Welcome aboard to the world’s biggest 7 day blues party! Yes friends, 7 days where you can’t tell the blues artists from the fans. Although everybody’s experience is different –and a blues cruise vacation is exactly what you make it– a good time is had by all… day after day!
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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com
Monday, November 25, 2013
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise #21 October 2013 - Stilladog - Guest Contributer
Welcome aboard to the world’s biggest 7 day blues party! Yes friends, 7 days where you can’t tell the blues artists from the fans. Although everybody’s experience is different –and a blues cruise vacation is exactly what you make it– a good time is had by all… day after day!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
American Showplace artist: John Ginty - Bad News Travels - New Release Review
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”
This track is not from the release but does show the texture of Ginty's music.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Mark Pucci Media Congratulates All Our Artists Receiving Nominations for the 2013 Blues Blast Music Awards
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Blues Leaf Records artist:Albert Castiglia - Living The Dream - New Release Review
Got a copy of Living The Dream, the new release from Albert Castiglia and it appears that come Jume 12th, Albert may be! His new CD is really strong. It opens with the title track, Living The Dream, which is a funky blues track geared toward airplay but with plenty of hot guitar riffs. The Man, is a cool Latin Rhythm blues track which of course sets up nicely for Castiglia to demonstrate his guitar prowess. Freddie King's Freddie's Boogie is just a flat out guitar boogie in the likes of that little old band from Texas ...what's not to like. Public Enemy #9 is a blues rocker with some incredibly hot slide work... I mean hot! Paul Butterfield's Loving Cup gets a update treatment with Sandy Mack blowing harp and Castiglia runs some hot licks throughout the track. Did I mention he can sing. Oh Yeah. Castiglia has a really strong voice. Fat Cat is a really hot instrumental in the jump blues style and one of my favorite tracks on the release. Everyone in the band gets a whack at showing their chops. The band includes Bob Amsel on drums, A.J. Kelly on bass and features special guests John Ginty on keys, Mack on harp Juke Joint Johnny Rizzo on acoustic slide and Emedin Rivera on percussion. Walk The Backstreets is a slow contemporary blues track and sets Castiglia on a large romp of the fretboard. This is a track that is sure to please most any blues or guitar enthusiast that listens to it. This band is tight and the flames are flying. Very rippin! The release is concluded with Mose Allisons Parchment Farm. My first couple of times through the CD this track didn't strike me but I have listened to it more I have found it more and more attractive. It has always been a strong track but Castiglia really gives it a pretty good workout and it's a hot track. I think I can easily say that this is a really strong CD and that it will be very well received.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”
Friday, May 4, 2012
Blues Guitarist/Singer Albert Castiglia Is "Living the Dream" on New CD Coming June 12
BLUES GUITARIST/SINGER ALBERT CASTIGLIA IS LIVING THE DREAM ON NEW CD COMING JUNE 12 FROM BLUES LEAF RECORDS
MIAMI, FL – From the intro electric guitar riffs that kick off the opening track of his new CD, Living the Dream, which is due out June 12 on Blues Leaf Records, blues guitarist/singer Albert Castiglia announces that this release is something special. And throughout the rest of this impressive new album from the guitar master and former band leader for the legendary Junior Wells, Albert Castiglia delivers big time on the promising steps he’s taken on his previous CDs.
Living the Dream sports an even-dozen tracks dripping with soulful, searing blues, the product of his energetic guitar work - alternatively pensive and reflective, then filled with sparks and fire – melding with a vocal style that pays tribute to the masters, but clearly stamped with Castiglia’s own, inimitable sound. Included are five Albert Castiglia originals, plus a song from long-time cohort Graham Wood Drout (Iko-Iko), along with distinctive covers of tunes from artists such as Freddie King (“Freddie’s Boogie”), Little Richard (“Directly from My Heart to You”), Paul Butterfield (“Lovin Cup”) and Mose Allison (“Parchman Farm”).
Living the Dream was produced by Ben Elliott, recorded at Showplace Studios in Dover, New Jersey, and features backing by Albert’s regular band of Bob Amsel on drums and A.J. Kelly on bass. Special guests include John Ginty on keyboards, Sandy Mack on harmonica (who also played on Albert’s last CD), Juke Joint Johnny Rizzo on acoustic slide guitar, with Emedin Rivera once again adding his special Mojo on percussion.
“I'm extremely proud of the work the band and I did on Living the Dream, “says Albert Castiglia. “I was able to churn out some quality original material and the band’s performance on the project was powerful. I'm ready for this CD to hit the shelves and the airwaves so that folks can determine if I’m full of crap or not.”
Castiglia’s last CD, Keepin On, was released in 2010 and garnered extensive critical acclaim and radio airplay. “He’s up there as one of the finest blues vocalists today,” said Blues Revue. “If you’re looking for a fresh, up and coming guitar hero, get into Albert Castiglia,” Elmore magazine wrote in its review. New Times – Miami called his music “Gritty and irascible -- with authority and authenticity -- he purveys a no-holds barred delivery that melds his throaty vocals with a dazzling display of instrumental virtuosity… this is a seamless set, one that ought to elevate Castiglia to a more prominent position of influence and authority.” And Blues in Britain summed up its glowing review by stating, “Junior Wells would be proud – enough said!”
