Hot Shot Records artist: Delbert McClinton and Self-Made Men + Dana - Tall, Dark & Handsome - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release. Tall, Dark & Handsome from Delbert McClinton and Self-Made Men + Dana and it's pretty interesting. Opening with foot stompin shuffle, Mr. Smith McClinton really has a groove going. With great sax work by Jim Hoke and trumpet by Dana Robbins, this track is hot. Backing vocals by Vicki Hampton, Wendy Moten and Robert Bailey and a super band including Joe Maher on drums, Glenn Worf on bass, Bob Britt on guitar, Kevin McKendree on piano and B3, Jim Hoke on bari and tenor sax, and Quentin Ware on trumpet, Dana Robbins on tenor sax and Roy Agee on trombone, this band is super. On light swing track, No Chicken On The Bone, McClinton's vocals are well primed and Stuart Duncan shines on violin. Again excellent backing vocals by Hampton, Moten and Bailey enrich the track and Britt on acoustic guitar and mandolin nicely compliment McKendree's piano work. Very nice. With a jazzy undertow, Lulu has a loose, small club feel. A real nice solo by Britt punctuates this track with it's overall swing. Loudmouth is a cool, BB King like blues shuffle. Yates McKendree, Britt and Kevin McKendree lay down some tasty guitar riffs and Kevin's piano work is strong. New Orleans flavored, A Fool Like Me, has rich gumbo, with great stumble drumming by Maher and piano by McKendree. Delaney McClinton vocal paring with Delbert is really fine and the addition of Hoke on clarinet and Bari sax, Ware on trumpet, and Agee on trombone makes this track one of my favorites. Temporarily Insane is another favorite on the track with stripped down backing on McClinton's stark vocals sounding mostly like acoustic guitar but including Mellotron, drums and bass. Excellent! Wrapping the release is A Poem, a quirky track with rugged vocals by McClinton over minimal guitar by Britt and piano by McKendree. Strong closer. 

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Legendary Canadian Guitarist & Songwriter Myles Goodwyn of April Wine Cooks Up a Heady Blues Brew on "Friends Of The Blues 2" Album Coming October 25th

Legendary Canadian Guitarist & Songwriter Myles Goodwyn of April Wine Cooks Up a Heady Blues Brew on Friends Of The Blues 2 Album Coming October 25th

The Follow-up to JUNO Nominated Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues Due from Linus Entertainment Listen and share "Hip Hip" from the album, plus pre-order here: https://smarturl.it/friendsoftheblues2   Waterdown, ON — Legendary Canadian guitarist, bandleader and songwriter Myles Goodwyn, of multi-selling platinum rock band April Wine, is returning to his first love – the blues – with the second recording of Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues, the follow-up to his JUNO- nominated (Canada’s Grammy) and East Coast Music Award winning blues debut. Set for release on October 25th via Linus Entertainment, Friends Of The Blues 2 has 13 original songs written by Goodwyn and a cover of “All Over Now” by Bobby Womack. As with the first Friends Of The Blues album, the new disc features a supporting cast of the “who’s who” on the Canadian blues music scene, including Jack de Keyzer, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Warren Robert, Ross Billard, Bruce Dixon, JR Smith, Matt Andersen, Mike "Shrimp Daddy" Reid, Jack Semple, Sherman "Tank" Doucette, Joe Murphy, Bill Stevenson, Will Van Hansolo, Steve Segal and more. A real feature on it is a stunning duet with six-time winner of Female Vocalist of the Year at the Maple Blues Awards, Angel Forrest.

Myles Goodwyn, singer, guitarist, writer, producer and leader of April Wine, has shaped and directed the group from its earliest beginnings. April Wine has sold over 20 million recordings worldwide.

Goodwyn grew up poor and is the classic “small-town kid makes good” success story. As a young teenager, Goodwyn honed his skills playing in cover bands and began writing original material as soon as he could play the guitar.  One of April Wine`s biggest hits, “You Won't Dance With Me,” was written when he was a teenager.

