Friday, October 18, 2024

Colin James Adds Heavy Hitters To The Line-Up On 'Chasing The Sun'; "Devilment" Feat. Charlie Musselwhite


To a recording artist, having a bunch of big-name guests on your album can be a double-edged sword: It’ll get you some attention, sure, but there’s always the danger you’ll find yourself pushed out of the limelight—a supporting player in your own production.

Fortunately, no one elbows Colin James into the wings. With nearly four decades in the business—and an armload of sales records and peer accolades to show for it—the Vancouver blues-rocker has thrown open the door to welcome a house party’s worth of friends and mentors on his 21st and latest, Chasing the Sun. Appearances by the legendary likes of Charlie Musselwhite, Lucinda Williams, Darryl Jones and Charley Drayton energize an album that cooks with the intensity of a thousand spotless reputations. But the formula remains 100-proof James throughout—a distillation of the singular and passionate vision that’s enshrined him in the hearts of millions of record buyers worldwide as a musician’s musician.
Take spotlight track “Devilment,” a title-appropriate blast of fire-and-brimstone blues that revels in some red-hot harmonica from the iconic Musselwhite. You can hear every breath of the authenticity Musselwhite has lived and exhaled for more than half a century as both a Grammy-nominated harpist in his own right and a revered sideman to heavyweights like Bonnie Raitt and the Blind Boys of Alabama. Yet his own contribution never overpowers James’ stinging guitar and barroom-approved vocal as the latter sings the praises of a woman who’s not only “lovely” and fine” but has “the devilment on [her] mind.”

Pumping the ardor even further into the stratosphere are bassist Jones and drummer Drayton, whose miles-long pedigree (both together and apart) includes work with everyone from the Rolling Stones, Miles Davis and Neil Young to Sting, Paul Simon and Johnny Cash. And that isn’t even factoring in the extra instrumental assist by co-producer Colin Linden, who played guitars, bass and dobro on the album—and just happens to have co-written “Devilment” in the first place. (Previous versions of the song appeared on separate 2009 albums by Linden and its co-author, Toronto bluesman Paul Reddick.)

To Linden, who’s produced six albums with James since they started collaborating back in 1997, the new album is definitely a case of sweetening, not diluting, his pal’s boundless talents. “Colin is still so engaged with his own artistic development,” he marvels. “And it just got better every time we dug in deeper, which is not always the way it is. There are some places on the record where I can’t tell if it’s me or him playing guitar, even though we play differently. There is this blending of styles indicative of the vibe of serving the music.”
That means serving it wherever it chooses to go. For the spiritual flip side of “Devilment,” cop a listen to album opener “Protection,” a sinuously driving cover of Williams’ 2014 plea for salvation from life’s dark forces. James’ rendition soars on the perfect sync between his own singing and an unmistakable vocal assist from the Americana icon herself.

“Lucinda is such a revered songwriter, such a legend,” James raves. “But she’s so nice. And hearing our voices together on tape was such a pleasure.” And with gospel greats Ann and Regina McCrary chiming in too, who up in heaven could deny their tenderest mercies?
Captured for posterity at Nashville’s Pinhead Recorders—a 1,000-square-foot, “purpose-built,” standalone home studio in Linden’s backyard—Chasing the Sun is a cannily assembled set of songs pulled in from all over the place. Scorching originals like “Star Studded Sky” and “This Song Kills Hate” represent career-best collaborations between James and a host of Canadian compadres, including Tom Wilson of Junkhouse and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and Colin and John-Angus MacDonald of rock maulers The Trews. Adding flavor are four meticulously chosen covers from the songbooks of giants like John Hammond and Paul Butterfield. The track list runs to 11 numbers in total—nine on the album proper, and another two offered as downloads (including “Come to Find Out,” another team-up with Musselwhite).

Chasing the Sun is the latest landmark in a career that’s been hitting high after high since 1988, when James’ self-titled debut became the fastest-selling album in Canadian history and won him his first JUNO Award. (It helps when one of your earliest champions enjoys a profile like Stevie Ray Vaughan’s.) Since then, James has collected multiple gold and platinum awards, scored a #3 radio hit in the United States (“Just Came Back”) and shared musical airspace with a who’s who of greats, including Keith Richards, Albert Collins, Albert King, ZZ Top, the Chieftains, Carlos Santana, and Buddy Guy. In the process, he’s received eight JUNOs and 31 Maple Blues Awards and been inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. Last year, he scored his first nod from the Memphis-based Blues Foundation, which nominated him in the Best Blues Rock Album category for his 2021 collection, Open Road.

