Marc Amacher - Roadhouse

Size: 361 MB
Time: 55:09
File: Flac
Released: 2019
Styles: Rock, blues, blues-rock
Art: Front

1. Roadhouse (2:44)
2. Kid (3:04)
3. Jack Driver (3:43)
4. Ride On (5:29)
5. Smokestack Lightning (3:05)
6. Valley Of Tears (2:58)
7. Death Letter (5:36)
8. Grandma (5:38)
9. Open Window (3:42)
10. Down With The Blues (3:25)
11. Bluesman (5:48)
12. Good Old Rock'n'Roll (3:31)
13. What She Say (6:20)

A wave of attention followed. Today, however, Amacher is back where he truly belongs: with an electric guitar in his hand and a killer band behind him. Even during his time on The Voice, the mid-thirties musician knew he wanted to leave the glitz and glam of pop stardom behind. He wanted to create an earthy, raw album that reflected his musical preferences and authentic character. Roadhouse is that album.

With Roadhouse, he has lived up to his very high standards – including those he sets for himself. The rising star of blues-rock holds nothing back and delivers an album that convincingly conveys the pure power of the blues.

Reviews

"Rather, he relies on a powerful blend of various blues and boogie styles with rock, raw and decidedly edgy, recorded live in the studio without any subsequent overdubs for polish." (...) This down-to-earth Swiss musician has something special – his career is one to watch.

Roadhouse FLAC

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Bonny B. - Love And Blues

Album: Love And Blues
Size: 130,8 MB
Time: 56:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2025
Styles: Blues, harmonica blues
Art: Front

1. Blue Tone (5:48)
2. All On Board (4:52)
3. Run In The Rain (5:08)
4. My Story (5:00)
5. Good Time (5:32)
6. Rescue Me (4:02)
7. Black Betty (3:30)
8. We Gonna Have A Good Time (4:08)
9. This Song Is For You (6:08)
10. Listen Downchild (3:56)
11. Juke (4:02)
12. Let Me Love You Baby (4:27)

Born in Cambodia under the name Su Pheaktra Bonnyface Chanmongkhon, Bonny B. arrived in Switzerland in 1979 at barely seven years old. His family fled to Fribourg to escape the Khmer Rouge, and nearly fifty years later, he has become a professional bluesman with an extraordinary musical career behind him.

Bonny B., singer and harmonica player, has carried his blues across European stages for more than half a century. Together with his brother Ice B on guitar, he has recorded around twenty albums, founded a harmonica school, and opened two clubs. He also created a blues festival while running his own online radio station. Alongside his brilliant artistic journey, he has introduced generations of secondary-school students throughout French-speaking Switzerland to the world of blues.

A certified pastry chef, Bonny B. began his pilgrimage to Chicago in 1998 - the Mecca of the blues - where he shared the stage with Buddy Guy, Louisiana Red, John Primer, Bob Margolin, Larry Garner, and Bob Stroger. In 2005, the ultimate recognition arrived: Claude Nobs, founder and director of the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival, invited him to perform alongside B.B. King. Since then, Bonny B. has played thousands of concerts in more than fifteen countries, participated in dozens of festivals, and led countless workshops.

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Dave Riley & Bonny B. Band - Live At The Blues Club Fribourg

Album: Live At The Blues Club Fribourg
Size: 184,7 MB
Time: 79:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Blues
Art: Front

1. The Thrill Is Gone (7:56)
2. Friends (6:27)
3. Baby Please Come Home (3:08)
4. Howlin Wolf (5:03)
5. Trash Man Blues (4:54)
6. Voodoo Woman (6:22)
7. Livin' On The Borrowed Time (8:52)
8. I'm Ready (4:44)
9. You Don't Have To Go (5:55)
10. Ride With Your Daddy (8:09)
11. Share Croppers Blues (6:26)
12. I Ain't Drunk (5:54)
13. Mojo Workin' (5:53)

Dave Riley: Dave Riley born March 18, 1949 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, second born of 10 children. Dave learned music at a young age. By the age of nine he was playing for his parents (Willie and Maggie) family gospel group The Riley singers. In 1961 his family moved to Chicago where he fell in love with music playing gospel on Sunday mornings and blues at night. Dave caught the eye of several independent record labels around town and became a studio music playing for a lot of local acts. Dave was drafted into the army where he was stationed in Seattle Washington. He attended a show that featured local guitarist Jimi Hendrix, who became a major influence on his life.

Upon the end of his tour of duty in Vietnam. Dave came home and pick up where he left off playing around town sitting in with the likes of Muddy Waters, Eddie Shaw, Junior Wells, Howlin’ Wolf, and Buddy Guy. It wasn’t until Dave in the early 1990s, Dave returned back to his roots in the Delta where his name began to shine hooking up with Sam Carr, Frank Frost and Big Jack Johnson. After touring around the globe with the Jelly Roll Kings, Dave formed his own band in 1996, and has been picking and singing non-stop ever since. In 2000 and 2001 Riley released three albums, his first CD, Living on Borrowed Time, followed by Blues Across America-The Helena Scene, and Whiskey, Money, and Women.

In 2005 Riley came to Phoenix for a visit and decided it would be a good place to live. Since then, Riley has performed at the Rhythm Room, Pranksters Too, the Boondocks Lounge, the Peoria Municipal Complex, the Glendale Jazz & Blues Festival, the Mesa Arts Center, the Blues Blast at Margaret T. Hance Park, the Plaza Palomino Court Yard, the Live at the Library, the Bisbee Blues Festival, the Tucson High Magnet School (Tucson Spring Jam), Monterey Court, plus touring in the USA, Europe and South America. From 2007 to 2011, Riley released three critically acclaimed albums with Arizona harmonicist Bob Corritore; Travelin’ the Dirt Road, Lucky to be Living, and Hush Your Fuss!.

