Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release, Place Your Bets , from Sterling Koch and it's more purely pop blues than previous releases. Opening with SRV's House Is Rockin' , Koch is joined by Jack Kulp on harp and backing vocals. On Hound Dog Taylor's It's Alright , Koch again keeps the bottom easy but hits the slide nicely as well as complimenting with a sweet articulated guitar solo. Kulp again does a nice job on harp. Jimmy Reed's Dizzy doesn't vary much from Reed's original but with an easier approach. Again backing vocals from Kulp add to the breadth of the vocals and Koch's slide playing is top notch. ZZ Top's Tubesnake Boogie sees the addition of backing vocals from Jennifer Dierwechter. Again keeping it to a simple acoustic style, this track has a totally different feel from the heavy romper that Gibbons throws down. On Albert King's, Don't Bother Me , Kulp opens the track on harp and some of the most slicing slide work on the release...

I just received the newest release of artist Sean Costello 's work, In The Magic Shop and it is spectacular! This release was recorded at the Magic Shop studio in 2005 but never released. The spontaneity is remarkable. Opening with BB King's It's My Own Faul t, Costello digs in on his guitar and plays some of the most lush guitar riffs that I have heard this year. This thing is off the hook! Primarily but not exclusively an instrumental, even Costello's vocals are spot on. Brilliant! Next up is Can't Let Go , a catchy R&B track joined by Paul Linden on B3, Melvin Zachery on bass, Brian Jackson on Wurlitzer, Liz Tormezand Brianne Winter on backing vocals and Ray Hangen on drums. On Hard Luck Woman , a bouncy blues track it's hard not to get infected. With Linden adding in some harp work, this is a tight track and on that on melody and rhythm alone should hit the airwaves. Really nice! Ned Wever's beautiful ballad, Trust in Me , is up next and Costello s...

I just received the newest release (October 28, 2014), Head For The Hills , from Markus James and it's alive! Opening with Just Say Yes , a stripped down driver with straightforward drumming and rhythm guitar. James vocals, presented like through a distorted mic is nicely complimented by whirling slide guitar work. Very cool! RL Burnside's Going Down South really has the feel of today's modern blues as delivered by the Keys for example but with heartier slide and also featuring Kenney Kimbrough on drums. I like this track for isn't simplicity juxtaposed against it's modern slide techniques. Head For The Hills has a lot of the roots of Mali without losing it's North American sound (or vice versa). Shake is a real shak shaker with Calvin Jackson on drums. James does a real nice job on vocal and guitar on this track plus adding a cool harp part as well. This track is certain to appeal to contemporary audiences. Suit Of Golden Clothes is one of my favorites f...

I just received the newest release, Rosa's Lounge , from Howard and the White Boys and it's quite good. Opening with Heat Seeking Missile , a cool R&B style blues, Howard (bass and vocals) and the boys, Rocco Calipari (guitar), Pete Galanis (guitar) and Jim "Bucka" Christopolous launch off into a great track. Nice lead guitar work and great vocals highlight the track. Strung Out On The Blues is up next and it rips! A down and dirty track really showcases Howard's vocals and especially tasty guitar riffs throughout. This is my favorite track on the release and shows how strong Howard and gang can be live! Trouble Follows You is a cool Billy Boy Arnold or Bo Diddley influenced track with a great rhythm and strong drum beat by Christopulos. Cool slide work on this track over the guitar rhythm nicely emphasizes the contrast. Judge has a bit of funk and slick guitar rhythms. Freewheeling guitar work pushed along by Christopulos and McCullum makes this track si...

Jack Bruce, the bassist for legendary rock supergroup Cream, has died. He was 71. Bruce's family announced his death via Facebook and the musician's official website . "It is with great sadness that we, Jack's family, announce the passing of our beloved Jack: husband, father, granddad and all-round legend," the statement said. "The world of music will be a poorer place without him, but he lives on in his music and forever in our hearts." See also: 45 Essential Classic Rock Anthems Post by Jack Bruce . The Scottish-born singer died Saturday "at his home in Suffolk surrounded by his family," publicist Claire Singers confirmed. No further details were provided, but the Press Association reported that Bruce died of liver disease. Bruce is best known as a member of the 1960s British band, Cream, performing alongside members Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker . Formed in 1966, Cream went on to sell 35 million albums in just two years, ...

