Jason Arkins - In Focus - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In Focus, by Jason Arkins, and it's an aggressive fusion set. Opening with Mister Behaving, with it's stirring instrumental backing and whirling rhythms, Jason Arkins on sax sets a somewhat sedate melody as a baseline, with Beau Cornelius on piano, Leo Folsom on synths, and with Mike Ramos and Jack Dratch on bass and drums respectively chomping at the bit to run. Arkins leads the crew on a really strong adventure sonically in his second pass with tight rhythmic piano work by Cornelius and Folsom lays in a very cool synth solo of his own. Ramos never takes his foot off the throttle with a great bass line and Dratch's riffs are hot. Strong opener. Cut Scene opens with a preponderance of something to come with an easy melody and tight rhythm. Dratch kicks the track up a notch with rimshots and Cornelius on electric piano gives the track air. Arkins has a full out call and response with Folsom on synths and Ramos and Dratch are at the end of their leashes again. Very hot. Wrapping the release is forward moving, A Squeegee Situation with Arkins setting a distinct melody on sax paired with Ramos. The first break Arkins really takes a soulful turn with excellent melodic solo phrasing and I gotta say Ramos is always in earshot and I love it. Dratch never misses a beat and with the 2 key players, this track always has body. Ramos gets a chance to talk a nice walk and it's one of my favorite spots on the release. This is a definite one to catch if you like melodic fusion. 

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Miguel Espinoza Fusion - Gabriella - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gabriella, from Miguel Espinoza Fusion, and it's really interesting. Opening with title track, Gabriella, a lively, Latin influenced piece, with Miguel Espinoza on guitar, Randy Hoepker on bass, Dianne Betkowski on cello, Dave Hagedorn on vibraphone and Christian Teele on percussion. Vibrant opener. Howard's Tune features Howard Levy on harmonica with clean, creative, inventive melody, on a foundation of guitar and cello. Very nice. Buleria Estila Antiqua has a real flamenco flair with Spanish style guitar playing by Espinoza and excellent cello by Betkowski and David Hariharan on carnatic violin. My absolute favorite on the release. With just the right bop, Hudson Avenue again features Levy on harmonica trading melodic lead with Betkowski. Christian Teele on percussion adds just the right amount of spice and Hoepker on bass and Espinoza on guitar really flesh out the track giving it a lot of body. Levy and Espinoza both add nicely formed solos taking the lead in more aggressive directions. Nicely done. Wrapping the release is Barrio Latino with it's piano driven lead by Victor Mestas Perez on piano. Hoepker really steps out on this track with excellent bass lines and Espinoza on guitar, Betkowski on cello and Teele on percussion. This is a really engaging track with plenty of movement and fluid execution. Excellent closer. 

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Jerico Jams artist: Randy Bernsen - Heart Mind and Soul - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Heart, Mind and Soul by Randy Bernsen, and it's quite interesting. Opening with With You Always, with it's Latin flavor, Randy Bernsen on guitar plays a solid melody, joined by Jimmy Haslip on bass, David Nizri on drums, Uzi Nizri on piano and Dan Davis on trumpet. A more jagged melody with strong bass accents by David and cool piano solo by Uzi make this a terrific opener. Prodigal Son starts quietly with keys, drums, and bass with light solo accents by Bernsen and interweaving trumpet by Derek Sims and sax by Bob Franceschini. Very nice. Slinky, Billy Gate Blues has Bernsen up front with wide open guitar melody over the driving rhythm line of David and Haslip. Uzi sets a cool melody line, picked up by Bernsen with a terrific shuffle reinforcement and punchy trumpet work by Davis. Strong. ABBA Father is a really nice acoustic guitar solo with a Spanish flavor, floating on a bed of piano and keys and with the addition of cello and accent drums. Wrapping the release is Chant 881 with a jagged rhythm giving the band a nice chance to stretch. Bernsen does some of his most creative playing on this track over a cool bottom by David and Haslip. Strong closer.  

