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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!


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Showing posts with label Blues review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blues review. Show all posts

Friday, August 15, 2025

Delmark Records artist: Dave Specter - Live at Space - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live at Space, by Dave Specter and it's terrific! Opening with Rumba & Tonic, a hot, Latin flavored guitar lead instrumental with sassy drumming by Marty Binder, warm bass work by Rodrigo Mantovani and Brother John Kattke on keys. I love it when Dave does this. Very nice. Otis Rush's Homework is up next and Specter vocals are in the slot. With smokey organ work by Kattke, a great bass line by Mantovani and tight snare snaps by Binder as a foundation, Specter uses his natural flair on guitar to play this classic like a real boss. A slow blues take on Allen Toussaint's Blues From The Inside is really tasty with vocal harmonies by Specter and Kattke. Specter uses nice pinch harmonics and slide phrasing to spell out a memorable guitar solo. Chicago style boogie, Chicago Style features Specter on vocal and guitar grinding out the blues. With a walking bass line by Mantovani, piano punctuation and a stiff snare slap by Binder giving Spector the foundation, he rocks the blues on guitar. Very nice. Lone Star Cowboys song, Deep Elem Blues, has really been covered a lot but mostly by the Dead. This somewhat funky cover takes it to a higher place with excellent piano soloing by Kattke and Mantovani's bass like really digs it in. Sonny Boy Williamson's Bluebird Blues is one of the more old school blues tracks on the release with Specter really working the lead vocal with gripping guitar response. With a sensitive guitar solo paired with Kattke on piano, Specter really milks the for the essence of the blues. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Magic Sam's  high energy shuffle, Ridin' High giving Specter and Kattke the opportunity to work the guitar and organ as opposing teammates. Specter really shines when he's playing these fluid shuffles and Kattke gets the place steamy with his full organ attack. I think this is a terrific choice to close the set. 


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Monday, August 11, 2025

Chris Vincent & The Raw Deals - Good Crook - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good Crook, from Chris Vincent & The Raw Deals, and it's a raw blues rocker. Opening with title track, Good Crook, Chris Vincent on vocal and guitar links up with Johnny Vidacovich on drums and Dean Zucchero on bass opening a pure, rocking set. With just a rattle of guitar, drubbing bass and snapping snare, this is cool. Come Clean has a sweeter melody with jangly guitar rhythm giving it an almost Keith Richards sound. Overdriven tone and looseness gives the track a real gutsy feel. Nice. High energy, Screwdriver Keys is Vincent driving hard n guitar, with monotone vocals. His guitar soloing is unique and ear catching making this one of my favorites on the release. What Johnny Said is a solitude ballad with some of the most melodic guitar playing on the release. Vincent's vocals and lyrics are particularly effective and his sliding and percussive guitar attack is super. Wrapping the release is Catherine The Great, a real solid track with progressive melodic structure and providing a more cohesive melody for Vincent's ragged vocals. His expression on slide gives the track just enough to make it the most commercially accessible track on the release. Solid closer. 


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Friday, August 8, 2025

Larry Kurtz & The Law Breakers - Take A Ride - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Take A Ride, from Larry Kurtz & The Law Breakers and I really like it. Opening with blues rocker, Headwaters Hill Country, Larry Kurtz on lead vocal and harmonica sets a two step feel with Scott Bruyea on drums, Sam Carothers on bass, and James Legere on guitar and backing vocals. One Step on The Devil has a real cool back beat and Kurtz sails in with warm harp tones. With Legere laying down warm tones on guitar, Kurtz brews tasty harmonica riffs. Very nice. Bruyea lays down a real nice tom tom beat basis for Let Me In and Legere fills with overdriven chords making a real nice underblanket for Kurtz on vocal and harmonica. Breaking out with nicely phrased guitar work by Legere, this is my favorite track on the release. Kick ass rocker, God's Gift, has a real feel of Paul Kossof with its signature riff and Bruyea on drums kicks up the dust. Kurtz on vocal and harmonica shows a real strut. Wailing harmonica by Kurtz defines up tempo, So Glad You're Home, with its skiffle beat and vocal harmonies featuring Legere and Kurtz. Legere lays down some real nice guitar lead and Kurtz follows with a solid harmonica solo of his own. With a Slim Harpo rhythm and a light Gibbons boogie on guitar, Teardrop Tim gets rolling. Alternating solos between Legere on slide and Kurtz on harmonica, this is a strong closer.


