Link: http://www.miavermillion.com

Mia Vermillion
Alone Together With The Blues
Mia Vermillion Productions

One of my favorite 2009 local blues releases so far this year is from Anacortes, Mia Vermillion. She's a new Washington Blues Society member, and Alone Together with the Blues is a must for fans of understated, but powerful, acoustic blues. Mia has performed at a range of festivals, including the Olympia Food and Wine Festival, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, and the Jazz Walk for the 2006 Anacortes Jazz Festival. She was invited to participate in a musicians exchange in China, and she received an award for her US Armed Forces FORSCOM Festival show. Alone Together with the Blues features a core band of Orville Johnson (former Dynamic Log and world-class acoustic blues man), Chuck Deardorf (noted Origin Records jazz bassist), Ben Smith (drummer for Heart and the Lovemongers), and Hans Teuber (Origin Records reed man) with cameos from Cary Black, Mark Ivester, and Garey Shelton on a CD that features two original tunes and seven covers. I particularly like Mia's version of Big Bill Broonzy's "I'm Going to Copyright Your Kisses" and "When I've Been Drinkin'". "Two Cigarettes in the Dark" draws upon Hans Teuber's clarinet expertly, and takes the CD back, film-noir-ish, to the song's roots back in its 20's and 30's roots (and while it's clearly not a blues song - think Mia as a jazz chanteuse for a moment - it showcases the exceptional vocal range of a blues women I have just discovered through the Washington Blues Society)

Author: Eric Stiener
Repost Courtesy of The Washington Blues Society

Review by Malcom Kennedy
Courtesy of Washington Blues Society

Rick Fowler
Back On My Good Foot
(Jammates Records)
www.rickfowler.com
http://jammates.com

Power chords and blazing guitars blues from the speakers right from the opening track, the blues rocker "Infected With The Blues;" but there were some surprises in store with the subtle guitars on the slow organ driven of "Fell So Much Better" with the verse "she makes me feel so much better, I look forward to feeling down." The title track is a mid tempo shuffle, and "Walk Softly" is a slow blues with a veiled warning for his lover to not do him wrong that has some really nice lines on the guitar. Some tracks are straight up blues, and other have more of a rock edge to them; but instead of over-analyzing this CD, the proof is in the listening: the more times I listen to Back On My Good Foot, the more I like it.

Review by Eric Steiner
Courtesy of Washington Blues Society

Ian Siegal
The Dust
(Nugene Records)
www.iansiegal.com

Americana and roots music. Songs that caught my attention on The Dust include; "Stranger Clothed In Linen" -for how it harks back to early Bob Dylan; "Southern Cross Blues" - for how it reminds me of Tom Paxton or John Prine, and "I Drink," because I do (and I like a thoughtful, pedal steel guitar). The set closes with three live tracks that show Ian Siegal is not only a solid and reliable performer with his electric band, but The Dust, he shows that he can represent Chester Burnett very well, thank you. Turn up the dosing "Dirty Road/Call Me The Wolf" and enjoy another facet of one of Britain's most talented young blues exports.

Willie "Big Eyes" Smith
Born in Arkansas
(Big Eyes Records)
www.williebigeyessmith.com

Review by Eric Steiner
Courtesy of The Washington Blues Society

Willie "Big Eyes" Smith's infectious grin graces the cover of his latest CD, and he's got a reason to smile. Many, as a matter of fact. Living Blues magazine named him and his son Kenny Smith as Most Outstanding Musician- Drums in the magazine's 2008 awards copetition. A father-son tie in the 15th awards celebration! Willie's latest CD, Born in Arkansas, features a baker's dozen steeped in traditional blues. The opening cut, "When I Left" sets the stage nicely with Willie's harmonica playing buoyed by former Seattleite "Barrelhouse" Chuck on piano. Billy Flynn and "Little Frank" Krakowski share guitar duties, while Bob Stoger and Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith keep the rhythm section right on track. Born in Arkansas is a strong traditional blues record, and I hope it lands on many radio programmers' "Top Ten" list for one of the finest blues CDs released last year. I can't wait to hear Willie and the guys perform "Money Talks at an adult-only benue, becuase the family-friendly refrain "Money Talks/And Bullgrass Walks" is essential for any radio airplay. I marveled at the way "Can't Rest For Worry" slowly launched: we've heard the same story many, many times before in the blues: usually inspired by a woman, same song structure, same chord progression. With Willie's band, though: the traditional sounds fresh, and each of the players add their own unique touches as Willie continues with his story about work, women, and worry (three of the blues' most often visited topics. Highly Recommended! - Eric Steiner

Link: http://www.theredhotz.com

If you enjoy blues that leans heavily on R&B then Red on Blues, the smoking hot 2008 release by the Red Hot Blues Sisters deserves a spot in your collection. There are a total of ten tracks, including four previously included on the solid EP In Search Of Memphis Mojo. The CD opens with an outstanding horn intro on the bumping "3 B Blues", one of the 4 original tracks. Another fine offering, "Caffeine", should strike close to home for many here in Coffee Town. If the slow, soul blues "Enough 2 Cry" doesn't receive some serious radio play it will be a crime. I will give another shout out about the Red Hotz completely original rendering on WIllie Dixon's "Bring It On Home", which features updated soulful vocals with a dash of fuck and Teri's tastefully understated guitar lines are pure gold. Red on Blues is the Ted Hotz' strongest effort to date.

Author: Malcolm Kennedy of the Washington Blues Society