Bonny B.: Born in Cambodia under the name Su Pheaktra Bonnyface Chanmongkhon, Bonny B. arrived in Switzerland in 1979 at barely seven years old. His family fled to Fribourg to escape the Khmer Rouge, and nearly fifty years later, he has become a professional bluesman with an extraordinary musical career behind him.

Bonny B., singer and harmonica player, has carried his blues across European stages for more than half a century. Together with his brother Ice B on guitar, he has recorded around twenty albums, founded a harmonica school, and opened two clubs. He also created a blues festival while running his own online radio station. Alongside his brilliant artistic journey, he has introduced generations of secondary-school students throughout French-speaking Switzerland to the world of blues.

A certified pastry chef, Bonny B. began his pilgrimage to Chicago in 1998 - the Mecca of the blues - where he shared the stage with Buddy Guy, Louisiana Red, John Primer, Bob Margolin, Larry Garner, and Bob Stroger. In 2005, the ultimate recognition arrived: Claude Nobs, founder and director of the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival, invited him to perform alongside B.B. King. Since then, Bonny B. has played thousands of concerts in more than fifteen countries, participated in dozens of festivals, and led countless workshops.

Personnel: Dave Riley (vocals, guitar); Bonny B. (harmonica, cigarbox guitar); Ice B. (guitar, bass); Buddy B. (guitar); Cherry B. (bass); Speedy MJ (drums); Samuel Gex (harmonica track 10).

R.I.P. Dave Riley (March 18, 1949 - January 5, 2026)

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Nico Brina - Boogie Woogie Journeyman

Size: 110 MB
Time: 29:17
File: Flac
Released: 2015
Styles: Boogie Woogie
Art: Front

1. Catch Me, Boogie Baby (2:30)
2. A Quick Boogie (1:38)
3. Smooth Hips (3:28)
4. Bouncy Boogie (3:02)
5. Boogie Down to New Orleans (3:12)
6. The Sunny Side of Blues (3:15)
7. Country House Boogie (2:14)
8. Cool Down Boogie (3:00)
9. White Dressed Woman Blues (3:25)
10. Soulman Boogie (3:29)

Perhaps, some might say it is strange to define yourself as a Boogie-Woogie-pianist already as a young boy, but that is what Nico did when he was a knee-high boy. Of course, he needed courage, an extraordinary talent and a certain kind of smartness. When Nico was 8 years old, he found his neighbor's piano and he suddenly fell in love with its magical tone. Furthermore, Nico discovered the world of Rock'n'Roll, lightning fast Boogie-Woogie-rhythms, breathtaking bass lines and shining melodies. He played with his hands and even with his feet. However, in the beginning of his career, Nico needed to be smart; as a kid, he pretended to be sick so that he could stay at home and rehearse instead. As a young musician, after his concerts he played chess against the owners of the clubs to double his salary. It was all or nothing. Later, not even angry neighbours could stop Nico Brina's career. Once, a neighbour threw a chair into Nico's window because he had enough of Nico's everlasting rehearsals. All that the police then said, was; "Don't mess around with a pianoman". Nico took this quote and wrote a song about this incident.

After some time, Nico added the Blues to his repertoire, and this was like the missing link to finally define his own unique sound. He travelled around and he played his Boogie-Woogie-driven Blues music almost anywhere in the world. He played in Europe, in the Caribbean, in Kazakhstan, in Singapore... - and he even won several awards such as the "Prix Walo" (1995), the "Guinness Book of World Records" title for the fastest Boogie-Woogie ever (1996) and he got a nomination from the "Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik" for his album "Flight 6024" (Category Blues 2014).

It has been 40 years since the journey started. More than 4'000 shows in 19 different countries, more than 1'00'000 km on the road, 21 albums, one LP, one DVD and four singles.

Nico still feels happiness when he plays his piano - just like a child playing its first note. There is magic, when he combines his talent, his power and his musical wit. It is this mixture that makes the entertainer become an artist. Brina is a wizard, maybe a fool, but he shows us where passion can lead us. His BBB-combination - Boogie & Blues & Brina - is like a drug, but without any side effects.

Boogie Woogie Journeyman FLAC

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Ladyva - Steam Train Boogie

Size: 188 MB
Time: 32:33
File: Flac
Released: 2023
Styles: Piano blues and boogie woogie
Art: Front

1. Got My Mojo Working (4:20)
2. Steam Train Boogie (2:24)
3. Lobster Groove 2.0 (2:50)
4. Boogie Woogie Stomp (3:59)
5. To Whom Do I Want To Lie (3:59)
6. Quarantine Boogie (2:18)
7. Ladyva's Stomp (2:59)
8. Return To Blues (3:27)
9. Jumpin' The 88's (3:09)
10. You've Got This (3:04)