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Thursday, August 7, 2025

Delmark Records artist: Tad Robinson - Soul In Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soul In Blue, from Tad Robinson and it's terrific! Opening with R&B flavored track, Keep It In The Vault, Tad Robinson on vocal sets up a solid groove with Brian Yarde on drums and Dave Murray on bass and Kevin Anker on keys and Tommy Leino on guitar lays down some real bluesy riffs. Soulful, Out Of Sight and Out Of Mind really illustrated what I really love about Robinson. His vocals are silky smooth and dripping with soul. Clean piano backing by Alberto Marisco and meaty guitar work by Paul Holdman backed by Chris Vitarello on rhythm creates real tension, soothed by the lush vocals of Devin B Thompson and Lorie Smith. Excellent. Another soulful track, Deeper Than You Think really is deep in the soul with a throbbing bass line by Steve Gomes and features Mark Buselli  on trumpet, Rich Cohen on tenor sax, and Anker on organ really pushing Robinson's rich vocals. Forgive and Forget features so real guitar style by Holdman and Robinson is smooth in the pocket on vocal. I like the balance of David Murray on bass and Yarde on drums. Very nice. Wrapping the release is This Time, a strong soulful track with great vocals by Robinson. Geraldo De Oliveira on congas adds just the right rhythm  with Mike Wheeler on guitar, Carlos Showers on guitar, Larry Williams on bass, Pooky Styx on drums, Roosevelt Purifoy Jr. on organ and Anker on keys. Smooth closer. 


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Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Kim Field and the Perfect Gentlemen - Don't Need But One - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Don't Need But One, by Kim Field and the Perfect Gentlemen and it's super. Opening with R&B track, Don't Need But One, Kim Field shows what a front man is supposed to do with an excellent vocal presence, backed by Joe McCarthy on trumpet, Rob Rayfield on essential bari sax, Denny Bixby on bass, Whit Draper on guitar, Vyasa Dodson on guitar and Jimi Bott on drums. Hot opener. Chicago style blues, Please Don't Ask Me, features Field on vocal and super harp, and Dodson lays in some real stylin guitar riffs. Very cool. Slow, soulful blues, Black Diamonds is one of my favorite tracks on the release with an excellent feel, really nice guitar lead by Dodson and rich organ work by Louis Pain. Cool shuffle, Dress The Monkey provides a great showcase for Field on harmonica. His fat tone with the off beat drumming really males this a standout track and Dodson's guitar work is in the groove. Very nice. Another cool shuffle, Emergency, penned by Dodson features excellent harmonica work by Field and lush guitar lead by Dodson. Really nice! Wrapping the release is Gershwin ballad, The Man That Got Away mixing blues with swing. Pain creates a warm environment on organ for Field's harmonica lead, Botts drums and and Rayfield's bari playing really adds nicely to the track. Excellent closer for a great release. 


