nybody who truly believes that blues music is dying hasn ’ t been paying attention . With TV soundtracks , movie scores and new museums ( Memphis , St . Louis , Chicago 2019 ) dedicated to the blues , the music is suddenly everywhere . Some might even cautiously call it another blues renaissance . With two films focused on blues , Sidemen : Long Road to Glory tracing the amazing lives of Pinetop Perkins , Hubert Sumlin and Willie “ Big Eyes ” Smith and Chasing The Blues a Chicago-filmed comedy about searching for a historic blues record lighting up the movie festival circuit and new blues releases climbing the charts , that term is not too far-fetched . Plus , three new blues albums show what a blues renaissance sounds like .

By Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Pinetop Perkins

From The DVD Sidemen : Long Road to Glory

Two generations of iconic blues musicians joined forces to create a musical collaboration that represents both where the blues has gone and where it ’ s going . Taj Mahal and Keb Mo released their groundbreaking joint album TajMo to create a lyrical blues dialog . The two blues icons have known each other for years and Taj Mahal is even credited with helping Keb Mo get his first record deal . So it makes sense that this album sounds like an easy going conversation between two friends who just happen to be blues masters . Kicking off with a sizzling blues shuffle , “ Please Don ’ t Leave me Here ,” that turns the tables on the Delta to Chicago migration tale with the chorus , “ if you ’ re going to Mississippi , where that Delta sky is sweet and clear , I ’ m

stuck here in Chicago , please don ’ t leave me here .” Adorned with revelatory Billy Branch harp it ’ s a memorable highlight . By the third track , the effervescent “ All Around The World , complete with South African rhythms , it ’ s clear that this is not a typical blues album . Taj Mahal and Keb Mo crafted a sound that combine their blues mastery as well as their well versed experience with global instrumentation . This eclectic take presents an upbeat , hopeful mood that permeates the album . Taj Majhal summed up the approach by explaining on the album ’ s website ; “ some people think the blues is about being down all the time , but that ’ s not what it is . It ’ s therapeutic , so you can get up off that down .”

Indeed , TajMo brims with vibrant life and joy . “ Shake Me In Your Arms Tonight ” sprinkles some funk and a Joe Walsh guitar solo on a little blues boogie and even the duo ’ s acoustic guitars sound content on the frisky “ She Knows How to Rock Me .” And there ’ s some unadorned , straight country blues with a sublime cover of John Estes ’, " Diving Duck Blues ," which appeared on Taj Mahal ’ s debut in 1968 . Closing out with the John Mayer ’ s " Waiting For the World to Change ," with Taj ’ s gruff vocals offering a little more weight than the original ( and a barely heard presence from Bonnie Raitt ), TajMo points to a bright blues future built on a sturdy foundation of innovation and historic reference .

Coco Montoya cut his blues teeth playing with iconic blues guitarist Albert Collins and then played in the second reincarnation of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers . That ’ s a blues education that definitely leaves a mark , but Coco has worked hard to develop his own sound . Hard Truth , his fourth solo CD with

Alligator , firmly establishes Coco Montoya as a contemporary blues guitarist with rock undertones . Opening with “ When The Bullets Fly ” he serves up scorching guitar licks to rival the Allman Brothers original . “ Lost In the Bottle ” tells the tale of alcohol battles with anguished riffs and he tackles heartbreak with the soulful " I ’ ll Find Someone Who Will ."

The album ’ s 11 tracks are mostly covers ( but none of the usual blues picks ), nearly all tracks showcase Coco ’ s skill at interpretation . “ Devil Don ’ t Sleep ” throbs with temptation and salvation as he belts out “ I won ’ t rest until I see my Lord .” As tribute to his mentor , Coco usually dedicates one tune to “ The Iceman ” [ Collins ] on his albums and this one demonstrates just where his heart lies . He rips into blues riffs so nasty that surely the Master of the Telecaster is grinning down . Coco Montoya might have started as a blues disciple but Hard Truth shows that he ’ s become a leader in his own right .

As another Albert Collins acolyte , guitarist James Armstrong started his career serving up fiery fretwork but injuries to his hand during a home invasion forced him to develop a smooth , slow style that ’ s showcased on his latest release , Blues Been Good To Me . The title track opens the CD , with a smooth shuffle , declaring his love for his blues musician life . He flips the Robert Palmer classic , “ Addicted to Love ” into a soul blues boogie and cleverly offers images of Robert Johnson , Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye as examples of how men wind up dying young in the anthemic “ Early Grave .” Even transforming the Holland Dozier Holland classic , " How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You ," into a rollicking soul blues number , James Armstrong demonstrates that the blues can go anywhere .

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Sun Nov 5 Meadow Ridge Ramblers : A Hootenanny !

Wed Nov 8 Nascent Jazz Trio

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Wed Nov 22 “ Pre-Thanksgiving Bash !” Rollover

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Howard Levy and Chris Siebold

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