"At His Best - Live"

Sean Costello

Downslide Records

Despite the loss of so many tremendous elder bluesmen over the past couple years, I still feel that one of the most significant losses was that of Sean Costello. Taken from this world one day shy of his 29th birthday, he had the blues world knocking at his door as the next great hope. That individual who could perhaps been the future Robert Cray or Stevie Ray Vaughan to spark interest beyond to the cross-over market. He had that type of potential. Skills on guitar and a voice that growled filled with soulfulness and reckless abandon that demanded attention. And there was no better forum to listen to this talent than in performance.

Luckily for us, Landslide Records has taken 16 tracks of Sean Costello live material culled from various venues between 2000 – 2007 and released a remarkable compilation documenting the power he held for audiences. All selections have never been previously released on any of his albums. Outstanding covers by artists such as Magic Sam, T-Bone Walker, Tyrone Davis, Michael Bloomfield, Bobby Womack and Earl King among others. Please note, the sound quality varies throughout the album because the inclusions were recorded by various means from stage soundboards to personal cassettes. But even if there is feedback or background talking going on at times, the music being offered is out of this world fantastic! Guitar playing that cuts to the bone, never over-played, concise and just damn flavorful! Want proof? Give a listen to Magic Sam's "All Your Love", Freddie King's "San-Ho-Zay" or Andy Gibson's "The Hucklebuck."

Costello's guitar work may have brought the most recognition, but his singing is more than stellar, too. On numbers like Tyrone Davis' "Can I Change My Mind," Bobby Womack's "Check It Out" and Johnnie Taylor's "Doing My Own Thing" Costello displays soulful readings just dripping with emotion. There are also fine readings exuberating fun such as T-Bone Walker's "T-Bone Boogie," Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "Motor Head Baby" and Little Richard's classic "Lucille." And his take of Robert Ward's "Peace Of Mind" is over the top, just maybe the highlight of an album filled with outstanding material.

It is a tremendous shame that we will never be able to witness Sean Costello on stage ever again. Those of us who had that pleasure will never forget the dynamics he brought forth. Those who did not will have to resort to this disc. But have no fear, it is going to make believers of anybody who listens of just how important a musician Costello really was. Thank you Landslide for bringing back such fond memories.

Note: Proceeds from the sale of this album will benefit the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bi-Polar Research.

Total Time: 71:33

Intro / San-Ho-Zay / Blue Shadows / T-Bone Boogie / All Your Love / I Got A Feeling / Check It Out / Can I Change My Mind / You're Killing My Love / Reconsider Baby / Doing My Own Thing / The Hucklebuck / Motor Head Baby / Hold On This Time / The Battle Is Over But The War Goes On / Peace Of Mind / Lucille

Reviewed by Greg Johnson

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"Strange Love"

Roy Roberts

Ocean Beach Records

If you've never listened to North Carolina-based bluesman Roy Roberts before, you're certainly missing out on one of the smoothest and pleasing vocalist/guitarist around. He has quite a number of recordings that he has released over the years and he hits home every time out. And that definitely includes his latest disc, Strange Love. Filled with classic soul tempo and groove, Roberts can bring about comparisons with the best, from O.V. Wright to Robert Cray.
Strange Love showcases Roberts talents as both a musician and as a song writer. He can lay it down funky as with the opening track "My Love Bone," get down in the alley greasy guitar on "The Next Time" which sounds as if it could've been pulled directly off an Albert King album, jump out of your seat rockin' on "I Can't Wait," or deliver straight ahead Memphis styled soul on a number like "Wait For Me." All songs are originals and super-charged by The Mofo Horns (Rusty Smith and Scott Adair). Perhaps my favorite selection is "A Woman Needs Love." It has that distinct Southern soul feel that brings to mind the finest of Little Milton or Johnny Rawls. Soft vocals with tasty guitar patterns and horn energy that cuts right to the heart.
This album is an absolute must if you're a fan of soulful blues done right. For the life of me I could never figure out why Roy Roberts is not one of the more recognized artists of the blues. A complete master and Strange Love is another winning release that proves that fact.

