Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Early Blues Sessions by Bob Corritore & Friends and it's solid Chicago style blues . Opening with I Want To Be The One features Little Milton on vocal and guitar, Chico Chism on drums, Bob Corritore on harmonica, Henry Gray on piano, and Johnny Rapp on guitar. A solid shuffle, shows Corritore, Rapp and Gray with some real nice riffs for a strong opener. Jimmy Rogers has the mic and some swinging riffs on She Loves Another Man with S.E. Willis on piano, Chism on drums, Bruce Lopez on bass. Chism has the mic on Five Long Years joined by Pinetop Perkins on piano and shows Rapp throwing down some excellent guitar lead. Lil Ed cranks up the slide on Hip Shakin' and his vocals really rock. Backed by Chism, Rapp, and Corritore, I really like this track. Tomcat Courtney has the mic on I Wonder really getting in the Chicago groove. Corritore's harp work is particularly cool on this track backed by Brian F...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, OH Yeah! , from Willie Buck & Bob Corritore and it's rich Chicago infused blues. Opening with title track, Oh Yeah , Bob Corritore and Willie Buck have a hot one here. Buck on lead vocal really has the stuff on vocal and Corritore really knows how to conjure the Chicago mojo on harmonica. Featuring Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar, Billy Flynn on guitar, Ben Levin on piano, Bob Stroger on bass and Wes Starr on drums, this is a super opener. On William Crawford's That Ain't Enough , Buck's vocals are particularly gritty and Bob Margolin really digs in with Muddy Waters style slide. Playing with Waters for 7 years, Margolin plays this like it's second nature. Corritore's style on harmonica is perfect on this traffic. Corritore has the mic on Went Home This Morning and he wails. Mojo Mark Cihlar and Jon Atkinson join on guitar lays out some terrific riffs and Troy Sandow on bass and Brian Fahey on d...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Crawlin' Kingsnake , from John Primer & Bob Corritore and it's a full house, blues release. Opening with Take A Message , John Primer on lead vocal and guitar starts off this dynamic shuffle. Bob Corritore steps up pretty quickly on harmonica with great Chicago style blues chops that he's well known for, adding a nice solo by Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar, and joined by Bob Stroger on bass, Anthony Geraci on piano and Wes Starr on drums. Super opener. Willie Dixon's Down In The Bottom is up next with a cool bass line by Stroger and potent piano rhythm by Geraci. Primer's vocals are solid and Corritore trades solos with Primer and Smith adding nice balance. John Primer's shuffle, Hiding Place has a really great feel with vocal swagger by Primer and a driving guitar/ piano feel. Corritore lays out a real nice harmonica solo and Primer's solo nods to Elmore James. One of my favorite tracks o...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wooden Music , from Mick Kolassa and it's chocked full of of blues talent. Opening with shuffle, Educated By The Blues , Mick Kolassa on vocal and guitar lays down a cool melody, with Doug MacLeod and Jeff Jensen on guitar, Carl Casperson on bass, Tom Lonardo on drums, Rick Steff on piano and featuring Eric Hughes on harmonica. Up-tempo, If I Told You , has a swampy rhythm with Jensen on guitar, Casperson on bass, Lonardo on drums and Vince Johnson on harmonica. Very nice. Over My Shoulder is a cool little tune with a saunter. With solid vocals by Kolassa and tight guitar melody by Jensen, this track has a great feel. Wrapping the release is country flavored, Gas Station Sushi , with Kolassa on vocal, kazoo and guitar, with straight up slide from Jensen and Lonardo on drums. This is a cool closer for a characteristic Kolassa release.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to lea...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, High Rise Blues from Bob Corritore & Friends and I really like it. Opening with Last Time featuring Jimmy Rogers on vocal and guitar, this band is in the groove. With Chico Chism on drums, SE Willis on piano, Johnny Rapp on guitar, Bruce Lopez on bass and Bob Corritore on harmonica, this is a solid opener. Title track, High Rise Blues , features Chism on vocal and he does a great job.  