Sting sang about “Ghosts in the Machine” and I know where they’ve been lately: my six week old toaster caught fire and I’ve lost a desktop and a laptop to faulty power supplies. I think I need to invest in a windup radio just in case.
STAR BLUES on Sunday marked the death of Clay Hammond, a sweet voiced singer and songwriter (“Part Time Love” is his most well-known) – we went to one of his mid-Sixties sides he cut for Kent. News also came in about the loss of Marvin Sease who was a hard-working star of the “Chitlin circuit” in the Southern States. His work in later years has needed “Parental Advisory” stickers, though I’m waiting for Amazon to deliver something more suitable for a family show. Though Marvin isn’t a household name in the mainstream, his popularity with the African American audience mean his loss will be hard felt.
Harry Manx was an unusual choice for the playlist, his mix of Indian instruments and voices proved to have blues at its heart. The chain had two songs called “I Hear You Knocking”: the first from Smiley Lewis was linked to the last show via Cosimo Matassa’ J&M studios, the second by Lazy Lester at Excello from the pen of J D Miller. You’ll need to be with us at ten on Sunday to hear where we go from there.
The "1001" feature was an instrumental piece by the under-rated Jerry McCain. He was one of the earliest artists to sign to Lillian McMurray's Trumpet label, by 1960 he was with Johnny Vincent for "Steady" and "She's Tough" put out as single on Rex.
Naomi Shelton cut a number of soulful sides in the Sixties but waited until 2009 to make an album. She did so with her gospel group for the Daptone label; a name that is being dropped everywhere by dint of the “real” music on offer from “real” musicians made to classic values. Sharon Jones is a case in point, she is at the forefront of the retro-soul movement. Naomi was joined in the gospel spotlight by Ruby Turner and Jools Holland recorded live in Kent in the songbook of Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Steve Grills has veteran pianist Ernest Lane in his band - Steve’s new album is a real gem that sadly will get overlooked because he refuses to showboat his guitar playing. Big Joe Duskin would have had a birthday this week so his “Dollar Bill Boogie” was the other half of the feature that celebrates those rolling 88s.
Which neatly gives me an opportunity to direct you to a new show on Star every Thursday night at 10pm to bring us the sounds of rock’n’roll. As well as 107.9/1FM it'll also be there streaming from http://www.star107.co.uk/. I hope you can also be around on Sunday night at 10pm (GMT), dress is optional for you – I will have a white tee-shirt, though if it’s a bit creased you’ll know Stings ghosts have moved to the iron.
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
Monday, 7 February 2011
STAR BLUES on 6th February 2011 at 22:00
Presenting a live blues radio show sometimes means you get to bring sad news and yesterday it was the sudden death of guitarist Gary Moore (announced at tea time). Neil did a great tribute on STAR ROCK and I took the opportunity to talk a bit about him on STAR BLUES; as well as play some of his music.
Even the most curmudgeonly of purists would concede that Gary's skillful, fluid playing opened up our music to a much wider audience. His 1990 and 1991 albums had guesting blues legends and had him in the vaults for some covers - blues had been a bit in the doldrums ion the 1980s and was just starting to get the imagination of the mainstream - Gary Moore took it onto the next level with exposure on tv, in magazines etc. Imelda May and Seasick Steve get plenty of coverage on Top Gear and the like, I doubt either would get a second thought had it not been for Gary Moore.
Some will have a problem labelling him as blues because he also played rock, jazz and hip hop with the same dexterity and focus on instrumental virtuousity. I chose a rare live tack he did with Albert Collins, a lovely controlled cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Merry Go Round" (using a Gibson guitar that used to belong to Peter Green), and a guest appearance on Otis Taylors last album.
We also had the usual fare including mayhem, tomfoolery, a chain, the piano, some gospel, you me and 1001 blues. Little Miss Higgins showed us her Bargain Store Panties, I broke my toaster listening to JJ Jackson, and we said congrats to Paul Jones' award for "Keeping the Blues Alive" with his moving vocal go at Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready". Boo Boo Davis and Roomful of Blues have new albums out and Los Fabulocos has called up Kid Ramos for some exquisite Mexican flavoured cajun music. (I think I just invented a new genre). They did a unique version of "Keep a Knocking" they credited to Little Richard but the current issue of Juke Blues says the song is much older than that.
