Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Wolfgang Steinwidder

 


Wolfgang Steinwidder started playing flute at the age of six years, but always felt, that he was no musician. He heard melodies in his head, so beautiful,that he often started crying. At the age of ten he got his first guitar and started taking lessons. At the age of 14 he started songwriting (1987). In 1992 he started studying at the conservatory singing and piano. In 1995 he recorded his first songs in Vienna. Then, due love and private troubes he stopped for several years. In 2001 he started again writing songs. In 2003 he founded a band and wrote ten songs for that project. In 2006 he wrote a classical mass that got never released. Then he built his own house and studio and stopped again for some years. In 2013 he started again, and recorded another unlreleased song for a sports event. Since 2014, he built up his studio, and wrote several songs. In 2017, he founded Composing4you, and finally started going his way in a professional way. Until today 9 songs got released. An album and tour is planned for 2021.

 https://www.composing4you.com/

Monday, September 5, 2022

Haffi Hjálmars

 


Artist Haffi Hjálmars is a singer/songwriter and a sheepfarmer from Iceland and this is his first solo release. Haffi wrote all the songs and lyrics. On the release he sings and plays the bass and has gotten some of Icelands finest musicians to play guitars, keyboards, drums and saxophone. The release has various music styles: Country, Rock, Reggae and Pop.

https://www.facebook.com/haffihjalmars 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhbjP2d3sAAFnHARke9qZQ

Sunday, September 4, 2022

Dropping Like Flies

 


“Irreverent”, “Hilarious”, “Earworm choruses” and “Too heavy for us butty”. Just some of the terms used to describe Dropping Like Flies over the past few months. DLF were formed from the breakup of Welsh punk legends 100,000 Bodybags, during the Covid-19 lockdowns in March/April 2020. 100KBB called it a day after 29 years and founding members Simon Cullen and Craig “Brewer” Bruzas continued to write, sneaking time together illegally during lockdown in a kitchen or garage, hiding from nosey neighbours, Covid wardens and hyper alert dog walkers in order to write and rehearse a set of new original material. With bass and drums recorded on twelve new songs in November 2020, during a brief break in totalitarianism, a new guitarist was recruited with Brian Meade, an old school friend (although we aren't sure who's) who had never played in a band before, joining as the third member of Dropping Like Flies.
 
After battling Covid lockdown laws and then Covid-19 itself, it wasn’t until August/September 2021 that Dropping Like Flies were able to finally play live together with an appearance at The Landed Festival('s acoustic stage) and over the remainder of the year the band made up for lost time, playing at least 2 gigs every week up to the new year creating a real buzz everywhere they played. At the same time, work was completed on the album with 3 singles launched and a full LP of 12 songs mixed and ready to release, Dropping Like Flies are ready to kick on in 2022 and take on the world using a unique mixture of hard rock riffs, insightful political polemic and a warped sense of humour that
will either have you laughing out loud or running for cover while covering your Nan’s ears.
 

Saturday, September 3, 2022

Jimmy Layton

Jimmy Layton (piano, organ, elec piano) ~ Just another Kid from Red Bank, Jimmy was born at an early age, in a log cabin that he helped his father build. With no sign of musical talent, Jimmy taught himself how to play keyboards as a teenager. Later, he studied classical piano and took theory classes at San Francisco City College. His interest in jazz started through listening to fusion (Return to Forever; Weather Report; Pat Metheny and others). His interest in composition arises from his admiration of Frank Zappa, and Charles Mingus, and playing in original, jazzical-rock group, Dr. Duck.

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jimmy-layton-and-his-all-american-not-your-daddys-jazz-band/1441809433

Friday, September 2, 2022

Winamp outlines its plans for aggregation, artists and NFTs

 


 

 Media player Winamp‘s original heyday may be some time in the past, but it remains a going concern – 80 million people are using the software around the world still.

It also made headlines in March this year when it announced plans to sell NFTs based on the 1997 Winamp skin – its first graphical interface – albeit while rousing the ire of Winamp’s co-creator Justin Frankel in the process.

