Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, King Size , by Big Shoes and it's addicting. Opening with Jimmy Hall 's, Halfway To Memphis , with a real R&B style. Featuring Rick Huckaby on lead vocal and guitar, this track has a real strut with Jimmy Borland on bari sax, Steve Hermann on trumpet and Charlie Rose on trombone, Mark T Jordan on keys, Tom Szell on bass, Kenne Kramer on guitar, Will McFarlane on guitar, Bryan Brock on percussion and Lynn Williams on drums. Solid opener. Right About Now has a real " Little Feat " feel with a swampy bottom courtesy of Williams and Brock. Bluesy slide guitar really sounds nice and Jordan's piano work adds terrific upper rhythm. Very nice. Shuffle, I Don't Need Nobody , penned by Cramer has a real nice groove filled out by Herman, Boland and Rose and Jordan sets up a real nice piano solo, leading to a cool guitar solo by McFarlane. Super track. Buckwheat Zydeco 's Make It Easy On Y...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fresh Tracks, from Big Shoes and it's cool, laid back, fun. Opening with I Got You Covered , Rick Huckaby on lead vocal really shows the band at it's radio friendly best. With a solid melody, cool vocals and paired with Will McFarlane and Kenne Cramer on guitar, Tom Szell on on bass, Mark T. Jordan on piano, Lynn Williams on drums and Bryan Brock on percussion this is a solid opener. Blending their blues rock feel with just a dash of country rhythm, If The Blues Was Green has a cool, two step feel. Huckaby's voice flexes nicely into this alternate style and country style guitar riffs flow nicely. Bluesy ballad, Roses are Blue has a strong melody and really has terrific radio potential. With it's warm vocal blending by Shaun Murphy and horn work by Dana Robbins on sax and Quentin Ware on trumpet, this track really does sing. Kicking things into high gear on I've Seen The Light , Jordan on piano and W...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (February 23, 2018), Step On It , from Big Shoes , and it's slick. Opening with Duplex Blues , lead vocalist and guitarist, Rick Huckaby leads this easy shuffle blending vocals with Will McFarlane on guitars, Tom Szell on bass, Mark T Jordan on keys and Kenne Cramer on guitar. Andy Peake adds drums and is joined on percussion by Bryan Brock. Light, funky, jazz rocker, There You Go , has a real nice rhythm and interwoven soloing by Huckaby, Cramer, McFarlane and Jordan. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Latin flavored, Don't You Do Me That Way with nicely stylized guitar lead, a solid piano solo from Jordan and snappy percussion rhythms. Excellent! A solid radio candidate is Ain't Nobody Loves You Like Me , with nicely blended vocals, punchy horn work and a smooth slide guitar solo by McFarlane. Pop rocker, Give It To Me Now is another strong radio track with a super melody and catchy rhythm. Wrappi...