We often receive CDs for consideration of future blues shows or reviews. We are honoured to be trusted in this role and would like to share our CD reviews.
If you are a band or musician and would like your CD reviewed, send it electronically (info @ fraservalleybluessociety.com) or mail a CD to: 4476 No. 3 Road, Chilliwack, BC V2R 5E8.
Downchild
50th Anniversary Live CD
Released Aug. 14, 2020
By Cora Price, Fraser Valley Blues Society (http://fraservalleybluessociety.com)
To call Downchild the iconic Canadian blues band is on par with saying gravy goes with fries. You just know it. For 50 years we’ve been enjoying the dancing tunes Downchild has become famous for, worldwide.
Their new CD, 50th Anniversary Live, recorded in June 2019 at the Toronto Jazz Festival, opens with Can You Hear the Music, a jump-blues song that makes you shake your booty, even if you’re stationed in a chair. This cut was the signature song on their CD release in 2013 and won a Juno award in 2014.
The CD features twelve cuts and some of my favorite artists: David Wilcox, Gene Taylor, Paul Shaffer, Kenny Neal, Erja Lyytinen (from Finland) and MCing and playing on 3 cuts, is Dan Aykroyd. Hearing cuts from the Blues Brothers movie, brought back some fantastic memories for me. Did you sit through the credits for that movie? The music playing while the credits rolled included many of Downchild’s repertoire of songs. I sat through the credits right to the end, every time I’ve watched it, enjoying the music.
Cut seven, Mississippi Woman, Mississauga Man is a song that crosses over, melding Acadian Zydeco with contemporary blues. Erja Lyytinen adds the feminine voice and is excellent! This song couldn’t get anymore Canadian in it’s lyrics.
The song that will always hold a special place in my heart because it is loved by so many and always, always gets me moving – Flip Flop and Fly (Featuring Dan Aykroyd, Paul Shaffer, David Wilcox, Kenny Neal & Erja Lyytinen). You can hear how much fun each of the musicians is having with this cut. Beautifully done!
There are so many of the all time favorites on this CD and even though it’s a live recording, you would never know as the mix and compositions are so well done. Downchild’s professionalism is carried through on this release, as it has been on every one they’ve given us.
Now it’s time for you to support our Canadian musicians, please go and grab your own copy of this release from their website: https://downchild.com/store. I know you will enjoy it as much as I did!
You can also visit their Facebook page and show them some love: www.facebook.com/DownchildBluesBand
Charlie Bedford, Melbourne, Australia
9,500 Miles to Memphis CD
Review by Cora Price, Boogety Shoe Blues & Fraser Valley Blues Society
It’s my great pleasure to review this CD for a young up-and-coming musician from the land downunder, Charlie Bedford. Everyone who meets this young man is impressed with his talent, demeanour and personality. Seeing him on stage is to be drawn into someone who is young at heart but old in soul. Frankly, I’m blown away by who he is and what he does.
My first introduction to Charlie was last year during the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Not through actually meeting him either, but rather through the posts on Facebook. All who met him, made comment about the experience. He gave out koala bears, Australian flags and his personal cheers to all he came in contact with. I reached out to him and asked if he had a few tunes he could send my way for the radio show. Once I heard him, I knew I had to meet him and follow where he was going in the future. You know when you just know that someone is meant for great things and influences?
This year Charlie was back in Memphis as a youth act representative for the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society. My husband Bill and I, had the great pleasure of bumping into Charlie on our first night in Memphis for the January 2019 IBCs. Accompanying him, was his father, Gary, who has embodied a great love of life and music. The encouragement, support and love we saw shared between these two was nothing short of wonderful and heart lightening. Charlies gifted me with his new CD, a koala bear and an Australian flag. I squealed with delight!
So, about the CD – Charlies is a fabulous songwriter but for this debut album he chose some great covers by his role models BB King, Albert Collins, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Tony Joe White & Louis Jordan. This CD is just Charlie doing his guitar and vocals. Clean, beautiful, perfect for showcasing who he is as a musician. Brain Baker at the Bakery, thanks for getting this done for Charlie!
