​Canadian trumpetist/flugelhorn Meister and flautist Gabriel Mark Hasselbach celebrates his 30th anniversary as an artist with his 15th album. Again, this is a powerful contemporary jazz album with influences from soul and R&B. There’s no doubt about it, Gabriel is the top!

Also on volume 4 in the 'Koko-Mojo Diner' series, the menu looks tempting again. Barbecue, tacos, ribs and hot sauce, goulash, oysters, kidney stew and you name it. Enough inspiration again for 28 formidable tracks. Striking on this volume is the presence of many instrumental tracks.
Volume 4 in the 'Koko-Mojo Dinner' series once again contains very catchy vocal and instrumental songs. Songs that will be a discovery for many and perhaps set them on the path to look for other work by these artists. In any case, I can heartily recommend it. This compilation, like the previous releases, is not to be missed.

Michael Johnathon admires van Gogh and painted own work on the cover of his album himself.  The Painter is musically an artistic story about love and hope in our lives.

​‘Surrender’  is the first release for Spady since 2008. The record is a collection of nine songs, which includes seven original tracks and three previously unreleased songs that were recorded at the River St. Jazz Café in Plains, PA. The songs include collaborations with William "Wes" Weller, his new mentor Andy Pace, as well as his protégé Adam Schultz. The three live recordings represent the live divergence of Clarence Spady.

Raw but also gentle guitar-lead bluesrock album from the unknown talented Londoner Scott McKeon.  Time to look further than your bloody nose. This can turn into a legendary album.

​In part 16 of this series, compiler Mark Armstrong continues his search for rocking mid-century gems. Also on this release we are still in Louisiana and New Orleans, where the brooding Rhythm & Blues from the 50's lend a helping hand to the emerging and world-conquering rock 'n' roll. No less than 28 rocking rhythm & blues gems of songs fill this disc.
'Rock 'n' Roll Dance' is the subtitle of this collection. A flag that fully covers the load. We are secretly looking forward to volume 17 in this series, which will be titled 'Down Yonder We Go Ballin'. When you purchase the 'Southern Bred' Series in full, you have a beautiful view of the rocking rhythm & blues in America's hotbeds of this genre.

Deep melancholic dark folk album with a touch of americana.  ​

​‘Rising Up’ is the 5th album by Alex Lopez and it is a true blues rocker. The album blends blues rock with classic blues, to create one memorable song after another. Containing outstanding performances by Alex's band the Xpress and impressive guitar fretboard fireworks. Great stuff!

​The 'Southern Menu' card of part 3 in the series 'Koko-Mojo Dinner' contains a lot of delicacies. Barbecue ribs, fried chicken, gumbo and chitlin' balls are just some of the many dishes that live up to the name 'soul food'. Dishes that were also translated into musical terms. 28 of those songs that glorify African American cuisine found their way to this collector. Songs that are not only musically fun, but also sharpen the feeling of hunger. Hunger feeling both in terms of food and music.
Pounding rhythm & blues, captivating blues and innovative instrumental tracks, bundled in 28 tracks, have us curiously looking forward to volume 4, which was released simultaneously. Soon a review of this on this site!

​Dexter Wansel created a musical space opera about a voyage to the planet Mars. Between the 12 tracks are spoken scenes that tell the story from the boarding to the unexpected ending. The music is a mixture of hip hop, R&B and smooth jazz. Highly recommended!

​The album "Cab Driving Man" is the second full-length release from Ticket West, a Westcoast blues-inspired band from the Netherlands. The band is formed by the brothers Pascal and Walter Wilhelm. Swing, great shuffles and exciting blues tracks are the main components of the album 'Cab Driving Man'. Now some sunshine and we really start to feel on the West Coast.
Let's have a party…!

​Modern edits of traditional Salentino dance music.  If you can’t travel to Puglia, play this record and smile while you dance.

​Covering songs is something of all times and there are probably several reasons for it. Sometimes the cover artists tried to profit from the success of the original performers. Sometimes it worked and the cover became more famous than the original, but just as well the cover disappeared just as quickly as it came. Other artists went a step further by providing the original with their own twist. Here too, success was not always guaranteed. Covering was also not limited to one genre or another, as evidenced by this new series that compiler Mark Armstrong is launching through the Atomicat label. On this first volume we immediately get 30 covers that are situated in rhythm & blues and white rock 'n' roll, all recorded from 1952 to 1963.
It's always nice to hear hits in a different version, and you also discover cover versions that you didn't know at all. The Atomicat label serves you with these 'Rockin' Rollin' Covers' at your beck. This series is therefore a must for the real music fan looking for other versions of songs that are well known.

