Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Better Days , from Cliff Stevens and it's it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Better Days , a solid rocker with a good SRV style swagger, features Cliff Stevens on lead guitar and vocal, Serge Dionne on bass, Eric Sauve on keys, and Sam Harrisson on drums. With a "southern rock" flavor, No Room Left has a nice ABB like feel ... I can almost hear Chuck Leavell on piano. With a strong radio melody and select guitar riffs, this is a strong radio contender. Another serious radio contender is Light Of An Angel with a pure pop ballad melody. Stevens does a nice job as vocal front man and paired with Kim Feeney on harmony and a melodic slide solo, pure radio gold. Bluesy ballad, I Love You Still , is my favorite track on the release with cool blues progressions and a strong melody. Stevens lets the music flow with some more aggressive soloing and fluid runs. Very nice. Blues shuffle, True Love has a great f...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Breathe In The World , Breathe Out Music , from Mike Stevens and it's a cool slice of contemporary blues/country influenced music. Opening with Like A Little Bird , harmonica master, Mike Stevens teams up with Polly Harris on lead vocal with a light reggae rhythm. Supporting are Jeff Getty on acoustic guitar, Kevin Breit on electric guitar, Art Kratchian on drums, and Jeff Bird on bass. Grumbling Old Man Grumbling Old Woman is a cool, jig featuring Stevens and Breit playing tandem melody/harmony lines over the tight rhythms of Getty and Kratchian. Very nice. Gordon Lightfoot's classic, The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald maintains it's easy approach but substitutes Breit and Stevens on melody giving the track a cool, folky feel. Bound by the solid acoustic playing of Getty and Kratchian, this is a strong entry. Jesse's Request is an interesting track with a really strong melody. With a lot of the characte...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Next Stop , by Gary Cain and it's a barn burner. Opening with Billionaires In Space , Canadian born, one man show, Gary Cain is a contemporary blues rocker with a lot of oomph. With a driving beat, and distortion saturated guitar riffs, Cain shifts it into overdrive and lets it fly. With a funky guitar rhythm, Gatekeeper has a foot stompin dance rhythm. Using ZZ Top like lead guitar offsets to emphasize the turnarounds,  and a wide open guitar solo, this track is very cool. In the Frank Marino/Jimi Hendrix vein, Keep On Comin has a strong, overdriven guitar riff to play around and his vocals are rock spot on. Precision drum rhythms give Cain firm footing to lay out his guitar wares and paired with himself on guitar 2, this track works well. Laying way back, Gone begins with intimate vocals and focused  quick stinging guitar accents but growing in intensity as the track progresses. With heavy distortion and...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Under The Stars , by San Gabriel 7 featuring Sinne Eeg and it's bright and airy.  Opening with Rocket Blues , Eeg on lead vocal sings in tandem with Jim Lewis on trombone, a quite agile melody lead, breaking to Chris Gordon on piano. With a firm, New Orleans flavor, rhythm by Johathan Pintoff on bass, Dave Holben on tuba, Randy Drake on drums and Scott Breadman on percussion, this track is nicely underway. Alex Budman on clarinet lays in a really nice solo, followed by Kye Palmer on trumpet. Very nice. Getting Along With Love is a cool radio track with a polished, Steely Dan feel. Eeg's vocal approach is strong and her presentation pure.  A smooth sway and dominant sax work by Glen Berger, backed by Palmer on trumpet gives this track a solid A. With it's Latin beat, I'm Feeling Good is a solid ballad with terrific vocals. Chad Edwards on keys works nicely with Budman's sax solo and warm horn backing, ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live In Memphis , from Ann Peebles & the Hi Rhythm Section and it's a cool, live, soul packed R&B release. Opening with If I Can't See You , Peebles on lead vocal sets the pace with her smooth delivery and backed by  David J Hudson and Tina Crawford on vocal, John Sangster on sax, Anthony Royal on trumpet, Dennis Bates on trombone, Leroy Hodges on bass, Charles Hodges on keys, Howard Grimes on drums and Thomas Bingham on guitar. Rolling into high stepper, Part Time Love , Peebles really has the groove moving. With a super bass line by Hodges and punchy trumpet by Royal, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. An excellent cover of I Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody's Home plays right into Peeble's wheelhouse. The horn work by Sangster, Royal and Bates really add balance to Peebles' lead. Wrapping the release is Peebles' bets know track, I Can't Stand The Rain , covered by many...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Unchange , from Gina Sicilia and it's a nice blend of soul, R&B, gospel and blues. Opening with Healing Time with all of the richness of sweet soul music, Gina Sicilia on lead vocal sets a great table. Backed by Ann and Regina McCrary wou have the best vocal backing money can buy and Kevin McKendree on organ is a terrific addition as well to the basic band of Colin Linden on guitar, Johnny Dymond on bass and Bryan Owings on drums. Great opener. How Far Am I From Canaan is a light take on a full blown gospel track with Sicilia singing acapella over the electric guitar accompaniment and excellent vocal backing of Linden. This is an impressive showcase for Sicilia's vocal prowess and brilliant contemporary interpretation of a traditional style gospel tune. On Rev Gary Davis' classic track, Death Don't Have No Mercy , Linden really opens nicely with reverb saturated blues guitar riffs. Sicilia takes a mor...