Little Village artist: Alabama Mike - Stuff I've Been Through - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stuff I've Been Through, by Alabama Mike and I really like it's funky blues sound. Opening with title track, Stuff I've Been Through, Alabama Mike's lush vocals lead the way, joined by Kid Andersen and Rusty Zinn on guitars, Jim Pugh on keys, Jerry Jemmott on bass, D'Mar on drums and with great horn work by Bernard Anderson on sax, Mike Rinta on trombone, Doug Rowan on sax and Jeff Lewis on trumpet. Great opener. Another track with a great groove is King Cock, with a great back beat by D'Mar, and Jemmott on bass and featuring Anson Funderburgh on guitar with some real tasty riffs. Mike not only has lead vocals but adds harmonica and the horn section is back with a lot of heat. Excellent. A cool, R&B style track, Damage Control, features a different rhythm section of Bobby Young on guitar, Lorenzo Hawkins on Keys, AJ Joyce on bass and Ronnie Smith on drums. This is a cool track and it really does showcase Mike's vocals nicely. Shuffle track, Mississippi (Live) really gets a fine groove featuring Rick Estrin on hot harmonica and Mike on vocal. Pugh on keys sets a real nice pace, with the Kid on guitar, backed by Endre Tarczy on bass, D'Mar on drums and super backing vocals by Vicki Randle and Lisa Leuschner Andersen. My favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is a warm, gospel infused, God Is With You (Live), with super organ work by Pugh and Mike really digging in on vocal. With Jemmott on bass, D'Mar on drums, Andersen on guitars and Randle and Andersen on backing vocals, this is an excellent closer for a very enjoyable release. 

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Blue Heart Records artists: The Texas Horns - Everybody let's Roll - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everybody Let's Roll, from The Texas Horns, and I really like it! Opening with title track, Everybody Let's Roll, The Texas Horns (Kaz Kazanoff on tenor sax, Al Gomez on trumpet, and John Mills on bari sax) come out steaming with Carolyn Wonderland on lead vocal, Mike Keller on rhythm guitar, Sean Giddings on keys, Chris Marsh on bass, and Tom Brechtlein on drums and featuring Anson Funderburgh with some real nice guitar lead. Solid opener. Piano boogie, I Ain't Mad With You, led by Matt Hubbard really rocks with excellent solos from Kaz and Johnny Moeller and a fat fat bottom by Mills. Excellent! A really interesting (bluesy) rework of The Beatles, I Want You (She's So Heavy), has great horn blending with Gomez taking the lead on trumpet. With it's jazzy drum hitch by Brannen Temple, a cool organ solo by Sean Geddings and a blast of blues by Moeller on guitar, this is a punchy track.  Soulful, Prisoner In Paradise, features Guy Forsyth on lead vocal and is the certain radio track with brassy backing and a real nice trumpet solo by Gomez and a warm sax solo by Kaz. Wrapping the release is JB Lenoir's J.B.s Rock with hot drumming by Jason Corbiere and sassy sax work by Kaz. Flanigin rolls in some warm organ tones and Jimmie Vaughan  lays down some trademark guitar riffs making this a great closer. 

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Windchill Records artist: Breezy Rodio - Underground Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Underground Blues, from Breezy Rodio and like every previous release, the music sails. Opening with Half Way in the Devil's Gate, Rodio lays down some real tension on lead vocal and sharing the guitar work with ace, Anson Funderburgh. Backed by Johnny Bradley on bass, Daniel C. Tabion on piano and organ, and Lorenzo Francocci on drums, I immediately know this release is going to be hot. Texas style blues, Playing My Game Too, has a really nice drum lead by Francocci and Funderburgh's guitar riffs against Rodio's vocals really set the trigger. Funderburgh always shows impeccable phrasing and Rodio's soulful vocals are spot on. Blues shuffle, The Murder is a real nice showcase for Josh Fulero on harmonica and Tabion's piano work balanced with Rodio on vocal and guitar gives the track real grip. Very nice. Slower blues, Lightning Strikes, is a nice stage for Rodio, on vocal and clean guitar lead. Strong. Another cool showcase for Fulero is Latin flavored, Hello Friendo, with super harmonica lead melody. Rodio lays in a real nice guitar solo of his own over the excellent drum rhythm of Francocci and Tabion's piano. Sugar Daddy is Tabion's showcase with Otis Spann like piano work and warm organ, surrounding Rodio's vocal and lead guitar work. Really nice track. Wrapping the release is Bluesoned, the real showcase for Rodio on guitar. His style is richly toned and stylized with emotional phrasing, contrasted  with Tabion's piano work. Strong closer. 

