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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!


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Showing posts with label Reese Wynans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reese Wynans. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

J&R Adventures artist: Joe Bonamassa - Tales of Time (Live)- New cd/dvd release review

 


I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tales of Time, by Joe Bonamassa and he is really pulling it together. A performance of his new solo release, Time Clocks, Tales of Time opens with Notches, and Bonamassa has a solid riff going with a heavy footed kick drum by Lemar Carter and full bass by Calvin Turner. Building a full blown blues rocker with Reese Wynans on keys,and Josh Smith on guitar Bonamassa on lead vocal and fluid guitar solos ans backing vocals by Jade MacRae, Dannielle DeAndrea and Mahalia Barnes makes this a terrific opener. The deeper you get into the release the more you see that it is built as a continuous piece of art somewhat like a Pink Floyd release. All of the songs relate and one is as powerful as the next. Mind's Eye starts off light with a ballad style, Bonamassa on guitar and vocal but slowly builds to epic proportions with full band and rich backing vocals. Very strong. Throwing in a bit of R&B construction, Known Unknown has a solid melody and lots of backing vocals. Bonamassa of course really continues to develop his vocals and holds his guitar in reserve for meaningful phrases. Very nice. Based around Albert Kings famous riff, Just Cos You Can Don't Mean You Should is a strong new look at blues rock. I love the riff and Bonamassa's guitar work and tight organ solo by Wynans really propel this track. Wrapping the release is Evil Mama with it's driving bass line and high energy. This track really does wind with Smith keeping the heat on on guitar and Bonamassa playing some esoteric but cool riffs. Wynans takes you for another ride on keys and Bonamassa winds it up one more time for an excellent blues riff filled solo. The man has grown up and his music shows it. All of the excitement has finally paid off. Can't wait to watch the DVD which is 18 tracks long. 


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Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Provogue Records artist: Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Trouble Is ... 25 - New Release Review (CD/DVD)

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Trouble Is...25, from Kenny Wayne Shepherd and it's great to hear. A release and reinterpretation of his second release, Trouble Is, Trouble Is ...25 sounds pretty fresh. Opening with Slow Ride, KWS really gets the program started with great vocals,  high energy blues riffs, and excellent sustain. With Chris Layton on drums, Kevin McCormick on bass and Reese Wynans on keys, this is a strong opener. Laid back, Everything Is Broken, anchored by Layton, has great drive and KWS shows all of the southern guitar spunk he has accumulated during his career. (Long) Gone has terrific Texas style swagger with hot guitar riffs and the addition of harmonica on this track really pumps it up. Classic, Somehow, Somewhere, Someday is just slow (fast) enough to really hit the groove. Wynans keyboard adds real tension and KWS's guitar work is stinging. Wrapping the release is Bob Dylan's fabulous Ballad of a Thin Man and KWS really knows how to work it. His vocals are soulful and believable and his responding guitar riffs scream. Wynans' organ and piano add another dimension. This is an excellent closer for a really strong redo by Shepherd. I'm checking out the concert DVD later tonight.


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Friday, April 14, 2017

Hurricane Ruth Records: Hurricane Ruth - Ain't Ready For The Grave - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ain't Ready For The Grave, from Hurricane Ruth, and it's powerful. Opening with Barrelhouse Joe's, a solid boogie, Hurricane Ruth on lead vocal is joined by Reese Wynans on piano, Tom Hambridge on drums, Michael Rhodes on bass, Pat Buchanan and Rob Mc Nelley or guitars. Taking it down, Far From The Cradle, has great blues bones with expressive vocals, excellent piano work by Wynans and super guitar work under the lead. Southern style blues rocker, Estilene, has a great beat and smoking guitar riffs.  A really hot drum riff by Hambridge and Rhodes bass lines really set the pace on Beekeeper. It's cool rhythmic flow makes this one of my favorites on the release. A funky bass/drum line set a super beat for Cheating Blues, a cool track with expressive vocal phrasing and a real nice guitar solo. Very cool. Shuffle track, Let Me Be The One has a cool pace, cool vocals and flashy guitar riffs giving it real spunk. Wrapping the release is Yes I Know, with really nice gospel tones. Who better than the mighty McCrary Sisters and Wendy Moten to give this track that gospel vocal anchor. An excellent closer for a real solid release.



