Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (October 22, 2021), Pinky's Blues , from Sue Foley and I think it's her best yet! Opening with title track, Pinky's Blues, Foley digs in on guitar, establishing that this is a going to be a blues guitar release right up front. Her riffs are stinging and relentless. Angela Strehli's blues strut, Two Bit Texas Town has a great aggressive, Willie Dixon feel featuring Foley on vocal and with vicious SRV like riffs,  Jon Penner on bass, and Chris Layton on drums. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Southern Men and it's story telling format. Foley not only does a great job on vocal  but with bends and a lot of vibrato, really whammy's this track. Excellent! Another Strehli penned track, Say It's Not So really works nicely with rich vocals and double stopped rhythm work by Foley. Here soloing throughout is really nicely phrased and emotional. Excellent! Clarence Gatemouth Brown's Okie Dok...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mighty Fine: An Austin City Limits Tribute To Walter Hyatt and it's a star studded release jam packed with great music. This is a recording containing 11 tracks from a tribute show for Hyatt's wife and children in 1977 and broadcast on Austin City Limits. Hyatt was killed in a 1996 ValueJet plane crash in 1996 (as well as bonus recordings). Opening with As The Crow Flies , with Willis Alan Ramsey and King Tears Band the sound is tight and warm. With Rick Plant on bass, guitar and vocal, Billy Block on drums and Rick Gordon on lead guitar and vocal this is a solid opener. Georgia Rose is a strong Country and Western track really featuring Jimmie Dale Gilmore's vocal and Brad Fordham on bass and Rob Gjersoe on guitar. Marcia Ball amps things up on Are We there Yet Momma with her trademark vocal and with John Simon on piano and Jim Hoke on sax. Very cool. Motor City Man features Allison Moorer does a real nice ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sun Come and Shine , from Jennifer Porter and it's a fine blend of pop, blues and R&B. Opening with title track, Sun Come and Shine , Porter shows a refined voice with easy presentation and soft clarity, backing herself on B3, and joined by Audrey Wheeler Downing, Layonne Holmes, and Kim Davis on backing vocals, Bernard Purdie on drums, Wilbur Bascombe on bass, Miho Nobuzane on piano, George Naha on guitars and Rob Paparozzi on harmonica. With a full King Curtis like sway, Satin Shoes is a real strong composition. Dan Boone's bass line leads the track nicely and Porter's voice seems to float above the instrumentation with Steve Jankowski on trumpet, Tom Timko on tenor sax  and Downing, Holmes and Davis on backing vocals. Very nice. Another R&B style track, You're So Easy To Be With , features some fine piano work by Porter to compliment he solid vocals. Boone's bass line, complimenting C.J. Che...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just Me and My Friend (s) by Charlie Barath and it's quite good. Opening with a refined field holler, The Forgotten Man , It's just Charlie Sutton on vocal and Barath on harmonica. I really like this track as an opener with it's entry to the blues and it's basic simplicity.  Breaking into a full blues rocker, Travelin' Woman gives Barath the opening to show his Chicago style harmonica skills, backed by Jimmy Adler on guitar, Mike Law on bass, Gordon Grottenthaler on drums and John Burgh on organ. Really nice. Another change in directions on Ohio , with it's back country (almost western) folk style. I really like this track with Barath leading on vocal and harmonica, adding Jeff Scheller on acoustic bass, Pete Freeman on dobro, Ray Bruckman on mandolin and fiddle. Excellent! Open the swinging doors and welcome in full honky tonk country and western, Little Turtle Nightlight . With Sam Stuckey join...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Modern Nostalgia , from Hughes Taylor and it's a cool flashback on blues interpretation over the past 50 years. Opening with bluesy rocker, Treat Me Right , lead vocalist and guitar player Hughes Taylor sounds like a well seasoned rocker. With tight bass and drum rhythm and his own rhythm guitar riffs, Hughes gets a cool groove and his KW Shepherd like slashing lead makes this opener a prime radio track. Easy paced, Dreamily blends contemporary rock music, with Dicky Betts guitar phrasing and Allman Brothers dual guitar leads to create a solid and familiar feel. Rocker, Highwayman , is one of my favorites on the release with a driving rhythm and ragtag slide work. Paired lead vocal and prime Savoy Brown like construction and Kim Simmonds style soloing makes this an ass kicker. Trouble is my favorite track on the release with a Blind Faith kind of intro and soulful vocals. I really do appreciate the Clapton like riff...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (September 20, 2021), Blind Faith , from Jimmy Carter (Co-Founding member of The Blind Boys of Alabama) and it takes pieces of a number of genres of music and blends them together nicely. Opening with After The Storm , Carter on lead vocal, is joined by Joey Williams with some nicely finessed gypsy style guitar, Ryan Joseph on violin, Steven Ray Ladson on bass and tidy drum rhythms by Chris Marshak. Solid opener. With a cool R&B feel, Dream On, has a snappy rhythm and super backing vocals. With a firm bass line. forward trombone solo by Freddie Lonzo, and piano backing by Max Leake, this is one of my favorites on the release. Charlie Musselwhite  lays in some nice harmonica work on Find Your Way Home with the addition of Joseph on violin, and a jazzy piano solo by Peter Levin. Wrapping the release is blues shuffle/gospel track, Why Me , with Musselwhite, on harmonica, Ron Pullman on guitar and powerful choral...