Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It Gets Better, by Jeff Rupert , and it's quite good. Opening with Petrichor (in the Cote D'a zur) Rupert on tenor sax, really gets the track swinging with Kenny Barron on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums. Barron really gets the ivories rocking with an excellent solo of his own and Washington strolls on the bass adding even more texture. Excellent opener. Title track, It Gets Better features a nicely phrases melody by Rupert, nicely punctuated by the strokes of Barron, leading to a nice solo of his own. Very cool. Jimmy Van Heusen's Like Someone In Love makes for an excellent tune to work on and Rupert really takes it on with tasty sax phrasing on a light bed of cymbals and snare by Farnsworth and a great bass line by Washington. Washington gets a really nice stretch on bass on this one making it one of my favorites on the release. Not My Blues is a strong, original track with har...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Do It My Own Way , by Vanessa Collier and it's full of funk, soul and Latin sounds. Opening with Elbow Grease , Collier leads on vocal with a hot, funky, Latin rhythm, fueled by Laura Chavez on guitar, Scot Sutherland on bass, Byron Cage on drums, a hot solo by Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Collier on sax and Maureen Murphy on backing vocals. Powerful opener. Blues rocker, Take Me Back has a strong, memorable melody making it a likely radio track with a warm sax solo by Collier and real nice drum and percussion work by Trey Macias and Cage. Funky, boogaloo rhythm laid down by Chavez and Cage gives Shoulda Known Better a real hot sound. With Collier letting the sax fly on this one and punchy trumpet work by Woolverton, followed by a tight solo by Chavez, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Latin flavored balled, Just One More , highlights Collier on lead vocal with shimmery guitar work by Chavez. Sultry...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Owl Dreams , from Dharma Down , presenting an exciting blend of European, Middle Eastern and other global styles for a fresh result. Opening with Jalla Man , keyboardist Mike Effenberger anchors the piece with rich sub melodies, lead by Duncan Hardy on Qanun (a stringed instrument with an eastern sound), and footed by Scott Kiefner on acoustic bass and John Mettam on drums. Baghdad has a more traditional feel with a sultry melody line by Hardy on sax, working in unison with Kiefner on bass and Mettam on drums and counter to Effenberger on piano. Very nice. A Murder of Cheerleaders is really quite an interesting composition by Effenberger with shrill, intense lead sax by Hardy and vibrant, percussive, piano work by Effenberger held tightly together by Kiefner on bass and Mettam on drums. Quite an adventurous and stimulating piece. East 73rd Street is a straight up jazz exploration with Hardy leading the way on sax. Hi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Moonshine , from Marc Ciprut and it's a cool, jazz rocker. Opening with title track, Moonshine , guitar wiz, Marc Ciprut lays out the melody over a funky, James Brown like rhythm with Ettienne Lytle on organ, Jimmy Haslip on bass, Tobias Ralph on drums and Daniel Sadownick on percussion. Super opener. Cutie has a easy Latin feel and Ciprut lead is very stylistically clean. Lytle  on Wurlitzer really adds nice thickness and James Genus on bass holds down the bottom with Tommi Rautiainen on drums. Ciprut's approach is a bit more aggressive on No More Room with an almost Beck like attack and Jon Cowherd rocks a real nice solo on Wurlitzer, Genus on bass and Tobias Ralph on drums make this my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is Funk You with it's super rhythm. Ciprut lays down a funky rhythm line and overlays the melody. Lytle on organ and clavinet adds significant depth and Genus on bass an...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Emi's Song , by Neil Adler and it's an interesting mix or Latin, jazz, blues and rock. Opening with Latin flavored title track, Emi's Song , Neil Adler on piano and chromatic harmonica leads the way on this beautiful composition. With Jeff Buenz soloing with powerful phrasing on 6 string bass, Akira Tana on drums and Carlitos Medrano on congas, this is a solid opener. Oliver Nelson's swinging shuffle, Yearnin' , really sounds great with Adler paired on piano and harmonica and Buenz stepping up big time with a tight bass solo giving the release real depth. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Jimmy Rowles' The Peacocks , featuring really beautiful melodic phrasing by Adler on harmonica over piano, bass and drums. Walter Gross' Tenderly , with it's lush melody is nicely articulated by Adler on harmonica over piano. The tune will likely be recognizable by everyone and Adler's feel is...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Common Sense , by Gary Nicholson and it's a mix of pop, rock, country and blues. Opening with What A Little Love Will Do , a country rock flavored pop track, Gary Nicholson on vocal and guitars leads the way with vocal backing by Harry Stinson, joined by Kevin McKendree on guitar, Jim Hoke on guitar, Lynn Williams on drums and Mike Joyce on bass. Laid back country shuffle, Make Good Trouble featured some of Nicholson's best vocals on the release and The McCrary Sisters on backing vocals Mike Finnegan on organ and piano, Hutch Hutchison on bass, Tony Braunegal on drums and John Jorgensen on guitar. We Don't Talk About It is a cool track with Nicholson and The McCrary Sisters ramping the vocals up. McKendree on piano really kicks up the juice and Jim Hoke on harmonica gives the track a real zing. Another favorite is Follow The Money with a funky blues feel. Jim Hoke on steel guitar and sax gives this track some...