Mark Pucci Media

Roots Music Singer/Songwriter Randy Lee Riviere Teams with Grammy-Winning Producer Tom Hambridge for Some Solid Concrete Blues on New Wilderness Records Album Coming Out September 13

MCMINNVILLE, TN – Singer/songwriter Randy Lee Riviere, pronounced (“Re-VEER”), announces a September 13 release date for his new blues/roots-rock album, Concrete Blues, produced by Grammy-winner Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy), on Wilderness Records.

Concrete Blues showcases Randy’s thought-provoking songs and voice supported by a cast of A-List musicians … people who have backed up artists such as Bob Dylan, Delbert McClinton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Buddy Guy and many others in the past. Along with this stellar cast, Riviere delivers a solid blues/rock album that is as modern in its message as it is traditional in its delivery. Riviere, who splits his time between his Montana farm and a home outside of Nashville, has delivered an album that fits right at home with today’s blues/rock anthems as well as Americana’s rootsy vibes.

In addition to a lifetime of music, Randy, as a wildlife biologist, has been involved with large-scale efforts in the past working to protect and restore important elements of the Native American landscape. One example of these efforts involved his leadership role in protecting over 40,000 acres of wildlife habitat with permanent conservation easements. The title track of his new album, Concrete Blues, speaks to the impacts of dams on watersheds in Western America. “Let’s just look at California” Riviere says. “There are over 1,300 dams in the state … every river, except one I think, has at least one dam on it. In some cases ALL the water in these watersheds has been taken for metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and huge-scale monocultural agriculture. Rivers/streams provide some of the most diverse and important wildlife habitats on this planet. Plus it’s really cool to float down them in a raft or inner tube! I did this tune on my Blues Sky album, ‘Riverdale,’ with a lyric: ‘there ain’t no river at Riverdale.’ A true story. This Concrete Blues album is a continuation of that sad saga.”

Music, and later songwriting has always been a driving force in Randy’s heart. Today, he prefers a more peaceful life out in the country somewhere, where he can take his past experiences all in, and consider our future in a rapidly changing world. His songs are quite diverse, but they commonly have a foundation involving the human condition and what’s happening to the natural landscape he loves.

“I’ve gone through lots of twists and turns with my life and songwriting over the years” Randy Lee says. “I’m a country boy, mostly, but took to different Rock-oriented music at an early age. I really gravitated to ‘60s and ‘70s bands, including that old ZZ Top album, Tres Hombres. That record really got burned into my psyche back when I was in high school … and apparently it’s still there! You’ll hear that vibe on Concrete Blues. You know, just that head bobbing driving force of energy. Tom Hambridge, who is an amazing producer and drummer, really picked up on this … and off we went to make what we think is a crazy good Blues Rock album. We hope you will agree!”

Concrete Blues Track Listing and Credits

Produced by Tom Hambridge

Randy Lee Riviere – Lead vocals and guitar

Tom Hambridge – drums, percussion, background vocals

Kenny Greenberg – guitar

Bob Britt-guitar

Stephen Mackey -bass

Robert Kearns -bass

Mike Rojas -keyboards

Recorded at Soundstage Studios, Nashville, TN

Engineer Kam Luchterhand

Assistant engineer Chris VanOverberghe

Mixed and mastered by Michael Saint-Leon and Tom Hambridge at The Switchyard Studio, Nashville, TN

1.MANIA – 4:01
2. THE WAYSIDE – 3:14
3. CHANGE IS STRANGE – 4:24
4. JUST TRYING TO GET BACK HOME – 3:48
5. MAGIC BULLET – 4:43
6. STRANGER IN MY HEAD – 4:02
7. THANKSGIVING – 3:26
8. MOCCASIN LAKE – 3:10
9. CONCRETE BLUES – 3:26
10. SAIL ON – 3:49
11. IT’LL BE ALRIGHT – 3:00
12. DRIVE – 5:47


What the critics said about Riviere’s last album, Blues Sky

“Powerful guitar riffs, eleven well-crafted songs with insightful and provoking lyrics, a wonderful release full of differing genres and arrangements. A great storyteller, he feels what he sings and has such a musical range, great release.” – Colin Campbell, Blues Matters

“The guitars bite & the groove is steady & well-chiseled. The music is rooted in blues/rock. I like this guy. He sounds like other things but isn’t. He takes some old tricks from the ’60s recording studios & refurbishes it to sound fresh for today’s ears. “- John Apice, Americana Highways

