I just received the newest release, The White Man Made Me Do It, by Swamp Dogg and it's a funky soul party. Opening with funky title track, The White Man Made Me Do It, with a nod to Prince, it's Dogg on vocal and piano leads a large troupe of musicians including Moogster (keys), Charles Hayes (tenor sax), Andy Najara (bari sax), Phil Ranelin (trombone), Roy Weigind (trumpet), Steve "Stoney" Dixon (bass), Billy Haynes (bass), Lucky Lloyd Wright (guitar), Bill Barrett (trumpet), Troy Lombard (trumpet), Larry Williams (tenor sax), Michael Murphy ( organ and keys), Guitar Shorty (Lead Guitar) and Dan Weinstein (string ensemble). Lying, Lying, Lying Woman has more of an R&B sound with a driving beat. Hey Renae has a funky reggae beat and features a nice keyboard solo. Up next is Sam Cooke's, You Send Me, with a different spin on the nicely slung R&B tune. A smooth sax solo dresses this track up nicely against real nice lead vocals. Let Me Be Wrong is a cool R&B track with hot guitar riffs under the melody and hot horns. This track brings an echo of Sly Stone with it's horn vamp but really has it's own story. On classic blues track, Your Cash Ain't Nothing But Trash, with cool vocal lead and harmony the band really gets the house swinging. I'm So Happy has a nice R&B strut and clean vocals. I don't see any reference to fiddle on this track but there sure is something that sounds like a fiddle solo to me. Cool. What Lonesome Is has strong soul ballad bones and Dogg fills the lead vocal spot nicely. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah has a bit of a Motown sound with a "Temptations" feel. Where Is Sly has a funky high step sound and nice bass riffs. Lieber and Stoller composition, Smokey Joe's Cafe, saunters down the street helped along with deep sax lines. A cool guitar solo backed by organ tips this one. Light A Candle - Ring A Bell, another soul ballad has fiddle and guitar riffs punctuation strong vocals from Dogg. Predjudice Is Alive And Well has strong R&B bones and Dogg again shows his vocal prowess. Wailing guitar lead and strong bass bottom accents this track. Wrapping disc one is If That Ain't The Blues Nothing Is and a driving R&B beat. Bluesy guitar riffs and hot brass takes this track to a higher level.
Disc two is a collection of Soul and Blues tracks starting with Rescue Me by Sandra Phillips. A cool R&B track with nice vocals by Phillips. Lightning Slim is up next on Good Morning Heartaches. A solid blues number, this track also features a strong horn backing and slick guitar riffs. I particularly like the vocals by Slim. Irma Thomas brings her R&B sound on strong with In Between Tears. This is a really nice track and Thomas is on top of her game. Charlie Whitehead's funky Read Between The Lines, is up next and tip top brass and low down sax makes this track rip. ZZ Hill's It Ain't No Use is a nice mixture between blues and R&B and Hill really does have a great voice. Doris Duke's blues ballad, To That Other Woman, has an almost spiritual feel and Duke really grabs it tight and shakes the emotion out of it. Very nice! Woofmoon track, What Is Heaven For, is a classic R&B track with solid horn and string backing. Swamp Dogg takes the last three tracks, Fuck The Bomb, a fast paced R&B track, and it's ultra clean piano work; Synthetic World, a classic R&B style ballad, and wrapping the release with My Life Ain't Nothing But A Blues Song. A high stepper with an almost Johhny Guitar Watson spin is a great track to complete this eclectic 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”
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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!
Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com
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!
Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com
Monday, December 15, 2014
Friday, December 12, 2014
Ruthie Foster picks up third consecutive Grammy nomination, plus Blues Music Award nom
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Delmark Records artist: Junior Wells - Southside Blues Jam - New Release Review
I just received the newest release, Southside Blues Jam, by Junior Wells and it's great! This is another in a series of reissues from Delmark with in this case 6 additional tracks. This release was recorded in December '69-January '70 at Theresa's Blues Bar and one could only have wished to be at one of these shows! Opening with Sonny Boy Williamson's Stop Breaking Down, Spann hits the first key and Wells unleashes that monster voice. It's really great to hear this band featuring the kings of Chicago blues (Wells, Guy, Myers, Spann, Earnest Johnson and Fred Bellow). Wells has such control and composure with Spann who is one of my personal favorites. Excellent! I Could Have Had Religion is up next and Spann is right there! This track comes and goes so quickly but Spann in crystal clear and Wells has the blues in the palm of his hand. Willie Dixon's Just Make Love To Me (I Just Wanna Make Love To You) is right down in the groove and Spann is stellar. Wells really digs down and Buddy is heard scampering over the vocals with his guitar riffs. Spann steps out with a great intro on one of my favorites, Lend Me Your Love. Wells' vocals are focused and direct and Otis really kicks it on an extended solo. Guy plays some of his notorious riffs, rough and raw. An almost perfect track. On Morganfield's Long Distance Call, Wells pulls out the harp and quietly coaxes riffs from Spann and Guy. Excellent! On Williamson's In My Younger Days, Wells plays a cool intro and Spann keeps a solid piano base under Wells' vocals. Of course a perfect track for Wells to blow it out, that he does and a full out romp starts with Louis Myers adding really nice guitar riffs to the mix. Guy takes the mic on Trouble Don't Last and consequently adds more of his own distinctive guitar riffs in echo to his own vocals. It is a such a great thing to hear Guy and Spann together with Guy singing and Wells on harp. Guy takes a bit more of an extended solo on this track as well. Excellent! The next 7 tracks weren't a part of the original release and are a terrific bonus here. It's Too Late Brother cooks with Wells riding high on vocal and terrific harp work. Myers is just perfect on guitar on this track with an almost jazz attack and Spann plays low on the keyboard creating a super dynamic. At over 6 minutes, this is a cool jam. Warmin' Up is a cool little clip of Spann and Guy jamming. At only about a minute long, a well worthy addition with hot riffs! Love My Baby has a strong Morganfield feel and Guy cuts loose nicely on this track. Spann's signature is ever present and these are not just extras...these tracks are great! An alternate take on I Could Have Had Religion is up next and Wells really sings over the top. At over 7 minutes this turns into a super jam with Wells vocal improv, Spann, Guy, Below and Johnson. Morganfield's Rock Me is up next and Wells sets a really nice groove. Spann's signature is so pure and evident that you wonder how anyone ever listened to Chicago blues without him. Wells rips loose on his harp against a fairly quiet background creating a super dynamic. Got To Play The Blues is a seven plus minute track with a funky blues feel. Myers holds down the guitar spot on this track and Spann and Wells trade riffs. This is an excellent release of materials for both enthusiasts and seasoned listeners. There is also included a 16 page liner notes and super photos from Bob Koester. Also of note is that this is the final studio recording of Spann.
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”
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”
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Inspired by mid-sixties Miles Davis and John Coltrane Groups, Aaron Comess Sets Straight Ahead, high-energy jazz quintet CD for March 2015
Drummer
Aaron Comess has delivered by far his most straight ahead, purely-jazz
album to-date, a high energy collection of originals and seminal covers
inspired by an era that changed the course of his musical life: the Miles Davis Group from 1964 to 1968 (with Tony Williams, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter,) as well as by the John Coltrane Group (featuring Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner and Jimmy Garrison,)
between 1962 and 1965. Comess’ new CD, entitled ‘Aaron Comess Quintet’
and set for March 2015 release, aims to evoke the joyful intensity he
felt when exposed to this music. He comments: “The
music made by these two groups changed my whole way of thinking -- and
to this day are as inspiring as when I first heard them.”
This is a traditional jazz project, recorded live on-stage over the course of three sets and featuring Keith Loftis on sax (Roy Hargrove, Michael Carvin,) Barney McAll on piano (Gary Bartz, Kenny Garrett, Jimmy Cobb,) Richard Hammond on upright bass (Patti Austin, Angelique Kidjo,) Teddy Kumpel on guitar (Martha Redbone) and Comess on drums. Listen to samples: https://soundcloud.com/aaron-comess/sets/aaron-comess-quintet <https://soundcloud.com/aaron-comess/sets/aaron-comess-quintet>
The upcoming album is a combination of original compositions by Comess and one by Loftis, as well as covers of ‘Resolution’ by John Coltrane, ‘Freedom Jazz Dance’ by Eddie Harris and made famous by Davis…and more. The collection is highlighted by its contrasting tracks -- ‘Africa’ is intense, melodic and truly memorable, and then ‘Catskills Last Waltz’ shifts to a completely different vibe, humorous, witty, nostalgic...’Intangible’ is smoky and kinda sexy, and ‘Resolution’ soars...
‘Aaron Comess Quintet’ marks Comess’ fourth solo instrumental release and his first to be described as “pure jazz instrumental”. His 2013 ‘Blues For Use’ had more of an overt rock vibe, and 2011’s ‘Beautiful Mistake’ was somewhere in between. ‘Aaron Comess Quintet’ was recorded live, in front of an audience, at Smoke Jazz in NYC. Comess adds, “The time felt right for me to make a record like this, as this music has always been a huge part of my musical makeup."
