News

Alligator Records has set an August 26 street date for ORANGE BLOSSOMS, the new studio album from Jacksonville, Florida-based guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter JJ Grey and his band Mofro, and FULL TILT, the seventh Alligator release from Chicago-based houserocking band, Lil’ Ed And The Blues Imperials. ORANGE BLOSSOMS is a masterpiece of down-home, soul-shaking music. FULL TILT is simply the rawest, truest, most electrifying blues being made today.

From raw, swampy funk to deep soul, blues and rock, JJ Grey and Mofro deliver devastating live and recorded performances. JJ comes from a long tradition of Southern storytellers, and his songs often use the loss of his natural surroundings and the marginalization of Southern culture as a metaphor for universal truths. His multi-textured music overflows with dynamic rhythms and thought-provoking lyrics. Debuting in 2001 with BLACKWATER, following up in 2004 with LOCHLOOSA (both albums reissued by Alligator in 2007), Grey steadily built an intensely loyal following through constant touring. In 2007, with his first Alligator release, COUNTRY GHETTO, Grey reached an even larger audience, doubling both his album sales and his concert attendance. Now, with his new album, ORANGE BLOSSOMS, JJ Grey takes another giant step forward.

ORANGE BLOSSOMS, produced by long-time cohort Dan Prothero and Grey, was recorded in north Florida and boasts some of Grey’s most profound and moving music to date. The album features 12 songs (including 11 Grey originals) inspired by Grey’s life experiences and visionary observations. With long-time friend and guitarist Daryl Hance, bassist/organist Adam Scone, drummer Anthony Cole, and the Hercules Horns of saxophonist Art Edmaiston and trumpeter Dennis Marion, Grey moves effortlessly from gospel-tent fervor to Southern-fried rockers to deeply emotional soul. ORANGE BLOSSOMS is a groove-driven masterpiece fueled by JJ’s gritty, smoldering vocals and intense, funk-infused guitar and keyboard work.

Slide guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Lil’ Ed Williams is an awe-inspiring master bluesman. He and his blistering, road-tested band, The Blues Imperials – guitarist Mike Garrett, bassist James “Pookie” Young and drummer Kelly Littleton – are celebrating 20 amazing years together. Produced by Williams and Alligator president Bruce Iglauer, FULL TILT captures all of Lil’ Ed And The Blues Imperials’ legendary live energy on disc. From foot-stomping boogies to emotionally charged slow blues to rocked out celebrations, FULL TILT is a party-inducing delight. The addition of horn players Eddie McKinley and David Basinger and pianist/organist Johnny Iguana on a few songs add even more punch and power to the proceedings.

Lil’ Ed boasts a direct bloodline to blues history—his uncle and musical mentor was the great Chicago slide guitarist, songwriter and recording artist J.B. Hutto. According to The Chicago Tribune, “Williams represents one of the few remaining authentic links to the raucous, pure Chicago blues.” Live, Lil’ Ed And The Blues Imperials simply can’t be beat as Ed breaks out the deepest back-bends, the highest toe-walks, and the most authentic electric slide-guitar blues being played today. Adding to the legend is Ed’s storybook rise, taking him from working in a car wash to entertaining thousands of fans all over the world. In 2006 he made multiple appearances on Late Night With Conan O’Brien (including a hilarious film with Lil’ Ed teaching Conan how to play the blues) culminating with Lil’ Ed on stage jamming with O’Brien in front of a television audience in the millions.

The Washington Post describes Williams’ music as “contagious wildness.” The Philadelphia Inquirer expresses it as “raucous and hugely entertaining.” But no matter how you describe it, Lil’ Ed’s seriously inspired music will take you on a fast trip from your chair to your feet. Now, with FULL TILT and a schedule that will take the band on another non-stop tour across the country and across the ocean, Lil’ Ed And The Blues Imperials will continue to rip, roar, rock, roll, bend and fully tilt into the hearts, minds, souls and dancing shoes of Ed Heads all around the world.