 Myles Goodwyn’s voice is as distinctive and immediately recognizable as his songwriting skills are prolific. Myles and the other members of April Wine were inducted into the Canadian Music
Hall Of Fame in 2010.  Goodwyn received the prestigious East Coast Music Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and the SOCAN National Achievement Award in 2002. In 2016 he released his memoir, Just Between You and Me, which became an instant seller on the Globe and Mail`s Non-Fiction List. His second book, Elvis and Tiger – this time fiction - was published in 2018 and was well received.

The Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues recording earned him international acclaim and a Juno nomination for Blues Recording of the Year 2019. The recording won the East Coast Music Award for Blues Recording of the Year in 2019.

Not a bad start to a blues career and his first blues recording effort at age 70 or at any age!

Goodwyn was committed to making his follow up recording, Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues 2, using the same logic as his blues debut release; “I wanted to write some good blues tunes and sing these tunes as best that I could. I really appreciate great blues material because it is timeless, it is vital and it’s passionate, even heartbreakingly so,” says Goodwyn. His decision to use only “real blues players” was again, deliberate; “I wanted the real deal when it came to the performances."

The result of these collaborations is testament to the care that went into Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues 2 and will surely show, yet again, that Myles Goodwyn is not only a gifted blues singer/songwriter and musician, but also a real blues man at heart.

www.mylesgoodwyn.com  www.linusentertainment.com

Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues 2 Track List 

01 - Hip Hip

02 - Like A Dog Ain't Had Its Day

03 - Over Now

04 - You Got It Bad

05 - Fish Tank Blues

06 - Speedo (Revisited)

07 - Daddy Needs New Shoes

08 - Being Good

09 - I Love My Guitar

10 - Help Me Baby

11 - When Your Ship Came In (I Was At The Airport Drinking)

12 - Sick And Tired (Of Being Sick And Tired Over You)

13 - I Saw Someone That Wasn't There (And It Was You)

14 - (Bonus Track) Even Singing Cowboys Get The Blues

Billy Price Presents A Tribute To Roy Buchanan at The Birchmere

Renowned Soul-Blues Singer Billy Price Presents: A Tribute To Roy Buchanan Featuring Special Guests   THE BIRCHMERE - Sunday, September 22 - 7:30PM