Total Time: 40:20
My Love Bone / I Truly Love You / Hey Baby / Strange Love / I'm Never Gonna Stop / Wait For Me / A Woman Needs Love / We Still Together / The Next Time / I Can't Wait 

Reviewed by Greg Johnson

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"Burn Down"

Poor Boy’s Soul

Self Produced

If you enjoy the sounds of one-man bands like Ben Prestage or Richard Johnston, you’re more than likely going to like this album from Poor Boy’s Soul. It’s full of that energetic beat so much associated with these type of performers who work kicking a drum with tambourine and steady, often hard-hitting guitar that requires a good deal of coordination and skill to come across correctly. Trevor Jones, who is Poor Boy’s Soul, can certainly rip up some tasty slide guitar that can come across either mournful or genuinely heartfelt. He can show a bit of attitude as well. His bio on his website makes it bluntly clear he is not out to become the next rock sensation, so he has nothing to lose or gain by telling you exactly how he feels. “I finally pulled my head out of the sand, that’s when I finally learned to take my stand,” as he informs us in the song “Nails In The Pine.”

Based out of Portland, fans of local artists like Hillstomp or Rollie Tussing (who recently moved to Michigan) will find Poor Boy’s Soul exactly what they’re after. Jones played metal, thrash and punk music and worked with the band Biketramp before taking on his solo route. He’s also fond of hopping freight trains across country living the somewhat itinerant life-style of so many musicians before him. By practicing this he found it was easier to carry an inexpensive acoustic guitar with him, allowing him to play with and learn from musicians he encountered.

The songs on Burn Down are pretty basic and the playing is downright raw, but it is because of this that makes it so authentic sounding. It’s also very personal. He tells you his views on peoples’ religious beliefs in “Throwin’ Stones,” “You say I'm gonna burn in hell, ‘cause I wont bow to no throne, one thing that I know well, you shouldn't be throwing stones.” The title track, “Burn Down” with its mournful slide guitar uses the visage of the old house as a metaphor for social problems facing us all today. Jones believes in using music as a social outlet and he should as its been a common and useful means of expressing thoughts and ideas for eons. On “54 Ways” the old train sound approach is used, but it’s not really so much a train song as it is a profession of love that’s real.

All of the tracks use the one-man band format save for the final number, “Annalisa,” which is a moving ballad he wrote for his sister. From the lyrics you gather she has lived a rough life, but he looks up to his older sister and let’s her know, “you’re stronger than those demons in your head.”

Although the album is very short, the feel and the emotion are laid bare before you. It comes from within as all really good blues (or any for that matter) music originates. A strong album from an artist to keep your eyes on.

Total Time: 32:21

Burn Down / Movin’ To The City / Nails In The Pine / Throwin’ Stones / Ain’t Comin’ Back No More / 54 Ways / Annalisa

Reviewed by Greg Johnson

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"Can’t Stay Long"

Kenny Brown

Devil Down Records

Can’t Stay Down is really two records released in one package. Two completely different CDs that showcase the great guitar work of one of North Mississippi’s most exceptional musicians, Kenny Brown. Those in the know of the area’s music recognize the name immediately. Growing up and learning from the likes of Mississippi Fred McDowell and Joe Callicott, sometimes playing with Junior Kimbrough. Or perhaps you know his former employer for twenty-six years R.L. Burnside. The man cut his teeth on the blues and he does not have to rely on his associations with such stellar musicians to prove his own merit. He has previously released a handful of outstanding CDs under his own name including 1998’s Goin’ Back To Mississippi and 2003’s Stingray.

Disc One is titled Porch Songs. And that is exactly what they are. Kenny sitting on his porch playing his guitar on his own. You know it’s been recorded there, too, because at one point on the album you hear a dog bark in the background. The selections are classic blues, including his mentor Fred McDowell’s “Jesus On The Mainline,” Reverend Robert Wilkins’ “Prodigal Son” and Big Joe Williams’ “Baby, Please Don’t Go.” All done acoustically as they were originally recorded, bringing a nice authentic delivery that sounds like Kenny is playing a personal show just for you.

