Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, True Blues Brother- The Legacy of Matt "Guitar Murphy" by Matt Guitar Murphy and it's a great assemblage of music that Matt was working on at the time of his death in 2018 featuring music by artists he either played with or influenced along with some special guests. Opening with Matt's Boogie , Murphy leads the way on this instrumental with  a super guitar rhythm /solo lead and joined by Bruce Bears on organ, Ricky "King" Russell on guitar, Bob Worthington on bass and Fran Christina on drums. Solid opener. Deadric Malone's I Feel Alright Again is a super shuffle featuring Brian Templeton on vocal, Nick Adams on guitar, Collin Tilton on tenor sax, Johnny Juxo on keys, Dean Cassell on bass and Christina on drums. Christine Ohlman really belts out the lead on Something's Got a Hold On Me , and Etta James favorite, with Cliff Goodwin and Russell on guitar, Worthington on bass and Christina ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release from Johnny Iguana , Chicago Spectacular! and it's a cool mix of styles and packed with blues notables. Opening with Roosevelt Sykes' 44 Blues , featuring John Primer, Bob Margolin and Michael Caskey, Iguana does a great job on keys and Primer's lead vocals are super. On Willie Dixon's Down In The Bottom  ,Primer has the mic again and with cool guitar lead and with Michael Caskey on drums another cool entry. Gil Scott- Heron's Lady Day and John Coltrane has a cool, laid back jazzy feel and features Phillip-Michael Scales on lead vocal and guitar. Iguana really rocks the piano on this one with simple rhythms by Caskey. Lil' Ed guests on Burning Fire with flaming lead guitar and vocal. Rolling piano work by Iguana and solid drum work by Kenny Smith makes this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Lil' Ed is back on Elmore James' Shake Your Moneymaker and Ed knows how to make that slide talk. V...

I just received the newest release (October 21, 2014), The Blues Soul of Billy Boy Arnold , from Billy Boy Arnold and it's solid. Opening with R&B track Coal Man , Arnold leads the way on vocal with heavy support from Rich Lataille on sax, Mark Earley on sax and Doug Woolverton on trumpet. Hopping right on the harp on the intro of the classic I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water , Arnold plays this boogie out with slick guitar work from Duke Robillard and Bruce Bears who always shines on piano. Taking the last solo spot on the track Arnold rips out a nice one chased by Mark Teixeira on drums. You Give Me Nothing To Go On has a solid R&B feel with Robillard stepping up with a nice solo. Arnold hops on a cool solo of his own and Bears rolls high under the melody. 99 lbs. , another R&B laden track is straight up rolling straight to the radio with it's hook. Joe Tex's A Mother's Prayer is a high stepper with warm backing vocals from Anita Suhanin and Jack Gauthi...

Stony Plain Records Signs Blues Hall of Famer Billy Boy Arnold & Will Release His New CD on October 21 Legendary Chicago Blues Harmonica Player’s New Album, The Blues Soul of Billy Boy Arnold , Was Produced by Duke Robillard & Features an All-Star Backing Band EDMONTON, AB – Stony Plain Records announces the signing of legendary Chicago blues harmonica master Billy Boy Arnold, and will release his new CD, The Blues Soul of Billy Boy Arnold , on October 21. Produced by Duke Robillard, Arnold’s new CD showcases his talents as a songwriter, singer and harmonica player, backed by an all-star cast of musicians, including the Roomful of Blues horns. This is Arnold’s second album for Stony Plain, joining his highly-acclaimed 2001 release for the label, Boogie 'n' Shuffle, also produced by Robillard. Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2013, Arnold ably demonstrates his credentials on this scintillating set that showcases a number of ori...

NEW SUGAR RAY NORCIA VIDEO FROM LITTLE WALTER TRIBUTE - "UP THE LINE" Last December, five of the finest harmonica players on the current blues scene - Billy Boy Arnold , Charlie Musselwhite , Mark Hummel , Sugar Ray Norcia , and James Harman - gathered to pay tribute to harp virtuoso and innovator Little Walter Jacobs.  All are featured on the tribute recording entitled Remembering Little Walter . Blind Pig Records has released another in a series of videos from that memorable evening - Sugar Ray Norcia's performance of Little Walter's "Up The Line," which also features a sterling guitar solo by Little Charlie Baty.   To watch the video, please click HERE . In addition to Little Charlie, Sugar Ray is accompanied by Nathan James on guitar, June Core on drums and RW Grigsby on upright bass. To hear more from the album, or to learn more about it, please click HERE .

NEW JAMES HARMAN VIDEO FROM LIVE LITTLE WALTER TRIBUTE Last December five of the finest harmonica players on the current blues scene - Billy Boy Arnold , Charlie Musselwhite , Mark Hummel , Sugar Ray Norcia , and James Harman - gathered to pay tribute to harp virtuoso and innovator Little Walter Jacobs. All are featured on the tribute recording entitled Remembering Little Walter performing songs written by or associated with the late blues icon. Blind Pig Records has just released another in a series of videos from that memorable evening - James Harman's performance of  "It's Too Late Brother."   To watch the video, please click HERE . Harman is accompanied in performance by Little Charlie Baty on guitar, Nathan James on guitar, June Core on drums and RW Grigsby on upright bass. For more info and sound samples from Remembering Little Walter , please click HERE .