“Blues Sky adds another genre to Randy Lee Riviere’s wide-ranging musical repertoire. His incorporation of other musical styles into the blues works extremely well, and will appeal to fans of those various genres.” – Graham Clarke, BluesBytes, Phoenix Blues SocietyTop of Form

Hi-res cover: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Concrete-Blues-Hi-Res-Cover.jpg

Hi-res photo: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Randy-Lee-Riviere-Hi-Res-Photo-by-Jeff-Fasano-1-scaled.jpeg

www.randyleeriviere.com

Three-Time GRAMMY Nominee and Blues Legend Eric Bibb Is Back In The Real World With New Album on CD and Vinyl Formats, Coming October 18th from Stony Plain Records

Listen to the First Single, “Roll On Buddy,” and Advance Purchase Links Here: https://stonyplainrecords.com/ericbibb/

WATERDOWN, ON – Stony Plain Records, under an exclusive worldwide license agreement from Repute Records, announces the new album release from 2024’s “Best Traditional Blues Album” GRAMMY nominee and Blues/Roots music legend Eric Bibb, In The Real World, on October 18th. Available on both CD and vinyl formats, the CD contains all 15 album tracks, with the vinyl version totaling 12, plus an included download card with the additional three tracks.

In The Real World is the latest album from blues troubadour Eric Bibb, following his Grammy-nominated 2023 studio release, Ridin’ and Live at The Scala Theatre album, released earlier this year. Recorded at Peter Gabriel’s iconic Real World Studios and produced, arranged and mixed by Glen Scott, the new disc is a vivid representation of Bibb's musical and personal evolution, offering a glimpse into the world he's experienced and the hope he continues to foster through his music.

“There’s a wholeness about In The Real World that deeply moves me,” Bibb reflects. “It feels like Glen Scott and I have reached a milestone on our collaborative journey. Musically, the album feels like a self-portrait because it truly represents my influences.”

With a career spanning five decades, three Grammy nominations, and numerous Blues Foundation awards, Eric Bibb has solidified his legacy as a legendary figure in the blues and roots genre. In The Real World stands as a testament to his evolution as an artist, deeply rooted in the storytelling tradition of the blues; "It really tells me where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m headed,” Bibb explains. “Thematically, it’s about the you-me-we connection. It’s about the world we’ve created for ourselves and the world we long for.”

Recording at Real World Studios provided the perfect backdrop for this deeply introspective album. “The sheer natural beauty of the grounds and the caring hospitality of the staff were inspiring, to say the least. We worked with a terrific engineer, Katie May. If I had to describe the sessions in one word, it would be ‘flow’,” Bibb shares. “What’s particularly enjoyable for me, listening to this album, is the prominence of my guitar. Glen Scott’s arrangements and production are a joy to hear. All the musicians involved made great contributions. Robbie McIntosh’s outstanding playing, in particular, is a treat. Every track is a favorite, and the duet with Lily James is a gift to my soul."

Grounded in the folk and blues tradition with contemporary sensibilities, Bibb’s music continues to reflect his thoughts on current world events and his own lived experiences, whilst remaining entertaining, uplifting, inspirational and relevant.

ERIC BIBB - IN THE REAL WORLD – Track Listing and Credits

1. TAKE THE STAGE (Eric Bibb/Glenvin Anthony Scott)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar

Glen Scott - Drums, Percussion, Bass, Electric Guitar, Hammond Organ, Backing Vocals

Robbie McIntosh - Slide Guitar

2. WALK STEADY ON (Eric Bibb/Glenvin Anthony Scott)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal

Glen Scott - Drums, Percussion, Bass, Banjo, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, Hammond Organ, Wurlitzer, Backing Vocals, Programming

