Donald Byrd

 

Artist:  Donald Byrd

Birth Name:  Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II

Born:  December 9, 1932.  Detroit, Michigan, USA

Died:  February 4, 2013 (Aged 80).  Dover, Delaware, USA

Genre:  Jazz, Bebop, Hard Bop, Jazz Funk, Soul Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Jazz Instrument, Post-Bop, Trumpet Jazz 

Occupation:  Musician

Instruments:  Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals

Donald Byrd was an American Jazz Trumpet.  He was best known as one of the only Bebop Jazz Musicians who successfully pioneered the Funk and Soul Genres while remaining a Jazz Artist.  He was a sideman for many other Jazz Musicians of his generation, also as a Bandleader.

Title:  The Cat Walk (2026)

Genre:  Jazz, Bebop, Hard Bop, Jazz Funk, Soul Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Jazz Instrument, Post-Bop, Trumpet Jazz 

Label:  Blue Note

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side One:

 1.  Say You're Mine (7:21)

 2.  Duke's Mixture (7:05)

 3.  Each Time I Think Of You (5:39)

Side Two:

 1.  The Cat Walk (6:46)

 2.  Cute (6:21)

 3.  Hello Bright Sunflower (7:29)

Personnel:

Donald Byrd:  Trumpet

Papper Adams:  Baritone Saxophone

Duke Pearson:  Piano

Laymon Jackson:  Bass

Philly Joe Jones:  Drums

The Cat Walk is an album by Donald Byrd, originally released on February 1962 by Blue Note, remastered and reissued on May 15, 2026 by Blue Note.  180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl.

Kenny Dorham

 

Artist:  Kenny Dorham

Birth Name:  McKinley Howard Dorman

Born:  August 30, 1924.  Fairfield, Texas, USA

Died:  December 5, 1972 (Aged 48).  New York City, USA

Genre:  Jazz, Bebop, Mainstream Jazz, Hard Bop, Jazz Instrument, Trumpet Jazz

Occupation:  Musician, Bandleader, Composer

Instruments:  Trumpet, Vocals

Kenny Dorham was an American Jazz Trumpeter, Composer, and Occasional Singer.  He also composer the Bossa Nova Jazz Standard "Blue Bossa", which was first recorded by his associate Joe Henderson.

Title:  Whistle Stop (2026)

Genre:  Jazz, Bebop, Mainstream Jazz, Hard Bop, Jazz Instrument, Trumpet Jazz

Label:  Blue Note

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side One:

 1.  "Philly" Twist (5:39)

 2.  Buffalo (7:43)

 3.  Sunset (6:20)

Side Two:

 1.  Whistle Stop (5:56)

 2.  Sunrise In Mexico (5:39)

 3.  Windmill (6:17)

 4.  Dorham's Epitaph (1:09)

Personnel:

Kenny Dorham:  Trumpet

Hank Mobley:  Tenor Saxophone

Kenny Drew:  Piano

Paul Chambers:  Double Bass

Philly Joe Jones:  Drums

Whistle Stop is an album by Kenny Dorham, originally released on June 1961 by Blue Note, remastered and reissued on May 15, 2026 by Blue Note.  180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl.

Taste

 Artist:  Taste

Origin:  Cork, Ireland
Genre:  Blues Rock

Original line-up:

Rory Gallagher;  Guitar, Vocals, Saxophone, Harmonica
Eric Kitteringham:  Bass
Norman D'Amery:  Drums

Taste is an Irish Rock and Blues Rock Band from Cork, Ireland, formed in 1966 by Rory Gallagher (Guitar, Vocals, Songwriter), Eric Kitteringham (Bass), and Norman D'Amery (Drums).  Their early years Taste toured in Hamburg, German.  In 1968 Taste began performing in the UK where the original line-up spilt up.  The new line-up with Richard McCracken (Bass) and John Wilson (Drums) and signed with the record label Polydor.  The band played along with Yes, Cream and Blind Faith.  In 1970 the band as part of the Isle Of Wight Festival, alongside Jimi Hendrix, and The Who.  Later the same year Taste disbanded by Rory Gallagher, who decided to go to Solo career.

