WFHB Music - Bloomington Community Radio

Brown, Mason – “When Humans Walked the Earth” (Round Shining Music) A

A beautiful record of down home folk and Celtic music of the common man (that man often being Irish). Appealing tunes suitable for all mixes…the kind of front porch fiddlin’ and sweet tenor guitar work (not to mention a variety of odd excellently played stringed instruments) that unabashedly speak of real people and experiences. Vocals a little plain, but that’s almost appropriate really. Tinged with enough Irish and hard luck to be what I truly think of as folk music. It’s been awhile since I’ve unadorned music from the dirt—honest and clean. I remember when humans walked the earth.

Coloma, Lluis – “Boogie Portraits” (Fresh Sound Records) A

Coloma pulls together a cast of piano players who take turns doing their versions of piano blues, boogies and ballads…all doubling with Coloma (one on each channel). Little backup except occasional rub board and drums. Interesting concept, and all players are very skilled. Columa not a bad singer on the few with vocals. So rare to hear a contemporary all-piano disc, and this recording highlights a lot of them on the scene today. This is a Craig Brenner delight.

Jo Buddy & Down Home King III – “Whole Lotta Things to Do” (Ram Bam Records) A

Jussi Raulamo (Jo Buddy) a guitarist from Finland, partnering with a drummer (Down Home King III – there’s a I and II?) on their version of the blues – all original tunes recorded live. Described as “roots gumbo” the music is blues and draws you in with a smile. Jo Buddy has been on 28 albums (!) and worked his show all over Europe. He’s 40 years old and plays rhythm, solo and bass on his archtop guitar over his drummer’s (16 years younger) beat. Very ballsy…primitive and yet with a pocket all his own. I’m not sure exactly what to call this. Finlandiana roots-blues? Sometimes out of tune, but never out of groove…this is a one-man band who picked up a drummer and feels it every time. This guy is definitely an original who can definitely show us a little bit about feel (check out # 4 or 7) – Finland gut-bucket stuff..who knew?

Jones, Bobby – “Comin’ Back Hard” (Delta Groove) A-

What a place America. Out there on the West Coast, Randy Chortkoff worked in the movie biz. He loves the blues though and so started throwing his dough around to establish a label—Delta Groove. Since then he’s put out some of the prime blues recorded these days and of course in addition, he’s established a stable of red-hot blues stars. His primary band (naturally he is a budding harmonica player-smile) is the Mannish Boys who (along with a posse of impossibly good West Coast blues players) gets bigger and bigger. Randy’s always keen on old-timers in the blues and one day while recording, his keyboard session guy brought along a friend who sat around to listen. After a day or so he got up to sing and blew them all away. Turned out he was the retired singer for the Chicago band (50’s & 60’s) the Aces, who were THE backing band in Chicago back in the day, working behind Little Walter. So Randy, jumping up and down, threw the whole posse behind Jones on this “come back” CD. The band line-up could make Tiny Tim sound great, but this guy pulls out his chops and stands right up there with him. Little Randy C is digging the American dream…and so am I.

Roberts, Martin – “Plain Hard Truth” (Cold Truth Music)

Neighborhood friends who put together a disc of blues…obviously pursuing a love of blues, but though they have some good instrumentation, the tunes are overlaid with bad vocals and mix is equally bad. The Plain Hard Truth here is this disc is painful…not recommended.

Various – “Classic Piano Blues” (Smithsonian Folkways) A

Piano was the first instrument of the south and Chicago – the juke joints and houses of ill repute, not to mention a fixture in any supper club or southern parlor. It’s no accident that the blues got a good grip on people through piano, and Smithsonian Folkways (as they so often do) does it up brown (sic) with this great collection of old-time piany players. Stride, roll, and boogie…here are some of the top old-time bluesers of that vintage period. Great for pretty much every mix. Often live recordings. A great historic collection, though perhaps not resonating as much as it deserves with a modern audience…but we can always hope!