So what is the Winamp of 2022 really up to? The player’s corporate history is a saga in itself: its original developer was bought by AOL in 1999 for $80m, then sold on to Belgian music/tech startup Radionomy for a rumoured $5m-$10m in 2014.

Vivendi then bought a 64.4% stake in Radionomy in 2015, before selling that back to a new parent group called AudioValley in 2017.

Fast forward to 2022, and Winamp is still owned by AudioValley, alongside sister subsidiaries including Targetspot (the rebranded Radionomy service, focusing on digital audio advertising tech); music licensing firm Jamendo; and recently-launched rights-management entity Bridger.

It’s complicated! But CEO Alexandre Saboundjian shed some more light on his company’s plans for Winamp in an appearance last week at the Wallifornia Music & Innovation Summit in Belgium, interviewed by Music Ally CEO Paul Brindley.

Some of those plans are focused on Winamp’s consumer player, which will soon be relaunching as software that aggregates various kinds of listening: different music streaming services, podcasts and radio stations for example.

“All your listening experiences. I think this is really the future of our player, and I was really surprised that in the last 10 years, nobody tried to build a player like this,” said Saboundjian.

Open source project Tomahawk is the closest thing we can remember to this vision: it was getting lots of buzz in 2012, exactly 10 years ago.

While companies ranging from Spotify to TuneIn have offered different combinations of radio, podcasts and/or on-demand music, nobody has quite wrapped it all up with multiple streaming services in one app.

Saboundjian said that Winamp will pursue these DSP integrations on a “step by step” basis, with one partnership already in place for this year, and more to follow.

Keep reading on  https://musically.com/2022/07/11/winamp-aggregation-artists-nfts/

Thursday, September 1, 2022

Toronto’s Legendary GROSSMAN'S TAVERN Announces Return of Annual Amy Louie / Grossman's Music Scholarship & Fundraising Event


 

Following a two-year hiatus on account of the pandemic, Toronto’s legendary Grossman’s Tavern has announced its annual Amy Louie / Grossman's Music Scholarship and fundraiser event will return for 2022. 

Created in memory of the late Amy Louie — a member of the family that has owned Grossman’s Tavern since 1975 — the ALGMS is an artist development bursary that provides two musicians or bands from the Greater Toronto Area $2,000 and $1,000, respectively, to help with career development. 

The 2022 Amy Louie / Grossman's Music Scholarship fundraising event will take place Tuesday, September 27th at Grossman’s Tavern, 379 Spadina Ave, Toronto. 

ALGMS applications are officially open and can be received until September 16th, 2022 at 11:59pm EST. Successful candidates will be chosen by a panel of judges that include members of the Louie family, music industry professionals, and individuals with long-standing connections to Grossman’s Tavern. 

Previous recipients of the Scholarship include The Big Butter and Egg Men, Mike Nagoda, The Swingin’ Blackjacks, Dan McKinnon, Bad Luck Woman & Her Misfortunes, Chloe Watkinson & Park Eddy, Jerome Godboo, and The Responsables. 

As one of the longest-running live music venues and a stalwart within Toronto’s vibrant and dynamic music scene, Grossman’s has long been considered an incubator for an impressive roster of local artists who got their start inside the Tavern, including the late Jeff Healey, the Downchild Blues Band, Rough Trade, and more. 

http://www.grossmanstavern.com/the-amy-louie-grossmans-music-scholarship-algms-call-for-submissions/

 

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

ONLY THE NEWEST. New bands on JAM 66 Radio from today

 From today, EHRLING, ELENA LEY, ELEPHANT FUNERAL, ELISABETH HOPE, ELISA DAY, EMERSON, ELLINOR SPRINGSTRIKE and many others on JAM 66 Radio. ONLY THE NEWEST.

Many new groups and artists every day on the radio. Every day, the newest in rock, country, folk, blues and jazz music.

Tune in and hear on this blog or through the links on the right column. https://jam-radio.blogspot.com/

Also you can hear us on https://bit.ly/3xAefB1 Stream https://bit.ly/3pTmJQN

The Blog of JAM 66 Radio, is the blog of the radio that plays rock, country, blues, blues rock, music of route 66 and the newest. 