Title:  Basel 1970 (2026)

Genre:  Blues Rock

Label:  Rockin' Genre:  Blues Rock Records

Rating:   ****

Format:  CD

Tracks:

 1.  Morning Sun (4:08)

 2.  Sugar Mama (6:39)

 3.  I'll Remember (7:02)

 4.  Walkin' Blues (4:20)

 5.  Eat My Words (9:01)

 6.  Railway And Gun (4:10)

 7.  I Feel So Good (8:44)

 8.  What's Going On (6:18)

 9.  Catfish (12:49)

10. Same Old Story (3:27)

Personnel:

Rory Gallagher:  Lead Vocals, Guitars, Harmonica

Richard McCracken:  Bass

John Wilson:  Drums

Basel 1970 is a live album by Taste, released on May 22, 2026 by Rockin' Bear Records, recorded live in concert in Switzerland on February 1, 1970.

The Green Ray

 

Artist:  The Green Ray

Origin:  England

Genre:  Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock, Underground Rock

Original line-up:

Ken Whaley:  Bass, Vocals

Richard Treece:  Guitar, Vocals

Simon Whaley:  Drums, Guitar

Simon Haspeck:  Guitar, Vocals

The Green Ray were an English Psychedelic Rock and Progressive Rock Band, formed in 1993 in London by Ken Whaley (Bass, Vocals Ex Help Yourself) and Richard Treece (Guitar, Vocals Ex Help Yourself), along with Simon Whaley (Drums, Vocals) and Simon Haspeck (Guitar, Vocals).

Title:  Orchard House (Limited Edition) (2026)

Genre:  Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock, Underground Rock

Label:  Blue Matter Records

Rating:  *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side A:

 1.  The Veil Of Certainlys (5:42)

 2.  You'll Have To Get Lost (To Find Yourself) (6:22)

 3.  Rigoglioso Days (4:45)

 4.  Walking Home (To MyWorld) (5:51)

Side B:

 1.  Ornamentals (7:15)

 2.  Float (Slight Return) (5:24)

 3.  Orchard House (8:18)

Personnel:

Simon Whaley:  Lead Guitar Electic Piano, Drums, Vocals

Martin James Gee:  Vocals, Guitar

Mitch Brooks:  Flute, Saxophone

Dave Macenzie:  Bass

Mark Cullum:  Drums

Orchard House is an album by The Green Ray, released on May 14, 2026 by Blue Matter Records.  Limited Edition.

Stray

 

Artist:  Stray

Origin:  London, England
Genre:  Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock, Blues Rock, British Metal

Original line-up:

Steve Gadd:  Vocals
Del Bromham:  Guitar
Gary Giles:  Bass
Steve Crutchley:  Drums

Stray is an English Hard Rock Band from London, formed in 1966 by Steve Gadd (Vocals), Del Bromham (Guitar), Gary Giles (Bass), and Steve Crutchley (Drums).  They signed to Transatlantic Records.  Their early music style consisted of Blues Rock, Acid Rock and Psychedelic Rock, and then went on to join with Hard Rock and Progressive Rock movement.

Title:  Stray (Limited Edition) (2025)

Genre:  Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Progressive Rock, Blues Rock, British Metal

Label:  Music On Vinyl

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side 1:

 1.  All In Your Mind (9:21)

 2.  Taken All The Good Things (5:30)

 3.  Around The World In Eighty Days (3:37)

 4.  Time Machine (4:41)

Side 2:

 1.  Only What You Can Make It (4:00)

 2.  Yesterday's Promises (4:19)

 3.  Move On (5:46)

 4.  In Reverse/Some Say (9:01)

Personnel:

Steve Gadd:  Vocals
Del Bromham:  Guitar
Gary Giles:  Bass
Richard Cole:  Drums

Stray is the debut studio album by Stray, originally released in 1970 by Transatlantic Records, remastered and reissued on August 22, 2025 by Music On Vinyl.  Limited Edition of 1000 Individual Numbered Copies on White Coloured Vinyl, 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

 

Artist:  Kenny Wayne Shepherd 
Birth Name:  Kenny Wayne Brost
Born:  June 12, 1977.  Shreveport, Louisiana,  USA
Genre:  Blues Rock, Blues, Rock, Hard Rock
Occupations:  Musician, Songwriter
Instruments:  Guitar, Vocals

Kenny Wayne Shepherd is an American Guitarist, Singer, and Songwriter, from Shreveport, Louisiana.  He played Blues and Blues Rock as per Icons such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Magic Sam, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, and Junior Wells.

