#722 : PhillyCheeze's Favorite 25 of 2024 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

  

By Phillip Smith; Dec.24, 2024

 

PhillyCheeze's Favorite 25 of 2024

(in alphabetical order)

 

Alastair Greene - Standing Out Loud

Alastair Greene is one of those artists I am always excited to hear new music from. He really does elevate blues-rock to a whole new level. In the past, Greene has worked with other favorites of mine such as Alan Parsons, and Sugaray Rayford. For his latest and eleventh solo record Standing Out Loud, Greene has enlisted the extraordinary J.D. Simo to co-produce and engineer this off-the-chain listening experience,

Antonio Vergara - The Fury

The Fury by Antonio Vergara is one of the 2025 Grammy-nominated releases for Best Contemporary Blues Album. From the first song of this thirteen-track original masterpiece, I surrender my utmost attention in return for a one-of-a-kind mystical blues journey.  Engineer/producer/multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Vergara boasts a career which has stretched over three decades, and the innovation and passion poured into this album definitely shows.

Bernard Allison - Luther's Blues

Bernard Allison’s records have always included a song or two written by his father the renowned blues recording artist Luther Allison ( 1939 – 1997 ).  Luther’s Blues, the latest album from Bernard, celebrates the music of his dad with a spectacular collection of twenty songs on a two-disc set.  Each song was hand-picked by Bernard and then remastered by Pauler Acoustics.  Luther’s Blues joins in the festivities which celebrate Ruf Records’ Thirtieth anniversary.  Ruf Records, launched in 1994 by Luther’s then European manager Thomas Ruf, recorded several albums with Luther.  With Bernard at Ruf Records as well, this album exhibits the deep connection and bond which runs strong between the two families.

 

Bernie Worrell - Wave from the WOOniverse

Funkadelic’s Uncle Jam Wants You was released while I was in my senior year of high school. I absolutely loved that album. It led me to record stores in search of more music by this wonderous band. Bernie Worrell (April 19, 1944 – June 14, 2016) was an integral part of the P-Funk family, and over the years his name appeared on many albums I purchased. Wave From the WOOniverse, a posthumous release produced by former Bernie Worrel Orchestra bandleader Evan Taylor is a double album set to be released on Record Store Day April 20. From unfinished works extending over twenty years old, the thirteen tracks on this album are brought to life by artists Worrell had worked with or had been friends with. 

 

Bex Marshall - Fortuna

Twelve years have passed since UK British Blues Award winner Bex Marshall released her previous record The House of Mercy. Her latest album Fortuna features nine all-original songs and one cover. Marshall’s guitar mastery combined with her wonderful raspy vocals and brilliant song-writing make for a captivating listen. The record is an absolute delight. With Marshall on lead vocals and lead guitar, her band on this album is comprised of drummer Richie Stevens (Tina Turner, Simply Red, George Clinton), keyboardist Toby Baker (B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Alexander O’Neal, Sinead O Connor), B.J Cole on dobro (Elton John, Coldplay, Sting, Shania Twain, Robbie Williams), Robert Eugene Daniels and Aurora Mannola on bass, with Queen Shola Adegoroye and Danny Bryan (Taj Mahal) on percussion.    

Big Head Todd and the Monsters - Her Way Out

Her Way Out, the first album from Big Head Todd in seven years, is very much worth the wait. This ten-track record is loaded with extraordinary rockers slathered in rootsy, bluesy grooves. Todd Mohr returns to the studio for this recording with Rob Squires on bass, Brian Nevin on drums, and Jeremy Lawton on keys,lap/pedal steel, and backing vocals.

 

Brad Fielder - Demons + Rationals

A nostalgic wave washes over me with every listen to Demons + Rationals, the latest release from Oklahoma song-writer/performer Brad Fielder. He is a master at tapping into the that pre-war music vein and breathing new life into that style with new, original songs. His music blend blues, ragtime, folk, and country, and is performed acoustically, often using a resonator guitar. According to Fielder, the music on this record draws its influence at the ‘intersection between Saturday night and Sunday morning” catering to both hooligans and bible-thumpers. With Fielder on guitars, vocals, and harmonica, he is backed by Charley Reeves on sousaphone and bass fiddle, Brandon Brunious on six string banjo and electric guitar, Megan Harris Brunious (Hank III, Peaches) on vocals, accordion, percussion, and trumpet, Jesse Armerding on drums and percussion, and Juel Niimi on trombone.

