Blues CDs New Releases - September 2009

Former Roomful of Blues member Al Basile kicks out his eagerly-anticipated 7th album in Soul Blue 7. Produced by his friend, former bandmate, and guitarist extraordinaire Duke Robillard, who also lends his swinging axe to the festivities, the album also includes guest shots from talents like saxman Doug James, keyboardist Bruce Katz, and harpist Sugar Ray Norcia, among others. Basile is a pretty decent singer, an acclaimed songwriter, and a jumpin'-n-jivin' horn player, and Soul Blue 7 promises more of the artist's unique brand of blues, jazz, swing, and soul music. (Release date: 09/22/09)

British blues-rock guitarist Aynsley Lister hasn't become a household name in the U.S. yet, but he should be. A teenaged six-string prodigy, Lister taught himself to play by listening to his father's Freddie King, John Mayall, and Eric Clapton records. Now in his 30s, Lister has released four studio and two live albums, and performed alongside folks like Robert Cray and Buddy Guy. Equilibrium is his fifth studio effort, a solid R&B infused collection of raunchy guitar riffs and blues melodies that walk the fence between the two genres. (Release date: 09/01/09)

Corey Harris' blu.black follows up on his critically-acclaimed 2007 collection, Zion Crossroads with a sound as unique as the artist himself. Harris uses Mississippi Delta blues as a starting point, adding in layers of Southern gospel, reggae and other Caribbean sounds, and the rhythms of Africa. The result is an invigorating blend of cultures and styles, a blues-based world music, if you will. Harris is also a natural born storyteller, and blu.black features its share of finely-crafted tales. Harris uses his invigorating musical smorgasboard as a soundtrack for his epic lyrical attempt to connect the stories of African-Americans of centuries ago with the Black experience today. (Release date: 09/29/09)

The late Jeff Healey was an once-in-a-lifetime musical talent that was equally capable of slinging the blues or swinging with jazz unlike any other guitarist. His death in March 2008, just before the release of his award-winning Mess Of Blues album, was the loss of one of the blues best-loved musicians. Songs From The Road is a new collection of eleven previously-unreleased live performances taken from concerts held in Norway, England, and Canada during 2006 and 2007. (Release date: 09/08/09)

The Reverend is really looking forward to this one, 'cause Joe Louis Walker is an engaging vocalist, skilled guitarist, and an intelligent songwriter. Ten of the album's twelve tracks were produced by Duke Robillard, who also plays his guitar alongside Walker, and the band counts saxophonist Doug James, keyboardist Bruce Katz, and harpist Sugar Ray Norcia among its numbers…quite a crew by any account. Between A Rock And The Blues offers up plenty of Walker's trademark spirited blues, soul, and gospel performances, with material that is both timely and timeless. Former Tonight Show bandleader Kevin Eubanks brings his underrated guitar talents to a couple of tracks co-written with Walker. (Release date: 09/29/09)

A brand spankin' new CD from the Godfather of British Blues, Tough will be John Mayall's 57th album release. Self-produced by the blues music veteran, Mayall puts his talents to work, playing keyboards, guitar, and harmonica as well as singing a rough-hewn slate of songs that share Mayall's views on the state of the world, and the frailties of human nature. (Release date: 09/15/09)

Zito's big league debut, last year's critically-acclaimed Today, was a fine collection of blues, soul, and roots-rock that this critic called "a solid, entertaining work with more guts, passion and soul than 99% of the pop music that will be released this year." Pearl River is Zito's follow-up to last year's musical triumph, produced once again by David Z (Buddy Guy, Etta James), 'cause if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Double Trouble's Reese Wynans guests along with Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne and Susan Cowsill. Look for Pearl River to showcase more of Zito's soulful vocals and even more of his confident six-string skills. (Release date: 09/22/09)

This import reissue of Guy's 1985 album is a collection of blues covers, including older brother Buddy Guy's classic "Stone Crazy." Although It's A Real Mutha… is considered the weakest link in Phil Guy's sparse catalog, a handful of bonus tracks and an interview with the artist, considered in the wake of Guy's somewhat-recent death, may prompt blues historians to take another look at this one…or maybe not. (Release date: 09/15/09)

Ray Charles' first release for ABC Paramount was this 1960 concept album where each song was about a specific city or state, thus The Genius Hits The Road title. Lead by the number one hit single "Georgia On My Mind," which would earn Charles two Grammy Awards, and spend a whopping 50 weeks on the charts. Other songs on the collection include Charles' inspired take on "Blue Hawaii," "Deep In The Heart Of Texas," and "Chattanooga Choo-Choo." The reissue release of The Genius Hits The Road features digital remastering, and new liner notes written by R&B expert Bill Dahl, as well as the original liner notes by Rick Ward. The reissue also includes six bonus tracks that fit within the album's conceptual theme. (Release date: 09/22/09)

A twenty-song retrospective of the respected blues guitarist's too-brief career, Sean's Blues will include five songs from Landslide's two previous Costello releases, 2000's Cuttin' In and 2001's Moanin' for Molasses, as well as three songs from Costello's 1996 debut album Call The Cops, recorded when the guitarist was a mere sixteen years old. The other twelve tracks on Sean's Blues are previously unreleased, including three scorching live performances, two of which are covers of Otis Rush and J.B. Lenoir classics. The collection also includes a bunch of previously unpublished photos, and part of the proceeds from the sales of Sean's Blues will benefit the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bi-Polar Research. (Release date: 09/29/09)

The title comes from the typical dismissal of the band as nothing more than a "three-chord boogie band," so the members of Status Quo are "searching for the fourth chord." Yup, OK…truth is, although the Quo has long since ceased to be a creative powerhouse, not many bands in their 40th year together are the dynamic artistic force they were when they were young pups. In Search Of The Fourth Chord is the band's 33rd album, released in 2007 in England, and finally getting stateside exposure thanks to the good folks at Eagle Rock. As these things go, this isn't bad Quo, the fourteen songs here the same sort of guitar-driven, riff-happy, blues-n-boogie-rock that the band has pushed onto the U.K. charts for decades. (Release date: 09/15/09)

A veteran blues singer and a familiar talent on the Chicago blues scene who has collaborated with, among others, blues legends like Willie Dixon and Sunnyland Slim, Zora Young has built her career largely on the enthusiasm of her European fans. Young has toured the continent some 30 times, and has visited France specifically almost two-dozen times. Half-electric and half-acoustic, The French Connection was recorded in France with that country's blues musicians but retains Young's trademark powerhouse blend of blues, gospel, and jazz music. (Release date: 09/22/09)