Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Science of Sound , by Deep Energy Orchestra and it's really strong. Opening with Morning Over Madrid , Gary Husband on keys creates a thought provoking intro invoking mystery, developing into a solid theme with powerful rhythmic basis. Reinforced by Jason Everett on seven string fretless bass and further expanded by Ann Lindquist on flute and firmly anchored by Don Gunn , this is a super opener. Captain Quirk has a terrific progressive feel led by Don on drums and Everett on bass. Adam Holzman on keys, fleshes out the field with melodic electric violin by Joe Deninzon and Mark Lettieri on guitar really rips it paired with Holzman. Another track I really like is The Secrets of Subtraction with it's funky rhythm and power bass lines / drum bottom by Everett and Don. Husband on keys paired with Jimmy Thomas on guitar really sails creating synergy that makes them seem as one. Very nice. Trey Gunn on Warr ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Drums of Compassion, from Michael Shrieve and it's an exceptional exposition of world rhythms. Opening with The Call Of Michael Olatunji , Shrieve begins this journey with Babatunde Olatunji speaking vocal incantations, surrounded with a sea of synthesized sound designs by Jeff Greinke, Joe Doria on Rhodes providing a basic melody line and excellent drum and percussion work by Shrieve. Developing into a very melodic, eastern influenced travel, this is a strong opener. Synthesizers by Grienke over a Afro/Latin rhythm by Karl Perazzo and Raul Rekow on percussion and C Smith on keys, this is a mover. I really like The Euphoric Pandiero Of Airto Moreira featuring Airto on voice and percussion leading directly into The Fierce Energy of Love with Dave Hill Jr on drums, Shrieve on brushes and Stephan Maas on drums. Wrapping the release is Hejira with Greinke on synth on Shrieve on drums and featuring Jack Dejonette on drum...

 I just had the opportunity top review the most recent release, Tu-Ner For Lovers  (Live) by Tu-Ner and it's a very cool sonic exploration. Opening with The Last Barbie Tango , Markus Reuter on touch guitar and soundscapes works with Trey Gunn on Warr Guitar to create a very interesting shape, over Pat Mastelotto's masterful drum and electronics bottom. This track is tensely stretched and highly creative. Super opener. The White Thing has a cool, ethereal, electronic intro developing with deep guitar lead and soaring guitar contrast supported by stylized percussion. Triangle Of Love has a middle eastern rhythm with finely articulated guitar phrasing floating through the mist and fat Warr guitar lead thickening the stew. One of my favorite tracks on the release is The Call Him Threnody with heavy, drum laden rhythm, fat bottom and soaring guitar. Wrapping the release is Combat And Courtship with rapid percussion, a brilliant interplay between the bass and drum and guitar. ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Subsequent Ruins , from Jason Blake and it's aggressive, stimulating and inventive. Opening with Obsolete Perception , a blend of prog, metal and fusion, it features Jason Blake on Warr guitar and Marco Minnemann on drums. With it's Fripp like lead guitar and over guitar with heavy distortion, driven by Minnemann with excellent drumming this track is electrifying. Follow (Emanated Hook) , is another track with changing complex time signatures, Blake on guitar creates a cool, ambient background slowly morphing into a crisp guitar track. Very cool. False Streets of Entanglement follows in the KC prog footprints with excellent inciteful precision. I really like Minnemann's drum approach adding infinite depth to this work. Wrapping the release is A Bleak Outcome with it's more flowing feel and more commercial/rock sound. Blake and Minnemann maintain a slow burn on this one with a bit of synth in the mix. I r...