Very nice. 

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M.C. Records artist: Mike Morgan and the Crawl - The Lights Went Out In Dallas - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Lights Went Out In Dallas, by Mike Morgan and the Crawl and it's super. Opening with Ding Dong Daddy, Mike Morgan is up front on lead vocal and guitar dueling with master Anson Funderburgh and it's an excellent opener with Drew Allain on bass, and Danny Cochran on drums. With a name like Funkafaction, you know it's gonna be funky, with Morgan on guitars, Mike Flanigin on B3, Reo Casey on Rhodes piano, Allain on bass and Kevin Schermerhorn on drums. This is a strong track that really moves. Title track, The Lights Went Out In Dallas, has a catchy melody and firm lead vocals by Morgan and backing vocals by Andrea Wallace plus Matt Farrell on B3 making it my choice for radio track for the release. I like the groove of boogie, Out In The Jungle with it's low slung rhythm and guitar pace. Morgan on vocal and guitar, Casey steps up with a cool solo on guitar himself and the slap rhythm of Schermerhorn on drums makes this another favorite. Slower blues, Goin' Down To Eli's is a really nice track, stretched out with plenty of space for Morgan on slide guitar. Very cool. Wrapping the release is another radio track, Our Last Goodbye featuring Morgan on lead vocal and with a compact melodic guitar solo and warm vocal backing by Wallace, a cool closer for a solid release. 

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Nola Blue Records artist: Trudy Lynn - Golden Girl - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Golden Girl, from Trudy Lynn and I really like it. Opening with Tell Me and it's cool rhythm, Trudy Lynn really hits the road running lending no clues that she's reached that golden 75 mile marker. With the tasty guitar soloing of Yates McKendree, backing vocals of Teresa James, Brannen Temple on drums, Kevin McKendree on drums and Terry Wilson on bass this is a solid opener. Heavy footed If Your Phone Don't Ring, will have you slinking around in your seat and Lynn's vocals are really strong. Adding to the mix is Steve Krase on harmonica and real nice slide work by Yates. Boogie track, Trouble With Love is a grate addition featuring Anson Funderburgh on guitar, Krase on harmonica and strong low vocal backing by Wilson. Super. Funky, R&B style blues, Live With Yourself plays really well in Lynn's vocal wheelhouse and she drains every drop of soul out of this track. With horn backing by Darrell Leonard and some really nice guitar work by Yates, this may be my favorite track on the release. Low slung, I Just Can't Say Goodbye is another terrific track with not only strong vocals by Lynn but great solo style by Funderburgh. Very nice. Wrapping the release is straight up blues ballad, Life Goes On with excellent guitar work by Funderburgh and particularly warm organ work by Kevin. This is a strong closer and my favorite Lynn release in years. A must check out! 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Gabe Stillman - Just Say The Word - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just Say The Word, from Gabe Stillman and it's a solid blues release. Opening with slide exdplosion, Give Me Some Time, Gabe Stillman on guitar and vocal really gets it rockin. With Elmore James like flair, Stillman really ramps it up, backed by Colin Beatty on bass, Ray Hagen on drums, Taylor Streiff on B3 and the Texas Horns doing the rest. Excellent opener. R&B flavored, Let It Go, gives Stillman a chance to not only show his wares vocally but excellent guitar phrasing. No Time For Me has a lumbering pace and Stillman turns up the gain for a saturated tone on his guitar to grind over the full tone of Streiff's B3. This track has more rock but in the tone of a ZZ Top like jam. Very cool. Ballad, Heartbreak Makes A Sound, is a mellow, radio track, with solid vocals and guitar by Stillman, Streiff on piano and with a nice sax solo by Mark Kazanoff. Anson Funderburgh and Sue Foley take turns on shuffle, No Matter What You Wear and Foley joins Stillman on vocal.  Susquehanna 66 is a hot jazz like shuffle with some smoking harmonica work by Greg Izor and some really hot guitar work by Stillman. Excellent! Soul track, I'll Take Care Of You really shows off Stillman's soul prowess, cradled in a keyboard bed and capped off with a solid guitar solo. Very nice. Wrapping the release is See BT Blues, an excellent blues number with a jagged rhythm, cool. unconventional double stops and perfect B3 and drums accents. This is an excellent closer for an excellent release. 