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nu Jive: Nations United , by Troy Roberts and it's a full on energized groove. Opening with Funkafarian , Eric England on bass stets a prominent funk line, with a stiff snare chaser by David Chiverton on drums. Troy Roberts plays melody on sax with cool melodic highlights on keys by Silvano Monasterios. Tim Jago on guitar,  takes the first improvisational solo showing great style later followed by Monasterios on keys and a real nice solo by Roberts. Strong opener. Big Night In is a cool, funk based jam over a driving bass line by England. With the reverse of the bass line things turn from funky to contemplative giving Monasterios a broad sheet to paint with his keys. Punching the funk back up, Roberts cuts loose with an aggressive solo of his taking the jam even higher with additive compliments by all members. Very cool. Sobrino is a really interesting piece featuring England's creative bass work through his ped...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Carry On The Spirituals Vol. 2 , from Radha Botofasina and it's quite good. Opening with Satan We Gonna Tear Your Kingdon Down , Brooklyn born, Radah Botofasina presents a strong spiritual journey in music. Having a two decade long association with Alice Coltrane, Alice became her spiritual and musical mentor and gifted her her first harp. With Gemi Taylor on guitar, Botofasina on harp and lead vocal, John Barnes on synth and rhythms and the McCrary Sisters on backing vocals, this is a solid opener. With R&B influence over a definite gospel framework, Woman At The Well ,  features really nice call and response between Botofasina on lead vocal and backing vocals by Aankha Neal, Isabel Beyosa, Arianna Gouveia and Shyam Tony Reyes. With a Latin rhythm, gospel classic, Mary Don't You Weep , gets a contemporary makeover. Botofasina on lead vocal, backed by Neal, Beyoso, Gouveia and Reyes on backing vocal work nicel...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Straight From the Heart , from Kenny Neal and I like it quite well. Opening with Blues Keep Chasing Me , Kenny Neal sets a great funky blues pace. With a solid bass line by Darnell Neal, Arnet Hayes on piano, Brandon Adams on B3,  fat sax work by Jason Parfait, trumpet accents by Ian Smith and tight rhythms by Michael Harris, this is a solid opener. Cool blues, I'll Play The Blues For You has great pace and Neal's lead vocal and guitar are really clean and soulful. Horn backing by Parfait and Smith really adds a lot of punch, and the keyboard work of Adams and Henry really work nicely with the snappy drum work of Morris. Very nice. Louise Ana shows that New Orleans slow blues feel. With the melody carried by Lee Allen on bass, addition of Rockin Dopsie Je on washboard and Big Nate Williams on accordion, this track really has the sound. With a great walking bass line by Darnell Neal, I've Got To Tell Somebody ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Jazz Woman, The Reel To Real Sessions , from Nancy Kelly and it's one of a series of singles (two tracks) release from earlier in her career. Opening with Jazz Woman , an original composition with a cool, club feel. Backed by John Di Martino on piano, Ed Howard on bass, Freddie Hendrix on trumpet, Harry Allen on tenor, Carmen Intorre Jr, on drums, Wesley Amorim on guitar and Jimmy Johns on vibes, this track has a cool feel with super, muted trumpet lines by Hendrix. Latin rhythms permeate Move Over featuring Kelly's warm vocals and with light keyboard work by DiMartino and smooth sax lines by Allen. This is a short release but very nice and certainly radio ready.    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 for ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, G2 and You , from David Larsen and it's a straightforward instrumental jazz release. Opening with Angel Eyes , David Larsen on bari sax lays down a solid melodic lead line, backed by Danny McCollim on keys, Josh Skinner on bass, and Brendan McMurphy on drums. Larsen's tone is warm and his lead lines fluid and conservative. On Brubeck's,  In Your Own Sweet Way , Larsen shows a pure enjoyment of the artist's original arrangement. On original composition, Bright Days , Larsen pumps up the tempo and gets a solid jam going with aggressive rhythms by McMurphy on drums. With solid piano backing and a strong keys solo by Mc Collim, this is my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is another original composition by Larsen, Through and Through with a solid radio melody. Mc Collim stretches nicely on keys on the first solo stretch and Larsen returns with fine phrasing of his own. This is a pleasant rele...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues For Breakfast , by The Phantom Blues Band and it's a solid party. Originally formed as Taj Mahal's backing band, PBB began performing on their own and released their first release back in 2006. With a few changes in the lineup most significantly Les Lovitt replacing Darrell Leonard on trumpet and Jim Pugh replacing the nearly irreplaceable Mike Finnigan after his fight with cancer ending in 2021. This newest rendition of the band opens with a roaring  cover of I Take What I Want with Larry Fulcher on bass and lead vocals paired with Johnny Lee Schell on lead vocal and guitar. Backed by Tony Braunagel on drums, Joe Sublett on sax, Les Lovitt on trumpet and Jim Pugh on piano and organ this track has real juice. New Orleans flavored, She's Into Something has strong percussion by  Braunagel and the horn work of Joe Sublett and Les Lovitt really spices things up. Schell drops into a nice Texas style guita...