JANIVA MAGNESS’ NEW CD, WHAT LOVE WILL DO,
OUT ON JUNE 10!

ALLIGATOR RECORDS PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MAY 9, 2008
CONTACT: MARC LIPKIN / CHRIS LEVICK 773-973-7736
email: publicity@allig.com

On Thursday, May 8, The Blues Foundation announced the winners of the 2008 Blues Music Awards (formerly known as the W.C. Handy Awards). Three Alligator recording artists received a total of five awards.

Chicago blues legend Koko Taylor (a 2008 Grammy nominee as well) received three awards, including nods for Traditional Blues Album Of The Year for Old School, Song Of The Year for Taylor’s original Gonna Buy Me A Mule and Traditional Female Artist Of The Year. The Holmes Brothers and Sam Lay (of The Siegel-Schwall Blues Band), each received one award.

The Blues Music Awards are recognized as the highest honor given to blues artists. The Blues Music Awards ceremony and concert was held May 8, 2008 at the Grand Casino Event Center in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi.  Alligator artists and awards are as follows:

KOKO TAYLOR
Traditional Blues Album of the Year: Old School
Song of the Year: Gonna Buy Me A Mule, written by Koko Taylor
Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year

THE HOLMES BROTHERS
Soul Blues Album of the Year: State Of Grace

SAM LAY (THE SIEGEL-SCHWALL BLUES BAND)
Instrumentalist of the Year - Drums


 

ALLIGATOR RECORDS PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 28, 2008
CONTACT: MARC LIPKIN / ALLIGATOR RECORDS / 773-973-7736 x235
EMAIL: publicity@allig.com

“A superb, powerhouse R&B singer who delivers blues and soul with show-stopping authority.” 

–Los Angeles Daily News

Alligator Records has set a June 10 street date for WHAT LOVE WILL DO, the label debut CD from blues and soul vocalist Janiva Magness. Possessing a rich, soulful voice and absolute command over her material, Magness is an incredibly gifted performer who can lead her audience through a range of emotions, from the deepest sorrow to overwhelming joy.

Winner of the 2006 and 2007 Blues Music Award for Best Contemporary Female Artist Of The Year, Magness is nominated in the Blues Entertainer Of The Year category this year. Her presence on stage is legendary, as she performs 150 nights a year at clubs, festivals and concert halls all over the world. In April 2008, she traveled to Iraq and Kuwait co-headlining Bluzapalooza, the first-ever blues concert tour to perform for American troops.

A survivor of an impossibly rough childhood, Magness’ life experience informs her music in a way that is brutally honest, emotionally moving and, above all, spiritually healing. Part of her healing includes helping others in need. In addition to her musical accomplishments, Magness, a foster care alumni, is also a National Spokesperson for Casey Family Programs, promoting National Foster Care Month.

WHAT LOVE WILL DO, co-produced by Magness and Dave Darling (Brian Setzer, Meredith Brooks, Dan Hicks), features 13 powerful songs, each overflowing with Magness’ expressive emotional intensity. Magness reaches heights only hinted at in her previous recordings, interpreting new material written especially for her and songs from Little Milton, Tina Turner, Bill Withers, Al Green, Candi Staton, Dorothy Moore and Marvin Gaye. Her impassioned singing takes each song from deep within her being and projects it out directly into the heart and soul of her audience, making WHAT LOVE WILL DO essential listening for blues, roots rock and soul music lovers everywhere.

Born in Detroit, Magness was inspired by the blues and country she heard listening to her father’s record collection and by the vibrant music of the city’s classic Motown sound. By her teenage years, though, her life was in chaos. She lost both parents to suicide by the time she was 16. She lived on the streets, was in 12 foster homes in two years, became a teenage mother who gave her baby daughter up for adoption, bounced from city to city, feeling hopeless and desperate.