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Blue Heart Records artist: Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps - Rose-Colored Glasses Vol.1

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (September 17, 2021), Rose-Colored Glasses Vol. 1, by Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps and it's a smooth blend of blues, rock and R&B styles. Opening with Show Me How You Do It, Teresa James on keys and lead vocals shows why her newest releases are widely anticipated. With Yates McKendree putting up some real nice lead guitar, and backed by Jay Bellerose on drums, Kevin McKendree on B3, Paulie Cerra on sax,  this is a solid opener. R&B flavored title track, Rose-Colored Glasses, really has a nice feel that I would expect to garner strong airplay with some nice slide guitar work by James Pennebaker. With a cocky strut, Wish It Into The Cornfield features Anson Funderburgh playing up the guitar starch and McKendree's B3 giving flow under the horn work of Cerra. Goes without saying that James has a natural voice for this and she really works it on this track. Really nice. Dean Parks, well known session man, pops up on Once The World Stops Ending, adding some hot punctuation under some of the best vocal blending on the release. Darrell Leonard on trumpet and Richard Millsap on percussion add some nice juice on this track making it one of my favorites on the release. Soul track, When My Baby Comes Home is another solid entry with strong vocals by James and the addition of Michael Starr on violin, viola and cello. Wrapping the release is Gimme Some Skin driven by heavy tom tom work by Bellerose and with some cool, stylized guitar work by David Millsap, punched up by Leonard on trumpet. Cool closer. 

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Jose Ramirez - Here I Come - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Here I Come, from Jose Ramirez, and it's a very cool, R&B flavored, contemporary blues release. Opening with title track, Here I Come, Jose Ramirez leads on vocal and guitar, backed by Jim Pugh on piano, Wes Starr on drums and Nate Rowe on bass. Showing his first solo, he's low slung and with plenty of Texas feel...think Jimmie Vaughan or Anson Funderburgh styling. Very nice. Slow blues, I Miss You Baby sounds like it's right out of the T Bone Walker songbook and with solid vocals by Ramirez and the backing of  Texas Horns (Mark ‘Kaz’ Kazanoff, John Mills and Al Gomez) this track is rich. Listen to Ramirez make that guitar sing... nice. Anson Funderburgh actually shows up on Gasoline and Matches and lays in some stinging riffs over the Horns, a funk bass line by Rowe. Very nice. Goodbye Letter is a real nice slower blues with some of Ramirez's best vocals on the release and excellent rolling piano work by Pugh. Sit back and let him stroke the strings... solid phrasing and great tone. Combining the guitar loping riff of SRV and the warm organ work of Pugh, Three Years has a real soothing blues feel and gives Funderburgh and Ramirez plenty of space to work. Very nice. Super soulful, As You Can See, is one of my absolute favorites on the release with strong lead vocals by Ramirez, and plenty of fat horn work. Ramirez holds back on his guitar until the tail of the track but it's a perfect short of heat at just the right moment. Excellent! Wrapping the release is strong shuffle, Stop Teasing Me, with cool organ work by Pugh under Ramirez's solid vocals. His lead guitar lines and the tight drum work is a perfect balance and with continued pressure from Pugh on his Hammond, this track is a stong closer for a really strong release. 

