Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Roll The Dice , by Hector Anchondo Band and it's quite good. Opening with Dig You Baby , a cool boogie, Hector Anchondo on guitar and lead vocal leads this cool band. Featuring Amanda Fish and joined by Justin Shexlton on harp, Khayman Winfield on drums, Josh Lund on bass and Matt Russo on percussion this band is cooking. On title track,   Roll The Dice , the band has a cool light funky jazz feel with nicely blended vocals and a Shexlton gets the harp going pretty good leading to a explosive guitar solo by Anchondo. These guys know how to lay down a pretty nice boogie woogie with a super bass line by Lund. Hector's vocals on this  Face It Down  really remind me quite a bit of Steve Miller so I think that it shows real radio potential and his guitar work is fresh and loose. Very cool. Sometimes Being Alone Feels Right is a cool, bluesy, ballad with smooth vocals and super round guitar tones. Very...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis , from Jim Gustin & Truth Jones and it's got texture. Opening with Half Past Ten , a cool, low slung blues rocker, Gustin has lead on vocals and guitar with clean backing vocals from partner, Truth Jones and Teresa James. Steve Alterman on piano lays out a nice solo backed by Terry Wilson on bass and Herman Matthews on drums. With a bit of New Orleans style funk, Live With Yourself , Jones has the lead on vocal and Gustin's slide work is warm and fat. Title track, Memphis , is a radio style track with a catchy melody and solid vocals by Gustin. A cool piano and organ interludes leads the way to a nicely styled guitar solo by Gustin. On You Know Me Too Well , another radio track, Jones delivers on vocals over a super solid bass line and rock solid drum. With a funky soul that made the Staples who they are, Gustin leads I Love What I Got , one of my favorite tracks on the release. A cool blend of vocal...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kingdom of Swing , by Adrianna Marie and her roomful of all-stars , and it's tasty. Opening with Kingdom of Swing you are transported to the 40's with a great bottom by Kedar Roy on bass and Brian Fahey. The ROOM is FULL with the Roomful Horns and a terrific trumpet solo by Doug Woolverton and excellent solo by Carl Querfurth and of course super sax work by Doug James, Rich Lataille and Mark Earley. Wow! Marie belts away on Better Beware and the warmth of James, Lataille and Earley is super. With super sax solos on this one and the cool piano work of Al Copley and a really nicely styled guitar solo by Jones, this is another winner. Catch the ripping sax solo by James on Sidecar Mama teamed with Earley and Lataille and raw guitar work of Jones for a grand slam. Jones plays some particularly warm solo lead on Duke Ellington's Mood Indigo teamed with some of Marie's best vocals on the release making...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Migration Blues , from Eric Bibb and it's a nice package. Opening with Refugee Moan , a modern acoustic blues, Bibb on vocal and guitar is joined by Michael Jerome Browne on guitar and violin, JJ Milteau on harp. With a really solid delta blues framework, Bibb masterfully crafts a beautiful recreation of original delta style blues with vocals smooth as silk. Prayin' For Shore is a really supple ballad with nicely appointed guitar accompaniment to Bibbs vocals and Milteau's harp work. Very nice. Title track, Migration Blues , is a articulate blues instrumental with nice finger and slide guitar work, complimented nicely by Milteau's harp. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Brotherly Love , has really strong soul lines. Bibb's vocals really lends itself to this style and his guitar work blended with that of Browne's is terrific. Nothing could be more appropriate to today's climate than W...