(Alexandria, VA) - Renowned soul-blues singer Billy Price, presents a Tribute To Roy Buchanan featuring an array of special guest musicians,  at The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Sunday, September 22. 7:30pm. Tickets are $25. Info: (703) 549-7500 or visit http://www.birchmere.com.    Price was the vocalist on two of the late Buchanan's albums, That's What I'm Here For and Live Stock. Among the Special Guests for the Roy Buchanan Tribute: Award-winning Blues-rock guitarist Mike Zito, also co-founder of new label Gulf Coast Records, who recently released Price's critically-lauded new album, Dog Eat Dog.           ~Billy Price: Some Background And Info. About Dog Eat Dog~   New label Gulf Coast Records releases Dog Eat Dog, the new album from longtime soul-blues vocalist, Billy Price. After the critical acclaim and Blues Music Awards nomination of his last album Reckoning, Price was excited and eager to get back into Greaseland Studio in San Jose, California with Producer, Kid Andersen. Kid and Billy's mutual love for the music and commitment to making an original contribution to the soul- blues genre is evident in this new collection of recordings.   Dog Eat Dog contains twelve songs, eight of which are original compositions. The album opens with "Working On Your Chain Gang," co-written by Price and longtime collaborator, keyboardist Jim Britton. Price and Britton also co-wrote the atmospheric "Lose My Number,"  "All Night long Cafe," and "Toxicity" (with Executive Producer, Guy Hale), while Britton wrote "Walk Back In." Price teamed with another longtime collaborator, French guitarist Fred Chapellier, to write "Remnants," a great new blues song, and the tuneful sweet soul track, "More Than I Needed."  Price worked with Bill Troiani, writer of Reckoning, on another catchy blues tune, "You Gotta Leave." The covers, in addition to "Dog Eat Dog," are Bobby Byrd's "We're In Love," Otis Rush blues classic "My Love Will Never Die," and "Same Old Heartaches," first recorded by The Impressions and written by Price's friends, the songwriting team of Melvin and Mervin Steals, best known for penning "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" by The Spinners. The Otis rush song, a staple in Price's live repertoire, was added after Andersen saw a You Tube video of Price performing the song and suggested recording a new version of it.       Price and Andersen assembled a first-class group of musicians on Dog Eat Dog, featuring Price on vocals, Andersen (guitars and assorted instruments), Alex Pettersen (drums), Jerry Jemmott (bass), Jim Pugh (keys), Eric Spaulding (tenor sax), Jack Sanford (baritone sax), and John Halblieb (trumpet). Andersen added congas to most tracks, covered by Jon Otis (son of the great Johnny Otis) and Vicki Randle (Jay Leno Tonight Show Band, Mavis Staples). Randle also provided background vocals with Lisa Leuschner Andersen, Charlie Owen, and the Sons of the Soul Revivers gospel group. Dog Eat Dog also features guest appearances by Rick Estrin, Alabama Mike, and Mike Zito. Estrin plays harmonica on the title track, which he wrote and recorded on one of his albums. A big fan of Alabama Mike, Price was thrilled to share the lead vocals with Mike on "Dog Eat Dog." Gulf Coast Records co-founder Mike Zito also contributed a scorching guitar solo on "All Night Long Cafe."   2016 Blues Music Awards winner Billy Price first attracted national attention during his three-year association with guitarist, Roy Buchannan. Price is the vocalist on two of Buchannan's albums, That's What I'm Here For and Live Stock. Since then, with the Keystone Rhythm Band, the Billy Price Band, and solo projects, Billy Price has recorded and released a total of seventeen albums, CDs, and DVDs. In April of 2016, Price was officially recognized and inducted as a Pittsburgh Rock 'N' Roll Legend at an awards ceremony. Price's album This Time For Real, with the late Chicago soul singer Otis Clay, received a 2016 Blues music Award in the "Best Soul Blues Album" category. Billy's last recording, Reckoning, released in June 2018, was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best Soul Blues Album of the Year.                                                         ~Billy Price/Dog Eat Dog: What The Media Is Saying~ "Billy Price made his bones with the legendary Roy Buchanan, singing lead on two albums. Since then he has released seventeen albums, either solo or with various bands, and now lands on one of the hottest new labels – Gulf Coast – with his new album. I’ve heard some really good albums this year, in many genres and forms, but this is classic soul, played with an awesome sense of the music and way out there ahead of most. Bloody wonderful." (5 stars out of 5).                                         MUSIC-NEWS.COM "There are those who have an incredible voice. There are those who have an ear for great R&B. Then there are those who have a deep soul spirit. Billy Price has all of that and more. Much more. Few can put it all together like he can."                                      BLUES HIGHWAY US 61 "We are pleased to premiere the song “Working On Your Chain Gang” by the great soul-blues singer Billy Price...a light-hearted and humorous story of love that sure caught our attention with its funky blues groove. Billy Price does it again."                                     ROCK AND BLUES MUSE "They have carved out a niche for great soulful music, sweet harmonies, and music that can make you dance or break your heart. Dog Eat Dog is a fantastic album and one that will easily be on my Best of 2019 list at the end of the year."                             PROFESSOR JOHNNY P'S JUKE JOINT      The Billy Price Charm City Rhythm Band @ The Pearl Street Warehouse 2019   Billy Price 'Dog Eat Dog' Tour 2019 - Live Shows/Special Events Itinerary Sept. 13 (Fri.)         MOONDOGS                                    Blawnox, PA Sept. 20 (Fri.)         HIGHMARK BLUES & HERITAGE FEST     Pittsburgh, PA Sept. 21 (Sat.)        AN DIE MUSIK                                  Baltimore, MD Sept. 22 (Sun.)      TRIBUTE TO ROY BUCHANAN          Alexandria, VA Sept. 28 (Sat.)        THE MAINSTAY                                Rock Hall, MD Oct. 4 (Fri.)            SELLERSVILLE THEATER                    Sellersville, PA Oct. 11 (Fri.)          NATALIE'S LIVE MUSIC                      Columbus, OH Oct. 19 (Sat.)         KNUCKLEHEAD'S SALOON                 Kansas City, MO Oct. 26 (Sat.)         THE SOUNDRY                                  Columbia, MD Nov. 2 (Sat.)           PEARL STREET WAREHOUSE              Washington, DC Nov. 9 (Sat.)           BALTIMORE BOOK & LIGHT FEST       Baltimore, MD Nov 14/17 (Thur/Sun) LUCERNE BLUES FESTIVAL                Lucerne, CH Nov. 21 (Thur.)       RHYTHMS LIVE MUSIC HALL             Chapel Hill, NC Nov. 22 (Fri.)          THE ROOSTERS WIFE                         Aberdeen, NC Nov. 26 (Tues.)       ST. GEORGES COUNTRY STORE         St. Georges, DE Dec. 21 (Sat.)         118 NORTH                                      Wayne, PA Dec. 31 (Wed.)       GENETTI HOTEL                                Williamsport, PA                                          *CD Release Party                                                                 www.billyprice.com                                                                            www.facebook.com/BillyPriceBand                                             https://twitter.com/BillyPricePgh                                   www.gulfcoastrecords.net Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Cover Story/Interview