Every day new stories on radio, new posts, new bands, blues, blues-rock , country, folk and rock music are posted on this blog. Also, updated news on the blog in real time.


 

Judith Owen

 


Judith Owen, a performer whose stylistic range spans rock, pop, classical, jazz, blues, and musical theatre, Owen is also a comedic actress and master storyteller.

Born into an overtly musical Welsh family, Judith Owen grew up in London surrounded by classical music, ballet, theatre, and the fine arts.  Owen was also exposed to many jazz icons and Broadway musicals that her parents loved (the mixture would become her signature sound).

Owen quickly began performing at a variety of different venues around London. Her unique hybrid of classical/jazz-influenced styled sound soon affirmed a regular slot at Ronnie Scotts.

With Thirteen critically acclaimed album releases, multiple live shows (mini-musicals as she describes them), from Ronnie Scott’s to The Royal Albert Hall and Syndey Opera House and her “cinematic” songs featured in film and TV.

Pre lockdown, Judith wrapped up a tour in Europe and the U.K. to adoring fans, during which time she joined Richard Thompson as a featured guest (along with a cavalcade of British rock and folk royalty) at his 70th birthday celebration at London’s Royal Albert Hall. She then joined another legend… bassist Derek Smalls (“formerly of the band formerly known as Spinal Tap”), for a series of concerts in the U.S. followed by a handful of intimate shows in Australia with percussionist Pedro Segundo.

Judith Owen is co-creator and co-host of the annual “Christmas Without Tears” charity variety show that has featured guests including Steven Merchant, Tim Minchin, Catherine O’Hara, and many others.

https://judithowen.net

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Gen2

 


 "Fire of Love" is the first single from Aussie Rockers Gen2's upcoming album "Future History Repeating".

Building on their reputation as one of Australia's most exciting live bands, Gen2 are taking the world by storm, rapidly amassing tens of thousands streams, thousand of new fans, and rave reviews from critics and punters alike - many of whom are now affectionately referring to Gen2 as 'The New Thunder from Downunder'.

And with no fewer than 4 major follow-up singles and an album ready to drop over the coming months, "Fire of Love" looks to be just the beginning for this Aussie powerhouse quartet, as they get set to support the releases with their high-energy live shows.

 Established in Melbourne, Australia in early 2016, Gen2 are renowned for the quality and energy of their live performances and have gained a reputation as one of Australia’s most dynamic and exciting live rock acts.

Combining high-energy guitar rock with strong funk bass undertones, Gen2's original music combines powerful drums and funk bass grooves with crafted guitars and vocals.

Following the release of their successful debut EP ‘Generation One’, Gen2 are currently finalising post-production on their debut album ‘Future History Repeating’, with release scheduled for September 2022.

The first single from Future History Repeating - ‘Fire of Love’ - is already gaining widespread attention on YouTube and streaming services globally.

https://www.facebook.com/gen2music

Monday, August 29, 2022

Novelties: Michael Logen, The Weeknd and others

Michael Logen returns with not one, but two new singles in collaboration with his talented friends!

Blinding Lights” is a cover of The Weeknd by the Six One Five Collective (www.SixOneFiveCollective.com), a collaborative effort and creative brainstorm of four artists that are steeped in the musical mix of Country, Americana, Folk and Pop. Featuring Sarah Darling, Nicole Witt, Jamie Floyd, and Michael.

“Blinding Lights” has been added to the playlists Southern Craft, New In Country, Cross Country, and Fresh New Music.

Something Good” is a collaboration between Michael and Amy Stroup and is featured in Episode 4 of the new season of Virgin River on Netflix.

Both singles are newly released… check them out!

Leah Belle Faser is also prepping two new single releases including the song “Trash Talk” which is coming out on September 2!

 

Sneak Peek: https://soundcloud.com/hubbubmusic/trash-talk/s-3QLLs0a4U5T/

Sunday, August 28, 2022

JAM 66 Radio. New releases from August 28

From this week on JAM 66 Radio, COYOTES, CYGNUS BOX, CRISIE ISBELL, CREEP, CURTIS HOLLAND, CLIFFORD BROWN AND MAX ROACH and many others on JAM 66 Radio.

