Mid August is generally considered the doldrums of the music business so it was nice to see some heavyweights of the contemporary blues issue new singles this month: Ronnie Baker Brooks, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Joe Bonamassa. ZZ Ward, who continues to straddle the line between the blues and pop, released a nice little bluzin’ dance song and Marcus King contributed his considerable talents to a release from African artist Alain Apaloo. Hope you get a chance to check them out on Blues Music Fan Radio in the coming weeks!
Ronnie Baker Brooks – Blues in my DNA
Ronnie Baker Brooks is blues royalty with the blood of his father, the great Lonnie Brooks, flowing through his veins. Ronnie has worked hard payin’ his own blues dues over the last 26 years since he started his recording career in 1998. Can’t wait to hear the entire album when it comes out in early October!
ZZ Ward – My Baby Left Me
I considered ZZ Ward a blues gateway artist (like Gary Clark Jr.) leading young pop/rock oriented audiences towards the blues. She often combines her incredible voice with catchy upbeat lyrics which she does again on the new tune.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd – Long Way Down
Kenny Wayne Shepherd just continues to “gun the engine” with one great new song after another. The new one is no exception!
Joe Bonamassa – Better the Devil You Know
Joe Bonamassa is rapidly becoming another renaissance man of the blues (ala Mike Zito) as he works with his JRA and KTBA labels, writes songs, produces albums, contributes his name and recognition to other emerging and not so well known blues artists, and does his best to acquaint audiences with the badass blues during long tours spanning the globe. The new single is actually a remastered release of a song that first appeared on his album Different Shades of Blue in 2014. The guitar playing is simply magic!!
Alain Apaloo – Nothing to Lose (ft. Marcus King)
Marcus King contributes his talents to an acoustic/electric duet with African artist Alain Apaloo. Alain is from Togo and a graduate of the Rhythmic Music Conservatory in Copenhagen. The interplay between their guitars on this song is something you just have to hear!!
Ben Vee has been a radio host on Blues Music Fan Radio for over 6 years and has been writing about the contemporary blues on his blog at http://www.benveeblues.com since 2014. He now also writes for BMFR.
