Request

As I intended to review blues bands from all over the world who are unsigned by a record label, I need your help. If you know of a band that is unsigned in your country, please let me know the name and how to contact them (web site address).

I will make contact and try to obtain their permission to review and share their cd on this page. I have little trouble getting help in the USA with bands to contact but am at a disadvantage when it comes to bands in other countries. Please help me to make this work for all.

I want to thank Those Delta Rhythm Kings and Mojo Phoenix for their support of this endeavor and hope that it works for them. I have contacted three other artists for permission and await their replies. I hope to feature them here soon.

Mojo Phoenix - Can We Talk

Here is another truly outstanding local blues band. I recently became aquainted with this exceptional band at the Jackson Michigan Budweiser Blues Festival where i saw them perform on june 1 and 2, 2006.

Worth noting is that Tom Fuller (electric bass, acoustic bass, baritone sax, vocals) and his wife Cindy Hayden (vocals, harmonica) were the promoters of this festival. Their festival celebrated it's 5th year this year and attendance was awesome.

Mojo Phoenix is a dynamite band to listen to and truly shines in live performances. Cindy has mastered the art of connecting with an audience which insures a fun time for everyone. I told Cindy that their sound reminded me of a mixture of Candye Kane and Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women. She took this compliment in the manner in which it was offered as this was a very high compliment.

Mojo Phoenix has opened for some great acts including: Larry McCray, EC SCott, Mark Hummel, Thornetta Davis, Alberta Adams, Nick Moss & The Flip Tops and Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones. Tom & Cindy are so busy in and out of the band that I wonder when they sleep. Aside from their full booking scchedule of play dates Tom & Cindy are very active in their community promoting the blues. Among their activities are their promotion company Slipped Disc Productions - a privately owned company that strives to enrich and strengthen the community in which it operates. Several Blues festivals they plan run and perform in including fests in Jackson, MI, Adrian Bluescamp Festival and The Maple City Festival. This isn't enough for this duo however, they also have these projects running: * Blues in the Schools program
* Blues Adventure Nights
/Harmonica Hounds Program
* Dewey Decimals Blues and harmonica instruction local Libraries
* The Chronic Harmonics – therapeutic harmonica lessons for
patients with compromised breathing difficulties
* Various free concerts for underprivileged and/or handicapped children
* Private lessons on guitar, bass, harmonica & music theory
* Afterschool Neon Program for at risk children (music performance and practical applications)

This schedule of community service and service to the future of Blues has earned my admiration.

Mojo Phoenix is a band that will go anywhere for a gig. If you would like to see them in your area and know of a place that would like to have them contact:


Cindy Hayden
e-mail: mojophoenixbluesband@yahoo.com

or

Tom Fuller Promotions) at:

e-mail: jazzThug@yahoo.com

Please visit their web site at mojophoenix.com for more great music and info.

I spoke with Cindy about the lack of a guestbook on their site and she

says they prefer to recive your comments by email, so let them know what

you think of them.

Enjoy this truly outstanding Ambassador of the Blues.....


Track List:

1. I Need a Sugar Daddy (Cindy Hayden)
2. Zydeco Hum (Tom Fuller)
3. You Upset Me (B.B. King)
4. Juke (Marion "Little Walter" Jacobs)
5. Queensize Bed (E.C. Scott)
6. My Gnu Celebrity (B.Dearie/Tom Fuller)
7. Buttcheek Boogie (Tom Fuller)
8. Big Fat Daddy (Irene Reid)
9. Seven Nights to Rock (Mark Hummel)
10. My Baby Just Cares For Me (Nina Simone)
11. Flip Flop Fly (Charles Calhoun)
12. Doin My Own Thing (E.C. Scott)
13. Hard Drivin Mama (Helen Humes)
14. Cherries (composer unknown)
15. Meet Me Midnight (Manilow/Sussman)
16. Big Ten Inch (Bullmoose Jackson)
17. Ain't That Fine (Ray Charles)
18. My Name is Cindy (Cindy Hayden)
19. Get Some

Get Can We Talk Here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KXY7XDY2

Those Delta Rhythm Kings - Just The Way We Like It

Here is the most recent release from Those Delta Rhythm Kings titled Just The Way We Like It. The band has added a new member since the release of Every Night & Every Day. The new member is Janell Christie on alto sax. Janell is classically trained and is near receiving her doctorate - thus her nickname, "Doc". She is a highly skilled, precise technician, a master of her instrument, and invaluable when it comes to transcribing and arranging. She's also great at catching someone even slightly out of tune. The Kings are helping her to play with more drunken abandon. Her influences include her parents, Sonny Rollins, and Joe Henderson. Janell's dubious claim to fame is the taming of the notorious Beale Street Flipper. She's descended from a long line of talented musicians and is married to Chad - which is both her blessing and her curse.



Also appearing on this recording as a guest is Mike Lynch on organ and accordian.
His "regular" gigs are with the great Larry McCray and with Lansing's own Zydecrunch, among others. With the Kings whenever he has an open date, Mike is a consumate sideman and a musician's musician - able to blend with and make stronger any unit he plays with. He is welcomed on stage with bands of many styles. Mike is overjoyed to be a struggling, full-time musician, and TDRK is happy to help him maintain that lifestyle. Mike's favorite past-times seem to be hangin' with friends and facilitating good times for all.

Track Listing:
1. Smack Dab In The Middle
2. Money's Gettin' Cheaper
3. After The Lights Go Down Low
4. Moanin'
5. I Want A Little Girl
6. I Don't Believe It
7. Don't You Lie To Me
8. Mother's Kitchen
9. Wind Chill
10. Please Don't Leave Me
11. Walkin' Slow Behind You
12. Gumbo Blues

Get Just The Way We Like It Here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7DCZDGEP

See all the band has to offer at http:www.rhythmkings.net
Be sure to sign the guestbook.

Those Delta Rhythm Kings - Every Night & Every Day

This group of guys are close personal friends of mine and damn fine musicians. Based out of Lansing, Michigan they have been performing together for about 15 years. They have been nominated twice to represent Michigan in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Both times reaching the final ten.
They have been looked at by Alligator Records, but unfortunately did not get signed. They have frequently worked with James Harman and opened for several national acts including Carl Weathersby, Roomful Of Blues, Junior Watson, Bobby Rush, Gary Primich, Larry McCray and The Iguanas.
They are a fun band and put on a dynamite show. Day jobs and the expense of travel has kept them confined to Michigan, Indiana and occasionally venturing into Canada.

I am always looking for new venues for these guys to play. If you know of a place which features blues and may be interested in having this band play their establishment, leave me a message and we will try to get em there.

Track List:
1. Strollin' With Bones
2. You Upset Me Baby
3. Mary Ann
4. Lollipop Mama
5. Black Diamond
6. Every Night And Every Day
7. Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy
8. Safronia B
9. The Crunch
10. Mickey Walks In (interlude)
11. Let's Do It Like Monkeys
12. You Don't Love Me

Get Every Night &Every Day here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=B1RK1S3R


See all the band has to offer at http:www.rhythmkings.net
Be sure to sign the guestbook.