Toronzo Cannon Keeps Me Upbeat on My Run/Walk

Toronzo Cannon - Shut Up&Play cover

So, as I’ve written previously over the last year, particularly from September to June I only ran sporadically.And I’ll tell you that the summer is not an easy time for this 73 year old to start over! Anyway the way that I am trying to restart my running is by both running and walking, Basically, I’ll run about a half mile and then walk a quarter mile and keep that switching going for about 30 minutes or more. It also turns out to be running until my heart rate gets up to about 140 bpm and then walking until it drops back to 110 bpm or lower. Read More

Life is Hard – Mike Zito

Life is Hard - Mike Zito

So the other day I wrote a out one of the two songs that have been in my music rotation this month, Albert Cummings‘ latest album Strong. The other album is Mike Zito‘s new album Life is Hard. Like Cummings Zito has been a favorite of mine for many years a now. I started listening to his music back around 2010 in when I heard his album Pearl. I think that his last two albums, 2021 Blues for the Southside Live and Life is Hard have been the best of his career. Read More

Albert Cummings’ – Strong – Starts March Strong!

Albert Cummings - Strong

Ok so since September of last year my wife and I have spent most of our days babysitting our 4th grandchild, Emma.  We’re at my daughter’s house from 7 am until roughly 5 pm. The result is I don;t have a lot of time to blog and/or listen to music. But I’ve been trying to listen when I am out and about on the weekends and at night. Lately, the two blues albums that have been in my music rotation are the latest releases from two of my favorites. First came Albert Cummings latest releases Strong.  Then came Mike Zito’s  Life is Hard .  Read More

Coco Montoya at his Best on Writing on the Wall

Coco Montoya Writing on the Wall

It always amazes me that at one point in John Mayall’s storied career, both Walter Trout and Coco Montoya were Bluesbreakers ! (Watch Them  Here) Throughout the years, I listened to more music from Walter than Coco. However, Coco is closing the gap based on his last three  albums. And while I admit to not having heard all of Coco’s albums, his recent release  Writing on the Wall may be my favorite.

About Writing on the Wall

Throughout Writing on the Wall Montoya’s vocals are as strong as his impeccable guitar playing. Additionally, the album is the first to feature Coco’s touring band.

Writing on the Wall is the second  Coco Montoya album Grammy Award-winner Tony Braunagel (Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal) has.produced. In addition, Tony provides drums on four tracks. The band’s keyboardist  Jeff Paris (Keb’ Mo’, Bill Withers).co-produced and recorded at Jeff’s Garage. Other members of the band include bassist Nathan Brown and drummer Rena Beavers.

Musicians joining Coco and the band on the album include: guitarists Ronnie Baker Brooks, country star Lee Roy Parnell, and Dave Steen.

Of the 13 tunes that comprise the album five were  composed or co-written by Montoya. Steen wrote four and Paris one. All three together they co-wrote the title track .

The Bottom Line

The following quote found at the top of Coco’s biography on his website pretty much sums up Coco’s music:

“Blistering contemporary blues…piercing attack, funky, shivery guitar tones and aggressive, soulful vocals” -Blues Revue

While the following advice from Albert Collins seems to be taken to heart on Writing on the Wall...

’Just play what you feel, be real about it, and enjoy yourself.’ That’s what Albert Collins taught me,” 

It seems that bringing in his touring band to create this album has been a real success and produced one of Coco’s best if not the best albums. From the start of his solo career Montoya has incorporated the  lessons he learned from his mentors, both the iconic Collins (for whom he originally drummed), and UK legend John Mayall,

His first solo album in 1995 won him the Blues Music Award for Best New Artist. And from that point forward Montoya has been one of the top blues artists in the world. But he hasn’t rested on his laurals, but continues to find new ways to improve his music! And sharing the songwriting with his band along with the top-notch producing of Tony Braunage in the creation of Writing On The Wall  have  done just that!

The bottom line is Writing on the Wall is an A+, so Check It Out!  AllMusic writes the following about Coco and I totally agree!

