Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Men Are Like Potato Chips , by Anni Piper and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Devil Bride , Brian Foxworth really set a solid drum rhythm giving Anni Piper on vocal and bass a great platform for her chugging rocker. Ted Swanson   lays in some nicely stylized guitar work and Jimi Bott rounds out the band on percussion. Sassy, title track, Men Are Like Potato Chips , has a vintage blues style lead by Chris Shuttleworth on tuba and Steve Kerin on keys giving the full range to Piper on lead vocal. I do like  Shuttleworth's tuba solo on this one. Cheetah , is my favorite track on the release is tasty guitar work by Swanson, and strong drum beat by Foxworth, John Dover contributing a tight trumpet lead and of course smooth lead vocal by Piper. Thunderous drums by Foxworth open Match With A Sasquatch rocking with Piper's vocals and Tim Langford and the track picks up a hot James Brown funky drum rhyth...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Never Alone , from The NTH Power and it's a solid release of pop based, R&B, funk, rock and reggae styles. On opener, Dream Alive , Nick Cassarino leads the way on vocal and rhythm guitar, backed by Nikki Glaspie on drums and synth and Nate Edgar on bass. I like the soulful vocal and syncopated rhythms on Crave You with rock solid bottom and terrific vocal blending by Glaspie and Cassarino with traces of D'Angelo . Very nice.  Could It Be '74 Remix has a real smooth, old school soulful mix featuring Courtney Smith on keys and vocals and Jon Deas on keys. Very nice vocal harmonies and a punchy bottom make this a certain favorite. Wrapping the release is cool jazz rocker, Simple Life featuring Soul Rebels with Derrick Moss on bass drum and cowbell, Lumar Leblanc on snare, Passport P on trombone, Paul Robertson on trombone, Julian Gossin on trumpet and Corey Peyton on trombone. With a funky lead guitar ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Giants , from Barry Greene and it's killer. Opening with Lonnie Smith 's, Backtrack , Barry Greene really picked a smart track with a solid blues base. Excellent guitar work by Greene illustrates the body of the composition with a smart B3 solo by Pat Bianchi and hot and heavy drum work by Ulysses Owens Jr. Excellent opener. Grant Green 's Green Street is up next with Bianchi setting the background on B3 and Owens Jr on drums. Greene on guitar really has a nice hand trading lead phrases with Bianchi on this Latin infused number. Wes Montgomery 's fleet footed, SOS really hums along with Green taking the lead on guitar and David Kikoski really chasing on piano. Owens Jr. drum work is light and tight with Marco Panascia on bass and Steve Nelson on vibes is spot on with Kikoski really working the 88's over. Wow! Greene original, In Her Room , is a solid blues opening with duet with Nelson on vibes. K...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live , from Zac Harmon & The Drive and it's super! Opening with soulful, NTRO , Nate Robinson on bass and Gino Iglehart on drums set a solid foundation, with Corey Lacy building on keys and lush guitar work by Zac Harmon and Kingston Livingston really setting the bar. Terrific opener. Blue Pill Thrill has super movement and soulful vocals by Harmon. Lacy on keys works the rhythm with Robinson and Iglehart and Livingston and and Harmon play stinging riffs on guitar really giving this track some kick. Deep blues track, Feet Back On The Ground features Albert King like stinging riffs and super soulful vocals by Harmon. Keeping the music floor low allows Harmon plenty of space to go dynamically from soft to wow quickly adding real emotion to the track. Excellent! Boogie Down is a strong jam with a firm piano base by Lacy giving Harmon plenty of headroom for vocal corralling. Lacy lays in some real tasty keyboar...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Crossroads Communion , from Denise La Grassa , and it's a hard driving blues rocker. Opening with Big Bad Dream , Timothy Walker sets a high pace rhythm with Alvin Santner on guitar and Steven C. Manns on bass setting the stage for Denice La Grassa on vocal. Pounding opener. Bluesy, Who Will Mourn You? , has a lumbering feel with a prominant bass line by Manns and super overdriven guitar by John Kregor a blues soaked vocals by La Grassa. I'll Play The Blues For You is my favorite track on the release with LaGrassa sharing the mic with Manns and the addition of Pierre Lacocque on harmonica and dome really nice guitar work from Santner. Wrapping the release is rocker, Go Bad Mouth Yourself with it's cool drum rhythm and La Grassa adding contrasting organ to her own vocals and funky guitar work by Santner.   