The second disc, titled Money Maker, contains a live performance from 2010 at his annual North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic where he gathers his fellow local musicians for a musical party. Some of those friends taking part include Duwayne Burnside and Luther Dickinson. It’s a kick ass show that offers plenty of North Mississippi standards and many of the songs Kenny played with R.L. Burnside regularly, like “Jumper On The Line,” “Ms. Maybelle,” “Shake ‘Em” and “Laughin’ To Keep From Cryin’.”

Can’t Stay Down is a wonderful collection, offering two sides of Kenny Brown’s musical trick bag. A definite must own for anybody who loves the Mississippi Hill Country blues.

Total Time: 1:56:15

Backdoor Man / Jesus On The Mainline / World War I / When You Got A Good Friend / Prodigal Son / Gotta Boogie / Wreck On The Highway / Baby, Please Don’t Go / Denomination Blues / Jesse James / Leavin’ Town / Skinny Woman / Shake ‘Em / Skinny Woman / Ms. Maybelle / Walkin’ Blues / Dr. Brown / Shake Your Money Maker / Laughin’ To Keep From Cryin’ / Jumper On The Line / Sara Brown / Back To Mississippi / Alice Mae / Let’s Work Together / If Walls Could Talk

Reviewed by Greg Johnson

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"Hellfire"

Joe Louis Walker

Alligator Records

When it comes to the blues, I have to say that Joe Louis Walker has long been one of my all-time favorite artists. I highly anticipate every new recording he puts out and can’t say that I have ever been disappointed by anything he has done. And that certainly proves to be true once again with his Alligator debut release, Hellfire. Chock full of all the exciting energy I have come to expect from him, the album is packed with great guitar and songwriting that stands amongst his best work ever. It’s rockin’, it’s soulful, crafty and imaginative.

To really make the new disc work, Walker teamed up with Tom Hambridge, best known for his work with another renowned guitarist, one Buddy Guy. Hambridge brings to the table his studio wizardry as well as his exceptional drumming and songwriting abilities, co-writing five of the disc’s tracks. Also on board are Reese Wynans on keys, Tommy MacDonald on bass and Rob McNelley on second guitar; definitely a commendable grouping. Walker himself was behind writing seven of the numbers.

Opening with the title track, “Hellfire,” that takes on the classic theme of good vs. evil. Travelin’ down the devil’s highway, tryin’ to love everybody he meets while the fire burns at his feet. It may be his curse, but it makes for some mighty explosive guitar. On the other end of the spectrum he sings about being a “Soldier For Jesus,” showing that he’s just at home singing for the other guy in this nice gospel-inflected number. He even brings in The Jordanaires, known for their work behind Elvis Presley, to provide authentic background vocals on the song. There is a lot of diversity with the album. “Ride All Night” comes across with a very Rolling Stones’ type of feel. “I Know Why” brings a soulful approach. There is also a cover of country artist Hank Snow on his “Movin’ On” offering alittle rockabilly touch. “Black Girls” is Walker’s tribute to female vocalists who can bring on the true soul in your soul rather than just rock & roll. All while tearing into some mighty rock-felt string-work as he mentions the likes of Shemekia Copeland, Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner. And when it comes to all out rockers, “Too Drunk To Drive Drunk” is just a jumping, go for what it’s worth number geared to have you up and dancing.

Hellfire may come across as quite a variety of musical samplings. But for what it’s worth, if you look over Joe Louis Walker’s career, he has never set himself to be labeled as any one of type of blues man. There’s been rock, soul and down in the alley blues all along. And it’s all been first-class. With more than forty Blues Music Award nominations and four wins, Joe Louis Walker deserves to be recognized as one of the genre’s elite in the same breath as others known across the musical map like B.B King, Buddy Guy or Robert Cray. He’s simply that good. So perhaps this new marriage between him and Alligator Records will bring him to receive that same status. It’d be about time.

