DENNIS JONES "BOTH SIDES OF THE TRACK"

High-energy stage performance. Sizzling hot guitar solos. Smooth and soulful vocals. Backed by a rhythm section that is second to none, this IS Dennis Jones. Check out a live show, and you’ll instantly agree, this band ROCKS the blues like NO other! Dennis's feet are firmly rooted in the past, yet his heart and soul are connected to the present. He writes songs that seamlessly blend the best of both worlds, presenting a unique and contemporary style of American rock and blues. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and now based in Los Angeles, California, Jones continues to pursue his musical ambition of becoming a top entertainer in his field. With four well-regarded CD releases to date, and a fifth to be released in January 2016, Jones' vision has never been clearer. Dennis also writes songs for other notable artists, e.g. he wrote the song Temporary Man for Guitar Shorty’s 2010 Alligator release, Bare Knuckle. Since 2003, Dennis has released four successful albums on his own label, Blue Rock Records. Each and every one of these CDs has met with rave reviews. Many of his songs and CDs have hit the top 10 on the Blues Charts, including when his 3rd CD, Pleasure & Pain, ranked #2 of best blues CD releases of the year, by the Canadian-based, Real Blues Magazine. He's latest release, My Kinda Blues, features legendary guest musicians, Kenny Neal, and Guitar Shorty. Dennis is no stranger to film either. Deep Blues from his first CD, Falling Up, was featured in a 2006 Lions Gate movie, Sea of Fear. The title track of Dennis’s 2nd CD, Passion for the Blues, is featured in the 2013 independent film, How We Got Away With It. Finally, Dennis is one of several artists featured in the documentary film Babe’s & Ricky’s Inn, a movie about one of the oldest blues clubs in Los Angeles, and its adored owner. The blues music industry is taking note. In May 2012, Dennis was honored to present the Awards for BB King Entertainer of the Year, to Tab Benoit, and Album of the Year, to the Tedeschi Trucks Band, for Revelator, at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee. Dennis and his band continue to work hard to achieve the next level of musical success. Increased touring opportunities and greater exposure to new fans will undoubtedly make this band a household name. So if the same old blues has got you down, then it’s time to check out the Dennis Jones Band! DENNIS JONES BAND

THE PATRIK JANSSON BAND "HERE WE ARE"

Patrik Jansson Band was formed in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden in late 2007. After playing drums in various blues bands and jazz combos, hard-rock and metal acts for several years, Patrik decided it was time for another challenge. He picked up the guitar and started playing and singing in hopes of developing as a songwriter and a musician. “I’ve always loved to learn new things” he says. With a passion for heavy Texas blues and with a new mission in life he started looking for musicians to play with. “I had a pretty clear idea of what I was looking for” he says, “I wanted to play blues with a more modern approach. Blues is supposed to feel fresh and alive, it’s a most vital music in my opinion. In short I wanted to play the kind of music that I would like to hear myself and that I think a lot of other people would like and appreciate”. In the beginning of 2011 PJB released their self-titled critically acclaimed debut album on the Sneaky Foot Records label. The music could best be described as a mix of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Freddie King and Joe Bonamassa, to name a few of the influences. After some line-up changes it was time to start writing songs for the follow up to the debut album and in late 2013 the band entered the studio to record “Here We Are” their second full length album, an album full of heavy, funky, groovy blues with a focus on strong melodies and great songwriting. With guest appearances from Mikael Fall (Harmonica world champion 2013) and the great Swedish female blues singer Lisa Lystam, the record is full of great songs and great performances. A lot has happened since the start in 2007 and since the first record, and it becomes even clearer when you listen to the new record. It’s a heavier, darker and more mature band you'll be hearing. "I put a lot of time and effort into making this record and I really try to make my music mean something, I try to write songs that make you feel something, songs that matter and I believe we're gotten closer to that goal with the new record and I think you will hear it when you listen to it. I hope you enjoy it”. THE PATRIK JANSSON BAND
 

MILES TACKETT "THE FOOL WHO WONDERS"

After fifteen years of writing, producing, and performing some of the most influential sounds in the Los Angeles underground funky soul-jazz scene, Miles “Music Man” Tackett is releasing his most personal album yet, the soulful, guitar-centric The Fool Who Wonders, on July 8th.Miles Tackett is best known around the world as the creative mind behind Breakestra, a funk, soul-jazz band whose first record the Live Mix Part 2 (Stones Throw Records) & live shows harken back to the pre-sampling era of Bronx DJ performances in the 1970’s. Breakestra has toured the globe on its reputation of restoring authentic funk breaks from the sampled backgrounds of hip hop tracks to the foreground of the live experience, while still paying tribute to those same hip hop pioneers whose musical precision has always been an influence. Breakestra quickly evolved to writing and performing original funky soul-jazz compositions, releasing two LPs: 2005’s Hit the Floor on Ubiquity, and Dusk Till Dawn released in 2009 on Strut Records.“Music Man Miles,” as he is known in the underground DJ scene, also helms the longest-running funky soul party in Los Angeles, FUNKY SOLE, spinning a globe spanning, all-vinyl set every Saturday night. Influenced through his immersion in the underground hip hop scene at L.A. club The Root Down, collaborations with Mixmaster Wolf of Breakestra and renowned DJs like DJ Dusk, Cut Chemist and DJ Egon, Miles was inspired to build a collection of some of the finest deep funk, afro-latin, soul-jazz vinyl around & start djing as well.Tackett’s musical reputation extends well beyond the underground clubs of Los Angeles. He has performed and collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Macy Gray, Blind Melon, B.B. King, Little Feat, and legendary soul singer Syl Johnson. Now, after years of focusing on a purist funk style and sound with Breakestra, Tackett has finally taken some time to reflect, write new songs and return to his first love, the electric guitar. With an array of influences that draw from vintage soul, rhythm and blues, psychedelia, and blues/jazz influenced folk and rock, The Fool Who Wonders’ new vintage sounds bring Tackett’s varied musical travels back to where it all began. MILES TACKETT
 

