VizzTone Label Group - Willie Buck & Bob Corritore - OH YEAH! - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, OH Yeah!, from Willie Buck & Bob Corritore and it's rich Chicago infused blues. Opening with title track, Oh Yeah, Bob Corritore and Willie Buck have a hot one here. Buck on lead vocal really has the stuff on vocal and Corritore really knows how to conjure the Chicago mojo on harmonica. Featuring Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar, Billy Flynn on guitar, Ben Levin on piano, Bob Stroger on bass and Wes Starr on drums, this is a super opener. On William Crawford's That Ain't Enough, Buck's vocals are particularly gritty and Bob Margolin really digs in with Muddy Waters style slide. Playing with Waters for 7 years, Margolin plays this like it's second nature. Corritore's style on harmonica is perfect on this traffic. Corritore has the mic on Went Home This Morning and he wails. Mojo Mark Cihlar and Jon Atkinson join on guitar lays out some terrific riffs and Troy Sandow on bass and Brian Fahey on drums  round out the band making this one of my favorites on the release. Morganfield's Baby Please Don't Go follows original arrangement and Buck is really in the groove. This track is always a easy sell and Corritore and Buck sail high. Wrapping the release is Let Me Find Out Your Name with Levin on piano, and featuring Billy Flynn on guitar. A slow deep groove gives Buck plenty of space for his vocals to breathe and Flynn's tone is terrific. Corritore closes out the track with some lower octave blowing really giving it guts. Strong closer.

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LA Reserve Records artist: Nick Biello - New America - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New America, from Nick Biello, and it's jamming. Opening with Bel Canto, Nick Biello on alto sax, paired with Charlie Porter on trumpet leads the way with an energetic melody. George Colligan on piano adds substative piano punctuation over the tight rhythm of Alex Tremblay on bass and Peter Kronreif on drums. Biello cuts loose on sax really wailing a great solo, followed by Porter who delivers a rich, earthy trumpet solo handing to  Colligan on piano who develops a super groove followed by a strong bass solo by Tremblay. Solid opener. Slightly Perilous is my favorite track on the release with double time instrumentation by Porter and Biello. Anchoring the track is Colligan on piano, handing off to Biello for a tremendous rip roaring solo. Porter, more laid back attach still makes you sit back and take a breath. Off to the races again with Colligan, this track really is strong with excellent punctuation by Tremblay and Kronreif. Ballad form, A Long Way To You has a warm melody led by the expressive phrasing and tone of Biello on sax. Comforting reinforcement by Colligan on piano gives the track a homey feel. Porter's trumpet solo is smooth and sensuous with nice blending by Biello. Very nice. Wrapping the release is title track, New America with it's bop feel. Biello winds it up with an exhilarating sax solo contrasted with Porter's more laid back yet perfect trumpet solo. I like Colligan's feel on piano and the richness of Tremblay's work on bass ever encouraged by the tight kit work of Kronreif. Strong closer. 

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Missouri Morning Records artist: Johnnie Johnson - I'm Just Johnnie - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'm Just Johnnie, by Johnnie Johnson and it's cooking. Opening with title track, I'm Just Johnnie, Johnnie Johnson on piano and vocal leads the way with terrific style. Tony T lays in some blistering slide work on guitar, backed by the heavy horn section of Jm Manley and Ray Vollmar while Kenny Rice on drums and Gus Thornton on bass round out the band. Excellent opener. On I Get Weary, Max Baker plays a heartfelt blues intro and solo on guitar and Charles Glenn sings a silky smooth lead. Johnson plays a hot, well articulated solo on piano and with Paul Willett on organ, Dickie Steltenpohl on bass, and Andy O'Connor on on drums, this is a strong track. Powerhouse horns by  Doc Simpson, Tom O'Brien and Ray McAnallen open Let The Good Times Roll with Kenny Rice on lead vocals. Bonnie Raitt really shines on slide guitar followed by Johnson's signature piano style. Excellent. Three Handed Woman gets a real nice swing going with Johnson really rocking the piano and singing and featuring Tony T on guitar laying down some potent riffs on guitar. Instrumental, Blues In G, features Johnson front and center on piano and again rich piano styling by  Tom Maloney. Trading solo's this is a great track. Another great boogie is Johnnie Johnson Blues with Johnson on lead vocal and piano, Johnny Rivers on guitar, Thornton on bass and Rice on drums. Johnnie just has a flair that shines beyond the music. Wrapping the release is piano shuffle, Long Gone, with Johnson leading the way on piano. Maloney stands on it with a real nice guitar solo and some tight double stops giving the track and greasy feel, even more accentuating Johnson's clean delivery, backed by Thornton on bass and Rice on drums. Very nice. The two disc set also includes a second disc on interviews with Johnson and Radio Hall of Fame and SiriusXM DJ Pat St.John discussing Johnnie's career in one of the last interviews before his passing on April 12 2005. 

