Jon Strider is a very experienced musician and has worked with artists like Van Morrison, Boz Skaggs, Mink DeVille, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker to mention a few. As a solo artist he has released 5 albums, and recently I have been listening to the album “White Wings” which was released two years ago.

Jon Strider calls his music Rhythm N’ Folk, which feels rather appropriate. It’s quite pleasant to listen to the album, bringing a positive soft rock with influences from americana, blues and country. I can hear a little of Jackson Browne, some Eagles, Cat Stevens and a lot of vibes from the american early seventies. It’s a really good album with a lot of variation.

If you want to read and listen more you should visit Jon Strider’s site.

Here’s a couple of songs from “White Wings”:

At the Way Station
Coming Alive

Slowman, aka Svante Törngren, released his debut solo album last autumn. The title is “The Best of Slowman”, which is an interesting title. And after listening and some afterthought I find it a rather fitting name. This could very well be an album from someone that has released a number of records during the years. Also, it feels like an album from someone that has created music for many years and that has rounded up quite a lot of music, and is now presenting some of the best parts to us.

For those that like blues rock and to some extent country rock, this is a fiesta. 15 really good tracks, with wonderful guitars and a front man that stands steady and has a great expression. And considering all the giants in this genre, it really takes someone who is able to fill out his clothes to be able to go all the way here, and I really feel that Slowman is that someone.

Listen and read more at Slowman’s site and on his Myspace page.

Slowman – “If I Ever”:

Taking the Long Way Home
Take It Down

A pleasant new acqaintance, new at least for me, is Lo Kivikas. Last year she released her debut EP “Master of Your Mind”, produced by Jair-Rohm Parker Wells, and you can listen to a couple of tracks from the EP here below.

It’s a nice mix of country, blues and rock, rather peaceful and intimate. Lo has a special voice, maybe like a bluesier Marianne Faithfull, and her voice fits perfectly in these nice arrangements, backed by these skilled musicians. Hammond, harmonica, lap-steel, violins colour the music and brings the best out of each song.

If you’d like to listen more, you should visit Lo Kivikas’ Myspace page.

Lay Down
One More Little Lifetime

I thought it was time for some blues again. This time with the blues veteran Brian Kramer, who have recently released the album “Live at Club Stampen” under the name Brian Kramer & the Nights of Blu-topia. Brian invites us to an intimate and soulful performance in the company of great musicians like Mats Qwarfordt, “Iron Hand” Mike Haglund, Marcelo Nunez and Peter Freij.

It’s a wonderful collection of songs that Brian presents here. I find a nice earthy, positive (can I say that?) blues, together with folk music and bluegrass, which makes my feet move, and also nice bluesy singer/songwriter tunes. Good music, of course, always comes from within, but somewhere I feel that the blues lies as close as you can get to the soul. And judging from what I hear it would be real nice to meet a person like Brian Kramer.

Of course you should go to Brian Kramer’s site and his Myspace page to read more about him and to listen more to his music.

Here’s two tracks from Brian Kramer and the Nights of Blutopias’ “Live at Club Stampen”:

I Get It Wrong
Everything Is Headed Somewhere

Pontus Snibb has just released his second solo album “Admiral Street Recordings II” (Rootsy). And considering that he’s also the front man in Bonafide and has a bunch of other projects going on, it’s fascinating that he’s able to produce such a great album; 14 tracks with a bonus album. The bonus album is a 10-track rock opera with the title “The Musical Journey of Jim and Sam”.

Classic Rock is the base here with influences from southern rock, crunchy AC/DC-riffs and blues rock of a kind that makes me think of the early Whitesnake sometimes. A lot of variation and I can hear parts with americana and country breaking in. Maybe a heritage from Pontus’ engagement in Jason and the Scorchers?
I think the biggest asset, though, is Pontus’ voice, which has this soulful blues feeling, sometimes touching Coverdale’s way of singing, especially during the seventies.

Listen to and download two tracks from “Admiral Street Recordings II”:

Derailing In Full Speed
Signs and Answers

Listen more on Pontus Snibb’s Myspace page and visit his site too.
On Pontus Snibb’s page at Rootsy you can taste a little from all the tracks on the album.