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Monday, August 4, 2025

RCA/Silvertone Records artist: Buddy Guy - Ain't Done With The Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ain't Done With The Blues, by Buddy Guy coinciding with his 89th birthday and it's jammed with over an hour of blues and rock. Opening with Hooker Thing, Buddy lays down a classic John Lee Hooker acoustic guitar riff and sings Buddy style. This really captures the playful guitar finesse of Guy. Blues rocker, Been There Done That is a great opener with a kick ass beat and shows Buddy singing like he's a kid and with aggressive guitar riffs, joined by Chuck Leavell on B3. Rob McNelley on rhythm guitar, Kevin McKendree on piano and Tom Hambridge really hangs tight on the drums. I just saw Kingfish last week and he really knows how to put things right. He's featured on funky, Where U At with his funky blues guitar styling under Buddy's silky smooth vocals. The addition of horns on this track add nicely to the richness and Hambridge's drumming works great with McKendree on piano. Excellent! Buddy takes it down slow on Blues On Top and his beautiful vocals are paired with his raw guitar playing and McKendree on piano. Excellent! How Blues Is That is a great Chicago style blues with McKendree on piano nicely complimenting Buddy's vocal and hot riffs and rock slide hero...yup, Joe Walsh, sits in on slide giving it a great fat electric sound, anchored by McKendree. Buddy's not holding back. Buddy hooks up with Peter Frampton on blues rocker It Keeps Me Young. Buddy belts the blues and Frampton plays some straight up lead with McKendree on piano and his vocals are perfect, holding off his own guitar solo till the end for a hot ending. With a humping bass line, Upside Down has a real Wilson Pickett feel and Buddy belts it out and wails on guitar. Punchy horn backing gives the track more traction and Leavell, McKendree and Hambridge pull it all together. Very nice. Another acoustic blues is One From Lightnin', a short few bars of Lightnin riffs showing respect to Mr Hopkins... one of my all time favorite blues players. Whipping out a boogaloo beat, Earl King's Trick Bag is up next and Buddy is having a blast. Hambridge really plays up the drums and McKendree the piano, giving free way to Buddy to grab those spine tweaking guitar riffs that he's known for. Wrapping the release is a great cover of J.B. Lenoir's Talk To Your Daughter setting a great groove on acoustic guitar paired with McNelley on guitar and Hambridge on percussion. Strong closer. 


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Thursday, July 31, 2025

David M'Ore: Holy Sinners & Sinful Saints - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Holy Sinners & Sinful Saints, by David M'Ore and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Me And My Baby, David More on lead vocals and guitar is joined by Wade Olson on drums and Marshall St. Clair on bass. A cool track with a funky back beat, a solid opener. Title track, Holy Sinners And Sinful Saints, features More laying down some stinging guitar lead under gritty vocal and with it's driving is a strong rocker. Bluesy ballad, Bleeding Heart, features a melodic guitar lead with rich, distorted tone and a crisp bottom. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the release with strong radio potential. Lumbering, Hoochie Man, is a real nice blues based rocker with a solid guitar vamp. Bottom heavy, gritty and filled with super guitar overtones, under the lead vamp, this is another of my favorite tracks on the release. Still In Love With You is a real nice track with notes of Santana and Gary Moore filtering through into a solid bluesy ballad. Wrapping the release is blues rocker, Money and Trouble with a super blues guitar vamp, and lead vocal, overlaid with screaming lead guitar soloing. Olson and St. Clair anchor the bottom giving More plenty of space to lay it all out there. Solid closer. 


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Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Treated and Released Records artist: Reverend Freakchild - A Bluesman of Sorts - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Bluesman of Sorts, by Reverend Freakchild, and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with laid back rocker, Green and Brown Blues, with the smokey feel of John Kay, the Rev has the vocal lead and harmonica along with rhythm guitar, backed by John Robinson on bass and Patrick Carmichael on drums. Cool track. On Robert Johnson's Come On In My Kitchen, the Rev sets up a cool acoustic slide and falsetto vocal paring, not unlike Johnson or Skip James adding to it's stark blues feel. Willie Newbern's Roll and Tumble Blues is another track with authentic treatment with primitive acoustic slide work, harmonica and "hambone" carrying some of the best vocals on the release. Original shuffle, A Day Late and A Dollar Short, has a cool groove with bass, drums and organ backing the Rev on vocal.  Chris Whitley's Dust Radio is a cool closer for disc one with slack string guitar giving the track a real back alley feel. Side two opens with a rocking take on Jimmy Reed's Big Boss Man. The Rev digs in on electric guitar, complimenting his vocal and harmonica, backed by organ and percussion...a solid contribution. John Lennon's Yer Blues give the Rev a great foil to play contemporary blues rock with a heavy bottom. He digs in vocally and with a pounding bass/drum anchor and full organ revival, he really rocks this track. Lightnin' Hopkins' Death Bells has super, scatter guitar acoustic accompaniment giving it an authentic Delta feel and his vocals are nicely adapted to the style. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Fenton Robinson's (Peppermint Harris') As The Years Go Passing By has a vintage 60's sound featuring soulful vocals by the Rev and some really flamboyant blues riffs to top it off. Solid closer for a real nice release. 


