“Smokey is difficult if not impossible to categorize. Possessor of a powerful voice, he can bellow like Wolf or cry sweetly like B.B. King. Smokey's guitar playing is equally diverse as he romps through the stylings of Elmore James and Jimmy Reed (which Smokey calls "countryfied blues") one song and then polished urban blues the next. He also digs into the soulful side a la Z.Z. Hill and Tyrone Davis, which was extremely popular with the patrons of the Pioneer Club. Smokey's singing and playing bear the influences of these greats, not by impersonation, but by the fact that Smokey is the genuine article.”

With Bluesfest beginning this week with easter upon us. I’m reeling back the years to revisit this 1983 classic by Smokey Wilson 8th Street  Blues.

Plus new releases by Jon Cleary, Bob Corritore, Kid Ramos, TajMo, Bernard Allison, Early James, Southern Avenue, Polythythmics, Tommy Castro, GA20, Eric Johanson and Frank Bey.