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So yes, this is (mostly) blues with plenty of energy, raw but accomplished, sometimes very
traditional sounding, occasionally out-and-out blues-rock. It is a mix that works extremely well
and is very listenable
Norman Darwen

Jo’ Buddy’s One Man Stomptet—Poppin’ Up—Ram-bam

Ramis 013 (single)
(www.ram-bam.com)

Finnish singer and guitarist Jo’ Buddy, a.k.a. Joey Buddy a.k.a.

Jussi Raulamo has featured in these pages fairly frequently with
his rough and ready blues and related releases but this one is a
little different again. Yes, it is still somewhat rough and ready,

but there is a certain suaveness to the vocal, which fits the
vintage small band swing style Jussi has here, with an extended

jazzy guitar break somewhat inspired by Charlie Christian and,
equally nicely if rather unexpected, a mouth trumpet in the vein of The Mills Brothers. It certainly
made my toes tap!

Norman Darwen

Brother Ray Lemelin & The Matinee Kings —Stirring the
Pot—Independent
(www.brotherraylemelin.ca)

Born and raised in Quebec and now living in Calgary, Canadian
singer, guitarist and bandleader Brother Ray was inspired by the
likes of Willie Dixon and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown to play
the blues himself. He now fronts the four-piece Matinee Kings,
and plays a fine mixture of blues, with Louisiana sounds a prime

influence, and other styles that take his fancy.

This set is pretty downbeat in places (or controlled and focused,
if you prefer) – try the cover of Percy Mayfield’s ‘Please Send Me Someone To Love’ or Bobby
Bland’s soulful ‘I’ll Take Care Of You’. Then there are items like Albert Collins’ ‘Frosty’ – with

vocal – and the jazzy ‘Never Good Enough For You’ (nice appropriately lazy-sounding rhythm
work from the band. There is a rootsy feel to the acoustic ‘Walk On’ (co-written with Steve Hill),
and some mellow funk on the instrumental ‘Etta Jean’, with just a hint of jazz-fusion. The
accordion playing by Howard Schmenge Chapman adds an extra dimension to the band’s sound,

with a rocking zydeco approach obvious on that just-mentioned instrumental and more
especially ‘Makin’ Out’, or something more nuanced on the French language rumba-blues of
‘Stirring The Pot – Une Vie’.

As you may have gathered, Brother Ray Lemelin makes rather individual music. He’s well worth

a listen.
Norman Darwen