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Blues News
BLUES CLASSICS REVISITED
FEATURE ADDED
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We recently launched a new feature called Blues Classics Revisited. Our Pete Sardon shares his classic blues collection through his reviews.
36th Annual BATTLE
OF THE BLUES HARPS
Coming THANKSGIVING EVE
The 36th Annual Battle of The Blues Harps presented by Stellar Shows will feature Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, Kim Wilson & His Band, Mercedes Moore, Billy Watson and a Tribute to Little Walter with R.J. Mischo, Little A and Eric Von Herzen & The Memphis Kings at The Gas Lamp in Long Beach on Wednesday (Thanksgiving Eve), 11/27/24 at 7:00 p.m.
BLUES CLUBS & VENUES SECTION ADDED
As a service to local blues fans we recently added a new Live Blues page to our growing website for Southern California clubs and venues that currently offer some live Blues on a regular or occasional basis. You can find their contact information on our Live Blues website page.
RONNIE BAKER BROOKS TO RELEASE ALLIGATOR RECORDS DEBUT,
BLUES IN MY DNA
Alligator Records recently released Blues In My DNA, the new album from award-winning blues rock guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Ronnie Baker Brooks. With Blues In My DNA, Ronnie delivers an up-to-the-minute, organic masterpiece. The album, the fifth of his career and first for Alligator, is firmly rooted in the blues with Ronnie incorporating his own brand of rock, funk and soul to the mix. “I just play what I feel,” he says. “It’s all from the heart.”
Blues In My DNA effortlessly moves from funkified rockers to deep Memphis soul to epic, crowd-pleasing, guitar-driven workouts. Produced by famed studio wizard Jim Gaines (who has produced Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lonnie Brooks, Luther Allison and many others), Blues In My DNA is a career-defining statement from Baker Brooks, with each of the 11 original songs its own chapter in his ever-evolving story.
For Ronnie -- son of legendary multiple GRAMMY Award nominee, Blues Hall Of Famer, and longtime Alligator Records recording star Lonnie Brooks -- the process of writing songs for Blues In My DNA was as fun and exciting as playing live. “I love writing as much as performing. I love watching an idea become a song, then a song become something people can relate to, and then sing along with. And I always keep it authentic to myself. Everyone can feel it and be familiar with it. I’m here to build bridges, not walls.”
The autobiographical title track, a song Ronnie describes as “a bridge between me and my audience,” is the album’s centerpiece, the passionate guitar solos underlining the lyrics’ story of triumphing over racism, poverty and glass ceilings. “I ain’t complaining,” he sings, “I’m just explaining,” before declaring, “I got love in my blood, the blues in my DNA.” The advance single track and the new lyric video for Blues In My DNA has just premiered.
Ronnie Baker Brooks was born in 1967 in Chicago. He received his first guitar from his famous father at age nine and learned the instrument as he got older, sharing his time between playing basketball and focusing on his music. After high school, he joined his father’s band – as a roadie. He earned his way slowly up the ladder, listening, watching and learning. At one show, Koko Taylor pulled him aside as he was loading the gear into the van and told him, “You learn from your daddy everything you can. And one day, it’ll be up to you to carry the blues forward.”
Lonnie eventually allowed Ronnie to play bass with the band before bringing him on as his full-time second guitarist. Ronnie made his recording debut on Lonnie’s Live From Chicago: Bayou Lightning Strikes album in 1988. In 1991, he hit the road as part of The Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Tour band, backing Lonnie, Elvin Bishop, and Katie Webster. Each night he'd join them, along with Koko Taylor and Lil' Ed Williams, for unforgettable blues jams.
In 1998, when the time was right and with Lonnie’s blessing, Baker Brooks formed his own label, Watchdog Records, and released three solo albums over the next eight years: Golddigger in 1998, Take Me Witcha in 2001, and The Torch in 2006. On all three releases, Ronnie worked with and learned countless studio and production lessons from JellyBean Johnson (Prince, The Time), with positive response to Ronnie’s music coming from Prince himself.