Carly Harvey - Kamama

Kamama, the debut album from Washington, D.C.-based blues artist Carly Harvey is quite special. I love how her Indigenous roots shine through a carefully-curated mix of soul, blues, and jazz. Each of the eleven tracks are written by Harvey and performed with beauty and grace. Appearing with her on this recording is Jonathan Sloane, and WALKING EAGLE on guitar, Mike Tony Echols, Patrick Thornton, and Sean Hurley on bass, Deren Blessman and Leland Nakamura on drums, Coleman Williams and WALKING EAGLE on percussion, Wes Lanich and Daniel Clarke on keys, Danny Davis, Mario D’ Ambrosio, Kevin Cerovich, Ben Ford on horns, and Dana Nearing and WALKING EAGLE on backing vocals. Special guests appearing on the album include Joe Louis Walker, Doug Woolverton, Sean Hurley, Annika Chambers, Dave Keller, and WALKING EAGLE.   

 

 

Craig Erickson - Dream Tracks

I am always excited to hear new music from world-class guitarist Craig Erickson. His songs are charged with positivity and defined by no boundaries. When asked about the inspiration for this record, Erickson stated “Music sometimes can be the soundtrack of dreams....and sometimes hearing music inspires dreams. Having written many instrumentals through the years, I've always wanted to share more of those concepts and melodies with listeners. Like many fans of 70s music, I was exposed to fusion, jazz rock pioneers like Jeff Beck, Tommy Bolin, John McLaughlin, Weather Report, Chick Corea and funky crossover artists like Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour and many more.”

Danielle Nicole - The Love You Bleed

Nearly six years have passed since Danielle Nicole released her Grammy Nominated Cry No More album.  Produced by Tony Braunagel, The Love You Bleed is Danielle’s third studio album as a solo artist.  It most certainly makes for a brilliant return and is an absolutely amazing listen from start to finish.  The songs she writes are heart-felt and filled with true grit.  They are then sung with a fearless grace.  With Danielle on vocals and bass guitar, she is joined by her husband Brandon Miller on guitars and mandolin, and Go-Go Ray on drums.  Braunagel appears s on percussion, with Stevie Blacke on strings. 

Don Aaron Mixon - The Welcome Mat

I knew I was in for the listen of a lifetime after just reading the back cover of Don Aaron Mixon’s The Welcome Mat. What I had read was the narrative introduction and title-track to this wonderful, coming-of-age, outlaw-county-rock opera. Like a snake bite, this southern man’s version of The Who’s Tommy rapidly grabbed my attention, and held my focused attention as Mixon sang about growing up in The Welcome Mat trailer park in Pensacola, Florida. With Mixon on vocals, guitars, pedal steel, bass, keyboard, mandolin, harmonica, and drums, he is joined by long-time friend Lindberg Smith as narrator, Rob Hammersmith on drums, and Maria Grigoryeva on violin.

Eliza Neals - Colorcrimes

Detroit blues-rocker Eliza Neals is an artist who has secured a spot among my favorites. She pours an abundant amount of talent and creativity into her performances and songwriting, cultivating lasting, memorable songs. Her latest album Colorcrimes has swept me off my feet with its nine all-original tracks. With Neals on lead vocals and piano, Michael Puwal returns as lead guitarist for the brunt of the album.

 

FreeWorld - More Love

FreeWorld is definitely one of the must-see bands in Memphis Tennessee. For over thirty-seven years, this ever-changing ensemble has been captivating audiences and earning the utmost respect from their contemporaries. They sure have my full attention. In 2012 they were honored to receive a brass note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame. Fronted by Richard Cushing (producer/ band director/ lead vocals/ bass guitars/ shaker/ ratchet), FreeWorld is also comprised of Peter Climie (saxophones/ NuRAD EWI/ tambourine), Cedric Taylor (Hammond B3/ grand piano/ Wurlitzer/ Nord), Alex Schuetrumpf (trumpet/ piccolo trumpet/ flugelhorn), Courtney Reid (lead & backing vocals), Frank Paladino (baritone saxophone), Freedman Steorts (trombone), Walter Hughes (guitars), Matt Sweatt (drums). More Love, their eighth album is a melting pot of fourteen fresh original tracks baptized in the vibrant sounds of funk, jazz, soul, rock, and blues. 

