Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mississippi Blend , from Ghalia and it's got great attitude and style. Opening with, Gypsy Lady , a blues based track with a rockin beat, Brussels born Ghalia (Vauthier) Volt shows her understanding of real blues with it's raw feeling and emotion. Leading on vocal and slide guitar Volt has a lot of help from Lightnin' Malcolm on lead guitar, Dean Zucchero on bass and Cedric Burnside on drums. Easing into a swampy blues number, Meet You Down The Road has the kind of rawness you'd expect from the hill country with Watermelon Slim on harp, Smokehouse Brown on lead and slide guitar, Zucchero on bass and Burnside on drums. The dual slide guitar sound is intoxicating under her soulful vocals and the tight rhythms are perfectly punctuated by Burnside. Very cool. I really like heavy footed blues rocker, First Time I Died . It has real kick. Volt focuses on vocals and does a great job with excellent timing by Co...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Holla & Moan , from The McMaMarr Project and it's dripping in soul. Opening with title track, Holla and Moan , a romping R&B track John McNamara and Andrea Marr team up vocally making a really cool team. McNamara handles lead guitar backed by Bobby Manuel on guitar, Ray Griffin on bass, Willie Hall on drums, Lester Snell on keys, Scott Thompson on trumpet, Lannie McMillan on tenor sax, and Jim Spake on bari sax. With a solid bass line by Griffin, Throwing Down a Little Love has a real firm beat and great vocal blending highlighted by great blues guitar riffs by McNamara. Soul ballad, History has a taste of country and a nice dash of blues with warm vocals and melody. Definitely the top radio track on the release. Another easy floating vocal track, Something That's Real , blends the honesty of early country music with R&B for a unique soulful blend. Wrapping the release is Blues Brought Me Here , a ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Whisper in the Wind , by Michael Bloom and the Blues Prophecy and it's a cool relaxed blues rocker. Opening with Time On My Hands , Bloom is up front on lead vocal and guitar with Minuro Maruyama, also on guitars, Michael Damani on keys, an excellent rolling bass line by Jeffrey Labon, and Andrew Thomas and Faustino Cortez on drums. Just Can't Win is a real nice contemporary blues track with a solid melody and again, a cool bass line by Labon. Bloom and Michael Damani lay out some really cool guitar lines on this one as it floats along nicely. Bloom's take on Brownsville has classic styling with Bloom on slide and lead vocal and cool piano rolls by Damani. One of my release favorites is slower blues, Old Man Blues with Bloom stretching his chops on electric lead guitar and with Brant Leeper on B3. Clocking in at nearly 7 minutes...very nice. No Luck At All is an interesting blues track with a different kind...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nothin' To It But To Do It , by Junior Watson and I really like it. It's become a theme, but I like most of what comes out of Greaseland, Kid Andersen's shop. Opening with Up and Out , an up tempo blazer led by Sax Gordon, Junior Watson opens this release like a showman with horns blazing. Gordon really has it humming with great underpinning by Kedar Roy on bass, Andrew Guterman on drums and Jim Pugh on keys, swinging the door open and letting Junior Watson run on guitar. Excellent! On swing boogie, Louella , Watson has lead vocal and guitar with big time sax work by Gordon. This track really has presence and Gordon shares the spotlight with Watson who shows why he's one of the best loved contemporary guitar players on the circuit. A Shot In The Dark is a terrific slower blues with Alabama Mike really working vocals upfront and giving Watson the space to work over his fretboard and he really does give i...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Don't Give Up On The Blues, from Giles Robson and I really like it. Opening with Land To Land Giles Robson on lead vocal and harmonica is a strong force to be reckoned with. His vocals are real and his harp playing solid. Backed by Bruce Katz on piano and Hammond, Aaron Lieberman on guitar, Antar Goodwin on bass and R ay Hangen on drums, this band is tight. Title track, Don't Give Up On the Blues is a cool shuffle track in pure Chicago style. Robson ramps up his harmonica showing his classic styling and key whiz Bruck Katz digs on piano for some terrific riffs as well. With it's Bo Diddley beat, Hangen really hammers it out on Damn Fool Way and Robson's tone is pure gold. Slow blues number, Your Dirty Look & Your Sneaky Grin is a terrific track with solid vocals, rich harmonica work by Robson and a real nice piano solo by Katz. Very nice. Harmonica/piano boogie track, Boogie at the Showplace is a...