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Legend of Sugarbelly , by Guy Davis and I think it's his best. Opening with Sugarbelly , a solid country blues Guy Davis rolls his trademark fingerpicking, with Mark Murphy on bass, and Christopher James on mandolin and spins his tale. Very nice. Sam Chatmon's Who's Gonna Love You Tonight (That's Alright) in traditional blues style and adding harmonica accompaniment as well as guitar. Little David Play On Your Harp is a cool, Gary Davis style track with simplified guitar rhythm and single line melody. Blind Lemon Jefferson's Black Snake Moan is up next with Lead Belly's arrangement. A great traditional style blues track featuring Davis on vocal and guitar, this is my favorite on the release. Another traditional blues track, 12 Gates To The City features Davis on rhythm guitar, solid harmonica soloing and super gritty vocal. This guy can really represent when he digs in. Excellent! Wrapping th...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stories In Blue , from Vaneese Thomas , and it's an interesting blend of blues. R&B and country. Opening with Do Y'all a R&B track with a solid vocal melody by Thomas, Ross Pederson on drums, Paul Adamy on bass, and with potent key work by Dave Keyes and solid lead guitar work by Al Orlo. Wandering is a warm ballad with some of Thomas' best vocal work on the release. Andy Drelles on sax plays a really nice solo and Tim Quimette on trumpet and Walter Barrett on trombone add the brass. Bluesy, The Last Thing On My Mind , has a cool, shuffle feel with easy slide work by Orlo and a steady drum rhythm by Pederson. Very nice. Wrapping the release is End of The Road with  gospel styling. This is an excellent closer with Thomas joined by Emily Bendiger, Berneta Miles, Jason L. Terry and Darryl Tookes on lush interweaving vocals.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talent...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'm Too Old For Games , by Misty Blues and it's rich. Opening with Led Belly's Jim Crow Blues , a slower shuffle, Gina Coleman of lead vocals really digs deep with her earthy vocals. Eileen Markland on violin plays soulful lead , followed by Seth Fleischmann on guitar and Aaron Dean on sax, backed by Diego Mongue on bass, Rob Tatten on drums and Joel Nicholas on piano. Strong opener. With gospel revival feel, Alabama Bound is lively with crisp guitar riffs by Fleischmann and soulful sax work by Dean. Jack O' Diamonds is give a slinky/funky feel with Nicholas playing cool piano riffs off of Coleman's deep, bluesy vocals. Fleischmann lays in a real nice acoustic blues guitar solo and Dean blows soulful sax right out of the Stax songbook. Very cool. Wrapping the release is a trio of traditional Freedom songs beginning with Coleman singing acapella only with Nicholas on piano. Progressing to a gospel fuel...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Jazz Passion & Satin Latin , by Jimbo Ross and it's a lively mix of American Standards, jazz classics and original compositions. Opening with Victor Young's Delijah with it's mix of eastern and American rhythms, Jimbo Ross, electric violin virtuoso, really gets things ramped up. Carrying the melody on violin and joined by Joe Gaeta on guitar, Stuart Elster on piano, Peter Marshall on bass, and Ron Wagner on drums, swing and sway. Elster lays in a really nice piano solo giving the track classic sophistication and Gaeta hits a strong groove of his own on guitar working both chords streams and inventive, melodic concepts. Very nice. Wes Montgomery's bop creation, Jingles , holds classic form and structure but giving Ross plenty of room to stretch on violin. Elster on piano creates a strong melodic form of his own and Gaeta really stretches it with unexpected innovation. Johnny Mandel's pop classic, Em...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 40: Blues With Horns Volume II , by Chris Daniels and the Kings with Freddi Gowdy and it's pure party. Opening with Jump (When My Baby Says) , Freddi Gowdy gets things going on vocal, leading a hot group featuring Steve Ivey on drums, John Thornburg on bass, Colin Jones on guitars, Chris Daniels on guitar, Bob Rebholz on sax solo, Darryl Abrahamson on trumpet solo, Darren Kramer on trombone solo and featuring a really cool fiddle solo by Sam Bush. Excellent opener. Funky, Everybody's A Millionaire , really moves with a radio feel, vocals by Gowdy and Hazel Miller punched up with tight horns and Tom Capek on B3. Congo Square has a hot Latin feel with Ivey on drums and Christian Teele on percussion. Sonny Landreth plays some trademark slide work adding real tension and Gowdy's vocals blended with Miller and the punchy horn section really gives Landreth's slide work a ripping grit. Wrapping the release is Whe...