Whiskey Bayou Records artist: J.P. Soars - Let Go Of The Reins - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let Go Of The Reins, from J.P. Soars and he takes you on a wild guitar saturated ride. Opening with Been Down So Long, a cool funky blues country "Elvin Bishop" kind of thing, Soars really sets a strong groove. Soars sets a funky rhythm guitar and vocal lead base over drums by Tab Benoit, B3 by Tillis Verdin, bass by Chris Peet. His lead guitar soloing ins smart and funky with a cool blues edge. Excellent opener. Osark Mountain Daredevils hit, If You Wanna Get To Heaven is a fairly straight forward remake of the original but with rip roaring guitar picking replacing the trademark harmonica riff. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release is funky instrumental, Crow's Nest with it's a great rhythmic beat, Soars' ultra funky guitar solos and a super B3 solo by Verdin. Nice! Lonely Fire is a radio style track with a solid melody but it's the acoustic Spanish guitar playing by Soars that really gets this track flying. Very nice. Django Reinhardt's instrumental, Minor Blues is another of my favorite tracks with a quiet, bass and drums backing and excellent, "Gypsy", guitar sound and very articulate guitar styling. Excellent! Old style country track, Old Silver Bridge, wraps the release featuring Benoit on acoustic guitar and Soars on lead vocal, acoustic guitar, dobro and Merlin Dulcimer for a quiet soothing closer.

