Reviews and Press:
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Listen to Paul Barry on the "Talkin' Blues" Podcast
Click here Listen to Paul Barry on the "Harmonica Happy Hour Podcast" Click here Reviews from the new book "Blowin' Like Hell - The William Clarke Story"
"I just finished reading Blowin’ Like Hell and you did a wonderful job telling Bill’s story. It’s so great that Bill’s story is now available for people to read. I could tell how much your heart was put into it. Definitely a labor of love. It’s a great read and I ain’t lyin" Charlie Musselwhite, legendary harmonica player “Thanks for writing this book and honoring Bill” Steve Guyger, harp player (Jimmy Rogers) “I’m really glad the book has been so well received. I enjoyed it a lot, and learned things about Bill, both his career and his music (and the man) that I didn’t know. I’m sure glad you wrote it.” Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records founder and president. "I just wanted to say nice work! It felt real. Honest. Balanced. Thanks for caring enough to get it right. I think Bill would be proud." Rick Holmstrom, guitarist William Clarke, Mavis Staples “A great read with a lot of insight into both William Clarke and the Southern California blues scene.” Winslow Yerxa, author, “Harmonica for Dummies” “I enjoyed it, learned a lot, and It sounds like the Bill I knew… a well written book.” Dick Shurman, Blues historian |
Reviews/Press for The Paul Barry Blues Band
Winner of 2018 best self-produced record competition from the MN Blues Society! #1 New Blues CD for the week of June 2, 2018 - Smokestack Lightnin’ WUCF 89.9 FM Orlando, FL "Talk is Cheap" record featured on Top 40 Albums of 2016- Blues Junction Productions "Paul Barry and the Ace Tones with Lila Ammons Does it All" KBEM Radio "Excellent Minnesota based band that plays true to the sound. Paul Barry is an excellent harp player who shows his love for WILLIAM CLARKE"- Bluebeat Records "Paul Barry is an absolute bear on harmonica. What he does best, he does with the caliber of the best in the field. The Paul Barry Blues Band knows Talk is Cheap, but hot harmonica speaks louder than words!" - Blues Blast Magazine “Blow Your Cool” is like a visit to the all-night diner. There may not be many surprises on the menu, but you know you’ll leave smiling and satisfied." - Living Blues Magazine "On Blow Your Cool, harp man, vocalist, songwriter and band leader Paul Barry taps into the swinging sound associated with the modern West Coast blues scene. The wonderful connection between California and Minnesota is alive and well here on Blow Your Cool. Barry gets a lot of help from Californians, Fred Kaplan on piano and fellow harmonica man Mitch Kashmar. Long time Minnesota resident Wee Willie Walker guests as well and his outstanding vocals can be heard on four tracks here. Saint Paul based blues stalwart Jeremy Johnson handles all the guitar duties." - Blues Junction Productions "You will get no argument from me of course and, I might add, that you don’t have to live here in California to play this brand of blues. Paul Barry has just proven that. Blow Your Cool is a wonderful late winter treat from Minnesota. It is an early contender for 2018 Blues Album of the Year and receives my highest recommendation." - Blues Junction Productions "Great new release from this Minnesota artist featuring MITCH KASHMAR-- WILLIE WALKER & FRED KAPLAN. As with his previous release, Paul Barry mines the rich vein of West Coast/ Chicago sounds and includes harmonica help from Mitch Kashmar. Jeremy Johnson's tasty guitar is always right for the song whether it's an uptempo instrumental or low down blues. Willie Walker adds the right amount of grits & soul vocally to the proceedings on 4 tracks.." - Bluebeat Music "Minnesota may be a good seven-hour drive from Chicago, but you’d never know it listening to Blow Your Cool. Harp man and one-time William Clarke protégé Paul Barry gathered a crew of seasoned bluesman, most based in Minneapolis, and recorded an album that could easily be mistaken for a long lost Delmark Records disc." —Jon Kleinman- Living Blues Magazine |
Bio:
Twin Cities based harmonica man Paul Barry has been playing professionally since the 70’s. In the 80’s he befriended the great William Clarke and became a protégé of the late, legendary blues man. In the 80’s and 90’s Barry played in two of the Twin Cities best blues bands Bobby Johnson and the Crowns as well as with Dave McRae and the Blues Exchange.
Early in 2016 Paul Barry released an album’s worth of material from 1992 where he backed the great former Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf sideman, Otis “Smokey” Smothers. This was Smothers last studio recording. The album That’s Alright was a wonderful surprise to the blues world and received high marks from blues critics and fans. Barry subsequently released two albums :"Talk Is Cheap" in 2017 and "Blow It Cool" in 2018. Both albums received high praise from critics and fans and "Blow It Cool" was selected as Best Album of 2018 by the Minnesota Blues Society. Barry and his band, Paul Barry & The Ace Tones play are based in the Twin Cities and play in local clubs and festivals. in and around the area and state of Minnesota.
Twin Cities based harmonica man Paul Barry has been playing professionally since the 70’s. In the 80’s he befriended the great William Clarke and became a protégé of the late, legendary blues man. In the 80’s and 90’s Barry played in two of the Twin Cities best blues bands Bobby Johnson and the Crowns as well as with Dave McRae and the Blues Exchange.
Early in 2016 Paul Barry released an album’s worth of material from 1992 where he backed the great former Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf sideman, Otis “Smokey” Smothers. This was Smothers last studio recording. The album That’s Alright was a wonderful surprise to the blues world and received high marks from blues critics and fans. Barry subsequently released two albums :"Talk Is Cheap" in 2017 and "Blow It Cool" in 2018. Both albums received high praise from critics and fans and "Blow It Cool" was selected as Best Album of 2018 by the Minnesota Blues Society. Barry and his band, Paul Barry & The Ace Tones play are based in the Twin Cities and play in local clubs and festivals. in and around the area and state of Minnesota.
