Crossroads

Friday, January 24 and Sunday, January 26

Crossroads continues its look back at 2019 with a program remembering artists who passed away in the past year, including Art Neville of the Meters and the Neville Brothers, Paul Barrere of Little Feat, soul blues singer Wee Willie Walker, and Dr. John (including a tribute special in hour two of the show).

Plus more of the best of 2019, with Blues Music Awards nominees Jimmy Carpenter, Toronzo Cannon and Nancy Wright, and birthday salutes to Aaron Neville and also Bettye LaVette (a 2020 Blues Hall of Fame inductee and nominee in this year’s Blues Music Awards as well).

Friday, January 17 and Sunday, January 19

 Crossroads continues the Best of 2019 feature with award winners and nominees in the Maple Blues, the Canadian Folk Music, Grammy, and the just announced Blues Music Awards and Blues Hall of Fame inductees.We’ll hear Hall of Fame inductees B.B. King, Ruth Brown, Syl Johnson, Earl Hooker, Bettye LaVette, Billy Branch, and Eddie Boyd – and nominees who are up for multiple awards, including Sugaray Rayford, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, the Cash Box Kings, Delbert McClinton, and Jimmie Vaughan (who is also featured in performance in a special in hour two of the show).

Friday, January 10 and Sunday, January 12 

Crossroads marks birthdays of R&B hitmaker Ruth Brown, Crescent City favorite Cyril Neville, and West Side guitar great Eddy Clearwater (including a special featuring Clearwater in hour two of the show). Plus more for the January Best of 2019 feature, including music from Mighty Mike Schermer, Robin Trower and the Jersey Swamp Cats; and the latest from Myles Goodwyn and Dave Specter.

1.   Various Artists – Putumayo Presents Blues Christmas (Putumayo)
2. Keb’ Mo’ – Moonlight, Mistletoe and You (Concord)
3. Michele D’Amour & the Love Dealers – Christmas in Blue (Warrior Poet)
4. Various Artists – Connor Ray Christmas (Connor Ray)
5. Matchedash Parish – Saturday Night (Make It Real)
6. Mike Zito – A Tribute to Chuck Berry (Ruf)
7. Lucky Peterson – 50 – Just Warming Up! (Jazz Village)
8. Wentus Blues Band – Too Much Mustard (Ramasound)
9. Annika Chambers – Kiss My Sass (Vizztone)
10. Altered Five Blues Band – Ten Thousand Watts (Blind Pig)
    

Friday, January 3 and Sunday, January 5

Crossroads kicks off the January Best of 2019 feature with a countdown of the show’s Top 25 favorites of the past year. Then throughout the rest of the month Crossroads looks back at other significant titles of 2019, award winners and nominees, tributes to artists who passed away during the year, and other significant blues music from the year. For the full list of Crossroads and all our other local music show picks of 2019, visit our Best of the Year page on our website: https://www.kmuw.org/topic/kmuws-best-music-2019

Friday, December 27 and Sunday. December 29

Crossroads marks end of December birthdays of Tracy Nelson (Dec. 27) and Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy (Dec. 29).

We’ll hear Nelson with Mother Earth, Maria Muldaur, and Marcia Ball, and Murphy from some of his many sessions with such legends as Chuck Berry, Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, and Buddy Guy.

Plus the latest from Vaneese Thomas (the daughter of R&B legend Rufus Thomas), Savoy Brown, Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Mike Zito, Ronnie Wood, and the Texas Horns, along with classic recordings from Solomon Burke and the Pigrim Travelers.

Friday, December 20 and Sunday, December 22

We’ve got holiday specials this time at the Crossroads – starting with a Beale Street Caravan Holiday show featuring the Maître D’ band doing songs from  Booker T. & The MGs’ classic holiday album, In The Christmas Spirit, performed live in the same studio where the original album was recorded. Then in hour two, it’s a House of Blues “Blues Christmas” special with classic blues holiday tunes and classic holiday tunes done blues style. 

1. Tad Robinson – Real Street (Severn)
2. Billy Price – Dog Eat Dog (Gulf Coast)
3. Bob Corritore - Do the Hip Shake, Baby! (Vizztone)
4. Delbert McClinton & Self-Made Men – Tall, Dark and Handsome (Thirty Tigers)
5. Billy Branch & Sons of Blues – Roots and Branches (Alligator)
6. Mighty Mike Schermer – Bad Tattoo (Vizztone)
7. Robin Trower – Coming Closer to the Day (Provogue)
8. Jimmie Vaughan – Baby, Please Come Home (Last)
9. Big Joe & the Dynaflows – Rockhouse Party (Severn)
10. Annika Chambers – Kiss My Sass (Vizztone)
11. Cash Box Kings – Hail to the Kings (Alligator)
12. North Mississippi All Stars – Up and Rolling (New West)
13. Junior Watson – Nothing To It But To Do It (Little Village Foundation)
14. Lee Boys – Live on the East Coast (M.C. Records)
15. Rockin’ Johnny & Quique Gomez – Dos Hombres Wanted (Vizztone)
16. Walter Trout – Survivor Blues (Provogue)
17. Biscuit Miller – Chicken Grease (American Showplace Music)
18. Jersey Swamp Cats – Go Cat Go! (Jersey Swamp Cats)
19. Toronzo Cannon – The Preacher, The Politician, or the Pimp (Alligator)
20. Dwayne Dopsie – Bon Ton (Louisiana Red Hot)
21. Reese Wynans – Sweet Release (J&R Adventures)
22. Bad Influence – Got What You Need (Badblues)
23. Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Kingfish (Alligator)
24. Levee Town – City Hall (Levee Town)
25. Various artists – The Time for Peace Is Now (Luaka Bop)

Friday, December 13 and Sunday, December 15

 Crossroads celebrates the season with holiday blues, including new holiday sets from Putumayo, Michele D’Amour, Keb’ Moi’, and the Connor Ray label, along with seasonal favorites from the Campbell Brothers, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Eden Brent, Fats Domino, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, and more Also on tap – concert previews,  birthday salutes to guitarist and organist Lucky Peterson, harmonica player Mark Hummel (including a preview of his new album in tribute to the Bluebird label due out in January), and guitarist Lurrie Bell, and new music from Mike Zito, the North Mississippi Allstars, Dave Specter, and Robert Randolph & the Family Band.

Friday, December 6, and Sunday, December 8

It’s “New Month/New Music” time as Crossroads teams up with Global Village and Strange Currency at the beginning of every month to feature the best in new blues releases. Among the highlights this time:

• New holiday releases from Keb' Mo', Putumayo Blues Christmas, Michelle D'Amour, Connor Ray, and the Lee Boys
• Maple Blues Awards nominees the Ghost Town Blues Band, Matchedash Parish, Paul DesLauriers, Big Dave McLean, and Anthony Gomes
• Classic Blues Queens on the Rough Guide to Blues Divas
• The fourth album from award-winning Oregon group, the Rae Gordon Band
• Black Stone Cherry's second volume in tribute to blues legends
• Kansas City blues duo Hudspeth & Taylor
• Texas soul blues singer and 2019 Blues Music Award winner Annika Chambers
• East Texas bluesman Randy McAllister with guests from KC's Levee Town and Nick Schnebelen bands
• And live albums from Chris 'Bad News' Barnse (with Steve Guyger and Gary Hoey) and Jack Mack & the Heart Attack