Bman's Blues Report

Friday, May 22, 2026

Big Mama Productions artist: The Alexis P. Suter Band - Just Stay Live Recorded Live At The Falcon - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just Stay Live Recorded Live At The Falcon by The Alexis P Suter Band, and it's terrific! Alexis P. Suter is one of those vocalists that come along once in a lifetime and her take on Blind Willie Johnson's John The Revelator is powerful .With her deep rich vocals backed by Vicki Bell, and pushed by the stirring slide work of Jimmy Bennett, this track is off the hook. Joining Suter on the set is The Band's Garth Hudson who lays out an epic piano improvisation. One of Gregg Allman's best tracks, It's Not My Cross To Bear, really works nicely with this set. Suter's deep, rich voice is perfect for this track with Benny Harrison on organ and Bennett really laying down the blues on guitar and Hudson on piano. A monumental blues by a monumental vocalist. Hole That I'm In has a super Latin rhythm and the band is really moving. Bennett gets a Santana-esque guitar solo going and Harrison's organ pushes up the tension. Very powerful. Only I has a soulful, gospel delivery showcasing Suter vocals with Linda Pino and Vicki Bell on lush backing vocals and Harrison on keys. Super strong. Wrapping the release is George Harrison's Isn't It A Pity. Harrison outdid himself on this track and Suter sings soulfully joined by Bennett on guitar, Hudson on accordion and piano, Bennett on bass, Grappone on drums and Bell on backing vocals. This is an excellent closer for an outstanding release.

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Thursday, May 21, 2026

Origin Records artist: Dawn Clement - Dear Ms. Dearie - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dear Ms. Dearie, from Dawn Clement, and its really quite good. Opening with The Gentleman Is A Dope, Dawn Clement on piano and vocal leads the way, supported by John Clayton on bass and Jeff Hamilton on drums. Steve Kovalcheck on guitar really gives the track a workout with bright guitar soloing. Super opener. With it's waltz feel, Dance Only With Me is one of my favorite tracks on the release with Clement, first laying down the base melody and clean and articulate soloing by Kovalcheck on guitar. Clement's improvisation on piano is quite nice and her vocals are clean and sweet. Clement's cover of Blossom Dearie's I Like You, You're Nice is quite nice with smooth vocals over piano by Clement. Latin rhythm under Dearie's, I Know The Moon is cool with light, almost breathy vocals and firm, percussive piano over an easy but firm bass and drums bottom. Another favorite on the release, Our Day Will Come, has a real Shirley Horn feel (which I love) and Kovalcheck's guitar solo is brilliant. The Party's Over is another really strong track on the release with Kovalcheck leading the way on guitar. Clement on vocal and piano maintains a real nice bop feel and Clayton closes the track with a cool bass solo. Wrapping the release is Dearie original, Home, which I feel suits Clement's voice as well as any track on the release. With quiet ease she presents the melody, backed by her own piano accompaniment, joined by Kovalcheck on rhythm guitar. Very nice closer.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

E-H Records artist: Eliza Neals - Thunder In The House - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Thunder In The House, by Eliza Neals and I think that it's her best yet. Opening with Speedy Beady, a blues rocker, with a potent bottom, by Steve Lacross on drums and Doug Woem on bass give Eliza Neals a great stage to showcase her stellar vocals. Adding in Micheal Puwal on guitars, this is a potent opener. Lumbering, Blues Bombshell takes the form of a standard 8 bar with Neals wailing and Puwal playing dual slide lead guitars and adding Detroit Mike Hepner on B3 and grand piano and Justin Headley on drums. Unoriginal Bitch is a broke down blues rocker. Keep it simple, and with Neals on vocal and piano, Puwal on guitar, Woem on bass, Mark Leach on B3 and Headley on drums this is right up the middle. Wrapping the release is title track, Thunder In The House, with a dark, swampy feel. Neals both on lead and backing vocals creates a strong vocal platform, added to by Puwal who is really effective on slide and reverb saturated lead, Lacross on heavy toms, and Woem on bass. Strong closer.

