Quick plays: JOANNA CONNOR, AL STAEHELY, BETWEEN BEACH AND FOREST

Joanna Connor – Best of Me Quarto Valley Records [Release date 09.06.23]

Chicago blues guitar great Joanna Connor releases her 15th album. Joining Joanna Connor are her regular “Wrecking Crew” touring band: Shaun Gotti Calloway (bass); Dan Souvigny (guitar, keys); Curtis Moore Jr. (keys); and Jason J Roc Edwards (drums, vocals). Special guests include labelmates Eric Demmer (sax) and Jason Ricci (harmonica), along with guitarists Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, Gary Hoey and Mike Zito (also the label boss) and the Grooveline Horns.

Opener ‘House Rules’ certainly sets the album off in a blues rocking direction, and this one, along with the rip-roaring ‘Highway Child’ (with Joe Bonamassa guesting) are the album’s stand out tracks.

For those liking their blues a little slower featuring plenty of fluid soloing, ‘I Lost You’ will fix that musical need. Her playing is sublime, and she’s not too shabby a singer either!

There is only one cover on the album and what a cover version, as Joanna and her band rip through ‘Mercury Blues’. Her slide playing on this one is superb.

If you only get one blues based album this summer, make sure it is this one by Joanna Connor. Great playing and tunes throughout. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Al Staehely – Somewhere In West Texas Quarto Valley Records [Release date 30.03.23]

Al Staehely has certainly lived an interesting life to date, be it vocalist & bassist on Spirit’s 1972 album ‘Feedback’, as part of the Staehely Brothers, or since the mid-70′s a lawyer specialising in the music and entertainment industries.

Joining Staehely are guests including Fran Christina (Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bonnie Raitt), Scrappy Jud Newcomb and Chris Maresh (Eric Johnson, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Wayne Shepherd).

Possibly a bit too easy on ear on ‘Love Trance’, however, ‘Emily’ brings a nice little bit of rock ‘n’ roll to the proceedings. ‘What’s So Hard About Love’ has a hint of the Fabulous Thunderbirds about it and ‘Mercy Of The Moon’ could have been a long-lost Roy Orbison song.

One of those albums steeped in country, Americana and a little bit of rock, that could have been released just as easily back in the 1970s as now. ***

Review by Jason Ritchie

Between Beach and Forest – Imagined Troubles [Release date 30.06.23]

Between Beach and Forest is a project by multi-instrumentalist Darrell Bazian and drummer Nick Marko. They released an EP last year and now have this six track mini-album. Pendants corner – an EP used to be defined as four tracks so this is a mini-album ;-)

Regardless of classification, Between Beach and Forest have produced a neat collection of tunes that straddle the folk and indie pop genres. ‘The Ghosts Are Gone’ is a peach of an indie pop song complete with glockenspeil! ‘Move Outward’ has an uplifting vibe, similar to say Belle & Sebastian or Turin Brakes.

Six songs, sixteen minutes and not a duff song to be heard. Impressive and one for lovers of indie folk pop, of which there must be many judging by the popularity of similar themed playlists on streaming services. These guys certainly deserve a listen and to feature on the aforementioned playlists. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)