Mitch Woods- Monster Mike Welch- Jhett Black- Ole Lonesome
We spin some of the hottest new blues releases including a new version of Mitch Woods' Friends Along the Way that's loaded with big name guest performers.
Mitch Woods - Friends Along the Way (Deluxe Edition)
He's been a mainstay on the blues circuit for 40-years so it's no surprise that pianist Mitch Woods has made a lot of friends in that time and many of them appear on this 2-CD, 21-track compilation that was originally released with just 16 tracks in 2017. Featuring guests like Van Morrison, Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur, Elvin Bishop, Kenny Neal and many others, this 2023 update is made all the more special with the inclusion of five previously-unreleased tracks. Those tracks are "Blues for New Orleans," a Cyril Neville-penned track with Neville on vocals, the boogie woogie of "Don't Dip in My Bizness" with Kenny Neal on guitar and vocals, "Southbound Blues" with John Hammond on guitar and vocals, "Mojo Mambo" with singer Maria Muldaur and "Worried Life Blues" with the great Joe Louis Walker moaning the blues and playing guitar. Of course Woods' piano work is stellar throughout the entire collection, including on the Ma Rainey chestnut "C.C. Rider" where Taj Mahal and Van Morrison team up on vocals; the pair also sing on Leadbelly's "Take This Hammer." Elvin Bishop sings and rocks out on guitar on "Keep a Dollar in Your Pocket," Ruthie Foster guests on the mellow, popish "Singin' the Blues," John Hammond sings and rips it up on National Steel guitar on "Mother-In-Law Blues" and Charlie Musselwhite blows the blues harp on "Cryin' for My Baby," one of the few cuts where Woods takes vocals. Also appearing are Marcia Ball, James Cotton, and most surprisingly, John Lee Hooker on the simmering "Never Get Out of These Blues Alive." A great set for blues fans in general, this all-star effort also makes for a very nice introduction to Woods for listeners not already in his fan base.
Monster Mike Welch - Nothing But Time
Actor and blues fan Dan Aykroyd gave Welch his monstrous nickname way back when Welch was just a teenager, the reference being to his fabulous guitar playing. Here Welch demonstrates that talent throughout, beginning with a smoking lead on album opener "Walking to You Baby," a cut that recalls Stevie Ray Vaughan both in guitar playing style and vocal phrasings. "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day," a Robert Johnson cut, finds Welch toning down the pyrotechnics a bit but it still boogies hard while title cut "I've Got Nothing But Time" grooves to a funky R&B sound. As to other covers, Welch turns in a Beatles cut, the George Harrison penned "I Me Mine;" the bluesy rendition is likely to be the most unique version of the song you'll ever hear while a take on Buddy Guy's "Ten Years Ago" is a great guitar showcase as you would expect from a Guy song. Welch and his four piece band rock through the joyous, bouncy dance number "Jump for Joy" near the end of the 14-song set and that's exactly what fans will feel like doing while listening to
Nothing But Time.Jhett Black - Babel
Black begins
Babel with the eerie stomp of "Roll Out," a funky cut that marches straight out of a mysterious swamp located in the southland, somewhere way off the map. The ominous good fun continues on "Mamma Told Me Not To," a warning that Black's delivery makes quite believable. Resonator and slide guitars romp throughout and there are plenty of nods to John Lee Hooker and the Mississippi Delta. The musicianship is top notch (Al Basile, Glenn Halverson and Rick Edminston are contributors) but it is Black's deep growl that is the star here and at some point the listener might realize that Jhett's vocals recall that of the classic bad man in Western films, or even the narrator of the original Grinch cartoon. A slight exception is "12 Bar Blues Again," a joyous upbeat cut with Joe Waters featuring on harmonica where Black doesn't sound malicious at all. This is all a testament to Black's songwriting; he wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 11 songs, the exception being a cover of the Freddie King chestnut "Going Down."
Ole Lonesome - Tejas Motel
Don't fret that there probably won't be a mint on your pillow; go ahead and check into
Tejas Motel without hesitation. The album begins with "Yvette" where the five-piece tune into a groove that will be familiar to fans of fellow Texans ZZ Top, and of course the artists that inspired them. "Gold Chevy" burns down the road with a blues/Southern rock sound with stinging guitar. Singer Zachary Feemster has an emotive voice that's perfect for this style of blues and he rides a big beat on the swaggering "Momma's Worry" and sings like his last name is Van Zant on the Lynyrd Skynyrd-recalling "Easy Street." The swampy blues rock of "Lo Key" features Mike Zito guesting on guitar while the slow, crying blues of "Ain't No Good" is the album's quiet cut. "Tejas Motel" wraps up the impressive set and listeners won't want to check out until the housekeeper comes banging on the door. Definitely worthy of an extended stay.
