Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tryin' To Get Home , from Andy Cohen and it's a cool, rural blues release. Opening with Blind Boy Fuller's Step It Up And Go , Andy Cohen wastes no time in showing that he's a serious student of the blues and a solid vocalist. His finger picking work is strong and his vocal delivery perfect. Excellent opener. Cohen shows broad versatility sitting behind the piano on Louis Jay Meyers Memorial Stomp . This is a really nice piano blues and with great feel, and a strong composition by Cohen. Another Cohen original, Puffin' That Stuff is one of my favorites on the release. A short finger picked guitar rag, this track will be a favorite in concert and on the disc. Very cool. Mississippi John Hurt's Talkin' Casey , is a classic blues story track with Cohen punctuating Casey's story with acoustic slide. Very nice. Reverend Gary Rag is a great tune and a cool tribute to Davis by Cohen. With his fl...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Road Be Kind , from Andy Cohen and it's quite interesting. Opening with Five and Ten Cent Blues , Andy Cohen shows when he get his impeccable reputation as a blues man and finger picker. Rich acoustic guitar tones and fluid picking makes this a great opener. Seldom Seen Slim is a cool country ballad written by Luke Baldwin. Short and sweet, a cool pictoral ballad. Sonny Terry's Spread The News Around is another terrific display of Cohen's finger work. Title track, Road Be Kind , is a solid ballad by Scott Alarik. A nice balance between vocal and guitar accompaniment. John D Loudermilk's instrumental, Windy and Warm is playful and rich. Cohen's guitar work is well structured and nicely executed. More Wood is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a happy little melody and deep acoustic guitar feel. Steve Fromholtz's High Country Caravan is a solemn ballad with Cohen laying it all out there v...