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Howlin' Wolf Moanin' At Midnight (Remastered) (Fuel 2000 (2002) 061 220) by Craig Ruskey Simply click on the CD cover to order this CD NOW! 18 tracks, excellent. Wolf's most violent and primal period was without question while he was recording in Memphis. Aided by the brutal attack of Willie Johnson's crushing and distorted guitar and a cast of players as determined as Wolf was to leave their mark, the remastered sound has plenty of kick and his Memphis sessions show distinct differences to his later recordings in Chicago. "House Rockin' Boogie," "Keep What You Got," "I'm The Wolf" and the rest of these cuts never sounded better. Bill Dahl's liner notes are informative, as usual, and while there's nothing new or previously unissued, remain as stellar examples from one of the most powerful performers in the history of blues. www.fuel2000.com	Mark Hummel Golden State Blues (Electro-Fi (2002) 3375) by Craig Ruskey Simply click on the CD cover to order this CD NOW! 12 tracks, potent. Harp master Mark Hummel returns with a solid workout and is joined by an equally potent cast of sidemen. Charles Wheal turns in excellent guitar on nine tracks while Rusty Zinn and Anson Funderburgh make cameo appearances on a few. Randy Bermudes' upright bass adds great and traditional sounding bottom to an offering laced with driving grooves and thick harp and Hummel's voice is pleasing if unspectacular. The slow "Right Back Where I Started" is a standout along with solid readings of Little Walter's "Too Late Brother" and Ray Sharpe's "Linda Lu." The kicker is the hidden version of Jacobs' stratospheric "Roller Coaster." No grandstanding, just working class blues by one of the better harp players today. www.electrofi.com
Snooky Pryor And His Wrecking Crew (Electro-Fi (2002) 3373) by Craig Ruskey Simply click on the CD cover to order this CD NOW! 10 tracks, ridiculously good. Regardless of his age, Snooky Pryor is showing little in the way of slowing down. Backed by the tandem guitars of Mel Brown and Jeff Healy, Pinetop Perkins on piano, and the rhythmic sense of Bob Stroger and Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith, Pryor is forceful and dynamic throughout the set. The slow and grinding "Electro-Fi Blues" with brittle guitar is a standout and Snooky is as potent as ever on "Rock-A-While," "I Ain't Seen My Baby," and everything else here. Sound quality is sharp from start to finish and it's obvious that proper care was taken to give Snooky his rich harp tone. He may well be an octogenarian, but his youthful energy is still as apparent as it was decades ago. www.electrofi.com	Nick Moss & The Flip Tops Got A New Plan (Blue Bella (2001) 1002) by Craig Ruskey Simply click on the CD cover to order this CD NOW! 14 tracks, incredible. While the name might not be immediately recognized, young Nick Moss spent a good deal of time in the trenches with a cast of Chicago veterans including The Legendary Blues Band, Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith, and Jimmy Rogers. His second solo outing is crushing display of gritty blues, well-written ballads, and grinding shuffles. Moss handles guitar chores with brilliant results and the cast joining him are equal to the task. Bill Lupkin's harp spices up a few tracks and Lynwood Slim guests on one, but for the most part, it's an incredible show of guitar without a hint of grandstanding. This is traditional blues played by one of the key, young figures around today. www.nickmoss.com
Various Artists Sun Records - 25 More Blues Classics (Varese Vintage (2002) 066 383) by Craig Ruskey Simply click on the CD cover to order this CD NOW! 25 tracks, essential. With a solid handful of previously unissued cuts present, this follow-up is a remarkable companion to last year's compilation. Earl Hooker's "Razorback" and Boyd Gilmore's "Believe I'll Settle Down" both dish out slashing guitar and there's plenty more of that, plus piano boogies, harp shuffles, and horn-led R&B to please a number of fans. Frank Ballard's "Trouble Down The Road" is a brilliant look at how the music was changing and becoming more modern. Fully remastered sound makes for brilliant sonics and Bill Dahl's liner notes are rewarding and informative. www.varesesarabande.com	Various Artists A Salute to the Delta Blues Masters (3-CD set) (Telarc (2002) 83575) by Craig Ruskey Simply click on the CD cover to order this CD NOW! 40 tracks, very good. While there are a few weaker moments scattered about, the balance shows respectful covers of Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, and Mississippi Fred McDowell songs. Originally issued as single CD's, Telarc has repackaged everything into a smart box and the gathering is impressive. Old veterans like Robert Jr. Lockwood, Pinetop Perkins and Honeyboy Edwards are together with young slide wiz Derek Trucks and Alvin 'Youngblood' Hart on the Johnson set while the songs of Patton are shared by Dave Van Ronk, Charlie Musselwhite, Guy Davis and others. David Maxwell's cover of McDowell's "I Thought I Heard Somebody Call" is some of the most haunting piano in decades and alone worth the price. www.telarc.com
Various Artists The Land Where the Blues Began (Rounder (2002) 1861-2) by Craig Ruskey Simply click on the CD cover to order this CD NOW! 28 tracks, recommended. With the book by Alan Lomax of the same title back in publication, the astounding music on this CD should make for a delightful pairing. A stunning combination of Library of Congress recordings done between 1933 and 1959. Son House's gathering with Willie Brown and friends for "Walkin' Blues" is worth the price by itself, and with interviews, prison recordings, congregation choirs and more, it's an incredible look at America. Sampson Pittman and Calvin Frazier's "I Been Down In The Circle Before" is stunning. Sound quality is a bit spotty at times, but the honesty in everything makes up for the sonic shortfalls. 40 page booklet included. www.rounder.com	Various Artists From Clarksdale To Heaven: Remembering John Lee Hooker (Eagle 36292) by Craig Ruskey Simply click on the CD cover to order this CD NOW! 14 tracks, good. An all-star gathering comes together to pay their respects to John Lee Hooker and the results range from fair to stunning. On the downside, Jeff Beck's penchant to play endless fusillades of licks is grating on "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" and "Hobo Blues," but Peter Green's Splinter Group is solid on "Crawlin' Kingsnake." Zakiya Hooker acquits herself well on "I Want To Hug You" while Jack Bruce and Gary Moore turn in a brooding "I'm In The Mood," and Moore gets the high honors with a sizzling version of "Serve Me Right To Suffer" where he leaves his usual pyrotechnics in favor of reserved and searing soulful guitar work. The bonus is the Boogie Man himself doing "Red House." www.bluestormmusic.com
Phillip Walker Live At Biscuits & Blues (MC Records 47) by Craig Ruskey Simply click on the CD cover to order this CD NOW! 12 tracks, very good. While Phillip Walker might not be getting any younger, his guitar playing remains as taut and sharp as a man half his age. Recorded in front of an appreciative audience in San Francisco at a popular blues nightspot, there's a full band with a four-piece horn section in support. Walker's playing ignites from small embers into full-bore blazing attack and the mix of shuffles, slow blues, and soul-fused burners make for an entertaining set. Vocally, he's perhaps a step below some of his earlier work, but simply put, the man still delivers with all cylinders humming. www.mcrecords.com or www.phillipwalker.com