Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release, Parade , by Bill Phillippe and it's quite good. This is not your typical blues release...in fact, not sure it's a typical release at all, but it's interesting. In a cool followup to 2014's Ghosts Phillippe set new roads in a sensuous and unconventional way. Opening with Blues Come Calling , Phillippe, on vocal and guitar, creates an aural street feel joined by Ivor Holloway on clarinet, Swen Hendrickson on bass and Glenn Hartman on accordion. Nicely crafted and melodic, this track is soothing. Folk track, Proper Sorrow is so nicely arranged with Phillippe's vocals backed by a very strong acoustic bass work and weaving clarinet line it's quite enticing. 14th Street , with warm accordion work and clarinet lead gives the track a sense of old Paris. Sensitive writing, vocals and a very strong bass line give this track nice contrast with clarinet overtones. If I Should Lose My Mind is the most straight forward melody on t...

I just received the newest release, Ghosts , from Bill Phillippe and it's quite true to it's form. Opening with Robert Johnson's classic, Come On In My Kitchen , Phillippe uses an arrangement very similar to Johnson's own with simple accompaniment but with to my ear more of an African influenced guitar style. Very interesting. Father's Lament is a quiet acoustic ballad with a beautiful melody. Broken Cup has a nice 3/4 pace and war vocals with clear acoustic support. One of my favorites, Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning , has a modern approach to a classic track. With a much more rudimentary beat and contemporary vocals it has a new appeal to contemporary listeners. Tightrope is a moody ballad with a haunting melody. Big Bill's Dream has an interesting sound with blues like strumming but with subtle hints of western music. Traditional track, Motherless Children , has an entirely different feel with a contemporary feel but with thumb bass and a country bl...