LYNN DRURY "COME TO MY HOUSE"

Lynn Drury has been performing, in one arena or another, her entire life. At the ripe old age of five she won a 4-H state competition in Mississippi in pole bending. If you don’t know what pole bending is, it’s a little like barrel racing, Lynn says. That’s horse talk. In a word, rodeos. Once you know that much about Lynn, you understand her approach.She picked up the guitar at 26, went at it like a pro, and she’s never stopped working. Her inspiration is her environment and since the mid nineties, that environment has been New Orleans. The transition for the Yazoo City – born Drury was smooth. She says jasmine smells like honeysuckle, and you believe her. Sultry, sweet songs turn funky, and it’s all in the same neighborhood.These days, Lynn herself is part of the scenery. She’s been a regular at French Quarter Fest and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for years, and has played just about everywhere in town.Drury released her first CD, “Crossing Frequencies,” in 2001 and over the next two years released two more — “Blackberry Winter” and “Spun,” as well as winning Best Emerging Singer/Songwriter for Offbeat Magazine. In 2006 her record “All You Need” produced by Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers) was nominated for Best Roots-Rock Album at the Big Easy Awards, and it’s still selling. In 2008 Lynn moved to Italy and toured Europe with Italian guitarist Roberto Luti, releasing “Dal Vivo,” a live CD in 2009.In 2010 a grant from Threadhead Records Foundation assisted Lynn in making “Sugar On the Floor.” The stellar lineup on the record includes Alex McMurray (Tin Men, Royal Fingerbowl), Tommy Malone (Subdudes), Ivan Neville, Helen Gillet, Bill Malchow, and Eric Traub. Produced by Carlo Nuccio (who also plays drums on the album), much of the disc was recorded and engineered by Jacques DeLatour at Fudge Recording Studios in New Orleans. “Sugar On the Floor” was released in the spring of 2011.A new recording project is underway. In December 2012, Lynn received another grant from the Threadhead Foundation, and was able to defray studio costs for the initial sessions.“I am so excited about my new recording,” Lynn says. I am working with producer John Porter. When I heard he had produced the early Smith’s records, I knew I had to work with him. I’ve been gritty and I’ve been twangy, but I wanted a new direction for this project. Intuitively, it just felt right.”Drummer Chris Pylant and bass player Cassandra Faulconer are with her in the studio, and they go back a long way. “The three of us together are a tight trio that only comes with time.” The first session in April also included Trevor Brooks on keys and Chris Adkins and Alex McMurray on guitars, with a follow-up session just finished with Shane Theriot on guitar. Scheduled release is February  2014 with a European Tour slated for Nov 2013. Catch her if you can. LYNN DRURY
 

KAREN LOVELY "LIVE IN LOS ANGELES"

Karen Lovely shot onto the blues scene out of  the Pacific Northwest like Stack O' Lee's .44 placing 2nd at the 2010 International Blues Challenge followed by three 2011 Blues Music Award Nominations for BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES FEMALE ARTIST, BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM and BEST SONG for her sophomore release STILL THE RAIN. She is a two time “#1 Pick to Click” artist on XM Radio Bluesville and has just been selected as the 2014 Featured Blues artist by KJZZ FM in Los Angeles. Lovely’s records have topped the national blues and roots charts and made the Top 10 favorite artist list for dozens of nationally syndicated radio stations.Known for her passionate, driven performances and always backed by stellar musicians, this powerhouse vocalist delivers a blistering mix of contemporary & old school blues. Lovely's standout performances have garnered awards, critical acclaim and standing ovations at festivals and venues throughout the US, Canada and Europe.Karen has just completed 4 successful European tours, playing to packed houses and sold out shows in France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.  Her performance at the 44th Internationale Jazzwache in Burghausen, Germany was taped for broadcast and began airing on German TV in December 2013. KAREN LOVELY
 

MARIE DAHLSTROM " THE RENDITIONS"

La cantante soul scandinava, Marie Dahlstrom ha da poco pubblicato il suo ultimo album, "The Renditions", per una produzione tutta Danese. Cresciuta a Londra, riesce a dare la sua versione originale e migliore di alcune grandi canzoni di artisti, come Little Dragon, Rihanna, Phil Collins nonchè John Mayer. Le sue interpretazioni sono cosi grandi, con l'aggiunta delle atmosfere sia jazz che soul. La voce di Dahlstrom è stupefacente è molto particolare, e il modo in cui è stato registrato è eccezionale, gli arrangiamenti sono belli e giocano con tanta passione. Vi riesce a trasportare, con dolci echi, con la voce ossessionante di Marie, sopra i suoni incantevoli di sassofoni e pianoforti, per un soul jazz-ottimizzato. MARIE DAHLSTROM