Blues

The Blue Poets bring together 1970s classic rock, modern alternative rock, and blues in their self-titled album.

From the sonic exuberance of “Dancin’ Fool” and “Tell Me You Love Me” to the funky dissonance of “You Are What You Is” and “Joe’s Garage” to the bathroom-humor excellence of “Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow” and “Titties and Beer,” this album will give you just as much of a “taste” for Frank Zappa’s music as his son’s "Zappa Plays Zappa" did for me some eight years ago.

Bonamassa and his band fire on all cylinders on this live 2-CD or 2-DVD set. Recorded, amazingly, at a single sold-out Los Angeles concert in 2015, the selections pay tribute to the three "Kings" of the blues: Freddie King, Albert King, and Bonamassa's mentor B.B. King.

'Come to Paradise' is an eclectic mix of styles, from African folk to American adult pop and contemporary jazz.

'What Happened, Miss Simone?' is a great documentary about an amazing woman that comes with a bonus CD containing some of her greatest songs.

'Any Way You Love, We Know How You Feel' is a dream of an album. Continuing much of the spacey jam-rock of the band’s previous three albums, it also breaks rank from those other releases and manages to forge along in a new and seemingly less restrained path.

With 'Stripped', Macy Gray marries her songwriting and interpretive skills in one place. The new album acts as proof that Gray's style has become its own blueprint on making, and playing, by one's own set of artistic rules to achieve longevity.

Steve Conte's 'International Cover Up' is a sheer listening pleasure.

With its emotional extremes, seriousness, sadness and laughter following one another, this album is a realistic representation of life, superbly performed by Kolassa and the musicians and sensitively produced by Jensen.

The 1st Indie Blues Awards winners were announced on Wednesday, June 15 at Darwin's in Marietta, Georgia.