Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release by Blues People and it's smoking. Opening with Amnesia , Kelton Cooper on lead vocal and guitar really makes a lot of smoke. With deep bluesy vocals and sting lead guitar, joined by Gene Lake on drums, Mike Griot on bass and Ron Thompson on organ, this is an excellent opener. Hendrix's Hey Joe gets a rework with solid piano intro by Thompson, joined by Lake and Griot. Cooper's vocals are soulful and his guitar work heavy and forceful. Very cool. Troubled Times is sure to be a crowd and radio favorite with it's bluesy ballad feel. Cooper really gets that soul fell vocally and his melodic guitar phrasing is stellar. Smoke and Mirrors is a definite standout track on the release with it's aggressive guitar intro and rocky pace. Wrapping the release is Knee Off My Neck , a funky track with important social commentary. Strong vocals, warm organ and punctuation by Cooper on guitar make this a tig...

I just received the newest release, Blues People , from Eric Bibb and I think it's his best in quite some time! Opening with Silver Spoon , a primarily acoustic track rooted deeply in the delta but with hot contrasting electric blues riffs from Popa Chubby in the distance and bass and drums by Glen Scott. Excellent! Driftin' Door To Door has a bit more of the walking blues sound with nice picked and slide work from Bibb and Michael Jerome Browne. Very nice. God's Mojo is a quiet jazz framed blues track with nicely figured key work and light drums by Glen Scott. Bibbs vocals are particularly focused on this track. Turner Station has a more modern acoustic blues sound with Bibb and Browne on guitar. As the track builds more fullness appears with Scott on Hammond, backing vocals and electric keys as well as Neville Malcolm on bass. On Pink Dream Cadillac , Bibb paints a vivid story as Staffan Astner adds some tasty slide work. Guy Davis' Chocolate Man features Davis...