Carvalho L'angelica Pedro Castro

There has not been a more important or influential body of cello music written before or since the 6 Bach Cello Suites. Now treated almost reverentially by cellists, for two hundred years they were virtually unknown until a young Catalan cellist, Pablo Casals, discovered them in a little shop and breathed life back into these masterpieces. For some the music is deeply spiritual, for others the pieces are closely connected with nature… or perhaps it is the ingenuity of their structure and symmetry that inspires people to be moved by the Cello Suites. Whatever the reasons, people always come back to Bach.

All-star jams can go two ways. They either turn out a muddled mess, or inspire everyone involved to new heights of musical synergy. Fortunately for blues, R&B, and soul fans, Triple Trouble belongs firmly in the latter category. It helps that Castro, Jones (guitar), and Hall (sax, harmonica) have different strengths, which complement one another nicely. It also helps having the renowned Double Trouble on board; one couldn't ask for a tighter, tastier backup band. Together, this group ranges all over the musical map, from traditionally-inflected blues ("Raised in the Country") to James Brown-style funk ("Cold Funk"). With Telarc Records clean, crisp production every note comes out clear, showcasing these three artists to their best advantage. They might not be superstars, but they've got their mojo workin'.

You might think that Castro's first album recorded for mighty blues indie Alligator – and twelfth overall – would mark a departure for this longtime rocking soulman. Despite a fuller sound, fleshed out with Lenny Castro's percussion and boosted by an ever-present horn section led by longtime cohort Keith Crossan, this is another typically solid effort from the singer/guitarist. Perhaps it's unfair to expect that Castro would somehow break free of, expand, or alter the blue-collar persona he has cultivated over his solo career as he shifts to a higher-profile label affiliation.

Internationally beloved soul-blues rocker tells a timeless tale of young man bitten by the blues bug. He masters the craft and sets out for fame and fortune, only to realize that what he left behind is what he's been looking for all along. An infectious collection of songs that stand on their own tell the story in vivid lyrics backed by Castro's patented roadhouse rock, soulful ballads and deep, greasy grooves.

Tommy Castro's sixth release for the Blind Pig label, Painkiller, picks up where his 2003 set, Soul Shaker, left off. This time around, producer John Porter – who has worked with Santana, Taj Mahal, B.B. King, and Buddy Guy – positions Castro's Delbert McClinton/Southside Johnny vocal grit in front of a punchy horn section and rounds out the date with a few guest artists. Unlike many similar modern blues projects of good intentions but lackluster performances, the combinations on Painkiller never sound forced. In particular, the Albert Collins track, "A Good Fool Is Hard to Find," has Coco Montoya and Castro trading vocal jabs and guitar riffs, and Angela Strehli's passionate vocal on Freddie King's "If You Believe (In What You Do)" is likewise another highlight of this overall triumphant rock 'n' soul album.

Daniel Castro released his debut CD, No Surrender in late 1999. Produced by Daniel and Lee Parvin at Parvin Studios in Pacifica, California, No Surrender features interpretations of well-known blues standards that Daniel put his own twist on, such as a very funky version of Muddy’s “Got My Mojo Working" and a soulful, moving version of Albert Kings “I’ll Play The Blues For You”, in which Daniel plays a mournful, yearning guitar solo, a fitting tribute to one of his guitar heroes. No Surrender also features six original compositions.