J.D. Simo & Luther Dickinson - Do the Rump
 

I was very excited when I first heard Luther Dickinson and J.D. Simo were going to collaborate on an album together. I have been an avid follower of Luther’s for quite a while, and became a fan of J.D.’s after catching a live performance of him opening up for Tab Benoit last year. The two forces first played together while touring with Phil Lesh and Friends. They discovered they both had a lot of the same influences and musical alignments. Although their approaches to playing guitar is vastly different, they found their styles complemented each other very much so. Simo and Dickinson joined forces, bringing drummer Adam Abrashoff onboard to complete the band and recorded Do the Rump at Simo’s home studio in Nashville.  The album has a strong hill-country blues presence. It collides the familiar with the unfamiliar and slow-simmers the results in a swampy goodness.

Jennifer Westwood - Mad Man's World

Almost nine years have passed since Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils released Greetings From This Town. I listened to that record heavily for a very long time. Mad Man’s World, their latest album is a fantastic ten-track recording. It was very much worth the wait. I absolutely love Westwood’s voice. It sounds magnificent as she pours it over an amalgam of Detroit Soul, Muscle Shoals, and American Roots music. With Westwood fronting the band on vocals, the Handsome Devils are comprised of Westwood’s husband Dylan Dunbar on guitar, bassist Chuck Bartels, drummers Ron Pangburn and David Below, percussionist Brandon Husken, keyboardist Lucky Haskins, horn players Joshua James and Jimmy Smith, and backing vocalists Susan Marshall and Reba Russell.

 

John Primer & Bob Corritore - Crawlin' Kingsnake

There are not many artists around who instill Chicago blues authenticity into their music as Blues Hall-of-Famer John Primer and Bob Corritore do. Paired together for the fourth time since 2013, this dynamic duo returned to the studios and cut yet another fabulous album. Crawlin’ Kingsnake is the name, and it contains a dozen ripping tracks. With Corritore on harp and Primer on guitar and vocals, they are joined by bassist Bob Stroger, Jimi “Primetime” Smith on second guitar, Anthony Geraci on piano and Wes Starr on drums.

Johnny Burgin - Ramblin' From Coast to Coast

Johnny Burgin continues to produce blues music in its purest form with his latest album Ramblin’ From Coast to Coast. Nominated for a Blues Music Award in 2023 for Traditional Blues Male Artist, Burgin’s guitar performances share top-billing with his song writing, elevating him to a level of high-regard. Recorded in assorted studios across the nation in Dallas, Cincinnati, Memphis, and Rochester, New York, then mixed at Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California by Kid Andersen, the album’s title Ramblin’ From Coast to Coast rightly fits. The record features a dozen solid-as-hell blues tracks and brings to the table as many special guests including John Blues Boyd, Rae Gordon, Ben Levin, Hanna PK, Jad Tariq, Jon Hay, and Dylan Bishop.

Jovin Webb - Drifter

It is exciting to see a new musician take the blues scene by storm. Gonzalas, Louisiana native Jovin Webb, who captured the hearts of television audiences on Season 18 of American Idol in 2020, now has a spectacular new album called Drifter and is signed to Blind Pig Records. Produced by the four-time Grammy winning Tom Hambridge, the album is destined to be a grand-slam. With Webb on vocals and harmonica, he is joined by Hambridge on drums, background vocals, and percussion, Kenny Greenberg on guitar, Mike Rojas on piano and keys, and Rob Cureton on bass guitar.

J.P. Soars - Brick By Brick

J.P.  Soars has been sweeping me off my feet for over ten years. His magnificent slide work keeps pushing the envelope with every new album he releases. It was the 2013 release of a record called Easy Livin’ by blues super-group Southern Hospitality which first drew my attention to this fellow Arkansan. Formed with Damon Fowler and Victor Wainwright, that band is still active and is currently touring.

