Bman's Blues Report

ALBUM REVIEW Chris Whiteman / John Toomey Quartet - Live at Reveler Label: Self-produced Released: October 2, 2026 DR: TBD T he Chris Whiteman / John Toomey Quartet is a fantastic group of musicians co-led by jazz guitarist Chris Whiteman and veteran pianist John Toomey. Whiteman, who grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, is a seasoned performer and educator with advanced degrees from the University of Miami. He’s played legendary spots like Birdland, the Blue Note, the Monterey Jazz Festival, and the Hollywood Bowl, playing with a clean, fluid phrasing that feels like a modern nod to masters like Herb Ellis. He shares the driver's seat with John Toomey, a powerhouse behind the keys whose long jazz resume includes touring with Maynard Ferguson's historic big band.  Toomey blends beautiful, melodic ideas with a hard-swinging style that locks in perfectly with Whiteman to shape the group's signature groove. Rounding out t...

ALBUM REVIEW Technocats - Passionata: The Music of Gregg Hill Label: Cold Plunge Records Released: August 28, 2026 DR: TBD T he Technocats are a soulful, Michigan-based jazz collective built around a pretty cool mission: bringing the original music of composer Gregg Hill to life. Born out of the tight-knit scene surrounding the Michigan State University Jazz Studies program, the group is all about bridging generations, mixing seasoned jazz veterans with some of the most exciting young players on the contemporary scene. The band actually took its name from a Gregg Hill tune that captured the high-energy vibe of late-night jam sessions, and that same spontaneous, collaborative spirit drives everything they do. They lean heavily into a classic, straight-ahead jazz sound, but they keep things fresh with sharp, modern arrangements that feel like a nod to the past while pushing firmly into the future. Co-led by bass trombonist Chris ...

ALBUM REVIEW Antone's 50th presents Chicago Bound Label: Blues Till 2 Recording Company Released: August 28 , 2026 DR: TBD "A ntone’s 50th" refers to the milestone celebration of Austin’s legendary blues club, Antone's Nightclub, marking half a century as "Austin's Home of the Blues." Founded by Clifford Antone in July 1975, the venue became globally famous for nurturing blues prodigies like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmie Vaughan, while hosting icons like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and Buddy Guy.  Rather than just a calendar date, the 50th-anniversary campaign manifested as a massive multimedia project and an overarching musical collective known as the Antone’s 50th Allstars.   1. The Historical Foundation Clifford Antone started the venue with a singular ethos: “The Blues is so big that no one person could ever learn it in a lifetime.” Over its 50-year history, the club operated as a cross-gener...