The content of this page is updated daily. Also check out the WEBLOG ARCHIVE 2006 01, 2006 02, 2007 01, 2008 01 or 2008 02 PRICES OF OUR CD'S IN OUR WEBSHOP !!!! The new releases cost 12,99 EUR and the rest of the releases are only 9,99 EUR. Over the last years the traditional music distribution system has been falling apart rapidly. Specialized shops are closing and distributors are going out of business. So the sales through our web shop is becoming very important for us. Selling our music directly from the source to the music fans has big advantages for us and the consumer. Because we can eliminate most of the distribution costs, we are able to pass on this cost reduction to our customers. All records are in stock, shipped (priority) within 24 hours and the shipping costs are included in these prices. June 25, 2010 review on MPODIA: Mississippi, de plek waar het allemaal een beetje begon met de Blues. We gaan even een jaar of dertig terug. Eigenlijk honderddertig, maar er zijn grenzen. 'Ain't Gotta Dime', en zo klinkt het ook. Rauwe en onvervalste Blues recht uit de Missisippi Delta, opgenomen in Utrecht. Het vastgestelde schemaatje, dat mineurladdertje, dat ook hier weer herkenbaar en vooral voorspelbaar is bezorgd je de Blues. Noten worden gebogen en gespannen. De mondharp geeft nog extra mineur aan de sfeer zoals het hoort. Je voelt je afgrijselijk, en toch behaaglijk. Roken is er natuurlijk niet meer bij, maar er zijn genoeg elementen die er voor zorgen de katoenplukkers voor de geest te halen. Boo Boo zingt met zijn doorleefde stem eerlijke teksten. "Hey baby, everything is allright. We ain't gonna stop. till we get on the top." Alledaagse dingen. Doorspekt met vette gitaarsolo's van Jan Mittendorp, en lekker eenvoudig drumwerk van John Gerritse. Wie is Boo Boo Davis eigenlijk? Hij is geboren en opgegroeid in de Delta van de Mississippi. Hij hoorde als jongen de katoenplukkers onder benarde werkomstandigheden hun levenslot bezingen. Al heel vroeg leerde hij mondharmonica en gitaar spelen. Terecht kan worden gezegd: "Hij zingt de Blues uit eerste hand". Als je échte blues wilt horen, met 'Ain't Gotta Dime' hoor je échte Blues. De cd werd in de Studio Sylvester in Utrecht in één keer opgenomen, waardoor het ook nog eens erg live klinkt. Eenvoud en klasse alom. Zeker omdat het trio ook nog eens alle nummers zelf schreef. June 7, 2010 BOO BOO DAVIS - AIN'T GOTTA DIME Here is a definitive, new twist of an old theme. Six albums into his career, James 'Boo Boo' Davis seems to have hit is stride, turning in his best record yet. With each release, Davis have vacillated between the dark, gruff, gutbucket blues indicative of his juke joint-ready Mississippi background, more traditional Chicago-based blues incorporating strong elements of r&b, and a more experimental path falling somewhere in-between, with elements of hip-hop - scratching and loops in attempt to update his style. "Ain't Gotta Dime" brings things back to the trenches making the most of a simpatico pair of musicians who have toured Davis' original music from one side of Europe to the other, honing it to a ragged sheen. Davis' deep, raw vocals are born to modern Delta blues and his juke-joint roots. His seismic bark and slash 'n' burn harmonica blasts combine with a bass-less band led by guitarist Jan Mittendorp and drummer John Gerritse to create a solid foundation. These guys have lived the music long enough to breathe at the same time, and in their in-your-face live sound creates a force to be reckoned with. Think the fury of Howlin Wolf atop slabs of rock-blues groove and the rock-hard thud of Gerritse's drum hits. From the heavy use of wah-wah on the hard-hitting "Silvermine" to the pain slithering its way through "Cryin Blues", there's  nothing missing from this trio's full yet gracefully unpolished, sound. Elements of southern soul ("My Baby got Me Fixed") marry with rock ("Cake Lady") r&b ("There Is A Roach Crawlin") and country blues ("Ten Thousand Dollar") as Davis and company grind their way into a ragged state. Yet seemingly, disparate elements work well under Davis' brashly, convincing spell. His over-amped vocals, combined with the prowess of both Mittendorp and Gerritse, have created something satisfying for everybody in need of a brisk, bracing change-of-pace. May 24, 2010 Boo Boo Davis page and Doug MacLeod page  at FaceBook. May 19, 2010 interview with Boo Boo in the new issue of this Polsh guitar magazine. May 16, 2010 There is a BLACK and TAN RECORDS GROUP at Facebook now.  May 7, 2010 Can Man remix - Boo Boo Davis / Mixendorp  One of a very few remixes (so far). It's certainly unusual to hear blues incorporated into remixes. I think it brings a fresh new twist to the genre May 5, 2010 Jonathan Michael / WESU radio (USA): "Loved the Boo Boo Davis remixes". April 29, 2010    miXendorp - Let Her Talk / Harrison Kennedy (remix) is now available at    and     miXendorp - Devil is beating his Wife / Doug MacLeod (remix) is now available at    and  You can listen to these tracks at MySpace. April 26, 2010 Pictures of our show in Kaunas(Lithuania) on April 13, 2010 April 16, 2010 just found this nice review at ALL MUSIC GUIDE: The rough-and-tumble vocal style of Boo Boo Davis recalls the unrefined gruffness of a Hound Dog Taylor, Son Seals, or Elmore James. His harmonica is not as potent as peers or predecessors, but it is finely honed and tasteful enough to rank him as one of the better modern-day players. This set of originals based in the electric urban Chicago blues tradition should set listeners on their collective ear just enough to notice that he's an honest, get-down performer who takes no prisoners, belting out his songs in total confidence. With help from drummer John Gerritse, electric guitarist Jan Mittendorp, and no bassist, Davis romps and stomps along with a no-nonsense Mississippi Delta foundation, a slightly funky stance, and an authentic, uncut soul. His themes are typical, though the stomping "Silvermine" is tough as can be in a wishful-thinking manner, "Standing at the Fishbank" is a shuffle blues that refers to hanging out on a riverbank trying to catch a meal while perhaps also being at the corner ATM, and "My Baby Got Me Fixed" is a foot-sure tune that seems happy in an unwieldy situation. "There's a Roach Crawlin" is a hot-assed rock song where Davis is bugged that "the roach won't leave me alone." "Ain't Gotta Dime" is steady as a rock and the slower "Ten Thousand Dollars" features the best and most pungent harmonica of Davis, both songs immersed in the universal dilemma of having it all or being dead broke, with nothing in between. Then there's the downhearted "Cryin Blues," where Davis' sour harmonica is heard perhaps to its detriment, and "Got My Loving, Now You're Gone" is in a similar mood. More upbeat and positive, the novelty "Cake Lady" has Davis enjoying his woman's baking skills alongside some fine slide guitar work from Mittendorp, and "Man Who Be Around" emphasizes that Davis is always present and accounted for, no matter the situation, in a reply to skittish previous suitors. As first takes in the studio, there's a rawness and even an occasional hard rock feeling due to the distorted vocal production values, apparently intentional. You can identify influences of the Hooker brothers, Taylor's inimitable slide work by Mittendorp, and a contemporary quality that does not stray into smoother soul. If you like your uptown blues unfettered, in the moment, and untreated, Boo Boo Davis is likely your man. March 30, 2010    miXendorp / Boo Boo Davis remixes vol. 1 is now available at    and  March 23, 2010 Article on Boo Boo Davis in the new issue of Jefferson Magazine (Sweden). March 16, 2010 quote form the review in  R2 / ROCK 'N' REEL (UK): Boo Boo's voice and echoing harp, Jan Mittendorp's startlingly good guitar and the shit-kicker drumming of John Gerritse meld into a mesmeric groove belying a mere trio, transporting the listener into a Mississippi juke-joint, like few I have ever heard.  March 15, 2010 Mike Andersen is finally ready with a new album!  This time he teamed up with Grammy-winning sound engineer Russell Elevado who mixed the whole album. Russell was the man behind the sound of the great soul album, "Voodoo" by D'angelo, Alicia Keys' biggest hit "Fallin'", and also artists such as Al Green, Roberta Flack, The Roots, etc.. Mike's sound and Russell's super analogue approach turned out to be the perfect match. Mike states the album contains the best songs he's ever written, and people can also look forward to a duet with Mike and Boo Boo Davis who appears as special guest on the album! Mike says: "I've been a dedicated fan of Boo Boo since I heard him the first time. We have crossed paths many times on the road, and it's always very inspiring for me to hear Boo and see him perform..he's THE REAL DEAL. I'm honoured to be able to have Boo Boo appear on the album!"   The first single, OVER YOU, is now out on Mike's own Custom Records and available on Itunes: March 2, 2010 review @ FLYINSHOES REVIEW: Recorded live in the studio over 2 days, without any overdubs and mainly taking only one take, Ain’t Gotta Dime is Boo Boo Davis’ 6th album for Dutch label, Black & Tan. Silvermine is a grizzly, grungy, throbbing opener. There is no level of pace injected into Ten Thousand Dollar either but the quality is already shining through. Watch Yourself is a mid-paced R&B with a fuzzed vocal and a certain earthy feel. The quality continues with My Baby Got Me Fixed and The Man Who Be Around evokes feelings of the past and confirms Boo Boo as a true blues man. The eponymous title track is deep, down in your soul music and Boo Boo Blues is a romping, stomping boogie. Boo Boo certainly knows how to have a rollicking good time. Cake Lady is a Delta blues with a drumbeat and this will touch your hidden depths. The repetition on Don’t Wait Too Late will hypnotize you but you will be brought crashing back to earth by the superb blowing harp and fuzzed vocal of Standing At The Fishbank. Let Me Ride With You is a hi-energy, swinging blues and he goes all Bo Diddley on Got My Loving, Now You’re Gone. Cryin’ Blues is slow and wailing, well what would you expect? He finishes it off with the fast paced R&B of the quaintly titled There’s A Roach Crawlin’. Boo Boo Davis has an air of authenticity that some of his peers lack. March 1, 2010 review in OFFBEAT (USA): If you’re into the stripped down, North Mississippi/Fat Possum sound, then Boo Boo Davis might just be for you. Chord changes here are a rarity and entire songs can consist of one vocal line repeated over and over. Even in these narrow confines, Davis has a distinct style going on. He sings like he means it, and while his harmonica playing will never be compared to Little Walter or Jimmy Reed, it serves its purpose. The band can also get a nice groove going, especially when it decides that one chord is not enough. Money, and the need to obtain more of it, seems to be an overriding theme here. On the title track, Davis gets downright upset about his financial situation and he lets the listener know it in no uncertain way. He’s also pretty frantic explaining why he’s come down with the “Boo Boo Blues.” One listen to this one will confirm that Boo Boo Davis is funkier than your average bluesman. February 21, 2010 Finished another track (Can Man) and put it on MySpace February 8, 2010 Boo Boo Davis - AIN'T GOTTA DIME is featured in the Monday Marathon of FatCat Radio Network January 24, 2010 Boo Boo Davis was featured by MIKE SANDERS in a 60-minutes-show on BLUES QUEST, a syndicated radio blues show that is being broadcasted by more then 25 stations in the USA. Mike also posted the show on PRX (Public Radio Exchange). PRX is a digital platform where radio stations can select programming, or regular folks can listen to streams. Here is the link to the show on Boo Boo.    January 21, 2010 Oh la belle surprise ! Si les précédentes productions de Boo Boo Davis m'avaient laissé quelque peu sur ma faim, là il en est tout autrement ! Si vous aimez le blues poisseux, celui que colle à la peau et aux tripes, ajouté à l'ambiance étouffante des clubs et autres juke joints enfumés aux catfish grillés, ce compact est fait sur mesure pour vous ! Cette belle session fut enregistrée au cours de l'étédernier lors d'une tournée européenne du natif de la bourgade de Drew dans le Mississippi. Boo Boo réside depuis des années à Saint Louis, mais la musique du Delta qui a bercé sa jeunesse l'a marqué de manière indélébile. Quel plaisir d'écouter son harmonica plaintif au fil des 14 compositions originales. Les thèmes récurrents du blues, à savoir l'amour, la solitude, les fin de mois hasardeuses, sont à la une de cette galette très réussie. Saluons comme il se doit dans ce magazine la performance de Boo Boo Davis mais aussi l'opiniâtreté du patron du label Black & Tan, Jan Mittendorp, qui depuis des années s'active sans cesse pour enregistrer et faire tourner de ce côté-ci de l'Atlantique de nombreux musiciens. Il sera au final bien difficile pour tout amateur qui se respecte de faire l'impasse sur cette abile production. January 14, 2010 from the letter that Bruce Iglauer (big chief of ALLIGATOR RECORDS) send me: "It's very interesting for me to hear you guys create this raw and rocking approach to blues with the three pieces live in the studio. Boo Boo seems to have the right idea about how to sing some of these songs almost like it's a sampled performance. His harp work is simple but works in this context.. The straight blues works well for me also - very down home. And the very raw recording quality has it's own kind of appeal. This is seem raw shit." January 5, 2010 two reviews in US magazines to kick of the new year !!!!!!!! Boo Boo Davis: Ain’t Gotta Dime Chicago blues partnership with Dutch guitarist Jan Mittendorp and three with drummer John Gerritse, Davis continues to sing and to wail his harmonica with the urgent expressive qualities of a man who grew up in the harsh, poor Delta of the 1940s. On one or two helter-skelter takes in the Utrecht studio, the trio lashes out with ferocious, stomping raunchiness that culminates with ‘’There’s A Roach Crawlin’(Down My Back).’’ Ain’t Gotta Dime is a diverse set from Davis, who is a veteran purveyor of raw, moanin’ at midnight, gutbucket blues. Davis explores straight up Chicago styles (‘’Man Who Be Around’’), breakneck boogie (‘’Boo Boo Blues’’) and funky Delta soul (‘’Got My Loving, Now You’re Gonna’’). Davis and his band, which comprise a sort of blues power trio, capture a seminal, live feel on this disc, which was recorded in two days during a string of European blues festivals. The absence of overdubs combines with the easygoing and sparse nature of the arrangements to nail the authenticity of a cozy, living room session. Davis’ harmonica in particular is totally in your face and feels as if he’s playing directly in your ear. Davis is a titanic blues presence, proving on this disc that the stark, minimalist route is sometimes the most intense. January 3, 2010 My VERY BEST WISHES FOR 2010 !!!!!!!! December 17, 2009 quotes from the review in BLUES NEWS (Germany): "Er verkörpert den traditionellen Blueser, wie kaum sonst noch jemand in der heutigen Bluesszene. Und das Erstaunliche ist : Boo Boo wirkt nie wie ein Klichee, seine Attitude ist ebenso wie seine Musik nicht aufgesetzt, sonder absolut authentisch." quote from the review in HEAVEN (Holland): "Zo authentiek als hier klinkt hedendaagse blues zelden." December 14, 2009 100 % M A C  !!!!!!!!!! I am happy to announce that the office of Black and Tan / Crossoads is now 100 per cent MAC. After struggling with Windows for more the 15 years I gave up and I have to say… I should have done that 10 years ago !!! December 13, 2009 quotes from the review in MAZZMUSIKAS (Belgium): "Wie zijn blues graag rauw en ongepolijst heeft, is hier aan het juiste adres. Net wanneer ik de eindejaarsbalans aan blues cd\s opmaak, kom ik tot de constatering dat er bitter weinig goede blues cd's verschenen zijn het afgelopen jaar. Gelukkig is er nog deze voortreffelijke Boo Boo Davis CD om het tegendeel te bewijzen " quote from the revew in BLUES & RHYTHM (UK): "This is heavy Mississippi backbeat blues that just pounds away at your senses until you surrender to its mesmeric rhythms" December 11, 2009 review by Eric Steiner at IllinoisBlues.com: Quality: Highly Recommend !! Boo Boo Davis’ sixth CD on Black & Tan Records, Ain’t Gotta Dime, is his best yet. That’s saying something, because his prior outings on this small label based in the Netherlands have garnered international critical acclaim. Drew, Mississippi – named after Boo Boo’s birthplace – was listed at the #4 spot in the influential British MOJO magazine’s Top Blues Releases of 2006, and magazines throughout Europe have embraced this Mississippi bluesman by way of East St. Louis. Boo Boo is part of one of St. Louis’ blues legacy families: for 18 years, Boo Boo and his father and brothers held court every weekend at Tabby’s Red Room in East St. Louis. Back then, he played the lard can as a drum, and later, he picked up the harmonica. Ain’t Gotta Dime was recorded during a two-day break in Boo Boo’s Summer 2009 tour at Studio Silverster in Utrecht. Returning with Boo Boo from last year’s The Name of The Game CD are Jan Mittendorp on guitar and John Gerritse on drums, and this trio takes the quiet, canal-filled medieval university town straight on down to the Mississippi Delta. The CD opens with an over-the-top, psychedelic blues scorcher, “Silvermine,” followed by a slow blues ballad “Ten Thousand Dollars.” His emotional, grinding “Cryin’ Blues” is a slow simmering workout for Boo Boo’s harp, and Mittendorp’s driving slide guitar powers “Cake Lady” for an exciting five-minute ride. December 9, 2009 Doug MacLeod has been nominated by The Blues Foundation for The 2010 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Artist Of The Year. The Blues Foundation will present the 31st Blues Music Awards on May 6, 2010, at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN. Here you can find the complete list with all Nominees. If you are a member of the The Blues Foundation you can vote until March 1, 2010. You can place your vote here. And if you are not a member yet, you have a good reason to join now. December 3, 2009 Herzerfrischend, wie sich Boo Boo Davis (der SOUL TRAIN berichtete bereits früher über Boo Boo) auf seinem sechsten Album die Seele vom Leib reibt. So ehrlich, direkt, kratzig, erdig, dreckig klang Blues lange nicht mehr. Respekt. Die Texte sind dabei in allerfeinster Blues-Tradition getränkt mit Wehmut und Selbstironie, aber auch mit purer Lebensfreude und den nicht immer einfachen aber natürlichen, manchmal auch durchgeknallten Tatsachen des Lebens. Markig ist eine der ersten Definitionen, die mir zum Album einfallen. Mein Gott ist das direkt, gnadenlos, ja sogar aufrüttelnd. Dabei mit sagenhafter Bodenhaftung. Nicht umsonst zählt Boo Boo Davis besonders in Europa zu den Top-Stars des noch immer viel zu kleinen Blues-Genres und könnte glatt als Vorzeigeblueser im Musiklexikon stehen. Dass die Titel praktisch durchweg Live in einem Take im Studio eingespielt wurden, also ohne Overdubs und das sonst Genreübliche Zusammenstückeln, überrascht dabei kaum, denn der knallharte Blues kommt so ehrlich, schlüssig und eckiglaufend (im Sinne von rundlaufend, nur halt, na ja, eckig…) daher, dass es mir einen Schauer über den Rücken treibt. “Ain’t Gotta Dime“ hält die schnodderige Ehrlichkeit, die der Albumtitel bereits verkündet: Hier wird nicht gekleckert, sondern überaus dreckig und schroff geklotzt. Das alles kommt so Herzerweichend und wie ein Schlag ins Gesicht daher, dass es mir mehrmals den Atem verschlägt. Als Fazit kann ich mich nur dem Fazit der Presseinfo der 14 Stücke langen CD anschließen: “So ehrlich muss Blues klingen“! December 1, 2010 Het in de beste Hound Dog Taylor-traditie basloze trio dat Boo Boo Davis al enige tijd vormt met drummer John Gerritse en gitarist Jan Mittendorp is een succesnummer. De veteraan is niet van de podia weg te slaan en waar bij sommige artiesten dan de cd-productie er wel eens bij in schiet, komt hij een jaar na Name Of The Game alweer met een vers album op de proppen. De nummers schreef het drietal tijdens het toeren en de plaat werd tussendoor in amper twee dagen ingeblikt. Live in de studio opgenomen, zonder productionele poespas, zo klinkt de elementaire Mississippi-blues van Boo Boo op z’n best. En die paar oneffenheden nemen we gewoon voor lief. Waar hij in het verleden stilistisch nog wel eens van kleur wilde verschieten, ligt Ain’t Gotta Dime rechtstreeks in het verlengde van de voorganger. Misschien nog wel een stukje rauwer, meer basaal en in elk geval zwaarder van toon. Funky, rockend of loom trekkend, deze hypnotiserende, onbespoten sound en kolossale stem zijn meedogenloos meeslepend. Dit soort Blues schrijf je met een hoofdletter. MARCEL HAERKENS November 30, 2009 Nice review from our show in Ottersum on November 21 on Rocktimes.de. November 20, 2009 Two quotes from the new edition of BLOCK (NL): on our live show at PEER BLUES:  "Dit optreden mag zowel fysiek als muzikaal spraakmakend worden genoemd" and on the new record:   "Met hun aanstekelijke en gevarieerde eigen repertoire speelt het trio ongetwijfeld elke zaal plat" November 17, 2009 Another 10 days on the road and10 great concerts all over Europe. Here you find some pictures of our concert in Fleurus (Belgium) and our concert in Gimle (DK). We sold a whole lot of CD  and really needed new stock. In the Powerblues Chart of November 2009 we find the new Boo Boo Davis CD at #3. November 5, 2009 Back in the office after a lot of miles on French and German highways and a great gig in the Hard Rock Cafe in Bucarest (Romania). A lot of feedback came in on the new Boo Boo record. Here is some of it. Mississippi-born and nowadays Saint Louis based blues singer/ harpman (and drummer, though there is none of that here) Boo Boo Davis has become a very popular draw on the European blues scene over the last decade are so, thanks to his own impeccable blues credentials, his willingness to try something a little different, and the constant promotion of Black & Tan label boss/ producer/ guitarist Jan Mittendoorp. ‘Ain’t Gotta Dime’ is Boo Boo’s sixth album for the label and find him backed solely by Jan and on drums John Gerritse, a format that has attracted some excellent reviews already. Boo Boo’s vocals often reflect the influence of Howling Wolf, and that trend continues here, underlined by his own simple but effective blues harp blowing. Stylistically this set ranges across blues-rock, southern soul, sixties rhythm & blues and down-home sounds. There’s no nonsense about this entertaining and honest release, and it is all the better for it. Wonderfully authentic material, in a fashion that is becoming something of a dying art. Buy this and keep it alive a little longer. Norman Darwen Review by Bluesman.nl of our show in Hoogeveeen (Netherlands) last sunday: BLUES AGAIN (France) La voix est grave et légèrement éraillée, l’harmonica semble sautiller sur une ligne de basse ronflante que soutient une batterie trépidante. Le son est lourd, puissant, et la rythmique est bien marquée. Sans fioritures de style pour aller directement à l’essentiel, le trio de choc, Boo Boo Davis (chant/harmonica), Jan Mittendorp (guitare), John Gerritse (batterie), aligne les titres avec une flamme contagieuse. La cohésion du trio vient de la longue complicité des musiciens qui tournent ensemble depuis longtemps. Et pour enfoncer le clou, ils signent conjointement tous les titres. La pulsation du Mississippi blues est là, lancinante et fièvreuse. Le son est envoûtant, poisseux, mais non dénué de swing ni de funk. Au gré des titres, le chant s’emballe, suffoque, explose puis se pose, la guitare semble crier ou gémir quand la batterie ralentit et que l’harmonica pleure. Tour à tour subtil ou agressif, Boo Boo Davis scande son blues avec la force, la maîtrise et la conviction d’un poids lourd du ring. En restant toujours dans le même cadre, le trio installe avec brio différentes atmosphères, la puissance du boogie s’efface devant la nonchalance du shuffle et le blues revient encore en force. Les titres s’enchaînent et les sensations se fondent entre gaîté et mélancolie. Enregistrés en 2 jours, ces 14 titres ont la spontanéité du live. Gilles Blampain PLATOMANIA (Netherlands): Boo Boo Davis maakt old school elektrische blues. Hij is een van de laatste true originals uit de Mississippi Delta. Recht-toe-recht-aan rauwe blues is dan ook weer het recept op Boo Boo’s nieuwste schijfje. Wederom uitgebracht op het Black & Tan label van Jan Mittendorp, die het album produceerde en ook verantwoordelijk is voor die lekkere vette gitaar-riffs. Mittendorp en drummer John Gerritse weten zo’n vol geluid neer te zetten dat een bassist helemaal niet nodig is. Het album is in twee dagen tijd ‘live’ in de studio opgenomen, en laat dan ook bij uitstek horen hoe deze dampende band live klinkt. Zet de versterker maar voluit October 15, 2009 Boo Boo Davis első lemeze 2000-ben jelent meg. Készített soullal, r&b-zal átitatott anyagot, használta a modern technikát a zenéjében - ami eléggé szokatlan, ha egy előadó a Mississippi deltájában született és nevelkedet. Boo Boo zenéjének mai arculata a Name Of The Game című lemezre alakult ki, ahol is az ének-harmonika (Boo Boo Davis), gitár (Jan Mittendorp) és dob (John Gerritse) alkotta triónak autentikus hangzást sikerült létrehoznia.2008 nyarán a fiúk egy sor nagy blues és jazz fesztiválon játszottak Európa-szerte. A hosszú utazások alatt rengeteg új dalötletük támadt, így a turné közepén két napra stúdióba vonultak, és rögzítették az Ain’t Gotta Dime című lemezt. Minden dalt élőben játszottak fel a stúdióban utólagos változtatások nélkül, és a legtöbb dal esetében az első nekifutás bizonyult a legjobbnak - ezek pontosan így hangzanak élőben is, a ritmusra, az érzésre és a blues alapigazságaira koncentrálva. Nyers és erőteljes, a Black & Tan Recordstól megszokott színvonalú kiadvány. some more quotes from the feedback that came in on the new Boo Boo CD: Al Jonusas / WRHC (USA): “.. again Boo Boo has hit on his hands” Doug Curry / WRUR FM (USA): “Nice mix” Mike Sanders / Bluesquest (USA): “... "Ain't Gotta Dime" is great. Classic Boo Boo Davis.” Lindsay Shannon / KCFX (USA): “Happy to have something new, low down and funky from Boo Boo” Tony Russell / MOJO Magazine (UK): “I listened to it appreciatively” Brant Zwicker / At The Crossroads (Canada) : “love it” Nate Taiapa / Radio Hamilton (New Zealand): “The whole band blends the blues - the old with the new - so well” Andy Grigg / Real Blues Magazine (Canada): “.. a fantastic blues disc” Marty Kool / KXCI (USA)): “I'm a long time fan and always look forward to his music. There's nothing else quite like a Boo Boo Davis CD” October 12, 2009 Das nenne ich Zeitmanagement. Viel unterwegs war und ist Boo Boo Davis mit seiner Band. Unter anderem standen einige Festivaltermine (auch beim Montreux Jazz Festival) in seinem Tourkalender und in der Zeit zwischen den Konzerten gab es viele Ideen für neue Songs. Die Gelegenheit beim Schopf packend, gingen Davis, Jan Mittendorp (guitar) als auch John Gerritse (drums) mitten im Sommer einfach für zwei Tage ins Utrechter Studio Silvester und »recorded this new record. All songs were played live in the studio without any overdubs and for most songs the first take turned out to be the best one.