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Oscar Jordan
Toronzo Cannon
In Chicago’s blues community, everybody knows Toronzo Cannon, although outside of the Windy City his name is less recognized. For years he battled it out on Chi-town’s fiercely competitive circuit. Having paid his dues as a sideman and bandleader, it’s on this new album that Cannon is fully unleashed. Using a core group of musicians
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Oscar Jordan
Eric Gales Trio
Eric Gales is arguably the most underrated guitarist of his generation. Emerging in the early ’90s with a post-Hendrix blueprint that combined a fusion of blues, rock, and gospel, he never sustained the visibility of artists like Kenny Wayne Shepherd or Joe Bonamassa. Perhaps it’s because they had better representation or stayed out of prison,
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Oscar Jordan
Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock
Despite Michael Schenker’s infamy as a member of the Scorpions, UFO, and MSG, he seems to have put his demons behind him. On this new album, Schenker is a clean, mean, guitar-playing machine. Continuing the fiery trajectory of 2011’s Temple Of Rock, he reunites Scorpions bassist Francis Buchholz with current drummer Herman Rarebell. Adding former
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Oscar Jordan
The Jimi Hendrix Experience/Jimi Hendrix
Despite the ongoing effort to strap the name Jimi Hendrix to everything from vodka to golf balls, his story remains a great American saga. Like Robert Johnson and Charlie Christian before him, he burst upon the music scene like a meteor, then flickered out too soon. With the CD release of the live recording of
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Oscar Jordan
Michael Lee Firkens
In 1990, Michael Lee Firkins’ first album made a monstrous splash in the guitar community. His soulful use of the tremolo bar showcased a signature style that has morphed to encompass more traditional guitar techniques. Yep is a Southern-rock opus 10 years in the making, with Firkins as producer, guitarist, and vocalist. His band includes
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Oscar Jordan
Jim Campilongo
Jim Campilongo’s tenth album is a stark and intimate portrait of an artist at the peak of his powers. Augmented by two acoustic tracks (“Suppose” and “One Mean Eye”), Dream Dictionary is a somber record filled with bite, strangled note selection, and tortured twang. Campilongo’s band features bassist Chris Morrissey and drummer Josh Dion. Norah
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Oscar Jordan
Joe Satriani
After moonlighting with the super group Chickenfoot, Joe Satriani returns to his day job as solo artist extraordinaire with this new album, continuing his galactic reign as supreme commander of instrumental rock guitar. Unstoppable Momentum follows in the cosmic wake of Satch’s last album, 2010’s Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards. His band includes drummer Vinnie
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Oscar Jordan
Dumpstaphunk
The New Orleans funk ensemble known as Dumpstaphunk has been at it for a decade now. Led by Ivan Neville on keys, the band consists of Nikki Glaspie on drums and vocals, guitarist Ian Neville, and not one, but two bass players – Tony Hall and Nick Daniels III. Their latest is stuffed with pulsating
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Oscar Jordan
Frank Gambale
Soulmine
Frank Gambale has had an amazing career playing the music he loves. From being the go-to guy for sweep-picking, and later replacing Al DiMeola in Return To Forever, Gambale drops jaws wherever he goes, and whether playing straight jazz, instrumental rock, or contemporary fusion, he plays from the heart and head. Gambale’s current project is
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Oscar Jordan
Jeff Golub with Brian Auger
Two years back, touring pro and studio ace Jeff Golub’s optic nerves collapsed, leaving him permanently blind. Now he’s back, with a twelfth solo album, getting a little help from jazz-rock keyboard pioneer Brian Auger. This is a smooth jazz record with blues, funk, and rock overtones. It’s full of nifty cover tunes, swingin’ instrumentals,
