Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The River's Invitation , by Robert Allen Parker is it's quite entertaining. Opening with rocker, The Sound Of A Revolution , a vibrant instrumental with smoking drums by Paul Taylor, Brian Wells and Howard Grimes, Parker on guitars and Gerald Stephens  on keys. My favorite track on the release is traditional Jesus Is On The Main Line with great slide by Parker and strong vocal work by Kennard Farmer, Sheba Potts- Wright and Hope Clayburn. Excellent! Indian Dream / 1 Way 2 Fly is a cool track with soaring violin work by Krista Lynne and Cello by Jana Misener, breaking into a crisp, Kink's like rocker. Farmer is again up front on lead vocal with Parker setting a guitar rocking feel and offering up some cool blues rock riffs. Progressive jazz rocker, The Movement, features Stephens on keys and cool Latin percussion by Michael Alan Todd and Melvin Turner under fluid Latin rock guitar riffs. Very cool. Another of...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'm A Tiger , from Tokyo Tramps and it's a pop blues rocker. Opening with I'll Stay And Take Care of You , a rocking track with a cool back beat features Satoru Nakagawa on vocal and guitar, Yukiko Fujii on bass, keys and vocals and Tim Carman on drums, percussion and vocals. Pop ballad and title track, I'm A Tiger features Fujii on lead vocal and shimmery guitar work by Nakagawa on guitar. Long Day has a cool New Orleans flavor with funky drums and percussion work by Carman and grinding blues guitar ruffs by Nakagawa. Wrapping the release is instrumental, Lovin' Man , with it's quiet ballad like form and featuring Nakagawa on lead guitar melody.  Overdubbing additional guitar soloing in layers, this is a cool closer.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook P...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Volume 3  from Blind Racoon Nola Blue Collection and it's chocked full of tasty tracks. Opening with Time To Forget You , from Willie Bo Walker and Danny Flam , a slow paced blues track with screaming slide and fat horns is always a great start. John Nemeth 's contribution, I Can See Your Love Shine , has a cool modified reggae beat with some tasty guitar and harp work with a poppy feel. Clarence Spady 's, Surrender is a warm, slow blues with cool, soulful vocals, tight, nicely phrased guitar riffs and crystal clear piano. Laura Tate 's I Need A Man , features solid vocals and with punchy horns and snappy drums, and really nice piano work, commands attention. CD Woodbury performs classic, Can't Eat That Stuff No More , with plenty of humor and spunk. Dudley Taft blends blues and rock for The End Of The Blues , with his own stylistic boogie rock and rock guitar styling. Rocker, Memphis Hotline , is Bri...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (March 26, 2021 ... today ), Volume 2 from New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers and it's really strong. Opening with Blues For Yesterday, Charlie Musselwhite on lead vocal and harmonica sets a Chicago feel with Alvin Youngblood Hart on guitar, Jimbo Mathus on guitar, Jim Dickenson on piano, Luther Dickinson on guitar, Cody Dickinson on drums and Chris Chew on bass. On Doug Sham's She's About A Mover , Alvin Youngblood Hart has the lead vocal spot and Musselwhite lays in some really nice harmonica. Jimbo Mathus has lead vocal on Searchlight , probably the most Chicago I've heard form Mathus since his work with Buddy Guy. A solid bass line from Chew and well placed guitar and harmonica work makes this track fly. Charles Mingus' Oh Lord, Don't let Them Drop That Atom Bomb is a really nice showcase for Jim Dickinson on piano and vocal. This is a truly soulful track and one of the highlights of the rele...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Blues Proper Sessions Vol. 2 , from Shakin' Woods and it's a cool mix of blues and pop. Opening with blues jam, Enemy , with it's slow, electric blues roots. With singer/guitarist Rich Russman leading the way, this is a strong opener with firey riffs and solid backing by Austin Day on keys and Paul Dudley on drums, this is a solid opener. On Robert Johnson penned, I Believe I'll Dust My Broom with it's strong nod to Elmore James, Day takes over lead vocal and lays down some real nice slide guitar. Wrapping the release is Peter Green's Long Grey Mare with a cool British rock rhythm guitar and bass and lead harmonica work by Rob Paparozzi. Cool closer.