WFHB Music - Bloomington Community Radio

Coldfire, J.T. – “Crazy Sun” (Indie) B+

Minimalist blues approach – sometimes just guitar and harp, fattening to drums and bass on some. COldfire grew up in the 80s listening to his dad play 50’s music on the piano…took immediately to stringed instruments and went professional at 13 after falling hard for his local (Texan) guitar heroes. Wild for SRV, etc., he left for New York at age 21. There he began to feel there was not that much difference between country and blues, and kept open ears to widen his approach to songwriting. Sounds like it did him some good. Really refreshing sound – a feeling for old-style blues with new approach to songs. Young-sounding voice/killer guitar chops. Really do like themore traditional-sounding/acoustic songs best though.

Ellison, Scott – “Ice Storm” (Earwig) B+

A Tulsa native heavily influenced by Motown and Memphis, which led to a great appreciation of BB King and the blues, Ellison has a Luther Allison guitar screamin’ approach to blues, but can peel back the fuzz and make the guitar cry and sing when he wants to. His voice is a little gravelly and his band solid in the blues pocket leaning hard toward rock, with occasional horn backups. All originals and Scott and Dennis Walker (of Robert Cray’s band). Rock blues – pretty nice.

Hyatt, Walter – “Some Unfinished Business” (King Tears Music) B-

A collection of songs from a young singer songwriter who tragically died in a plane crash in ’96. Friends and family release this disc of his self-penned tunes, backed by fine musicians like Jerry Douglas, the Jordannaires, Riders in the sky and Carrie Rodriguez, etc. Middle range voice over fairly uninteresting tunes—strange chord progressions make tunes sometimes seem stilted, like a songwriter who’s thinking about it too hard. Does make it happen like Elvis on #7 with the Jordanaires on backup, and #11 has some nice blues feel woven throughout. Not really my cuppa.

James, Chris & Patrick Rynn – “Stop & Think About It” (Earwig) A-

Guitarist and bassist from the “Blue Four” band, the duo steps out on their own to memorialize many revered blues musicians (Dave Myers, Willie Kent, Robert Lockwood Jr, Homesick James, Snooky Pryor, Henry Townsend, and Jay McShannon) – all who recently passed, leave gaping holes behind. In this tribute to them, Earwig tossed in a bundle of other great players to back ‘em (David Maxwell, Eddie Kobek, Sam Lay, Bob Corritore, etc.) with the result a nice combination of Chicago feel blues.

Johns, Karen & Company - “Star and Season” (Vital Force) 2008 B

Jazz singing from a multi-talented performer. Originally from Alaska she has moved through Seattle (picking up a husband and a bundle of opera, music and journalism/theology degrees. The couple worked on a Bering Sea fishing boat to earn money to buy a recording studio, which they eventually located in Nashville, TN. There she’s put out this album of jazz vocals over a fluid supporting band. Strong belter voice with facility of movement and smooth delivery and scat singing thrown in when the spirit moves. It’s hard to do such road traveled traditional songs in a new way, but her voice ain’t hard to take. Smooth cocktail jazz stuff.

Johnson, Alvon- “Guitars & Cars” (Pig Heaven Rec.,) 2008 C

Veteran guitarist on West Coast for 30 years doing side-man work for (Babatunde Olatunji, Drifters, John Lee Hooker, Lowell Fulson). Now out there with his own group on his friend (harmonica player and label owner Albert Parks) doing his own record – pretty much road house rock and blues designed to support his electric guitar leads. Nothing special I’m afraid.

Kolvane – “Kill These Blues” (Indie) D

No need…you’ve already done it. Not recommended .

Left Lane Cruiser – “Bring Yo’ Ass to the Table” (Alive Records) C

Street musicians composed of a guy who bangs on whatever he can reach, calls himself “Sausage Paw” and hollars “trash” throughout other guy’s “singing.” Second guy yells lyrics bristling with “ass” and screams while he plays loud electric slide that sounds like his slide bar is wrapped in barbed wire and his head too. Couple bottles of whiskey and a couple of painkillers and I’m there…. Not recommended.

Nouveaux Honkies – “Where Do I Go?” (Bluzpik Rec. ) A-

Described as country-soul, roots and Austin Rock (though they are from the South Eastern part of the US), this band puts together a really different sound – quirky songwriting that takes you from fast two-steps, to Cajun, to fiddle and blues. Really original sound. This group didn’t even bother lookin’ for a label, but after it’s first Indie release, got picked up right away for it’s great roots sound. Check er out.

Parks, Little Albert & the Blue Stars- “Two Thumbs & A Finger”

(Pig Heaven Rec.,) 2008 C

A record label owner putting out his own disc with friends from Southern California. Vocals kinda talky and tired. Instrumentation okay, sometimes nice grooves, but nothing to write home about. Not recommended.

Wheeler, Charlie Band – “Highway Run” (All Sound Group) C

Not a bad voice over basher rock. Not bad backup vocals either. Music is de-da-lee, de-da-lee, de-da-lee up there in lightning delivery with the best of the power rock boys. Eddie Van Halen, you’ve got a boatload to answer for mister. You too Zep. “Katrina…you should have seen’er”…eek. Southern rockers unite. This Yankee cannot recommend.

Zito, Mike – “Today” (Electro-Groove) 2008 B-

A St. Louis kid who made it to the West Coast with his head full of musical dreams…he got a chance on Delta Groove’s branch Electro-Groove. Medium love and pop-rock tunes, nice guitar work and sturdy backup band.
Tunes, singing AND songwriting have a sameness that doesn’t appeal much, even with good guitar work.
Not really recommended.