WEBLOG ARCHIVE 2006 02 BACK TO WEBLOG December 15, 2006 The nominations for the Blues Music Awards 2007 were published and this is what Soul Patrol thinks about it: These awards are now called the "Blues Music Awards". Apparently WC Handy is no longer worthy of having the award in his name? I think it's CRIMINAL that Boo Boo Davis, Candi Staton, Angel Rissloff, Ms. Monique and Billy Jones "Bluez" aren't nominated. I'll bet that if WC Handy was involved in making these selections and not a bunch of "suburban blues" yahoos that these artists would be nominated. On second thought, I'm glad that they have removed his name from their "award". Perhaps next year they can call it the "Suburban Blues Awards"???? (for those who don't have enough electrical outlets in their SUV's?). December 14, 2006 Some disturbing facts on the future of radio in the USA from a report of the FMC documenting the effects of radio station ownership consolidation on musicians and the public. The FMC (Future of Music Coalition) is a not-for-profit think tank based in Washington, DC that strives for the creation of a musicians' middle class. The FMC's primary goal is to educate musicians and the public at large about some of the critical issues that are shaping the policy debate in the music/technology space. Data in the report shows that station ownership consolidation at the national and local levels has led to fewer choices in radio programming and harmed the listening public and those working in the music and media industries, including DJs, programmers and musicians. Key points included in report: - The top four radio station owners have almost half of the listeners and the top ten owners have almost two-thirds of listeners. - The "localness" of radio ownership – ownership by individuals living in the community -- has declined between 1975 and 2005 by almost one-third - Just fifteen formats make up three-quarters of all commercial programming. Moreover, radio formats with different names can overlap up to 80% in terms of the songs played on them - Niche musical formats like Classical, Jazz, Americana, Bluegrass, New Rock, and Folk, where they exist, are provided almost exclusively by smaller station groups - Across 155 markets, radio listenership has declined over the past fourteen years, a 22% drop since its peak in 1989. The consolidation allowed by the Telecom Act has failed to reverse this trend. ----------------------------------------------------------- We get feedback on our releases from all over the world. This came in last night from Joseph Palmada of Radio Vilafant in Spain: DOUG MACLEOD - WHERE I BEEN: Doug Macleod in this CD offers us a very interesting and current blues. I congratulate him because in it has not resorted to versions, I have liked very much the own compositions that it has included. "Where I been" is a disc that was not happening unnoticed for the lovers of the good blues. ROSCOE CHENIER - WAITING FOR MY TOMORROW: In "Waiting for my tomorrow" Roscoe Shenier he presents a disc very good at he his good quality demonstrates us so much as musician as composer, also it does a few good versions of songs of other composers, an excellent CD for whom he likes the good blues. BOO BOO DAVIS - DREW MISSISSIPPI: I congratulate Booboo Davis on this CD I would like to emphasize the interesting compositions that in him it us interprets to the best style of the big classic ones of the blues. "Drew Mississippi" is an indispensable disc in your particular discotheque of blues. TURNIP GREENS - CARRY ME DOWN THE AISLE: "Carry down the aisle" has looked like to me a very original and interesting disc, these musical young men do a very guessed right music and with a very particular sound, come with this disc of very good quality. I encourage them to continue in this musical line. December 12, 2006 
Great reviews in the new issue. Below a few quotes (in Norwegian): on TURNIP GREENS: …"Sannelig om jeg vet helt hvorfor, men den mørke, suggererende musikken til Århusianerne Turnip Greens tiltaler meg en hel del. Og denne deres tredje CD er intet unntak. Så koker de sin egen suppe på det, tydelig New Orleans-inspirert, og vips; Turnip Greens. Det er muligens ikke helt tradisjonell blues, dette, men de bluesa undertonerne vil jeg påstå ligger der hele tida. …en dyster, mørk, melankolsk, smakfull, musikalsk, tilbakelent utgivelse… …du kan ta mitt ord for det, og skaffe deg i alle fall et par av danskernes utgivelser."… on BOO BOO DAVIS: …" En som har førstehåndskjennskap til ekte deltablues, og som har både den passende pondusen, nerven og trykket i stemmen sin til å formidle den. Davis med Howlin´ Wolf stemmen sin og sin "ekte" bluesbakgrunn fungerer fantastisk bra i denne moderne settingen… Skiva har blitt troverdig, tøff og spendende, låtene både sitre og gynger. Så vellykket kan altså et samarbeidsprosjekt, som i utgangspunktet virket nesten umulig, bli. Har du enda ikke hørt Drew, Mississippi - gled deg! December 9, 2006 