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience fo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, No Running From The Blues , from Reverend Randy Mac , and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with title track, No Running From The Blues , lead singer Richard Fidge, is joined by Randy Mac on guitar and bass, Timothy Sears on drums, Neil Barbu-Rip on organ, Kim Lange on backing vocal, Dennis Orris on piano and Eric Noffz on sax. With it's rockfunky bottom and strong drum rhythm and blues based guitar soloing, the band is off and running. With a rocking, walking bass line, Have A Good Time really gets moving and with power, John Lord like organ work by Barbu-Rip and a rowdy guitar solo by Randy Mac this track is a mover. Another funky rocker, So Mean , has a cool edge and features a thumping bass solo and flaming guitar solo by Randy Mac. My favorite track on the release is Are You Ready with rocking rim shot and a driving bass line. Up tempo boogie, Fools Paradise , has a great beat and with power organ and tight ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dance Songs For Hard Times (April 9, 2021), from Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band and it's gritty and solid. Opening with Ways and Means , with it's raw, Hill Country like sound. Peyton on lead vocal and guitar and backed by Breezy Peyton on washboard, percussion and vocal and Sad Max Senteney on drums, percussion and vocal, this track has real stones. It's primitive rhythm and sparse instrumentation, it's what blues is all about. Excellent opener. Rocker, Rattle Can is propelled by slide guitar and driving percussion. Peyton really winds it out on this one and his call response with Breezy is terrific.  No Tellin' When, a real blues, with authentic style vocals and guitar percussion is the real deal. This is the kind of track that reflects the real power in the Son House and Lightning Hopkins recordings. Very nice. Sad Song not only has the grit of original blues but also the undercut funk of Little...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (April 2, 2021), Living In The Last Days , from Elizabeth King and it's deeply spiritual. King, who was never expected to walk again after a terrible auto accident in 1969 took her first steps and pledged herself to the Lord. King quite recording sacred soul in the mid seventies concentrating on raising her 15 children. Her new release opens with No Ways Tired , a soulful track with the powerful lead vocal of King, backed by Will Sexton on guitar, Mark Stuart on bass, George Sluppick on drums and Matt Ross - Spang on guitar plus Al Gamble on organ, rick Steff on organ, Chris Barnes on vocal, Courtney Barnes on vocals Art Edmaiston on horns, Jim Spake on horns and on vocal and Wurlitzer. Stuart's bass line sets a cool theme for the track and King's vocals are powerful. With a distinct, almost Muscle Shoals like sound, this is a solid opener. With it's R&B styling but with the revival uplift, Living In The...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Peanuts , from Sauce Boss , and I think it's his best yet. Taken from the original score for the Jimmy Carter film, Jimmy Carter Rock & Roll President, this release opens with Let the Big Dog Eat , a romping rocker with a heavy bass line by Majic John Jones and rowdy vocals by Boss, backed by Pat Ramsey on harmonica, Lucky Peterson on organ, and Shannon Kori on drums. Zipper Bird is a cool blues rocker with Boss winding it out nicely on slide guitar. Very cool. Slinky, Alligator , is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a funky back beat and with Ramsey answering Boss's wailing vocal call on harmonica over a strong bass line. Very cool. Outlaw Blues is a raw, blues specifically working Boss' slide work and holler vocals over a driving drum beat. Gotta love this. Out In The Night is a strong rock jam that I would associate with Joe Walsh's style. It has pure blues rock bones and elevated guitar...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (March 26, 2021), Alafia Moon , from Damon Fowler and it is a healthy dose of blues rock with a plenty of slide. Opening with Live It Alone , a cool, swampy, rocker, Fowler on slide and vocal leads the way with Chuck Riley on bass, Justin Headley on drums, T.C. Carr wailing on harmonica, Mike Kach on keys, Betty Fox on backing vocals, this is a great opener. Title track, Alafia Moon is a strong, country blues ballad with a great melody and warm backing vocals. Kach's organ work gives it a rich, almost spiritual feel and backing vocals add almost a contemporary Pink Floyd feel. I really like this track with it's rich core. Light, finger picked, The Guitar , is a really cool track with just a dash of Tex-Mex. Fowler really sounds comfortable in this story telling track and it's unassuming freshness. Hip To Your Trip is a modern funky blues, built around a framework of Broonzy's Key To The Highway. With a gre...

