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Marty Gunther’s Red, Hot ’n Blues Music Reviews - February 2025

By Marty Gunther



Red Hot ’n Blues Reviews for February 2025

 

Eddie 9Volt – Saratoga

Ruf Records RUF 1315

Possessing one of the most distinctive and soulful voices in the blues world, Eddie 9Volt – aka Brooks Mason – simply exploded onto the scene out of his native Georgia a few years ago. And he delivers his best set yet with this fiery mix of Southern soul, blues, funk and more.


Recorded in Atlanta and Denver, Colo., Eddie handles vocals, guitar and percussion, alternating from full-band alignments to small combos. Family members Lane Kelly and Chad Mason are in the lineup along with about 20 other talents. Don’t miss this one!


Give a listen to “Saratoga,” “Halo,” “Love Moves Slow,” “Cry Like a River,” “Delta,” “Wasp Weather,” “Truckee,” “Love You All the Way Down,” “Chamber of Reflections” and “The Road to Nowhere.”

 

Corky Siegel – Corky Siegel’s Symphonic Blues No. 6

Daenserly Records 4305

A master harp and keyboard player, Corky Siegel has lived at the cutting edge of the entertainment industry since the ’60s, working with Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and other giants while composing works that fuse blues with classical music in a way never heard before. And he delivers an instant masterpiece with this disc, taking the concept to a level it’s never reached before.


Chockful of azure phrases that will appeal to even the staunchest blues fan, this is his first full-symphony effort since two highly successful albums with conductor Seiji Ozawa and the San Francisco Symphony in the ’70s. It was originally commissioned by conductor Stephen Gunzenhauser of the Lancaster (Pa.) Symphony. It finds its way to disc as a celebration of Corky’s 80th birthday.


Accompanying the work are three other bluesy elements that feature tabla giant Kalyan Pathak, Siegel’s Chamber Blues group and violinist Dr. Jaime Gorgojo. Making things even more special is a spoken-word piece in which Corky details his journey.

 

Arlen Roth – Playing Out the String

Aquinnah Records AQ-202403

One of the foremost guitarists in the world, Arlen Roth’s previous release, the all-electric Super Soul Session, teamed him with bass legend Jerry Jemmott and spent 55 consecutive weeks in the Top Five of soul charts in 2023. He changes the pace with this one, going acoustic in a soulful set that still delivers plenty of warmth certain to take away the winter chill.


It’s a dynamic cross-section of stylings – everything from blues to folk and more -- and includes covers taken from the songbooks of Gus Cannon, Roy Orbison, Norman Blake, Townes Van Zandt, Allen Toussaint and Blind Blake with an original to spice things up, too.


Give a spin to “Walk Right In,” “Church Street,” “Randall Collins,” “Gonna Move Across the River,” “Pancho and Lefty,” “You Can’t Do That Stuff No More,” “Java,” “Diddy Wah Diddy” and “Play Out the String.”

 

Fabrizio Poggi – Healing Blues

Appaloosa Records

Recently knighted by the Italian government, harp player Fabrizio Poggi is an international treasure who’s worked with dozens of American talents. And he hits a home run with this intimate, soothing disc. A mix of tunes from his archives and fresh tunes recorded for last year’s Record Store Day, it’s a continuation of his Basement Blues series, and it’ll definitely warm your heart.


This one features the voice of Shar White, who’s worked alongside Eric Clapton for decades, as well as Guy Davis, Fabrizio’s partner for the Grammy-nominated Sonny & Brownie’s Last Train, and guitarist Enrico Polverari.


Music for the soul, you’ll enjoy “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me,” “Pilgrim,” “Song for Angelina,” “You Gotta Move,” “Amazing Grace,” “Walk On,” “Mr. Slowhand,” “The Blues Is Alright” and “Every Life Matters.”

 

Carly Harvey – Kamama

Self-produced CD

Based out of Washington, D.C., where she’s the undisputed queen of the local blues scene, Carly Harvey makes her full-length recording debut with this deeply personal, hard-to-define set. Sharing both African-American and Indigenous roots, she fuses and transports both cultures back to their roots while delivering a contemporary mix of blues, funk, jazz and Indigenous elements.


The all-original effort was co-produced with Mark Kenneth Williams and is chockful of pentatonic melodies common to the music of her Eastern Band Tsalagi and Tuscarora ancestry. She integrates the tribes’ lullabies, flute music and dance songs with rhythms firmly based in the Delta. Joe Louis Walker, Annika Chambers-DesLauriers and Dave Keller make guest appearances.