A CD release concert is in the works for Spring 2015, with venue and details to be announced after the New Year.
Comess’ headlining appearances have previously been previewed in The New York Times, Time Out NY, Modern Drummer and elsewhere, and he has long ties to jazz and Blues. Aaron has played with such greats as Roy Hargrove, Brad Meldau, Robert Glasper, Bilal, Roswell Rudd, Arnie Lawrence, Deanna Kirk and more. Nate Chinen has shown support for Comess’ shows over the years, saying “Comess has long been a jazz adept.” As a member of the group New York Electric Piano (for the past 12 years,) Comess and band-mates scored a Top 10 jazz album with their most recent CD. Comess is currently studying with legendary drum master Michael Carvin.
More background info:
Comess recently appeared on legendary jazz trombonist’s Roswell Rudd’s record...and played a sold-out concert with him at le poisson rouge (other noted musicians on the record and show were John Medeski, Steven Bernstein, Bob Dorough and Fay Victor).
Aaron Comess also happens to be the drummer and a founding member of the multi-platinum-selling SPIN DOCTORS. The band recently released an acclaimed album of original Blues music, ‘If the River Was Whiskey,’ which earned the best reviews of their career and was featured in such A-level outlets as CONAN (TBS-TV), USA Today, Elmore Magazine, M Music & Musicians Magazine, RELIX Magazine, NY Observer, Time Out NY and much more.
Comess is a musician’s musician, long respected as a collaborator who has played on, co-written and/or produced over two hundred albums with an acclaimed and diverse roster of artists including Osborne, Edie Brickell, Isaac Hayes, Marc Cohn, Bilal, Rachael Yamagata, James Maddock, and more. Other upcoming and/or recent work includes Phil Ramone, Andrea Bocelli, David Foster, Malcolm Burn and Natasha Bedingfield. Comess is active in the local NYC rock, jazz, experimental music scenes and singer songwriter circuits, and records and produces at his ‘His House Studio’ in Brooklyn. Comess has successfully navigated the tricky music industry for over 20 years, managing to keep his original band (Spin Doctors) together, build an active career as a sideman/session player/producer, and make his own records as a composer/leader. With his 2015 jazz album he shines as a songwriter and continues to distinguish himself and expand his repertoire.
This is a traditional jazz project, recorded live on-stage over the course of three sets and featuring Keith Loftis on sax (Roy Hargrove, Michael Carvin,) Barney McAll on piano (Gary Bartz, Kenny Garrett, Jimmy Cobb,) Richard Hammond on upright bass (Patti Austin, Angelique Kidjo,) Teddy Kumpel on guitar (Martha Redbone) and Comess on drums. Listen to samples: https://soundcloud.com/aaron-comess/sets/aaron-comess-quintet <https://soundcloud.com/aaron-comess/sets/aaron-comess-quintet>
The upcoming album is a combination of original compositions by Comess and one by Loftis, as well as covers of ‘Resolution’ by John Coltrane, ‘Freedom Jazz Dance’ by Eddie Harris and made famous by Davis…and more. The collection is highlighted by its contrasting tracks -- ‘Africa’ is intense, melodic and truly memorable, and then ‘Catskills Last Waltz’ shifts to a completely different vibe, humorous, witty, nostalgic...’Intangible’ is smoky and kinda sexy, and ‘Resolution’ soars...
‘Aaron Comess Quintet’ marks Comess’ fourth solo instrumental release and his first to be described as “pure jazz instrumental”. His 2013 ‘Blues For Use’ had more of an overt rock vibe, and 2011’s ‘Beautiful Mistake’ was somewhere in between. ‘Aaron Comess Quintet’ was recorded live, in front of an audience, at Smoke Jazz in NYC. Comess adds, “The time felt right for me to make a record like this, as this music has always been a huge part of my musical makeup."
A CD release concert is in the works for Spring 2015, with venue and details to be announced after the New Year.
Comess’ headlining appearances have previously been previewed in The New York Times, Time Out NY, Modern Drummer and elsewhere, and he has long ties to jazz and Blues. Aaron has played with such greats as Roy Hargrove, Brad Meldau, Robert Glasper, Bilal, Roswell Rudd, Arnie Lawrence, Deanna Kirk and more. Nate Chinen has shown support for Comess’ shows over the years, saying “Comess has long been a jazz adept.” As a member of the group New York Electric Piano (for the past 12 years,) Comess and band-mates scored a Top 10 jazz album with their most recent CD. Comess is currently studying with legendary drum master Michael Carvin.
