Music

Best Music of 2016

Once again, our KMUW music hosts have run down the best in music (and books about music) for 2016. You can find the complete lists below.You can also hear some of year's best in music. Join KMUW's music hosts throughout January on Global Village, Strange Currency, Night Train, Crossroads, Soulsations and Straight No Chaser for a month-long feature of the Best of 2016. See individual show pages for more information on upcoming shows and to listen to past shows through the streaming archive.Along with show favorites, Chris Heim was invited to be a voting member for the NPR Jazz Critics Poll again this year. You can see the results and Chris's ballot here.Enjoy.

Crossroads: Best of 2016

KMUW | By Chris Heim

Published December 22, 2016 at 4:03 PM CST

Crossroads | Best of 2016

David Bromberg Band – The Blues, The Whole Blues and Nothing But the Blues (Red House)
The Soul of John Black – Early in the Moanin’ (Cadabra)
Mighty Sam McClain – Time and Change (KKV)
Eric Bibb – North Country Far (Stony Plain)
Joey Gilmore Band – Respect the Blues (Mosher Street)
Liz Mandeville – The Stars Motel (Blue Kitty Music)
William Bell – This Is Where I Live (Stax)
Joanna Connor – Six String Stories (MC Records)
Big Jon Atkinson & Bob Corritore – House Party at Big Jon’s (Delta Groove)
C.W. Stoneking – Gon’ Boogaloo (King Hokum Records)
Nancy Wright – Playdate! (Vizztone)
Raphael Wressnig & Igor Prado – The Soul Connection (ZYX Records)
Big Harp George – Wash My Horse in Champagne (Blues Mountain)
Dennis Gruenling – Ready or Not (Vizztone)
Rolling Stones – Blue and Lonesome (Interscope)
Michael Messer’s Mitra – Call of the Blues (Knife Edge)
Nick Moss – From the Root to the Fruit (Blue Bella)
Fabulous Thunderbirds – Strong Like That (Severn)
Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters – Maxwell Street (Stony Plain)
King Louis & LaRhonda Steele – Rock Me Baby (Shoug)
Knickerbocker All Stars – Texas Rhody Blues (JP Cadillac)
Big Head Blues Club – Way Down Inside (Big)
Vaneese Thomas – The Long Journey Home (Segue)
Tomislav Goluban – Kaj Blues Etno (Spona)
Keith Stone – The Prodigal Returns (Keith Stone)
Golden State Lone Star Revue – Golden State Lone Star Revue (Electro Fi)
Cha Wa – Funk ‘n’ Feathers (Upt Music)
Bobby Rush – Porcupine Meat (Rounder)
Al Basile – Mid-Century Modern (SweetSpot)
Hard Swimmin’ Fish – True Believer (Hard Swimmin’ Fish)
Kenny Neal – Bloodline (Cleopatra Blues)
Toronzo Cannon – The Chicago Way (Alligator)
Lurrie Bell – Can’t Shake This Feeling (Delmark)
John Long – Stand Your Ground (Delta Groove)
Trudy Lynn – I Will Sing the Blues for You (Connor Ray)

Historic/Reissues

Little Walter - The Complete Checker Singles As & BS 1952-60 (Acrobat)
Magic Sam – Black Magic (Delmark)
Various Artists – Rough Guide to Bottleneck Blues (World Music Network)
John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – Live in 1967 Volume Two (Forty Below)
The Meters – A Message from the Meters (Real Gone Music/Rhino)