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Cedar County Cobras - Homesick Blues - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Homesick Blues, from Cedar County Cobras, and it's a cool, laid back rural folk style album. Opening with Utah, Tom Spielbauer on vocal and guitar is joined by April Dirks on vocal and upright bass thumping a two stepping blues. With dobro resonator style guitar and slide, and the thump of the standup, this is a solid opener. Dirks really brings Long Time Gone to life with addition of her mandolin and her own blending on lead vocal with Spielbauer's vocals and guitar this is a perfect blend of bluegrass and country blues. My favorite track on the release is a cool take on Son House's Walkin Blues. Spielbauer digs in nicely on electric guitar with a slow intro, and building a modern blues rocker from the the addition of drums and vocal, with driving bass lines from Dirks. Another modern blues rocker, Voodoo Doll has strong drive and a hill country style. Very nice. Wrapping the release is title track, Homesick Blues with a a tight bottom and jangly guitar rhythm. If you like your blues rural, ragged and potent, this may be your ticket. 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: 11 Guys Quartet - 11x11 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 11x11, from 11 Guy Quartet and it's super. Opening with rhythmic blues mover, Lightning Road, Richard Rosenblatt sets the pace with great harmonica tone, over the solid drum rhythm of Chuck Purro and Bill Mather on bass. Paul Lenart really amps up the track with some hot slide making this a strong opener. Slow, chord driven, Blues Beyond Midnight, really should get a lot of traction with Lenart letting it all hang out on his melodic guitar lead, paired with Rosenblatt taking a real nice solo of his own on harmonica. Excellent! Hard driving, Drivin' A Fast Car really has great momentum with Purro and Mather leading the way. Lenart and Rosenblatt really cook this one with Lenart singing lead vocals. Another top notch track. With real swagger, Stompin' Blues gets that Chicago sound cooking. Lead by Rosenblatt on harmonica, and Lenart riding high on slide this track has a terrific groove. With a cool Latin beat by Purro, The Rona Stomp is a real nice change up with Lenart and Rosenblatt sitting in the slot. Wrapping the release is Rockin' The Blues with it's shuffle bottom. Rosenblatt takes the lead on harmonica showing great tone. Lenart really has a great hand for slide and shows it one more time on this warm closer. 

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Scott Henderson - Karnevel! - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release Karnevel!, from Scott Henderson and I really like it. Opening with title track, Karnevel! Scott Henderson (Tribal Tech, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul) on guitar take off on his next adventure playing lead guitar and writing, joined by Romain Labaye on bass and Archibald Ligonniere on drums. With a driving bass line and tight drum rhythms, Henderson is free to play fluid, melodic lead lines. Strong opener. Covid Vaccination has a really funky fusion feel led by Ligonniere and punched by Labaye. Henderson never misses a note and his feel is masterful. High energy, Sky Coaster, opens with a frenzied drum rhythm by Ligonniere and quickly anchored by Labaye on bass. Henderson soars on lead guitar over synth chords before erupting into a bombastic fusion with Ligonniere. Labaye gets a real opening to show his stuff on bass and doesn't waste a note. Bilge Rat really has a lot of appeal with it's strong rock foundation and it's blues influenced note bending. Outright explosive phrases by the trio really makes you sit up and listen. Elongated guitar solos with expressive single tone variations bring to mind some of my man Jeff Beck's later work. Yes, this is off the hook. Wrapping the release is Carnies' Time with it's jagged time signature and Henderson playing dual lead lines over an aggressive bass line by Labaye and tightly controlled snare/cymbal rhythm by Ligonniere. Excellent closer for a really exciting release. 

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Forty Below Records artist: Danielle Nicole - The Love You Bleed - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Love You Bleed, from Danielle Nicole and it's a solid, radio oriented release. Opening with Love On My Brain, a cool rocker with a strong melody. With Danielle Nicole Schnebelen on lead vocal and bass, Go Go Ray on drums, Damon Parker on keys and Tony Braunagel on percussion, the track has super vocal and a stiff guitar lead by Brandon Miller. Strong opener. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Right By Your Side with it's bluesy feel. Solid soul format with nice backing vocals and crisp melodic guitar lead work by Miller, and rich organ work by Parker really make this track a strong seller. Another one of my favorites is a more acapella A Lover Is Forever featuring Danielle on vocal with Miller on guitar. With it's memorable melody and lush vocal styling, another top track. Fools Gold with it's heavy bottom is another standout with a great bass line lead and vocal response by Danielle. I really love the slide work by Miller that really caps this track. Wrapping the release is Young Love On The Hill, with it's light, acoustic feel. Danielle pairs her own backing vocals and with a simple rock rhythm with Miller on acoustic guitars. Solid closer. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Kevin Burt & Big Medicine - Thank You, Brother Bill: A Tribute to Bill Withers _ New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Thank You, Brother Bill: A Tribute to Bill Withers and it's great! Opening with Who Is He (And What Is He To You)?, Kevin Burt on guitar, harmonica and lead vocal sets up a funky groove. With Scot Sutherland laying down a deep bass groove, Kevin Valdez with a perfect funky rhythm track on guitar and Eric Douglas really punching on drums, this track is strong. I really love Douglas' snappy work on Kissing My Love and Sutherland really sets the bottom on fire with his bass work. Burt really demonstrates what a great vocalist can do and his harmonica playing is top notch as well. Excellent! I'm Her Daddy is another vocal showcase for Burt but it's the slick guitar work on this track that caught my attention. Sure, he covers Ain't No Sunshine and Lean On Me and both tracks are great... but you already know that. Grandma's Hands is definitely one of Withers' masterpieces and Burt really does it nicely. His soulful vocals make the track a definite must have redo and his guitar interpretation on his solo is really nicely done. My favorite on the release. Wrapping the release is up beat title track, Thank You Brother Bill with it's laid back funky approach. Burt rides the groove with a strong melody, answered by guitar lead and solid rhythm guitar by Valdez. Burt's lead guitar and harmonica are both tasty making hits a real nice closer. 

