Although it’s certainly not the first state that comes to mind when one associates the blues with a particular region of the U.S., California has contributed more than its fair share to the idiom. Even with our endless days of golden sunshine, palm tree-lined boulevards, over-abundance of beautiful women and Hollywood glitz and glamour, Californians still manage to come down with a serious case of the blues. And thanks to folks such as T-Bone Walker, Charles Brown, Lowell Fulson, Pee Wee Crayton, Big Joe Turner and Johnny “Guitar” Watson who migrated out West during the ’40s and ’50s, we even have a name for it—West Coast blues. In the ensuing years this style continued to flourish in the Golden State, propelled forward by another generation of artists in Southern California that included Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, the James Harman Band, William Clarke, Lynwood Slim and the Hollywood Fats Band.

It’s this particular brand of blues that informs the sound of Long Beach newcomers The Mighty Mojo Prophets. Formed in late 2007 by vocalist Tom “Big Son” Eliff and guitarist Mitch “Da Switch” Dow, the Prophets set forth to lay down some of the most honest, straight-ahead blues that they could conjure up. Rather than taking the easy way out and simply retread the songbooks of their bygone heroes of yesteryear, Eliff and Dow put their heads together (and possibly a little Goofer dust) and crafted their self-titled national debut for Rip Cat Records in 2011. The results landed them a 2012 Blues Music Award nomination for Best New Artist Debut and a ticket to Memphis, where the band had the opportunity to work their mojo in front of a crowd of their own peers at the esteemed event’s pre-party celebration on May 10, 2012, at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis.

The Mighty Mojo Prophets’ follow-up effort Flyin’ Home From Memphis continues the tale with thirteen skillfully written and wonderfully performed songs, composed by founding members Tommy Eliff and Mitch Dow. Together they’ve summoned a veritable bevy of musical variations beyond their adopted West Coast roots to incorporate other regional styles such as Chicago and Texas blues, Memphis soul, country blues and proto-rock ‘n’ roll. With solid rhythmic support from Dave Deforest on bass and Alex Schwartz on drums, along with special guests San Pedro Slim and Alex “Li’l A” Woodson on harmonica, Mike Malone on piano and organ, plus the B7 Horns consisting of Mark Sample on tenor sax and Jonny V on trumpet, this collection stands out as a refreshingly original take on traditional roots styles in a sea of ‘the same ol’ thing’.

John Primer and Bob Corritore combine forces to deliver a Chicago blues masterpiece!

The blues roads of John Primer and Bob Corritore have been running parallel for so long, it was almost inevitable that they would eventually join forces in a musical collaboration. In the 1970′s when a young Primer was in Junior Wells’ house band at Theresa’s on Chicago’s South Side, a young Corritore spent many nights in the audience, absorbing some of the world’s greatest blues in that small basement tavern. A few years later Primer was recruited into the Muddy Waters Band, and Corritore relocated to Phoenix, AZ, where he became one of the leading figures in that city’s blues scene, not only as a harmonica player, but also as a club owner, radio DJ, and record producer. Primer later spent time in the bands of Magic Slim and James Cotton, before breaking out on his own and recording a series of acclaimed releases leading his own band. At the same time, Corritore was producing and performing on a string of blues releases of his own, earning glowing accolades and honors along the way. Both men are deeply rooted in the classic Chicago blues tradition, so it was only a matter of time before they collaborated. The only surprise is that it took them until 2012!

But the resulting CD was well worth the wait, and has brought out the best in both artists. Primer digs deep into the raw and heavy sound that he started out playing with the veterans of Chicago’s South Side blues scene. Corritore’s harp wails and moans with echoes of Little Walter, Junior Wells and James Cotton, while still sounding unmistakably like his own man. The session covers material meticulously selected from the songbooks of such Windy City blues icons as Little Walter, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Willie Dixon and Jimmy Reed, in addition to Texas bluesman Lightnin’ Hopkins, among several others, and features a crack team assembly of A-list players that includes guitarists Billy Flynn and Chris James, pianist Barrelhouse Chuck, bassists Bob Stroger and Patrick Rynn, as well as Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith and Brian Fahey on drums. The result is one of the most consistently satisfying traditional-style blues releases since the heyday of Chicago blues. So put it on, turn it up, and enjoy the sounds of these two consummate pros ‘Knockin’ Around These Blues!’