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Awake , from Mala Oreen and it is really strong. Opening with Ragged Queen , a crystal clear composition of folk style music with Mala Oreen on lead vocal and guitar, and with sweet dobro slide by Fats Kaplin and Joshua Brit on mandolin my first impression is this music was not created in the US as the sound is so pure and beautiful. Oreen's voice is so authentic and untouched it makes you question how. Excellent!  Another track which takes best advantage of the purity of Oreen's voice is Soldier On, with acoustic guitar, minimal backing vocals by Garrison Starr and warm cello by Chelsea McGough. Title track, Awake is another beautifully pure composition with Oreen's vocal, poised with her own violin work and acoustic guitar by Donegan. Mosiac has just a little more American open country style but with a still "untouched" by the American music business feel. Wrapping the release is Untied , a reall...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release,  BASSic Instinct , by David Finck , and it's got a cool underlying Brazilian jazz feel. Opening with title track,  BASSic Instinct , David Finck on bass is joined by Quinn Johnson on keys, Teo Lima on drums, Ryan Quigley on trumpet, Mike Davis on trombone and in includes strong solo work by Finck and Andy Snitzer on tenor sax. Excellent opener.   Dearly Beloved had a terrific salsa rhythm, with Finck soloing on bass and Snitzer again running a great solo lead on sax and strong contributions by Johnson on piano, Kevin Winard on drums and percussion, Davis with a wicked solo on trombone and Barry Danielian on trumpet. Very strong. Bateu, Levou/Who's Wrong or Right?  features Teka Penteriche and Trist Curless on great lead vocal. This is a terrific track that should get hard radio play based on melody and vocal only and it also includes strong instrumental backing by Nelson Faria on guitar, J...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Out There , by Dan Ashley and it's packed full of likely radio tracks. Opening with River City vocalist Dan Ashley sets the pace with a rock pace. With hints of John Cougar and straight up radio rockers, Ashley is joined by Bill Bentley on guitar, bass and keys, Mike Vanderhule on drums and Cornell CC Carter, Angela Ashley and Angeline Bentley on backing vocals they should appeal to the Boston fans. Lucky Stars in a solid ballad featuring Ashley's vocals with rich backing vocal tones and primarily keyboard accompaniment by Ben Flint and clean violin work by Deb Ashley. Title track, Out There , has a funkier beat and a punchy bottom. Rich blended backing vocals are the trademark of this band with low growling guitar lead by Bentley. Feel The Heat is a straight up rocker with a tight drum beat/rhythm guitar setting and a rumbling bass line. Wrapping the release is solid radio track, Now and Again . With it's mem...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Energy Overload , from Carmine Appice-Fernando Perdomo Project and it is packed with energy. Opening with Blown Speaker Boogie , the band leaves no room for misunderstanding...they are here to rock. With the firm bottom of Appice (ex Vanilla Fudge and Jeff Beck) on drums and accomplished guitarist, Fernando Perdomo on bass and guitar, this track is hopping. Perdomo plays solid blues rock riffs against his own aggressive bass riffs and fluid progressive rock guitar lead. Very cool. Title track, Energy Overload is a hot rocker with both partners on overdrive. Perdomo adds fluid keyboard work to this already powerful mix of bass and guitar paired with Appice on drums for a driving Steve Morse vibe. Rocket To The Sun is a progressive rocker with a dynamic drum bottom and driving guitar vamp. Great driving music! One track on this release really stands out for me and that's McCartney's Maybe I'm Amazed . Taken at...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (October 22, 2021), Ready For You , from Luca Kiella and it's a happy go lucky pop release with plenty of energy. Opening with Till Tomorrow , with it's New Orleans rhythm. Kiella, who sings and plays keys is joined by Aaron Weistrop on guitar, Paul Hall on drums, William Baggett on bass, Michelle Hallman on backing vocals, Mark Mullins on trombone, Bobby Campo on trumpet and Brad Walker on tenor sax. R&B styling on Desperate Train to Nowhere shows a solid radio melody with nicely paired vocals and warm Wurlitzer backing. Funk peppered Ready for You has just the right spring to appeal to the adult radio audience. With it's memorable melody and vocal work, it's a solid entry. Another track with a cool New Orleans style rhythm is Wanna Love You Tonight . Kiella really has the piano roll down and Hall's drum rhythm really take control and Baggett's bass line is spot on. Wrapping the release is Is ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (October 22, 2021), City Country City , by Jason Ricci and Joe Krown and it's really meaty. Opening with Jazz /Rock/Soul band, WAR, classic and title track, City Country City , Joe Krown plays a B3 soaked intro working into the lush melody played by Jason Ricci and snappy drum work by Doug Belote. Cool jam over a potent theme. Krown's blues shuffle, Down N' Dirty is a great jam based around a strong B3 framework by Krown giving him sufficient space to grow the concept and giving Ricci all of the room he needs to play his own style of harmonica which I think may be the best around right now. Guy is melodic, creative and emotional. Excellent! Ricci's New Orleans blues, Badger The Witness , give Ricci the opportunity to front on vocals and he does a great job. Krown's keyboard work is strong and Belote's drum work really killer. Joe Sample's funky jazz number, My Mama Told Me So, really works well...