THE HARD WAY BLUES Jesse Dayton (Blue Elan Records) ****+
When outlaw country meets the blues, you get Jesse Dayton. The Hard Way Blues, a rough and tumble adventure that refuses to be confined by genre. Rock, country, hard blues, it’s all here on rowdy, magnificent display.
Dayton is a big name in outlaw country; he’s worked with Tanya Tucker and Brandi Carlisle, plus garnered a Grammy nomination with Samantha Fish for 2023’s Death Wish Blues- a great record by the way. When it came to The Hard Way Blues, Jesse knew what he was after. “I wanted to make something that reflected where I’m at right now; so we (he and producer Shooter Jennings) embraced a big sound with a lot of ripping, bluesy guitar leads. Sometimes it sounds like Freddie King, sometimes it sounds like Jimmy Page.” In that process he made an entertaining, rockin’ record.
Recorded in less than a week, The Hard Way Blues capture Dayton in full flight, reaching for the stars, and despite decades in the business he just keeps getting bigger. “What’s happening to me now isn’t supposed to happen to someone at my age” Jesse notes. Keep making solid records like this and that’s just going to keep on happening.
HOT TRACKS: The Hard Way, The Ballad Of Boyd Elder, Angel In My Pocket
RAMBLIN’ FROM COAST TO COAST Johnny Burgin (Straight Shooter Records) ****
With stinging guitar and luxurious grooves, Johnny Burgin’s Ramblin’ From Coast To Coast is like the best ever soundtrack for an epic road trip. The disc is original numbers informed by Johnny’s years of playing Chicago-style blues. Often traveling without a band, Burgin discovers fruitful collaborators on the road. That loose, devil-may-care spirit is this disc’s charm.
If your taste in the blues tends to be more traditional Ramblin’ From Coast To Coast is definitely up your alley. The production is relatively simple, retro and the sound natural, like walking into some underground after hours blues club as the band plays with brilliant, effortless-sounding magic. Of Johnny no less than the great Elvin Bishop says “his guitar style is raw and rude and real- on the vocal side a nice, organic style… he’s damn good!” On this album you’ll hear contributions from John Blues Boyd, Rex Gordon, Ben Levin, Hanna PK, Jon Hay and Dylan Bishop. All together they’ve put something together that feels a bit like Freddie King.
Ramblin’ From Coast to Coast has a spirit and feel like something from 1965, but it just came out in the middle of April. Gotta spin this one again before bed.
HOT TRACKS: Getting’ My Blues, On, Fresno Woman, Silently Suffering
DESTINATION: BLUES Stevie & The Blue Flames (independent) **** ½
The blues may have started as a black art form, but there are some white guys in the game that really know how to bend those notes; and West Coast harp legend Steve Bailey is one of ‘em. Destination: Blues grooves like a top down summer road trip. This is real joie de blues.
Bailey usually works faster, but that changed with guitarist/ producer Richard Newman. “I’ve always done everything myself with regard to production, recording, et cetera” Stevie says, “and working with Richard was a huge and positive change. It helps to have a critical ear who’s not afraid to say “no, do that again’.” And this is the first time he’s used different musicians on different tracks. The album touches on classic blues styles while sounding energized, modern.
The magic on Destination: Blues is Stevie’s harp. His playing is soulful and emotional, steeped in blues history with every note. He’s no slouch as a vocalist either, really bringing the heat on songs like Stranger Blues. I’ve enjoyed and loved many harp players in my time, but Stevie Bailey has already made my top ten list of players- hell, maybe even the top five. This is REALLY good stuff.
www.stevieandtheblueflames.com
HOT TRACKS: Let Me Go, First Class Fool, Stranger Blues
SOME AWKWARD COUNTRY AHEAD Adam Karch (independent) *****+
Great playing and soulful songs is what you get on Adam Karch’s new disc. Some Awkward Country Ahead is an acoustic journey through Americana and the like, and it’s a startlingly intimate record- just Adam and his guitar, nothing else. He’s wanted to do such a record for years, and it’s worth the wait.
If you’re a fan of Matt Andersen and his House To House album in particular (and I am) Awkward Country will speak to you on every level. There’s a range of emotions on display here, from hopelessness to hopefulness, and despair to redemption and just wanting to live a simple life. I’m 66 and working two jobs so yeah- I can relate, and the sparse, intimate arrangements invite you in to consider your own journeys as Adam tells us about his.
“At first I thought I couldn’t do it all alone” Adam says, “but once I got set up, a feeling of self- control came over me and I ended up taking 2 months to record (this album) at my home” and it feels like we were right there with him. Some Awkward Country Ahead is a deeply affecting disc… it’s a beautiful thing.
HOT TRACKS: New York City’s A Lie, You Hurt Me So Bad, Some Awkward Country Ahead
ABOUT TIME Celso Salim & Darryl Carriere (Wide Tracks Recordings) **** ¾
These dudes have made music together for over two decades, but About Time is their first record together. Brazilian guitarist Celso Salim and California harp player/ vocalist Darryl Carrierre make sweet blues together with the intuitive interplay that comes from mutual experience.
About Time is blues, but you’ll find traces of rock, funk and country. The album is 10 original cuts driven by a rock-solid rhythm section with Mike Hightower on bass (also co-producer with Celso) and David Kida on drums. This band plays with the soul and groove of a bunch of black guys- something some white guys can’t always pull off. Salim’s guitar playing is wickedly incisive, and Carriere is an extremely tasty harp player, plus the way the rhythm section moves with the music is inspiring.
Sound-wise About Time is clear, uncluttered and soulful, laid back but not lazy… music made by talented players confident in their abilities without the need for histrionics as every note heard is in service of the songs themselves. It’s hard to believe Celso & Darryl have made music together for over 20 years yet this is their first collaboration on tape. With an album this delightfully entrancing, I need to hear more.
HOT TRACKS: Here With You, BBQ, With My Friends
GOLDEN THREAD Jerome Godboo (independent) ***+
Jerome Godboo is a talented harp player on the Toronto blues scene-you’ve seen his name on other artists’ records. When he goes solo the results are a little left of center, and so it is with his new album Golden Thread. It’s like a meeting of straight up blues and spaghetti western soul, a blend I happen to find quite enjoyable.
Golden Thread was inspired partly by Jerome’s wife Michelle explaining her Golden Thread idea and helping with some of the lyrics. The inner sleeve of the cd thanks “Susan Teeter for sharing with me the first verse lyrics in Golden Thread which her grandfather wrote.” Godboo isn’t one to stand on blues traditions, he bends them to his will to express whatever strikes his fancy. It’s kind of daring and intriguing, a little out there, but therein lies the charm.
As far as the studio goes Gold Thread is a two man effort; Jerome on vocals, harmonica and various noisemakers, while producer Tim Bastmeyer handles all the technical stuff in addition to guitar, bass and drums. It’s definitely blues, kind of unkempt and messy, which might turn you off- or excite you. Either way, this Golden Thread is worth following.
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HOT TRACKS: Live Not On Evil, Igloo Doghouse, Golden Thread
