OA2 Records artist: Gil Livni - All In - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, All In , by Gil Livni and it's terrific! Opening with Wonder Woman, Gil Livni is hot out of the gate with scorching hot guitar riffs with Amit Friedman on sax sharing the floor. Yonatan Riklis on organ and Yonatan Rosen on drums round out the band for one of the hottest openers I've heard in a long time. Excellent! Bluesy shuffle, All In is led by Friedman on sax and Rosen on drums. Holds it tight. Friedman really gets this track rolling with incredible phrasing warmed by Rikles on organ. I love Livni's jazz blues fusion soloing  with great contrast by Riklis who lines up his own organ attack. Really stellar. A Latin fusion twist on Lennon/ McCarthy composition, I Want You, is so cool. With it's spot on rhythm by Rosen, interesting rework, excellent guitar lead by Livni, and earthy exploration by Friedman and deep organ tension by Rikles... wow! Granted has that R&B funk sound powered by the flaming fingers of Livni on Riklis on organ and Rosen on drums. Breaking back is Friedman who sails with sax adding the power horn that you'd expect on this sound but without approaching cliche. Rikles gets his turn leading on organ with Livni picking up rhythm. This track will keep you moving. Buddy Johnson's classic, Since I Fell For You, is framed by Friedman on sax with light guitar and organ under the melody. Livni, really digs in with a blues feel, dashed with excellent jazz phrasing giving this track legs. Riklis owns  this track with his bluesy organ taking it to the streets. Very very nice. Wrapping the release is bluesy shuffle, Gentleman's Blues giving Livni a great chance to really stretch on guitar. His hands are great and his chops are fat. Friedman slides into a sax super groove with his hard bop phrasing and Riklis knows just what to do to keep the fire hot. His lead work is strong and supple yet full throated when he steps on the gas. This is a strong closer for an really hot release. 

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MoMojo Records artist: Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps - Bad At Being Good - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bad At Being Good, by Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps and it's solid. Opening with upbeat, Love's A Full Time Job, Teresa James on lead vocal and piano sets the pace with Terry Wilson on bass, Billy Watts on guitar, Tony Braunagel on drums, Darrell Leonard on trumpet and Paulie Cerra on sax, this is a hot opener. With a real sway, I Got This Thing has a nice groove. Wilson sets a super bass line and James really digs in with sassy vocals and Watts guitar work add some real sting. Trouble In Paradise is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a lightly funky beat and excellent vocals by James. Dean Parks sits in on lead guitar and his and Kevin McKendree on Wurlitzer gives the track a real mellow feel. Very nice.  Bluesy, Treat Her Like You Want Her To Treat You is an excellent showcase for James and soulful horn work by Leonard and Cerra adds real nice depth. The addition of McKendree on B3 and Bennett Salvay on piano add nicely to Wilson's guitar lead. Braunagel's drum line on We Came To Rock and Watts' lead guitar work really shine and James continues to demonstrate that she can sing any style. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Close Down The Blues Bar has a great lope courtesy of Braunagel and James on piano. James vocals are so thick and tasty and Watts' guitar work so spot on, this is an excellent closer for a really tight release. 

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MC Records artist: Kim Wilson - Slow Burn - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Slow Burn, by Kim Wilson and it may be his best. Opening with Little Milton's, I'm Trying, Kim Wilson is up front on lead vocal with Nathan James really shining on guitar. Barrelhouse Chuck has the piano rolling and Richard Innes on drums rounds out the band. Strong opener. BB King's classic, Sweet Little Angel is up next with smoking lead guitar work by Billy Flynn. Wilson soulful vocals are perfect for these tracks and Chuck adds vibrant piano lead backed by Innes, Larry Taylor on bass and Johnny Viau on horns. Wilson breaks loose on harmonica on Boogie in E with tight backing by James, Marty Dodson on drums, and Troy Sandow on bass. Excellent! Robert Nighthawk's, The Time Has Come, features Flynn on slide and Wilson on lead vocal. Signature piano work by Chuck and Taylor and Innes working the bottom makes this another standout track. Magic Sam's Easy Baby is a cool showcase for Wilson on vocal with excellent guitar and piano phrasing by Bob Welsh. Another Wilson strong harmonica showcase is Gotta Have a Horse, with James knocking out some hot riffs on guitar, Dodson on drums, and Sandow on bass. Wrapping the release is Otis Rush's stellar, So Many Roads with a terrific intro by Wilson on harmonica and James on guitar. Wilson does a real nice job on vocals and James with his rapid guitar attack is killer. This is a 9 minute jam and Wilson and James both lay down gripping solos. Excellent closer. 

