Bman's Blues Report

Blues powerhouses Johnny Rawls and Dave Keller just dropped their new collaborative album, Tribute to Soul, out now on Third Street Cigar Records. This 11-track project is a high-energy shoutout to the legends of the chitlin circuit, packed with huge vocal duets and blazing horns. It is a masterclass in deep soul-blues, born out of a musical brotherhood that has been cooking for over 15 years.  Johnny Rawls is a living Mississippi legend who was leading the band for soul icon O.V. Wright at just 17. He has backed giants like Joe Tex and Eddie Floyd, and he is still dominating today, recently taking home Soul Blues Album of the Year at the 2026 Blues Music Awards. Johnny brings his signature, velvety-smooth Southern vocals and decades of rhythm guitar mastery to this project. Dave Keller is a Vermont-based singer and guitarist known as one of the finest modern torchbearers of deep soul. Dave has built a fierce reputation for his wild live shows, emotional vocals, and razor-sharp gui...

Johnny Nedlee Shines Born: Tuscaloosa, Alabama April 25. 2015 - April 20, 1992 Genre Style: Delta Blues Johnny Shines Jr. was a force of nature in the blues world, single-handedly bridging raw Delta traditions with the electrified, gritty pulse of Chicago. As a young guitarist, he soaked up the mystical aura of the Delta, famously claiming that his mentor Howlin’ Wolf had "exchanged his soul with Lucifer" to unlock his musical powers. Shines later hit the road for wild, unpredictable tours across the U.S. and Canada with the legendary Robert Johnson, playing everywhere from raucous house parties to muddy levee camps. Yet, despite his explosive talent, crooked record deals and industry roadblocks eventually broke his spirit, forcing him to sell his gear and swap his guitar for construction tools. But you can’t keep a true bluesman down. In 1966, Shines staged a spectacular mid-life comeback that rocketed him onto international stages and scored him a G...

Sergio Pereira is a Rio -born guitarist and composer whose music seamlessly bridges traditional Brazilian groove with American jazz sophistication. Growing up in Rio during the vibrant 1960s and 70s, he picked up the acoustic guitar (violão) at age eight, heavily inspired by bossa nova legends like João Gilberto and Tom Jobim .  His journey took a major turn in the 1980s when he relocated to New York City to study under jazz icons like Chuck Wayne and Sal Salvador . By the 1990s, Pereira was taking his global sound on the road, performing across Europe, Africa, and beyond. That lifetime of travel and training shines through in his latest album, Colors of Time, released on May 18, 2026.  The record is a beautifully relaxed masterclass in contemporary Latin jazz , layering warm South American moods with smooth, atmospheric bossa textures. Pereira captures a rich sense of memory and quiet sophistication across the tracks, effortlessly blending his signature acoustic strings ...

 I've been watching Olli Soikkeli's work for a couple of years and his hot jazz style is mesmerizing. Born in Nurmes, Finland and based in NYC, Soikkeli was introduced to the music of great Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz, which has been his primary focus since. Olli played in jazz clubs and festivals across Finland, and toured Europe with Sinti Guitarist Paulus Schäfer . While still young, he’s already played with notable artists such as Bucky Pizzarelli , Stochelo Rosenberg , Tommy Emmanuel , Andreas Öberg , Cyrille Aimee , Antti Sarpila and Marian Petrescu . After move to New York City in 2014. Olli has played legendary venues such as Town Hall , Herbst Theatre ,   Birdland Jazz Club , Blue Note , Iridium and the Lincoln Center . Olli recorded his first album “Trois Générations” (2011) with Hot Club de Finlande and Vitali Imereli and recorded his second album “Kouvola Junction” (2012) with Paulus Schäfer and Arnoud van den Berg . Rhythm Future Quartet –  co-led ...

Timing is everything, and at 63, Trevor B. Power is exactly where he is supposed to be. With Two Crows —the band's fourth release in a remarkably short span—Power is proving that music is woven into his soul. "I wish I would have gotten started recording sooner," he laughs. "But life unfolds exactly when it’s meant to." That unfolding has led to a major creative hot streak. Hot on the heels of Are We Ever Free , Trevor immediately teamed back up with producer Dave Fields. "I told Dave, ‘Let me just keep writing and we’ll keep recording,’" Power says. "He’s phenomenal at what he does with my songs." But Two Crows was also forged in real-world heartache. The past year brought heavy losses for Power, including his older brother John and Derek and the Dominos legend Bobby Whitlock—both pivotal influences on his life. Through the grief, Power maintains a powerful perspective. Two Crows stands as a resilient, soul-stirring reflection of an artist...

With his stunning debut album Lineage , trombonist Andrew Kim honors his musical roots while firmly stepping into the spotlight. Far exceeding the scope of a standard senior capstone, this project serves as a vibrant testament to years of dedicated study under jazz titans Michael Dease and Marshall Gilkes . Kim acts as both a brilliant player and arranger, leading an all-star rhythm section and frontline featuring Sharel Cassity , Xavier Davis , Rodney Whitaker, and Ulysses Owens Jr. Mixing historic compositions from Curtis Fuller and J.J. Johnson with five compelling originals, the record crackles with an immediate, irresistible swing from start to finish. 🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM ▶ Listen to Album Samples (Click to Expand)                                                        ...