Top 20 Blues Albums of 2019

My goodness, how the year has flown by. Through the good times and the bad, we've had some fantastic blues to listen to in 2019. This year BluesMusicFan Radio has had nearly 30 DJs on our station reviewing and homing in on their choices for top 20 blues albums of the year.

Every year we have a tough time with it. There are more than several hundred albums to consider, and tough choices to be made, but I am very proud of our choices this year. I think there is a great diversity in this list, in many respects. We hope you see it that way, too.

~Jordan

2
Keb' Mo' - Oklahoma

Released in June, “Oklahoma” is the 13th album by four-time Grammy Award winner Keb' Mo’ (Kevin Roosevelt Moore). Over his career, Keb' Mo has forged a style of blues that is deeply seated in the Delta Style. This album reflects that style and courage as a songwriter, unafraid to bring a spotlight on the current issues faced by all people. One such song is "This Is My Home,” which tells the "Great Melting Pot" story and truly showcases the amazing guitar style of Keb'. Every song is a fantastic listen, and a lesson in life.

3
Altered Five Blues Band - Ten Thousand Watts

Released in early September and produced with the help of the legendary Tom Hambridge, Ten Thousand Watts is packed with a dozen original songs. Jeff (JT) Taylor's gritty roadhouse juke joint style vocals pay homage to the groups unique and multi-faceted blues sound from first track to the last. As with all Altered Five songs every one of these songs are arranged to showcase all five band members as musical equals all contributing to their unique sound. It's a keeper!

4
Albert Castiglia - Masterpiece

Albert Castiglia’s 2019 album is a well-crafted album called “Masterpiece”, released by Gulf Coast Records. A masterpiece of contemporary blues-rock, this is probably Castiglia’s finest work, filled with songs that pointedly address current events and political climate, as well as songs that are highly biographical. In the title track, Castiglia exposes the emotions arising from the revelation that he has a daughter, and grandchildren, that he never knew he had. It’s easy to reward artistry that takes a risk by expressing a point of view, and that is why it ranks so highly in our Top 20 of 2019 list.

5
Walter Trout - Survivor Blues

Walter Trout has been a name synonymous with killer guitar licks for almost 50 years. When conceiving the 2019 release of “Survivor Blues” Walter asked himself if the world needed another cover album of overdone classics. Trout decided to create an album with old school, obscure songs that have rarely been covered. From Jimmy Hawkin’s “Me, My Guitar and the Blues” to the timely “Be Careful How You Vote” by Sunnyland Slim, the album is filled with songs that have Survived the test of time... Kind of like Walter Trout himself!

6
Nick Moss Band Feat. Dennis Gruenling - Lucky Guy

If you’re looking for some straight-ahead Chicago blues, look no further than “Lucky Guy”. Guitarist/vocalist Nick Moss is the 2019 winner of the Blues Music Award for Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year. Feature artist Dennis Gruenling was also a winner in the same awards event, winning Best Instrumentalist — Harmonica. “Lucky Guy” features 13 original tunes and a jumping cover of Johnny Neal’s “Ugly Woman” in addition to classic Chicago blues numbers like “Movin’ On My Way,” “312 Blood,” and the title tune “Lucky Guy.” Nick, Dennis and the band truly deliver in “Lucky Guy,” the best recording yet from The Nick Moss Band, and that’s saying a lot.

7
Delbert McClinton & Self Made Men + Dana - Tall Dark & Handsome

Delbert McClinton, coined the “Godfather of Americana” by Rolling Stone Magazine is truly an American music legend. With over 60 years of music contributions and touring with the likes of The Beatles, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf and more, Delbert released his raucous Texas blues album “Tall Dark & Handsome” in 2019. The album is jam packed with 14 original songs penned by or co-written by McClinton. If the opening horn licks and raspy vocals in “Mr. Smith” don’t get you, then sit back and get ready for 13 more opportunities to get lost in fiddle, horns, piano, guitar, great vocals and the best of Americana Blues Music.

8
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band - The Traveler

As always, the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band delivers an amazing hard-driving eclectic mix of soul, funk, rock and county. Recorded in Los Angeles over ten days, Kenny, Mark Selby, Dylan Altman, Danny Myrick and Tia Sellers wrote most of the music on this amazing album of head-bobbing, and foot-stomping tunes. The insightful tune Tailwind has become a listener favorite, with their cover of Neil Young’s Mr. Soul is one that will stick with you for a while.

