music Archives - Smoky Mountain Blues Society

2017 IBC #33 (compilation) CD November, 2017

Here is a glorious compilation of blues from this years International Blues Competition in Memphis, Tennessee. This is a pairing between The Blues Foundation and Frank Roszak Productions. You can get this at www.blues.org and it’s called “International Blues Challenge #33 CD.” This is the 33rd year they have had this worldwide competition, and presented here are 14 of the very top contenders! ...
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LUCKY JOHNNY and his GUITAR! Raffle winner is one happy blueser!

Grand Prize Winner of the Smoky Mountain Blues Society’s Custom-built Autographed Guitar Is the Ideal Recipient Veteran Deejay Johnny Mack Announced as Raffle Winner The look of surprise and astonishment on Johnny Mack’s face said it all. With his mouth agape, the look of astonishment was clear to all who watched as his name was announced. Then again, what could be more appropriate than ...
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61 Ghosts – …to the Edge – October, 2017

I‘ve had the great pleasure of listening to an outstanding three-piece rock/blues/ delta band called 61 Ghosts! Their new album ….”to the Edge,” is definitely to the edge, and in fact over it! Featuring Joe Mazzari on vocals and guitar, Dixie Deadwood on drums, percussion, backup vocal,s and J.D. Sipe on bass they rock! All music and lyrics were written by Joe and he sings them right. For a t...
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Popa Chubby “Two Dogs” October, 2017

If you know Popa Chubby you know hard-driving blues and rock. Wide open, foot on the gas. This new album “Two Dogs,” Popa really stretches out. With twelve cuts, all made from his home in New York, Popa brings everything from boogie music to the Rolling Stones, right back to Two Dogs! Ace long-time friend and drummer Dave Keyes shines like the sun! Popas’ daughter, Tipitina, plays trumpet, a...
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Rob Lutes – Walk in the Dark – September 2017

Get out the wallet and credit card. Here’s one of the top 5 acoustic CD’s I’ve heard in the past several years! Rob Lutes – “Walk in the Dark.” Rob is a Canadian singer/songwriter, and this is his seventh album. I’m gonna’ have to look up the previous six! With ten originals, two more, co-written with friends, and one John Prine cover, you will not be disappointed. He writes great stuff and ...
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Mindi Abair – The Eastwest Sessions – September, 2017

Let’s face it, everybody enjoys some good Sax! Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers new CD, The Eastwest Sessions, shows us what one of America’s most outstanding saxophone players can do. It not every day that you hear a saxophone player lead the band, and honestly, I miss it. Mindi plays saxophone as good as anyone out there! This new CD is outs tanding from the first note to the...
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Altered Five Blues Band – Charmed & Dangerous / August 2017

Now I know that the blues will never die, but every once in a while a band comes up with some crazy good stuff! That’s the case with the newest album by the Altered Five Blues Band, “Charmed & Dangerous.” This is the fourth full-length album by this Milwaukee based super band! Jeff Taylor has the blues voice we all love and Jeff Scroedl’s guitar work is spot on! Taylor just blasts out ...
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Greg Sover – Songs of A Renegade – August 2017

There’s some hot new stuff coming out of Philadelphia in the ways of blues, rock, and good times! Greg Sover has just released his second CD, “Songs of A Renegade,” and it is warming up the summer for sure! Ten cuts with nine originals, and an up-tempo version of Bill Wither’s “Ain’t No Sunshine,” that has gained a lot of airplay in Philly so far. Throw in “Moments,” the first cut on this CD, a...
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Lew Jetton & 61 South – Palestine Blues

Some folks like happy blues, tired blues, soft blues, fancy blues, well here’s one that’s HARD BLUES! Lew Jetton & 61 South’s new CD “Palestine Blues” will hit you in the forehead like a sixteen-pound hammer! This is Lew’s follow up CD “Rain,” which garnered acclaim in 2016 spending more than six months on the Roots Music Contemporary Blues charts, finishing #36 out of the top 200 releases. ...
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Steve Howell & Jason Weinheimer – A Hundred Years From Today

Ace acoustic fingerpicker Steve Howell has teamed up with Bass player Jason Weinheimer for some great acoustic blues! Steve knocks it out of the park on this one. With two Mississippi John Hurt songs, a little Lightnin’ Hopkins, some Bo Carter, Jim Jackson, even some Hoagy Carmichael and then some! If you’re an old school country blues finger picker here you go! Every song clean and clear, tru...
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