Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Blues Came Falling Down - Live 1973 , by Johnny Shines and it's rich in traditional blues. Playing during his career with Robert Johnson as well as Robert jr Lockwood, Mississippi Fred McDowell and Willie Dixon Shines is a lesser publicly known but spectacular blues man. Opening the never before released Live recording from 1973, with Big Boy Boogie shines starts this one man show with fleet fingered blues picking that will make you sit back with wonderment. Seems A Million Years , a strong delta blues track shows Shines is not only an accomplished guitar player but with a terrific voice, transitioning smoothly from his wonderful mid range singing voice to his nearly falsetto wailing as was prominent with James and Johnson among others. Very cool. On classic, Kind Hearted Woman , you find a perfect balance of Shines' singing and guitar work, both smooth as silk and uniquely Shines.  One of my favorite track...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Into The Soul , by Josh Hyde and it's quite nice. Opening with swampy rocker, Rocking Chair , Josh Hyde sets a mean stage with solid vocals and vicious slide riffs, paired with the fine backing of bass of Ron Eoff, drums of Derrek Phillips and keys of Jimmy Wallace. Cool opener. Painfully soulful, For You I Ache oozes sensitivity and stress with the wailing vocals of Hyde and really nice backing sonic guitar work by Hyde and pedal steel work of Chris Lippincott and contrasting brightness of Wallace's piano. Very nice. Stinging blues guitar work of Hyde on Lover's Curse makes it a standout with a radio style melody and particularly tight drumming by Phillips. One of my personal favorites on the release is Down On Bourbon Street , a stylish ballad with interesting vocal harmonies and a lightly salted Latin beat. Wrapping the release is Reasons Why , a particularly heartfelt ballad highlighting Hyde's vo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bad Things , from Sean Pinchin and it's a tasty rocker. Opening with If You're Gonna Leave M e, Sean Pinchin charges for open field with a pumped up sound that could rev up a crowd. Rock style slide work and hand claps/tambourine/bass and foot pedal give you all the drive you need. Title track, Bad Things has a real cool swagger and a real nice slide feel. Bottom compliments of Jane Luvite (drums) and Rob Szabo (bass and keys) give it plenty of oomph and backing vocals by Jamie Grey add texture. Digging down into the delta, Skip James' Devil Got My Woman maintains it's mystery with multiple slide guitar textures but gets a light funky workover giving it a cool radio appeal. Stripping back the skin even more, Blind Willie Johnson's Nobody's Fault But Mine really gives Pinchin the opportunity to play old style blues, old style...vocal and guitar. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Steve Strongma...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Hell Bound for Heaven by Manx Marriner Mainline and it's solid. Opening with Nothing , a cool blues shuffle, Harry Manx has the lead on vocal and banjo with Steve Marriner on harmonica and electric guitar and timed by Moe Duella on drums. This is a real nice opener showcasing some real nice riffs by Marriner on both harp and guitar. Title track, Hell Bound for Heaven , has a darker delta style feel but with a more contemporary Paul Rogers spin. Manx injecting the eccentric sound of the Mohan Veena adds mystery and even more with slide. Marriner's lead vocal and harp is solid. Rattlesnake is a easy rocking two step blues with Marriner on Baritone guitar, harp, drums and vocal and Manx on slide, backed by Clayton Doley on Hammond. This track has really nice changes in addition to a solid melody. With it's Latin beat and some of Pops Staples' original gospel structure, Wish I Had Answered is one of my favorit...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live On The East Coast , from the Lee Boys and it's terrific! Opening with funk laden spiritual track, In The Morning , Derrick and Keith Lee on lead vocal, Alvin Lee on guitar, Chris Johnson on screaming pedal steel, Alvin Cordy Jr, on funky bass and Earl Walker on drums. Excellent opener! On blues shuffle, Don't Let The Devil Ride , the band really gets humming with Johnson really winding it up. This band is tight. On classic R&B track, I'll Take You There , Derrick and Keith really get into a nice groove with a solid bottom by Cordy who also takes a nice walk of his own, leading to an extended guitar jam. Very nice. Alvin lays in some real nice riffs under the nicely harmonizing vocals of Derrick and Keith. Rick Lollar on lead guitar gives Testify a little smoke over a simmering hot vocal lead and driving bass runs of Cordy and of course the ever present pedal soloing of Johnson. Very cool! Wrapping...