Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Chicken Grease, from Biscuit Miller and the Mix and it's a cool mix of blues, funk and soul. Opening with Here Kitty Kitty , a cool R&B track with a potent bass line by Miller who also has the lead on vocal, backed by Doctor Love on drums, Bobby B Wilson on guitar and Alex "Southside" Smith on guitar and John Ginty riding high on B3 and electric piano. Super opener. Lap steel master, Marcus Randolph sits in on 609 , adding his special sauce. A driving rocker with an firm bass line, this track keeps the heat on with great vocals, and tight work from Ginty, Wilson and Smith. Title track, Chicken Grease , is so funky you can smell it. Miller really works the bass and his vocal phrasing is perfect. With a cool interplay between Wilson, Smith and Randolph, this track is hot! R&B track, Watching You is smooth as silk with warm vocals by Miller and just the right bottom and nice backing vocals by Love, ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Don't Give Up On The Blues, from Giles Robson and I really like it. Opening with Land To Land Giles Robson on lead vocal and harmonica is a strong force to be reckoned with. His vocals are real and his harp playing solid. Backed by Bruce Katz on piano and Hammond, Aaron Lieberman on guitar, Antar Goodwin on bass and R ay Hangen on drums, this band is tight. Title track, Don't Give Up On the Blues is a cool shuffle track in pure Chicago style. Robson ramps up his harmonica showing his classic styling and key whiz Bruck Katz digs on piano for some terrific riffs as well. With it's Bo Diddley beat, Hangen really hammers it out on Damn Fool Way and Robson's tone is pure gold. Slow blues number, Your Dirty Look & Your Sneaky Grin is a terrific track with solid vocals, rich harmonica work by Robson and a real nice piano solo by Katz. Very nice. Harmonica/piano boogie track, Boogie at the Showplace is a...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Solo Ride , from Bruce Katz and it's a cool blues piano extravaganza. Opening with piano boogie, Down At The Barrelhouse , Katz is really rolling with a great boogie line on the bottom and solid great lead on top. Excellent opener. Tampa Red's It Hurts Me Too on piano has a totally different dynamic and Katz works it hard. Maintaining it's shuffle structure, Katz's hands are gold. With poise and elegance, Katz plays ballad, Dreams of Yesterday , with it's serene melody with a touch of gospel balance. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Easy Livng with it's early jazz/blues roots. Katz sets it up nicely and then hits the solo opening trill. Maintaining a slow but sure pace, his phrasing is strong. Very nice. Another piano boogie, Watermelon Thump really grinds out the blues in barrelhouse style. Very nice. Closing the release is Redemption with the structure of a movie soundtrack. Katz...