In 2008, Ronnie produced and played on blues legend Eddy Clearwater’s Alligator debut, West Side Strut, helping to bring one of his mentors to a new generation of fans. His next solo album, 2017’s, Times Have Changed, was produced by drummer Steve Jordan (The Rolling Stones, Robert Cray) and issued on the Provogue label. The UK’s Record Collector magazine said, “Baker Brooks plays a heady blend of blues, soul and funk…an upbeat cocktail of guts, groove, stinging guitar work and soulful vocals.” The Blues Foundation has recognized Ronnie’s talent and recordings with a total of six Blues Music Award nominations.
Blues In My DNA effortlessly moves from funkified rockers to deep Memphis soul to epic, crowd-pleasing, guitar-driven workouts. Produced by famed studio wizard Jim Gaines (who has produced Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lonnie Brooks, Luther Allison and many others), Blues In My DNA is a career-defining statement from Baker Brooks, with each of the 11 original songs its own chapter in his ever-evolving story.
For Ronnie -- son of legendary multiple GRAMMY Award nominee, Blues Hall Of Famer, and longtime Alligator Records recording star Lonnie Brooks -- the process of writing songs for Blues In My DNA was as fun and exciting as playing live. “I love writing as much as performing. I love watching an idea become a song, then a song become something people can relate to, and then sing along with. And I always keep it authentic to myself. Everyone can feel it and be familiar with it. I’m here to build bridges, not walls.”
The autobiographical title track, a song Ronnie describes as “a bridge between me and my audience,” is the album’s centerpiece, the passionate guitar solos underlining the lyrics’ story of triumphing over racism, poverty and glass ceilings. “I ain’t complaining,” he sings, “I’m just explaining,” before declaring, “I got love in my blood, the blues in my DNA.” The advance single track and the new lyric video for Blues In My DNA has just premiered.
Ronnie Baker Brooks was born in 1967 in Chicago. He received his first guitar from his famous father at age nine and learned the instrument as he got older, sharing his time between playing basketball and focusing on his music. After high school, he joined his father’s band – as a roadie. He earned his way slowly up the ladder, listening, watching and learning. At one show, Koko Taylor pulled him aside as he was loading the gear into the van and told him, “You learn from your daddy everything you can. And one day, it’ll be up to you to carry the blues forward.”
Lonnie eventually allowed Ronnie to play bass with the band before bringing him on as his full-time second guitarist. Ronnie made his recording debut on Lonnie’s Live From Chicago: Bayou Lightning Strikes album in 1988. In 1991, he hit the road as part of The Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Tour band, backing Lonnie, Elvin Bishop, and Katie Webster. Each night he'd join them, along with Koko Taylor and Lil' Ed Williams, for unforgettable blues jams.
In 1998, when the time was right and with Lonnie’s blessing, Baker Brooks formed his own label, Watchdog Records, and released three solo albums over the next eight years: Golddigger in 1998, Take Me Witcha in 2001, and The Torch in 2006. On all three releases, Ronnie worked with and learned countless studio and production lessons from JellyBean Johnson (Prince, The Time), with positive response to Ronnie’s music coming from Prince himself.
In 2008, Ronnie produced and played on blues legend Eddy Clearwater’s Alligator debut, West Side Strut, helping to bring one of his mentors to a new generation of fans. His next solo album, 2017’s, Times Have Changed, was produced by drummer Steve Jordan (The Rolling Stones, Robert Cray) and issued on the Provogue label. The UK’s Record Collector magazine said, “Baker Brooks plays a heady blend of blues, soul and funk…an upbeat cocktail of guts, groove, stinging guitar work and soulful vocals.” The Blues Foundation has recognized Ronnie’s talent and recordings with a total of six Blues Music Award nominations.
MITCH WOODS HITS THE KEYS WITH HIS ROCKET 88s ON HIS NEW ALBUM ON MOMOJO RECORDS!
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MoMojo Records has just released Happy Hour, the new album from five-time Blues Music Award nominee Mitch Woods. The new disc features a baker’s dozen 13 tracks from the San Francisco Bay Area-based Woods, backed by his long-time band, The Rocket 88s. Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88s have been the torchbearers of a great American blues musical heritage for four decades. Taking their inspiration from the great jump ‘n' boogie outfits of the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, they breathe fresh life into the music that gave birth to rock ‘n' roll. Adding a healthy dose of New Orleans rhythm and blues, his trademark pile-drivin' piano, and some of his own playful lyrics, Woods and the 88s forge their own brand of music they call "rock-a-boogie."