Two very nice reviews in the new
issue. Here are a few qoutes (in German):
on BOO BOO DAVIS - DREW, MISSISSIPPI: .. eine reizvolle, Puristenverschreckende Kombination aus erdigen Deltagrooves, Slidegitarre und Harp mit Samples, Loops und Scratching. Davis lässt sich in seinem Gesang noch beirren, bleibt voll im Bluesgenre und liefert so die Bodenhaftung für die modernen Sounds, die in ersten Linie das perkussive, rhythmische Bluesfundament noch zusätzlich stützen. Eine absolut passende, stimmige Mischung die auch neue Hörerschichten für den Blues begeistern sollte. on TURNIP GREENS - CARRY ME DOWN THe AISLE:.. aus den Tiefen des amerikanischen Südens. Dunkel mit Anflügen van Tom Waits bis Muddy Waters. Die Blueswürzeln schimmern immer wieder durch. Roots in Reinkultur, so authentisch wie der Süden der Staaten nur sein kann ! Ach ja, nur ein Detail noch; Turnip Greens in waschechte Dänen. December 4, 2006 A few nice reviews on the older titles were published at BLUESBUNNY. Read the reviews on: - Boo Boo Davis - Can Man - Byther Smith - Throw Away The Book - Big George Jackson - Southern In My Soul December 1, 2006 And there is always new music and artists to discover. My musical discovery of this week is BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON. It is like a bluesy version of Sister Rosetta Tharpe mixed with some old Soul Stirrers. In my opinion a perfect mix of God's and the Devil's music. November 28, 2006 
On sunday and monday we did the filming and recording for the upcoming DVD of DOUG MACLEOD. We expect to release the DVD in February 2007. Besides a live concert registration there will also an extensive interview and a lot interesting stuff on it. In total we have 20 hours of film to choose from. On the picture you see Doug with the film crew (Mazanti Films) from Denmark, The new Boo Boo Davis CD is still in the play list of Bill Wax of XM Satelite, creating a lot of positive feedback form the US. November 22, 2006 - - - - Great News - - - - !!! We just heard that Drew, Mississippi from Boo Boo Davis will be listed with the 10 BEST BLUES RECORDS in 2006. 
November 20, 2006 
Just when you think you have all the new technologies you run across something new and exiting. Last week I discovered
Last.FM,
a new form of radio and community networking. Looks like a great new way to promote independent music. I am in the progress of
uploading the Black and Tan releases and pretty soon all of them should be available on Last.FM.
One of the extra features is that the site keeps track of the music you play on your computer. If everything works the way I understand it you can see in the box in the left op of this page which music I am listening to. Isn't that amazing ? Here are some live video's of DOUG MACLEOD on YouTube. November 19, 2006 Back in the office after a weekend on the road with Doug MacLeod. On Saturday Doug performed at the blues festival in Avignon a beautiful old city in the south of France. We spend a lot of hours in the car and used the time to make preparations for the upcoming DVD recording of Doug. On YouTube I found this nice animation made on the song Ice Storm of Boo Boo Davis. November 13, 2006 a few quotes from the reviews on NetRhythms. on Boo Boo Davis: "Boo Boo Davis is a Delta man through and through and for this recording he has brought that experience into the 21st century. He has teamed up with Ramon Goose from Nublues to produce a fusion of raw blues and modern beats. The alternating between electric and acoustic continues with the eponymous title track. This is acoustic but with added strings this time and this adds up to a great effect over the traditional Delta blues. … The dramatic Standing In The Cotton Fields is stripped to the bare bones and as far as acoustic blues goes, this is the business. …. an interesting mix of old and new. …. Howlin' Wolf for the 21st century." read the whole review. on Turnip Greens: "Turnip Greens are four seasoned musicians from Denmark, influenced by the likes of Dr. John, Daniel Lanois, Ry Cooder and Muddy Waters amongst others… They open with Carry Me Down The Aisle, like the rest of the songs on the album, an original composition, and it's a painfully & achingly slow opener. This is very appropriate as it is about death and a funeral (a common theme for blues music) and is surprisingly powerful … The acoustic Gather My Bones is haunting and returns to the slower pace. I absolutely love this and it is so laid back, it's horizontal… A Man Said Goodbye is another of the albums standout tracks with fuzzed vocals and idiosyncratic beat that reminds me very much of Canadian Joe Fournier. ….. overall, a clever, original album." Read the whole review. Busy weekend on the road with Doug MacLeod. Saturday morning an in-store concert at Sounds in Venlo (Holland). Saturday evening a concert in Beau de l'air in Hamme (Belgium) and sunday afternoon in Cafe de Amer in Amen (Holland).  