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Slide Records artist: Paul Boddy - Soul Gone Blu' - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soul Gone Blu', from Paul Boddy and it's a rocking blues party. Opening with One Hundred Years, Paul Boddy on vocal and guitar sets a cool rhythm with Jack Daley on bass, Aaron Comess on drums, Rob Clores on keys and warm backing vocals by Jessie Wagner and Lynn Lockamy. Chonnie-On-Chon is a great boogie blues with Mikey Jr. wailing on harmonica and slick slide work by Boddy. Funky, Cussin', Cryin' & Carryin' On, is a real cool track featuring Jessie on lead vocal and she really brings it and Boddy's slide work is fat toned and rich giving it a retro Elvin Bishop/Johnny V feel. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Little Willie John's Need Your Love So Bad excellent vocals by Boddy and rich slide work by Sonny Landreth. Warm backing vocals by Wagner and Lockamy adds a great feel to the overall track and Landreth takes it home with extremely nice slide soloing. Excellent closer.

Monday, May 18, 2026

Yellow Dog Records artist: Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Guy Davis - Fight On! True Blues Vol 2 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fight On! True Blues Vol 2, by Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Guy Davis and it's pure roots blues. Opening with We Are Almost Down To The Shore (Fight On) is written by Jimmy Strother and originally on banjo but adapted by Cory Harris to guitar, presented in a Piedmont finger style accompanying Harris on vocals. Solid opener. See Me When You Can is performed in Delta style by Guy Davis on vocal and acoustic guitar. His finger work is strong and confident and his vocals rich and sincere. Very nice. Harris wrote clever rag, What's That I Smell, with cool, laid back finger work on acoustic guitar and great vocal delivery by Harris. Alvin Youngblood Hart takes over on original composition, If The Blues Was Money. The track has just the right texture with authentic delta style guitar work and Hart's own vocals. Very cool. On Rev Gary Davis', I Belong To The Band, Harris' very strong vocals alone give this a new texture. Gary Davis' lower octave had it's own signature and Harris' higher octave is really quite nice with firm acoustic guitar picking. Guy Davis wraps the release with Elizabeth Cotten's Everything I Got s Done In Pawn. Davis reworked Cotten's Shake Sugaree adding additional verses and imagining himself as Blind Willie McTell on guitar. This is particularly successful with a jangly acoustic guitar. Strong closer. (In case you're wondering, yes, that's the legendary Jack Johnson on the cover).