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Far-Tone Records artist: Ryan Hartt - Be About It! - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Be About It! from Ryan Hartt and it's quite good! Opening with blues rocker, Breakin' Even, Ryan Hartt is great on lead vocals and his harmonica tone if full and his riffs crisp. I particularly love Jad Tariq's guitar tone and he lead soloing is really strong. Backed by Nick Toscano on drums and Jeffrey Berg on bass, I love this opener. Harmonica jam, All Night Long, has a great driving rhythm with Hartt punching the single note melody on harmonica and a dimensionality added by Tariq on guitar. With a chorus of All Night Long and drums and bass, this is one of the best mostly one note tracks I've ever heard. Really! Mel London's I Wonder Why is a terrific showcase for Nick Adams on lead guitar and Hartt's vocals are smooth as silk leading into warm harmonica soloing. Hartt's phrasing is soulful and fresh.  Very nice. Chicago styling really carries That's Right You're Wrong, a great blend of Hartt on vocal and lush harmonica chops, Adams' sure handed guitar lead and a tight rhythm section. Excellent track. Slow blues, Lonely Hour is really nice featuring Hartt on harmonica and lead vocal, Brooks Milgate on piano and Tom Ferraro on guitar. Milgate lays down a really nice solo leading to a deep throated harmonica exploration by Hartt. Wrapping the release is Pee Wee King's classic ballad, You Belong To Me, with Hartt articulating the melody on Harmonica. Playing it somewhat straight with stylistic variations, this is a solid closer for a strong release. 

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JGB Music artist: The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective - Cortadito - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cortadito, by The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective, and it's lively. Opening with Orchard Downs and extremely rhythmic track, Victor Garcia on trumpet, Brian Stark on tenor sax and Ben Carrasquillo o trombone lays down the melody with excellent rhythm by Michael Rodriguez on bongos and bell, Victor Gonzalez on timbales, Andrey Goncalvez on bass, Jose Guzman on guitar and Jose Natal on barril. Hot opener. A Sunday Kind Of Day features a cha cha rhythm and soft trumpet/sax/trombone mix over Javier Quintana on congas. Really nice trumpet improv by Garcia gives the track a nice edge and Guzman's guitar chops add nicely to the feel. Bembe style, Witches Dance really moves with excellent percussion by  Quintana, Gonzalez, Rodriguez,  and Natal. Brassy lead by Garcia and a rolling bass line by Goncalvez really sets this track off. Wrapping the release is Brian Stark's El Volcan  with shifting time signatures and paces. A smokin sax solo by Stark, and hot percussion, chased by a warm trombone solo by Carrasquillo, tight brass by Garcia and Guzman on guitar, this is an excellent closer. 

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Little Village artist: Kyle Rowland - Not Holding Back! - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Not Holding Back!, from Kyle Rowland and it's super. Opening with funky blues, Convict No. 1, Kyle Roland on lead vocal and harmonica shows real feel, with blues master Johnny Burgin and his trademark style giving the track real spunk. Jim Pugh on clavinet, Ronnie James Weber on bass, June Core on drums round out the band for a solid opener. Rick Estrin's  I'll Take You Back, is up next and I really like Rowland's vocal style. Burgin is front and center again on guitar and Kid Andersen on guitar adds nicely as well. Pugh on piano, Weber on bass and Core drums set the stage but it's Rowland's harmonica that really tells the story on this one. Excellent! Burgin opens blues rocker, You Got The Nerve Of A Brass Monkey, and Pugh on piano and Mr Anson Funderburgh adds real guitar flair on this track with Weber and Core rounding out the troops. Original track, Gamblin' Blues, is one of my favorite tracks on the release with excellent vocals and with Rowland accompanying himself on raggedy ass, JL Hooker style, guitar and harmonica...this is real blues! St. Louis Jimmy Oden's Complete This Order, is terrific with Burgin and Bob Welsh adding tight guitar work and Rowland really blows it out on harmonica adding to his strong vocals. Stockton Boulevard is a cool instrumental shuffle featuring Rowland on harmonica with some stellar riffs and Justin MacCarthy on guitar. With Andersen on B3, Randy Bermudes on bass, and Myles Silveira on drums. Another favorite on the release is Junior Parker's Backtracking with it's soulful pace. Rowland was made to sing this track and his harmonica wails. Trademark guitar fanning by Burgin and Welsh on piano really kicks up the fire. Wrapping the release is a remake of traditional, This Train, and Rowland really adds the rocking blues. His harmonica work is tight as is MacCarthy's guitar work and his vocals soulful and juicy. Excellent closer for a really terrific release. 