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Forty Below Records artist: Philip Sayce - The Wolves Are Coming - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Wolves are Coming, from Philip Sayce, and it's a powerful blues rocker. Opening with Oh! That Bitches Brew, this release is explosive from the first note. With Philip Sayce on vocal, guitar and bass, and Michael Leasure on drums, this track is a powerhouse. Sayce and Leasure really drive a heavy rhythm and Sayce plays stinging lead guitar giving the track plenty bite. Excellent opener. Another hard driver is Babylon Is Burning with the addition of Fred Mandel on organ. Blues based guitar riffs permeate the mix but this is honest to God rock! Your Love has a real swagger with a a lead bottom by Aaron Sterling on drums and Bernice Barlow joins Sayce on vocal. Sayce really knows how to light up the place on electric guitar and he certainly does it. Very cool. Soulful, It's Over Now, is definitely the most likely radio track with it's sweet melody and fuller arrangement including backing vocals, Joel Gottschalk on bass, Mandel on piano and organ and Fritz Lewak on drums. Sayce really sings some of his best vocals on this track and breaking away for a bluesy guitar solo takes this track even higher riding on the organ shoulders of Mandel. One of my favorite tracks on the release is funky blues, The Moon is Full. Sayce sets a great guitar rhythm on guitar and bass teamed with Leasure on drums and with exceptional vocal and standout lead guitar work, really drives this track home. Excellent! Intuition is a soaring guitar instrumental. With Leasure on drums and Mandel on keys and organ, Sayce really lets it go. Killer! Wrapping the release is John Lee Hooker's, This Is Hip with Sayce on acoustic guitar and vocal and Mandel on piano. A cool shuffle with plenty of zip, this is an excellent closer for an album that won't disappoint. 

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Togethermen T Records artist: Anyone - Miracles In The Nothingness - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Miracles In The Nothingness, by Anyone, Riz Story's latest project and it is notably adventurous. Opening in epic fashion, Story, who writes, arranges and performs most everything uses thunderous drums, guitar, keys and his own vocals to create a sensational opener, Dawning Of The Miracle. Children of the Void has a haunting melody, sung by Story, with a really cool drum rhythm, absorbed by keys and piano. Soaring guitar lead propels this track. Very nice. Transcending, with it's jagged time signature and tightly anchored percussion and rock hard drum accents, floats with gain filled guitar lead, lightly distorted vocal and sensitive key strokes. Daylight opens cd two with boxed vocals surrounded by keys and intense bursts of drum and guitar work. Jon Davison has lead vocal duty on Symptoms Of The Miracle, with harmonic vocal blending by Story who of course creates a sonic atmosphere using drums, keys, guitar, and bass. Taking it slow, this track really ramps up with heavy drum and guitar punctuation. Wrapping the release is The Ineffable Bliss of Being,  blending vocals, keys and sunlight for a bright closer. 