Robbie McIntosh - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar

Esbjörn Hazelius - Fiddle, Cittern

Sara Bergkvist Scott - Backing Vocals

3. EVERYBODY’S GOT A RIGHT (Eric Bibb/Glenvin Anthony Scott)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar

Glen Scott, Johnathan L Mongi, Emmanuel Enwokeforo - Backing Vocals

Agnese Stengrevics, Chris McGreevy, Glen Scott - Additional Finger snaps

Robbie McIntosh - Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar

4. BEST I CAN (Eric Bibb)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar

David Davidson - Violin

David Angell - Violin

Monisa Angell - Viola

Carole Rabinowitz - Cello

5. MAKE A CHANGE (Eric Bibb/Glenvin Anthony Scott)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar

Glen Scott - Bass, Percussion, Electric Guitar, Synths, Backing Vocals

Paul Robinson - Drums

Robbie McIntosh - Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar

Emilia Franklin - Backing Vocals

6. THIS RIVER (CHAINS & FREE) (Eric Bibb/Glenvin Anthony Scott)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar

Glen Scott - String Arrangement, Programming, Backing Vocals

Shaneeka Simon - Solo Adlib Vocals, Backing Vocals

Sepideh Vaziri, Arezo Vaziri - Backing Vocals

Esbjörn Hazelius - Fiddle

7. STEALIN’ HOME (Eric Bibb/Glenvin Anthony Scott)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal

Glen Scott - Drums, Bass, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Programming, Backing Vocals

Robbie McIntosh - Solo Slide Guitar

Michael Jerome Browne - Harmonica

Sepideh Vaziri, Arezo Vaziri, Shaneeka Simon - Backing Vocals

8. IF THERE’S ANY RULE (Eric Bibb/Glenvin Anthony Scott)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Nylon String Guitar

Glen Scott - Drums, Percussion, Bass, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Wurlitzer, Synths

Robbie McIntosh - Solo Slide Guitar

Esbjörn Hazelius - Fiddle

9. KING OF THE CASTLE (Eric Bibb/Glenvin Anthony Scott)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar

Glen Scott - Drums, Percussion, Bass, Electric Guitar, Hammond

Robbie McIntosh - Solo Electric Guitar

10. NESHOBA COUNTY (Eric Bibb/Glenvin Anthony Scott)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Banjo Guitar

Robbie McIntosh - Lead Electric Guitar

Glen Scott - Drums, Percussion, Bass, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Hammond Organ, Wurlitzer, Synths, Backing Vocals

Robbie McIntosh - Solo Electric Guitar

Sepideh Vaziri, Arezo Vaziri, Shaneeka Simon - Backing Vocals

11. DEAR MAVIS (Eric Bibb)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar

Glen Scott - Synths

12. ROLL ON BUDDY (Eric Bibb/Glenvin Anthony Scott/Chuck Anthony)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Banjo Guitar

Chuck Anthony - Solo Electric Guitar, Wah Electric Guitar

Robbie McIntosh - Solo Electric Guitar

Greger Andersson - Harmonica

Sepideh Vaziri - Adlib Solo Vocals

Glen Scott - Drums, Percussion, Bass, Electric Guitar, MiniMoog, Hammond Organ, Backing Vocals

13. JUDGEMENT DAY (Eric Bibb/Glenvin Anthony Scott)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar

Glen Scott - Mandolin

14. THE REAL WORLD (Eric Bibb/Glenvin Anthony Scott)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Nylon String Guitar

Glen Scott - Drums, Percussion, Bass, Rhodes, Backing Vocal

Robbie McIntosh - Electric Guitar

David Davidson - Violin

David Angell - Violin

Monisa Angell - Viola

Carole Rabinowitz - Cello

15. VICTORY VOICES FEAT. LILY JAMES [BONUS TRACK] (Eric Bibb/Gordon Cyrus)

Eric Bibb - Lead Vocal, Acoustic Guitar

Lily James - Lead Vocal

Robbie McIntosh - Electric Guitar

Glen Scott - Drums, Percussion, Bass, Electric Guitar, Piano, Synths

Backing Vocals

Sepideh Vaziri - Backing Vocals

Carole Rabinowitz - Cello

Hi-Res CD Cover : http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Eric-Bibb-In-the-Real-World-Hi-Res-Cover-scaled.jpg

Hi-Res Photo: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Eric-Bibb-Hi-Res-Photo-by-Jan-Malmstrom.jpg

ERIC BIBB:

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/2uNcfNhlVJUyEX0t0NG1m1?si=yjNtPl-xQYKkIILzN6AETQ&nd=1

Website https://www.ericbibb.com/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ffJQUuz5hNVs6GON_fFgg

FaceBook Eric Bibb

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ericbibbmusic/

Further information:

USA – Mark Pucci Media: [email protected]

Canada: Eric Alper: [email protected]

FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS are #1 for July 2024 on the Living Blues
Radio Chart!!!

Those of you who missed Tracy Nelson's killer performance on the nationally-syndicated radio show, 'Mountain Stage," will get a shot at redemption. Her episode is scheduled for a special rebroadcast and begins feeding to 260+ NPR stations this Friday 8/2.

