Bman's Blues Report

I just received the most recent release, Can't Shake This Feeling , from Lurrie Bell and it's a big helping of Chicago blues. Opening with Blues Is Trying To Keep Up With Me , Lurrie Bell opens with a flash. Handling lead vocal and guitar, he is joined by Roosevelt Purifoy on keys, Matthew Skoller on harp, Melvin Smith on bass and Willie Hayes on drums. A cool shuffle track, Bell airs our his guitar and Purifoy dazzles as well on piano leading up to Skoller who takes it home. On upbeat, Drifting , Bell really gets a great groove going. His vocals are powerful and Purifoy's harp work is tight. Slowing it down a bit, I Get So Weary , shows Bell on some of his most expressive guitar riffs on the release. This track is smoking! On stripped down, One Eyed Woman , Bell and Skoller pretty much handle the instrumentation making it a real simple and effective track. Very nice. Excellent blues track, The Worrisome Feeling In My Heart , is propelled by really soulful vocals by Bel...

I just received the newest release (September 30, 2016), What's The Rush? , from Tracy K and it has a strong radio slant. Opening with Latin influenced, Everybody Wants , with it's cool beat, features Tracy K on harp and lead vocals, Leonard Shaw on keys and horns with exceptional rhythm by Vaughan Poyser on bass and George Demeduk on drums. Jason Nowicki really tears it up on guitar giving the track an extra zing. Nice opener. Stripped down blues track, I Got The Honey , features Jamie Steinhoff on dobro and Tracy on vocal and harp. With it's true to the form nature, it should appeal to true blues lovers for sure. What Tomorrow Brings follows the blues formula with solid chord changes but integrates country harmonies and modern blues guitar runs. Very nice. Heartstrung has thick flavor of New Orleans with Shaw providing a super piano drive and Ty Rogers on drums and Nenad Zdjelar on bass pushing the beat. Tracy tells the story vocally with clever innuendo and Terry Ben...

PEACH AND THE ALMOST BLUES BAND RELEASE NEW ALBUM "A NIGHT IN COPENHAGEN"        Peach and the Almost Blues Band announce the release of their new album "A Night In Copenhagen" (Magic Music).      During February of 2016 American blues singer and guitarist Peach Reasoner returned to Copenhagen to play with her band at her favorite club, the cozy Café Bartof. Club owners Joacim “Jokke” Friss Holm and Charlotte Bertelsen had graciously agreed that recording equipment could be brought for a live recording session.   Peach and The Almost Blues Band invited keyboard player and composer Ken Stange (Joe Cocker, Roger Miller, Jose Feliciano) to come over for the recording. Ken Stange had played with PEACH for many years in her Los Angeles band. Ken plays piano, organ and harp. The result of the live recording is called "A Night in Copenhagen". Du...

I just received the newest self titled release from Mary Jo Curry and it should have broad audience appeal. Opening with Ooooo Weeee , an easy blues number featuring Curry on lead vocal over a basic blues riff. Dick Garretson on trumpet provides key accents and Michael Rapier and James Armstrong on guitar, Darryl Wright on bass, Andrew Blaze Thomas on bass, Brett Donovan on keys, Mike Gillette on sax and Larry Niehaus on trombone. A cool walking bass line by Lawrence Baluden sets the pace for Husband #2 and Rapier and Armstrong lay out cool guitar runs under the smooth vocals of Curry. Junior Wells' Little By Little is on of my favorite tracks on the release with clear vocals and a solid blues backing and tight key work from Donovan. Slow ballad, Wrapped Around My Heart , penned by Tom Hambridge really shows Curry at her best belting out a radio oriented track. Her vocals are powerful and rich, with cool guitar lead work. Very nice. Steppin' is a cool slow boogie with re...

