Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release, The Best of the Stony Plain Years by Joe Louis Walker and it's killer. Opening with Eyes Like A Cat , a romping jump track, Walker shows why he is in such demand on guitar. A strong R&B style voice, Walker is joined by Bruce Katz on piano, Jesse Williams on bass, Mark Teixeira on drums, Doug James on sax and Carl Queforth on trombone. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Highview written by Duke Robillard, is a deep down boogie track with unearthly, hair raising guitar tones and a trace of the likes of Ghost Riders. Robillard also throws his hat in with some striking guitar riffs complimented by Joe Ross on bass, and Scott Aruda on trumpet. Excellent track! Shuffle track Hustlin' with a nod to Don Nix has a real nice lope. Again excellent guitar riffs sit you back in your seat with your head bopping and your foot stompin! Katz lays down some really nice piano work on this track as well. Great! Black Widow Spider has a R&...

Home          Store          Contact 2014 Blues Blast Music - Nominations The 2014 Blues Blast Music awards are coming up and some of our very own Delta Groove artists have been nominated. We would love for those who support the label to take a brief look at the nominees and cast your vote! John Primer & Bob Corritore John Primer & Bob Corritore's album "Knockin' Around These Blues" has been nominated for "Traditional Blues Album" of the year. This is a great accomplishment and they deserve the support from fans and followers of Delta Groove Music during this voting period. Vote Now Terry Hanck Terry Hanck's album "Gotta Bring It On Home T...

  SELWYN BIRCHWOOD'S DON'T CALL NO AMBULANCE RECEIVES RAVE ROLLING STONE REVIEW! Don't Call No Ambulance , the Alligator Records debut from young guitarist/vocalist Selwyn Birchwood , received a rave review from writer Dave DiMartino at RollingStone.com : Selwyn Birchwood : Don’t Call No Ambulance (Alligator)   "Recently issued by the distinguished blues label Alligator and garnering repeated plays in this household is the remarkable debut album by young guitarist/singer Birchwood--a powerhouse player and emotive performer whose work respects blues tradition but could not be more contemporary. From Orlando, Florida, Birchwood made an early ally of Texas bluesman Sonny Rhodes and at 29 has already made his name onstage opening for artists like Buddy Guy and Robert Cray. His band, his material, and both his skilled guitaring and soulful vocals are the essence of fully-formed; Birchwood is a major player, the sort of artist that assures hi...

I just received the newest release, Message in Blue , from Dave Specter and it's hot! Opening with instrumental, New West Side Stroll , Specter comes out with the strings blazing. A cooking jazz influenced swing blues also featuring Brother John Kattke on organ and backed by Harlan Terson on bass and Marty Binder on drums this is smoking! On R&B track, Got To Find A Way , Otis Clay takes the center spot light backed by Theresa Davis and Diane Madison on vocal and Kenny Anderson (trumpet), Bill McFarlland (trombone), Hank Ford (tenor sax)and Willie Henderson (bari sax). This Time I'm Gone For Good has a nice slow tempo and a great lead bass line. Clay again takes the mic but this time with a deeper bluesy approach. Specter lays out some really tasty riffs on this track making it one of the best on the release. Title track, Message In Blue , is a nice blend of blues and soul. Specter maintains the spotlight with clean melodic guitar solos. Very nice! On swinging Chicago S...

July 8, 2014 Watch video for "Up! Up! Up!"  here       Mixing equal parts soul, blues, and talent, with a dash of retro style, Ontario’s The MacKenzie Blues Band has quickly proven to be a force to be reckoned with on festival stages, clubs and bar rooms. Their debut CD release, Back Road Revelation , garnered considerable airplay and positive reviews across Canada, USA and Europe. The MacKenzie Blues Band has twice made the semi-final rounds at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN and in early 2014 they won the Maple Blues Award for New Artist of the Year. The MacKenzie Blues Band has gained the attention of blues music professionals, critics and fans alike, and the release of their new CD Slam! Bam! will continue to elevate their profile as one of the new bands on the international blues scene. The MacKenzie Blues Band’s sophomore release Slam! Bam! features straight up rockers such as “Burned When Y...

I just received the newest release, Lovestruck Blues , from Jill Newman . Opening with Too Hard To Handle , Newman shows notable guitar skills and a friendly voice. Backed by Clinton "Seattle Slim" Nonemaker on rhythm guitar, Polly O'Keary on bass and Tommy Cook Jr. on drums. never over the top guitar work and pleasant vocal harmonies with Cecile Larochelle sets the general tone of the release. Everything I Need takes a more aggressive approach with a little twist of jazz. Title track Lovestruck Blues welcomes Scott Smith on rhythm guitar and adds Keith Bennett on harp. An easy going track, this is blues you can play when company is over. On ballad, Everything Will Change , the general tone has a tip of country featuring Smith on lead guitar and adding Marc L'Esperance on acoustic guitar, drums and percussion. Michelle Baynton and Larochelle add nice backing to what is mostly a vocal, radio ready track featuring Newman on vocal. Way With Words steps up the countr...

MISSISSIPPI-BRED SINGER PAUL THORN CRAFTS AN ORIGINAL SET OF ROCK ANTHEMS FOR HIS NEW ALBUM, TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED , OUT AUGUST 19 ON PERPETUAL OBSCURITY/THIRTY TIGERS Heralded songwriter follows up his most successful release to date — plus his AAA radio airplay-winning contribution to the Jackson Browne tribute disc — with 10 feel-good numbers that already have audiences singing along MONROE COUNTY, Miss. — Paul Thorn ’s new album  Too Blessed To Be Stressed  stakes out new territory for the popular roots-rock songwriter and performer. “In the past, I’ve told stories that were mostly inspired by my own life,” the former prizefighter and literal son of a preacher man offers. “This time, I’ve written 10 songs that express more universal truths, and I’ve done it with a purpose: to make people feel good.” Which explains numbers like the acoustic-electric charmer “Rob You of Your Joy,” where...

ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAMER, AND SIX-TIME GRAMMY WINNER, DR JOHN GOES BACK TO THE SOURCE WITH SKE-DAT-DE-DAT...SPIRIT OF SATCH New Orleans musical giant pays tribute to fellow Crescent City legend Louis Armstrong with star-studded, divinely-inspired new tribute disc Proper Records / September 1st  Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and six-time GRAMMY®-winner Dr. John is New Orleans' most prominent living musical icon. The embodiment of his hometown's freewheeling creative spirit and multiple musical traditions, he's built a visionary, idiosyncratic body of work that's deeply rooted in the Crescent City's myriad blues, R&B, jazz and rock 'n' roll traditions. So it's fitting that Dr. John's new album on Proper Records, Ske-Dat-De-Dat...Spirit of Satch, pays heartfelt tribute to another larger-than-life New Orleans legend: the seminal trumpeter and vocalist Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, whose musical innovations created the ...

Here's the latest VizzTone news blast.  There's been a lot happening, so it's a long one!  To make it easier to navigate, here's a little Table of Contents. Read on for: BLUES MUSIC AWARDS BLUES PARTY ON BEALE AWARD SEASON AGAIN!    COMING SOON SNEAK PEEK - NEW VIZZTONE ARTISTS! ARTIST NOTES VIZZABLE MUSIC WELCOME TO THE VIZZTONE ROOM   BLUES MUSIC AWARDS     We had a natural ball in Memphis last month, as expected.  We were proud to root for all our nominees at the Blues Music Awards, and thrilled to see Diunna Greenleaf accept the Koko Taylor Award , Traditional Blues Female Artist .  We watched great performances by Little G Weevil , Gracie Curran , and Bob Margolin (performing on the eve of his birthday with Ronnie Earl.) Here are a few pics. Diunna Greenleaf accepting her long-overdue Koko Taylor Award!  (photo by Louis Blackwell) Bob Margol...