Ronnie Baker Brooks

The boastful title is no exaggeration; this is a welcome return for the classic Chicago blues sideman, who, primarily because of the misfortune of his music being exploited by other musicians, took a self-imposed retirement for nearly 30 years. It's especially rewarding since Williams – whose work you hear on early Howlin' Wolf, Otis Spann, Bo Diddley, Billy Boy Arnold (who guests here) sides – hadn't played a lick during that time, keeping his guitar stashed under his bed. He sounds like he never put the instrument away on this album, the first cohesive disc under his own name ever. Aided by comparative youngsters Tinsley Ellis, Ronnie Baker Brooks, and Rusty Zinn, along with a 21-year-old Sean Costello, Williams holds the spotlight like the pro his is. Though well into his sixties when this was recorded in 2001, he sounds remarkably vibrant, completely confident, and totally in his element.

On his first album in four years and sixth for Alligator, blues guitarist Coco Montoya alters his musical M.O. a bit. Writing on the Wall marks the very first time that Montoya brought his live working quartet into the studio. Tony Braunagel returns as producer and guests on drums on four tracks. Keyboardist Jeff Paris co-produced and recorded at Jeff's Garage. In addition to Paris, the band includes bassist Nathan Brown and drummer Rena Beavers. Guests include guitarists Ronnie Baker Brooks, country star Lee Roy Parnell, and Dave Steen. The 13-track set includes five tunes composed or co-written by Montoya, four from Steen, and one from Paris – they co-wrote the title track with Montoya. The shared songwriting makes this, arguably, the most homegrown affair in Montoya's Alligator catalog. The contents intuitively balance electric blues, blues-rock, roots rock & roll, old-school, and R&B.

Hurricane Ruth originates from central/southern Illinois, packing venues throughout the region. Critics and fans hail their shows as powerful, raw, emotional and dynamic. The band’s contagious energy is evident in their live shows. The center of this energy is Hurricane Ruth herself. Ruth is a captivating performer, who will grab your attention from note one and never let you go! Willie Dixon once told Ruth “You’re the only hurricane I can appreciate”. Hurricane Ruth LaMaster started performing professionally in 1979. She acquired the name Hurricane Ruth from the fact that no one believed that such a large sound could come out of such a small woman! Ruth has performed with Maynard Ferguson and his orchestra, Adrian Belew, and Louis Belson…

Three generations of Chicago blues Greats blow a Windy City gust through decades of Rolling Stones songs on Chicago Plays the Stones. The all-star album - produced by three-time Grammy nominee Larry Skoller in partnership with the Chicago Blues Experience and inspired by the Chicago residency of the Rolling Stones' 54-year-spanning, world-touring exhibit Exhibitionism - plays like a swaggering answer to the Stones' Blue and Lonesome, but in fact was conceived prior to the Rolling Stones release. They've been celebrating this music since the '60s, but the Rolling Stones really amped up their adulation of the songs and giants of Chicago blues with their acclaimed 2016 album Blue and Lonesome.

Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, Chicago blues guitar legend, releases his first live album…in nearly a quarter century! Blistering set captures Eddy live and in top form with special guests Ronnie Baker Brooks, Billy Branch and Johnny Iguana. Recorded on January 10th, 2014 at SPACE in Evanston IL. Autographed CD includes an Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater guitar pick.

Hurricane Ruth Live at 3rd and Lindsley is 14 songs of unbridled blues rock fury! Hurricane Ruth is old school, real and raw. Her vocals are deeply rooted in the blues, but make no mistake she can rock the house! She is cut from the same cloth as Big Mama Thornton, Janis Joplin, and Tina Turner. Hurricane Ruth pulls from all these greats to create her own unique sound. Hurricane Ruth is a powerful, unpredictable, everchanging MUSICAL FORCE OF NATURE!