Guitar Slim used a long lead and the shoulders of his roadie to take his playing into the audience and outside to the street, he also gave us the "1001 blues" song. There's nothing new, just stuff you ain't heard yet. Next Sunday at ten pm, I'll see if I can find some more and it'll be great if you can make it along. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Even the most curmudgeonly of purists would concede that Gary's skillful, fluid playing opened up our music to a much wider audience. His 1990 and 1991 albums had guesting blues legends and had him in the vaults for some covers - blues had been a bit in the doldrums ion the 1980s and was just starting to get the imagination of the mainstream - Gary Moore took it onto the next level with exposure on tv, in magazines etc. Imelda May and Seasick Steve get plenty of coverage on Top Gear and the like, I doubt either would get a second thought had it not been for Gary Moore.
Some will have a problem labelling him as blues because he also played rock, jazz and hip hop with the same dexterity and focus on instrumental virtuousity. I chose a rare live tack he did with Albert Collins, a lovely controlled cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Merry Go Round" (using a Gibson guitar that used to belong to Peter Green), and a guest appearance on Otis Taylors last album.
We also had the usual fare including mayhem, tomfoolery, a chain, the piano, some gospel, you me and 1001 blues. Little Miss Higgins showed us her Bargain Store Panties, I broke my toaster listening to JJ Jackson, and we said congrats to Paul Jones' award for "Keeping the Blues Alive" with his moving vocal go at Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready". Boo Boo Davis and Roomful of Blues have new albums out and Los Fabulocos has called up Kid Ramos for some exquisite Mexican flavoured cajun music. (I think I just invented a new genre). They did a unique version of "Keep a Knocking" they credited to Little Richard but the current issue of Juke Blues says the song is much older than that.
Guitar Slim used a long lead and the shoulders of his roadie to take his playing into the audience and outside to the street, he also gave us the "1001 blues" song. There's nothing new, just stuff you ain't heard yet. Next Sunday at ten pm, I'll see if I can find some more and it'll be great if you can make it along. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Monday, 31 January 2011
STAR BLUES on 30th January 2011 at 22:00
In the wake of the revelation that Neil Jones’ name translates as “Rock God”, we just had a Chain and a white tee-shirt in answer. The armful of blues and a smidgeon of trivia saw us through the two hours of STAR BLUES in the merest trice.
Both links in our chain were written by Pomus and Shuman: the first for Elvis Presley but done for us by Ry Cooder as he was the closer to the last show. His “Bop Till You Drop” album in 1979 was the first entirely made using digital technology, something taken for granted these days. Our closer yesterday was “Lonely Avenue” that was a hit for Ray Charles at Atlantic in 1956. In truth we could have chosen any of dozens of great songs from one of the best writing partnerships known to man. As for next week, you’ll have to be with us at ten next Sunday…
It would have been Janis Joplin’s birthday during the week so we had good reason to go to her landmark “Pearl” album for “Move Over” – her voice still gets to those neck hairs. Our back to back feature went by way of Solomon Burke’s original of “Stupidity” to the version done by Dr. Feelgood in 1975 that gave them a number#1 album. The line-up of the band is one of just two lists of trivia that everyone should know: Big Figure, John B Sparks, Wilko Johnson & Lee Brilleaux. (BTW the other essential list is the 1966 England World Cup winning team).
Texan Lloyd Glenn decamped to California in 1947 and hooked up with T-Bone Walker and Lowell Fulson; he also did some sides under his own name for Swing Time, one instrumental - “Chica Boo” - got an outing last night in the feature “You Me and1001 Blues”. The playing influenced Ray Charles and got to number#1 in the R&B charts in 1951. Real shame that a quick Google only brings forth entries on John Glenn the astronaut. Better luck (but only just) when searching for the “Spirit of Memphis Quartet” who did a rousing gospel performance for us. The core three voices were in groups of 4 to 8 men at various times, I’ve made a note to find out more of their Duke and King recordings.
