronzo would listen to the raw, soulful sounds of legends like Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters. "It wasn't just the music that got me, but the effect on the people. I knew right then, that was what I was gonna do." These experiences led him to pick up his first guitar as a teenager and begin to learn to sing and play the sounds he heard. Inspired by the three Kings (Freddie, B.B. and Albert), a little Hendrix and some 70's R&B/Soul, Toronzo soon developed his own sound. "If I wasn’t gigging I was hitting every jam session I could find. I couldn’t get enough." It was during this time that he developed his own powerful, gospel-flavored vocal style and electrifying stage presence.

After playing rhythm guitar with local artists like Wayne Baker Brooks and Joanna Connor, Toronzo decided to form his own band, The Cannonball Express. He immediately was in demand, playing some of Chicago’s greatest blues venues like Buddy Guy’s Legends, House of Blues, Kingston Mines, B.L.U.E.S, Blue Chicago, Lee's Unleaded as well as shows from the Midwest to the West coast. He has also played with some of the GREATS in BLUES, OTIS RUSH, BUDDY GUY, LONNIE BROOKS, SHEMEKIA COPELAND, SUGAR BLUE, LURRIE BELL, MICHAEL BURKS, HONEYBOY EDWARDS just to name a few. He also became a popular festival attraction, playing The Chicago Blues Festival for 8 consecutive years and the 2008 and 2012 San Jose Jazz/Blues Festival, Garvin Gate fest in Louisville KY Pickles fest in Lima, Ohio.

INTERNATIONALLY, Toronzo has played Riga,Latvia as a featured artist three times. Over the past few years he has completed successful tours in Mexico, Ottawa Canada, Durban South Africa, France, Highlands Festival in Amersfoort, in the Netherlands, 2 visits to Yeravan in Armenia.

His second and most recent cd release JOHN THE CONQUER ROOT on Delmark records has been Top 10 BLUES cd on multiple radio charts (#38 of the top 50 Blues cds for 2013- LIVING BLUES) and critically acclaimed in ALL of the Blues magazines nationally and internationally. He has been nominated for a BLUES MUSIC AWARD in Memphis for "BEST ROCK/BLUES CD", and inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame in 2013.

Album: Leaving Mood
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 59:35
Size: 136.4 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[3:45] 1. She Loved Me
[4:03] 2. Chico's Song
[3:37] 3. Come On
[5:07] 4. I Believe
[5:32] 5. Hard Luck
[4:14] 6. Open Letter (To Whom It May Concern)
[4:14] 7. I Can't Take Her Nowhere
[3:39] 8. Leaving Mood
[3:53] 9. She's Too Much
[4:10] 10. You're A Good Woman
[3:30] 11. Earnestine
[3:51] 12. Do I Move You
[4:20] 13. Baby Girl
[5:36] 14. Not Gonna Worry

Leaving Mood

Album: John The Conquer Root
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:16
Size: 131.1 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[6:16] 1. John The Conquer Root
[5:39] 2. I've Been Doing Fine
[5:05] 3. Cold World
[5:05] 4. Gentle Reminder
[3:54] 5. If You're Woman Enough To Leave Me
[4:45] 6. Shame
[5:55] 7. You Made Me This Way
[4:36] 8. Been Better To You
[5:09] 9. Big Ray Bop
[3:00] 10. Let It Shine Always
[4:51] 11. Sweet, Sweet, Sweet
[2:56] 12. Root To The Fruit...She's Mine (Reprise)

John The Conquer Root