Thursday, May 14, 2026

VizzTone Label Group artist: Bob Corritore & Friends - Ernestine Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ernestine Blues, from Bob Corritore & Friends and it's a big solid scoop of pure blues. Opening with Tony Coleman on vocal and guitar on How'd You Learn To Shake It Like That, Coleman has a great feel for Chicago style blues and Corritore is one of the best on harp on old Chicago style. Joined by Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar, Bob Stroger on bass, and Anthony Geraci on piano, this is a solid opener. Pat Thomas is featured on vocal and guitar on Big Fat Mama with Corritore adding choice harp riffs. This is a particularly strong track with authentic delta styling and Hooker like meter with no exact number of beats in a measure. Pure! Tia Carroll has the mic on Sam Cooke's Ernestine. With solid R&B styling and warm backing vocals by Eboni McDonald, Diamond Porter and Yolanda Tharrington, Doug James on sax, Geraci on piano, Bob Margolin on guitar, Stroger on bass, and Wes Starr on drums, this is a solid soulful addition. Sleepy John Estes' Trouble No More is up next and Willie Buck does a great job on lead vocal abut it really is a nice showcase for Corritore on harmonica. Carla Denise fronts on Troubles On Your Mind with crystal clear vocals and Ben Levin adds super piano work and really soulful harmonica work by Corritore. Just a note, Corritore's harmonica work is forward in the mix throughout this release and it really is a much better balance. Very nice. Charles Wilson leads on Sorry I Had To Leave You Behind, with Kid Ramos and Johnny Main on guitars and Corritore on harmonica. Mike Turturro sits in on bass and Brian Fahey rounds out the band on drums. Oscar Wilson is on vocal on Jimmy Reed's, Down In Mississippi with Corritore on harmonica, Margolin, and Smith on guitars, Geraci on piano, Starr on drums, and Stroger on bass. Wrapping the release is Teeny Tucker on blues rocker, Shoes. With Corritore giving it greater depth on harmonica, and backed by Starr, Geraci, Billy Flynn, Stroger and Margolin, a solid closer.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Ruf Records artist: Laura Chavez - My Voice - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the latest release, My Voice, by Laura Chavez, and it's a super blues rocker. Opening with a driving cover of CCR's Born On The Bayou, With Chavez grinding out the melody, Lea Worms playing over the top organ, Tomek Germann on bass and Explosive drumming by Marty Dodson, this is a powerful opener. Shot-Zee is a full on R&B track in the vein of Booker T ... a 70's rocker with heavy drums and bass, saturated organ and fiery guitars. One of my favorite tracks on the release is sensitive blues, Wanderer. With Worms forming the melody on warm organ and Chavez literally screaming out a melodic interpretation on electric guitar with hints of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, this track is explosive. Excellent! Covering El Cascabel is a natural for Chavez who grew up in San Diego just minutes from the Mexican border, her father being a first generation Mexican American. El Cascabel is a Mariachi standard and Chavez picks up a nylon string guitar giving it a pure natural rhythm and surrounded by Works on organ, Antonio Econom on percussion, and solid bass line by Germann and Dodson on drums plays masterful lead on electric guitar. Very nice. Another stand out for me is surf flavored, Mamba Negra, with fat guitar rhythm and scorching, Latin flavored lead. Lush interpretation of the melody, surrounded by Econom on tom tom and organ, this track is terrific. Wrapping the release is La Llorona, a beautiful slow blues developed from a traditional Mexican song of the Weeping Woman. Chavez really knows how to knock a track out of the park and this rolls Peter Green and Roy Buchanan into one ball with quiet reverb saturated lead, volume swells, trem bends, fanning and all of the grace that one can milk from a melody. Beautiful closer. Highly recommended!

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

OA2 Records artist: George Cotsirilos - In The Wee Hours - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In The Wee Hours, by George Cotsirilos, and it's refreshingly beautiful. Opening with lush, A Nameless Poet, George Cotsirilos on nylon string, acoustic guitar flawlessly executes a super opener. Richie Beirach's, Gale, is a nice ballad with a smart, call and response between his single lined statements and chorded responses. With rich tones and and quiet background, very nice. Ellington's, Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, has classic framing and a minor swing, giving the track a clean approach. Jimmy Van Heusen's Like Someone In Love has a cool, bop feel, with clean articulation and vibrant chords. The track seems to just hang in the air. Matt Dennis' The Night We Called It A Day really nicely showcases Cotsirilos' ability to present the melody on a platter with creative, harmonica garnish. A genuine pleasure to listen to. Wrapping the release is Gordon Jenkins' classic, This Is All I Ask, so nicely illustrated that it is almost harp like. Cotsirilos makes the track his own and his warmth is transmitting through the playing. A definite must hear.