“One of the most prodigious and gifted electric bluesmen on the planet…a deeply soulful singer and incendiary guitarist [with] a seemingly endless penchant for invention.” –AllMusic

Links  for the Further Exploration of the Music of Coco Montoya

CocoMontoya.com
CocoMontoyaBand.

com Read More

Nick Schnebelen – What Key is Trouble In? Powers a Great Run

Nick Schnebelen - What Key Is Trouble In? Cover
Ok so I have been moving forward in many ways and also feeling my age (71) in others. I have been moving forward in my battle with my ADHD, as I try to do more thing that I’ve thought about doing. While doing others when I think about them, rather than putting them off ! And so far it’s working! One of those things I didn’t  put off was this morning’s run!

The Run

I’ve been running on a regular basis over the last few months. Today I was torn between a 3.1 and a 4 mile run. I chose the 3.1 mile option. In addition I told myself I needed to take it easy.

Even though I thought I was taking it easy, my time for the first mile was 11:30. Ok so I thought I’ll take it easy through the rest of the run.

However, my pace hovered around 11:30 and I was running fairly comfortably over mile two. subsequently, I ran that mile in 11:26. I thought can I finish with an average pace less than 11:25 which would be my fastest time for the year!

I ran the last mile in 11:21! And with an old man sprint of 9:52 pace over the last .12 miles of the run, I finished with an average pace of (drumroll please!) 11:22 min/mile! Yeah me!

The Nerdy Details

Total Dist: 3.12 miles Time  35:28. Pace: 11:22 min/mile

Splits

Mile 1 11:31 Mile 2: 11: 27 Mile 3 11:21 Mile 0.12 9:52

Avg HR 145 Max HR 161 Cals Burned: 370 Cals

All in All a great morning!

The Soundtrack – What Key is Trouble In?  -Nick Schnebelen

What Key is Trouble in? has been in my music rotation for a while now and it may be my favorite blues album for 2023.

Nick Schnebelen is a multiple Blues Music Award Winner. Nick joined the elite of the blues community in 2008 as a founding member of the Kansas City band Trampled Under Foot.
Nick and His siblings Danielle and Kris, overwhelmed the competition to win that year’s
International Blues Challenge. Nick won the Albert King Award for “Best
Guitarist”. While the band later won the “Contemporary Blues Album” Blues Music Award.

In 2014 Nick left the band. What Key is Trouble In? is his fourth solo album. The album is comprised of 13 original blues rock  tracks that showcase Nick’s great guitar work.

His band mates include Adam Hagerman (drums), Cliff Moore (bass), Red Young (keyboards), Buddy Leach (saxophone), Aaron Mayfield (organ).

The album was co-produced by Chris Hardwick.

Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of Nick Schnebelen Read More

Grant Dermody – Behind the Sun. Great Blues Harp!

GRant Dermody - Behind the Sun

Over the last month or so there have been three blues albums in my music rotation. Each features a great blues harmonica players. The  albums are the latest release from: Bob Corritore, The Dig Three and Grant Dermody. I am going to start the discussion of these albums with Behind the Sun. The latest album from singer, songwriter and acclaimed harmonica player Grant Dermody.

Ok so I confess I am not a huge Grant Derrmody fan. I first listened to his music in 2020 when he released his fourth album My Dony. I remembered I liked the album so I was excited to hear his latest release  Behind the Sun. Well I was blown away and Behind the Sun has become one of my favorite albums of 2022.

 

About Grant Dermody

From Grant’s website…

Grant DermodyIn the hands of harmonica master Grant Dermody the harp rumbles like a freight train, sidles up like a soul singer, purrs like an electric cat, rings out in a rhythmic dance. Pair it up with his voice, a strikingly honest vocal approach that resonates in the direct center of your chest, and the intrigue just increases.


And from Devon Ledger at Hearth Music…

“Grant Dermody explodes your expectations of blues harmonica players. He can get down with the best of them, but he can also tear through a Southern old-time fiddle tune, or step back to tastefully accompany a singer with the most subtle of background flourishes. He’s a musician’s musician, no doubt, which should account for the fact that he’s in such demand these days. His taste is impeccable and his playing inspired.”

