My Debut Album 'Gonna Die With The Blues' to be Released on April 5!

After announcing it a while back, I am finally happy to confirm the release of my debut album 'Gonna Die With The Blues' on April 5, 2018.

It has 10 tracks and features many great musicians on board. It will be released on all digital platforms, and will follow with some launch events later.

Please watch this space come launch day!

Ali Sleeq w/ Altersal - Neptune Blues NOW AVAILABLE

I had the pleasure to work with the great musician and soundscape adventurer Altersal, to create something a little different.

This is what happens when you mix a traditional blues song with some synths and drops of acid. The wicked collaboration with Altersal, a member of the band Galaxy Juice and a solo artist, provides his unique flavor to the old blues formula. The result? A hypnotic drone blues taken to the stratosphere.

The song is inspired by 'Dark Road' by Floyd Jones from 1948... but set hundreds of years into the future.

You can find the song in the links below on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, and Youtube; I hope you enjoy it! I also have some big news coming in next couple of days!

Vocals / Bass / Guitar - Ali Sleeq 

Synths / Drum Machines / Production - Altersal

Buddy Guy Reflects on the Blues (Video)

An interview on Reverb with Buddy Guy was posted in January but I never got around to posting it until now. Please mind my delay... music and what not got in my way!

Buddy Guy is one of the last remaining OGs of the blues alive today. He's been through it all man... this is a great video for all blues, music, and guitar fans!

Blues for Lovers

Another year, another heartbreak, another lonesome day. Some of us might be in love, but that don't mean you don't have it down sometimes; Valentine's is a celebration of love, but in our case, it's just another day for the blues.

Here's a few songs for you if you feelin' like giving out some love.

I Want You to Love Me - Muddy Waters

Baby Please Don't Go - Big Joe Williams

Sweet Little Angel - BB King

I Need Love So Bad - John Lee Hooker

Brown Skin Woman - Sunnyland Slim

I'm in Love with You Baby - Otis Spann

 I Can't Quit You Baby - Otis Rush

Performing in Bahrain Tomorrow!

I'll be performing tomorrow at Hazel Rooftop Lounge in Adliya, Bahrain!

This marks the first time I perform in Bahrain under my own name, and I've assembled a talent group of local musicians to be my backup band, so you're in for a treat!

Also, you get 25% off on bourbon and whiskey so you can get in the real mood for the blues.   

Rolling Stones, Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo' Win the Blues Grammys

Another year has gone by, and in the mist of all the hoopla around the major pop artists, we get the neglected music section that doesn't show up on TV... the blues Grammy awards!

So from the nominees I mentioned in November, The Rolling Stones have won the Traditional Blues Album of the Year and Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo' won the Contemporary Blues Album of the Year.

It might not be the most exciting year for the blues, but it's still nice to see the old schoolers getting the wins, not discounting the other artists like Eric Bibb, Ronald Randolph, Robert Cray and the others.

So congrats to the winners and I'll see you again same time next year! Here's some songs from the winners off their winning albums:

Fender Announces 'American Original' Series

In a nice refresh of the American Vintage series, Fender just announced it's American Original series, a revamp and rebranding of the long running production (since 1982).

The biggest change is that the fretboard radius on these axes will be a flatter moden 9.5' instead of the vintage 7.25', which makes playing a bit easier. However the rest of the specs will be true vintage, down to pickups, the nitro laquer finish, color options, and neck profiles. The series no longer specifies the actual year it's trying to replicate, rather the decade (which combines a few things together).

Kinda pricey, and although the colors are awesome they are down to two or three options per guitar. Would have loved more options.

Here's the full lineup (not including the left hand models), more on www.fender.com:

50's Stratocaster

60's Stratocaster

50's Telecaster

60's Telecaster

60's Jazzmaster

60's Jaguar

50's Precision Bass

60's Precision Bass

60's Jazz Bass

70's Jazz Bass

Nominees for the 39th Blues Music Awards

The Blues Foundation has announced the nominees for the 39th Annual Blues Music Awards, taking place on May 10th, 2018 in Memphis Tennessee, and like every year I post them for ya!

The Blues meets Wu-Tang

As usual I found a nice gem for the blues; but this time from the Wu-Tang Clan.

Now if y'all don't know, I was heavy into Wu-Tang when I was a teenager. They practically raised me up; at 17 is when I found the blues and never went back. But I don't forget where I came from.

In 2005 a compilation album called 'Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture Vol. 1' which features members of the Wu-Tang Clan and their affiliates was released. In it, is a track called 'Slow Blues', which features Vast Aire, Byata, Wu affiliates Timbo King & Prodigal Sunn rapping over a minor blues progression, produced by Bronze Nazareth. It samples the song 'The Creeper Returns' by blues harpist Little Sonny. 

It's a great fusion between these genres, one of the better if not best I've heard. Here it is for your pleasure, and I've also posted the original song it was sampled from:

Original song:

Christmas Ain't Nothin' But Another Cold Day / Playlist

now THIS is the best Christmas Tree

I would like to wish you all a merry Christmas; please remember the more unfortunate who will be spending the holidays alone and in need. 

And this year I bring you another selection of Christmas blues tunes, some happy, and many sad:

Christmas Celebration - BB King

Merry Christmas - Lightnin' Hopkins

Xmas Baby - Riff Ruffin

Christmas Comes Once a Year - Albert King

Blues for Christmas - John Lee Hooker

Christmas Eve Blues - Blind Lemon Jefferson

Please Come Home for Christmas - Charles Brown