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Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Underworld Records artist: Sammy Eubanks - Sugar Me - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Sugar Me, from Sammy Eubanks, and it's got a definite southern link. Opening with It's All Blues To Me, Sammy Eubanks, singer/guitarist, leads the charge with a track that is of Charlie Daniels and Tinsley Ellis. Country styling and rock overtones, this is a cool opener. Stop That Grinnin has a super blues drive, Elmore James style, with particularly cool work from Eubanks, Matt Hauer and Bob Britt and strong piano riffs from Reese Wynans. Darren Theriault handles the bass and Chris Kimmerer the drums. Very cool. Blues All Mornin' has a real cool bass line and really sweet lead guitar work by Eubanks. Wynans' organ work is nicely saturated giving the track nice girth. Willie Dixon's I Just Wanna Make Love To You has a great boogie beat, sounding more like contemporary Foghat than original Dixon but I really like it... I mean...who doesn't love a boogie. Eubanks' vocals and slide work both shine on this track, making it one of my favorites on the release. Latin influenced, My Baby's Gone, has just the right mix of blues and rock, giving it a cool beach sound. Scott Saunders contributes keys on this track and Eubanks' guitar work is crisp and cool. Title track, Sugar Me, has a raspy guitar vamp giving the track a great edge. Clean guitar soloing over the top gives the track sting. Cool track! Excellent blues track, No Excuse For The Blues has a cool boogie woogie undertone and a strong strait forward drive by Wynans on piano sets the bar for Eubanks' lead solos. It's My Life Baby has a real nice upbeat stab by Kimmerer played against Theriault's bass line sets a terrific platform for solos by Wynans and Eubanks. Very cool! Opening with a Keith Richards like riff, I'm Gonna Leave You, is a rockin' closer. With strong bass lines from Theriault and a grinding guitar riff, Eubanks' vocals and guitar soloing work nicely to sum up this solid release.

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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Stony Plain artist: Colin Linden - Rich In Love - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Rich In Love, from Colin Linden and it's very entertaining. Opening with Knob & Tube, an easy paced blues pop track featuring Linden on mandolin and vocal and backed by Amy Helm on vocal, the release is off to a good start. R&B slanted, I Need Water has a slick, Boz Scaggs style. Linden delivers nicely on this track with quiet but really interesting slide riffs, backed by John Dymond on bass, Gary Craig on drums and Tim Laur on organ. Very nice! Delia Come For Me is a strong ballad with Linden on vocal accompanying himself on acoustic guitar and overdubbing a really sweet slide guitar track. Solid writing and performance. Harp master, Charlie Musselwhite adds his signature harp styling on The Hurt, a bluesy ballad. Linden opens the electric slide up a bit on this track giving it a nice contrast and Reese Wynans dances on piano giving the track a certain sparkle. Everybody Ought To Be Loved is a soulful ballad and one that should have solid radio appeal. Harmony vocals from Amy Helm and Wynans on keys gives the track added warmth but this track with it's strong melody and tight execution should see a lot of airplay. Title track, Rich In Love, has a really nice ambiance with Linden playing a lone guitar in what sounds like a cavernous void. His voice, teamed on melody is joined by Musselwhite on harp with clever accents and Helm on warm harmonies making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Date With The Stars has a romantic 50's almost Hawaiian sound with a sweet melody and beautiful guitar tone backed by Lauer on organ. Lush! And Then You Begin has a definite country blues guitar picking style under Linden on vocal. No More Cheap Wine has a definite rock feel with Craig leading the way with a snappy drum beat. Linden sets a nice vocal groove and chases himself with spanky slide work. Wynans on organ gives the track depth and Dymond keeps a solid bass line going as Linden makes flashes of David Lindley tone. Very nice! Luck Of A Fool has a cool easy rock feel and Linden sings with solid emotion. A cool guitar rhythm and pointed organ accents by Wynans gives the track a toe tapping feel. I Made A Promise is a somber ballad with warm electric guitar accompaniment and well placed electric slide accents. Very nice! Wrapping the release is Paybacks Are Hell, a simple acoustic ballad with Linden on vocal and acoustic guitar. A sweet little tune and a nice closer for a solid release.


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Monday, July 28, 2014

Johnny I. All Star Blues Revival - EP Review

I just received the newest release by Johnny I. All Star Blues Revival. This release is star packed featuring the works of Jaimoe, Billy Cox, Bruce Katz and Reese Wynans. Opening with Life Is Better, a funky groove and Billy Cox on bass, Ingrassia leads the way on vocals. Wynans carries a lot of the load on B3 and Layton cements the bottom on drums. After a nice B3 solo from Wynans, Johnny I. steps up with a fat, high gain guitar solo making for a cool jam. Late Night has more of a jazzy ballad featuring Jaimoe on drums and Katz on B3. Katz steps up on this track and plays a mean solo opening the door for Johnny I. to step up again with a burst of fat guitar riff. An easy going track reminding me quite a bit of an early Isley Brothers track. Interesting listing and a decent start to a concept release. 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”