Born in New York and raised in Miami, Albert Castiglia (pronounced “ka-STEEL-ya”), began playing guitar at 12. In 1990, he became a member of The Miami Blues Authority and was later voted “Best Blues Guitarist” by New Times magazine in 1997. Shortly thereafter, he was spotted by legendary blues singer/harmonica player Junior Wells, who asked Castiglia to join his band as a guitarist and singer. With Wells as his mentor, Albert performed at clubs and festivals across America, as well as in Canada and Europe. During that time, he also got the opportunity to play and jam with many other blues stars, including Pinetop Perkins, Ronnie Earl, Billy Boy Arnold, Lurrie Bell, Jerry Portnoy, Eddy Clearwater and Otis Clay. After Junior Wells passed away,
Castiglia toured with Atlanta blues singer Sandra Hall.
In 2002, Albert launched his solo career with the debut CD, Burn, collaborating with his longtime friend, Graham Wood Drout of south Florida band Iko-Iko. Drout’s visceral, yet literary songs became the perfect vehicle for Castiglia’s soulful vocals, which recall Van Morrison, and stinging guitar playing. In 2006, he released his second album (and first for Blues Leaf Records), A Stone’s Throw, which included two more Drout compositions, “Big Toe,” and the amazing “Ghosts of Mississippi,” which has all the earmarks of becoming a blues classic. Castiglia and Drout also released a live CD together, titled The Bittersweet Sessions, in 2005.
His 2008 CD, These are the Days, contained five original Albert Castiglia songs, including the opening track, “Bad Year Blues,” which was nominated for song of the year at the Blues Music Awards, and “Godfather of the Blues,” his tribute to Junior Wells. Once again, Graham Wood Drout contributed another song for Albert, “Celebration.” The cover songs on These are the Days saluted a wide range of styles and artists ranging from Bob Dylan (“Catfish”) and Nappy Brown (“Night Time is the Right Time”), to Fenton Robinson (“Somebody Loan me a Dime”) and Little Willie John (“Need Your Love So Bad”).
Albert Castiglia is supporting the release of Living the Dream with extensive touring both in his home state of Florida and throughout the rest of the country. For more information, visit www.albertcastiglia.com and www.bluesleaf.com.
UPCOMING ALBERT CASTIGLIA TOUR DATES
5/9 Humphrey’s Bar & Grill Huntsville, AL
5/10 Slippery Noodle Inn Indianapolis, IN
5/11 Court Street Grill Pomeroy, OH
5/12 Canal House Tuscarawas, OH
5/15 Triad Theater New York, NY
5/18 The Twisted Tail Philadelphia, PA
5/19 Cady’s Tavern Chepachet, RI
5/21 Time Out Pub Rockland, ME
5/24 The Hungry Tiger Manchester, CT
5/26 Jonathan’s Landing Magnolia, DE
5/31 Big Easy Bar & Grill (duo w/Graham Drout) Hollywood, FL
6/1-6/3 Green Parrot (CD Release Party!) Key West, FL
6/8 Bamboo Room (CD Release Party!) Lake Worth, FL
6/16 Bradfordville Blues Club (CD Release Party!) Tallahassee, FL
6/17 Earl’s Hideaway (CD Release Party!) Sebastian, FL
6/23 Downtowner Saloon (CD Release Party!) Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Additional dates forthcoming….
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Sitting On Top Of The World - Albert Castiglia
Albert Castiglia (pronounced “ka-STEEL-ya”) is Keepin On – and much more. With the release of Castiglia’s 5th CD Keepin On, August 2010 on Blues Leaf Records (his third CD on this label), Albert is doing exactly what the title of the CD suggests. Having opened for ZZ Top, Elvin Bishop, and The Radiators, he’s quickly becoming a favorite high energy performer at festivals across the country.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Loan Me A Dime - The Albert Castiglia Band
Albert Castiglia (pronounced “ka-STEEL-ya”) is Keepin On – and much more. With the release of Castiglia’s 5th CD Keepin On, August 2010 on Blues Leaf Records (his third CD on this label), Albert is doing exactly what the title of the CD suggests. Having opened for ZZ Top, Elvin Bishop, and The Radiators, he’s quickly becoming a favorite high energy performer at festivals across the country.
Castiglia’s history is as colorful as his home town of Miami, Florida, going back to 1990 when he played in a local Miami Band, The Miami Blues Authority, and won awards locally for “Best Blues Guitarist.” He got a big break after meeting the legendary Junior Wells in 1996, and soon became Junior’s lead guitar player before Wells died in 1998. Albert toured the U.S. and Europe with Junior and then found himself in Chicago when Junior passed.
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