Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (January 28, 2022), One My Way , by Katie Henry and it's a cool helping of pop, rock and blues. Opening with title track, On My Way , Katie Henry on lead vocal, guitar and piano shows why her first release, High Road was nominated by Blues Blast and IBMA  and ended up on the 2021 Blues Caravan. With it's contemporary take on a delta riff, blended with a rock beat, this is a solid opener. Another track with a delta style riff, woven into a contemporary blues rocker is Bury You with Antar Goodwin on bass, Ben Rice on guitar, Kurt Thum on piano and organ, and Greg Wieczorek on drums. Rocker, Got Me Good has a driving beat and radio styling with vocals along the lines of Stevie Nicks without Nicks' signature warble. With warm organ backing by Thum, the definite pick for top pop track. Harmonica ace, Giles Robson sits in on Too Long , a bottom heavy blues rocker. His melodic lead along with Henry's vocal lead, ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Porch Sessions Volume 2 , from Tony Holiday and it's a great Chicago style blues party. Opening with She's Tuff , Victor Wainwright and his rhythm section really get things rolling with Wainwright on vocal and piano and Holiday on harmonica. With plenty of attitude in presentation and this dynamic duo, this is a strong opener. Willie Buck has the mic on Honey Bee with Rusty Zinn on slide and Kim Wilson on harmonica. Zinn really conjurs Muddy's tone on guitar and Wilson's sound is fat and rich. Excellent! In more of a Delta styling on Recipe for Love Master , Bobby Rush on vocal and Vasti Jackson on guitar really make a great team serving up a heavy helping of blues. Very nice. Going to Court is a real hot number with James Harman on harmonica and Kid Ramos and Landon Stone laying down pure fire on guitar. Lurrie Bell teams up with harpmaster Mark Hummel on a shortened take on Everyday I Have The Blues bu...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Out Of The Box, from Ben Rice and RB Stone and it's a lot of fun. Opening with rock n roller, Hot Rod Mama this band is cranking right out of the chute. With solid vocals, revving guitars and slick slide from Rice and Stone and with Dave Melyan on drums, Joseph Barton on bass and Jimi Bott on trombone, this track smokes! Driving blues rocker, Hey Politician , has a great steady beat, CCR style vocals and super slide. It's the grinding guitar tone and the driving rhythm that gives The Swamp East Boogie it's electrifying feel. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's relentless push. Very cool! With it's taste of country, Crushin' On The Bartender has a strong radio appeal and the tasty slide work gives it just the right edge. Rich, warm hollow body tones fill the background of Train of Time, an easy set slow blues number featuring only lead vocal and slide. Wrappin...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wish The World Away , from Ben Rice and it's light and airy with great guitar riffs and cool melodies. Opening with Dirt Road Home , a driving understated boogie, Rice shows just how much music can be played with just vocal, guitar and drums by Jimi Bott. Cool opener. Peace Will Overcome has a really nice rhythm set up by Bott, Julio Appling on bass and Dave Fleschner on piano, topped by excellent slide work by Rice. Very nice. Mojo Hand feels like hill country with a lot of rag tag and a lot of rockin blues. Rice's vocals are perfect for this track and his resonator guitar work is tight and clean with highlights drawn by Mitch Kashmar on harp and Dave Melyan on percussion. Very nice. Soulful track, Hardtimes is one of my favorites on the release with the best vocals on the release and rich organ tones of Dave Fleschner. Very nice. Stevie Wonder's HigherGround get an acoustic rework and retains a lot of ...

I just received the newest release, Destination Clarksdale , by Ben Rice & Lucy Hammond and they make a fine acoustic blues duo. Opening with Ida Mae a cool shuffle track, Rice lays down a fine guitar base and blends nicely vocally with Hammond. Very cool. Next up is Oh Lord , a quiet delta style track performed with solitude and rich feeling. Rice has his resonator ringing and again the vocal blendings between Rice and Hammond are quite fine. On Gary Davis styled Wants Me Back Again , Rice really shows that he is a fine vocalist and Hammond knows how to push him to even higher heights. With only resonator finger picking, this is my favorite track on the release. A more contemporary track with a modern beat, Turn My Back On You would seem the certain radio track with clever guitar work and a catchy melody. Wrapping the release is Muddy Water featuring Hammond in the lead role. Her rich vocal talent is nicely demonstrated here with only a very light rhythmic acoustic guitar acco...