Diddling on the piano, Fats Domino, Dr John and Bob Hall (sadly one at a time, two from New Orleans and one from Blighty). Wizardry of the six string axe showed up in several guises from Guitar Shorty and Otis Grand through to Josh White, Big Bill Broonzy and Michael Roach. I managed to squeeze in the best harp solo in recorded blues from Walter Horton for Jimmy Rogers then it was all over leaving me wondering if that was really two hours. Your company was really appreciated you made me so welcome, I hope we can do it again next Sunday, until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
Both links in our chain were written by Pomus and Shuman: the first for Elvis Presley but done for us by Ry Cooder as he was the closer to the last show. His “Bop Till You Drop” album in 1979 was the first entirely made using digital technology, something taken for granted these days. Our closer yesterday was “Lonely Avenue” that was a hit for Ray Charles at Atlantic in 1956. In truth we could have chosen any of dozens of great songs from one of the best writing partnerships known to man. As for next week, you’ll have to be with us at ten next Sunday…
It would have been Janis Joplin’s birthday during the week so we had good reason to go to her landmark “Pearl” album for “Move Over” – her voice still gets to those neck hairs. Our back to back feature went by way of Solomon Burke’s original of “Stupidity” to the version done by Dr. Feelgood in 1975 that gave them a number#1 album. The line-up of the band is one of just two lists of trivia that everyone should know: Big Figure, John B Sparks, Wilko Johnson & Lee Brilleaux. (BTW the other essential list is the 1966 England World Cup winning team).
Texan Lloyd Glenn decamped to California in 1947 and hooked up with T-Bone Walker and Lowell Fulson; he also did some sides under his own name for Swing Time, one instrumental - “Chica Boo” - got an outing last night in the feature “You Me and1001 Blues”. The playing influenced Ray Charles and got to number#1 in the R&B charts in 1951. Real shame that a quick Google only brings forth entries on John Glenn the astronaut. Better luck (but only just) when searching for the “Spirit of Memphis Quartet” who did a rousing gospel performance for us. The core three voices were in groups of 4 to 8 men at various times, I’ve made a note to find out more of their Duke and King recordings.
Diddling on the piano, Fats Domino, Dr John and Bob Hall (sadly one at a time, two from New Orleans and one from Blighty). Wizardry of the six string axe showed up in several guises from Guitar Shorty and Otis Grand through to Josh White, Big Bill Broonzy and Michael Roach. I managed to squeeze in the best harp solo in recorded blues from Walter Horton for Jimmy Rogers then it was all over leaving me wondering if that was really two hours. Your company was really appreciated you made me so welcome, I hope we can do it again next Sunday, until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
Monday, 24 January 2011
STAR BLUES on 23rd January 2011 at 22:00
Blues for breakfast? According to a publicity mail-out I got last week, that's what exactly happened to Giles Robeson after his track got played by Paul Jones then Chris Evans. I can't promise the same take-up by our very own Slender Man on anything from yesterdays STAR BLUES but stranger things have happened...
The Chain feature has got real traction now with interest in what will top and tail the show to link one STAR BLUES to the next. Have a look at www.blueschain.blogspot.com to see what the fuss is about. If you like the later work of Robert Plant you'll like the new album from Gregg Allman, its produced by T-Bone Burnett full of rootsy goodness. Earlier genius from Plant was provided by the sublime reading of "Gallows Pole" from Led Zeppelin III. Other new good things came from Henry Gray and James Hinds.
I did get on the soap box to bemoan the swift execution of the cd format having seen several clearance events in supermarkets and record stores this weekend. There'll soon be no way of browsing and finding unexpected treasures in music: everything will have to be done by download. And even at my advanced age my hearing is good enough to hear the drop in quality in the MP3 format... I speculated as to where you'd find Henry's or James' music to buy it if you didn't have time or resources to dig really deep (and I mean dig).
Joe Tex and Johnny Guitar Watson showed their blues creds last night, both had better financial gain from the Seventies disco boom. Claudette King is one of B. B. Kings daughters, she has a new album out and her dad followed with a real anger in his voice from his 1966 live go at "Gambler's Blues".
Jimmy Yancey turned up with some piano blues and the seven piece Gospel Clefs made their debut on the show even though the internet says they were a quartet. The afore-mentioned Giles Robeson did neat country blues harp on his instrumental "Solidor" and I can hear what impressed Paul and Chris. I'm just miffed we didn't get first dibs. Our chat on "You Me and 1001 Blues" featured Earl Hooker and how an instrumental of his got some lyrics and an indirect cover by Led Zeppelin on their first Atlantic album. There's a blog at www.1000blues.blogspot.com and I'll be spending the next week looking for a link in our chain as well as conjuring up more mayhem, further tomfoolery and ironing another white tee-shirt. See how I get on next Sunday at ten pm, until then take care of yourselves and take care of yourselves.
