A Tip Of The Hat To Fats
Blind Pig

By Greg Johnson

Every Mitch Woods performance is a date filled with excitement and energy. This live recording comes from the 2018 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and is the perfect example of what to expect from him onstage. The playlist is classic Woods material, including his live standards “Crawfishin” and “The House of Blue Lights.” The title of the disc, A Tip Of The Hat To Fats, may be a bit of a misnomer however, as there are only three numbers that can be associated with the Fats Domino catalog, and they’re not even songs that he wrote himself (Hank Williams’ “Jambalaya,” Dave Batholomew’s  “Blue Monday” and Bobby Charles’ “Walkin’ To New Orleans”). But does that make his tribute any less appealing? Hell no! This is a fun set of music that boogies start to finish.

What really makes this release extra special, aside from Woods’ dexterity on the keys, is the line-up of well-respected New Orleans-based musicians join him during the set. Many are even alumni of Fats Domino’s and Allen Toussaint’s bands. All are incredible, but just to note a few: guitarist John Fohl, drummer Earl Palmer, sax-man Herb Hardesty, Cornell Williams from Jon Cleary’s band on bass, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s Terence Higgins also on drums.

First-rate Mitch Woods live, whether at JazzFest or anywhere else, this is a terrific performance.

Total Time: 40:24

Solid Gold Cadillac / Down Boy Down / Mojo Mambo / Crawfishin’ / Blue Monday / Jambalaya / Walkin’ To New Orleans / Rocket 88 / The House Of Blue Lights

Live
Delmark Records

By Greg Johnson

Johnny Burgin was well-established as a premier guitarist on the Chicago blues scene before he decided to relocate to the West Coast, first to the Bay Area and now in Portland. He built his reputation through outstanding recordings and inspired performances with many of the top-tier talent of the Windy City. Such a performance is nicely shown with his new recording, blending his Chicago background with some new found friends a couple thousand miles to the west.

Recorded at the Redwood Café in Cotati, California, Burgin displays terrific guitar work and vocals, backed by Kid Andersen on guitar and piano, harmonica ace Aki Kumar and a rhythm section of drummer Steve Dougherty and bassist Chris Matheos. If that isn’t worth the admission price alone, Johnny invited Blues Music Award nominated saxophonist Nancy Wright, Portland-based vocalist Rae Gordon, and blues legend Charlie Musselwhite to sit in.

The set list includes mostly newer songs written by Burgin, along with a couple numbers from the Earl Hooker and Robert Lockwood Jr songbooks. Playing with a group who doesn’t work together regularly is a challenge, but throw in new material and the night becomes a baptism by fire. And it works with amazing results. There is a certain magic here, especially with the collaborations between Musselwhite and Gordon.

This is everything that you would expect from a live recording featuring a cast of blues elite. But bear in mind, Johnny Burgin is the star attraction here and his guitar mastery and vocals are at once notable and in fine demonstration here. Fun and exciting, Johnny Burgin Live is something to be heard.

Total Time: 65:40

You Got To Make A Change / Can’t Make It Blues / She Gave Me The Slip / You’re My Trinket / The Leading Brand / I Got To Find Me A Woman / Late Night Date Night / You Took The Bait / Daddy’s Got The Personal Touch / Louisiana Walk / Blues Falling / California Blues / When The Bluesman Comes To Town / Jody’s Jazz

Various Artists – Battle of the Blues Chicago vs Oakland
Delta Roots Records

By Greg Johnson

During the twentieth century, African Americans undertook a Great Migration from the Southern states to other areas of the nation to search for more prosperous futures. Many headed toward the Midwest and to the Pacific Coast, with Chicago and Oakland being two prime destinations. Talented musicians were part of this movement and blues music thrived and grew in these cities. Both have their share of renowned artists that amongst the first call in the annals of the genre; but there are so many that often go unnoticed outside of their own cities.

Battle of the Blues: Chicago vs. Oakland compiles an outstanding selection of several musicians that deserve more recognition. The music is soulful, instrumentally superb, and bleeds pure blues at its finest. California is showcased by the vocal talents of Mz Sumac, Nat Bolden, Aldwin London, the late Country Pete McGill and two instrumentals by lap steel guitarist Freddie Roulette (perhaps the best-known artist on the disc). Chicago is represented by vocalists Gerald McClendon, Del Brown, Emery Williams Jr and James Newman. I cannot stress one number over another because they’re all highlights.

The people performing behind these artists are a who’s who of blues, including the likes of Rusty Zinn, Dave Workman, Maurice John Vaughn, and Roosevelt Purify. What ties it all together is producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Twist Turner, who started this project several years ago, plays on all tracks and wrote all but two songs. The album is a love letter from Turner of the music from these two cities he has called home, and it is music that will make you fall in love with these performances as well.

Total Time: 55:19

Broke Ass Man / Funny How Time Slips Away / Take It Easy / Good Morning Mr. Blues / Hit And Run Lover / Hurtin’ On You / Now That I’ve Gone / Red Tide / Cold In The Streets / Me And My Guitar / Time Slippin’ Away / Hoochie Coochie Mama / Mama Don’t Weep

Somebody Save Me
Forty Below Records

By Randy Murphy

With a voice that swings with ease between delicate and muscular and a stage presence even God envies, Sugaray Rayford is the consummate entertainer. In his live shows, Rayford burns through enough energy to power a small city, but as with any dynamic performer, bottling the vigor and fire of those live performances in a studio setting is always a challenge — but happily one Rayford and his musical compadres overcome in their new release Somebody Save Me.

A roster of talented musicians support Rayford on this recording, including Mavis Staples’ veteran guitarist Rick Holmstrom and Dwight Yoakam’s bassist Taras Prodaniuk. Mix in keyboardist Sasha Smith, drummer Matt Tecu, guitarist Eamon Ryland, and a deadly horn section with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes’ doyens Mark Pender and Richard Rosenberg and you have a dazzling ensemble that measures up to Rayford’s vocals, note for note.

Any great singer needs great songs, and here Eric Corne, who also produced, supplies terrific tunes that showcase Rayford’s vocal range and variety of styles — from straight-ahead blues rock to delicious soul to some filthy funk. There are no duds on this album, but three songs stand out: “My Cards Are On The Table” is a soul-infused ballad that echoes Teddy Pendergrass and includes some luscious guitar playing courtesy of Mr. Holmstrom. Likewise, the album’s opening cut, “The Revelator,” furnishes a heady concoction of groovy, bluesy funk enlivened with Mark Pender’s silvery trumpet rifts. But apart from the superb musicianship on this album, there’s also a call to political civility in “Time to Get Movin’” — a sizzling, up-tempo stomp where Rayford pleads for an end to the strife that infects our decaying society and politics. This tune strikes with weight and force, both lyrically and musically, and is a splendid touchstone for effectively breathing political issues into one’s music. If “Time to Get Movin’” troubles you, good — that’s its intent.

This release is available on vinyl (hooray) and includes a digital download offer, but no matter the medium — miss this album at your peril.

Total Time 40:57

The Revelator / Time To Get Movin’ / You And I / My Cards Are On The Table / I’d Kill For You, Honey / Angels And Devils / Sometimes You Get The Bear (And Sometimes The Bear Gets You) / Somebody Save Me / Is It Just Me / Dark Night Of The Soul