​This 28th album by Lemongrass awakens a positive atmosphere. So spread your smile, because it’s a natural, pure form of life energy. And listen to this melodic, relaxing lounge music!

​The live release 'Once in A Blue Moon' is the follow-up to his specific acoustic release 'Won't Be Back No More' from 2020, and includes his full band, The Magic Rockers. Johnson still preaches the exciting West Side Chicago blues. With his big voice, energetic performances and tasty humor, Luther still has a devoted following fanbase. Great…!

​On this album the Uruguayan born, NYC based guitarist & pianist Beledo brings much improvisations to his compositions. His sound will appeal to lovers of progressive rock or jazz rock. 

​Richie Mayer is clearly fond of classical pop music. His light melodies are almost irresistible and sound unconditionally good to the ear. They are not really Earwigs, but everything sounds amicable and confidential. Classic pop tunes and no this seventeen songs long.
In February of 2020 the scourge of the Covid virus descended upon the world and Mayer retreated into his home studio to write what would unknowingly become this, his latest album, “The Inn of Temporary Happiness,” Seventeen songs of love, loss, surf, sex, and surrender. Reverberating with the Power Pop / Beatlesque melodies that are his forte, Mayer sings all lead as well as background vocals and plays all the instruments including acoustic and electric guitars, bass, mandolin, keyboards, drum pads, percussion and Navajo flute.

​This debut album by Jamie Musuva & The Numbers is a nice surprise from New Zealand. It contains original material plus a few covers. Northern soul or acoustic soul, it’s all here, and a nice discovery for soul fans!

​One of the most promising bands of The Netherlands: creative, unpredictable and compelling. Let yourself be carried over the turbulent seas.

​Now Stacy Mitchhart is proudly promoting his latest release 'Printers Alley'. Fifteen original tracks, and they not only embrace his overwhelming guitar playing, but also his raw voice. And they are as divergent as they are contrasting. The release 'Printers Alley' is Stacy Mitchhart's most varied record.

​A thoughtful interpretation, but not easy accessible. This duo album consists of warbly guitar and distant piano. 

What a sound, what a voice and how compelling, time after time!  Strongly  recommended.

​In addition to the studio album 'Let's Get Lost', which was released in March 2021, there is also the registration 'Live At 6010'. Jon wanted to capture a recording that he embraces almost daily in his city of New Orleans. With eleven new songs we get acquainted with his sound. Jon Roniger And The Good For Nothin' Band embrace the rich sound of New Orleans in 'Live At 6010'.

Jon penned a lot of songs during the quarantine. When the coronavirus pandemic was at its peak, Jon Roniger played a live stream session every night from his home in New Orleans. The singer-songwriter wrote a lot of new music and released a brand new song every week during his nightly 'The Quarantine Sessions'. Over the course of more than 400 sessions, Jon took the time to pick out the songs he liked the most and had the most meaning to him. These 22 songs form the two albums 'Let's Get Lost' and 'Live at 6010'. The release 'Let's Get Lost' is a very divergent album that will appeal to a very wide audience. 

In case anyone out there is still doubting: American folk & country blues (Fred McDowell, Mississippi John Hurt), the English folk revival  of the sixties (Pentangle, Fairport) and English psych folk that emerged at the end of that decade (ISB), are actually one and the same genre.  English singer, songwriter and guitarist Ian A. Anderson is there to prove it with four albums, a few EPs and contributions to various compilations released between 1967 and 1972. He did it all: copy American folk blues, write songs in that format (‘Prodigal Son’ turned into ‘That’s No Way To Get Along’) before giving the genre a twist with a ‘suite’ (a popular prog format at the time), bongos, a re-write of the Jagger and Richards hot ‘Paint It, Black’ a tune worthy of Ralph McTell with a psych guitar (‘Hero’) and less obvious mixes (e.g. ‘Shirley Temple meets Hawkwind’). Anderson possesses a voice to suit it all.
Basically, Anderson is a blues folk man (he debuted as ‘Ian Anderson’s Country Blues Band’), but he left us an impressive and varied catalogue most of which he wrote himself.  His early work may have been overlooked for decades, but don’t forget Ian Anderson was founding editor of fRoots magazine and still works a s a radio presenter.
This 4CDbox by Cherry Red features his four albums and more than twenty bonus tracks taken from early EPs or compilation and three previously unreleased live tracks. A nice booklet contains all the information you need.
Radio 68  plays a blues selection on Sunday 26 and Tuesday 28 December, plus more innovating tracks on Wednesday 20 December. 

​Carter has now also reached the blessed age of 89. Now he has decided to release a solo debut album with 'Blind Faith'. The nine original songs are produced by Ron Pullman and guests include Charlie Musselwhite, Alan Parsons, The Mendelson Choir of Pittsburgh and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Musically it is a melting pot between gospel, soul, jazz and blues.
Highly recommend..!

​Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer Carwyn Ellis got an offer from the BBC Radio Cymru to record a radio concert. He wrote songs, and the music was added remotely. Carwyn sang them with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and the rest is history. A beautiful musical voyage from South Wales to Brazil! 

Marco Mattei plays wonderful guitar in all his possibilities.  The support of his famous friends wasn’t necessary to succeed on Out Of Control. The opposite: he has everything under control.  

​The name of saxophonist Jimmy Cavallo probably means little to you and maybe nothing at all. Not surprising because you will not come across his name when you go through the charts from the fifties. His greatest achievement dates from the 1956 film ‘Rock, Rock, Rock’. He appeared in it three times and also provided the title track. Unfortunately, Jimmy was overshadowed in the charts by Bill Haley, who operated somewhat in the same style. Unjustly, by the way, because when you listen to Jimmy's repertoire, you inevitably realize that his songs were just as danceable and hit-sensitive than those of his more famous colleagues.
It is rocking, swinging, jumping and bopping a volonté. But Jimmy Cavallo is not easy to catch. He also manages to put down sublime slows with 'Teenage Lover' and 'Cherry Pie'. He manages to make all this even more attractive through his clever sax work.
In addition, the 36-page booklet by Bill Dahl gives you all the information about Cavallo's career and the tracks. As always, there are rare photos and illustrations that embellish the whole. Recommended!

​This album from Brazilian piano player Marcos Ariel contains solo piano tracks, all under the sign of flowers. It is calming, a bit meditative and provides a peaceful, astral and moving experience. 

​This live recording took place on November 5, 1983 at Club 88, on Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles. The registration was taped by Jeff Dale on his four track Tascam Portastudio, which obviously does not benefit the quality. But this is what makes everything so authentic. Lowell Fulson made a statement with this live recording.

​This is the third collaboration of Dutch singer Trijntje Oosterhuis with living legend Burt Bacharach. It contains well known songs, and lesser known jewels. Burt added two new songs that Trijntje interprets here for the first time. Believe me, she’s the top and may stand next to Dionne Warwick! 

​The release 'So Much Trouble' is David Rotundo's fifth album. The twelve new songs feature an all-star cast of musicians from Canada and the Pacific Northwest. From rocking piano boogie, over standard blues tunes and clever ballads. Everything is intertwined is David's sound…

​This collaboration between jazz pianist Jeremy Monteiro and Hammond B-3 player Alberto Marsico is a reissue of an album from 2014. Three tracks were added, and this collaboration with guest artists, comes out well, and results in a catchy album. Try it out, you’ll love it!

​The acoustic EP 'Afternoon' was recorded one afternnon somewhere in October. It contains six instrumental guitar parts, including a tribute to Peter Green and Chuck Berry. 

​English soul band The Foundations scored a string of hits between 1967 and 1969, all very danceable and  likeable stuff, mostly written by Tony Macaulay and John McLeod. The template is a mid-tempo tune you can sing along with and dance to, with choirs, call and response, background vocals, and quite some orchestration with mandatory violins for extra sweetness. It worked, till the template wore out as templates do. Still, The Foundations are well worth remembering for at least half a dozen impeccable soul hits, like ‘Build Me Up, Buttercup’, ‘My Little Chickadee’, ‘Baby, Now That I’ve Found You’ and ‘Back On My Feet Again’. Don’t tell me you never danced to one!
In short, BGO Records are quite right to have assembled all their Pye singles and EP tracks on a double cd, re-mastered and all  - accompanied by an informative booklet. The six solo tracks by first vocalist Clem Curtis are surely relevant to The Foudations story, but fail to impress musically.
Some b-sides and EP tracks reflect a bad choice of material that doesn’t do the band justice. A pity, because The Foundations really swing and groove when set loose on a rhythmic tune like ‘Jerking The Dog’ or ‘I’m Gonna Be A Rich Man’.   
Together with the likes of Geno Washington, Jimmy James, The Equals, P.P. Arnold and Madeline Bell, The Foundations were an integral part of the British soul scene and deserve to be heard again. How about their LPs?  

​This second Christmas album from sax man Kirk Whalum is filled with spiritual Christmas tracks. Some tracks are sung by guest vocalists, but most are instrumental in a slow rhythm. Recommended to those who love gospel!

​The album 'City Country City' sounds fresh and contemporary. The songs were recorded at Jack Miele Production Studios and co-produced by Ricci, Krown and Jack Miele. It provides a clear, cutting edge and innovative take on contemporary American blues and roots music. Ricci and Krown are both blues and roots veterans with immense musical capacity and solid reputation. Ricci is a multiple Blues Music Award winner, Krown a Crescent City legend who is currently keyboardist in Kenny Wayne Shepherd's band. New Orleans drummer Doug Belote is the missing link for the intended sound. The album 'City Country City' contains seven instrumental and five vocal songs, although we prefer the vocal songs here. Great stuff!