Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Before The Devil Steals Your Soul , from Blue Largo and it's a blues rocker with a dose of swing. Opening with Wash Away with it's spiritual roots. With warm vocal chorus by Alicia Aragon, Eric Lieberman, Nena Anderson, Missy Anderson, Diane McCalester, Jacquelene Haynes, Nathaniel Greene Jr., Andre Buck and Nathan Jones, this is really nice. Opening into a an early sixties style rocker with Eddie Croft on sax, Lieberman on guitar, Marcus P. Boshore on bass, Tanya "T-Bird" Donath on piano and Rafeal Solomon on Hammond, it's a cool opener. Latin rhythm carries Monrovia with cool percussion by Mike Tempo, stylistic trumpet by Steve Ebner and cool solo's by Lieberman and Donath. Instrumental, Bodas De Oro , is a terrific track featuring Lieberman on baritone guitar and really nice percussion and piano. Excellent! Vocal ballad, The Long Ballad has a great melody and is a solid showcase for Arago...

I just received the newest release, Sing Your Own Song , from Blue Largo and it covers the gamut from Louisiana swamp grooves to acoustic country. Opening with Walkin' On A Tightrope , vocalist, Alicia Aragon takes the lead with solos by Eric Lieberman on guitar, Taryn Donath on keys and solid bass work from Joey Jazdzewski and drums from Marcus Bashore. A smooth sax solo by Dave Castel de Oro on Kindness Love and Understanding hits the target and provides a nice bridge to solo guitar work from Eric L. Title track, Sing Your Own Song , has that gospel revival sound reinforced by Dave on sax and Rafael Salmon on organ. On Latin infused R&B track, Tears of Joy , the familiar feel of an old Ben E King track with tight percussion work by Ron Felton. Earl Hooker's Guitar Rhumba is one of my favorites on the release with Lieberman taking the lead with authentic Cuban style piano rhythms from Donath and Johny Viau on percussion. With a break into a more swinging beat the tr...