Gulf Coast Records announces a June 9th release date for ‘Best of Me‘, the label debut from acclaimed Chicago blues guitar great Joanna Connor. Joining Joanna (guitar and vocals) on the recording is her regular “Wrecking Crew” touring band: Shaun Gotti Calloway – bass; Dan Souvigny – guitar and keys; Curtis Moore Jr. – keys; and Jason J Roc Edwards – drums and vocals. Special guests include labelmates Eric Demmer – saxophone and Jason Ricci: – harmonica; and guitarists Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, Gary Hoey and Gulf Coast president Mike Zito: guitar; David Abbruzzese on drums and the Grooveline Horns. ‘Best of Me‘ was produced by Shaun Gotti Calloway, Jason J Roc Edwards, and Joanna Connor, and recorded at Studio2424 in Chicago.

“There are musicians that play together and may do it extremely well,” Joanna said about the ‘Best of Me‘ recording sessions. “Then, there are musicians that move as one, that share moments of creating music that is mystically telepathic. The group of musicians we assembled here created a free-flowing and fiery blend of soul, rock, funk and country, all rooted in the blues. Making this record with the go ahead from Mike Zito and Gulf Coast Records to have free reign was uplifting and inspiring. This recording definitely brought out the ‘best of me,’ and solidified my band as a force to be reckoned with. Guitar power and nuance is evident on this record but so are convincing vocals, soul-stirring keyboard work, tighter than tight horns and a rhythm section that propels and compliments each song. The album touches on my maturing as a woman, facing mortality with grace and thanks, celebrating love won, love lost, lust and passion, the pain and pleasure of having this human experience. I hope the listener enjoys this record as much as we had making it.”

“I’ve been a fan of Joanna Connor for a long time and it’s just incredible that she’s working with our label,” Gulf Coast label head Mike Zito said in making the announcement. “Joanna Connor is one of the greats in contemporary blues and has been for over thirty years. She has a sound and a feel that is immediately recognizable and magical.”

As Joanna explains, the album is a work of fluid, almost effortless collaborative flow. ‘Highway Child,’ (Out May 19th) is  a classic-rocking road tune featuring the iconic guitar playing of Joe Bonamassa,  goes from a foot-stomping country groove to an all-out gospel-tinged jam. The album includes the funky number ‘Two of a Kind’ (out June 2nd)  and first single, ‘Best of Me’ which is a beautiful, heartfelt song with a classic RnB feeling that taps into the feelings of heartbreak and disappointment that we all have experienced. The brilliant ‘Shadow Lover‘ which examines the subject of love and lust, from the lens of an extramarital affair, features Mike Zito’s brilliant guitar work.

‘Best of Me‘ by Joanna Connor is out June 9th on Gulf Coast Records.

Pre-order ‘Best of Me‘: here