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Terry Hanck - I Still Get Excited - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Still Get Excited, by Terry Hanck and it's jam packed with sax infused blues. Opening with a rumble, title track, I Still Get Excited has a real nice boogie feel with excellent piano work buy Jim Pugh and cool guitar work by Johnny Cat Soubrand, with backing vocals by Whitney Shea and Lisa Leuschner Andersen, bass by Kid Andersen and drums by Butch Cousins. On Smooth Tyrone, Hanck leads on vocal and soulful sax with really nicely styled guitar work by Soubrand and again really nice piano work by Pugh. On Early In The Morning I particularly like Hanck's vocals and Chris Cain adds really strong lead guitar. I like Andersen's bass attack on this track and the backing vocals by Lisa are really nice. Pugh's B3 work on this track adds that additional dimension and June Core's drumming sets up a solid opening for Hanck to solo. Very nice.  Harmonica great, Rick Estrin joins in on Come On Back playing tag with Hanck on sax. With a cool shuffle feel and a slick guitar solo by Soubrand, this is one of my favorites on the release. Slow instrumental, Rosita (No Wall Can Hold Our Love) is a really nice showcase for Hanck on his sax with warm undertones by Pugh on B3. Howlin' Wolf's Howlin' For My Darlin' maintains it's original arrangement and spunk. Soubrand's stinging guitar work are nicely highlighted on this track of course sharing the spotlight with Hanck on sax. Very cool. Tracy Nelson joins Hanck on lead vocal on Spring with Tim Wagner on bass, Butch Cousins on drums and a soulful sax solo by Hanck. Super. Wrapping the release is Feel So Bad with a lot of spring in the rhythm. A Stax feel really gets the blood flowing on sax and Hanck really knows how to play it. Soubrand plays some of his flashiest solos on this one and Hanck's vocals work really nicely with this style. Solid closer for a real cool 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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Scotty Dennis - Back To The Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Back To The Blues, by Scotty Dennis and it's a fat slice of blues, rock, pop and R&B all rolled into one. Opening with hot blues number, I'm Gone, shows solid vocal styling by Scotty Dennis with a swaggering rock beat and hot guitar riffs by Brandon Hudspeth with solid backing by Go-Go Ray on drums, Jerry Keller on bass, Willie Newell on organ and D'Angelo talent on backing vocals. Title track, Back To The Blues, is a classic R&B style ballad with a strong melody and a prominent melodic guitar solo. For Her Love shows a cool fusion between Latin and R&B with some of the best vocals by Dennis and strong lead playing by Hudspeth. Very cool. Soulful blues ballad, It's Crying Time has super call and response between Dennis on lead vocal and Hudspeth on guitar retort. A break out piano solo by Newell leading into a real nice guitar solo by Hudspeth sets this track apart nicely. Dennis' and Talbot vocal lead over the easy guitar work by Hudspeth is particularly cool and the organ work by Newell really warms the track nicely. Hudspeth pulls out the slide on shuffle track, When I First Met The Blues giving it a rowdy feel under the silky smooth vocals of Dennis. Jacque Garoutte on piano adds sparkle and Gharett Schaberg's horn work rounds it out. Wrapping the release is shuffle, Play Some Blues, with strong upfront vocals by Dennis and stinging guitar soloing by Hudspeth. 

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Blue Moon Marquee - Bare Knuckles & Brawn - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bare Knuckles & Brawn from Blue Moon Marquee and it's a mix of blues, jazz and western swing of course among many other flavors. Opening with Latin influenced Big Black Mamba and A.W. Cardinal on lead vocal  and guitar, with cool support from Jasmine Colette on bass, Darcy Phillips on piano/organ, Gerry Cook on sax and Jimmy Badger on drums. Swing number, Smoke Rings For My Rider has a great rag time feel excellent rhythm guitar and strong sax work by Cook. Hard Times Hit Parade is a sultry blues number featuring Colette on lead vocal and clean jazzy guitar work surrounded by smoky organ and echoes of trumpet work by Jack Garton. Very nice. Jazzy, The Red Devil Himself is one of my favorite tracks on the release with fluid guitar runs and some of my favorite vocals by Cardinal. Very cool. With a strong dose of New Orleans and a snappy beat by Badger on drums, 52nd Street Strut has strong horn work by Garten and Cook, and nice vocals by Colette. Another of my favorites is jazzy number, Wayward with it solid pace, Cardinals vocals and clean round bluesy guitar work. Wrapping the release is Lost & Wild, a slower ballad featuring Cardinal on lead vocal and guitar. Shimmering tones and a subdued backing by badger, Colette and Phillips makes for a solid closer. 

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Catfood Records artist: Zac Harmon - Mississippi BarBQ - New release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Mississippi BarBQ, by Zac Harmon and it's a cool contemporary blues release. Opening with Gypsy Road, a R&B style blues number with Harmon's trademark silky smooth vocals and stinging guitar work, he's got another winner. Backed by Bob Trenchard on bass, Richy Puga on drums, Johnny McGhee on guitar, Dan Ferguson on keys, Mike Middleton on trumpet, Andy Roman on sax, Nick Flood on sax and Drake Domingue on trombone, this is a solid opener. Blues rocker, Smoke and Mirrors has a cool hook, punctuated by slick guitar riffs and nice backing vocals by Janelle Thompson, Shakara Weston, SueAnn Carwell and Corey Carmichael. Crossing over to a smooth soul radio groove and title track, Mississippi BarBQ, Harmon really lays it back nice and easy. Backing vocals by Thompson, Weston, Carwell and Carmichael and a sweet melodic guitar solo by Harmon make this an ideal radio track. One of my favorite tracks on the release is up tempo shuffle, Honey Pleez with Corey Carmichael on keys, Chris Gipson on bass, Ralph Forrest on drums and Texas Slim on rhythm guitar. BB King flavored, Sunday Morning After Saturday Night has really cool guitar styling by Texas Slim in answer to Harmon's lead vocals and punchy horn accents work nicely with the organ styling of Ferguson. Another R&B style track, Since You Been gone has a great melody and cool backing instrumentation. Harmon's melodic soloing over the tight bottom of Gipson and Forrest make it another strong radio candidate. Wrapping the release is Knocking On Heaven's Door with a real soulful/gospel treatment. Harmon really digs in vocally making this my favorite track on the release. Super closer. 

