Delta Groove Newsletter

Get them now exclusively from Delta Groove before they’re available in stores 08/21/07!

ROD PIAZZA & THE MIGHTY FLYERS BLUES QUARTET
"THRILLVILLE"
(street date 08/21/07)

Retail: ~~$17.99~~
New Discounted Price: $12.99

Rod Piazza returns with the newly rechristened Mighty Flyers Blues Quartet, for the follow up to their ambitious Delta Groove debut "For The Chosen Who," on which the band was nominated and won a 2006 Blues Music Award for "Band Of The Year." The Mighty Flyers have established a long tradition of employing highly influential and versatile musicians throughout their much celebrated career, and the latest incarnation of the band certainly continues to reinforce that longstanding philosophy.

Drummer Dave Kida, whose resume includes touring and recording behind Janiva Magness and Doug Macleod, makes his Flyers debut providing all the horsepower and drive to help propel the band to new rhythmic heights. Guitarist Henry Carvajal continues to bring a whole new dimension to the band with his tough West Coast Fender Strat sound and strong passion for vintage Doo-Wop and R&B, while Rod & Honey Piazza demonstrate their life long passion for the blues by showcasing the interplay between Rod's stratospheric harp and Honey's blistering boogie woogie piano, further augmented by her left hand now doubling as the quartet's thundering bass.

"ThrillVille" is the culmination of 40 years of honing and crafting this music - a heritage that began with the Dirty Blues Band and Bacon Fat, followed by the formation of the Chicago Flying Saucer Band, which ultimately gave birth to the Mighty Flyers. The result is an album that Rod says "...is one of the toughest and strongest records I've ever made." Together with the Mighty Flyers Blues Quartet, Rod delivers an album full of spontaneity and diversity that is the perfect mixture of spirit, enthusiasm, creativity and experience, and one that will further solidify his legacy in the blues history books in the years to come.

"Piazza is a superior diatonic and chromatic harmonica player with style - the elusive quality that combines confidence, presence, control, risk-taking and instinct." - Down Beat Magazine

"Piazza adds West Coast swing and sophistication to traditional Chicago electric roots and the results are right up there with the best of Paul Butterfield or Kim Wilson." - Blues Matters

"Even after more than 40 years, Rod Piazza moves deeper into the blues with each record he makes." - Blues Revue

Click here for audio clips, video clips,
photos, and liner notes!

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM DELTA GROOVE BY ROD PIAZZA

Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers
"For The Chosen Who"
Retail: ~~$20.99~~
New Discounted Price: $15.99

THE INSOMNIACS
"LEFT COAST BLUES"
(street date 08/21/07)

Retail: ~~$17.99~~
New Discounted Price: $12.99

"Left Coast Blues" is the impressive debut release by The Insomniacs, one of the youngest and most promising blues bands currently performing in the Pacific Northwest. Based in Portland, Oregon, a region that has been home to such nationally recognized talent as Robert Cray, Curtis Salgado, and Paul deLay, The Insomniacs have quickly established themselves with a solid reputation for delivering highly energetic live performances, along with intoxicatingly melodic, well crafted originals.

The band is led by 25 year-old vocalist/guitarist Vyasa Dodson, who draws inspiration from many of the Left Coast's most highly regarded and influential musicians including Hollywood Fats, Little Charlie Baty and Junior Watson. Accompanied by Dean Mueller on bass, Alex Shakeri on keyboards, and Dave Melyan on drums, The Insomniacs have successfully blended together an irresistible and potent mix of vintage swing, blues and classic rock 'n' roll, designed to reach out and appeal to both a broad and youthful audience.

In just a short period of time the band has already accumulated numerous awards and critical praise including a 2006 Muddy Award for "Best New Act" presented by the Cascade Blues Association, and airplay on the nationally syndicated radio news/talk progarm, the Ed Schultz Show, which has over 3 million listeners and is heard on over 100 affiliate stations across the nation. It's now time to stop counting sheep and begin occupying those sleepless nights more effectively with the rejuvenating sounds of The Insomniacs!

"The new generation of high-energy, authentic youngbloods who have their own unique, soulful style."
– Randy Chortkoff, C.E.O. Delta Groove Music

"Left Coast Blues is an album that should create attention with its danceable shuffles, tasteful guitar and rollicking piano. The Insomniacs definitely have a winner here." - Blues Notes

"...the quartet is schooled, competent, tight and inventive."
- The Oregonian

"When it comes to jump blues and cool old RnB, the Insomniacs are true keepers of the flame!" - Phil "Suburban Slim" Wagner

Click here for audio clips, video clips,
photos, and liner notes!