Total Time: 53:58

Hellfire / I Won’t Do That / Ride All Night / I’m On To You / What’s It Worth / Soldier For Jesus / I Know Why / Too Drunk To Drive Drunk / Black Girls / Don’t Cry / Movin’ On

Review by Greg Johnson

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"Real Good Friend"

D’Mar & Gill

Airtight Productions

Real Good Friend is quite an unique release from the Mississippi-based duet D’Mar & Gill, taking a new direction of their own on acoustic blues that has its base not only in Delta styles but African percussion rhythms as well. Both D’Mar (Derrick Martin) and Chris Gill bring strong backgrounds between them; Martin having worked alongside Little Richard, Bobby Rush and Big Jack Johnson and Gill learning first-hand from Bentonia legend Jack Owens and leading his own popular band The Sole Shakers. And they know how to bring a lot of sound out of just a guitar and drums. It’s raw material they offer, but it cuts to the bone.

The song selection is almost completely their own originals, save for one lone cover of the Willie Dixon standard “My Babe.” But they take that song on in their own direction that really becomes something new altogether with a strong drum backbeat and a somewhat call & response approach. There is really quite a variety of angles that the pair take on throughout the recording. “Mississippi Honey” is a pleasant ballad, “Tore Down” brings a moody guitar and vocal approach that brings Bentonia’s master Skip James to mind, “Harmony Street” offers a bit of a jazzy feel and “Crawfish Boogie” is a sweet little double entendre number with a bit of kazoo emphasis. The disc closes out with a romping instrumental, “International Blues Stomp,” with Gill’s exquisite slide guitar layered over the steady playing of D’Mar’s drums.

This is an act that you can picture playing on a street corner on a Saturday afternoon with a large crowd gathering to listen in. It’s a refreshing bluesy disc that proves you do not need a full band to deliver a full sound. Enjoyable start to finish and well worth giving a listen too.

Total Time: 40:48

Runnin’ Wild Blues / My Babe / Real Good Friend / Maybe Baby / Crawfish Boogie / Harmony Street / Two More Days / Tore Down / Mississippi Honey / International Blues Stomp

Reviewed by Greg Johnson

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Two Great Reissues From Criminal Records Northwest

So glad that Criminal Records Northwest is continuing to re-release selections from their archives. They had so many fantastic albums during their original tenure and these two latest reissues are amongst their best.

J.C. Rico had a voice that just oozed soulful blues. His album First Offense clearly showcased that. Raised in Mississippi and spending time in Chicago prior to moving to Oregon gave him the exposure on just how this music should sound right. Opening with the funky backbeat behind his deep, serious voice on “Sign Of The Times” tells you right away that Rico meant business, which also offers a killer bluesy guitar solo. That is followed up by “Old Catfish Song” where he tells a nice story about a catfish who wishes he could travel on the train he hears go by every day. Other outstanding tracks include a cover of Solomon Burke’s “Cry To Me,” the deeply soulful “Never Gonna Change,” punchy horns on “Long Time Gone” and the slow blues piece “I Know Her Too.” At the time of this release J.C. Rico was commanding stages in the area with his band Armed & Dangerous. First Offense featured guest guitarists Lloyd Jones and Jim Mesi into the mix and the disc was a nominee for the Cascade Blues Association’s Muddy Awards for Album of the Year. Unfortunately, J.C. Rico passed away this last year, so having First Offense available again will bring back fond memories of such an outstanding vocalist and entertainer.

