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John Primer was in Muddy Waters’ last band. He was already then and is to this day the foremost practitioner of Muddy’s style of Chicago Blues. He brings to this role a unique ability to keep the music sounding fresh. It is fitting then that this tribute to Muddy on his Centenary is built around him. He gets an enormous amount of help from a Who’s Who in blues today. The rhythm section is the same as on Raisin’ Music’s Chicago History discs: Billy Flynn on guitar, Felton Crews on bass, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith on drums and Johnny Iguana on keys. They can play anything and the new settings of Muddy’s most famous songs get most impressive performances here.

Crystal Shawanda will be a featured vocalist at the TBS Women’s Blues Revue at Massey Hall on November 28

The long time keyboard accompanist for Harry Manx is this young man from Australia. He’s also filled in for Booker T, when the MGs needed him and he played on Texas bluesman Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges’ last album, Roots & Vines. After his all-too-brief residency here he’s back Down Under but journeyed to New Orleans to record portions of his new disc. He used players from Jon Cleary’s Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Trombone Shorty’s Orleans Avenue and Galactic. The rest of the disc was recorded in Sydney with among others didgeridoo player Ganga Gil who also played on Manx’s last couple of discs. Calling the album Bayou Billabong was thus an inspired choice.

Alec McElcheran is a veteran bassist and singer/songwriter in Quebec. He has played with most everyone in that province and written songs for Bob Walsh, Steve Rowe and many others. For his first album as a leader, he proves himself to be a fine singer as well. Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, electric guitar & bass and backed by Alan Springer on electric guitar and Dan Legault on drums, he delivers a lovely set of acoustic & electric songs that cover a range of styles while staying true to the title.

Romi Mayes is a Winnipeg-based singer/songwriter/guitarist whose work is usually filed in country, although her roots style could easily place her anywhere. This album, her sixth, is particularly bluesy. She has won many awards for her song writing and has been nominated for a JUNO and I think you’ll agree that this new batch will be equally successful. The leadoff song is the title song and it’s a rocker about refusing to conform or to grow up as one grows older. Producer Grant Siemens doubles on all the guitars along with Marc Arnold on keyboards and the rhythm section of Bernie Thiessen on bass and Damon Mitchell on drums and they smoke on this one.

Maple Blues Award winner Bob Walsh follows up There’s A Story Here with another album of wide-ranging song choices. After The Storm also showcases Walsh’s fabulous voice with arrangements that make the song selection seem logical.

This Kitchener-based band has not played in Toronto very often so when they were invited to play the Blues Summit Opening Reception, they seized the opportunity. Their fiery set was a stunning opening to the weekend. And they’ve just announced that they’ll be back – they’ll be releasing their new, third, disc on June 18^th at the official launch of their Thursday residency at The Orbit Room on College St. The B3 there will no doubt be featured prominently.

R.I.P. B.B. King 1925-2015

Randy Bachman brings his “Heavy Blues” to the Kitchener Blues Festival on August 7

KW’s Conor Gains is breaking into the GTA with his new CD “Run Away With The Night”