Guitarist and songwriter Gregor Hilden already proved that he could produce fusion blues CDs with his earlier albums. But there is no doubt that his most he has now achieved his most concentrated atmosphere with "I’ll Play The Blues For You." That emotional live atmosphere, which is so important for the blues, has been captured throughout in this recording. Of course, this could only be achieved with a select band such as the one Hilden has supporting him. The experienced black percussionist Tommy Harris (Bessemer/Alabama) contributed the "laid-back groove" in his own very special way, bass player Oliver Geselbracht ("Blues Company") donated his voluptuous low registers and Horst Bergmeier those succulent Hammond sounds. Guest singer Johnny Rodgers (Wilmington/North Carolina) is up at the top of the world's soul-blues vocalists. Rodgers attacks various ballads in his inimitable way. Other illustrious guests are in the wind section of "I’ll Play The Blues": the sax players Tommy Schneller and Volker Winck. And up in the forefront is the sensitively and subtly played E-guitar of Gregor Hilden himself. Of course, one can make out the music of his role model Peter Green in his elegant improvisations, but this guitarist, who hails from Münster, has long developed a genuinely personal, quintessential style free of all fashions – retro moods, etc. – and that communicates an authentic "blues feeling" combined with clever, jazzy phrasings. With his original 1959 Gibson Les Paul, Hilden has opted for the Stradivarius of guitars, an instrument that harmonizes ideally with his style of playing.

“Sweet Rain” - The Best Of The Guitar Instrumentals is now out with a special cross section of the guitar music from the albums released by Gregor Hilden and his band until now: The best instrumental cuts from his CDs have been upgraded sound-wise thanks to high-end mastering at Pauler. The anthology represents a musical and sonorous product of particularly high quality. Ten own compositions and a series of new interpretations (including titles by his mentor Peter Green) demonstrate Hilden’s sensitive, elegant and blues-drenched manner of playing, which is quite comparable to the improvisational art of the great American guitarist Larry Carlton, and naturally, too, to that of the young Peter Green. Swinging titles join gentle ballads and hot funk cuts - it’s a CD with enormous diversity of sound and, of course, the moving “sweet tone” of Gregor Hilden’s guitar. “Sweet Rain” - The Best Of The Guitar Instrumentals comes in a expensively designed digipack and provides 70 minutes of top-of-the-line instrumental music.

Steppin' Out is a German blues band that has remained deeply rooted in the tradition yet by no means denies the musical zeitgeist. With the support, amongst others, of the saxophone legend Dick Heckstall-Smith, the quartet recorded "Tomorrow Today", a CD filled with lively, grooving blues-rock of the absolute finest. Pure power is the motto, and in the cracks between come jazzy or soul numbers, boogie-woogie tunes in best ZZ-Top style, heavy brass sections and acoustic pickings that seem to come straight from the Mississippi Delta. Fans of ardently and skillfully played blues and roots rock will be fully satisfied. They can bask in the driving passages, in the rugged solos, the captivating raw voice and the cool moments.

The native Italian Rudy Rotta has blues in his blood and soul. His energetic string-escapades are as roots-oriented as they are happening; modern grooves that echo with tradition as well as the sounds of rock, funk and soul. Rudy Rotta has fully digested the teachings of his paragons, but long since found his own sound. He is recognized today as one of Europe‘s most important blues musicians; a musician who a master of the soulfull ballad as well as a master of exciting, driving blues-rock. His steamy live-performances are unique events.

Rudy Rotta presents himself very convincingly as a world rank musician Live in Kansas City. We are allowed to experience Ruddy Rotta and his highly-inspired grooving band in top form, performing in the thrilling atmosphere of the ”Grand Emporium” in KC, often referred to as the ”Olympia of the blues.” 50 minutes of energy-charged prime quality blues rock were recorded on that evening in November 1996, 50 minutes during which the amazed listener may wonder now and then, whether the cradle of blues was not in fact in Italy. It’s a feast for all disciples of blues and those wanting to be so.

Frank Biner, a “body and soul” bluesman grew up in the blues clubs of California, being a background singer of the group Tower of Power and a successful composer (among his songs the hit “Simple as that” for Huey Lewis). Together with the FIRST CLASS BLUESBAND he mainly sings and plays his own songs on “Time To Move On” and fascinates his audience with a charismatic performance that is outstanding for a white blues-singer.

Al Jones sings “No Pain, No Gain” on his new album “Bittersweet.” After all, the blues survive on emotions, feelings and authenticity. Who would know that better than Al Jones: For 25 years already, the guitarist and singer has been a regular of the German blues scene and numbers amongst the most adept instrumentalists outside the USA. The diversity of Jones’s licks, the quality of his phrasing and the vigor of his playing all stem from extensive work with his idols Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Reed and Ray Charles - and they prove that one doesn’t necessarily have to sell one’s soul on a dusty street corner. Together with his band, this seasoned master has tapped into this wealth of experience to develop a perfectly individual energy, dynamic and groove that inevitably sweep the listener along. This all makes “Bittersweet” a great experience - not only for fans of the 12-bar genre.

Frank Biner is back in town - and what a furious return we are experiencing here! That Biner has to be regarded as one of the finest blues guitarists and singers around is something we already know from his previous records. That Biner’s highly explosive mixture of Chicago Blues and deepest soul music will even reanimate the sleepiest listener in front of his stereo, too, is no news at all - but nevertheless always fascinating. On “Frankie B. is Back in Town”, however, Biner pushes his own standards to a new limit: seemingly endless power, an absolutely marvelous backline (what an understatement to say so) with more than twelve highly acclaimed musicians, twelve high-octane compositions and a typically “American made” production - all material was recorded in San Francisco - make “Frankie B. is Back in Town” one of the most exciting recent blues releases. Not only dedicated blues-afficionados won’t most probably hesitate to grab a copy ...

This guitarist and singer was a “blues man” of the first water. With an irresistible aura, he literally celebrates his music, which ranges from soul cuts such as “Louisiana On My Mind” to blues jumps (“Down On San Pablo Ave”), traditional acoustic pickings (“Rebel”) and slide playing (“Little Miss Behaver”), all the way to powerful blues-rocks (“Lonesome Highway”). Frank Biner amalgamates tradition and zeitgeist in “Fixin’ To Jam” to form a perfect unity that means pure fun. One might wish for a chromed sparkling limo to get on the road and travel endless highways, with the Frank Biner CD and the loudspeakers playing full blast.