Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, This Girl , from James Holvay and it's a cool, retro soul release. Opening with Hot N' Heavy Love , a very danceable track with hints of Curtis Mayfield and strings underneath, Holvay on vocal and guitar, is joined by Les Falconer on drums, James Manning on bass, Stu Pearlman on keys and Ron Douglas, Cliff Curtis and Les Falconer on backing vocals.  Another slinky track, More of You , has the definite Chicago soul richness with strong vocals by Holvay. A real radio track, Whatever She Wants is right out of that 70's songbook and should play well to the radio. With cool horn backing by Larry McCabe and the Minneapolis Horns, this track is smooth. Wrapping the release is slow soul track, She's Gone Away , with easy, string backing and warm vocal backing. This is a real nice release with a definite retro feel.      If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Brad "Guitar" Wilson , by Brad Wilson and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with The Ballad of John Lee , Brad Wilson on guitar and vocal sets a terrific "John Lee Hooker" like boogie backed by Brian Beal on bass and Adam Gust on drums. With the addition of harmonica, this is a smoking opener. Cesta Ayers' track, Someday After Awhile gives Wilson the opportunity to shine on vocal and his guitar playing shows great feel. Backed by Beal, Peter Wolf on drums and Frankie Vriens, this track really simmers. Otis Rush's I Can't Quit You Baby retains much of Rush's original arrangement and at over 8 minutes gives Wilson a chance to really shine on guitar. His phrasing is strong and his vibrato tight and stinging. Backed by Oscar Huguet on bass and Adam Gust on drums, this is a strong addition to the set. Wrapping the release is blues rocker, Drivin' , with a contemporary radio feel. A...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, If I Were Your Woman , from Sidney Jacobs , and it's a cool mix or jazz, soul and R&B. Opening with breezy, We All... / On A Clear Day , Sidney Jacobs on keys and lead vocals shows vocal flexibility with warm backing by Munyungo Jackson on percussion, Josh Jackson on sax and flute, Chris Lawrence on trumpet, Josh Nelson on piano, Greg Poree on acoustic guitar, Nolan Shaheed on trumpet and flugel horn, Ricky Woodard on trumpet and some really nice trombone by Joakim Toftgaard. Weave This Tale really moves with scat vocals by Jacobs which work nicely with his strong piano playing and warm horn support. Very nice. A nice mix of jazz and R&B transforms Bernstein's I Feel Pretty into a contemporary radio track. I really like Jacobs' vocal interpretation of this track and this track swings. Title track and soul classic, If I Were Your Woman , gets a really nice work over with excellent vocals over a piano / ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Bitches Blues , from Sass Jordan and it's really quite good! Opening with Johnny Winter's, Still Alive and Well , Sass Jordan maintains Winter's gritty approach, joined by Steve Marriner on bass, Cassius Pereira on drums, Jesse O'Brien on keys and stinging guitar riffs by Chris Caddell and Jimmy Reid. Strong opener. O'Brien really digs on on piano on Even , a slow piano blues giving the spotlight to Jordan's vocals and she really shines on this one. Excellent! Mississippi Fred McDowell's You Gotta Move has a great delta feel with Caddell on slide and only the simplest percussion on the bottom, supporting Jordan's vocals. Very cool. Lowell George's Sailin Shoes is really a great selection for this band with strong slide work by Caddell and great vocal harmonies by Jordan, Caddell, Reid, Marriner and O'Brien. The band really pulls together tightly on this one but of particular note is the...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sugar Is My Name , by Sugar Harp and it's a solid release of classic blues sound. Opening with title track, Sugar Is My Name , Alabama harmonica player/singer Charles "Sugar Harp" Burroughs works over a cool, Little Walter vamp. Backed by Microwave Dave Gallagher on guitar, T-Bone Dupree on bass, Ardie Dean on drums, this is a solid opener.  On slow blues, How Come My Dog Don't Bark , Dan Hoctor provides a nice organ base with Dean on drums and Dupree on bass allowing wide open passage for Sugar to solo on harmonica. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release is I Don't Want A Soul Hangin' Round with it's simple bottom by Microwave Dave on guitar and just the simplest of bass and drums by T-Bone and Ardie. Sugar has a great story telling vocal pace and his harmonica playing is super. Getting a blues rock feel going with Microwave Dave setting the pace on Lemon Squeezin' Fool , S...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Learning Tree , from Mike Ian , and it's an interesting progressive rock adventure. Opening with A Pirate's Dream , songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Mike Ian uses his own layered vocals over bongos, synthesizer, and acoustic guitar creating a radio friendly progressive tale. On Cast In Stone , Ian's melodic strength is really nicely displayed again with vocal over acoustic and electric guitar, synthesizer and drums. Well crafted and executed, very commercially strong. Building on an acoustic guitar riff,  and enveloped in electric guitar additions, Saved slowly rises with additional layers of vocals, percussion, reverb saturated guitars, and synthesizer. With a solid melody, this may be my favorite track on the release. Something More Nothing Less opens quietly with only Ian and piano backed with some subtle synthesizer but grows with the addition of guitar and drums. Building to full bloom, Ian steps ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Animals (2018 Remix) (September 16, 2022)  from Pink Floyd and its terrific. I had the opportunity to play this newly redone 5.1 mix on a half plus million dollar hifi system and it really shines. I am lucky to have frequent access to this system so I have heard a lot of music through it but rarely review my cds through it. The music is really immersive and special effects like random dogs, birds (and barnyard animals) appear in different places in space throughout the listening space. Drum thumps are immense and seem much more crisp and more real, twin guitar leads are more distinct, Wrights synthesized keys are more floating  … a fabulous experience. Gilmores prime lead solo on opening track, Dogs seems to be placed squarely in front of me and live. Very cool. On Pigs on the Wing 1 Gilmore’s acoustic guitar and vocals are very present. On Pigs On the Wing 2 the vocal mix is even dryer and more real soun...