Nora Jean Wallace BluesWoman

Nora Jean Wallace
BluesWoman
Severn Records

Music lovers have reason to celebrate the return of Nora Jean Wallace with a new CD, "BluesWoman." It has been 16 years since Severn issued her acclaimed "Going Back to Mississippi." She left the music scene to take care of her ailing mother, but now she returns with this release. About that earlier album, I wrote that she "has shown herself as among those who will carry on and follow Koko Taylor and keep 'this great music alive and vital.'" Taylor was a major influence on her, and like Taylor, she has a deep, husky voice with an authoritative, no-nonsense attack.

Severn's David Earl produced this recording and picked up the guitar for four numbers. He also assembled an excellent band of Johnny Moeller on guitar, Steve Gomes on bass, Kevin Anker on organ, Steve Guyger on harmonica, Stanley Banks on keyboards, and Robb Stupka on drums. Kim Wilson guests on harmonica on one selection. There are two covers. Wallace or Stanley Banks wrote eight of the ten tracks.

Banks wrote the opening song "Martell." Against a relaxed shuffle groove, Wallace sings about trying to forget her man, and that she is going to drink some Martell until her eyes turn bloodshot red. Steve Guyger quickly shows why he is among the most underrated harmonica players playing today. It is followed by a deep Memphis soul groove for Syl Johnson's "I Can't Stop." Moeller contributes a neat guitar riff in the backing of her robust singing before a sharp, focused guitar solo. Then follows Banks' "I'm a Blues Woman," where Wallace proclaims she is a Blues Woman from her wig down to her shoes. The performance does evoke classic Koko Taylor with Guyger and Moeller, both adding spice to the musical blend.

The George Jackson penned "Evidence" is a soul-blues gem, with Wallace singing about the lipstick traces and a hotel receipt being evidence of her man's infidelity. It is a compelling performance where she displays her mastery of vocals dynamics. This song is followed by Wallace's "Victim," where she sings about being a victim of love to a man who has a woman on the side. Moeller's rapier-like guitar stands out here. Other standout tracks include the marvelous played Chicago blues shuffle "Look Over Yonder," and the evocative "I've Been Watching You."

"Dance With Me" is a solidly performed and enjoyable, if lightweight, track. The album closes with the strong, moody "I Don't Have to Beg You to Love Me," with another assured, passionate vocal. It is the finale on Nora Jean Wallace's most welcome return. On the outstanding "BluesWoman," Nora Jean Wallace shows that she is still a vibrant, superb singer and backed by an excellent studio band.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is Nora Jean Wallace singing right before the pandemic closed things down.

Chris 'Bad News' Barnes Live

Chris 'Bad News' Barnes
Live
VizzTone

Introduced as from Hells Kitchen in New York City, Chris Barnes logged over 2000 performances as a member of Chicago's Second City comedy troupe. With that background, he brings a certain live dynamism to a blues concert stage. This CD was recorded on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, produced by Tony Braunagel and engineered by Johnny Lee Schell, both of the Legendary Blues Band. His backing band includes the remarkable Steve Guyger on harmonica, Gary Huey on guitar, Sandy McDonald on piano, A.J. Pappas on bass, Matt Scurfield on drums, Mark Earley on sax, Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Gracie Curran on backing vocals.

This is party music played loud and sometimes lacking in subtlety as best illustrated by Barnes doing his original, "Hungry & Horny" set to the music of Earl King's "Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)." As he huskily shouts out his vocals, he receives tight, brassy backing. Sometimes the musicians rock out as guitarist Huey overplays on the cover of Muddy Waters' hit "Hootchie Cootchie Man." It is arguably Barnes' weakest vocal. Then Little Walter's "Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights" is taken as at too fast a tempo.

There is a credible rendition of Bo Diddley's "You Can't Judge a Book By Its Cover," and an imaginative rearranging arrangement of "It's Tight Like That," set to a "Bo Diddley' groove. Also, Big Bill's Broonzy "Keep Your Mind To It" is set to an understated New Orleans groove with exceptional solos from Sandy McDonald and Steve Guyger. There is also covers of Don Nix's "Going Down," and the Allman Brothers' "Whipping Post," with the latter number showcasing Huey's blues-rock slide guitar.

The CD closes with the Eddie Floyd classic, "Raise Your Hand." It has one of Barnes' better vocals. The performances here display his showmanship. and if he is not a consistently compelling blues performer, Chris Barnes is an entertaining one. This CD certainly will enliven many a party.