Many new groups and artists every day on the radio. Every day, the newest in rock, country, folk, blues and jazz music.

Tune in and hear on this blog or through the links on the right column. https://jam-radio.blogspot.com/

Also you can hear us on https://bit.ly/3xAefB1 Stream https://bit.ly/3pTmJQN

The Blog of JAM 66 Radio, is the blog of the radio that plays rock, country, blues, blues rock, music of route 66 and the newest. 

Every day new stories on radio, new posts, new bands, blues, blues-rock , country, folk and rock music are posted on this blog. Also, updated news on the blog in real time.



Robin Rogers

 


 

Guitarist, singer, and harmonica ace Robin Rogers' life was full of hard knocks and sad turns, along with a few delightful coincidences, and she earned the right to sing the blues the tough, old-fashioned way, but sadly, she lived for only a short time after gaining her widest recognition as a solo artist. As a runaway teen in the late '60s she scratched out an existence however she could, sometimes sleeping in parks and abandoned cars as she bummed around the country to places like Richmond, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Coconut Grove, Florida. Eventually she was picked up by the authorities and placed in reform school. When she was released at the age of 15, she went back to her nomadic ways, and soon had developed serious addictions to drugs and alcohol. She also started singing, taught herself guitar, and began performing at house parties, on street corners, and in coffeehouses. In 1979 Rogers relocated to South Florida and recorded for the Sal Soul imprint, settling in Ft. Lauderdale for ten years and eventually kicking her addictions in 1989. A year later in 1990 she moved to North Carolina, where she met her husband, guitarist Tony Rogers. The two began performing as an acoustic blues duo with Rogers turning more and more attention to her harp playing. Producer and drummer Jim Brock heard the duo and recorded a debut album, 2001's Time for Myself, with them. Now working with a full band, which included her husband on guitar, Rogers signed with the 95 North label and released 2004's Crazy Cryin' Blues, which was again produced by Brock. She signed with Blind Pig Records in 2008. Her first album for the label, Treat Me Right, appeared later that year. Back in the Fire followed in 2010, debuting at number three on the Billboard blues album charts, but Rogers learned she had inoperable liver cancer just before the album was released. She died from the cancer on December 17, 2010 at the age of 55.

Saturday, August 27, 2022

The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation

 


In the year 1967 appeared in the United Kingdom, led by drummer Aynsley Dunbar, the group The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, a blues rock band completed by…

Guitarist and vocalist John Morshead
Bassist Keith Tillman
Keyboardist and singer Victor Brox.

Dunbar (born in Liverpool on January 10, 1946) was by this time a seasoned drummer, having worked his way through John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and played with major blues names such as Champion Jack Dupree.

With his new project, from which Tillman dropped out shortly to be replaced by Alex Dmochowski, he debuted on Liberty Records with the LP “The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation” (1969).

The same year 1969 appeared "Doctor Dunbar's Prescription" (1969).

After this last work came the addition of keyboardist Tommy Eyre (born July 5, 1949), who had already played on "Retaliation aka To Mum From Aynsley and The Boys" (1969), his peak album and the most popular of his discography.

After this album, Aynsley left his bandmates, as did Eyre, and created Aynsley Dunbar's Blue Whale in the 1970s, recording a self-titled progressive rock, blues, and jazz rock album at Warners.

The remaining components wanted to continue with the band and recorded “Remains To Be Heard” (1970), a worthy LP that went unnoticed through record stores, which caused the definitive breakup of the group.

Dunbar later played in Journey and Jefferson Starship, also collaborating on recordings by Frank Zappa, Whitesnake, Yoko Ono, Flo & Eddie, Ian Hunter and David Bowie.