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Guitar Master Dudley Taft Is "Screaming in the Wind" on Latest CD, Coming May 20 from American Blues Artist Group; New Album of Blues-Rock Produced by Grammy-Winner Tom Hambridge Features Special Guest Reese Wynans on Keyboards


Screaming ITW Cover lo res

Guitar Master Dudley Taft Is Screaming in the Wind on Latest CD, Coming May 20 from American Blues Artist Group

New Album of Blues-Rock Produced by Grammy-Winner Tom Hambridge Features Special Guest Reese Wynans on Keyboards


CINCINNATI, OH – Blues-rock guitarist Dudley Taft announces a May 20 release date for his new CD, Screaming in the Wind, on his American Blues Artist Group label. The new album was produced by Grammy-winner Tom Hambridge, best-known for his work with Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, George Thorogood and Johnny Winter, and recorded at The Switchyard and Rendering Plant in Nashville, as well as Taft’s new Muchmore Studio in Cincinnati. The new recording facility is part of the house and property Dudley recently purchased from legendary guitarist Peter Frampton.     

The new CD features a dozen songs, most of which are originals penned by Dudley Taft, including several co-written with Tom Hambridge (who also plays drums on a couple tracks) and Richard Fleming, plus scintillating covers of songs by Skip James (“Hard Time Killing Floor Blues”) and Freddie King (“Pack It Up”).

Screaming in the Wind is my third solo effort and the first album I’ve done produced by someone outside the band. Several songwriting sessions in Nashville with producer Tom Hambridge and songwriter Richard Fleming helped the songs take shape before recording them,” says Taft. “It was refreshing to work with other great songwriters for the first time, and it gives Screaming in the Wind a different flavor.”

Taft’s regular band of John Kessler on bass and Jason Patterson drums is augmented by the addition of former Stevie Ray Vaughan keyboard player Reese Wynans on the sessions. “Reese plays some wicked B3 organ on the CD,” exclaims Taft. “He really shines on a bunch of the songs, elevating them to levels I never imagined. Check out his ripping solo on ‘The Reason Why’.”

Other special guests on Screaming in the Wind include the acclaimed McCrary sisters, who bring their smooth gospel harmonies to the song “Barrio,” while the Muscle Shoals Horn Section shines on “Pack It Up.”

“So far, I have done a Freddie King song on every CD, and this was no exception,” states Taft. “I love the funky vibe and tight arrangement of ‘Pack It Up.’ We poured gasoline on it and lit a match.”

The title track of the album started as a custom instrumental riff Taft did for the “American Blues Scene” website. “They told me it should be a song,” he recalls, “and I think it may have turned out to be one of the strongest on the album. Tom Hambridge and I worked hard to find the key imagery in the lyrics to tell the story.”

Speaking of instrumentals, Dudley Taft really cuts loose on the appropriately named track, “Red Line,” demonstrating why he’s been dubbed one of the hottest guitarists on the planet. Fans of classic ZZ Top riffs will be smiling from ear-to-ear when they hear Taft “spanking the plank” on that one.

“The riff from Skip James’ ‘Hard Time Killing Floor Blues’ got stuck in my head last year,” Taft remembers. “I thought giving it a Led Zeppelin ‘Black Dog kind of interpretation would make it fresh.”

The final song on the CD, “Say You Will,” has what Taft calls “an epilogue, where the gears shift and a David Gilmour influence surfaces, taking the listener off into oblivion. That was such a fun track to record!”

Dudley Taft’s last CD, Deep Deep Blue, released in May, 2013, received universal acclaim from fans and critics alike, including being named on several “best of” lists at the end of that year. He will support the new CD release with touring both in the U.S. and overseas, where he already has a European tour planned in May and June that will take him to the Netherlands and Germany.

To stream the track, “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues,” from Screaming in the Wind, click on this link: https://soundcloud.com/dudleytaft/hard-time-killing-floor-blues


For more information, visit www.dudleytaft.com

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Twisted Blues Vol. 1 - Oz Noy - Special Review

