Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Clean Up The Blood , from Atomic Road Kings and it's killer. Opening with I've Got Time , Big Jon Atkinson is upfront on vocal joined by Eric Von Herzen on harp and Danny Michel on lead guitar, backed by Bill Stuve on bass, and Malachi Johnson on drums. With it's quiet, suspenseful pace and full bodied guitar work from Michel, this is a great start. With the heaviness of Dazed and Confused by Michel on guitar and hot lead by Tony Delgado, under the smoky riffs of Von Herzen,  Rumors will have you gasping for breath. Excellent! With it's Latin styling and surf like guitar riffs by Atkinson, Have Your Way is a cool track. The solid bass line and cool cymbal work is perfect. Atkinson's echo saturated wailing on guitar on title track,  Clean Up The Blood , supporting his own solid vocal and eerie harp work by Von Herzen makes this an excellent lead track for the release. Vibrations is a slinky track w...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rockhouse Party , from Big Joe and the Dynaflows and it's super. Opening with super shuffle, Driving Wheel , Big Joe Maher on lead vocal and drums sets the pace with Tom Mookie Brill on bass, Kevin McKendree on keys, and Yates McKendree and Robert Frahm on guitars. A low slung blues rocker, this track is an excellent opener. Excellent guitar phrasing, coupled with powerful lead vocals on So Mean To Me makes it a real standout. Brill takes the lead vocal on slot on Eight Men and Four Women and his vocals are out of sight. This track, with warm key backing by Kevin, and vocal backing by Erin Coburn is excellent! Guitar shuffle, Overdrive is an excellent showcase for the McKendrees with nice phrasing and great pace. Uptempo Go With The Flow , is a real toe tapper with hot riffs and solid vocals. On Vibrate , a rockabilly romp, guitar flurry and stylized  vocals give this track high power. Wrapping the release is eas...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release from Gail Gunnis & The Dirty Roosters and it is a mix of classic blues artists with the bands cool personal arrangements. Opening with Freddie King's I Love You More Everyday , Gail Gunnis leads the way on vocal, backed by Fabio Parovel on guitar, Paul Kidd on sax, Chris Rooney on bass and Duncan McBain on drums. Solomon Burke's Cry To Me is up next with a great R&B feel. Pat Carey steps up with a rich sax solo and McBain's tight drums give the track just the right snap. Ann Peebles' I Can't Stand The Rain is one of my favorite tracks on the release with some of Gunnis' best vocals and a thumping bass line by Rooney. Another cool sax solo by Carey sets the track off nicely. Hot R&B track,  I Know , is a great track to pull out of the hopper with a super beat. again Carey is featured on sax and again, nice job. Since I Fell For You , another classic soul track written by B...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Survivor Blues , from Walter Trout and it's his most mature and cohesive release to date. Opening with powerful slow blues number, Me, My Guitar and the Blues Trout is back locked and loaded. I love his command of the volume swell, using it like an old master, making his guitar cry like a baby and his prasing is magical. With Michael Leasure on drums, Johnny Griparic on bass and Skip Edwards on keys, this is a terrific opener. On Woman Don't Lie , it's a slink funky beat that gives this track traction.Trading lead vocal with Sugaray Rayford and adding Teddy Andreadis on Wurlitzer really sets this one up or a guitar slam and Trout is all over it. Gone are the days of cramming every note into one measure and real feel and biting riffs carry this track high. Shuffle track, Please Love Me has great feel and tension with relaxed riffs with excellent punctuation work on a heavily pumped up BB King like style. Re...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Judas Goat from Big Daddy T and it's interesting. Opening with Let It Burn , a contemporary take on Chicago blues, finds Tony (Big Daddy) Wisler on bass and lead vocal with nicely expressed harmonica work by Johnny Pie, electric guitar by Billy Burke, Hector Herrera and K.C. Igler, and drums by Joe Chellman. Cool opener. With a more traditional look on the blues Burke pulls out the slide and strokes some really nice work on Nothing Left To Do But Cry with Big Daddy on lead vocal. Very nice. A sultry Latin rhythm drives Jockey Full Of Bourbon with full organ support by Stan Harrison, solid vocals and snappy guitar lead. With New Orleans overtones, God's Not Dead features tight drum rhythms, piano lead by Crystal Chavez and nice clarinet soloing by Joe Di Fiore. Rocker, Good Time Jake has a quick pace and slick, country like guitar picking giving this track that special something. One of my favorites on the rele...