NEW BILLY BOY ARNOLD VIDEO FROM LIVE LITTLE WALTER TRIBUTE On December 6th, five of the finest harmonica players on the current blues scene - Billy Boy Arnold , Charlie Musselwhite , Mark Hummel , Sugar Ray Norcia , and James Harman - gathered to pay tribute to harp virtuoso and innovator Little Walter Jacobs.  All are featured on the tribute recording entitled Remembering Little Walter . Blind Pig Records has just released another in a series of videos from that memorable evening - Billy Boy Arnold's performance of Little Walter's "You're So Fine."  To watch the video, please click HERE . Arnold, who knew and was friends with Little Walter in Chicago, said, "He was miles ahead of all the other harp players on the scene. No one could touch him. He was creative, innovative, and spontaneous. Little Walter is still the top and most influential harp player that ever played." Billy Boy is accompanied in performance by Little ...

On December 6th, five of the finest harmonica players on the current blues scene - Billy Boy Arnold , Charlie Musselwhite , Mark Hummel , Sugar Ray Norcia , and James Harman - gathered to pay tribute to harp virtuoso and innovator Little Walter Jacobs.  All are featured on the tribute recording entitled Remembering Little Walter . Blind Pig Records has released the first video from that memorable evening - Mark Hummel's performance of Walter's "I Got To Go."  To watch the video, please click HERE . Mark is accompanied by Little Charlie Baty on guitar, Nathan James on guitar, June Core on drums and RW Grigsby on upright bass. To hear more from the album, or to learn more about it, please click HERE

I just received a new Blind Pig release, Remembering Little Walter and it's great! Featuring 5 of today's greatest harp players, Billy Boy Arnold, Charlie Musselwhite, Mark Hummel, Sugar Ray Norcia and James Harman this live recording gives each of the featured artists a chance to perform 2 of their choice little Walter tracks and then of course a collaboration. Opening with Mark Hummel on I Got To Go , the band featuring Nathan James on guitar, June Core on drums and RW Grigsby on bass really gets it going. Charlie Musselwhite steps up next with Just A Feeling . James plays some great guitar riffs under the lead and Musselwhite really does a nice job delivering the goods. Billy Boy Arnold has a great sound coming right out of the chute on You're So Fine . James Harman is next in line with It's Too Late Brother. Keeping it tight on his solos and presenting his fine vocals Harmon has the crowd hopping. Sugar Ray Norcia does a terrific version of Mean Old World gettin...

John Lee Henley (Canton, MS, February 13, 1919 - March 12, 1995, Chicago, Ill) was an American harmonica player. The grandson of a preacher and the son of a farmer, he learned how to play harmonica in his youth. He worked around the Canton area in the 1930’s and early 40’s playing with local musicians such as Buddy Cobbs. In 1943 he moved to Chicago to find work outside of music. Muddy Waters let him sit in with his band a few times and he later joined the group Big Boy Spires’ Rocket Four. Henley recorded with Spires as a sideman on his 1953 recordings for Chance. He continued working throughout the 1950’s playing with whomever he could. Henley recorded two sides in 1958 for J.O.B. He made more recordings for the Testament label in the mid-1960’s backed by David “Honeyboy” Edwards on guitar, but they were never issued. His last documented club performance was him playing with Big Joe Williams at the Fickle Pickle in 1964. If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talen...

"Little Walter Jacobs was one of the best singers of the blues and a blues harp player par excellence" - Keith Richards "Little Walter was a very, very powerful influence on me" - Eric Clapton Blind Pig Records has announced a live recording date for a special tribute to Little Walter Jacobs featuring some of the finest harmonica players on the current blues scene - Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Boy Arnold, Mark Hummel, James Harman, and Sugar Ray Norcia. The show will take place on Thursday, December 6th at Anthology in San Diego, California. The virtuosic Little Walter is without doubt one of the most influential blues harmonica players of all time. AllMusicGuide said, "The fiery harmonica wizard took the humble mouth organ in dazzling amplified directions that were unimaginable prior to his ascendancy. His daring instrumental innovations were so fresh, startling, and ahead of their time. His influence remains inescapable to this day -- it's unlikely t...

Billy Boy Arnold (born William Arnold, September 16, 1935, Chicago, Illinois) is an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. Born in Chicago, he began playing harmonica as a child, and in 1948 received informal lessons from his near neighbour John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, shortly before the latter's death. Arnold made his recording debut in 1952 with "Hello Stranger" on the small Cool label, the record company giving him the nickname "Billy Boy". In the early 1950s, he joined forces with street musician Bo Diddley and played harmonica on the March 2, 1955 recording of the Bo Diddley song "I'm a Man" released by Checker Records.[1] The same day as the Bo Diddley sessions, Billy Boy recorded the self-penned "You Got to Love Me" which was not released until the box set, Chess Blues 1947-1967, in 1992. Arnold signed a solo recording contract with Vee-Jay Records, recording the originals of "I Wish You Wo...

This is a very enjoyable double cd release of classic blues tunes played by the likes of Billy Boy Arnold, John Primer, Billy Branch, Carlos Johnson and Lurrie Bell with special guests Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Magic Slim and featuring Ronnie Baker Brooks, Zora Young and Mike Avery. They cover all of the bases from Chuck Berry to Lonnie Johnson. This is a cd that should be in everyones collection. Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE Check it out you'll like it!

Billy Boy Arnold (born William Arnold, September 16, 1935, Chicago, Illinois) is a leading American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter.Born in Chicago, he began playing harmonica as a child, and in 1948 received informal lessons from his near neighbour John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, shortly before the latter's death. Arnold made his recording debut in 1952 with "Hello Stranger" on the small Cool label, the record company giving him the nickname "Billy Boy". In the early 1950s, he joined forces with street musician Bo Diddley and played harmonica on the March 2, 1955 recording of the Bo Diddley song "I'm a Man" released by Checker Records. The same day as the Bo Diddley sessions, Billy Boy recorded the self-penned "You Got to Love Me" which was not released until the box set, Chess Blues 1947-1967, in 1992. Arnold signed a solo recording contract with Vee-Jay Records, recording the originals of "I Wish You ...