9
Sugaray Rayford - Somebody Save Me

Opens the album with Revelator, setting the mood for an R&B driven experience. Written and produced by Eric Corne, Sugaray delivers an intelligent and sensitive product. Well-placed horns, with the smoking keyboard work of Sasha Smith make this album a wonderful experience that needs to be listened to over and over to fully appreciate.

10
Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers - No Good Deed

Mindi Abair is an exceptional singer, songwriter, and saxophonist whose refreshing playing style enhances a song’s overall appeal, but surprisingly, it is her strong vocals that endear you to the songs. A perfect example of this is the song "You Better Run". This track opens with hard-hitting percussions followed closely by guitar, with keyboards blending in, followed by a brief jazzy kind of sax before the vocals take control. "Sweetest Lies" slows the pace a little and shows us a different side of Mindi's vocal talent. While she often is a powerhouse at the mic, here we hear the seductive way she can sing. Again, it is her voice, not the saxophone, that wraps you up in a song that is sure to become a favorite.

11
(tie) Mavis Staples - We Get By

What a wonderful voice Mavis Staples has, and she puts into focus on each track of her 2019 album, “We Get By”. It is smooth and chill, yet a with a little rasp, Ms. Mavis puts that iconic vocal sound into action with strong statements for change throughout the album. Soulful and bluesy, it is evident that Mavis Staples has plenty to say as a person and express as an artist. The music world is fortunate that she does, and BluesMusicFan Radio is happy to report her album as one of the Top 20 Albums of 2019.

11
(tie) Samantha Fish - Kill Or Be Kind

This bad ass slide guitar slinging female from Kansas City has been serving up her style of Rock Blues for the better part of a decade now. Samantha Fish does not cut corners or repeat herself and has once again created an album in “Kill or Be Kind” that truly personifies all of what is good in Blues Rock today. The album was recorded in Memphis, TN and, with the hard horn influences, the album could have certainly taken on a Stax kind of soul sound, but instead, with Fish’s strong sense of self and the edge in her vocals it’s what keeps these tracks from sounding like throwbacks. “Kill or Be Kind” is a powerhouse CD loaded with great Blues Rock from one of the powerhouse “Grande Dame’s of the Blues”.

13
Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters - Beyond The Blue Door

A native New Yorker that made his mark on the music scene in the Boston Blues Scene after seeing Muddy Waters in concert there, Ronnie Earl has become an award winning blues guitarist with almost 30 of his own album releases and more than 40 guest album appearances. The 2019 album “Beyond The Blue Door” marked his 23rd studio album. Backed by his eternal band “The Broadcasters”, the album also includes guest appearances by Kim Wilson, David Bromberg and Greg Piccolo. Rather than lighting up the album with blazing guitar riffs, Earl uses his wisdom and maturity to instill a sense of soul and spirit with his guitar work that soothes the soul. Album reviewer Michael O’Cull says “He phrases like a gospel singer and plays with so much feeling that his notes seem to touch you physically.”

14
Van Morrison - Three Chords And The Truth

Van Morrison comes in hard with 14 original songs in his sixth release in 4 years. The title track talks about the essence of the blues, because the blues really is just Three Chords and The Truth. He teams up with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers for Fame Will Eat The Soul, and it is amazing as it sounds. Bags Under My Eyes deals with life on the road at his age. At 74, he sounds as good as ever and makes this album a must-have for any lover of Van The Man!

15
Ally Venable - Texas Honey

Texas guitar prodigy Ally Venable released her third album in 2019 to great acclaim. Produced by blues veteran Mike Zito, Venable fine tunes her Texas Blues in style with awesome guitar work and vocals. The power trio on this album, Ally Venable on lead guitar and vocals, along with Drummer Elijah Owings and bassist Bobby Wallace prove that a three person band that can compliment and keep up with each other, can also bring you a sound that rivals a band with more players. Producer Zito and blues guitarist Eric Gales offer guest appearances on the album as well. From the album opener “Nowhere to Hide” to the rip roarin’ cover of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “Love Struck Baby” this album is sure to please your need for some good ole’ Texas Blues!

