IT's TOP FIVE BLUES TIME!

While 2003 was the official Year of the Blues, there were several stellar blues records released 2004, including a concert soundtrack produced by Martin Scorsese. We'll get to that disc in a minute, but first, let's get to my top five blues releases for Cosmik Blues of the past year. The usual disclaimer applies: these are my personal favorites and they represent CDs that I play often as it would be impossible for me to catch all of the major label and independent releases from bluesmen and blueswoman across the world. While writing for the crew here at Cosmik is a dream gig, that would be a dream gig, too.

In no particular order, here are my top five blues releases with a few honorable mentions tucked in for good measure. In my dreams, I'd turn back to Charlie Watts or Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and ask for a rimshot...

OMAR AND THE HOWLERS: Boogie Man (Ruf Records)
Omar and the Howlers' latest release on Ruf Records stirs up my passions for Southern-inspired, electric, guitar-fueled blues. This uptempo blues record is a standout for me, not only for the moving tribute to John Lee Hooker in the title track, but for Omar's trip down memory lane to his native Mississippi, "Mississippi Mud."

CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE: Sanctuary (Backporch/Virgin)
Charlie Musselwhite should need no introduction to regular readers of Cosmik Blues as I've shouted about his live shows and CDs more times that I can remember. His debut on the Real World label captures the legendary harmonica player at his best, even after four decades and 30+ releases in the blues business. Charlie's vocals are up to the challenge, and few bluesman can master the art of understated, haunting blues like Charlie can. A solid blues record from start to finish.

HARRY MANX: Road Ragas Live (Dog My Cat)
Last year, Canadian bluesman Harry Manx has stepped out on his own by forming Dog My Cat Records, and his Road Ragas live disc captures him with no overdubs from performances around the world in 2003. The way Harry mixes traditional blues with East Indian music, courtesy of his 20-string Mohan Veena or his six string banjo, truly adds a world-beat context to the music of Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf. Harry's original songs like "Coat of Mail" or "Lay Down My Worries" showcase a songwriter's gift for mixing the contemporary with the traditional, with images straight from the Mississippi river and Rajasthan's Chambal river as well.

DEBBIE SEITZ: Soul Stirring (Self-Released)
While my critical judgement may be clouded from having the privilege of hanging out with Debbie Seitz for the first time last year - we saw Mem Shannon and the Membership at Chicago's House of Blues - this self-released CD captures a Chicago area blues diva, I've said it here before, who's ready for the big leagues. Her performing band includes road-tested musicians from the Kinsey Report, and players who've toured with E.C. Scott and Buddy Guy. I particularly like her original "Goin' Somewhere" and her interpretations of Koko Taylor's "Voodoo Woman" and Tom Hambridge's "Rock Me Right." Last month, Soul Stirring made Delta Frank's playlist on his weekend blues show on WGLT-FM, and I hope other NPR affiliates get this CD some well-deserved notice.

DEBORAH COLEMAN: What About Love? (Telarc)
I'll be honest. Straight up. While Deborah Coleman has released five solid records on Blind Pig, I've never sat and listened to one of her records from start to finish until I heard her Telarc debut, What About Love? She answers that question with songs like the Ellis Hooks/Jon and Sally Tiven-penned "Undeniable," the always-welcome Delbert McClinton/Gary Nicholson nugget "Lie No Better," and Deborah's own instrumental, "The River Wild." Deborah's got a guitarist's gift that just won't quit.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

I narrowed down my top five from each of the releases I've heard, and there are a few others that belong up there, too. They include Eric Bibb's excellent release with some of his friends, simply called Friends (Telarc); first-class guitar and songwriting wizardry from Albert Cummings on his Blind Pig release, True to Yourself; traditional blues from Byther Smith on Throw Away the Book (Black and Tan); an authentic blast of Chicago blues from Scott Bradbury on Callin' All Blues (Teardrop); true blues treasurers unearthed by Bruce Iglauer on Hound Dog Taylor's Release the Hound (Alligator); David Jacobs-Strain's powerful An Ocean or a Teardop on Northern Blues; and Janiva Magness' sultry Bury Him at the Crossroads (Northern Blues). Finally, kudos to the Delmark, Alligator and Blind Pig record labels for their budget-priced blues lines that hopefully will earn the blues more converts than ever. Delmark's 50th Anniversary Collections, Alligator's Crucial Blues series, and Blind Pig's three excellent compilations are all worthy of your blues investment that will pay dividends many times over. I hope that each of these compilations will turn you on to explore each of the labels' catalogues' more deeply.

Last year was a great year for the blues, building on the momentum of the Year of the Blues. As I close, I would be remiss if I didn't thank Martin Scorsese for producing Lightning in a Bottle, the soundtrack to a February 2003 Radio City Music Hall show (and documentary) that celebrated the Year of the Blues. Wait 'til you hear me shout about this must-have 2-CD set next month. You'll also see that 2005 is getting off to a great blues start with Sonny Landreth's live CD on Sugar Hill and Tommy Castro's return to Blind Pig with Soul Shaker.

Until then, happy new blues year.

© 2005 - Eric Steiner