Tommy Eyre passed away in the Californian city of Los Angeles on May 23, 2001. He was 51 years old.

http://www.aynsleydunbar.com/

Friday, August 26, 2022

Reverend Raven

 


You know I hate these cookie cutter bios. I know they are necessary but you are only as good as last night's gig. I really haven't done anything special except open and meet B.B. King, play and sometimes headline at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago for 20 years and have the honor of backing up Madison Slim for 10yrs.  Playing with great guys like R.J. Mischo, Cadillac Pete Rahn, Benny Rickun, PT Pedersen SC, Bobby Lee Sellers Jr, Big Al Groth, Bryan Lee, Billy Flynn, Pat Hayes and all the guys in my band present and past. Guys like Rick Holmes, Chico Johnson, Devil Roberts, Diesel, Evil Evans, Craig Panosh, Kern, Barefoot Jimmy, Frankie Panosh, Chuck Might, Mickey Larson, Benny Rickun many more. I get to go to festivals and see my heros, friends like Perry Weber, Jim Liban, Billy Flynn and get paid for it. That is cool. I've been blessed with great love, good friends and family and the ability to earn a living playing guitar and standing on chairs and tables. If I can put a smile on your face and get you to shake your rear end I've done a good job.

Now here is the standard one:

Born and raised in the Englewood neighborhood on south side of Chicago, the Reverend has been playing the blues since 1971 when he first saw Freddy King play at the Kinetic Theatre in Chicago.  After 16 year hitch in the Navy, Chief Raven moved to Milwaukee where he began a long friendship and collaboration with Madison Slim, long time harmonica player for Jimmy Rogers. Since 1990 he has opened for B.B King, Gatemouth Brown, Pinetop Perkins, Koko Taylor Band, Junior Wells, Billy Branch, Magic Slim, Elvin Bishop, Sugar Blue, Lonnie Brooks, William Clarke, Lefty Dizz, Rod Piazza, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Duke Robillard, Jeff Healy, Trampled Underfoot, Mike Zito, Nick Moss, Tommy Castro and numerous others at festivals and at Buddy Guy’s Legends where he has been on rotation as a headliner for 20 years.

 https://reverendraven.com

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Mike Dugan

 

 


Mike Dugan has been lighting up stages and studios for over four decades. He is known up and down the East Coast as a master guitarist, bandleader, composer, and instructor. Mike has shared the stage with such legends as BB King; Robert Cray; Crosby, Stills, and Nash; and his personal hero, Les Paul.  His albums have received worldwide critical acclaim, and his guitar mastery has won him a loyal international following. Once an audience hears Mike Dugan play, they never forget him!

 http://mikedugan.com/

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

New releases on JAM 66 Radio

 From this week, JES MARIE, MARTIN MAYER, MIHO WADA, ROB ALEXANDER and many others on JAM 66 Radio. Many new groups and artists every day on the radio. Listen on this site or through your favorite players on the right column.



Sugar Ray and the Bluetones

 


The band Sugar Ray and the Bluetones is in one of the moments of highest recognition of its long career. After completing 4 decades of their way of understanding Blues in 2017, for Sugar Ray & The Bluetones 2018 is a year of full enjoyment. Already in 2016 they were nominated by the Blues Foundation of Memphis as the Blues Band of the Year, and Mike Welch, Anthony Geraci and “Mudcat” Ward received a new nomination on their respective instruments, bringing a total of 26 to the Music Awards obtained by the Bluetones, as well as seven Grammy nominations awarded to its members. Few bands can hold awards size. Among other accomplishments, the band recorded two albums with Chicago harmonica giant Big Walter Horton and toured as a backing band for blues legends Otis Rush, Big Joe Turner, J.B. Hutto, Sunnyland Slim, Hubert Sumlin, Roosevelt Sykes, Junior Wells, and many more.

In 2012 Sugar Ray & The Bluetones were inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame. Sugar Ray Norcia has been the driving force of the Bluetones since their inception and is considered one of the most powerful and influential blues vocalists, harmonica players, and songwriters of this generation. A three-time Grammy nominee, SRN has received 22 Music Blues Award nominations, winning two of them in 2014. He has also appeared on more than 60 CDs with musicians and bands such as Roomful of Blues (where he was a vocalist), Otis Grand or Pinetop Perkins. In 2016, he and his band released a CD on Severn Records called “Seeing Is Believing,” for which he was nominated for an unprecedented seven 2017 Music Blues Awards, including Traditional Blues Male Artist and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.