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (October 15, 2021), Soul Shaker , from Robbin Kapsalis & Vintage #18 , and I really like it. Opening with Jr Wells' Shake It Baby , Kapsalis gets into a massive James Brown style groove with excellent vocals, hot guitar riffs by Bill Holter, Alex Kuldell on drums, Mark Chandler on bass and Ron Holloway on sax. Excellent opener.  With an aggressive walking bass line on  Lost Souls , Vintage #18 really grooves. Holloway and Holter really work the solo space and Kapsalis' vocal is rich and fluid. Boogaloo is another track in the JB vein and Holloway and Holter again take nice stretches and Thomas Williams adds in some real nice trumpet. Blues shuffle, Living Large really carries a lot of weight with some of Holter's hottest guitar work on the release and Kapsalis showing strong vocals end to end. Excellent! An update on classic jazz track, Fever, is steamy. Kapsalis' vocals are deep and rich, excellent ba...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In My Mind, by Ilana Katz Katz and it's an interesting, pop/blues release. Opening with title track, In My Mind , Katz on lead vocal and fiddle sets contemporary pop stage, backed by Johnny Burgin on guitar, Stephen Dougherty on drums and Chris Matheos on bass. Burgin leads off on shuffle, Woman, Play the Blues with traditional delta style riffs. Katz's shows a certain juxtaposition with her contemporary vocal styling and her bluegrass approach on fiddle in this setting. Very interesting. Burgin opens Shuffle/boogie, Won't Pass Me By with a classic Walker style intro, and Katz's simple vocal/fiddle styling. Very cool. On Well, Well Blues Burgin steps up with some of his signature licks. Katz's vocals are some of the best on the release making this my choice for best on the release. Hangman's Reel is another of my favorites with a total venture from the blues to traditional bluegrass. Katz cover...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, BadNews Rising , by Chris BadNews Barnes and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with You Wanna Rock? You Gotta Learn The Blues , Barnes has a good start. In the footsteps of Joe Walsh's Rocky Mtn Way, this track has a great droning bass line  Tommy MacDonald and sweet slide work by Pat Buchanan as well as tight drum work by Tom Hambridge and keys by Kevin McKendree. On piano boogie, My Baby Be Cray Cray Cray , Barnes really delivers vocally and McKendree's piano work is strong. Rachael and Sarah Hambridge add solid backing vocals and Max Abrams on sax and Steve Patrick on trumpet enrich the mix. The Creamy Caramel Cafe opens with a seductive harmonica lead by Buchanan, continuing with suggestive lyrics by Barnes over a subdued funk rhythm. A great rhythm and clever lyrics give this track just the right fuel to deliver. ZZ Top like boogie, Kettle Black is probably my favorite track on the release with a driving...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (November 15, 2021), Welcome To The Land , from Memphissippi Sounds and it's quite cool. Opening with Who's Gonna Ride, Damion Pearson on vocal, harmonica and guitar and Cam Kimbrough on vocal, drums and guitar set a solid Mississippi hill Country groove. Not hard to draw a direct line from Cam to his grandfather Junior Kimbrough. The duo's exuberance is exciting and dynamic. Groove With Me really is a potent track with a relentless guitar vamp, drum stomp and wailing vocal. Excellent. Crossroads is a cool blend between Hill Country style and contemporary funk. With a stiff foot drum, snare beat, harmonica, vocals and guitar riffs, this is a loose jam. High & Low is really anchored tightly by the drum beat of Kimbrough. With it's steady guitar lead and complimentary harmonica wail, this track is anchored to the Mississippi soil. Wrapping the release is Look Out For The Wolf, a solid boogie with a st...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Moe Betta Blues , from Miss Lady Blues and it blends blues, soul, R&B and funk for a solid sound. Opening with Back It Up With That Lip , Dexter Allen lays down a droning bass line, for the strong lead vocal of MLB, with Joey Robinson on drums and organ. Solid opener. Hi stepping, She Ain't Me has a real moving bottom with cool electric lead by Allen and contributions by Robinson on drums and keys. Addicted is a smooth soul track with warm backing vocals by Allen. This is a strong radio track with a smooth melody and perfect balance. Another R&B track, Loving You will also play strong to the radio audience with super vocals and a great feel. Wrapping the release is Can't Be Love with a muted arpeggiated guitar line and hot lead guitar work under the melody giving the track a real smoldering feel. Excellent closer.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to l...