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B.B. King Centennial Sweepstakes Launches Featuring One-of-a-Kind Gibson Custom “Lucille”

 

 

Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation Launches B.B. King Centennial Sweepstakes Featuring One-of-a-Kind Gibson Custom “Lucille” Guitar   This Is The Last Week to Donate to Win Guitar Package & Support Music Education as B.B. King Centennial Tribute Continues

 

 

The Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation has announced a special fundraising sweepstakes honoring the life and legacy of B.B. King, timed to coincide with the release of B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100, the landmark centennial tribute curated by Joe Bonamassa in partnership with the B.B. King Estate. ORDER your copy of  B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 today. Donate to win this memorable prize package HERE.   At the center of the sweepstakes is an exceptionally rare, one-of-a-kind Gibson Custom Shop Lucille guitar, inspired by B.B. King’s iconic instrument and crafted exclusively for this moment. The sweepstakes has already raised more than $13,000 toward its $25,000 goal, with proceeds supporting the Foundation’s ongoing work funding music education programs, instruments, scholarships, and grants for schools across the United States. To learn more, please visit KeepingTheBluesAlive.org.   Only one Blue Sparkle Lucille Legacy model was ever made, making the guitar a museum-worthy collector’s piece. The instrument features a “How Blue Can You Get” Blue Sparkle finish, gold sparkle purfling along the headstock and body binding, and a polished brass pick guard engraved with the B.B. King Museum’s official “100 Years of B.B. King” graphic. The guitar includes a Certificate of Authenticity.   “This sweepstakes is about honoring B.B. King in a way that reflects what he stood for,” said representatives for the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation. “B.B. believed deeply in passing the music forward, and this is a tangible way to celebrate his centennial while directly supporting the next generation of musicians.”   The grand prize package includes: One (1) B.B. King Lucille Legacy ES-355 Gibson Custom Guitar with hard case, signed by Joe Bonamassa Two premium Joe Bonamassa concert tickets with a Meet & Greet voucher B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 double CD and triple vinyl package “The King of the Blues” 100 Years commemorative pin The total prize package value is $13,804.

 

 

A $25 donation earns 15 entries, with no limit on the number of entries per participant. No purchase or donation is required to enter, and free entry options are available through the official rules.   The sweepstakes runs through February 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET Since its founding, the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation has funded more than 800 music education projects, impacting over 136,000 students nationwide. The Foundation donates weekly to schools in need, providing instruments, supplies, and resources to sustain music programs that might otherwise disappear.   The sweepstakes serve as both a celebration of B.B. King’s enduring influence and a continuation of his lifelong commitment to education, mentorship, and keeping the blues alive for future generations.   For full sweepstakes details, official rules, and entry information, visit the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation website at KeepingTheBluesAlive.org.   For more information, please contact Jon Bleicher at Prospect PR [jon@prospectpr.com, 973.330.1711]

OA2 Records artist: Anna Kolchina - Reach For Tomorrow - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Reach For Tomorrow, by Anna Kolchina and it's hauntingly elegant. Opening with Schwartz and Dietz song, Dancing In The Dark, Soviet born, Anna Kolchina quietly controls your breath with her easy music gait. Accompanied by Ilya Lushtak, a beautiful opener. Peter Bernstein lends his cultured electric guitar work to Kolchina's vocals on Anthony Newley's Who Can I Turn To?. Sure footed and smooth, a very nice track. Jazz classic, All or Nothing At All, sung in understated poise, again backed by Bernstein on electric guitar is a solid addition. Romero Lubamo really adds flavor with his excellent Spanish guitar styling on Gilbert Becaud's french classic What Now My Love?. Holding to the standard, nicely done. Harry Barris' Wrap Your Trouble In Dreams is smoothly handled by Kolchina and really nice electric guitar soloing by Paul Bollenback really shines. Another elegant track is Johnny Mercer's Whistling Away The Dark with lush vocals by Kolchina and rich guitar work by Bollenback. Wrapping the release is Ella's Reach For Tomorrow. Paced down to simple tune, it has a simple luxury which well suits Kolchina's voice and Yotam Silberstein's fluid electric guitar soloing really dresses it nicely. Strong closer. 