The Chain feature has got real traction now with interest in what will top and tail the show to link one STAR BLUES to the next. Have a look at www.blueschain.blogspot.com to see what the fuss is about. If you like the later work of Robert Plant you'll like the new album from Gregg Allman, its produced by T-Bone Burnett full of rootsy goodness. Earlier genius from Plant was provided by the sublime reading of "Gallows Pole" from Led Zeppelin III. Other new good things came from Henry Gray and James Hinds.
I did get on the soap box to bemoan the swift execution of the cd format having seen several clearance events in supermarkets and record stores this weekend. There'll soon be no way of browsing and finding unexpected treasures in music: everything will have to be done by download. And even at my advanced age my hearing is good enough to hear the drop in quality in the MP3 format... I speculated as to where you'd find Henry's or James' music to buy it if you didn't have time or resources to dig really deep (and I mean dig).
Joe Tex and Johnny Guitar Watson showed their blues creds last night, both had better financial gain from the Seventies disco boom. Claudette King is one of B. B. Kings daughters, she has a new album out and her dad followed with a real anger in his voice from his 1966 live go at "Gambler's Blues".
Jimmy Yancey turned up with some piano blues and the seven piece Gospel Clefs made their debut on the show even though the internet says they were a quartet. The afore-mentioned Giles Robeson did neat country blues harp on his instrumental "Solidor" and I can hear what impressed Paul and Chris. I'm just miffed we didn't get first dibs. Our chat on "You Me and 1001 Blues" featured Earl Hooker and how an instrumental of his got some lyrics and an indirect cover by Led Zeppelin on their first Atlantic album. There's a blog at www.1000blues.blogspot.com and I'll be spending the next week looking for a link in our chain as well as conjuring up more mayhem, further tomfoolery and ironing another white tee-shirt. See how I get on next Sunday at ten pm, until then take care of yourselves and take care of yourselves.
Monday, 17 January 2011
STAR BLUES on 16th January 2011 at 22:00
Several other radio shows run a chain feature to link two tracks, as far as I know STAR BLUES is the only one that links two shows. So it was that Fleetwood Mac's "Need You Love So Bad" from 9th joined with Gary Moore's "The Blues Is Alright" at the top end of yesterdays show. Most folks got the connection that Gary Moore had had a minor hit with a cover of "Need Your Love So Bad".
Elsewhere legendary label owner, writer and producer Bobby Robinson has died so music in tribute was the order of the day. He knew how to record L-O-U-D so had great success with Elmore James, Wilbert Harrison, Tarheel Slim and Buster Brown - we went to the vaults of Fire, Fury, Enjoy and Red Robin for the hits. More sad news that Etta James is gravely ill and we remembered her at her imperious best in 1961 with her Argo single "Somethings Got a Hold Of Me". We found out about her status along with the squabble over her power of attorney being acted out. Better words on Chuck Berry and Aretha Franklin that recent health worries have eased.
Shemekia Copeland gets some props with a "Deluxe Edition" set that opens up the 40th anniversary celebrations of her label Alligator. Memphis Slim did us proud with his piano and Sister Rosetta Tharpe held down the gospel spot. Her recent documentary shown on BBC4 has put her box set into the top ten charts on Amazon ahead of Thin Lizzy. Our son - who is a fan of Linkin Park - watched her play guitar while his jaw was on the floor. Awesome is too small a word.
The second of our "1001" feature was Billy Boy Arnold's "I Wish You Would" without which there's be no Yardbirds or Eric Clapton? All that was left was a choice to "Chain" with the afore mentioned Gary Moore ...
Since Little Milton wrote "The Blues Is Alright" the closing chain had him on "We're Gonna Make It". All I need do is get a join with it at the start of next Sundays STAR BLUES at ten. How will I make out? - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Elsewhere legendary label owner, writer and producer Bobby Robinson has died so music in tribute was the order of the day. He knew how to record L-O-U-D so had great success with Elmore James, Wilbert Harrison, Tarheel Slim and Buster Brown - we went to the vaults of Fire, Fury, Enjoy and Red Robin for the hits. More sad news that Etta James is gravely ill and we remembered her at her imperious best in 1961 with her Argo single "Somethings Got a Hold Of Me". We found out about her status along with the squabble over her power of attorney being acted out. Better words on Chuck Berry and Aretha Franklin that recent health worries have eased.
