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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
I just received the newest release, Live In New York City from Paul Winn and it's quite exciting. Opening with Look Around, a track with a interesting blend of 60's San Francisco and 70's England, tied together in a rock fusion. This track is a real mover with fluid jazz infused guitar work from Paul Winn, also a solid vocalist and thick meaty sax work from Adrian Cunningham joined by to active rhythm work of Simon Fishburn on drums and Neville L'Green on hot rumbling bass. Excellent! (Stilladog... you got to check this out...think a rocking IF). Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime is a quieter, more introspective ballad. Winn has really rich guitar tone overall and it's a pleasure to just kick back and listen to his soloing. Understated bass work from L'Green and really tight drumming on this track nicely accentuate the lead vocal focus. Beat Ain't Messed With is a quick paced, blues based (One Way Out)track which is hot on it's soles but light on it's feet. Fishburn is really giving the drums a workout on this track and Cunningham lays an excellent sax lead out there followed by Winn. This is another awesome track...really! OK. You want the down side. Winn covers Eric Clapton's Lay Down Sally. The band does a fine job of covering it but it was a dead horse when Clapton rode it (here we go kicking the sacred cow). It's not my favorite but it probably made Clapton a few million. Down So Long is a cool swing blues with a walking bassline from L'Green. Winn carries the rhythm on his guitar as he sings (and he has a fine voice) but Cunningham really kicks butt on this track. (Stilladog...you listening?) Excellent! I Like A Drink is a quick little blues number with Winn accompanying his own vocal on minimal electric guitar. A cool little ditty with a jazzy side of the blues giving more dynamics to the remainder track. Nice. Wrapping the release is Leave It To Fate, a quick paced jazz rocker with strong percussive work from Fishburn and L'Green. Winn really does a nice job on vocals and Cunningham's sax work is rich and full. This track develops into a solid jam with both Cunningham and Winn taking exciting solos on their perspective instruments. Excellent 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”
I just received the newest release, Just the Way That It Goes, from Isaiah B Brunt and it's unique and alluring. Opening with She's So Fine, singer, songwriter and vocalist Brunt eases into a slinky bluesy track joined by Mark Whitaker on drums, Richard Bird on bass and Mike Hood on keys. Brunt is a fine slide player and shows his finesse right out of the bag. Let Your Heart Know actually reminds me quite a bit of a 70's era of Savoy Brown with solemn vocals and a driving bass line. Again, Brunt takes a skillful solo on slide adding tension to a smooth shuffle. On boogie track The River Runs High, Kenny Claiborne adds key harp riffs giving the track an overall swampy feel. Brunt doesn't hold back delivering some eerie slide riffs making this one of my favorites tracks on the release. Precious Stone, another boogie track featuring nice piano work from Hood gives the release another dimension altogether. With A Kiss, a slower ballad has some of the most inviting guitar riffs juxtaposed against the clarity of Hood's piano. Lover's Blues, a boogie with a driving bass line has the most memorable melody making it the natural pick for airplay. Brunt's more open electric playing on this track sets it apart from the other tracks as well. On title track, Just the Way That It All Goes, breaks into a more cohesive vocal ballad with additional backing vocals. Never Give Up has a solid bass line and simple vocal structure reminding me for some reason of Dire Straits. A well written track, Brunt lays down a simple but effective slide solo leaving you wanting more. Wrapping the release is Which Way To Go featuring David Stocker on mellotron and some of the most adventurous vocals on the release. With a much broader depth and breadth instrumentally and vocally, this track is an ideal 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”
Every once in a while something intriguing addresses your
senses and you are mesmerized by its presence. This happened at the IBC Memphis
2015. Allow me to back up a bit: My friend Barry Maxwell who is a blues radio
show host extraordinaire down under has always been kind to me whenever I
have submitted music for air time consideration. Barry has an immensely popular
radio show and so I don’t take his kindness to review CDs from my clients
lightly. After all everybody wants their music to be on the BAZ man’s show. So
just before I left for IBC Memphis Barry drops me a note. It was a suggestion.
He invited me to take in John McNamara’s performance and then perhaps meet with
him afterward. Barry, as I say, has always been fair with me and by extension
good to my clients. So without any reservation I listened to John’s music
before arriving in Memphis and then did in fact meet with John while we were
both at the IBCs.