Airtimes and stations can be found here:
https://www.mountainstage.org/.../Radio-Affiliates.aspx

Multi-Blues Music Award-Winner Horn Player Extraordinaire
Jimmy Carpenter "Just Got Started"!

New Gulf Coast Records Album Set for Release September 13,
with First Singles: My Babe - August 2; I Only Gamble With My Heart - August 16; and (Feels Like) I Just Got Started – August 30

CD Pre-Order July 23 on jimmycarpenter.net; Digital: August 2

NEDERLAND, TX – Las Vegas-based Jimmy Carpenter is on a roll. The saxophonist/singer/songwriter is a perennial favorite at the annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis, having been voted in the “Best Instrumentalist/Horn” category with seven nominations and two wins. Now, he proves he’s Just Got Started, with the upcoming release of his new album on September 13. Just Got Started was recorded in March at Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California, and was produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Christoffer "Kid" Andersen.

"Jimmy Carpenter continues to be a stand-out artist in the contemporary Blues genre. His songwriting is on point and his voice is front and center,” says Gulf Coast president Mike Zito. “Arguably one of the best sax players around, his artistry on this new record has come together to make the circle complete."

“When my dear friend Mike Zito asked if I'd be interested in working with producer Kid Andersen at Greaseland Studios for my third Gulf Coast Records release, my answer was an immediate and empathic ‘YES!,” recalls Carpenter. “Kid has done some very fine work with several friends of mine, and I love those records.

“I love Soul music, and my idea for this one was to lean in that direction. Still Blues-based, but also song oriented and funky cool with a kind of vintage soul vibe. I told Kid that, and he immediately said ‘Yes, we can do that!’

“The week before the session I was a little nervous, and called my friend Albert Castiglia, who had just recorded there. He gave me some very good advice: ‘Jimmy, just trust Kid, he has a plan;’ and he was so right. And the plan was to take my songs and put them in the capable hands of some of the finest musicians on the planet, which worked out very well.”

The lineup of musicians for the new disc is loaded with all-stars: Jimmy Carpenter - Sax and Vocals; Christoffer “Kid” Andersen – Guitar; Jim Pugh – Keys; Derrick D'mar Martin - Drums and Percussion; Jerry Jemmott - Bass: tracks 1-4, 7-10, 12; Bobby Vega - Bass: tracks 5, 6, 11; Guitar: tracks 4, 9; Christoffer “Kid” Andersen - Organ: tracks 3, 5-8,11; Fender Rhodes - track 6; Background Vocals - track 7; Endre Tarczy - Piano: track 2; Mike Galisatus – Trumpet: tracks 2, 6, 9, 10; Jack Sanford - Bari Sax: tracks 2, 6, 9, 10; Lisa “Little Baby” Andersen - Background Vocals: tracks 6, 11; Dwayne Morgan - Background Vocals: tracks 1, 2, 5; Walter Morgan - Background Vocals: tracks 1, 2, 5; and James Morgan - Background Vocals: tracks 1, 2, 5.

“The title track, ‘(Feels Like) I Just Got Started,’ is my attempt to use the last set of a night as a metaphor for my life in music,” explains Carpenter.” I've been at this a very long time and honestly, my career is at its high point; it's not ebbing, it's flowing! I really do feel in many ways like I'm just getting started. There's a line in the bridge, ‘Don't blink or you'll miss it!’ and that is a fact!

“Living in Vegas, people often ask if I'm a gambler. My stock answer is always - I only gamble with my heart. That's been banging around my head for years, and I finally wrote the song. It has the advantage of being true, and that gamble has paid off nicely here in Sin City.

“There are nods to some of the Blues icons: a very different version of Little Walter's ‘My Babe;’ a nice cover of Otis Rush's ‘Working Man;’ a nod to Delbert McClinton, one of my favorite people, and his song ‘Leap of Faith’ (Lisa ‘Li'l Baby’ Andersen absolutely crushes that one); as well as a super funky version of Allen Toussaint's ‘Night People.’

“And for the first time I was able to record not one, but two tunes from my saxophone hero, King Curtis: ‘Soul Theme’ and ‘Midnight Blue.’ In kind of a full circle thing, bass player Jerry Jemmott was King Curtis' bassist, so I felt kind of a cosmic connection to him as we recorded those, and of course, Jerry's bass lines were perfect.

