Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release, Stormy Water , from Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin and it's a great stripped down blues rocker. Opening with Dance Pretty Mama , Kinsley on lead guitar and vocal, joined by Rod Williams on harp gets this train rockin. Leigh-Anne Stanton on bass and vocals and Liam Melville on drums and vocals show that this band knows how to boogie. Kinsley rips loose with a raw guitar solo capping a super opener. By My Side is another solid rocker with a new wave touch but never falling far from it's blues roots with blues based guitar riffs, blues harp and a blues bottom. Shine opens with a cool tom tom rhythm and almost John Doe like vocals. Kinsley definitely experiments with his guitar and Williams as well on harp with Melville nailing them to the ground solid. Very cool! Sleepy John Estes', Everybody Oughta Make A Change gets a great rock beat with a taste of surf and a taste of the Eagles of Death Metal. I really like this track. Excellent...

Canadian blues artist Jordan Patterson releases first single from The Back On Track Recording Project   "She's Cool" is available on Radio Submit , Radiodirectx, DMDS and iTunes   Full album set for release on February 12, 2016       “Blessed with a voice that many performers would die for, Patterson has the wit and personality that guarantee him success. This man is a class performer and a major star in the making.” - Blueprint Magazine   After spending nearly the last decade and a half forging a highly successful career in artist tour management and concert & event promotion, popular Canadian blues vocalist/harp player  Jordan Patterson  has returned to his first love and passion; playing and singing the blues. The success of Patterson’s 2014 four song EP release  The Back On Track Recording Project  has thrust this contemporary blues artist back in the spotlight, reigniting a ...

I just received the newest release, Blues In Good Hands , by Mighty Mike Schermer and I really like it! Opening with R&B track, Baby Don't Stop featuring Mighty Mike on lead vocal and guitar, Paul Revelli on drums, Steve Ehrmann on bass, Tony Stead or organ, Austin Delone on piano, Terry Hanck on sax, and backing vocals by Shelley King and Carolyn Wonderland. Hanck steps up with a clean solo and Mighty Mike throws down a nice riff or so himself but I gotta mention that I really like Delone's piano work on this track. Great radio track with a cool melody and a good hook. With a funky beat, Heaven's On The Other Side struts in and Ehrmann's bass really sets the pace. Mike rips really tasty blues guitar lines over a warm organ line by Stead. With a laid back Philly kind of sound, It's A Pleasure , really hits a solid. It's catchy melody, even pace and warm overall feel, with Delone on electric piano and nice jazz style guitar work from Schermer makes this...

I just received the newest release, Go Back Home To The Blues , from The Knickerbocker All-Stars and it swings! After reviewing thier previous release, Open Mic At The Nick I was excited to hear this new release and I'm not disappointed. Opening with with the ear catching, 36-22-36 , Sugar Ray Norcia leads the way on vocals with really nice piano accompaniment by Al Copley. Powerful horn work from Doug James (sax), Sax Gordon Beadle (sax), Rich Lataille (sax), Doc Chanonhouse (trumpet) and Carl Querfurth (trombone) and Brad Hallen on bass and Mark Teixeira on drums this band is loaded! Willie J Laws takes the mic on You Know That You Love Me and Monster Mike Welch is super laying down terrific blues riff. Excellent! Brian Templeton takes the mic on Cadillac Baby for a real swinger. James plays a really sweet sax solo on this one and the horn section hold up the back. Very cool. Sugar Ray is back on lead vocal on Brand New Fool , with full strut. Copley's piano rhythm a...

I just received the newest release, The Next Place I Leave , from Chris Yakopcic and it's quite refreshing. Opening with title track, The Next Place I Leave , singer, songwriter and guitarist Chris Yakopcic; joined by Brian Hoeflich on drums and Leo Smith on bass set out on a cool acoustic journey with traces of Johnny Cash and David Bromberg. With fluid finger work and solid foot pedal this is a cool opener. Robert Johnson's Preachin' Blues is a modern uptempo remake with solid blues roots and resonator slide work. Sweet Time Blues has a great laid back Piedmont style with Yakopcic milking tone from his guitar. I really like Yakopcic's vocals on this track with just a bit of bite. Smallman Street blends resonator work with electric and a more rock feel. With a vocal style more like Arlo or Dylan, this is a real nice acoustic blues rocker. Robert Johnson's Phonograph Blues again gets a more modern cover but staying tight in the blues genre. With it's ligh...

I just received the newest release, Blue Skies , from Jordan Officer and it's actually quite amazing. I recall being quite taken by Officer's earlier release, I'm Free and this album, totally different, shows what a complete artist Officer is. Opening with the title track, Blue Skies , penned by Tom Waits, Officer slips right into a gypsy jazz mode blowing out absolutely incredibly beautiful riffs on his guitar in a very subdued studio like setting, backed by Alain Berge' on drums and Sage Reynolds on bass. Big Three Trio's Got You On My Mind has an easy blues feel. Officers guitar riffs are tight and spectacular. Fats Domino's It's You Love has trace New Orleans rhythms but subdued with light vocals over sparkling guitar riffs. Arthur Alexander's Shot Of Rhythm and Blues has a pure 60's beat feel and Officer really revs up the playful nature of the rhythm. Clever double stops, vocal harmonies and slick runs give this track a unique feel....

Shuggie Otis Releases New 7" Single, Announces First Leg Of 2016 European Tour! Los Angeles, CA - R&B guitar legend Shuggie Otis is preparing a massive comeback that is sure to make the music world sit up and listen. 2016 will see the release of a brand new solo album from this much revered singer-songwriter-guitarist, his first since the 1974 all-time classic Inspiration/Information . That’s right, fans have waited more than 40 years for a new Shuggie album, and this month they can get a taste of what awaits them by picking up the Ice Cream Party 7”, which will be released on November 27 as part of the Black Friday Record Store Day promotion. This spectacular new jam finds Shuggie exploring his psychedelic side while turning in an explosive, guitar-heavy performance. The 7” will be available in a limited edition gold vinyl pressing. Shuggie is also pleased to announce the first leg of his European tour, which will kick off in Paris on February 17. Nobo...

 The Pines meld soundscapes with landscapes on "Above the Prairie"  Listen to the first single, "Aerial Ocean" at The Current Headlining tour kicks of January 29 (Release date February 5, 2016; Red House Records) On their forthcoming album, Above the Prairie  (Feb 5, Red House Records), The Pines sound like an Eno of the Great Plains.  Exploring the vast expanses around and above them, they find beauty in isolated towns and farms that dot the landscape, and the array of stars that dot the night sky. Rolling Stone ’s David Fricke has called The Pines “quietly gripping” and though most of the ten new, original songs on Above the Prairie  were captured in just a couple takes, the album represents the band’s most ambitious work to date. Songwr...

Legendary Guitarist Jimmie Vaughan Set to Perform with University of Texas 385-Piece Longhorn Band on Thanksgiving Day Halftime Festivities Unprecedented Appearance Wraps Up a Top-Shelf Year for Grammy-Winning Austin Bluesman Austin TX – The University of Texas at Austin Longhorn Band Director, Scott Hanna, announced today that Grammy-winning blues guitarist Jimmie Vaughan will perform with the Longhorn Band during halftime at the Texas vs. Texas Tech football game at Darrell K Royal  - Texas Memorial Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. “We are excited beyond words about this opportunity to perform with Jimmie Vaughan and to show that Austin is the ‘Live Music Capital of the World.’  For our students, this is an incredible opportunity to connect with their Texas musical heritage through a living legend,” exclaimed Hanna. The performance marks the first time a popular musician has played with the band during a halftime performance. The Longhorn...