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Thursday, July 17, 2025

MoMojo Records artist: Brandon Santini - Which Way Do We Go? - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Which Way Do We Go?, from Brandon Santini and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with laid back, title track, Which Way Do We Go?, Brandon Santini on vocal and harmonica sets a soulful table with just a touch of country with Timo Arthur on electric guitar, Jeff Jensen on guitar, Cliff Moore on bass, Ron James on drums and Jesse James Davis on backing vocals. A well rounded track with a solid melody, this is a cool radio track. Rocker, See That Pony, has a cool, stripped down feel with heavy snare driven drum work by James and cool rhythm guitar by Arthur. Santini alternates vocal and harmonica melody but his solo harmonica solo is serious business. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Do What Comes Naturally with it's driving guitar/bass/drum rhythm and grinding vocals. Arthur's guitar solo is just right for this primitive rocker giving it just the right amount of fuel. High energy rocker, Working On A Mystery, really gets going with Jensen adding some great rhythm, Jesse James some great backing vocals and Santini's hottest harmonica on the release.  Blues vamp on acoustic guitar and distorted power chord overlay by Arthur on Blues So Bad, gives this track an earthy feel giving Santini on vocal and harmonica a dark shadow to sing in, supported by Moore and James. Quite cool. Wrapping the release is springy, She Got The Way, with Santini on gravely vocals and a cool bluesy harmonica vamp and solo over Arthurs rhythm work. He breaks loose with a real nice guitar solo giving the track just the right amount of sting making it a solid closer. 


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Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Blues House Productions artist: John Primer - Grown In Mississippi - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Grown In Mississippi, by John Primer and it's deep rooted blues, Delta style. Opening with John's Blues Holler, an authentic style acapella track replicating the sounds that Primer heard by field workers in his youth. Rolling into Born In Mississippi with Primer showing his slick finger work and his warm vocals on acoustic guitar. Fluid, precise and solid. Very nice. Willie Dixon's Down In The Bottom features Primer guitar and vocal and Watermelon Slim on slide dobro, and backed by Billy Earheart on piano. Very nice. Bobby Rush joins on Nothin' But A Chicken Wing adding some nice harp work to this funky blues track featuring Primer on lead vocal and guitar, Harvell Thomas Jr on bass and Quicksand Martin on drums. This track is stripped down and moving. Another track with a cool funk is When I Met The Blues driven by Lee Williams on drums and featuring Lightnin' Malcolm on guitar and Primer on guitar and vocal. Charlie Musselwhite has a great showcase of his masterful harp playing on Sonny Boy Williamson's, Baby Please Don't Go working very nicely with Primer on lead guitar and vocal. One of my favorites on the release. Slow blues, Let Me Be Your Electrician, features Steve Bell Harrington on harmonica, Watermelon Slim on dobro and Primer on guitar and vocal really digging in setting up one of Primer's best solos on the release. Tight, Chicago blues, I Ain't Kickin' Up No Dust features Primer on vocal and real nice slide guitar, Deak Harp whipping out a tasty solo on harmonica, Quicksand Martin on drums and Thomas Jr on bass adding yet another texture to this already flavorful set. Wrapping the release is John's Crawdad Song, a simple take on a traditional song with Primer on vocal and guitar and Gary Vincent on bass. Solid closer for a cool release. 


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Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Ginger St. James - Told Ya - New Release Review


 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Told Ya, from Ginger St. James and it's a rock'n blues rockabilly set. Opening with Not Round Here, Ginger St. James really gets things moving with her energetic vocal styling, backed by SnowHeel Slim on guitar and tambourine, Chris Altmann on bass and Cleave Anderson on drums. Solid opener. Bluesy ballad, Lowdown Lonesome Blues is definitely one of my favorites on the release with terrific vocals by St. James and it's hip grinding rhythm..Slim lays in a tasty, "lowfi" guitar solo that really works great with the track. Honky Tonk Hangover has a cool, southern soul feel with sassy vocals by St. James and a cool guitar solo with a twangy sound. Funky, Soul Shack, is another track with that southern soul feel. St. James could easily fill the bill on 60's Atlantic or Capitol records with period correct guitar work by Slim. Wrapping the release is country flavored, Railway Rider with it's classic snare chatter and Slim on the chicken pickin. St. James vocals adapt nicely to this country styling and Altmann on pedal steel ices the cake. Cool release. 


