Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Skeletone Machine , from Sweet Undertow and it's a bluesy rocker. Opening with Kingdom Come , a cool rocker led by Eddy Undertow on lead vocal and guitar, Jim Semitekol on slide guitar, Dave Tavel on drums, and John Eckstrom on bass. High energy rocker Rain Catch Flame , is a great track with some tight picking, wild slide and a firm rocker drum beat by Tavel. Excellent! Title track, Skeletone Machine , starts with acoustic guitar under a rocker just bursting at the seams but after a short simmer, Semitekol cranks up the electric guitar and Max Cowan on piano really gets this track rocking. I really like Soft Soft Sea with it's country rocker styling. Undertow's vocals are perfect and the addition of Steve Benzian really adds texture with Annie and Joshua Cook on backing vocals. Wrapping the release is Still Looking For You , a country flavored folk tune with solid vocals and acoustic guitar by Undertow. This...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Underground Blues , from Breezy Rodio and like every previous release, the music sails. Opening with Half Way in the Devil's Gate , Rodio lays down some real tension on lead vocal and sharing the guitar work with ace, Anson Funderburgh. Backed by Johnny Bradley on bass, Daniel C. Tabion on piano and organ, and Lorenzo Francocci on drums, I immediately know this release is going to be hot. Texas style blues, Playing My Game Too , has a really nice drum lead by Francocci and Funderburgh's guitar riffs against Rodio's vocals really set the trigger. Funderburgh always shows impeccable phrasing and Rodio's soulful vocals are spot on. Blues shuffle, The Murder is a real nice showcase for Josh Fulero on harmonica and Tabion's piano work balanced with Rodio on vocal and guitar gives the track real grip. Very nice. Slower blues, Lightning Strikes , is a nice stage for Rodio, on vocal and clean guitar lead. Stro...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, When You Call , from Matt Lomeo , and it's a lot of fun. Opening with One More 1&1 , a soulful track with definite Al Green feel. Matt's vocals are excellent and his harmonica playing strong, backed by Billy Watts on guitar, Terry Wilson on bass, James Cruce on drums, Kevin McKendree on organ, Darrell Leonard on horns, and Teresa James on backing vocals. Great opener. Another great R&B high stepper, When You Call , has great presence with Terry Wilson adding a nice slide part as well as vocals, and organ accents by McKendree. Take The Boulevard has a real nice feel nicely displaying the versatility of Lomeo's vocals. His phrasing is first rate creating a juicy texture. Very nice. Took My Bar And Left Me has a cool walking bass line by Wilson and well blended vocals by James and Lomeo. With solid keyboard work by McKendree and horn work by Leonard, this track has solid radio potential. Wrapping the relea...

 I had the pleasure to attend the Joe Bonamassa concert at the Arizona Financial Theatre (Previously Dodge Theater) in Phoenix Arizona on November 18, 2022, in support of his most recent release, Time Clocks ,  and the house was packed. I was fortunate enough to have brilliant seats not far from the stage and very near the middle of the floor. I started listening to Joe Bonamassa around 2000 when I caught an earful of his music on Pandora. Wasn't long before I had his new release, A New Day Yesterday , and Bonamassa had a new fan. I saw him shortly thereafter in a small club in Scottsdale and then at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix. He didn't have the repertoire of songs that he has now but it was amazing to see this unassuming kid with his long hair and his jeans dragging on the ground, step up on the stage and blow through his own book and quickly show how easily he could cruise from one guitar icon phrasing to another, playing their riffs and blowing back the crowd. His own big...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Persistence , from Steve Knight and it's a strong, guitar led instrumental release. Opening with Suspects ,  inventive, Steve Knight on guitar sets the framework for a solid melody, backed by Justin Peterson on bass and Jeff Stitley on drums. With solid phrasing, unobtrusive bass and considerable high work by Stitley, this is a nice opener. Funky, Real Type Thing had a real nice bass line by Peterson and a tight rhythm by Stitley giving Knight a wide open roadway to jam. With some aggressive lead by Peterson and Knight, this is one of my favorites on the release. A cover of Tom Petty's Mary Jane's Last Dance , gets reworked pretty hard. With it's bopping rock rhythm and with a loose outline of the melody by Knight, Peterson take a cool bass solo. The melody having been stated and with Peterson and Stitley to hold the pace, Knight breaks loos with some improve of his own. Interesting workout.  In steady bop...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Changing Times , from Silent Partners , and it's a huge heaping of soul and blues. Opening with Ain't No Right Way To Do Wrong , a deep soulful blues track, Silent Partners get straight to the groove. With a rich bass line by Russell Jackson, tight drums by Tony Coleman and strong supportive guitar lead by Jonathan Ellison, this is a powerful opener. Backed by Don Daily on violin, this track has great radio appeal.  