John and I were only about ten minutes into a one
hour interview when I realized that this young man was not wanting to be a
bluesman, this man was already very mature in that regard. I instantly realized
what Barry had turned me on to from afar. John's demeanor was one of a relaxed
artist confident in his own skin and yet steeped in honest to goodness real
humility. No airs about him, no salesman’s swagger, no pretentious under
pinnings, he was who he is John McNamara, bluesman. As every blues person, man
or woman will tell you - you either is or you ain’t. This cat is…and it's
visibly obvious to his audiences because of the inherent qualities that
illuminate his stage presence and his delivery. When you listen to John perform
you may think of such artists as Bobby Blue Bland, Sam Cook, Otis Redding, and
of the contemporary set perhaps Johnny Lang. But you will also note that he is
not a clone of any of them as his style is unique in and of itself. These men
however have indeed deeply influenced John McNamara. His appreciation of their
body of work is what fuels the depth of his thirst for the real blues roots
sound.
This just in- John McNamara's song
Burn, Burn, Burn just won Song of the Year at the prestigious Australian Blues
Music Awards 2015. Barry is correct, this man is on fire. As a matter of fact
this winning track is on John’s debut CD is entitled Alone with the Blues, One Voice One
Guitar.
In our one
hour meeting John shared that he hopes people come away noticing a clean,
pristine sound as yours truly noted on the CDs very first track. He went on to
say that his studio goal was to record and release a stripped back format, a
presentation that highlighted the presence of the negative spaces between the
notes. Overall, John's goal was to share his originals on his debut CD but he
also felt an inner passion to add four cover tracks. I asked him if he was
happy with the end result and he replied yes, indeed.
Black Market
Music is the chosen distribution company and they are offering a
special opportunity for anyone from even the far reaches of the globe. Purchase
John’s CD from them and the shipping is free no matter where you are located on
this planet. Pretty cool when you think about it - a nice way to get to know
John’s music without going into hock. Of course you can also pick up the tunes
in MP3 format online as well if you prefer.
John touring
includes various European countries, among them Scotland where he performs
annually and Germany as well. The man down under has also completed a gig in
Singapore, Malaysia where he and his music were received extremely well.
Historically, John has graced the stages at such noted music festivals
as Narooma Blues
Fest, Echuca
Moama Winter Blues Fest, Edinburgh Fringe Fest, and Melbourne’s Docklands Blues Fest, an
impressive array of large music festivals.
Back from Australia, bassist-vocalist, Anni Piper, brings her lively blend of "Saucy Aussie" blues to Florida for a tour that kicks off in Punta Gorda on Thursday, November 13.
Anni Piper blends
deep, sexy vocals with a high-energy bass playing style (often
barefoot), making for a thoroughly enjoyable live experience.
On the recording end, Piper won "Best Blues Album" at the 2013 Canberra Roots & Blues Awards in Australia for her collaborative effort with Nicole Hart on the critically-lauded Split Second (Blues Leaf Records). Piper was also nominated in the "Female Vocalist Of The Year" category for the 2014 Australian Blues Music Awards.
Anni Piper, Australia's award-winning First Lady of Blues.
ANNI PIPER - SOME BACKGROUND
Piper first started playing electric guitar at age twelve, but switched
to bass at age fourteen. In 2004 Anni released an album entitled
"Jailbait" in her native Australia, for which she won "Best New Talent"
at the 2005 Australian Blues Music Awards. Subsequent album releases
include 2007's "Texas Hold 'Em," 2010's "Chasin' Tail" (released by
Blues Leaf), and her newest, 2013's "Split Second." Blues Leaf also
released "Two's Company," a compilation from her two Australian
releases. Throughout her burgeoning career, Piper's charismatic stage
presence and sultry vocals have garnered her both great reviews and
multiple music industry awards nominations.
WHAT THE MEDIA IS SAYING...
"If
you enjoy award-winning talent with a splash of the wild side, sultry
Australian performer Anni Piper won't even come close to disappointing
you. And you don't have to travel Down Under!" NAPLES DAILY NEWS
"Raw and raucous, down and dirty, Down Under blues." ILLINOIS TIMES
"A songwriter of distinction, her songs have a blues sensibility while still addressing the issues of today."EDMONTON JOURNAL
"Barefoot in a red cocktail dress and
brandishing both an electric bass guitar and a powerful blues vocal
tone, this down under diva makes quite the impression."
VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY
The
Alternate Root magazine invited Anni Piper to perform on their popular
television show "The Extended Play," taped this past Spring in front of a
live studio audience in Boston. Watch it here:
TWO BROTHERS HOME STYLE COOKING ACES LOUNGE TITANIC MICROBREWERY TITANIC MICROBREWERY ENGLEWOODS ON DEARBORN MANGROVE MAMAS RESTAURANT MANGROVE MAMAS RESTAURANT SOUTH SHORES TAVERN/PATIO BAR
8
BALL AITKEN NOMINATED AGAIN… TOURING AGAIN… AND NEEDING YOUR HELP TO
RECORD
Hi Folks,
Nashville is like a big
bubbling hot-tub full of fun ideas. This year, I have written 12 of the most
barn-raising bad-a$$ songs that I have ever pointed a guitar at.
I’m in
the corner pocket, beyond the 8 Ball, and laying them down soon in the studio,
working with some top Nashville session musicians.
Here’s a taste of one
of the new songs on the NEW RAINBOW FLAME GUITAR... Birthday present from the
best fans in the
world.
http://youtu.be/SX43mvGC9q4
Now, this is
where it gets exciting. YOU CAN BE A PART OF IT! We are offering some
wild’n’crazy cool incentives to everybody who contributes as a crowd-sourcing
co-producer (Yes! That’s your official title!) If you’ve ever wanted to be in
the music industry, this is your big opportunity.
First of all, for the
Aussies, we can offer tax-deductibility for donations via an umbrella
organisation; but with this arrangement, we aren’t allowed to offer incentives.
Please PM us for info.
Easier still is simply to donate via PayPal (from
anywhere in the world), direct deposit to our bank (USA or Australia), or in
cash at a gig. Just contact us for all the details!
All contributions
under $200 get a heartfelt ‘thank you’ in the album credits (your name in
lights!) For $300, I will name you personally in the lyrics of a special “thank
you” song (written and recorded after the album release), and I’ll send you a
copy of that new song on CD and MP3. Your contribution of $500 will turn you
into a character in one of my cartoon music videos.
Your contribution of
$1000 gets your name and cartoon portrait (with me) on a special-edition
T-shirt… plus ten of these T-shirts for you to share with your friends. If you
choose to contribute $2000, you can appear personally in one of my live music
videos (BYO transportation to the film shoot.) You’ll be famous… on TV around
the world!
For $3000, I will set your words or ideas to music -- you pick
the theme! You can make this song about anybody or anything (for a fantastic
birthday gift, wedding present, wedding PROPOSAL, Christmas, Valentine’s Day,
anniversary, or special occasion gift). I’ll record this song exclusively for
you, and give it to you as a CD single and an MP3. I’ll also give you a framed
copy of the CD, dedicated to you and signed by me.
A $4000 contribution
puts you and 3 friends (4 people all up, exclusively your choices) plus myself
into a cartoon music video for one of my new songs.
And for $5000, I will
bring my band to your house (or wherever you like), and we will set up and play
a 4 hour show for you and your friends. Best of all, YOU get to pick our
song-list (as long as all the songs come from any of my 7
albums.)
…
FROM THE ROAD
I played a crazy good gig at
Loretta Lynn’s Ranch on my way to Texas. Now I am in the Lone Star State, with 7
gigs down and 7 more to go rocking my new (best birthday present ever from my
fans!) ‘RAINBOW FLAME’ guitar. You have got to see the video
above!
Tomorrow night I will be doing my best to blow all swampulation
devices on Texas legend and gentleman’s gentleman Ray Wylie Hubbard’s “Roots
& Branches of Americana” radio show. It all happens live from Gruene, Texas
and can be heard world wide on KNBT Radio.
I recently received a letter
with a prestigious nomination for an AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD
(Male Artist of The Year)! Please cheer from the sidelines if you can’t jump the
fence.
I am looking forward to my HUGE Australian tour starting in
October and riding that mechanical-kangaroo through for four months of solid
action.