Monday, May 11, 2026

The Wildcat O'Halloran Band - Welcome To Sunderland - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Welcome To Sunderland, from The Wildcat O'Halloran Band and Wildcat is back rocking and ripping on guitar. Opening with Welcome Wagon, Wildcat on vocal and guitar leads the way with Jopey Fitzpatrick on drums, Angelo Mursey on bass and Paul Provost on keys. Johnny Winter's Check Her Mama has a cool Latin rhythm and Wildcat has those pickups fattened up with rich tone for his blistering riffs joined by Ottomatic Slim on harp. Big Maceo's Worried Life Blues is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a deep blues feel and soulful vocal and guitar work by Wildcat. Provost's electric keys tell the story nicely and Wildcat digs in with some really nice riffs of his own. Dan Penn's blues rocker, Blues Of The Month Club, has a great feel with it's lightly funky rhythm, Provost's piano work and Wildcat's saturated blues riffs. Wilson Pickett's, Don't Knock My Love, keeps it's R&B feel Wildcat reinforcing the rhythm with his stylized guitar work and backing vocals by Wildcat's daughter, Sarah O'Halloran. St. Louis Jimmy Oden's Goin' Down Slow is an absolute blues classic and Wildcat takes it for a fine walk. Telling the story and singing the blues, Wildcat really works his fretboard over on this 10+ minute romp. Wrapping the release is Albert King's (Booker T Jones penned), Born Under A Bad Sign, wrangled by Wildcat, fusing that driving R&B undertone with a rock rhythm. Solid closer for a solid release.

Friday, May 8, 2026

Erica von Kleist - Picc Pocket - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Picc Pocket, rom Erica von Kleist, and it's super. Opening with We Know how To Picc 'Em, a bright poppy number with a Latin beat, Eric von Kleist lays out the melody on piccolo with precision and soul. Backed by Yago Vazquez on piano, Noriko Ueda on bass and Anton Kot on drums, this is a strong track. Vazquez maintains the rhythm as Ueda solos on bass creating a strong opener. On Bone 2 Picc, von Kleist teams up with Jennifer Krupa on trombone for a perfect melody. Krupa really handles the trombone with a terrific, muted horn solo, backed by Kot, Ueda and Vazquez for one of my favorites on the release. Picc & Choose is another strong composition, with von Kleist presenting the melody over a very light backing. Slowly building with Vazquez on piano, and Ueda on bass quietly building with more cymbal and snare by Kot as Vazquez solos. Lively movement and a bright melody really carries this track nicely. Wrapping the release is Picc a Peck with a slower melodic duet from von Kleist and Vazquez. This really works nicely with improvisational work from von Kleist that varies far from my expectations. With a deep groove developing, anchored by Kot, Ueda and Vazquez, von Kleist really grinds it out. Vazquez holds the bottom as Ueda solos, creating a stellar dynamic. Exceptional closer for a really strong release.

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Cleopatra Records artist: Cactus - Temple of Blues II - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Temple of Blues II, from Cactus and it's strong blues rock...old school! Opening with Back Door Man Pt 1&2, Eric Gales leads the way on vocal and guitr with Artie Dillon on rhythm guitar, Billy Sheehan on bass and featuring the driving drum work of Carmine Appice. Super. Pat Travers is featured on lead and slide guitar on Moanin' At Midnight with Ed Terry on vocal, Dillon on rhythm guitar, Jim Caputo on bass and Appice on organ and drums. Travers style really give the track a great bluesy feel, really grinding in. Very cool. Ron Bumblefoot Thal on guitar leads the way on Tokin Chokin', a fun, country pop rocker with edge. Terry handles vocals and with plenty of splash cymbals by Appice, and Johnny Rod on bass, Bumblefoot really sails on slide. Tail Dragger has a Brit blues rock feel with Terry on vocal and Rockin Jake on harp. Appice's driving drum line with Rudy Sarzo on bass, gives guitarist Alex Skolnick a cool rocking rhythm to jam on. Willie Dixon's Spoonful features Ted Nugent on guitars with Terry on vocal. Bob Daisley on bass and Appice on drums really give the track an assault feel and I really like it. Wrapping the release is Feel So Good with a heavier rock feel. It features Rob Caudill on vocals, Tommy Thayer, Artie Dillon and Britt Lightning on guitars, Sheehan on bass, Marty Paoletta on keys and of course Appice on drums. A solid closer for a cool blues rocking release.

