Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Path , by Paul Ricci and it's an interesting blend of contemporary and world jazz . Opening with Major Look , Steve Jordan on drums, Manolo Badrena on percussion and Anthony Jackson on contrabass guitar , set a funky rhythm and Paul Ricci lays down a smooth melody, contrasted by Michael Wolff on electric piano. Electrifying opener. Lobo is particularly enticing, featuring  Malian singer, Abdoulaye Diabate and tight African rhythms by Jojo Kuo on drums, Ramon Echegeray, Arturo Prendez, Hugo Fattoruso on percussion, Jackson on contrabass, Hugo Fattoruso on clavinet , wild guitar lead by Ricci and super soprano sax by Jay Rodriguez . Excellent track. More contemporary in nature, Around The Block finds Ricci leading the way with fluid electric guitar lines, anchored by Jurim Moreira on drums and Fattorusso on piano and backed by aggressive bass lines by Anthony and Badrena and Valtinho Anastacio on percu...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Silwan , by Wanees Zarour and it's intriguing. Opening with title track, Silwan , Wanees Zarour on buzug crafts the melody with support of Andrew Lawrance on piano. Adding light drums and percussion are Nick Kabat and Tareq Rantisi. The track snaps into a contemporary western form with the addition of Byron Pardo on clarinet and Vinny Kabat on bass. The track gets a euro eastern twist on the solo by Pardo handing back to Zarour on buzuq and a lively modern eastern flavored melody. Strong opener. Autumn has a lush melody with a slight Spanish flavor. Zarour on oud crafts the melody with excellent harmonies by Pardo on sax and Catie Hickey on trombone. My favorite track on the release. Fig Tree has a warm, almost waltz like cadence with a warming trombone solo by Kickey and a really nice guitar solo by Samuel Mosching , contrasted with eastern notes by Pardo on clarinet and featuring a solid oud solo by Zarour. Ver...

New video from Alexis P Suter with Garth Hudson Enjoy!

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Beneath The Sun , by Francesca Prihasti and it's clean and flowing. Opening with In Between , Francesca Prihasti on piano sets the framework and melody for the track. With light drums by Mark Ferber the track has an interesting structure and Nic Vardanega 's contribution on guitar stretches the track nicely underpinned by Drew Gress on bass. Solid opener. Reason and Will allows Prihasti space to outline the concept without firm boundaries with Gress and Ferber but melds into a more concrete rhythm statement piano lyrics and glistening guitar tones by Vardanega and excellent drum statements by Ferber. Till We Have Faces features Nick Brust on alto sax leading the way with excellent rhythms by Ferber. With a lightly funky rhythm by Gress and Ferber, Prihasti and Brust trade sympathetic solos. Wrapping the release is Fortitude , led off by a melodic statement by Brust on soprano sax and aggressive drum cadence b...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Know You From Old , by Steve Howell & Fats Kaplin and it's a great set of folk and blues tunes. Opening with Black Dog , a Kentucky Rag recorded by Bayless Rose features Steve Howell on vocal and guitar and Fats Kaplin on banjo. Excellent opener. Bugger Burns is a cool track recorded by John Lomax back in 1941. Howell on vocal and guitar with Kaplin on mandolin this is a very spry number. Blue Ridge Mountain Blues , made popular by Doc Watson fits this set nicely with Howell on vocal and guitar and honest fiddle harmony by Kaplin. Burl Ives ' The Escape of Old John Webb about a jailbreak in 1730. A great story and some of Howell's vocals paired with Kaplin's fiddle makes for a great add. Shawneetown is a rich, folk track and Howell sings wide open with minimal guitar rhythm and excellent fiddle work by Kaplin. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a solid arrangement of Ellington's Mood Indigo ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cactus Sessions , by Bijan Taghavi and it's very straight forward and articulate. Opening with Jobim's , Wave , Bijan Taghavi shows poise and sense of space taking this Brazilian super hit, and restructuring it maintaining it's Bossa Nova skeleton but giving it a more classical jazz approach. Very nice. DePaul's,  I'll Remember April , on the other hand gets a more aggressive rework with a up tempo rhythm and vibrant lead piano runs. Richard Rogers', Have You Met Miss Jones , gets a solid bop job and Taghavi really knows how to work the melody. His sense of time and rhythm really rock this track. Wrapping the release is another Jobim track, Desafinado , and Taghavi runs the gamut on this track. Opening with a Bossa style over ice, his direction is clear and concise. Warming into the track his approach loosens with a touch of boogie. Returning to a more classical closing, this is a cool journey. So...