Best Blues, Soul and World Music of 2006

It was a good year for blues, soul and world music:

1) George Higgs: “Rainy Day Blues.” My favorite charity continues to be The Music Maker Foundation, which provides financial aid to Southern musicians in need of assistance. The foundation also records some of these musicians and distributes their albums; I was thrilled when I got "Rainy Day Blues" in the mail this summer. It’s my pick for blues album of the year because it reminds me of the music of Sonny Terry, Pegleg Sam, the Rev. Gary Davis and a lot of other classic blues artists.

2) Solomon Burke: “Nashville.” This CD, which was produced by country music’s Buddy Miller, is rawer than Burke’s other albums. His singing is more jagged, his delivery is more measured. As a result, this album which is part country and part blues, is filled with emotional tunes that will cut straight to your soul.

3) Ike Turner: “Rising with the Blues.” This album is filled with soul, blues and jazz that proves that Ike Turner is every bit as good as Tina.

4) Cephas and Wiggins: “Shoulder to Shoulder.” Check this album out of you want to hear great country blues with a contemporary sound.

5) Ali Farka Touré: “Savane.” The great African musician’s final album blends world music and blues beautifully.

6) “Jamaica to Toronto: “Soul, Funk & Reggae 1967-1974.” This compilation mixes soul of both the Stax and Motown varieties with Killer reggae.

7) Boo Boo Davis: “Drew, Mississippi.” Buy this album and you’ll find fuzzy, funky blues that draws on the sounds of all the great Delta musicians who came before Davis.

8) Watermelon Slim: “Cowboy Blues.” Watermelon Slim is the funniest blues lyricist working today. And his blues, which he and his band play with a rockabilly attitude, belongs in every home.

9) Rory Block: “The Lady and Mrs. Johnson.” Over the years, a lot of folks have tried to summon the spirit of Robert Johnson. Block actually managed to do it.

10) Sam Moore: “Overnight Sensational.” The former member of Sam & Dave makes everyone who sings with him sound good, even Mariah Carey.

11) Bishop Dready Manning: “Gospel Train.” This CD is another one from the Music Maker Foundation and it’s as good a blending of country blues and gospel as you’re likely to find.

12) Guy Davis: “Skunkmello.” I have tickets to see Davis in a few weeks and this album is making me excited about the prospect.

13) Candi Staton: “His Hands.” Staton’s old-school soul is pure and true and filled with both love and pain.

14) Irma Thomas: “After the Rain.” Thomas uses her soul songs as a healing force for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Her rendition of “Make Me a Pallet on the Floor” is one of the best tunes I heard all year.

15) Willie “Big Eyes” Smith: “Way Back Blues.” I missed Muddy Waters’ former drummer when Smith came to Lafayette this year (I had a prior engagement) and I’m still kicking myself. “Way Back Blues” sounds like a Muddy Waters album with a new singer. In other words, it’s good stuff.

16) Janiva Magness: “Do I Move You?”

17) Charlie Musselwhite: “Delta Hardware”

18) Roscoe Chenier: “Waiting for My Tomorrow”

19) Bonnie Bramlett: "Roots, Blues & Jazz."

20) Nick Moss & the Flip Tops: “Live at Chan’s”