CD Reviews - 2021

Stefan Hillesheim Band - Live at the Chicago Blues Festival

Release date: March 15, 2026 Stella Blue Music By Mark Plotnick Photo: Jim Summaria Long ago, the Chinese philosopher Mencius said, “The best things in life come in threes.” Just ask singer, songwriter and guitarist Stefan Hillesheim. He and his wife Shadae recently welcomed daughter Layla into the world. Stefan also became a naturalized American citizen and now, the lanky guitarist and his band of seasoned musicians have just released a new album, capturing their performan

Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials - Slideways

Release date: February 27 , 2026 Alligator Records By Mark Baier photo by: Paul Natkin Lil’ Ed is throwing a party and everyone’s invited! The celebration has been brewing for 40 years and Alligator Records has the ticket, a raucous carnival of pure Chicago blues known as Slideways , Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials’ 10th release on the venerable label. Slideways is a rollicking carousel ride of joyous and raw West Side blues, delivered with an intensity and piping hot rhythm

Tinsley Ellis - Labor of Love

Release date: January 30 , 2026 Alligator Records By Marty Gunther photo by: Bradley Cook Folks who love Tinsley Ellis for his firebrand, electrified blues rock probably were shocked by his 2024 Alligator release, Naked Truth – on which he went solo and acoustic and received a Blues Music Award nomination in the process. But the Atlanta native has always had a burning love for Piedmont-style guitar picking, too – so much so, that he spent the bulk of that year on his “Two Gui

Jimmy Burns & Soul Message Band- Full Circle

What happens when you connect a Delta/Chicago bluesman with a soulful, jazzy organ-led band?

Mavis Staples - Sad and Beautiful World

Release date: November 2025 ANTI- Records By Marty Gunther Mavis Staples at Chicago Blues Festival 2025/ photo: Dianne Bruce Dunklau The moment Mavis Staples opens her mouth to sing, peace comes over the world. Since emerging in 1969 from the Staple Singers – one of the most important groups in the Civil Rights movement – to record her first album, she’s consistently owned a voice capable of soothing even the most troubled soul. And at age 86, she remains at the top of her ga

Mississippi Heat- Don't Look Back

Release date: September 2025 Delmark Records By Greg Easterling Mississippi Heat at the album release party at Buddy Guy's Legends, Sept. 2025/ photo: Jennifer Noble One of Chicago’s longest running blues band collectives has delivered one of their all-time finest efforts with the forward looking title of Don’t Look Back . Mississippi Heat features founder and harpist Pierre Lacocque with his usual blend of regular members and guests, a number of whom once played in the band

Robbin Kapsalis - The Blues Is In the House

Release date: October 10, 2025 Blues House Productions Records By Glenn Noble Photo: Jennifer Noble There’s a lovely bluesy selection of tracks on this cracking debut by Robbin Kapsalis for John and Lisa Primer ’s independent label, Blues House Productions. Robbin was born into the blues sounds of South Side Chicago. Later, after spending some time in Atlanta, Georgia, Robbin found musical success, fronting Washington DC-based soul blues band “Vintage #18” for several years.

Bob Corritore & Friends - Early Blues Sessions

Release date: Oct. 17, 2025 SWMAF/VizzTone Records By Robin Zimmerman Bob Corritore & Little Milton Bluesman Bob Corritore is back with another tour de force release. His latest, “From the Vaults” project is titled Early Blues Sessions, and it features a long list of musical heavyweights from days gone by. Besides being a harmonica ace, Rhythm Room club owner and KJZZ radio host, Corritore has also assumed the unofficial title of blues historian and tireless promoter of the g