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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A Jazzy Thursday Afternoon – so let’s go Into the Night with Oscar and Milt!

So today I doing some work that required a bit of concentration, so the soundtrack was jazz oriented. Last night I had turned on Pandora and was listening to some jazz albums and one of the tracks was from the album Very Tall by Milt Jackson and Oscar Peterson, since the track that played last night was very good and I had never heard this album I thought that the album would be a good place to start my afternoon music. I was right! What a great album, but then I” wouldn’t expect anything  from these two great jazz masters!…

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He’s Just Sayin’ – Andrew’s 2012 Prog Rock Favorites

Ok so now you’ll have it from a ProgRock expert and not someone who’s still learning about the genre! Here’s an abbreviated list of some of his favorite albums of 2012. This post is cross-posted from  his blog I’m Just Sayin’… I have kind of let my blog slide a bit, so I wanted to kick 2013 off with a list of some of my favorite albums from 2012.  I’m a little behind with new releases this year, but I wanted to share some of the albums that have stuck with me throughout the year.  Hope you enjoy! Big Big…

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Today (what’s left of it) in Music – Milt Jackson’s Birthday!

So for the longest time my favorite vibraphonist was Gary Burton and he still may be my favorite, but coming in a close second is Milt Jackson, who would have celebrated his 89th birthday today! From Wikipedia:  Milton “Bags” Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999) was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms. He is especially remembered for his cool swinging solos as a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet and his penchant for collaborating with several hard bop and post-bop players. A very expressive player, Jackson…

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R.I.P. – Mike Auldridge – Dobro Master – (December 30, 1938 – December 29, 2012)

If you’ve read this blog in the past you know that in many instances the biggest part of my musical listening is the picking! Yes I love good lyrics, but I also love the instruments whether it’s a harmonica, organ, guitar, banjo, fiddle or dobro put them in the hands of a master and I’m all ears! On Saturday one of the all-time great dobro players passed away. Mike Auldridge lost has battle against cancer and died at the age of 73. Mike is right up there among the greatest players of all-time right along side of Josh Graves, Jerry…

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New Bluegrass – Tiger Maple String Band – Coming Home

So last night I was checking out the Roots Music Report for some new music, and there at No 45 sat a band named Tiger Maple String Band. Their name looked interesting. I usually like bands with String Band in their name because that evokes in me thought of old timey music and tthat’s what I heard when I gave their recent release Coming Home a listen. I recognized a couple of old Appalachian standards mixed in with some great instrumentals. I love those instrumentals Here’s what they say about their music – from their website:! The band draws its inspiration…

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