“This album is very different than the previous five; more groovy and soulful, but not overdone. The musicianship really brings it home, and I could feel the love as we recorded it. I'm playing these songs live, and from the reaction we're getting, I think the people dig it! I am so grateful for Kid's steady hand and unparalleled guitar work, Jerry Jemmott, Derrick D'Mar Martin, Jim Pugh, Bobby Vega, and Lisa Andersen for taking really good care of me and my songs... And of course, Mike Zito and everyone at Gulf Coast for this opportunity. I Just Got Started, and I still got a long way to go!”

Just Got Started Track Listing
1. (Feels Like) I Just Got Started - Jimmy Carpenter & Kid Andersen
2. My Babe - Willie Dixon
3. I Only Gamble With My Heart - Jimmy Carpenter
4. Jimmy Shimmy - Jimmy Carpenter
5. Shining Star - Leo Graham & Paul Richmond
6. Night People - Allen Toussaint
7. Live Again - Jimmy Carpenter
8. Soul Theme - Curtis Ousley
9. Keep On Stepping - Jimmy Carpenter
10. Working Man - Mike Bloomfield & Nick Gravenites
11. Leap of Faith - Glen Clark & Gary Nicholson
12. Midnight Blue - Curtis Ousley
Website: https://jimmycarpenter.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jimmycarpenteronsax
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmyonsax/

About Jimmy Carpenter:

Jimmy relocated to Las Vegas from New Orleans in September, 2015. He has since steadily built an audience here, fronting his own quartet and becoming one of the mainstay artists at the world-famous Sand Dollar Lounge. His shows are high-energy and sax-centric, with a mixture of original and cover songs with a soul, r&b, blues and rock-n-roll vibe. His current band in addition to guitar hero Chris Tofield includes bass players Jason Langley or Aja Wilson; and drummers Cameron Tyler or David Kida, longtime drummer with Rod Piazza. In addition to local shows, Jimmy Carpenter tours worldwide

Jimmy is also the Talent Buyer and Musical Director of The Big Blues Bender, the annual Las Vegas festival that has quickly grown into one of the most popular in the world. In addition to booking the talent, he leads the house band, called The Bender Brass, which has backed up a long list of musicians over the years, and is the backing band for the annual HART Party, which benefits the Blues Foundation’s Handy Artist Relief Trust. The Bender was given the coveted Keeping the Blues Alive Award for that event, which has raised over $440,000 for the fund, and hoping to hit $500,000 this year.

In addition to winning the Blues Music Award twice, he also won a Grammy for a New Orleans funeral dirge he wrote years ago with the help of co-writers Craig Klein and Wardell Quezergue, aka The Creole Beethoven. The piece, entitled “Tomb Tune,” appears on the Grammy-winning album Atmosphere, by the New Orleans Nightcrawlers.

Jimmy is also President of the Las Vegas Blues Society. Under his tenure, and with the invaluable assistance of the LVBS Board, the organization has grown to nearly 500 members. During the pandemic the LVBS distributed approximately $10,000 to musicians in Las Vegas. The regular monthly jams have grown into rollicking events, drawing many jammers and crowds of listeners. There are numerous special events as well, including their annual Ma’am Jam, featuring all female musicians, The Boulder City Beerfest, and the GramJam, which featured 15 Grammy nominees/winners.

Hi-res cover: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Just-Got-Started-Hi-Res-Cover-scaled.jpg

Hi-res photo: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Jimmy-Carpenter-Hi-Res-Photo-1-by-Paul-Citone-scaled.jpg

🎵 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐄: Castiglia - “You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover” featuring Christone "KINGFISH" Ingram and Rayne Castiglia, from his forthcoming album ‘Righteous Souls’.
“‘You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover' by Willie Dixon is a gift to my daughter. Rayne’s come so far in terms of her singing. She went from not singing in public (just singing her children to sleep) to sitting in with me to singing in her mom’s band. Her confidence grew with every performance. I wanted her to get a taste of what I do. I wanted her to know how it felt to create music and have it heard by a worldwide audience. She deserves it. She worked hard and she was ready for this moment. Having Christone Kingfish Ingram's guitar on it made it even more special because I know how much family means to him. This track will always be one of the most special ones in my career. Much love and thanks to Christone and all the love in my being to Rayne.”-- Albert Castiglia

🎵 Get the single instantly with your digital pre-order ➜ https://lnk.to/judgeabook

Gulf Coast Records International Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music

Albert Castiglia, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Rayne Castiglia - You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover Listen to You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover by Albert Castiglia, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Rayne Castiglia.