Shemekia Copeland gets some props with a "Deluxe Edition" set that opens up the 40th anniversary celebrations of her label Alligator. Memphis Slim did us proud with his piano and Sister Rosetta Tharpe held down the gospel spot. Her recent documentary shown on BBC4 has put her box set into the top ten charts on Amazon ahead of Thin Lizzy. Our son - who is a fan of Linkin Park - watched her play guitar while his jaw was on the floor. Awesome is too small a word.
The second of our "1001" feature was Billy Boy Arnold's "I Wish You Would" without which there's be no Yardbirds or Eric Clapton? All that was left was a choice to "Chain" with the afore mentioned Gary Moore ...
Since Little Milton wrote "The Blues Is Alright" the closing chain had him on "We're Gonna Make It". All I need do is get a join with it at the start of next Sundays STAR BLUES at ten. How will I make out? - until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Monday, 10 January 2011
STAR BLUES on 9th January 2011 at 22:00
New Year, new white tee-shirts, new features. We try to make sure STAR BLUES is unlike any other by ensuring we cover the heritage of the music, its stories and the people. For the first time yesterday, I did a piece at half past ten called "You, Me and 1001 blues" - a bit like Sheherezade's 1001 tales but with a focus on the important songs and artists that don't often get in the mainstream. Muddy Waters' favourite guitarist in his band, Jimmy Rogers, was our man with his very first recording for Chess called "That's All Right". It became the piece that defined him and is an excellent example of Chicago blues purveyed by the Chess Brothers in the 1950s.
To show we haven't forgotten the rock guitar appreciators, Johnny Winter turned up with a previously unissued track to his "second Winter" album and Carlos Santana had Rob Thomas on vocals for a distinctive go at "Sunshine of Your Love". Hans Theesinck sung about "Katrina" and Canadian Ray Bonnevile rolled with the punches - his is an engaging mix of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and country blues. Eric Bibb wrote the traditional sounding "In My Fathers House" for the Deacons vocal group and for our gospel spot last night. The piano duties were covered by Sunnyland Slim who observed the "Devil Is a Busy Man" and Ann Rabson with her own song "Since You Been Gone". Now solo she is still at the top of her game.
The second new feature isn't a totally new idea (other radio shows do similar things);; the "Chain" will link the last song on each show to the first on the next show. So between now and Sunday night I need to find something to link with Fleetwood Mac's version of "Need Your Love So Bad". The only way to find out how I get on is to be there at ten pm (GMT) this upcoming Sunday. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
To show we haven't forgotten the rock guitar appreciators, Johnny Winter turned up with a previously unissued track to his "second Winter" album and Carlos Santana had Rob Thomas on vocals for a distinctive go at "Sunshine of Your Love". Hans Theesinck sung about "Katrina" and Canadian Ray Bonnevile rolled with the punches - his is an engaging mix of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and country blues. Eric Bibb wrote the traditional sounding "In My Fathers House" for the Deacons vocal group and for our gospel spot last night. The piano duties were covered by Sunnyland Slim who observed the "Devil Is a Busy Man" and Ann Rabson with her own song "Since You Been Gone". Now solo she is still at the top of her game.
The second new feature isn't a totally new idea (other radio shows do similar things);; the "Chain" will link the last song on each show to the first on the next show. So between now and Sunday night I need to find something to link with Fleetwood Mac's version of "Need Your Love So Bad". The only way to find out how I get on is to be there at ten pm (GMT) this upcoming Sunday. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
Monday, 3 January 2011
STAR BLUES on 2nd January 2011at 22:00
My and my white tee-shirt wished you every happiness for the New Year last night and we brought along ten albums classified as "new" releases including something from a trio with an average age of 15 and what proved to be final recordings of Solomon Burke. Of which more later...
The big Red Book of Radio Rules says "thou shalt not start with an instrumental blues" and "Thou willst get the back timing right into the midnight news". Hey! a fifty percent compliance ain't bad because I started with Ronnie Earl's version of "Backstroke" by Albert Collins - and you need * BIG * gentleman's parts to even try to copy the Iceman. Eddie Burns and John Lee Hooker took us to Detroit pretty soon after with some timeless blues. The ladies made a strong showing too: Candye Kane's "Work What You Got", Big Maybelle's "Candy" and Lula Reed's original version of "Drown In My Own Tears" showed us how influential their craft has been in different styles of our music.