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Floreada's Boy , from Zac Harmon and it's a solid blues release. Opening with Babe & Ricky's Inn , Zac Harmon on lead vocal and guitar created a cool, R&B blues sound with terrific blues phrasing, joined by Corey Lacy on keys, Nate Robinson on bass, Gino Iglehart on drums and Kingston Livingston on guitars. Strong opener. Funky blues rocker, Glass Ceiling , has a hot rhythm guitar riff by Livingston and Harmon's lead work is augmented by Lacy's keyboards and snappy drum work by Iglehart. Soulful, That's The Way I Feel About Cha , is a nice showcase for Harmon's rich vocal styling and nice backing vocals by SueAnn Carwell, Carly Thomas Smith and Derrick Procell. Very nice. Big Dog Blues is one of my favorites on the release with strong vocal lead and some of the best guitar work on the release. Christopher Troy's organ work adds a nice weight to the track and the LA Horns (Les Kepics...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Upbeat Mood , from Music Soup and it's cool, uptempo and spontaneous. Opening with Korean Apartment , guitarist, Nestor Dimopoulos plays long flowing guitar lead, joined by Eviginia Karlafti on organ and Vagelis Kotzabasis on drums. Driving yet understated, this is a solid opener. Bacharach's, My Little Red Book is pushed by Karlafti on keys and organ before Dimopoulos breaks into a bright guitar melody. Snappy rhythm by Kotzabasis on drums. Rocker, Fun Island , is led by Kotzabasis with a tight drum rhythm and Dimopoulos on guitar plucks the melody on guitar. Karlafti takes the lead on organ and Kym Purling on piano trading with Dimopoulos making for a bright melodic tune. Wrapping the release is snappy, Appointment In Athens pairing Dimopoulos on guitar with Henry Gergen on trumpet. Hot riffs by Karlifti and Gergen make this one of my favorite tracks on the release   If you support live Blue...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Hear Thunder , from Tab Benoit and it's super fused swampy funky blues. Opening with title track, I Hear Thunder , Tab Benoit opens it with a bottom heavy feel, strong vocals and fiery guitar work, anchored by Terence Higgins on drums, Corey Duplechin on bass, and Anders Osborne on guitar. Heavy opener. Soulful, Still Gray has a sad, country feel that showcases Benoit's vocals nicely. Jangly guitar work by Benoit and cool lead guitar riffs by Osborne, held tight by Higgins and Duplechin make this a primary radio candidate. Swamp rocker, Watching The Gators Roll In , is aa super, Tony Joe White like track that just has that groove. Track has great electricity and fun. Bluesy, Overdue , has great soulful vocals by Benoit, caressed by warm guitar riffs. Benoit's guitar lead on this track has real nice focus making it one of my favorites on the release. Little Queenie has a strong back beat worked by Benoit and...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Roll With Me , from Duke Robillard and it's particularly hot! Opening with Eddie Boyd's Bluecoat Man , Robillard is on vocal and these guys are really rocking. With Doug James really humming on sax and Mark Teixeira on drums and Marty Ballou on bass giving Robillard a great platform to blow the doors off on guitar. Excellent opener. Gatemouth Brown's Boogie Uproar is hot and heavy with Robillard having a excellent solo exchange with James and Rich Lataille punched up by the likes of Pam Murray and Carl Querfurth on trombone, Al Basile on cornet, Matt McCabe on piano, Ballou on bass, and Teixeira on drums. Powerful. Willie Dixon's, Built For Comfort has a real cool feel with Robillard playing the easy shuffle under his vocals and nicely interwoven horn work by James and Murray and the tight drumming of Teixeira and groove bass by Ballou gives this track an electrifying feel. Hot, slow, blues, Give Me Back...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release by Pontchartrain Shakers and it's a cool R&B/blues release. Opening with Time To Make A Change , this group is born in the groove. A5 Frederick on lead vocal and guitar and Jojjo Wright on vocal and guitar, joined by Luciano Leaes on piano, Red DeVecca and Earl Smith Jr really hit the spot. Excellent opener. Slow blues, I Need A Creole Woman , again features A5 on lead vocal and guitar with soulful piano work by Leaes. The guitar interplay between Wright and A5 really works nicely with snappy drum work by Smith. She Don't Know , is driven by a strong bass/guitar vamp and Leaes on organ. Again, powerful vocal by A5 and snappy drum work by Smith make this a strong contribution. Wrapping the release is We Need Love , a soulful track with rea radio potential with warm organ, a great back beat, compact guitar solo and strong melody. Solid closer.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Sauce , by Sauce Boss and it's lively with plenty of slide guitar. Opening with Little Rhythm And Blues, Sauce Boss sings lead and lets his slide run wild with drum work by Brett Crook. Solid Opener. Delta 9 Blues is a sorrowful track with lush slide work and soulful vocals by Boss. Very nice. Robert Johnson's Stop Breaking Down has a rockin pace and features Neal Goree on guitar and Crook on drums. Solid contribution. Van Morrison's Gloria has a cool, back beat ad features Damon Fowler on lap steel supporting Boss on vocals. Wrapping the release is Left Handed Smile , a bluesy ballad with Boss on vocals and Fowler laying down some tasty riffs on guitar. This is a solid release with plenty of steel.    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...