Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Revelation , from Robert Hill & Joanne Lediger and it's a high energy take original blues. Opening with  Willie Johnson's, John The Revelator , Joanne Lediger on lead vocal paired with her partner, Robert Hill make a great team. With his knowledge of blues forms on guitar and harmonica and her soulful vocal style, this track is a solid opener, backed by Paulina Hill on vocal, Frank Pagano on drums and Steve Gelfand on bass. "The Wire's" sultry theme song, Way Down In The Hole , penned by Tom Waits had a number of covers during it's 5 seasons, but this is another great cover and certainly not less than capable of one of the best I've heard. With it's Rhumba rhythm and great guitar work by Hill, a prominent bass line by Gelfand and Lediger joined on vocal by Hill's daughter, Paulina, this track is super. Another Blind Willie track, Nobody's Fault But Mine gets a gospel/soul rewo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release, Rick and Friends and it's chocked full of melodic, rock and blues rock flavored tracks. Opening with Forever Home , Rusty Wright is featured on lead vocal, with Rick Drevet on guitar, Mark Pappalardo on thumping drums and Bill Adams on bass. Showing a Hatchett meets Boston attack, this track is radio ready and polished. Drevet creates a Tucker kind of guitar richness on the intro that flows throughout the track with nice interwoven lead work and Pappalardo's drum thunder really adds a lot under the finesse of Wright on lead vocal. With an attack reminiscent of Trower in Procol Harem, Book of Wreckage brings that sound to the current day with super vocal blending by Wright and contemporary guitar and drum riffs. I funky rock sound on Smokey Whiskey with slide and dobro by Drevet and booming drum work by Pappalardo. Bluesy Cold Steel Blues has a great bass line by Drevet and fully blended vocals, and o...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Smokey Tango, by Laura Tate and it's a bluesy pop oriented release with a lot of style. Opening with Aaron and Joel Neville's, Yellow Moon , and she slides right into the groove with her refined vocals, backed by Terry Wilson on bass and rhythm guitar, Richard Milsap on drums, Jeff Paris on piano and Billy Watts on lead guitar. Complimented nicely by Darrell Leonard on trumpet and Paulie Cerra on sax and perfect backing vocals by Teresa James, this is a strong opener. On Danny Everitt's I Heard A Rumor , Tate spins a love song into a Latin fused track with plenty of spice. With Wilson on Wurlitzer, Paris on piano and Watts on slide, this is another cool track. With sassy, blues infused vocals by Tate and New Orleans styling reinforced by Leonard on trumpet and cool piano by Watts, this track shows real versatility. Ernie K-Doe's A Certain Guy adds a great pop flavor ala R&B with piano lead by Paris an...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ain't Nobody Worried , by Rory Block and it's a solid entry into her Power Women of the Blues series (Volume 3). Opening with Mavis Staples' I'll Take You There , Block accompanies herself with her resilient acoustic guitar as well as slide and percussion with soulful lead vocal and great backing vocals. Strong opener. On Mary Wells' classic R&B track, My Guy (My Girl), Block does a really nice job to retain the pop orientation of the original again, only with the backing of her guitar and percussion. Very nice. On Etta James' I'd Rather Go Blind , Block digs deep to that extra feeling and produces solid vocal results. With only the minimal of guitar and warm backing vocals, this track really works nicely. Carole King's stellar, You've Got A Friend works well for Block, overdubbing her own vocal backing with her own lead on one of the late 20th century's best tracks. Wrapping t...