                                                                                     HOORAY FOR HORNBUCKLE:   "VIRTUE & VICE" WINS 'BEST SELF-PRODUCED CD' AS VOTED BY DENVER'S MILE HIGH BLUES SOCIETY   (DENVER, CO) - "Virtue & Vice," the critically-acclaimed album by Denver-based group Hornbuckle , has won "Best Self-Produced CD" as voted on by the Mile High Blues Society in Denver, CO. "Virtue & Vice" will now qualify for the International competition judged by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN. The winner will be announced...

I just received the newest release, Extra Jimmies , from Jimmy Thackery and it great! Made up of tracks from previous releases, Empty Arms Motel, Wild Night Out! and Switching Gears, this release is super. Opening with Write If You Find Love , a bluesy rock number, Thackery leads on vocal and guitar joined by Michael Patrick on bass and Al Gamble on B3. BB King's cool shuffle track, You Upset Me Baby , is up next and Thackery is immediately in the groove. Drummer Mark Stutso takes the lead on vocal and Thackery gives this track a good spanking on guitar and Wayne Burdette joins on bass. Recorded live, a whole different dynamic occurs with a bit more time to jam. Very cool! Fast instrumental shuffle, Rude Mood is a terrific opportunity for Thackery to spread his wings and smoke show what he's got and he's not holding back. Excellent! On New Orleans influenced, I Got To Be Strong , Patrick, Gamble and Stutso carry the rhythm and Thackery spices it up with red hot riffs. I...

I just received the newest release, Belmont Boulevard , from JW-Jones and I think it's his best yet. Opening with Love Ten Times, a contemporary blues/rock number with a pinch of country, Jones and drummer Tom Hambridge handle the vocal part. On Bobby Parker number, Watch Your Step , Jones throws a bit of sixties rhythm to a classic R&B track with hot guitar riffs. Very Nice! Blue Jean Jacket has a fresh, southern blues rock feel with Reese Wynans on keys and Jones rips hot riffs on guitar. On Coming After Me the band lays down a really nice slinky groove with a strong bass line from Dave Roe and some of the best vocals on this release from Jones. Particularly nice guitar work by Jones on this track makes it one of my release favorites. Don't Be Ashamed has a bit of a British blues feel with Laura Greenberg on drums and Jamie Holmes on drums. Thank You has a pop rock feel with a R&B basis. Flaming guitar riffs highlight this track with it's driving beat. Reall...

I just received the newest release, You Can't Keep A Good Woman Down , from Low Society and it has edge. Opening with Blues Rocker Crammed & Jammed , vocalist Mandy Lemons is riding high on the slide work of Sturgis Nikides, supported by Mike Munn on drums and Nick Dodson on bass. Voodoo Woman again features the master slide work of Nikides with a style not a lot dissimilar to Rod Price. Lemons has the ferociousness of Pearl but her own style. Rick Steff adds a cool organ line and Dr. Herman Green some cool sax. Need Yer Love has an unusual euro sounding construction making it really stand out. With it's calliope feel and Nikides on slide, Lemons lays down some of her bluesiest vocals. Son House Says has a smooth jazzy feel but almost like a twist on "Sumertime". Keywork from Steff helps the shape the track but this is really all about Lemons. A funky twist midway led by Dodson and Muss adds texture and Nikides slides in with a cool solo as well. Title track...

Mike Zito and The Wheel Makes An Illegal Turn In The Right Direction Live CD/DVD Songs From The Road Out November 11 th Atlanta, GA – Ruf Records artist, Mike Zito is set to release his Songs From The Road Live CD/DVD on November 11 th .  Zito, an award winning artist and producer, wows the Texas home crowd with his blues boogie-woogie one winter night in January 2014, at Houston’s Dosey Doe only a few miles away from where he lives in Beaumont. Straight from the start, Mike takes command of the stage with songs from his vast catalog over the years, with songs like Greyhound, “ Gone To Texas” and “ Pearl River” , co-written by the great Cyril Neville, won a Blues Music Award in 2011. Even a clever cover of the Prince classic ” Little Red Corvette” , would impress the Purple Rain man himself. Mike’s guitar work soars, sings and cheers against his velvet voice perhaps only after years of perfecting the two. Mike has cultivated this sound, one t...

