Blues Rock

20th Century Blues is a hard rockin' blues CD that was produced in 1994. The power trio on this CD consists of Robin Trower on guitar, Mayuyu on drums and Livingstone Brown on bass and vocals. Those familiar with Trower know that the vocal duties have primarily belonged to James Dewar and in his brief absence, a host of others including Trower, Davey Pattison and, as in this case, Livingstone Brown…

The new album, which has been recorded in Madrid and Las Vegas, is expected to be released in March 2016. It includes 14 new songs which fuse Latin rhythms, blues and rock with the unmistakable guitar sound of Javier Vargas and feature exceptional vocal contributions by Paul Shortino, Gaz Pearson, Devon Allman and Tim Mitchell. Indispensable performances by Luis Mayo on bass/vocals and Peter Kunst on drums/vocals give superb shape to this album.

Progressive blues rock sounds evolved from their 60s flower-power roots to create the outstanding 1970 album by this Dutch combo formed in 1967 with members of Tee-Set.

Those who liked the moodier, more atmospheric material on the last Mark Lanegan Band offering, 2004's Bubblegum, will find much to enjoy on Blues Funeral – an album that has little to do with blues as a musical form. Lanegan has been a busy man since Bubblegum. In the nearly eight ensuing years, he's issued three records with Isobel Campbell, joined Greg Dulli in the Gutter Twins, guested on albums by the Twilight Singers and UNKLE, and was the lead vocalist on most of the last two Soulsavers offerings. Produced by Eleven guitarist Alain Johannes (who also fulfills that role here as well as playing bass, keyboards, and percussion), Blues Funeral finds Lanegan in a musically ambitious place.

Awesome fourth studio disc by killer blues/rock axeslinger Xavier Vargas and his outstanding Vargas Blues Band, features 15 songs (79 minutes) of phenomenal, top-shelf, world-class, dynamic, powerful blues/rock riffage of the highest order. Texas Tango is a classic modern day bluesy heavy guitar masterpiece. Re-Mastered Re-issue disc with two unreleased Bonus Tracks. Xavier Vargas is an amazing gifted blues/rock axemaster and is Spain's #1 guitar hero and answer to S.R.V. (that is meant as no disrespect to the late, great man). Believe it or not, he is legitimately that good. Xavier's playing is rite up there with the best of them. When you hear the Texas Tango disc you'll wonder why you've never heard of him until now.

Rick Derringer tried a variety of different things in the 1980s, '90s, and 2000s. The singer/guitarist recorded his share of middle of the road pop/rock and adult contemporary albums, and he even recorded an instrumental jazz-pop/smooth jazz album that had George Benson-ish leanings (2002's Free Ride). But Derringer, who turned 61 in 2008, has a way of going back to blues-rock and hard rock – which is exactly what he does on Knighted by the Blues. Granted, this 2009 release wasn't recorded with blues purists in mind; not everything on Knighted by the Blues adheres to the traditional 12-bar format. But the feeling of the blues is quite strong throughout this 51-minute CD; that feeling is as strong on Derringer's own songs as it is on enjoyable performances of Jimi Hendrix's "If 6 Was Nine" and Ray Charles' "Funny, I Still Love You."

David Coverdale is back with a brand new Whitesnake on Live…In the Shadow of the Blues. Recorded between 2005 and 2006, this double disc documents a new band – with veteran monster drummer Tommy Aldridge (Black Oak Arkansas, Pat Travers, Randy Rhoads-era Ozzy Osbourne), guitar wizards Doug Aldrich (Dio, Carmine Appice, Bad Moon Rising) and Reb Beach (Winger, Eric Clapton), bassist Uriah Duffy (Carmine Appice, Pat Travers Band, Christina Aguilera), and keyboard boss Timothy Drury (Eagles) – and runs not only through the hits in an inspired and dirty-ass fashion, but comes up with four new cuts as well, recorded in the studio and tacked on at the end of disc two…

Barry is blues royalty; a true legend among blues drummers and connoisseurs. Thus, his name "the Baron of the Blues," as musicians often introduce him, is a perfect fit with his real name, Baron. Barry's playing personifies the quintessential blues-based drummer: a deep pocket, tight groove and supportive agility. Barry spent years touring with Shemekia Copeland on a myriad of domestic and international tours. Before that, he toured for years with her father, the legendary Johnny Copeland.

This 22-track compilation makes for a commendable jaunt through some of the Climax Blues Band's best material. It may not be the most comprehensive set available, but it does manage to excerpt songs from some of the group's better albums. Led by the Number Nine hit "Couldn't Get It Right" (Number Ten in the U.K.), this compilation package takes the essential cuts from their most significant releases, including their self-titled debut album from 1968, when they were known as the Climax Chicago Blues Band, as well as 1971's Tightly Knit; 1972's Rich Man; and 1976's Gold Plated, which heralded both "Berlin Blues" and "Everyday."