Ladyva started playing the piano at the age of 14, inspired by the music of the great masters of Boogie-Woogie. Only two years later she started performing, together with her brother Pascal Silva. Several TV appearances in Switzerland followed: Heitere Festival Zofingen,ZDF-Fernsehgarten, Glanz & Gloria, and many others. She has also been successful in her second homeland, the Dominican Republic. In 2009 Ladyva released her first album "Vanessa G - The Boogie Woogie Lady". In 2011 she signed to Universal Music. ​Ladyva was invited by promoter Rocco Buonvino to perform at Jerry Lee Lewis' 80th Birthday/Farewell U.K. Tour in London and Glasgow in September 2015. On 16 October 2015, she performed live on the famous "The Late Late Show" on RTÉ One in Ireland. In November, 2016 she toured through Europe, appearing on TV shows in Bulgaria, including Slavi's Show and the election of Miss Bulgaria. In London (Boisdale) she performed at the Cigar Awards with guests including Burt Reynolds and Jonathan Ross. In May 2016, she was invited to perform at the 'Boogie Woogie & Blues Spectacular' hosted by Jools Holland. On 12 December she performed again at the Cigar Awards 2016 with guests such as Charlie Sheen and Kelsey Grammer. Further festival performances followed, both in Switzerland and abroad. On 22 April 2017, Ladyva & Silvan Zingg presented their first joint, four-handed CD "Beloved Boogie Woogie". ​In August 2017 and 2022 she was invited to perform at the world's biggest Boogie Woogie Festival in LaRoquebrou, France. She has also performed at many Jazz & Boogie-Festivals all around the globe. ​On 13 September 2017 in London, Ladyva received the award for 'Best Boogie Woogie Pianist 2017' at the Boisdale Music Awards hosted by Jools Holland, having just released her 3rd album "8 To The Bar". In November 2017 Ladyva performed at the 'Beatles Symphonic' at the London Coliseum singing the song "Something" accompanied by the London Concert Orchestra alongside stars including Bonnie Tyler. In 2018 Ladyva was invited to perform live on the famous British TV-Show "Loose Women" on ITV. Later that year she attended again the Boogie-Woogie & Blues Spectacular hosted by Jools Holland, this time with invites such as Hugh Laurie aka "Dr. House" who's a brilliant musician and also a fan of Boogie-Woogie. ​Her piece "Quarantine Boogie" went viral on YouTube, which gave her great exposure, and she appeared again in the "Blick", Switzerland's most popular newspaper and TV Show. In the meantime she has more than 200 million views on YouTube. In May 2021 she released her single "Ladyva's Stomp". ​On 28 September Ladyva received the 'Boogie Woogie Artist Of The Year' award at the Boisdale Music Awards 2022, hosted by Jools Holland. In December 2022 she performed with Kool & The Gang at the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. ​On 8 December 2023 she released her 4th album "Steam Train Boogie". In November 2024 she performed on Jools Holland's UK tour in prestigious theaters such as the Symphony Hall in Birmingham and the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Steam Train Boogie FLAC

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Chris Harper - Four Aces And A Harp

Album: Four Aces And A Harp
Size: 168,4 MB
Time: 72:46
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Chicago blues, harmonica blues
Art: Full

1. Hand Me Down My Cane (3:22)
2. Down In The Bottom (4:18)
3. Sloppy Drunk (3:32)
4. I Smell Trouble (6:36)
5. Blues Is My Life (4:27)
6. Next Time You See Me (3:16)
7. Mojo Hand (3:16)
8. You Make Me Fly (2:58)
9. What's Wrong (3:27)
10. Born In Arkansas (4:16)
11. Don't Get Around Much Anymore (2:31)
12. Forty Days And Forty Nights (3:59)
13. Eyesight To The Blind (3:28)
14. Evil Is Going On (3:31)
15. Long Distance Call (6:17)
16. Digging My Potatoes (3:48)
17. Worried Life Blues (5:35)
18. Fattening Frogs For Snakes (It Took Me A Long Time) (4:00)

Swiss-born "Swississippi" Chris Harper understands feel. He knows it’s not about squeezing in lots of notes designed to impress; instead, it’s about making each note count, delivering a potent musical punch with economical ease and authority. And for his recording debut on his own Swississippi Records label he’s recruited the cream of the old-school crop to help deliver a thoroughly convincing and satisfying outing steeped in tradition.

Harper’s "Four Aces" – the core backing band here – have all lived and breathed this music for many years. On drums we get Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. On bass, veteran Bob Stroger. And on guitar, it’s Jimmy Burns and journeyman John Primer. All are masters of their craft, able to lock into a groove with seemingly effortless aplomb. There’s also an impressive guest list of Chicago blues stalwarts, including the likes of guitarists Rockin’ Johnny Burgin and Little Frank Krakowski, drummer Kenny "Beady Eyes" Smith and vocalist Tail Dragger.

Together with producer/guitarist Dave Katzman, Harper hand-picked the cast with the intention of crafting a collection showcasing classic Chicago Blues – half electric and half acoustic, to illustrate where the music came from. And they’ve succeeded on every level, with eighteen tracks that represent the width of the blue spectrum – songs made famous by Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, and Howlin’ Wolf as well as Lightnin’ Hopkins and Sleepy John Estes. Also included are a handful of original compositions from Harper that fit seamlessly, and a delightful harmonica romp through Duke Ellington’s "Don’t Get Around Much Anymore". /John Taylor

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

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Lazy Poker Blues Band - Soul Food

Album: Soul Food
Size: 89,3 MB
Time: 38:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1980/1981
Styles: Blues/Funk/Soul
Art: Front

1. Paranoia Lover (2:37)
2. Same Old Story Blues (3:52)
3. Clean & Real (3:19)
4. May 20th (2:44)
5. Jake's Mood (Frizzantino's Revenge) (5:43)
6. Cut Me Off (4:57)
7. I'm Ready (3:26)
8. Watch Out Before You Marry (5:43)
9. Soul Food (3:19)
10. Funky Bitch (3:04)

In 1975, four young guys (Cla Nett, Fulvio Häfeli, Werner Doebelin and Ueli Hofmann) got together, eager to play their music, eager to play the blues. The Lazy Poker Blues Band was founded. With a new drummer, Marco Piazzalonga, the band produced their first album "Take It Lazy" (1978). Jakob Künzel and Sam Jenzer joined the band. Supported by the Lazy Horn Section, the next album "Soul Food" was released in 1980 and turned out to be a full success.