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Severn Records artists: The Texas Horns - Get Here Quick - New Relese Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Get Here Quick, by The Texas Horns and it's smokin'! Opening with Guitar Town, a real Texas style blues, cooked up with  Anson Funderburgh and Johnny Moeller on guitars and Gary Forsyth on lead vocals. Kaz Kazanoff on tenor, John Mills on bari and Al Gomez on trumpet and this track is hot. With a bit of New Orleans flavor, Instrumental, Feelin' No Pain is all horns to the floor with excellent piano work by Red Young, bass by Russell Jackson and Tommy Taylor on drums. Mills lays out and excellent sax solo and Moeller shows why he is regarded as one of the top bluesmen in Texas today. Title track, Better Get Here Quick is another instrumental with rich tandem sax lead and excellent guitar accents by Moeller. Gomez steps up with some crisp lead work of his own and Youngs takes a nice few bars of his own. Very cool. An excellent New Orleans style instrumental, 2018, has a super march style snare lead by John Bryant with Chris Maresh on bass and again featuring excellent work by Moeller and Connolly. Gomez's trumpet is bright and punchy. Very nice. Curtis Salgado is up front on lead vocals on Sundown Talkin'. His vocals are always soulful and stellar and this track is no exception, being clearly the radio track on the release. The horns flex their muscle through out and excellent accents by Moeller give the track a great presence. Instrumental, Funky Ape really gives Kaz, Al and John a chance to play and they push you back in your seat. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Truckload of Trouble, a springy, instrumental with a solid horn melody and with a cool muted trumpet interlude by Gomez, and a sweet sax lead by Kaz as well. Ronnie Earl is featured on lead guitar adding a bluesy component to an otherwise driving horn composition. This is a real cool outing for the Texas Horns. Enjoy! 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Bob Corritore & Friends - Do The Hip-Shake Baby! - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Do The Hip-Shake Baby!, from Bob Corritore & Friends and I really like it. Corritore usually sticks pretty close to traditional Chicago style blues but not on this one. He's mixing it up but the mix is great. Opening with Shake Your Hips, Mighty Joe Milsap is upfront on vocals and they are rich and powerful. With Alan West on drums and percussion this track has a swampy rhythmic feel and Corritore's harp work is used like a sharp knife carving in essential riffs. Very nice. Alabama Mike leads on Gonna Tell Your Mother, a classic R&B track with Johnny Rapp and LA Jones on guitar, Adrianna Marie on bass, Fred Kaplan on keys and Brian Fahey on drums. With sassy backing vocals and a slick guitar solo, this track is swinging. Bill "Howl-N-Madd" Perry gets down, slow and gritty on You Better Slow Down. Corritore has his harp singing on this one over the classic guitar riffs of Perry and Rapp. Very nice. Up tempo shuffle, Trying To Make A Living features Sugaray Rayford upfront with Junior Watson on flat laid out guitar and Kedar Roy on bass. Corritore tees up another super solo giving this track that extra spark. Jimi "Primetime" Smith  sings I Got The World In A Jug in simple Chicago styling. Corritore stretches a bit on this one but as always, contains not dominating the show. Wrapping the release is Rayford again upfront on Keep The Lord On With You! This song is rich in vocal and meaning with excellent vocal, harp and with the excellent addition of Kid Ramos on guitar joined by Marty Dodson on drums and Blake Watson on bass. This is an excellent closer for a very strong release. 