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hello Mojo! , from Derrick Procell , and it's a solid contemporary blues release. Opening with Skin In The Game , Derrick Procell who covers lead vocal does a real nice job, supported by featuring Zac Harmon on guitar, Johnny McGhee on guitar, Richy Puga on drums, Dan Ferguson on keys, Bob Tenchard on bass, and a full horn section of Andy Roman on tenor and alto sax, Nick Flood on baritone and tenor sax, Mike Middleton on trumpet and Frank Otero on trombone. Strong opener. On Broken Promise with it's Latin rhythm, Procell adds in some real nice harmonica lead, sounding influenced by Lee Oscar. With backing vocal by Sueann Carwell, Meredith Colby and Jessica Ivey, this has a smooth radio styling. Baby I'm Lost , with it's cool rhythm has a cool, relaxed feel. Procell on lead and harmonica with his rich backing vocalists and with the addition of Munyungo Jackson on percussion makes for another cool radio tra...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bioluminate , from Circus Mind and it's a cool, New Orleans, swampy set. Opening with funky, West End Road , Mark Rechler on vocal and keys leads the way with Chris Crosby on bass, Dan Roth on drums and Steve Finkelstein on percussion with some real nice guitar by David Berg, and the solid horn backing of Michael Amendola on sax, Pablo Rodriguez on trombone, Damien Pacheco on trumpet and Richard Bonzer on bari sax. Very cool. Baby Come Back Down is ultra funky with great percussion over a tight drum rhythm and bass line, and featuring Marc Paradis on guitar and strong vocal work by Rechler. Miss Fortune has a really cool progressive rock overtone and cool backing vocals with strong guitar work by Nels Cline. Excellent! Wrapping the release is blues rocker, Vampire Blues , with it's bass romping lead by Mathew Fox, guitar by Mathew Godfrey and melodic key work by Rechler. This is a cool release with plenty of coo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (9/19/2022), Through With Cool , by Al Basile and it may be my favorite yet. Opening with Keep On Living , with a cool Latin beat by Mark Teixeira on drums and Brad Hallen on bass we're off to a great start. Basile who sings and plays cornet really rides the slot and just seems to hit it perfectly with Bruce Bears on keys and Kid Andersen provides some real nice guitar effects, all backed by Doug James on sax and Doc Chanonhouse on trumpet. Super opener. On blues swinger, I'm Waiting has a real nice feel with Chanonhouse on trumpet, punctuating Basile's vocal lead and Andersen's guitar style is terrific as always. Basile lays in a cool muted cornet solo giving the track an overall jazz approach giving it yet one more dimension. Very nice. Uh Huh is a cool strut with punchy horn work over the basic rhythm section supporting Basile's vocal. Basile lays in a cool cornet solo which is real nice but when An...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Points of View, from Bill Ortiz, and it's a cool fusion of Latin jazz and rock. Opening with Sunburst, ex Santana trumpet player Bill Ortiz leads off his third release with an exciting track. With Matt Clark setting a piano vamp, and Dennis Chambers on drums, Sunburst follows in the footsteps of the great horn players of jazz with his muted horn and beautiful phrasing over the well crafted ocean of sound. Ortiz does pull his mute and continues solid lead work over a driving drum line and agressive piano work. Very nice. On Alex the Great, a super rhythm section of Dennis Chambers on drums, Marcus Shelby on bass, John Santos on percussion and Javier Navarrette on percussion, this bottom is tight. Brian Jackson lays down a real nice piano theme and Ortiz on trumpet and Azar Lawrence on sax really push the track on lead. Excellent track. Ain't Gon Change A Thang has a really fine groove set by Chambers, Navarrette and S...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Louisiana Record , from Jimmy Carpenter and it's a heaping bowl of Louisiana blues. Opening with Smiley Lewis' I Hear You Knocking , made popular by Dave Edmunds in the 70's. This track with all the trimmings has a real NO R&B feel with Carpenter on vocal and sax, Mike Zito on guitar, Casandra Faulconer on bass, Wayne Maureau on drums and John Gros with excellent piano and organ work. Super start. Carpenter blows a solid intro on Something You Got and his vocals really work nicely with spot on piano work by Gros. Another track with great piano rolls is Travelin' Mood and Carpenter balances his vocal with sax lead and Zito's slide work really adds some nice grease. With a Latin drum rhythm, Cry To Me really shows Carpenter's lead vocal qualities and his sax soloing balanced with Zito's guitar articulation really works nicely. Earl King's Those Lonely Lonely Nights is another classi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Into Your Blues , from Johnny Sansone and it's got great style. Opening with title track, Into Your Blues, Johnny Sansone on harmonica, resonator guitar and lead vocal sets a cool, slinky pace. With Mike Morgan and Johnny Burgin on electric guitar, Jeffrey Bridges on bass, John Milham on drums, Tom Worrell on piano, Chris Spies on B3, Brad Walker on sax, Steve Lands on trumpet and Michael Sinkus on congos, bongos and tambourine, this is a solid opener. On Chicago style blues, Pay For This Song , Sansone gets in the slot with a super low slung lope and guitar riff by Burgin. Sansone blows some of his classic harmonica riffs giving the track a real Chicago feel. Jason Ricci guests on Blowin' Fire , an up tempo blues rocker. With solid vocals by Ricci and his flaming harmonica style, this is a great addition. Little Freddie King is featured on vocal and guitar on Willie's Juke Joint, a simple John Lee Hooker st...