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Lauren Anderson - Won't Stay Down - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Won't Stay Down, from Lauren Anderson and I like it. Opening Anderson shows her rich vocal skill immediately on pop track, Honey, Call Me Baby, a soulful track with a nice melody and Pretenders attitude. I particularly like the warm rhythm guitar tone and carefree soloing of of Jimi Greene, with Hutch on bass, William Adkins on keys and John Rodrigue on drums. Ballad, Too Little Too Late has pure radio appeal with nicely blended vocals with Meg Williams and Jenny Teator and the solid organ work of Adkins. Powerful. Title track, Won't Stay Down, is another solid track with just the right swagger and some of my favorite vocals on the release and a great bass line by Hutch. Cake has a cool Latin beat with super percussion and a really nice trumpet solo by Emmanuel Echem and Kiran Gupta. Hutch gets a quick solo that leads into a crisp solo by Greene but it's Anderson who stars in this show. Very nice. Wrapping the release is straight up rocker, Wild & Free with it's John Mellencamp form. Greene lays out a nice melodic solo followed by Adkins and Hutch and Rodrique drive the train with another solid vocal entry by Anderson. Cool closer. 

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E-M Records artist: Eliza Neals - Sweet or Mean - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sweet or Mean, from Eliza Neals and joined by guitar player/band leader Popa Chubby, it's a screamer. Opening with Pawn Shop Blues, a solid shuffle Neals picks up where she left off with her gritty vocals and Chubby with romping slide guitar, backed by Dave Keys on keys, Chris Gambari-Vega on bass, John Medeiros Jr. on drums and including Ian Hendrickson on sax and Michael Leonhart on trumpet. Rocker, Bitten By The Blues has solid radio feel with it's lightly Latin flavored rhythm and smooth melody with Chubby playing a rocking, Santana influenced guitar lead style. Livin With Yo Mama is a cool, slinky, boogie track with sassy vocals and some of my favorite guitar riffs on the release. Knock Knock Knockin is a pared down blues rocker with Chubby on acoustic guitar bringing Neals' farther forward in the mix vocally. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a slightly different mix on Pawn Shop Blues, a sweet closer for a solid blues rocker. 

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Third Man Records: Ann Arbor Blues Festival 1969 - Various Artists - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent 2 cd release, Ann Arbor Blues Festival 1969 from Third Man Records and it's terrific! Opening with Dirty Mother For You, a classic by Roosevelt Sykes, this classic track really gets the ball rolling with his suggestive language and his classic piano style. JB Hutto and his Hawk do a terrific Too Much Alcohol with Hutto's dynamic slide work. An excellent contribution by Jimmy Dawkins, I Wonder Why shows exactly why his nickname was Fast Fingers. Luther Allison and the Blue Nebulae play a super log take on Everybody Must Suffer/Stone Crazy and really gives his guitar a workout... makes you sweat just listening to it. Excellent! Another really fat guitar laden track is Otis Rush and So Many Roads. This is an excellent closer for disc one.

