Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Power , by Big Al And The Heavyweights , and it's saturated with real blues. Opening with Big Freight Train , Marcel Anton on lead vocal and guitar really gets the release hopping. His fluid guitar riffs and Dale Robertson on harmonica lead the way, joined by Dennis Cedeno on bass and Big Al on drums. If is a strong, bluesy, ballad with a terrific melody and excellent phrasing. Anton lays down some of his best vocals here making this one of my favorites on the release. Springy, Tired Of Waiting , is a great volley between Anton on lead vocal and Robertson on harmonica and Anton's fleet fingered soloing really makes this track shine. R&B flavored, Got What I Like , is another really nice track with excellent vocals by Anton and rich, gospel like, backing vocals by Cedeno and Robertson. Very nice. Latin flavored, I Want To Know , is really flavorful with vibrant vocals and stinging lead guitar work. Robertso...

I just had the opportunity to preview the most recent release, Blues Power , by Jeff Dale and the South Woodlawners , and it's different. As I listen to it I think... the blues meets Captain Beefheart (Willie the Pimp). Opening with Toxic Stew , a cool, unassuming Jeff Dale leads on vocal and slide guitar and there's that deep tone of Pat Zicari's bari sax...woah. Derek Phillips on keyboards, Charlie love on guitar, Orlando Wright on bass and Tim Austin on drums makes up a solid band. Title track, Blues Power has a "revival" sound with handclaps and acapella vocals. Winding up, Wright's bass line and Austin's drums provide an excellent bottom for Dale's slide work. Another cool, swampy track is Middle Class Moan with it's unwieldy swagger, funky vocals, and the great mix of instrumental players with the add of Glen Doll on sensuous harp and the trumpet riffs of Lee Loughnane and group backing vocals. Very cool. With a Bo Diddley beat complimen...