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Remain , from Bywater Call and it's a cool, modern, southern flavored, funk fused rocker. Opening with Falls Away , Meghan Parnell on lead vocal, shows clear command of the track with Dave Barns on guitar, Stephen Dyte on trumpet and trombone, Bruce McCarthy on drums, Mike Meusel on bass, Julian Nalli on sax and Alan Zemaitis on keys. I particularly like the stiff drum rhythm by McCarthy played against the lush slide work of Barnes. Great opener. Title track, Remain , has all of the components of a top radio track with it's sweet, memorable melody, strong vocals and instrumental arrangement with just the right amount of guitar. Let Me Be Wrong has a lot of sting with it's R&B beat and excellent vocals by Parnell and warm keyboard / vocal backing. Meusel sets a great bass posture on Sea We Swim and with McCarthy on drums, Zemaitis on keys and full horn support of Dyte. Parnell really swings it vocally making t...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let's Go , from The Hungry Williams and it's a swinging R&B party. Opening with Mardi Gras Days , Kelli Gonzalez on lead vocal rides high on a real New Orleans flavor. With Mike Sieger on bass, Joe Vent on guitar, Jack Stewart on keys, John Carr on drums, Jason Goldsmith on sax and featuring Lech Wierzynski on trumpet this is an energetic track. You'd Better Find Yourself Another Fool , oozes 50's R&B and Gonzalez really nails it. A solid sax solo by Casimir Riley is the gem added to this really strong track. Big Maybelle's One Monkey Don't Stop No Show has always been an era favorite and with great vocals by Gonzalez and a sweet solo by Goldsmith, this is one of my favorites on the release. Goldsmith really wails on Oooh-wow , another New Orleans R&B classic featuring Vent on lead vocal. Wrapping the release is original track, 669 (Across the Street from the Beast) . A basic swing jam,...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Oh Suzana Blues , from David Owen and it's solid acoustic country blues. Opening with Soul of a Sullen Man, David Owen on vocal, harmonica and guitar is joined by Dominic Davis on bass and Fats Kaplin on violin. Very nice in a Rev Gary Davis style. On All Folks Get The Blues , Owen takes to a Piedmont style picking, complimenting his vocal with harmonica with special guest Colin Linden adding guitar as well. Very nice. Bankruptcy Blues is a cool, delta style blues with Owen on vocal, harmonica and guitar. This track has a real Mali undertone giving it a rich delta feel. Title track, Oh Suzana Blues is a real simple country folk blues with it's straightforward approach and vocal dominance. Wrapping the release is So Lonesome Without You , a cool folk track featuring Owen on vocal and harmonica and Colin Linden on dobro. Nicely crafted and presented, this is a solid closer for a cool acoustic release.    ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Scream, Holler & Howl , from Blue Moon Marquee , and it's a cool blend of blues, swing gypsy jazz and more. Opening with title track, Scream, Holler and How l, Blue Moon Marquee (A.W. Cardinal - vocal and guitar and Jasmine Colette - bass) gets this newest release (September 9, 2022) moving with a cool variation on a Howlin' Wolf theme with a spin. Backed by Darcy Phillips on Hammond, Matt Pease on drums Jerry Cook on sax this is a cool opener. Hound Dog On A Chain is a strong blues rocker with a driving bottom. With Colette on vocal and bass, and Cardinal on guitar really gets moving with a Booker T kind of sound complimented by Phillips' organ work. Lowlands has an early jazz sound with definite bluesy roots. With Colette on lead vocal and Bonnie Northgraves on sassy trumpet, this is a very cool track. Slinky, Come On Down really has a nice feel thanks to the snappy underpinnings by Pease on drums and C...