Solomon Hicks Blends Blues Tradition
Blues Magazine's weekly playlist features Solomon Hicks' new album "How Did I Ever Get This Blue?" which blends traditional blues with modern production alongside Spencer MacKenzie and Georgia Thunderbolts. Jazz rotations include Miles Davis' "A Tribute to Jack Johnson" and John Coltrane's "Concert in Japan" in current playlists.
- Harlem-born Solomon Hicks began playing guitar at age six and was the lead guitarist for the Cotton Club's 17-piece band by age 13. His eclectic style is influenced by a wide range of genres, including blues, jazz, gospel, R&B, and classic rock. - Hicks' new album, "How Did I Ever Get This Blue?", was produced by Grammy-winner Kirk Yano and recorded in Austin, Texas. The studio band included notable musicians such as Chris 'Whipper' Layton from Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble and turntablist DJ Logic. - JUNO-nominated blues-rock artist Spencer MacKenzie hails from Southern Ontario, Canada, and is a Maple Blues Award winner. - The Georgia Thunderbolts, a southern rock band from Rome, Georgia, released their debut album "Can We Get a Witness" in 2021 and have opened for acts like Black Stone Cherry, The Kentucky Headhunters, and Blackberry Smoke. - Miles Davis's 1971 album, "A Tribute to Jack Johnson," serves as the soundtrack to a documentary about the first African American heavyweight boxing champion. The album features two tracks, each over 25 minutes long, and marked Davis's embrace of a rock aesthetic with musicians like guitarist John McLaughlin. - John Coltrane's "Concert in Japan" was recorded live during his only Japanese tour in July 1966. The performance was originally recorded for a mono radio broadcast and was officially released in 1973.
