Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, producer and Delmark recording artist Dave Specter has been an integral part of the Chicago blues scene for the past 38 years. He’s performed in 19 countries and appears on over 50 recordings including his latest double album, Six String Soul 30 Years on Delmark. Dave is featured on compilation recordings with the likes of Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana. Before forming his own band in 1989, Specter toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe behind such blues greats as Son Seals, The Legendary Blues Band, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Johnson, Sam Lay and Steve Freund. Dave has performed for the President of the United States, the Governor of Illinois and the Mayor of Chicago.

Nick Moss follows his most critically and commercially successful album to date (Privileged) with the release of Here I Am, a record already drawing raves from peers and mentors like renowned bluesman Jimmy Thackery, who has praised this new set for “pushing the evolution of his music” with tunes that are “genuine and intense.” Here I Am is bursting with personal growth and the kind of honesty fans have come to expect from Moss, whose unique approach to traditional Chicago blues on five studio records and two live albums resulted in multiple Blues Music Award nominations from the Blues Foundation. Here I Am is the confident statement from Moss the new path he forged on Privileged was just the beginning. These 10 new originals combine to create the most diverse album of his career as he pushes his sound, songwriting, and lead guitar work further than ever before, demonstrating time and again why music historian and critic Bill Dahl calls Nick “the most exciting blues guitarist we have around here.” Moss has given guitar lovers plenty to sink their teeth into with extended songs and solos but there’s more to Here I Am than just great lead playing. Moss and his band again use a foundation of blues, rock, and roots as starting points but take new and unexpected turns on these 10 originals whether it’s the funk-fused jam session of “Caught By Surprise” or the gospel-tinged first single “It’ll Turn Around.” “It’ll Turn Around” is timely and timeless, offering an uplifing message of hope in tumultuous times that find people struggling to put their life back together after earthquakes and hurricanes against a backdrop of economic turmoil. Moss is backed on Here I Am by keyboard/organist Travis Reed, Michael Ledbetter (guitar/backing vocals), and Patrick Seals (drums). Bass duties on the record were handled by Nik Skilnik and “Stumpy” Hutchkins but it will be Matthew Wilson on bass and backing vocals on the Here I Am tour, giving Moss his most versatile lineup to date. Nick Moss is the “The Man In The Maze” depicted on the cover of Here I Am (inspired by Tonono O’odham symbol), but as the title implies, he has a clear sense of where he’s heading and music lovers will want to make sure they come along for the ride.