Award-Winning Roots Music Artist Eric Bibb Sings About Blues People on New Stony Plain Records CD, Coming November 4 Special Guests Include Taj Mahal, Guy Davis, The Blind Boys of Alabama & Ruthie Foster EDMONTON, AB – Stony Plain Records, one of the world’s foremost roots music labels, announces a November 4 release date for Blues People , the new CD from award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Eric Bibb. Produced by Glen Scott, who also plays several instruments throughout, Blues People includes special guest performances by Taj Mahal, Guy Davis, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Ruthie Foster (who Eric has been touring with), Popa Chubby and a number of other musicians from around the world. The 15 tracks on Blues People include a number of Eric Bibb originals, as well as collaborations with other songwriters, plus songs written by Guy Davis (“Chocolate Man”), Rev. Gary Davis (“I Heard the Angels Singin’”) and the traditional, “Needed Time,” a...

I just received the newest release, Fatter Than Ever , from Fathead and it is a full spectrum of blues influenced tracks. Opening with I Don't Want To Leave The Party , a rolling boogie, featuring John Mays on lead vocal and Al Lerman on harp. Johnny Says has a rootsy '50's kind of sound with Bucky Berger pushing things along on drums and cool guitar from Papa John King and Lerman on harp. Take A Little Time For Yourself has a little twist of country swing with a cool resonator solo from Lerman. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Evil Eye has a jagged rhythm pattern accentuated by Berger. With laid back vocals and harp and guitar adornment, I just like this track. Twenty Second Chances has a R&B ballad feel with some of the best vocals on the release. Lerman adds a warm to the track with some smooth sax work. When Did You Ever has a country two step feel. Vocal harmonizing between May and the band gives this track a feel of it's own. Lerman plays a coo...

I just received the newest release (October 21, 2014), Hard Luck Child , from Rory Block and I think that it's the best yet of her "Mentor Series" releases. This album, a tribute to the incredible Skip James, opens with the only original Block track, Nehemiah James , which is a interpretive story of James life with slick slide work. Special Rider Blues is up next and Block not only shows her mastery of side, but also hits the vocals quite nicely. Cypress Grove Blues is so much James at his best, Block translates it nicely and her finger picking and slide work is fine. If You Haven't Had Any Hay, Get On Down The Road is a country blues style track with Block giving it a bit of a contemporary feel vocally over traditional picking styling. Little Cow and Calf Is Gonna Die Blues is another song in a somewhat Piedmont style but with a more contemporary feel. Block overdubbing herself with picking and slide in quite nice. My absolute favorite track on the release, an...

Sabrina Weeks & Swing Cat Bounce Release 'Live' Available October 14th, 2014 on iTunes, CD Baby, and Amazon              The third release from Sabrina Weeks & Swing Cat Bounce, aptly titled Live, was recorded at a sold out performance at The Blackwell Hall in Kamloops, B.C. on October 11th, 2013. The recording highlights the powerful dynamics between bandleader Sabrina Weeks and her partner in life and music, guitarist Mike Hilliard. The core band consists of Bill White on rhythm guitar, Terry Strudwick on bass and Ed Hilliard on drums. The result is an astonishing capture of a memorable evening of music. Singing with enormous passion and expression, Weeks is sultry, smart and her humour is perfectly timed with the double-entendre one would expect in this set list of seven obscure and classic blues songs and five modern originals. “We decided to record a live album because we wanted to capture...

Legendary Roots Singer Maria Muldaur on the Road with her New “Way Past Midnight” National Tour Multi-Grammy nominee and Stony Plain Records artist Maria Muldaur is touring North America with her “Bluesiana Band,” performing a very special tribute to her 50-year career as a recording artist, dubbed the “Way Past Midnight Tour.” And Maria, herself, is bringing a special message to her fans. “Greetings from the road!,” says Maria. “We've just finished the second week of our Way Past Midnight Tour. We're happy to report that every single gig has been sold out, and we've received a very positive response to this new show that way exceeded our expectations. People are just loving it, and telling us how special they think it is. We're really enjoying revisiting these old song gems; folks are telling us that hearing their old favorites brings back many happy memories and that they are really enjoying the multimedia aspect of the show as well! We wan...