Bman's Blues Report

JP SOARS' "SOUTHBOUND I-95 TOUR" HEADS NORTH  Performs Locally:  BLUE 5 in Roanoke - Friday, August 10 - 9:30pm   (Roanoke, VA) - JP Soars & The Red Hots' "Southbound I-95 Tour" heads North in August for an East Coast run, with a local performance at Blue 5 , 312 2nd St. SW , Friday, August 10./ Showtime: 9:30pm. Free show. Info: (540) 904-5338 or visi...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Almost Transparent Blues , from Wily Bo Walker and it's quite interesting. Opening with Chattahoochee Coochee Man , a horn pressed rocker, featuring Wily Bo Walker on vocal and guitar, backed by Tony Gorruso on trumpet. Fenton Robinson's Loan Me A Dime is up next with a more melancholy feel than Robinson's original or the more popular of the remakes by Boz Scaggs (with Duane Allman). I really like Walker's vocals on this track and Myron Brayshaw has a soulful but more modern metallic guitar take on the track giving it fresh wings with warm backing vocals. Very nice. Storm Warning is a driving rocker with an almost anthemic feel and modern riffs. Raw and rugged lead vocals backed by particularly solid backing vocals give this radio style track solid footing. Motel Blues has a really cool resonator intro and maintaining an acoustic feel with acoustic guitar and mandolin backing, breaking out with a star...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Woman's Soul , A tribute to Bessie Smith, from Rory Block and it's solid. Opening with sassy, Do Your Duty , Rory Block shows she's up to the challenge with strong vocals, percussion and cool slide work. Cool opener. Kitchen Man has stylistic vocals and sparse but tight guitar riffs keeping the track sounding authentic. Give Me A Pigfoot and A Bottle Of Beer is one of my favorite tracks on the release with Block really digging in vocally and fuller slide work giving the track a more complex sound overall. I'm Down In The Dumps has a great story telling quality with a moderate guitar accompaniment and nicely articulated slide work. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Empty Bed Blues , a typically suggestive song with steady pace and dynamics. Block really enjoys this performance and it shows as it fades off. Nicely done.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and wa...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release, Sons of Rhythm and it's quite good. Opening with My Time Is Going To Come , a pop rocker, the band gets revved up with Mick Maratta on lead vocal and bass, Fererico Luiu on guitar and backing vocal, Mike Carbone on drums and backing vocals and Anthony Brancati on piano. Nice opener. Brancati blow out the doors with a wailing sax solo on shuffle track, Talkin' Bout My Baby under a nicely balanced track. Among a full boat of radio tracks, Will I Ever See You Again? stands tall with a strong melody, nicely blended vocals and a memorable guitar lead by Luiu. Allen Toussaint's Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky is a terrific entry to this other wise self penned set, with a funky bottom and great vocals. Luiu gets a chance to stretch a bit on guitar and he doesn't waste a note. Very nice. Wrapping the release is hot boogie, Swing Thing , with a great beat, snappy drums, a hot sax solo and great rock n...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Lock Up The Liquor , from the Little Red Rooster Blues Band and it's a lot of fun. Opening with instrumental shuffle track, Pitchin' Woo ,  Dave Holtzman leads the melody on harp, backed by Kevin McCann on guitar, Jeff Michael on bass, Bob Holden on drums and  special guest Anthony Geraci on piano. Kickin' it Chicago style, Rather Be Lonesome gives Holtzman a real opportunity to be out front on harp and lead vocal but it's his tribute to James Cotton on Cotton Mouth that the band really shines with Holtzman really winding it up! Jump track, Thrift Shop Rubbers , uses a clever play on words for a fun track with smooth vocals and hot harp work. On Nothing Left Between Us , the band slows it way down for a deep blues with solid solos by McCann, Holtzman and Geraci. Boogie track, There Oughta be A Law , has a cool groove. good vocals, a snappy guitar solo and cool harp work. Very nice. Alternating back and ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Manhattan Alley , from Big Apple Blues and it's quite good. Opening with the funky driving ball runs of Admir "Dr. Blues" Hadzic, on You Gotta Start Somewhere , this track is rolling. With Barry "The Baron of the Blues" Harrison on drums, Zach Zunis rips a great solo on guitarand Chris Eminizer really pours on the heat on sax, backed by Jim Alfredson on B3 and keys and Anthony Kane on harp. Take Two is another great track with a great funky bottom. Zunis is back again with a really nice solo and Alfredson really gives that keyboard a workout with just the right amount of horn to give it the kiss. Excellent! With an easy sway, Deep Talkin' features Alfredson and some deep, deep horn work. Putting me in mind of Passport or Oblivion Express, this is solid ground. Very nice. Steamroller is a prime fusion groove with a great bottom compliments of Harrison and Hadzic, and lead work by Zunis, Alfr...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It's A Blues World . from Sugar Brown and it's real cool. Opening with up tempo shuffle track, Hummingbird , featuring Sugar brown on vocal and guitar, Rockin' Johnny Burgin on guitar, Michelle Josef on drums, and Russ Boswell on bass. Cool opener. Love Me Twice has a great rhythm and signature Johnny Burgin guitar soloing. Really nice. With the addition of banjo by Nicol Robertson, Minnie Heart on fiddle and Julian Fauth on piano, Lousy Dime has an interesting rural feel and classic lines . One of my favorites on the release. Another of my favorites is title track, It's A Blues World , with a classic House of the Rising Sun progression. Subtle guitar riffs by Burgin, coupled with SB's vocal and harp, along with clean piano work by Fauth give this tack just the right balance. Out Of The Frying Pan has a strong rural blues feel with raw amplification on guitar and vocal giving the track a real aut...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Cleaner , from Dan McKinnon and it's quite good. Opening with blues rocker, Storm , McKinnon on guitar sets a great pace with scorching riffs and lead vocal, backed by Peter Eratostene on bass and Michael Carbone on drums. Walk That Aisle is another solid rocker with a driving bass line and distorted guitar. Slinky, 17 Years has a melodic radio feel with Albert King flavored guitar riffs. Rowdy romper, King Baby , has a swaggering ZZ Top kind of feel but with McKinnon's own signature riffs and vocal styling. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks is Junior Kimbrough flavored All Mine with it's distinct bass line, driving drum line and Kimbrough like guitar riffs. McKinnin takes a nice excursion on guitar on this 6 plus minute track giving it real bite. Very nice. Shuffle track, More Than Enough has a polished Robben Ford feel and McKinnon's guitar riffs are clean and definitive. Very nice. Ballad, T...

