According to Atlanta-based blues guitarist, singer and songwriter Tinsley Ellis, his new, first-ever solo acoustic album, Naked Truth, is both “a departure and an arrival.” Ellis has been recording and travelling the world for over four decades, delivering his feral, guitar-fueled, original electric blues-rock to ever-growing audiences at concert halls, festivals, and clubs. Naked Truth is steeped in the folk blues traditions of Muddy Waters, Skip James, Son House, Robert Johnson and even Leo Kottke. To the casual fan, this might seem to be a new direction, but for Ellis, it’s an extension of his music, as he taps into the raw essence of the blues. “This is a record I’ve always wanted to make, and one that my longtime fans have been asking for,” he says, noting he’s included an acoustic mini-set in his concert performances for years. In the last 12 months, Ellis has already performed over 100 solo shows, many as co-bills with his Alligator label-mate Marcia Ball. “I’m having so much fun playing these shows,” he says.    On Naked Truth (his 21st album), Ellis swaps his blistering, guitar-fueled full band workouts for equally passionate, soul-searching acoustic folk blues. His famed guitar chops and musical creativity are on full display throughout the album’s 12 songs, including nine newly written originals. Naked Truth was produced by Ellis, with the foot-stomping cover of Son House’s Death Letter Blues produced by Atlanta roots musician Eddie 9V. The album was recorded live in the studio using Ellis’ beloved 1969 Martin D-35 (a gift from his father) and his 1937 National Steel O Series guitars. Whether intricately fingerpicking the Martin or playing hair-raising slide on the National Steel, Ellis delivers each song with unvarnished intimacy.  The opener, Ellis’ original Devil In The Room, comes from an expression Ellis’ close friend, the late Col. Bruce Hampton, would tell his musicians just before a show was about to begin (“We’re here to put the devil in the room,” he’d say). From the original, Skip James-inspired Windowpane to the Delta-styled Tallahassee Blues, to the humorous Grown Ass Man, Ellis goes deep, singing and playing the blues’ honest truths. The inclusion of four introspective instrumentals (including a transcendent cover of Leo Kottke’s A Soldier’s Grave On The Prairie, a song he’s been playing live for almost 50 years) adds even more depth and substance to an album overflowing with riches. Each song carries the weight, experience and hard-earned wisdom Ellis learned over four decades on the road, infusing Naked Truth with an emotional authenticity that is palpable from start to finish.    Tinsley Ellis has been immersed in music his whole life. Born in Atlanta 1957 and raised in southern Florida, he acquired his first guitar at age seven, inspired by seeing The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. He took to guitar instantly, developing and sharpening his skills as he grew up. Like many kids his age, Ellis discovered the blues through the back door of British Invasion bands like The Yardbirds, The Animals, Cream and The Rolling Stones as well as Southern rockers like The Allman Brothers. One afternoon after high school in 1972, he and a friend were listening to Al Kooper and Michael Bloomfield’s Super Session record when his friend’s older brother told them that, if they liked Super Session, they should go see B.B. King, who was in town that week. Tinsley saw that show from the very front row. As fate would have it, King broke a guitar string while playing, and after changing it without missing a beat, he handed the broken string to young Tinsley. And yes, Tinsley still has that string.    Less than three years later, Ellis, already an accomplished teenaged musician, left Florida and moved to Atlanta. He soon joined a hard-driving local blues band, the Alley Cats. In 1981, along with veteran blues singer and harpist Chicago Bob Nelson, Tinsley formed The Heartfixers, a group that would become Atlanta’s top-drawing blues band. After cutting four Heartfixers albums (three for the Landslide label), Ellis was ready to step out on his own.     Georgia Blue, Tinsley’s first Alligator release, hit the unprepared public by surprise in 1988, as press and radio brought his music to more people than ever before. His next four releases—1989’s Fanning The Flames, 1992’s Trouble Time, 1994’s Storm Warning, and 1997’s Fire It Up—further grew his reputation as well as his audience. (His song A Quitter Never Wins, a highlight of Storm Warning, was recorded by Jonny Lang, selling almost two million copies.) Features and reviews ran in The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, and in many other national and regional publications. And he backed it all up performing hundreds of nights per year. Rolling Stone declared, “Feral blues guitar…non-stop gigging has sharpened his six-string to a razor’s edge…his eloquence dazzles…he achieves pyrotechnics that rival Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton.”    In the early 2000s, Ellis released albums on Capricorn Records and on Telarc, returning to Alligator in 2005 with Live–Highwayman, which captured the fifth-gear energy of his roof-raising live show. He followed it with two more incendiary studio albums, 2007’s Moment Of Truth and 2009’s Speak No Evil. He self-released four successful albums on his own Heartfixer label before coming back home to Alligator in 2018. That year, he released the fan favorite Winning Hand, followed by 2020’s Ice Cream In Hell just before the pandemic sidelined all touring. With 2022’s Devil May Care, Ellis embarked on another relentless, coast-to-coast tour, further cementing his reputation as one of the most prolific and exciting blues rockers on the scene.    Tinsley Ellis has brought his music to fans live in person to all 50 United States, as well as in Canada, across Europe, Australia and South America. He’s earned the love and respect of many of his fellow musicians, having shared stages with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, The Allman Brothers, Warren Haynes, Oliver Wood, Buddy Guy, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Gov’t Mule, Widespread Panic, and more. Over the years, legends including Otis Rush, James Cotton, Gregg Allman, Jimmy Buffett, Son Seals, Koko Taylor and Albert Collins invited Ellis to join them on stage. Mega-star guitarist Joe Bonamassa calls Ellis “a national treasure.”     Now, with Naked Truth, Ellis will bring his music directly to his fans. “Two guitars and a car,” he says of the simplicity of his North American touring situation. “When folks come to see me, I’ll have the guitars I used on the record with me, so what fans hear on the album is what they’ll get live. It’s not easy. Now I’m the whole band and there’s nowhere to hide. It’s scary every single time I go up on stage alone. But nothing could be more honest.”    Naked Truth is a revelation. Stripped of the electric fervor that defined his previous works, Ellis’ acoustic music carries a rawness that speaks directly from his soul. The songs unveil another side of Tinsley Ellis, but one that is totally recognizable to his fans. His gruff, full-throated vocals intertwine seamlessly with the bare, acoustic arrangements, creating an album that is both timeless and immediate. No Depression says, “Ellis shines. When the tempo slows, the intensity doesn’t waver.” Blues Music Magazine states, “Tinsley Ellis is a powerful and commanding presence. His music is impossible not to enjoy.”