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tele Masters , from Arlen Roth and it's super. Featuring a who's who of telecaster players, this release has it all. Opening with Remington Ride with Steve Wariner and Cindy Cashdollar, this track has a lot of country spice and great picking. Wariner and Roth each take turns showing their chops and Cashdollar's lap steel work is impeccable as always. backed by Tom Hambridge on drums, Tommy MacDonald on bass and Billy Panda on acoustic guitar, this is a super opener. A funky, lumbering arrangement to Big Bill Broonzy's Key To The Highway gives it a fresh new life. Jack Pearson has a great voice on lead and sharing lead guitar  with Roth, this track has really digs in. One of my favorites. A track featuring a great finger picking shoot out is Bunky with Brad Paisley. If you are wondering if this release is a guitar players album...oh yeah! Will Ray and Roth strut tall with Link Wray's Rumble . Keep...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Deep In My Soul , from Big Daddy Wilson , and it's a solid mix of R&B and blues. Opening with I Know , a super R&B track Big Daddy Wilson (Blount) sounds off with a warm soulful voice, backed by Laura Chavez on guitar, Dave Smith on bass and Steve Potts on drums and the super horn backing of Brad Guin on sax, Ken Waters on trumpet and Trinicia Butler and Kimberlie Helton on backing vocals. Funky, Tripping On You has solid commercial potential with a super melody, a hot bass line, crisp guitar soloing by Chavez and tight backing vocals by Butler and Helton. Another smooth R&B track, Hold On To Our Love , is really nice with warm lead and backing vocal, shimmery lead guitar and cool organ work by Rick Steff. One of my favorite tracks on the release is funky soul track, Deep In My Soul with an excellent beat, a super groove, organ ride, great horn punch by Guin and Waters and edgy guitar work by Chavez. Exc...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soulshaker , from Rick Vito and  it's really cool. Opening with low slung Texas style blues number, She's Just Too Fine , Vito is hitting on every cylinder right out of the gate. His vocals are strong and his slide work great. Backed by Rick Reed on drums, this is a great opener. I Do Believe has a snappy, revival pace with drums on the 2 and 4. Vito's slide work is contagious with excellent tone and vibrato. Doggin' Around is a cool instrumental ballad with lead slide guitar and Kevin McKendree on organ. This is one of absolute favorites on the track with a smooth style and trademark slide. Very nice. Two stepper, Dancin' Little Sister has a great beat blending early rock and roll with boogie guitar. How can you not love this! Another instrumental ballad, Soul Shadow , features strong drums rhythms by Charlies "Mojo" Johnson playing in beautiful sympathy to Vito's excellent slide pl...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Do The Hip-Shake Baby! , from Bob Corritore & Friends and I really like it. Corritore usually sticks pretty close to traditional Chicago style blues but not on this one. He's mixing it up but the mix is great. Opening with Shake Your Hips , Mighty Joe Milsap is upfront on vocals and they are rich and powerful. With Alan West on drums and percussion this track has a swampy rhythmic feel and Corritore's harp work is used like a sharp knife carving in essential riffs. Very nice. Alabama Mike leads on Gonna Tell Your Mother , a classic R&B track with Johnny Rapp and LA Jones on guitar, Adrianna Marie on bass, Fred Kaplan on keys and Brian Fahey on drums. With sassy backing vocals and a slick guitar solo, this track is swinging. Bill "Howl-N-Madd" Perry gets down, slow and gritty on You Better Slow Down . Corritore has his harp singing on this one over the classic guitar riffs of Perry and Rapp. Ver...

Acclaimed Guitarist and JUNO Award Nominee KEVIN BREIT to Release New Stella Bella Strada Album on May 31 from Stony Plain Records TORONTO, ON -- Stony Plain Records is proud to announce the release of acclaimed guitarist and performer Kevin Breit’s Stella Bella Strada , his second solo album for the label, to be available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and all digital retailers on May 31 . Retail CD sales commence June 7. Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Kevin, himself, Stella Bella Strada marks his fourth release on Canada’s leading folk/roots label, Stony Plain Records (he also recorded two albums with fellow guitar whiz, Harry Manx). “Kevin Breit is one of the most creative and imaginative musician I've ever worked with,” says Holger Petersen, founder and president of the label. “What he brings is far beyond incredible guitar playing. He is a master arranger, composer and soulful visionary, whose tones and phrasing color his music with sophi...