Flying the flag for the current crop of Canadian jumping blues is Sabrina Weeks and her band Swing Cat Bounce came along with an infectious piece that was audibly as much fun to record as it was to play. It was their first outing in the collection, not the last I'll be bound. Going back to 1983 - also in Canada - Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King came together for a tv special. The music has been out before on a 1999 cd but this new year sees a reissue with the accompanying video footage. We caught them sparring on Stevie Ray's "Pride and Joy" last night.
Electro-Fi have put out some of Mel Browns unissued sides with his wife, Miss Angel, finishing off some pieces with her lyrics like "Blues In The Alley". The same label has I believe just done a raw in the studio project on Paul Oscher that I've not heard yet, in anticipation I put something from his "alone with the blues" album into out list - it showed why he twice held down the harp player spot in Muddy Waters band. It says so in Gary Blue's Almanac and it also lists major award winners. Sure to go from nominated to winner anytime soon is the Homemade Jamz Band (ages 18, 16, 12) their "Burned Down the House" is an astonishingly confident performance by the three brothers and sister (dad does a bit of harp) - underpinned by a brutal, wicked kick-drum beat from the girl not yet in her teens.
Biggest shock of last October was the sudden death of Solomon Burke at Amsterdam Schipol airport on his way to do some gigs promoting the album "Hold On Tight" just done with the band called de Dijk. That album is now out and it just underscored how powerful and consistent Burke had been from his very first recordings through to these final ones.
Songs for Eric Clapton's newest album were chosen in the wake of his very serious gall-stone problems; his mortality meant he went back to the music of his parents era. He does (in my opinion at least) these days need a great player to inspire him, like Kim Wilson's harp on the go at Little Walter's "Can't Hold Out Much Longer" that closed proceedings.
As is the STAR BLUES custom, the calculations for the news break worked out ok - just don't tell anyone about the instrumental opener (our secret ok?). I'm planning a couple of new features that I'll tell you about next Sunday at 10pm (GMT) - I hope you can come along. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
The big Red Book of Radio Rules says "thou shalt not start with an instrumental blues" and "Thou willst get the back timing right into the midnight news". Hey! a fifty percent compliance ain't bad because I started with Ronnie Earl's version of "Backstroke" by Albert Collins - and you need * BIG * gentleman's parts to even try to copy the Iceman. Eddie Burns and John Lee Hooker took us to Detroit pretty soon after with some timeless blues. The ladies made a strong showing too: Candye Kane's "Work What You Got", Big Maybelle's "Candy" and Lula Reed's original version of "Drown In My Own Tears" showed us how influential their craft has been in different styles of our music.
Flying the flag for the current crop of Canadian jumping blues is Sabrina Weeks and her band Swing Cat Bounce came along with an infectious piece that was audibly as much fun to record as it was to play. It was their first outing in the collection, not the last I'll be bound. Going back to 1983 - also in Canada - Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King came together for a tv special. The music has been out before on a 1999 cd but this new year sees a reissue with the accompanying video footage. We caught them sparring on Stevie Ray's "Pride and Joy" last night.
Electro-Fi have put out some of Mel Browns unissued sides with his wife, Miss Angel, finishing off some pieces with her lyrics like "Blues In The Alley". The same label has I believe just done a raw in the studio project on Paul Oscher that I've not heard yet, in anticipation I put something from his "alone with the blues" album into out list - it showed why he twice held down the harp player spot in Muddy Waters band. It says so in Gary Blue's Almanac and it also lists major award winners. Sure to go from nominated to winner anytime soon is the Homemade Jamz Band (ages 18, 16, 12) their "Burned Down the House" is an astonishingly confident performance by the three brothers and sister (dad does a bit of harp) - underpinned by a brutal, wicked kick-drum beat from the girl not yet in her teens.
Biggest shock of last October was the sudden death of Solomon Burke at Amsterdam Schipol airport on his way to do some gigs promoting the album "Hold On Tight" just done with the band called de Dijk. That album is now out and it just underscored how powerful and consistent Burke had been from his very first recordings through to these final ones.
Songs for Eric Clapton's newest album were chosen in the wake of his very serious gall-stone problems; his mortality meant he went back to the music of his parents era. He does (in my opinion at least) these days need a great player to inspire him, like Kim Wilson's harp on the go at Little Walter's "Can't Hold Out Much Longer" that closed proceedings.
As is the STAR BLUES custom, the calculations for the news break worked out ok - just don't tell anyone about the instrumental opener (our secret ok?). I'm planning a couple of new features that I'll tell you about next Sunday at 10pm (GMT) - I hope you can come along. Until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
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