If you support live Blues acts , up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more abo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Wish You Would, by Dida Pelled and I really like it. Opening with John Lee Hooker's Dimples , Dida Pelled leads the way on vocal and guitar. Taking this classic blues track and adding a kick, Dida not only sings the vocals but gives the guitar a total jazz twist with fluid lead and soloing. With Sullivan Fortner on piano, Tony Scherr on bass and Kenny Wollesen on drums, this is a strong opener. Clarence Williams' Sister Kate has a prohibition era feel with a twist of New Orleans thanks too Wollesen and Fortner and Pelled's own guitar style is bluesy and inviting. Excellent. Mary Lou Williams' Rosa Mae , and a real nice bass line giving the track a solid sub rhythm reinforced by Wollensen on drums. Pelled has the lead on guitar and she's not messing around with excellent guitar chords and bluesy phrasing nicely woven with Fortner on Rhodes piano. Lonnie Chatmon's classic, Sitting On Top Of The Wo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Qualified , by Joe Krown Trio +1 featuring Papa Mali and it's strong. Opening with Dr. John's , Qualified , Joe Krown on piano with Papa Mali on guitar and lead vocals really create a ruckus. Casandra Faulconer on bass nicely augments the excellent rhythm work of Eric Bolivar on drums. Excellent opener. Driving piano blues, Mess Around , anchored by Krown on piano also features some super work by Jason Mingledorff on bari sax and Mali wails on guitar giving the track a nice edge. Allen Toussant's funky, Going Down , has a great back beat emphasized by Bolivar on drums and Krown rides high on organ. Another funky treat is Papa Mali's Neckbone with a super funky guitar rhythm with a killer warm organ saturation and a snappy bottom by Faulconer and Bolivar. Mali original, Honey Bee , has a cool, bluesy feel with great trombone work by Mark Mullins and a strong piano solo by Krown. Wrapping the releas...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Come To Me , from Carmen Ratti Band featuring Jill Dineen and it has a cool groove. Opening with No Delusion , a slinky track with a well woven rhythm backing, Jill Dineen on vocal really holds tight on the reins. Carmen Ratti on rhythm and lead guitar adds tome distinctive riffs feeding Tony Lufrano on keys, Steve Hazelwood on bass and Randy Hayes on drums. Super opener. Bluesy ballad and title track, Come To Me , is a nice showcase for Dineen on lead vocal and Ratti's soulful guitar phrasing drips blues. Organ saturation by Lufrano and solid backing vocals by Lisa Leuschner Andersen adds just the right juice. Riley is real nice instrumental (think Thrill Is Gone ) with Ratti laying out the melody with crisp, clear, electric guitar work and Lufrano's organ solo is warm and inviting with a great bass lead by Hazlewood. Really cool track. Blues rocker, Coming Down , has a super funky rocking sound with great...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, While I Can , by Mike Guldin and it really hit's the spot. Opening with Driving Rain , Mike Guldin is upfront on vocal and guitar and this track really has a great groove. Guldin's vocals are soulful and with Steve Mackey on bass and Lynn Williams on drums the strut is heavy. Kevin McKendree really works the organ providing a great back beat and Guldin and James Pennebaker play some stinging riffs making this first track worth the price of admission. Excellent! Rocker, Always A Woman has a cool Latin beat, reinforced by a driving rhythm guitar layer. Guldin was made to sing this music with his natural delivery and Pennebaker really rips it lose on guitar with snappy drum work by Williams. A cool stroll, When The Bills Come Due , has a stiff cowbell strike over Mackey on bass. Gulden on guitar and vocal, and McKendree on keys give legs to this swampy rocker. Don Williams ' New Orleans flavored, Oh Lonesom...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mirage , from Andrew Moorhead and it's intense. Opening with Faster Etude , Andrew Moorhead on piano creates a thematic melody, altering and varying the speed of it, accompanied by Francois Moutin on bass and Ari Hoenig on drums. With an alteration of the piano accent in the phrase the track has a circular feel and seems to whirl. Intervals is structured along a similar method but with four primary chords, altered with a solid hi hat rhythm and percussive piano under the initial melody. As the track grown the phrasing alternates giving it a refined feel with tight snare work driving the contrast. Very cool. Title track, Mirage , has a smooth, soothing melody with a bouncy drum rhythm and bass accents. A higher keyboard flirtation sets the track off nicely against it's lower keyboard primary melody. Wrapping the release is Boogie , with it's strong boogie piano format. An off timed melody provides a stark contr...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Motormouth , from Seth James and it's terrific! Opening with Why Should I Suffer , vocalist extraordinaire, Seth James, creates a great vibe with his rich, R&B style vocal lead and his own lead guitar work, joined by Kevin McKendree on keys, Rob McNelley on guitar, Steve Mackey on bass, Lynn Williams on drums and super backing vocals by Alice Spencer and Etta Britt and and punchy horn work by Jim Hoke on sax, Steve HHermann on trumpet and John Hinchey on trombone. Excellent!  