Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dark Encounters , from Prog Collective , a project founded and helmed by Billy Sherwood of Yes note. Opening with Darkest Hour , longtime Billy Idol guitarist, Steve Stevens is featured with soaring guitar riffs over Sherwood's bass, keyboard and drum composition. Atmospheric and intense, this is a strong opener. Steve Morse (Dregs/Deep Purple) adds his own virtuosity to Ominous Signs with a more structured composition allowing more freedom for Sherwood's own exploration. Dark Days is one of my favorite tracks on the release with Bumblefoot (GNR) contributing some real nice guitar and vocals, Patrick Moraz (Moody Blues) on keys, Omar Hakim (Weather Report) on drums and Sherwood on bass. Soft Machine's John Etheridge lays down some nicely phrased guitar lead on The Fifth Hour , paired with Sherwood on bass, keys and drums. Very cool. Another of my favorite tracks, Between Two Worlds features Steve Hillage (Gon...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tears In My Eyes , from Anthony Geraci and it's great mix of rhythm and blues. Opening with slow blues, Broken Mirror, Broken Mirror Anthony Geraci is back with his powerful blues piano style, joined by Sugar Ray Norcia on super lead vocal. With Barrett Anderson on Muddy style slide guitar, Paul Loranger on bass and Marty Richards on drums, this is a strong opener. On jump track, Owl's Nest , Geraci pounds out the melody on piano and Drew Davies steps up with some terrific sax work. Excellent track. On Judge Oh Judge , Norcia really sings the blues with warm sax soloing by Mario Perrett nicely complimenting Geraci's piano structure with Loranger on bass and Kurt Kalker on drums. On piano boogie, Ooeee , Geraci really rolls it, accompanying his lead vocal on piano and with Drew Davies on sax wailing away. Very nice. Norcia is back on lead vocal on bluesy ballad, Now What . With a strong melody, excellent piano ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Treasures of the Heart, by Jacqui Naylor , and I really like it. Opening with Rodgers and Hart's I Didn't Know What Time It Was , and it's got a super complex drum rhythm by Ele Howell. Jacqui Naylor on lead vocal has a lush voice and strong presence, complimented by Art Khu on keys and Richie Goods on bass. This is a super track. Original track, Walk Out In The Sun , really showcases Naylor's soulful style and Khu on piano over brushed snare by Howell and lead bass by Goods. Adding some funk to the mix on Love's Around , excellent bass lines by Goods, strong percussion by Howell and excellent piano improvisation by Khu make this a cool addition to the mix. With world rhythms, Picture Book of You has a really nice feel. Howell really created an interesting weave of rhythm working nicely as a background for Naylor and Khu. Wrapping the release is We'll Shine Through with a lot of R&B / funk f...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Deacon Speaks , from Steve Hunter , and it's a cool rocker. Opening with a laid back rework of Willie Dixon's Back Door Man , with all instruments played by Hunter. With a keyboard rhythm, and light drum reinforcement, Hunter uses his gravelly vocals and strong guitar phrasing to craft a totally new approach to this track. Very nice. Independent Soul is very laid back with a jazzy rhythm, cool backing vocals and nice drum sizzle. Hendrix's Up From The Skies has a beatnik club sound with Hunter's vocals over bongos, light keys and bass. Hunter lays down some easy going blues bases phrases giving the track just that light edge. My favorite track on the release is Hunter's take on Bill Withers' Who Is He and What Is He To You. Using keys/synth, guitar, percussion and generated effects, this track has the essence of cool. Hunter's guitar solo on this track has just the right amount of bluesy s...