A musical collaboration with no limits, no preconceptions. The rhythmic magic of funk and blues, sultry stylings of underground rock and old school soul, the 'no rules' attitude of jazz fusion and british invasion - all grooving together at just the right space and time. Since 2001, the Claude von Trotha Band has combined the soulful voice and blistering guitar work of artist/arranger Claude von Trotha, with a fantastic group of SoCal's top-shelf touring and studio musicians. Their performances before sold-out crowds meld funk, blues, rock, jazz, and soul music - a 9 piece horn driven band whose muscular musicianship, seasoning, and creative restlessness delivers a high energy, truly unique, signature sound. The CvTB's rhythm section lays down a tight groove with a new century punch. The 4 piece horn section utilizes CvT's unique musical arrangements of both original and classic tunes that help define the band's signature sound. Add that to the warm, comedic, 'SoCal attitude' of front man Claude von Trotha and his Flying V guitars, and you have a dynamic musical entertainment package for all ages and musical tastes. The Claude von Trotha Band has shared the stage with a diverse mixture of musical acts, including The Yardbirds, Doyle Bramhall II, WAR, Michael Burks, Larry Carlton, Johnny A., Tinsley Ellis, Leon Russell, Sweet, Tower of Power, Blue Cheer, Jack Russell's Great White, Savoy Brown, Ten Years After, Canned Heat, Coco Montoya, G.E. Smith, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Billy and the Beaters, The Flying Burrito Bros, The Little River Band, Ambrosia - well, you get the picture, these cats hit hard, and the people are jumpin' ! The “CvTB” constantly moves forward, determined not to labor in the shadow of their predecessors. They’re truly forging their own unique, fresh, ‘SoCal’ flavored, blues-funk-rock musical style, utilizing the instrumentation available to them in unique ways. Results of their efforts has earned ‘The Claude Band’ numerous accolades, but more importantly, respect among critics and peers. At a Claude von Trotha Band show, you’ll be taken in by not only the music, but the joy that the performers exude while they share their music with you. “… The Claude von Trotha Band or (The CvTB as us hardcores know them), he's got a 'thing' about him and the way he sings that drives the ladies crazy and makes you want to stand up and groove ….” American Blues News “…these guys kick ****** ass ….” Jack Russell (Jack Russell’s Great White) “…that’s the real **** right there …. ” Michael Grimm (America’s Got Talent Winner) Claude von Trotha – Guitar, Vocals - Rufus Thomas, Edwinn Starr, Primo, Ayamott, On Top, Blues Bettie, OCMA Best Male Artist nominee.. Felix Pollard-Drums - Lionel Richie, Anastacia, Shelia E., George Duke, Chaka Kahn, Leo Nocentelli, Everlast, House of Pain, The Staple Singers, Jessica Simpson, Phil Upchurch, Clay Aiken, the American Idol band… Louis van Taylor-Tenor Sax - The Ray Charles Orchestra, Kool & The Gang, The Gap Band, Jimmy Smith, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Gerald Wilson, Kenny Burrell, Mariah Carey.. Duane 'Been Jammin' Benjamin – Trombone - The Jackson 5, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Steve Vai, Stanley Clarke, The O’jays, Barry White, Vanessa Williams, En Vogue… Charlie Peterson – Trumpet - Don Henley, Barry Manilow, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, Johnny Halliday, Paul Anka, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, The Bayou Brass… Billy Pulliam - Bass, Vocals - Dick Dale, Eric Sardinas, Blues Bettie, Rhino Records Staff Artist Al Margolis - Keyboards, Vocals - Peter Gabriel, Ivan Neville (Rolling Stones/Neville Bros.), Daniel Lanios (U2, etc), Cyril Neville (Neville Bros), Randy Bachman (BTO/Guess Who), Leo Nocentelli & Zigaboo Modeleste (The Meters), Bernie Worrell (Parliament Funkadelic), George Duke (Frank Zappa), Johnny Vatos & John Avila (Oingo Boingo), Doug Wimbish & Will Calhoun (Living Colour), Stanton Moore (Galactc), Richard Street (The Temptations), Oteil Burbridge (Allman Brothers) Greg Nelson - Guitar, Vocals – John Ferraro (Larry Carlton, Boz Scaggs), Jimmy Ford (Lionel Hampton), John Jorgenson (Desert Rose Band, Elton John), Ric Flauding, Marc Miller, Blair Raker (Brian Setzer), Adrian Tapia (Boz Scaggs), Marc Ford (Black Crowes)….. Rial Gallagher - Bari Sax – Barela, Blues Bettie, Rex Merriweathers’s ‘This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Big Band’…