Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live From Daryl's House Club , from Sean Chambers and it's a potent blues rocker. Opening with driving rocker, Cobra , Sean Chambers, notorious guitar slinger is joined by Pat DeSalvo on bass and Garnet Grimm on drums, both of Savoy Brown fame. With grinding guitar rhythm and a driving bottom, Chambers really gets things amped up. His guitar riffs are searing and relentless. Solid opener. Blues rocker, Red Hot Mama has a real nice feel with great vocals by Chambers who plays some real nice slide on this one. Louise is a smoking blues and Chambers really lets the dog off the leash on this one. His vocals are raw and his guitar tone is round and cutting. Very nice. Paying tribute to Kim Simmonds, they tee up a Savoy Brown favorite, Street Corner Talking with it's intimidating swagger. Maintaining Simmonds original arrangement but with his own take on guitar soloing, this 7 plus minute track is terrific. Chambe...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Flee Though None Pursue , by Ed Alstrom and it's a juicy bity of soulful blues. Opening with Be Nice! Ed Alstrom on lead vocal and keys we're greeted with a sound that could be The Impressions. With Ula Hedwig on backing vocals and Don Guinta on drums, this is a fine opener. Slow Blues , features Robert Hill on guitars supporting Alstrom on keys and vocals. Slide guitar really gives the track a bluesy sound and Alstrom's organ is great support for his own rich vocals. New Orleans flavored, The Truth features Alstrom and Hedwig on vocals and Jerry Vivino on sax and Frank Pagano on drums. Great track.  Screwed is a cool, funky blues with solid vocals and a nice ripping guitar solo by Alstrom and Pagano on drums. Very cool. Great Notch is another track with a funky New Orleans feel. Don Guinta on drums and Hedwig and Alstrom's vocals add nicely to the piano work of Alstrom and cool harmonica work of Rob Pa...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bluesland Theme Park  by Heavydrunk and Watermelon Slim and it's really sweet! Opening with charging, Bluesland Theme Park , a high stepper with vaudevillian sound and Mad Dogs and Englishman horn vamp.  With Rob Robinson on lead vocals and Watermelon Slim on harmonica this is really potent. Featuring great interpretative innovation by Roy Agee on trombone, Emmanuel Echem and Lorenzo Molino on trumpet, Evan Cobb and Maxwell Abrams on sax this is a potent opener. Funky, New Wine is another meaty track with excellent vocals and notable bass by John Allouise and Brian Allen, Ricky Burkhead on drums and some real nice slide work by Slim. Watermelon Girl has a really nice Texmex/island feel with excellent vocals, nice slide and great percussion work by Burkhead. Another favorite on the release is Better Worser Too with thick vocals and, sassy horn work and funky funky bottom. Can be remiss by not mentioning th...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hidden Gems, by Brent Laidler , and it has a cool, yet sophisticated approach. Opening with Latin influenced, Haba Verde , Ned Boyd on sax  and Brent Laidler on guitar set the theme working with Richard Sleepy Floyd on drums, Jamie Newman on organ and Scott Pazara on bass to create a very pleasant theme. Flute solo by Boyd, Buselli on trumpet and a rich guitar solo by Laidler really make this a bright opener. Led by Boyd on sax, Gemani has a cool island feel and with Newman holding the bar and Floyd on rimshot, Boyd really gives it a ride. An exuberant solo by Newman on organ and a lively soli by Laidler really takes the track to another level. Very nice. Another track with a bright, Latin bottom, Riff Business gives Newman the first pass and his chops shine bright with just the right zing. I really like Buselli's approach on trumpet with a tight yet laid back attack and Laidler's mellow guitar tone really polis...