Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release, Bonafide from Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps and it's a rocking blast! Opening with R&B track, I Like It Like That , James leads the way on vocal and over the top piano with super bass work by Terry Wilson, Guitar by Billy Watts and drums by Tony Braunagel. Excellent opener. On Spit It Out , James really hits her stride with Al Green like pace. This track really makes you want to dance with hot vocals and nice horn work by Darnell Leonard and with Mike Finnigan's excellent B3 additions. Funky, Hollywood Way has a super groove with Wilson crafting a nice bass line and real nice slide work by Billy Watts. Backing vocals by Wilson and Watts really add to the richness of this track and James' phrasing is tight! A cool soul track, You Always Pick Me Up , is right down the slot with warm vocals and all of the poise of the queen of soul herself. With a spiritual warmth and the addition of trumpet by Lee Thornburg and sax by Ron...

Cream to reissue deluxe edition of debut album 'Fresh Cream' Due out 27th January 2017   Pack shot here Late January 2017 sees the deluxe edition release of Fresh Cream , the debut album by British, blues boom, power trio, Cream . The 3-CD + 1 Blu-Ray Audio disc come housed in a gatefold sleeve within a rigid slipcase and includes a 64-page hardback book, featuring new sleeve notes by respected Rolling Stone writer, David Fricke . The set comprises various alternate and new stereo mixes plus several, previously unreleased BBC sessions. A special 6LP 180g Vinyl edition of Fresh Cream will also be released in April 2017. Originally released in 1966, at the height of the UK blues bloom, Fresh Cream showcased the not inconsiderable talents of three of the then music scene’s brightest lights: Eric Clapton fresh from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers; drummer, Ginger Baker straight from the Graham Bond Organisat...

Guitar Legend & Johnny Winter Protege Paul Nelson Releases New Album “Badass Generation” Los Angeles – Much to the excitement of guitarists worldwide, guitar legend Paul Nelson has released his new album “Badass Generation” to critical acclaim! Grammy winning guitarist Paul Nelson was Johnny Winter's protege guitarist in the Johnny Winter Band. Paul has toured with countless worldwide touring artists and performed live and or on recordings along side major artists such as Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Ben Harper, Leslie West, Robben Ford, Joe Perry, Mark Knofler, Brian Setzer, Dr. John, Slash, Vince Gill, Warren Haynes, Sonny Landreth, Los Lobos, Kim Wilson, Elvin Bishop, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Reb Beach, Steve Morse, John Popper, Debbie Davies, Los Lobos, Quin Sullivan, Tinsley Ellis, Lucky Peterson, Joe Louis Walker, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, John Medeski, Joe Walsh, Larry Carlton, Steve Vai, Earl Slick, Hubert Sumlin, Pete Rivera, Rick Derr...

TWO-TIME GRAMMY WINNER, BLUES HALL OF FAMER & AMERICANA MUSIC LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER TAJ MAHAL’S STRIPPED DOWN ALBUM ‘LABOR OF LOVE’ OUT DECEMBER 16 ON ACOUSTIC SOUNDS FIRST RELEASE  IN FOUR YEARS  SET FOR LP, FEATURES SOLO FAVORITES FROM 1998 PLUS COLLABORATIONS WITH MUSIC MAKER RELIEF FOUNDATION ARTISTS Two-time GRAMMY Award winner, Blues Hall of Famer, and Americana Music Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Taj Mahal’s 47th album ‘Labor of Love’ will come out  December 16 on Acoustic Sounds. ‘Labor of Love’ features some of his most beloved materials such as the murder ballad “Stack-O-Lee,” Mississippi John Hurt’s “My Creole Belle,” the Delta standard “Walking Blues,” and the longtime live favorite “Fishing Blues.” Taj also collaborates with one armed harmonica player Neal Pattman, blind singer Cootie Stark, guitar master Cool John Ferguson (profiled in a recent issue of Premier Guitar), and Piedmont blueswoman Algia Mae Hinton. Pattman, ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Long Black Train , from Ray Fuller and the Bluesrockers and it's a solid blues infused rockin romp. Opening with boogie, Burn Me Up , Ray Fuller on vocal and guitar leads the way with Myke Rock on bass, Darrell Jumper on drums, and Doc Malone on harp. This is an excellent opener with a lot of drive. Voodoo Mama is a modern day rocker with deep roots and contemporary links to CCR and ZZ Top. On hot rockin, Hip Shakin' Mama , Fuller kicks it up a few notches and with his slide blazing, has the essence of Hound Dog Taylor going. Very cool! Title track, Long Black Train , has a hard driving Chuck Berry flair and Fuller kicks it nice. Something' Shakin' is a solid 12 bar number with cool harp work by Malone. Fuller steps up big on this one with hot slide work in the flavor of Elmore James or Billy Gibbons. Very nice. Whiskey Drinkin' Woman has the strong foundation of Muddy and with it's Chicago se...

