Acoustic Blues At its Finest
350608
Terry Robb, long time fixture on the Northwest blues scene, has released his best recording to date. "When I Play My Blues Guitar" showcases one of the worlds finest fingerstyle acoustic blues players at the peak of his powers. Also produced by Robb, this CD is clearly a labour of love; all acoustic, all solo, no effects, no dubs(all  too rare in todays music world), the tunes are about 1/2 originals, 1/2 covers, all superbly clean guitar work. The influences of the likes of Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Blake, John Hurt, & (especially) John Fahey are obvious. Robb was a close friend of Fahey, and producer of much of his later work. The CD will be a valuable resource to student/player of this genre, and just plain good listening to anyone who appreciates good guitar music.
4592735
Excellent album showcasing ecclectic musical tastes of Dave Bromberg.  Just his solo, acoustic rendition of the medley 'Statesboro/Church Bell Blues'is well worth the price of this CD!  Listen as he comes around for  the 2nd chorus on 'Statesboro': you can actually hear the guitar sound like  a freight train, as it builds a head of steam, while Dave belts out the  lyrics.  Turn this number up as far as you can stand it for full musical  enjoyment!  This is timeless music that you can listen to over & over  again.  Ironically, while he's at his best, you may understand why he was  never 'popular': playing acoustic blues with a bit of 'country time', with  his mournful, wrenching voice-- most people want something more urban,  electric & processed.  Bromberg is truly a unique artist.  This album  is a worthy addition to anyone who appreciates the real folk blues or the  funky, full sound of Dave's big band.
2030917
There are few blues musicians left out there who carry the Muddy Waters deep blues feel in their blood.  Paul Oscher is one of them, and that fact is crystal clear throughout "Bet On The Blues". Playing guitar, harmonica and piano, Oscher tells the deep blues story on every cut, and the music has a certain something that you can't put your finger on, but you know is missing from most modern blues CDs. My favorites are his unique bass harp version of "'Round Midnight" and the striking "Ida Mae" with it's killer guitar sound that has overtones I guarantee you've never heard before. But every cut on this CD is a gem, including Oscher's hilarious reminiscence about a personal encounter with the great Little Walter. I understand this CD was just nominated for a 2011 Blues Music Award. It is surely a strong contender to win.
542213
Laurence Juber's second solo CD, issued in 1993 on the Beachwood label. This record is one of those infrequent Acoustic Guitar Heaven offerings. If you like your wooden guitar music played with snap, verve, a deeply musical ear and a very strong beat, this is for you.

Juber has carved a most notable career as acoustic soloist and is among the best in the world. These days he favors the modal tuning known as DADGAD which he adopted soon after this release. Here, back near the beginning, he plays everything in standard tuning. I know of no other acoustic guitar release which does as thorough a job of examining all the different modes and moods that a standard-tuned steel-string can offer. There are rockers, ballads, Elizabethan pieces, romances, a little jazz, and of course blues. Everything is harmonically imaginative and the fat guitar sound is wonderful.
This original CD is out of print but also is offered as part of LJ's two-fer called "Naked Solos." There it is paired with his first CD, "Solo Flight." That one too is excellent but the guitar sound is quite a bit thinner and the material on the whole more gentle and less rocking. Either edition of Naked Guitar is highly recommended.
619529
Jack Rose shows his excellent abilities to make his guitar sing. A lovely rendition of acoustic country. Every track is a first take and flawless.
586253
Wow! This is some of the best blues you ever heard. Be advised, this incarnation of Fleetwood Mac has zero to do with any other Fleetwood Macs. This is just Elmore James' inspired blues, 100%. The playing and singing is as pure as it gets. Listening to this you are just blown away by the genius of Peter Green. If you are a fan of Rumors or Tusk, this is probably not your cup of tea. But if you are a fan of John Mayall......
1635516
This is a wonderful CD. Mr. Allison shows his chops both instrumentally and vocally, playing many styles of blues on different numbers, some with a blues-rock emphasis. The recording quality is very good. I don't write many reviews, but I was truly impressed with this album. I don't think it has received adequate acclaim. It should be in every blues-lover's collection.
3845158
Live and flat out rocks! This cd has been played so loud in my car I've had to replace speakers. This is hot, electric blues served up BIG TIME.

GKB Live delivers the energetic improvisational jams that you would expect, a 10-minute fast shuffling "Runaway Train" being the most impressive. With his talented rhythm section behind him, Kaiser's mastery of electric, steel, and lap guitar is on full display here, and guest guitarist Dave Beegle also shines on a few tracks.

Length: 73 minutes

Torch

Crossroads

If I Leave This World Tomorrow

Nick of Time

Full Time Love

Runaway Train

Winter Sun

The Day Love Died

Whisper

Do Lord

In the Soul of a Man

Queen of My Heart
3208023
I'll try and be brief.

If you love the blues, Eric Clapton and/or the sound of old-school electric guitar, there's no way you won't enjoy this album -- it's actually a valuable barometer of where you stand on these three topics. This is essentially Clapton's valentine to a variety of random blues tracks he's enjoyed over the years, and if you can find the video "Nothing But The Blues" and watch him perform the music contained on this disc, you'll see nothing but pure joy. These are all covers and songs you likely never heard before he amassed this collection (with the exception of Hoochie Coochie Man and It Hurts Me Too, the latter of which appeared on the Crossroads 4-disc box/collection).

In essence, this is a surprisingly loud, energetic reboot of the blues that sounds fresh because it's genuine to the tracks except played through (relatively) modern equipment -- amps, guitars, mics, etc.