Little Charlie's bio is no less impressive and can only be succinctly summed up. In 1976, together with Rick Estrin, he formed Little Charlie & the Nightcats and supported huge artists such as Big Mama Thornton, Albert Collins, Floyd Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Gatemouth Brown, Pee Wee Crayton, in addition to presenting their own shows in festivals across the United States. Charlie's versatility and elegance is recognized by all, which has led him to record 10 albums with Alligator, 3 albums with John Hammond in Point Blank (all 3 nominated for Grammys), and to be a guest on albums by Joe Louis Walker, Kid Ramos, Mark Hummel and others. In 2008 Baty decided to leave The Nightcats and concentrate on many other projects, such as the recording of the CD Remember Little Walter, nominated for a Grammy and which won two Blues Music Awards, for Best Blues Record of the Year and Best Traditional Record of the Year. In addition to following his interests in gypsy jazz by leading the Little Charlie Caravan, Baty continues to develop and define his style of guitar playing and his many influences have resulted in a truly unique voice in the world of music.

Bassist Michael “Mudcat” Ward recorded and backed bluesmen like J. Geils, Jimmy Rogers, Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, and Rockabilly legend Sleepy LaBeef. His recording with Hubert Sumlin also included Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Levon Helm, and is part of the more than fifty recordings in which he participated. Drummer Neil Gouvin has been with Sugar Ray since they were in Jr. High School together, and has been on every Bluetones recording. He has also participated in a CD with John Hammond Jr. called Found True Love (Virgin) which was nominated for a Grammy, and has made multiple recordings with Otis Grand, Joe Houston, and other great artists.

Sugar Ray & The Bluetones are:

Sugar Ray Norcia: Harmonica and vocals

Little Charlie Baty: guitar

Michael “Mudcat” Ward – double bass

Neil Gouvin – drums

http://www.sugarrayandthebluetones.com

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Homemade Jamz Blues Band

 


 

Homemade Jamz Blues Band’s (HJBB) unique sound and style is a product and compilation of the trio’s hunger and thirst for the music (blues) that they so love. Their passion and dedication has proven to be electrifying and energetic to witness. HJBB’s astounding sound blends Mississippi, Chicago, and Contemporary juke joint blues that will surely get you on your toe tapping, knee bending, and foot stomping stance, copping the gritty slickness of the former and the dirty soul of the latter—never betraying its authors’ age. The trio exudes nothing but confidence and attitude as they sing of betrayal, love, hard times and other bad things gone down as if they've lived a life rich in strife. They are sure, a veritable blues explosion poised to continue making the big sound.

HJBB started in Baumholder, Germany.  Young Ryan found a Stratocaster copy among dad’s, (Renaud Perry’s) bags and wanted it. A week later, Ryan had composed a short instrumental tune, (which he’d play at his school talent show) and was playing along to commercials. When the family relocated to Tupelo, MS, the passion stayed with him. Returning home, Ryan, dove head first into the blues.  “I heard and emulated B.B. King, Albert King, Jimmie Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan,” he recalls.  Having found his passion and direction, Ryan progressed like tenfold.

Ryan Perry, now 23, the oldest of the trio, has vocals that are mind blowing and beyond his years.  It’s almost as if he was an old soul, reincarnated into a new generation of the blues.  Some of his early music influences are Howlin’ Wolf, Albert King, BB King, and Junior Kimbrough, while modern blues influences includes the likes of the late Michael Burks, Bernard Allison, and Gary Clark, Jr.  Ryan has managed to captivate and mesmerize the minds and hearts of his followers with his raspy and gritty vocals.  His electrifying and soulful guitar picking is sure to entice and seduce your most inner soul.

Two years later, Ryan was joined by little brother Kyle, then nine years old, wanted in on the action.  Kyle, now 20, first took up piano and guitar before he found his calling playing the bass, teaching himself the nuances of the instrument, and its role in the blues. Before long, he was performing with his brother Ryan in small venues and local restaurants, as confident as any wizened old pro and digging his role. “[I] keep the timing and lock down the beat along with the drummer, which allows the lead guitar player to do his own thing while everyone is juking to the beat.”