« An den vierzehn Kompositionen wurde folglich auch nicht herum gedoktert. Live im Studio, so wie es hörenswerter nicht sein kann. "Ain't Got A Dime" heißt das sechste Album des Sängers, Komponisten und Harpspielers, der im Mississippidelta geboren wurde. Nach seinem vorletzten äußerst erfolgreichen Ausflug Drew, Massissippi, in dem Boo Boo Davis das Vakuum zwischen dem nie alternden Blues und Hip Hop/Rap treffsicher füllte, geht es jetzt abermals an den Ufern des so vielzitierten Flusses entlang. Bemerkenswert ist ebenfalls, dass auf der Platte wieder weit und breit kein Bassist zu hören ist. Irgendwie ist dennoch ein gewisses Pumpen zu spüren und die Membran der Bassbox schwingt schon gut mit. Das gesamte Album klingt rau, ja, fast ungeschliffen, so wie es der Rezensent mag. Alleine dadurch verbreitet die Platte schon positive Schwingungen und Mittendorp kann so viele herrliche Klänge mit seiner Gitarre, oder waren mehrere verschiedene im Einsatz, produzieren. Davis' Harpspiel ist einfach, aber, wie es von dem Mann nicht anders zu erwarten ist, ungemein effektiv. Verdammt bodenständig in der Produktion gibt es dieses ungemein beeindruckende Livefeeling, auch wenn da zufällig mal ein Verstärker brummt. Nicht anders ist es manchmal auf der Bühne. Alle Songs stammen aus der Ideenfabrik des Trios und man überschüttet selbst die verwöhnten Ohren eines Blues-Hörers mit unterschiedlichsten Sämereien. Stark Energie verschwendende Nummern geben sich die Klinge mit Balladen, in denen man quasi das laue Abendlüftchen nach einem schwülen Tag im Blues-Delta spürt, in die Hand. Schrieb ich etwas von Mittendorps klanglicher Vielfalt? Da hätte ich ihm insofern fast Unrecht getan, denn selbstredend bringt er auch das Bottleneck zum Einsatz. So verästelt, wie der amerikanische Bluesfluss in den Golf von Mexiko mündet, ist "Ain't Got A Dime". Es groovt, rockt, shuffelt und ganz besonders funkt es im 'Kleingeld'. Weniger ist oft mehr... einer meiner Favoriten von höchster Güte und Empfehlung ist das spartanische "Cake Lady". Da feiern bei mir Dopamin, Serotonin und Endorphin eine heftige Party und so geht es einem ebenfalls mit anderen Kompositionen, die jetzt nicht im Einzelnen in aller Ausführlichkeit genannt werden müssen. Nieten sind auf dieser CD nicht auszumachen! Boo Boo Davis, Jan Mittendorp und John Gerritse haben ihre Fahrkarten für genau den richtigen Bluesdampfer gebucht. Sie spielen sich in beeindruckender Weise, mit vielen Ecken und Kanten durch ein vierzehn Stücke umfassendes Programm und danach kommt nur noch live auf der Bühne. Mit den Vorfahren dieser Platte macht ein Konzertbesuch von Boo Boo Davis Sinn und Gelegenheit dazu gibt es im Herbst 2009 ausreichend, auch in Deutschland. Vielleicht ist ein Gig im benachbarten Ausland ja nicht ganz so weit entfernt. Zum Kauf dieses Albums müsste ich unsere Leser nun überzeugt haben, allerdings möchte ich zum Schluss einen Satz aus den vom Labelkollegen Doug MacLeod kurz gehaltenen Linernotes zitieren: »If these guys moved in next door to you… your lawn dies.« Né au beau milieu du Delta du Mississippi, Boo Boo Davis fait figure de survivant non seulement parce qu'il a échappé à une dure vie de labeur mais aussi parce qu'il est l'un des derniers représentants d'un blues rural acquis à l'école des Charley Patton et autres grands noms de la région … Fils d'un multi-instrumentiste ayant accompagné des pointures comme John Lee Hooker et Elmore James, le jeune Davis commencera à jouer de l'harmonica à l'age de cinq ans, chantant en parallèle avec sa mère à l'église et passant à la guitare à l'adolescence pour mieux rejoindre le reste de sa famille dans The Lard Can Band et sillonner la région pour y jouer le blues. Emigré à Saint Louis, Boo Boo Davis restera pourtant un homme du Sud et ne cessera de jouer la musique de ses racines, foulant pour la première fois le sol européen en 2000 et ne pouvant plus depuis s'en passer puisqu'il y revient au moins deux fois l'an et qu'il a sorti sur le label néerlandais Black & Tan pas moins de cinq albums dont ce dernier, " Ain't Gotta Dime ", pour lequel il a réduit son groupe à un trio dans lequel son harmo et sa voix sont uniquement accompagnés par la guitare de Jan Mittendorp et la batterie de John Gerritse … Enregistré en seulement deux jours au beau milieu de la tournée estivale 2009, ce nouvel effort de Boo Boo Davis va droit à l'essentiel et nous livre un lot de nouveau titres mis en boite dans les conditions du live pour le plus grand plaisir des amateurs d'un blues chaud, spontané et sensuel comme l'artiste sait si bien le jouer. On y retrouve le son très vintage qui caractérise le trio et on apprend dans le livret que la plupart des prises retenues pour figurer sur la rondelle sont en fait le premier jet, Davis et consorts privilégiant comme toujours le côté naturel, souvent unique en son genre, de rushes où l'on trouve forcément quelques petites imperfections mais où l'on sent aussi une certaine fébrilité, une urgence qui pousse chacun des musiciens à aller droit à l'essentiel. Ca se traduit forcément par des claquements de peaux et des grincements de mécaniques mais c'est aussi ce qui contribue au versant le plus blues d'un ouvrage qui ne manque pas de charme avec des titres comme " Ten Thousand Dollars ", " Boo Boo Blues ", " Standing At The Fishbank " ou " Cryin Blues ", de véritables pièces de collection sur lesquelles le groove et le feeling sont omniprésents et où la voix et l'harmonica du frontman se permettent de temps à autres quelques petites improvisations sur lesquelles la paire de génies qui l'accompagne rebondit en général de façon fort habile. L'arrivée dans les bacs de cet excellent " Ain't Gotta Dime " le 12 octobre prochain sera suivie d'un copieuse tournée dans tout le Nord de l'Europe, surveillez donc de près les dates sur les sites de l'artiste et de son label ! October 11, 2009 Kijk, dat mag ik wel: een titel die simpel en direct de lading van het gebodene dekt. Nu draait Mississippi-blueslegende Boo Boo Davis inmiddels ook al lang genoeg in het blueswereldje mee om te weten dat eenvoud vaak de beste keuze is. Hij behoort dan ook tot de laatste generatie van muzikanten die hun muziek nog direct baseren op dat zware leven in de Delta. Ondanks dat hij een analfabeet is heeft hij toch een manier gevonden om zich staande te houden in deze moderne wereld. Boo Boo Davis kunnen we dus best omschrijven als een ware overlever, het was dan ook voor Rootstime een eer Boo Boo te kunnen interviewen tijdens het Blues Peer festival deze zomer, een zeer aangenaam gesprek dat u hier kan lezen. Boo Boo Davis behoort tot de eerste generatie bluesartiesten die ook daadwerkelijk in Mississippi geboren is. In het hart van de Delta ligt het kleine stadje Drew, waar James 'Boo Boo' Davis geboren werd in 1943 als zoon van een katoenplukker. Al op zeer jonge leeftijd leerde hij de blues kennen en vooral de platen van Charlie Patton, die een dorpje verderop woonde en veel indruk op hem maakte. In de volgende jaren raakte de jonge Boo Boo bevriend met Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Elmore James en Little Milton. Dit waren toen de blueslegenden, als je hen mocht begeleiden moest je wel wat kunnen. Hij startte zijn carrière als drummer en schakelde pas laat over naar zang en mondharmonica. Die rol verschafte hem direct al veel meer kans om uitgebreid rond te reizen in het internationale bluescircuit als solist. De bluesliefhebbers mogen zich weer verblijden met een nieuw album van onze blueslegende, een legende van heden ten dage. Boo Boo heeft in de afgelopen jaren al een onuitwisbare indruk achter gelaten tijdens zijn optredens maar ook veel opzien gebaard met zijn albums. "Ain’t Gotta Dime" is nu de volgende in successie als je het mij vraagt. Het album is opgenomen zonder overdubs, in de Silverster studio in Utrecht waarbij vooral Erik Spanjers mooi werk leverde aan deze gladde productie. Zoals op vorig album "Name of The Game" bestaat de begeleiding uit gitarist Jan Mittendorp, drummer John Gerritse en het herkenbare stemgeluid van Boo Boo, want hij zingt uiteraard weer alsof de duivel hem op de hielen zit. Deze zomer speelde deze band op een aantal grote jazz- & bluesfestivals door heel Europa. Tijdens de lange reizen ontstonden diverse nieuwe nummers en midden in de tournee is Boo Boo twee dagen de studio ingegaan. Met als resultaat een album dat eigenlijk wel te verwachten viel, en volledig in het verlengde ligt van zijn voorganger. Hij kan het gewoon allemaal, en laat zien dat hij behoort tot de allergrootste in de onvervalste Mississippi-blues-scene, waarbij vergelijkingen als Howlin Wolf hem niet vreemd zijn. Boo Boo Davis gaat op dit album tot in de donkerste krochten van de blueswereld, en de rillingen lopen over je rug van zijn zeer stuwende harmonica-riffs en zijn rauwe strot. Het album opent met "Silvermine", waarin Boo Boo onder een dik aangezet gitaargeluid en drum letterlijk zijn voeten door het stof lijkt te slepen. Al even slepend is "Ten Thousand Dollar", een klassiek traag bluesarrangement, compleet met trekkende en zuigende gitaar en mondharmonica. Het meest duistere - en tevens haast dansbare - nummer van de plaat is "Got My Loving, Now Your Gone", waarin door een aanzwellende slide en het diepe gemor, Boo Boo de luisteraar laat genieten van de real Mississippi sound. Ook "Ain’t Gotta Dime" staat weer vol met opwindende en buitengewoon rauwe blues. Blues die zowel invloeden als de Noordelijke Chicago blues ("Man Who Be Around") als de Zuidelijke Memphis-blues ("Watch Yourself") weet te verwerken en hier een flinke dosis rauwe rock ’n roll ("Boo Boo Blues") aan toevoegt. Dit laatste nummer behoort dan ook tot mijn absolute favorieten van dit album. Wie na "Name of The Game" al wat bekomen is, zal de moed weer op moeten pakken voor een volgende rauwe hap. Een heerlijke hap, welteverstaan, waar je je tanden in kunt zetten. Dit is het echte werk. Kortom: Laat je meevoeren tot aan de Missisippi and beyond, want Boo Boo Davis is een fenomeen a real treassure, and we have to cherish this one with all of our hearts. Genieten op en top. Mis hem niet in november, want dan komt hij weer naar België en Nederland voor een aantal concerten. October 9, 2009 The French-speaking Collectif des Radios Blues brings together all the radio DJ's in France, Belgium, Quebec and Africa who share the idea to exchange, broadcast and promote all forms of blues music. Every month they make a list of the top 20 albums based on the airplay that they got on all the member stations. On the list of September 2009 we find the new BOO BOO DAVIS release on # 5. That is very promising if you realize that we send out the radio copies in the week of Sept 4 - 11. That means that most stations starting playing the record only in the 2nd part of the month. BOBTJE'S BLUES PAGES Het afgelopen voorjaar en zomer waren voor Boo Boo Davis (zang en mondharmonica), Jan Mittendorp, (gitaar) en John Gerritse (drums) toptijd. Bijna alle grote festivals in Europa werden aangedaan. Midden in de uitgebreide tournee vonden de mannen toch nog twee dagen tijd om de studio in te duiken. Gezamenlijk schreven de drie heren veertien nummers. ‘Silvermine’ het eerste nummer was zelfs schrikken. Zo zijn we Mittendorp niet gewend. Een wah, wah gitaar sound het hele nummer. Gelukkig volgt er vanaf het volgende ‘Ten Thousand Dollar’ weer de down home huisstijl, zoals we van het trio gewend zijn. Een heerlijke slow blues in een slepend lui ritme gespeeld. Vervolgens een vrolijk uptempo met ‘Watch Your Self’, gezongen door zijn eitje. Dus wordt het helemaal onverstaanbaar wat hij zingt. In ‘Cake Lady’ eist Jan Mittendorp met zijn gitaarspel de hoofdrol op. Dat doet hij ook op zeer subtiele wijze in ‘Got My Loving, Now You’re Gone’. Een afwisselende cd, waar zeker een compliment op zijn plaats is voor de twee Nederlandse begeleiders. Functioneel ondersteunend en waar nodig is op de voorgrond tredend. Heerlijke Mississippi blues. Zoals we ze nog zelden horen en zien. Vanaf 16 oktober start de cd promo tournee, die ook een aantal plaatsen in Nederland en één in België aandoet.     