Hailing from Seattle, this 8-piece powerhouse of a band are putting the fire back into country music, forcing you to re-evaluate what you already know about the genre. Recorded in Seattle and produced by Randall Dunn (Master Musicians Of Bukkake, Sunn O))), Cave Singers) the new album ‘Til The Daylight Comes’ (out January 6th) is pretty much an ode to all things alcohol, small-town romance and kicked-over bar stalls making for a pretty interesting listen!   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’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”  For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"    “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Better The Devil You Know , from Big Dave McLean and it's quite good! Opening with Life On The Road , Big Dave McLean has a casual, JJ Cale meets "Little Feat" easy blues feel joined by Steve Dawson on lead guitar, Gary Craig on drums, Jon Dymond on bass, and Kevin McKendree with cleverly stylistic piano. On Muddy Waters' You Can't Lose What You Never Had , McLean opens with fiery slide riffs and his vocals are raw. McKendree's piano really gives the track a Chicago sound with his piano work and acoustic guitar work by McLean and Dawson's eccentric slide work carries the track nicely. The traditional, You'll Need Somebody On Your Bond , gets a country two step remake with a warm intro by Ann and Regina McCrary. Dawson's dobro work and Fats Kaplin on fiddle add even further to the country / bluegrass edge. Uptempo, I Need You , is a cool country blues number and McClean pulls out the ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Loved, Blessed & Blues from Lady "A" and it's quite good! Opening with the title track, Loved, Blessed & Blues Lady "A" (Anita White) is joined by Dexter Allen on guitar, bass and piano and Joey Robinson on keys and drums for a cool bluesy swing with nice harmonies. With a bit of James Brown push on guitar, Honey Hush (A Tribute to Elnora) has a real nice groove with a strong bass line. On blues ballad, Don't Let Your Blues Become A Crime , Lady "A" really steps up with a lot of tension. Warm organ work really coaxes Lady "A" out and her lead vocals paired with Allen's vocals are super. Excellent! Another of my favorite tracks on the release is Love Calling with a strong radio hook. It's lyrics are clever and it's melody and harmonies are smooth. Allen's guitar work is clean and inciting. Getting down in the Texas style blues, Happy, is a cool t...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Don't Be Afraid , from Tami Neilson and it's got bite. Opening with Don't Be Afraid , the last song written by her father, Ron Neilson, this album is off on a great foot. A powerful, gospel blues style number, shows the absolute power of Tami Neilson's vocals accompanied by the wildly cool guitar work of Dave Khan and Delaney Davidson, bass by Ben Woolley and drums of Joe McCallum. WOW! With a blend of punk, pop, gospel and country, Holy Moses is a mover. Lonely is a solid country pop track in the vein of Patsy Cline. No questions that Neilson has the pipes to pull it off. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Bury My Body , has a dark, southern gospel blues feel. With only basic instrumentation of drum and rim shot, slide guitar and vocals, this track is hot! Latin influenced, Loco Mama really shows the flexibility of the band with it's Rhumba beat, flashy guitar and sassy vocal style of Neil...