Soars’ latest album, Brick by Brick is an astonishing record, jam-packed with phenomenal music. With Soars on vocals, guitars, dobro, banjo, bass, lap steel, two string cigar box guitar, merlin stick dulcimer, and jaw harp, he is joined by Chris Peet on drums and bass, Raul D Hernandez on percussion, Jeremy Staska on percussion, Bob Taylor on Hammond B3, Paul DesLauriers and Annika Chambers on backing vocals, Anne Harris on fiddle, and Rockin’ Jack Jacobs on harp, and Terry Hanck on tenor saxophone.

Kat Riggins and Blues Revival - Revival

Kat Riggins has been a favorite songstress of mine for the past eight years. This Miami-based blues singer is an absolute gem and I find her music captivating. Her powerful and fearless voice lends an undeniable electric charge to every song she sings.  Revival, her sixth album release contains ten all-original songs featuring producer Tim Mulberry (bass/keys/drums/horns) and guitarist Eric Guess, and backing vocalists Shaelyn Mulberry and Mark Barner.

Ndidi O = Simple Songs for Complicated Times

I absolutely love the new album from Canadian musician Ndidi O. Simple Songs for Complicated Times, her sixth solo release swept me off my feet upon my first listen. It’s rootsy melancholy blues and bluesy melancholy roots are brought to life with Ndidi’s angelic vocals. Recorded at Steve Dawson’s Henhouse Studios in Nashville, the album features Ndidi on vocals, Dawson on guitar and pedal steel, Sam Howard on bass, Chris Gestrin on keys, and Gary Craig on drums. Backup singers include Khari McClelland, Dawn Pemberton, and Keri Latamir.

Philip Sayce - The Wolves are Coming

There’s a bright and fierce energy surrounding the music of LA-based blues-rocker Philip Sayce.  The tours-of-duty he ventured with alongside legends like Jeff Healy and Melissa Etheridge certainly pushed him to obtain his 10,000+ hours of experience, elevating him to his current level of greatness.  Loaded with explosive guitar performances, and drizzled with his soulful vocals, Sayce’s ninth and latest album The Wolves are Coming is an extraordinary listen.

Piper & the Hard Times - Revelation

Revelation by Piper & the Hard Times is one of the most riveting blues albums gracing my to-review stack of CDs in the past several months. I love the band’s energy, vibrant sound, and groove-filled songs. It’s no wonder they pulled down first place at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis earlier this year. Fronted by vocalist Al ‘Piper’ Green, the band is also comprised of Steve ‘The Conductor’ Eagon on guitar, Dave ‘Sexy Boy Himself’ Colella on drums/percussion, Amy ‘The Professor’ Frederick on piano/Hammond organ, and Parker ‘PH Funkstick’ Hawkins on bass. Guests include Shaun Murphy, Lisa Oliver-Gray, Melissa Gardner, Chris ‘Freight Train’ Floyd, Eddie Meyer, and Dick Aven.

Tab Benoit - I Hear Thunder

It’s been a long thirteen years since Tab Benoit has released a new studio album. I Hear Thunder, the latest, is well worth the wait.  Benoit delivers ten striking new Telecaster Thinline-fueled tracks he co-wrote with guitarist Anders Osborne. They glisten like rays of sunlight reflecting off a Louisiana bayou. With Tab on vocals and guitar, he is joined by drummer Terence Higgins, bassist Corey Duplechin, Osborne on guitar. And guest George Porter Jr. (The Meters) who plays bass on two tracks.

 

Tom Craig - Get to Work

I’ve been drawn to the music of Tom Craig since reviewing his first album Get Ready For Me. His follow up album Good Man Gone Bad continued to grab my attention with its deep focus on blues. Craig’s third and most recent record Get to Work feels like the third installment of his first trilogy. Craig brings his troubadour-like smooth vocals, masterfully written songs, and big soulful instrumentation to the studio for a grand listening experience. Produced by Mikey Junior, Get to Work features Craig on vocals and guitar, Greg Gumpel on lead guitar, Matt Daniels on rhythm guitar, Steven Kirsty on saxophone, Bill Heid on piano/organ, Matt Raymon on electric/upright bass, Michael Bram on drums, Dave Gross on percussion/fiddle, and Mikey Junior on featured vocals/harmonica. Bringing the whole package together, another favorite singer, guest Kat Riggins appears on three tracks.