No Images? Click here Bert Jansch Just A Simple Soul The first comprehensive Best Of collection spanning Jansch’s 5-decade-long career, compiled by Bernard Butler and the Bert Jansch estate Released 26th October via BMG Released on 2CD, 2LP and advance pre-order 2LP+Tote bag “Bert lived and breathed the sound of the guitar and its endless possibilities for communication, storytelling, conversation, emotional dialogue. We have a life’s work here, and what a life Bert Jansch has given us.”   – Bernard Butler “One of the most influential and intriguing musicians to have come out of the British music scene".  – Johnny Marr From his 1965 iconic debut album, Bert’s peerless musicality, songwriting and interpretation of traditional song has held generation after generation spellbound and inspired musicians in all genres. Just A Simple Soul – named after the closing track on his 1...

The Bob Lanza Blues Band Talks About Kids, Dogs & Krazy Women on New CD Coming August 31 from Connor Ray Music HOUSTON, TX – Connor Ray Music announces an August 31 release date for Kids, Dogs & Krazy Women , the new CD from New Jersey-based blues guitarist Bob Lanza and his band.  Kids, Dogs & Krazy Women is Bob’s fifth album release. Digital pre-release sales start July 31. Bob and the band will celebrate the new album’s release with a special CD party and show on Saturday, September 29, at the legendary Stanhope House, 45 Main Street, Stanhope, New Jersey. Kids, Dogs & Krazy Women has been a long time coming. Working with acclaimed producer and performer, Anthony Krizan (Spin Doctors, Noel Redding, Lenny Kravitz), at his Sonic Boom Recording Studio in Raritan, New Jersey, Lanza delivers a mix of covers and originals, done only the way he can do it. The album also includes a tribute to the late, great harmonica master, James Cot...

Canadian Guitarist Extraordinaire Colin James Says He Has Miles to Go on New CD, Out September 21 Toronto, ON-- With his 19th album, Miles to Go , releasing September 21 (Stony Plain Records in USA;  True North Records for the rest of the world), acclaimed guitarist Colin James is getting back to the blues. Miles to Go is Colin James’ ambitious sequel to his critically-acclaimed 2016 CD, Blue Highways , and it continues James’ story with a collection of carefully curated songs handpicked from some of the greatest blues artists.   In the months leading up to the recording, as James was reflecting on songs for the album he decided to reacquaint himself with a beautiful red Gibson ES-335.  It was just like the guitar he played as a teenager, but regretfully had to sell for rent money. While James reconnected with this guitar, Miles to Go seemed to just flow onto the studio floor. This album blends songs old and new, some of them complet...