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Red, Hot and Blue , from Glenn Marais and the Mojo Train and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with That's Where My Mojo's At , Glenn Marais on lead vocal and guitar set a great driving pace complimented by Manny DeGrandis on bass and vocal, Jesse Karwat on keys and vocals and Jeff Saulnier on drums and vocal. Solid opener. Love Denied , has really good form with a strolling approach under the intense vocals of Marais. Classic rock refrain by the Mojo Train and well stated guitar riffs by Marais add real dynamics to this radio ready track. Marais slips on his slide on It All Went Down , and with a stiff foot drum by Saulnier and well blended back vocals by MT, this track is sure to be a crowd favorite in concert. Wrapping the release is funk rocker, Professor Day , with an aggressive, bass/drum/guitar rhythm and hot sax work by Nick Begoeff. Marais and Karwat set out some tasty solo lines making this a hot clo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kell's Kitchen , from Shawn Kellerman and it's an aggressive rocker with a lot of bite. Opening with hard driving, SKB , Shawn  Kellerman on lead vocal, and guitar, this track is really humming. With Carlton Campbell on drums, Terry Richardson on bass, Lance Anderson on Wurlitzer, and with the addition of Miku Graham, Saidah Baba Talibah, Emily Fennell and Meghan Parnell on vocal, this track is cranking! Excellent opener. Funky, Show Me What You Got , features Kellerman on lead vocal and playing some pretty tight guitar. Richardson on bass really funks it up and Van Romaine knows how to hold down the drums. Fennell and Parnell on backing vocal are joined by Jon Knight for a real party.  Bad Mamma Jamma is a great mix of funk and rock with Kellerman doing the lyrics and Anderson on B3 and Romaine on drums really kicking it up. Kellerman lays down a real nice guitar solo showing his complete ability to morph f...

 I just had the opportunity to review the debut release, Prime Vintage , from Steve Synder Trio and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with Legacy , a solid shuffle with a great walking bass line by Synder on organ. Joel Tucker on guitar lays out an excellent, fluid guitar solo with all of the feel you could want. Synder on organ sets his own solo keeping the excitement at a near boil, grounded by Kenny Phelps on drums. Great opener. High energy, Sharp Left , is really tight with a great intro by Phelps and Synder leading to a phrenzy of guitar work by Tucker. Synder again shores up with another solo of his own. Very nice. Latin flavored, Thank You , has real radio appeal with it's flashy rhythm and meaty exchange between Synder's warm organ and Tucker's fleet fingered guitar soloing. Wrapping the release is deep groove, So That's What This Is All About , with Synder creating a nice shuffle and warm feel on his organ. Tucker is on top of it with light touch, blues influ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Genesis , from The Black Gold Orchestra and it's exciting. Opening with Gyau (Walton's Call)/On The Move , with Melvin Jones, Michael Cruse, Terrence Harper and Steven Fowller on trumpet and Mike Walton, Frank Houston, Mike Burton, Derrick James, Jamel Mitchell and Fareed Maluhli on trumpets and Wilbert Williams, Derrick  White, Herman Spearman, Wilbert Neal and Christopher Burns on trombone. What a powerhouse horn section. Walton and Jones really crank up the heat with dynamic solos and Larry Wilson really nails with spectacular drum and percussion work making this an exceptional opener. Midnight Oil is a really cool track with a driving bass line by Joel Powell and featuring great work by Cruse on trumpet, Rod Harris Jr. on guitar and Banks Jr on piano. Intoxicating Beauty has a really nice melody line laid out by Houston on sax and full orchestral compliment. I really like the trombone solo by Herman Spearman...