Blues Rock Release Scores Three Finalist Nods At Annual Music Awards Event Winners to be announced May 21st Ruidoso NM (April 24th) - The New Mexico Music Awards recently announced that the 2016 fall release by Montrose Records "DOS" featuring Richard Cagle and the Voodoo Cho...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Monarch, from Chris Antonik and it's really good. Opening with I'd Burn It All Down For You , Antonik is joined by Chuck Keeping with a great drum riff reinforced by Guenther Kapelle on bass and Jesse O'Brien on keys. Antonik's vocals are solid and his guitar playing inspired. This lightly funky track is a great opener. On Mike Bloomfield's You're Killing My Love , again a touch of funk and super posturing this track moves. Antonik has great attack and the backing of Richard Underhill on sax, William Sperandel on trumpet and William Carn separates this track from the pack. Slow Moving Train has more of a rock edge, again giving Antonik breathing rook to lay down some real nice guitar riffs. With a rumbling bottom, Gold Star , follows in the Dickey Betts "Southbound" format with it's lightly funky country jam. Antonik peppers the track with hot riffs and his vocals are tops. The Mo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Alive and Strange , from Billy Price and it's quite entertaining. I was first introduced to Price as the lead vocalist in the Roy Buchanan band and it's good to see Price still out there mixing it up. Opening with R&B track, It's Ain't A Juke Joint Without The Blues , Price takes command on lead vocals backed by Steve Delach on guitar, David Ray Dodd on drums Tom Valentine on bass and Jim Britton on keys. Delach lays down some really hot riffs and the horns of Eric DeFade (tenor sax), Joe Herndon (trumpet) and Matt Ferrero (sax) really liven up the party. Steeling down with radio track, Lifestyles of the Poor and Unknown , Price hits a smooth groove with warm backing vocals by David Avery, DeWayne Chandler, Valentine and Britton.  Really nice soul track, This Time I'm Gone For Good really gives Price a chance to show just how much soul he's got and he's got it good. With a super s...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Atlantic Detour , from Revelator Hill and it's a solid dose of rock! Opening with Bad Luck Goodbye, Bobby Thompson has the lead on vocal and guitar, backed by Seth Morrissey on bass, Wes Lanich on keys, Gary Crockett on drums and Jeff Mills on percussion. Classic styling, clever time changes and a solid beat make this a great opener. With a drone note on guitar, Gets Me Over has a dirty blues sound, overdriven amps, heavy tom tom and cool vocal blending. Look At You Now is a straight forward rocker with a driving beat and riding slide guitar. With a rock hard bass line and snappy drums, this track is rolling. Thompson's lead vocals on Let It Roll are particularly. With super percussion and full organ work, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Classic rock lines propel Lay It On Me , with a great bass line and some of Thompson's best vocals on the release. Reinforcing the strength of the trac...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It's Time , from Steve Kozak Band , and it's quite good. Opening with shuffle track, Cane Sugar Sweet , Kozak on lead guitar and vocal is backed by Dave Webb on keys, Roger Brant on bass and Chris Nordquist on drums. On Jody Williams track, You May , Kozak brings the tempo down to a cool swing and lays down incredibly fine guitar riffs. On Magic Sam's, Every Day and Every Night , Shawn Hall joins on harp pushing Kozak to dig in with smoking blues guitar riffs. If you haven't heard this guy... you're missing the boat. R&B with a twist on That's Cool With Me , features warm sax work and clean jazz guitar runs. One of my favorites on the release, Stranger In My Hometown , has warm Hammond tones and solid vocals by Kozak topped off with crisp piano and guitar solos. One of the coolest tracks on the release is Love, Life and Money with just the right pace, soulful guitar solo and bright, expressiv...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memories , from The Cell and it covers a lot of ground. Opening with Still In Love With Her , a solid rocker, The Cell exhibits strong roots with a great bass line, tight drums, snorting guitar riffs, cool piano and horns. Blues Communion stirs a taste of metal into the rock flavored blues. Deep male vocals and female backing blends nicely with slide guitar and an ominous bass line and harp. Very cool. With a definite country flavor, Rusty Girl features female lead vocals and nicely blended horn and slide work. A definite radio track. Moody Blue has a nice, bluesy, ZZ Top kind of feel. A cool key interlude and hot blues guitar riffs make this one of my favorites on the release. With a bit of honky tonk, Rollin Man has a cool feel and solid piano work. A nice walking bass line and well placed vocals give this track real meat. Leslie West's The Cell , stays tight to the original, a heavy rocker.  Wrapping the rel...

