Cookeville Blues Jam

06/23/2026

🎸 BLUES GAUNTLET: Tommy Castro – "Lose Lose" 🎸

This month's playlist is focused on contemporary artists writing new blues music. Not because it's new, but because great blues listeners don't need a song to be old in order to recognize it as blues.

Tommy Castro has spent decades proving that point.

One of the most respected artists in modern blues, Castro has built a career on writing songs that feel timeless while still sounding fresh and relevant. "Lose Lose" is a perfect example.

This isn't a recreation of the past.

It's a modern blues song spoken in a language blues listeners already understand.

So how does it hold up under the Blues Gauntlet?

✅ **Vocabulary** – The song is packed with blues language. The phrasing, guitar work, vocal delivery, and musical conversation all communicate clearly to blues listeners.

✅ **Tone** – Castro's guitar tone and vocal style are unmistakably rooted in the blues tradition while maintaining his own unique identity.

✅ **Feel** – The groove is deep, relaxed, and confident. Every player knows exactly where the pocket lives.

✅ **Form** – Built on a blues framework that remains connected to the tradition while supporting a modern song.

⚪ **Standards** – While the song embraces traditional blues language, it does not rely on a classic AAB lyric structure.

**RESULT: PASSES THE BLUES GAUNTLET**

One of the things that makes Tommy Castro such a compelling artist is his ability to write songs that feel instantly familiar without feeling recycled. That's one of the great strengths of the blues. The language survives because artists continue speaking it in their own voice.

A listener doesn't need to know the song.

They don't need to know the album.

They don't need to know when it was recorded.

They hear the language.

They hear the groove.

And they know.

🎧 **Jammer Notes:** This song is a great reminder that groove beats complexity. Don't chase every lick or fill. Focus on the pocket, the phrasing, and the attitude. The band sounds great because everyone is serving the song first. Let the groove breathe and trust the feel.

Give it a listen, learn the groove, and come play it with us.

https://youtu.be/N7UnHlY--o0?si=nK6ASeHoH8s-1Wjz

06/21/2026

🎸 BLUES GAUNTLET: Kingfish – "It Ain't Right" 🎸

This month's playlist is focused on contemporary artists writing new blues music. Not because it's new, but because it proves something important:

Blues isn't defined by age.

It's defined by the language.

Few artists demonstrate that better than Christone "Kingfish" Ingram.

Kingfish has become one of the most recognizable names in modern blues, but songs like "It Ain't Right" remind us that what connects with blues listeners today is often the same thing that connected with blues listeners generations ago.

So how does it hold up under the Blues Gauntlet?

✅ **Vocabulary** – From the opening phrases to the closing notes, this song speaks fluent blues. The guitar, vocals, and musical conversation all communicate in a language blues listeners immediately recognize.

✅ **Tone** – Big, expressive guitar tones and a powerful vocal delivery give the song its unmistakable identity.

✅ **Feel** – The groove never lets go. Every player serves the song, creating a pocket that drives the performance from beginning to end.

✅ **Form** – Built on a blues framework that remains firmly connected to the tradition while still feeling modern and fresh.

⚪ **Standards** – While the song is deeply rooted in blues language, it does not rely on the classic AAB lyric structure.

**RESULT: PASSES THE BLUES GAUNTLET**

One of the most interesting things about songs like "It Ain't Right" is that they demonstrate how blues continues to evolve without losing its identity. A listener doesn't need to know when the song was written, who recorded it, or where the artist comes from.

They hear the language.

They hear the feel.

They hear the structure.

And they know.

🎧 **Jammer Notes:** Don't get distracted by Kingfish's guitar playing. Yes, the solos are fantastic, but the real lesson is how completely the band commits to the song. The groove, phrasing, dynamics, and vocal delivery are doing just as much work as the lead guitar. Focus on the conversation between all the players, not just the flashy moments.

Give it a listen, learn the groove, and come play it with us.

https://youtu.be/hE584wSEAMQ?si=BBiCzCwPfbAhbC6E

06/19/2026

🎸 BLUES GAUNTLET: Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia – "Hey Sweet Mama" 🎸

This month's playlist is focused on contemporary artists writing new blues songs. Not modern covers. Not old recordings. New songs built on a language that blues listeners still recognize immediately.

"Hey Sweet Mama" may be one of the best examples on the entire list.

Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia aren't recreating the past. They're writing a modern song using many of the same building blocks that have connected with blues audiences for generations.

So how does it hold up under the Blues Gauntlet?

✅ **Vocabulary** – The song speaks fluent blues. The phrasing, guitar work, vocal delivery, and musical conversation all sound immediately familiar to blues listeners.

✅ **Tone** – Big, expressive guitar tones and a band sound that feels right at home in the blues tradition.

✅ **Feel** – The groove drives the song from beginning to end. The energy is high, but the pocket never disappears.

✅ **Form** – Built on a traditional blues framework that remains firmly connected to the music's roots.

✅ **Standards** – The song uses a classic AAB lyric structure, one of the oldest and most recognizable signals in blues music.

**RESULT: 5/5 PASSES THE BLUES GAUNTLET**

What makes this song so interesting is that it demonstrates something we've been talking about all month: blues listeners don't need a song to be old in order to recognize it as blues.

They hear the language.

They hear the feel.

They hear the structure.

And they know.

That's why artists like Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia can write brand new songs that connect immediately with blues audiences. They're speaking a language listeners already understand.

🎧 **Jammer Notes:** Listen carefully to how much this song accomplishes without being complicated. Great blues often isn't about complexity. It's about communication. Focus on the groove, the vocal phrasing, and the conversation happening between the musicians. Everything in this song serves the message.

Give it a listen, learn the groove, and come play it with us.

https://youtu.be/P3daa-2EAXw?si=hHA240HDsLC5ryhE

06/18/2026

🎸 BLUES GAUNTLET: Boz Scaggs – "Radiator 110" 🎸

This month's playlist is focused on contemporary artists still writing and recording music built on the traditional blues engine. This week's selection comes from an artist many listeners know for smooth blue-eyed soul, radio hits, and a Hall of Fame career.

But long before "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle," Boz Scaggs was playing blues and R&B alongside a young Steve Miller. Those roots never disappeared, and *Out of the Blues* serves as a reminder of where his musical journey began.

That's what makes "Radiator 110" so interesting.

This isn't a pop artist trying the blues.

It's a blues musician reminding everyone where he came from.

So how does it hold up under the Blues Gauntlet?

✅ **Vocabulary** – Blues language is present throughout the song. The guitar phrasing, vocal delivery, and musical conversation all speak fluent blues.

✅ **Tone** – Thick, greasy, unapologetically bluesy. Everything about the sound serves the groove.

✅ **Feel** – This song lives and dies on feel, and the band delivers. The pocket is deep, relaxed, and completely committed to the groove.

✅ **Form** – Built on a traditional blues framework that remains firmly connected to the form's roots.

⚪ **Standards** – An original composition rather than a direct connection to the traditional standards canon.

**RESULT: PASSES THE BLUES GAUNTLET**

What makes "Radiator 110" special is that it reminds us that blues roots have a way of resurfacing. Many listeners know Boz Scaggs from his pop and blue-eyed soul success, but *Out of the Blues* reveals a musician reconnecting with the music that helped shape him from the very beginning.

🎧 **Jammer Notes:** Don't overcomplicate this one. The magic is in the groove. Lock in with the rhythm section, trust the pocket, and let the song do the work. This is a great example of how powerful a band can sound when everyone is pulling in the same direction. Focus on the feel, not the flash.

Give it a listen, learn the groove, and come play it with us.

https://youtu.be/7wY_zcFgpkE?si=iCjs9kFns-7yQVv9

06/17/2026

🎸 BLUES GAUNTLET: Robin Trower – "Ghosts" 🎸

This month's playlist is focused on contemporary artists still writing original songs using the traditional blues engine. Today's selection comes from a name that needs little introduction:

Robin Trower.

And not just any Robin Trower.

**THE Robin Trower.**

The same Robin Trower whose playing helped shape blues-rock for generations of guitarists. The same Robin Trower behind classics like "Bridge of Sighs," "Day of the Eagle," and "Too Rolling Stoned." Decades later, he's still writing and recording music rooted in the blues tradition.

That's what makes "Ghosts" so interesting. This isn't a classic track from the 1970s. It's a modern recording from an artist who continues to evolve while remaining connected to the blues vocabulary and structure that helped define his career.

So how does it hold up under the Blues Gauntlet?

