Life’s Soundtrack: A Good Sceond Run with some Great Blues from Kevin Selfe!

So it was a pretty mice day today in the Delaware Valley, temperature somewhere in the mid-40s, light almost until 6, no excuses for not running! So I hit the road, I ran the same course as the last time almost a week ago, but this time I went a little farther and the run was a little easier! I averaged around 10:!4 per mile, but again I’m just starting to build some miles again, so I’m not worried about time, just as long as I’m little faster and can go farther I’m fine! The soundtrack for the run was…

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“Into the Night” with the Slide Guitar of Dave Hole!

So after listening to The Slide Brothers, I started thinking about other artist who play slide guitar and the first one that jumped into my head was Australian blues artist, Dave Hole! So this afternoon I listen to his most recent release Rough Diamond, which was released way back in 2007! From his website:  The latest release from Dave Hole is called “ROUGH DIAMOND”. It follows on from his very successful live release (“The Live One”) and is his first studio album in 5 years. It’s released on the Blind Pig label in the USA, Dixie Frog Records in Europe…

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“Into the Night” as Robert Randolph Presents: The Slide Brothers

Ok so before yesterday I did not know much about the tradition of sacred steel in gospel music. A tradition where lap steel guitar replaces the organ. From Wikipedia: Sacred steel is a musical style and African-American gospel tradition that developed in a group of related Pentecostal churches in the 1930s. The Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, was founded in 1903 by Mary Magdalena Lewis Tate. Following her death in 1930, the church divided into three branches, known as the Keith, Jewell and Lewis dominions. The steel guitar was embraced in the worship…

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Musical Roots – Mike Bloomfield (July 28, 1943 – February 15, 1981)

So yesterday February 15th back in 1981, the music world lost one of its greatest guitarist to heroin addiction, when Michael Bloomfield died. While Bloomfield started with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. I didn’t discover his music until The Electric Flag album “A Long Time Comin’ The album quickly became a favorite and Bloomfield’s guitar artistry was a big reason. I followed his career through his work with Al Kooper and the Super Session Album and then The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper. I didn’t discover his later solo work until the late 90s early 2000s. Here’s…

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“Into the Morning” with Blues from The Suitcase Brothers!

So finishing second at the International Blues Challenge in the Solo/Duo Category were brothers Pere and Victor Puertas who together form The Suitcase Brothers. They represented the Barcelona Blues Society and boy can they play the blues. I listened tonight to their first album Living with the Blues and I am in awe of Victor’s harp playing! Here’s some information about the brothers from their Myspace page: THE SUITCASE BROTHERS is a dynamic country blues duo formed by two brothers: Pere Puertas, guitar and vocals, and Victor Puertas, harmonica, piano and vocals. Pere was born on W.C Handy’s birthday (November…

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International Blues Challenge Winner – Selwyn Birchwood Blues Band

So last weekend 230 Blues bands from around the world converged on Memphis for the 29th International Blues Challenge. The bands play in Blues Clubs up and down Beale Street with the grand finale held in the Orpheum Theater. Here’s Matt Marshall’s recap of the winners as posted at the American Blues Scene: After a powerful fight between finalists, Suncoast Blues Society’s Selwyn Birchwood Band was crowned the Best Band winner of this year’s IBC. German Blues Network’s Michael van Merwyk and Bluesoul received the second place honor, and third place was awarded to Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band w/ Erica…

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“Into the Morning” with the Rusty Wright Band “Whole Lotta Rosie”

Ok so, last night I was reviewing the Roots Music Report Blues Chart and came across The Rusty Wright Band at No 47 and their latest album THIS, THAT & THE OTHER THING. It only took listening to the first track “A Whole Lotta Rosie” to know that Rusty Wright can play guitar and that I was going to like this album. I listened to several tracks on the way to and from work tonight at Target and I REALLY like this album. I’ll write more about it after a few more listens. But until then here’s a taste as…

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Today in Music – Blues Legend Elmore James was born in 1918.

On this day in 1918 one of the most influential blues musicians was born Elmore James. While James passed before I started listening to music big-time, He certainly influenced many of the artist that I’ve listened to through the years and his legacy lives on there are several covers of his classic “Dust My Broom” in my music library. Here’s some background from Wikipedia: Elmore James (January 27, 1918 – May 24, 1963) was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, band leader.[1] He was known as “the King of the Slide Guitar” and had a unique guitar style, noted for…

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A Playlist of 2012 Blues Favorites set to go!

So I have a play-list all set to go for the trip down to mile post 53.9 on the Garden State P{arkway to do two percolation tests. The play-list has 27 tracks from my favorite blues albums of 2012. The play-list has tracks from the following albums: 1.Albert Castiglia – Livin’ the Dream 2. Albert Cummings – No Regrets 3. Dani Wilde – Juice Me Up 4. JoAnne Shaw Taylor – Almost Always Never 5. Joe Bonamassa – Driving Towards the Daylight 6. Joe Bonamassa – Beacon Theater – Live from New York 7. Joe Louis Walker – Hellfire 8….

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A Playlist of 2012 Blues Favorites set to go!

So I have a play-list all set to go for the trip down to mile post 53.9 on the Garden State P{arkway to do two percolation tests. The play-list has 27 tracks from my favorite blues albums of 2012. The play-list has tracks from the following albums: 1.Albert Castiglia – Livin’ the Dream 2. Albert Cummings – No Regrets 3. Dani Wilde – Juice Me Up 4. JoAnne Shaw Taylor – Almost Always Never 5. Joe Bonamassa – Driving Towards the Daylight 6. Joe Bonamassa – Beacon Theater – Live from New York 7. Joe Louis Walker – Hellfire 8….

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