Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the debut release, Cursed , from Bad Luck Woman & Her Misfortunes . Opening with Snatch & Grab It , Raha Javanfar, lead vocalist and bassist for Toronto based swing band is kicking it. A walking bass line with Andrew Moljgum on sax, Galen Pelley on drums, Tom Moffett on trumpet and Adam Beer Colacino on guitar makes for a great opener.  With it's Latin influence, I Don't Know About You , is a super track showing Javanfar's vocals, and Tom Moffett on trumpet and Moligun on bari really set this track off. Very nice. Memphis Minnie's bluesy, Bad Luck Woman has a cool feel fired by Jay Swinnerton's piano work and stylistic guitar work by Fraser Melvin. One of my favorites is Spinach Song with it's rag feel. Javanfar's vocals are perfect and with strong bass, cool rhythm guitar and kazoo...perfect. Boogie track, Went Down , has a real nice feel with a great bass line, strong trumpet soloing by Moffett. Very cool. ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dream Train , from Alastair Greene and it's a smokin' rocker. Opening with title track, Dream Train , Greene on lead vocal and guitar, joined by Jim Rankin on bass and Austin Beede on drums really hit the road hard including fiery slide work by Greene. Big Bad Wolf is a great boogie rocker with grinding guitar rhythm and slashing solos. Excellent! Billy Gibbons penned, Nome Zayne   has a heavy bottom and cool pinched guitar harmonics. One of my favorite tracks on the release is blues ballad, Another Lie , featuring features Walter Trout on guitar and Mike Finnigan on organ and some of the best Greene guitar riffs on tape in a while. Excellent! Acoustic instrumental, Song For Rufus , shows Greene's guitar virtuosity with serious intent. An exceptional piece of recording and playing. Dare Devil is a cool 12 bar number with a nice solo from Dennis Gruenling on harp, Mike Finnigan on organ and of course Greene o...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Last Shade Of Blue Before Black , by The Original Blues Brothers Band and it's great! Opening with Jimmy Reed's Baby What You Want Me To D o, Bobby "Sweet Soul" Harden with Tommy "Pipes" McDonnell on harp and vocals and Rob "The Honeydripper" Paparozzi on harp and vocals take center stage with super harmony and John Tropea plays terrific guitar soloing backed by Tom Malone on trumpet, Baron Raymonde on alto sax, Eric "The Red" Udel on bass, Lee "Funkytime" Finkelstein on drums, Leon "The Lion" Pendarvis on organ, Rusty "Cloudmeister" Cloud on clav, Wurlitzer and piano. High stepping, Cherry Street , features McDonnell on lead vocals, Birch Johnson on trombone and Raymonde really rips on alto sax. Eddie Floyd is up on lead vocals on slinky, On Saturday A Night , and guest Tom Malone on bari sax  and with tight, warm horn backing. Harden ta...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Two , from Sunday Wilde and Reno Jack and it's colorful. Vocalist/ piano player, Sunday Wilde leads the way on opener, Howlin' Wolf's Howling For My Darling with guitars by Steve Koch and Johnny MacLeod, bass by Reno Jack and drums by Cleave Anderson. I really like Jack's interpretation on Moonlight Rising which is like a cross between Lou Reed and Roger Waters. Very cool. Shuffle track, 5-10-15 Hours has a super blues feel pairing Jack and Sunday on a cool duet. MacLeod's bass work and light brush strokes of Anderson are a nice backdrop for a cool jazzy guitar lead. Bluesy ballad, No Matter How Far features Sunday on lead vocal and piano in her best vocal track on the release. Wrapping the release is duet, L eaving On Your Mind which really sets off Jack and Sunday against Jack's bass playing. A solid closer for an interesting release.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, This Is Blues Country , from Jimmie Bratcher and it's fresh. Opening with Hank Williams' Honky Tonk Blues , Jimmie Bratcher on guitar and vocal, adds a blues spin to this country classic joined by Aaron Mayfield on keys, Terry Hancock on drums and vocals and Larry Van Loon on B3 and Wurlitzer. Jimmie Davis' You Are My Sunshine gets a snappy jazz makeover putting in mind an arrangement by Passport. With hot drum work by Hancock and flashy guitar riffs, this track takes on a whole new life. Marty Robbins' Singing The Blues has a real nice groove, with a hot electric guitar solo and slide guitar work by Sean McDonald is great for added spice. Hank Snow's I Don't Hurt Anymore has a real contemporary ballad feel and Santana like guitar clarity definitely enhances it's appeal. Very nice. Jim Reeves' Am I That Easy To Forget is slowed way down and placed into a blues frame. It really sounds ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues and Boogie, Vol. 1 , from Kim Wilson and it's a heavy dose of old style Chicago blues. Opening with harp instrumental Bonus Boogie , Wilson is hitting on all cylinders, backed by Big Jon Atkinson on guitar, Bob Welsh on guitar, Troy Sandow on bass and Malachi Johnson on drums. Excellent! Sonny Boy Williamson's, Ninety-Nine features Wilson on lead vocal and harp and it's one of my favorites on the release. Pure Chicago style and Wilson's tight harp tone is the ticket here. Big Maceo's Worried Life Blues is up next with a solid slower pace highlighted by the keen piano work of Barrellhouse Chuck. John Lee Hooker's Same Old Blues has a swinging blues feel a la BB King or T Bone Walker. Billy Flynn steps in with some choice riffs on guitar, complimented by Larry Taylor on bass, Richard Innes on drums and Jonny Viau on horns. Very nice! Magic Sam's Look Whatcha Done has a great groove wi...