Doug and 'Philadelphia' Jerry Ricks, who came to the show in Hamme to check out Doug and his music. November 10, 2006 TUNRIP GREENS have added video material to their MySpace profile. You will find parts of the documentary that was made during their CD recording and the other footage is from a live performance on Danish tv. November 8, 2006 Last week TURNIP GREENS played their first German concert at the Bluesnight in Idar-Oberstein. This is what the newspaper in Idar-Oberstein wrote about their show: "Die große Uberraschung des Abends waren die "TURNIP GREENS" aus Dänemark. Die Gruppe aus Arhus uind Kopenhagen nennt als großes Vorbild Tom Waits. Und das hört man fast jedem ihre Lieder an. Gut dabei ist, dass Sie den extrvaganten Amerikaner nicht kopieren, sondern ihren selbstkomponierten Stücken eine eigenen Stempel aufdrücken. Wie bei Waits sind die Lieder oftmals herrlich schräg. Rock und sanfte Balladen wechseln sich ab. Schön dass das Idar-Obersteiner Publikum sich für neue Formen das Blues offen zeigte un der Band reichlich Beifall spendete." November 7, 2006  from the review of Boo Boo Davis in the new issue that came in today:
"C'est du blues de Mississippi, du vrai, par un homme qui y a ses rancines, au milieu des champs de coton, ce n'est pas stéréotypé, c'est musicalement très bon et, à mon gout, excellent !" This also came in this morning: Blues Radio Society based in France, COLLECTIF des RADIOS BLUES is glad to present the 10 most played artists for October on it network. 1- HOUND DOG SONG "Behind the sun" (Autoprod) (2006) 2- Big Boy BLOATER "What you been prayin’ for?" (Bloat Records) (2006) 3 - THE WASHING MACHINE Cie "Ladies and gentlemen" (Nocturne) (2006) 3 Ex-aequo - O.C. BLUES "I’m laid back" (Autoprod) (2006) 5 Kid ANDERSEN "Greaseland" (Grappa Musikk) (2006) 5 Ex-aequo- Nick MOSS & THE FLIP TOPS "Live at Chan’s" (Blue Bella Records)(2006) 7- Boo Boo DAVIS "Drew, Mississippi" (Black & Tan) (2006) 8- Eric BIBB "Diamond days" (Dixiefrog) (2006) 9 Dave GROSS "Take the gamble" (Swingnation Records) (2006) 9 Ex-aequo - James HUNTER "People gonna talk" (Rounder) (2006) November 3, 2006 quote from the review (in Danish) form Steffen Lange in Midtjyllands Avis: …"meget impulsivt, råt og direkte, altså meget roots…der går derfor lang tid inden man vænner sig til, at sådan skal det lyde. Og at det faktisk lyder godt…My Baby Say She Loves Me... er et enormt fedt bluesrock-nummer med en underspillet energi og med en snerrende guitar, der hyler ind over den tunge rytmebund…bandet har også bevaret sin lyriske side, og "Kissed Her On The Cheek" samt ikke mindst "Hostile Hospitality" er to meget smukke og følsomme ballader.… er Turnip Greens stadig (blandt) de bedste til den genre herhjemme."… 
These quote come from the new issue (# 214):
TURNIP GREENS are four young Danish musicians - with the looks of pop stars - who got together on the basis on their common interest in music from southern Louisiana and New Orleans. This is US roots-based music with an avant gard, northern European twist. Interesting. Combining traditional blues patterns and BOO BOO's huge voice with the synth parts and scratching could have been a recipe for disaster, however it works rather well. …. Linking modern sounds to traditional blues is not a new idea; it's been tried (and it has failed) before. Depending on your point of view, DREW, MISSISSIPPI could be challenging but ultimately rewarding, or it could be total crap, I am glad to ascribe the former view, stick with it, it's worth it in the end. November 2, 2006 quote's (in German) from reviews in  "DOUG MACLEOD extrahiert auf "Where I Been" gefühlvollen Slow-Blues, der mal mit Akustik-Bass, mal mit streichelndem Schalgzeug begleitet wird." "Richtig swingend und rollend geht's bei ROSCOE CHENIER und seinem Album "Waiting For My Tomorrow" zu. Unglaublich, welche Leidenschaft und Vokalakrobatik Roscoe in seinen Gesang legt." November 1, 2006 Quote from the review of Turnip Greens in MazzMusikas # 057: "Een cd die groeit bij vaker luisteren, van een talentvol groepje Denen die hopelijk een keer op Peer zullen staan" Nice review (in French) on the new Doug MacLeod CD on Passion Blues, a Montreal based web site dedicated to the blues. October 31, 2006 A BOO BOO DAVIS SPECIAL on 
October 27, 2006 The new Boo Boo Davis record is finally available at 
October 26, 2006 We have been discussing a Black And Tan Artists Stage Dress Code and below are a few possillities. Please give us your feedback. 
October 25, 2006  Doug with a new NATIONAL.
 Bill Wax has added the new Boo Boo
Davis record to the playlist of his
show on XM Satellite and immediately we start receiving a lot of positive feedback.
Here are some more pictures made during recent tours:  Boo Boo and his favorite hobby.
