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The 2023 blues season might have been one of the best
yet for the introduction of so many new artists, including D.K. Harrell,
Mathias Lattin, Candice Ivory, and more. I look forward to learning
about and sharing our reviews on even more breakout artists in 2024.Thanks for your support of the blues!
--- Bill Mitchell (Editor/Publisher of Blues Bytes)
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Bill
Mitchell (editor of Blues Bytes) |
Here's my top 10 from 2023 plus another 20 noteworthy albums in
no particular order. These aren't necessarily the best or most popular
albums of the year, but more ones that were particular favorites of
mine.
1)
D.K. Harrell – The Right Man (Little Village Foundation)
The first time I heard The Right Man from the
previously-unknown Harrell, I knew I was listening to the album of the
year, as well as the song of the year with the title cut. I can't wait
for more from this young rising star.
2) Mathias Lattin – Up Next (VizzTone Records)
Just as big of a surprise came from an even younger artist in
Houston-based Lattin. He's still just 21 with a great future ahead of
him. .
3) Candice Ivory – When The Levee Breaks – The Music of
Memphis Minnie (Little Village Foundation)
I was not at all familiar with Ms. Ivory before this album of Memphis
Minnie songs. She doesn't just do note-for-note covers but reinvents
every single song in her own style. Fantastic!
4) Christione “Kingfish” Ingram – Live In London
(Alligator Records)
He's arguably the biggest star on the blues scene today, and this live
album is a nice complement to his first two Alligator albums.
5a) & 5b) Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps - Rose-Colored
Glass, Vol. 2 (Blue Heart Records)
It was a full two years between releases of Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 for us to
be looking again through Ms. James' Rose-Colored Glasses, but it
was worth the wait. In the meantime, she gave us the delightful With
A Little Help From Her Friends (Blue Heart Records), her
interpretation of Beatles songs to help us get through that time period.
6) Selwyn Birchwood - Exorcist (Alligator Records)
I am one of the biggest Birchwood fans around, never missing his show
when he comes through Arizona. His fourth Alligator album, Exorcist,
continues the trend of outstanding blues releases.
7) Blackburn Brothers - SoulFunkn'BLUES (Electro-Fi)
I was not familiar with this band of brothers from Ontario, Canada when
this album showed up in my mailbox. As the title indicates, it's a
wonderful mix of blues, soul, and funk. I've since gone back to previous
albums from the Blackburns, and they are all just as good.
8) Marcel Smith – From My Soul (Little Village
Foundation)
Another new name to me when this album was released in the last quarter
of the year. One of the best soul singers around. Be sure to also check
out a review of his previous album in this month's Flashback.
9)
Arlen Roth & Jerry Jemmott - Super Soul Session (Blue Heart Records)
A great collection of various artists being backed by guitar wizard Roth
and bass player extraordinaire Jemmott. Among the many highlights are
Joe Louis Walker's vocals on B.B.'s "The Thrill Is Gone" and African
singer Mukamuri's vocals on Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting
Me) Higher And Higher."
10) Bob Corritore - Somebody Put Bad Luck On Me (VizzTone)
Corritore has put out countless recordings that he made with local
Phoenix and visiting artists over the years, with three such collections
in 2023. Somebody Put Bad Luck On Me just might be his best yet.
The highlight for me is the Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges' song "If You
Don't Want To Love Me," sounding like a bluesier Sam Cooke.
Other equally outstanding albums from 2023 (in no particular order):
The Cash Box Kings - Oscar's Motel (Alligator Records)
Jimi "Primetime" Smith - The World In A Jug
(SWMAF / VIzzTone)
Joe Krown – Tribute (Sledgehammer Records)
The Dig 3 - Damn The Rent (self-released)
Kyla Brox - Live at Konïz Castle (Pigskin
Records)
Taj Mahal - Savoy (Stony Plain)
Tracy Nelson - Life Don't Miss Nobody (BMG
Rights Management)
Sue Foley - Live In Austin, Vol. 2 (Stony
Plain)
Stan Mosley - No Soul No Blues (Dialtone
Records)
Lil' Jimmy Reed and Ben Levin - Back To Baton
Rouge (Nola Blue)
Ally Venable - Real Gone! (Ruf)
Bob Margolin - Thanks (VizzTone)
Joel Astley - Seattle To Greaseland
(Blue Heart Records)
JW-Jones - Everything Now (Idla)
Nigel Mack - Back In Style (CD Baby)
Joyann Parker - Roots (Hopeless
Romantic Records)
Chris Beard - Pass It On Down (Blue
Heart Records)
Dave Keller – It’s Time To Shine (Tastee-Tone
Records)
Soulful Femme - Attitude (Skydog Studios)
Joe Louis Walker - Weight Of The World
(Forty Below Records)
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Graham
Clarke (reviewer from Mississippi) |
Top 20 Releases for 2023 (in alphabetical order)
William
Bell – One Day Closer To Home (Wilbe Records):
Approaching his mid-80s, the soul legend still packs quite a punch
on this powerful set.