I just received the newest release, Enjoy It While You Can , from The McKee Brothers and I love it. Opening with One Of Us Gots Ta Go , a jazzy blues track in the style of WW Washington, this track is hot! Featuring Bob Schultz on lead vocal and Kirk Fletcher on lead guitar this track swings. Denis McKee on guitar, Bobby West on piano, Jim Alfredson on Hammond, Duncan McMilan on Wurlitzer, Ralph McKee on bass and Jerome Edmonson on drums is a solid unit but throw Lee Thornburg on trumpet, Doug Webb on sax and Sophia on backing vocal and you have pure power! Funky, Change , has a slinky feel and a cool bass line by Bobby Watson. Schultz's vocals are super and Fletcher trading off with the horn section and really nice accent vocals by Melissa McKee make this a really sweet track. A real screamer, A Little Bit Of Soul features Larry McCray on lead vocals and guitar. I really like Larry's vocals and his guitar work is crisp. The horn section is tight and a driving bass line ...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, True Believe r, from Hard Swimmin' Fish and it's really cool. Opening with title track, True Believer , Demian Lewis is on guitar creating a real dirty sound that has a great groove. A swampy bluesy track that really hits on the spot supported by Waverly Milor on vocal and harp, Jason Walker on drums, Randy Ball on bass and John Sharrer on organ. On funky, Five Years Hard Labor , HSF produces a raw sound with a lot of grit . A rocky kind of sound...I really like it! No Shortage Of The Blues is a nice blues rocker with an almost Steppenwolf swagger and caressed by harp. Lewis plays flashy but unassuming solos and Ball's bass work it tight. Howlin' Wolf's Howlin' For My Darlin' has just a touch more rock than the Wolf version, complimented by a rock beat by Walker and guitar riffs by Lewis. Cool! Ooh, That Was Close has a rockabilly jazz feel with fluid but dirty guitar riffs. On Love Me Or You Do...

I just had the opportunity to review the a really nice instructional book from Hal Leonard Corporation , Play Like Freddie King, The Ultimate Guitar Lesson. Dave Rubin has really done it this time with a super book demonstrating the style of Freddie King. The book takes five basic King tunes, Going Down , I'm Tore Down , Remington Ride , San Jose and The Stumble and explains in great detail how to capture the spirit and articulation of King. On each of these tracks, Rubins explains the basis for the track, Kings approach and style, and then explains specifically how to articulate the ideas with detailed fingering techniques to achieve the sound. A complete tab of the track showing vocal line, guitar line as written and tab. Breaking each track down into sections makes it easy to understand and replicate. Building on this basis, the book in conjunction with the digital tracks, then shows how to build on these basics with essential King riffs, and even Signature riffs for Hideawa...

I just received the newest release, Blues Full Circle , from Duke Robillard and it's styling. Opening with Lay a Little Lovin' On Me , Robillard has lead vocals and the band is sets up a creep. Bruce Bears lays the ground work on piano, backed by Brad Hallen on bass and Mark Teixeira on drums. Robillard ealks in with a really nice fat guitar scream giving the track real attitude. Nice opener. On easy shuffle, Rain Keeps Falling , Bears and Robillard swap lead work under the vocal keeping it tight. Mourning Dove slows it down a bit and Duke plays some of his most expressive riffs of the release. Ouch! Back up to tempo, No More Tears , has a nice groove and Robillard steps out in style backed by Bear's organ work. Very nice. Jimmy Lewis' Last Night features Sugar Ray Norcia and his vocals are rich. Robillard's guitar work is clean and tight and Saw Gordon Beadle lays in some real nice sax work. On New Orleans saturated, A Fool About My Money Bears and Teixeira ...