Personnel: Roland Frei (vocals); Cla Nett (lead guitar); Ueli Hofmann (guitar); Samuel Jenzer (bass); Marco Piazzalonga (drums, percussion); Willi Ester (alto saxophone); Dani Schneider (tenor saxophone); Lukas Nüesch (trumpet); Lazy Horn Section (horns).

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Lucky Wütrich - My Kind Of Music

Album: My Kind Of Music
Size: 101,0 MB
Time: 43:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2024
Styles: Soul/Blues/Funk
Art: Front

1. Organ Intro (0:32)
2. Love The Life You Live (2:14)
3. What Did You Do To Me (4:36)
4. My Kind Of Music (4:35)
5. I'll Be Alright (4:43)
6. Keep It On Ice (4:17)
7. Proud Of You (3:14)
8. Able To Love (4:43)
9. Lucky's Breakdown (3:09)
10. Peace Of Mind (3:25)
11. Ready To Roll (4:48)
12. Lucky Shuffle (3:24)

When the 27-year-old from Thun picks up the guitar strings and gives his songs an almost physically noticeable urgency with this extraordinary, soul-soaked voice, coupled with an emotionality that probably originates somewhere deep behind his ribs, then it becomes clear to everyone: Lucky Wüthrich is a thoroughly honest, authentic and highly talented musician.

Whether he sings about his broken heart or his love for music, whether he shares the fate of his friends, he touches you with his blunt, honest way of describing his world. What remains unmistakable is his love for American music, its history and performers who shaped and changed today's music forever. After the first successful tour with the debut album "Steady", during which 80 concerts were played throughout Switzerland, he will be on the road with his new album "My Kind of Music".

Personnel: Lucky Wüthrich (vocals, guitar); Andrin Burfeindt (Hammond B3); Andreas Aeberhard (bass); Dustin Persson (drums).

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Baumgartner & Kasehs - Vienna Session

Size: 184 MB
Time: 34:26
File: Flac
Released: 2019
Styles: Acoustic- harmonica blues
Art: Front

1. Blues in the Bottle (2:43)
2. Put the Kettle On (2:21)
3. The Railroad Work Song (3:02)
4. Weapon Boogie (3:32)
5. Early Morning Blues (2:32)
6. I Got a Woman (3:48)
7. Trouble in Mind (2:22)
8. Stack O'Lee (2:49)
9. Hey Baby (3:57)
10. I'll Fly Away (2:27)
11. Take out Some Insurance (4:48)

The two thoroughbred musicians inspire at their concerts with a huge portion of power and joy of playing. Together they play wonderful blues and folk songs by well-known and lesser-known blues musicians from the 1920s to 1960s, as well as their own compositions. They complement each other wonderfully in their playing, their singing and their nature. The listener enjoys expressively played, high-quality music; Thanks to the spontaneous improvisations by and between the two, the concerts become a real musical experience - a wonderful journey through blues and folk music is guaranteed on this concert evening. The two of them have their CD “Vienna Session” in their luggage, which was released in spring 2019. Hannes Kasehs (voice, guitar) is a passionate, wonderful blues guitarist and singer from Vienna and has been on many concert tours across Europe for over 20 years. He shared the stage with many stars of the scene such as John Primer (USA), Dave Myers (USA), Abi Wallenstein (DE), Larry Garner (USA), Katie Webster (USA), Louisianna Red (USA), Christian Dozzler (AT), 4some Blues (CH/A), Norbert Schneider (A), to name just a few. He plays and lives traditional blues music genuinely and authentically; His love for this music is wonderfully expressed through his playing on the guitar and his voice.

Vienna Session FLAC

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One Rusty Band - Vagabond

Size: 379 MB
Time: 69:32
File: Flacs
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues, rock
Art: Front

1. Cat Suicide Blues ( 5:42)
2. My Babe ( 6:53)
3. Hard Times ( 3:46)
4. Voodoo Child ( 4:54)
5. My City ( 6:01)
6. Love in Vain ( 4:39)
7. Drunken Hearted Man ( 5:14)
8. I'm a Ghost ( 7:13)
9. Psychobillie ( 3:27)
10. Stop Breaking Down ( 6:24)
11. Vagabond ( 4:49)
12. Constant Sorrow (10:25)

Vagabond, demo released in 2017, with covers and compositions arranged by Greg, a tribute to the blues greats: Robert Johnson, Skip James, Tommy Johnson, Jimi Hendrix.... Recorded on a four-track by Gregory Garghentini and Benjamin Dacruz, mastering (not great!) A demo that was more of a rant, just to test things out, than an album itself...!

Vagabond FLAC

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Blues Mystery - Soul Memories

Size: 356 MB
Time: 46:42
File: Flac
Released: 2018
Styles: Funky bluesrock
Art: Full

1. 25 Degrees Below Zero (3:45)
2. Sit Down (4:17)
3. Has Humankind Lost its Soul (4:27)
4. I'm Afraid of the Next Blues (3:20)
5. 8000 Miles (3:40)
6. Time to Forgive (4:42)
7. Reputation (4:34)
8. Red Hot No Shot (3:28)
9. High-Level Woman (3:38)
10. Risking Love Again (3:54)
11. Keep on Working (3:00)
12. Look Out Mama (3:53)

The album opens with the pumping boogie 25 Degrees Below Zero in which the spirit of Creedence Clearwater Revival haunts. The flat raw vocals of Willy Matt and his poor English pronunciation are more than compensated by the razor-sharp cutting guitar playing. The mid-tempo Sit Down has a bluesy pub-rock sound and is slightly spiced up by the burning guitar solo. This also happens in the ballad Has Humankind Lost Its Soul, which sounds similar to our own bands Carlsberg and A.A. & The Doctors makes you think. The funky blues rocker I'm Afraid Of The Next Blues again sticks too much to the neat side. Fortunately, Irénée's guitar comes to the rescue again. Fortunately, the languidly grooving 8000 Miles has a bit more spice, partly due to the mean guitar licks. In the song you come across some Lynyrd Skynyrd influences. The somewhat anonymous sounding ballad Time To Forgive is also saved by the guitar again. Red Hot No Shot opens promisingly in a super funky way, then collapses again in the chorus and is then resuscitated by the screeching guitar. Then two songs follow, which just don't want to get off the ground. The funky High-Level Woman and the blues rocker Risking Love Again. In Keep On Working the band seems to have found the right swing and the right sound. A nice staccato rocker with pointy guitar work. When the album then closes with the acoustic ballad Look Out Mama, a song that will appeal to fans of The Scorpions, I can only conclude that The Blues Mystery is a nice blues band with an excellent guitarist, which we should at least keep an eye on.