So don’t pigeonhole him as an early bloomer: To James, the road has only gotten easier and more rewarding over time. “Maybe people don’t buy into a blues guy in his early ‘20s,” he laughs. “When you’re knocking at the door at age 60, people are like ‘Oh yeah, come on in.’”

Friday, October 11, 2024

Blues Rock Guitarist Frank Cosentino Readies to Conquer the Airwaves with New Single ‘VIBIN’ Ahead of ‘COMEBACK’ Album Release

  


Blues rock guitarist Frank Cosentino ready to take over the airwaves with new single ‘VIBIN’.

 

After more than four decades of touring, writing, and producing new music Frank Cosentino realized he needed to change his lifestyle.

 

“I overcame the challenges of addiction and got sober seven years ago,” he stated. “With renewed inspiration, I returned to songwriting with increased focus and energy.”

 

After working with producer Derek Downham at Studio Cardinal Toronto, Cosentino is ready to release his next album to the world.

 

The upcoming album, aptly titled ‘COMEBACK’, includes his soon-to-be-hit ‘VIBIN’, which took over the airwaves on July 23, 2024.

 

“The story of ‘VIBIN’ symbolizes my journey,” he explained. “Fate guided me towards collaboration with Juno-winning producer Derek Downham. Together we brought my newfound creativity to life. Throughout the process, my progress was evident and I emerged as a stronger writer, player, and human.”

 

Cosentino’s guitar driven blues rock, combined with his poetic lyric style, will wow fans and newcomers to his music alike. Inducted into The Blues Hall of Fame as a Master Blues Artist in 2017, Cosentino is considered a real gentleman of the blues, making it his mission to keep the art of blues guitar growing and moving forward.

 

His new music does just that – drawing on his past experiences, which include sharing the stage with greats like Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, and Jeff Healy, and new blues talents Sue Foley, Phillip Sayce, and Anthony Gomes, Cosentino creates new classic blues in his personal style.

 

“It’s been my personal goal as a producer to work with other artists who have a grand understanding of their respected genres and Frank Cosentino has been a lifelong stalwart of blues and a ferocious lead player,” stated Downham, who plays keyboard, drums and bass on the track.

 

Frank’s goal is to ignite and stoke the flames of ambition at the heart of the listener. A song that pushes forward against the naysayers and gatekeepers, the hero is within each and every one of us but you can’t wait for the call. We ultimately walk alone into the ring to face the variables life hurls at us. Weather the storm and your reward is truly living a life fulfilled.

 

COMEBACK will hit music retailers in Canada on September 20th 2024.

 

Until then, keep up with Cosentino on his website, and his Instagram and Facebook pages.

Friday, October 4, 2024

Ottawa-Based Blues/Roots Singer Songwriter Jeff Rogers Nominated For Blues Blast Music Award




Canadian blues and roots singer-songwriter and keyboard player Jeff Rogers is having quite a year.
 
His new album Dream Job has just been nominated for Soul Blues Album of The Year at the 17th Annual Blues Blast Music Awards in the U.S.
 
“I’m very grateful for the honour and proud to be considered for Soul Blues Album of The Year,” says Rogers. “It’s special when your peers recognize your work.”
 
Dream Job was released Internationally on February 16, 2024 (Diesel Entertainment/MVD/Fontana North) and was recorded in the revered music mecca of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where many of the greats including, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, Etta James, Paul Simon, Otis Redding and The Black Keys, have recorded.
 
For this album, Jeff was accompanied by some of the legendary musicians, including Kelvin Holly (Little Richard, Bobby Bland), Clayton Ivey (The Staple Sisters, Thelma Houston), Justin Holder (Keb Mo’, Delbert McClintonand Shonna Tucker (Booker T. Jones, Drive-By-Truckers). Dream Job is co-produced by Dick Cooper of The Cooper Brothers and features special guest appearances by Grammy Award winner, Colin Linden, and Juno Award-winning singer, Kellylee Evans.
 
Rogers was thrilled to open for The Legendary Downchild Blues Band last fall on their Canadian theatre tour and just performed at the Ottawa Jazz, opening for one of his favourite bands, Lake Street Dive. With more show slated for 2024, he looks forward to performing at festivals in the US in 2025.
 