 I just had the opportunity to review the first full length release, Goin' Back , from Pierce Dipner , and it's a solid blues entry. Opening with Fool's Gold, with it's classic blues vamp, Pierce Dipner on vocal and guitar leads the way. Backed by Arnold Stagger on bass, Blaise Lanzetta on drums and Joe Munroe on keys, were off to a strong start. Empty Bed Blues has a strong Elmore James feel with his familiar slide riff but Dipner's vocal and instrumentation is all his. On slow blues, Tore Us Apart, Dipner's guitar lead is cradled nicely in the warm keyboard work of Munroe. His vocals are solid and his solo lines are original and set the tone nicely, punched up by Stagger and Lanzetta. On Sean Costello's No Half Steppin' , Dipner delivers on vocals with a more R&B feel, dressed nicely by Rick Matt on sax, JD Chaisson on trumpet and Reggie Watkins on trombone. Great radio track. Another R&B style track, Won't You Come Home has a real nice ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Trust , from Ian Wardenski Quintet and it's strong. Opening with Before Long , Ian Wardenski Quintet quickly establishes that they aren't to be taken lightly. Jerry Ascione on piano and Frank Russo on drums set up the format quickly joined by Mercedes Beckman on alto sax, Amy Shook on bass and Tamara Tucker on soprano vocal (as an instrument). Ian Wardenski steps up with his guitar presenting the first solo lead on guitar, followed Beckman on sax and Ascione on piano. Russo's rhythm is infectious giving the track a relentless groove. Exceptional opener. C Centric has a terrific feel, opened by Shook on bass and really featuring Russo on drums. Yes, Beckman steps up with a cool sax solo and Wardenski and Ascione solos as well with contributions by Tucker but I gotta tell you...it's all Russo on this track for me. Necessity Needs Another Mother has a more laid back feel with solid solo work by Shook, Ascione...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Next Year's Song , by Ce Ce Gable and it's a solid review of predominantly jazz vocal standards. Opening with original track, Next Year's Song , is a cool composition featuring Ce Ce Gable on vocal and really nice solo bass lead by Harvie S floating in lush piano work by Alan Broadbent, and Matt Wilson on drums. Henry Mancini's Two For The Road is smooth but Gable's vocals are crystal clear with complimentary guitar work by Roni Ben-Hur and light cymbal and snare work by Wilson. Latin salted, Like A Lover, has a great feel, Gable handling the lead vocal with deft finesse and crisp Latin guitar flavoring by Ben-Hur and the lightest of brush rhythm on drums by Wilson. I particularly like Gable's work on Moments Like Thi s. Broadbent's piano holds the structure of the track and Gable's vocals carry the melody in fine view. Very nice. Broadbent penned, From Me To You , has a great Latin rhythm...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Revelation , from Dennis Johnson and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Don Nix's Going Down , Dennis Johnson on lead vocal and guitar digs on on a traditional arrangement backed by Anton Fig on drums and with a steady bass line by Jonathan Stoyanoff and cool piano soloing by Bob Fridzema gets the party going. Talk To You is a great, driving rocker with a straight drum and bass line, super slide work by Johnson and aggressive keys. Robert Johnson's 32-20 Blues is up next and with a great rhythm really gets rockin. Dennis' adds super slide riffs to this already updated track for a totally contemporary feel. Very cool. Ramblin is a cool boogie with a power bass line and call and response between Johnson on vocal and slide. With Elmore James based riffs, this track hits a real nice groove. Wrapping the release is Don't Owe You A Thing with a terrific driving drum line. Johnson on vocal and slide gu...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wish Her Well , from Emma Wilson and it's a tight blend of blues, rock, soul and pop. Opening with title track,   Wish Her Well , a cool, stripped down blues track, Emma Wilson shows her cool, aloof, singing  style that works nicely with Mat Hector on drums. Contemporary soul infused pop track, Little Love Bite has a cool melody and nicely blended instrumentation by Hector on drums, Mark Neary on bass and keys, Adam Chetwood on guitars making it s solid radio track. Blossom Like Snow is an interesting blend of blues, soul and pop with a really nice melody and light instrumentation with a firm drum rhythm and rhythm guitar supporting the strong vocal of Wilson. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is slightly funky She Isn't You . Wilson's vocals, and a strong bass line by Neary gives this track a lot of wind in it's sails. Very cool. Driving rocker, Not Paying really stretches with a po...