  I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Detroit Blues , from Danny Kroha and it's pretty exciting. Kroha, who takes a pure, primitive approach to the blues hits it square on the screws. Opening with Poor Howard , Kroha uses his basic tools, voice, guitar and foot stomp to make this early, country natural blues. This is pure music as if it came from the earth. Great opener. Simple rag, Detroit Blues , is simple and strong with Kroha singing and playing with no tricks. On diddley bow, Kroha sings Oh Death with the same conviction seen of Son House. This music is very straight forward and solid. Come out The Wilderness is another cool track with diddley bow slide work and strong blues roots. Kroha really works his craft giving the listener the sense that they are listening to an artist who is making music because he loves it rather than because it's popular. Very nice. Another rag track, Adam And Eve really plays up the period with kazoo and guitar. Working ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Up Next , from the Joe Lewis Band and I really like it. Opening with I Like It , obviously influenced by Hill Country music and with traces of Gary Clark, this track has a great bottom by Tom Cole on bass and Derrick Enyard on drums and strong vocals by Lewis who also plays lead guitar. Up tempo, Can I Get With You and it's walking guitar and bass lead sets a super feel for a mix between blues, rock, gospel and pop. Lewis isn't bashful on guitar really ramping up his short guitar blasts. Soulful, Broken Angel Of The Delta , is the definite radio track on the release with it's lush melody, super vocals and reverb soaked guitar work. Lewis will likely get strong airplay with this mix of vocal and bluesy guitar soloing. Very nice. With a funky soul feel, Do Drop Inn really has a nice groove with just the right rhythm guitar effort and minimal bass and drums to cradle Lewis' vocals and allowing an excellent ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, None More Blue , from Misty Blue and it's a cool, dark blues interpretation. Opening with My One and Only , lead singer, Gina Coleman sets the pace with a tight band. With Seth Fleischmann on guitar, Bill Patriquin on bass, Benny Kohn on keys, Rob Tatten on drums and Aaron Dean on sax, this is a solid opener. With strong lead guitar over a rumbling bass and drum rhythm, and wailing sax by Dean, this track is super. With a funky, jazzy, rhythm, These Two Veils is a mover with a great bass line and trumpet accents by Patriquin and sassy lead guitar by Fleischmann. Dean is always there with soulful sax lines and Kohn's glistening keyboard work adds nicely to Coleman's vocal lead. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Change My Luck , which puts me in mind of Muddy Waters. Gritty vocals by Coleman and nicely executed harmonica riffs by Ed Moran over great tension provided by Kohn's organ gives...

 I just had the opportunity top review the most recent release, Chicago Alley Blues , from Eddie Kold / Band featuring Larry Doc Watkins . The release opens with Telephone Man , a driving rocker, with Watkins on lead vocal and Eddie Kold on guitar, backed by  Benjamin Garcia on bass, Christian Wubben on drums, and Lukas Diehl on keys. Blues Man has a cool low slung feel and features Bernard Allison on lead guitar. Shuffle blues, Before You Accuse Me , features Omar Coleman on harmonica and Tom Holland on guitar and a solid rendition of Bo Diddley's classic blues track. Original track, Just A Dream , has a great bluesy feel and excellent vocal/guitar, call and response. Charlie Love guests on Gimme Back My Money , contributing vocal and harmonica. His distinctive vocal style is super and Kold rocks out nicely on guitar with classic blues riffs. Wrapping the release is Suicidal Blues , a slower blues track with soulful vocals by Watkins and cool piano backing by Millie Meckbach...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, What Is Real, from Trevor B. Power and it's a cool blend of blues, folk, rock and country. Opening with World Gone Madd , an upbeat blues rocker, Power on guitar vocal and guitar leads the way, backed by Anthony Krizan on drums, bass and guitar, Danielle Illario and Matt Migliorino on background vocal, John Ginty on B3 and Will Wilde on harmonica. Solid ballad, I'm Still In, has a strong melody and lead vocal by Power and with warm organ and tasty guitar accompaniment looking like the best radio track on the release. Easier Way has a conventional blues shuffle framework and cool slide work and harmonica accents by Power. Life Is Good is a straight up rocker with a forward drum beat and Chuck Berry bones. Rob Clores' addition of piano on this track really balances nicely with the lead guitar work by Power. Another ballad, I'm A Fool , has a quiet tempo and the feel of a gritty country western track with ad...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 2020 , from Amaury Faivre and it's a smooth, bluesy release. Opening with Amuse-Bouche , Faivre shows his well honed harmonica prowess on harmonica and a blues style train riff. Solid ballad, Sister , has a nicely composed melody with arpeggiated  acoustic guitar and warm, harmony played on harmonica under the soulful vocals of Faivre. Rag style blues track, Kinda Girl , blends contemporary styling and rag finger picking for a clean little track. Faivre's vocals and harmonica work nicely to hit radio waves. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Even More , with it's dark overtones and isolated lead vocal. Faivre's guitar attack works really nicely with his harmonica wailing creating musical tension. Very nice. Another radio prominent track, Best Thing For You , has a strong melody and straightforward guitar accompaniment with cool slide under Faivre's vocals. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a q...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ghosts , from Aris Paul Band and it's a cool country blues rocker. Opening with Astray , a modern, country fuser blues rocker, Aris Paul on vocal and guitar is upfront with Aaron Wagner on drums, Matt Scott on bass and Keith Quinn on organ. With it's driving rock rhythm and slide guitar riffs, this is a solid opener. Title track, Ghosts , has a memorable radio format melody and features The Soulville Horns (Phil Brontz on sax, Steve Graham on trombone and George Arner on trumpet). Paul stretches a bit on guitar giving this track a nice kick but it's really about the melody on this track. Bluesy ballad, All Night Long has a lot of appeal with heavy organ and nicely overdriven guitar solos complimenting soulful vocals by Paul. Little White Screen is my selection for best track with it's high energy pace, gritty guitar lead and solid vocals. Wrapping the release is Rust , is a straight up rocker with cool voc...