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VizzTone artist: Bob Corritore and Friends - Phoenix Blues Rumble - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Phoenix Blues Rumble, from Bob Corritore and Friends and it's a great blues rumble. Opening with Big Fat Woman 489 LBS. a blues rocker featuring Chico Chism on vocal and drums, Henry Gray on piano, Paul Thomas on bass and Bob Corritore on harmonica. This is a solid opener with plenty of harmonica by Corritore. With a deep, New Orleans, R&B feel King Karl has the microphone on Mathilda, wailing some really soulful lines. With Johnny Rapp on guitar, S.E. Willis on piano Thomas on bass and Doug James on horns, this is a real standout. George Bowman has the mic for slow blues, I Was A Fool and it's one of my favorites on the release with Jon Atkinson on guitar, Danny Michel on rhythm guitar, Troy Sandow on bass and Brian Fahey on drums. Corritore is a standout on this track with thick, heavily hooded harmonica and Atkinson lays in a tasty guitar of his own to tie down the track. Shuffle, Nine Times Out Of Ten, with it's sonny Boy Williams feel, again features Bowman on lead vocal. Atkinson on guitar fans the guitar nicely, Corritore blows a strong solo on harp and Sandow and Fahey hold the bottom tight. Sugaray Rayford leads the way on The Glide with super vocals joined by Junior Watson on guitar, Fred Kaplan on piano, Kedar Roy on bass and Rena Beavers on drums. Watson takes a real nice solo with Kaplan keeping the rhythm on piano. Wrapping the release is I'm Evil, a slower Chicago style track featuring Big Pete Pearson on lead vocal. With Johnny Rapp pulling the strings on lead guitar, Corritore adding essential harmonica lead, Chris James on guitar, Matt Bishop on piano, Patrick Rynn on bass and Fahey on drums, this is an excellent closer. 

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Ruf Records artist: Katie Henry - Get Goin'- New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Get Goin', from Katie Henry and it's a solid release of female vocal oriented music with hints of blues, country, pop, rock and soul. Opening with Scott Sharrard's, Love Like Kerosene, Katie Henry opens her latest release with a country flavored rocker on lead vocal and guitar. Joined by George Moye on bass, Matt Kimathi on drums and guitars, Eric Cannavaro on organ and keys, Richard Pappik on percussion and Michael Murauer on guitar, this is a solid radio worthy opener. Ballad, A Doll's Heart, has a strong melody, with firm support by Cannavaro on organ and keys and Kimathi on drums. Bernard Allison's shuffle, Clear Vision is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a really nice melody, lush key solo by Cannavaro, and tight drums by Kimathi. Wake Up Time is likely the top radio candidate on the release with it's sweet, unassuming melody and mellow vocals and forward yet unobtrusive guitar solo. My favorite track on the release is Bernard Allison's Bayou Boogie with it's spicy flavor and melodic guitar lead. Cannavaro really adds a richness with his keyboard solo and percussion by Pappik is the icing on the cake. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a more contemporary ballad arrangement of Willie Johnson's, Nobody's Fault But Mine. This mostly vocal (by Henry) over keyboard track is a solid closer for this release. 

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OA2 Records artist: Jun Iida - Evergreen - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Evergreen, from Jun Iida and I like it's upbeat attack. Opening with Gooey Butter Cake a real nice track, Jun Iida on trumpet has the melody, with a adventurous bass line by Jonathan Richards. Josh Nelson on piano lays in a really nice, New Orleans flavored solo complimented heavily by Xavier Le Couturier on drums and Masami Kuroki on guitar follows with a spicy guitar solo of his own making this a really ice opener. Title track, Evergreen is a really solid track and one that should command airplay with Aubrey Johnson singing the melody along with Iida on trumpet. With bright piano work by Nelson, aggressive bass work by Richards, clean melodic soloing by Kuroki on guitar and excellent fusion style drumming by Le Couturier, this is certainly one of my favorites on the release. Love Theme From Spartacus is a really nice track with a floating melody by Iida, strongly supported by Nelson on guitar and sparce bass work by Richards. Wrapping the release is Holding On To Autumn, another Brazilian favored track with melody by Iida and counter melody by Johnson vocally. Interweaving these two themes throughout the track, this is a solid closer. 

