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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!
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Jubilee, from Greg Sover and it's solid. Opening with driving rocker, Emotional, lead vocalist and guitarist, Sover leads the tour and a heavy bass line by Garry Lee sets the pace. Backed by Allen James on electric guitar, Tom Walling on drums and Wally Smith on keys, this track feels a bit retro. Title track, Jubilee, has a strong blues feel with Mikey Junior on harp. Slide resonator work by Sover gives the track a real cool feel. Hand On My Heart is a soulful yet jazzy track along the lines of Sting. Nicely placed guitar riffs and elegant piano placement makes this one of my favorites on the release. Don Robey's As The Years Go Passing By has a smooth blues feel with solid vocals and stinging guitar riffs. With an aggressive attack, Temptation has classic 12 bar structure but with explosive, overdriven guitar riffs. Sover slices and dices on this track making it the outstanding guitar track on the release. Wrapping the release is Hand On My Heart, a jazzy ballad with soulful vocals and light accompaniment.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (February 23, 2018), Love Is An Army, by Janiva Magness and it's earthy. Opening with R&B track, Back To Blue, Janiva Magness shows authority in the shadows of Mayfield and Green with Stephen Hodges on drums, Davey Faragher on bass, Arlan Schierbaum on keys, Doug Livingston on pedal steel, Dave Darling on guitar, Phil Parlapiano on piano and Darrell Leonard, Joe Sublet and Alfredo Ballesteros on horns. Also contributing backing vocals are Kudisan Kai, Sugaray Rayford, Gary Pinto, Natasha Pinto, Thrones, Aurelia, Dave Darling and Brie Darling. Excellent opener. Another nice entry is Tell Me with strong vocals and real nice guitar work by Darling. Ballad and title track, Love Is An Army, has a strong melody with warm pedal work by Livingston and really nice vocal duet between Magness and Bryan Stephens. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Down Below with a really earthy feel and featuring Courtney Hartman on guitar and banjo. Faragher's bass line on What's That Say About You really sets the track apart with super vocal blending by Magness and tight guitar riffs from Darling. Another track with super R&B roots, but with a strong blues root is Home, with Cedric Burnside. This is a strong track and has a really firm grim on early blues. Very nice. Wrapping the release is power ballad, Some Kind Of Love featuring Magness on vocal, only backed by Parlapiano on piano. Powerful closer to a solid 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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REVEREND GARY
DAVIS: THE AVANT GARDE RECORDINGS:
RECORDED LIVE — OCTOBER 1966 FROM OMNIVORE RECORDINGS
PORTRAYS BLUES LEGEND CAPTURED LIVE
AT THE PEAK OF THE LATE ’60s BLUES REVIVAL
Two-CD and digital set, the first of many Avant
Garde Coffeehouse offerings,
features 22 previously unreleased tracks, plus liner notes by
Bill Dahl and an unheard interview with Rev. Davis
in the digital version. Street date March 23, 2018.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Rev. Gary Davis, born in 1896 in the
Piedmont region of Laurens, S.C., was a blues and gospel singer
who played guitar, banjo, and harmonica and influenced a
generation of blues revivalists in the ’60s and beyond — ranging
from Dave
Van Ronk to Keb’ Mo’. Following decades
of playing the Carolinas and mentoring fellow musician Blind Boy Fuller,
Davis was introduced to the American Recording Company,
where he recorded the bulk of his pre-World War II work. In 1937,
he became an ordained minister and released mainly gospel music.
The late ’60s proved a career renaissance for the Reverend; he
played to a new, largely white audience at the Newport Folk Festival.
He died in 1972.
In late October of 1966, Davis was captured on
a single microphone in the small Milwaukee coffeehouse called Avant Garde. Only open from
1962-1968, the Avant Garde featured everything from experimental
film and poetry to some of the best blues and folk performers of
the era. Rev. Davis rolled out his classics “Samson and Delilah,”
“Jesus Met the Woman at the Well,” “You Got To Move,” “Twelve
Gates to the City” and others in an intimate setting.