✅ **Vocabulary** – Blues language is everywhere in this song. The guitar phrasing, vocal approach, and melodic choices all speak the blues fluently.

✅ **Tone** – Few guitarists are as instantly recognizable as Robin Trower. The guitar tone alone is a masterclass in expressive blues-rock playing.

✅ **Feel** – The groove is deep, patient, and deliberate. The song never rushes. It lets the emotion develop naturally.

✅ **Form** – Beneath the atmosphere and textures lies a blues engine that remains firmly connected to the tradition. This is contemporary blues songwriting built on a familiar foundation.

⚪ **Standards** – This is an original composition rather than a direct connection to the traditional standards canon.

**RESULT: PASSES THE BLUES GAUNTLET**

More importantly, "Ghosts" reminds us that the blues isn't frozen in time. Artists like Robin Trower helped define blues-rock decades ago and continue to create new music built on the same musical foundation today.

🎧 **Jammer Notes:** Don't get distracted by the guitar tone. The real challenge of this song is capturing the mood. Resist the urge to overplay. Let the space, dynamics, and emotion do the work. The power of "Ghosts" comes from the atmosphere the band creates together.

Give it a listen, learn the groove, and come play it with us.

https://youtu.be/0Wx8ZlQH5yY?si=ppMEWNBtPUZDCS0f

06/15/2026

Next up in the guantlet..... Larry McCray's Mr. Easy. This one is extra special for us! I hope we get some ambitious jammers out to do this one at the Cookeville Blues Jam - July 1st edition!

🎸 BLUES GAUNTLET: Larry McCray – "Mr. Easy" 🎸

This month's playlist is focused on contemporary artists still writing new songs using the traditional blues engine. Few artists represent that better than Larry McCray.

Before Cookeville Blues Jam existed, our own Larry was watching Larry McCray tear up stages around Detroit, including appearances at the Motor City Music Awards and the legendary Blue Goose blues jam. That makes this month's selection of "Mr. Easy" a little extra special.

So how does it hold up under the Blues Gauntlet?

✅ Vocabulary – Blues vocabulary is present throughout the song. The guitar phrasing, vocal delivery, and overall musical language are unmistakably blues.

✅ Tone – Thick guitar tone and a powerful vocal performance deliver exactly the kind of emotional weight blues listeners expect to hear.

✅ Feel – The groove sits comfortably in the blues pocket. Nothing rushed, nothing forced. The band lets the song breathe.

✅ Form – Traditional 12-bar I-IV-V blues form. This is exactly the kind of contemporary blues song this month's playlist was designed to showcase.

⚪ Standards – While "Mr. Easy" is an original song, it draws from lyrical and musical traditions that blues listeners will immediately recognize.

RESULT: PASSES THE BLUES GAUNTLET

More importantly, "Mr. Easy" demonstrates that the traditional blues form is still alive and well. This isn't a cover of a classic blues song. It's a contemporary blues artist writing new music using the same engine that has powered blues songs for generations.

🎧 Give it a listen, learn the groove, and come play it with us.

https://youtu.be/myfvbX1lHRQ?si=fowpOCjMpxpbKBek

06/15/2026

🎸 BLUES GAUNTLET: Larry McCray – "Mr. Easy" 🎸

This month's playlist is focused on contemporary artists still writing new songs using the traditional blues engine. Few artists represent that better than Larry McCray.

Before Cookeville Blues Jam existed, our own Larry was watching Larry McCray tear up stages around Detroit, including appearances at the Motor City Music Awards and the legendary Blue Goose blues jam. That makes this month's selection of "Mr. Easy" a little extra special.

So how does it hold up under the Blues Gauntlet?

✅ Vocabulary – Blues vocabulary is present throughout the song. The guitar phrasing, vocal delivery, and overall musical language are unmistakably blues.

✅ Tone – Thick guitar tone and a powerful vocal performance deliver exactly the kind of emotional weight blues listeners expect to hear.

✅ Feel – The groove sits comfortably in the blues pocket. Nothing rushed, nothing forced. The band lets the song breathe.

✅ Form – Traditional 12-bar I-IV-V blues form. This is exactly the kind of contemporary blues song this month's playlist was designed to showcase.

⚪ Standards – While "Mr. Easy" is an original song, it draws from lyrical and musical traditions that blues listeners will immediately recognize.

RESULT: PASSES THE BLUES GAUNTLET

More importantly, "Mr. Easy" demonstrates that the traditional blues form is still alive and well. This isn't a cover of a classic blues song. It's a contemporary blues artist writing new music using the same engine that has powered blues songs for generations.

🎧 Give it a listen, learn the groove, and come play it with us.

https://youtu.be/myfvbX1lHRQ?si=fowpOCjMpxpbKBek

06/13/2026

🎸 Blues Gauntlet: “Blues Comin' On” — Joe Louis Walker

Joe Louis Walker has spent a lifetime carrying the blues forward, and Blues Comin' On is a perfect example of how modern artists can write new songs without abandoning the traditional form.

Vocabulary — PASS
Everything about this song speaks the blues language. The vocal phrasing, guitar work, and overall delivery are rooted firmly in tradition.

Tone — PASS
Authentic, gritty, and unmistakably blues. Joe's personality comes through without ever losing sight of the genre.

Feel — PASS
Strong blues groove with plenty of triplet gravity underneath. The song feels comfortable in its own skin.

Form — PASS
Built on a clear listener-recognizable 12-bar blues cycle. The classic I-IV-V movement remains easy to hear throughout the song.

Standards — NOT QUITE
Not built around a classic AAB lyric structure. The song uses a more contemporary storytelling approach while remaining firmly rooted in the blues tradition.

Final Score: 4 of 5
Carried by Vocabulary, Tone, Feel, and Form. A modern blues song that proves the traditional engine still has plenty of miles left in it.

Jammer Handle 🎯
Don't get distracted by the guitar work. This tune succeeds because the groove stays locked to the form. Let the pocket lead and everything else will fall into place.

https://youtu.be/8pqx-iwfTK0?si=ik0hMi82XBup-xYj

06/11/2026

🎸 Blues Gauntlet: “Suitcase Full of Blues” — Tommy Castro

Some songs try to disguise the blues. This isn't one of them. Tommy Castro builds this one on a traditional blues foundation while delivering it with a modern voice and modern production.

Vocabulary — PASS
The phrasing, guitar work, and vocal delivery are deeply rooted in the blues tradition. No explanation required.

Tone — PASS
Rich, gritty, and unmistakably blues. Tommy's personality shines through without ever leaving the language.

Feel — PASS
Strong groove with plenty of blues gravity underneath. The pocket drives the song from beginning to end.

Form — PASS
Built on a clear listener-recognizable 12-bar blues form. The song briefly steps away from the pattern during the chorus, almost functioning as a bridge, before returning to the traditional blues cycle.

Standards — NOT QUITE
Not built around a classic AAB lyric structure. The song uses a more contemporary lyrical approach.

Final Score: 4 of 5
Carried by Vocabulary, Tone, Feel, and Form. A modern blues song built on a traditional engine.

Jammer Handle 🎯
Trust the groove. The form is familiar, so resist the urge to overcomplicate it. The best performances of this tune let the pocket and the story do the heavy lifting.

https://youtu.be/29cylwESeeI?si=N6zsBiTuwTscsNNF

06/08/2026

🎸 Blues Gauntlet: “Fresh Out” — Kingfish

One of the strongest examples of a modern artist writing inside the traditional blues form, Fresh Out proves that the classic blues engine is still alive and well. Contemporary production, modern perspective, timeless foundation.

Vocabulary — PASS
Kingfish speaks the language fluently. The phrasing, guitar vocabulary, and vocal delivery are unmistakably rooted in the blues tradition.

Tone — PASS
Big, confident, and modern without losing its blues identity. Every note sounds intentional.

Feel — PASS
Strong blues pocket with plenty of gravity underneath. The groove carries the song from start to finish.

Form — PASS
Clear listener-recognizable 12-bar blues form. The traditional I-IV-V movement remains front and center.

Standards — NOT QUITE
Not built around a classic AAB lyric structure. The song tells its story through a more contemporary approach.

Final Score: 4 of 5
Carried by Vocabulary, Tone, Feel, and Form. A modern blues song that proves the traditional engine still has plenty of life left in it.

Jammer Handle 🎯
Don't overplay it. The form is doing a lot of the work here. Lock into the groove, trust the changes, and let the song breathe.

https://youtu.be/qpr8uWhWrPk?si=_DvGUwMZ1CmL3act