Further On Down The Road

  The much anticipated Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival 2013 Audio CD's and Blue ray video will be released next month: November 19, 2013. This huge annual event took place this year inside New York City's Madison Square Gardens this past spring. Eric assembled another great line up this year as he continues to up the ante with this season's festival.   The usual suspects were preforming: BB King, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Vaughan, Sonny Landreth, Keb Mo', Jeff Beck, Vince Gill, Doyle Bramhall II, Robert Cray and Steve Cropper. This years additions: Taj Mahal, The Allman Brothers Band and Booker T.  90 minutes of video should satisfy everyone that wasn't able to attend. So hold onto your hats until November and your eyes and ears will be rewarded with some of the best in blues. To wet your appetite I have linked some available video via You Tube today 10/22 at the bottom of this post! Check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=efFo-Clq844

The Rides

I can remember in 1967 via the Ed Sullivan Show, seeing Buffalo Springfield sing: "For What It's Worth" like it was yesterday. That song along with Fogarty's "Fortunate Son," marked a time when music and lyrics protested war and everything that stood for it. Singer/ Songwriter Stephen Stills has been at it along time, he cut his teeth with Buffalo Springfield, followed that gig with another group called; Crosby, Stills and Nash. Neil Young followed and the rest is history. Stills is the first person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice in one night -Buffalo Springfield / Crosby Stills Nash and Young.
Which brings us to the present where the veteran has helped form another interesting approach to Blues/Rock with The Rides. The Rides are; five time Grammy nominated singer, guitarist, songwriter: Kenny Wayne Shepherd,  famed Chicago Rock/Blues keyboard player: Barry Goldberg and the aforementioned Stephen Stills. I am always skeptical about so called super groups, much like great athletes where their larger than life egos and emotions create friction and disaster in sports teams. However, I am here to tell you that this musical chemistry works and works well. The Rides; Can't Get Enough is a solid album. Great songwriting, extraordinary playing and a stellar recording/mix. It's the perfect blending of generations. What a variety pack of songs you get here; Muddy Waters "Honey Bee",  Elmore James: "Talk To Me Baby." and Neil Young's anthem: "Rockin' In The Free World." Originals include the bluesy: "Can't Get Enough Of Loving You", "Roadhouse" and "Only Teardrops Fall"- All Three feature Still's haunting vocals and Kenny Wayne's clean and powerful riffs. Don't forget that holding down the back beat is drummer extraordinaire Chris "Whipper" Layton , formerly with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, but now with Kenny Wayne Shepherd.  Everything comes together here, the musicians, the songs, vocals, I can't deny the Rides Can't Get Enough may be the best blues/rock album of the year!

Murali Coryell

He is the son of Jazz-Rock Fusion guitar legend Larry Coryell. However, Murali Coryell has been making a steady name for himself in the blues for several years. He first caught my attention in 1999 with the  Marshall Chess CZYZ Records release of  2120. Very bluesy, but at the same time you can hear soul, funk and jazz intertwined in the various songs of that great recording. You can sense Murali had been around great musicians all his young life and has been influenced by some of the best - Hendrix, Santana and Miles Davis whom his father played with.  In particular,his father also opened his eyes to BB Kings legendary recording: Live At The Regal, so all those complex, tangible  factors help develop Murali's style today. Several albums followed: Strong As I Need To Be, The Future Of The Blues and Sugar Lips.
Which brings us to his latest: Murali Coryell Live. The highlight of the session is a song in reference to a true story: In The Room With Jimi. Catchy, bluesy, Wind Cries Mary type riffs, just a wonderful song. Infact the entire live set is great and I highly recommend it for your listening pleasure. On a personal note, I will be waiting patiently to see Murali Coryell the first opportunity I get. In the meantime, check out the link below and see his fabulous live preformance of the afore mentioned song: I Was In The Room With Jimi. You will be glad you did.

http://youtu.be/KNcZs2qFM-E

Buddy Guy - Rhythm & Blues

http://bg.buddyguy.com/buddy-guy-to-release-new-album-rhythm-blues-on-july-30th/