Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Power , from Grupo Pagan and it's a solid Latin flavored rocker. Opening with title track, Power , Edgar Pagan sets the lead with an excellent Latin bass line complimented with a full compliments of percussion by Emedin Rivera on drums, Joshua Dekaney on percussion, Jimmy Branley on percussion, Bill DiCostimo on keys and featuring Edgar on vocal, Este on hand drum and chants, Aam Fisher on nicely stylized guitar and backing vocals by Rhonda Paduano and Jose Varona . Energetic opener. Another track with strong Latin rhythms is Tito with clean guitar lead by Jeff Richman and Bill DeCosimo on keys, with solid bass work by Pagan, Luis Conte and Rivera on percussion and Joe Driscoll on beatbox . Sol has a cool Brazilian feel led by Daniel Pardo on flute with Pagan on bass and vocal, excellent work by Jimmy Haslip on synth, JoseVarona on drums, and Dave Donley on percussion. Very nice. Wrapping the release i...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Redemption , from Brody Buster and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Can You Hear Me , Brody Buster leads the way on vocal and lead guitar with plenty of swagger. Jackie Myers on organ and Terry Dry on bass work with powerhouse Ian Pond on drums and Buster on Harmonica adds real punch. Deadwood Shuffle adds real spunk to the set with a lively rhythm, Myers on organ, Danielle Nicole on backing vocals and Buster on harmonica really lays it out there. A Latin rhythm on Wish These Blues Would Stop , driven by Pond on drums, features Buster on lead vocal and playing some great swinging guitar/harmonica lead work. Very nice. The Color Blue is a solid ballad featuring the pure vocals of Buster, Jacque Garqutte on vocal, bass and rhythm guitar and Myers on piano. I particularly like This Time I Got The Blues with some of the best vocals on the release, carried by Myers on piano and organ and nicely complimented b...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wes 101, from Kristen R. Bromley Quartet and it's groovin'. Opening with cool shuffle, Bring It On , Kristen Bromley lays down the melody on guitar with fluid phrasing, accompanied by Melanie Shore on organ, David Ian Baker on bass and Matt Coleman. Shore breaks loose with a swinging solo and brings it back to the melody. Solid opener. Title track, Wes 101 really has a Montgomery flavor with familiar riffs and styling. Bromley captures both the spirit and the tone nicely. Warm lead lines by Shore add nice depth. A surprise drum splash by Coleman is a hot treat. With it 3/4 timing, House Of Fire is my favorite track on the release with super work by Shore and Bromley, a tight solo by Baker and snappy drum edge by Coleman. Wrapping the release is low slung shuffle, Indy Blues with Bromley and Shore really catching a groove. Bromley really gets loose on this track with swinging guitar work and a super bass solo by...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Countryside Motorways , by ZurHub and it's flavorful, Latin infused music. Opening with Social Trust , Mattan Klein on flute trades a melodic exchange with Ezequiel Hezi Jait on guitar, promoted and anchored by Itay Simhovich on piano, Assaf Hakimi on bass and Dani Benedikt on drums. Crisp, well articulated flute soloing by Klein opens the dialog and Jait on guitar follows through with nicely phrased lead of his own. Solid opener. Forget About It really has terrific flow with a super bass line by Hakimi and giving Simhovich a clear runway to nicely elaborate on the theme. Klein's flute lead is really well presented with excellent poise and precision. Very nice. Feliz is a really strong track giving Jait an opportunity to really show his stuff followed by Klein on flute and a lush bass solo by Hakimi. Title track, Countryside Motorway , has a very flowing feel seasoned with Brazilian rhythm . Led off by Klei...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Heavy On The Blues , from Rory Block and it's a hip, blues rocker. Opening with Tommy Tucker 's High Heel Sneakers , Rory Block sets a great pace on acoustic guitar and excellent slide supporting her own vocals on this rocking track. Buddy Guy 's funky, What Kind Of Woman Is This is very soulful with Block squeezing the vocals and sharing guitar lead/slide with Jimmy Vivino . Right in the slot. Spiritual, Hold To His Hand is one of the strongest tracks on the release with Block overlaying her own voice over her own voice choir style for a very nice outcome. Charley Patton 's Down The Dirt Road Blues has a real earthy feel with Block grinding out the blues vocally and deft finger style accompaniment on acoustic guitar. Memphis Minnie 's Me And My Chauffeur is a great track with Block's notable acoustic guitar accompaniment and warm slide styling. Her vocals on this track are particularly effecti...