Another strong radio track is, Road To Love with excellent lead vocals and backing vocals by Lisa Lueschner Andersen and featuring cool solo guitar work by Kid Andersen. Very nice. Funky, Never Make Your Move Too Soon , has a real nice feel that will get your butt right out your chair. With BB King style "talking" guitar riffs, by Ellison, and well placed organ placement by Jim Pugh over a romping bass line by Jackson, this track is moving. I love the sweet, soulful vocal lead on Teasing Woman...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blood On My Hands , by Emanual Casablanca and it's solid rocker with a blues base. Opening with Afraid of Blood , a dark rocker with heavy overtones, Emanual Casablanca on vocal and guitar sets the tone joined by Paul Howells on guitar, Julian Chobot on bass, Teddy Sideropolous on drums and Paul Gilbert on guitar. Title track, Blood On My Hands is really a cool track with a strong, lumbering blues bottom, emphasized by Maximillian Sebastian on bass, Theodore Augustine on drums, Brother Dave on guitar and some of Casablanca's best vocals on the release. I really like blues based, Bloodshot Eyes with it's relentless thumping bass line by Chobot and solid guitar riffs by Albert Castiglia. Driving boogie, Testify is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a grinding guitar riff by Howells and it's simple blues feel. Wrapping the release is Rottenpockets with a heavily distorted guitar vamp by Sebastia...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Legend , by Junior Wells , and it's terrific. This is a compilation of vintage singles from the 50's and 60's and includes the entire gamut. Opening with Cut That Out , Junior Wells trademark harp sound is front and center with his vocal, joined by Johnny Jones on piano, Louis Myers on guitar, Dave Myers on bass and Odie Payne on drums. Excellent! Well's most notable track, Hodo Man (HooDoo Man) is on deck with Wells paired with Elmore James on his infamous slide guitar. Early In the Morning features the great Otis Spann on piano pushing Wells to the limit with Muddy Waters on guitar, Willie Dixon on bass  and Odie Payne on drums... What a lineup! On Lawdy! Lawdy! Wells harp seems to float on air, Spann on piano is excellent and of course the entire band really rocks. Syl Johnson adds guitar flair to Two Headed Woman over an active bass line by Dave Myers.  Slow blues, I Could Cry is a really gre...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Back On The Road To You , from Freedy Johnston and it's a well written and performed set of great tunes. Opening with Back On The Road To You , Freedy Johnston quickly demonstrates why he gets such critical praise. With strong vocal harmonies and a super melody, Johnston is joined by Dusty Wakeman on bass, Doug Pettibone with really nice lead and steel guitar riffs, and Sasha Smith on keys. Aimee Mann joins Johnston on Darlin' , one of my favorites on the release with it's lush melody and lightly played steel guitar by Pettibone. Shimmering keys by Smith create an iridescence on the track. Susan Cowsill joins Johnston on pop rocker, The Power of Love with a total radio melody and concise attack. Pettibone adds in some real nice guitar flavor giving it just the right blend. Wrapping the release is The Really Miss Ya Blues with it's definite radio friendly melody. Perfect vocal harmony puts you in mind of ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Voodoo Nation , from Supersonic Blues Machine and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Money , SBM sets up a cool New Orleands flavored funk rocker with a solid drum line by Kenny Aronoff and featuring Kris Barras on lead vocal and guitar, Fabrizio Grossi on bass, Alex Alessandroni Jr on keys and perfect backing vocals by Francis Benitez and Andrea Grossi- Benitez. You and Me is a solid rocker that reminds me of Pink Floyd (and I actually don't know why). I think maybe it has the drive of Roger Waters' The Wall and the guitar attack by King Solomon Hicks  (doesn't sound like Gilmore), but the riffs are cut from the same cloth. Very cool. 8 Ball Lucy is one of my favorites with solid vocals, cool slide by Sonny Landreth and really cool reggae drum work by Aronoff. Title track, Voodoo Nation , has an interesting sound with really potent drum work by Aronoff, wark key addition by Alessandroni Jr. and again...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Revelation , by Dennis Johnson and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Don Nix's Going Down , Johnson on slide and vocal, adds a little bounce to the track for a straight up rocker. With Anton Fig on drums, Jonathan Stoyanoff on bass, Bob Fridzema on piano, this is a cool opener. On title track, Revelation , Johnson plays a fluid soulful melody on slide, backed by Stoyanoff and Fig with the warm B3 work by Fridzema as a solid cushion. Very nice. On Robert Johnson's 32-20 Blues , Dennis Johnson gets a bit of rockabilly beat on rhythm, tightened up by Fig and with a combination of his vocal and slide emphasis, this track is a driving rocker. Big Joe Williams' Baby, Please Don't Go is up next with just a bit of backbeat allowing Johnson to really work the track over with his slide. This is definitely one of my favorite covers of this track in recent years. On another Robert Johnson track, Ramblin'...

