Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fading Away , from Artur Menezes , and it's a strong contemporary blues rock entry. Opening with title track, Fading Away , with a catchy melody and Hendrix style riffs, a drone bass riff and a wide open pathway for nicely crafted guitar soloing by Menezes. Backed by Gui Bodi on bass, Lemar Carter on drums and Kesha Shantrell and Revel Day on backing vocals. Solid opener. Come On is a strong blues rocker with a cool tapping riff and a driving bottom. With the addition of Joe Bonamassa on guitar, this track has some really nice guitar work and a great rock feel. Instrumental, Northeast , with it's jagged drumming against offset soaring guitar guitar soloing is a real interesting track. Very nice. With a lush, jazzy feel, Free At Last featuring Josh Smith on guitar, and Carey Frank on B3,  Travis Carlton on bass, Matt Mitchell on rhythm guitar has a definite Brazilian feel. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Green...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keep Pushing , from Artur Menezes and it's quite good. Opening with radio track, Now's The Time , Artur Menezes delivers a smooth R&B track with warm horn saturation, highlighted by melodic BB King like guitar riffs. Nice opener. Title track, Keep Pushing , has a real nice feel with fluid guitar runs by Menezes, a solid bottom by Daniel Aged on bass, Gary Novak on drums, Carey Frank on keys and solid horn work by Jamelle Adisa on trumpet and Dan Bosley on sax. Come With Me is a lumbering blues rocker that really gives Menezes a great floor for his vocals and with a thick underbelly, his vibrant guitar riffs are smoking hot. Excellent track. Slow blues number, Any Day, Anytime has strong blues bones along the lines of a Freddie King number. Menezes keeps coming on stronger and stronger with his soulful vocals and crisp guitar work. his phrasing is intuitive and inspired. Excellent! Funky, Should Have Never ...

At 25 years old, and 13 of guitar playing, Artur Menezes is a very active musician in the Brazilian blues/rock scene. He played in several festivals in Brazil: Guaramiranga Jazz and Blues Festival, Garanhuns Jazz Festival, Canoa Blues, Lençois Jazz and Blues, Bourbon Street and many others. In 2006 and 2007, Artur Menezes lived in Chicago, where he had the honor to meet the blues closer. There he played in several Blues Clubs: B.L.U.E.S., Kingston Mines, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Smoky Daddy, Rosa’s, Katherina’s, Vine Tastings and Gabe’s Backstage and Lounge. In these Clubs he played with John Primer, Charlie Love and The Silky Smooth Band, Linsey Alexander, Phill Guy, Brother John, Big Ray, Jimmi Burns among others. He also was a member from The Shakes Blues Band, where he played in many gigs. Besides that, he had the single opportunity to improve his guitar playing skills after watching concerts of many names like Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Koko Taylor, Jeff Beck, Robert Cray, Magic Sli...

At 25 years old, and 13 of guitar playing, Artur Menezes is a very active musician in the Brazilian blues/rock scene. He played in several festivals in Brazil: Guaramiranga Jazz and Blues Festival, Garanhuns Jazz Festival, Canoa Blues, Lençois Jazz and Blues, Bourbon Street and many others. In 2006 and 2007, Artur Menezes lived in Chicago, where he had the honor to meet the blues closer. There he played in several Blues Clubs: B.L.U.E.S., Kingston Mines, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Smoky Daddy, Rosa’s, Katherina’s, Vine Tastings and Gabe’s Backstage and Lounge. In these Clubs he played with John Primer, Charlie Love and The Silky Smooth Band, Linsey Alexander, Phill Guy, Brother John, Big Ray, Jimmi Burns among others. He also was a member from The Shakes Blues Band, where he played in many gigs. Besides that, he had the single opportunity to improve his guitar playing skills after watching concerts of many names like Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Koko Taylor, Jeff Beck, Robert Cray, Magic Sli...