Congratulations to Taj Mahal on winning the DownBeat Magazine
Critics Poll for Best Blues Album!

It’s Always Happy Hour When Multi Blues Award Nominated Boogie Woogie Man Mitch Woods Hits the Keys with His Rocket 88s on His New Album from MoMojo Records Out September 6!

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - On September 6th, MoMojo Records will release Happy Hour, the new album from five-time Blues Music Award nominee Mitch Woods. The new disc features a baker’s dozen 13 tracks from the San Francisco Bay Area-based Woods, backed by his long-time band, The Rocket 88s. Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88s have been the torchbearers of a great American blues musical heritage for four decades. Taking their inspiration from the great jump ‘n' boogie outfits of the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, they breathe fresh life into the music that gave birth to rock ‘n' roll. Adding a healthy dose of New Orleans rhythm and blues, his trademark pile-drivin' piano, and some of his own playful lyrics, Woods and the 88s forge their own brand of music they call "rock-a-boogie."
Happy Hour, Woods' fourteenth album, is a collection of his all-original tunes recorded at Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California, with Mitch Woods producing, and Christoffer "Kid" Andersen, engineering and mastering. The resulting music captures the joy that live music brings. MVD Distribution is handling physical distribution for Happy Hour, with digital distribution by The Orchard.
“Happy Hour was recorded during the time of the Covid Lockdown,” recalls Mitch Woods about the sessions. “The whole world shut down and music stopped. It was an awful time for everyone and musicians really were hurt. I could never imagine after devoting my whole life to making music that it would just stop within two days and last three years!
“We all felt it deeply and people are still rebounding. Fortunately, I was able to gather my Rocket 88s together and - masked and inoculated - we gathered at the legendary Greaseland Studios, manned at the helm by madman and musical genius- Chris “Kid” Andersen who joined us on guitar as well.

“It felt so good to be able to play music again, even if it was in a studio with no live audience. I decided to break out my most popular original tunes that I have performed for decades and record them in a new light with new arrangements. We are all so thankful that live music is back and we hope this album captures that spirit. So pour yourself a tall one, sit back, and enjoy Happy Hour!”

Since its inception in October, 2022, MoMojo Records (a division of Nola Blue, Inc.) has been serving a diverse segment of independent roots artists connected by the quality of artistry rather than confined by genre boundaries. The guiding label credo, "distribution is more than delivery," has proven both valuable and worthy of expanded focus. MoMojo artists are provided the flexibility of DIY distribution, combined with thoughtful, personalized attention, all with careful consideration for each project's unique needs and budget.
"Mitch Woods has been a well-respected member of the blues community for decades, working with some of the finest on the scene," says Sallie Bengtson, MoMojo Records president. "We're certain that the 'rock-a-boogie' sounds of his latest project will be a welcome addition to many happy hours!"

"I am excited to be part of MoMojo and working with a great team," says Woods. "I know Sallie and company will give my latest release careful attention and help get it into blues and boogie lovers' hands!"

Preorders for Happy Hour will begin August 9. Get all the news at mitchwoods.com and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube .
Mitch Woods – Happy Hour Track Listing and Credits

1. Jukebox Drive 3:49
2. Long, Lean, and Lanky 3:09
3. Broke 3:53
4. Boogie Woogie Bar-B-Q 3:29
5. Cryin’ For My Baby 5:42
6. Shakin’ the Shack 3:58
7. Amber Lee 4:32
8. Mr. Boogie’s Back In Town 3:09
9. Jump For Joy 5:30
10. Hattie Green 4:57
11. Queen Bee 4:38
12. Mojo Mambo 3:51
13. Solid Gold Cadillac 3:32

All songs Mitch Woods Mitchrich Music /BMI
Recorded at Greaseland Studios, San Jose, CA
Producer - Mitch Woods; Engineering and mastering - Kid Andersen

Musicians
Mitch Woods - piano, vocals
Kid Andersen - guitar
Larry Vann - drums
Dave Somers - saxophones
Kedar Roy – bass

Hi-res cover: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Mitch-Woods-Happy-Hour-Hi-Res-Cover.jpg

Hi-res photo: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Mitch-Woods-Hi-Res-Photo-by-Marilyn-Stringer-scaled.jpeg

Catfood Records Artist Zac Harmon (AKA Floreada’s Boy) Set to Release New CD and Vinyl LP from Award-Winning Blues Singer/Guitarist on August 1

Lincoln, NE – Catfood Records announces an August 1st release for Floreada’s Boy, the new album (and third for Catfood) from Texas-based award-winning blues singer/guitarist Zac Harmon. The album is being released on both CD and vinyl LP formats. Catfood Records released Zac’s label debut, Mississippi Bar BQ (2019), followed by Long As I Got My Guitar (2021), which was named “Best Soul Blues Album of the Year.”