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Electro-Fi Records artist: Mark Hummel - Harpbreaker - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Harpbreaker, from Mark Hummel and it's one of the best Chicago style blues records that I've heard in a long time. Opening with terrific harp boogie, Harpoventilatin', Mark Hummel wastse not a second showing why he's one of the top blues harp players in the world today. With strong pace, and great phrasing, Mark Hummel leads the way joined by Charles Wheal on guitar, Steve Wolf on bass, Marty Dodson on drums and Bob Welsh on keys. Jump track, Rotten Kid really is hot with Wheal laying out some terrific guitar riffs working nicely with Hummel's own featured playing. Excellent. With a super strut, Walkin' With Mr. Lee has just the right snap. Featuring Wes Starr on drums, RW Grigsby on bass, Charlie Baty and Anson Funderburgh on guitars, this track is terrific. Slow blues, Cristo Redentor has such a presence with it's soulful melody and smooth guitar phrasing by Kid Anderson. Excellent! Senor Blues has a beautiful Latin feel with a floating melody and features confident solos by Hummel, Chris Burns (keys) and Johnny bones (sax) backed by Rusty Zinn on guitar, Lech Wierzynski on trumpet, and Willie Panker on drums. Smooth shuffle, Glide On, features nice solos from Zinn, Burns and Hummel. Very nice. Harp boogie, Chuckaluck, is a great showcase for Hummel with Dave Eagle on washboard, Aaron Hammerman on piano and Billy Flynn on guitar. Sweet. Wrapping the release is classic blues number, See See Rider with Zinn on guitar and Hummel on harp, about as stripped down as a modern blues gets. Super closer for an excellent release.

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Station House Records artist: Dany Franchi - Problem Child - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Problem Child, from Dany Franchi and it's quite good. Opening with Back To The River, a full bodied R&B, horns and all with Dany Franchi on guitar and vocal,  Anson Funderburgh with round tone soloing and the Texas Horns chasing. Super opener. Give Me A Sign has a real nice piano rhythm by Jim Pugh and excellent guitar riffs by Franchi, backed by Nate Rowe on bass and Wes Starr on drums. With it's solid texas lope, Big Town Playboy features strong harp work by Greg Izor and rich lead guitar work by Franchi giving this track real traction. Soul ballad Real Love features some of Franchi's best vocal work on the release, with warm horns by Kaz Kazanoff, John Mills & Jimmie Shortel and a nice melodic guitar solo by Franchi. Very nice. Another favorite, Don't Steal My Time, has a great blend of warm vocals, great guitar riffs and fat horns. Excellent. Freddie King's Sen-Sa-Shun has real snap. Franchi has excellent guitar diction and with a fat organ solo by Pugh, this track sails. Excellent! Slow and expressive, My Only One is intense with super vocals and gripping guitar lines. Very very nice. Another strong entry is Everything Gonna Be Alright with excellent blues phrasing and hair raising runs. Excellent! Wanna Know is a sure footed blues rocker with an almost Paul Rodgers sureness. This release is super strong and shows unusual strength. This guy is gonna make some money! 

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3rd Annual Big Buggs Island Blues Bash Features Best Lineup Yet!

             

THE 3RD ANNUAL BIG BUGGS ISLAND BLUES BASH: LIVE BLUES, GREAT FOOD, SWING DANCE COMPETITION, BEST LINEUP YET

Saturday, September 3, 2pm-10pm Robbins Ballpark, Clarksville, VA  

                                                

                                                   (Rain or Shine)

    

    (Clarksville, VA) - Announcing the 3rd Annual Big Buggs Island Blues Bash, Saturday, September 30, from 2pm-10pm (rain or shine), on the Lake at Robbins Ballpark, 104 Woodland Drive in Clarksville, VA. Tickets $25.00 (Early-Bird Special till August 31 - purchase here), $30.00 General Admission (September 1-September 29), $35.00 at the gate/day of the Festival. Limited number of $75.00 VIP Tickets available (includes admission plus two complimentary drinks, premiere seating under Stage Side Tent, and access to the catered Hospitality Tent for a 'Meet-And-Greet' with the performers. Also a Swing Dance Competition on the Lake, food for sale by top area restaurants and food trucks, plus an Arts and Crafts Vendors Village.

