Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Not Made For Hire , by The Bennett Brothers and I really like it. Opening with driving rocker, Junkyard Dog , with it's stone free rhythm, Jimmy and Peter Bennett storm in on guitar and bass respectively and lead vocals, backed by Lee Falco on drums and John Ginty on B3 and piano. Jimmy's guitar work is fluid and wailing and the bottom is tight and strong. Hold On Tight has more of a country two step feel with real nice slide work, and a perfect off beat cymbal stroke. Very nice. Bluesy, I Just Don't Want The Blues Today has a 60's San Francisco feel with rich tension and Linda Pino on backing vocal. Instrumental shuffle, Blues #9 has a nice swagger as Jimmy stretches out on guitar and Ginty lays down trademark riffs of his own. Very cool. Boogie track, Rocking Chair has a great walking bass line setting up a clear lane for Jimmy to open it up wide on slide. On How Long , the band does a pretty sweet...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (September 28, 2018), Bad Mouthin' , from legendary songwriter and performer, Tony Joe White and its very cool. Opening with title track, Bad Mouthin' , with it's Jimmy Reed feel, White has his classic vocal style on a stripped down format of guitar, drums and harp. Joe William's Baby Please Don't Go is up next and White shows how natural a fit he is for raw blues with his basic guitar, harp and foot pat behind his able vocals. Very nice. John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom has a bit more depth with electric bass and guitar. White does a real nice cover of this track with raw energy and gritty harp and grinding electric guitar gives it a nice edge. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Rich Woman's Blues with it's down low pace, execution and vocals. Super. Awful Dreams has a strong Hooker feel as well not in structure but in execution with tight little guitar runs and firm vocals. Very...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Run To Me, by Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar and it's got a cool R&B vibe. Opening with You're The Love , an edgy R&B ballad with a solid radio hook, strong vocals by Martin, Sherie Marshall and Mwansa Mwansa and really cool guitar work by Curtis Chaffey and Michael McCallum and tight backing by Steve Marriner on keys, Darcy Yates on bass and Dani Nash on drums. Cool opener. Another track with solid vocal and a strong hook is Will We Ever Learn with glass clean guitar rhythm and cool organ by Marriner. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Wanna Be Your Lover with just the right amount of lag in Martin's vocal delivery. Melodies are all strong on this release and this track is no exception, cushioned by guitar reverb and smooth vocal backing. Horn soaked, Over You , has really nice construction with soul and gospel feel with rich backing vocals and Shamus Currie on Trombone, Andrew Moljgun...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 25, 2018), Someday Baby , by Billy Hector and it's really good. Opening with funky blues fused Wizard of Babylon , Billy Hector on vocal and guitar really has it going. With van Romaine on drums, Wilbo Wright on bass, David Nunez on keys and Steve Jankowski on horns this is a great spunk funky opener. Title track, Someday Baby continues the funky blues groove and Hector's grinding guitar riffs give his music it's unique personality. Wondering already if you'll like this... you like Albert King...you like Johnny Guitar... you like Frank Marino.... you'll love this. OK, now we're kicking out all the stops with a new Orleans style over the top funky blues, Butt Naked and Funk . If there was ever a party track that gets you up off your old ass...this is it! Using a talk box, and terrific horn punctuation by Jankowski, Tom LaBella on sax and John Martin on bari, and backed by Rich Monica on dr...

Award-Winning Keyboardist Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne Is Inspired by the Blues on New CD Coming September 28 from Stony Plain Records Special Guests Include Harp Master Billy Branch, Guitar Legend Duke Robillard and Long-Time B.B. King Bass Player Russell Jackson EDMONTON, AB – Acclaimed award-winning keyboardist Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne will release his new CD, Inspired by the Blues , September 28 on Stony Plain Records. The new disc was recorded at Dan/Lyn Studio in Edmonton, Alberta, and produced by the “Blues Boss,” himself. Inspired by the Blues features 11 original songs, plus a live bonus track of Kenny performing “Georgia on My Mind” that was recorded in Mexico. Watch an exciting behind-the-scenes video about the making of Inspired by the Blues here: https://youtu.be/IV4flyr-99E Stream the first single, “Start Rockin,’” off the new album here: https://soundcloud.com/stony-plain-records/kenny-blues-boss-wayne-start-rockin/s-3yRrT ...