I just received the newest release, A Force of Nature , from Sari Schorr and it's interesting. Opening with Ain't Got No Money , a slinky rocker, Schorr has the lead on vocal and is nicely backed by Innes Sibun and Quique Bonal on guitar, Julian Maeso on keyboards, Nani Conde on bass, Jose Mena on drums and Mike Vernon on percussion. Bouncy rocker, Aunt Hazel has a light country flair. Schorr's vocals are powerful and interesting guitar blending gives the track nice texture. Ballad, Damn The Reason , is nicely supported by Maeso's organ work and Oli Brown steps up with lightning flash guitar riffs. Sassy, Cat and Mouse , shows a different dimension in Schorr's vocals, with a cool funk beat under the track and slick guitar riffs over the top. Ledbelly's Black Betty gets a real nice remake hugging tight to early blues roots but kicking it in a whole new heavy rock style. Very nice! Walter Trout's Work No More features Walter Trout's soaring guitar ri...

The Fab Faux come return to THE BEACON in New York for an 11/12 concert - 'The ANGEL in the DETAILS - A Concert for SIR GEORGE MARTIN -- Arranger, Producer & 5th Beatle ~ Including Abbey Road in its Entirety ~ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016 - 8 p.m. NEW YORK, NY - THE BEACON THEATRE The Angel In The Details A Concert for Sir George Martin Arranger, Producer & 5th Beatle ~ Including Abbey Road in its Entirety ~ With The Hogshead Horn s & The Crème Tangerine String s. Three ways to get tickets: http://www.bowerypresents.com/event/1178345-fab-faux-hogshead-horns-new-york http://www.ticketmaster.com/the-fab-faux-feat-the-hogshead-new-york-new-york-11-12-2016/event/3B00509DCF88579E?artistid=1044510&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=52 http://www.beacontheatre.com/events/2016/november/the-fab-faux.html The Wall Street Journal articulated what sets The Fab Faux apart: “The Fab Faux…are not interested in nostalgia – they are a musical ensemble, an...

Hometown Favorite? Longtime Ventura-based musician Darrin Yarbrough and the Shure Thing Band bring their feel-good Countrified-Blues to the Road to Memphis Band Challenge, presented by the Ventura County Blues Society, on Saturday, October 1 at Studio Channel Islands in Camarillo. More at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/shure-thing-band-brandor-both-darrin-yarbrough .    (Camarillo, CA) - Longtime Ventura-based musician Darrin Yarbroug h and the Shure Thing Band bring their feel-good Countrified-Blues to the Road to Memphis Band Challenge, presented by the Ventura County Blues Society, on Saturday, October 1 at Studio Channel Islands, 2222 Ventura Blvd. in Camarillo. More at https://...