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Holywater , from HeavyDrunk and it's tasty. Opening with blues rocker, If I Loved You Hard Enough with it's firm drone bass line by Bill Ferri this band is hitting the road hard. Lead singer Rob Robinson has great pipes for this style and with backing vocals by Renee Armand, Gina Pittman, Maureen Murphy and Nicki Connely, heavy horns by Tyler Summers (sax) and Roy Agee (trombone), and strong guitar lines by Will Beeman, Kurt Stone and Robinson, this is a great opener. HeavyDrunk Holywater is a somber, gospel tinted ballad with traces of Tom Waits with lead vocal by Robinson and crisp piano work by James Hooker. Will Beeman is upfront on Keeping Up With the Kid , a swinging shuffle with an interesting story line, sassy guitar work, a strong blend of keys by Eric Bikales and James Hooker, tight horns and cool bari highlights by Summers. Clever R&B track, Somebody's Got To Take Them Panties Off , not only...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Man of Many Blues , from Paul Gabriel and it's got style. Opening with Latin flavored, I Feel Good , Paul Gabriel is front and center on lead guitar and vocal with Frank Davis on bass, Lonnie Gasperini on Hammond, Mark Earley on tenor and bari sax, Doug James on bari sax and Mark Teixeira on drums. On shuffle, Maybe We Can Talk A While , Duke Robillard lays in some real nice guitar lead giving the track just a little more smooth polish. Blues For Georgia is a real cool track with a jazzy edge. Gabriel's guitar lead is really nice, paired with Gasperini's Hammond organ work and the mighty Bruce Bears on piano. Very nice. My favorite track on the release is Just A Bitterness with it's soulful structure and slow bluesy pace. Gabriel's vocal strengths and really showcased on this one and addition of Robillard on guitar gives stinging guitar results. With rich sax work by Earley, this track just hits the...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bounce , from the Paul DesLauiers Band and it's a cool rock release with deep roots in the blues. Opening with It's All on You , a swaggering track featuring DesLauiers on lead guitar and vocal with Alec McElcheran on bass and Sam Harrisson on drums. This is a really nice opener with DesLauriers' slide playing having the fat resonance of Jimmy Page. Very nice. On Take Me To The Brink , DesLauriers revs it up with a "Train Train" like rhythm and hot hot chicken pickin style. Excellent! With a rocking funky beat, Driving Me Insane has a great back beat and strong melody. I think that anyone who likes the basic sound of Led Zep would really like this. With a bit more Hendrix like bite but remaining blues based, Picked a Bad Day is a strong rocker featuring the guitar work of DesLauriers and JP Soars. Hi intensity shuffle, Feeling All Kinds of Good , is one of my favorite tracks on the release with s...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Pay The Price , from Ray Fuller and the Bluesrockers and it's a lot of fun. Opening with blues rocker, Hoodoo Train , bandleader, lead vocalist and lead guitar player sets the pace with solid vocals and a steady pace. backed by Jumper Tutu on drums, Doc Malone on harmonica and Manny Manuel on bass, this is a real nice opener. Stepping up to Chuck Berry like pace on Pearlene , Fuller gets the house rocking and with clean double stops this track is rolling. Very cool. On Mojo Hand , John Lee Hooker creeps into the mix with an endless boogie. This band does know how to boogie with rhythmic guitar work, excellent vocal phrasing and overlying harmonica by Malone. Rollin' and Tumblin' is a great track with a constant drum attack by Tutu and some mighty greasy slide by Fuller. Back to the driving rock n roll feel with I Will Not Let You Go with a solid bass line by Manuel and wailing harmonica by Malone. Fuller l...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Beyond The Blue Door , from Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters , and it's really strong. Opening with Brand New Me , a Jerry Butler track, the bands starts off in a solid slot with vocal dynamo, Diane Blue up front backed by Dave Limina on piano and B3, Ronnie Earl on guitar, Forrest Padgett on drums and Paul Kochanski on bass with Mario Perrett on tenor sax, and Scott Shetler on bari sax . Slipping into a cool shuffle, Baby How Long ,  Kim Wilson is up front on lead vocal and harmonica. A real Chicago style blues gives Wilson and Earl a nice opportunity to exchange solos with Anthony Geraci on piano and Peter Ward on guitar. Very nice. Henry Glover's tune made popular by Ray Charles, Drown In My Own Tears gives Earl the stage to do exactly what everyone expects of Earl, to play those long soulful runs that have been such a trademark of his sound. Exchanging phrasing with Greg Piccolo on sax, this track is reall...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Miles Of Blues from Professor Louie & The Crowmatix and it's a mix of stripped down rural blues. Opening with L-50 Blues , featuring Professor Louie and Miss Marie on lead vocal with Louie on keys, Gary Burke on drums, Frank Campbell on bass and John Platania on slide guitar. Passion In My Life is a cool shuffle track with Louie up front on vocal and hot piano and tasty guitar work by Platania with solid vocal backing by Marie. With  cool, New Orleans style drumming by Burke on Rain 40 Days , Marie has the lead vocals on this one and organ accent by Louie and funky bass by Campbell, this is one of my favorites on the release. Stinging guitar riffs by Plantania and warm organ work by Louie on Exit Zero gets just the right amount of punch by Nick Driscoll on sax, Jim Buckley on bari sax, Danny Coyle on trumpet and Chuck Smith on trombone. Marie's vocal highlight is on Please Send Me Somebody To Love . Louie...