 Billy + Nico  Boyd testing the fence
October 24, 2006 TURNIP GREENS /- CARRY ME DOWN THE AISLE is now availabe for downloading at
October 23, 2006 Since early September I have been almost constantly on the road with Boo Boo Davis and Billy Jones. During these seven weeks I have been in almost all european countries (at least once) and spent more then 23.000 kilometers in the van. While traveling I didn´t have much time to put new stuff on here but I am intending to post more infor and material on here from now on. Billy Jones finsihed his tour yesterday and it was pretty succesfull. Billy made a lot of new fans and friends and will be back in Europe in February - March 2007. We also made the recordings for nis next release on Black and Tan, which is scheduled for release early 2007. Like the new Boo Boo Davis album this record will also be produced by Ramon Goose. here are two nice quotes (in dutch) from the new issue of HEAVEN: CARRY ME DOWN THE AILSE is het derde album van de Deense TURNIP GREENS. Muzikale gekte wordt onderstreept door inventief spel vol tempowisselingen. Een rootsy maar aandachtige productie die ondanks de veelheid van invloeden overtuigend het diepe zuiden van de States oproept. Boo Boo Davis zoekt op DREW, MISSISSIPPI naar meer het avontuur door een scratcher en fiddler aan zijn band toe te voegen. Hij blijft steeds dicht bij het sompige southern oerbluesgevoel, en het verbaast dan ook dat de cd in Utrecht is opgenomen. October 15, 2006 Very nice reviews of Boo Boo Davsi and Turnip Greens in the October issue of BLUES ART STUDIO. Read the complete review at this link. October 10, 2006 
Doug MacLeod on the Bues Cruise in the Pacific last week, with Lazy Lester and B'nois King. October 6, 2006 The Collectif des Radio Blues is a collaboration of the most important blues radio shows in the French speaking area's (France, Belgium, Africa and Quebec). Every month they make a list with the 10 most played tracks and here is the list for September 2006: 1- Nina VAN HORN "From Huntsville to Jordan" (Cristal Records) 2- Boo Boo DAVIS "Drew, Mississippi" (Black & Tan) 3- Memo GONZALEZ & THE BLUESCASTERS "Live in the UK" (Crosscut/Mosaïc) 4- Willie KING "One love" (Freedom Creek Music) 5- O.C. BLUES "I'm laid back" (Autoproduction) 6- Dave GROSS "Take the gamble" (Swingnation Records) 7- Seth WALKER "Seth Walker" (Pacific Blues) 8- TURNIP GRENS "Top of the hill" (Black & Tan) 9- Nick MOSS & THE FLIP TOPS "LIVE AT Chan's" (Blue Bella Records) 10- Big George BROCK "Round two" (Cat Head) October 2, 2006 The two new records are now available for downloading at iTunes. TURNIP GREENS - CARRY ME DOWN THE AISLE 
BOO BOO DAVIS - DREW, MISSISSIPPI
September 29, 2006 Yesterday we (Billy Jones Bluez Band) travelled from Lyon (France) to Postojna (Slovenia) and spent the whole day on the Italian highway. In the evening we played in the building that is build at the entrance of the world famous caves in Postojna and this morning we were able to visit the beautiful caves. Per email this review on Boo Boo Davis came in from Bob Davis of Soul Patrol. Normally I only give quotes here but in this case I want to 'publish' the entire review: **Boo Boo Davis - "Drew, Mississippi" (Traditional Blues/Revolutionary Hip Hop/Blues in Technicolor) This isn't the type of an album the you are going to buy as a result of going into a record store. Somebody has to turn you on to it!!! This is the type of an album that you are going to make a special trip to the record store to go and get. When you get to the record store they will of course tell you that they don't have it in stock and they have never heard of it. And then they will tell you "let me check and see if I can order it for you". And when they go into the "back" (that mysterious place inside of the record store that we all think is where they keep the "gold"....lol) we are standing there waiting and hoping that when they come back that "they can order it". When they come back, they say "we can order it, and it will be here on Friday"... You breathe a sigh of relief and in your head quickly re-arrange your entire Friday schedule so that you can get to the record store as soon as possible!!! So what does this album sound like??? Well I think that it's what Muddy Waters or John Lee Hooker would sound like if they were young "bluesmen" in 2006. Back in the early 1990's when I first came on the internet, I belonged to a Blues discussion forum and I wrote a piece that compared the lyrics of Muddy Waters and Ice Cube. Of course my point was that the lyrical subject matter of BOTH Muddy Waters and Ice Cube songs are EXACTLY THE SAME. And of course the other people in the discussion forum thought I was crazy to mention Muddy Waters and Ice Cube in the same sentence. I always thought that piece was one of the best pieces of musical analysis that I have ever written, unfortunately I no longer have it otherwise I would post it for you. The reason I mention it today is because ever since the day I wrote that piece I have been waiting for this album to appear, and now it has. The only album that I can think of to compare it to is Jimi Hendrix - "Are You Experienced" or perhaps to Miles Davis - "In A Silent Way". This is a revolutionary piece of art that fuses together musical styles that when you say it, most people would flinch, however after you hear it, the art makes absolutely perfect sense and you realize that whomever the people are that created this are to be thanked for creating such great and innovative art, that is so far outside of the mainstream, that if the mainstream ever got a hold of it, that the mainstream itself would be "compelled" to change!!! The idea of doing this is hardly new. Many "blues artists" have tried to do this over the past 10 years, however not one that I have ever heard has perfected it, till now. As soon as you listen to this album, you will know that you have discovered something special, in fact it sounds like it could change the lives of many people, if enough people would bother to listen. September 26, 2006 Some very nice quotes from the review of Norman Darwen in BLUES IN THE SOUTH (UK): "Boo Boo is one of the last real down-hone blues singers around, with a big authentic voice akin Howlin' Wolf or John Lee Hooker and a no-nonsense approach to work. Maybe it is Ramon Goose exhibits a good understanding of the genre and he is able to adapt rhythms and arrangements to modern ears without sacrificing the integrity of the blues - or changing things for the change's sake. Maybe it is because Boo Boo is a strong enough leader to pull it off whatever is going on behind him. I found this CD highly successful." Two pictures from last weekend: Billy Jones + Guitar Crusher and Billy + Band. 
