Sam Mackenzie Evening Bliss (2001)

Sweet Dreams is the second release for Telarc by modern soul singer Mighty Sam McClain. On these 13 tracks, McClain delivers a powerful mix of originals and covers similar to one of his greatest influences, Bobby "Blue" Bland. Recording at the legendary Bearsville Studio in Woodstock, NY, McClain utlized his regular band of Kevin Belz (guitar), Bruce Katz (piano), Barry Seelen (Hammond B-3), Tim Ingles (bass), and Jim Arnold (drums) along with the addition of the Mighty Horns on several cuts, giving the album an extra funky edge.

Bliss with founding members Steffen Aaskoven, Marc-George Andersen, with Alexandra Hamnede (vocals) and Tchando (vocals) is an international chillout music collective from Denmark, Sweden and Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. Since 2001, they have become one of the true Chillout underground acts. Releasing material on the Danish label, Music for Dreams, appearing on more than 60 compilations worldwide and in such tv shows as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Vocalists Tchando and Alexandra Hamnede provide Bliss with soulful performances that reflect their alternately African-tinged and jazz-based foundations, resulting in an ethereal stew of pan-global atmosphere.

As the main songwriter for Chicago's Chess label, bassist/singer Willie Dixon was one of the most influential and prolific figures in blues. Although he often served as a session player for other well-known musicians, his soulful presence was always felt, as revealed on this excellent 18-track collection which features Dixon performing with Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Magic Sam, Otis Rush, and other blues luminaries.

Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson's third album for Telarc is the sonic equivalent of the sun coming out from behind the clouds, from the opening notes of the upbeat, cheerful title track to the energetic, swing-y "I'm Gone." Even songs like "Why Are People Like That" and "Suffer So Hard with the Blues" can't bring this album down; they'll elicit more empathy than depression. This is a soul-injected, high-quality collection of Chicago-style blues in the best West Side tradition, and it's every bit as good as you'd expect from someone who's played with such luminaries as Muddy Waters and Magic Sam. Whether he's covering Sam Cooke's "Somebody Have Mercy" or heading more for traditional blues with "Ramblin' Blues," there's no question that Johnson is one of the best there is at melding musical traditions to create something distinctive, keeping things exciting all the way.