Also Reissued by Criminal Records Northwest is the compilation disc of the label’s founder Paul Jones playing drums behind a virtual who’s who of the local scene at the time and many of the label’s premier artists. It opens very strongly with a jumping rockabilly “Baby Let’s Play House” performed by guitarist Steve Bradley. There are so many variations of styles profiled on the disc that it creates such a great dimension that shows the diversity of each vocalist. Curtis Salgado’s reading of “My Soul’s Got A Hole In It” is so smooth it’ll send chills down your back. Jon Koonce takes a somewhat reggae approach on “Island, Island,” while Norman Sylvester gives his traditional funky knowledge on “Criminal Groove,” D.K. Stewart takes us to the bayou on his cover of “Congo Square,” and Joe Dobroe’s stellar guitar playing and deep gravelly voice make “Sitting On Top Of The World” a fun-paced quirky offering. The album closes with the soul-stirring vocals of J.C. Rico on “Walk On Water,” so well done it may bring tears to your eyes. Other fantastic numbers are presented by Lloyd Jones, Mark Dufresne and Lily Wilde. Not a bad track on the disc. Worthy of checking out again to relive those good times.

First Offense

J.C. Rico

Total Time: 52:03

Sign Of The Times / Old Catfish Song / Outside Lookin’ Back In / Never Gonna Change / Long Time Gone / Blues Feels Good / Cry To Me / Who Ya Gonna Tell / I Know Her Too / Drive By Blues / Amazing Grace

All My Friends Can Sing

Paul Jones & Friends

Total Time: 53:34

Baby Let’s Play House / Criminal Groove / Island, Island / Tracks Of Love / Sittin’ On Top Of The World / My Soul’s Got A Hole In It / Nutbush / Come Back / Everybody Knows (The River Song) / Congo Square / Cold Duck Time / Keep Cool / Walk On Water

Reviewed by Greg Johnson

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"A Stitch In Time"

Jesse Samsel

RoofTop Magic Records

This is a great concept album by Portland-based guitarist and vocalist Jesse Samsel. It’s packed full of recordings covering the span of Samsel’s career that he has dug up from his vaults that offer both studio and live material, plus interviews. Most of the numbers were penned by Samsel with the exception of a small handful written by Terry Evans and Jorge Calderon. All feature his incredible guitar playing.

The disc starts off with a 1989 performance of “Let It Ring,” recorded at the Battle of the Bands in Portland’s Memorial Coliseum. A fiery piece with Samsel’s guitar pealing monstrously. That is followed by “Port Of Sorrow” from the Steamy Windows EP Pucker Up. It has a Gary Moore “Still Got The Blues” feel to it, with Samsel sharing guitar work with Ken Scandlyn and though recorded back in 1991 still holds up strongly ten years later. There are plenty of rare pieces collected here and those long out of print. “Maria” is from a 1995 take that he had originally written in the 80s while working with the band Holland and “River Of Blues” has a nice vocal blend between himself and Zuzo Blue’s Brian Hadley. The closing track, “Never Comin’ Back,” is a beautifully recorded number that highlights Samsel’s vocal skills nicely.

What really makes this compilation exceptional though is the four radio interviews that Samsel has included, all conducted by KINK FM’s Oregon Music Hall of Fame DJ, the late Les Sarnoff. Two are with Samsel himself, while two include his former employer Terry Evans. Recorded between 1995 and 1998, all feature live on-air performances, including classics like “Come To The River,” “Get Up Get Ready” and “Rooftop Tomcat.”

There is also a selection offered here for the first time with Samsel backing Terry Evans once again titled “Calling Out To You.” Another remarkable song that captures Evans upbringing on Southern Soul to perfection.

Jesse Samsel, over the years has proven his mettle as a musician. Whether playing locally with his own unit or Steamy Windows, in the recording studios of Los Angeles with Ry Cooder or touring the world behind Terry Evans. This is a fantastic documentary of his prowess. And we know he’s not finished his career yet, so expect to hear more from one of the area’s best guitar players in the future. But pick this one up right away to capture that wonderful flavor now.

Total Time: 65:45

Let It Ring / Port Of Sorrow / River Of Blues / Rae Of Hope / Maria / Calling Out To You / !996 Interview with song Rooftop Tomcat / 1997 Interview with songs Get Up Get Ready and Big City Boy / 1997 Interview with songs Come To The River and Natural Born Loser / 1998 Interview with songs Dance Something We Can Play To and Daddy Like Playin’ The Blues / Never Comin’ Back

Reviewed by Greg Johnson

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