One winter’s night, Magness hitchhiked across Minneapolis to attend an Otis Rush concert, and for the first time saw a path forward. She began going to as many blues shows as possible, soaking up the sounds of her favorite blues and soul artists. While working as an intern at a recording studio, she was approached by her boss to sing some supporting vocals on a track. Finding her voice, she soon began working regularly as a background singer. By the early 1980s, Magness made her way to Phoenix and befriended Bob Tate, the musical director for the great Sam Cooke. With Tate’s mentoring, she formed her first band, Janiva Magness And The Mojomatics, and before too long the influential Phoenix New Times named her group the city’s Best Blues Band.

She moved to Los Angeles in 1986 and slowly began finding work. She married musician and songwriter Jeff Turmes, with whom she recorded It Takes One To Know One in 1997. After three more independent releases, Janiva signed with Northern Blues and recorded Bury Him At The Crossroads in 2004 and Do I Move You? in 2006. Both CDs were co-produced by Magness along with Canadian roots star Colin Linden, and both garnered Magness a massive amount of critical and popular attention. Magness and Linden won the prestigious Canadian Maple Blues Award for Producers Of The Year for Bury Him At The Crossroads in 2004. Do I Move You? debuted at #8 on the Billboard Blues Chart and was the #1 Blues CD Of The Year in 2006 on Living Blues magazine’s radio chart.

With WHAT LOVE WILL DO and a major U.S. tour planned with more dates and countries to be added, there is no doubt that even more recognition will come Magness’ way. Janiva Magness continues to wring the truth from every note she sings, amazing and delighting both old and new fans all over the world.

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Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor, slide guitar master Lil' Ed Williams and his band, The Blues Imperials and West Side legend Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater all perform at the 25th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, June 5 - 8, 2008. The free festival is held at Chicago's Grant Park.

Taylor will headline the main stage on Friday, June 6. Earlier that evening, Clearwater will take the stage with his road band as well as all the players on his new CD, West Side Strut. Guests include Ronnie Baker Brooks (Lonnie's son, who produced the CD), Lonnie Brooks, Billy Branch, Otis Clay, Jimmy Johnson and others.

Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials take the stage the following night, Saturday, June 7. Ed is currently working on a follow-up to his hugely successful 2006 CD, Rattleshake.

Singer Janiva Magness, whose debut Alligator CD WHAT LOVE WILL DO comes out on June 10, 2008, joins Bobby Rush, Billy Gibson and other blues stars in the first-ever blues tour to entertain troops in Iraq and Kuwait. The first show will be April 1 in Kuwait. There will be two shows in Baghdad’s Green Zone, and two shows in other Iraq cities not revealed for security reasons.

The band will include drummer Tony Braunagel, keyboardist David Torkanowsky, bassist Gary Davenport, and guitarist Zach Zunis. Plans for two more tours of the region are already underway, scheduled for October 2008 and January 2009. Artists for those tours will be announced at a later date.

More information can be found at www.myspace.com/bluzapalooza.

Alligator artists Marcia Ball and Guitar Shorty will perform during this year’s SxSW festival in Austin, Texas on Thursday, March 13. Ball plays the Americana Music Association Showcase at Antone’s at 1:00am (Friday morning). Guitar Shorty plays at Opal Devine’s Freehouse at 11:00pm. Guitar Shorty also plays on Wednesday, March 12 at The Yard Dog as part of the WMNF / Skipper’s Smokehouse day party at 5:30pm.

Ball’s new CD, PEACE, LOVE & BBQ, comes out on April 8. Ball recently recorded with her friend Irma Thomas on Irma’s upcoming Rounder Records CD, Simply Grand. USA Today called Ball, “A sensational, saucy singer and superb pianist….where Texas stomp-rock and Louisiana blues-swamp meet."

Guitar Shorty’s latest CD, WE THE PEOPLE, has been hailed as the best of his long, storied career. Texas Music recently said, “Give him a guitar, a stage and room to run, and Guitar Shorty will entertain you something fierce.”