Soul Memories FLAC

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Don P. & The Blue Jags - Lu-Town

Album: Lu-Town
Size: 92,0 MB
Time: 39:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: R&B/Blues/Rock & Roll mix
Art: Front

1. Lu-Town (2:32)
2. I Wanna Know (5:06)
3. Sharp Dressed Gumshoe (3:06)
4. Rattlesnake Boogie (3:51)
5. I'll Come Over (4:39)
6. Comfort (3:10)
7. Let It Roll (5:12)
8. The Flame Still Burns (4:02)
9. Trouble (3:41)
10. Mr. Mojo (4:27)

Straw hat, sunglasses and the Fender Telecaster are the trademarks of the Lucerne guitarist, singer and songwriter Don P. He plays a virtuoso and melodic blues rock guitar with references to the driving Texas blues and English blues rock. His powerful songs make every live show an intense experience! Don P. writes varied, emotionally charged songs and the sound is energetic, intense and played with great passion. The common thread of his blues-rock guitar stretches across the repertoire and gets under your skin immediately.

Don P. & The Blue Jags delivers a rousing show with pure joy of playing that gets your legs moving and always surprises with well-arranged songs, and their sound has a high recognition value and finally claims a place in modern, contemporary blues rock. The independent, fresh songwriting inspires with elements of rock, funk, jazz, soul or blues.

Personnel: Don P. (guitar, vocals); Bruno K. (bass, vocals); Pat R. (keyboards); Martin D. (drums).

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Philipp Fankhauser - Heebie Jeebies: The Early Songs Of Johnny Copeland

Album: Heebie Jeebies
Size: 89,4 MB
Time: 38:19
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2022
Styles: Blues/R&B/Soul
Art: Front

1. Heebie Jeebies (2:39)
2. Just One More Time (2:48)
3. Something's Up Your Sleeve (2:06)
4. Love Prayer (3:39)
5. Every Dog's Got His Day (4:18)
6. Hurt Hurt Hurt (2:45)
7. May The Best Man Win (2:34)
8. Coming To See About You (2:33)
9. It's My Own Tears (3:44)
10. Well A Well A Baby (2:06)
11. I've Gotta Go Home (2:57)
12. It Must Be Love (2:55)
13. I Need You Now (3:10)

The fact that Philipp Fankhauser is once again delving into the musical treasure chest of his mentor Johnny Copeland - the singer and guitarist from Houston, Texas, who died in 1997 - should come as a surprise to very few people. On many of his past albums, Fankhauser has included one or two Johnny Copeland penned songs. What is surprising, however, is that the song «Heebie Jeebies», as well as the other 12 tracks off his new album, are all around sixty years old. Born in 1937, Johnny Copeland wrote them all between the ages of 20 and 25.

Johnny started his touring career as early as 1952, and in the early sixties had been on the «blues circuit» in and around Houston, building himself a solid career», says Philipp Fankhauser. Almost overnight Soul Music captured the hearts and minds of the the black community, and artists like Solomon Burke, Ben E. King, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and many more, were the new stars. Blues musicians were suddenly no longer in vogue. People turned away from their complaining and whining, wanting new music: happy, danceable, with positive vibes.

Fortunately, Johnny was surrounded from an early age on by singers who sang "soulful". The gone too soon crooner Johnny Ace, for example or Eddie «Guitar Slim» Jones and of course Sam Cooke. Johnny admired them and their influences are quite clear to the listener from Copeland's earliest recordings in the fifties. Johnny Copeland began to write Soul songs of his own; short, intense pearls, without long intros and mostly without any long guitar solos. All of these songs at most, two and a half minutes in duration in accordance with the wishes of the all powerful Radio DJs of the time.

"From the huge number of songs that Johnny wrote between 1960 and 1966, I have selected thirteen. Not all of them are just happy, but they are my favorite songs. The soulful feeling of the blues, or the bluesy feeling of Soul, is also easy to discern in them. We recorded them all over a few days. Just like they did back then: all of us in one room, a handful of microphones and amps, a real piano, a vintage drum set, some nice guitars. Then: count in, play, record! What You Hear Is What We Played!"