Ottawa’s JW-Jones Releases First Live Album on September 28, 2018 Canadian and USA tour dates announced New Video:  JW-Jones - LIVE (Official Promo Video) here The improv magic you hear on JW-Jones’ 10th album, Live, is the spark that has awakened new sonic frontiers for the veteran Maple Blues Award-winning Ottawa bluesman.  “I cranked up my overdrive in concert one night for fun, and it opened up this new world of ideas for me,” admits the JUNO-nominated Jones, whose searing axemanship has been praised by Blues Revue Magazine as “a fluid amalgam of T-Bone Walker’s big, bright chords; Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson’s slashing leads and Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown’s jazzy sting.”  “I felt a new sense of freedom.” That sense of freedom resonates through Live, an exciting collection of 11 previously-unreleased songs lovingly recorded over two nights at a sold-out Gatine...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Electric Love , from Angel Forres t and it's strong. Recorded live at Centre des Arts Juliette-Lassonde in Quebec this is a powerful numbered and signed limited edition. Opening with All The Way , a funky blues rocker, Angel Forrest projects live right through the player. Joined by Alec McElcheran on bass, Sly Coulombe on drums, Denis Coulombe on acoustic guitar,  and with slick guitar soloing from Ricky Paquette, this is a strong opener. On Janis Joplin's Piece Of My Heart , Forrest shows a genuine likeness to Joplin's own performance of this trademark track with able backing vocals by McElcheran, Paquette and Coulombe.  Traditional folk track, The House Of The Rising Sun , made popular by Eric Burdon in the 60's gets a nice makeover with stinging guitar work by Paquette. Excellent! Wrapping side one is smoky Move On with a cool driving beat, swaying feel and stylized guitar work by Paquette. Nice close...

  ANNOUNCING THE SOCAL DIVAS OF BLUES FESTIVAL, BENEFITING THE NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION, MICHELLE'S PLACE; FEATURING EIGHT OF SOCAL'S MOST DYNAMIC FEMALE ARTISTS   Saturday, October 27, 2018 - 12 Noon to 8pm - Gates 10am (Rain or Shine)     (Temecula, CA) - Announcing the SoCal Divas of Blues Festival , taking place outdoors at Civic Center Plaza, 41000 Main St., in Old Town Temecula, Saturday, October 27, 2018, from 12 noon till 8pm (gates open 10am). Tickets: $38 (earlybirds); $43. (regular/da...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Song , by Tas Cru and it's quite good. Opening with blues rocker, Heal My Soul , Cru on vocal and guitar sets the pace with solid vocals and a driving beat, joined by Victor Wainright on piano, Pat Harrington on slide, Mary Ann Casale on backing vocal Bob Purdy on bass, Dick Earl Ericksen on harp, Guy Nirelli on organ and Andy Hearn on drums. Title track, Memphis Song has strong commercial potential with a David Essex feel, easy backing under firm vocals. Swampy funk rocker, Give A Little Up has a cool, laid back feel with Cru bouncing his vocals off Purdy's bass riffs, Ericksen's harp and the backing vocals of Casale, Floyd-Tritico and Parks . I really like the percussion on Daddy Didn't Give You Much , a jazzy ballad with a smooth feel and Cru's vocals and guitar leading the show.  My favorite track on the release is funky country stomper, One Eyed Jack with a plucky bass line, funky vo...

