Lil Ed’ & the Blues Imperials — “Slideways” — Alligator Records

You could pick a whole lot of words to describe the music of Lil’ Ed and his Blues Imperials.

But they better include blistering, dynamic and fiery — because that’s exactly what slide guitar wizard Ed Williams brings to his tough, traditional Chicago blues.

And that’s what you get on “Slideways,” the band’s tenth album, its first in 10 years. Williams is 70 now, but the raw power of his music is undiminished.

His voice is a little deeper, but so much the better to power his dynamic music. His guitar work is a little different here, with more single-note playing, but there’s still plenty of snarling blues in those strings.

Ed and his Imperials have been careening through the blues for nearly 40 years, but their music remains refreshingly true to its barroom roots. The band was elected to the Blues Hall of Fame in 2024.

The origins of Williams’ power and skill lie deep in Chicago blues history — his uncle was the legendary slidemaster J.B. Hutto.

“J.B. taught me everything I know,” Williams says. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.” Ed and his half-brother and bassist James “Pookie” Young, spent their teen years making music together, and in 1975 formed the first incarnation of The Blues Imperials.

Since 1989, the band’s lineup has remained rock steady — Williams, Michael Garrett on rhythm guitar and vocals, Young on bass and Kelly Littleton on drums. Ben Levin adds terrific piano and organ on eight tracks on this session. Alligator President Bruce Iglauer checks in with Williams as co-producer, a testament to Williams’ exalted place in the Alligator blues universe. The album’s release also helps the record label celebrate its 55th year.

The band comes out blazing with its first three songs: The insistent boogie of “Bad All By Myself, the rocking “One Foot On The Brake, One On The Gas” and the sly humor of “The Flirt In The Car Wash Skirt.” The haunting slow blues of “Homeless Blues” (the only non-original song here) and the solemn warning contained in “Wayward Women” reach deep for their emotional impact, both in dark contrast to the raucous blues that surround them.

Oher highlights include “13th Street and Trouble,” with Levin’s rollicking piano chasing Williams’ slide in a furious take. “What Kind of World is This?” offers a thoughtful look at a troubled world, and “Make a Pocket for Your Grief” offers its own lessons in life. More blistering blues awaits in “More Time,” “Crazy Love Affair,” “Cold Side of the Bed” and the closer “You Can’t Strike Gold From A Silver Mine” — all filled with the raw power of great Chicago blues.

So yes, you could use a whole lot of words to describe the music of Lil’ Ed and his Blues Imperials. I just did. But it would’ve been a lot simpler just to say: This is a vital album filled with the increasingly rare honesty of living Chicago blues. Get it while you can!

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Here’s a recent interview with Lil’ Ed in the Chicago Blues Guide.

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Here’s “Bad All By Myself” from the album:

Tracklist & credits

1. Bad All By Myself
2. One Foot On The Brake, One On The Gas
3. The Flirt In The Car Wash Skirt
4. Homeless Blues
5. 13th Street And Trouble
6. Make A Pocket For Your Grief
7. More Time
8. If I Should Lose Your Love
9. Wayward Women
10. Crazy Love Affair
11. Cold Side Of The Bed
12. What Kind Of World Is This?
13. You Can’t Strike Gold From A Silver Mine

Lil’ Ed Williams: Guitar and Vocals
Michael Garrett: Guitar (middle solo on Homeless Blues , first middle solo on More Time, middle solo on Crazy Love Affair)
James “Pookie” Young: Bass
Kelly Littleton: Drums
with
Ben Levin: Piano (3,5,7,10) or Organ (4,6,9,11)

Charlie Barath — “Issaquena Getaway” — Self-Release

I was going to write an entire blog post praising “Issaquena Getaway,” the new album by blues harpman Charlie Barath.

Then I found this quote by blues — and harmonica — legend Charlie Musselwhite, which says pretty much what I was going to say.

