Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release from Cleopatra Records, A Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival . Opening is a rousing Fortunate Son with Mike Zito and Sonny Landreth on slide guitar. These guys tear it up...nuf said! The Mynabirds are up next with Bad Moon Rising , a female interpretation of the track sounding like a blend of U2 and Crissy Hines with a Bo Diddley rhythm. Proud Mary is covered by Blitzen Trapper . An easy rocker with light drums, vocals, a few tidy guitar riffs and keys. Down On The Corner is covered by Spirit Family Reunion with a solid Cajun flavor. A raspy but solid lead vocalist, nicely blended backing vocals and accordion cover most of the melody with addition of banjo and harmonica as well as assorted percussion instruments. Have You Seen The Rain is covered by Dead Man Winter . This is a simple vocal track with minimal instrumentation (tambourine and acoustic guitar) and I think that it's one of the purest tracks on the release. Looking Out My...

I just received the most recent release, Synergy , from Ulrich Ellison and the band has picked up where they left off. Opening with My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You , a blend of rock, funk and jazz, is a super intro for Ellison to highlight his well crafted vocal, guitar, keyboard blend complimented by Sabine Ellison on bass and backing vocals and Winton Reynolds on keys. My Maryann is a melodic ballad with warm vocals and singing guitar lead over nicely blended vocals. On Morganfield classic Rollin' and Tumblin ', Ellison uses a Jeff Beck arrangement with his own twist. A nice arrangement to showcase his guitar skills with strong drum work from Avila. Sleepless has a stronghold on progressive rock and a nice melodic hook. Crisp guitar riffs from Ellison and cool violin work from Michelle Alany carry this track. On Around The Moon , a soft rock ballad, airy guitar effects, nicely blended keys and vocals make this a cross airplay track. Machete has a little taste of the f...

I just received the newest release by Johnny I. All Star Blues Revival . This release is star packed featuring the works of Jaimoe , Billy Cox , Bruce Katz and Reese Wynans . Opening with Life Is Better , a funky groove and Billy Cox on bass, Ingrassia leads the way on vocals. Wynans carries a lot of the load on B3 and Layton cements the bottom on drums. After a nice B3 solo from Wynans, Johnny I. steps up with a fat, high gain guitar solo making for a cool jam. Late Night has more of a jazzy ballad featuring Jaimoe on drums and Katz on B3. Katz steps up on this track and plays a mean solo opening the door for Johnny I. to step up again with a burst of fat guitar riff. An easy going track reminding me quite a bit of an early Isley Brothers track. Interesting listing and a decent start to a concept 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 just received the newest release, Lonesome Ghosts , from Blue Moon Marquee , and it has a certain sense of honesty and sincerity. Opening with What I Wouldn't Do , a simple rag style tune featuring A.W. Cardinal on vocal and guitar, Mal Temple on drums and featuring Jasmine Colette on bass and Simon Kendall on piano. Pipeliner Blues is a cool Hot Club style track featuring Cardinal on lead vocal and guitar and nice fiddle work from Cameron Wilson. On Trouble's Callin' , Nathan Shubert on piano and Cardinal on vocal and guitar do a jazzy version of delta blues. Nice touch. Scotch Whiskey is another blues track with a light airy touch. Cardinal leading the way on voice breaks with a nice guitar solo on this track and Temple keeps the drums light with brushes. Kendell adds nice key work behind the track and Colette drives the train on bass. Bishop Street, possibly my favorite track on the release has a real simple ballad style and nice vocal duet between Cardinal and Co...

Dickey Betts - guitar, dobro, vocals Jeff Hanna - guitar Spooner Oldham - organ Vassar Clements - violin John Hughey - pedal steel guitar Oscar Underwood Adams - mandolin Stray Straton - bass, vocals Bonnie Bramlett - vocals, percussion Jerry Jumonville - alto sax David Walshaw - drums, percussion Jerry Thompson - drums Leon Poindexter - acoustic guitar Walter Poindexter - banjo Frank Poindexter - dobro   By 1974, in large part due to Dickey Betts , Capricorn Records and the Allman Brothers Band were experiencing a success more lucrative than anyone could have dreamed. Betts, as a result, found himself free to pursue almost anything he desired musically, without having to worry about finances in the least. The situation allowed him to record his first solo album, Highway Call, and to perform with countless great musicians for the pure joy of playing, without any expectations of making money in the process. Over the course of the previous year...

I just received the newest release, Restless Mind , from Murali Coryell (yes, it's Larry's son)but not at all following in dad's footprints. Opening with country rock styled Waiting and Wasting Away , Coryell is out there on lead vocal and guitar sounding more like Glenn Frey than Larry Coryell. Joined by Ernie Durawa on drums and Chris Alcaraz on bass this group is tight. Kiss Me First has a bit of R&B but with a bit more tasty guitar indulgence. Again, not the chorded jazz infused playing but more wide open SRV style wailing. On title track, Restless Mind , Coryell has more of an introspective take, with a quiet approach to this strong ballad. Cleanly articulated guitar solos over Lating percussion make this track tick. I'm So Happy returns to the country rock style and really reminds me quite a bit of Steve Miller with it's rockin sound and vocal blending. No slouch on guitar Coryell lays out a few nice guitar riffs to spice the track up. Sex Maniac is a ...

I just received the newest release, Bluez Of My Soul , from Dexter Allen and it's hot! Opening with southern country blues funky track, Coming From Mississippi , Allen has you squirming in your seat leading the way with his own solid vocals and joined by Bobby Rush on harp. Joey Robinson lays down a snappy drum rhythm and Allen compliments himself nicely on lead guitar. Ride This Train , pushed along by Rush on harp, has a spiritual feel... you can almost feel the tent rising with excitement. Allen breaks loose with a few tight guitar riffs but this track is all about lifting the spirit with music. Still Called The Bluez has a real nice slow blues slide to it. A R&B style track with beautiful vocal work and hot guitar chaser makes this definitely one of the best tracks on the release. With the feel of BB King and the funky chop style of WWW this track is way cool. Monk Donky has a fast funk sound not unlike Robert Parker. letting the guitar out for a walk on this track, Al...

Award-winning Australian-based blues bassist-vocalist Anni Piper makes her triumphant return with a two-month Canadian/U.S. Summer Tour, kicking off July 28 with a one-week residency at Blues On Whyte in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Info: www.annipiper.com . ANNI PIPER, AUSTRALIA'S AWARD-WINNING FIRST LADY OF BLUES  MAKES TRIUMPHANT RETURN WITH 2-MONTH CANADIAN/U.S. TOUR Performs Locally: BLUES ON WHYTE in Edmonton - July 28 thru Aug. 3   (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) - Anni Piper , Australia's award-winning "First Lady of Blues," makes her triumphant return with a two-month Canadian/U.S. Summer Tour kicking off Monday, July 28, with a one-week residency of shows at Blues On Whyte , 10329 82nd Ave. July 28-29-30, 9 p.m., free; July 31, 10 p.m., free; August 1-2, 10 p.m., $4.; August 3, 9 p.m., free. Info: (780) 439-3981 or http://www.bluesonwhyte.ca/ ...