I just received the newest release, Champagne Velvet , from Jason Elmore & Voodoo Witch and it's outstanding! Opening with fast paced, House Rockin' Boogie #7 and it's a rip snorting rocker featuring Jason Elmore leading the way on guitar and vocal. Joined by Mike Talbot on drums and Brandon Katona on bass this track is smoking! Cool shuffle track, Double My Money , is up next and it's got a great feel. Elmore slings out nicely on guitar with tasty Texas style guitar riffs. Very nice. R&B style Midnight In Memphis has a Rolling Stones (Beast of Burden) feel and should do nicely on radio. Slashing back to the front is Maybe , with it's heavy bottom and scorching guitar riffs. This guy really has a nose for hot riffs and knows how to push it. Excellent! Shine Your Light has an easy sway and a country rock feel. Nice and easy, another track that could easily become a top track. Another jump track, Cross-eyed Woman , has a great bass line by Katona. With n...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fresh Air , from Johnny Nicholas and it's got breadth. Opening with Moonlight Train , Nicholas keeps it light with his own vocal and harmonica backed by Scrappy Jud Newcomb on guitar and John Chipman on drums. An early blues sound drives this track with purity. Sleepy John Estes' Kid Man Blues is up next with a cool bop. Cindy Cashdollar makes an appearance with some cool slide and Newcomb adds in nice mandolin giving this track a whole new feel. With a Little Feat kind of funk, Blues Time , has a real nice groove. Backaing himself on guitar with Cashdollar on slide and super percussion and drums by John Chipman and Bruce Hughes this track has a real nice feel. Country flavored, Red Light , gets a real nice lap flavor from Cashdollar and with slick piano work, Steve Riley on button accordion and Newcomb's guitar, Nicholas' vocals are perfect. Sweet Katrina has a smoky Latin feel emphasized by precise pi...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Three Miles From Avalon by Davy Knowles and it's quite good. I first heard Knowles on television with Back Door Slam and I was impressed. Glad to see his work surfacing again. His new release opens with Ain't Much Of Nothin' , a driving blues rocker, Davy Knowles on vocal and guitar sets the stage with solid guitar guitar riffs and backed by Bryan Doherty on bass, Andrew Toombs on Hammond and Michael Caskey on drums. What You're Made Of is a solid rocker with sailing guitar riffs and nicely blended backing vocals by Caskey and Doherty. On blues ballad, Falling Apart , Knowles does it Gary Moore style with soulful vocals, backed by warm Hammond tones. His guitar riffs are clear and flow like hot mercury over nicely composed minor vamp. Very nice! High stepper, Never Gonna Be The Same , has a real percussive feel with hot slide work from Knowles. His vocals are nicely highlighted by Toombs' organ work and ...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Take Me High , from Laurence Jones and it's really hot! Opening with funky rocker, Got No Place To Go , Laurence Jones handles lead vocal and guitar nicely. With fluid guitar riffs and a super bass line by Roger Inniss this track really moves. Bob Fridzema plays a pretty handy keyboard and Phil Wilson's drum riffs are tight and demanding. Excellent! On Something's Changed , Jones blends a funky beat with a Reggae line coming up with a really terrific rocker. His guitar riffs are melodic and really nicely phrased. This is some hot shit! With a big bat swinging like a pendulum, Jones and Wilson set a basic pattern with really hot bass lines under the top by Inniss. With radio styling, this track has it's share of blues fueled guitar soloing but with modern, rock styling and snappy drum riffs. Over a basic Hendrix (All Along The Watchtower) theme, I Will is s solid ballad punched up by the Hammond work of Frid...

I just received the newest release, Shine On , from Matthew Curry and it's really solid. I reviewed Curry's first release, If I Don't Got You back in 2011 and this is a more polished followup showing a lot of growth as an artist. Opening with Blink Of An Eye , Curry is back with a strong ballad and his soulful vocals. His expressive guitar riffs are more mature and his backing band is new. Matthew plays guitar and handles lead vocals with Tim Brickner on bass, Mark Masefield on keys, Francis Valentino on drums. A super radio melody and Matthew's vocal work, backed by Valentino and Alexis Saski on vocals, this track is square on. Very nice opener. With it's funky back beat, Caroline , catches you right at the get go. Brickner, Masefield and Valentino set a great stage for Curry's vocal lead and his stinging guitar riffs have great bite. Excellent! Title track, Shine On , is another radio track with huge commercial potential. I can't say enough about ...

I just received the newest release (September 16, 2016), The Long Journey Home , from Vaneese Thomas and it's soul is dripping. Opening with Sweet Talk Me , a soulful pop track, Vaneese Thomas plants her feet and delivers. With solid radio melody, tight guitar riffs by Al Orlo, Paul Mariconda on piano, Paul Adamy on bass and Joe Bonadio on drums and ultra rich back vocals by Lisa Fisher, Erin Pellnat and Sergio Cocchi I like this opener. Another favorite on the release is the R&B track, Mystified . Adamy sets up a nice bass line and Thomas' vocals are gripping. Bryan Davis on trumpet, and Ed Palermo on sax give the track a rich warmness and Orlo and Wayne Warnecke lay down some tasty guitar riffs. On The More Things Change , Adamy uses a single bass line to control the track, changing up for a nice vocal opening and Thomas' strong vocals saturate the track with stinging guitar riffs by Orlo. Prince of Fools has a really nice groove with tight vocals and a real swee...