I received my review copy from Vizztone. Here he performs "Raise Your Hand."

Steve Guyger's Radio Blues

Steve Guyger’s career playing the blues, including a lengthy stint with the legendary Jimmy Rogers, is reflected in the pictures of him that accompany his new Severn album, Radio Days. As Rick Estrin notes, “Steve Guyger is a true master of Blues Harmonica.” But more important than his virtuosity on the ‘Mississippi saxophone,’ is how deep he is in the blues tradition. As stunning and original a player as he is, he remains embedded in that tradition. 

He is backed by an impressive band that includes Johnny Moeller on guitar, Steve Gomes on bass, Robb Stupka on drums and Bill Heid on piano that provide spare, direct accompaniment that suits Guyger’s no-frills vocals and strong harp. Originals like You’re So Fine and Cool in the Evening, evoke classic Little Walter recordings, while he employs a zydeco groove on the peppy Little Rita, which sports a fine chromatic harmonica solo. He stays on chromatic for a strong deep Blues Won’t Let Me Be, a song that suggests some of the late Carey Bell’s originals. 

Guyger is particularly effective here as a vocalist and blasts a terrific solo, while he also does a credible rendition of Rudolph Toombs, I’m Shakin’, originally done by Little Willie John although Guyger perhaps lacks the vocal authority of The Blasters’ Phil Alvin who placed their mark on this a quarter century ago. Oh Red benefits from the understated accompaniment on this Kansas Joe Mccoy tune that has been covered numerous times. Echoes of Guitar Slim’s Things I Used to Do, can be heard in the melody of I Can See By Your Eyes, although Guyger’s harp and the backing lend a swamp blues flavor suggesting Lazy Lester on a splendid performance, while he sings more forcefully on Muddy Waters’ Let Me Hang Around. 

Overall Radio Days is a release that anyone liking classic Chicago blues will savor. Guyger is a very good singer and a terrific harp player. He is backed here by an excellent band that enhance his performances. 

I received a review copy from Severn Records. I do not believe this review that was written in 2008 was ever published. Here is a video of Steve Guyger performing a Jimmy Rogers number.

Roy Gaines' Excellent New Frontier Lover

Influenced by T-Bone Walker, Roy Gaines has a six-decade career as a blues guitarist and singer. He has done countless sessions with the likes of Bobby Bland, Junior Parker and Jimmy Rushing and recored a number of albums over the years. Roy just issued on his Black Gold label Tuxedo Blues which I will be addressing in the next few weeks. In 2000, Severn records issued New Frontier Lover. It was his last US issued recording until Tuxedo Blues. Gaines did subsequently have a CD issued on the Japanese P-Vine label, “Guitar Clashers from Gainesville, Tokyo,” with Japanese guitarist, Mitsuyoshi Azuma. The following review of New Frontier Lover appeared in the January-February 2001, Jazz & Blues Report (issue 249).


Roy Gaines’ latest, New Frontier Lover (Severn), is among the best of 2000. David Earl has put together a terrific band behind him including Steve Gomes on bass and Benji Porecki on keyboards and there are some nice horn parts on most tracks. Its a collection of new material, although one can hear echoes of some of the greats Gaines was a contemporary with and played with.

Many of the songs have memorable hooks and some of the catchphrases from the tunes will be lingering in your mind after you listen to this The title track is funky number where Gaines gets to boast about his prowess. It is followed up by my favorite track, The World’s Biggest Fool, a terrific slow blues suggestive of Guitar Slim’s Something to Remember You By, with the band sounding like Slim’s band on his Atlantic sessions. What’s the Reason is a nice shuffle with a latin tinge to it while Roy is in a T-Bone Walker vein on You Can’t Make Nobody Love You, although Gaines plays with a somewhat dirtier tone here than Walker.

Roy’s Theme is an instrumental evoking classic instrumental shuffles like Gatemouth Brown’s Okie Dokie Stomp, and Roy’s driving attack here compares favorably to the best of them. Hinds Ends & Elbows is another hook-laden song, with Gaines’ hot vocal and guitar evoking the memory of the late Johnny Copeland. Gaines also handles a medium tempo Chicago blues shuffle, My Woman, My Blacksnake and Me, with Steve Guyger adding his harp to the blues stew. Guyger is also present on the rollicking closing number, Roll Your Own Biscuits.

This release has been one I have been listening to constantly since I got the advance of it. I am not sure if it will be in the stores when you read this, but it is one that is sure to be on my best of 2000 list. Look for it.

