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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!


Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com

Thursday, July 2, 2015

West Tone Records artist: The Lucky Losers - A Winning Hand - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, A Winning Hand, from The Lucky Losers featuring Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz. Opening with Change In The Weather, a bluesy pop track, with just a touch of funk. Phil and Cathy share lead vocals and Michael Peloquin (sax), Tom Poole (trumpet) and Mike Rinta (trombone) add a nice horn section. Upbeat rocker, I Take What I Want, features a nice harp solo from Phil and drums with Robi Bean. Jimmy Rogers' What Have I Done, is up next with a cool easy swing beat. Cathy and Phil share lead vocals and Chris Burns carries the load on piano. Title track and southern rocker, A Winning Hand, features Steve Freund on lead guitar. This track has a familiar feel like a blend of (Sweet Home Alabama, Werewolf of London and Last Dance with Mary Jane). Suicide By Love has a primary bluesy jazz feel. Joe Kyle on upright bass and Jay Hansen on drums set the stage and Chris Burns lays down a nice sheet of piano. Lemons takes the lead on vocal and this may be the coolest track on the release, featuring a nice solo from Phil on harp and Kid Andersen on guitar. Bob Dylan's What Was It You Wanted gets a funky bottom compliments Steve Hazlewood on bass and Robi Bean on drums. Chris Burns' B3 work on the track adds a nice warmth and Marvin Green hits the note on lead guitar as Cathy and Phil share lead vocals. Allen Toussaint's What Is Success has a nice warm jazzy feel with Ben Rice on slide guitar mimicking the note sliding effect of Cathy and Phil's voices and Burns does a particularly nice job on piano. Long Hard Road is Phil's best vocal effort on a funky jazz number. Marvin Greene is back again laying down some tasty guitar riffs backed by Kevin Zuffi on organ, and Peloquin and Poole on horns. Uptempo blueser Baby You Got What It Takes has a great driving rhythm courtesy of Kid Andersen, Marvin Greene and Steve Hazlewood. Phil steps up with a hot harp solo on this number as well making it one my favorites on the release. Cry No More has a touch of Latin rhythm making for a nice pleasant ride. Zuffi rolls the Nord keyboard for a nice flavorful solo and Bean keeps the bottom tight. Driving blues track, Detroit City Man, gets a nice boogie groove going with Bean on drums, Evans on bass and Berkowitz on harp carrying the load as Lemons has the lead vocals. Wrapping the release is Don't You Lose It, a slow country blues ballad. Burns creates a nice effect with his Wurlitzer piano, the tempo and vocal blending on this track and the guitar work by Andersen make this a great finisher.

  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, July 1, 2015

New CD from British Blues Godfather John Mayall, "Find a Way to Care," Set for Release September 4th on Forty Below Records




New CD from British Blues Godfather John Mayall, Find a Way to Care, Set for Release September 4th on Forty Below Records

Vinyl LP to Follow in Fall

LOS ANGELES, CA – Forty Below Records announces a September 4th release date for Find a Way to Care, the new CD from legendary blues musician John Mayall, distributed by Sony/RED. Forty Below Records will also release a special vinyl LP version of the new album in the fall.

Watch the video trailer premiere of the making of the Find a Way to Care album here: 





Produced by John Mayall (who also did the graphic design and artwork for the album) and Forty Below’s Eric Corne, Find a Way to Care was recorded at the House of Blues Studio in Encino, California. In addition to Mayall (vocals, piano, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, clavinet, guitar and harmonica), featured on the sessions are Rocky Athas (lead and rhythm guitar), Greg Rzab (bass) and Jay Davenport (drums), who collectively are now into their seventh year as John’s band. The group is also augmented by a horn section on several tracks.

About the new album, Eric Corne says, “I really wanted to feature John's keyboard playing on this record. He’s truly one of the most lyrical, economical and underrated keyboardists around. We also wanted to change things up a bit after the success of A Special Life and the addition of a horn section on several tracks was a really fun way to do that. As good as the last album was, I think this one is even better.”

The even-dozen tracks on Find a Way to Care include a scintillating group of new songs and savvy covers of “Mother in Law Blues” (Don Robey),  “The River’s Invitation” (Percy Mayfield), “I Feel So Bad”(Lightnin’ Hopkins), “Long Distance Call” (Muddy Waters), “I Want All My Money Back” (Lee Baker) and Drifting Blues” (Charles Brown).