“Charlie Barath is a friend of mine. He’s not only a really good guy but a fine harmonica player. Charlie has recorded a heck of a good blues album right here in good ol’ Clarksdale, Mississippi. You won’t be disappointed. Take my advice—get ‘Issaquena Getaway’.”

Barath is indeed a fine harp player. And this is indeed a fine album. The music has a down-home, laid-back feel that speaks well of the blues, and a handful of related songs smartly created and wisely chosen for this session.

The band is a small, tight-knit group that sounds relaxed and informal, and doesn’t waste a note in backing Barath, whose fluid harp work is lean without being mean — its power lies in its subtlety and ability to swing effortlessly between styles. His vocals flow like a musical conversation.

Barath handles the harp and vocals, and his bandmates include guitarists Johnny Burgin and Andrew Sherer; keyboardist Mark Yacovone; bassist Mike Law; drummer Danny Banks of the John Nemeth Blue Dreamers; and guest vocalist Shari Richards of Pittsburgh, where Barath could be found until his recent move to Oklahoma. The album features twelve songs by Barath, with two intriguing covers.

They open the album with a relaxed blues shuffle, “I Gets Around,” with an easy-rolling beat featuring Burgin on lead guitar and Barath’s harp swinging in the break, and his wry vocals on display: “Oh I ain’t got no job, but I stay busy all night long / I keep myself occupied with wine women and song.”

“The Weekend Song” is joyfully upbeat with swinging piano from Yacovone: “Well I like my job, but I love it when it’s done.”
Then “Waitin’ For The Queen” takes a deeper blues groove blues behind a swampy beat from Banks. “Cuban Getaway” is a swinging Latin instrumental written by Ike Turner and Joe Josea (who was actually Joe Bihari of the Bihari brothers, who owned multiple record labels). Similar flavors return later in “Can I Have This Dance?”

“I Might Fall In Love” works a snaky midtempo blues groove and the possibilities of romance: “Last thing I wanna do is to fall in love with you / But I just might.” Barath leads with his harp on “The Best Thing You Can Do,” featuring swinging guitar by Burgin and piano by Yacovone, all with a meaningful message: “Life is full of choices / They affect more than just you / So do the right thing, it’s the best thing.” The traditional “Brass Monkey” chills out over his cold, cold woman: “You’re so cold baby, brass monkey gonna stay home tonight.”

“Just Wanna Walk With You” is an upbeat take on an old-fashioned blues theme about his fine woman: “Ever since I first saw you honey, I just wanna walk with you,” with a delicious harp solo. Other highlights include a 6 1/2-minute harp-fueled version of “Sugar,” Stanley Turrentine’s 1971 jazz instrumental, “That Wasn’t Me,” “Renee,” “I’m Gonna Let You,” and “Honey I Got No Money.”

“Issaquena Getaway,” recorded in Clarksdale, Miss., grows from its Delta blues roots and offers the fruits from many of its musical branches. Charlie Barath has harvested some of these fruits to create this gem of an album. It’s filled with an upbeat attitude, joyous music and a refreshing old-fashioned vitality. It’s also a great album!

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If you wanted to take an Issaquena getaway, where would you go? Issaquena County is a small, sparsely populated county deep in the Delta on the western edge of Mississippi, bordered on the west by the river itself, possibly still shrouding the mysteries of the blues. But there’s also an Issaquena Avenue farther to the north, in Clarksdale. Either way, take this music along for the ride

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Here’s a recent interview with Charlie Barath on BluesGr by Michael Limnios 

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“I Might Fall In Love” from the album:

Tracklist:
01. I Gets Around
02. The Weekend Song
03. Waitin’ For The Queen
04. Cuban Getaway by Ike Turner and Joe Josea
05. I Might Fall In Love
06. The Best Thing You Can Do
07. Brass Monkey traditional blues
08. Just Wanna Walk With You
09. That Wasn’t Me
10. Renee
11. Can I Have This Dance?
12. I’m Gonna Let You
13. Sugar
14. Honey I Got No Money

Musicians – Johnny Burgin & Andrew Sherer (guitars), Mark Yacovone (piano/organ), Mike Law (bass), Danny Banks (drums) & Shari Richards (vocals).