This was on my Best of 2000 Blues list and the music holds up well a decade later. This should still be readily available. I received a review copy from Severn Records for the review.

Big Bill Morganfield's solid Chicago Blues

When a child follows in the footsteps of iconic parent, it is easy to be overshadowed. Sometimes one has to pursue a different musical direction such as a John Lee Hooker, Jr. Big Bill Morganfield has chosen to perform in the tradition of his dad, Muddy Waters, which makes comparisons somewhat unavoidable. If Big Bill has not become a blues performer of his father's stature (and few who have lived are), it does not diminish the fact that he has become a solid purveyor of classic Chicago-styled blues as his latest album "Born Lover" (Black Shuck Records/Vizztone) displays.

Produced by Bob Margolin and Brian Bisesi who play guitar along with Morganfield here, the disc features a studio band of Chuck Cotton on drums, Mookie Brill on bass, Chuck Stern on keyboards and Steve Guyger on harmonica. Given this backing band, it is no wonder that the playing here is so strong, and reminiscent of the 1970s Muddy Waters band which Margolin was such an important part of. Stern and Guyger in particular deserve special mention for their superb playing.

There is a varied program of interpretations of older recordings including Little Walter's "It's Too Late Brother," the title tune by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf's "My Last Affair," and Lonesome Sundown's "Lonesome Lonely Blues," along with Morganfield's originals such as the topical "High Gas Prices," and "X-Rated Lover." The rhythm is always in the pocket and Guyger is in top form whether evoking Little Walter on "Born Lover," or Jimmy Reed, on the excellent take of Snooky Pryor's "Peace of Mind." Big Bill Morganfield may never reach the stature of his father, but that does not diminish the fact he has become a solid interpreter of the Chicago blues tradition and a keeper of the flame."Born Lover" is a very enjoyable collection of performances that rightfully should find a wide audience.

I Just Keep Lovin' Him - Dennis Gruenling's Excellent Tribute

Its been forty odd years since Little Walter passed away. Let after all the years, his musical legacy still burns bright. Shortly after his death, George 'Harmonica' Smith did a marvelous tribute CD with the Muddy Waters Band of the time that had Smith providing his own take on some of Walter's better known recordings. It was a fine effort that alas today is a collector's item. Now, East Coast harmonica wizard, Dennis Gruenling, has turned his attention to a marvelous tribute to Little Walter, I Just Keep Lovin' Him - A Tribute to Little Walter (Backbender Records).
I saw Gruenling with his excellent band, Jumptime, several years ago and was impressed by his progressive harmonica playing, incorporating a number of jazz influences, but like the late Paul DeLay, rooted so strongly in the blues tradition. On his latest CD, he has put together a stellar studio band that includes guitarists Dave Gross and Rusty Zinn; Mark Bram or Marty Dodson on drums; Gina Fox and the vocal group 'Choice' guesting on vocals; and Steve Guyger, Kim Wilson and Rick Estrin on harmonica and vocals.
Included are renditions of several of Walter's recordings, generally not overdone, as well as recordings Walter played on as a sideman, so we get Gina Fox singing a jumping Up the Line, and Choice reworking The Coronets' Corbella. Steve Guyger handles Muddy Waters' Lovin' Man and reworkings of Jimmy Rogers' My Little Machine and You're Sweet, singing ably and taking strong solos with Gruenling adding some real nice accompaniment to the vocals. Kim Wilson is marvelous on Walter's classic shuffle, I Got to Go, and the moody As Long As I Have You. Gruenling takes the second solo on I Got to Go. Rick Estrin takes charge on Too Young to Know and Temperature, and while his vocals come across less effectively as those of Guyger or Wilson, no complaints can be laid at his fine harp. Estrin, Wilson and Gruenling also each take a bow on one of Walter's lesser known instrumentals, Teenage Beat.
Gruenling himself cites George Smith as more of a direct influence on his harp style, but states "here I've tried to reach into my Walter bag a bit," as do Estrin, Guyger and Wilson. They all bring a fat tone and a swinging drive to their playing, and the backing is solid. They know Walter's music so well, but each brings their own spin to this disc. Little Walter's music lives and sounds contemporary as evidenced by this excellent disc with its focus on less expose material and superior musicianship and harp playing. Incidentally as I write this, it is being sold by bluebeatmusic.com with a CD single by Gruenling and Steve Guyger. Ot go to http://www.dennisgruenling.com.