Music » Blues Indie Music

Release Date: 1996-04-23, Audio CD, Yazoo

This 11-track collection is the follow-up to Tedeschi?s critically acclaimed, gold-certified 1998 release ?Just Won?t Burn,? an album that earned her a "Best New Artist" Grammy nomination in 2000. ?Wait For Me? features several new originals written and produced by Tedeschi, as well as inspired readings of songs by Bob Dylan ("Don?t Think Twice") and Paul Pena ("Gonna Move") among others. Veteran producer/engineer Tom Dowd (Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, John Coltrane) helmed some of the ?Wait For me? sessions, and contributors on the album include Tedeschi?s husband and young guitar hero Derek Trucks; southern music stalwart Col. Bruce Hampton; and legendary pianist, Chuck Berry collaborator, and rock & roll architect Johnnie Johnson.

Force of Nature is aptly titled; over three decades into her career, Koko Taylor is unstoppable. The Queen of Chicago Blues is in fine form on this 1993 release from Alligator, from her own "63 Year Old Mama," "Put the Pot On," and "Spellbound" to such blues classics as "Hound Dog," "Bad Case of Loving You," and "Born Under a Bad Sign" (featuring an appearance by Buddy Guy). "Mother Nature," with Carey Bell on harmonica, is a well-chosen opening track; Taylor's earth-shattering voice brings the roof down on your head and shakes you out of your shoes. Sit back and enjoy, but you'll soon find yourself up and dancing around the room. --Genevieve Williams

Release Date: 1995-04-16, Audio CD, Mardi Gras Records (Chelsea/Hep Me Reissues)

Array

Release Date: 1993-08-24, Audio CD, Blues Bureau Int'l

Release Date: 1990-10-25, Audio CD, Rounder Select

On Healing Time, the line Ronnie Earl blurs between jazz and blues gets even blurrier than on his 1997 record, The Colour Of Love. An all-instrumental record of deep passion and virtuosity, Time features song structures that are loose and laden with thoughtful riffs and solid work from Earl and his players, recalling Carlos Santana's fiery licks and the jazz guitar textures of Wes Montgomery. Their attention to each song's changes and transitions makes for vivid textures and wide-ranging moods, while varying the instrumental focal points of each allows the musicians to reveal the songs' emotional cores. Jumping out of the gate with "Churchin'," the record is given a gospel tinge by Jimmy McGriff's Hammond B-3 that pops up again later on "Blues on a Sunday." Throughout, on songs like "Thembi," with its piano-based breeziness, and "Idle Moments," with Earl's mournful guitar work, it's clear that Earl and his band have worked hard to provide these songs with whatever touch of instrumentation or genre-bending they might need to sound complete. By letting his insightful musicality guide him, and allowing each song to blossom with individuality, Earl creates an endlessly fascinating record that fairly brims with the light of inspiration. --Matthew Cooke

Another stellar 2 CD set, but this time with a twist! The first disc contains studio material from the label?s archives, while the second disc features all live tracks ? including some previously unreleased barn-burners from Albert Collins, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, C.J. Chenier and Lil? Ed & The Blues Imperials. As an extra bonus, the second disc also features a CD-ROM section containing almost four minutes of the only known live footage of the great Hound Dog Taylor. All at the special 2-for-1 price!!

Release Date: 1992-03-23, Audio CD, Red House