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Down Yonder , from Vaneese Thomas and it's swampy, funky, soulful blues. Opening with Ebony Man , with it's thick funky blues sound, Thomas on lead vocal is backed by Shawn Pelton on drums, Conrad Korsh on bass Al Orlo on guitar and Tash Neal on dobro. Soul track, I Tried is one of my favorites with it's rich melody, powerful vocals and the addition of keys by Robbie Kondor, horn work by Lannie McMillam on tenor sax, Kirk Smothers on bari sax, Mark Franklin on trumpet and nicely articulated guitar lead by Orlo. Very nice. R&B track, Second Chance has a great radio vibe with nicely blended vocals and full horn backing. Another soulful blues track is Mama He Loves Me with a great melody and clean, tight guitar soloing and rich vocals. Funky, R&B number, Lies, has a great feel and a real strut punctuated by Will Lee on bass, Rick Kriska on bari sax Tim Ouimette on trumpet and Orlo's funky blues ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Last Pair of Shoes , from John Dee Holeman and it's super. Opening with Chapel Hill Boogie , Holeman shows you that age is no obstacle at 90 years. This is a pure boogie with a great attitude. Accompanied by Tad Walters on harmonica this track is gold. Digging in on Muddy Water's She Moves Me , Holeman hunkers down and grinds it out with terrific highlights by Walters on harp. Excellent! On Lightnin' Hopkins' classic, Shotgun Blues , Holeman really has it stripped down to a basic electric guitar, kick drum and harmonica and it's as real as it gets. Holeman's expressive vocals feel like real pain … real blues. Hound Dog Taylor's masterpiece, (Give Me Back My) Wig gets my vote for favorite track with a relaxed (rather than HDT's high energy) attack. This is a great track and with Holeman's vocals and Walter's harp work, with solid supporting electric guitar and light cymbals. Wrapp...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kiss My Sass , from Annika Chambers , and it's a great mix of blues, soul and R&B tracks. Opening with rolling shuffle, Let The Sass Out, Chambers leads a powerful force with Corey Stoot and The Mighty Org on guitars, Greg Brown Jr. on drums, Larry Fulcher on bass and Anthony Terry on sax with Nicola Polar on backing vocals. Great opener. That's What You Made Me is a real nice R&B track with a heavy kick drum by Brannon McLeod and a great bass line by Fulcher. Chambers really gets in the groove on this one and glistening key work by Randy Wall and Polar's backing vocals ice the cake. Very nice. What's Your Thing is a really nice soulful track featuring Chambers with Ruthie Foster. With just the right amount of soul and steel guitar by the Mighty Org this is a really nice song.  Brand New Day is one of my favorites on the release with wailing slide in the background and a solid droning bass line...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release Tennessee Redemption and its strongly written and performed. Opening with Glad To Be , a solid radio track, Brandon Santini is up front on  harmonica, backed by Jeff Jensen on lead vocal and guitar, Timo Arthur on guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass and David Green on drums. With it's rumbling bass line and funky wah wah guitar rhythm, We Got A Thing Going On has a real cool sound. A swampy overall sound and nicely woven instruments, under Santini's super lead vocals makes this one of my favorites on the release. A dark underpinning on Leave My Body and Jensen's nice lead vocals create a lot of tension with an active bass line, particularly nice drum work by Green and nicely crafted guitar lead. This isn't your basic blues track and really has a lot going no. Definite cool track. Gospel flavored Come On Up To The House has a real nice laid back country feel with soothing lead vocal by Jensen and w...

Ghost Hounds Announces ‘Roses Are Black’ New Album Features Slash, Kenny Aronoff, Reese Wynans, and Michael Rhodes, Out Nov 5th   The band is on tour with ZZ Top this month and will play Bob Seger’s final-ever performance on November 1st   WATCH/SHARE the band’s live performance video for “Fire Under Water” – https://youtu.be/hE0rgl1jA28 On the heels of an opening performance with the Rolling Stones this summer, and the announcement of upcoming performances with ZZ Top and Bob Seger , Pittsburgh rock band GHOST HOUNDS ...

Quebec's Masterful Harmonicist   Guy Bélanger Set To Release Eldorado October 25 Bélanger's sixth solo album coming out via Bros Records Quebec’s most sought-after harmonica player, Guy Bélanger is set to release his 6th solo album, Eldorado on October 25th on Bros Records. This long-awaited new release features a mix of original blues songs and instrumental gems that highlight his remarkable melodic touch. Eldorado is another demonstration of the top-notch chemistry Bélanger and his band can attain in studio. This brilliant assemblage of original songs also contains a few surprising covers, of note a delta blues version of Prince's “Sign 'O The Times” and a joyous rendition of Van Morrison’s “Bright Side of the Road”.  With a storied career that has spanned more than four decades, Bélanger has worked with some of Quebec’s bi...