Music Reviews

Keep up with the latest Blues releases and concert reviews

Most of our CD Reviews come to us from the tireless Peter Lauro, over at Music4Mary.com, who keeps his finger on the pulse of all new releases in the Blues universe.  Occasionally we have reviews submitted to us by ABS Members, and we encourage that!  We also encourage reviews of live concerts, if you’ve seen something lately that was particularly noteworthy. There is a lot here, so click away!

Mike Guldin

Mike Guldin

Mike Guldin and Rollin' & Tumblin'The Franklin Sessions Blue Heart RecordsRelease Date: June 16, 2023Publicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © June 2023 I've got to admit that immediately upon seeing this album's title - The Franklin Sessions - my...

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Shaun Murphy

Shaun Murphy

Shaun MurphyI'm Coming Home Vision Wall RecordsPeter “Blewzzman” Lauro © June 2023 Since 2009, when I first reviewed her Livin' The Blues CD, I'm Coming Home will be the tenth release by Shaun Murphy that we have had the honor and privilege of working with. By the...

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Nigel Mack

Nigel Mack

Nigel MackBack In Style Blues Attack RecordsRelease Date: June 1, 2023Publicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © May 2023 When Chicago bluesman Nigel Mack isn't gigging in clubs around the windy city, he's most likely off headlining shows somewhere around the...

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Lil’ Jimmy Reed

Lil’ Jimmy Reed

Lil' Jimmy Reed with Ben LevinBack to Baton Rouge Nola Blue RecordsRelease Date: May 19, 2023Publicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © May 2023 Having just learned that Lil' Jimmy Reed - or as his military ID would have read, Leon Atkins - spent twenty years...

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Jimmie Bratcher

Jimmie Bratcher

Jimmie BratcherFar Enough Ain't Skeert TunesPublicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © May 2023 Jimmie Bratcher is a singer, songwriter, storyteller, guitarist, cookbook writer, preacher and author… and those are just the things I know about. Keeping the “Many...

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Brad “Guitar” Wilson

Brad “Guitar” Wilson

Brad “Guitar” WilsonLovers Before Sunrise Cali Bee MusicPublicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © April 2023 My review of Brad "Guitar" Wilson's last release started off with these exact words: “This self titled, self produced release is the fourth for Wilson...

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Jennifer Lyn

Jennifer Lyn

Jennifer Lyn & The Groove RevivalGypsy Soul J&R CollectivePublicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter “Blewzzman” Lauro © April 2023 Gypsy Soul is the fourth release from Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival, and the first that I've had the pleasure of getting to hear....

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Skylar Rogers

Skylar Rogers

Skylar RogersAmong the Insanity Blue Heart RecordsPublicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © April 2023 When the people you hire to work for you prove to be a dedicated and caring bunch, who create a strong support system around you, tools that otherwise...

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John Primer Live

John Primer Live

John PrimerLive At Rosa's LoungeTeardrops For Magic Slim Blues House ProductionsArtist Management:  Lisa PrimerPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © March 2023 While working on this review, the announcement came out that John Primer was one of several very well-deserving blues...

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Rhythm Krewe

Rhythm Krewe

Rhythm KreweUnfinished Business Rhombus RecordsPublicity:  Blind RaccoonPeter "Blewzzman" Lauro © March 2023 Unfinished Business contains twelve tracks with nine originals penned by guitarist, vocalist, horn arranger and band leader, Steve Zelman.Along with Steve, the...

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Danny Liston

Danny Liston

Danny ListonEverybody  Blue House RecordsPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © February 2023 Looking back on his own life experiences, as well as what he witnessed others in the music industry going through, was the driving force for this recording.  As...

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James “Jabo” Houston

James “Jabo” Houston

James "Jabo" HoustonJabo Blues  Bello Publishing Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © February 2023 PreludeIt's a good bet, that unless you are from Austin, Texas, you've probably not heard of James "Jabo" Houston.  That said, with the help of some very dedicated band mates -...

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The Gayle Harrod Band

The Gayle Harrod Band

The Gayle Harrod BandTemptation  Self ReleasedPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © February 2023 Is forty-two years of age too late to start a singing career? Of course it isn't – especially if it's the blues you'll be singing. Since many of the more...

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Jeff Pitchell

Jeff Pitchell

Jeff PitchellPlayin' With My Friends Deguello RecordsPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © March 2023 Jeff Pitchell's ninth release is titled Playin' With My Friends, and let me tell you, those friends are many.   Along with Jeff, on lead...

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Jewel Brown

Jewel Brown

Jewel BrownThanks For Good Ole' Music And Memories Nic Allen Music FederationPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © January 2023 Prelude Although she was playing shows at the age of twelve and cutting records shortly thereafter, Jewel Brown is best known...

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Mississippi MacDonald

Mississippi MacDonald

Mississippi MacDonaldHeavy State Loving Blues  APM RecordsPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © January 2023 With Heavy State Loving Blues being Mississippi MacDonald's eighth release since 2014, I'm going to start my own little personal 'release date...

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Douglas Avery

Douglas Avery

Douglas AveryTake My Rider Greenwave MusicPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © December 2022 From the way I see it, Douglas Avery is the kind of man who can pretty much do anything and what he does choose to do, he does very well.  As a surfer, he's...

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Big Shoes

Big Shoes

Big ShoesFresh Tracks  Qualified Records Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © December 2022 If there were ever a band that I could spend as much time and space listing their resumes as I would on writing an in-depth review, it is Nashville-based Big Shoes (who's show at Bourbon...

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Yates McKendree

Yates McKendree

Yates McKendreeBuchanan Lane Qualified RecordsPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © November 2022 PreludeSimply said, Yates McKendree is a musical genius.  Between his writing, vocal and engineering skills (which garnered him a Grammy while still in his...

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Tomislav Goluban

Tomislav Goluban

Tomislav Goluban20 Years on the Road Blue Heart RecordsPublicity:  Blind Raccoon Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © November 2022 20 Years on the Road is the fourteenth studio release for Tomislav Goluban and as its title indicates, it's a celebration of his two decades...

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