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Diamonds at the Rainbow's End (Live in Norway) , by V&BT (Vigdis & Bla Trad) and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Stormy Weather , V&BT hit square on with a straight forward rocker, featuring Vigdis Haugen on lead vocal, Tom Pettersen on guitar and backing vocal, Bjorn Lokling on bass and Christer Persson on drums and backing vocals. Confession is another straight forward rocker with a strong melody and with solid harmonies and clean lead guitar soloing by Pettersen a prime radio track. Break That Chain is another track with a radio melody. Pettersen plays some grinding guitar work and Persson's drumming is tight. Title track, Diamonds at the Rainbow's End has a reggae undertone rhythm giving it real alternate flavor with some of the best guitar riffs on the release and Haugen's vocals really shine. Wrapping the release is a rework of House of the Rising Sun showcasing Haugen's...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live at Space , by Dave Specter and it's terrific! Opening with Rumba & Tonic , a hot, Latin flavored guitar lead instrumental with sassy drumming by Marty Binder , warm bass work by Rodrigo Mantovani and Brother John Kattke on keys. I love it when Dave does this. Very nice. Otis Rush's Homework is up next and Specter vocals are in the slot. With smokey organ work by Kattke, a great bass line by Mantovani and tight snare snaps by Binder as a foundation, Specter uses his natural flair on guitar to play this classic like a real boss. A slow blues take on   Blues From The Inside is really tasty with vocal harmonies by Specter and Kattke. Specter uses nice pinch harmonics and slide phrasing to spell out a memorable guitar solo. Chicago style boogie , Chicago Style features Kattke on vocal and guitar grinding out the blues. With a walking bass line by Mantovani, piano punctuation and a stiff snare slap by Bind...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live Perpetual Change , by Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks and it's a solid replication of the original Yes compositions. Opening with Yours Is No Disgrace , a top track for Yes and it sounds fresh as in 1970's. Jon Anderson on lead vocal and guitar, joined by Andy Graziano and Robert Kipp on guitar and keys. Richie Castellano plays a masterful bass and Andy Ascolese on drums, keys and percussion really holds things tightly. Anderson really rips on Close To The Edge with fleet fingered guitar lead and vocal blening with Castellano, Graziano, Ascolese, Christopher Clark and Kipp is particularly nice. Heart of the Sunrise with it's flowing key structure, and bass soloing by Castellano is particularly cool. Another track with particularly prominent bass work is Starship Trooper of course with a healthy dose of keys and super drumming by Ascolese. And You and I is handled with finesse... flowing acoust...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, self titled Two Wolf and it's a solid, blues based rocker. Opening with Keep On Movin', Two Wolf features four seasoned players with Lance Lopez on lead guitar and vocals with Greg T. Walker ( Blackfoot ) on bass, Kris Bell on guitar and vocals and Rusty Valentine on drums and vocals. Definitely a guitar blazing band with well blended vocals and scorching guitars, this is a hot opener. Will I Believe has an edgier feel, penciled by Bell and wide open guitar with plenty of overdrive and powerful drumming by Valentine. Percussive guitar work permeates The Wrong Road and paired lead vocals give the track a definite radio presence. Searing lead guitar work with the addition of wah and southern influenced lead guitar phrasing and riffs give the track a distinctive feel. Fox Chase really has the Southern rock aggressiveness with dueling guitars (like Blackfoot or Skynyrd ) really giving the listener the adrenalin...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent (August 22, 2025) release, The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle , by Ben Thomas Tango Project and it's adventurous. Opening with The Promise of Morning , Ben Thomas on bandoneon leads the melody, accompanied by Eric Likkel on clarinet, Laura Schermer on bass, Laura Coronel on violin, Elizabeth Phelps on violin and Gabe Hall-Rodrigues on piano. A classically leaning tango in the style of Astor Piazzolla , this is a cool overture. Title track, The Man With The Grin and the Chuckle celebrates the memory of Seattle's French Chef, Thierry Rautureau , who's bistro served as the incubator for much of Thomas' music over several years of performing there. A serious composition featuring a solid interweave between Hall-Rodrigues and Thomas, with over harmony by Likkel. An Unapologetic Shift of Perspective is my favorite track on the release with a more percussive feel and Thomas giving more range to Hall-Rodrigues on...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good Crook , from Chris Vincent & The Raw Deals , and it's a raw blues rocker. Opening with title track, Good Crook, Chris Vincent on vocal and guitar links up with Johnny Vidacovich on drums and Dean Zucchero on bass opening a pure, rocking set. With just a rattle of guitar, drubbing bass and snapping snare, this is cool. Come Clean has a sweeter melody with jangly guitar rhythm giving it an almost Keith Richards sound. Overdriven tone and looseness gives the track a real gutsy feel. Nice. High energy, Screwdriver Keys is Vincent driving hard n guitar, with monotone vocals. His guitar soloing is unique and ear catching making this one of my favorites on the release. What Johnny Said is a solitude ballad with some of the most melodic guitar playing on the release. Vincent's vocals and lyrics are particularly effective and his sliding and percussive guitar attack is super. Wrapping the release is Catherine...