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Brothers , from Towner Galaher Organ Group and it's quite good. Opening with title track, Brothers , Towner Galaher sets the rhythm with a funky snare, hi hat thing and Craig Handy on tenor sax builds the melody. With warm B3 by Jimmy Sanders, Marvin Horne on guitars and excellent bass contributions by Randy Monroe, this is a solid opener. The Diamond Chalice is one of my favorites on the release with it's easy pace and soulful melody by Handy. Sanders on Rhodes and thick B3 adds substantially to the depth of the track and Monroe's bass lines balanced with Galaher's tight drumming give the track a real substantial feel. Cahva Bite? weaves from a straight ahead groove and 4 time highlighted by cool percussion by Galaher. Ever present fluid lead lines by Handy and straight up soloing by Sanders and Horne make this another standout on the release. Wrapping the release is Seventh Heaven, a driving rocker with...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Way Ride , from John Brennan, and it's a real nice set of blues rockers. Opening with Nothin' To Lose , John Brennan on vocal, slide and drums sets a solid blues foundation. With it's traditional sound and, electrified hollow body slide sound and solid vocals, Brennan shows a purity that I rarely hear on contemporary blues releases. On Elmore James', Shake Your Money Maker, I think the track sounds spontaneous along the lines of Hound Dog Taylor. A great cut and hot slide. On Robert Johnson's shuffle Ramblin' On My Mind , Brennan's vocals are highlighted with solid slide, balancing with acoustic rhythm guitar. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Where'd You Stay last Night , a vibrant rocker with a late 50's/early 60's sound. Stripped down with basic guitar, drum and vocal, this track rocks. Slipping in with some real nice lead/slide guitar and a rockabilly feel, this is an excel...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nashville Road , from Tomislav Goluban with Crooked Eye Tommy and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Hard Run , Tomislav Goluban on harmonica leads the way with an aggressive rock rhythm by Tommy Marsh on guitar, Eric Robert on keys, Jasco Duende on guitar, Doug Seibert on bass, and Alphonso Wesby on drums. Super opener.  Boogie rocker, Bad Choices Make Good Stories is a deep track with a thumping rhythm by Seibert and Wesby, super lead vocals and guitar by Marsh and signature harmonica lead by Goluban. Hip Hop Shake is another driving boogie with critical bass line by Seibert, dueling lead between Goluban, Robert and Marsh. Super track. I really like the rhythm on Keep On Movin On with its  lightly funky beat. Wrapping the release is laid back, There Is A Train featuring Marsh on vocal and guitars, and Goluban wailing train on harmonica and Marsh on steel. This is a real nice release from two talen...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live In Merida , from 3Below and it's stimulating. Opening with Relamparia , Trey Gunn on Warr guitar, Alonso Arreola on electric bass and Michael Manring on fretless bass start the journey. Joined by Emmanuel Pina on oud, this track has a really cool flow of progressive, eastern and fusion themes. Excellent opener. Versos has a distinctly eastern flavor led by Pina on oud and seated nicely by Gunn and Manring and held tight by Arreola. Gunn on Warr guitar creates an unworldly wail on Forest Floor . Leading into bass heavy Big Fungus, a melodic track with dynamic interweaving between Arreola, Gunn, Manring and Pina. One of my favorites on the release. Mournful, The World Is Everything That Is The Case is a terrific blend of Gunn and Manring harmonizing creating a mind bending sonic tapestry. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Area opening with a riff by Pina on oud and joined by Arreola on bass. With a lively pace a...