About his choice of cover songs on the new album, Mayall says, “Every time I make an album, I always feel I owe it to my fans to come up with fresh and varied interpretations of the blues. With this in mind, I chose an assemblage of songs that includes perhaps some slightly lesser-known bluesmen, and that all had either different beats or special instrumental treatments. I also found three songs that would be further enhanced by the addition of horns.”
Added to the mix are original songs that always feature Mayall’s take on the current human condition, as well as universal truths. “As always, I draw from my own experiences and thoughts about things in my life so that from album to album I create on ongoing musical diary of my life,” he explains. “The blues never lets me down!”
Find a Way to Care comes following an especially exciting year-long period of great music from Mayall that included the 2014 release of his first studio album in five years, A Special Life, and the April, 2015, release of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – Live in 1967 (Never Before Heard Live Performances). The live album was a critically-lauded archival recording of one of the best of his Bluesbreakers band lineups that featured Mayall, as well as Peter Green (lead guitar), John McVie (bass) and Mick Fleetwood (drums). It showcased a band that was together for only a scant three months, yet created a lasting legacy, made an immense impact on music and led to the formation of one of the most acclaimed groups of all-time when Green, McVie and Fleetwood left to form Fleetwood Mac.

For over 50 years, John Mayall has served as a pioneer of blues music, rightly earning him the title, “The Godfather of British Blues.” In 2013, John signed with producer Eric Corne’s label, Forty Below Records, and has since been experiencing a true artistic and career renaissance.
He continues to perform extensively both in the USA and abroad, and has an ambitious touring schedule in place for the rest of the summer and fall that was booked by Monterey International Artists (www.montereyinternational.net).

To download a hi-res color photo of John (photo by Jeff Fasano), click here: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/John-Mayall.jpg

For more information, visit www.johnmayall.com and www.fortybelowrecords.com


Find a Way to Care Track Listing

1     MOTHER IN LAW BLUES    key of E                                                      3:11
2     THE RIVER’S INVITATION    key of Bb                                                 3:47
3     AIN’T NO GUARANTEES      key of Eb                                                  3:24
4     I FEEL SO BAD    key of E                                                                           4:18
5     FIND A WAY TO CARE   key of F                                                            3:41
6     LONG DISTANCE CALL    key of G                                                         4:29
7     I WANT ALL MY MONEY BACK   key of Bb                                        3:18
8     ROPES AND CHAINS   key of A                                                              4:17
9     LONG SUMMER DAYS   key of D                                                          3:50
10   DRIFTING BLUES   key of G                                                                     4:20

Bonus Tracks
11   WAR WE WAGE    key of B                                                                     4:15
12   CRAZY LADY    key of G                                                                            3:34

John Mayall Current US Tour Itinerary

7/1                         Whisky a Go Go                                                Hollywood, CA
7/2                         Belly Up Tavern                                                Solana Beach, CA
7/3                         The Coach House                                             San Juan Capistrano, CA
7/5                         The Canyon Theater                                       Agoura Hills, CA
7/7                         Soho Restaurant & Music Club                   Santa Barbara, CA
7/8                         Moe’s Alley Blues Club                                  Santa Cruz, CA
7/9                         Ace of Spades                                                   Sacramento, CA
7/10                       Yoshi’s                                                                  Oakland, CA
7/11                       City Winery                                                         Napa, CA
7/12                       Rogue Theatre                                                  Grants Pass, OR
7/13                       Tower Theatre                                                  Bend, OR
7/14                       Shedd Institute for the Arts                        Eugene, OR
7/15                       Aladdin Theater                                                Portland, OR
7/16-7/19            Jazz Alley                                                             Seattle, WA

