Favored Nations
Sardinas won’t be able to do these songs justice in concert, and that’s a good thing. There hasn’t been a lot of difference between his shows and his CDs, because he’s always recorded in a trio configuration (outside of an occasional guest appearance by Hubert Sumlin, Johnny Winter or Honeyboy Edwards). But the addition of “and Big Motor” to his moniker isn’t the only change since his last album five years ago.
Delta Groove
It’s nice to watch Gen-X prodigies morph into world-class blues guitarists for the new millennium. Costello, 16 when his debut was released in 1996, possesses the same caliber musicianship as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, Derek Trucks and Joe Bonamassa.
Dirt Farmer/Vanguard
Four albums from 1977 to 1982 — that was the extent of Helm’s solo studio output until now. Twenty-five years is a long time, but in the former Band drummer’s case, it was worth the wait.
Blue Bella
Not since Taj Mahal put out his “Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home” double LP in 1968 has there been a double blues album with one disc electric, one acoustic. In fact, he and Moss may be the genre’s only two artists to hold that distinction.
Pacific Blues
Walker’s a fantastic guitar player who also can write a good blues song in any of the genre’s subcategories, including jump, country, delta, R&B and soul.