Rapp is joined by Luther Tucker who rips some great guitar riffs backed by Gordo Moraga on bass and Chism on drums. Chicago blues, Honey Where You Going has a great feel with Corritore upfront on harmonica joined by Sam Lay on vocal and drums. Rapp and Chris James on guitar Patrick Rynn on bass round on this great track. Pinetop Perkins is featured on vocal and piano leading Grinder Man . His quiet yet firm vocal style provides great balance for his deliberate piano style and Corritore gets the harmonica humming on this one. W...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Women In Blues Showcase by Bob Corritor e and there are some real gems here. Opening with You're Gonna Be Sorry , Barbara Lynn on vocal and guitar is joined by Corritore on harmonica, Maxine Johnson and Laydee Jai on backing vocal, and Bill Tarsha on drums. A cool, early blues rock sound makes this an excellent opener. One of my favorite tracks on the release is soulful, I Just Need A Friend, by Carol Fran . Johnny Rapp on guitar, Paul Thomas on bass, and Chico Chism on drums really support this excellent vocal track perfectly. Koko Taylor is front and center on What Kind of Man Is This with great Chicago swagger. Joined by Bob Margolin on guitar, Frank Krakowski on guitar, Bob Stroger on bass, Adriana Marie on bass and Willie Big Eyes Smith on drums, a real cool track. Shy Perry does a great job  belting out Dixon's Wang Dang Doodle with Corritore on harmonica and Brian Fahey on drums. Diunna Greenleaf ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The World In A Jug, from Jimi "Primetime" Smith and Bob Corritore and it's a healthy dose of pure Chicago blues. Opening with title track, I Got The World In A Jug, Jimi "Primetime" Smith on lead vocal and guitar really gets this set rolling in Morganfield style. Bob Corritore shares the spotlight and shows the great tone and phrasing that he's know for. With Fred Kaplan on piano, Johnny Rappy on guitar, Bob Stroger on bass and Brian Fahey on drums, this is an excellent opener. Corritore really ramps it up on You For Me with classic high octave octane and with Henry Gray on piano, Rapp on guitar, Troy Sandow on bass and Marty Dodson on drums, this is a definite favorite. Shuffle, Blinded, is one of my favorites on the release really showcasing Primetime's excellent guitar phrasing and vocals and a strong solo by Corritore on harmonica, backed by Shea Marshall on organ, Tony Tomlinson on bass...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Portrait, by Mud Morganfield and it's a super mix of blues, soul and R&B. Opening with Praise Him , Morganfield on bass and vocal leads the way with really rich vocals, backed by  Felicia Collins, Shantina Lowe and Demetrius Hall on backing vocals, Rick Kreher on guitar, Mike Wheeler on guitar,  Cameron Lewis on drums, Luca Chiellini on keys, and Bob Corritore on harmonica. Solid opener. Upbeat Chicago blues cruiser, Short Dressed Woman , really sounds like his pap with Corritore on excellent harmonica, Kreher on guitar, E.G. McDaniel on bass, Billy Flynn on guitar, Barrelhouse Chuck really hammering the piano, And Beedy Eyes Smith setting an excellent beat on drums. Terrific loping Chicago blues, Love To Flirt is an excellent track with Muddy Like vocals and strong harmonica by Harmonica Hinds. Chuck again on piano and organ, McDaniel on bass, Flynn on guitar, and Smith on drums. Chuck leads off Loco Mo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, You Shocked Me , from Bob Corritore and Friends and it's chocked full of great Chicago based blues. Opening with Hiding Place , John Primer has the lead on vocal and guitar backed by Anthony Geraci on piano, Wes Starr on drums, Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar and Bob Stroger on bass. This is a terrific opener with high energy. Diunna Greenleaf is up front on vocal on title track, You Shocked Me with Bob Margolin on guitar, LA Jones on guitar, Ben Levin on piano, Starr on drums, Adrianna Marie on  bass and Corritore on harmonica. Super track. Alabama Mike has the mic on slow blues, Somebody Stole My Love From Me , a soul jammed track. With excellent harmonica lead by Corritore, Stroger on bass, Margolin on guitar, Fred Kaplan on piano, and Starr on drums, this is one of my favorites on the release. Love Francine Reed's vocals on Don't Need Your Permission , a swinging shuffle with Corritore really humming on har...