You’ll enjoy “Native Scat,” “Mean Old Woman,” “Misery,” “She Ain’t Me,” “Let Me Go,” “Take Your Love,” “Kamama,” “Human Too” and “Worth Waiting For.”

 

Catfish Keith – Shake Me Up

Fish Tail Records FTRCD0022

A frequent Grammy and BMA award nominee, Iowa-based Catfish Keith is a beloved practitioner of the songster tradition, putting his own sensational spin on a mix of stylings. He seamlessly blends a hypnotic mix of country blues, ragtime and gospel, along with originals, that fit hand-in-glove with musicians who worked a century ago.


He’s at the absolute top of his game with this solo effort. His picking technique on National Reso-Phonic and other six-strings is hypnotic. This 14-tune set breathes new life into several long-forgotten pre-War treasures along with other tunes obscured by time, but still worth the listen.


Tune in to “My Only Little Darlin’ One,” “Rolling Log Blues,” “Go, I Will Send Thee,” “Fuss & Fight,” “Sleep Baby Sleep,” “Who Pumped the Wind in My Doughnut,” “Mother’s Last Words to Her Son” “Diddy Wah Diddy” and “There Will Be a Happy Meeting.”

 

Giles Robson & John Primer – Ten Chicago Blues Classics

Blues House Productions

You expect something special when you team the top traditional harp player in Europe with a hall-of-fame guitarist from the U.S. And that’s what you get with this set, which brings together reed master Giles Robson and Chicago blues treasure John Primer. It’s an energetic tribute to Windy City sound of the ’50s and ’60s, and it will go down as one of the best albums of the year.


Giles and John met for the first time during a U.K. tour in 2023, but their delivery sounds as if they’ve been playing together all their lives. Robson handles vocals on seven of the ten tracks, all of which have a full-band feel despite working as a duet.


Don’t miss “Blow Wind Blow,” “My Babe,” “Rollin’ Stone,” “Juke,” “Let Me Explain,” “Long Distance Call,” “Dealing with the Devil,” “Bad Boy” and “Last Night.”

 

Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’Blues – On a Mission

Self-produced CD

An enduring artist whose career began with James Brown, along with a long stint as bassist for Muddy Waters and seven years as a producer on TV’s Soul Train, Mac Arnold has shunned the spotlight. He preferred farming back home in South Carolina for decades. But Mighty Mac still cooks with gas on this set, which plows a thick groove throughout.


Shining on both vocals, with his well-worn tenor, as well as playing his trademark gas-can guitars, Mac is backed by guitarist Austin Brashier, plus Max Hightower on  harp, bass and keyboard and a rhythm section composed of drummer Rick Latham and bassist Mark Gardner.


You’ll enjoy “Blues All Over You,” “Dance the Blues Away,” “I Am the Blues,” “Love Story,” “On a Mission,” “Slider,” “Swamps of Louisiana” and “Won’t Tell the Truth.”

 

Jimmy Reed – I’m Jimmy Reed

Craft Recordings CR00747

Guitarist/harp player Jimmy Reed was the best-selling bluesman in the world in the ’50s and for good reason. His simple but distinctive sound stood out from the crowd through its visceral feel and lyrics that spoke directly to issues faced by common man.


A welcome reissue from Craft Recordings, this one first hit the market on Vee-Jay in 1958. Despite its age, however, the tunes ring just as true today as they did then. Top talents in the lineup include guitarists Eddie King, John Littlejohn, John Brim and Albert King, who sat in on drums, too.


Choice cuts include “Honest I Do,” “Boogie in the Dark,” “You Got Me Crying,” “Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby,” “You Got Me Dizzy,” “Can’t Stand to See You Go,” “You’re Something Else” and “You Don’t Have to Go.”

 

Eva Carboni – Blues Siren

Mad Ears Productions MEPCD024

A blues siren and more, Eva Carboni was born on the Italian island of Sardinia and later studied at the esteemed Vocal Power Academy in Los Angeles.  A powerful but honeyed alto, she’s already a sensation around the world, and she’ll captivate you, too, with this mix of blues, jazz and rock.


Directed by British producer/songwriter Andy Littlefield, this is Eva’s third CD. She’s backed here by several top UK talents, including keyboard player Vic Martin (Gary Moore) and bandleader/guitarists Mick Simpson and Rene Lacko.


Tune in to “Walking a Tightrope,” “Slow Road to Redemption,” “Another Blues Song,” “Meant to Be,” “Blues Siren,” “Don’t Get in My Way,” “I’ve Paid My Dues,” “Alive and Breathing” and “Falling Apart Again.”