Bert Lek October 7, 2009 Saint Louis out of Mississippi bluesman Boo Boo has amassed a healthy discography for Black & Tan (this is his sixth CD), and he has regularly appeared over on this side of the pond since making his debut in 2000. Boo Boo's blues pedigree is impeccable and he is secure enough in his blues style to be able to experiment. In the past he has also tackled soul and r&b material and introduced modern techniques into his music, which is pretty unusual for a guy who is often justifiably tagged as a Howling Wolf influenced singer. With this set Boo Boo opts for a trio format, with his own rugged vocals and raw-toned harmonica playing backed by producer Jan Mittendorp on guitar and John Gerritse on drums. These guys frequently tour together in this format and their easy familiarity with each other is clearly evident as they turn in an excellent programme of big-sounding, straight, low-down and down-home blues, good old fashioned R&B, some southern soul (try "My Baby Got Me Fixed" for a gritty helping) and even blues-rock - listen to the heavy wah-wah riffing on the opening "Silvermine", whilst the title track has hints of the classic southern rock approach. It is nice too to be able to report that this is a 'warts and all' recording - "Man Who Be Around" sounds like it should be on a Modern 78 recorded down in the Mississippi delta around 1954, momentary hesitations and all only adding to the authentic feel. If you appreciate blues that groove, then this is most certainly one for you.       Rating: 9 - Norman Darwen October 6, 2009 BOO BOO DAVIS - Ain’t Gotta Dime James Davis, aka Boo Boo, est l’un des derniers survivants du blues du Deep South. Fils d’un musicien qui a accompagné, entre autres, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James, Boo Boo joue depuis l’âge de 5 ans et à, comme tout bluesman qui se respecte, chanté à l’église. Sa musique est évidemment complètement imprégnée de son histoire. Depuis quelques années, il est cornaqué par le gang hollandais du label Black & Tan qui fournit les musiciens, et par Jan Mittendorp, le guitariste qui le fait tourner partout en Europe. La production est tout-à-fait dans la mouvance du delta blues revisité avec ce goût prononcé pour du poisseux et du rugueux. Enregistré live en studio. Mais on ne va se priver pour autant d’un disque pareil, si excitant, si originel, dégageant une telle odeur de souffre, d’où perce les effluves primitifs d’un blues vital et graisseux, presque marécageux. La section rythmique accompagne lourdement les pièces, enrobée d’un voile sonore pesant digne d’un juke joint enfumé, guitare saturée et stridente, l’harmonica aérien, strident et halluciné, du bluesman dont le chant est psalmodique et puissant. C’est lancinant et moite, complètement envoûtant, plein d’émotion et de sensations bleutées. Le souffle du groove funky passe sur chaque titre, un vrai festival dont Boo Boo Davis a écrit chaque parole au cours de ses incessantes tournées. Sous son œil toujours un peu rigolard, perce le regard d’un homme qui a soif de vie et faim de sa légende. Il est en train de se la créer depuis quelque temps.         Francis Rateau October 5, 2009 some quotes from the feedback that came in on the new Boo Boo Davis release, in the last few days: Erik Beith / House of Blues Radio Hour (USA): "very bluesy! " Norman Darwan / Blues in Britian (UK): "Excellent CD" Norman Davis / Midnight Flyer (USA): "I love his music and am glad to hear more" Attila Horvath / Blues Van ( Hungary): ".. it's very good" Dan Behrman / Radio Canada: "Got it and love it!!!! " Jaap Boots / Shouting Boots (Holland): "got it, liked it, booked it :-)" Cary Wolfson / Red Rooster Lounge (USA): "Good disc" Ingemar Karlsson / Jefferson (Sweden): "I will review the CD myself, since I thought it was very good. Boo Boo's performance at the festival in Amal was outstanding; it was the best performance of the festival! " Serge Levet / Le Blues Vous Va Si Bien (France): "Thank you for the incredible Boo Boo CD's" Thommy Martinez / radio Coteaux (France): "great opus by a fantastic musician" Dave Raven / Raven 'n Blues (UK): "BooBoo's the real deal" Nicolas Teurnier / Soul Bag ( France): "Strong & powerful. Uncut blues" Przemek Draheim / Radio Sfera (Poland):" the disc is mind blowing - raw and hard hittin " Sounds From The Yellow Room podcast: "Boo Boo Davis is all the blues was meant to be." Larissa Raudas / Blues-Finland.com: "A rough masterpiece, explosive energy" Esa Kuloniemi (national Finnish radio): "New Boo Boo Cd is a killer " Vasja Ivanovski / Radio 2 (Macedonia): ".. probably his best CD so far" Frank van Engelen / BluesMagazine.nl (Holland): "Aanschaffen en vooral deze man gaan zien lijkt me!" September 29, 2009 Särmikäs loistoteos Boo Boo Davisin uusi levy "Ain't Gotta Dime" ei petä edellisen levyn ja keikkasuoritusten luomia odotuksia. Bassoton triokokoonpano soittaa tavalla, joka toimii takuulla.Suomessakin useasti keikkaillut Boo Boo Davis pitää yllä tiivistä turneetahtia, ja näköjään esiintymisten lisäksi on herra Boo Boolla myös tiivis levytystahti. Edellisestä levytyksestä, "Name of the Gamesta", on kulunut vain vuosi. Uusi levytys "Ain't Gotta Dime" on edellisen levyn tavoin Black and Tan Recordsin julkaisema. Taustajoukkona toimivat yhä hollantilaiset veijarit, kitaristi Jan Mittendorp sekä rumpali John Gerritse. Runsaasti keikkailleen trion yhteistyö on jalostunut entistäkin toimivammaksi, mistä näytteenä on uusi helmi, "Ain't Gotta Dime". Turhan sileäksi tämä helmi ei ole päässyt kuitenkaan hioutumaan, sillä levy on kesän keikkarupeaman välissä äänitetty kahden päivän aikana. Kitaristi Jan Mittendorpin mukaan bändin kiertäessä Euroopan blues- ja jazz- festivaalilta toiselle kertyi pitkien matkojen aikana loistavia ideoita uusiin kappaleisiin. Äänityssessiot toteutettiin heinäkuun lopussa Studio Silversterissä Hollannin Utrechtissa.On ilmeisen selvää, että on ollut tuottoisaa viettää kiertueen välipäivät äänitysten parissa. Levyyn on tarttunut rento live-tunnelma, ja soitto on riehakkaan toimivaa. Levyä ei ole miksaamalla kohennettu eikä muutoksia ole tehty jälkikäteen. "Ain't Gotta Dime" on rehellinen tallenne bändin kesäisestä soittokunnosta. Yksinkertaisesti vetävää Bassottoman trion soundi on luonnostaankin raaka ja rosoinen. Tätä särmikkyyttä korostaa rehellinen levyversio, josta ei päällekkäisäänityksiä löydy. "Ain't Gotta Dime" -levyä kuunnellessa tulee aikutelma bändin läheisyydestä. Tuntuu tosiaan siltä, että olisi mukana keikkatunnelmassa.Boo Boo Davisilla trioineen on oma tunnistettava soundinsa, mikä on todella hienoa pastissiyhtyeiden aikakautena. Oma soundi on kuultavissa jo ensi tahdeilta - bändistä ei voi erehtyä. Aloitusraita "Silvermine" paljastaa tutun äänimaiseman. Biisi päättyy tyylikkään pelkistettyyn rumpukomppiin, joka hitaasti katoaa pois eetteristä. "My Baby Got Me Fixed" edustaa Boo Boon mainiota soul-balladi -osastoa. Leppoisa melodia keinuu hitaassa soulissa. Kitarariffi toimii mutkattomasti Boo Boon omaperäisen äänen ja minimalistisen harpun alla. Levy jatkuu "Man Who Be Aroundilla". Se johdattaa kolkompaan, mutta tujusti rullaavaan kellariblues- tunnelmaan.Nimikappale "Ain`t Gotta Dime" on yksinkertaisesti vetävä. Voi vain kuvitella kuinka biisi keikalla toimii. Jan Mittendorp raapaisee äkäisen kitarabreikin, joka päättyy taas riffin pehmeään imuun. "Boo Boo Blues" todistaa bändin tiukan yhteissoiton kaikessa toimivuudessaan. Jumpahtava "Let Me Ride With You" on myös takuulla livetilanteiden makupala. Levyversiostakin irtoaa sen verran kipinää. Trion pelkistettyä linjaa parhaimmillaan edustaa hidas näyte "Cryin' Blues". Lopetusraita "There's A Roach Crawlin'" räjäyttää bändin energian estradille päättäen levyn ankaraan paatokseen. "Ain't Gotta Dime" on loistava levy. Toivottavasti suomalaiset blues-festivaalien järjestäjät huomioivat Boo Boo Davisin myös tulevissa ohjelmistoissaan. Boo Boo Davis Trio on bändi, joka takuulla toimii.      L. RAUDAS September 28, 2009 BOO BOO DAVIS - AIN'T GOTTA DIME La voix est grave et légèrement éraillée, l’harmonica semble sautiller sur une ligne de basse ronflante que soutient une batterie trépidante. Le son est lourd, puissant, et la rythmique est bien marquée. Sans fioritures de style pour aller directement à l’essentiel, le trio de choc, Boo Boo Davis (chant/harmonica), Jan Mittendorp (guitare), John Gerritse (batterie), aligne les titres avec une flamme contagieuse. La cohésion du trio vient de la longue complicité des musiciens qui tournent ensemble depuis longtemps. Et pour enfoncer le clou, ils signent conjointement tous les titres. La pulsation du Mississippi blues est là, lancinante et fièvreuse. Le son est envoûtant, poisseux, mais non dénué de swing ni de funk. Au gré des titres, le chant s’emballe, suffoque, explose puis se pose, la guitare semble crier ou gémir quand la batterie ralentit et que l’harmonica pleure. Tour à tour subtil ou agressif, Boo Boo Davis scande son blues avec la force, la maîtrise et la conviction d’un poids lourd du ring. En restant toujours dans le même cadre, le trio installe avec brio différentes atmosphères, la puissance du boogie s’efface devant la nonchalance du shuffle et le blues revient encore en force. Les titres s’enchaînent et les sensations se fondent entre gaîté et mélancolie. Enregistrés en 2 jours, ces 14 titres ont la spontanéité du live.     Gilles Blampain September 27, 2009 A lot more feedback on the new Boo Boo Davis CD came in the last few days. Here a just a few of them: Roger Gatchet / KVRX (USA): "It will be getting some heavy rotation here, for sure!" Michel Faton / Cross'Blues@Alpes 1 (France): "... excellent CD" Gary Reinhard / Bad Dog Blues@WITR (USA): "quite excellent, nice and raw " Olivier Anciaux / Boom Boom (Belgium): "The Album Discovery" CC Kruse ( / Factory 27 (Germany): "so MUSS BLUES KLINGEN" Jonathan Michael / WESU (USA): "Thanks for the great music !" September 24, 2009 BOO BOO DAVIS - AIN'T GOTTA DIME Rauw, puur en een hele sterke sfeer. Meer elementen heb je kennelijk niet nodig om een meer dan overtuigende bluesplaat te maken. Net als z'n voorganger 'Name Of The Game' uit 2008, knalt de 2009-versie 'Ain't Gotta Dime' je weer heftig tegemoet. Kenmerkend gitaarwerk van Jan Mittendorp, stuwende, vette drums van John Gerritse en het herkenbare stemgeluid en dito harmonica-riffjes van James 'Boo Boo' Davis. De plaat is feitelijk een soort live-optreden waar je naar zit te luisteren. Het geheel is in twee dagen (midden in een drukke festivaltour) live opgenomen en vrijwel ongepolijst naar de cd-perser gestuurd. Veel 'first takes' belandden op de cd en het geeft de nummers een behoorlijk spontane feel mee. Ideetjes uit de tourbus omgezet naar nieuwe nummers, studio geboekt en knallen met die hap. En als de Boo Boo Davis-club ergens goed in is, is het wel in knallen. Geen ingewikkeld gedoe, maar aftikken en er rolt een vette band door je huiskamer ...... Meteen bij het eerste nummer 'Silvermine' wordt de luisteraar weer getrakteerd op het volvette gitaargeluid van de heer Mittendorp. De laag gestemde gitaar en de doorduwende riffs nemen je vanaf de eerste noten bij de strot om je na 14 songs en een dik uur later pas weer los te laten. De combi gitaar en drums werkt ook op deze plaat weer voortreffelijk samen en de basgitaar wordt op de meeste nummers niet gemist. Boo Boo klinkt nog steeds als een van de weinige overgebleven authentieke bluesmeneren, die ook nog echt weten hoe zo'n katoenplantage er van dichtbij uitziet. Hoge school High Tea-engels hoef je van deze man niet te verwachten. Gelukkig maar, want het zou absoluut niet samengaan met de rauwheid van de muziek. Een van de facetten die deze plaat zo aangenaam maken, is de knappe productie. Het live-gevoel zet je bijna op een stoel midden in de studio waar het aangenaam toeven moet zijn geweest tijdens de opnames. Techneut en mixer Erik Spanjers van Studio Silvester (deze studio wordt met de cd 'hotter') weet klaarblijkelijk waar je de mics neer moet zetten voor een dijk van een sound. Lekker rauwe randjes hier en daar, maar 't blijft aangenaam luisteren. De vorige plaat van Team Davis wandelde linea recta de top tien van de diverse eindejaarslijstjes binnen en terecht. Deze opvolger gaat verder waar 'Name Of The Game' eindigde en zal ongetwijfeld weer hoog in de liefhebberscharts gaan eindigen. Fan van diepgelaagde overgeproduceerde muziekstukken? Sla deze maar even over. Maar ben je daarentegen niet bang voor een dompelbadje rauwe 'in your face' blues? Kopen die plaat!!    