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Timezone Records artist: Jeff Aug - Interim - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Interim, from Jeff Aug, and it's an extraordinary exploration in fingerstyle playing. Opening with New Day's Dawn, Jeff Aug and his son, Oskar Tauber, sketches out a solid acoustic rocker with traces of Jimmy Page and Patrick Simmons creating a quiet melody under the percussion of the strings. Interesting opener. Katzenjammer has a playful acoustic melody created in memory of the family cat who was lost during the pandemic. Title track, Interim is one of my favorites on the release with a repetitive acoustic guitar riff played together with some environmental electronic guitar sound. Puts me in mind of a Fripp composition. Very cool. Another track with the family pet in mind is Ernesto with a rich melody and Kottke like structure. This is a cool track with supple guitar phrasing. Open Fields has a strong melody, the essence somewhat putting me in mind of David Crosby, not so much in execution but melodically. Aaron's Song is another warm acoustic composition with the brilliance of Page's own chord phrasing making for a real nice closer.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Tom Lippincott - Ode To The Possible - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ode To The Possible, by Tom Lippincott, and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with Preface/Overture, David Fernandez on tenor sax brings a flowing yet jagged melody to life, caressed in the lush guitar work of Tom Lippencott, Marty Quinn on bass and Lucas Apostoleris on drums. Very cool. On An Inhabitant of Carcosa, a complex rhythm spurred by Apostoleris, and a driving bass line and soaring guitar and electronics by Lippincott on his fanned fret 8 string guitar, this track really gets moving. A super bass line by Quinn and melodic soloing by Fernandez, this track is complex without being tedious. Very nice. Stella By Searchlight is an interesting track with a cool interplay between Fernandez and Lippincott, anchored by Quinn, and Apostoleris. Lippincott lays out a flowing yet obtuse melody on sailing guitar with a counter solo by Fernandez and snappy drumming by Apostoleris before coasting into a peaceful tempo, making this one of the most aggressive tracks on the release. Zakir is a spacy, yet melodic track featuring sultry vocals by Camila Meza, floating on the melodic structure of Lippincott on guitar and complimented by Fernandez on soprano sax. A particularly strong melody on Trail of Tears, illustrated by Lippincott and Fernandez, is then expanded by each player. Very nice. Rational Peace is a quiet, Classical/Spanish guitar inspired piece with plenty of ambient space and minor percussion by Apostoleris. Wrapping the release is funky/abstract, Lynchian, with a really great groove by Apostoleris and Quinn. With a solid yet abstracted melody, this is a great climax for the release before flowing into the Epilogue, a composition of electronics and guitar by Lippincott. Very cool.

Monday, May 4, 2026

Get Hip Recordings artist: Billy Price - Random Madness - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Random Madness, from Billy Price and it's a solid blues /R&B release. Opening with up tempo, I Was A Fool, Billy Price leads the way on vocals, backed by Tom Valentine on bass, Steve Delach on guitar, Jim Britton on keys, Dave Dodd on drums, Delana Flowers, Willa Katy Cotten, and Carmen Miller on backing vocals and with some super sax work by Eric Spaulding. Hungry Ghost has a Donald Fagen feel with nice trumpet by Joe Herndon, and a cool Latin based beat by Dodd. A clean guitar solo by Delach adds a a really nice touch to a cool radio ready track. Bluesy, Rent Free, has a great feel, with subtle keys by Britton, Tony Braunagel on drums, showcasing Price's strong vocals, and a a really nice trumpet and trombone solos by Herndon and Reggie Watkins on trombone. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Dirty Knee Revelation, with warm sax backing by Spaulding. Price really digs deep on vocals and with glistening keys by Britton and soulful guitar soloing by Ian Arthurs. Wrapping the release is title track, Random Madness with soulful vocals by Price and warm horn backing by Spaulding, Sean Jones on trumpet (who also blows a real nice solo), Watkins on trombone, solid guitar work by Delach and warm backing vocals. This is a very pleasurable release with plenty of soul.

