Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wasted Youth , from Mick Kolassa, and it's chocked full of hot contemporary blues players doing what they do best. Opening with blues rocker, Throwing Away These Blues , Kolassa on vocal and guitar leads the way with James Cunningham on drums, Tullie Brae on backing vocal, Rick Steff on piano, Jeff Jensen on guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass and Marc Franklin on trumpet. Solid opener. Title track, Wasted Youth , has a thunder bass line by Ruffino and with Doug McMinn on drums, Brad Webb lays in some real nice slide work and Eric Hughes adds some real nice harmonica. Funky rocker, I Can't Get Enough gives Anthony Paule a nice chance to show his stuff and Kirk Smothers blows a real nice sax solo topping the track off. Victor Wainwright plays a real clean piano on Feeling Sorry For Myself , a cool blues track with just the right amount of sway. Brandon Santini adds his superlative harmonica tone to My Mind Doesn't Wa...

I just received the newest release, Watch Your Step , from Andy Santana & the West Coast Playboys and it's a mover! Opening with Fran and West 50's R&B track, Knock Knock ,Santana delivers with a full New Orleans swing. Bob Welsh handles piano in fine form, joined by Anthony Paule on guitar, Kid Andersen bass, Robi Bean takes on the drums and Frankie Ramos hits a hot sax solo. Very nice! Bobby Parker's Watch Your Step has a cool Latin rhythm and Santana carries lead vocal and some really tasty lead guitar. Kid Andersen kits the sax on this track adding some key lines and Nate Ginsberg handles the keys. Dave Bartholomew's swing boogie, Playgirl is a really nice track to feature the fine harp work of Santana. He also takes a great lead guitar solo on this track backed by Kid Andersen as well as Mike McCurdy on bass and Robi Bean on drums. Hot track! ZZ Hills R&B track, One Way Love Affair had some real nice dynamics compliments of Eric Spaulding on sax, J...

I just received the newest release, Putting Down Roots , from Nancy Wright and it has a nice groove. Opening with pop soul track, Sweet Soul Satisfaction , Wright takes the lead on vocal with Lisa Leuschner Andersen on warm backing vocals. Of course she plays hot sax, a signature that she is well know by. Funkin' It Up , is a smoking instrumental jazz groove with Paul Olguin on bass and Paul Revelli on drums setting the forms for a great sax lead by Wright. Tony Lufrano on keys adds the glue and cementing this cool track in place. Just Can't Put A Finger On It returns to the soul style pop format again joined by Anderson on backing vocals. The track is capped off by some sweltering sax riffs... nice! Driving paced, A Serendipity , has a Motown feel, almost like a Martha Reeves meets Jr Walker. Hot key riffs from Lufrano also add nicely to the track. Instrumental, The Big Queen has a deep throaty sax voice with a New Orleans rhythm section making this funky track one of my ...

I just received the newest release, I Saw The Blues , from Jackie Payne and it's a funky blues party! Opening with Back To Normal , a soulful ballad with a nice walking bass line from Endre Tarczy and with horn backing from Ed Early (trombone), Jeff Lewis (trumpet) and Frankie Ramos (sax). Kid Andersen lays in a scorching bluesy guitar solo nicely complimenting Payne's vocals. Next up is title track, I Saw The Blues , R&B track with a rural feel. Lorenzo Farrell does a real nice job on organ on this track and Anthony Paule gives the rhythm a funky feel on guitar. Aki Kumar adds his always tight harp work. Very nice! Anthony Paule rips it open on Full Moon Blues with rich slide guitar work. Derek D'Mar martin on drums and Farrell on organ are joined by Bob Welsh on piano and Paynes vocals are real nice. Full blown swing blues When The Blues Comes Knockin' , features Payne leading the way with really strong vocals and solid horn reinforcement. Kid Andersen really ...

I just received the newest release, Soul For Your Blues , by Frank Bey & Anthony Paule Band and a not only clever but appropriate name. Opening with I Don't Know Why , a smokin' soul track featuring great heartfelt vocals from Bey and great horn backing from Mike Rinta (trombone and tuba), Nancy Wright (sax) and Steffen Kuehn on trumpet. I'm Leavin' You maintains the sould feel but crosses over closer to the blues with a solid bottom by Paul Olguin (bass) and Paul Revelli (drums). Anthony Paule lays out some really hot guitar riffs on this track again with backing from the dynamo horn section. I Just Can't Go On , written by Christine Vitale, has a really solid soul feel and conjures images of Bey's earlier employer, Otis Redding, who died 45 years to the day of the completion of these recordings. Paule steps up with a nice guitar guitar solo on this track which isn't overpowering but pinpoint on. Super job by all. Don't Mess With The Monkey is ...

I just received a copy of the newest release, You Don't Know Nothing , by Frank Bey with the Anthony Paule Band . This release was recorded live in San Francisco and I have to say the people who saw this show got an ear full! Bey has a very solid soul style to his blues and this band is absolute killer! The recording opens with the title track, You Don't Know Nothing About Love which is a smokin' soul track. Bey is a great showman and Anthony Paule wastes no time in showing that he can really make his guitar sweat. Not only beautifully bluesy riffs but great filler riffs giving nice texture...and with great tone. Backed by a stellar band including Tony Lufrano on Keys, Paul Olguin on bass, Mike Rinta on Trombone, Paul Revelli on drums, Nancy Wright on Sax and Steffen Kuehn on trumpet. Yes, Bey is the star of this show and a mighty strong singer he is but take nothing at all from the great horn backing on this set. On Ain't That Lovin' You , Paule shows his jazz ch...

Anthony Paule has been a mainstay of the Bay Area music scene for many years touring and recording with luminaries such as Boz Scaggs, Charlie Musselwhite, Maria Muldaur, The Johnny Nocturne Band, Norton Buffalo, Mark Hummel, and others. Anthony has released two solo CDs, Big Guitar, and Hiding In Plain Sight. For his most recent release he has teamed up with Philadelphia based soul singer Frank Bey to record You Don’t Know Nothing, a live recording of a show at Biscuits & Blues nightclub in downtown San Francisco.   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 favorite band!