Blues Albums You Might Have Missed In 2010

Billed to "Bob Corritore and Friends," Harmonica Blues is a collection of 20 years of recordings featuring Corritore's inspired harpwork. These 15 songs are more than a mere compilation, however, representing more of a tribute to the artists that Corritore has performed and recorded alongside, as well as a tip of the hat to traditional Chicago and country-styled blues. As for his "friends," a blues fan couldn't have asked for a more impressive roster of talent: Koko Taylor, Henry Gray, Nappy Brown, Tomcat Courtney, Honeyboy Edwards, Dave Riley, Pinetop Perkins, Bob Margolin, and many more!

Surely most musicians have at least some notion of making their father proud of their achievements. One suspects that the youngest daughter of the legendary B.B. King might have at least a twinge of apprehension in this regard when she recorded what is, essentially, her debut album. There is plenty of reason for B.B. to nod in approval, because Claudette King has released a pretty darn good album of blues, jazz, and soul.

Chicago blues guitarist Dave Specter has flown under the radar for much of his considerable career. Mentored by Sunnyland Slim's great guitarist Steve Freund, Specter honed his skills by apprenticing under giants like Hubert Sumlin and Son Seals. When he finally stepped out on his own to launch a solo career, Specter continued to play in the shadow of larger-than-life vocalists like Barkin' Bill Smith, Jesse Fortune, and Tad Robinson.

While Eden Brent is noted for having studied at the feet (or more properly, the fingers) of boogie woogie pianist Boogaloo Ames, her strengths as a musician extend far beyond that one ancient style. Brent is a pianist of rhythmic vitality and melodic virtuosity; more, she is a vocalist with chops and expressive nuance in the areas of blues, pop, and jazz. Ain't Got No Troubles is the third album Brent has released since her debut back in 2003; it sounds like the work of a comfortable veteran with little left to learn.

It should come as no surprise that many blues singers and performers supplement their income with what are euphemistically called "day jobs." Jim Byrnes, when he isn't adapting all that he learned in his St. Louis youth by sneaking into bars and catching such blues greats as Jimmy Reed and Henry Townsend, works as a professional actor. You may remember him from the TV series Wiseguys or Highlander: The Series. He has also lent his voice to dozens of cartoon episodes.

Lucky Peterson got the taste for the blues when he released his first single at the age of five back in 1969. Written by Willie Dixon, “1-2-3-4” was actually something of a hit for the little guy, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that he really made a career out of his talents. A hot-shot guitarist and keyboard player, Peterson has released albums of blues, gospel, jazz, and R&B over the years.

At age 55, and with the release of her second strong release for the Blind Pig Records label, Robin Rogers should be celebrating a successful pinnacle of her career as a blues singer and harp player. But, just a short time before the album appeared in stores, complications from the hepatitis C she had contracted more than two decades ago put her in the hospital, where an inoperable cancerous tumor was discovered in her liver.

Ronnie Earl has to be on any short list of greatest blues guitarists working today. Since ending an eight-year tenure with Roomful of Blues in the 1980s, his leadership of the frequently-shifting Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters has given him ample opportunity to display his devotion to traditional blues styles and his ability to create something new and entirely his own. Since 1993, Earl has played almost exclusively without a vocalist, putting the focus of his albums and performances almost entirely on his own guitar playing. His chops and imagination are more than enough to live up to such near-constant exposure.