Floreada’s Boy (pronounced “Flo-Reeda”) was produced by Christopher Troy and Zac Harmon and contains 12 songs. The players include Zac’s core band, The Drive, plus special guests including SueAnn Carwell on lead and background vocals; The Texas Horns and guitarist Caleb Quaye.

“Floreada’s Boy is a reflection of my 50 years of musical performance: from the juke joints of Mississippi to stages all over the world. Not bad for an old country boy,” says Zac Harmon about the new album.

“Floreada’s Boy is named after my mother and this album is a reflection of the rich musical environment that I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi. As a matter fact, the only thing more fertile than the Mississippi soil is its musical culture. Mississippi is the birthplace of American music and this album is a reflection of my growing up in that culture. The reason it is called Floreada’s Boy is because when I was growing up, whenever I did anything that brought attention to me, the people around would just say “Oh, that’s Floreada’s Boy.” This album bares my soul with all the elements of music planted in my spirit. There are 12 great songs here, starting with a tribute to Babe and Ricky’s Inn (the oldest blues club in Los Angeles) and its owner, Laura Mae Gross, and ending with a plea to end the killing, no matter where. “

Floreada’s Boy Track Listing and Credits

1 Babe and Ricky’s Inn* 4:28 (William Harmon and B R Millon)

2 Fake News* 4:13 (William Harmon and John Hahn)

3 Glass Ceiling 3:01 (William Harmon and Christopher Troy)

4 Let It Slide 4:39(William Harmon, Derrick Procell, Terry Aberahamson, Christopher Troy)

5 That’s the Way I Feel About Cha 4:54 -Featuring SueAnn Carwell (Bobby Womack, John Grisby and Joe Hicks)

6 Stress 4:51 (Christopher Troy and William Harmon)

7 Sugarman* 4:39 – Featuring the Texas Horns (William Harmon and BR Millon)

8 Big Dog Blues** 5:50 (William Harmon and Christopher Troy)

9 Lonely Rider 5:54 (Bob Trenchard, William Harmon, Christopher Troy)

10 Never Have a Better Night* 4:05 (Derrick Procell, Terry Aberahamson, William Harmon)

11 I’ll Never Forget 5:47 (William Harmon)

12 Stop the Killing 4:11 – Featuring Caleb Quaye ((Bob Trenchard and Linda Greenwade)

Recorded at Our Own Studio West and Matai Studios. Recorded by Christopher Troy and B R Millon

Mixed and Mastered by Christopher Troy
Zac Harmon – Vocals/Lead Guitar/Bass

THE DRIVE:
Corey Lacy – Keyboards/Background vocals; Nate “The Bass” Robinson – Bass; Gino “LockJohnson” Iglehart – Drums; Kingston “Guitarboy” Livingston – Guitar

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS:
Caleb Quaye – Electric Guitar/Acoustic Guitar/Slide Guitar; Gregg Wright – Acoustic Guitar; Del Atkins – Bass; Jeffrey Suttles – Drums; B R Millon – Guitar; Romeo Brune – Guitar; Eddie Miller – Keyboards; Rayford Griffin – Drums; Lavell Jones – Drums; Buthel – Bass; Munyungo Jackson – Percussion Christopher Troy – Hammond Organ/Wurlitzer Piano/Moog Bass/Drums, and Vibrophone Ricky “Freeze” Smith – Bass; Mark Holding – String Arrangements and Performance; SueAnn Carwell – Lead and Background vocals; Carly Thomas Smith – Background vocals; Derrick Procell – Background vocals; LA HORNS: ** Les Kepics – Trumpet, Jason Peterson DeLair – Alto Sax, Chuck Phillips – Tenor and Baritone Sax; Horn arrangements by Christopher Troy; TEXAS HORNS: ***Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff – Tenor Sax, John Mills – Baritone sax, Al Gomez – Trumpet

About Zac Harmon

Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Zac Harmon is a true embodiment of the music that emanated from the city’s historic Farish Street district, home of blues legend Elmore James. Given that Zac was exposed to a lot of music in his home, neighborhood, and local culture, it’s not surprising that he turned out a blues musician. His mom played piano, and his dad, the city’s first state registered black pharmacist, played harmonica and tended to the needs of artists such as Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Ike and Tina Turner, Albert King, and Little Milton.

