The Blues Blog 14 “Merry Christmas,” quips the Postman handing over this week’s offerings, something he says to my growing irritation every time he brings a parcel of CD’s to the door, irrespective of the season. Today however, cognizant of the fast approaching festive period, he warms to his theme, enquiring as to what current blues offerings he should be leaving under the tree for family and friends to create the illusion of being in touch with the current scene. In fact, any of the half dozen discs covered in this edition of the blog would make admirable presents for discerning music lovers of all ages and inclinations. So, lists at the ready, lets take a quick tour through some of the best blues albums to have come this way in a while. The new release on Armadillo from Glasgow’s Nimmo Brothers is a pretty good place to start. Enjoying a formidable live reputation for many years thanks to their incendiary dual guitar interplay, the Brothers have previously failed to transfer the adrenalin that pours out of their stage show onto disc. Their last Armadillo set took a brave step backwards in showcasing the raw acoustic skills of Stevie and Alan, and although unrepresentative of their work as a band, this seemed to successfully anchor them in a studio for the first time. “Picking up the Pieces” cranks the guitars back up, and finally rewards the patience of their many advocates with a scorching set of new songs which combine the power they produce in concert with the fine-tuning required for a successful CD. The vocals both individually and in harmony are as outstanding as ever, while the tight rhythm section of Mat Beable and Wayne Proctor lays down a steady and reliable backbeat allowing their trademark guitars to soar. There are highlights of course – opener “All Because of You” is an instant hook, while “Nothing in Chicago For Free” has the ring of a blues-rock classic. On a heavy duty album like this the ballads “A Better Day” and “You Don’t Know” also stand out as a welcome respite. Through years of stunning performances on the circuit the Nimmo’s have certainly earned their spurs; with this little gem they’ve hopefully earned some decent sales figures as well. Although Bobby Jones’ artistic biography goes way back to the Chicago scene of the 50’s and has him recording for Vee-Jay, Expo, Capri and others in the 60’s and 70’s, it was a near-fluke inclusion on the Mannish Boy’s 2007 release “Big Plans” that brought him the attention of a wider audience. Whilst the aptly titled “Comin’ Back Hard” is his own showcase, there’s no shortage of support from the Boys, including Kid Ramos, Junior Watson, Fred Kaplan and others. Released on Delta Groove, the growing California-based outfit whom this column cannot praise highly enough; this is soulful blues of the highest order. It’s no coincidence that two of the eleven tunes chosen for inclusion here originated with Ike Turner as his influence is unmistakable; but there’s coverage of a wider range of styles including the laid-back reflection of George Allen’s “I Don’t Know” and the jivin’ r’n’b of Junior Parker’s “Mystery Train”, all of which serve as pleasing vehicles for Jones’s seasoned and deep-throated vocals. Joe Louis Walker made this column’s Festive Fifteen in the nick of time last year with his excellent “Witness to the Blues”, and will most likely pull off the same trick again in 2009. The veteran bluesman’s fluid guitar playing and classic grainy voice are once more to the fore on “Between a Rock and the Blues”, and both self-penned and imported songs maintain the anticipated high standard. On his 20th album, his second for Stony Plain, he self consciously beefs up the overall sound to occupy more of the territory defined by the title track, while remaining defiantly rooted and oozing integrity. This is in no small part testimony to the support he receives from a cast of top flight professionals including keyboardist Bruce Katz, sax man Doug James and the legendary Sugar Ray Norcia on harmonica, while stable mate Duke Robillard chips in on his own “Tell Me Why”. For blue chip smoldering and burning go directly to “Blackjack”, but for undeniable evidence of Walker setting to his task with a passion and energy that more than fifty years of performing have failed to diminish, check out the outstanding “If There’s a Heaven”, a blistering full-on assault that puts players half his age to shame. On the recorded evidence of Tommy McCoy’s “Live Blues in Britain” I won’t be the only one kicking themselves for having missed his recent UK tour dates. The blog said nice things recently about his re-released collaboration with organist Lucky Peterson, but in collecting together the prize cuts from his back catalogue and filtering them through a live audience, this latest CD on Blues Boulevard is an even more appealing proposition. There’s nothing particularly radical about what he does – essentially Southern Rock – but he certainly does it in style. Like many of the finest guitarists in the genre his approach is distinguished by a mature restraint, evidence of a confidence, which ensures that he doesn’t feel obliged to bludgeon his audience with an avalanche of sounds to demonstrate his technical prowess. This could be partly a product of having played in some class company, with members of The Band, the Gregg Allman Band, and Double Trouble ranking among his many “A” league associates, but whatever, there’s a pleasing composure about both his understated singing and the way his instrument holds a note. The majority of songs are of his own devising, and (with a possible question mark over “’56 Chevy”), very good they are too, with a mid-set trio of “They Killed That Man”, “Lay My Demons Down” and “Look For Me in New Orleans” being particularly affecting. Not everyone will necessarily appreciate his re-working of Pink Floyd’s “Money”, but approached with an open mind I think you’ll find it fits in a treat. I’m not implying an obsession with the subject matter, but the aforementioned Roger Waters number, plus the Motown classic of the same name, and McCoy’s own “Love ‘n’ Money” appear on both the new live disc and the reissue of his eponymous 1980 release, which features bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton as special guests throughout. If nothing else the studio collaboration, which stemmed from his long-term friendship with Stevie Ray Vaughan, proves that he’s no Johnny-Come-Lately and that he’s another fine musician flying too far under the radar. Twenty seven years might separate the two releases, but this is a worthy companion piece to the above, “It’s These Blues” and “The Change is In” being just two of the songs not included on the live set that no home should be without. The jewel in this month’s crown however has to be Mike Zito’s stunning sophomore release on Delta Groove offshoot Eclecto Groove. It would be easy to argue the case for “Pearl River” as a rock album pure and simple. Prominent reference points include Hendrix, ZZ Top, and Van Halen, and since his musical team includes Bentmont Tench from Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers on keyboards, former Boz Scaggs sideman James Hutchinson on bass, and David Z on production duties, it would be unrealistic to expect a purist-pandering low-fi deep roots approach. Even a cursory listen to the swamp sodden title track (featuring Cyril Neville,) the brooding, inquisitorial “Change My Ways”, or the anguished “39 Days” however, is enough to illustrate that these diverse influences have been used to enhance not diminish the essential foundation of Zito’s music. Powerful on every level – emotive and sensual as well as musical – “Pearl River” is exactly the sort of thing that helps the blues consolidate its case in modern music, effortlessly adding funk, rock and roll, and on the stand-out “One Step at a Time”, contemporary Americana, to the basic template. You’ll be tired of hearing me say it, and I’m almost tired of saying it, (and honest to God no money is changing hands here), but this is another triumph for a label that has the blues world at its feet. Neil B. www.bluearmadillo.com www.deltagrooveproductions.com www.stonyplainrecords.com www.music-avenue.net www.electogroove.com Next