Friday, May 1, 2026

Southland Records artist: Pontchartrain Shakers - Love, Peace & Chicken Grease - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Love, Peace & Chicken Grease, from Pontchartrain Shakers and it's refreshing. Opening with blues rocker, Sunshine, Amedee A5 Frederick sets the pace on guitar and lead vocal, and Earl Smith Jr. holds it tight with a tidy drum rhythm. Jojjo Wight on guitar and Red DeVecca on bass make this a compact yet effective opener. A strong cover of St. James Infirmary features A5 on lead guitar and some really tasty riffs. Michael Loupe on sax, wails soulfully over the patient bass and drum bottom of DeVecca and Smith Jr. Very nice. Ammdee Frederick IV is featured on guitar and vocal on acoustic, Lucy Mae, backed by DeVessa and Smith Jr. A cool understated boogie, this track rocks. You Amaze Me is one of my favorites on the release with excellent, soulful vocals by A5 and melodic guitar soloing giving the track just a hint of fullness. Strong. Elizabeth Cotten's, Freight Train features Wight on vocal and guitar with simple rimshots for a stripped down blues rag. Wrapping the release is RL Burnside's Jumper with strong vocals by A5 with a driving guitar lead clean lead phrasing over a stiff snare rhythm and driving guitar rhythm. Powerful closer.

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Steven Husted - Two Nights - Live - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Two Nights - Live, from Steven Husted, and it's moving. Opening with Hank Mobley's This I Dig of You, and Grant Teeple is really rocking it on sax. With Milo Hehmsoth on keys, Steven Husted on bass, Matt Berger on guitar and Israel Yanez ripping on drums. Existential Changes is a mid tempo bop featuring Teeple leading the way on sax, going from moderate to intense phrasing before handing off to Hehmsoth on keys. Husted pulls out a real nice bass solo followed by a snappy solo by Yanez on drums. Matt Berger leads off Against the Grain with some real nice guitar lead with clean, articulate phrasing, punctuated by Husted on bass. A real nice relay from Husted to Berger and Yanez adds just the right tension, making this one of my favorites on the track. Mooncake really moves with a driving bass line by Husted and fleet fingered lead by Berger. Another super bass solo from Husted makes this track stand out, with precision drum swats by Yanez. Nice. Wrapping the release is funky, Nonagon Funkola, with Yanez and Husted laying down a deep groove. Berger has the melody on guitar and rides the wave like a pro. With quick burst of sonic flavor, he generates plenty of excitement and Yanez follows it up with some tasty riffs of his own closing out the set.

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Stella Blue Music artist: Stefan Hillesheim Band - Live at the Chicago Blues Festival - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live at the Chicago Blues Festival, from Stefan Hillesheim Band and I really like it. Opening with, Always Get to Hear from You, Stefan Hillesheim on lead vocal and slide guitar leads the way with super drumming from Dionte McMusick on drums, Darryl on bass and Sumito Ariyo Ariyoshi on keys. With it's cha cha rhythm, its a super opener. Slower, do wop style blues,The Love I Had For You, driven by Ariyo on piano, gives Hillesheim a great stage to showcase his vocals and his slide solo is lush and sensitive. Melvin London's classic, It Hurts Me Too, has s super cover here with strong vocals and slide work by Hillesheim and potent backing piano by Ariyo. Very cool! The radio on this release is clearly, You're My Family with a strong melody, snappy rhythm and restrained rhythm guitar work by Hillesheim. Slinky, When I'm Gone has a funky back beat and outstanding slide work by Hillesheim. The deepest blues track on the release is Better Man, featuring soulful vocals by Hillesheim and rich bluesy keyboard work by Ariyo. Hillesheim really peels it loose on guitar playing some of his most soulful riffs on the release. Wrapping the release is another catchy track with a great rhythm, Sick Of Your Love. Hillesheim really rips some great riffs on this one with super rhythm by Ariyo, Wright and McMusick making this a strong closer.