16
(tie) Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues - Roots And Branches: Songs Of Little Walter

Billy Branch is a staple in the blues genre. With over 250 recordings, including 12 under his own name. He has recorded with Willie Dixon, Keb Mo, Johnny Winter, Lou Rawls, Koko Taylor, Eddy Clearwater, Honeyboy Edwards, Syl Johnson, Lurrie Bell, Ronnie Baker Brooks, and Taj Mahal. In his 2019 creation of “Roots and Branches ; the Songs of Little Walter” with The Sons of Blues, Branch tackles unarguably the most proficient and respected harp man in the blues, Little Walter. Billy pays homage to the blues master Little Walter, but also infuses his own skills and breathes life into these immortal cuts. From Billy Branch’s take on the classic “Juke” to the memorable “Boom Boom Out Go The Lights”. A nice touch to the Album is the fact that Little Walter’s daughter Marion shares a few brief memories of her father.

16
(tie) The Teskey Brothers - Run Home Slow

When you listen to The Teskey Brothers, you feel transported back in time in a swirl of sweet soul and rhythm and blues, with a wisp of psychedelia and Tin Pan Alley. At the same time, this Australian band sounds exceptionally fresh. Their second album, “Run Home Slow” will not disappoint their numerous fans and will make many new ones. Josh Teskey’s vocals evoke Otis Redding and the first track “Let Me Let You Down” creates a perfect and timeless R&B groove. “So Caught Up” captures a bit of Amy Winehouse neo-soul and the marvelous “Paint My Heart” almost sounds like a “what if” Pink Floyd had recorded at Stax Records. What band today could combine ukulele, whistling and musical saw with a soulful vocal (“Sunshine Baby”) and pull it off? The Teskey Brothers!

16
(tie) Beth Hart - War In My Mind

Beth Hart’s “War In My Mind” is possibly the deepest look into Beth’s soul to date. No flash, no pomp, just straight soul-searching blues. Now on her ninth solo studio album (there were also three blues releases with Joe Bonamassa), Hart digs down, way down, for arguably her most intimate and intense set yet. The title track, Sister Dear and Let it Grow are insights into her deep soul. She has a little fun with Bad Woman Blues and Sugar Shack. “War in my Mind” is Beth letting us in and making us feel her pain and joy.

19
Brother Yusef The Fattback Bluesman - Jook Joint Jam

When listening to the album “Jook Joint Jam” by Brother Yusef, The Fattback Bluesman, it is just you, Brother Yusef, and the blues. Put your ears onto this album with its stripped-down “one-man band” acoustic sound which some consider to be the nucleus of the blues. “Jook Joint Jam” is ten tracks of original blues, all skillfully styled by Brother Yusef as if he were straddling the century-wide chasm of blues past and blues present. A welcome addition to BluesMusicFan’s Top 20 Blues Albums of 2019.

20
Brandon Santini - The Longshot

2019 was a good year for Memphis Blues Harpist Brandon Santini. Santini moved to Memphis from North Carolina in his early 20’s and his love for the blues flourished after discovering Paul Butterfield. Brandon released albums in 2011, 2013 and 2015. His 2019 album “Longshot” got rave reviews and even peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Blues Album Charts. Santini has won numerous blues awards and also became a Hohner endorsed harmonica artist in 2019. “Longshot” is a uniformly excellent album loaded with diversity. From solid rock guitar riffs in “Don’t Come Around Here”, to a Delta feel in “Beggin’ Baby”, along with gospel, country, and blending harp with traditional rock, all to bring you an extremely strong, well rounded CD for Brandon Santini.

BluesMusicFan Radio TOP 20 BLUES ALBUMS OF 2019
RANK	ARTIST
1	Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram - Kingfish
2	Keb' Mo' - Oklahoma
3	Altered Five Blues Band - Ten Thousand Watts
4	Albert Castiglia - Masterpiece
5	Walter Trout - Survivor Blues
6	Nick Moss Band Feat. Dennis Gruenling - Lucky Guy
7	Delbert McClinton & Self Made Men + Dana - Tall Dark & Handsome
8	Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band - The Traveler
9	Sugaray Rayford - Somebody Save Me
10	Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers - No Good Deed
11 (tie)	Mavis Staples - We Get By Samantha Fish - Kill Or Be Kind
13	Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters - Beyond The Blue Door
14	Van Morrison - Three Chords And The Truth
15	Ally Venable - Texas Honey
16 (tie)	Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues - Roots And Branches: Songs Of Little Walter The Teskey Brothers - Run Home Slow Beth Hart - War In My Mind
19	Brother Yusef The Fattback Bluesman - Jook Joint Jam
20	Brandon Santini - The Longshot