Tinsley Ellis

A fiery guitarist and talented songwriter who plays a unique blend of Memphis R&B, southwest blues, and urban funk. Collection includes: Hell Or High Water (2002); The Hard Way (2004); Moment Of Truth (2007); Speak No Evil (2009); Red Clay Soul (2016); Winning Hand (2018).

With each successive album, Tinsley Ellis has moved further and further away from mainstream blues grooves and closer and closer to hard rock. While his guitar playing is as explosive as ever, it also remains unfocused, the end result being soloing that never reaches a musical climax, but is nonetheless played with an unrelenting energy that music fans who like their blues with rock muscles will appreciate. Tracks like "Diggin' My Own Grave," "One Sunny Day," "Soulful," "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)," and "I Walk Alone" sound like they could be on anybody's blues-rock or roots rock album, and even legendary producer Tom Dowd can't do much with Ellis' consistently flat and generally lifeless vocals.

Get It!, the all instrumental album from Tinsley Ellis that his fans have been requesting for decades. Produced by Ellis, the CD marks the initial offering from his newly established label, Heartfixer Music. A hardworking veteran of numerous U.S. and international tours, Ellis' CD's have scanned well into six figures via releases from Alligator, Capricorn, Telarc and Landslide Records. He boasts countless great reviews, among them a rave from Rolling Stone which said: "Feral blues guitar…his eloquence dazzles…he achieves pyrotechnics that rival early Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton." A notable songwriter, Ellis' compositions include "A Quitter Never Wins," a version of which by Jonny Lang went multi-platinum. Get It! features eight original tunes by Ellis, plus distinctive covers of Bo Diddley's "Detour" and Freddie King's "Freddi's Midnight Dream."

When it comes to modern electric blues, Tinsley Ellis has always been the exception to the rule. He has always understood that the music's roots are more about feel than chops (though he is rightfully celebrated for them). Musically, he displays that different genre bends – blues, country, jazz, soul, R&B, and of course rock & roll – are part of an inseparable American musical heritage. Tough Love is Ellis' third set for his own Heartfixer label. He penned all ten tracks and produced the date with engineering and mixing help from keyboardist Kevin McKendree. Drummer Lynn Williams remains, but bassist Ted Pecchio has been replaced by Steve Mackey.

A powerful blues guitarist and an excellent vocalist, Tinsley Ellis dominates his fourth Alligator CD as a leader. His backup band (guitarist Oliver Wood, bassist James Ferguson, drummer Stuart Gibson and occasional organist/pianist Stuart Grimes) does a fine job of inspiring the leader, while slide guitarist Derek Trucks and Albey Scholl on harmonica make notable guest appearances. While Ellis often plays quite passionately and hints at rock, he also performs an occasional quieter piece that shows his more traditional and introspective side. There is plenty of spirit on this generally rousing set.

Eighteen albums into nearly a four-decade career finds blues-rocking guitar slinger Tinsley Ellis still growing as a recording artist, singer, and songwriter. In 2018 he returned home to Alligator Records after delivering four albums on his own Heartfixer label. The chart-topping set was met with Blues Music Association nominations for album of the year and artist of the year. Ice Cream in Hell was recorded in Nashville and co-produced by Ellis and longtime co producer/keyboardist Kevin McKendree. Its 11 originals were consciously inspired the examples of the three Kings: B.B., Albert, and Freddie, as well as Peter Green, Carlos Santana, and Hound Dog Taylor. This is one of the rawest-sounding records in his career…

Trouble Time is a 1992 blues album by Tinsley Ellis. It was recorded by Mark Richardson at Triclops Sound Studios and Ricky Keller at Southern Living Studio in Atlanta, Georgia with horns recorded by Lynn Fuston at Classic Recording Nashville, Tennessee. It was mixed by Rodney Mills assisted by Russ Fowler and Tag George at Southern Tracks Studios Atlanta, Georgia, mastered by Dr. Toby Mountain at Northeastern Digital, Southborough, Massachusetts, and produced by Ricky Keller, Tinsley Ellis and Bruce Iglauer with Michael Rothschild as executive producer. Tinsley wrote/co-wrote all songs except "Hey Hey Baby", "What Have I Done Wrong?" and "The Axe".

Like most of Tinsley Ellis' albums, Georgia Blue is filled with hot, blistering guitar, mediocre songs and flat vocals. For fans of blues guitar, there's plenty to hear on the album - the licks and solos burn with a wild, uncontrolled fury. Others might find the album a little tedious, but not without virtue.