Author Archives: Living Blues

28th Annual Living Blues Awards (2021)

Critics’ Poll

Blues Artist of the Year (Male)         

Jimmy Johnson

Blues Artist of the Year (Female)

Shemekia Copeland

Most Outstanding Blues Singer

Bettye LaVette

Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar)

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram 

Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica) 

Billy Branch

Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard) 

Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne 

Most Outstanding Musician (Bass) 

Benny Turner

Most Outstanding Musician (Drums) 

Cedric Burnside

Most Outstanding Musician (Horns) 

Maceo Parker

Most Outstanding Musician (Other) 

Leyla McCalla (Cello) 

Best Live Performer

Bobby Rush

Comeback Artist of the Year

Tutu Jones

Artist Deserving More Attention

Andrew Alli

Best Blues Albums of 2020

Album of the Year

Shemekia Copeland – Uncivil War (Alligator)

New Recordings / Contemporary Blues

John Primer &

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Living Blues #272 Top 10 Reviews

LITTLE FREDDIE KING

Going Upstairs

Newvelle Records – NVN002

Initially released as part of Newvelle Records’ The New Orleans Collection box set that also includes LPs by singer Irma Thomas,

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Living Blues #271 Top 10 Reviews

DON BRYANT
You Make Me Feel

Fat Possum – FP1747-3

Pressing the play button on a CD player with Don Bryant’s You Make Me Feel is like activating a time machine that takes the listener back to the early 1970s heyday of Memphis soul music in studios like Stax and particularly Hi Records.

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Living Blues #270 Top 10 Reviews

SONNY GREEN
Found! One Soul Singer

Little Village Foundation – LVF 1037

Although he’s being touted as a soul “discovery,” vocalist Sonny Green hasn’t spent his life languishing in total obscurity.

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