With stellar album reviews in DownBeat Magazine and Blues Matters in the UK, Jeff Rogers is making an impact around the world with his new album. His unmistakably soulful voice often evokes weighty comparisons to the past - whether that’s Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles or even Otis Redding…. yet, his tone, range, phrasing, and sincerity, all make him unmistakably contemporary – and totally original. 
 
“…emotional honesty and a measured assurance…intelligent self-composed songs on troubled pleasurable romance….” - DOWNBEAT
 
“Look for Dream Job and Jeff Rogers to make a mark in 2024.”- Billboard Canada
 
Listen to Dream Job at https://jeffrogers.lnk.to/DreamJob
 
For more information on Jeff Rogers see www.jeffrogers.ca

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Blues Rock Guitarist Frank Cosentino Releases New Single ‘You Can’t Call Back’ From Upcoming COMEBACK Album




After more than four decades of touring, writing, and producing new music Frank Cosentino realized he needed to change his lifestyle.

“I overcame the challenges of addiction and got sober seven years ago,” he stated. “With renewed inspiration, I returned to songwriting with increased focus and energy.”

After working with producer Derek Downham at Studio Cardinal Toronto, Cosentino is ready to release his next album to the world.

The upcoming album, aptly titled ‘COMEBACK’, includes his soon-to-be-hit ‘You Can’t Call Back,’ is out now.

“The story of ‘You Can’t Call Back’ symbolizes my journey,” he explained. “Fate guided me towards collaboration with Juno-winning producer Derek Downham. Together we brought my newfound creativity to life. Throughout the process, my progress was evident, and I emerged as a stronger writer, player, and human.”

Cosentino’s guitar driven blues rock, combined with his poetic lyric style, will wow fans and newcomers to his music alike. Inducted into The Blues Hall of Fame in 2017 as a Master Blues Artist, Cosentino is considered a real gentleman of the blues, making it his mission to keep the art of blues guitar growing and moving forward.

His new music does just that – drawing on his past experiences, which include sharing the stage with greats like Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, and Jeff Healy, and new blues talents Sue Foley, Phillip Sayce, and Anthony Gomes, Cosentino creates new classic blues in his personal style.

“It’s been my personal goal as a producer, songwriter, and artist to work with other artists who have a grand understanding of their respected genres and Frank Cosentino has been a lifelong stalwart of blues and a ferocious lead player,” stated Downham, who plays keyboard, drums, and guitar on the track.

“Our goal was to write a song that would ignite and stoke the flames of ambition at the heart of the listener. A song that pushes forward against the naysayers and gatekeepers. The hero is within each and every one of us but you can’t wait for the call. We ultimately walk alone into the ring to face the variables life hurls at us. Weather the storm and your reward is truly living a life fulfilled.”

 

Saturday, September 28, 2024

VOODOO RAMBLE ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE ‘MIDNIGHT RIDE’, FEATURING MUDDY MANNINEN




European Blues Challenge finalists Voodoo Ramble are led by vocalist/guitarist Boris Zamba.

The band is known for guitar-led songs with vivid imagery and a groove laden style which incorporates rock, blues and soulful Southern rock influences.

As Boris says: "The Allman Brothers were where it all started for me.”
 
Midnight Ride’ is the latest collaboration between Boris Zamba and lyricist Pete Feenstra, with special guest the expressive guitar playing of Muddy Manninen.
 
As Boris says: “Muddy’s mixture of electric guitar, lap steel guitar and fill-ins gave the song a new dimension.

We started with Pete’s evocative lyrics - which I call “unearthly”- as they create an experience even without the music. So when it came to actually building the music round the narrative, it was a real joy.
 
Dragutin Smokrovic aka ‘The Fig’, gave the track its sonic depth with his Mixing, mastering and productionAbove all he really captured the intensity when I went head to head with Muddy."

Pete adds: “For me, this is the perfect example of when lyrical imagery magically turns into music.

I had this nebulous film noir idea set in old Victorian era docks with creaking boats and the need to escape, before  Boris and Muddy magically transformed it into a Southern rock biker anthem.”

Quotes:

“Lyrical dexterity and musical muscle.” Blues In Britain.
 “Expertly crafted, these nuggets will delight many Classic-Rock stations. Paris Move
A sophisticated blues bombazet of mastery! Raw Ramp
Voodoo Ramble proves that classic rock and blues rock go hand in hand.” Bluestown Music (NL)
“Blues is a wide church, and this is really entertaining blues that can put a smile on your face, I could almost play the air guitar to it!”