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Chris Harper and Sharade Band - Blues Is My Life

Size: 434 MB
Time: 64:46
File: Flac
Released: 2007
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

1. Sweet Honey Sunshine ( 4:41)
2. You've Got Me Baby ( 6:28)
3. Groove Machine ( 4:54)
4. Help Me ( 8:19)
5. Stormy Monday (10:31)
6. Lie Lie Lie ( 6:06)
7. I'm Checkin' Up on My Baby ( 2:26)
8. Sweet Sixteen ( 5:19)
9. Deep Blue Sky ( 5:27)
10. Blues Is My Life ( 6:43)
11. Soul Blues ( 3:46)

Chris Harper, a late calling musician? Somehow, Swiss-born and now Chicago-based Harper has been connected to the blues and its offshoots most of his life. He is now primarily focused on music, having picked up a harp at age 12, switching to bass a year later and playing it in a number of hard rock, jazz rock and dixie jazz bands. Since 2002 Harper has been more at the pulse of music and in the 'Windy City' he met some bluesers, jammed in the clubs with Melvin Taylor, Billy Branch and Sugar Blue, among others. He owes a lot to the latter, for it was he who made sure that the Swiss changed his harp style »from the lip to the tongue block technique«. So Sugar Blue, whose real name is James Whiting, made sure that the tradition of a Little Walter was passed on. In 2004 Harper met the Italian Sharade Band and there was a successful collaboration, which is now also available as an album with "Blues Is My Life". A full 65 minutes of blues are on the record program and it's clear that you also have to like the music of the people who make the reeds of a harmonica vibrate through different air currents and bending. Six original compositions, one with the band, face five cover interpretations. Other musicians have been invited to Chicago's Delmark Records' Riverside Studios for some pieces, and alongside Billy Branch, another harper, and the Chicago Horns, guitarist Chico Banks will also be giving three guest appearances. Chris Harper's blues express really gets rolling in the opener "Sweet Honey Sunshine". Crisp horns, the best backing vocals from the three ladies Kay C. Reed, May Koen and Vanessa Holmes as well as a furiously playing Swiss who uses his instrument in a variety of ways. Then you step on the brakes and the intonation becomes much softer. Especially the slow blues show what people are capable of and I take my hat off to Harper, because his "You've Got Me Baby" is a ballad to die for. And I stay close to the ground, because with this "Help Me" version, even if Billy Branch is there with his work equipment and on the vocal microphone, one presents one of the mercilessly good interpretations. When the two harps, clean, channel-separated, groovy blues and saxophonist Gianluca Baroncelli passes the solo baton to keyboardist Giacomo Lauria and then two harp interludes follow, the blues heart is happy. You can do the funky gait twice. On the one hand it's the heavier interpretation with the "Groove Machine" that shines with the guitarists Stefano Moruzzi and Chico Banks. Hell, what a 6-string solo effort and behind it the saxophone is constantly accelerating. The slightly more airy version makes up the title track "Blues Is My Life", but with a good portion of soul delivered by the female voices. Contrasts are also provided, as Banks at times plays an almost psychedelic wah wah electric guitar. If we already had a sung slow blues, Harper and the Sharade Band present an instrumental pandon with "Deep Blue Sky". A filigree work of art with a yearning harp and another great Moruzzi, which unleashes a fiery solo into the world at slow beats. Of course, the length of many tracks leaves room for many solo interludes. This is also the case here, because Baroncelli doesn't splash out and sets the wooden reed of his instrument in vibration. With more than ten minutes, the classic "Stormy Monday" is celebrated in epic breadth, very well by the way. The Swiss sings with a sometimes rough-sounding voice and the saxophonist gives the piece a jazzy rebuff. In contrast, the swinging-grooving "Checkin' Up On My Baby" is a 'shorty', but no less worth listening to. Chris Harper and the Sharade Band and their guests are met with an open door from the reviewer and that should also be the case for many of our readers from the blues faction, because you can feel that the 12-stroke is Harper's life and that's how diverse it is CD. As the info material says: »Together with them he realized his Swississippi dreams.« That translates to 8 out of 10 RockTimes clocks. Line up: Chris Harper (harp, vocals) The Sharade Band: Gianluca Baronelli (saxophone) Stefano Moruzzi (guitar) Giacomo Lauria (keyboards) Albano Castrese (bass) Enrico Cecconi (drums) Special guest: Billy Branch (harp, vocal - #4) Chico Banks (guitar solo - #3, guitar, vocals - #5, wah wah rhythm guitar - #10) Chicago Horns: Bill McFarland (trombone) Kenny Anderson (trumpet) Hank Ford (tenor saxophone) Kay C. Reed (backing vocals) Mae Koen (backing vocals) Vanessa Holmes (backing vocals)

Blues Is My Life FLAC

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Basement Saints - Bohemian Boogie

Size: 177 MB
Time: 30:15
File: Flac
Released: 2017
Styles: Blues, rock
Art: Front

1. Skatopia (3:37)
2. Shyness Highness (3:35)
3. Free Time (2:51)
4. Snow On The Road (3:30)
5. Buffalo Bay (3:47)
6. Faith (2:47)
7. Rooftop Riddles (4:16)
8. That Kind O' Lover (2:54)
9. Bohemian Boogie (2:53)

Songs like the opener Skatopia thunder mercilessly out of the speakers, so the song has nothing to do with ska at all. But anything with raw garage rock. Kind of like a garage boogie. I was reminded of the New Adventures in the buzzing boogie-rocker Show On The Road. Buffalo Bay is a raw funky blues rocker with a psychedelic edge. The last two songs on this album are also very good. That Kind O' Lover is a heavy blues rocker in a style very similar to Mountain's "Mississippi Queen". Also watch out for that steamy acceleration! Bohemian Boogie starts with riffs that are similar to Mud's Tiger Feet (but then a kind of stoner version). The song delivers what it promises… boogie of the heavy kind. Then there are songs that I think are slightly out of place on this album. Hyness HIghness is raw but ripples a bit too much without flames. Good bluesy guitar work. The same goes for the slightly funkier Free Time with again excellent guitar work. Faith is an acoustic ballad with a lazy psychedelic sound and in Rooftop Riddles Neil Young comes into play.