Additional dates forthcoming …

Stony Plain Records artist: Jeff Healey - Vintage Jazz, Swing and Blues - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Vintage Jazz, Swing and Blues from Jeff Healey and it's great! Healey, a serious vintage record collector (over 30,000 78's of classic 20's and 30's music) was well known as Canada's top rock and blues guitar player and band leader but prior to his untimely death in 2008 opened a club in Toronto and formed Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards. Fortunately, some of that fine work that Jeff did in his love for the early music is compiled here as a part of The Best of Series. Opening with Kalmar and Ruby's Three Little Words, featuring Healey on vocal and guitar, Jesse Barksdale on rhythm guitar Reide Kaiser on piano, Colin Bray on bass and the exceptional solo work of Tom Pletcher on coronet and Dan Levinson on clarinet. You've never heard Healey play this guitar style. Excellent! Lang and Venuti's intrumental, The Wildcat, screams along with really nice violin work from Drew Jurecka on violin and Healey on guitar. Wow! Carmichael and Parish classic, Star Dust, features Healey's solid vocals with Roberto Rosenman with an excellent guitar solo. Snyder, Smith and Wheeleer composition, The Sheik of Araby, finds Healey not only on lead vocal but playing really fine trumpet along with Ross Woolridge on clarinet, Jurecka on violin, Reide Kaiser on piano, Colin Bray on bass and Gary Scriven on drums and washboard. This track rips! Jones and Collins, Guitar Duet Stomp, shows some of Healey's most sensitive guitar work along the lines of Django and Bireli. Strong! Harling and Coslow track Sing You Sinners really digs into the Dixieland sound. This track has the full lineup with Healey on vocal, trumpet and guitar; Jurecka on violin, Barksdale on guitar; Bray on bass; Christopher Plock on soprano and alto sax; Chris Barber on trombone and Brian Graville on piano. Excellent! Hill and Williams composition, I Would Do Anything For You, features Healey on vocal, guitar and trumpet, Plock on soprano sax, Gary Scriven on drums, Barksdale on acoustic guitar and kaiser on piano. Super! Mercer and Malneck swinger, Pardon My Southern Accent, features Healey on vocal, Scriven on drums, Bray on bass, Kaiser on piano, Danny Douglas on trombone and Ross Woolridge on clarinet. Shelton Brooks' Some Of These Days, features an excellent acoustic "gypsy" guitar solo and trumpet solo from Healey. This track swings! Meyer and Ruby composition, My Honey's Lovin' Arms, shows just how smooth Healey can be on lead vocal on these tracks, with Levinson matching up nicely on clarinet to Pletcher on coronet. Kaiser on piano and Bray on bass fill out the piece with Barksdale on rhythm guitar and Healey throws out a really nicely articulated swing guitar solo. Fine! Carmichael's Hong Kong Blues has a comical feel to it next to much of the release but some of the guitar picking on this track is so fine it had to be included. Wrapping the release is Pinard, Bernie and Casey's classic, Sweet Georgia Brown, and it is a full out jam with Healey singing over the top backed by Barber on trombone, Jurecka on violin, Plock on sax, Barksdale on guitar, Bray on bass, Graville on piano and Scriven on drums. This is an excellent review of Healey's work outside of the blues rock genre and a must have for anyone at all interested in contemporary swing jazz. Excellent!

  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”

 

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Cheap Wine Records artist: Sleepy Eyes Nelson - Hair of The Dog - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Hair Of The Dog, from Sleepy Eyes Nelson and it's a selection of live tracks from his 2015 American tour. Opening with John Lee Granderson's Watch Out Girl, Nelson's vocals are clear and his guitar is strong. Billy Bizor's, She Stays Drunk, is a great foot stomper with classic lyrics and driving riffs. Unemployment Blues is a cool track written by Nelson. A bit more contemporary sounding but with all of the trace items to the original, I like it. Nappy Brown's Night Time Is The Right Time, continues in the finger picked theme and nicely articulated tracks. Lil' Son Jackson track, Young Woman's Blues has always been on the favorite list and Nelson does a real nice job with it using a sliding techniques that I particularly like. I Spent It All has the sounds of rain in the background giving it a particularly nice ambiance. Continuing into Salad Dodger which is uptempo and certainly a blues but almost a rocker. Cool! Lightnin' Hopkins tracks Late In The Evening and Gambling Blues are great with authentic Hopkins riffs. You Don't Steal From Me has a real nice guitar break and traditional style melody. Very nice! Old House Covered In Blues is played on slide guitar and has a haunting quality. Although not a traditional slide sound, I really like Nelson's style. Blind Boy Fuller's Step It Up And Go has a real nice driving rhythm and the real roots of rock. Wrapping the release is Bad Luck Follows Me Around has a ballad feel and a fine story. A cool conclusion to this traditional blues release... oh and I really like toe cover art!

  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”

 

Lauren Desberg - Twenty First Century Problems

I sometimes get backed up with the number of CD's that I have to review and this is one that fell through the cracks. A new release, Twenty First Century Problems, by Lauren Desberg is totally unlike anything that I typically review but it has a clean simple and bright sound and certainly warrants note. With it's light breezy jazz opening track, Can't Stop The Show, it displays cool rhythmic patterns and a really nice sax part under Desberg's clear vocals. With a touch of hip hop in a pop jazz mix, He Loves She Loves is simply nice with terrific drums and piano. Emotive ballad, Lie To Me, digs back to earlier jazz times and a more serious texture. An interesting cover of well worn out Bee Gee's, How Deep Is Your Love, has a fresh face and with nice vocal blending and enough nice instrumental work to totally make you forget that you are listening to one of the most boring songs ever written ... and not mind it at all. Lullaby Of The Leaves is a really interesting track with a clever interplay between the stand up bass and trumpet. Desberg creates an cool ambiance and fills it with really nice vocals. Excellent! Angel Eyes is another interesting track with an uneven rhythm and a airy vocals. The balance of Desberg's vocals hangs by a string in a cloud of light backing vocals, cool rhythms, piano and horn work. I really like it! Torch ballad, Never Let Me Go,  with a solitary voice over piano brings to mind early 60's jazz and it's clarity. Wrapping the release is Try To Get Out, an interesting pop jazz track with a touch of show. It's difficult for me to articulate what I am hearing, possibly because it is outside of my normal listening venue here, but let's just say, I am impressed by this production that makes me think Fiona Apple and Joni Mitchell yet neither. High quality work and extremely enjoyable.