Performers by track:

1. Lead – Johnny Burgin (JB)
2. Lead – Andrew Sherer (AS)
3. Lead – JB
   4.1st Lead – AS, 2nd Lead – JB
4. Rhythm – JB, Fills – AS
5. Lead – AS
6. Lead – JB
   WEBLINKS
7. Rhythm – JB & AS
8. Lead (call and response w/ Harp) – JB
9. Lead – JB
10. Lead – JB
11. Fills & Lead – JB
12. Lead – AS
13. Lead – JB
    

Peter Veteska & Blues Train — “Key of V” — Self-Released

Peter Veteska is one of those unsung, hard-working bluesmen who needs much wider recognition than he gets.

He’s in the New York Blues Hall of Fame and a member of Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation, but he and his band, Blues Train, have brought their swinging blues sound up and down the East Coast, creating a series of albums that have defined their career.

The Train has left the station once again with its latest effort, “Key of V,” the eighth album since the band formed in 2013.

I’ll let Veteska tell the latest album’s origin story:

“When I began working on a new recording project in November 2024, I wasn’t sure where it would lead me. I took it one song at a time every month or so, not rushing to a finish line as I had with past albums. “Key of V” is a collection of ten songs – five originals and five covers – ranging from the 40s, 50s and into the 60s.

“This time around I opened myself to drawing on sounds and genres that spoke to me, regardless of whether each song I covered or wrote fit neatly into the blues “box.” The result is my most personal album to date – one that reflects the variety of musicians and songwriters who have influenced my artistic choices and the band’s path over the years.“

Those choices were excellent. They include standards by Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee and blues classics from Big Bill Broonzy and Otis Rush. Veteska’s originals are smartly crafted songs with effortless musical backing. The core band for this session includes Veteska on guitar and vocals, Chuck Hearne on bass, Jeff Levine on keys and Alex D’Agnese on drums. Guests are Coo Moe Jhee and Rick Prince on bass, Mikey Junior on harp and Danny Walsh n sax.

Everything gets under way with a deep blue cover of “Checking On My Baby, the Otis Rush version. Veteska’s vocal captures its gritty essence, rocked by a driving B3 solo, leading into a stinging guitar riff. Another blues chestnut follows, a scorching guitar-driven take on Big Bill Broonzy’s “Key to the Highway.”

“Home of the Broken Hearted” is an original upbeat blues with fiery guitar intro to a message from a broken heart: “Drifting in a sea of sorrow, I’m lost without you.” The original rocker “Falling Out of Love Again” spins another lovelorn tale driven by the fierce interplay between Veteska’s guitar and Levine’s throbbing B3.

The original “Tuning Out the Noise” adds Mikey Junior’s harp and Walsh’s sax, creating a touch of ’50s Memphis soul. That leads into another ’50s memory, “Learning the Blues,” a Frank Sinatra track from 1955 given an intimate jazzy feel. “Watch the Love Grow” is a rocking original with a relentless groove that sweeps you into the music. “I Did All That I Could” is another original, an easy rocking blues shuffle with a steady rolling guitar at the wheel.

“Walking by Myself” is a Jimmy Rogers tune, updated here with some tasty Levine piano with a solid Veteska vocal. Everything wraps up with a smoothly sung version of Peggy Lee’s “I Don’t Know Enough About You.” Veteska plays acoustic guitar and brings a sophisticated crooner’s touch to this 1946 gem.

Peter Veteska & Blues Train have engineered a superb session of blues styles in “Key of V.” The songwriting is sharply real, the music is crisp and authentic, and Veteska’s versatile vocals shine in the key of V. Get on board the Blues Train for one great musical ride!

