New Blues: Chris Duarte Group, Joanne Shaw Taylor and Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band

With Buddy Guy's new album "Living Proof" being released on Tuesday (currently streaming at http://www.spinner.com/new-releases#/6), it's got me in the mood for some fresh blues music.

Thankfully there have been some good new blues albums released in the past couple of weeks.  Chris Duarte Group just last week unleashed "Infinite Energy".  Early favorites of mine from this album include "Waiting On You" and "Cross My Heart".  But, of course the best thing about a new Chris Duarte album being out is that you know he'll be cranking up the tour dates soon.

For more Chris Duarte, see this earlier post:  http://www.skippythelizard.com/2010/08/just-another-random-monday-chris-duarte.html

Joanne Shaw Taylor is back with her second album "Diamonds In The Dirt".  Last year's "White Sugar" was a strong debut, but I prefer the more laid back feel of the new album, which I think better highlights how her soulful vocal style compliments her guitar work.  Early favorites of mine include "Same As It Never Was" and "World On Fire".

I haven't seen any videos yet of material from the new album, but these two performances of songs from "White Sugar" will give you a feel for her music:





Kenny Wayne Shepherd has released a number of live EP's over the past few years .... particularly "The Legends" series and "King's Highway", which were inspired by his "Ten Days Out, Blues From the Backroads" project.   While I enjoyed those EP's, it's great to hear Kenny back with a full band, and great musicians including Hubert Sumlin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Buddy Flett, Bryan Lee, Chris Layton & Tommy Shannon (better known as SRV's Double Trouble), Riley Osburn, Scott Nelson, and of course, Noah Hunt ... the fantastic vocalist for Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band.  "Live in Chicago" was recorded at the House of Blues in Chicago, and it includes KWS classics "Deja Voodoo" and "Blue on Black" ... plus great cover versions of "Sell My Monkey" and "I'm a King Bee".  It's worth picking up the Special Edition, which also includes a cover of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)".