Bouke Janssen NOWY BOO BOO DAVIS 12 paz'dziernika ukaz.e sie; nowa p?yta Boo Boo Davisa, artysty z Mississippi, który podbi? w lipcu swoja; gra; publicznos'c' Olsztyn'skich Nocy Bluesowych oraz warszawskiego Lapidarium. Wie;kszos'c' utworów jakie znalaz?y sie; na p?ycie powsta?o w trakcie lipcowej trasy koncertowej po Europie, której tez. cze;s'cia; by?y dwa polskie koncerty. Zrobiwszy kilkudniowa; przerwe; w koncertach, muzycy weszli do studia i w cia;gu dwóch dni zarejestrowali materia? metoda; na tzw. "setke;", czyli nie czynia;c póz'niej juz. na nim z.adnych poprawek. P?yta ma tytu? "Ain't Gotta Dime". Pierwszych z niej utworów be;dzie moz.na pos?uchac' juz. w najbliz.szy pia;tek w Radiu eM (107,6 Katowice lub www.radioem.pl) w dwóch audycjach Andrzeja Matysika: w "Historii bluesem pisanej" o godzinie 19.50, oraz od godziny 20.00 w "Godzinie nie tylko bluesem pisanej". September 23, 2009 Feedback is coming in on the new Boo Boo Davis record. Here are a few quotes: Kai Engren / Rauma Bluesfestival (Finland): "it's your best record ever" Jan Christian Nordahl / Bluestrain (Norway): "Very good Boo Boo CD. Original and tough." Terry O / Topblues (USA): "I'd venture to say that this CD is the best blues album I've received this year!"" Serge Warin / Radio Canal Blues (France): "Excellent as usual. Boo Boo is indestructible !" Kjell Andreassen / Radio Holstebro (Denmark): "LOVE IT" Alain Enjalbert / Maxwell Street (France): "A pleasure" Cédric Vernet / Couleurs FM (France): "It's a great album" Jerry Davis / Staradio & WQUB (USA): "..another great effort" Charlie Tambaur / Radio Silkeborg (DK): "Most authentic Mississippi sound I have heard for a long time" Greg "Doc" Lefebre / Doc's Juke Joint (USA): "New CD is great!!!!! " September 21, 2009 We added a new country to the long list of countries in which we have booked shows so far. On November 2 Boo Boo Davis will play at the Hard Rock Café in Bucharest (Romania). September 9, 2009 The new Boo Boo Davis CD is now also available on    September 8, 2009 Tracks form the new Boo Boo Davis release have already been played in several podcasts and you can already download the tracks at Rhapsody and several Amazon stores. Here are the direct links; iTunes, Rhapsody (USA only), Amazon USA, Amazon Germany, Amazon France and Amazon UK. August 31, 2009 Our upcoming release: CD B&T 034 / BOO BOO DAVIS / AIN'T GOTTA DIME Recorded on July 28 and 29, 2009 at Studio Silverster in Utrecht (Netherlands). Mixing and mastering by Erik Spanjers, pictures Yannick Perrin and layout by Manu/BA.D liner notes from DOUG MACLEOD: I don't like doing liner notes. But I like Boo Boo and I like this record. So I'm here to tell you that this is one funky record. Just three guys laying down some strong Mississippi style blues. A lot of different feels, emotions, and some fine musicianship. How funky is this record? If these guys moved in next door to you . . . . . . . . . . . your lawn dies. tracklisting: 1 Silvermine 2 Ten Thousand Dollar 3 Watch Yourself 4 My Baby Got Me Fixed 5 Man Who Be Around 6 Ain't Gotta Dime 7 Boo Boo Blues 8 Cake Lady 9 Don't Wait Too Late 10 Standing At The Fishbank 11 Let Me Ride With You 12 Got My Loving, Now You're Gone 13 Cryin Blues 14 There's A Roach Crawlin Fourteen new songs / total playing time 65:40 The official release date is October 12, 2009 but copies should be available in our webshop by mid September. At Boo Boo's MySpace you can already listen. The first 4 tracks come from the new record. All fourteen tracks are available for podcasting at Podsafe Music Network. I also uploaded three tracks to RADIOSUBMIT.COM. Each radio station in the world (air and web) can join/register for free and once you have a username and password you can download the tracks for free. At this link you can listen to and download the tracks. We want to get this great music to as many people as possible and if you think you can help us with we look forward to hear from you. August 17, 2009 **** NEW RELEASE BOO BOO DAVIS on Black and Tan Records !!! *** Last month we had a blast on the road all over Europe we had the honour and pleasure to perform on a string of big European jazz & blues festivals. We played at a.o. Montreux Jazz Festival, Blues Peer, Amal Bluesfest. Jazz à Juan, Olsztyn Blues Nights. During all this travelling and performing we got a lot of idea's for new songs. So in the middle of the tour we went into the studio for two days and recorded a new record. Right now we are finishing the production and art work of the record which will be titled: AIN'T GOTTA DIME (CD B&T 034). Fourteen brand new tracks. All songs were played live in the studio without any overdubs and for most songs the first take turned out to be the best one. We didn't 'polish' or 'fix' anything (like hummin amps or a slightly-out-of-tune harp). This is exactly how we sound live. We set October 12, 2009 as the official release date but copies will be available at our own web shop long before then. More information and links to listening samples will follow soon. August 10, 2009 review from our show at Tyykiblues: Vahva ja persoonallinen trio Boo Boo Davis oli loistava valinta Tyykibluesiin. Omaperäinen laulaja-harpisti rypisti aitoa primitiivistä voimaa heti kättelyssä. Boo Boo Davisiin setti koostui lähinnä uusimman levytyksen, ”Name Of The Gamen”, vahvasta materiaalista. Bassoton trio jylisi kitaristi Jan Mittendorpin ja bändin varsinaisen moottorin, rumpali John Gerritsen tukevalla kompilla. Luonnollisesti Mittendorpin ote kitaran varressa on rytmillinen ja bassonomainen. Tiukka rytmiikka toimi, ja Gerritse yltyi huimiin 60-lukuhenkisiin rumpufilleihin, joissa pituutta piisasi. Liekö keikkaväsymys painanut, tai sitten vain turneen tuoma riemu, sillä Mittendorp ja Gerritse panostivat T-paitojen sanomaan: ”blues sucks” ja ”no pictures”! Kantaaottavuudesta huolimatta bluesin soitto irtosi koko bändiltä kiitettävällä voimalla. Huikeaa rytmittelyä tarjosi ”Hot Food”, ja monotoninen ”Who Stole The Booty” taas toimi hypnoottisella voimalla. Kauniissa soulballadissa ”Why You Wanna Do It” Boo Boo Davisin karhea laulu sai suorastaan pehmeän soinnillista ulottuvuutta. Boo Boo Davisia yhtyeineen olisi kernaasti kuunnellut pitempäänkin. Harvoin livenä saa kuulla niin vahvaa ja toimivaa persoonallista musiikkia. Boo Boo Davis kruunasi Tyykiblues numero 16:n tyylikkäästi. July 21, 2009 Here are a few video's from the Boo Boo Davis concert at the Amal Bluesfest (Sweden) last week: part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 from the new issue (# 143): Doug MacLeod - The Utrecht Sessions With the beat of his foot setting the pace for his Mississippi Delta-rooted baritone vocals and sharp bottleneck and finger-style guitar playing, Doug MacLeod uses the country blues as a springboard for his original songs. With his latest outing, The Utrecht Sessions, recorded during a February 2008 performances in the Netherlands, the California-based former sideman for Big Joe Turner, Pee Wee Crayton, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Lowell Fulson, and Big Mama Thornton channels the spirit of the blues into songs of romantic seduction and heartbreak. Though several tunes are performed solo, accompaniment by Arthur Bont (percussion) or Jasper Mortier (upright bass) adds rhythmic texture to others. July 20, 2009 The last 10 days have been very intense in several ways. We (Boo Boo Davis, John Gerrritse and I) not only played 8 shows in 7 different countries but we also drove more then 7800 kilometers and played on some of the greatest european jazz & blues festivals (like Amal Bluesfest in Sweden, Olstzyn Blues Night in Poland, Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Jazz à Juan in France and Blues Peer in Belgium). On these festivals we shared the stage with numorous famous artists: Solomon Burke, Jeff Beck, Blind Boys of Alabama, Betty Lavette, Otis Clay, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeshi and many others. We were able to present our special take on the blues to thousands of new listeners and did get a lot of positive feedback plus we sold a load of CD's. Here is a link to some footage of the show on Olstzyn. We also have nice video material form Montreux and Peer which I will put on YouTube as soon as I have time for it. June 22, 2009 BOO BOO DAVIS - NAMES OF THE GAME Blues kann so verschieden klingen, und das macht den Reiz dieser Stilistik aus und stellt gleichzeitig eine Herausforderung an den aktiven Musiker dar. Schon länger im blauen Geschäft ist BOOBOO DAVIS aus Drew, Mississippi. Auf ‚Name Of The Game‘ wird der Sänger und Harpplayer lediglich von einem Drummer und einem E-Gitarristen begleitet. Letzterem gelingt dann das Kunststück, dass man den Bassisten nicht vermisst, da er meist in den tiefen Registern spielt bzw. eine Bariton-Gitarre einsetzt, und dazu wahrscheinlich die Tone-Potis seiner Instrumente weit zurückdreht, und auch mal mit einem WahWah für Druck und Dreck sorgt. Scharfer Sound! Die Drums machen alles dicht, und Bandleader Davis mit seiner vollen, knarzigen Stimme, die zudem auch mal verzerrt wird, klingt fast schon wie ein weiteres Instrument. Auch stark kommen seine Harpbeiträge. Absolut hipp dieses ungewöhnliche Trio~Unbedingt reinhören in diese starken und auf ihre Art modernen Down-Home- Blues-Songs! June 21, 2009 I was fortunate enough to be able to work with ERNIE PAYNE a few years before he died in September 2007. Ernie released one record (Coercion Street) in 2004. He spend almost his entire life on writing and improving the songs that are on this record. He always dreamed of performing and touring and just when he finally decided to go for it, his health didn't allow him to do it very long. During his european tours he made a huge impression on the audiences and it was really sad that he got sick and was not able to travel anymore. Two of Ernie biggest fans in Europe were Robert Plant and Andy Kershaw (BBC Radio). Andy Kershaw is also involved with SONGLINES MAGAZINE (UK) and he has picked one of Ernie songs for the covermount CD that comes with all 25000 copies of the Aug/Sept issue of this magazine. June 11, 2009 review in Finland's No. 1 Monthly Rock Magazine: BOO BOO DAVIS - NAME OF THE GAME LÖYTÖLAARI: SÄHKÖISTÄ PRIMITIIVIJYTÄÄ. Tällaiselta kuulostaa autenttinen deltablues vuonna 2009. Laulaja-huuliharpisti Boo Boo Davis tarjoilee kuulijan korville samanlaisen elämyksen kuin missä tahansa hien, oluen ja kiiman katkuisessa Mississippin räkälässä. Deltalla syntyneen ja varttuneen Boo Boo Davisin uusin, järjestyksessä neljäs albumi Name Of The Game sisältää rautaisannoksen primitiivistä juottolabluesia. Davisin lauluissa kuvastuvat etelän maisema ja alistetun afroamerikkalaisen yhteisön monisatavuotinen kollektiivinen tajunta. Kokonaissoundi on rosoinen, mutta samalla hallitun täyteläinen, vaikka Boo Boon lisäksi levyllä soittavat vain rumpali John Gerritse ja innovatiivinen sähkökitaristi Jan Mittendorp. Tulkintaansa Boo Boo alleviivaa riuskasti huuliharpullaan. Muuta ei yksinkertaisesti tarvita. Suositellaan Hound Dog Taylorin, R.L. Burnsiden, Junior Kimbroughin kaltaisen rouheuden sekä punk- ja alt.bluesin ystäville! June 10, 2009 After the German page there is also now an English page on Doug MacLeod at Wikipedia. Here is the link June 8, 2009 Boo Boo Davis at Montreux 2009 !!!!!! We just recieved confirmation for 2 shows at MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL on July 14, 2009. Boo Boo Davis just finished a big European tour (25 shows in 7 countries) and he will be back in Europe next month to perform at a string of huge blues / jazz festivals. Here is the complete list. May 18, 2009 Yesterday we flew back from Finland were we did three shows. We had a great time and boy can these people drink..... At one of the show the owner of the venue came on stage and started singing in a language that even the Fins couldn't understand. A big thank you to Kai, Jussi and Esa. May 15, 2009 At Burnley Blues Festival (UK / April 2009) Doug MacLeod was interviewed by Alan White for his website EarlyBlues.com. Here is an direct link to the extensive interview. May 14, 2009 Article on BOO BOO DAVIS and our up coming shows in Poland at the site of RADIO ERF. May 4, 2009 Last weekend we kicked off our tour with Boo Boo Davis and we did four shows (one in Austria, two in Germany and one in Holland). The coming weeks we will be pretty busy and spend a lot of time on the european highways. At this link you can find the complete tour schedule. May 3, 2009 Rick Saunders in his DEEP BLUES blog: Boo Boo Davis is the Name Of The Game The liner notes of the new Boo Boo Davis album Name Of The Game say that the sound of his new album came from "a crazy idea" to lose the bass player and tour as a trio of drums, guitar and BooBoo on vocals and harp. If that's a crazy idea then here's to goin' full ape nuts. "Unlike many modern blues bands, Boo Boo and his band focus on the groove, the feel, and the basic truths found in the blues. " Proof: Do what you are supposed to do and ya wind up kickin' ass. I gotta admit, though, i'm over the trend of basslessness. Bass brings the sexy. Bass moves the bottom. Granted finding a bass player that isn't a frustrated guitarist and that won't play twelve notes when one note is