   "We've arranged for some of the finest performers in the Blues to entertain and amaze." says Woolly, Founder/Promoter of the Big Buggs Island Blues Bash and creator of the famed Woolly's Big Blues jam. Emcee is Confessing The Blues radio show Host, Cleve Baker.  Rain or shine - in the event of bad weather, the Festival will be moved to an indoor location. Info: (919) 451-4356 or visit us on-line at http://www.bbibb.org/.

   "This Year's Entertainment Lineup Is Our Best Yet!" - Woolly

Four-time Blues Music Awards nominee, Hammond B-3 organist extraordinaire, Bruce Katz, headlines the Big Buggs Island Blues Bash Saturday, September 30.

Jon Spear Band, nominated for "Best Live Blues Recording" in 2016 by Blues Blast Magazine,  are a popular national touring act fronted by talented guitarist, Jon Spear (second from right).

The pride of Plano, Texas, guitarist extraordinaire Anson Funderburgh has also been called "the nicest man in the Blues" by Blues Festival Guide. Funderburgh is joined onstage by Stern and Cotton at the 3rd Annual Big Buggs Blues Bash.

North Carolina-based trio James-Pace and Preslar, fronted by guitarist-vocalist T.A. James (pictured), are a popular band on the Blues Festival circuit.

Parker & Gray bring their soulful blues to Big Buggs Island Blues Bash.

They're joined onstage by Ken Farmer from the PBS television series

Antiques Roadshow, himself a American-Roots vocalist-guitarist.

3RD ANNUAL BIG BUGGS ISLAND BLUES BASH ON YOU TUBE:

American Showplace Music artist: Andy T. Band - Double Strike - New Release Review

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 Mudslide is up next with thick lower octave melody and bright lead guitar work by Andy and a super solo by van Loon.  Another smoking hot track is Doin' Hard Time with Andy and Funderburgh trading soulful riffs. Very nice! Funderburgh blisters the guitar on his solo on I Was Gonna Leave You, a somewhat funky blues track featuring Nixon on lead vocal. On Latin flavored Drunk Or Sober, Kaz and Andy each lay out noteworthy solos making this another of the best of the release. Wrapping the release is Where Did Out Love Go Wrong, another solid R&B track featuring Mike on lead vocal. Andy kicks it up a few notches with a crisp guitar solo and a smooth sax solo adds a deep earthy balance to this rich closer.

  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”

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Severn Records artists: The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Strong Like That - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Strong Like That, from The Fabulous Thunderbirds and I really like it. Opening with Temptations classic, (I Know) I'm Losing You, TFT have melded a track that has been done by everyone from Rare Earth to Rod Stewart and with spicy steel guitar work of Roosevelt Collier and the funky beat of Wes Watkins created a cool new sound. Kim Wilson is upfront on vocal and harp and Steve Gomes lays down a solid bass riff along with Kevin Anker on keys. Very cool! Stepping off like Curtis Mayfield on Don't Burn Me, Wilson delivers a really soulful vocal line. Anson Funderburgh lends an artful hand to this soulful mix with tasty guitar riffs and with Christal Rheams and Caleb Green on backing vocals, Gomes on bass and Robb Stupka on drums. Excellent! Funky blues soul on You're Gonna Miss Me has a super groove that makes you want to bounce in your seat if not outright get up and dance. Wilson's harp work on this track is more soul than blues and really works nicely. Al Jackson's Drowning On Dry land has a super cool bottom Wilson keeps it light as air with his smooth vocals and restrained harp. Moeller's guitar riffs are spot on and Anker punctuates nicely. Excellent! Another funky track, Somebody's Getting It, is full blown with Kenny Rittenhouse on trumpet, Joe Donegan on trumpet, Antonio Orta on sax and Bill Holmes on trombone and Rheams and Green on back vocals. Wilson's vocals are particularly rich on this track, possibly being my favorite featuring him in near memory. With it's rolling bass line, Meet Me On The Corner, is the bluesiest track on the release and Wilson takes full advantage with his trademark blues harp riffs and vocals. Very cool. Where's Your Love Been has a cool southern soul sound with the full horns, crafty keyboard work by Anker and a few real nice guitar outings by Mr Johnny Moeller. Eddie Floyd's I've Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do) has a smooth soul sound with tight horn work and cool stylistic rhythm guitar work by Moeller. Wilson's vocals are cool and the track solid. Wrapping the release is title track, Strong Like That. With it's funky bass line and snappy drum bottom, Wilson really brings it home on vocal and harp. His phrasing and tone are top notch and this track is a particularly cool closer to what may be my favorite Thunderbirds release...ever!