Stony Plain Records Sets May 17 Release Date for Ear Worms , the New Album from Award-Winning Guitarist Duke Robillard WATERDOWN, ON – Stony Plain Records announces a May 17 release date for Ear Worms , the new album from two-time Grammy nominee and multi-Blues Music Award winning guitarist Duke Robillard, which will be available in both CD and vinyl formats. Here’s a link to pre-order the album, which also includes a special advance listen to “Don’t Bother to Steal Her Love:” http://smarturl.it/earworms .  “ Ear Worms was conceived as an album of songs that I heard and was attracted to growing up,” says Duke Robillard about the new disc’s genesis. “They are not of one particular genre or style, but rather songs I heard in my pre-teens to my later teens, with the exception of a few songs which I threw into the mix to round out the overall album vibe; sounds that stuck in my head, in many cases before I knew what the blues was. I guess you could call...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, You Tell Me , from Glen Clark , and it's a solid set of low key country fused R&B style tracks. Opening with title track, You Tell Me , Glen Clark leads the way on guitar and vocal, backed by John Bryant on drums and vocals, Jim Milan on bass and vocal and Sam Swank on guitar for a solid radio bound country style track. Cool opener. Kicking into real R&B flavor, Accept My Love pulls in Jim Foster on trumpet and Ron Jones on sax with a cool melody and nice electric keys by Clark. Walk On has a definite radio feel with a great melody and strong vocals, supported by Clark on keys, James Pennebaker on guitar and Pat Peterson and Benita Aterberry providing rich backing vocals. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks, When The Time Is Right , has a funky blues feel with stinging guitar riffs and a great beat. Wrapping the release is up tempo pop track, That's Where You Come In with Clark out front on vocal and o...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Over Under Through , from Paul Nelson and it's interesting. Opening with Go Down Ezekiel , a floating track with solid but JJ Cale like vocals by Nelson, seductive slide work by Kevin Barry and tom tom by John Sands, this is a real nice opener. My choice for radio track on the release is Secret with a really nice melody and vocals and nicely interwoven guitar and steel guitar parts over light snare drum. My favorite track on the release is an interpretation of Johnny Cash's I Walk The Line with a remarkable arrangement, nice vocal harmonies with Kristin Cifelli, Ellis Paul and Nickie Fuller and reverb saturated guitar. Excellent! Lumbering rocker, Silent Majority , has a really nice feel with solid vocals and a super arrangement. This track, again with superior vocal qualities and rich guitar backing make it an ideal radio track. Wrapping the release is somber ballad, There Is Weeping , with Nelson singing upf...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'm Still Here- Big Jay Sings The Blues from Big Jay McNeely and it's solid old school blues. Opening with shuffle track, You Never Miss The Water with Big Jay on lead vocal and sax. Yep... Big Jay got the blues. On blues standard, Baby Please Don't Go , Big Jay sets a super groove on vocal followed by honking sax and tight guitar riffs. I really like boogie track, Once I Had A Woman , with John Lee like form and style and slide in the back. I Love To Feel Free has a real nice swing to it with Big Jay on lead vocal. Ringing slide and prime lead guitar riffs really set this track off nicely and Big Jays sax is fat and solid. Wrapping the release is Still Got A Long Way To Go with a solid bass line and real nice slide and lead guitar work behind Jay's vocals. This is an excellent closer for a real nice posthumous release of McNelly's work.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Texas Queens 5 , from Bloodest Saxophone and it's powerful. Bloodest Saxophone has been playing old school sounds since 1998. Opening with I've Got A Feeling and Diunna Greenleaf on lead vocals these guys show that they mean business. With Koda Shintaro on tenor sax, Coh on trombone, Osikawa Yukimasa on bari sax, Shuji on guitar, The Takeo on upright bass, and Kiminori on drums and percussion this track has real punch. Lead vocalist Crystal Thompson really pounds out the blues on Losing Battle with really nicely presented guitar by Johnny Moeller on guitars over strong brass and sax work. Excellent! Instrumental, Pork Chop Chick is a terrific jump track with super horn solos, driving rhythm and a real nice guitar exchange between Moeller and Shuji. Very nice. Lauren Cervantes is upfront on Latin track, Run Joe . Masterful rhythms, authentic vocals, tight percussion and wild powerful horns give this track real...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Chicago Rambler , from Tomislav Goluban and it's quite entertaining. Opening with barn burner, Pigeon Swing , Croatian harp player, Goluban, blows the doors off. If there's any question if the blues is alive and living in Croatia, there shouldn't be now. Excellent jam with Eric Noden on guitar, E.G. McDaniel on bass, and Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith on drums. Bag Full Of Troubles is a cool shuffle track with Goluban on lead vocal and joined by Filisko on harp. Catching a Latin trade wind, Jerry Ricks On My Mind is a really cool track. I like it's unconventional melody and both Goluban and slide player Noden step up with interesting solos. Surf rocker, Home Made Honey , has a really cool beat and Noden's guitar riffs nicely accent Beedy Eyes' tight drum riffs leading into Goluban's ending solo. BoDiddley tom tom beat on Do The Right Thing really makes for a great showcase for Smith. Al...