September 25, 2006 The BOO BOO DAVIS tour ended yesterday and he made a lot of new friends and fans on this one. Also there is postive feedback coming in on his new record from all over the world. "Every Track is Excellent!" Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2. "It's one of the best CD's I have heard all year" Bob Davis of Soul Patrol. Also got VERY positive feedback from the first concerts of the BILLY JONES tour. More great news !! Today I booked another festival for TURNIP GREENS. On Friday April 13, 2007 they will perform at the AUSTRIAN BLUES MASTERS in Leibnitz (Austria). September 19, 2006 Nice review (in dutch) on TURNIP GREENS on Ctlr.Alt.Country September 14, 2006 Boo Boo with two of his fans afterr the show in Verviers (Belgium). 
** picture by Anne-Marie Coune (Liege - Belgium) September 13, 2006 Back in the office for a day and a half after a very busy week. We finished the UK part of the Boo Boo Davis tour. After that we played in Oosterhout (NL) on sunday and in Salzburg (Austria on monday. So we have seen quit a bit of German Autobahn over the last two days. 
1st picture Boo Boo backstage in Oosterhout, 2nd one Boo Boo in the Rockhouse in Salzburg There is loads of positive feedback coming in on the two new releases and a.o. the new Boo Boo Davis record was played by Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2 and Dan Behrman on Radio Canada. September 5, 2006 Nice review on Roscoe Chenier's record in Concerto (Austria); Here are few quotes. Chenier entführt uns in die Sümpfe ebenso wie nach New Orleans, lässt erdigen, ehrlichen blues neben Zydeco gedeihen. Dies alles absolut authentisch, ohne jegliches Glattbügeln oder Kantenabschleifen. Er vermittelt damit besonderes 'Blues Feeling' ohne jedoch Traurigkeit zu transportieren. September 4, 2006 Just returned at my home / office after a long weekend on the road with Boo Boo Davis. We started on Frdiay with a concert in Oldenzaal (Netherlands). We left immediately after this gig at 4 in the morning and drove all night and most of the day to get to Ste Foy La Grande (in the south of France) and play in te Bourbon Store Cafe. Bit it was worth it... Nice show, nice club, nice people. 
On Sunday we played in Tournon d'Agenais (also in the south of France) on an outside festival in the garden of a 500 year old French castle that used to be the holiday resort of some French king. After the show we had a great diner on the balcony catching the last sun of the day. Today we drove all day back to Holland. So this weekend we drove close to 3000 km and spent more then more 30 hours in the van. August 31, 2006 Yesterday Boo Boo Davis arrived in the Netherlands for his upcoming european tour. 
From today the two new releases (as all other releases) on Black and Tan Records are listed and available at CDMojo.
August 28, 2006 Nice reveiw (in dutch) of Turnip Greens on altcountry.nl August 24, 2006 Doug MacLeod during his concert yesterday evening at Schoenberg Guitars in Tiburon, California. He played a full house and according to ones present it was fantastic. Great scenery with all these beautiful instruments as a background. 
August 22, 2006 All tracks from the two new records (as most of the other Black and Tan tracks) are now entered in the library of PODSAFE MUSIC NETWORK and that means they are available for podcasts. August 17, 2006 The song CURSE OF HAMM by ERNIE PAYNE was selected by the AMERICAN SONGWRITER MAGAZINE (Nashville, TN) to be included in a sampler CD project. The project will be comprised of 18 tracks—broken into two “sides”—THEN & NOW. 20 to 25,000 copies will be manufactured and distributed to subscribers and selected newsstands with a street date of Oct 25th. Different from the average magazines’ “new music sampler”, this compilation will contain the best songs from a handful of contemporary releases (Bonnie Prince Billy, Amos Lee, Ray LaMontagne, etc.), as well as a batch of dusty gems by the likes of George Gershwin, Roger Miller, Townes Van Zandt, and Guy Clark. August 16, 2006 
Great review on the new Roscoe Chenier CD in the new issue of Sing Out (USA). Here are some quotes": "Chenier has mastered the knack of the deceptively spare confessional blues lyric a al 1950s hit maker Jimmy Reed and gives each a personalized yet somehow universal feeling with his breezy, Creole-accented vocal approach. It's a shame that, for whatever reasons, Chenier has been so under recorded over the years and great to hear that he's jump-started his career again recently, touring nationally and in Europe." August 15, 2006 Doug MacLeod with Johnny Rawls at the Bronze, Blues & Brews Festival in Joseph OR. 