The Christopher Dean Band – Need A Friend (Lost World
Music): Dean’s combination of blues and soul is always compelling
and this set is my favorite of his to date.
The Dig 3 – Damn The Rent (self-released): This is a
great set of blues and roots tunes, traditional with an eye toward
the contemporary and always a lot of fun.
D.K. Harrell – The Right Man (Little Village
Foundation): This year, more than any, has given me encouragement
that the future of the blues is in the best hands possible. Young
Mr. Harrell’s release just blew my socks off earlier this year, and
there were so many other good ones to follow from the younger
generation.
Hudspeth & Taylor – Ridin’ The Blinds (Hudtone
Records): A wonderful tribute to early, pre-war blues that gives the
classic songs a fresh, updated feel.
Christione “Kingfish” Ingram – Live In London
(Alligator Records): Much as I enjoyed his first two studio efforts,
the best way to hear Kingfish is to hear him live, as in this
stunning set of houserocking blues.Don’t pass this one by.
Candice Ivory – When The Levee Breaks – The Music of
Memphis Minnie (Little Village Foundation): Memphis Minnie was
one of the true pioneers of the blues, and Ms. Ivory’s tribute to
her music should introduce the blues legend to a whole new
generation of listeners.
Dave Keller – It’s Time To Shine (Tastee-Tone
Records): A retreat to a cabin in the Adirondacks with his band
rendered one of Keller’s finest albums of soul and blues.
Joe Krown – Tribute (Sledgehammer Records): I heard
this album around the time Jazz Fest rolled around and it brought
back such great memories. Just a really fun disc for any fan of New
Orleans music.
Mathias Lattin – Up Next (VizzTone Records): Another
amazing young blues star in the making, Lattin is a triple threat as
a singer, guitarist and songwriter.
Corey Ledet – Médikamen (Nouveau Electric Records):
Ledet continues his exploration of his Creole musical roots with
satisfying results… a savvy mix of traditional and contemporary
zydeco sounds.
Taj Mahal – Savoy (Stony Plain Records): A nice change
of pace for the blues legend, paying tribute to the tunes he grew up
listening to with his parents, an obvious labor of love.
Stan Mosley – No Soul, No Blues (Dialtone Records): An
incredible release that really took me by surprise. Mosley shows
he’s got PLENTY of soul and PLENTY of blues in his repertoire.
John Primer – Teardrops for Magic Slim (Blues House
Productions): Primer’s tribute to his former employer is obviously a
labor of love and sounds great from start to finish.
Lil’ Jimmy Reed with Ben Levin – Back To Baton Rouge
(Nola Blue Records): Man, what a cool downhome session by Reed with
assistance from Ben and Aron Levin (on piano and guitar,
respectively). A must-listen for traditional blues fans.
Jimi “Prime Time” Smith and Bob Corritore – The World In A
Jug (SWMAF/VizzTone): We’ve heard from singer/guitarist Smith on
several of Corritore’s collections, so it’s nice to hear him on his
own full album with, hopefully, more to come in the future.
Marcel Smith – From My Soul (Little Village
Foundation): A fantastic set of retro-soul and R&B from a singer who
deserves to be heard.
Nick Wade – Feeling Good Is Good Enough (Extra Sensory
Productions): Surprising acoustic set from the Virginia-based
guitarist that updates pre-war country blues with some well-crafted
original tunes.
Walter “Wolfman” Washington – Feel So At Home (Tipitina’s
Record Club): Washington’s final album, completed a few months
before he passed away. The album follows the path of his previous
effort but leans more toward the blues.
Monster Mike Welch – Nothing But Time (Gulf Coast
Records): A welcome return to the scene for this talented guitarist,
who battled long-term COVID issue for a couple of years, showing you
can’t keep a good man down.