About Behind the Sun

Ok I can sit here and try to write about Behind the Sun like I know all about it ..or I can let you read what I discovered at Grant’s website.l’ll choose the later….

Behind the Sun, finds him returning to electric blues; a full band and the inspiration and influence of Louisiana, the place where it was recorded. The title itself references a song by Muddy Waters while also capturing the sentiment and sincerity that shine through in each of its 15 tracks.

A list of outstanding musicians, including longtime colleague and acclaimed guitarist Dirk Powell, accordion player Corey Ledet, bassist Lee Allen Zeno, drummer Gerard St. Julien, and backing vocalists Teka Briscoe and Ahyris Navarre. So too, the album encapsulates the  c xdistinctive sounds of Louisiana, environs that inspire its own take on Americana and the blues in particular.

Of its fifteen songs, nine are original compositions, including four by Dermody, three by Powell, one by Powell, Zeno and St. Julien, a traditional tune adapted by Dermody.And covers that come courtesy of Muddy Walters, Rick Estrin, Jimmy Reed, Kim Wilson and Otis Rush.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is Behind the Sun is terrific! Dermody’s blues harp rips those 15 aforementioned tracks.Additionally, his outstanding cast of band mates complete the album. So check it Out! And once again I have to listen to some of  Dermody’s back catalog.

Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of Grant Dermody Read More

A Pain Free Run with Albert Cummings Ten

Albert Cummings Ten and a pain free run yeah !

Ok so now that this site is about all aspects of my life and not just about the books I read or have read. And one of the things you will be reading about is my running. Now you haven’t missed much over the last month and a half because I sprained my ankle on May 28th and I have been rehab since then! The physical therapy I’ve had at NovaCare over the last several weeks has really worked wonders. Over the last few days I have had virtually no pain. So I was hoping for a pain free run..

On my last two walks, I have incorporated half and quarter mile segments of slow running. The total distance of the walk/jogs have been two miles.

This morning,  I thought I would try and walk the first quarter mile and then run maybe a mile or a mile and a half. However, when the lady on my Runkeeper app said begin activity I instinctively started to jog! I made the first quarter mile with no pain! I also made it to the first mile with no pain. I knew at that point I couldn’t stop because I would be just a pile of sweat that wouldn’t be able to start up again.

So I kept going and altered the route I was running to maximize the shade and figuring if I could hold on I could finish the run in some shade! I was able to do just that and then walk home, which turned into walking another half mile. So the total workout was 2.5 miles with two miles of slow jogging! The best part was it was a pain free run and a pain free cool down!

Here are those Nerdy Details!

The Nerdy  Details

Total Dist: 2.5 Time  37:02 Pace: 14:44 min/mile

Splits

Mile 1 12:52 Mile 2: 13:02

Avg HR 139 Max HR 157 Cals Burned: 437 Cals

The Soundtrack 

The soundtrack for the run was one of my favorite albums of 2022 Albert Cummings April 2022 release Ten.  Now since it is a great album I think it deserves a post of its own. So until then here are four songs from Ten. Enjoy! Read More

Dion and other Oldies Still Going Strong!

A few days before Dion was appearing at the Keswick Theater in Philadelphia, a woman commented on Facebook post about his appearance. She said that like Grace Slick said rock stars should retire. What Grace Slick told VH1 was that she retired from the music business because…..

….all rock stars over 50 should retire as they look stupid….

While that may apply to many aging stars who haven’t recorded an album in many years it doesn’t apply to Dion! And just writing this it doesn’t apply to two of her ex-band mates Jorma Kaukonan and Jack Cassidy (Hot Tuna)

Anyway, let’s get back to the eighty-two year young Dion. While I have not seen Dion live,  I have viewed many of his recent video. In them he introduces songs from his last two albums Blues with Friends and Stomping Ground and lwhat I’ve seen is an 82 year-old having the time of his life and producing some really good music!

 The Friends on Dion’s Albums Read More