I just had the opportunity to review to most recent release, The Longshot , from Brandon Santini and it's a stripped down blues rocker. Opening with Don't Come Around Here No More , Brandon Santini is upfront on lead vocal and his vocals are particularly strong. Backed by Timo Arthur on guitar, Chuck Combs on bass, Reed Muchow on drums, John Ginty on keys and Moe Watson on backing vocal this is a super opener with hot harp riffs by Santini. With a country two step feel, Drive You Off My Mind has a cool open road feel with snappy drums and added percussion by Michael Bram. Greg Gumpel really adds nice slide guitar riffs under the lead vocal, paired with Santini's own harp work and saturated in Ginty's organ flow making this one of the best tracks on the release.  I really like Arthur's guitar tone on Back To You pushing into a foot stomping, lumbering drive. Santini works back and forth between lead vocal and crisp harp riffs giving the track a fine flow and Ar...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 7 Minutes Late , from Chris O'Leary and I really like it. Opening with R&B track, What The Devil Made Me Do , O'Leary on lead vocal creates a lot of steam backed by Andrei Koribanics on drums, Matt Raymond on bass, Jeremy Baum on organ Chris Difrancesco on sax and some cool guitar soloing by Chris Vitarello with Peter Hopkinson and Greg Gumpel on guitars. One of my favorite tracks on the release is funky, One More Chance At Love , with a great bass, drum and rhythm guitar bottom giving O'Leary an excellent stage to show his excellent vocal and harmonica styling as well as slick guitar soloing by Hopkinson and Gumpel. Another favorite, Second Time Around is a straight, solid boogie. Grinding guitar soloing highlights the track over rimshots, harp boogie and super vocals. Excellent! Basin Street style blues on She Ain't Coming Back not only explores cool vocals but mandolin work by Gumpel and really n...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Welcome To My Blues , from Sean Chambers and it's meaty. Opening with flamboyant blues rocker, and title track, Welcome To My Blues , guitar player/songwriter/guitarist, Chambers lets it fly with solid vocals and ripping blues rock riffs, joined by John Ginty on keys, Moe Watson on drums and Todd Cook on bass. Great opener. My absolute favorite track on the release, Black Eyed Susie , has a super swagger thanks to Chambers' strong vocals and Watson's heavy drum work. Jimmy Bennett's slide guitar work on this track is super, the track actually reminding me a lot of a terrific track written by Jackie Lynton for Savoy Brown in the early 70's. Luther Allison's Cherry Red Wine is an absolute screamer with some of Chambers' most fiery riffs on the release. If you don't like this, you probably don't like contemporary blues...at all! Excellent! Backbeat shuffle, Cry On Me , has a great feel ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blink , from Rachelle Coba and it's an soulful understated rocker. Opening with High and Dry , a rocker with a driving beat, Coba on guitar and vocal is teamed with Paul Kuzik on bass, Andrei Koricanics on drums and featuring John Ginty on piano. Dance These Blues Away has a cool funky back beat that really gives Coba a chance to showcase her bluesy vocals and soulful guitar riffs. Very nice. Good Ole Heartbreak is a soul ballad with a great melody. Another strong track, this could easily be the top radio track on the release. A solid rocker with a light country flavor (think Stones or Mellencamp) title track, Blink , had a strong (rock) dance groove and just the right guitar tone to push it over the edge. Solid! Another track that deserves a particular note is Shuffle Ya with an almost spoken vocal line but with a heavy footed bottom and guitar punctuation over the warm organ ride of Ginty. Very nice. Wrapping ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Get Your Groove! , from Bruce Katz Band and it's strong. Opening with the traditional Hesitation Blues , Katz attacks it in anything but a traditional way. With a heavy swing, Chris Vitarello leads the way on lead vocal and guitar, with the powerful strokes of Bruce Katz on B3 and bass and the tight rhythm of Ray Hangen on drums. Vitarello lays out some real clean blues fused guitar lines that really give this track some spank and Katz's own B3 soloing is impeccable. Freight Train is a cool Allman influenced, nearly 10 minute jam track with plenty of stretch time for Vitarello and Katz with an interlude from Elizabeth Reed and the power drumming of Jaimoe.  Funky, Shine Together (Tribe of Lights) , has great feel and features really nice drum soloing by Jaimoe and a cohesive, combined solo effort by Katz and Vitarello. Very nice. Somber blues ballad, River Blues is one of my personal favorites on the release w...