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bluesman From Jupiter , from The Dennis Spencer Group , and it's a solid set of rocking blues. Opening with title track, Bluesman From Jupiter , Dennis Spencer on lead vocal and guitar sets the pace with Tracy Hart on backing vocals, Mikal Majeed on keys, and Terence Johnson on drums. This driving rocker uses a rock and roll rhythm and a bluesy style. Cool opener. Soulful, Cold Corner , features Tracy Hart on lead vocal, with Bobby Warren and Tony Hithe on backing vocals and featuring real nice guitar phrasing by Spencer. Ballad, Why Can't We features Spencer and Hart sharing the mic and smooth guitar lead by Spencer. This is a tight track and a likely radio player. Texas style blues rocker, Tall Guy Boogie , really has legs with a grinding guitar vamp and giving Majeed the lead on melody. A real nice guitar solo by Spencer and Faith Jobe on drums, this is one of my favorites in the set. Wrapping the release is You...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Calling Long Distance , from The Hitman Blues Band , and it's a good mix of contemporary blues. Opening with title track, Calling Long Distance , "Hitman" Alexander on lead guitar and vocal sets the pace with solid slide, driven by Bob Stander on bass and backing vocal and Guy LaFountaine on drums. With Mike Katzman on keys and a full compliment of horns like John Kelly on alto sax, Tom Mineo on tenor sax, Eric Altarac on trumpet and Al Alpert on trombone and Joanna Alexander and Nancy Hampton on backing vocals, this is a cool opener. Blood Alley is a cool driver with a taste of 60's surf music featuring keys by Katzman, and Tom Mineo wailing on sax while swimming in the sea of reverb soaked guitar by Hitman. Very cool. Low slung shuffle, Side Pocket For A Toad , has a great feel with sweet blues riffs by Hitman and punchy horn work by Kelly, Mineo, Altarac and Alpert. Foolish Pride is one of my favorit...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cambio , from Neff Irizarry , and it's vibrant guitar with hot Latin rhythms. Opening with Adelante , composer and guitar lead, Neff Irizarry leads the way with excellent fluid melody paired with Martin Fabricius on vibraphone, with the rhythmic support of Jimmy Haslip on bass and Picardo Padilla on percussion. Strong opener. Cabo Rojo in 6/8 gives Irizarry plenty of room to breathe with both extended phrases and shorter punctuation, over Fabricius' well placed accents. A steady rhythm by Padilla anchors the piece giving it a nice flow. Led Zep's, The Rain Song is a nice diversion handled by lush melodic phrasing by Irizarry over the simple Latin rhythm of Padilla. El Swing De La Finca really does move with the melody laid down by Fabricius and Irizarry in tandem. Irizarry takes the first line solo and Irizarry the second over the punchy bottom by Haslip and Padilla. My favorite track on the release. Another...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Vinyl Brews , from Gardyn Jazz Orchestra and it's a full bodied beer inspired release. Opening with up tempo, Dinero de Sange' , inspired by an IPA with Latin overtones respective of too much blood orange. Featuring a strong guitar solo by Don Hanrahan, and a solid alto solo by Jud Aaron, Jon Gardner and Jacob Kaplan on alto sax, Jordan Graef on tenor and Louis Kugelman, Daniel Wright, Derek Dilman, Andrew Esch, and Michael Cruse on trumpet, Travis Hill, Seth Dowdell, and Rachel Slifer on trombone, Brett Slifer on bass trombone, Jack Ozment on piano, Isaac Strader on bass and Brett Kennedy on drums, they are bringing it. Shuffle, The Golden OG remembers 2023's Gold Cup winner OG Pils Lager with solos by Aaron on tenor, Dowdell on trombone and Ozment on piano. Bluesy, By The Stoney Creek features solos by Marcell Belinger on trumpet, Kaplan on alto, Hanrahan on guitar and Kennedy on drums.  Wrapping the releas...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live At The Pump House Music Works , by Dan Moretti & Brazilia , and it's hot. Opening with mambo, Black Nile , this release is hitting on all cylinders right off the bat. With Dan Moretti leading the way on tenor sax, you'll be dancing in your chair. Maxim Lubarsky on piano lays down a stellar solo, reinforced by Oscar Stagnaro on bass, Ernesto Diaz on percussion and Steve Langone on drums. Excellent opener. Night Dreamer is a cool blend of reggae and Latin jazz with straight up sax melody by Moretti and a bountiful piano solo by Lubarsky with tight rhythms by Stagnaro, Diaz and Langone, and a powerful tenor solo by Moretti. Very cool. Wayne Shorter's Witch Hunt is given a Latin flavor and features a strong bass solo by Stagnaro and relentless tenor work by Moretti, making this one of my favorites on the release. Yes or No is sensational in 7 with Moretti on soprano sax, strong bass lead by Stagnaro and e...