​Big Creek Slim, the story of a Danish blues artist who has a deal with the devil at a crossroads.
The album "Twenty-Twenty Blues", contains thirteen original songs. Canned in one-session, he frames his sound with exciting country blues. However, the album contains several songs that occupy both the literal consequences of the virus and the revolution in racial relations in 2020.
Big Creek does not shy away from contemporary reality, which he frames with pre-war musical guitar arrangements. Great album.. again! 

​The release 'Migration Blues' was recorded in 2019. The fourteen songs were recorded live in the studio. Instead of simply recording a lot of songs from the old blues masters, Slim got behind the writing table. He thus removes all the frustrations and unease. And that is precisely what gives him a feeling of freedom. There are no rules, except those from the traditional Delta blues. The result is a wonderful acoustic project by a man with his guitar. Take his rough voice timbre and it couldn't be more authentic. Great..!

Classic piano and modern synths create a cinematic background.  Interesting debut from two talented Belgan music teachers. 

​This fifth album from German saxophonist & vocalist Stephanie Lottermoser contains a mixture of jazz, soul, funk and pop. An interesting acquaintance!

​Things are moving very fast at the Koko-Mojo label. Not so long ago we reviewed volume 5 in the 'Rock and Roll Vixens' series or volume 6 was already in our mailbox. Again 25 exciting tracks by female Afro-American singers recorded from the early fifties to the mid sixties. The repertoire of some artists is more extensive than that of others and it is therefore only logical that some singers who appear on this album, were also present on the previously released volumes. Again a nice mix of well-known and lesser-known artists and breathtaking rock & roll and rhythm & blues songs.
By the way, it is striking how much music that still sounds current today African-American singers recorded in the middle of the previous century. If you want the 'creme de la crème' of these recordings, then this 'Rock and Roll Vixens' series is definitely recommended.

Wonderful vintage jazzrock with stuff from the legendary Soft Machine members. A nice addition to your collection.

​Tommy Z has a killer of an album to promote. Tommy prefers again to the general public. He is an electric blues stylist who produces a variety of music. Although he experienced and studied in traditional blues, jazz and rock styles, Tommy is an artist who brings that soulful blues feeling into all those different styles of music. So now there is "Plug In & Play". Tommy Z almost immediately overwhelmed us with the blues rocker "Pumpin". A lot of feminine bling give the impetus to his fingerings. And once they are warmed up, the funky "Tommy Guns" and the modern blues track "My Alarm Clock" also bang through the woofer mercilessly. The closing "Sticky Lips" is an instrumental caput that flirts with heavenly jazzy guitar arrangements. What a pretty diverse album. Hell yeah…!

‘Jambalaya (On The Bayou)’ is not only the title of volume 3 in ‘The Hank Williams Songbook’ series, but it is also Hank's most famous song, although many will not know it in the original version. Presumably, most will the question “Who is the singer of 'Jambalaya'?” answer with ‘Fats Domino’. He turned it into a rhythm & blues rocker that is also included on this album. But the number of times the song was covered is incalculable. The covers also cover the most diverse music genres. In country, folk, blues, pop or instrumental music, you will find one or more versions of the song. As the title of the album implies, this compilation contains a number of songs that are not from Williams’ hand, but that do have a connection with Hank Williams in one way or another.
The album contains 30 sublime tracks and even from Hanks 'My Buckets Got A Hole In It', you get two versions. A first time as track 11 by Huelyn Duvall and Wildfire Willie and a second time as track 15 by Ricky Nelson, although the track listing for the 15th track mentions 'I'm Satisfied With You' by Jack Scott. After contacting compiler Mark Armstrong he acknowledged the problem and at the same time felt that the readers must know this. Thanks Mark for your honesty!
30 beautiful tracks fill volume 3 of 'The Hank Williams Songbook'. As always, you can enjoy this in a superior sound quality.

​Now Donna Herula has her third country player on the shelves. Together with her partner in crime Tony Nardiello, pianist Doug Hammer, drummer Dana Thalheimer, trumpet player Tony Pons, Bill Newton on harmonica and some special guests such as violinist Anne Harris and pianist Daryl Davis, Donna has recorded eleven original songs and three cover versions. The blues party opens with the rumba and slide guitar inspired "Bang At The Door" and immediately continues with the New Orleans groove from "Pass The Biscuits". Donna Herula confirms all the good things we could discover from her live before. "Bang At The Door" is a modest and acoustic album that is deeply rooted in the Delta Blues. 

With More Games, in rock pop and dance version, O Veux proves to be professional musicians and creative performers. Enjoy as much as the band does.

If you like concept albums that catapult vintage sounds into the future in a new format, then you should consult Geiger von Müller. "Ruby Red Run!" is the follow-up to his experimental debut album "Teddy Zer & The Kwands". And it is a solo instrumental concept album that is surrounded with a lot of slide guitar. That Geiger von Müller an exceptional guitarist is, is indisputable. He likes to divide and experiment on his instrument, which is not given to everyone.
For the enthusiasts!