  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, June 29, 2015

Buddy Guy Reveals Cover Art & Track Listing On "Born To Play Guitar"





BUDDY GUY REVEALS ‘BORN TO PLAY GUITAR’ ALBUM COVER & TRACK LISTING

NEW STUDIO ALBUM FEATURES GUEST APPEARANCES BY VAN MORRISON,
JOSS STONE AND MORE
PLUS SONGS DEDICATED TO B.B. KING AND MUDDY WATERS


ALBUM AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ON JUNE 29
 
Grammy Award winning blues icon Buddy Guy has revealed the album cover and track listing for his brand new studio album Born To Play Guitar.  Set for release July 31 on Silvertone/RCA Records, Born to Play Guitar features guest appearances by Van Morrison, Joss Stone, Kim Wilson and Billy Gibbons.  Morrison joins Buddy on the heartfelt “Flesh & Bone,” a song dedicated to the late great B.B. King.  On “Come Back Muddy” Guy reminisces about the good ole days with his friend Muddy Waters.  The album is produced by Grammy Award winning producer/songwriter Tom Hambridge.

B.B. King’s Bluesville channel on SiriusXM will debut Buddy Guy’s new song “Born to Play Guitar” during SiriusXM host Tony Colter’s show on Monday, June 29. 

Born To Play Guitar will be available for pre-order on June 29 at iTunes and Amazon.

Born To Play Guitar track listing:
01 Born To Play Guitar                                                                   
02 Wear You Out feat. Billy Gibbons                                          
03 Back Up Mama                                                                            
04 Too Late feat. Kim Wilson                                                   
05 Whiskey, Beer & Wine                                                              
06 Kiss Me Quick feat. Kim Wilson                                                        
07 Crying Out Of One Eye                                                             
08 (Baby) You Got What It Takes feat. Joss Stone                             
09 Turn Me Wild                                                                            
10 Crazy World                                                                              
11 Smarter Than I Was                                                                   
12 Thick Like Mississippi Mud                                                       
13 Flesh & Bone with Van Morrison        (Dedicated to B.B. King)  
14 Come Back Muddy                 







The Incredible, Irrepressible Trudy Lynn



The Incredible, Irrepressible Trudy Lynn

The Incredible, Irrepressible, One of a Kind Trudy Lynn
 

Currently nominated for a 2015 Living Blues Award

If you have ever attended a Trudy Lynn performance then you know from experience that the blues lives within this woman's soul.  As you watched and listened you may have recognized that what you were experiencing was not some kind of contrived, elaborate put on stage show.  Oh no there was something much, much deeper going on in front of you.  At a Trudy Lynn performance you sense that you are receiving something directly from the woman's heart and that’s what creates pause as it permeates within us. Plus there’s another upside to a Trudy Lynn performance. There are no airs about her.  Even with all the professional heights she's climbed Trudy remains true to being who she is, both the internationally recognized American blues singer and also, with full humility, the blues singer from humble beginnings in Houston, Texas. Trudy delivers what is deeply rooted within and because that’s what comes out the audience senses that they are receiving something very real and they relate.  Trudy delivers her message without any constraint and so it reaches the audience as being exactly what it is, 100% real. It's enjoyable, passionate, it's the traditional blues being performed the way it should be - from the heart.  That's the Trudy Lynn magic.  So it may come as no surprise to you that Trudy Lynn would be nominated for one of the 2015 Living Blues Awards because so many blues fans have felt this personal connection. She is the incredible, irrepressible one of a kind Ms Trudy Lynn.  If you vote just click on the link below and it will transport you to the list of nominees. You will see the vote button on the right hand side of the page.
 


American Blues Singer Ms. Trudy Lynn

 Topping Billboard's Blues
Album Chart at #1 in 2014

 
Watch for Trudy's upcoming
release on Connor Ray Music

Cast your vote in the 2015
Living Blues Awards


 
Performance dates near you
www.trudylynnblues.com