Little sister Taya, then seven years old, was not going to be left out.  Her determination to give the drums a shot came after Ryan and Kyle reluctantly allowed her to play along during practice.  Taya, now 16, already possessing a rhythmic sense from playing tambourine, settled onto the stool, and in no time was providing the beat behind Ryan and Kyle.  Learning by ear, she taught herself the beat and rhythm that binds the complete sound of the trio.  “I love being a drummer, especially being a girl drummer. I feel energetic when I’m playing the drums,” she says.

It’s likewise energizing and invigorating to watch Homemade Jamz perform; the exhilarating trio was a hot ticket, and well on their way to becoming one of the youngest blues bands actively traveling the blues music trail. Ryan’s raspy, gruff vocals along with visceral, stinging, guitar licks, Kyle’s solid rumble and Taya’s cool stomp have electrified festival goers across the country, Canada, Europe, Legendary Blues Cruise, and music festivals all over. 

The trio saturated their local media, appearing numerous times in several local papers and national blues magazines, and on local and national TV—including feature segments on CBS Sunday Morning Show, The Today’s Show, The Monique Show, and The Tavis Smiley Show.  As well, HJBB won the 3rd Annual MS Delta Blues Society of Indianola’s Blues Challenge (2006), were the youngest band ever to compete in the 23rd International Blues Challenge (2007), taking 2nd in a field of 93 seasoned bands, youngest blues band to sign with a major blues label (NorthernBlues Music) (2008), and the youngest Blues Music Award Nominees for Best New Artist (2009).  

 http://www.allsaintmalohotels.com/hmjamzbluesbandcom/

Monday, August 22, 2022

Sam Maghett

 


No blues guitarist better represented the adventurous modern sound of Chicago's West side more proudly than Sam Maghett. He died tragically young (at age 32 of a heart attack), just as he was on the brink of climbing the ladder to legitimate stardom, but Magic Sam left behind a thick legacy of bone-cutting blues that remains eminently influential around his old stomping grounds to this day.

Maghett (one of his childhood pals was towering guitarist Morris Holt, who received his Magic Slim handle from Sam) was born in the Mississippi Delta. In 1950, he arrived in Chicago, picking up a few blues guitar pointers from his new neighbor, Syl Johnson (whose brother, Mack Thompson, served as Sam's loyal bassist for much of his professional career). Harpist Shakey Jake Harris, sometimes referred to as the guitarist's uncle, encouraged Sam's blues progress and gigged with him later on, when both were Westside institutions.

Sam's tremolo-rich staccato fingerpicking was an entirely fresh phenomenon when he premiered it on Eli Toscano's Cobra label in 1957. Prior to his Cobra date, the guitarist had been gigging as Good Rocking Sam, but Toscano wanted to change his nickname to something old-timey like Sad Sam or Singing Sam. No dice, said the newly christened Magic Sam (apparently Mack Thompson's brainstorm). His Cobra debut single, "All Your Love," was an immediate local sensation; its unusual structure would be recycled time and again by Sam throughout his tragically truncated career. Sam's Cobra encores "Everything Gonna Be Alright" and "Easy Baby" borrowed much the same melody but were no less powerful; the emerging Westside sound was now officially committed to vinyl. Not everything Sam cut utilized the tune; "21 Days in Jail" was a pseudo-rockabilly smoker with hellacious lead guitar from Sam and thundering slap bass from the ubiquitous Willie Dixon. Sam also backed Shakey Jake Harris on his lone 45 for Cobra's Artistic subsidiary, "Call Me If You Need Me."

After Cobra folded, Sam didn't follow labelmates Otis Rush and Magic Slim over to Chess. Instead, after enduring an unpleasant Army experience that apparently landed him in jail for desertion, Sam opted to go with Mel London's Chief logo in 1960. His raw-boned Westside adaptation of Fats Domino's mournful "Every Night About This Time" was the unalloyed highlight of his stay at Chief; some other Chief offerings were less compelling. 

Gigs on the Westside remained plentiful for the charismatic guitarist, but recording opportunities proved sparse until 1966, when Sam made a 45 for Crash Records. "Out of Bad Luck" brought back that trademark melody again, but it remained as shattering as ever. Another notable 1966 side, the plaintive "That's Why I'm Crying," wound up on Delmark's Sweet Home Chicago anthology, along with Sam's stunning clippity-clop boogie instrumental "Riding High" (aided by the muscular tenor sax of Eddie Shaw). 