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Red Devil Lye , from Walk That Walk and it's a country blues rocker. Opening with The Daydream , Poppa C DeSnyder on dobro and lead vocal in a Waylon kind of style, joined by Jon Reese on bass, Stickman Waldron on harmonica, Pappy Biondo on banjo and AlanWaters on drums. Driving rocker, Heavy Music, has a solid melody with DeSnyder on guitar and lead with Jimmy James Love on backing vocal and guitar, Ray Paczkowski on keys and Richard Cheese Welch on drums. You Don't Love Me has deep blues roots in Morganfield territory, with DeSnyder on vocal and dobro, Biondo on banjo, Waldron on harmonica and Waters on drums. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Jimmy Oden's On The Road Again made popular in the 70's by boogie band, Canned Heat. Love takes the lead on vocal joined by Waldron on harmonica, Reese on bass, DeSnyder on guitar and Waters on drums. This is a cool release with a nice slice of blues.    ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Every Rome Needs A Nero , and it's rich in folk blues artistry. Opening with title track, Every Rome Needs A Nero , a cool folk blues track with a Latin rhythm, Alfie Smith on lead vocal and guitar captures center stage, with only the minimum of percussion by Dave Gould and bass by Justine Fischer. Troy Dowding on trumpet really adds great highlights with super trumpet phrases. Excellent opener. A fluid rag, All The Blues I Need , features Smith on vocal and excellent trumpet lead by Dowding over solid piano structure by Jesse O'Brian. Very nice. Elizabeth Cotten's classic, Shake Sugaree , is really nicely redone with Smith's deep warm vocals and understated guitar accompaniment. A nice acoustic guitar/trumpet duet really is a nice compliment on this track. Wrapping the release is Leonard Cohen's Bird On A Wire , featuring Smith singing this notable ballad accompanied by guitar, and O'Brien on piano ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Brand New State , from Alex McLaughlin , and it's rich and full of texture. Opening with Desert Chapel , Alex McLaughlin on upright bass, sets the quiet framework of the track joined by Jeremy Siskind on piano fleshing out the melody. With Tina Raymond adding crisp, articulate snare and cymbal work, Trumpet man Jeremy Pelt creates a sharp contrast with brilliant phrasing and McLaughlin steps back up with a solid bass solo. Siskind adds his own exploration of the melody making for a super opener. Signals is quite melodic with Pelt laying out the format, framed. Siskind and Pelt  each create dynamic solos making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Lily has a bluesy feel with the sense of longing in lead lines by Pelt on trumpet and lush reinforcement by Siskind on piano. McLaughlin works hand in hand with Siskind on his bass solo with tight snare/cymbal work by Raymond. Bop track, El Polvo really move...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Real You , by Greg Nagy , and it's super with healthy doses of soul, R&B, blues, and rock. Opening with title track, The Real You , lead singer, guitarist, song writer, Greg Nagy on lead vocal shows a real feel for R&B. With Josh Ford on guitar, Dale Grisa on organ, John Baron on bass, Todd Glass on drums, Lynne Calloway on backing vocals, Jim Alfredson on organ, Keith Kaminski on sax, this is a solid opener. CeeLo Green's Crazy is a cool addition giving Nagy a open field to show his soulful vocals and bluesy guitar chops, complimented by Dale Grisa on organ and Richard Curran on strings. Very nice. Thornetta Davis steps up in duet with Nagy on George Harrison's remarkable, Something . I have always loved Davis' voice and with Josh Ford laying down some real nice guitar lead, this is an excellent blues rock addition. R&B track, Baby, What Took Your Love Away From Me has a cool, Robery Cray ...