 I just had the opportunity to review a recent release, A Tribute to Eric Clapton from Cleopatra Records and it covers much of his popular music over his vast career. Opening with JJ Cale's, Cocaine, blues guitar man and vocalist Kirk Fletcher and organ master Brian Auger team up for what may be Clapton's biggest hit. With Clapton like phrasing  Fletcher sets the pace for the balance of the release.  From the Cream era, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton composition, The Sunshine of Your Love is actually pretty interesting with Eric Gales on vocal and on guitar. Gales vocals are solid and his guitar soloing explosive, balancing out the Baker like powerful drumming by Adam Hamilton. Bob Marley's I Shot The Sherriff , was certainly a cool choice by Clapton for his 461 release and covered here by Pat Travers on vocal and guitar and joined by Artimus Pyle on drums has just a bit more rock that Claptons version with a great cowbell line and excellent riffs by Travers. Certain...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Through The Rain , by Lyle Odjick and The Northern Steam , and it's a cool look at traditional blues from a modern perspective. Opening with Misery Train , Lyle Odjick on harmonica plays solo with a foot stomp, creating the huff and puff of an old steamer. On shuffle, Cut Me Loose , Odjick gets his harmonica going along with lead vocal, backed by Ben Griggs on guitar, Mike Turenne on bass, Rick Griggs on lead and rhythm guitar and Fred Sebastian on drums. Very cool. On a funky take on Sleepy John Estes', Leaving Trunk , it's Tony D's guitar riff that sets the stage and Odjick works the lead on vocal and harmonica. With some tasty roofs, this is a solid track. Boogie track, Bad For You , is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a solid guitar vamp and tasty harmonica riding the wave. Very nice. Slow blues, Broken Man gives Tony D a real nice opportunity to show his blues chops with extended fluid lea...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dice Que Vive (Signs of Life) from Rafael Greco , and it's quite interesting. Opening with Erase Una Vez , saxophonist, composer, singer and keyboard/percussionist, Raphael Greco breaks out with the first track of his debut release. With electrifying rhythms and keyboard structure under a vocal melody, this track is really hot. Joined by Luisito Quintero on congas, timbales, bongos, and percussion, Robert Quintero on Cumaco, Rodner Padilla on bass and Santiago Bosch keys, this track is super. I really like the contrast of the jagged rhythms with the straightforward melody on African Boy . Greco on keys partners with L Quintero timbales, congos and bongos, Robert Quintero on Shekere and bongos, Padilla on bass, the extraordinary Steve Khan on acoustic and electric guitar, Humberto Casanova on drums and Guillermo Carrasco on backing vocals. Really strong. Una Illusion is a synthesis of modern concepts and primitive soun...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Coincidence of Cats , by Andy Adamson Quintet and it's a slick mix of jazz and fusion. Opening with title track, A Coincidence of Cats , Adamson on piano and Jonathan Taylor on drums really set the pace. With an aggressive yet poised attack they are joined by Ross Huff on trumpet, Dan Bennett on sax, and Brennan Andes on bass. Huff and Bennett both work the solo quite nicely and with a strong drum pace, wrap the track.  Lament opens with a lush piano intro by Adamson and only the slightest brush of snare, cymbal and bass. With it's unconventional melody yet regular pace, it really creates a contrast between sound and nothing like black to night. Andes solos on bass which I really like. His work is beautifully clean and direct with a definite path to lead back to Adamson. Morning Star is my favorite track on the release with it's Hancock like approach to presentation. With a super bass vamp by Andes and reinf...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live Down Underground , by Matty T Wall and it's a hot new blues rocker...live! Opening with Broken Heart Tattoo , Australian blues guitar player Matty T Wall hits the road running with his aggressive guitar attack and solid vocals. Joined by Ric Whittle on drums and Leigh Miller on bass this is a romping boogie. Solid opener.  Slideride is a hot rocker with Wall letting his slide do the talking. With a driving beat, Wall shows a relentless approach on guitar with the rawness of Hound Dog Taylor. Excellent track. Another driving track, Scorcher , shows Wall's excellent picking style mixed with dark overtones. Miller sets a great pace and Whittle adds fuel to the flame. This track is a scorcher. This Is Real slows things down quite a bit with Wall strumming a chord and then singing melodic phrases. With only the simplicity of Miller's bass and Whittle's drum strokes, this track really sits nicely. As the tr...