Zac started his professional career at age 16, playing guitar with Sam Myers, a friend of his father’s. Two years later he was playing with Dorothy Moore, Z.Z. Hill and other well-known blues artists who were passing through on regional tours.

At age 21, he moved to Los Angeles and worked as a studio musician at first, eventually establishing a very successful career as a songwriter and producer. Zac worked on major films, television shows and well-known national commercials, even being hired at one point by Michael Jackson as a staff writer for his publishing company, ATV Music. Harmon wrote songs for the likes of Troop, Karyn White, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Freddie Jackson, The Whispers and The O’Jays, among others. He also produced songs for reggae band Black Uhuru’s Grammy-nominated Mystical Truth album in 1994.

After composing and performing some blues songs for a movie score, Harmon felt compelled to pursue his longtime dream of returning to his roots and recording his first blues project. The result in 2003 was Live at Babe & Ricky’s Inn, an electrifying testimony to Mississippi blues, which showcased the sound at its best and introduced Harmon as a true torchbearer for the “next generation of the Blues.” In 2004, Harmon and his band, the Mid South Blues R***e, sponsored by the Southern California Blues Society, traveled to Memphis and won the Blues Foundation’s prestigious International Blues Challenge title of “Best Unsigned Band.”

His next release, in 2005, was The Blues According to Zacariah, which garnered major national airplay, including XM, Sirius and the American Blues Network. XM listeners voted Harmon “Best New Blues Artist” in the inaugural XM Nation Awards in 2005. In 2006, Harmon won the coveted Blues Music Award for “Best New Artist Debut” for The Blues According to Zacariah. Later that year, he was featured in Blues R***e magazine as one of the 10 artists that “represent the future of the blues,” calling him a “latter-day Eric Clapton or Robert Cray with shades of Luther Allison and BB King.”

Zac Harmon entertained U.S. troops in Iraq and Kuwait in 2008 as one the stars of Bluzapalooza and while headlining “The Pizza & Pyramid Tour” of Sicily, Italy and Cairo, Egypt in late 2009, Zac and company made history with a rare performance on the site of the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx, making the ensemble only the second roots act to do so; Louis Armstrong being the first.

In 2009, Zac was honored for his career achievements in his beloved hometown at the Jackson Music Awards, and weeks later in Memphis, the Jus’ Blues Music Foundation bestowed the “Little Milton” Guitar Award for “Outstanding Guitar Player” upon him. That same year Harmon branched out into acting, with a major role in the independent feature film, Black and Blue, released in 2010.

Zac was a featured performer for the 2010 “Mississippi Celebrates its “Grammy Legacy” celebration, hosted by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, where he was presented with a Peavey Award, which honors the state’s Grammy winners and nominees as well as individuals who have played a significant role in developing and furthering Mississippi’s musical heritage.

Since then he’s been on a roll, becoming one of the blues’ strongest live performers, thrilling fans everywhere from Memphis to Mumbai. His live performances combine elements of everything that influenced him: soul-blues, gospel, reggae, and modern blues-rock.

Said one reviewer of a festival appearance, “Harmon’s stage show is like a Blues symphony where he segues from one song to the next without a moment’s hesitation, building a head of steam that is or****ic. Mixing classic boogie gliders with originals, he builds a West Side guitar sound that’s almost as sweet and simultaneously rough as classic Magic Sam into a showcase presentation that takes a lot of pages from Buddy Guy as far as dynamics. His hour on stage went by in an instant.”

In 2016, Harmon released Right Man Right Now a CD that addressed issues straight from the headlines, presented in a fresh original style built on the best blues tradition. Right Man Right Now also featured some incredibly talented guest musicians, including Bobby Rush, Lucky Peterson, Anson Funderburgh and the late Mike Finnegan.

Hi-res cover: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Zac-Harmon-Hi-Res-Cover.jpg
Hi-res photo: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/Zac-Harmon-Hi-Res-Photo-by-Darren-Carroll-scaled.jpg

www.zacharmon.com; www.catfoodrecords.com