Been waiting a while for the opportunity to review this utterly spectacular release. Yes, I know it's been out for some time, but it's terrific and under appreciated. Opening with Twisted Blues, Noy is joined by a who's crew of unbelievable musicians. Oz plays a tele on this first outrageous funky track and is joined by Jeff Beck pal Vinnie Colaluta on drums, Will Lee on Bass, Jerry Z on Organ and John Medeski on organ. This is such a great groove and features spectacular bass, drums and guitar work difficult to describe. On Oh Really, Noy and gang is joined by Alan Toussaint for a little twist of New Orleans. Maintaining incredible musicianship, the band takes you on an incredible trip through the quarter like you've never seen. Noy is relentless on guitar and Colaluta punctuates the day like only he can. Touyssaint plays a really nice classic piano solo snugged up to these musical madmen. Unbelievable! You Are The State has a different line up and a different feel. Featuring Noy on a strat, Anton Fig on drums, Roscoe Beck on bass, Reese Wynans on organ and Eric Johnson on guitar, this track has a ballad feel to it and of course without saying... all instrumental. With warm concentric lead guitar runs at the bottom of the fretboard, Noy takes the listener on a brilliant journey. Whole Tone Blues is written around a SRV lope and coincidentally is backed by Chris Layton on drums. This is a swinging track but not at all complying to any kind of borrowing but sticking to his own style...and with style like this...why not? Wynans steps up with a pretty serious organ solo on this track and the release is really well balanced instrumentally, but it's Noy who is running this carnival! On the classic Sissy Strut, Noy gives us a whole new look at how it's to be heard. Using guitar loops and his tele, Noy creates a sonic wall before the jam. Joined by Fig on drums, Lee on bass, Medeski on organ and Talph MacDonald on tamburin. I do want to comment that most everyone who covers this track on thier own release finds this to be the best track on the release. This is a really good cut, but Noy hits the ball so far on every track that this is pale by comparison to the best. Ripping solid blues guitar riffs and with solid back drumming, this track moves. Light Blue, a Thelonius Monk track, is treated with honest respect and the guitar wizardry is just perfect. Noy creates super effects with reverb and clean tones mixed. Wyans on organ has just the right touch and a pristine melody played by Noy is beautiful. Steroids is a funky R&B style track with a bit of James brown mixed in. An eccentric guitar break in the track keeps it from being an outright dance track... but it is artistic and well done. Colaluta takes some really nice explosive breaks on this track showing why he is such high demand as drummer for the best of the best. Two Centers is a solemn study on musical theme. Noy has such a great sense of musicianship and technique that this track, laid back and easy creates a super punch. The release is completed with Trinkle Tinkle with Noy on Strat, Layton on drums and Beck on Bass. A moving jazz like piece with a cool walking bass line and chasing drums, it is a super soaker to keep you foot tapping and you head bobbin waiting for the next release. In case you haven't already figured it out, I think that this release is terrific! If you haven't already heard it, bought it, seen the band and gone nuts... don't say I didn't warn you!!

  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”

 

Monday, April 29, 2013

I Put A Spell On You - The Healers

JIMMY HALL - REESE WYNANS - SAMANTHA FISH DANIELLE & KRIS SCHNEBELEN - KATE MOSS The Blue Star Connection mission is to provide access and ownership of musical instruments for children and young adults with cancer and other serious life challenges. To date we have reached hundreds of kids and have donated musical gear to over 25 Children’s Hospital Music Therapy programs, as well as several other community programs. Please help us continue this mission.






 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 favorite band!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Vizztone artist: Long Tall Deb - Raise Your Hands - New Release review

I just received the debut release, Raise Your Hands, by Long Tall Deb (Deb Landolt). Deb opens the release with What Would a Good Woman Do, a soul strut featuring a vocal duet with Phil Pemberton and guitar work from Sean Carney. Hush Your Mouth gets a funk groove going with backing vocals by Nikki Scott and Melvin Powe sets the stage with some smooth bass lines. Let's Get Lost is a strong radio track and one that should fir well with strong vocals. Married To The Blues, a track talking about independence, features Jimmy Thackery on guitar along with Bart Walker and Matt O'Ree with a R&B style track and featuring vocals by Big Llou. Finally Forgot Your Name, a solid soul track sets up nicely as a blues ballad, with guests the Roomful Of Blues Horns (Mark Earley, Rich Lataille and Doug Woolverton). Raise Your Hands blends gospel, soul and rock for another airplay geared track. There is quite a bit of guitar work on this track courtesy of Sean Carney, Dave Clo and Brent Pennell. Ian Moore's Muddy Jesus has a real funky sound but blues based actually reminding me of Jack the Toad by Savoy Brown. JP Soars and Damon Fowler exchange guitar riffs on this track and Victor Wainwright plays some nice keys on this track. Cool track. To Find His Home opens with some cool slide playing on a resonator guitar. This is actually a really tasty track with Deb showing the depth of her vocal talents sharing the lead with Shaun Booker and Phil Pemberton. John Popovich plays some nice piano on this track and Reese Wynans plays some great organ on this track that turns into a full blown gospel track. Torch blues track by Tom Waits, New Coat Of Paint features Deb and Popovich on piano. Really nice finish.   

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 favorite band!