Bohemian Boogie FLAC

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Lucky Wüthrich - Steady

Size: 141,4 MB - 387 MB
Time: 60:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021-12-10
Styles: Blues, blues-rock
Art: Front

1. I Wanna Play My Blues (4:14)
2. Steady (On My Merry Way) (5:21)
3. Rock and a Hard Place (4:31)
4. Who's Gonna Sing the Blues for You (5:26)
5. Thinking 'Bout You (3:47)
6. Let It Be Me (5:39)
7. Show Soul (4:22)
8. How Long (4:19)
9. I Just Wanna Do My Thing (3:35)
10. Right Now (4:45)
11. All Your Hurtin' (3:47)
12. Talkin' About Them Blues (6:56)
13. Lord Give Me a Sign (3:28)

25 years. A voice as straight and serene as that of an established blues warrior. Self-written songs that carry you away and touch, written from everyday life, played and sung with the casualness and passion of a musician who HAS to go on stage. Someone who scrubs and grinds the guitar until it howls. And someone who knew very early on: This is what I want, what I feel deep inside, what I have to do! Lucky Wüthrich comes - like his role model and mentor Philipp Fankhauser - from Thun and was apparently born for the blues. Becoming a musician is more important to him than good grades in school. In January 2010, one month before his fourteenth birthday, he attended a concert by Philipp Fankhauser in the Bierhübeli in Bern, which opened up a new world for him: the world of blues music. "I still remember my concert in Bierhübeli very well," says Philipp Fankhauser. “A little boy like that matches me up after the performance, asks for an autograph and says he also wants to be a musician. A few weeks later I see Lucky again at the talent competition in Café Mokka in Thun - and it knocks me off my socks: just with his guitar and this warm, honest voice, he fills the whole room within a few seconds, people stand up and bob with and clap. There is no doubt: Lucky is an exceptional talent - and his soul feels the blues! With his extraordinarily talented fellow musicians, he prefers to play and sing the blues on stage; with style elements from soul, R&B, funk and Americana. A sparkling, thrilling mixture!

Steady MP3
Steady FLAC

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Philipp Fankhauser - Watching From The Safe Side

Size: 146.8 MB
Time: 62:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Electric Blues, Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. It's Over Now Baby (Remastered 2021) (3:19)
02. Watching From The Safe Side (Remastered 2021) (3:47)
03. Too Little Too Late (Remastered 2021) (4:21)
04. Blues Ain't Nothin' (Remastered 2021) (4:36)
05. Time Stands Still (Remastered 2021) (4:07)
06. If You Ain't Been To Houston (Remastered 2021) (3:46)
07. The Blues Don't Like A Crowd (Remastered 2021) (3:51)
08. Sunday Morning (Remastered 2021) (3:45)
09. Thomas & Rodney (Remastered 2021) (5:48)
10. Love Song (Remastered 2021) (3:25)
11. Wish You Well (Remastered 2021) (4:18)
12. Time Stands Still (Philipp's First Demo 2005, Lo-Fi) (4:53)
13. Thomas & Rodney (Philipp's First Demo 2006, Lo-Fi) (5:01)
14. If You Ain't Been To Houston (Unplugged Rehearsal 2015, Mid-Fi) (3:41)
15. Genie In A Bottle (Philipp's First Demo 2003, Lo-Fi) (4:05)

Re-Issue of the 2006 Dennis Walker produced album. Contains the 11 original tracks and 4 never before released demo and rehearsal tracks.

Philipp Fankhauser is a Swiss blues singer/guitarist who experienced Top Ten success in his homeland after two decades of recording activity. Born in 1964 in Thun, Switzerland, he began playing music during the late '70s after taking an unlikely interest in the blues as a teenager. His interest in the blues was compounded after he attended the 1981 Montreux Jazz Festival, where he witnessed firsthand a performance by Albert Collins. Other American blues legends he saw at the Montreux Jazz Festival during the early '80s included such luminaries as B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In particular, a 1984 performance by Johnny "Clyde" Copeland left a lasting impression on Fankhauser; in fact, the two became acquainted and the Texas legend became a mentor to the Swiss novice, whose performance career was becoming a full-time occupation around this time period.

In 1987 Fankhauser founded the Checkerboard Blues Band and began touring throughout Switzerland, playing dozens of shows a year. The Checkerboard Blues Band featured vocalist Margie Evans, and made their recording debut in 1989 with Blues for the Lady, which Fankhauser produced and on which he also sang. The Checkerboard Blues Band -- sans Evans -- returned in 1991 with their second album, With a Feeling; two other albums by the band followed -- Dedicated (1992) and the live album Thun-San Francisco (1994), the latter featuring Evans -- before Fankhauser recorded the solo album On Broadway (1995) in Memphis with producer/songwriter Dennis Walker. Beginning in 1994, Fankhauser resided in the United States, where he toured with his mentor, Copeland, until the Texan's death in 1997. In the meantime, a best-of album, His Kind of Blues (1996), was compiled as a gap-filler.

Fankhauser subsequently returned to Switzerland in 2000 and resurrected the Checkerboard Blues Band for a new album, Welcome to the Real World (2000). Following a live album by the Philipp Fankhauser Blues Band, the trio showcase Live -- So Damn Cool (2003), Fankhauser signed a recording contract with Memphis International Records and proceeded to release Talk to Me (2004), a solo album recorded in Memphis with producer David Less. Fankhauser then signed with Funk House Blues, a Sony BMG subsidiary, and released his most commercially successful albums to date: Watching from the Safe Side (2006) and Love Man Riding (2008), the former of which was a Top 20 hit on the Swiss albums chart, the latter a Top Ten hit. ~Jason Birchmeier

Watching From The Safe Side MP3
Watching From The Safe Side FLAC

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Larry's Blues Band - Nothing But The Blues

Album: Nothing But The Blues
Size: 128,5 MB
Time: 55:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Electric blues
Art: Front

1. Down In Memphis Tennessee (4:39)
2. Sweet Little Angel (3:05)
3. Crazy Mama (4:46)
4. I Can't Be Satisfied (3:34)
5. Gypsy (4:30)
6. It's Gonna Get Rough (4:06)
7. Smoky Mountains (3:16)
8. Come On in My Kitchen (2:17)
9. New Orleans Girl (3:58)
10. The Right Time (4:16)
11. I Wanna Boogie (4:40)
12. Mary Had A Little Lamb (4:50)
13. What They Call The Blues (3:52)
14. My Daddy (3:20)

The blues played here is electric, make no mistake. And it's not the laidback kind of blues that makes your feet go sleepy. Of the fourteen tracks, ten are originals. /Devon

Personnel: Larry Schmuki (guitar, vocals); Markus Fritzsche (bass, vocals); Beat Aschwanden (drums).