More background info:
Comess recently appeared on legendary jazz trombonist’s Roswell Rudd’s record...and played a sold-out concert with him at le poisson rouge (other noted musicians on the record and show were John Medeski, Steven Bernstein, Bob Dorough and Fay Victor).
Aaron Comess also happens to be the drummer and a founding member of the multi-platinum-selling SPIN DOCTORS. The band recently released an acclaimed album of original Blues music, ‘If the River Was Whiskey,’ which earned the best reviews of their career and was featured in such A-level outlets as CONAN (TBS-TV), USA Today, Elmore Magazine, M Music & Musicians Magazine, RELIX Magazine, NY Observer, Time Out NY and much more.
Comess is a musician’s musician, long respected as a collaborator who has played on, co-written and/or produced over two hundred albums with an acclaimed and diverse roster of artists including Osborne, Edie Brickell, Isaac Hayes, Marc Cohn, Bilal, Rachael Yamagata, James Maddock, and more. Other upcoming and/or recent work includes Phil Ramone, Andrea Bocelli, David Foster, Malcolm Burn and Natasha Bedingfield. Comess is active in the local NYC rock, jazz, experimental music scenes and singer songwriter circuits, and records and produces at his ‘His House Studio’ in Brooklyn. Comess has successfully navigated the tricky music industry for over 20 years, managing to keep his original band (Spin Doctors) together, build an active career as a sideman/session player/producer, and make his own records as a composer/leader. With his 2015 jazz album he shines as a songwriter and continues to distinguish himself and expand his repertoire.
Gee Whiz, It's Christmas! - Treasa Levasseur Presents New Christmas Single for 2014 Season
Just in Time for the Holidays:
Treasa Levasseur Presents New Single for 2014 Season
Treasa Levasseur Presents New Single for 2014 Season
Gee Whiz, It's Christmas! available on iTunes, Airplay Direct, and Radio Submit
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JUNO nominated Blues/Roots/Soul artist Treasa Levasseur presents an eclectic collection of yuletide tunes in her latest album All Kinds of Christmas, set for release in November and December 2015. The first single, Gee Whiz, It's Christmas! has been made available digitally for the 2014 season on iTunes, Airplay Direct and Radio Submit.
Media Tools:
Treasa Levasseur is fluent in both official languages and is available for interviews and television performances.
Treasa Levasseur is fluent in both official languages and is available for interviews and television performances.
A.V. CLUB VIDEO PREMIERE: Ha Ha Tonka - "Lessons"
HA HA TONKA
NEW MUSIC VIDEO: "LESSONS"
FROM HA HA TONKA'S NEWEST BLOODSHOT ALBUM LESSONS
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Season's greetings!!
After a highly successful year of touring the world and continuing to turn heads with their acclaimed and fully realized album Lessons, Ha Ha Tonka shares the brilliantly stark new music video for the album title track via a premiere on The A.V. Club.
Directed by Brook Linder, who has directed videos for Someone Still
Loves You Boris Yeltsin, A Place to Bury Strangers, and more, the video
presents the band in an emotionally charged and visually stimulating
performance setting, matching the somber but profound tone of the song.
"A muted black and white clip full of silhouettes and vacant stares, the clip for “Lessons” is both soothing and jarring—just like Ha Ha Tonka’s tunes." - The A.V. Club
Ha
Ha Tonka just finished up a year packed with months and months of
touring globally with a final U.S. stint with founding drummer Lennon
Bone. Bone's finale at Subterranean in Chicago was a fittingly
celebratory career-spanning set in front of a packed house. The band is
meanwhile beginning preliminary work on a new album.
Labels:
Bloodshot Records,
Ha Ha Tonka
Welcome in 2015 (A Few Days Early!) with Blowin' Smoke at Harvelle's
WELCOME IN 2015 (A FEW DAYS EARLY!) WITH LARRY "FUZZY" KNIGHT'S BLOWIN' SMOKE RHYTHM & BLUES REVUE AT HARVELLE'S
Saturday, December 27, 9:30 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Blowin' Smoke Are Getting Ready To Celebrate Twenty Big Years of Performing At Harvelle's/Santa Monica - More Details Soon!
