New Fender Guitars / Basses for 2016

Another year another NAMM show!

This year, Fender announced some new models, although I am not happy with the slim offerings. The biggest news is that they renamed the American Deluxe Series to American Elite (a throwback to the 80's and 90's for sure). The series continues the same look of the American Deluxe, with some minor upgrades, like a flatter, compound radius neck.

Also, a new series of acoustics and amps.

 They also discontinued several old models and reduced the color options on current ones (always a bad idea!).

'Me and the Devil Blues' - A New Blues Comic Strip

My good buddy Grego Anderson over at Mojohand has informed me of his new 2016 project: a Blues music themed comic strip, “Me and the Devil Blues” - the adventures of Blind Hambone Jefferson - a modern day Blues man who wishes he wouldn’t have sold his soul to the Devil.

Below is a sample strip, go check out the full website [here]!

'You're Gonna Need Me' - Albert King

Albert King is one of the leading staples of blues music; his guitar prowess and soulful vibe led to many players, such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, to take King as a mentor.

In 1969 he released 'You're Gonna Need Me', and while it's your cold standard 12-bar blues, he was at this phase in his career experimenting with soul; indeed, his 1972 album "I'll Play the Blues For You" featured members of Issac Hayes' band and the funk band Bar-Keys, and was a very soul/funk trip.

His guitar playing shines here as usual, in his unique reverse guitar style.

Upcoming Blues Releases to Watch Out For

2016 has only just begun, we have a huge year to look forward to for blues music!

Here's a few upcoming albums to watch out for!

1. Old Jam, New Blood - Robert Cray featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan (Live 1987)

2. I'll Play the Blues For You / LIVE - Buddy Guy

3. Luxury Hobo - Big Boy Bloater & The Limits

4. Detroit Style- Bob Seely

5. Classic Chicago Blues (LIVE & UNRELEASED ) - Nick Holt, Bonnie Lee, John Primer

Continuing the Tradition: 'Dubai Jazz Fest' Ain't Got no Jazz

Happy New Year folks!

I wanted to discuss this issue as my first post of 2016 because frankly, it STILL fucking bugs me.

It is said you should let things go, to leave people be, to let them do what their own thing; and that you shouldn't let anyone bother you.

But in our case, I cannot let the Dubai Jazz Fest debacle go. The sidelining of jazz music at a show that's supposed to be it's namesake keeps going on, with no end in sight.

I wrote about this many, many, MANY times. If you are unfamiliar, let me quickly break it down for you:

In 2012, I posted a news update about Deep Purple headlining the Dubai Jazz Fest ('DJF' from now on), and at my unhappiness about that. Later, and in several posts, I showed how bad the organizers handled criticism towards them, like by deleting posts or telling people to 'deal with it'. Also, I mentioned how they were trying to broaden the scope of the event without giving us the 'jazz' portion.

In 2014, they had  jazz artists finally, but were shoved in the "Jazz Garden", a separate venue from the main stage where the 'big' artists will perform, and gave them short playing time.

So, back again this year, LOOK WHO WE HAVE:

TOTO!? SANTANA? DAVID GRAY?! LA BOMBA DE TIEMPO? SITNG!? AGAIN!!?

Before you guys go apeshit on me, Chris Botti (headliner with Sting) is a jazz trumpeter, however most of his music is based on pop music. Plus Sting is with him so that doesn't count.

And Postmodern Jukebox, who mainly got famous for making viral Facebook posts on their covers of modern songs, while talented, if not gimmicky, are not hardcore enough for real jazz fans.

In 2003, Dubai Jazz Fest had FUCKING ARCHIE SCHEPP,  BILLY COBHAM, & STANLEY JORDAN for fucks sake. That is the kind of jazz we want to see. 

If I, a self-proclaimed blues and jazz fan, wants to dish out hundreds of dirhams to see such an extravagant event, it would be pretty much against what I would want out of a jazz event. 

My rant might be getting old and redundant, and falling on deaf ears. But the DJF is doing the same. 

The official website of the DJF is [here]. But until then, the real home of Jazz in the Middle East is at the Jazz at Lincoln Center - Doha, and the small hotspots in Beirut. 

2015 - Year in Blues

As the year comes to a close, I would like to wish everyone a bluesy new year, and for the coming year.

New Years is another day where we reflect on what we have achieved, and how we can improve. Usually, it involves getting fat and other non-completed resolutions from last year; as they say, making small hopes gives us a sort of purpose to keep going, even if it doesn't happen.

The biggest news for me this year was returning to my home city Beirut and performing at the Fete de la Musique; it was the first time in 10 years that I perform back home. 

Beirut Blues

In 2016, I'm hoping to have some music released, and looking forward to more gigs. So stay tuned to the only blues blog in town, and again you can stay in touch on Twitter and Facebook too.

Happy New Year everyone!

37th Blues Music Awards Nominees Announced

Another year, another Blues Music Awards!

The Blues Foundation has announced the date and nominees for the next annual event. It will take place, as usual, in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 5, 2016.

As for the nominees, here they are after the jump:

New Photo of Robert Johnson Found, 3rd in Existence

I have previously discussed the mystique revolving around the photographic history of legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. The fact that only two photos of him exist just add to the his allure.

Well, after the recent discovery that a supposed picture turned out to be a fake, a real third one has been unearthed and confirmed.

The Houston Chronicle has stated that it was found "in an antique Winthrop desk, filled with odds and ends, bought in a 2013 auction'.

Lois Gibson, a forensic artist for the Houston Police confirmed it, and the Johnson estate has as well.

This is another great piece of history in blues music.

Hear Pink Floyd Cover Slim Harpo's 'I'm a King Bee'

In a recent discovery, I found out that Pink Floyd, in their earliest bootleg recordings from 1965 (meaning they feature Syd Barrett) included a cover of the well known Blues standard 'I'm a King Bee'.

the 1965 First Recordings album

The song is [here].

It's always nice to see non-blues guys cover well known blues tunes; as a matter of fact it's not the only time the Floyd has played the blues!

The 58th Grammy Award Blues Nominees

Another year, another Grammy Awards!

The 58th ceremony nominees for the blues category (among the rest of course) have been announced yesterday, as follows:

This year we have some heavy contenders... let's go one by one:

1) Cedric Burnside is a grandson of legendary bluesman RL Burnside, and has won several Blues Music Awards in the past.

I couldn't find a studio version of his latest songs off the album so here's a live clip instead:

2) Shamekia Copeland is a blue/soul queen with a fabulous voice. She has held her own in the blues world and has won many awards.

3) Buddy Guy needs no introduction. He's the current OG of the blues world, leading the pack.

4) Bettye LaVette is a soul singer who rose to fame in mid-2000s, but has been singing and recording at a young age. She's got a versatile repertoire.

5) This last album, which I covered recently is mainly for John Primer, but various artists like Billy Branch, Gary Clark Jr., Shemekia Copeland, James Cotton, Bob Margolin are also involved. This album is a compilation of covers celebrating Muddy Waters' 100th birthday.

Personally, as a fan of old school Chicago blues, I predict this will be a toss-up between Buddy Guy and Joe Primer.

What do you think? Tune in on 15 February to find out!