​From 1930 Chicago was a driving force in the development and evolution of modern gospel music. Someone who is also responsible for a modern approach to gospel is Reverend Robert Ballinger, who has recorded for United, Chess, Artistic and Peacock.
Bear Family bundled all this fine on this 2 CD compilation. What is immediately noticeable is that Ballingers way of singing is very closely related to those of the rhythm & blues shouters, in contrast to the gospel in the places of worship. Add to that his pumping and energetic way of playing the piano, backed by bass and drums, and you get fireworks. In the service of the Lord, Ballinger's powerful blues-inspired gospel recordings from the 1950s and early 1960s still sound enormously inspiring today.

​This new album by Solex is his eighth release. It contains different moods, and places his contemporary and smooth jazz in the moonlight. 

​With volume 13 we already made the switch from Texas to Louisiana and New Orleans. There is also much to discover musically in this region. The region is a melting pot of cultures and musical influences. The African-American music is mixed with French and Spanish influences, partly due to the presence of various population groups. This gives the music a festive, exuberant and danceable appearance. That appearance is also present on this album. The subtitle of this compilation ‘I Love To Rock ’n Roll’ clarifies what you are served.
It is a fact that Louisiana & New Orleans have a lot to offer. We are therefore curious about the following volumes compiled by Mark Armstrong. That ‘Southern Bred’ is an unmissable series is once again proven true.

​A strong jazzrock quartet that finds teamwork more important than soloing.  It evokes memories of the heydays of Herby Hancock or Al Di Meola.   Great album!

​This new album by German electronic artist Robert Schroeder is all about volcanic activity. It sounds cosmic, spherical, varying, exciting and relaxing as well. Highly recommended to those who love electronic music!

​Simultaneously with the release of volume 1 ‘Soulfood’, volume 2 ‘Cornbread & Cabbage Greens’ was also released. By the way, you can reread the review of ‘Soulfood’ at http://www.keysandchords.com/album-review-blog/various-artists-koko-mojo-diner-volume-1-soul-food. ‘Cornbread & Cabbage Greens’ refers to the plant-based diet of the African population who were brought to America as slaves. Given the hard living conditions, they were actually more or less forced vegetarians. For them, meat was a luxury product that was only served in small quantities and at special events. And yet, with the little available to them, they developed a tasty food culture. A food culture that also found its way into music, as the 28 songs collected here show.
The beautiful mix of instrumental and sung rhythm & blues and blues tracks makes ‘Volume 2, Cornbread & Cabbage Greens’ sure to hit the ‘Koko-Mojo Diner’ bullseye.

​Don’t take the lyrics of Georg Altziebler for granted.  With few words he tells a whole (personal) story.  If you love Townes von Zandt, Bob Dylan or Tom Waits….Georg Altziebler follows in their footsteps.

​New Orleans has always been unique among the American cities. Multi-ethnic, the Mississippi, its swamps, the voodoo scene and its delicious Creole cuisine are so "specific." Jazz was born there and in the 1950s New Orleans was also the source of a distinctive current
R&B, blues and rock and roll. The band The Hungry Williams epitomize all of this. They took their name from Charles "Hungry" Williams. Drummer John Carr met Kelli Gonzalez in New Orleans during a session with the band Big Nick and The Cydecos. With a shared love for New Orleans R&B, they founded The Hungry Williams a few years ago. Kelli Gonzales’ rocking' vocals add that extra touch to the sound. They swing through their oeuvre with a pleasant mixture. Highy recommended..!

​If you did not sin against the fourth commandment 'Show Affection, Come On And Love Me', then hopefully, possibly after rejections and pitfalls, you have found the great love and you are ready to take the fifth rock and roll commandment, to obey. That says ‘Form A Partnership, Glad All Over’. Time for romance! For those who don't immediately know how to go about it, these 30 rock and roll songs, brought together by master compiler Mark Armstrong, certainly offer a solution.
By the way we are halfway through ‘The Ten Commandments Of Rock ‘n’ Roll’. ‘Commandment Six, Be Faithful, Let's Jump The Broomstick’ is fortunately already announced. ‘The Ten Commandments Of Rock 'n' Roll’ is a series that must be in the record collection of every rock and roll follower.

​The American bass player Mark Wade released this solo album, with 5 tracks. He composed those songs during the lockdown and recorded them in his home last year. The closing track is sung by his wife. If you love the sound of the bass (acoustic or electric) try this one. 

​With ‘The Quarantine Tapes’, Cat Lee King, frontman of the German Cat Lee King & His Cocks, presents his solo album. An album that was never planned. The corona crisis that started in 2020 also cancelled his gigs. However, the musicians' blood creeps where it cannot go, to use a cliché for once. Cat Lee locked himself in his rehearsal room and with the help of some microphones, an old four-track recording machine and some friends, he got to work. The result is astonishing. Breathtaking slow blues and infectious jazzy blues swing, raw and unpolished, dripping with playing pleasure. Visiting a blues concert is no longer possible. Cat Lee King did manage to give me that wonderful feeling of a night of live blues, thank you!

​Six beautiful songs on Island Creek.  David Massey isn’t a prolific writer but he always impresses with immersive melodies and interesting stories.

​Personally, I always like it when a compilation CD is not just a simple compilation, but one with a theme. That is something they take very seriously at Koko-Mojo, just like at Atomicat. Themes are plentiful, only you have to want to use them. Moreover, it will take a lot of research to find songs that fall under the chosen thematic heading. This just to indicate that the 28 songs that make up this first volume of the new series ‘Koko-Mojo Diner’, each emphasize the joys of ‘soul food’. Fiery rhythm & blues or inspiring instrumental songs, this album is full of it.
Any doubts? Clearly put them aside because ‘Koko-Mojo Diner, Volume 1, Soul Food’ also traditionally contains only ‘killer’ tracks.