August 14, 2006 Back in the office after a short holiday with the family in Croatia. The nice thing about being away is that I even enjoy my work more when I return. I feel blessed being able to live the life I live. I am very busy with two brand new records almost released and several tours this Fall & Winter. Here are the covers and the liner notes of the new records.  CD B&T 028 / TUNRIP GREENS / CARRY ME DOWN THE AISLE
Turnip Greens are four seasoned musicians from Arhus, Denmark. Their music is a unique blend of several musical styles from the southern states of the US. They are influenced by Tom Waits, Dr. John, Delbert McClinton, Elvis, The Meters, B.B. King, Solomon Burke, Daniel Lanois, Ry Cooder, Doyle Bramhall II, Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal, Muddy Waters, The Black Keys and many more. Without a doubt the geographical distance between Denmark and the US is the reason for the fresh and original approach to the music. At the same time you hear exactly where they are coming from and in the music you hear a deep respect for 'the masters' and 'the tradition'. On this disc you'll find eleven great original songs and to me it's some of the best new roots music that I heard in a long while.  CD B&T 029 / BOO BOO DAVIS / DREW, MISSISSIPPI
Boo Boo Davis is the REAL DEAL. He is coming from the same area, period and tradition as most of the blues greats. He continues to write and sing his music which comes from first hand experience born from the Delta. James >Boo Boo= Davis was born in Drew, Mississippi in the heart of Delta. It was the richest cotton land in the South and the large amounts of field workers attracted the best musicians from the surrounding areas, countless legendary performers spent time there. Boo Boo's father, Sylvester Davis farmed cotton and was a very active musician who played several instruments.. Boo Boo remembers musicians dropping by and rehearsing at their house all the time. At the age of five Boo Boo was playing the harmonica and singing in church with his mother. By thirteen he was playing guitar, and by eighteen he was playing out with his father and older brothers. Together they travelled all throughout the Delta playing jukes, taverns and picnics. In the mid sixties Boo Boo and his brothers moved to East St Louis and he started a band with Little Aaron. That band became one of the hottest bands in St Louis backing up great blues legends like Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Milton and Elmore James. In 1972 Boo Boo and his brothers formed another band known as the Davis Brothers Band, It was the weekend house band at a club called Tabby=s Red Room in East St Louis for eighteen years and ever since Boo Boo has been a regular in the St Louis blues scene. So far Boo Boo has released three very well received CD s on Black and Tan. For this new recording project, Boo Boo teamed up with Ramon Goose (from nublues) and they fused the raw blues sounds from the Mississippi delta with modern grooves. Like all the greats from the blues history Boo Boo's singing has a timeless component that makes his message come thru loud and clear. I am confident that this music will attract a new and younger audience. August 1, 2006 Turnip Greens have added two tracks of their new CD on their MySpace profile. Here you can listen. The record will be released on September 4, 2006 and I think it's great music. July 31, 2006 We finished the mixing, mastering and layout of the new Boo Boo Davis CD. I am very happy with the result. It will be different from what we did before and at the same time it will be a 100 % Boo Boo Davis; raw sounds from the delta combined with modern grooves. The titel of the new record is DREW MISSISSIPPI and the release is on September 4, 2006 together with the new Turnip Greens CD. Recently Boo Boo´s profile at MySpace is getting a lot of traffic (visitors/listeners). It is very encouraging to see that a lot of (young) people that come from complete different musical directions, immediately sense the truth and the power of Boo Boo´s music. Where as a lot of the 'blues fans' are stuck in their own opinions about what is blues and what is not. Hopefully we will be able to get Boo Boo and his music to a lot of new fans. Blues was (and should stay) a living art form. July 28, 2006 Good news for the fans of good roots/blues music in New Zealand …… Pretty soon they will be able to get all Black and Tan releases in their local record stores. From now on Southbound will be distributing my record label in New Zealand. July 25, 2006 Nice online review (in French) of Big George Jackson - Southern In My Soul. July 22, 2006
Reviews of Roscoe Chenier and Doug MacLeod in the new issue of ABS Magazine (France): on Roscoe: "Une excellent album qui donne encore plus envie de voir (ou revoir) Roscoe Chenier sur scène." on Doug: "Cet album est un excellent moment de musique par un auteur-compositeur original et fidèle à un style qu'il assoit de plus en plus au fil des compacts." July 21, 2006 Here is a nice review on the concert that Doug Macleod did earlier this month in Chico CA together with Rory Block. July 19, 2006 
From today the entire Black and Tan catalogue is now available at this new download platform. Check it out !!
July 18, 2006 The mixing, mastering and cover design of the TURNIP GREENS CD are ready. Official release of the CD will be on September 4, Here are some more pictures of the recoding session (all picutres by Nico Heilijgers). 