Stony Plain Records and Duke Robillard Remember Jay Geils Late Guitarist Recorded Several Albums of Jazz and Swing Music EDMONTON, AB – When guitarist Jay Geils passed away last week at age 71, he left behind a legacy of wonderful music, not only for the blues-rock sounds he created within his namesake J. Geils Band, but also on several albums he recorded for Stony Plain Records that explored the music of his formative years – jazz and swing – instilled in him by his father.   “Stony Plain was honored to release several swing jazz recordings by Jay Geils including two projects by New Guitar Summit (Jay Geils, Duke Robillard and Gerry Beaudoin),” said Stony Plain Records founder Holger Petersen. “It was a joy to be in the studio with them and to witness Jay's ability to arrange big band songs for three great swing guitar players. Jazz and blues were his first love and he had a deep understanding of their roots....

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, No Time Like Now , by Steve Strongman and he shows a lot of contemporary approaches. Opening with title track, No Time Like Now , Strongman, joined by Rob Szabo on bass and Adam Warner on drums presents a happy, dance style track with heavy tom tom work and a bubbly vocal line. Bring The Hammer Down has a solid lumbering feel with a solid blues format and traces of Billy Gibbons. I particularly like Strongman's  guitar work on this track accented by Szabo on keys.  Very cool. Another high energy, Money In The Bank , features Dave King on drums with a snappy feel and full vocal backing leading to a tight guitar solo. On BTO's You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet , Strongman changes things up a bit with a less driven cover and featuring Randy Bachman on guitar. Gospel inspired, Love, Love, Love has a great guitar riff, solid lead vocals and nice backing vocals with Alec Fraser on bass, Jesse O'Brien o...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ain't Ready For The Grave , from Hurricane Ruth , and it's powerful. Opening with Barrelhouse Joe's , a solid boogie, Hurricane Ruth on lead vocal is joined by Reese Wynans on piano, Tom Hambridge on drums, Michael Rhodes on bass, Pat Buchanan and Rob Mc Nelley or guitars. Taking it down, Far From The Cradle , has great blues bones with expressive vocals, excellent piano work by Wynans and super guitar work under the lead. Southern style blues rocker, Estilene , has a great beat and smoking guitar riffs.  A really hot drum riff by Hambridge and Rhodes bass lines really set the pace on Beekeeper . It's cool rhythmic flow makes this one of my favorites on the release. A funky bass/drum line set a super beat for Cheating Blues , a cool track with expressive vocal phrasing and a real nice guitar solo. Very cool. Shuffle track, Let Me Be The One has a cool pace, cool vocals and flashy guitar riffs giving it ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Trouble & Whiskey , by Sean Chambers and it's a real rocker. Opening with foot stomper, I Need Your Lovin' , blends the drive of Robert Johnson's Crossroads with the swagger of ZZ Top. Joined by Kris Schnebelen on drums, Todd Cook on bass and Michael Hensley on Hammond B3 and piano, this band is tight. On Bottle Keeps Staring at Me , Chambers vocals are bold and his slide guitar work fiery. On title track, Trouble & Whiskey , Chambers slows things down demonstrating just how soulful his playing can be. With excellent phrasing and hot technique, this track is smoking! With a nod to Joe Walsh, Travelin' North has a cool rock flare and contemporary blues guitar riffs. Hensley really lays into the B3 on this one giving the track even more girth and carrying the track forward to Chambers final hot riff. Very nice! Sweeter Than A Honey Bee has a cool country rock 2 step feel. Think Call Me the Breeze...

The Bender is Sept 7.8.9.10, 2017 Big Blues Bender Announces Fabulous Lineup for Sept! LAS VEGAS, NV. – The Big Blues Bender, one of the most talked about Blues events in the country, has announced an impressive 2017 lineup. The Big Blues Bender offers what could be their best artist lineup to date, offering a wide variety of first-class music and entertainment including, Mavis Staples, Dr. John, Tab Benoit, Walter Trout, and many more. This four-night all-inclusive music experience delivers eighteen hours of live music, daily, on three indoor stages and a fabulous pool stage all under one roof, featuring the most talented and sought after Blues artists to...