​Emotional content from the inner soul, performed with honest skills.  Jano Rix and Brigitte DeMeyer forms the perfect duo. Keep it alive!

​A very nice album, that represents the spirit of Brazil. West Coast sax player Kenney Polson has delivered elegant smooth jazz, and is recommended to those (like me) who love sax!

​Singer-songwriter AJ Fullerton hails from the high mountains of rural Western Colorado.
As of 2016, he has received no fewer than sixteen "Members Choice Awards" from the Colorado Blues Society. Fullerton wrote ten songs together, two songs were written by JD Taylor and Colin Linden. AJ opens with the pop and Americana-themed "Remind Me Who I Am Again". Light guitar playing, a captivating organ part and AJ's smooth voice. More is not necessary to create a relaxing atmosphere. He continues on this path with beautiful songs that are all hit sensitive, and which are so radio-friendly that the great international success cannot be delayed.
AJ Fullerton reaffirms the diversity that lies in his artist life, as well as in his intended sound…!

When we talk about one of the best kept secrets in the Dutch blues, Little Hat should certainly not be overlooked. The trio consists of Machiel Meijers on vocals and blues harp, Paolo de Stigter on drums and Willem van Dullemen takes care of the guitar. The band could call on Little Victor for the production of ‘Wine, Whiskey & Wimmen’, and that's a good thing. With his experience, he is without a doubt the ideal person to frame the pure and raw sound of the trio.
Raw vocals, ripping blues harp, a vintage guitar sound and solid drumming are the ingredients that make Little Hat stand out in the contemporary blues landscape. Keep an eye on that Little Hat!

​The first two volumes in these series were released at the beginning of this year and now they are already followed by volumes 3 and 4. Just like the previously released CDs in this series, this disc again contains 25 enchanting 'black woman singer, movers & shakers' . With one exception, all songs date from the early 1950s to the mid 1960s. That only exception was made for the German Bonita & The Blues Shacks. Their ‘Where's The Money Honey’ was recorded in 2019.
Volume 3 in the ‘Rock and Roll Vixens’ series continues the high quality level of the previously released volumes and may we again emphasize the fantastic sound quality?

​Never heard such a complex diversity of music, futuristic and unconventional.  A musical voyage of discovery.

This album is the successful debut of a band that wants to bring a homage to the West Coast music of the seventies and eighties. It deserves our attention and appreciation! If you loved Toto, The Doobie Brothers, Boz Scaggs etc., don’t hesitate, buy this one!

​With ‘Doctor Velvet’, Mojo Man Little Victor launched the series ‘The Mojo Man Special’, a series of dance floor killers. Volumes 2 and 3 have already been released. We will first pay attention to volume 2, entitled ‘Voodoo Doll’. This volume contains 24 dance grooves registered under the ‘crème de la créme’. Doo-wop, rhythm & blues, blues, rock and roll or gospel, you will find it all on this compilation.
Already curious about volume 3? Soon you will read the review here.

​The release ‘Not My Circus, Not My Monkey’ really bulges out of diversity. New York-based Russel Alexander is a great vocalist / guitarist with just enough grit in his voice. With sizzling guitar solos and a rhythm section that pushes a constantly intense groove, it offers a very varied sound in addition to its captivating lyrics. It’s a musical melting pot from a multicultural New York! This album is also food for the real blues purists. Don’t you believe it ? Then discover it for yourself..!

​This album contains new recordings by Barry Biggs, with 4 covers of The Beatles. Every track comes in that sweet-voiced, somewhat romantic Barry Biggs style. Highly recommended!

​With volume 13 in the ‘Southern Bred’ series, we leave Texas behind and set our nose towards Louisiana & New Orleans. Time for Creole rhythms, steamy rhythm & blues, rock and roll and the piano blues typical of the region. Louisiana and New Orleans also produced a large number of well-known artists. But also the lesser known are highly successful. Discover them all at this album.
So, best is to get fast your copy of ‘Southern Bred, Louisiana & New Orleans R&B Rockers, Vol. 13 ‘ and convince yourself of 28 killer songs that Mark Armstrong filled this album with.

Impossible to pigeonhole and yet very seventies - the British way. This quintet came highly commended by John Peel and the BBC even made a documentary about their communal living. Between 1972 and 1975 the Global Village played nearly 400 gigs, their trademark being jams and high-level improvisation. Most songs are melodious and some even have the qualities of a good pop song, but at the same time the band goes prog, blues, folk and C&W, often switching styles and tempos within one and  the same tune. Typically, ‘Down In The Lowlands’ starts like a romantic folk tune (the phrasing sounds like Kevin Coyne) until the organ takes over and turns it into, well, into what exactly? Unlike the pretentious soup often presented by their American contemporaries, this weird mixture actually works because their songs are really strong and the many influences and styles are nicely balanced. If you take the time to listen attentively, there is much to discover here.
Esoteric and Cherry Red gathered their only LP, known (their contribution to the ‘Live at Dingwalls Dance Hall’ 2LP from 1974) and newly discovered live stuff plus the John Peel sessions. The entirely re-mastered 2cd anthology comes with a great booklet.
Listen to choice tracks on Radio 68 on Wednesdays 24 March and 07 April.