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Roseleaf Records artist: Lisa Mann's Northwestern All-Stars - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Great Women in Blues, by Lisa Mann's Northwestern All-Stars, and it's powerful. Opening with traditional spiritual numbers, Wade In The Water/Swing Low Sweet Chariot really demonstrating the richness of Odabi's voice...wow. Rolling into rocking blues, I Sing The Blues, Odabi holds the crowd in her hands supported by the potent backing of Mann on bass, Jimi Bott on drums, Louis Pain on organ, and flaming guitar work by Ben Rice and Jason Thomas. Very cool. Pops Staples' Why Am I Treated So Bad has a lightly funky arrangement with rich harmonies by Odabi and Mann and crushing double stops against cool lead by Rice and Thomas really gives this track a potent signature. One of my favorites. Rudy Toombs' R&B hit, 5-10-15 Hours is smooth as silk with Odabi swinging the lead and Mann, Rice and Thomas setting the groove. Tasty blues riffs by Thomas and a tight bottom by Bott give this track great traction. Rose Marie McCoy's So Good To My Baby turned driving boogie has a lot of spring and hot solos by Rice on guitar and Pain on keys gives this track that extra something. Wrapping the release is Willie Dixon's Wang Dang Doodle with plenty of swagger with Mann driving the bottom on bass, Rice and Thomas laying in hot riffs and Odabi holding court. The organ efforts of Pain really add a lot of flavor to this track on organ, winding it up for an solid closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Marc Seales - People & Places - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, People & Places, from Marc Seales with Ernie Watts and it's tasty. Opening with Rue Cler, with it's suspensive bottom created by Marc Seales on piano and floating lead by Ernie Watts on tenor sax sets a yearning feeling, anchored by Bruce Lett on acoustic bass and Moyes Lucas Jr on drums. Prelude is a quiet piano piece, nicely illustrated by Seales alone. Sensitive and introspective. The Muddy Chicago Blues has a real nice sway to it. With Seales, Lett and Lucas setting the platform, Watts wails to meat and taters. With soulful phrasing and tight articulation Watts rides high, edged on by the clever piano punctuation of Seales. Taking over the lead on piano, Seales has the blues flowing like a second language with deft and fluidity. Lett gets his run as well with double timed bass riffs on an aiery form. Very cool. I particularly like The Gingi with it's light, creative rhythm pattern by Lucas with mostly rim shots, cymbals and snare punction and Lett on bass. Melodic lead by Seales on tenor and Seales on piano really stretch this piece giving it real weight. Wrapping the release is Home Light with it's almost gospel like foundation created by Seales on piano. Watts soars on sax with firm piano punctuation creating a solid melody and Seales takes the tension down with sensitive piano phrasing.  This is an excellent closer for a very cool release. 