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Take A Ride , from Larry Kurtz & The Law Breakers and I really like it. Opening with blues rocker, Headwaters Hill Country , Larry Kurtz on lead vocal and harmonica sets a two step feel with Scott Bruyea on drums, Sam Carothers on bass, and James Legere on guitar and backing vocals. One Step on The Devil has a real cool back beat and Kurtz sails in with warm harp tones. With Legere laying down warm tones on guitar, Kurtz brews tasty harmonica riffs. Very nice. Bruyea lays down a real nice tom tom beat basis for Let Me In and Legere fills with overdriven chords making a real nice underblanket for Kurtz on vocal and harmonica. Breaking out with nicely phrased guitar work by Legere, this is my favorite track on the release. Kick ass rocker, God's Gift , has a real feel of Paul Kossof with its signature riff and Bruyea on drums kicks up the dust. Kurtz on vocal and harmonica shows a real strut. Wailing harmonica...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soul In Blue , from Tad Robinson and it's terrific! Opening with R&B flavored track, Keep It In The Vault , Tad Robinson on vocal sets up a solid groove with Brian Yarde on drums and Dave Murray on bass and Kevin Anker on keys and Tommy Leino on guitar lays down some real bluesy riffs. Soulful, Out Of Sight and Out Of Mind really illustrated what I really love about Robinson. His vocals are silky smooth and dripping with soul. Clean piano backing by Alberto Marisco and meaty guitar work by Paul Holdman backed by Chris Vitarello on rhythm creates real tension, soothed by the lush vocals of Devin B Thompson and Lorie Smith . Excellent. Another soulful track, Deeper Than You Think really is deep in the soul with a throbbing bass line by Steve Gomes and features Mark Buselli   on trumpet, Rich Cohen on tenor sax, and Anker on organ really pushing Robinson's rich vocals. Forgive and Forget features so...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Don't Need But One , by Kim Field and the Perfect Gentlemen and it's super. Opening with R&B track, Don't Need But One , Kim Field shows what a front man is supposed to do with an excellent vocal presence, backed by Joe McCarthy on trumpet, Rob Rayfield on essential bari sax, Denny Bixby on bass, Whit Draper on guitar, Vyasa Dodson on guitar and Jimi Bott on drums. Hot opener. Chicago style blues , Please Don't Ask Me , features Field on vocal and super harp, and Dodson lays in some real stylin guitar riffs. Very cool. Slow, soulful blues, Black Diamonds is one of my favorite tracks on the release with an excellent feel, really nice guitar lead by Dodson and rich organ work by Louis Pain . Cool shuffle, Dress The Monkey provides a great showcase for Field on harmonica. His fat tone with the off beat drumming really males this a standout track and Dodson's guitar work is in the groove. Very ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Vol. 2 , from Dave Bass Trio Nuevo and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with LeGrand/Lester Left Town , Wayne Shorter 's homage to Lester Young is bright and springy with excellent piano lead by Dave Bass , tight bass and a well defined solo by Tyler Miles and crisp drumming by Steve Helfano . Egberto Gismonti 's Frevo provides Bass a Latin structure for a track with a lot of movement. With Miles pouring on a strong bass solo and Helfano holding tight on percussion, this is a strong contribution. Introspective original track, Questions , has a really nice melody featuring Bass on piano over the tight percussion work of Helfano. Miles gets another opportunity to solo here and I really like his phrasing. Bud Powell 's, Dance of the Infidels really moves with Bass laying down my favorite piano riffs on the release. Providing accent piano work for Miles' bass lead and trading riffs with him really sets thi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ain't Done With The Blues , by Buddy Guy coinciding with his 89th birthday and it's jammed with over an hour of blues and rock. Opening with Hooker Thing , Buddy lays down a classic John Lee Hooker acoustic guitar riff and sings Buddy style. This really captures the playful guitar finesse of Guy. Blues rocker, Been There Done That is a great opener with a kick ass beat and shows Buddy singing like he's a kid and with aggressive guitar riffs, joined by Chuck Leavell on B3. Rob McNelley on rhythm guitar, Kevin McKendree on piano and Tom Hambridge really hangs tight on the drums. I just saw Kingfish last week and he really knows how to put things right. He's featured on funky, Where U At with his funky blues guitar styling under Buddy's silky smooth vocals. The addition of horns on this track add nicely to the richness and Hambridge's drumming works great with McKendree on piano. Excellent! Buddy ta...