(Santa Monica, CA) - Want to get a jump on celebrating New Year's Eve 2015? Come on down and see/hear/enjoy L.A.'s premiere R&B/Blues/Soul Dance Party featuring Larry "Fuzzy" Knight's Blowin' Smoke Rhythm & Blues Revue featuring The Fabulous Smokettes. The date?: Saturday, December 27. Time? 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Place?
Harvelle's, 1432 S. 4th St. in downtown Santa Monica, only blocks from
the beach. Price? a very reasobale $10. for what amounts to four big
hours of some totally awesome original music! Info? (310) 395-1976 or https://www.facebook.com/blowinsmokeband.
In other related news: Blowin'
Smoke are getting ready to celebrate two big decades - yep, twenty
amazing years - of performing to packed, appreciative crowds at
Harvelle's. More details soon!
....SOME WORDS FROM THE MEDIA ABOUT BLOWIN' SMOKE'S LIVE SHOW
"The
Blowin’ Smoke Rhythm and Blues Band with the Fabulous Smokettes packed
the place with a crowd that was there to enjoy great music played the
way it should be," writes Los Angeles Beat reviewer Ed Simon in a recent
review. "Larry Knight has the kind of voice that is perfect for the
blues, a little gritty but with excellent range. This
is music played and sung the way it was meant to be and “Fuzzy” Knight
knows how to get the best out of his musicians and singers," Simon
concludes. Read the entire review here.
Here's Nine (Count 'Em, 9) Great Reasons Why You Should
Get Out To See Blowin' Smoke & The Fabulous Smokettes
"This is the real thing...great
American rockin' blues from a killer group of
players...bassist/bandleader Larry "Fuzzy" Knight has assembled a
powerful cast of core players and singers. Great band, tremendous
release." BLUES REVUE
"BEYOND
THE BLUES HORIZON captures this band at its best...huge band with a lot
of talent and some great material, making BEYOND...a CD that is
custom-made to dance to, hug to, and hold your honey tight to."
MUSIC CONNECTION
"In
the Blues category, it's going to be hard to top BLOWIN' SMOKE, whose
recent performance at the House Of Blues was excellent."
ROCK CITY NEWS
"R&B
band BLOWIN' SMOKE perform songs like "I Put A Spell On You" and "Talk
To Me Baby" with amazing vocals and explosive horns."
DAILY BULLETIN
"Eleven-piece
ensemble presents an extravaganza that regularly turns its audience
into a big, groovin' family...led by singer/bass player Larry "Fuzzy"
Knight, along with crackerjack horn players and a dedicated rhythm
section, BLOWIN' SMOKE keeps the floor show ear- and eye-popping with
the three "Fabulous Smokettes."
L.A. WEEKLY
"The
Catch in Anaheim will catch fire Saturday when a wild and wooly blues
band called BLOWIN' SMOKE blows into town...tried to catch them last
week at B.B. King's/Universal City Walk but couldn't get near the place.
It was mobbed. I already have their CD, and I'm a huge fan."
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
"Modeled
after the great 1960s R&B bands of Ray Charles, James Brown and Ike
Turner, Knight and his ensemble serve up hefty portions of blues,
gospel, swing and soul."
LOS ANGELES TIMES
"Smokin' showcase of rhythm and blues music...this live set captures the heart and soul of this ensemble."
KLOS 95.5 FM LOCAL LICKS
"BLOWIN' SMOKE is major record label material...so why hasn't one of the majors signed these guys?"
BLUES DELUXE (Nationally-Syndicated Radio Show)
"Cross Soul Train with American Bandstand and you get a good idea
of what a Blowin' Smoke Rhythm & Blues Revue show is like!"
For nearly two decades, Blues/R&B/Soul group Blowin' Smoke has been
one of the most in-demand, successful bands on the Southern California
live music circuit. Front and center in Blowin' Smoke is its creator,
bandleader/bassist/vocalist, Larry "Fuzzy" Knight - whose impressive
musical resume' includes a decade-plus stint as bassist for one of the
great SoCal bands to emerge from the psychedelic era of the Sixties,
Spirit. Knight has also recently launched a new band project, Sky King,
featuring some top-name musicians, all the while keeping Blowin' Smoke
going strong.
Blowin' Smoke CDs, Review Passes, & Band Interviews On Request.
What People Are Saying About Markus James' New CD, "Head for the Hills"
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Labels:
Head For The Hills,
Markus James
Bobby Rush garners second consecutive Grammy nomination plus Blues Music Award noms
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Labels:
Blinddog Smokin',
Bobby Rush,
Conqueroo,
Decisions,
Grammy
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