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Unbridled: The Flying Horse Big Band Meets George Garzone , from The Flying Horse Big Band and it's melodic and fully of power. Opening with John Coltrane 's Giant Steps , George Garzone leads the way on vibrant tenor sax, and a Latin beat with Paul Van Wormer of lead alto, Leon Edge on clarinet, Edmund Quint Johnson V on sax, Fortunato Occhino on sax, Colin Urbina on bari sax and Jeff Rupert  on sax, Alex Kastner, Joshua mercado, Robert Schmidt and Phebe Rich on trumpets, Daniel Tenbusch on piano, HNoah Charles on guitar, Carlos Barreto on bass, Max Terechenok on drums, Daniel Parrish, Samuel Dufresne, Gabe Funk and Benjamin Fuller on trombone. Solid interpretation and cool opener. Hot potato, Chasin' Tail is really moving with Johnson really kicking it on tenor sax. Full horns and kick ass drums by Jamesly Jean-Mary gives a meaty background making this one of my favorites on the release. It Gets Better is ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Morning Soon , by Robert Top Thomas and it's the real deal. Opening with Hey Mattie , with it's rockin' blues styling. Robert Top Thomas on lead vocal and guitar is supported by Dan Walters on piano and bass, Stephen Kampa on harmonica, Billy Dean and on percussion. Cool opener. Gator Jig is a cool rag track with strong finger picking by Thomas and Dean on percussion. Traditional Sugarbabe is super with Thomas accompanying his honest vocals with swift guitar finger picking. One of my favorites.  Blind Willie McTell 's Georgia Rag is another favorite with nicely executed finger picking and vibrant vocals by Thomas. Rev Gary Davis is always a favorite and Thomas' cover of his I Heard The Angels Singing is no exception. With some classic Davis riffs and soulful vocals, I really love this track. Katie McMahon 's Take Me Back gets a bluesy cover and with deft finger work and solid vocals a co...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Have Mercy! , from Sean "Mack" McDonald and it's terrific! Opening with Rudy Moore 's, My Soul , Sean McDonald really turns out. With smooth vocal lead backed by The Morgan Brothers and Marcel Smith on backing vocals you immediately feel like you're in a club in the 50's. With D'Quantae Johnson on bass, Jim Pugh on piano, June Core on drums and featuring T-Bone Walker like lead guitar by McDonald, this track is rocking. Original McDonald track, Killing Me , is a terrific slow blues with excellent Ronnie Earl /Walker style blues runs that will curl your hair. His vocals are amazing and with  Pugh on organ, Eric Spaulding on tenor and Jack Sanford on bari. Wow!! Shuffleboard Swing is another hair raiser bringing to mind the great Clarence Gatemouth Brown . Hot jump track with excellent guitar lead and hot hot sax by Spaulding and sailing organ by Pugh. This guy is amazing! Rev Oris May...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Red Rooster , by Duwayne Burnside and it's terrific! Opening with RL Burnside 's, Nightmare , Duwayne Burnside combines his strong vocal power with raw, Buddy Guy like guitar attack over a tight drum rhythm. With North Mississippi styling, this track is off the hook. Somebody Done Stole My Girl is another strong track with a dirty groove and excellent timing. Burnside's vocals are perfect for this and the loose guitar riffs and tight drum rhythm drive it home. I love this shit! Jimbo Mathus ' Talk Sweet To Me , gives Burnside and Luther Dickenson a soulful approach with understated guitar riffs and and overdriven guitar wailing amidst rugged vocal harmonies and clean piano backing. I mean, what's not to like. Wrapping the release is laid back, Mississippi Here I Come featuring Dickinson and Burnside in a super cool acoustic guitar jam. Strong closer for a really strong release.    If you su...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Within Tension , by Ross Neilson , and it's a blend of contemporary pop, rock and blues. Opening with Rock Ranger , with it's overdriven guitar tones and vocals somewhat formatted like Peter Green 's Oh Well . With John C. Stubblefield on bass, Rick Steff on keys and Jay Sheffield II on drums its a powerful opener. Easy shuffle, Road To Memphis , has a poppy radio feel with jangly, guitar work and snappy drums. Pop ballad, Come To Be showcases Neilsen's vocals with light acoustic guitar and keys by Steff. With a blend of country rhythm by Sheffield and Neilsen frame the track and Neilsen's vocals bridge with pop, joined by Steff on keys. Soul track, Good Enough features some of Neilsen's best vocals on the release and a solid sax solo by Art Edmaiston make this my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is solid ballad, Bold & Beaten with Neilsen on guitar and Steff on keys mak...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me - A Tribute To Mississippi John Hurt , by Erin Harpe and it's a super tribute to Mississippi John Hurt featuring Jim Countryman . Opening with Candy Man , a classic John Hurt track, and Erin Harpe is enthusiastic about Hurt's music and guitar styling. A modified Piedmont styling requiring a great thumb, she asked Jim Countryman to join on acoustic bass to assist with the sound. With precise finger picking and unique vocal quality, this is solid blues. On title track, Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me , the track has a definite Jimmie Rogers feel and cool guitar vocal exchange. Richland Woman has a cool, laid back feel with understated guitar accompaniment and easy lead vocals. My favorite track on the release is Hurt's classic, Stagolee and Harpe hits the perfect stride with just the right blend of vocal and guitar. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Jimmie Davis ' track, ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, So It Goes , by Kate Olson and it's full of life. Opening with energetic, bebop track, Bumbling Thumbs Blues , Kate Olson on soprano sax and Conner Eisenmenger on trombone lay the framework for this ultra cool track with it's eccentric melody. Eisenmenger stretches the melody in a great way, chased by Evan Woodle on drums and Olson follows with concentrated melodic extensions of her own. Tim Carey on bass shows his nimble chops and the 4 some sounds like a morphing big band/ Dixieland quartet wrapping it back down tight. Solid opener.  All Pear-Shaped has a searing bottom line and a jagged but coherent melody feeding into Eisenmenger's inciteful trombone solo. Olson on sax lays back in the groove feeding the flames with a solid bottom by Carey and Woodle. Another extended bass solo by Carey and rotating lines by Eisenmenger, Olson and Woodle make for fun work. Soulful ballad, So It Goes , really fills th...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kansas City O'clock , by Mike Bourne Band , and it's a swift kick in the pants. Opening with Can't Be Anybody But Myself , Mike Bourne is and original on vocal accompanying himself on guitar and backed by Bryan Herrman on drums, Jim Beisman on the hot piano, Patrick Recob on bass and featuring sweet sax work by Dougan Smith on tenor. Excellent opener. Loping boogie, Too Old To Be Young , has a great feel, with Bourne on vocal and tight off beat drumming by Kerry Denton . Mister B.T. adds in the top trumpet and Dan Star on sax is on spot. Bourne's guitar soloing is original and cool and Bob Paige on piano holds tight. Title track, Kansas City O'clock is a cool rock and roller featuring Smith on sax, Beisman on piano, Nick Hmeljak on trumpet, Greg Clinkingbeard on bass and Bourne doing what he does on lead vocal and guitar. Absolutely cool. Three Blind Mice is a wicked little blues with a cool ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Factory , from Mark Cameron , and it's got a great feel. Opening with shuffle, The Wrong Thing , Mark Cameron leads the way with fat fat slide guitar and solid vocals. Bill Keyes adds super backing vocals and harmonica, with Sheri Cameron on percussion, Nick Salisbury on bass and Dan Schroeder on drums. Solid opener. Title track, Blues Factory , has a firm bottom courtesy Schroeder and solitary slide work underlining Cameron's vocals with Steve Hansen on bass and Keyes on harmonica. With a Memphis feel, Sugar really features Cameron's vocals backed by Sara Renner and Ionya Hughes and full horns by Shane Cox on trumpet and trombone, Zach Miller on tenor sax, Tommy Barbaretta on keys and Schroeder on drums. Definite radio track. Bluesy ballad, Change Your Ways is sure to be the crowd favorite on the release with soulful guitar lead and solid vocals by Cameron. Very nice. Closing the release is rockin'...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Life Got In The Way , by Heather McKay and it's great. Opening with You Make Me Smile , Leonardo Lucini and Leland Nakamura on bass and drums respectively lay down a firm Latin rhythm reinforced by Campbell Charshee on keys, Peter Fraize on sax and Bruno Lucini on percussion. Heather McKay breaks away with a really tasty guitar solo with crisp riffs and plenty of flair. Fraizee really takes advantage of the Latin rhythm with an energetic solo of his own making for a super opener. Narraguagus Bay is an easy, relaxing track with a killer bass solo by Lucini and a wailing guitar solo by McKay. Strong tonal harmonies really blend nicely. Excellent! Run is a cool Latin fusion track with a strong bass line and super keys punctuation. With a ripping guitar lead by McKay and smoking drumming by Nakamura joined by Fraize this track is hot. Wrapping the release is heavy salsa influenced, Lucini in The Park . McKay really ...

 I just had the opportunity to review Jacktown USA , a companion cd that is released along with a new book by the same title, looking at the Mississippi blues and southern soul artists and the state's prolific history of Grammy awards and nominations as released by Republic Books . Opening with Hold Up by Jacktown Sons the cd is off to a soulful pop start. With it's radio styling, upbeat rhythm and nicely blended vocals, a solid hit. Eddie Cotton is up next on Delivered By The Blues , a solid blend of blues, soul and funk. Cotton's vocals are really great and with rich organ backing over a thick bass and drum line and funky harmonica. Very cool. Easy shuffle, Juke Joint Love by Stevie J Blues has great balance with clean lead blues guitar styling, hot piano riffs and great vocals by Steve. Zac Harmon puts up my favorite track on the release, I Still Got The Blues . A super slinky blues number with strong guitar riffs, a funky bass line and super vocals, this track ...