Omnivore Recordings will release this
previously unavailable material as Reverend Gary Davis:
The Avant Garde Recordings: Recorded Live — October 1966,
a 2-CD set and Digital, on March 23, 2018. Musicologist Bill Dahl wrote the
biographical liner notes along with memories of the venue by John Stropes of the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Included as a bonus download is an interview
with Rev. Davis after one of the shows. Produced by native
Milwaukeean and Grammy Award-winning producer, Cheryl Pawelski with restoration and
mastering by Grammy Award-winning engineer, Michael Graves, these spellbinding, never-before-heard
recordings are a revealing addition to his recordedlegacy.
In his notes, Stropes wrote: “The Avant Garde
Coffeehouse, founded by Harold Strohmeier in 1962, was the locus
of the folk/blues revival in Wisconsin. There were places like
this in other geographic areas, but, in Wisconsin, none as
important as the Avant Garde…The proximity to the Chicago
electric blues scene provided a distinctive mix of performers.
Patrons regarded the music with the same seriousness and respect
given to classical music. It was a classroom. You went there to
learn. You could actually sit down and have a conversation with
these performers. Without the Avant Garde, there would have been
no centrality for these older traditions or the recasting of
these traditions by revivalists.”
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spirit/Matter/Truth/Lies from The Rex Granite Band featuring Sarah Benck and it's a soulful rocker. Opening with shuffle, Stop Doing What You Want, features Sarah Benck on loead vocals and Rex Granite on slide, backed by James Carrig on bass and Anton Divis on drums. With it's driving beat, a hot opener. What You're Missing has great attitude with a solid rock rhythm and sassy Bonnie Raitt like vocals. Very cool. Percy Mayfield's Please Send Me Someone To Love has a deep soulful feel, showcasing some of Benck's best vocals on the release. Granite really digs in on slide with super fat tone and grease. Very nice. With a easy, island feel, Sail Away (Pt.1) has some of the tastiest slide playing this side of Ry Cooder. With lush vocals from Benck, a sure radio track. Boogie track, Steam Roller incorporates a hot horn section courtesy of Bucky McCann on sax, Michael Gurciullo on trumpet, Lou DeLuca on harmonica and Doug Montera on drums. I like the grinding guitar sound by Granite on title track, Spirit/Matter/Truth/Lies and the heavy bass line of Carrig making Led Zep like track the best rocker on the release. Wrapping the release is Sail Away (Pt 2) with a heavy bass line, eerie slide work and Grace Slick like vocals giving the track a San Francisco sound. This is a cool closer for an interesting 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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, ...Brighter Than Your Future, from Jay Katana and it's classically electric. Opening with Bomfunk MC's, FreeStyler has a synthesizer platform and a eurometal guitar edge. Nice opener. No Time 2b Sorry is an interesting mix of beat, metal and funk with tasty guitar riffs planted over an interesting drum riff. I Need You Now is a guitar ballad with an interesting melody and Steve Vai like spikes. Possibly the best track on the release. With a softer approach, When SheDies is mostly undistorted guitar riffing which is actually quite nice. Wrapping the release is K-Koda which has a full throttle metal bottom but with an irregular drum beat. Katana has an interesting concept. Let's see what develops.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (February 23, 2018), Step On It, from Big Shoes, and it's slick. Opening with Duplex Blues, lead vocalist and guitarist, Rick Huckaby leads this easy shuffle blending vocals with Will McFarlane on guitars, Tom Szell on bass, Mark T Jordan on keys and Kenne Cramer on guitar. Andy Peake adds drums and is joined on percussion by Bryan Brock. Light, funky, jazz rocker, There You Go, has a real nice rhythm and interwoven soloing by Huckaby, Cramer, McFarlane and Jordan. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Latin flavored, Don't You Do Me That Way with nicely stylized guitar lead, a solid piano solo from Jordan and snappy percussion rhythms. Excellent! A solid radio candidate is Ain't Nobody Loves You Like Me, with nicely blended vocals, punchy horn work and a smooth slide guitar solo by McFarlane. Pop rocker, Give It To Me Now is another strong radio track with a super melody and catchy rhythm. Wrapping the release is Honey Pie with it's slinky rhythm, country blues styling and clever vocal interweaving. The vocals are the hit on this track but super piano riffs by Jordan and cool slide by McFarlane give it that extra dose of gas. Nice closer for a solid 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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent New Truth release from Mark Daniel and it's a solid rocker. Opening with Slow Setting Sun, Daniel who handles lead vocal and guitar is joined by Mickey Curry on drums and Marc Hickox on bass. Heart Stops Beating is a heavy footed rocker with a tight bottom. Daniel's vocals are crisp and his guitar playing loose and colorful with blues and metal influences. Very cool. Walk Through Fire is a definite radio track with a solid melody and a great bass line. Coming Down is an interesting rocker sounding a bit like The Police but with a more forward drive. Wrapping the release is Got It Bad with a solid melody and tight rhythm. This is a cool first release (February 23, 2018) for Daniel.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Are We In Love?, from Emily Burgess and it's fun. Burgess, who has played with a number of top guitarists as well as tours as a part of The Weber Brothers has stepped out on her own. Opening with Til I Get To Call You My Own, a Jimmy Reed style blues number, Emily Burgess has the mic and lead guitar role, backed by Sam Weber on guitar, Ryan Weber on bass, Ryan Brown on keys and Marcus Browne on drums. One of my favorites on the release is pop rocker, All I Wanna Do Is Love You with it's driving beat, sweet vocals and stinging guitar soloing. Blues ballad, Ain't That A Woman, has a great melody and with clean vocals and a nice melodic guitar solo, should easily garner radio play. Rocker, Only One In Your Dreams has a strong power pop sound with overdriven guitars, blended female vocals and Browne on harp. Another of my favorites is Arrested with loose, naïve style vocals, a bouncy rhythm and clever guitar riffs. Wrapping the release is acoustic vocal duet, What Has Been Is All Within, with Hillary Dumoulin. This is a cool release. It isn't straight down blues alley but it has all of the right stuff.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Something Got A Hold On Me - The Au-Jac Records Story, Volume One: 1963-1964 and it's quite cool. Opening with previously unreleased, Fatback by Lamont Esquires, this release is off to a great start. This instrumental features low key but tasty guitar lead with hot sax work, all over a tight rockin' R&B track. Jessie Crawford with Kay Keys Band is up next, first with a smart Latin influenced rocker, Please Don't Go, followed by solid soul track Because I Love You So. Little Sunny Daye with the Shydells Band gives us blues ballad, A Woman Like You with super vocals and cool lead guitar work under the lead. Very nice. Celestine does a great job on You Won with it's cool rhythm. Honkin' sax work sets this track apart giving it a distinctive early 60's feel. great track. Winfield Parker really delivers on blues ballad, When I'm Alone. With only the basics of backing, Parker shows real poise. Winfield Parker set out a real nice R&B track on One Of These Mornings with snappy drums, and soulful sax soloing. Spiritual, Take Care Of Me, is a powerful track by the Fruitland Harmonizers. Really cool! The Teardrops Band featuring Marie Allen perform Cryin Won't Help You, a really hot R&B track with a great beat and cool sax solo behind a raucous voice. Trash Can is performed by an unknown artist, with solid sax solo lead. The Monkey Cha Cha is another really nice instrumental with of course a Latin rhythm and guitar and keyboard lead by The Jolly Jax. Wrapping the release is Joe (Take 5) which was previously unreleased by The Jolly Jax. Stilladog...this one's for you. 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”