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stuck In The Mud , by Christopher Wyze & The Tellers , and it's deep contemporary blues. Opening with blues rocker, Three Hours from Memphis , Christopher Wyze is up front on vocal and harmonica with Eric Deaton on guitar, Gerry Murphy on bass, Justin Holder on drums and Brad Kuhn on piano. This track has a solid melody and strong vocals by Wyze make it a radio contender. Folk blues track, Soul On The Road is a well constructed, story teller song with Wyze accompanied by Cary Hudson on acoustic guitar and slide. Wyze's vocals are clear and intriguing and Hudson's slide work nice placed and engaging. Money Spent Blues is a cool shuffle with strong lead vocals and Deaton on guitar and Kuhn on piano taking a nice spin. Blues rocker, Looking For My Baby is one of my favorite tracks on the release is a great melody, and strong bottom by Holder and Murphy. A standout solo by Brad Guin really hits the spot highl...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 27 Stitches , from Sunnysiders , and it's a solid rocker with roots in the blues. Opening with Shake and Shiver , Antonija Vrgoc Rola is up front on vocals with fluid guitar work by Luka Banic Bane, Boris Hrepic Hrepa on harmonica and Tomislav Novak Tomi on bass, joined by Jaksa Jordes on sax, Sime Glavina on trumpet, and Luka Lazar on trombone. Solid opener. Driving rocker, Soup, has a lockstep rhythm not unlike the Doors' Whiskey Bar. With a firm foot drum beat by Miha, Rola marches out the melody, joined by Vedran Krizan on accordion, and Hrepa on harmonica. A real interesting guitar solo by Bane tops off this track. Very cool. Straight up rocker, Love Remote has a driving guitar rhythm a has Rola and Davorin Bogovic trading lead vocal. Playing lead guitar with wreckless abandon, Bane slashes away. This is a hot radio rocker.  Wrapping the release is Highway To Blues , with Hrepa and Rola (doubled) on lead vocal...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Latchford , by Andre' Bisson and it's quite good. Opening with title track, Latchford , Andre' Bisson on lead vocal and  guitar really shows his craft. With a nicely written melody, excellent vocals and with Jesse O'Brien on keys, Mike Rowell on bass and Keagan Early on drums, this is a solid entry. Sassy sax work by Pat Carey, Shawn Moody on trumpet, Loretta Hale on trumpet, Rob Somerville on trombone really give the track depth. Echo Mountain has a rockier feel with a dash of funk by Bisson's rhythm guitar work, reinforced by Carey on sax and O'Brien on organ.  R&B flavored, Smile Time , really shows commercial appeal with a happy melody, solid vocals, upbeat tempo and solid sax work by Carey. Funky rocker, Sticks and Stones , is anchored by Carey on bari sax and O'Brien on piano. Bisson on vocal does a really nice job to carry the melody and throws down a pretty cool guitar solo of his o...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It's Time To Shine , from Dave Keller and it's a real nice blues rocker. Opening with Waiting For The Sunshine , Dave Keller  on vocal and guitar set up a great funky rock sound. With Jay Gleason on drums and Alex Budney on bass this opener had a really great feel, nicely augmented by Ira Friedman on keys. Excellent opener. On R&B flavored, 789-0133 , Keller really shows his ability to sing with real soul. Mark Earley on sax and Tom Palance on trumpet add real depth on this track and with warm organ work by Friedman and great backing vocals by Annika Chambers - DesLauriers, Keller takes a real nice stroll on guitar making this one of my favorite tracks (think Billy Price/Roy Buchanan pairing). Up tempo, Paint A New Life Together , has a strong melody and with a full organ envelope, Keller is upfront on vocals really showing his stuff. A power burst of guitar showmanship really mates to this track nicely. Anoth...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Six , from The Bluesland Horn Band , and it's a tight set of blues and gospel influenced tracks. Opening with My Old Truck , a cool shuffle Marty Cochrane on vocal, leads the way with Ross Hall on drums, Casey Ryder on bass, Jan Randle on piano, Terry Medd on dobro and guitar, David  Wilkie on mandolin and the horns of Miguelito Valdez and Doug Zacharias on trumpet, Barrie Sorenson on tenor sax, Armando Alvarez on bari sax, and Tim Keels on tuba. On Shuffle In The Attic Medd gets the spotlight and lays down some real nice guitar phrasing, backed by Hall on drums, Randle on organ, Valdez, Sorensen and Alvarez on horns. Very cool. Punchy, Rock My Roll had a real nice driving beat with Jack Lavin driving the train on bass. Cochrane's vocals are rugged and commanding and Jerry Cook on tenor sax and Terry Medd on guitar set the track apart. Slow blues, Holy Water , is definitely one of the best tracks on the release w...