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Alan Arena - Deceived - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Deceived, by Alan Arena, and it's a solid easy rocker. Opening with Raised On Radio, a laid back shuffle with harmonized vocals by Alan Arena and Jamie Brown, Paul Nelson and Arena on guitars, Brad Hallen on bass, Marty Richards on drums, Brooks Milgate on organ and Stephen Clements on percussion. Title track, Deceived, is a tasty track with a stylized Latin rhythm. There is some real nice shapely guitar instrumentation on this track and with  addition of Milton Smith on strings and the warm backing vocals by Allyssa Jones, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Lightly funky, Devil In The Bottle, has a real cool feel with excellent harmonized lead vocal, perfectly crafted keys by Milgate and tasty guitar work by Arena. Memphis Slim's slinky shuffle, Mother Earth is really cool with solid vocals by Arena and Jerry Portnoy adding signature riffs on harmonica. Very nice. Wrapping the release is an instrumental cover of title track, Deceived. The melody is played by Sax Gordon Beadle and the track really takes live with the lively rhythms of Clements, Milgate and Richards. Solid closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Mike Pope - The Parts You Keep - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Parts You Keep, from Mike Pope, and I really enjoy it. Opening with Misgivings, a lively track with a driving piano melody featuring Geoffrey Keezer, building with an aggressive snare rap by Nate Smith and breaking into a sensual bass solo by Mike Pope who builds the track with the hands of a sculptor. Very nice. I love the cover of Charlie Parker's Steeplechase featuring Roxy Cross on sax. Pope laying down a funky bass line and breaking into a wicked electric piano solo by Keezer, this track is hot. Dashan's Flying Ubercar really moves with terrific underpinnings by Smith and Pope. Keezer rides high on this groove before a total break and accelerated bass solo by Pope. Really nice. Barolo Blue was my favorite track on the release with an infectious angular bass groove, nicely playing against Smith on drums and with free wheeling piano by Keezer and jagged guitar soloing by Amaury Cabral. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Spharenmusik from Winterreigen Opus 13 No.5 featuring the classical piano of Ann Almond Pope, Mike's 85 year old mother who along with his father, David Pope, both being world class classical pianists. This really is wonderful. 

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Select - O - Hits artist: Emma Wilson - A Spoonful Of Willie Dixon - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Spoonful of Willie Dixon, by Emma Wilson and it drips with blues. Opening with Spoonful, Emma Wilson on vocal belts out the lead with solid accompaniment by Ian Leese on bass and Mark Barrett on drums. Bennett Holland plays vital piano lead and organ and Nik Svarc plays hot lead guitar making this a strong opener. Dixon's dynamic track, I Can't Quit You Baby made popular by Otis Rush and Led Zeppelin gets a total rework with more of a shuffle feel. Wilson really grinds out the lyrics and Svarc creates some real nice guitar phrasing over the warm organ work of Holland. With a bit of a kick in tempo, Wang Dang Doodle rolls off Svarc's guitar, anchored by Barrett and Leese. Holland on piano sets the accents and Wilson rolls out the vocals in power fashion. Wrapping the release is a solid take on It Don't Make Sense (You Can't Make Peace). Wilson digs in making this ballad her own with only light backing. Dressed with lush piano work by Holland, a real nice closer. 

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Leggero Records artist: Victoria Cardona - Que Paso - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Que Paso, from Victoria Cardona, and it's fully bodied Latin music. Opening with Que Paso En La Habana, Victoria Cardona on vocal and guitar, fully backed vocally by Marilyn Scott, Jimmy Branly and Tim Goodman really get a warm Latin feel. With Kevin Richard on percussion, Rene Camacho on bass, Goodman on organ, San Miguel Perez on Cuban Tres Guitar, Francisco Torres on trombone, and some real nice flute work by Justo Almario. Solid opener. Another original track, Ghost has a strong radio appeal with Cardona playing some really tasty guitar lead, joined by Jimmy Branly on drums, Kevin Ricard on percussion, Jimmy Haslip on bass, Bill Payne on piano, Goodman on guitar, organ mandolin and backing vocals. Very nice. Rhodes Royale really gets in the slot with Cardona on vocal, guitar, percussion and steel drums, joined by Rene Camacho on bass. It's up tempo rhythm really gives the track a lively feel. One of my favorites on the release is Isolina Carrillo's Dos Gardinias with lush vocals by Cardona and beautiful work by Almario on sax and clarinet. Reggae flavored Tuesday Rain is laid back with warm brass. Wrapping the release is Lowell George's Spanish Moon. Branly and Ricard sets the stage with excellent rhythm and Cardona singing in Cuban. Bill Payne on piano adds a familiar groove and Jimmy Haslip on bass are well supported by Torres, Almario on horns and Goodman on guitar. Excellent closer. 