I saw a great show at the Rhythm Room , the premiere blues club in Phoenix, last week and it was great. The Rhythm Room is a real Phoenix landmark that took over where the mason Jar left off. That's where I last saw Albert King. At the Rhythm Room I've seen a number of super shows and artists including Johnny Winter, Joe Bonamassa and Jimbo Mathus. I moved a while back and live outside of the city now. It makes it a lot tougher to see a mid week show, but when I heard that Rockin' Johnny was playing town, I knew I was going to be there. I've seen Johnny a number of times both on his own and with Tail Dragger.  I remember seeing him on film a number of years ago where he was playing backup player and just with a few riffs, he stood out and got my attention. Now with a number of his own excellent releases under his belt, Rockin' Johnny puts on one hell of a show! He pulls from his most recent release Neoprene Fedora  as well as a few other terrific releas...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spankin' Hank , from Paul Dougherty and it's interesting. Dougherty, born in Houston is now living in Munich and reinterpreting Hank Williams tracks opening with My Sweet Love Ain't Around . A casual swing with cool guitar riffs, a cool opener. On Move It On Over, Dougherty adds a Bo Diddley beat, organ and with his lower octave vocals, gives the track a whole new feel. Slide guitar with what sounds like Hawaiian tuning really gives it a cool vibe. Tear In My Beer has a simple country rocker beqat with snappy drums and vocal harmonies. I like it. Another track that really stands out is Low and Lonely with it's lope and again Hawaiian sounding lap guitar. Very cool. Bluesy track, Lonesome Whistle , maintains a bit of it's country flavor but with the addition of casual military style drumming and harp. With a more straight forward rock style, Rockin' Chair Money has a cool groove.  Wrapping the...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Witchy Feelin' , from Savoy Brown and it's quite good. Opening with Why Did You Hoodoo Me , Kim Simmonds is back, better than ever with Pat Desalvo on bass and Garnet Grimm on drums. With a pounding bass rhythm and some of the most scorching riffs to come off of Simmonds guitar on record in a long time, this track rocks! There's something about a Gibson humbucker and a Marshall amp that just has that tone and Simmonds has it. Title track, Witchy Feelin' , is a somber, dark blues number with light backing highlighting Simmonds vocals and exceptional soloing. Very nice. Gun Slinger kicks it into gear with modern boogie style. With a droning bass line and raw, saturated guitar tone Simmonds uses this basis to deliver one of the best rockers of modern Savoy Brown's history. Standing In A Doorway is a solid, old school blues style number with sweet slide work with tone not unlike Ron Wood on the Stones L...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, After A While , from Wee Willie Walker and The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra and it's really strong. Opening with Second Chance , a cool R&B track featuring Walker on lead vocal, backed by Anthony Paule on guitar, Paul Olguin on bass, Tony Lufrano on keys, Derrick "D'Mar" Martin on drums and vibes, Tom Poole on trumpet, Derek James on trombone, Charles McNeal on tenor sax, Johnnie Bamont on bari sax and flute, and featuring Loralee Christensen, Larry Batiste and Glenn Walters on backing vocals. Title track, After A While is a particularly soulful track and Walker really digs in vocally. Of particular note is the warmth of the horn section especially the rich tenor work of McNeal and the throaty bari work by Bamont. Slick, R&B track, I Don't Want To Take A Chance , has solid radio potential with Walkers effortless lead and nicely presented backing vocals. Thanks For The Dance has a Tex Mex fe...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Waiting For The Train , from Johnny Rawls and it's solid. Opening with pumped up R&B track, Rain Keep Falling ("Till I'm Free) with Rawls on lead vocals backed by Johnny McGhee on guitar, Bob Trenchard on bass, Richy Puga on drums, Dan Ferguson on keys, and the super horn section of Andy Roman on sax, Mike Middleton on trumpet, Nick Flood on sax and Joel Chavarria on trombone. Las Vegas has a slick groove and tight trumpet accents. Rawls vocals are pure backed by Janelle Thompson and Shakara Weston on vocals. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Bobby Womack's I'm In Love with it's warm melody, smooth guitar solo and nicely blended backing vocals. Bob Dylan's I Shall Be Released gets a fine makeover with smooth lead vocals and beautiful backing vocals over a polished and nicely orchestrated melody. Very nice. We Did It is a bright R&B track with a super feel and a feel t...