Sharon Jones, the soul and funk singer in Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, has died after long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 60. Her representative Judy Miller Silverman says she died Friday at a Cooperstown hospital surrounded by her band, the Dap-Kings. Silverman says in a statement, “Thank you for your prayers and thoughts during this difficult time.” Jones was diagnosed with Stage 2 pancreatic cancer in 2013. Her story was told this year in a Barbara Kopple documentary called “Miss Sharon Jones!” The film documents her transformation into cancer patient and back into a full-throated force.  Jones started her career in the 1970s as a soul singer, but she spent decades in obscurity before her debut album, Dap Dippin’ with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, came out in 2002. In 2014, Jones was nominated for her first Grammy, for the album Give the People What They Want. 

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Seeing Is Believing , from Sugar Ray & The Bluetones and I love it! Opening with Sweet Baby , Sugar Ray Norcia are dynamic and his harp playing fat. Anthony Geraci's piano work is tight and Monster Mike Welch sets a great groove, backed by Michael Mudcat Ward on bass and Neil Gouvin on drums. Great opener. Title track, Seeing Is Believing brings down the pace a bit and Monster Mike's guitar work is outrageously rich. Norcia's vocals are smooth as silk and the band is super. Absolutely excellent! With a cool lope, Noontime Bell strolls along giving Norcia the opportunity to set the bar on harp. Geraci's piano work is always solid and this track plays right into his hands with Welch laying back and watching...very nice. Keep On Sailing is another terrific track with a Muddy Waters feel. Norcia's vocals are super and his harp work solid. Geraci really digs in on this one and Monster Mike a giant. Exce...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Night In Copenhagen , by Peach and the Almost Blues Band and it's cool. Opening with a great Bob Dylan track, Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You , the band uses an arrangement very similar to Jeff Becks arrangement which I like quite well. Opening with a warm harp intro by Ken Strange, Peach on vocal and guitar is joined by Michael Engman Ronnow on guitar, Helge Solberg on bass, Niclas Campagnol on drums and Strange on keys. Country rocker, Never Make Your Move Too Soon , has the strut of Bob Seeger with Campagnol and Strange setting the pace. Shuffle track, Little By Little , has a cool roll. Peaches' vocals are spot on and Ronnow's guitar sowk sets the track off nicely. Rocker, Love-itis , has a super beat and tight rhythm. Come Up And See My Sometime has a cool rockin' sound that I associate with J Geils. Peach's vocal phrasing is super and Strange and Peach meld nicely on the solos. Pau...

QUINN SULLIVAN CRUISES ‘MIDNIGHT HIGHWAY’ IN THE STUDIO AND ON THE ROAD Provogue / Mascot Label Group Debut Hits Retail January 27, 2017 EPK:   https://youtu.be/08ujABkiLOA Provogue / Mascot Label Group has announced the release of Quinn Sullivan’s Midnight Highway on January 27, 2017.  Sullivan has been a music professional for more than 75 percent of his life. He’s shared the stage with Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Los Lobos, The Roots, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi and Joe Bonamassa, and he opened for B.B. King, who later invited him to play his treasured “Lucille” guitar. He has performed on concert and festival dates throughout the United States – including at storied venues like Hollywood Bowl, RFK Stadium and Madison Square Garden – traveled overseas – performing at both the Montreux Jazz Festival and India’s Mahindra Blues Festival – and played several editions of the Experience Hendrix Tour, backed by Jimi’s original bassist Billy Cox.  H...

RISING BLUES STARS BATTLE IT OUT IN MEMPHIS THIS FEBRUARY AT THE  BLUES FOUNDATION’S 33rd ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE   The Blues Foundation will also bestow 16 individuals and organizations with its prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive Awards MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis’ claim as the “Home of the Blues” will be indisputably evident the first week of February when The Blues Foundation hosts its 33rd Annual International Blues Challenge . Musicians from around the globe will convene in Memphis to compete for cash, prizes, and bookings as they are judged the best in IBC categories, among them Band, Solo/Duo, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica Player, and Self-Produced CD. The Challenge’s alumni include such acclaimed musicians as Susan Tedeschi, Tommy Castro, De...