So tonight I was checking out the artist page at Delta Groove Records and came across an artist that I hadn’t heard before Jason Ricci and New Blood
Hum, silly me! I checked out their most recent album Done with the Devil and after the title track which is the opener I knew this was a blues rock album for me and that Jason was a damn good harmonica player. A trip to his website told me that in 2009 Ricci and company picked up their second nomination for “Band of the Year” by Blues Wax Magazine. (They were also nominated in 2007). Jason won The Blues Critic’s award for “Harmonica Player of the Year”, and received a literary award for ”Article of the Year” from Blues Wax Magazine. Ricci was also nominated for the first time for the B.M.A. (Formerly Handy) Award for “Best Instrumentalist”: Harmonica.
Done with the Devil is actually on Eclecto Groove a subsidiary of Delta Groove and according to the website it “is their most ambitious album yet produced by Grammy Award winner Phil Wolfe (Alabama) featuring ten original songs by the band and two covers spanning the distance between Sun Ra and the Misfits.” and is an eclectic mix of Rock, Blues, Jazz, fusion, folk, funk, eastern, carnival, punk and jazz often within one tune!
New Blood’s Rhythm section is composed of Todd “Buck Weed” Edmunds (Bass, Tuba, Double Cass, Sousaphone, Bass Harmonica) and Ed Michaels (Drums). Edmunds is according to the website – a jazz master and devout musicologist. In between gigs with Ricci and New Blood Edmunds is just as likely to be found playing upright bass for a Ellington Big Band, or Tuba for a New Orleans Brass ensemble as he is likely to be subbing on electric bass for a Norwegian black math metal While Michaels who has been with the band over a year has a background that includes trap set drums, formal East Indian Tabla study as well as other hand drums and world percussion disciplines. Michaels has toured with Roy Rogers, Alvin Young Blood Hart and Commander Cody among others! Everybody contributes to the bands total sound both on stage and off!
I really didn’t get to listen to the album but one time through but I really liked what I heard and can’t wait to put it on the mp3 player for some more detailed listening. So if you’ve never heard Jason Ricci and the New Bloods give them a listen. Here’s a little example and there’s some more on the sidebar!