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Here’s a sampling of Peter Veteska’s music:

Tracklist:

1. Checking on My Baby
2. Key to the Highway
3. Home of the Broken Hearted
4. Falling Out of Love Again
5. Tuning Out the Noise
6. Learning the Blues
7. Watch the Love Grow
8. I Did All That I Could
9. Walking by Myself
10. I Don’t Know Enough About You

Altered Five Blues Band — “Hammer & Chisel” — Blind Pig Records

The Altered Five Blues Band is one tough mother for ya!

This powerful Milwaukee-based band creates muscular blues with relentless power and passion, putting them at the forefront of contemporary blues musicians who’ve mastered — and channeled — the essence of America’s classical music.

Their eighth studio album, “Hammer & Chisel,” includes the main Five: Jeff Taylor, vocals; Jeff Schroedl, guitar; Mark Solveson, bass; Steve Huebler, keyboards; Alan Arber, drums; with special guests Jason Ricci, harmonica; Max Abrams, saxophone and Julio Diaz, trumpet. The producer is the gifted and prolific Tom Hambridge, whose presence guarantees that the blues is in the house.

The title is a metaphor for the band’s creative process, as they’ve been “hammering away, scraping and chiseling our way forward, carving out our own corner of the blues” — doing it through their compelling songwriting partnered with music that throbs with superheated authority. Taylor’s deep-blue vocals alone are spine-chilling exercises encrusted with grit, delivered with torrential force.

“I Got It Good” roars out of the primeval ether to open the session, fueled by Arber’s propulsive drumming, kickass horns and Huebler’s churning Hammond behind Taylor’s magnificent vocal. This smoldering track leaves you wondering if the band has anything left to say after this scorched-earth take.

Indeed it does!

“Dare Me to Do It” is a scorching slow blues featuring Ricci’s furious other-worldly harp and a lilting piano counterpoint. Taylor outdoes himself with a smoldering vocal. “Who Can You Trust” is a driving shuffle with Ricci soaring in the background, followed by “Lotta Love Left in Me, “a luxurious slow blues, just right for that belt-buckle polishing slow grind. A smoky late-night piano interlude adds an elegant note.

Arber’s percussive beat hammers home the title track, with Taylor’s vocal punching out its message: “I’m breakin’ all the rules….” The uptempo “Can’t Shake It” rocks hard, adding Ricci and a rollicking piano midway. Fierce guitar opens “Headline Blues” and sets the pace throughout for its tough social commentary. The underlying lyrical poignance of “Hell or High Water” finds Taylor in a gorgeous soulful groove.

“My Love Ain’t a Lie” turns on the funk for this loving pledge. Honky-tonk piano drives the rollicking vibe of “Crazy One,” a simply joyous track. The closer, “The Will of Man,” opens with a gospel feel that eases into a soulful exposition filled with optimism. It’s a profound finale, both musically and philosophically.

With “Hammer & Chisel,” the Altered Five band has put together another outstanding album showcasing their smartly crafted songs, their musical prowess and the vocal majesty of Jeff Taylor.

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Here’s “Hammer & Chisel” from the album:

Tracklist and credits:

01.I Got It Good (Schroedl, Arber, Huebler, Solveson, Taylor)
02. Dare Me to Do It (Schroedl, Hambridge)
03. Who Can You Trust (Schroedl, Arber, Huebler, Solveson, Taylor)
04. Lotta Love Left in Me (Schroedl)
05. Hammer & Chisel (Schroedl)
06. Can’t Shake It (Schroedl, Taylor)
07. Headline Blues (Solveson, Schroedl, Arber, Huebler, Taylor)
08. Hell or High Water (Schroedl, Taylor)
09. My Love Ain’t a Lie (Schroedl)
10. Crazy One (Huebler, Schroedl, Arber, Solveson)
11. The Will of Man (Schroedl, Taylor)​

Jeff Taylor on vocals
Jeff Schroedl on guitar
Mark Solveson on bass
Steve Huebler on keyboards
Alan Arber on drums
Special guests:
Jason Ricci: harmonica on tracks 2, 3, and 6
Max Abrams: saxophone and Julio Diaz trumpet on track 1