  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 talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Seismic Blues Music artist: Grant Lyle - And Now - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, And Now, from Grant Lyle, and it's bluesy, stylish and catchy. Opening with Won't Let You Go, Grant Lyle on vocal and guitar crafts a solid radio style with smooth vocals, active lead work and strong support from Scott Brammer on bass and Michael Sloski on drums. Another radio ready track, Lose It, has a slight country twist with super vocals and a mix of cool double stopped and bent lead work reinforced by Brammer on drums. Asylum features Roly Platt on harmonica and soulful vocals, give this track an interesting twist and Lyle's clean, straightforward guitar lead adds a gritty texture. Lyle's solid vocals are the key to title track, And Now with stylized guitar lead adorning the track nicely. Wrapping the release is Steve Winwood's classic rocker, Gimme Some Lovin' with Sloski really cranking up the drums, the addition of Rob Gusevs on keys, Jenna Harding and Pat Dickinson on backing vocals and real nice slide work by Lyle. Powerful closer. 

  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 talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Greg Nagy - Just A Little More Time - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just A Little More Time, by Greg Nagy and it's straight up R&B flavored blues. Opening with title track, Just A Little More Time, Greg Nagy on lead vocal and guitar sets the pace with a solid radio track. With a strong melody, and nicely crafted backing this track is very nice. Featuring Josh Ford on rhythm guitar, John Barron on bass, Todd Glass on drums, Jim Alfredson on keys, Keith Kaminski on sax and Charlie Miller on trumpet, this is a solid opener. Breaking Me (but making me a better man) really has that blues telling feel but with R&B underpinnings, the track sounds very fresh. A clean guitar solo by Nagy over warm organ by Alfredson cements the deal. Bobby Murray's soulful track, Love Letter, really works nicely in the set with it's warm vocals by Nagy and clever guitar work by Bobby Murray and with James Hughes on sax, Jimmy Smith on trumpet and Matt Martinez on trombone. Tony Joe White's classic, Rainy Night In Georgia, is a terrific track and a great selection for Nagy with his rich vocals, backed by Miller, Kaminski, Alfredson, Glass and Barron. Very nice. Wrapping the release is John Lee Hooker's, I'm In The Mood, with a tempered attack. Nagy on vocal and guitar keeps the pace understated and Alfredson stretches nicely on organ. Nagy plays a tasty guitar solo of his own with Donny Brown on drums and Rocco Popielarski on bass closing out the set.

  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 talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Big Jake Records artist: Paul Filipowicz - Breakwater - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Breakwater, from Paul Filipowicz and it's consistently strong. Opening with Tuff Girl, a driving blues number, Paul Filipowicz on vocal and lead guitar always comes at you guns blazing. His vocals are raw and real and his guitar playing is authentic and explosive. Backed by Steven Dougherty on drums and E.G. McDaniel on bass, this is a potent opener. Title track,  Breakwater, has a lot of traits that I love about Mississippi Hill Country music with heavy drum beats by Dougherty, Jimmy Voegeli on organ and wailing, Buddy Guy like guitar wailing. Excellent! Another great track, Lefty Philips, is built around an old Sonny Boy Williamson riff with Martin Lang on harp. Filipowicz grinds out a great jam and with his trademark vibrato and backing from McDaniel and Dougherty. Ashes In The Wind has that great Hill Country drum rhythm emphasized by  Dougherty and grinding guitar lead with vocal by Filipowicz. You want that honest, bone shaking, guttural blues...here you go! On Magic Sam's That's Why I'm Crying, Maggie Aliotta is featured on lead vocal giving Filipowicz plenty of space to focus on his riffs. With Voegeli on organ, Dougherty on drums and McDaniel on bass, Filipowicz plays some of his most refined guitar lead on the release. Wrapping the release is Rollcage, a real rocking romper featuring Filipowicz one last chance to show what makes him so great. I can't say enough how much pleasure it gives me when I see another of this guy's cd's come through the door. Real, honest, authentic.... terrific!