July 14, 2006
Review of Doug MacLeod in the new issue:
Where I Been is maybe not as straight ahead a blues production as some of his previous albums have been ,however it is a powerful set and should appeal to Dubbheads everywhere. Also reviews of Roscoe and Doug in CRI DU COYOTE (France). on Doug MacLeod: Encore un album border line, aux confins de toutes nos musiques : folk, blues et country. Il nous fait visiter sa vie, les femmes, le diable, le maitre et les problèmes d'argent. Recommandable !! on Roscoe Chenier: C'est à Utrecht que Roscoe a gravé ce CD entouré de musiciens autochtones, apparemment dans une ambiance un peu Fat Possum, pour un résultat entre Delta et Chicago. Le résultat est un album simple et vrai, honnête, une pierre de plus apportée à la construction de la maison blues. July 12, 2006 
The new CD from Boo Boo Davis should be out in September and the title
will be DREW, MISSISSIPPI (CD B&T 029). Boo Boo named the CD
after the town Drew in the heart of the Mississippi delta where he was born. So far Boo Boo has released three very well received CD's on Black and Tan. For this new recording project, Boo Boo teamed up with Ramon Goose (from nublues) and they fused the raw blues sounds from the Mississippi delta with modern dance & pop grooves. Like all the greats from the blues history Boo Boo's singing has a timeless component that makes his message come thru loud and clear. I am confident that this music will attract a new and younger audience. It is really great and very encouraging to see how many (young) people react very positive on Boo Boo's music at MySpace. They hear immediately that this REAL and TRUE. July 11, 2006
Doug MacLeod's new record is CD-TIPP in the new issue of Concerto Magazin (Austria).
Here are some qutoes from the review: "Dank des holländischen Labels Black & Tan erscheinen die Alben eines der besten akustischen Bluesmusikers der Gegenwart, Doug MacLeod mit erfreulicher Regelmäßigkeit. Auch das jungste Werk besticht mit exzellenten Songs, stimmiger, akustischer Instrumentierung, allen voran MacLeods Gitarren und markanten Voicals. "Where I Been" dokumentiert einmal mehr Doug MacLeods tiefes Empfinden für Blues, seine Geschichte,aber auch dessen Heilungskräfte." 
Last weekend Doug Macleod went to northern CA to perform in Chico and he took the opportunity to visit his friends at
National Guitars.
Doug is already an ambassador for National Guitars for many years. Here you see him hanging out with the 'head guys';
Don Young and McGregor Gaines.
July 9, 2006 
Yesterday the new issue of Block Magazine (Netherlands) came in. Here are some quotes from the review of Doug MacLeod's new one: "Zijn concerten worden gekenmerkt door een grote intimiteit, als bezoeker krijg je het idee dat hij speciaal voor jou optreedt. Dat gevoel weet hij ook met zij cd's op te roepen. Met "Where I Been" levert MacLeod zijn beste en meest consistente album tot nu toe af." July 6, 2006 The mixes of TURNIP GREENS came in yesterday and it sounds great. Their music is a unique blend of several musical styles from the southern states of the US. The influences vary from Tom Waits to The Black Keys. Without a doubt the geographical distance between Denmark and New Orleans is the reason for the fresh and original approach to the music. Although the band created something new and fresh, you also hear exactly where they are coming from and the music sounds very authentic and mature. To me it's some of the best new roots music that I heard in a long while. The title of the record will be CARRY ME DOWN THE AISLE (CD B&T 028) and the release is scheduled for the first half of September 2006. TV-Basic, a Danish production company made 'eyewitness' coverage of the CD recording and everything (rehearsals, travelling, parties etc) around it. They want to make into a tv documentary but we also might us some of the footage for future DVD projects. At the band's MySpace profile you can already listen to some tracks of their previous releases. July 4, 2006 We have re-styled our web store and made the shipping rates a little 'friendlier'. You can buy all the Black and Tan releases online and this link will take you directly to our web store. All suggestions or idea's to improve the shop are very welcome. July 1, 2006 Song of the Day The new issue of these two magazines came in today. 
Here is a quote for the review of Doug MacLeod's new record in Blues News: "Im Großen und Ganzen ist dies wieder eine sehr schöne akustischer Blues CD geworden, auf der MacLeod seine eindringlichen Geschichten über Frauen, Voodoo, harte Zeiten, die Liebe und das Leben an sich erzählt. MacLeod hat für Black and Tan als auch zuvor für Audioquest nur gute CD's gemacht." And here a quote from Back the Roots on Roscoe Chenier's record: "Het geluid dat de heren neerzetten is lekker lui schuifelend en bijwijlen behoorlijk swampy, zoals het hoort in de Delta, Tussen de covers 'verstopt' de gezellige dikkerd uit Opelousas wat eigen werk. Ik heb het schijfje graag be- en herbeluisterd. Een aanrader dus." and one from Back to the Roots on Doug MacLeod: "In 'Where I Been' vind je je weer twaalf doodeerlijke songparels. Alle songs ontsproten uit het lyrische brein van de blues troubadour." June 29, 2006 Song of the Day June 28, 2006 Song of the Day Here a few shots from the reecording session of TURNIP GREENS. I am very happy with the result I am pretty sure it's gonna be a great record. It should be ready and released early September. 
June 27, 2006 Song of the Day 
The new issue (nr 45) of Blues News (the norwegain blues magazine)
came in yesterday. Here is the english translation of few quotes from the reviews of the new Black and Tan releases.
on Doug MacLeod: "...Give MacLeod some attention. You'll find one gem after another, on Where I Been as well as on his previous records." on Roscoe Chenier: "...Another very nice collection of New Orleans/Louisiana-music from Roscoe Chenier. I guess he has it in his genes and in his blood." June 23, 2006 Song of the Day Bill Wax from
XM Satelitte (Bluesville) has been playing Doug's
new record for weeks in his show. The show has a big audience because we do get a lot of feedback from this.