 I just hads the opportunity to review the most recent release, Love and the Catalyst, from Aimee Allen and it's a cool breath of fresh air. Opening with Freddie Hubbard's  Little Sunflower , Aimee Allen shows cool, expressive vocal skills backed by Toru Dodo on piano, nice bass soloing by Francois Moulin on bass and Kush Abadey on drums. Very nice opener. Allen's composition, Quantum Entanglements is a terrific foil for her vocal acuity. With really nice piano  work by Dodo and excellent bass lines by Moulin and always interesting drums intensity by Abadey, this music floats. On Chick Corea's Crystal Silence , Noah Allen adds ethereal trumpet lines that propel this classic composition to the next level with Allen and Dodo working together nicely.  Mortally Immortal (Requiem) is a  masterfully simple composition with a purity and brilliance that shines beyond the release (that means I really like it). Another of my favorites on the release is Hidden Place wh...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hangin' at the DeVille Lounge , from Rusty Wright Band , and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with House of Spirits , Rusty Wright is upfront on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Laurie LaCrosse-Wright on guitar, Billy Agner on bass and Vail Hayes on drums. This slow, bluesy ballad with it's dark overtones is a solid opener for what's to come. Wright lays don't soulful lead under his vocal work with Agner. Blending a traditional blues form with a heavier rock style, Devil Man Blues has a heavy bottom and distorted vocals. I really like this approach and Wright shows cool chops blending the two forms together nicely. No Man Is An Island is a pure blues ballad with strong vocals by Wright and rich vocal blending with Laurie and Billy. Melodic lead by Wright is bound to make this a solid radio player. Very nice. Another solid blues track, Trouble's Always Knockin' with excellent lead vocal and gu...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blooz , from Grant Geissman and it a solid fusion of blues and jazz. Opening with Preach , with it's Latin spun gospel approach, Geissman on guitar plays fluid lead lines punctuated by Randy Brecker on trumpet and backed by Jim Cox on B3, Trey Henry on bass and Ray Brinker on drums. Brecker takes a nice long interlude, followed by Cox for a really nice opener. Santana influenced, Carlos En Siete has a great Latin beat and ceratinly has Santana's Mesa Boogie tone. With a lot more intricate percussive rhythm pattern and excellent phrasing, Geissman sets a high bar for this release. Strong piano work by David Garfield, complimented by Russell Ferrante on Rhodes, Trey Henry on bass, Tiki Pasillas on percussion and Ray Brinker on drums, this is a great number. Sax master Tom Scott is featured on Fat Back with Cox on Wurlitzer, Henry on bass and Brinker on drums. Rage Cage is a really nice uptempo romp with Geissman...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sarasota Swing by The Ron Kraemer Trio and It's a solid batch of hot jazz and blues. Opening with Junior Steps , Reggie Murray on sax and B-3 has the lead on a swinging sound. Ron Kraemer breaks looks with terrific tone and fluid lines on guitar, backed by Gregg Germony on bass and Michael Finley on brushes. Strong opener. On The Craw , Kraemer is front and center on lead guitar with warm B3, bass and light brushes behind. A strong sax solo by Murray is the icing on the cake. Swinging, At The Blase' Cafe', is really a hot track with blazing lines by Kraemer and warm B3 work by Murray. Murray breaks loose with some real nice sax before turning the lead back to Kraemer. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the release. Another great swinger is Reggie No.2 with excellent lead lines by Kraemer over a light instrumental backing and then a pairing with Murray on sax and a fat B3 solo by Murray giving the...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Jacksongs , by Jeff Berlin and it's a really nice tribute to Jack Bruce's music. Opening with Creamed , Berlin on bass and keys is joined by Ron Hembly on lead vocal, John Cowan on vocal, Gabriela Sinagra on backing vocals, Bruce Guttridge on drums and John McCracken on guitars with Alex Lifeson on solo guitar. The track begins with Politician and flows through White Room and Tales of Brave Ulysses  among others with strong guitar work and of course prominent bass work. Very nice opener. One of my favorite Mountain tracks, and another Bruce penned track,  Theme From and Imaginary Western is up next and features Hemby on lead vocal who really does a strong job of covering Bruce's beautiful vocal melody with Pat Coil on Hammond and Berlin on keys and bass (including a real nice solo) with guest Eric Johnson on guitar solo and Gregg Bissonette on drums. Excellent. Another of Bruce's beautiful melodies, One Wi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Supernatural Soul , by Ben E. King and it's solid. Opening with classic, Stand By Me , King on lead vocal is joined by Bette Smith on vocal and Ronnie Earl adding his clean virtuosity on guitar. Bassmaster, Bootsy Collins fires up a strong riff on Supernatural Thing, Part I under soulful vocals by King. Spanish guitar master, Rafael Riqueni joins King adding an authentic flavor to another classic hit. I really like King's cover of Ashford and Simpson's, I Had A Love . Kings vocals are full and soulful, floating on a bed of guitar, synthesizer and warm backing vocals. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Drifters Medley featuring This Magic Moment/Dance With Me//There Goes My Baby/Save The Last Dance For Me. Kings vocals are smooth and fresh with tight instrumental backing. Solid closer for a solid release.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues ne...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent Self-titled release, Shelton Powe and it's quite good. Opening with Amtrak Train , Shelton Powe on acoustic guitar and vocal sets a very authentic feel. With his tight Piedmont picking pattern, this is a solid opener. On John Hurt's Since I Laid My Burden Down , Powe adds real richness with his vocals against the acoustic guitar chant. Bukka White's, Shake "Em On Down is one of my favorite tracks on the release with an cool, primitive blues riff on what sounds like a primitive guitar. Excellent! Papa Charlie Jackson's Take Me Back is another captivating number with melody on guitar teamed with vocal, very effectively. I really like the simplicity of this track...what I like about the blues as a whole. Wrapping the release is John Jackson's Railroad Bill , an excellent Piedmont blues with Powe driving the fretboard like a locomotive. This is a really nice traditional blues release.    If you suppo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Midnight Blues , from Crystal Shawanda , and it's a strong R&B flavored blues release. Opening with title track, Midnight Blues , Crystal Shawanda brings her soulful vocal style to a radio oriented track with a solid melody, with Dave Roe on bass, Dwayne Strobel on guitar, and Peter Keys and Jesse O'Brian on keys and Pete Abbot on drums. Rumpshaker is a soulful track with a strong bass line by Roe and nice harmonica contributions by Steve Marriner. Why Do I Love You is a really super ballad with strong vocal harmonies by Angela Hurt, Zhaawande Strobel Nd Dewayne Strobel. Hold Me has a R&B rhythm and really has a great groove. Shawanda's vocals are powerful and backing vocals are just right with strong piano and drum support by Keys and Becket. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Walk With The Moon , with a sweet melody and ballad formation. With glistening keyboard work, rich guitar chords and a melodi...