Though young, Charlie’s vocal ranges are outstanding. The first 4 cuts feature his higher ranges and my fav is How Blue Can You Get (cut 1). In As the Crow Flies (cut 5) we get to hear his lower register. Charlie’s vocals are super easy to listen to and enjoy. His guitar playing is also stellar! We watched as the room at the Blues Hall watched mesmerized by his stage show and sound. You couldn’t move for all the bodies that were there to see him perform.
Back to the CD – Two cuts, which we also got to hear live, Early in the Morning & Let the Good Times Roll – work great for audience participation. In the recording, you get a hilarious “Get out of here” inserted. Listen closely or you’ll miss it.
So, if you truly want to support new blues artists coming up through the ranks, go and get Charlie’s CD – 9,500 miles to Memphis, like his page and follow where’s playing – he will be coming to America again and I truly hope we can have him in Abbotsford for a show! Canada, you will love this artist!
https://www.facebook.com/Charlie.Bedford.6
Vegas Strip Kings
Jackpot CD
Release Feb. 22, 2019
Review by Cora Price
This new CD from the Vegas Strip Kings, tells you where the band is from and from the one-pager I’d say they were under the auspices of Blind Pig Records, but have now broken away and have moved to their own label. This recording is clean and well produced. Kudos to the band!
What I liked best is the wide array of styles they’ve encompassed on the CD. If you like blues that is contemporary, traditional, zydeco, rockabilly – you’ll find something to wet your whistle inside this release.
The majority of the tunes are their own compositions, which is always my preference. I don’t want to hear the same old, same old. Their mix of lyrics is easy to relate to, catchy and well presented. With a funky mix of sound showcasing saxophone, keys, accordion, harmonica, guitar, drums, upright bass and vocals – they provide great foot stomping, butt shaking, listening enjoyment.
This 5 piece band brings it all to the stage and the recording – I can only imagine what they are like to see live, for a whole show. Check the band out at https://www.facebook.com/VegasStripKings/ or on UTube with their great video for Jesus on the dash: https://youtu.be/Mor3u7Mc7cc
Thanks Frank Roszak for sending this CD my way.
Layla Zoe
Gemini CD Review
Double album released Oct. 2018 (Independent)
Feb. 10, 2019
If you have followed the career of the Canadian Firegirl, Layla Zoe, you know how awesome her blues music has been. People who see her live, rant about her energy and talent. If you don’t know who she is, you need to look her up.
Layla likes to mix it up and she sure has done that on the appropriately named, Gemini CD. Not what I was expecting! This 2 disc set is true Gemini fare – disc one (labelled Fragility) is folk blues done with an acoustic guitar played by Jan Laacks, who is also the producer; the second CD (labelled Courage) is pure rock and roll with a bit of blues.
All songs on the CD are written by Layla. They demonstrate her Gemini roots. Many of the lyrics are heart focused, raw and touch the soul. For example, her tune Little Sister hit home for me. It’s a song that speaks of her relationship with her younger sister. Her craving to know her again, to share in the experiences again, as they have drifted apart.
As I listened to the first CD, I felt Layla’s need to express her deeper feelings. She’s put her all into her music but think there have been times she has been cautioned to keep it mainstream and acceptable (my words, not hers). On this album, she’s let her rip. She’s showing her vulnerable side and speaking her truth. Each song has a story – they definitely let you into her Gemini soul.
Some may say it’s not to their liking. But, if you give it a chance, read the words of the songs (there’s a booklet inside that has all the words for your reading pleasure), I think you’ll come to an understanding why Layla the Firegirl, needed to get this out of her heart and soul! You’ll gain a greater appreciation of her artistry and musicianship, for bringing together a slightly different arrangement of music, then her norm. I say kudos. Beautifully done and I look forward to see where you go from here
More info about the cd: http://www.layla.ca; http://facebook.com/laylazoefanpage