Happy Hour, Woods' fourteenth album, is a collection of his all-original tunes recorded at Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California, with Mitch Woods producing, and Christoffer "Kid" Andersen, engineering and mastering. The resulting music captures the joy that live music brings. MVD Distribution is handling physical distribution for Happy Hour, with digital distribution by The Orchard.
“Happy Hour was recorded during the time of the Covid Lockdown,” recalls Mitch Woods about the sessions. “The whole world shut down and music stopped. It was an awful time for everyone and musicians really were hurt. I could never imagine after devoting my whole life to making music that it would just stop within two days and last three years!
“We all felt it deeply and people are still rebounding. Fortunately, I was able to gather my Rocket 88s together and - masked and inoculated - we gathered at the legendary Greaseland Studios, manned at the helm by madman and musical genius- Chris “Kid” Andersen who joined us on guitar as well.
“It felt so good to be able to play music again, even if it was in a studio with no live audience. I decided to break out my most popular original tunes that I have performed for decades and record them in a new light with new arrangements. We are all so thankful that live music is back and we hope this album captures that spirit. So pour yourself a tall one, sit back, and enjoy Happy Hour!”
Since its inception in October, 2022, MoMojo Records (a division of Nola Blue, Inc.) has been serving a diverse segment of independent roots artists connected by the quality of artistry rather than confined by genre boundaries. The guiding label credo, "distribution is more than delivery," has proven both valuable and worthy of expanded focus. MoMojo artists are provided the flexibility of DIY distribution, combined with thoughtful, personalized attention, all with careful consideration for each project's unique needs and budget.
"Mitch Woods has been a well-respected member of the blues community for decades, working with some of the finest on the scene," says Sallie Bengtson, MoMojo Records president. "We're certain that the 'rock-a-boogie' sounds of his latest project will be a welcome addition to many happy hours!"
"I am excited to be part of MoMojo and working with a great team," says Woods. "I know Sallie and company will give my latest release careful attention and help get it into blues and boogie lovers' hands!"
Happy Hour, Woods' fourteenth album, is a collection of his all-original tunes recorded at Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California, with Mitch Woods producing, and Christoffer "Kid" Andersen, engineering and mastering. The resulting music captures the joy that live music brings. MVD Distribution is handling physical distribution for Happy Hour, with digital distribution by The Orchard.
“Happy Hour was recorded during the time of the Covid Lockdown,” recalls Mitch Woods about the sessions. “The whole world shut down and music stopped. It was an awful time for everyone and musicians really were hurt. I could never imagine after devoting my whole life to making music that it would just stop within two days and last three years!
“We all felt it deeply and people are still rebounding. Fortunately, I was able to gather my Rocket 88s together and - masked and inoculated - we gathered at the legendary Greaseland Studios, manned at the helm by madman and musical genius- Chris “Kid” Andersen who joined us on guitar as well.
“It felt so good to be able to play music again, even if it was in a studio with no live audience. I decided to break out my most popular original tunes that I have performed for decades and record them in a new light with new arrangements. We are all so thankful that live music is back and we hope this album captures that spirit. So pour yourself a tall one, sit back, and enjoy Happy Hour!”
Since its inception in October, 2022, MoMojo Records (a division of Nola Blue, Inc.) has been serving a diverse segment of independent roots artists connected by the quality of artistry rather than confined by genre boundaries. The guiding label credo, "distribution is more than delivery," has proven both valuable and worthy of expanded focus. MoMojo artists are provided the flexibility of DIY distribution, combined with thoughtful, personalized attention, all with careful consideration for each project's unique needs and budget.
"Mitch Woods has been a well-respected member of the blues community for decades, working with some of the finest on the scene," says Sallie Bengtson, MoMojo Records president. "We're certain that the 'rock-a-boogie' sounds of his latest project will be a welcome addition to many happy hours!"
"I am excited to be part of MoMojo and working with a great team," says Woods. "I know Sallie and company will give my latest release careful attention and help get it into blues and boogie lovers' hands!"