Make it Up

Although he’s often closely associated with the Lone Star State since originally taking up residence in Dallas, Texas in the early ’90s, vocalist/guitarist Shawn Pittman is actually an Oklahoma native. Pittman moved to Dallas, Texas when he was seventeen years old where he attended the Booker T Washington High School of the Performing Arts. He later dropped out, but picked up his music education courtesy of his uncle who would take him over to the Schooner’s jam in Dallas where he first met Sam Myers. According to Pittman, “Sam Myers was one of the best musicians I’ve ever played with!” Additional guidance and inspiration came by way of local area musicians Mike Morgan and Hash Brown.

"Make It Big" is the second studio album from British pop duo Wham!, released in 1984. It was mostly recorded at Studio Miraval in Southern France to escape the press and enable George Michael to work peacefully and mixed at Good Earth Studios in London and Marcadet Studios in Paris. In comparison to their earlier work, the duo had more control over the album's production, as George Michael became the sole credited producer, a position he would subsequently hold on all future releases until the group split in 1986.

Renowned blues vocalist/harmonica player RJ Mischo gathers together a collection of top-tier talent from Austin, Texas for his Delta Groove debut featuring Nick Curran, Johnny Moeller, Nick Connolly, Ronnie James Weber and Wes Star, in addition to Richard Medek and his old pal Jeremy Johnson, who are also on board for a couple of lowdown songs recorded in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mischo conjures up some big blues and a little rock & roll for a hard-drivin', foot-stompin' good time on an album that consists entirely of 100% self-penned, original material.

After nearly 20 years as a performer, Michael Burks finally issued this debut disc, and his years of practical blues experience are evident on every track. While some of the guitar pyrotechnics may be more technique than substance, it cannot be denied that this fellow can tear up his ax. He sets the stakes on the muscular opener, "Hit the Ground Running," and maintains the intensity level through moodier tunes like "Beggin' Business." While his vocals are not stellar, he has a rich, gritty quality to his singing that is nicely matched to his guitar playing.

Still trying to recover from the effects of a devastating 1995 stroke, Les McCann relaxed and put out a playful jazz/funk album with a cast of dozens that in some ways harkens back to some of his Atlantic sides from the 1970s. Unlike his other post-stroke albums, he doesn't play any keyboards here, leaving them in the hands of Ricky Peterson, with an emphasis on the Hammond B3. Rather, McCann is content just to sing and rap – again, a throwback and fallback to records made a quarter-century before. At 66, McCann sounds considerably different – older and a little shakier on the ballads, but still sly and willing. The grooves are OK in a minimally updated '70s funk manner, but the material, coming from a variety of sources, is rather ordinary as a whole.