Know Howe Music artist: Alice Howe - Visions - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Visions, by Alice Howe. Visions opens with Twilight, a mostly acoustic folk/pop track with Alice Howe on lead vocal, harmony and acoustic guitar backed by Freebo on bass and harmony, JT Thomas on electric piano, Fuzzbee Morse on electric guitar, John Molo on drums and Augie on harmony vocal. Still On My Mind is a pure radio track with a great melody surrounding Howe's pure vocal. With the addition of Jeff Fiedler on electric slide guitar, a warm presentation. With a smooth changeup on What We Got Is Gold, JT is on accordion adding yet another dimension to this warm palette and Freebo's skill full bass hand adds really nice interest. Sam Cooke's Bring It On Home To Me is sweet and pure. Not too much drama and just the right amount of presentation provides a nice showcase for Howe's vocal with Lee Thornburg on trumpet and Paul Perez on sax. Muddy Waters' classic, Honey Bee gets a total rework with a quiet soulful style and textural guitar riffs by Morse over the support of JT on piano. Wrapping the release is Bob Dylan's, Don't Think Twice, It's Alright with acoustic guitar, lush vocal harmonies by Howe and Freebo who also accompanies on bass. This is a real nice closer for this pop/folk entry to the market.

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Easy Eye Sound artist: Jimmy "Duck" Holmes - Cypress Grove - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cypress Grove, from Jimmy "Duck" Holmes and it's a excellent slice or real delta blues. Opening with Skip James' Hard Times, Holmes is right there, front and center playing guitar and singing the blues just like God planned it. I mean it doesn't come much fresher than this. Get it while you can! Title track, another Skip James composition, Cypress Grove, has great feel and pace with Holmes joined by Eric Deaton on bass and Sam Bacco on drums and percussion. Don't be expecting a trap set... were talking basic...  Very nice! Muddy Waters' Rock Me has a super grinding bass line and with the addition of Marcus King on guitar and Dan Auerbach on lush slide, has strong texture. Another James track, Devil Got My Woman, is a super showcase for Holmes vocal styling and guitar work. I mean this track hurts it's so good. Excellent! All Night Long is really a short jam track which features so haunting slide work by Auerbach. Very cool. Jessie Mae Brooks' Train Train is a great track with a hill country sound. Pure vocal over just the basic of rhythm guitar and percussion, and then the addition of ghostly guitar work by Auerbach that really sets the track off. This is a track that shows a master working nicely with a master, not changing his style or "jazzing it up" like was so poorly completed with Hooker. It may have gotten him popularity, but it wasn't good. Wrapping the release is original track, Two Women, with it's simple, soulful wailing. Holmes is a treasure and fortunately, Auerbach has captured him in nature and put this perfect cd out. Super job!

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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