If you eschew the more pop-based material in Clapton's catalog -- and there's plenty of pop to be had -- this might not be your thing. However, if you find yourself willing to be immersed in the actual blues that forged Clapton's musical soul, a lot of these songs -- and his re-telling of them here -- comprise that soul.

In short, anyone who gives this a listen will either love it or hate it -- based on the three criteria listed above -- and odds are very good that if you've made it this far into this discussion you'll be one of those that will love it.

About the only thing I can say that's remotely negative about this collection of songs is that they're loud and energetic as opposed to relaxed and quiet. So play (and where applicable jam out on air guitar) accordingly ;-)
1761191
Jeff Lang may be my favorite blues-based guitarist.  A master of lap slide, bottleneck, fingerpicking, fretwork...  The man can do it all, and he does it with a completely original and ever-evolving sound that combines the best of traditional blues, british folk (he's a huge Richard Thompson fan), rock and even eastern sounds.  He is at his best live, when he can really stretch out his instrumental improvisations.  Unfortunately, the sound quality on this album doesn't quite do justice to the quality of the playing.  The tracks here are as follows, since Amazon doesn't currently list them:

Here She Comes Again
Big Feeling
'Til They Cut Me Down
If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day
Is All
Native Dog Creek
The House Carpenter
My Mother Always Talked To Me
Un-Natural Act
Molasses and Stone

At 52 minutes, Jeff has time to play around with these songs, and they differ enough from other versions he has recorded that the album is worth getting.  However, the processed, muted tone of his guitar throughout the album keeps the music from sounding as lively as it should.  I cannot tell whether the problem is with the tape, the mixing or the soundboard at the concert itself.  Whatever the case, Jeff varies amplifier effects throughout the concert.  The more electrified the sound is, the less notable the muted tone is.  However, the times that are supposed to sound acoustic sound slightly artificial.  Adrian Legg manages to play around with these kinds of effects in ways that help the compositions.  However, this just doesn't sound like the best recording.  Fans of Jeff will want it anyway for the quality of the playing.  However, my favorite live album from Jeff is still No Point Slowing Down.
1958540
i am a great lover of pre-war acoustic blues, so this is a treat! i really like the fact that the artists put their own mark on their interpertations, rather than merely copying their record/cd collections. of course, there will 2 or 3 that are not quite up to snuff, (you get that in any cd), but the bulk of the disc is very good! recommended!
1803153
During the mid 60's, Michael Bloomfield was THE American guitrist, and one of two men responsible for the resurrgence of interest in the Gibson Les Paul.  This collection goes a long way to demonstrate why.  It follows Bloomfield's carreer during this period.  It includes five previously unreleased tracks recorded with blues legend, Charlie Musselwhite, some tracks, including some live tracks, with Alan Kooper, and some of Bloomfield's most energetic performances.  At his best, Mike Bloomfield simply exploded accross the fingerboard, with a fat and salty tone.  Blues at its best!!
1610437
This has been one of my favorite blues albums since the day it was released.  Sure JH is white, but he grew up listening to the best, and studied them carefully.  One reviewer referred to his "overwrought" style, but it is his style and has always been.  Other vocalists have idiosyncratic styles that is a their signatures. So be it.  The playing on this album is superb.  Renowned Chicago musicians who were regulars at Chess studios, led by "Wild" James or Jimmy Spruill on guitar, deliver the understated yet tense blues that just cooks.  Economy and taste was their trademark.  No overplaying.  And if they could get behind JH's delivery, that is as good a recommendation as I know.  But it and enjoy.
4077140
combining Ben Harper's voice and style with a blues legend is an amazing combo, as much as I enjoy Ben on his normal stuff this album really clicks with me.  some powerful blues songs like "I ride at dawn" and some straight up blues jams it's a fun ride with a cool combo of blues guitar, harmonica, and Ben's voice.  the songs are well written, no idea if they're old or new but try the preview on Amazon for a taste and if you like what you hear you'll love this release.
4900944
John Renbourne was probably one of the most influencial folk-blues guitarists to emerge from the sixties. His ability to combine traditional classical formats with folk-blues made him the envy of the new sixties acoustic revolution.  This album offers a wonderful mix of styles and demonstrates his instrumental versitility leaving us in no doubt that he will always be missed.
1313855
BB King is many things.....including an outstanding guitarist as highlited on "Easy Listening Blues" an all -instrumental offering. This vintage offering is some BBs finest!
1177546
It's called "Too Blue," and I must say, it is awesome. I was literally blown away. Such a range of different styles: city blues, country blues, jazz, pop, rock, skat...it's all there. The whole record has a groove thang goin' on that's impossible to resist.
The songs range from funny to sad, from the gravelly voiced "Gumbo," "Sweet Love," and the playful blues crooning of "Big Gorilla Blues," to the wistful lyrical and acoustic jazz guitar brilliance of "Come What May," "Your Lies," and "Bend in the River." Even the sad songs have the sense of humor of someone who has truly lived the blues, but will never take himself that seriously.
The writing and composition on the 16 gems inside "Two Blue" reflect a mature creativity--a quality seemingly in short supply these days. But Smith's guitar work needs a few words here also. It is masterful, throughout the spectrum of styles on this CD. It will raise the little hairs on the back of your neck, and make your arms shiver with goose pimples. This cat can play.
Comparisons are odious, but his songs bring to mind a modern day Cole Porter, or Randy Newman's more talented brother. I can imagine Billie Holliday covering many of these tracks. It is truly one of the most original, imaginative recordings I have heard in a long, long time. I plan to buy more to send to my special friends. It's an absolute Ace.
I am so lucky to have stumbled across this jewel of original American music.