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Not Made For Hire , by The Bennett Brothers and I really like it. Opening with driving rocker, Junkyard Dog , with it's stone free rhythm, Jimmy and Peter Bennett storm in on guitar and bass respectively and lead vocals, backed by Lee Falco on drums and John Ginty on B3 and piano. Jimmy's guitar work is fluid and wailing and the bottom is tight and strong. Hold On Tight has more of a country two step feel with real nice slide work, and a perfect off beat cymbal stroke. Very nice. Bluesy, I Just Don't Want The Blues Today has a 60's San Francisco feel with rich tension and Linda Pino on backing vocal. Instrumental shuffle, Blues #9 has a nice swagger as Jimmy stretches out on guitar and Ginty lays down trademark riffs of his own. Very cool. Boogie track, Rocking Chair has a great walking bass line setting up a clear lane for Jimmy to open it up wide on slide. On How Long , the band does a pretty sweet...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (June 16, 2017), Double Strike , from Andy T. Band and it has a cool swing. Opening with I Want You Bad , Alabama Mike leads the way on vocal with Andy T on guitar, a featured solo by Anson Funderburgh and rocked nicely by Kaz Kazanov on tenor sax, John Mills on bari sax and Al Gomez on trumpet with Larry van Loon on keys, Johnny Bradley on bass and Jim Klinger on drums. On R&B track, Somebody Like You , Mike really sets down some of his best vocals on the release with cool key work by van Loon.   Deep Inside has a real nice blues lope featuring Nick Nixon on lead vocal coaxed along by Greg Izor harp.  On Chuck Willis' I Feel So Bad , Nixon and Andy set a cool blues rocker pace. With stinging guitar riffs and a solid bass line, this track has a great feel. Another Chuck Willis track, Juanita , is sopping with classic R&B style making it one of my favorites on the release. Funderburgh's Mudslid...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Trouble & Whiskey , by Sean Chambers and it's a real rocker. Opening with foot stomper, I Need Your Lovin' , blends the drive of Robert Johnson's Crossroads with the swagger of ZZ Top. Joined by Kris Schnebelen on drums, Todd Cook on bass and Michael Hensley on Hammond B3 and piano, this band is tight. On Bottle Keeps Staring at Me , Chambers vocals are bold and his slide guitar work fiery. On title track, Trouble & Whiskey , Chambers slows things down demonstrating just how soulful his playing can be. With excellent phrasing and hot technique, this track is smoking! With a nod to Joe Walsh, Travelin' North has a cool rock flare and contemporary blues guitar riffs. Hensley really lays into the B3 on this one giving the track even more girth and carrying the track forward to Chambers final hot riff. Very nice! Sweeter Than A Honey Bee has a cool country rock 2 step feel. Think Call Me the Breeze...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rockers , by John Ginty featuring vocalist Aster Pheonyx and it has a whole different dimension. Opening with powerhouse, The Shark , Ginty melds his notorious Hammond sound with Justine Gardner on outrageous funky bass and Maurice "mOe" Watson on drums for my favorite track on the release right out of the chute. Excellent! Rocker, Lucky 13 is up next and with Paul Kuzik's driving bass and Watson's drum work, lead vocalist, Aster Pheonyx takes command with Grace Slick like style. Ginty's key work, is aggressively complimented by the guitar work of Mike Buckman and Jimmy Bennett. With an easy pace and solid melody, Target On The Ground , is a tidy radio track with bluesy vocals and a light funk in the bottom. Ginty cranks up the heat on Hammond giving the track a bit more heft. Mr. Blues is a lumbering blues rocker with a cool lead riff by Ginty that drives the track, reinforced by Gardner's b...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dust To Gold from Cris Jacobs and it's quite good. Opening with The Devil or Jesse James , a rugged radio track, Cris Jacobs on guitar and vocal is joined by Todd Herrington on bass, Dusty Ray Simmons on percussion and John Ginty on keys. With a mellow sway, Kind Woman has a real nice groove. Jacobs vocas are smooth and his dobro playing soft and warm. Halleluja Hustler has a sweet melody and with nicely blended vocals, rolling piano by Ginty and swirling guitars by Jacobs, very nice. Jack The Whistle and The Hammer is a snappy, soft rocker with a touch of Buckingham Nicks. Jacobs springs across the fretboard with a tight little guitar solo giving the track just a bit more dressing, backed by Ginty. Very nice. One of the richest tracks on the release, Cold Carolina , has the warmth of the summer sun and the space of high country with Jonathan Sloane on slide. Bone Digger has a real cool funky groove with Jacobs ...