Title:  Ledbetter Heights (The 30th Anniversary Sessions) (2026)

Genre:  Blues Rock, Blues, Rock, Hard Rock 

Label:  Ram Records

Rating:   *****

Format:  CD

Tracks:

 1.  Born With A Broken Heart (5:56)

 2.  Deja Voodoo (6:09)

 3.  Aberdeen (4:15)

 4.  Shame, Shame, Shame (6:05)

 5.  One Foot On The Path (3:49)

 6.  Everybody Gets The Blues (5:56)

 7.  While We Cry (Live) (6:17)

 8.  I'm Leaving You (Commit A Crime) (4:16)

 9.  (Let Me Up) I've Had Enough (2:43)

10. Riverside (3:46)

11. What's Goin' Down (5:30)

12. Ledbetter Heights (6:11)

Personnel:

Kenny Wayne Shepherd:  Lead Guitar

Noah Hunt:  Lead Vocals

Kevin McCormick:  Bass

Chris "Whipper" Layton:  Drums

Joe Krown:  Piano, Keyboards

Reesee Wynans:  Keyboards

Jessica Waltz:  Backing Vocals

Ledbetter Heights is the debut album by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, originally released on September 19, 1996 by Giant Records, remastered and reissued on May 8, 2026 by Ram Records.  30th Anniversary Sessions.  For Fans of Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

The Cryin' Shames

 

Artist:  The Cryin' Shames

Origin:  Liverpool, England

Genre:  Pop, Rock, R&B, Early R&B, Freakbeat, Garage Rock, Rock & Roll, Beat, Psychedelic Rock, British Invasion

Original line-up:

Charlie Crane:  Vocals

Joey Kneen:  Vocals

Ritchie Routledge:  Guitar

Phil Roberts:  Keyboards

George Robinson:  Bass

Charlie Gallagher:  Drums

2nd line-up:

Charlie Crane:  Vocals

Joey Kneen:  Vocals

Ritchie Routledge:  Guitar

Phil Roberts:  Keyboards

Derek Clearly:  Bass

Charlie Gallagher:  Drums

The Cryin' Shames were an English Pop and Beat Group from Liverpool, formed in 1965 by Charlie Crane (Vocals Ex The Bumbles), Joey Kneen (Vocals Ex The Calderstones, The Bumbles), Ritchie Routledge (Guitar Ex The Aztecs), Phil Roberts (Keyboards Ex The Calderstones, The Bumbles), George Robinson (Bass Ex The Bumbles), and Charlie Gallagher (Drums Ex The Bumbles).  They had one UK Hit Single Chart and the  first single "Please Stay" in 1966 with a cover of the Drifters' 1961.

Title:   Please Stay (2024)

Genre:  Pop, Rock, R&B, Early R&B, Freakbeat, Garage Rock, Rock & Roll, Beat, Psychedelic Rock, British Invasion

Label:  Cherry Red

Rating:   ****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

LP 1:

Side A:

The Cryin' Shames 

 1.  Please Stay (3:15)

 2.  What's News Pussycat (Extended Fade) (2:52)

 3.  Nobody Waved Goodbye (2:56)

 4.  You (2:11)

Paul & Ritchie & The Cryin' Shames

 5.  September In The Rain (2:35)

 6.  Come On Back (2:34)

Audition (as The Bumbles)

 7.  Please Stay (Audition) (1:52)

 8.  Mr. Tambourine Man (Audition) (2:06)

 9.  Pain In My Heart (Audition) (1:52)

Side B:

The Cryin' Shames

 1.  I'll Keep Holding On (Version 2) (3:50)

 2.  Land Of 1,000 Dances (4:36)

 3.  Gloria (3:15)

 4.  No Good Without You Baby (3:20)

 5.  She Belongs To Me (3:13)

 6.  My Girl (2:58)

 7.  As Tears Go By (3:10)

Personnel:

Original line-up:

Charlie Crane:  Vocals

Joey Kneen:  Vocals

Ritchie Routledge:  Guitar

Phil Roberts:  Keyboards

George Robinson:  Bass

Charlie Gallagher:  Drums

2nd line-up:

Charlie Crane:  Vocals

Joey Kneen:  Vocals

Ritchie Routledge:  Guitar

Phil Roberts:  Keyboards

Derek Clearly:  Bass

Charlie Gallagher:  Drums

Paul & Ritchie & The Cryin' Shames

Charlie Crane:  Vocals

Ritchie Routledge:  Guitar 

Brian Norris:   Bass

Mike Espie:  Guitar

Pete Byrne:  Organ

Paul Commenford:  Drums

Please Stay is the collection album by The Cryin' Shames/Paul & Ritchie & The Cryin' Shames, released on August 23, 2024 by Perfect Kick Off.  For Music Lovers And Music Collectors.