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Flame, from Peter Karp and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Rolling On A Log, Karp on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Kim Wilson on harp, Daniel Pagdon on bass and Paul Unsworth on drums. Kicking it up a gear, Train O' Mine is a hard driving blues rocker with Dave Keyes on piano and Dennis Gruenling sailing on harp. Warming things up a bit with slide resonator Karp gets a little greasy on Valentine's Day. Very nice. Quiet ballad, The Turning Point develops nicely into a radio style track with an interesting melody and featuring a nice guitar solo by Mick Taylor. My favorite track on the release is The Arson's Match with a distinct Elmore James feel. Featuring Karp's best vocals on the release, hot harp from Wilson and Karp and fat fat slide, nice track. A laid back, rural feel is the ticket on From Where I Stand and another of my favorites on the release. A bright melody, clean vocals and mandolin by John Zarra make this another top radio track. Boogie, The Nietzsche Lounge has a great groove and gets your foot stomping. Karp handling vocal and piano with a great guitar boogie line supporting it makes this another outstanding track. Wrapping the release is Young Girl, a stripped down blues track with raw energy and Karp's overblown vocals with resonator accompaniment. I like this sound. Cool 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”
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Make My Home In Florida, from the Backtrack Blues Band and it's quite good. Opening with Checkin' On My Baby, BBB, lead by Sonny Charles on lead vocal and harp gets the show started with a nice easy shuffle, with Kid Royal on lead guitar, Little Johnny Walter on rhythm guitar, Stick Davis on bass and Joe Bencomo on drums. On Woke Up This Morning, Royal steps up on lead vocals and the band is swinging. Royal plays a stinging lower octave solo which has a great feel and the band is tight. Slow blues and title track, Make My Home In Florida, gives the band a nice opportunity to stretch with solid solos from Charles and Royal. Very nice. T-Bone Shuffle has a great feel, crusing along with extended solos from Charles and Royal showing some real nice trem bends. Excellent! Your Funeral and My Trial is a solid showcase for Charles on harp who has real nice tone and phrasing. Winding the band up for the close is Heavy Built Woman, a quick paced shuffle. Royal steps up with super phrasing and some keys accents giving the track a nice kick and Charles' harp hit the spot. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Tell Your Daddy with a cool drum turnaround. Albert King style riffs pour from Royal's strings and the band is swinging. Charles takes the band to a steady simmer and cooks on high to close the show. Very nice 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”
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Hello Bman! On Friday, January 26th, international
recording and touring artist Josh Hoyer (Silver Street Records)
released 'The
End of the Night', a three song EP and the first new music
from Hoyer since his 2017 appearance on NBC's The Voice.
'The End of the
Night' is the result of a writing collaboration between
Hoyer, veteran Nashville songwriter Jay Knowles (Harry Connick Jr,
Blake Shelton), and producer Jon Coleman, Trace Adkins' band leader and
producer. The writing sessions produced three songs; the grooving Soul
number “The End of The Night”, Country-Rock anthem “Big Love”, and
Soul-Pop tune “Rosario”.
In addition to Hoyer’s powerful vocals, featured on the EP are some of
Nashville’s most in-demand session musicians, including Kenny Greenberg
(guitars), Luis Espaillat (bass), Greg Morrow (drums), Jon Coleman
(piano and B3), Doug Moffet (saxophone), Quentin Ware (trumpet), and
Marion Grace (background vocals).
'The End of the Night' is Hoyer's first
release since Josh's appearance on Season 12 of
NBC's The Voice earlier this year. Viewers around the country took
note of the soulful vocals emanating from the man that Adam
Levine called a "badass," and Rolling Stone
described as an artist who "sang with fire and exuded a
natural joy." Hoyer's appearances on The Voice received over
2 million views on YouTube.
The new EP is a prelude to Hoyer's next full-length studio album to be
recorded this spring and released in Europe in August on Silver Street
Records. The release will be followed by a 6-week European tour
this fall, and a US release in early 2019.
