CLICK ON TITLE BELOW TO GO TO PURCHASE!!!!
CD submissions accepted! Guest writers always welcome!!
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!
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Coldwater Sessions, from JD Taylor and I really like it. Opening with shuffle track, Got Me Where You Want Me, JD Taylor on lead vocal and harmonica teams up with Jon Hay on guitar for a super opener. Joined by Landon Stone on guitar, Matthew Wilson on bass Danny Banks on drums, Rev. Charles Hodges on B3 and Tierini Jackson and Tikyra Khamiir Jackson on backing vocal, strong start. R&B track, Nothing Left To Say is definitely one of my favorites with super vocals, the addition of Marc Franklin on trumpet, Art Edmaiston on sax, and strong R&B guitar lines. Excellent! I think that Taylor's best vocal showcase is on At First Glance with the warm backing of Franklin and Edmaiston performing an excellent soul track, topped off with melodic blues harmonica. Really nice! Funky, If It Ain't Good, has a really cool driving bass line by Wilson and punchy horns by Franklin. John Holiday really adds nicely with great bluesy guitar lead on this one. Harmonica boogie, Hanging On has great pace and Jon Hay's guitar work adds just the right amount of sting. Wrapping the release is hot swing number, The Coldwater Swing with Zack Lees and Jon Hays winding it out on guitar and Taylor on harmonica over a great rhythm of Hodges, Banks and Wilson. Excellent closer!
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live at Brighton Road, from Dani Wilde, and with it's easy going acoustic set coupled with it's driving electric set, it's quite entertaining. Opening with Memphis Minnie's Bumble Bee, Wilde has lead acoustic guitar and vocal coupled with her brother brother Will on harmonica. This is a smooth contemporary adaptation of this classic track showing how clear Wilde's vocals really are and coupling her own tight guitar work with her brother's adept harp making for an excellent opener. Acoustic ballad, My Old Man is a bright, radio track with a nice melody and warm vocal blending with Kate Cameron and Faye Streek. Very nice. Mike Rutherford's The Living Years is a really nice arrangement of a large radio hit and with nicely blended backing vocals is a really strong contender for nicest of the acoustic set. I can certainly see why she wanted to get this set on disc. Very nice. Opening the electric part of the set is Deeper Than Black built over the classic Junior Wells vamp. Bass line by Victoria Smith sets the pace, Gregory Coulson stirs in the organ, Alan Taylor snaps up the drum kit, Will blows out the harp and Dani throws in a few stinging "Steve Cropper" riffs to give this track some green onion flavor. Very cool! Lieber and Stoller's Houndog gets a Latin mix and Wilde's vocals are nice. Her swinging blues playing works just right when the track gets into full swing with Smith rocking the bottom and Coulson rolling the piano. A cool boogie is Don't Quit Me Baby with some of Wilde's best vocals on the electric set, coupled with a great driving bass line, strong guitar work and ace soloing by Will. Wrapping the release is Refugee, a contemporary pop track with a solid melody. A super radio track with a clean guitar solo, a nice closer for a solid release.
Also included is a DVD with live studio performances and interview. Very nice!
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Playdate!, from Nancy Wright and it's smokin! Opening with funky, Why You Wanna Do It, Wee Willie Walker takes the lead on vocal and Nancy Wright really sails on sax. Joe Kyle Jr. sets the pace on bass with some heavy lines and J. Hansen's drum work is tight. Excellent opener! On Willie Dixon's I Got What It Takes, Kyle again sets a strong bass line and Tommy Castro brings a real nice guitar solo. This track is in the groove and Wright delivers a great sound on sax backed by Tom Poole on trumpet and Faris Jarrah on trombone.Yes He Do is a great swinger with Victor Wainwright really taking control on piano. Wright takes it higher and the two hit it out of the park. Super. Eddie Shaw's Blues For The Westside is an absolute screamer with Wright really digging in. Chris Burns' piano work on this track really stands out and Joe Louis Walker stands tall with soulful guitar riffs fluidly added throughout as well as featured in solo form. Really tasty! R&B track, Been Waiting That Long features Frank Bey on lead vocals and with it's swampy beat martin Winstad adds cool percussion to an already gritty track. Wright really squeezes the horn on this one getting it to squeal. The thoughts of Jr Walker come around as Trampled blows from Wright's horn with Kid Andersen echoing the guitar retort and Jim Pugh showing his stuff on organ. Very cool. Satisfied has a distinct revival/gospel sound with the Plymouth Church of Jazz and Justice Choir bringing up the chorus. Wright sails on sax backed by Chauncey Roberts on tambourine and handclaps. Another track with deep funk, Warranty, features Terrie Odabi on lead vocals. This track is so well crafted it is likely to get strong airplay across a number of stations. Andersen sets in some real nice guitar riffs and Wright crafts a hot sax solo giving the track real heat. New Orleans flavored, Cherry Wine, has super cool drum work and Lisa Leuschner-Andersen brings cool backing vocals. Wright down right swings it when she comes in for her solo taking it to the house. Instrumental, There Is Something On Your Mind, is a great blues track with Wright really winding up her sax and Mr Elvin Bishop answering with Red Dog on slide. This track has Bishops name written all over it and Wright really knows how to stack these cards. Excellent! Mike Schermer takes the lead on guitar on the swinging, Back Room Rock. Burns and Kyle really get the track cranking and Wright seals the deal with fat sax work on this one. Wrapping the release is laid back, Soul Blue, with Wright and Chris Cain setting the stage. Cain's guitar work cuts like a hot knife, searing through the horns and keyboard work giving the track a relaxed but crisp sound. Burns takes a real nice piano solo leading up to Wright tying everything up tight with her final chorus. This is an excellent release with plenty of blues for everyone. Check it out!
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