  We went to an exceptional show on Friday night and if you get the opportunity to see this on tour somewhere, take the time. The show at Phoenix's famous Rhythm Room was booked as Thornetta Davis , Detroit's Queen of the Blues with an allstar blues review but it was so much more. I see and hear a lot of music but this was a lot of talent on one stage. I wasn't familiar with Thornetta's work but I always like to see Johnny Burgin when he's in town so we made the trek. The band was Bob Corritore (harmonica master and club owner), Jimi Primetime Smith , solid guitar player and a great voice, 91 year old Bob Stroger on bass who has a number of releases on his own (Eddie King, Otis Rush Sunnyland Slim, Big Eyes Smith, Carey Bell, Pinetop Perkins) and Dave Keyes on keys who has just released another new album (Popa Chubby, Odettta, David Johansen, Bo Diddley, Ronnie Specter, Eddie Clearwater, Ruth Brown, Levon Helm). Each prime member of the band got at lease two t...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, So Far , from Bob Margolin and Bob Corritore with special guest Jimmy Vivino and it's solid blues. Opening with Steady Rollin' On , Bob Margolin leads this acoustic duo on lead vocal and guitar with Bob Corritore on harmonica. Written by Margolin, this acoustic delta style blues is a cool opener. Robbie Robertson's It Makes No Difference is on of the Band's super tracks and one of my favorites on this release, blending vocals by Margolin and Jimmy Vivino who also contributes guitar and showing a totally different side of Corritore on harmonica in a totally non Chicago blues stance. Boogie, Now and Then is a cool mover featuring Corritore on harmonica over the steady drive by Margolin on guitar. Very cool. Bob Corritore's Salt River Stomp is another of my favorites as an instrumental with a lot of hot licks. Wrapping the release is John Lee Williamson's, My Little Machine with Margolin on lead ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tell Me 'Bout It , from Louisiana Red & Bob Corritore and it's a really strong helping of Chicago blues. Opening with Dora Minter's Mary Dee Shuffle , Louisiana Red is up front on vocal and guitar trading the center spot with Bob Corritore, backed by Buddy Reed on guitar, Matt Bishop on piano, Mario Moreno on bass and Brian Fahey on drums. Corritore plays some real nice riffs on this track making it a strong opener. Louisiana Red original, Alabama Train , has a great rhythm and Red's vocals really carry the track nicely with rich, harmonica soaked backing. Very cool. Another Chicago blues with a slower pace is New Jersey Blues that really nicely showcases Red's vocals. With Paul Thomas on bass, Chico Chism on drums and some excellent soloing by Reed and Red, a strong entry to the set. Red pulls the slide in an Elmore James styled track, Freight Train To Ride . With soulful wailing lyrics, strong sl...

