Mike Heger

The new disc from multi-Blues Music Award-winner Mike Zito, 'Life Is Hard' was recorded in September at Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, California, with Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith producing (and guesting on guitars). 'Life Is Hard' is a complete work of art for me," says Mike Zito about the new disc. "I believe this is the best album I've ever made in my life. My wife Laura and I planned this idea of pouring my heart out in music after her death from cancer. Joe, Josh and the incredible musicians were fully aware of the task at hand. They brought a lot of emotion to the music. I am so proud of this album and I know Laura would be proud as well."

Mike Wheeler has been playing the blues for almost 30 years and has played with Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Shemekia Copeland, Jimmy Johnson, Son Seals, Willie Kent and a who's who of today's Chicago Blues! Mike is an extraordinary blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He wrote most of the material on Self Made Man including the title track where he sings ''I'm a self made man and I made myself have the blues''. Mike is accompanied by his regular group including Brian James, keyboards; Larry Williams, bass; Cleo Cole, drums and special guest Omar Coleman, harmonica on three songs.

Mike Patton and renowned French composer Jean-Claude Vannier, who is perhaps best known for his work with Serge Gainsbourg, have come together on the 12-song album, Corpse Flower.

Gulf Coast Records' Blues Music Award-Winners Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia bond as Blood Brothers on new CD coming early 2023. Blood Brothers was produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith and recorded at Dockside Studio in Maurice, Louisiana.

"Mike Hart Bleeds" was one of the first discs issued on John Peel's Dandelion label. The album is a totally underrated and overlooked classic, which at times bears worthy comparison to some of Bob Dylan's and John Lennon's work. There is much variety in the songs, and every track is a gem in its own right. Hart's lyrics combine bitterness, irony and humour, and are ruthlessly honest. His voice is deeply emotive and affecting. The most outstanding track "Almost Liverpool 8" sounds a bit like Lennon on his first solo album backed by Procol Harum. "Arty's Wife" is another similarly moving tale of failed relationships, while "Disbelief Blues" sounds uncannily similar to the sound of "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream". There are shades of "Mr Tambourine Man" in "Dance Mr. Morning Man" while "Shelter Song" is a tragi-comic tale of working-class life in Liverpool (similar in melody to "Universal Soldier")…

Flynn's Place is another excellent collection of piledriving, good-time blues and boogie from Little Mike & the Tornadoes, featuring a fine selection of originals and smoking solos.

Zito's 16th album is descriptively titled Rock N Roll: A Tribute to Chuck Berry. This release finds him broadening his boundaries still further even as it marks a return to his roots. The album consists of 20 Chuck Berry classics performed by Zito and an impressive array of 21 guest guitarists, among them Joe Bonamassa, Walter Trout, Eric Gales, Robben Ford, Richard Fortus, Sonny Landreth, Luther Dickinson, Albert Castiglia, Anders Osborne, and, significantly, Chuck's grandson, Charlie Berry III.

Welcome to the bewitching world of Circus Dinogad in which Welsh contralto Hilary Summers, the Dutch theorbo & bass clarinet duo Mike Fentross & Maarten Ornstein and the Dudok Quartet Amsterdam converge in a fusion of musical traditions.