Every new month brings some great new blues music. The fact that we have so many potential great releases each month goes a long way to proving the genre is not only still alive but very healthy. This month is no exception.
There are always some new artists that come along and surprise but this post will just highlight some well known artists with new cd’s arriving this month.
First up we have Joe Bonamassa with a new record called “Black Rock” named after the studio in Greece where it was recorded. The record contains a guest appearance by BB King on Willie Nelson’s “Night Life”, covers from song writers such as John Hiatt, Leonard Cohen, Jeff beck, Otis Rush and Blind Boy Fuller, with the rest of the tunes being originals. Bonamassa said: “It’s the kind of record Kevin (Kevin Shirley, producer) and I wanted to make. We needed to rock again a bit like on my first album”. The cd release date is March 23rd.
Showman Guitar Shorty, who was known for many stage theatrics such as doing flips and standing on his head while playing the guitar when he was younger, will be putting out ”Bare Knuckles” this month too. Shorty (nee David Kearney) is back with his usual muscular riffs and passionate vocals on a batch hard-rocking tunes, that address everything from the stimulus package for the economy to Iraq War veterans. Available now.
With Keb Mo producing and guest appearances by Rod Piazza and his wife Honey Piazza, Coco Montoya’s “I Want It All Back” is sure to please. This album will be a slight departure in that the emphasis is on the vocals. In the past Montoya used his singing as way to get to his guitar playing. This album the vocals are being given equal time and as Montoya says “People know where I’m at with the guitar, but here the vocals are being concentrated on. There will certainly be guitar, but the focus has been on song structure and my vocals. Release date is March 23.
The Holmes Brothers faced adversity when Wendell was diagnosed with cancer in 2008. Through faith and family Wendell prevailed over the disease. With the victory the band returned to record “Feed My Soul”, produced by their longtime friend and collaborator Joan Osborne. The songs deal with everything the boys have gone through over the last couple years.This record is a testament to fighting through tough times and being able to overcome through the help of family, friends and will. Available now.
The Kilborn Alley Blues Band is back with “Better Off Now.” One of the best young blues bands out there the Kilborn’s recently won the Sean Costello Rising Star of the Blues Award. The Kilborn Alley Blues Band does gritty Chicago blues and southern fried soul to great effect. This new cd is highly anticipated and should help continue to fuel their rise to blues fame. Due march 16th.
“Shake For Me” is the fifth record for the Mannish Boys and continues the path that the band has chosen since their first album. With an ever changing line-up of musicians the Boys are putting together some of the best blues records of the past few years. Great musicianship with a healthy does of tradition in everything they do they also have a great cast of guests for this cd. Such as Rod Piazza, Mike Zito, Mitch Kashmar, Arthur Adams, Kid Ramos, and Nick Curran. Coming on March 16th.
And last but certainly not least and probably the biggest surprise in awhile is that there is new Jimi Hendrix music on the way. “Valleys of Neptune” is due out on the 9th of March. The majority of the tracks were recorded in early 1969, following the release of Electric ladyland in September 1968. Mainly self-produced, Hendrix was working on songs for his (never released) fourth album. This cd contains 12 previously unreleased studio recordings, including the title track, which is a tune that is highly sought by collectors of Hendrix’s music.