Award-winning
Australian-based blues bassist-vocalist Anni Piper makes her triumphant return
with a two-month Canadian/U.S. Summer Tour, kicking off July 28 with a one-week
residency at Blues On Whyte in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
ANNI PIPER,
AUSTRALIA'S AWARD-WINNING FIRST LADY OF BLUES
MAKES
TRIUMPHANT RETURN WITH 2-MONTH CANADIAN/U.S. TOUR
Performs
Locally: BLUES ON WHYTE in Edmonton - July 28 thru Aug. 3
(Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) - Anni Piper, Australia's award-winning "First Lady of Blues,"
makes her triumphant return with a two-month Canadian/U.S. Summer Tour kicking
off Monday, July 28, with a
one-week residency of shows at Blues On Whyte, 10329 82nd Ave. July 28-29-30, 9 p.m., free;
July 31, 10 p.m., free; August 1-2, 10 p.m., $4.; August 3, 9 p.m., free. Info:
(780) 439-3981 or http://www.bluesonwhyte.ca/
Anni Piper blends deep,
sexy vocals with a high-energy bass playing style (often barefoot), making for a
thoroughly enjoyable live experience.
On the recording end, Piper won "Best Blues Album" at
the 2013 Canberra Roots & Blues
Awards in Australia for her collaborative effort with Nicole Hart on
the critically-lauded Split Second (Blues Leaf Records). Piper was
nominated in the "Female Vocalist Of The Year" category for the 2014 Australian Blues Music
Awards.
Anni Piper, Australia's award-winning
First Lady of Blues.
ANNI PIPER - BACKGROUND
Piper first started playing electric guitar at age
twelve, but switched to bass at age fourteen. In 2004 Anni released an album
entitled "Jailbait" in her native Australia, for which she won "Best New Talent"
at the 2005 Australian Blues Music Awards. Subsequent album releases include
2007's "Texas Hold 'Em," 2010's "Chasin' Tail" (released by Blues Leaf), and her
newest, 2013's "Split Second." Blues Leaf also released "Two's Company," a
compilation from her two Australian releases. Throughout her burgeoning career,
Piper's charismatic stage presence and sultry vocals have garnered her both
great reviews and multiple music industry awards nominations.
WHAT THE
MEDIA IS SAYING...ABOUT ANNI PIPER
"If you enjoy
award-winning talent with a splash of the wild side, sultry Australian performer
Anni Piper won't even come close to disappointing you. And you don't have to
travel Down Under!" NAPLES DAILY NEWS
"Raw and raucous, down and dirty, Down Under blues."
ILLINOIS TIMES
"A songwriter of distinction, her songs
have a blues sensibility while still addressing the issues of
today."EDMONTON JOURNAL
"Barefoot in a red cocktail dress and
brandishing both an electric bass guitar and a powerful blues vocal tone, this
down under diva makes quite the impression."
VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY
The Alternate
Root magazine invited Anni Piper to perform on their popular television show
"The Extended Play," taped this past Spring in front of a live studio audience
in Boston. Watch it here:
Anni Piper
Summer 2014 Canadian/U.S. Tour Itinerary
July 28 (Mon.) July 29 (Tues.) July 30
(Wed.) July 31 (Thur.) Aug. 1 (Fri.) Aug. 2 (Sat.) Aug. 3
(Sun.) Aug. 15 (Fri.) Aug. 16 (Sat.) Aug. 20 (Wed.) Aug. 21
(Thur.) Aug. 22 (Fri.) Aug. 29 (Fri.) Aug. 30
(Sat..)
BLUES ON WHYTE BLUES ON WHYTE BLUES ON
WHYTE BLUES ON WHYTE BLUES ON WHYTE BLUES ON WHYTE BLUES ON
WHYTE RAGING RIVER CAFE & CLUB A CASE OF THE BLUES FESTIVAL EL
CORAZON VIE DE BOHEME
SAPOLIL CELLARS
RAM'S RIPPLE RAM'S RIPPLE
(more dates to be announced)
Edmonton, AB Edmonton, AB Edmonton,
AB Edmonton, AB Edmonton, AB Edmonton, AB Edmonton,
AB Fall City, WA Yakima, WA Seattle, WA Portland,
OR Walla Walla, WA Moses Lake, WA Moses Lake, WA