 Delmark Records was the conduit for Magic Sam's two seminal albums, 1967's West Side Soul and the following year's Black Magic. Both LPs showcased the entire breadth of Sam's Westside attack: the first ranged from the soul-laced "That's All I Need" and a searing "I Feel So Good" to the blistering instrumental "Lookin' Good" and definitive remakes of "Mama Talk to Your Daughter" and "Sweet Home Chicago," while Black Magic benefitted from Shaw's jabbing, raspy sax as Sam blasted through the funky "You Belong to Me," an impassioned "What Have I Done Wrong," and a personalized treatment of Freddy King's "San-Ho-Zay."

Sam's reputation was growing exponentially. He wowed an overflow throng at the 1969 Ann Arbor Blues Festival, and Stax was reportedly primed to sign him when his Delmark commitment was over. However, heart problems were fast taking their toll on Sam's health. On the first morning of December of 1969, he complained of heartburn, collapsed, and died.

Even now, more than a quarter-century after his passing, Magic Sam remains the king of Westside blues. That's unlikely to change as long as the subgenre is alive and kicking.

Sunday, August 21, 2022

Janiva Magness

 


Singer-songwriter-author Janiva Magness makes a forceful return on June 24 with the release of Hard to Kill, the Los Angeles-based musician’s first new collection in three years, on her own label Fathead Records.

The seven-time Blues Music Awards recipient (and the 2009 B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, the Blues Foundation’s highest honor) and 2016 Grammy Award nominee will simultaneously release the Fathead audio book edition of Weeds Like Us, her frank, profoundly moving 2019 memoir. Los Angeles composer and musician Matt Cartsonis produced.

LA Weekly named the volume its “Book of the Month,” while No Depression said, “[Magness] plumbs her own emotional depths, carrying us with her through her own hells and back to the other side. Ultimately, Magness’ memoir is a story of hope and the refusal to let the worst experiences of life kill you.”

Magness, who co-wrote four of the dozen new compositions on Hard to Kill, says of her boldly honest and affecting new collection of songs, “I feel like it’s a retrospective — not just of my musical life, but of my life. At this point, with what I’ve been through in my life, top to bottom, you know what, the gloves are off, and the rules are, there really aren’t any rules.”

The musician sees a direct link between her new album — which leads off with the autobiographical track “Strong As Steel” — and her book, an unflinching and shattering look back at a life shaken by physical and sexual abuse, the suicides of both her parents, years in foster care, drug addiction and alcoholism, and teenage pregnancy and motherhood. It also details the beginnings of her distinguished musical career, for which she found early inspiration in the work of such blues titans as Otis Rush and Etta James.

“I like true stories,” Magness says. “My dad said something to me a long time ago; the meaning of it has changed over time, as things like that do, if we wake up. He said, ‘The truth will set you free.’”

Sitting on the bedrock of blues, soul, and funk, the music on Hard to Kill is so tough and assured that it comes as a surprise when Magness says she was initially uncertain about undertaking the making of a new album.

She recalls, “Coming out of the pandemic, I had gotten to a pretty dark place.” She chuckles, adding, “I laugh, because how is that a surprise? Is this news of some kind? I’d gotten there just as many of us had, and I had lost myself.”

Magness turned the corner creatively after her husband suggested that she should talk things over with Dave Darling, her longtime producer, guitarist, and friend.

“He’s a scrapper like me,” Magness says of Darling. “He’s pragmatic. I said, ‘I don’t know if I can do this again. I don’t know if I should.’ And he goes, ‘Of course you should.’ I said, ‘But why?’ And this sounds really simple and stupid, but he said, ‘Because it’s what you do. Because it’s what we do, as artists, and you are a f___ing artist. So cut it out.’”

Magness began writing new material in the spring of 2021. Looking back, she now realizes that her new songs were tied to the intense memories and feelings she had exposed in Weeds Like.

 https://www.janivamagness.com