Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New Orleans Sessions , by Blue Moon Marquee and it's New Orleans blues, simplistic and raw. Opening with Memphis Minnie's Black Cat Swing , BMM hits the ground running with Danny Abrams on bari sax and BC Coogan setting the tempo for lead vocal work by Jasmine Colette who also plays bass. AW Cardinal on rhythm guitar and Nicholas Solnick on drums rounds out the troop for this enjoyable track. Charlie Patton's lively Shake It and Break It features Cardinal on lead vocal and guitar. A true party rocker with honking sax work by Abrams and a cool upright solo by Colette, this track jams. Slow blues, What I Wouldn't Do , features Cardinal on electric guitar and belting out the blues. With rolling piano work by Coogan and meaty sax work by Abrams, this track wails. A rowdy take on St James Infirmary hosts Cardinal on lead vocal and guitar and highlights the firm piano work of  Coogan and Abrams deep sax work ma...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Scream, Holler & Howl , from Blue Moon Marquee , and it's a cool blend of blues, swing gypsy jazz and more. Opening with title track, Scream, Holler and How l, Blue Moon Marquee (A.W. Cardinal - vocal and guitar and Jasmine Colette - bass) gets this newest release (September 9, 2022) moving with a cool variation on a Howlin' Wolf theme with a spin. Backed by Darcy Phillips on Hammond, Matt Pease on drums Jerry Cook on sax this is a cool opener. Hound Dog On A Chain is a strong blues rocker with a driving bottom. With Colette on vocal and bass, and Cardinal on guitar really gets moving with a Booker T kind of sound complimented by Phillips' organ work. Lowlands has an early jazz sound with definite bluesy roots. With Colette on lead vocal and Bonnie Northgraves on sassy trumpet, this is a very cool track. Slinky, Come On Down really has a nice feel thanks to the snappy underpinnings by Pease on drums and C...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bare Knuckles & Brawn from Blue Moon Marquee and it's a mix of blues, jazz and western swing of course among many other flavors. Opening with Latin influenced Big Black Mamba and A.W. Cardinal on lead vocal  and guitar, with cool support from Jasmine Colette on bass, Darcy Phillips on piano/organ, Gerry Cook on sax and Jimmy Badger on drums. Swing number, Smoke Rings For My Rider has a great rag time feel excellent rhythm guitar and strong sax work by Cook. Hard Times Hit Parade is a sultry blues number featuring Colette on lead vocal and clean jazzy guitar work surrounded by smoky organ and echoes of trumpet work by Jack Garton. Very nice. Jazzy, The Red Devil Himself is one of my favorite tracks on the release with fluid guitar runs and some of my favorite vocals by Cardinal. Very cool. With a strong dose of New Orleans and a snappy beat by Badger on drums, 52nd Street Strut has strong horn work by Garte...

I just had the opportunity to review Gypsy Blues , by Blue Moon Marquee and I really like it. This band takes a fairly fresh look at fusing old style jazz, rock, blues and ragtime coming up with it's own formula. Opening with Trickster Coyote , a blue rocker, this stripped down band of two features A.W. Cardinal on lead guitar with gypsy style lead riffs over a blues beat with an almost Fogerty sound backed by Jasmine Colette on upright bass. Very nice. On rag style track, Hoodoo Lady , a really cool swing and quick little riffs and believe it or not Black Francis sound on vocals. Really nice. Saddle Sore is a simple rocker typical of the 50's. It has it's own sound, not only because of Cardinal's vocals but with with Robert Gordon attack, cool jazz backing and fluid jazz guitar soloing this track is super. Runaway Lane has a theatrical sound with a touch of a French cafe. With it's solid bass line and driving guitar work, this band is rockin'. Punk meets r...

I just received the newest release, Lonesome Ghosts , from Blue Moon Marquee , and it has a certain sense of honesty and sincerity. Opening with What I Wouldn't Do , a simple rag style tune featuring A.W. Cardinal on vocal and guitar, Mal Temple on drums and featuring Jasmine Colette on bass and Simon Kendall on piano. Pipeliner Blues is a cool Hot Club style track featuring Cardinal on lead vocal and guitar and nice fiddle work from Cameron Wilson. On Trouble's Callin' , Nathan Shubert on piano and Cardinal on vocal and guitar do a jazzy version of delta blues. Nice touch. Scotch Whiskey is another blues track with a light airy touch. Cardinal leading the way on voice breaks with a nice guitar solo on this track and Temple keeps the drums light with brushes. Kendell adds nice key work behind the track and Colette drives the train on bass. Bishop Street, possibly my favorite track on the release has a real simple ballad style and nice vocal duet between Cardinal and Co...