Soulful, I'm In Trouble has a great, slinky feel with James, Spencer, Britt and Jackie Wilson really working the vocals and featuring McKendree on piano. Hoke, Herrmann and Hinchey keep the back hopping and Mackey and Williams the bottom tight. Super. Country swing track, I'll Be Gone , has a great feel with excellent lead vocals by James and excellent piano work by Jeff Taylor. Eddie Dunlop on steel guitar gives the track real sti...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues & Spirituals/Hymn Hustler , by Reverend Freakchild and it's quite good. Opening with traditional, Jesus On The Mainline and the Rev not only shows acute guitar prowess and strong, stylized vocals. Excellent. Blues For No One is a real nice guitar ditty featuring the Rev and his extreme dexterity on acoustic guitar. Very nice. A cool interpretation of Billie Holiday 's, God Bless The Child demonstrates just how smooth the Rev's vocals can be. With only the essence of guitar, jazz chords, this is a strong entry to the mix. A sensitive take on Lowell George 's Willin' is a great closer for disc one. Morganfield's Rollin' and Tumblin' has the Rev digging in deep with lively vocals and excellent acoustic slide work. Another slide delight is Hawaiian Cowboy Lost In NYC. The Rev's slide work is intense and fluid with recollections of John Lennon , street noises. Very interesting...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release. Electric Eden , from Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Breaking Chains , Jennifer Lyn on lead vocals cranks up the band with fiery vocals, joined by Richard Torrance on vocal and guitar, Jim Anderson on drums and vocals, Barb Jiskra on keys and Nolyn Falcon on bass. Silky guitar riffs by Torrance give the track a real kick making this a solid opener. A cool remake of Grace Slick 's White Rabbit fits the set nicely with tight rhythm by Anderson on drums driving the vocals of JL. Sucker For The Pain is one of my favorites on the release with a great back beat, and solid lead and harmony vocals and excellent piano work by Jiskra. A real kicker on the release is swampy, Baggage with a true Little Feat feel. Lyn's vocals are spot on and Jaxon Fitterer really winds up the slide, joined by Falcon, Jiskra and Anderson driving the rhythm. Excellent. Wrapping the r...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Vigil and The Sleeping Giant by Ron Wilkins and Rebecca Patterson and it's quite interesting. Opening with Covid Suite I . Big City Livin' , Ron Wilkins and Rebecca Patterson start off a dual trombone riff and you immediately know something special is about to happen. Boris Koslov initiates a strong bass solo carried by Ray Marchica on drums. Joined by Seneca Black , Alex Pope Norris and Freddie Hendrix on trumpet; Ron Wilkins, Rebecca Patterson, Ed Neumeister on trombone and Eric C Davis on french horn; Zac Zinger and Carl Maraghi on sax, Mike King on Rhodes, this is a cool mix. Neumeister and Wilkins each blow radically great solos followed by King on Rhodes who gets a real nice swing emphasis going. Very cool opener. Sulk City is a more laid back, orchestral piece, featuring Black on trumpet, King on piano and Marchia on drums. Near East is another cool piece with a super melody, anchored by Patte...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fool's Fate , from Rik Wright's Fundamental Forces and it's really cool. Opening with Fool's Fate , Rik Wright on guitar sets a rhythm, joined by Greg Campbell on drums and Geoff Harper on bass carving out a funky fusion feel. James DeJoie on alto sax plays aggressive shredding riffs surrounded by lush chords by Wright. This is a spacy, creative track with plenty of expansive space. Very cool opener.  Freezer Jam pairs Wright and DeJoie on melody over a creative, jagged rhythm by Harper and Campbell. DeJoie breaks free forming a more cohesive melody on sax and Wright plays a particularly melodic rhythm as DeJoie breaks free, leading to his own guitar romp supported by Harper and Campbell. Staggering. Luminescence has a haunting, particularly beautiful melody, structured by Wright on electric guitar chords, and easy paced melodic lines by DeJoie. Wright takes a calming, well articulated guitar solo of...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, This Is Now , by Pete Mills and it's hot! Opening with title track, This Is Now , tenor sax player, Pete Mills lays out the melody, punctuated by Kenny Banks jr. on piano and Matt Wilson on drums. Wilson digs in with his first solo and he is really cooking with Martin Wind on bass driving hard and active drum action by Wilson. Banks Jr. lays down a solid groove of his own and Pete McCann on guitar really sails, making this a dynamite opener. Laying back a bit, Daddies has a real nice, soulful melody with Mills leading the way on sax. Really settling into the groove Mills double times his phrasing before handing off to Banks Jr. who floats on the groove. A meaty solo by Wind on bass is punctuated by Wilson on tom tom. Very nice. Exit Strategy is a contemporary jazz track with a more eccentric rhythm. Mills and Wilson really set it up and Banks Jr. takes one of his most exciting piano rides on the release. McCann ...