all that is needed is difficult. But I digress. Boo Boo does indeed get down. Some folks are gonna be cranky at the harder vibe here and claim it to be rockish. What evs. That just means some folks ain't listenin' right. Boo Boo has scored a vibe that stomps and hollers between T-Model, Jimi, and Booba Barnes and other dirtier heavy weights to craft a blues at once fresh and trad. Damn fine work for a man outta Drew Mississippi who started out whompin' on empty lard cans for the family band. Carry on. The Name of The Game is Boo Boo Davis. Listen' up and learn how it's played. April 30, 2009 An extensive interview with Billy Jones was published on AllAboutJazz.com. At this link you can read the entire interview. April 16, 2009 Doug MacLeod has added more songs to his MySpace profile. Check em out !!! April 2, 2009 from the new issue: DOUG MACLEOD - the Blues in Me Doug MacLeod has been more privileged than most bluesmen in the sense that he has been lucky enough to learn his trade alongside some of the best, including Charles Brown, Big Joe Turner, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, and Pee Wee Crayton. That kind of groundwork has undoubtedly contributed to making MacLeod such a convincing artist whose body of work deserves attention. After releasing several albums on Black and Tan, a Dutch company, the label has decided to release a DVD of a session recorded live in concert at a small, intimate venue in Wapen van Oudeschans (the Netherlands). The 95-minute concert consists of 11 original McLeod songs, including an adaptation of Bukka White's "The New Panama Limited," which are interspersed with the artist's banter about his life and times. While MacLeod's commentary is interesting, and he even offers wise advice on a few occasions, the spoken interludes : can't be viewed separately. While the music is well recorded and the camerawork equally top-notch, one might question the wisdom of integrating both music and commentary without offering the option of separate tracking. The DVD includes special features consisting of a slide show of photos, an interview, and more stories by MacLeod from his 30 years on the road. March 30, 2009 BOO BOO DAVIS - THE NAME OF THE GAME A young James Davis grew up in Drew, Mississippi, playing homemade percussion in his family's Lard Can Band. Migrating to East St. Louis, he worked with locals like Doc Terry and Little Aaron before joining his brothers in the long-lived Davis Brothers Band. After they died, he worked with harmonica player Arthur Williams, but left after a while and switched to the Mississippi saxophone himself. In 1999, Davis began recording his trancelike, transplanted Delta blues for the Netherlands based Black and Tan label. This unique, bass-less project is his best to date. Accompanied solely by the solid, deeply rhythmic drum and percussion work of John Gerritse as well as Jan Mittendorp's big-toned guitar playing, Davis delivers spirited, rough-edged vocals (channeling Howlin' Wolf at times), frequently punctuated by some Jimmy Reed-flavored harp work. Except for the Bo Diddley-grooved "Who Stole The Booty," the remaining 12 songs are all bandcomposed, six with and five without Gerritse. The more-up-tempo selections include the - raucous tale of a "St. Louis Woman," an accusatory "It's A Shame" and the eerily cautionary "Stay From The Casino," with its rumbling drums, distorted guitar and Davis' earthy, barely intelligible vocal. Other crowd pleasers, for my money, are the rambling, harmonica-paced "Want Nobody Tell Me How To Live My Life," the riveting, deep soul ballad "Why You Wanna Do It" (probably Davis' best vocal performance here, he ought to sing in his natural voice more often) and "Lonely All By Myself," which sounds, for all the world, like some lost Lightnin' Slim 45 on that long-gone, bright orange Excello label. Modern- day Mississippi blues at its finest.      GvonT March 27, 2009 We received confirmation for BOO BOO DAVIS @ BLUES PEER 2009. So we can add another great festival to our list of 2009 concerts. You can see and hear us on sunday July 19 at 1:30 pm. Looks like ten years of hard road work in Europe and the release of 5 great CD's is starting to pay off for Boo Boo Davis. Especially the latest CD (NAME OF THE GAME) opened new doors for us. We start of with a European club/festival tour on April 30; in 5 weeks we do 24 shows in 7 different countries. Boo Boo returns to Europe in July where we will do festivals in Sweden, Poland, France, Azores, Belgium, Finland. In August, September Boo Boo will be mainly hunting and fishing in Missiouri and Mississippi before he comes back for another European tour on October/November. Here is a link to the complete list of 2009 Boo Boo Davis shows. Of course we will add more !! March 24, 2009 Doug MacLeod is still on the road in Australia and this came in from ABC Sydney (Australia) after his vist to their studio: Doug would've been probably too modest to tell you, so I'll have you know that the next studio guest on our program was so moved by Doug's second song "This Old River" she was openly crying. After the program Deb couldn't praise Doug enough. I just grinned and told her that I KNEW he was a real deal. I can only hope that Doug had a good time himself. Please thank him for his usual high-standard performance and insightful chat. We really appreciated it. All the best for the rest of his tour. March 2, 2009 CRUSHERS 2 there's no real story this is an improvised project with improvised music no preparation, just raw and simple we have no idea where it comes from or where it will go to the music is the story you either like it or hate it ……. judge for yourself at MySpace February 24, 2009 A two page interview with Boo Boo Davis and a nice review of the new record in the new issue of BLUES NEWS (Norway). En som også har levd bluesen og som i godt voksen alder ser ut til å kunne leve av bluesen, er Boo Boo Davis, oppvokst i Drew, Mississippi, i hjertet av Mississippi-deltaet midtveis mellom Dockery Plantation og Parchman Farm, der Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson og andre udødelige bluesnavn både lærte og praktiserte sitt fag. Boo Boo Davis er et ledd i denne tradisjonen, men forlot deltaet og endte i husbandet i en av de mer viderekomne bluesklubbene i East St. Louis, Missouri på en tid da denne byen var i ferd med å få fram navn som Albert King, Ike Turner, Chuck Berry og Little Milton. I dag kalles Boo Boo Davis en survivor fra Mississippis siste store bluesgenerasjon, og han har gitt ut flere kritikerroste plater. For tiden er han knyttet til hollandske Black & Tan Records som nylig har gitt ut "Name Of The Game", med Boo Boo som sanger og kraftfull munnspiller og med hollenderne Jan Mittendorp på gitar og Jan Gerritse på trommer og perkusjon. Albumet er modernisert funky deltablues, med en anelse Hill Country-blues i sine bassløse arrangement med dundrende tromming. Mittendorps gitarspill bruker rikelig med wah-wah, uten at det virker som utvendig effektmakeri. Det er sjelfullt og det fremhever den mektige røsten til Davis. Åpningssporet "Dirty Dog" går i vinner-riffene både fra "Nutbush City Limits" og Bobby Rush' bluesfunk fra "Chicken Heads". Den sensuelle og tunge "I'm Comin' Home" kan minne om Junior Kimbrough, men etter å ha kjørt gjennom alle tretten låtene, så er likhetspunktene med flere andre artister, det være seg Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley eller Sonny Boy Williamson, bare en bekreftelse på at dette er en artist som har absorbert hele den klassiske Delta-Chicago-bluesen og tilføyd sin personlige touch. Alle låtene er signert Davis og/eller i samarbeid med Gerritse og Mittendorp, og trioen er samspilt som en eneste stor bankende bluespuls.    Oyvind Pharo February 22, 2009 FRANKIE MILLER - A LONG WAY HOME: an album of previously unreleased material recorded in the 1990s. The album showcases Frankie's legendary vocal talents. Certainly one of my favorite singers. February 6, 2009 Every now and then you come across an artist you never heard of that really blows you away. This morning I heard Lee Moses and immediately downloaded his record at iTunes. Deep soul from the 60's/70's. Check it out. January 29, 2009 DOUG MACLEOD - A DOUBLE DOSE OF DUBB Two more great tracks that have not been released on a record but definitely deserve to be heard. These tracks will be available as download only. 1) My Good Girl Blues 2) Dubb's Talkin' Barnyard Blues The first track comes from the Utrecht Sessions but didn't make it to that record… we just had too much good stuff to choose from. The second track is one of Doug´s funniest and most popular live songs and this take comes from a session for Bluesville, the show of Bill Wax at XM Radio in Washington DC. It was recorded and mixed by Quinton Roebuck in October 2008. Here are the links to these new tracks in the two most popular download platforms:    Media that want to play/review these tracks should get in touch with us. We will then send MP's of the tracks by email. January 28, 2009 DOUG MACLEOD on BURNLEY 2009 !!! Burnley Blues Festival earned its place on the international blues festival map in 1988 when it became the first blues festival in the UK for more than 20 years. Today the festival is renowned the world over having played host to some of the greatest living blues performers of all time including Buddy Guy, Champion Jack Dupree, Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton, Luther Allison and Hubert Sumlin. Doug MacLeod played the festival in 2006 and they really wanted him back in 2009. Doug will be flown in from the US especially for the 2009 edition and will play at the Burnley Blues Festival on April 11, 2009. Here is quote from Barbara Hood, the Festival Organiser: "To celebrate our 21st year we decided to put together an explosive mix of world class performers who in previous years made a tremendous contribution to the success of the festival. Doug Macleod is one of those artists. Doug's set in 2006 was one of the most commented and well received acoustic sets we have ever staged at Burnley, our 21st celebration would not be the same without him". January 26, 2009 REAL BLUES 'Top 100 Releases' chart is based on CD's they have received in the previous 24 Calendar months. All have been graded as 'Highly Recommended Purchases' and all selections are based solely on Artistic/Spiritual Merit. The list is a 'Bribery-free' listing so you can 'take-it-to-the-bank'. While the Chart is intented for the Hottest CDs of the last 24 calendar months, some exceptional releases may remain on the chart for longer periods. On the latest version of the list we find several Black and Tan releases: # 6    Billy Jones - my Hometown # 7    Ernie Payne- Coercion Street     * voted Album of the Decade / All Genres # 21  Boo Boo Davis - Name Of The Game # 22  Boo Boo Davis - Drew, Mississppi # 41  Billy Jones - tha Bluez # 96  Harrison Kennedy - Voice + Story January 22, 2009 Doug MacLeod - The Utrecht Sessions The Story Is In The Telling Remember when you were a kid and there was one uncle that always told the best stories. He would sometimes make you laugh, he would sometimes make you ponder, but he would always make you want to listen. Doug MacLeod is one of those! He is that rare storyteller that just happens to be a fine singer-songwriter and guitarist. It is as though he has lived every moment about which he sings. His stories about life hit so close to home that, as he likes to say, "Makes you think I've been reading your mail." He has overcome adversity in his life and it comes through in his music. After overcoming a severe stutter as a child (he credits playing guitar and singing) he went on to radio. He had several successful programs such as The Blues Highway and Nothin' But the Blues from 1992 through 2004. MacLeod is also a featured writer of "Doug's Back Porch" in Blues Revue magazine for the past several years. MacLeod honed his guitar chops playing behind such greats as Big Mama Thornton, Lowell Fulsom, and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. For the better part of a quarter century and more than a dozen records, Doug MacLeod has been telling stories. He continues that tradition on his latest release, The Utrecht Sessions. This is the thirteenth studio album from MacLeod. It was recorded in the Netherlands in the old city of, you guessed it, Utrecht (pronounced "U-trekt"). A sparse recording, the songs feature MacLeod on acoustic guitars, occasionally accompanied by Arthur Bont (percussion) and Jasper Mortier (double bass), but never at the same time. He mostly plays his trusty National Delphi (he nicknamed it "Spook") and an old Stella 12-string that he says "was a little past its prime." The album features 12 tracks of hope, humor, frustration, and darkness. The stories are told as only Doug MacLeod can. From the darkness of "The Demons Moan" and its reference to the sexual abuse of a child, to the humor of "The Addition To Blues" and "What You Got," MacLeod covers all the emotions. The record is dedicated to Marie Gaines. Marie was the wife of National Reso-Phonic Guitars founder, McGregor Gaines. He tells of her grace and dignity in the face of her imminent passing in the song "This Old River." This song, as well as "That Ain't Right," has been heard quite a bit on XM's Bluesville channel. His style is Country Blues with a little Folk. Known for his superb songwriting, he is also a master of his instrument. But, like that favorite uncle, the story is in the telling. Mark Goodman January 18, 2009 Boo Boo Davis - Name Of The Game This album is a bit of a turnabout for Boo Boo Davis as he moves away from the remarkable fusion approach to the blues shown in his last album "Drew Mississippi" and heads back to his roots. Keeping it simple and straightforward is the key here as he uses nothing more than his road band of Jan Mittendorp on guitar and John Gerritse on drums to recreate the early electric blues sound of Chicago of the fifties and then onwards to the current day. It's a successful venture as well with songs like "I'm Coming Home" and "Tryin' To Get Ahead" taking us back to the days of late night blues club. You just can't argue with the authentic feel of it all. This isn't a parody or a tribute either. There's the history of the blues in here. When blues merged into rock in the late sixties and early seventies, a song like "Why You Wanna Do It" would have been right on the money and "Hot Foot" takes us directly into funk territory. Clearly not one to rest on his laurels, Boo Boo Davis and his very able assistants deliver the kind of performance that will make many into believers in the power of the blues. We might have said this before - in fact we have - but Boo Boo Davis is the real deal. If he comes to your town then go see him play live. They just don't make them like that anymore. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A few pictures from Doug MacLeod in the booth of NATIONAL GUITARS at the NAMM show this weekend: Doug with Bob Brozman Doug with Steve James, Mike Dowling & unknown lady -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boo Boo Davis - Name of the Game Ondanks dat Boo Boo Davis een deel van zijn leven sleet in St. Louis, waar hij achttien jaar in het huisorkest van Tabby's Red Room speelde, ligt zijn hart voor altijd in het landelijke Mississippi. 'Name Of The Game' is geen nostalgisch gezeur maar explosieve oerblues. Simpel, harmonica op de hielen gezetten door schuimbekkende gitaarriffs en no-nonsense slagwerk. De donkere grafstem van Davis nestelt zich als een voodoobezweerder in de barakken van Mississippi. Alle nummers herbergen onscherpe, overbelichte, vlekkerige blues die een brug slaat naar de straathoekambiance. Ik zou willen dansen. Een uit de hand gelopen feestje behoort tot de mogelijkheden. Met 'Hot Foot' krijgt het trio Davis-Mittendorp-Gerritse een paard omver. Onder maanlicht wordt 'Who Stole The Body' door de duivel verleid, verderfelijke muziek dan weer in 'Dirty Dog'. Verderf en drank rijm je niet met genadeloze schoonheid maar 'Name Of The Game' is een openhartige inkijk in de wereld van de oprechte blues en zo heb ik het zeer graag. January 16, 2009 Is there anybody out there that is a contributing writer for Wikipedia ? As far as I know none of my artists is on there yet. Since I use any legal way to promote my artists and their music, I think they should be on there. So if you can help with this please, get in touch with me and I will send you the latest versions of their biographies and then you can add them to Wikipedia. Thanks in advance January 14, 2009 V.A. - REAL ROCK BLUES (Saturn Exclusiv Edition) The song BLUES SKY from our Big George Jackson release (SOUTHERN IN MY SOUL) was chosen for this blues-rock-sampler of Saturn. This extensive compilation features 32 songs of famous artists like Duke Robilard, Gary Moore, Johnny Winter, Walter Trout, Ronnie Earl, Tab Benoit and many others. Here is the complete tracklisting: Marc Reece „Bad Dreams“ / Popa Chubby „Up from the Skies“ / Tinsley Ellis „Get To The Bottom“ / Julian Sas „Home Feeling“ / David Gogo „ Love In The City“ / Gary Moore „All Your Love“ / Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat „Tijuana Bible“ / Omar & The Howlers „Muddy Springs Road“ / Ana Popovic „Love Fever“ / Johnny Winter „Tribute To Muddy“ / Beverly Guitar Watkins „Baghdad Blues“ / Bo Ramsey „Hate To See You Go“ / Reverend Rusty & The Case „Preacher Man“ / Candye Kane „White Trash Girl“ / Walter Trout „I'm Tired“ / The Stimulators „Sad & Blue“ / Big George Jackson Blues Band „Blue Sky“ / Luther Guitar Johnson „My Love Will Never Die“ / Corey Stevens „That's What The Blues Is All About“ / Bernard Allison „That's Why I'm Cryin'“ / Tino Gonzales „Last Two Dollars“ / Aynsley Lister „Disorderly Me“ / David Raitt / Jimmy Thackery „Tell Me“ / Ronnie Earl „Catfish Blues“ / Duke Robillard „Gambler Blues“ / Tab Benoit „Down In The Swamp“ / Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan „Big Boss Man“ / Blues Company „They Called Him Muddy Waters“ / Koko Taylor „Piece Of Man“ / Guitar Shorty „Story Of My Life“ / Robin Trower „Bridge Of Sighs“ / The Stimulators „Do It Again“ This mid-price double CD will be exclusively for sale in the shops of Saturn; one of the big European shop chains. This should get the music of George to whole lot of new listeners…. and that’s good. January 7, 2009 Boo Boo Davis - Name Of The Game Raised in the hardscrabble life of a Delta farming family, and a fixture on the St Louis blues scene in more recent years, Davis doesn't lack for skill or conviction blowing harp and singing about personal concerns on his fifth import album. Ditching bass, he joins first rate guitarist Jan Mittendorp and strong drummer John Gerritse in showin a more-than-casual appreciation of groove. To their advantage, they play all original material. Pride of play goes to "Why You WannA Do It", a strong wind of love anguish, or the guitar-distorted ear slammer "Dirty Dog". January 6, 2009 Last FM is a community network that is really based on music and you'll only find real music lovers on there. It is a great way to discover new music and it connects all information (bio, discography, audio, video, live shows etc) of a certain artist at one spot. It takes a little time to get accustomed to it and but then you'll discover new possibillites (bulletinboards, newsgroups etc) all the time. What is also great is that it works a bit like Wikipedia so any member can add or correct the information that is on there. Here is some promo stuff from the Last.FM website: Every track you play will tell your Last.fm profile something about what you like. It can connect you to other people who like what you like - and recommend songs from their music collections and yours too. When you recommend some music to a friend, or you tag it, or you write about it - even just listening to it - you shift the song's importance on the site. It'll be recommended to different people, because you've listened to it. It'll move up our music charts and maybe more people will hear it because you thought it was good. Back in the 20th Century, Felix Miller and Martin Stiksel were running an online record label whose mission was to get independent music out to the people who wanted to hear it. A few years later, university student Richard Jones started tracking what he and his friends were listening to on their computers with a project he called Audioscrobbler. Last.fm brought these ideas and desires together. Last.fm has always been about making music culture more democratic: everyone listening to music how they want to, when they want to. Without a middle man making your decisions for you. Last.fm is a global music service available in 12 languages. Here are the links to the profiles of Doug MacLeod, Boo Boo Davis, Black and Tan Records and myself. Check it out and if you like it…… join and set up a profile January 5, 2009 The French-speaking Collectif des Radios Blues was created in 2003. It brings together all the radio DJ's in France, Belgium, Quebec and Africa who share the idea to exchange, broadcast and promote all forms of blues music. Every year they make a list of the top 20 albums based on the airplay that they got on all the member stations. Below is the list for 2008 : 1-   Eric BIBB “Spirit I am” (Dixiefrog/Harmonia Mundi) 2-   SISTERS OF THE SOUTH (Dixiefrog/Harmonia Mundi) 3-   BIG DEZ “You can smile” (Why Note) 4-   Sean COSTELLO “We can get together” (Delta Groove Productions) 5-   Ex-aequo   Boo Boo DAVIS “Name of the game” (Black & Tan Records)                       Roland TCHAKOUNTE “Waka” (BCA Records) 7-   Ex-aequo   Chris JAMES & Patrick RYNN “Stop and think about it” (Earwig Music)                       Joe Louis WALKER “Witness to the blues” (Dixiefrog/Harmonia Mundi) 9-   LONJ “I found out” (Autoproduction) 10- MORELAND & ARBUCKLE “1861” (Northernblues) 11- Jeff HEALEY “Mess of blues” (Ruf Records) 12- Buddy GUY “Skin Deep” (Zomba Recordings) 13- Kenny NEAL “Let life flow” (Dixiefrog/Harmonia Mundi) 14- Elvin BISHOP “The blues rolls on” (Delta Groove Productions) 15- Jean-Jacques MILTEAU “Soul conversation” (Dixiefrog/Harmonia Mundi) 16- David GOGO “Vibe” (Dixiefrog/Harmonia Mundi) 17- Jean CHARTRON “Blues bleus” (Dixiefrog/Harmonia Mundi) 18- Dave THOMAS & Wallace COLEMAN “Repossession blues” (Blonde On Blonde) 19- Ex-aequo   Eddy CLEARWATER “West side strut” (Alligator Records)                       Floyd LEE BAND “Devils, doctors and drugs” (Amogla Records) December 28, 2008 Boo Boo Davis stammt aus dem Herzen des Mississippi-Deltas. Er ist ein Überlebenskünstler, aus der Generation Musiker stammend, die das niederschreiben und spielen, was sie erleben und sehen, spielt er einen Blues, der auf Erfahrung basiert. Als Boo Boo ein Kind war, gab's kein Geld von dem man den Schulbesuch hätte bezahlen können, damit er lesen und Schreiben lernt. Das hielt ihn aber nicht davon ab, durch die Gegend zu ziehen und auf seine Art und Weise in der modernen Gesellschaft zu überleben. Sein Vater, Sylvester Davis, arbeitete als Baumwollpflücker und spielte mehrere Instrumente. Er spielte unter anderem mit John Lee Hooker, Elmore James und Robert Pete Williams (1914-1980). Boo Boo erinnert sich an diese und andere Musiker, die zu ihnen kamen und in ihrem Haus probten. Im Alter von fünf spielte Boo Boo die Harmonika und er sang mit seiner Mutter in der Kirche. Mit dreizehn Jahren spielte er Gitarre, und ab seinem achtzehn Lebensjahr spielte er mit seinem Vater und den älteren Brüder unter dem Namen THE LARD CAN BAND. Die Band wurde im Mississippi-Delta relativ bekannt. In den Sechziger Jahren zog er nach St. Louis und lebte dort in der Blues Szene. Er lernte Albert King kennen, Ike Turner, Chuck Berry und all die anderen. 18 Jahre lang gehörte er zur Hausband in "Tabby's Red Room" im Osten von St. Louis. Wenn er zu Hause ist, geht er mit seiner Familie und seinen Hunden zum jagen oder zum fischen. Im Oktober 2007 kam Boo Boo auf eine ziemlich verrückte Idee. Anfang dieses Jahres entschied er sich für eine Tour als Trio. Dass er in dem Trio der einzige Farbige ist, störte ihn nicht. Im Herbst kamen sie durch die Benelux-Länder, die Schweiz, Österreich, Frankreich und Deutschland. Ihre Musik gefiel den Leuten und sie haben auch eine CD im Gepäck - die fünfte von Boo Boo insgesamt. Dass sie keinen Bassmann dabei haben, fällt gar nicht so auf. Selbst das Schlagzeug bleibt sehr im Hintergrund, dafür machen Jan Mittendorp und Boo Boo ganz gut Stimmung. Den Sound machen vor allem seine Blues Harp und seine Stimme und Jans Baritongitarre. Schon Dirty Dog kommt am Anfang sehr merkwürdig, läuft dann aber recht druckvoll, besonders wenn Boo Boo seine Harp einsetzt. Auf I'm Comin' Home klingt der Gesang wie auf einer sehr alten Schellack-Schallplatte. Won't Nobody Tell Me How To Live My Live dürfte wohl einer der längsten Titel im ganzen Rock- und Bluesbusiness sein, ansonsten ist es eine relaxte Midtempo-Nummer, bei der der Fuß automatisch mithüpft. Die Bluesharp flötet gelassen und die Gitarre swingt gemütlich vor sich hin. Ebenso ist es in Why You Wanna Do It, nur singt Boo Boo da wesentlich höher und auch das Schlagzeug meldet sich darin mal deutlich zu Wort. Dagegen schweigt die Bluesharp ganz. Womit man die Geräusche in Hot Foot macht, ist mir wirklich rätselhaft. Ich meine, es ist schon klar, dass es die Gitarre ist, aber wie wird das tiefe "Wow, Wow" gemacht? Oktaver, Wah Wah, Entschleuniger oder was? Klingt echt völlig abgedreht, ist aber nach 2 Minuten 35 Sekunden schon vorbei. Überhaupt ist die ganze CD nicht länger als knapp 50 Minuten. Da wäre doch noch Platz gewesen. Aber okay, für die erste CD [im Schrank des Rezensenten; Red.] soll es reichen. So hat man wenigstens einen recht guten Überblick über das Schaffen des Trios um Boo Boo Davis. December 27, 2008 Authenticity is the Name of the Game From primitive drive to soft blues goes Boo Boo Davis´s newest album "Name Of The Game". The unclad, bassless trio plays with an appropriate less-is-more attitude, still giving depth to the big picture. Mississippi Delta-born and bred Boo Boo Davis`s