Keziah Jones - BLUEFUNK & else

Keziah Jones (born Olufemi Sanyaolu on 10 January 1968) is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He describes his musical style as "Blufunk", which is a fusion between raw blues elements and hard, edgy funk rhythms. Also his Nigerian roots in Yoruba music and soul music can be considered a major influence on his sound.

He is known for his distinctive style of guitar playing, including his percussive right-hand technique which is similar to a bass guitarist's slapping technique.

Olufemi Sanyaolu a.k.a. Keziah Jones is the son of Oshodolamu Sanyaolu; Chief of the Yoruba people and successful industrialist and Abiola Sanyaolu. Born on 10 January 1968, Jones spent his early childhood in a large family in a part of Nigeria in the city of Lagos. From a young age he was being prepared to follow his father's footsteps in the family concern and was expected to have an academic career. Therefore, his father enrolled him in a Public School in London and he left Nigeria at the age of eight to be educated in England.

"I had to find a way out of all that, and music was it!"[citation needed] By the age of 13 he had discovered the old school piano and taught himself how to play and write songs. Three years later he switched to the guitar, increasingly neglecting his studies. After scraping through exams he went against his father's wishes and family tradition even more by skipping school and busking in the streets, clubs and London Underground, constantly avoiding the police.

Jones led a bohemian lifestyle for several years instead of the one envisaged for him. "Lose all time, love your mind, free your soul!" were words from his song Free Your Soul. Moving from London to Paris and back again frequently accompanied only by his guitar, the young Jones acquired a reputation as a talented musician and charismatic performer with a unique "hard funk" style. In 1990, whilst busking in London's Portobello Road, Keziah was discovered by composer and ex-keyboard player for Sailor and Culture Club, Phil Pickett quickly evolving into full-time management of the artist. Pickett signed Jones to a long-term songwriting agreement with Hit & Run Music Publishing ( photo Billboard 1990) who's executive, Dave Massey, had recorded songs by Jones when at Chrysalis Music. Massey continued to be involved in Keziah's career for the next 8 years. After a brief but near disastrous flirtation with Capitol Records in the USA, in 1992, Pickett signed Keziah to Emmanuel de Buretel's Delabel label for his debut album Blufunk Is a Fact. Recording in London with producer Kevin Armstrong, included in the worldwide success of the project was Keziah's first single "Rhythm Is Love". Jones attributes his Parisian subway experiences as highly instrumental to his by now blossoming career in his official biography.[1] By 2008, Jones had recorded eight albums and one DVD. After performing many shows and festivals throughout the world between 2009 and 2012, late in 2012 Keziah Jones was back in Lagos preparing to record his new studio album set for worldwide release on Because Music in 2013

 1992 - Blufunk Is A Fact! (Japan)

1995 - African Space Craft

1999 - Liquid Sunshine

2003 - Black Orpheus

2004 - Rhythm Is Love

2008 - Nigerian Wood

.44 Pistol - Blues Rock

.44 Pistol are a young, high energy electric blues band. Slide guitar driven, stripped back & dirty, they bring together the laid back country blues of artists such as Mississippi Fred McDowell with the raw electric sound of contemporary bands like the White Stripes. Up-tempo, rough & ready this is music to drink, dance and stomp your feet along to. The band play a mix of originals, re-written old blues songs and known covers

Although based in Stafford, since forming in 2008 they’ve clocked up around 10,000 miles, honing their style at pubs, clubs and festivals across the country & proving just how much gear it’s possible to fit into a Ford Fiesta. The band have received radio play on local stations from Essex to the Peak District, been reviewed by Blues in Britain & reached fans as far away as France and Poland. All of which they have managed without a bass player.

 Live At The Vaults (2014)

20 Watt Tombstone & Left Lane Cruiser - Death Blues Vs The Dirty Spliff

Led by Freddy J IV (aka Joe Evans) on vocals and slide guitar, with Pete Dio on drums & assorted other junk, and birthed in either Fort Wayne, IN or Hades depending on who you ask, Left Lane Cruiser whips up a frenzied mess of trashed-out punk/blues. The Duo has seen 10 years, 8 albums, and so many tours both in the U.S. and overseas, if you ask them; they likely can't remember. They also are one of Alive Records flagship artists, Home to such artists as Radio Moscow, Buffalo Killer, The Black Diamond Heavies and formerly The Black Keys.