  I almost can't believe that I am writing this but I guess each of us ends up there at some point. I have likely seen Jeff Beck more times in concert than any other band, local or international.  Beck, who has been considered likely the greatest "rock" guitar player of all time died in his home yesterday from Bacterial meningitis. I'm totally dumbfounded. He just came through town a month or so ago. The average rock listener would think that Jeff has a good ear and picked up a lot of things like the talk box from Peter Frampton (the opposite) or tapping from Eddie Van Halen (again opposite) because Beck never wanted to be a star. He liked to tinker. He had abstract thoughts that he would try out. Others would say that's cool and make a career of his little ideas. This is a guy who never wanted fame or fortune. Just wanted enough money to toy with his hotrods and play a few riffs...and to have fun.  Goodbye Mr Beck

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Find A Better Way , from The Commoners and it has all of the swagger and sting you would want. Opening with title track, Find A Better Way , Chris Medhurst shows what a rock frontman is supposed to sound like. With a touch of Steve Marriott, and a powerful bottom, led by Adam Cannon on drums and Ben Spiller on bass as well as solid guitar riffs by Ross Haynes Citrullo gives this track real bite. More than Mistakes has a firm bottom and some real nice lead guitar by Citrullo, supported by Miles Evans-Branagh on keys and Medhurst on rhythm guitar. Solid radio track. Naturally , has a strong melody and rich backing vocals by Chantal Williams, Shezelle Weekes and Tash Lorayne, coupled with a strong sway making it another top radio candidate. I Won’t adds another dimension with just a touch of country blues, and the steel guitar finesse of Michael Ekhart and really nice vocal blending. Very nice. Wrapping the release is s...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Start Over Again , from The Rockats and it's a great rocker. Opening with Nervous Breakdown , it's hard not to sing along with it's classic rockabilly flavor and even some Johnny Cash like vocal. This is and excellent opener with Dibbs Preston on vocal, Danny B. Harvey on guitar, Barry Ryan on guitar, Clem Burke on drums and Smutty Smiff on bass. With it's surfy feel, Rock Baby Rock , will get you bobbin with Ryan taking the first solo and Harvey taking the second solo. Very cool. Low slung bluesy ballad, Start Over Again could get all the couples on the dance floor and a real nice guitar solo by Ryan gives the track a solid blues kick. One of my favorites on the release is swinging, Lucky Old Rockabilly has super guitar riffs by Harvey and Preston's vocals are always solid. Wrapping the release is Tanya Jean with Tim Scott on guitar with Ryan and Tommy Darnell on drums. This is a straight up rocker w...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Still That Way Today , from South Island Rhythm Kings and it's a rolling blues party. Opening with title track, Still That Way Today , "Lazy" Mike Mallon on harmonica and lead vocal, heads this cool shuffle, with Carson Mallon on guitar, Dan Dube' on keys, Nick Dokter on drums, and Jack Lavin on bass. Solid opener. Cool vocal blending on Sonny and Brownie's Cornbread Peas Black Molasses gives this easy shuffle the wealth added to the genre by the originals with authenticity, and nice riffs by both Mallons. On Jimmy Raney's You Drink Too Much Booze , Dube' really adds nicely with tasty piano riffs under Mikes vocals. Very cool. Carson's vocal/guitar lead on Someday really hits the spot with a lot of punch. His riffs are tight and his vocals swing. Very nice. Carson and Mike both dig in deep on slow blues, I Live Out In The Country , with Muddy Waters style slide work by Carson and strong...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keeping It In The Family , by Sir Rod & The Blues Doctors , dedicated to keeping alive the sounds and spirit of blues master Sterling "Mr. Satan" Magee. Magee was featured in the Netflix screened documentary, Satan & Adam, with Adam Gussow on harmonica. With Atlanta based "Sir Rod" Patterson, Magee's nephew, and Alan Gross on guitar, this trio released an album, Come Together in 2020 and are back now with this live release. Opening with Shake, Rattle and Roll , Gross sets a cool rock and roll guitar rhythm with solid harmonica work by Gussow and featuring Patterson on solid lead vocal. On Mack Rice's R&B mega hit, Mustang Sally , the guys get into a great groove with Patterson really showing his vocal prowess. James Brown's I Feel Good (I Got You) is up next with it's original arrangement. These guys do a real nice job of a track that was normally covered with full horns an...