West Texas Band The Iveys Prepares To Release Colors of Honey, Tour Dates Announced Family comes first for El Paso based roots/Americana quintet EL Paso, TX - The Iveys are gearing up for the release of their fifth studio album titled Colors Of Honey.  The band was formed initially by Arlen Ivey and sister Jessica Ivey Carr, and while that gave them a taste of performing and creating together, it wasn’t until bringing in three more members of their family — sister Jenna Ivey, brother Galen Ivey and brother-in-law Sammy Carr — that The Iveys felt truly complete. According to Arlen, “The music has a different kind of depth; the songwriting and the collaboration of Jenna and I together was something that was missing before. I’ll bring her a song that I think is good and, after adding her input, it improves the story and elevates the song. We have one track that is about following your dreams, knowing there will be tough times, but regardless of that,...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Figure It Out , from Luca Kiella and it's very entertaining. Opening with piano boogie, Ten O'clock Blues Luca Kiella on piano, Dave Forte on bass, Rick King on drums and Aaron Weistrop on guitar lay down a super jam. Kiella also handles lead vocals and Unnecessary Mercenary has a great radio feel with a pop beat and solid melody. Country classic, I Can't Stop Loving You , gets a total R&B style remake and with a funky guitar riff and drum reinforcement, this may be my favorite track on the release. Kiella shows great vocal styling and Weistrop's riffs are blues fused jazz all the way and Kiella's Hammond work is tops. Very nice. Wrapping the release is nicely crafted ballad, So Many Questions . It has a strong early 70's Elton John feel and with only Kiella on piano and vocal, a super closer.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more abo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Big Mistake , from Mister Goodfaith and it's a solid pop rocker rooted in the blues. Opening with Castaway , with it's cool melody and Nashville styling, Mister Goodfaith (aka physician Dr. Fabien Bonnefoy) shows a knowledge of songwriting and tight rhythms. With an emphasis on lead vocal and guitar solo turnarounds, Goodfaith keeps it light and tight. Break Up has a particularly cool hook with it's short guitar riff and harmonized refrain, simple by bluesy guitar soloing and tight drum work. I really like the loose, cavernous guitar tone on Wild Horses , compiled with it's sweet melody and single stroke drum rhythm. Never Again proves to be the strongest rocker with a driving guitar intro and radio ready melody. Goodfaith demonstrates over and over his ability to create interesting, well constructed tracks. Wrapping the release is title track, Big Mistake , another really nice track with a strong melo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Soul of the King , from The BB King Blues Band and the title hits the nail on the head. Opening with Irene Irene , Russell Jackson has the mic and Kenny Wayne Shepherd plays scorching hot guitar riffs making this an excellent opener. The hear of the band is James Boogaloo Bolden on trumpet, Eric Demmer on lead sax, Jackson on bass, Walter King on sax, Herman Jackson on drums, Darrell Lavigne on keys, Lamar Boulet on trumpet, Wilburt Crosby on guitar, Brandon Jackson on drums, and Raymond Harris on trombone. Kenny Neal is up next on Sweet Little Angel covering both lead guitar and vocal. His playing is more mellow but no less soulful as he gets a good grip on the track in BB King style. Diunna Greenleaf's supreme vocal styling is There Must Be A Better World Somewhere and Demmer literally blows the doors off with his sensational sax soloing. Excellent! Solid soul on She's The One with Demmer on lead vocal a...

Smithsonian Folkways Releases 5-Disc Epic Box Set of Louisiana Music Legends Celebrates 50 Years of New Orleans Jazz Fest Key Musical Legends in the Box Set Include Trombone Shorty, Irma Thomas, Big Freedia, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Kermit Ruffins, Terence Blanchard, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Champion Jack Dupree, Buckwheat Zydeco, and more Coverage from Rolling Stone , The FADER , Billboard , Bandcamp , Newsweek , Relix , LA Times , Jazziz , All About Jazz , and more For 50 years, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritag...