Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
Critically acclaimed British guitarist and singer-songwriter, Joanne Shaw Taylor, universally hailed as the UK’s premiere blues-rock guitarist, shares her brand-new single “If That Ain’t A Reason”, available worldwide today on Joe Bonamassa’s KTBA Records. The song comes from a new collection of music that will be released later this year. Stream and download the single from today at www.jbonamassa.com/streaming/jst/ifthat.
“If That Ain’t A Reason” was produced and recorded by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Watch the official music video above.
Joanne’s new release comes as a follow up 2019’s critically acclaimed album Reckless Heart, which features Joe Bonamassa (guitar), Josh Smith (guitar), Reese Wynans (keyboards), Greg Morrow (drums), Steve Mackey (bass), Steve Patrick (trumpet), Mark Douthit (sax) and Barry Green (trombone).
When the pandemic put the brakes on musicians from touring during 2020 and most of 2021, Joanne thought it was the right time to head into the studio to record some new music.
It goes without saying that the production team of Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith are at the top of their game. They recently produced new albums for Joanna Connor, Jimmy Hall, and Eric Gales. Joanna Connor’s album, 4801 South Indiana Avenue, met with great critical acclaim worldwide, and was the second album released on Bonamassa’s independent label KTBA Records.
“It was a Little Milton song Joe texted to me when we were in the early stages of discussing songs. I’d never heard it before and loved it. Super funky and great, almost comical lyric at times,” Joanne explains.
“If That Ain’t A Reason” arrives today as a delicious taste of what’s to come next from Joanne. Blues fans around the globe must now stay tuned, with ears open wide, as Joanne and team prepare for what’s sure to be her best delivery yet.
TICKETS – WWW.JOANNESHAWTAYLOR.COM/EVENTS
Glasgow, St Lukes – Nov 2
Edinburgh, Liquid Room – Nov 3
Newcastle, Riverside – Nov 5
Kendal, Brewery Arts Center – Nov 6
Manchester, Academy 3 – Nov 7
Liverpool, Arts Club – Nov 9
Leeds, Warehouse – Nov 10
Oxford, Academy 2 – Nov 12
London, Lafayette – Nov 14
Bristol, The Fleece – Nov 16
Nottingham, Glee Club – Nov 17
Birmingham, The Mill – Nov 18
Swansea, Sin City – Nov 19
Joanne Shaw Taylor – Biography
Joanne Shaw Taylor was discovered by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics at the age of 16 who, having watched her play, immediately invited her on the road with his supergroup D.U.P. – a career in music was born and in the proceeding years, her incredible guitar playing saw her build an army of plaudits including Jimmy Cliff, Joe Bonamassa, Stevie Wonder and Annie Lennox.
Still only in her 30’s, she has become one of the most sought-after guitarists in the world of rock. She released her first album on Ruf Records entitled “White Sugar” (2009), unleashing her distinct soulful voice on the world, and demonstrating a songwriting prowess way beyond her years – the world of blues rock had a new star! Over the next few years, she released critically acclaimed albums including her sophomore album “Diamonds In The Dirt” (2010), “Almost Always Never” (2012) which featured the UK radio hit “Soul Station”, plus her final album for Ruf Records – the live album “Songs From The Road” (2013).
In 2014 she released her fourth studio album “The Dirty Truth” on Axehouse Records that featured the singles “Mud, Honey” and “Wicked Soul”. In 2016, Joanne followed up with the release of her fifth album “Wild” (Produced by Kevin Shirley) which saw her perform songs “Dyin’ To Know” and “Summertime” on BBC Two Television’s popular music show “Later With Jools Holland”. Three years later, in 2019 she signed to Silvertone Records viaSony Music and released her sixth studio album, “Reckless Heart”.
Over the past two decades, Joanne has proven herself as a prolific songwriter, releasing seven acclaimed albums under her belt, each increasingly more successful with her 2019 “Reckless Heart” breaking into the UK Top 20 Album Chart and cementing herself as one of the most important exports in British blues-rock.
Her highly anticipated upcoming album is currently in the works. The new collection of songs was produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith at Oceanway Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, and will be released on Bonamassa’s KTBA Records later this year.
Keeping the Blues Alive Records
The new independent record label is an offshoot of Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Joe Bonamassa’s non-profit that aims to conserve the art of music in schools and preserve the rich culture and history of the blues. Bonamassa along with his long-time manager and business partner, Roy Weisman, have expanded their business by creating the new label, Keeping the Blues Alive (KTBA) Records.
The first release on the label was Dion’s album “Blues with Friends” that was released to critical acclaim in June 2020. In February 2021, KTBA Records released Joanna Connor’s album “4801 South Indiana Avenue” which received rave reviews worldwide. Both albums debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart and solidified the label as an amazing platform for artists to expand their artist endeavours.
KTBA Records’ main objective is to provide a platform for musical talent in blues and blues-rock based music and helping promote the careers of extraordinary musical talent. The label works synergistically with the non-profit’s mission of supporting musicians to continue the legacy of the blues. 10% of all profits from KTBA Records are donated to the non-profit.
KTBA Records is an important step in the co-evolution of music and the business of making it. It represents another of Bonamassa’s continuing efforts over the last 25 years in support the artistic community. It reflects the philosophy of paying it forward just as so many did for Joe in the hope of paving the way for blues artists in the future.
Photo Credit: © Christie Goodwin