I just had the oppoortunity to review the most recent release, 75 and Alive , from Johnny Tucker featuring Kid Ramos and the Allstars and it's really good. Opening with All Night Long, All Night Wrong , a hot swinging shuffle, Kid Ramos on guitar shows why he is one of the top slingers in the business. Teaming up with Johnny Tucker on vocal, these guys are really humming with Carl Sonny Leyland on piano, John Bazz on bass, Jason Lozano on drums, Bob Corritore on harmonica, and with exceptional backing from Ron Dziubla on sax. Wow! Slow blues, There's A Time for Love , is a terrific track, really showcasing Tuckers soulful feel and giving Ramos a wide open road to show just how good he really is. Been listening to Ramos for years and on the rare chance that you don't know him from his solo work, this is an excellent sampling of his crisp, fluid style and bluesful phrases. Excellent! Chicago style shuffle, Can't You See is another solid vocal blues number with strong pi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 16, 2021), Troublemaker , from Clint Morgan and it's a lot of fun. Opening with Hangman Woman a cool country flavored rocker, Clint Morgan is on lead vocal with a casual Johnny Cash like approach. backed by Wendy Moten and the McCrary Sisters on vocal, Doug Lancio and John Del Toro Richardson on guitar, Kevin McKendree on piano, David Santos on bass, and Kenneth Blevins on drums, this is a hot opener. On traditional track, Go Down, Moses, Morgan's lead vocal, complimented nicely by Ann McCrary and Regina McCrary over a nicely orchestrated backing this track is very strong.  On a cover of Johnny Cash's Big River , Morgan nicely blends Cash's style with Ray Charles and the addition of Lancio's baritone guitar work and Jim Hoke on sax really hits the spot. One track that stands out as totally different is spoken word over a blues rocking rhythm, It's Rough Out Here with jamming guitar riffs, Mc...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Phoenix Blues Sessions , from Kid Ramos and Bob Corritore and I really like it. Opening with Aw Shucks Baby , Kid Ramos and Bob Corritore really have a jam packed release here. With Nappy Brown on lead vocal, Henry Gray on piano, Mario Moreno on bass, Chico Chish on drums, Johnny Rapp on guitar and of course Corritore on harmonica and Ramos on lead guitar this is a solid opener. Super shuffle, Come On In is a perfect style for Ramos' guitar slinging style with it's swagger and features Gray on lead vocal and piano. Ramos walks it out nicely making this one of my release favorites. Slow blues, 24 Hours features Dr. Fish on lead vocal and he really digs in nicely working in really nicely with the soulful guitar lead of Ramos. Another slow blues, Mother In Law Blues , features Chism on lead vocal, Paul Thomas on bass and Tom Mahon on piano. I really like the piano guitar interplay between Mahon and Ramos on this o...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Travelin' the Dirt Road , by Dave Riley & Bob Corritore and it's solid Chicago real deal blues. Opening with I'm Not Your Junkman , Dave Riley is upfront on vocal and guitar, with Bob Corritore on harmonica, backed by Johnny Rapp on guitar, Matt Bishop on piano, Dave Riley jr. on bass, and Tom Coulson on drums. With it's up tempo rhythm , solid vocal and Corritore's harp work, super opener. Slow blues, Come Here Woman really sits in the groove with strong vocal and guitar work by Riley and Rapp and strong harmonica contributions by Corritore. Shuffle, Let's Have Some Fun Tonight shows Riley at his best on vocal and strong guitar lead and Corritore's harmonica work make this one of my favorites on the release. A lot of rhythm punch, and cool piano riffs by Bishop adds nice texture to My Baby's Gone .  VooDoo Woman, VooDoo Man is another solid shuffle and a real nice guitar solo by Riley ...

I just had the opportunity to review the latest release, The Gypsy Woman Told Me , by John Primer & Bob Corritore and it's a great dose of contemporary Chicago style blues. Opening with Keep A-Driving , Primer on vocal and guitar really does a nice job of setting the stage with Corritore supporting nicely and with solid piano work by Bob Welch, Kedar Roy on bass and June Core on drums. With a bit of boogie built in, Knockin' On Your Door , with Primer again leading on vocal gives Corritore a nice chance to spread a bit with great harp tones and Primer's guitar work is tight and well phrased. Lil Son Jackson's Gambling Blues is one of my favorite tracks on the release with quick paced acoustic guitar and fleet fingered lead by Primer and a fatter harp part by Corritore. Primer's own, Little Bitty Woman falls right from the Muddy Waters tree with a bouncy, Chicago blues pace, riding harp and Waters like slide work by Primer. Very cool. Slow blues, Walking ...