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Canboro Canborough , by Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns and I really like their sound. Opening with Carrottown , a funky rocker with Jim Casson laying down a tight funky bottom with N. Jay Burr on tuba augmenting the bottom. Wayne De Adder on guitar adds a cool guitar rhythm and Mike Branton on slide guitar really adds the spice. Mark Lalama on piano and Casson on vocal blend nicely making this a terrific opener. Daincity is another cool rocker but with a New Orleans kind of flare. I like Burr's percussive work on tuba and Casson, Lalama and De Adder really work gathering great intensity on this track. Bluesy, The Comfort In The North , has a real nice melody, carried by DeAdder on guitar. With it's deep, bluesy feel, and expressive phrasing, this in one of my favorites on the release. Another New Orleans flavored track, Silverdale , rides on the backs of Burr and Casson and nicely showcases the slide work of ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, SoulFunkn' BLUES , by the Blackburn Brothers and it's got a serious groove. Opening with soulful, Bobby's Blues , Duane Blackburn on lead vocal and keys leads the way with Brooke Blackburn on guitar, Cory Blackburn on drums, and Nathan Blackburn on bass. Rich horn support from Neil Brathwaite on sax and Ted Peters on trombone really adds nicely to the mix on this strong opener. Soul Brother really gets into the funky groove with a excellent bass lead from Roger Williams, Cory's tight drumming and excellent horn work by Brathwaite and Peters. Duane leads with solid vocals and adds juts the right amount of organ and Brooke lays in a real nice guitar solo of his own giving the track just the right edge. Sit still...I dare ya! Old school funk on Sister Rosa , is a page right out Sly's book. Mark Ayee on bass sets the groove with Duane on vocal,  Brooke putting in just the right guitar and a soulful sax sol...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Devil Won't Get You , from Chad Rupp & The Sugar Roots and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with funky rocker, Even Money , Chad Rupp on lead vocal and guitar is upfront over a strong bass line by Timmer Blakely and Jimi Bott on drums. Cool organ work by Louis Pain and strong piano work by Brady T Goss really create a pocket for Rupp to solo which has a distinctive Dicky Betts feel. Strong opener. Joe-Mack McCarthy on trumpet and Scott Franklin on sax create a strong intro on this swinging blues with great guitar riffs throughout and highlighting Rupp's vocals. Franklin, McCarthy and Rupp trading riffs makes this track one of my favorites on the release. Leopard For Your Love is a potent shuffle a great start and stop vocal treatment's and stiff call and response vocal with Ruffs guitar. Up tempo shuffle, At The Candlelight Room is driven by aggressive drum rhythms by Bott and Rupp plays off his...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hello Central, from The Jake Leg Jug Band and it's a lot of fun. Opening with St. Louis Blues , JLJB sets a cool front with a cool rag featuring Duncan Wilcox on vocal and Bass, Liam Ward on vocal, harmonica, jug, washboard, kazoo and saw, and Warren James on vocal, guitar and banjo. Complimented by Alex Clarke on sax and clarinet, Andy Henderson on trumpet and Richard Leach on trombone, this is a lively opener. James rhythm on banjo and super horn work by Henderson and Leach give Someday You'll Be Sorry a laid back opening. I particularly like Ward's harmonica solo over James' banjo rhythm and the underlying horn interplay. Very cool. Bluegrass influenced, Ella Speed is a real hoot with a foot stompin rhythm by  Wilcox and James on guitar. Ward's kazoo skills are tight and the vocals work well. I particularly like Clarke's clarinet solo which really dresses the track. Very cool. Doctor Jazz has ...