latest album "Name Of The Game" is steadfast, primitive blues. Its grooves contain both harshness and soulful moodiness. "Name Of The Game" is the fourth CD by Davis released by Black and Tan Records. Davis grew up with the blues all around him. His father Sylvester Davis played multiple instruments, and jam-sessions at home had friends like Elmore James, John Lee Hooker and Robert Pete Williams - nice guests indeed! Davis`s own playing career started with the harp when he was five years old. In addition, he sang in the church choir. In the early sixties, he and his brothers had a band, which was involved in the lively blues world of St. Louis. They played as the house band at Tabby`s Red Room for no less than 18 years. By his side, Davis has a drummer, John Gerritse, and guitarist Jan Mittendorp. Together they make an inspired trio contributing to an album full of interesting and versatile music. Davis has warmth and depth in his voice and his harp has a rich sound to it. Raw, even primal blues proclaimed in tunes such as "Dirty Dog", "Who Stole the Booty" and "Stay From The Casino" meet with funky "Hot Foot" and the Jimmy Reed-style soft blues tunes "Want Nobody Tell Me How To Live My Life!" and "It`s a Shame". What might be the highlight of the album is the soul style of "Why You Wanna Do It". Based on a two-chord change swaying back and forth is brilliant in its simplicity. All in all, the music is stripped to its barest and at times creates spaciousness in its monotony. The spare guitarism of Jan Mittendorp contributes to the authenticity, communicating finely with Davis`s harp-playing. A good band needs a good drummer, and that is what John Gerritse most definitely is. His expressive playing combined with ingenious shifts of rhythm patterns such as found in "Stay From The Casino" give a brilliant rhythmic dimension to the record. The sound of his drums is captured in all its glory at the beginning of "I`m so Tired". "Name Of The Game" consists entirely of originals by Davis-Mittendorp-Gerritse. They sure have managed in recording an album of authentic blues music in 2008 - one can only imagine how well they work in a live situation. December 17, 2008 Boo Boo Davis - Name Of The Game Besten Harp-Blues legt der aus Mississippi stammende Boo Boo Davls vor, der auf seiner neuen Einspielung kongenial von Drummer John Gerritse und Gitarrist Jan Mittendorp unterstützt wird. Sound und Feeling stimmen, wobei Boo Boo's Gesang über jeden Zweifel erhaben ist und sowohl zu traditionellem Chicago Blues als auch zu fetten und WahWah-verzerrten Nummern bestens passt. Anspieltipps sind Stücke wie "l'm Comin' Home" und "Who Stole The Booty". December 16, 2008 Two Black and Tan Artists received an award nomination !!! For the third year in a row Doug MacLeod is nominated for a BLUES MUSIC AWARD. Among the nominees for 2009 you will find him in the category Acoustic Artist Of The Year. The awards will be announced at the 30th Annual Blues Music Awards ceremony on May 7, 2009 in Memphis, Tennessee. Here is the complete list with all 2009 BMA nominees. All members of the BLUES FOUNDATION can vote online for their favorites. Here you can vote or register as a member (and then vote): In Canada Harrison Kennedy is nominated for a 2009 MAPLE BLUES AWARD in the category Male Vocalist Of The Year. The Gala Awards Ceremony will take place in Toronto on Monday, January 19, 2009. December 12, 2008 Vanaf de bodem van een echoput Met een prominente rol voor zijn twee Nederlandse begeleiders levert veteraan Boo Boo Davis een van de beste bluesalbums van 2008 af. Zijn gruizige stem krijgt een ruige ondersteuning door de zompige gitaar van Jan Mittendorp en de dreunende drums van John Gerritse, die een zo bonkig ritme aanhouden dat de bas niet gemist wordt. Dat het geheel lijkt te zijn opgenomen op de bodem van een echoput maakt het alleen maar beter. Ariejan Korteweg December 11, 2008 Boo Boo Davis - Name Of The Game Het album wat ik nu ga bespreken heeft voor mij een zeer indrukwekkend spoor achtergelaten! Boo Boo Davis is een man die gezien wordt (althans door mij), als een nieuwe Howlin Wolf, maar wel meer dan dat inmiddels, want hij doet wel een moderne versie hiervan, en zijn stemgeluid is ook regelmatig verschillend. Neemt niet weg, dat we hier met een uitstekend album hebben te maken. Meteen openen de heren al lekker fel met “Dirty Dog” om vevolgens een kei van een slow blues neer te sabelen (”I’m Coming Home”), waar het vet vanaf druipt. Vervolgens heerlijke funk wat de klok slaat in het nummer “Stay From The Casino”, om daarna gewoon acoustische getinte chicago-blues neer te zetten. Eeen zeer prominente rol is weg gelegd voor gitaar-player Jan Mittendorp, die veel wah-wah geluid gebruikt, en dat klinkt erg lekker, en de rest van de begeleiding staat ook als een huis kan ik gerust wel zeggen. Een opzwepende ”why you wanna do it” die af en toe wat BB king geluiden in herinering brengt. Dan het zwaar klinkende “I am So tired” absoluut helemaal mijn pakkie aan, met een boel Buddy Guy er in, helemaal goed dus, en een van de pareltjes van dit meer dan goede album van dit jaar. Boo Boo Davis zingt alsof de duivel hem op de hielen zit, en laat regelmatig zijn blues-harp ronken.- uitgebracht door Black and Tan Records. Een absolute aanrader!!! December 10, 2008 Boo Boo's track "Who stole The Booty" was used in episode # 12 of SONS OF ANARCHY; a series on FoxNetworks. It's very good news because it will get Boo Boo's music to a lot of new listeners and we already notice a significant increase in downloads of the song at iTunes. This is already the second Black and Tan track that has been used in this series. You can find more information at this link. December 9, 2008 DOUG MACLEOD - THE UTRECHT SESSIONS C'mon now, seriously, have ya ever heard a bad Doug MacLeod CD? Of course not! And I could probably rest my case there, but this little gem is worthy of note, being a collection of live-to-mic solos and duets, sometimes with percussion, other times with bass. MacLeod pretty frequently plays The Boogaloo Cafe down in Hermosa Beach a few miles from me and always attracts a crowd. The reason's easy to understand. All you have to do is listen to his guitar, drenched in blues and as subtle as a sidewinder weaving sinuous lines in the sand. However, the guy is also known for his soulful vocals, and this CD may very well be the best exposition of them so far.This Old River is almost gospel—heartfelt, impassioned, and quivering with emotion, the river a metaphor, as has classically been the case, for the line between life and death. Then there's The Addition to Blues, a swingin' number about, er, well, um…honeydipping and the women who are only too happy to share with men what their sisters will not or will only sell via the usual merchandising (marriage, etc.). After that come the boogie numbers, the folkie laments, and the many embrasures of tradition (Long Time Road et al), each one nailed as a perfect exposition. MacLeod not only sings while picking and strumming an entrancing guitar but plays the foot as well. That's right: two microphones were set up for the six-stringed axes and one for his foot keeping the time. Sounds a trifle odd but with body-tapping being the new rage, it fits right in. The CD was recorded in the Netherlands, in Utrecht, his favorite town, which isn't particularly noteworthy but interesting that he chose an old town in old Europe for a very tripped old style recital…which brings new life to a hallowed genre. December 8, 2008 review in the WASHINGTON BLUES SOCIETY Blues Letter: Name of the Game is St. Louis bluesman Boo Boo Davis' follow-up to his critically-acclaimed homage to his home town Drew, Mississippi. That CD landed on MOJO Magazine's top 10 blues releases of 2006 in Great Britain. Over the past eight years, Boo Boo has toured Europe twice a year in addition to playing notable festival (Poconos, for one), and blues clubs like BB's Blues and Soups in the shadow of the Gateway Arch. The blues is in his blood: the Davis family is a blues institution in St. Louis, and the family band anchored Tabby's Red Room in East St. Louis for nearly 20 years. My favorites on this rough-hewn gritty CD include the powerful 'Dirty Dog', the hard driving 'Who Stole the Booty', and the classic, old-school blues shouter 'St Louis Woman'. If you like industrial strength, guitar-driven, post-war urban blues, I highly recommend Name of the Game. Join over 110 radio stations and more than 20 publications and enjoy Name of the Game. Check out a diverse group of bluesmen and blues women nurtured by producer/guitarist Jan Mittendorp at Black and Tan Records, a small but important blues record label in The Netherlands. Eric Steiner December 5, 2008 review from the concert of DOUG MACLEOD in Bremen (Germany) last Tuesday: Zum Blues gehört auch das Erzählen. Ein intimes Konzert des amerikanischen Sängers und Gitarristen Doug MacLeod im Moments BREMEN. Doug MacLeod gibt bis zu 200 Konzerte im Jahr. Doch wer deshalb einen völlig ausgezehrten, überarbeiteten Musiker im Moments erwartet hatte, sah sich völlig getäuscht. Dem 62-jährigen Kalifornier scheinen seine Auftritte vielmehr eine unerschöpfliche Energiequelle zu sein. Die letzte Veranstaltung des Jahres aus der Reihe "Sparkasse in Concert" gehörte gleichzeitig zu den intimsten. Ausschlaggebend war die sympathische Art, wie der Blues-Songwriter mit den Zuschauern kommunizierte. Er bestritt den ganzen Abend allein mit seiner Dobro-Gitarre, deren Metall-Corpus für einen unverwechselbaren scheppernden Sound mit leichtem Hall sorgt. MacLeod gehört nicht zu denen, die sich bemühen, den Blues völlig neu zu erfinden. Aber er ist einer, dem es gelingt, dieses Genre wieder mit Leben zu füllen. Man merkt, dass er von traditionellen Bluesmusikern intensiv gelernt hat. Seine Stücke sind eine Mischung aus Melodien und gesprochenen Erzählparts. Dabei fällt es schwer, zwischen spontanen Ansagen und den feststehenden Texten zu unterscheiden, da beide nahtlos ineinander übergehen. Angetan haben es ihm die großen Themen: der Sinn des Lebens, die Vielfältigkeit menschlicher Beziehungen und natürlich die Liebe. Doch immer streut er augenzwinkernd kleine Gags ein und bringt so die Zuschauer und auch sich selbst zum Lachen. Mit faszinierender Leichtigkeit hält er dabei seine Begleitung im Timing. Meist läuft ein rhythmischer Basston auf den tiefen Saiten durch, auf dem Akkordfiguren variiert werden. Doch auch allein als Instrumentalist versteht er es Spannung aufzubauen und blendend zu unterhalten. Ein wunderbares Konzert. Anders Becker / WESER KURIER December 2, 2008 Billy Jones - my Hometown No one who I can think of, except perhaps James “Blood” Ulmer, has taken a truly contemporary look at traditional blues with the musical and lyrical intensity of Billy Jones. While Ulmer’s music is often dark and angry, Jones takes a more restrained and soulful approach while still expressing deep love, despair, and other intense feelings with his music. Musically, there is a mix of styles on the CD. Jones can hammer out some hard, driving blues or go more traditional in his approach. But what really got to me were the lyrics. There are several songs where Billy gets into the urban problems of his "hometown." The modern, urban blues lyrics start right from the beginning of the CD. He starts out with some slow jam/blues in a ballad called “Here With You”. He sings of how deep his love is: “your love is much warmer than my prison cell, so if the homies ride tonight I think I’m gonna stay right here”. With the second track, “Pull My 44”, Jones sings of a jealous lovers' rage. He describes his lovers' beauty and talks about how he’s jealous and if “I catch you messin’ wit’ my woman, Man I’m mo’ pull my 44”. The music has a Mississippi Delta component to it, yet it is modern and urban. Later, we hear “Crystal”; this is a semi-psychedelic rocking song about his addiction and the dangers of Crystal. It’s not a girlfriend named Crystal, but crystal methamphetamine. In the title track, “My Hometown’, Jones talks frankly about the problems in the ghetto. Schools not teaching you what to do, gangs, violence, meth labs, broken families, and a repressive system all become part of these modern blues. Jones goes a more traditional R&B route with music and lyrics in cuts like “Right Now” and "Never Let You Go”. The deep bass notes driving the beat and his vocals are a throwback to an older soul era where he sings of loves won and lost. In “The Clown” Billy goes to his guitar and sweetly bends some notes to punctuate the song about his lost love, where he states “and girl for you I’m just a clown.” Top to bottom, this is a nice little CD. Jones provides vocals and guitar, Ramon Goose is on keys and does the digital work, Joe Goose play bass and Gary Leach is on drums. Jones calls his music “Bluez” and sings about the problems of his life and hometown with heart and feeling; it is “blues” transformed, updated and urbanized. This North Little Rock Arkansas musician is the real deal and his 2007 release “my Hometown” is a great CD!