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Subway Stories , by Ilana Katz Katz and it's a big slice of blues, jazz and Americana all rolled into one. Opening with Boogie track, Don't Forget , Ilana Katz Katz, vocals and fiddle, is joined by ex Canned Heat guitar player and producer, Barry Levenson, Mike Sandberg on drums and Hank Van Sickle on bass. On 12 bar blues number, Subway Blues , Sugar ray Norcia adds his special harp work to the tasty riffs of Levenson and Ilana for one of the more solid of the blues tracks on the release. Motherless Child gets a real soft handling and with it's warm guitar chords, intense blues guitar lines somber violin work and child like innocence on vocals shines as one of my favorite tracks on the release. With it's jazzy slant, Roosevelt Sykes' Ice Cream Freezer Blues features Anthony Geraci on piano and has some of the hottest guitar riffs (and bawdy lyrics) on the release. Super groove, Requiem , is a rea...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Overdrive Live! from The Blues Overdrive and it's really solid. Recorded at one of Denmark's biggest and most prestigious festivals, Smukfest, TBD opens with Death On The Highway with it's laid back JJ Cale or Eric Clapton style country blues rocker feel. Martin Olsen fronts the band on lead vocal and guitar with Brother Birck on bass, Louisian Boltner on drums and Andreas Andersen on lead guitar. On shuffle track, Three Time Lover , the band gets a cool groove going with extended soloing by Andersen. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Ball & Chain (not Big Mama's) but with a strong San Francisco sound, lush ringing chords and interesting guitar work by Andersen under Olsen's vocals. Very nice. With a touch of hill country sound and a heavy bass rhythm, Bob Dylan's High Water (For Charley Patton) is a really strong track that really draws me in. Excellent! With a straight up rhyt...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Plays The Blues , from Jimmy Carpenter , and it's cooking. Opening with Magic Sam's You Belong To Me , and it's puffing smoke like Jr Walker. Saxman/vocalist, Carpenter really steps out on this release with authentic R&B style sax with Mike Zito on guitar accented nicely by Tony Diteodoro on guitar, Matthew Johnson on drums, Bob Bridges on bass and Marc Adams on keys. Jimmy Plays The Blues is an excellent soulful blues in the style of T Bone Walker. Using Carpenter's sax as the lead instrument, wailing out the melody, this track is hot. Solid shuffle track, Blues With A Feeling features tight guitar riffs and nice piano work paving the way for singing sax solo work by Carpenter. Freddie King's Surf Monkey has that great 60's vibe with Zito playing against Carpenter on lead lines. Very cool. Otis Rush's All Your Love has great feel with nice tom tom work by Johnson and shimmery guitar w...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Eyes Of the Sun , from Otis and it's blues rock with a swift kick.  Opening with funky rocker, Change , Otis ( Andrew Gilpin on drums and vocals, Steve Jewell on guitar and vocal, John Seeley on bass and vocal and Boone Froggett on vocal and guitar) cuts a broad swath with their southern flavored sound. Always maintaining a solid bottom and well blended backing vocals, this band makes it's living on strong lead vocals, a power packed sound and cool slide. On Blind Hawg , lead vocalist Froggett kicks it up another notch with throaty vocals and full bore guitar tones, a rumbling bass line and power drums give this track it's signature and cool slide work it's signature. Cool drone note intro over rim shots gives Home a Lynyrd Skynyrd meets Van Halen feel with a definite southern rock swagger. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Shake You with stinging guitar riffs and a great rhythmic pace. Blue...

I just has the opportunity to review the most recent release,  Look At What The Blues Has Done For Me! , from Arthur Adams and it's a soul saturated 2 disc release. Opening with You Pullin' My Leg , a cool blues shuffle Adams on lead vocal and guitar, James Gadson on on drums, Hense Powell on keys and Brian Simpson on bass. With a real nice lope, No Refunds is great track with a 50's feel. Fluid guitar lead and a solid bottom makes this on of the best new tunes on the release. One of my favorites, Low Down And Dirty has a BB King feel, showing some of Adams' best vocals and tight guitar riffs with added punch on sax by Bill Bergman and Lee Thornberg on trumpet. Very nice. Deep blues flows on Leftover  From Yesterday , with soulful vocals, crisp lead guitar lines and warm blues rhythm. Nice. Closing disc one, is R&B track, Gorgeous , with it's smooth feel and solid vocals. Every disc needs to have a radio track and this is it. Disc 2 is an introduction t...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Down Hearted Blues , from Eilen Jewell and it's quite good. Opening with It's Your Voodoo Working , a classic Charles Sheffield number with a great mix of R&B and surf. Great vibrato style on guitar by Jerry Miller nicely compliments Eilen Jewell's crystal clear vocals with a super bluesy drawl over Jason Beek on drums and Shawn Supra on bass. Excellent opener! Milton Leeds' Another Night To Cry has real nice quiet and smooth warm guitar chords. With T-Bone Walker like riffs and clever lead pronounced against the distinctively upright bass, this track smells of class. Title track, Alberta Hunter's Down Hearted Blues has a great timeless feel with airy vocals in the styling of Memphis Minnie (or Maria Muldair). Miller and Jewell's acoustic guitar work, nicely complimented by Supra's bass and Beek's washboard gives it a great retro feel. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Alb...