20 Watt Tombstone is not out to dazzle anyone, their mission is simple. Play music they and their fans like, and do it loud!

Formed in 2012 in Wausau,WI, The band quickly formed a friendship with kindred spirits "Left Lane Cruiser", who heavily influenced the band's sound. This album is four years in the making, and was recorded live at 7711 Studios in Milwaukee (Where 20 Watt recorded their first album "Wisco Disco"). Once again, no patch ins, no pitch correction were used. Just four dudes in a room playing loud and recording whatever came out.

 Death Blues Vs The Dirty Spliff

145th Street Deluxe Blues Band

145th Street is a five-piece blues band that plays pubs, clubs, casinos, and festivals around San Diego. The group was founded in 2002 by singer/harpist Steve Bulger, aka Stevie B, and Marco Marrewa on guitar as the Bossmen.

“We added bass and drums, and all of the sudden, we had a band,” says Bulger. The winning lineup includes Mike Bullard on bass and a sax player from New Orleans by way of Southeast San Diego named Walter Gentry. The sax man’s dad owned a barbershop in Southeast. When he died, Walter came home and worked the shop for a while. (“He doesn’t cut hair anymore,” says Bulger.)

While Gentry was playing New Orleans gigs, he met Tony Peterson, a drummer who would also come to San Diego and eventually join 145th Street.

Their debut CD, 145th Street Deluxe Blues Band, was nominated Best Blues Album at the 2005 San Diego Music Awards. Joe Walsh heard a copy and liked it. “He said it was pretty fucking good,” says Bulger.

The group has opened for acts such as B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Charlie Musselwhite, Tommy Castro, and others. They’ve had a residency at Patrick’s II in the Gaslamp for years and Bulger says they’ve played Humphrey’s Backstage, the House of Blues, 4th&B, “and all the local festivals.”

But 145th Street has otherwise been off the local radar. Why? “That’s a good question.” Bulger puts the blame on lack of self-promotion. “When people hear us, they say, ‘Holy shit, are you guys from around here?’”

Bulger, who lives in Serra Mesa and is a distant relative of ex-mobster Whitey Bulger, explains the band’s name: one-four-five describes the chord changes in the 12-bar blues. “We added ‘Street’ because that’s where everything happens.” They carry an old-school wallop redolent of the 1960s, when rock bands were romancing traditional blues. “We don’t play the usual blues covers.”

In late 2011, the band won a series of elimination rounds to end up as Blues Lovers United of San Diego’s (BLUSD) designated hometown choice for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis at the end of January, 2012. The International Blues Challenge is the world’s largest battle of the blues bands. It takes place over five days. More than 748 musicians from 13 countries compete. Oceanside’s Nathan James & Ben Hernandez won the solo/duo title in 2007.

145th Street Deluxe Blues Band (2005 )

Absolution - Blues Rock Trio

One of the UK's finest emerging blues trios return with their second studio album. Terrific songwriting and exquisite musicianship help craft this 12 track album. From the foot tapping rock of Giving It Up, to the burning slow groove of Left In The Corner, this is an album for music lovers and blues rock fans in particular! 

Absolution’s second studio album, Dusty Road, is the band’s follow-up effort to 2012’s Issues. They split the two by filling the bus and taking their music to the road, which gave way to their live release. The trio stem from England, but the music reaches much further. Their smooth vocals and ear for the blues make them a modern blues machine. The album ranges from heavy riffs to soft, tasteful licks, a true balancing act. Lead vocalist Joe Fawcett brings a cool, collected delivery to each verse. Their simple, powerful riffs drive catchy tracks such as “Giving It Up” and “Lay Me To Rest”; both energetic, upbeat jams. On the other end, their intricate guitar work gives way to some suave tunes like “Don’t Know Where.” On “Head For Trouble,” the heaviest of them all, the trio turns the distortion high, juxtaposing low, gritty riffs with high ranging vocals a-la Clapton. Absolution brings the blues to the modern music front, with shades of classic rock and blues artists alike. Their second studio album is packed full of tunes every blues fan should check out. With everything from searing solo work to pounding drums to delicate vocals, their sound weaves a tasteful take on the blues.

Dusty Road (2014)