Wow, after a few months of sparse-to-moderate releases, June comes roaring in like a lion with a respectable number of new discs and reissued classics. Veterans like Rod Piazza, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, EG Kight, and Watermelon Slim and Super Chikan are represented here, as are relative rookies like Ruthie Foster and Matt Schofield. No matter what your taste in blues is, here's what you'll be listening to in June....
1. Black Country Communion – '2' (J&R Adventures)
Photo courtesy J&R Adventures
The classic rock supergroup of guitarist Joe Bonamassa, vocalist and bass player Glenn Hughes, keyboardist Derek Sherinian, and drummer Jason Bonham jump back in the trenches with the appropriately-retro named 2. Last year's self-titled debut from the foursome redefined the classic rock sound of the 1970s for the contemporary era; the new LP smacks it over the head, buries it, and resurrects it zombie-style with a fierce mix of guitar-driven rock, blues and, well, more rock. If you've been wondering where good old-fashioned bombastic rock 'n' roll cheap thrills wandered off to, look no further than Black Country Communion. (Release date: 06/14/11)
2. Buddy Guy, Junior Wells & Junior Mance – 'Buddy & the Juniors' (Hip-O Records)
Photo courtesy Hip-O Records
A long overdue reissuing of this curious 1970 collaboration between guitarist Buddy Guy, harp player Junior Wells, and jazz pianist Junior Mance. The trio run through barely half-a-dozen numbers, including such standard blues warhorses as Willie Dixon's classic "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man," "Rock Me Mama," and Wells' "Ain't No Need." Not a classic recording, I'm told, but I'd still like to hear Guy bang away on his acoustic alongside Mance's bebop keyboard kicks (and, of course, Wells' incendiary harmonica). (Release date: 06/28/11)
3. David Gogo – 'Soul Bender' (Cordova Bay Records)
Photo courtesy Cordova Bay Records
Canadian blues guitarist David Gogo has been largely overlooked by American blues fans, but has built a loyal European audience on the basis of better than a half-dozen studio albums featuring his fluid, imaginative fretwork. Gogo made his bones as a teen, opening for such heavy-hitters as Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and as an award-winning solo artist, he's never been afraid to tip blues conventions on their pointy lil' head. Case in point, Soul Bender, which includes original tunes mixed with cover songs from artists as diverse as Elmore James, Procol Harum, and even Michael Jackson; the album includes guest shots from MonkeyJunk's Steve Marriner and drummer Charlie Quintana (Plugz, Social Distortion)
4. E.G. Kight – 'Lip Service' (VizzTone Records)
Photo courtesy VizzTone Records
Southern-born singer, songwriter, and guitarist E.G. Kight takes her unique blues guitar sound deeper into Southern rock territory with the help of guests like producer and keyboardist Paul Hornsby (Marshall Tucker Band), Sea Level's Randall Bramblett, guitarist Tommy Talton of Cowboy, and others. Kight's mix of blues and rock should be interesting, and Lip Service also includes a duet with blue-eyed soulman John Nemeth. (Release date: 06/21/11)
5. George "Harmonica" Smith – 'Teardrops Are Falling' (Electro-Fi Records)
Photo courtesy Electro-Fi Records
Teardrops Are Falling features vintage live recordings from the great George "Harmonica" Smith, captured on tape before his death in 1983. The underrated blues harpist is backed by a great band here, including guitarist Buddy Reed and bassist Jerry Smith. One of the influential West Coast blues giants, Smith is long overdue for discovery by modern blues fans. (Release date: 06/21/11)
6. Hadden Sayers – 'Hard Dollar' (Blue Corn Records)
Photo courtesy Blue Corn Records
Hard Dollar is the big league debut album from Texas-bred singer, songwriter, and guitarist Hadden Sayers, who made his name in and around Houston, releasing CDs on his own. A talented songwriter and guitarist, Sayers provided his six-string contributions to Ruthie Foster's upcoming Live At Antone's album. His own stuff is pure guitar-driven blues that should appeal to any fan of the genre. (Release date: 06/21/11)
7. Harmonica Shah – 'Live At The Cove' (Electro-Fi Records)
Photo courtesy Electro-Fi Records
Detroit bluesman Harmonica Shah is another underrated harmonica wizard, displaying a raw, gritty sound as downright dirty as the streets of the Motor City at midnight. For his first live disc, Shah brought along a talented veteran band that includes extraordinary guitarist Jack de Keyzer, bassist Alec Frazer from Jeff Healey's band, and Big Sugar drummer Al Cross. Should be a real barn burner! (Release date: 06/21/11)
8. Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne – 'An Old Rock On A Roll' (Stony Plain Records)
Photo courtesy Stony Plain Records
Veteran boogie master Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne steps out with this Duke Robillard-produced effort. A showcase for his boogie-blues piano skills, honed in locales like New Orleans and San Francisco, "Blues Boss" Wayne is a soulful vocalist and an electrifying performer, mesmerizing audiences with his spirited barrelhouse-styled key-pounding and flamboyant stage clothing. Think of a cross between Fats Domino and Professor Longhair and you'll be in the right ballpark. (Release date: 06/21/11)
9. Lazy Lester – 'Lazy Lester Rides Again' (Ace Records U.K.)
Photo courtesy Ace Records U.K.
From our friends at Ace Records in the U.K. comes this welcome reissuing of Lazy Lester's 1987 album for Blues Horizon Records that paired the blues harp great with a veteran British blues band for a dozen rockin' numbers that earned Lester a W.C. Handy Award. For this first appearance ever on compact disc, Ace dug up and included 11 previously unreleased tracks from the original album sessions, as well as extensive liner notes and a detailed sessionography from Blue Horizon's Mike Vernon. (Release date: 06/14/11)
10. Matt Schofield – 'Anything But Time' (Nugene Records)
Photo courtesy Nugene Records
British blues-rock guitarist Matt Schofield leads his talented trio through a raucous ten-song set, including eight originals. Working with superstar blues producer John Porter (Buddy Guy, B.B. King), Schofield has put together a breakthrough collection that displays his fiery fretwork as well as his underrated, soulful vocals. Noted blues pianist Jon Cleary adds some keyboards to three numbers. Check him out now, 'cause he's about to be a star! (Release date: 06/14/11)