Disc 2 opens with Muddy Waters and Long Distance Call. Muddy's vocals are super and he has that crying slide work, backed by Paul Oscher on harp. Very nice. Charlie Musselwhite really brings the tempo up with Movin and Groovin, a super harp boogie. Of particular interest is Shirley Griffith's delta style rendition of Jelly Jelly Blues accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. Very strong. T-Bone Walker performs his classic, Stormy Monday and a nice long 10 minute plus guitar duet with Luthur Allison. Must be heard. Big Mama Thornton performs her classic, Ball and Chain, supported by T-Bone Walker. I mean, what else could you ask for...really? Sam Lay performs Key To The Highway with Luther Tucker another stellar track with excellent piano by possibly Skip Rose. When you think this is winding down you get the triple whammy. Lightnin' Hopkins on Mojo Hand with Luther Tucker, James Cotton blowing the walls down on Off The Wall with Luther Tucker and Bill Nugent on sax and Lastly... Son House... Son House...  on Death Letter Blues. I was born far too early. This concert is totally off the hook. Thankfully it is released by Third Man. 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”

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Cleopatra Records artist: Joe Louis Walker - Viva Las Vegas Live - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Viva Las Vegas Live from Joe Louis Walker and it's really great! Opening with I'm Not Messing Around, a rolling blues rocker, Walker has lead vocal and guitar with the super Bruce Bears on piano, Lenny Bradford on bass Dorian Randolph on drums. Walkers guitar riffs are scorching and crisp and Bears' piano tight and precise. Excellent opener. Into low slung shuffle, Young Girls Blues,  Walker's vocals are rich and Bears' piano work is grand. I have admired Bears' work for a long time and it's always super to hear him live where he can stretch a bit. Very nice. Ok...you want Walker. You want guitar and here it is! Sugar Mama, a slower blues number with extended guitar soloing. Walker has excellent chops and most of you already know and this track gives him the opportunity to let it all hang out... or should I say, he's more than 6 minute into the track before he starts to sing...think about that! Also showing excellent harmonica chops, and with strong piano reinforcement by Bears and the steady bottom by Bradford and Randolph, this is an absolute showstopper and it's just begun. There's a great low fret intro on Do You Love Me, a solid blues rocker with plenty of kick. Walker is showing clearly that he can do it all.  With it's New Orleans kind of funk, Soldier For Jesus has a terrific feel and Walker is nicely backed vocally by Bears, Bradford and Randolph as his slide guitar playing is fat and rich. Excellent! You Don't Love Me Girl is a cool Latin jazz infused number and Bears gets a chance to really let the organ loose. Playing nicely off of Walkers guitar lead and the strong support of Bradford and Randolph, this is a really cool track. Cool boogie track, Too Drunk To Drive Drunk is another favorite with a great driving bottom and Walker's vocals riding high. Bears and Walker both got the chance to let loose and they are on fire. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Like It This Way with it's (fast) walking bass line and flaming hot guitar lead. Bears winds it up again and then as customary with many top performers bassist Bradford gets a chance to show his stuff. His solo is melodic and leads nicely into a drum showcase for Randolph. Walker returns and takes it home with his showcase style. No one could have left here without a smile on their face. Excellent show!

BTW... this is a DVD which includes as cd. I can't wait to get home and watch this show live on the real system!

  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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Sunday Wilde & the 1 Eyed Jacks - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release from Sunday Wilde & the 1 Eyed Jacks and she hasn't missed a beat. Opening with Willie Dixon's Evil, a slinky, bluesy number with glistening guitar riffs by Ari, and Wilde's trademark vocals, the band is rolling with Wilde on piano, Arek Chamski on bass and Collin Craig on drums. Dead Man's Clothes is an interesting number with a predominant modified walking base line, percussive rim shot rhythm and cool soaring guitar riffs. Sure to be a crowd favorite, Dead Presidents is a quirky boogie and the inference that everybody loves money... yes they do. Slow blues take on London's It Hurt's Me Too, is a dynamic vocal showcase for Wilde who accompanies herself on piano with only a basic bottom and a really nice guitar solo by Ari. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Spirits up My Friend with it's somber melody and Wilde's vocals paired nicely with her stark piano accompaniment over the solitary bass line of Arek. Wrapping the release is I Guess I Didn't Hear You Right, a simple bluesy ballad with the simplest of backing and iridescent guitar work and blues riffs by Ari.

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