Nothing But The Blues mc
Nothing But The Blues zippy

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Ellis Mano Band - Ambedo

Size: 96.2 MB
Time: 41:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2021
Styles: Blues Rock
Art: Front

01. The Horrible Truth (3:31)
02. Sweet Sin (3:12)
03. Ambedo Mind (3:33)
04. The Fight For Peace (5:45)
05. Johnny & Susie (4:04)
06. Long Road (3:48)
07. The Question (Feat. Lachy Doley) (3:35)
08. Breakfast (5:43)
09. Keep It Simple (4:16)
10. Heart 'n Mind (4:06)

Following in the footsteps of their own 2019 debut release, The Ellis Mano Band returns from the studio with their sophomore effort Ambedo. The quartet sticks mostly to the original formula by turning out another ten-song set focused on well-constructed tunes that provide a brisk listen, even if they don’t break new musical ground.

Some tracks display a bit of edginess reminiscent of Here And Now’s “Whiskey,” but the majority of the album drifts in and out of personal reflectives contained within jazzy blues structures and moods. All of the tracks are valuable contributions to this collection, but depending on the listener, certain numbers will garner more spins than others. The harder blues-inflected songs and moments seem unlikely to appeal as much to the fans of the softer, pensive tunes and vice versa.

The contrast appears immediately in the album’s first two songs. “The Horrible Truth,” with Edis Mano’s warm, powerful guitar tone, cuts through the mix with an enjoyable riff that drives the steely-eyed commentary on the modern world. Chris Ellis’s voice, bolstered with just a touch of echo compliments the straightforward delivery of the Ellis Mano take on blues rock. “Sweet Sin” follows with similar technical strengths but a completely different attitude. It is also a good song, but it relies more on the nuance inherent in the individual talents of the group members than its predecessor which hits hard and sticks in the ear.

“Ambedo Mind,” belongs to the more laid-back grouping of songs with its opening horn salvos and cooing background vocals. Ellis adds to this feel by dropping the gruff, visceral punch of his rocker voice and singing in a higher, gentler register. “Johnny & Susie,” “Long Road,” and “Breakfast” also share this approach. All feature solid writing and some great, if brief, guitar chops from Mano.

If a complaint were to be levied it might be that a couple of the minutes spent on “Breakfast” be shifted to the more dynamic, “The Question.” Like “Keep It Simple”—potentially the best song of the bunch—”The Question” leans more on rock n’ roll with a heavier tone and some excellent hammond organ fills courtesy of Lachy Doley.

One of the more interesting cuts from Ambedo is “The Fight For Peace.” The closest example of a compromise between the two styles, the subject matter provokes thought as can be inferred from the title, and the overall mood can be best described as brooding, even if the instrumentation isn’t as fiery as “The Horrible Truth.” It makes the best use of the backing vocalists and Ellis’s range is impressive. “Heart n’ Mind” fittingly wraps up the set with a song that is both sweeping and soaring, and works well as a closing statement within the flow of the album.

The strengths of Ambedo tend to lie in places where either Ellis or Mano feature—after all, it is The Ellis Mano Band. Nico Looser (Drums), Severin Graf (Bass), and a handful of other musicians excel as well, but they assume a supportive role to the prime movers. There will undoubtedly be listeners who love both groupings of songs, but more likely listeners will love either the harder numbers or the jazzier, story-based tunes, while liking all of the tracks. The musicianship is top-notch, and the songs well-written, including more than a few revelatory musical moments. Ambedo plays close to the band’s strengths, and that’s just fine. It is very good music. The Review: 7.5/10 ~Willie Witten

Ambedo MP3
Ambedo FLAC

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Harlem Ramblers - Knee Deep In The Blues (Feat. Travis Haddix)

Size: 130.8 MB
Time: 55:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1998
Styles: Blues Soul, Blues Jazz
Art: Full

01. Someone To Love (4:52)
02. Homeslice (3:50)
03. Knee Deep In The Blues (7:40)
04. Blues In The Air (4:47)
05. Precious Lord (4:26)
06. Don't Push It (4:03)
07. Nobody Knows You (5:34)
08. St. Louis Blues (5:08)
09. Begging Business (7:37)
10. Everyday I Have The Blues (2:41)
11. Texas Moaner (5:10)

Personnel:
Travis Haddix - guitar, vocals
Mike Goetz - piano
Dinu Logoz - mouth organ
Gunter Sellenath - trumpet
Teddy Schultz - trombone
Fritz Steiner - soprano, tenor, bariton sax
Chris Mitchell - guitar, banjo
Hans Jorg Schaltenbrand - bass
Gerry Ceccaroni - drums

Travis Haddix is the featured artist on this album, at the invitation of The Harlem Ramblers, a popular Dixieland Jazzband based in Switzerland. Travis handles vocals and guitar, while the band members back him on an array of blues and jazz instruments: harmonica, trombone, trumpet, saxophone, piano, banjo, acoustic bass and drums.

Knee Deep In The Blues (Feat. Travis Haddix) MP3
Knee Deep In The Blues (Feat. Travis Haddix) FLAC

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