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Nerus Records artist: The Hitman Blues Band - Hey, Can You Guys Play... - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hey, Can you Guys Play..., from The Hitman Blues Band and it's a lot of fun. Opening with Muddy Waters' Hoochie Coochie Man, The Hitman Blues Band takes a driving boogie approach. "Hitman" Alexander on lead vocal and guitar leads the way with a droning bass line by Mike Porter, drums by Guy LaFountaine, Mikey Vitale wailing on tenor sax, Kevin Rymer on keys, Nick Clifford on bari sax and Nancy Hampton and Joanne Alexander on backing vocals. Hitman takes his guitar for a ride making this a solid opener. Robert Johnson's Come On In My Kitchen is a real nice cover with Hitman on dobro and vocal. John The Revelator gets a real nice, funky makeover which I think is the best track on the release. The band really meshes and with excellent vocal by Hitman and the addition of electric slide, trumpet by Eric Altarac, Vitale on alto sax, and a key solo by Mike Katzman, very nice. Wrapping the release is JL Hooker's Boom Boom. Hitman takes his vocal town deep and really hits the feel, vamped by his guitar answer and with Porter's romping bass and Jay Sharkey on drums. Rymer on keys adds real nice texture and Hitman rams up his guitar making this a really nice closer. 

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Desolation Sound - Silver Rain - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Silver Rain, by Desolation Sound and it's cool rocker with strong writing. Opening with a sonic loop of sound, the mood is set almost as a palate cleanser for what is to come. Title track, Silver Rain has a fairly straight up rock format with a tight Bonham like drum opening by Scott Sluis but it's clear pretty quickly that this music is meant to be listened to with plenty of attention to melody and guitar soloing attended to by Daniel DeShon, with Blake Night on guitar and Darvis Taylor on bass. A strong rocker that caught my attention was Find A Way. Sluis on drums and Taylor on bass really control this track giving DeShon just the right amount of space to slip the vocals in. Tight and cool. Miasma Theory scratched my "Pixies" itch and anyone who likes the Pixies is tops in my book. With it's chord driven melody and understated guitar soloing, this track is spot on. Another sonic creation, Cannonade Descends is another experimental type track which is clean and simple. I like it! Wrapping the release Between Us with it's atmospheric background and radio style orientation and melody. DeShon's vocals are solid, backed by acoustic guitar, and mostly bass and drum. This is an interesting release with just enough space to think and solid melodic music.

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Ruf Records artist: Mitch Ryder - The Roof Is On Fire - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Roof Is On Fire, from Mitch Ryder and it's a great rocker. Opening with Betty's Too Tight, recorded in Berlin in 2020, Mitch Ryder demonstrates without a doubt that his work is still vital. This track hits the gates hard and will have you head banging in no time. Featuring Mitch on lead vocal, Gisbert "Pitti" Piakowski and Heiner Witte on guitar, Manne Pokrandt on bass, Tobias Ridder on drums and Rene Decker on keys, this track will have you breathing hard. Excellent opener. Taking it up about 20 notches on All The Fools It Sees,  Ryder really does get your blood flowing on this one with the addition of Decker on harp and Piatkowski really rips a hot guitar solo making this one of my favorites on the release. Ain't Nobody White is another really strong track on the release with potent lyrics and vocals by Ryder, complimented by Witte on slide guitar. The Stones, Heart of Stone is always a pleasure and soulful vocals by Ryder and strong guitar work by Pitti and solid harp work by Decker really gets the crowd up. All The Fools It Sees is a great track featuring Ryder's soulful vocals and a real nice guitar solo by Pitti over a subdued background of keys and drums. Wrapping the release is a 16 plus minute take on The Doors, Soul Kitchen. With Decker on sax and Pitti on guitar, this track gets a subtle start, building slowly to a real boil.  Pitti improvises over the melody building a really nice tension and Decker loads in some real nice electric piano before blowing out a real nice sax solo of his own. Ryder revisits the chorus before the band hits the ending. Strong closer for a very strong set. 

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Quarto Valley Records artist: Texas Scratch - Self Titled - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release from Texas Scratch and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with Texas Trio, TS finds a great groove. Featuring Jim Suhler (Thorogood), Buddy Wittington (Mayall) and Vince Converse (Sunset Heights) on guitars, these guys know how to cut a groove. With the drums of Jeff Simon (Thorogood) and Nathaniel Peterson (Savoy Brown) and Kirk Yano (Miles Davis, Savoy Brown) on bass, this is a strong opener. Led footed, What The Devil Loves, really has a snarling guitar lead and excellent lead vocal. John Nitzinger's (Texas Jellyroll Blues)  Louisiana Cock Fight makes a cool appearance here with blazing guitars and well blended vocals. Thumping drum work by Simon, this track is a solid addition. Do  Right By You is a cool, somewhat funky track with rugged lead vocals and some real nice slide by Suhler. Wrapping the release is Showdown, a light jazzy, boogie with fluid guitar runs and driving rhythm guitar. Solid closer for an interesting release. 

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