 

Gary Nicholson – Common Sense

Qualified Records

A Grammy-winning songwriter across the blues/Americana spectrum, Nashville-based Gary Nicholson doesn’t make many albums. But when he does, it’s always worth a listen. And that’s the case with this disc, which delivers a message of peace and understanding in a troubled, divided world.


Gary’s penned hits for everyone from Willie Nelson to B.B. King, and he calls out the big guns here. The lineup includes appearances from Rick Vito, Anson Funderburgh, Kevin and Yates McKendree, Colin Linden, Tony Braunagel and the late Mike Finnigan.


“What a Little Love Can Do” sets the tone. And lend an ear to “The Truth About a Lie,” “Make Good Trouble,” “We Don’t Talk About It,” “Follow the Money,” “Worry B. Gone,” “All That Makes Me Happy Is the Blues,” “Common Sense,” “Woody’s Dream” and “There’s No Them.”

 

Dennis Herrera – Four

Deep Groove Records

If you’re a fan of deep-in-the-pocket blues, you’ll adore this set from guitar slinger Dennis Herrera. Based in San Jose, Calif., he cut his teeth in the smoldering Bay Area scene when the Fillmore West, Avalon Ballroom and Winterland were kicking out the grooves, and he learned his lessons well.


Dennis possesses a stinging single-note attack that fuses West Coast, Texas and the Windy City. And his partner-in-crime, Rich Wenzel, provides a perfect fit on keys. Add a skintight rhythm section, horns and an appearance from Anson Funderburgh and you’ve got a treat.


You’ll bop along to “Can You Feel It,” “All Said and Done,” “Blues and Roll,” “Insta Groove,” “It’s All Too Much,” “Lazy,” “All This Time,” “Mean Ole Texas Shuffle” and “You Stole My Heart.”

 

Alfie Smith – Every Rome Needs a Nero

Self-produced CD

A smoky but sweet baritone who’s been a fixture in the Ontario blues and folk scene for decades, Hamilton-based Alfie Smith hasn’t released an album in a decade, but returns to the studio in style with this disc. It’s a muscular set that features deeply personal and autobiographical tunes along with some mellow tunes, too.


Alfie’s voice is the star here in varying arrangements that include contributions from keyboard player Jesse O’Brien (Colin James) and several other talents from Eastern Canada.


Laid back and warm, you’ll enjoy “Every Rome Needs a Nero,” “East End Girl,” “All the Blues I Need,” “Sweet Persephone,” “Time Is a Rocketship,” “Mule,” “Stupid Fool,” “Blue Fire” and “Bird on a Wire.”

 

BLUES People – The Skin I’m In

Self-produced CD

Lead singer/guitarist Kelton Cooper and bassist Mike Griot have been friends in bands in the New York metropolitan area for more than 40 years while working with Kool & the Gang, Sue Foley, Lauryn Hill, Michael Hill’s Blues Mob and others. But they finally join forces in a spectacular way as BLUES People with this debut CD.


Cooper and Griot started writing tunes together during the pandemic along with another friend, drummer Gene Lake (David Sandborn/Josh Smith). They team with keyboard player Ron Thompson and hit the streets running with this all-original set.


Contemporary big-city blues at its best, you’ll enjoy “Amnesia,” “The Skin I’m In,” “I Was Always There,” “Troubled Times,” “Blues Interlude,” “Smoke & Mirrors,” “Nuthin’ Really” and “Knee Off My Neck.”

 

Mississippi MacDonald – I Got What You Need

AMP Records

Born in London, Oliver “Mississippi” MacDonald may have been emersed in Brit pop as a child, but he’s one of the deepest, true-blue and soulful artists in Europe today. A two-time UK Blues Award winner, he absolutely shines here, delivering stinging single-note runs on six-string while delivering vocals in a honeyed style that would make his forebears in Memphis smile.


His skintight backing unit features Phil Dearing on keys and second guitar, Eliott Boughen on bass and Jim Kimberley on drums with Lucy Randall providing backing vocals. Combined, they shine as brightly as he does.


Don’t miss “I Got What You Need,” “We’re Gonna Make It,” “3:35 AM,” “Hard Luck and Trouble,” “Soul City One,” “If I Could Only Hear My Mother Pray Again” and “Your Dreams.”

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About the Author: The blues came calling for Marty Gunther in the 1960s, when he witnessed Muddy Waters, Mississippi John Hurt, B.B. King and Howlin' Wolf perform at the Newport festivals in his native Rhode Island. A longtime Chicagoan who's now based out of Ohio, he's a professional journalist and harp player who studied under Sugar Blue before co-founding the Nucklebusters, a band that's filled clubs in south Florida since the '80s.


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