Ana Popovic "Still Making History" continues to impress! Here are a few quotes from selected program directors at Triple A Radio across the country:

"Move over guys, blues is now all about Girl Power! Ana Popovic plays guitar like she was born with it in her hands. This young lady is the real deal. Don't delay, check out Still Making History RIGHT NOW! Rock on Ana." - Gabby Parsons / Music Director WMMM-FM, Madison WI

"Still Making History is one of those records that goes deeper than the music. With fiery vocal confidence, white hot guitar work, and genre-bending songcraft, Ana Popovic displays not only her undeniable talent, but her lifelong commitment to her art. And that's what you hear in each compelling song - commitment, passion and her unshakable belief that with music there is opportunity, freedom and hope." - Suzanne Cheavens / Music Director KOTO-FM, Telluride, CO

Ana Popovic "Still Making History" Triple A radio rotation:
KBUT - KFAI - KFJM - KPCW - KPFT - WGCS - WMKY - WMSV - WRRW - WTMD - KRFC - KRVS - KXCI - WMMM - KKFI - KOTO - KSRQ - KZMU - WBSD - WMNF - WYCE - WKWC - KSMF - WXCS - KDNK - KVNF

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Phillip Walker is scheduled to appear on an upcoming broadcast of the House of Blues Radio Hour to discuss his brand new release "Going Back Home" on Delta Groove. The show is syndicated on over 180 markets and hosted by Elwood Blues (a.k.a. Dan Aykroyd). Air date tba.

JASON RICCI & NEW BLOOD "ROCKET NUMBER 9" (OCT. 23)
Jason Ricci is that rare individual that only comes along once in a generation -an artist with the unique ability to help shape and redefine the sound of his chosen instrument and forever change the course of music history. His style is varied and his influences are far reaching, spanning through countless musical genres including blues, jazz, funk, rock, punk and even drawing inspiration from the current crop of jam bands, all while still retaining the stamp of his own inimitable style. Jason has over 10 years experience living life out on the road, and performs over 300 dates a year. Through hard work and dedication he has built a solid fan base from the ground up, and is forever pushing forward in relentless pursuit of attaining the ultimate in tone and style. Together with guitarist Shawn Starsky, who brings with him an arsenal of creative talent and fresh ideas, Jason Ricci & New Blood have created a visionary and sonically explosive masterpiece that is sure to shake your foundations.

(not final artwork)

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ALEX SHAKERI (AUGUST 13)
Piano / Hammond B3 / Keyboards

Alex Shakeri grew up in Vancouver, WA and began learning the rudiments of music by studying classical piano at the early age of seven. He was also taught flute when he was nine years old by his mother who was a trained classical flautist. In high school Alex devoted his interest full time towards piano as he began exploring the roots of American music, taking excursions through Jazz, Funk and Blues. Important musical influences that aided in his development included Bobby Shew, Oscar Peterson and Joe Sample, but it is also a little known fact that Alex enjoys playing the harmonica as well, citing Junior Wells, Curtis Salgado and Paul deLay as role models on the instrument.

A SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
The Insomniacs "Left Coast Blues"

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LYNWOOD SLIM (AUGUST 19)
Harmonica / Flute / Vocals / Producer / FBI Rap Sheet

Lynwood Slim felt there were only two things he could do to make a living...shoot pool or play harmonica. Thank goodness he chose to play the harmonica! Born in the city of Los Angeles, this California native brings years of experience, dynamic stage presence, powerfully expressive vocals, and some of the most exciting and tasteful blues harp you're likely to hear. Starting out on trumpet as a child, Slim switched to harp after hearing blues legends Jimmy Reed and Little Walter, and was an early disciple of Big Walter Horton. Before long he was sitting in with many of the elder statesmen of the West Coast blues scene, carving out his own niche. Later years spent honing his craft in Chicago and Minneapolis alongside folks like Big Walter Horton and Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston helped Slim polish his already impressive skills, and led to the release of several excellent solo projects. Slim's virtuosity and versatility in the studio are also consistently in high demand as evidenced by his dozens of appearances as a sideman on recordings by Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Dave Specter, Alex Schultz and Nick Moss & the Flip Tops, among others. These days Slim is back in California, fronting his own band, and earning a reputation as a producer of fine recordings by blues and roots artists both abroad as well as right here at home.

A SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
Lynwood Slim "Last Call"
Various Artist "Road Tested, Vol.1"

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STEVE EDMONSON (AUGUST 31)
Guitar

Born in San Francisco, CA, Steve Edmonson spent the first several years of his life criss-crossing the country out on the road with his father. The son of folk musician Travis Edmonson, Steve learned the life of a traveling musican first hand as his father toured and performed with legendary blues artists Josh White, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee and Lightnin' Hopkins. Years later Steve began developing his own unique and articulate style as he started discovering such electrifying guitarists as Magic Sam, Luther Tucker, Eddie Taylor, B.B. King and T-Bone Walker. Throughout his career Steve has built up quite the musical resume as he has shared the stage with such legendary icons as James Cotton, Luther Tucker, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Maria Muldaur and Van Morrison. Four years spent with the Bay area Soul/Blues band The Dynatones eventually led him to the formation of his current project with the sensational and dynamic vocalist Jackie Payne.

A SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band "Master Of The Game"