At recent live perfomrances a lot of new fans show up telling Doug that they heard his music on XM. During his East Coast trip in September
Doug will visit the studio and do a recording session for Bill's show.
Thanks for the support Bill. June 21, 2006 Song of the Day 
Everybody that is interested in the blues and it's history should read this book; LAND WHERE THE BLUES BEGAN by Alan Lomax
(ISBN 1-56584-739-3). In the book he describes his travels in the 30's and 40's into the Mississippi Delta. With his mobile recording equipment he
captured the music of great artists like Muddy Waters, Leadbelly, Fred McDowell, Memphis Slim and many others.A lot of this music is
still available on CD and you should really look for them. Here are some of the titles: ** PRISON SONGS volume 1 and 2 (recorded at Parchman Farm State Pen) ** BLUES IN THE MISSISSIPPI NIGHT (Memphis Slim & Sonnyboy Williamson) ** MUDDY WATERS / the Complete Plantation Recordings These records and the book give a great insight on early blues and if it had not been for Alan Lomax a lot of this great music would have been lost for ever. Here are the links to Black and Tan profiles on MySpace.com : Roscoe Chenier, Doug MacLeod, Byther Smith, Big George Jackson, Billy Jones, Boo Boo Davis, Tunrip Greens, Mike Andersen and Black and Tan Records June 20, 2006 Song of the Day The new issue (nr 183) of Soul Bag (France) came in and I can't complain about the attention that they give to the Black and Tan artists. First of all there is a three page interview with Billy Jones, then there are very positive reviews on the new CD's of Roscoe Chenier and Doug MacLeod. Last but not least they put a song (Bad Luck) from the new Roscoe Chenier CD on the free sampler CD that they give to all the readers. 
Merci beaucoup à l'équipe de Soul Bag !!
 Last Saturday Doug MacLeod performed at the WC Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival in Henderson KY (USA) where he ran into his old buddy James Armstrong. Doug's show was such a success that the promoter immediately booked him for the next edition of the festival on June 16, 2007. June 19, 2006 Song of the Day 
The brand new instructional DVD from Doug MacLeod on Solid Air Records is released and now available at Acoustic Music Resource. Hit the cover or this link for more information and / or to buy the DVD June 16, 2006 Song of the Day 
Michael Cloeren
(Mountain of Blues) featured Black and Tan
Records in his radio show. Besides the radio show Michael also runs a internet
store for hard-to-get blues CD's and DVD's. His shop carries the complete Black and Tan catalogue.
June 15, 2006 Song of the Day From the beginning I have been positive about new ways of distributing music thru the internet. The first company I hooked up with was Emusic and they are still distributing all the Black and Tan tracks. It really works.. They get the music to the fans and pay us and the artists. You can check them out and get 25 tracks for free. June 14, 2006 Song of the Day HEAVEN is a dutch pop/roots magazine and today the new issue arrived. Here are some quotes (in dutch) from the review of Doug MacLeod's new CD: "MacLeod bespeelt in twaalf nummers technisch indrukwekkend een grote hoeveelheid gitaren, maar steevast in dienst van de song: swingend in up-tempo nummers, zangerig melancholiek in ballads. MacLeod doet in zijn teksten verslag van bepalende gebeurtenissen in zijn leven, er op terugkijken als een wijzer naar nog steeds humoristisch man. Zo wordt de cd een voorbeeldige cursus akoestiese blues voor hart en hoofd." Also two reviews in the new issue of Blues News (Finland), the oldest blues magazine in the world. Unfortunately my knowledge of the finnish language is non existing. If you read this and can help me out feel free to send me an email. June 12, 2006 Song of the Day Today the new issue of Juke Blues (UK) came in and it had reviews of the two new releases. Here are some quotes. on Doug MacLeod - Where I Been: Doug MacLeod is an accomplished songwriter managing to imbue his autobiographical lyrics with humour and poignancy, without any trace of mawkishness. The subtle unplugged musicians ensure that they don't get in the way of Doug's clear vocalisation. on Roscoe Chenier - Waiting For My Tomorrow: The mucisians cleary know Rosoce Chenier's musical style inside out and are responsive to it. If you like your blues mellow with a r&b twist you like WAITING FOR MY TOMORROW. June 9, 2006 Song of the Day Yesterday we recorded 13 tracks for the new Boo Boo Davis record. I am not sure of all of them will make it to the record but I am pretty exited about the result. With this new record we combine modern pop & dance groove with the deep Mississippi blues sound of Boo Boo. It might be to weird for the 'blues police' but we want to translate this great music to a new and younger audience. 
June 6, 2006 Song of the Day Here are the links to Black and Tan profiles on MySpace.com : Roscoe Chenier, Doug MacLeod, Byther Smith, Big George Jackson, Billy Jones, Boo Boo Davis, Tunrip Greens and Black and Tan Records |