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Cali Bee Music artist: Brad "Guitar" Wilson - The Californian - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Californian, by Brad "Guitar" Wilson and it's a solid blues based rocker. Opening with Elmore James' classic, It Hurts Me Too, Brad Wilson is back with his guitar blazing. Given a more rock approach Wilson on lead vocal and guitar plays ripping lead to accompany his nicely delivered vocal lead, accompanied by Chris Rhyne on keys, Toto Poznantek on drums, and Hal Cragin on bass, this is a solid opener. Driving rocker, Say You Wanna Dance is my selection for radio track for this release with a super melody and even guitar lead and solid drumming by Tony Braunagel. Heartbreaker is a strong rocker with a solid guitar vamp. I really like his overdriven tone on rhythm and the cleaner lead tone in contrast stands out nicely. Wilson's remake of Eddie Cochran's Summertime Blues is cool with a lot of the spunk of the original. Adding in a bit of modern flare without going full "Blue Cheer" is a cool thought. Arthur Adams' Love and Peace is a really great sone, laid back and smooth like the Jazz Crusaders and Wilson shows a totally different side with sensitive guitar instrumentals. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Willie Dixon's Groaning The Blues and it's a strong closer. Wilson's vocals are really showcased nicely and he lays down some of his best guitar work for this release. 

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Subcat Records artist: Grupo Pagan - Power - New Release Review

 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 is cool latin rocker, Camila Vida Mia with Pagan setting a solid bass line and lead vocals, and tasty guitar lead by Irv Lyons Jr. Haslip adds real nice texture on keys and Shane Patterson on drums hold  the rhythm tight. Solid closer for a solid release. 

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Brody Buster - Redemption - New Release Review

 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 by Buster's own guitar and harmonica playing. Wrapping the release is rocker, The Wants, with a great driving rhythm and hot harmonica and guitar riffs by Buster. Rocking closer. 

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Kristen R. Bromley Quartet - Wes 101 - New Release Review

 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 Baker tops it off. 

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Origin Records artist: ZurHub - Countryside Motorways - New Release Review

 

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 Klein on flute and punctuated by Simhovich on piano this track has a very soothing feel growing to an exciting climax. Wrapping the release is heavily syncopated, Lick Your Toad, featuring a super paired duet featuring Klein on flute with Jait on guitar. Klein, Jait and Simhovich each compose energetic and inspired solos for a strong closer. 

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M.C. Records artist: Rory Block - Heavy On The Blues - New Release Review

 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 effective. Wrapping the release is Buddy Guy's ballad, Stay Around A Little Longer. A sensitive track with heartfelt vocals and nicely phrased guitar soloing, this is a solid closer. 

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Roller Records artist: V&BT - Diamonds at the Rainbow's End - New Release Review

 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 vocal prowess over a subdued accompaniment. Pettersen really winds up the track with some scorching riffs. Solid closer. 

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Delmark Records artist: Dave Specter - Live at Space - New Release Review

 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 Binder giving Specter the foundation, he rocks the blues on guitar. Very nice. Lone Star Cowboys song, Deep Elem Blues, has really been covered a lot but mostly by the Dead. This somewhat funky cover takes it to a higher place with excellent piano soloing by Kattke and Mantovani's bass like really digs it in. Sonny Boy Williamson's Bluebird Blues is one of the more old school blues tracks on the release with Specter really working the lead vocal with gripping guitar response. With a sensitive guitar solo paired with Kattke on piano, Specter really milks the for the essence of the blues. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Magic Sam's  high energy shuffle, Ridin' High giving Specter and Kattke the opportunity to work the guitar and organ as opposing teammates. Specter really shines when he's playing these fluid shuffles and Kattke gets the place steamy with his full organ attack. I think this is a terrific choice to close the set. 

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