  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 talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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ClayTone Music artist: John Clay - About Time - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, About Time, from John Clay and it's a cool slice of classic jazz. Opening with Fred Hersch's A Lark, Shunzo Ohno on trumpet and Matt Garrison on sax set the intro feeding to a playful melody by Enrique Haneine on piano. Sean Conly on bass really delivers on acoustic bass accompanied by Haneine and John Clay on drums. Very cool opener. Ruby Pucillo shows strong vocal work on Bob Hilliard's Alice In Wonderland. Set in 3/4 with Haneine, Conly and Clay anchoring, this really is a great showcase for Pucillo. Haneine takes a super stretch on piano and Conly's bass work is superb. Billy Drummond's Dubai is my favorite track on the release with dramatic lead work by Ohno and Garrison. Clay has just the right hand on drums giving Garrison a solid platform for his coolest sax solo on the release, Ohno's muted trumpet solo pressed by Haneine and Clay is really strong and Haneine hits gold on his piano solo. Very nice. Victor Young's (and Miles) Stella By Starlight is a terrific showcase for Ohno on trumpet with an excellent bass line by Conly and tight rhythm by Clay. I can't describe how important the accents by Haneine contribute to the track, under both Ohno and Garrison. Wrapping the release is Alan Pasqua's, My New Friend Old Friend, led of course by Haneine on piano. Another rich bass solo by Conly with crisp drum work by Clay makes for a strong closer. 

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Delmark artist: Jimmy Burns & Soul Message Band - Full Circle - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Full Circle, from Jimmy Burns & Soul Message Band, and it's chocked full of funky soul music. Opening with Express Yourself, written and made huge by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band back in the 70's, Jimmy Burns steps up and delivers the funk. Backed by Chris Foreman on B3, Greg Rockingham on drums, Lee Rothenberg on guitar, and featuring Steve Eisen on bari and Tenor saxes this is a red hot smoking opener. Jazz track, Ain't That Funk For You, a super groove by Albert Grey really gets that hard bop feel going with Featuring Greg Jung on sax and Foreman on B3 backed by Rockingham on drums. Excellent! Jimmy Burns had a hit in 65 with Chuck Colbert's Give Her To Me and he traces his steps with a soulful rendition here with super sax work by Eisen, warm B3 backing by Foreman and solid vocal backing by Typhanie Monique. Soul classic, Since I Fell For You, penned by Buddy Johnson in the 40's and making a big splash by Lenny Welch in the 60's , gets the full treatment here featuring Bradfield and Jung on saxes and Foreman on B3. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Where Does That Leave Me?, a smooth, R&B track with Foreman on organ and featuring Burns on lead vocal. Rothenberg adds nice rhythm guitar and Rockingham on drums keeps it tight for a solid closer. Very cool release. 

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Origin Records Artist: Mattias Svensson - Embrace - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Embrace, from Mattias Svensson and it's quiet and lush. Opening with My Toots Toots (For Toots), Bill Mays on piano frames the melody with light brush work by Morten Lund on drums, leading to an extended fluid bass solo by Mattias Svensson. Emphasizing the 3/4 timing on by Svensson and Lund, Mays mines the track with strong instincts with nicely placed accents by Lund. Solid opener. With it's contemplative feel, Erik Satir really gives Svensson a wide lane and his strong sense really plays out nicely on bass. Mays' piano punctuation comes more in the way of phrases expanding the track nicely interweaving with Svensson's  continued lead. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Steps (Ahead) with it's contemporary melody, outlined by Mays on piano. Another solid lead by Svensson, with light cymbal work by Lund and framing by Mays helps to really spotlight this track. Mays rolls behind Svensson with a more bluesy exploration of the melody and with concise riffs by Lund caps off the track. Fast paced, Cheddar, pushed by Svensson and Lund gives the floor to Mays and he really runs with it. I particularly like the way Svensson drives the rhythm with his bass line, reinforced by Lund. Strong track. T'ai The Chi(T) Together, is a cool track with a great drum line by Lund. Svensson creates a flowing bass line that outlines just under the melody and Mays elaborates that melody on piano. Very cool track. Wrapping the release is cool, bluesy, Fredriksson 3 with a boppy bass line and Lund on tom toms. Svensson plucks some high register bass notes adding real contrast to this already cool track. Strong closer. 

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