We all see ordinary talent in shows around town but there are a few bands that will draw me out late at night every time they tour because of their artistry and Rockin' Johnny is definitely one. When I saw that he was playing the Rhythm Room, definitely the best place to see a band in Phoenix, I made it a date. The club was packed and I sat in the corner because I arrived just before the show started but I wouldn't miss it. Johnny came on stage carrying his classic Emperor and his classic tone. He did a short set, maybe 6 or 8 tracks and he didn't take a note to get on track. He was hitting on 12 cylinders from note one. I don't know if you've seen Johnny, but this is a guy who is all about style. He isn't Jeff Beck who wrote every trick in the books, nor Joe Bonamassa who plays every Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton riff. This is a pure Chicago blues guy who has been around the block and has assembled some absolutely terrific old style riffs that he applies at j...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rogue Hunter , from Vin Mott and it's solid. Opening with blues rocker, Car Troubles Made Me A Good Blues Singer , Vin Mott leads off his sophomore release with fat harp tone and strong vocals. Joined by Dean Shot on slick and nicely stylized guitar, Steve Kirsty on bass and Matt Niedbalski on drums, this is a super opener. Title track, Rogue Hunter is right down Elmore James way with tinny slide work by Shot andfat fat harp tone from Mott. Very cool. Boogie track, Ice Cold Beer has a great walking bass line by Kirsty and with lead vocal by Mott, we have gang backing vocals by the band. This is a great boogie with solid harp work and a cool guitar solo and one that should get solid airplay. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Paterson Is Crumblin' , a slow sensuous blues. Opening with soulful harp wailing, this track is hot. Mott's vocals are terrific and Shot's guitar lead is crisp and essential...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dos Hombres Wanted , from Rockin' Johnny and Quique Gomez and it's classic Chicago blues with a spin. Opening with Burgin original, Your Charm Won't Help You , old style with Johnny on lead vocal and his understated but wild guitar playing, Quique Gomez on classic harp, Eric Przygocki on bass, Stephen Dougherty on drums and Christian Dozler on piano. Excellent opener. A strong, slower blues Robert Jr Lockwood track, Funny But True , is up next and Gomez has the lead spot on vocal. Burgin plays out richer jazz style riffs and hands the floor to Gomez who really milks his harp for juice. Very nice. Burgin's Ain't No High Roller has a cool rock beat and Gomez rides high on the harp and with Dozzler on accordion and Burgin's steady hand on guitar this track hits a nice slot. Another classic Chicago style track, Everybody Loves My Baby is a great work out track for both Burgin and Gomez. Burgin has...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Roads That Cross , from Katarina Pejak and I really like it. Opening with surf rocker, Nature Of My Blues , Pejak is upfront on lead vocal and keys, with axe master Laura Chavez on guitar, Lonnie Trevino Jr. on bass, Damien Llanes on drums. Excellent opener. Modern jazz, blues track, Sex Kills has a cool, understated, almost reggae rhythm with solid lead vocals and nice piano work by Pejak. Southern soul oozes out of Pejak on Old Pain , a really nice track with real radio potential. Soft heat on organ gives the track an even warmer feeling yet. very nice. Country rocker, Chasing Summer has real sting with Chavez giving the track a coarse guitar edge and nice piano soloing by Pejak. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Latin flavored She's Coming After You . Llanes light had on drums really gives the track air, Chaves' guitar work is classic and Pejak's vocals are terrific. Excellent! Another radio ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everyday Angel , from Trevor B. Power Band and it's smooth. Opening with country styled rocker, Jack , Power on lead vocal and guitar sets a general radio style with a solid melody and beat. Backed by Anthony Krizan on slide, John Ginty on B3, Billy Gensch on guitar, Tom DiCianni on drums, and mark Enright on bass, this is a solid opener. With a lower slung blues shuffle, You Ain't Acting Right , just the right amount of guitar soloing and Ginty's B3 work, highlighted by Nick Conti on sax makes this another solid radio track. Blues track, Future Plans , really showcases Power's vocals and stinging lead guitar by Power and Gensch give the track real grit.  Another strong rocker with just the right amount of oomph is Baby I'm Through With You with it's driving bottom and blues rock style guitar riffs. Wrapping the release is haunting title track, Everyday Angel , with it's seductive melody and...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Leopard Print Dress , by Dee Miller Band and it a mover. Opening with swinging boogie, Hot And Sweaty , Dee Miller takes the lead on vocal with Craig Clark on vocal and guitar, Eric Meyer on bass and vocal, Jesse Mueller on smoking hot keys and Mike DuBois on drums. Cool opener. A cover of the Eagles, Take It To The Limit ,is a surprise with just a slight rework of the original arrangement but with exceptional gospel styling to the vocals and key piano accents by John Pinckaers giving the track real oomph. Excellent. Rocker, Leopard Print Dress has a really strong drive that will force you into a dancing groove. Mueller leads on piano boogie Back In The Saddle with Miller stepping back, still providing lead vocal but giving center stage to Mueller, Steve Clarke on sax and Kevin Nord on trumpet. Soul track, Last Two Dollars is another of my favorites on the release with great feel. Exceptional lead vocal and guitar on...