I just received the newest release, Out From The Center , from Bruce Katz Band and it's smokin'! Opening with hot piano boogie, Don't Feel So Good Today , Katz leads the way on piano and Chris Vitarello has the lead on vocal and guitar. Peter Bennett plays a driving bass line and Ralph Rosen has drums. Excellent! Schnapps Man is a really cool jazz influenced instrumental with a killer beat. Katz has great chops surrounded by a super weave of guitar, drums and bass. WOW! Slow blues, The Struggle Inside is a really nice showcase for Vitarello on guitar and vocal. This is a beautiful 7 plus minute composition with plenty of room for Katz to solo and Rosen''s work on drums is nothing short of crisp. Very nice! Blues From High Point Mountain is a jazz /blues blend with powerful bones. Katz shows not only his skillful manner on the keys but also his soulful riffs. Vitarello lays the track open with some excellent riffs of his own making this one of my favorite trac...

I just received the newest release (June 17, 2016), All For Loving You , from Alexis P Suter and it's dynamite! Opening with Talk To Myself , Suter kicks it square in the face with a heavy swagger on lead vocal and Jimmy Bennett on guitar. A strong slide undertone throughout gives the track a cool bluesy feel. R&B track, Can't Find A Reason is a grand showcase for how powerful a singer Suter is and Bennett lays in a simple guitar solo backed by John Ginty on organ, Ray Grappone on drums and Peter Bennett on bass. Excellent! Slow blues number, Another Place and Time , is opened by an inviting guitar intro by Jimmy and Suter really grabs it up tight. Given the space, Jimmy takes his guitar for a soulful walk adding to a very strong track. Very nice. Title track, All For Loving You , is a radio track with a smooth melody. A driving drum line by Grappone, slide work from Jimmy and Ginty's organ work make this a magical formula. Shuffle track, Living In The World , op...

I just received the newest release, Gonna Die Tryin' , from Chris O'Leary and it's in your face super! Folloing up to last year's Live At Blues Now! this release is long awaited. Opening with Can't Help Yourself , a slinky blues track with a gritty guitar vamp by Chris Vitarello and Chris O'Leary on lead vocal and harp this track is a great opener. Backed by Matt Raymond on bass, Bruce Katz on piano and Jay Devlin on drums, O'Leary hits solid on his harp solo making this one of the best opening tracks of the year! 19 Cents A Day has a strong, SB Williamson vamp behind it but with a fast driving pace really kicks it. Katz on organ really lays it out there with a hot solo with Andy Stahl and Chris Difrancesco joining on sax. Hot! Hook, Line and Sinker has a funky R&B feel Willa Panvini and Libby Cabello adding super backing vocals alone with Stahl and Difrancesco on sax. Vitarello adds some really nice guitar lines over Raymond's driving bass l...

I just received the newest release, Long Road Back, from the Todd Wolfe Band and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with Poison , Wolfe picks up where he left off on his 2013 release, Miles To Go with a solid funky rock track and a cool hook. With his own fever pitched guitar work and backed by Roger Voss on drums, excellent key man, John Ginty on Hammond and Justine Gardner on bass this is a cool opener. On Mercy , Wolfe and Ginty blend instrumentally and backing vocals by Gardner and Voss warm up the mix. Blind Joe Reynolds track, Outside Woman Blues , made popular by the Cream during the British invasion makes an appearance on this track with quite a similar arrangement. I actually love this track so having Wolfe do a cover of it pleases me just fine. His vocals and guitar work are clean and the band is tight. Never Walk Alone has a real nice feel with a primary rhythmic theme under the vocal melody as well as hot guitar riffs and warm Hammond backing. Peace Unto You is an aco...

I just received the newest release, No Filter , from John Ginty and it's super! I had earlier reviewed John's super debut "Bad News Travels" and I like this one even better! Opening Fredo with a very sumptuous guitar organ duo of Ginty and Lou Pallo, this track kicks into a cool strut driven by Ginty on B3, Paul Kuzik on bass and Dan Fadel and Andrei Koribanics on drums and percussion. Very nice! Ball Of Fire features Cris Jacobs warm vocals on a cool bed of keyboards and Latin rhythms and Spanish guitar riffs by Jacobs and Mike Buckman. An easy jazz break takes the track on a cloud like ride and Ginty heats up the keys nicely. This is an excellent radio track with broad appeal. My favorite track on the release, Old Shoes , features none other than the fabulous Alexis P. Suter. Taking a modern blues stance on an old style rhythm, this track really digs in and Suter has the perfect voice for the job. Ginty on piano, Kuzik on bass, Jimmy Bennett on guitar and onl...

I just received the newest release, Feel These Blues , from Slam Allen and it's a hard driver. Opening with title track, Feel These Blues , Allen on guitar and lead guitar sets the pace. Joined by keyboard wiz John Ginty, Jeff Anderson on bass and Dan Fadel on drums, these guys show they mean business. Allen slashes with Albert King like bend phrasing and mean intent. Cool! All Because Of You has a really smart bluesy guitar intro sliding into a Otis Rush like tempo with cleverly styled guitar riffs. Ginty and Allen trade alternate drop in riffs as punctuation around Allen's lead vocals. Very nice! R&B styled, In September , lays easy ground work for a radio track with slick guitar work and also showcasing Allen's soulful vocals. The Blues Is Back showing definite influences of Mr BB King. Allen's vocal phrasing is spot on and his Albert King/ SRV guitar phrasing is hot! Baby Please Don't You Go is a boogie rock n roller. Flashing guitar chops over a Chuck ...