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Electro-Fi Records artists - Golden State Lone Star Blues Review - New Release Review

I just received the newest release from the Golden State Lone Star Blues Review, and it's terrific! This all-star band opens with Gatemouth Brown's loping Texas style blues, Midnight Hour, featuring Mark Hummel on lead vocal, Anson Funderburgh and Little Charlie Baty on guitar, RW Grigsby on bass and Wes Starr on drums. This track is a great opener with reinforcements by Eric Spaulding and Jack Sanford on sax. Billy Boy Arnold's, Here's My Picture, is up next and Hummel takes a super sweet harp break during a break in the primarily Latin rhythm track. Prove It To You is a cool swing blues track with Hummel driving the train on vocal, a nice walking bass line by RW Grigsby and tight drums by Wes Starr. Little Charlie hits the strings with a slick guitar solo and Hummel's phrasing is top notch. Slow NO style blues, Cool To Be Your Fool, features beautiful piano interplay by Jim Pugh and a solid bass line by Grigsby. Very nice! Lowell Fulsom's, Check Yourself, has a real nice vocal and piano swing and tight drum snap from Starr. Hummel bears down on the harp for one of his finest features on the release. Funderburgh takes center stage with some of his trademark riffs giving the track a real hot sound. Excellent! Mose Allison's, Stop This World, has a nice easy jazz feel and Hummel's vocals blend nicely with organ work by Pugh. Guitar and harp riff trading is clean and sparkling. Shuffle track, Take A Chance, has some choice drum riffs and with Hummel leading on vocal and harp, Funderburgh and Pugh each stretching. Very cool. Lucky Kewpie Doll has a beach rock sound and Baty really lays out some cool riffs. Pugh lays in some nice piano work as well over a solid rockin' beat. Pepper Mama opens with a really hot guitar riff by Funderburgh. Hummel's vocals blend nicely with Pugh's piano work but it's Anson's turn to shine and his guitar riffs on this track are top notch. Lee Allen's Walking With Mr. Lee is a smooth shuffle and a great showcase for Hummel on harp. A cool walking bass line from Grigsby, keys by Pugh and tight drums by Starr round out the track. Detroit Blues is a cool loping blues number with vocal harmony. Hummel takes this track to task with solid red hot harp tone making it one of my favorites. Jimmy McCracklin's, Georgia Slop, has an upbeat R&B feel with great sax work on the bottom and rock drums. Grigsby drives a great bass line on this one and Hummel breaks loose for another super solo (Stilladog... this one's for you). Excellent! JB Hutto number, Dim Lights is up next with a super swagger and Hummel sets a good pace on vocal and harp. Funderburgh plays cool under the track with traditional riff and Baty hit the slide with fire in his eyes. Very super! Wrapping the release is End Of The World, an absolutely excellent blues track highlighted by Pugh's piano work, Hummel's vocals, Baty's, JL Hooker like guitar riffs and tension building sirens etc over basic drums and bass by Grigsby and Starr, peppered with harp. This is an excellent release with more joint contributions and only a few individual blow out solos making it walk like a silent giant.



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