After pent up years in their homes (and make shift studios in garages and basements for most), blues artists have been releasing albums at what has turned out to be a prolific rate in 2022. I have been literally swamped with new recordings from artists all over the globe. Here are several that have come out recently that you need to give a listen!!
Joe Bonamassa – Road to Redemption (EP)
The digital release of Road to Redemption came as a surprise to all of us. There was no pre publicity; it simply dropped on October 21st! It has six songs on the recording; three are curated versions of popular songs from the 2018 Redemption album and three are never before released digital versions of songs that were only available previously on a Target store special edition CD and vinyl copy of the album. Black Roses, which is also being released as a video, is vintage Joe B blues rock as is Somewhere Down the Road. Stronger Now in Broken Places is a pretty tune that highlights Joe’s voice and has some exquisite guitar licks.
Overall it is a great EP and issued just in time for the start of Joe’s next tour. It begins tonight in Springfield, Missouri and over the next month he will be doing 22 dates in the central and western sections of the United States.
Joanne Shaw Taylor – Nobody’s Fool
Joanne Shaw Taylor is one of the world’s preeminent blues rockers with few rivals on the guitar and a fabulous husky R&B voice. What makes this album, Nobody’s Fool, interesting to me is that, though it is produced by fellow blues rocker Joe Bonamassa (and released on his KTBA label), it is actually a contemporary blues release with softer edges that focus more on her voice than her guitar. The title cut, Nobody’s Fool, opens with some Claptonesque licks and proceeds to set the tone for this generally laid back recording. I love Fade Away and Just No Getting Over You. I also enjoyed the cut she does with Joe, Won’t Be Fooled Again. An interesting cut on the recording is a version of Missionary Man she does with Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics. Dave was an early and consistent supporter of Joanne and I believe her cover of the song is a loving tribute to Dave’s encouragement.
Joanne will be doing a dozen or so dates in the United States this month starting with a concert in Carmel, Indiana tonight.
Jeremiah Johnson – Hi-Fi Drive By
Jeremiah Johnson‘s new album, Hi-Fi Drive By is just straight up badass feel good blues. The album opens with ’68 Coupe Deville, a Jerry Lee Lewis style blues rocker, and jets on from there. Jeremiah is from St. Louis and has spent years touring in the United States and Europe kickin’ out jams that will have you movin’ your head and hips. The album has lots of horns, harmonica, and backing vocals that will remind you of “back in the day R&B” that perfectly compliments Jeremiah’s talent on the guitar. My initial rating puts this recording in album of the year territory. I love the songs Ball & Chain, Young And Blind, and the sultry The Squeeze.
Jeremiah will be on the road this month with concert dates around Missouri as well as stops in Indiana and Texas.
#blues #modernblues #contemporaryblues #roadhouseblues #benvee
Ben Vee started out spinning songs on terrestrial radio and at nightclubs back in the 1970’s in his home state of Louisiana. After a career in the construction business, he returned to DJing in 2011. He now hosts two shows each week on http://www.bluesmusicfan.com and writes about the blues at http://www.benveeblues.com from his home in Connecticut. He also has a personal 24 hour stream devoted to the Roadhouse Blues… WRHB as well as a Youtube channel.
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