Artist: Otis Taylor

Bucks County native Langhorne Slim is no stranger to the Horseshack studio in Rock Island, Illinois where Daytrotter Sessions are recorded.  Making his first appearance in 2006 , Slim (real name Sean Scolnick) has become a frequent guest of the in-studio audio archivists and recently recorded his fourth Daytrotter session following the release of his latest The Way We Move LP.  For Daytrotter members, the session is available for streaming and as a download here .  During a show in Denver last week, the local musician and his [...]

Talented Colorado bluesman once again overrates his voice and underrates his instrumental texturing. To say that the depth of lyrical commentary here centers on the treatment of Native Americans only extends to the cover photo would be wrong, but it's depressingly not far off. The problem with Otis Taylor has always been very simple: he puts too much stock into his not-particularly-engaging voice and not enough stock into his well-honed musicianly sense of texturing -- specifically, the banjo and/or guitar playing that he gets out of either himself or whomever he's hired for his latest album. A black man [...]

Cassie Taylor, daughter of multi-instrumentalist bluesman, Otis Taylor, premiered the first music video from her long working project "Out of My Mind." Due May 7. Like father like daughter, Cassie shows her vocal skills while sitting on... [[ This is a content summary only. Click on the titles for full stories... ]]

Otis Taylor's blues aren't conventional blues. They're aren't good-time blues. Banjo in hand, he imbues them musically with an out-of-time, off-kilter sound - and then runs right at life's bitter truths. Whether that means delving into the awful history of slavery, or the way that legacy plays out in this age of incarceration, Taylor hasn't shied away. The results, though [...]

• concordmusicgroup - Sit Across Your Table by Otis Taylor

Washington Post .... Throughout it all, Taylor's captivating arpeggios on guitar and banjo underline his gruff baritone. He repeats his blues mantras to tell the stories of newly freed slaves, love-hungry men, a World War I veteran, spurned lovers and Jim Crow victims. Somehow it all comes together in a cohesive but utterly distinctive sound that gets the point across with a minimum of lyrics. 1. The Devil's Gonna Lie 2. Yell Your Name 3. Look To the Side 4. Romans Had Their Way 5. Blind Piano Teacher 6. Banjo Boogie Blues 7. 2 or 3 Times [...]

A stumble from a master still has plenty of rewards on it, but isn't essential. Otis Taylor's career used to have a nice, linear narrative. He started in music, quit music, and returned to music. He made solo albums driven my his rhythmic acoustic playing and powered by his resonant voice. He gradually expanded his aesthetic, including other musicians, new sounds, and an increasing amount of experimentation. Thematically, he stretched himself more, not abandoning the dark and political songs, but adding some brighter moods. It was a good narrative. Over...

A musical alchemist and stirring modern-day storyteller, Otis Taylor is just as apt to experiment well beyond the Delta tradition as he is to explore the raw passions of this nation's fight for racial justice. This isn't your grandfather's blues. Witness the forthcoming Contraband, due February 13 from Telarc/Concord, this haunting mixture of ominous guitar and banjo work (yes, banjo), [...]

Nominees have been announced for the 33rd Blues Music Awards, to be held on May 10, 2012 at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. Click through the links for our thoughts on the new nominees! They are ... ACOUSTIC ALBUM: Brand New Eyes - Doug MacLeod; Conversations in Blue - David Maxwell & Otis Spann; Misery Loves Company [...]

Otis Taylor returns with his latest exploration of the human story.

I don’t know how I missed him, but Gary Clark Jr. is out of control. This is my favorite modern blues artist since Otis Taylor and The Black Keys. Enjoy. Gary Clark Jr. - Bright Lights - The Bright Lights EP by GaryClarkJr Gary Clark Jr.- Don't Owe You A Thang - The Bright Lights [...]

• GaryClarkJr - Bright Lights
• GaryClarkJr - Gary Clark Jr.- Don't Owe You A Thang - The Bright Lights EP

The weather was ideal, there was a beer truck tapped with New Belgium Brewery's Beers (among others), and the artists delivered. Yes, 'twas such a good time at the 2011 McDowell Mountain Music Festival , that I think that, over a week later, I've finally fully recovered. Of the three days of music on the main stage, I missed only one band - Friday's opener Paper Snowmen. Sorry Paper Snowmen, I'll make it up to you somehow. Day One [...]

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Amidst all the negative press and energy due to this past weekend's tragedy in Tucson, it was refreshing to come across a very nice lineup announcement today from the Phoenix-area McDowell Mountain Music Festival , taking place in late April / early May. Last year came the news that the venue would change from the green, expansive Westworld complex to a parking lot adjacent to north Scottsdale's Compound Grill . While the idea took some getting used to initially, the resulting lot festival was intimate and a whole lotta fun. There was green [...]

The first two volumes of this 'series' don't exist but this is a story worth joining already in progress...

Peter Karp & Sue Foley return in a week that sees James Cotton vault to the top and the debut of Eric Clapton...

Robin Rogers' friends help her record continue its ascent... Blues - Duke Robillard - Radio - Robin Hood - Music

Robin Rogers' album makes its chart debut at a time when some good news is needed most... Ronnie Earl - Blues - Record chart - Guitar - Robin Hood

The Blues Hall of Famer has the #1 album this week at blues radio.... Blues - Duke Robillard - Radio - Music - Arts and Entertainment

Charlie Musselwhite is on a collision course for #1 but Elvin Bishop holds that title for the moment... Elvin Bishop - Blues - Music - Arts - United States

Some great covers as well as a pure, original from Charlie Musselwhite in this week's BPR 6 Pack... Robert Lockwood Jr - Joe Satriani - Steve Miller - Charlie Musselwhite - Albert Castiglia