BRAZILIAN BLUES ARTIST CELSO SALIM TO RELEASE NEW CD ON SEPTEMBER 28 TH Mama’s Hometown is a magical, musical place where everyone is welcome! Blues Music The Celso Salim Band presents a new sound rooted in the blues past, crossing genre boundaries while creating something that is original and compelling. Their music takes on many styles mixing deep blues with hints of soul, country, jazz and rock. Brazilian guitarist Celso Salim had his first contact with the guitar when he was six years old. At the age of 12 the talented young musician started to listen to his first Blues records, which changed his life forever. Since then Celso knew what he wanted to be, a Blues guitarist. For years he studied guitar hours each day, learning from old records by artists such as Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Freddie King, BB King, and Johnny Winter. A little later he began listening to 60’s & 70’s artists like the Allman Brothers Band, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Backland Blues from Waydown Wailers and it has flavors of the Dead and the Allmans with touches of British pop and American country. Opening with Back Door Woman , a bluesy shuffle, David Parker lead the way on vocal and guitar joined by Christian Parker on guitars, Connor Pelkey on bass, Michael Scriminger on drums and Professor Louie on piano. Up tempo country blues, I Want Your Soul has a great feel, drive and just the right guitar vamp. Very cool. With a modern, jazzy, almost Becker/Fagen styling, a cover of Elmore James'  Done Somebody Wrong is next showing total ingenuity. Another Bump In The Road has a southern rock feel and a Dead meets Marshall Tucker feel. Larry Williams' Dizzy Miss Lizzie retains much of the styling of the Beatles cover of this track with plenty of attitude and spunk. State Of The Union Mix has a cool Euro sound with nicely blended vocals, rhythm guitar and nice Hammond work by ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, VooDoo Woman , from Crystal Shawanda and it's off the hook. Opening with Willie Dixon's Wang Dang Doodle and Shawanda wastes absolutely no time showing that she means business. With a powerful voice and the greasy slide work of DeWayne Strobel, backed by Stephen Hanner on harp, Dave Roe on bass and Louis Winfield on drums, this track is powerful! Title track, Koko Taylor's VooDoo Woman has a rock edge with crafty harp riffs and a tight bottom. Again, Strobel's slide work had a strong influence on the overall sound supporting Shawanda's powerful vocals. One of my favorites on the release is Big Mama's Hound Dog with a snappy rock edge. Shawanda handles the shift in tempo like an old pro with sure dynamics and Strobel's rock riffs are clean and distinct. A definite high point on the release is Shawanda's cover of Etta James' I'd Rather Go Blind . He voice really lends itself to t...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Monumental - The Songs of Tommy Dougherty , by Paul Dougherty and it's a cool retrospective. Opening with ballad, Stars Above , Paul Dougherty, son of Tommy Dougherty has taken the task to redo a number of Tommy's songs, playing all instruments and singing. Blues rocker, Little Damn Dog , is up next with solid keys, raw guitar and solid vocals. With a light almost reggae feel, Fat Lady has a soothing feel and a cool "sax" solo adding to Paul's keyboard accompaniment and vocals. Another solid ballad, Cowgirl Song has a particularly nice melody with the addition of Paul Hilton on steel guitar. Roses For My Lady is another strong composition with Paul handling a full orchestral backing on keys. Wrapping the release is Mexico Beaches , another ballad with solid commercial appeal. Paul has done a nice job resurrecting his fathers music and reintroducing it to a new audience.   If you suppo...

Aretha Franklin, the undisputed "Queen of Soul" who sang with matchless style on such classics as "Think," ''I Say a Little Prayer" and her signature song, "Respect," and stood as a cultural icon around the globe, has died at age 76 from pancreatic cancer. Publicist Gwendolyn Quinn tells The Associated Press through a family statement that Franklin died Thursday at 9:50 a.m. at her home in Detroit. The statement said "Franklin's official cause of death was due to advanced pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type, which was confirmed by Franklin's oncologist, Dr. Philip Phillips of Karmanos Cancer Institute" in Detroit. The family added: "In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds....