New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Back when Keb' Mo' shot up to number one on the Americana chart I thought man this guy is on to something. Equally when the Grammy membership supported celebrating the blues by opening a museum in Mississippi I thought there could be synergy between the Foundation and the Grammy folks. Enter Barbara Newman and the 2016 Board. Man have things moved forward folks. I noticed a marked difference in external communications when a Grammy meeting was hosted by the Chicago chapter of the Grammy organization at the Blues Music Awards this past May. If you were in that meeting room then you know the chat between the blues pros and the Grammy panel was real - I mean right to the point. Soon afterward the Grammy organization announced an expanded set of choices for those submitting blues genre. That was cool. Next I noticed that Blues Foundation Board Members were going to be at the Americana Music Association meeting this month. My point is that this board is building...

Eighty-two is not an age when most musicians feel like trying something completely new.

Not John Mayall. Earlier this spring, his guitarist couldn’t make it to a gig. So for the first time in a career that spans more than half a century, the legendary British bluesman led his band through a full show as a trio.  “I’d never even thought about it until I did it,” he said in a recent call from his home in Los Angeles. “My god, looking back, I can’t remember any instance where I’ve gone any smaller than a quartet.”  Now, though, it’s all he wants to do. When Mayall hits the Capitol Theatre in Clearwater on Thursday (click here for details), he’ll be joined by bassist Greg Rzab, drummer Jay Davenport, and no one else.

“They’re a really special rhythm section,” Mayall said. “We’ve been together many, many years, and it’s just the interplay and the way we work together that makes it all very cohesive.”

High praise from a man who’s best known as one of the blues’ foremost pack rats of talent...

 1.  Buddy Guy – Born to Play Guitar

 2.  Mike Zito & the Wheel – Keep Coming Back

 3.  Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters – Father's Day

 4.  Samantha Fish – Wild Heart

 5.  The Bey - Paule Band – Not Goin' Away

 6.  Tommy Castro – Method to My Madness

 7.  Andy T – Nick Nixon Band – Numbers Man

 8.  Shaun Murphy – Loretta

 9.  Billy the Kid & the Regulators – I Can't Change

10.  Shemekia Copeland – Outskirts of Love

11.  Sugaray Rayford – Southside

12.  Albert Cummings – Someone Like You

13.  Eliza Neals – Breaking and Entering

14.  Anthony Geraci & the Boston Blues All-Stars – Fifty Shades of Blue

15.  Victor Wainwright & WildRoots – Boom Town

16.  Karen Lovely – Ten Miles of Bad Road

17.  The Knickerbocker All-Stars Go Back Home to the Blues

18.  Anthony Gomes – Electric Field Holler

19.  Mr. Sipp – Mississippi Blues Child

20.  Greg Nagy – Stranded

21.  Omar Coleman – Born & Raised

22.  The Rusty Wright Band – Wonder Man

23.  Jay Gordon's Bl...

The Blues Matters Magazine "Writer's Poll" has named "Confessing the Blues" Radio 2014 Best International Blues Radio Show ....  I'm so humbled and at the same time thrilled by this honor.  The popularity of our efforts are a reflection of the love of Blues Music from fans and enthusiasts around the planet.  It is quite the accolade for me and confirmation that what we do is indeed recognized as fine Blues radio programming. Hard work, dedication and the drive of doing things right appears to have brought our program to the top of the Blues Radio Industry.  Blues Matters Magazine is the largest and most respected Blues Publication in the UK.  Find their current issue at www.bluesmatters.com.