#713 > Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

2024 – Vizztone Label Group
 
By Phillip Smith; Nov. 2, 2024
 
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com
 

Christmastime is coming up soon, and for those in search for new holiday music, I’m going to have to recommend “Ben Levin Presents a Holiday Blues Revue”. This album plays like a timeless classic. Levin, a Blues Music Award nominee for Best Piano Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024, and nominated for Best Emerging Artist Album in 2020, brings in big-name guests Lil’ Jimmy Reed, Candice Ivory, Lil’ Ed, and Sonny Hill for this record. Also appearing on the album is his father Aron Levin on guitar, Takuto Asano on guitar, Joe Polen on saxophone, Eli Gonzales on saxophone, Walter Cash Jr. on bass, Jim Anderson on bass Chris Douglas on bass, Cole Baker on drums, Art Gore on drums, Ricky Nye on drums, and Oscar Bernal on drums. This Revue consists of a marvelous mix of ten seasonal tracks, eight of which are original songs.

“Candy Cane”, featuring Lil’ Ed on guitar and vocals, leads the record off with deluxe serving of Chicago blues. Listening to Ed and Levin join forces is indeed a riveting treat. I adore how Levin suavely delivers the 1961 Charles Brown song “It’s Christmas Time”. There’s a certain retro-feel to this memorable song which taps into my soul. Candice Ivory appears with Levin for the duet “Christmas Mood”. With the addition of Asano on guitar, they walk the line between blues and jazz. The jump blues of “Forgot Mrs. Claus” pulls me in tight for another wonderful track featuring Asano on guitar. I love Levin’s cover of Vince Guaraldi’s instrumental “Skating”. This one sure takes me back to the care-free days of my youth. Animated images of the Peanuts gang skating on a pond gush from my memories with every listen. It’s so very fitting to represent the Blues on Christmas with a “Lump of Coal” from Santa. Soaked in a barrel of deep blues, this song features Lil’ Jimmy Reed on guitar and vocals for an outstanding performance.

Ben Levin Presents A Holiday Blues Revue is a beautifully-crafted seasonal album which I could listen to anytime of the year.

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This album available on Amazon : https://amzn.to/4hxEtup

#695 : Johnny Burgin - Ramblin' From Coast to Coast (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Straight Shooter Records

By Phillip Smith; July 20, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

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.

 Burgin ignites the album with title-track “Ramblin’ From Coast to Coast”. This cookin’ track includes Tariq on guitar and is backed by a rocking rhythm section featuring drummer Danny Banks, bassist Jon Hay, and pianist Christian Dozzler. Following immediately afterward is “Getting’ My Blues On”. I absolutely adore this. Burgin takes the song to the moon and back with his cosmic, note-bending delivery and soulful vocals. The backing vocals from Lisa Leuschner Andersen, Marina Crouse, and Jill Dineen are the icing on the cake and construct a sort of Hendrix-meets-Motown vibe. The flow continues strong with the classic Chicago Blues sound of “I Need Something Sweet”. Burgin’s lyrical mastery sets this up to be a timeless classic. The extremely talented Hanna PK accompanies Burgin on “Fresno Woman”. With Burgin breaking out the slide, I love hearing them trading guitar and piano licks back and forth. It sounds great. A juicy blast of harp from Burgin launches “I’m Playing Straight” as Little Village recording artist John Blues Boyd lends his suave vocals. The converging sound of guitars, piano, and harmonica creates a Mississippi juke joint experience for the listener. In a classic blues fashion, Burgin’s message to listen to one’s gut and refrain from second-guessing is the subject of “I Was Right the First Time”.  Accompanied by Levin on piano, this song swings with finesse.

 Ramblin’ From Coast To Coast is a high-caliber traditional blues album which all blues fans should give a listen to. It’s genuine, and it’s fantastic.  

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For more information about Johnny Burgin, visit the website at https://johnnyburgin.com

Catch up on previous PhillyCheeze reviews featuring Johnny Burgin through this link https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=johnny+burgin

This album available on Bandcamp

#614 : Lil' Jimmy Reed with Ben Levin - Back to Baton Rouge (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2023 – Nola Blue Records

By Phillip Smith; May 20, 2023

Release Date : May 19, 2023

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

At eighty-five years old, Leon Atkins aka Lil’ Jimmy Reed has released a new album with twenty-three-year-old blues pianist extraordinaire Ben Levin, and it is fantastic.  The record is called Back to Baton Rouge and was recorded with guitarist Aron Levin (father of Ben Levin), bassist Walter Cash Jr., and drummers Ricky Nye and Miss Shorty Starr.  Atkins, who cut his teeth in the music world while playing the Chitlin Circuit during the Fifties, keeps the blues-torch burning from that era as he injects that essence into his writing and performances.  It was during that time, Atkins was asked to fill in for Jimmy Reed and play with Reed’s band on a show in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Reed had reportedly drunk a bit too much and was unable to perform.  Atkins covered for Reed, and the show went very well.  Soon after Atkins became known as Lil’ Jimmy Reed.    

The album starts off with an attention-grabbing cover of Jimmy Reed’s “Down in Virginia”.  Akins’ smokey vocals sound great as he plays this one bright and clean.  Levin’s piano accompaniment is a delight too.  This is one of my favorite cuts on this record.  Two other Jimmy Reed gems are covered back-to back: “I’m the Man Down There” and “A String to Your Heart”.  They surely make an honorable tribute to the blues-great.  

“Wish You Wouldn’t”, is a terrific piano-centric blues original written by Ben and Aron Levin.  The guitar licks Lil’ Jimmy perfectly injects into the song sound great as he sings about his lady drinking too much, chewing tobacco, and fighting.  A strong Howlin’ Wolf vibe woos me over with the steady-rolling original “Engine Light”.   The ominous feeling Atkins projects on this tale of a possible breakdown digs in deep to the bone.  A luscious cover of Slim Harpo’s “Mailbox Blues” brings the album to a close.

Back to Baton Rouge packs ten outstanding traditional blues tracks into one fabulous album.  I hope to hear more collaborations between Lil’ Jimmy Reed and Ben Levin in the future.

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I had a special opportunity last week to see Lil’ Jimmy Reed and Ben Levin perform together in Memphis as part of the BratGirlmedia Blues Music Awards Showcase at the Rum Boogie Café.  It was a glorious night for music. Below are a couple of photos I captured of Lil’ Jimmy and Ben that evening.   

 

Lil' Jimmy Reed , Ben Levin

Rodd Bland, Jon Hay, Lil' Jimmy Reed

 

 

 

This album available on Bandcamp