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  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! ”LIKE”

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Monday, July 7, 2025

OFEH Records artist: Blind Lemon Pledge - Lemon Live! - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Lemon Live!, from Bling Lemon Pledge and it's solid rural style blues. Opening with Blackeyed Suzie, Blind Lemon on vocal and slide guitar set the pace with a traditional sound, trading lead with Sioux City Slim on harmonica, and backed by Mr. Peter Grenell on bass and Rockin' Juli Moscovitz on drums. With an easy blues rock feel, Sugar Rush has suggestive lyrics and easy going melodic harmonica work by Slim. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Muddy Waters' I Feel Like Goin' Home, with solid lead vocals and raw, acoustic slide by Blind Lemon and melodic harmonica lead by Slim. Very cool. Another favorite of mine from the release is original composition, You Can't Get There From Here, with a Tampa Red/Bob Dylan feel. I like it's laid back easy vocal feel and nicely composed instrumentation by Slim on harmonica. With it's snappy rhythm, Railroad Mama is another of my favorites with a steady train like snare attack by Moscovitz and melodic soloing by Slim on harmonica. Wrapping the release is rocker, Junkyard Dog, with dog howls and all. The crowd obviously enjoys this track with it's bluesy harmonica and feel good approach. Solid closer. 


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  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! ”LIKE”

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Thursday, July 3, 2025

Little Village Foundation artist: Aki Kumar - God Bless The USA - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, God Bless the USA, from Aki Kumar and it's cool. Opening with a Chicago style take on Joe Strummer's Should I Stay made popular by the British punk band, The Clash. With a low slung guitar rhythm by Bob Welsh, June Core on drums, and Kedar Roy on bass this track takes form. Aki Kumar on vocal and harmonica really fleshes out the track with Welsh on piano and Julia JD on backing vocals. Very cool. Willie Dixon's I Just Want To Make Love gets an incredibly out of the box rework with Jim Santi Owen on tabla, Welsh on guitar, Will Marsh on sitar, and Kumar on vocal, harmonica and vocal. Really interesting barely touches it. A reggae/funk workover on Neville Brothers' Sissy Strut now remade as Desi Strut is great with Kumar taking the lead on harmonica and Owens and Marsh providing the basics of the backing with Welsh on guitar and Core on drums. Oh Yeah...it's cool! One of my favorite tracks on the release is It Is What It Is, Chicago styling, Morganfield influenced blues with Kumar on lead vocal and harmonica. Pete Fazzini sits in on lead guitar on this one getting that metallic, Morganfield slide tone down pat. With Roy on bass, and Core on drums, this track hits the spot. Rocker, Hard To Get, sounds like it's from a beach movie from the 60's with it's characteristic guitar (Welsh)/ drums (Core) feel and Jack Sanford on sax working the track under Kumar's vocals. Don't miss Welsh's flashy solo on this one. Wrapping the release is shuffle, Harp Tuah giving Kumar a wide open land to play. With Welsh on guitar, Bermudes on bass, Core on drums, Tony Stead on organ and Welsh on piano, this is a strong closer for a real cool release. 


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  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! ”LIKE”

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Monday, June 30, 2025

Little Village Foundation Artist: Terry Hanck - Grease To Gravy - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Grease To Gravy, from Terry Hanck and it really swings. Opening with Wilson Pickett's Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You, Terry Hanck has got another hot one on the griddle. Singing and playing tenor sax, Hanck has great feel, backed by Kid Andersen who is everybody's not so secret weapon on guitar, Jim Pugh on B3, and Jon Otis on drums. Great opener. Andersen really steps up on slide guitar on 2nd line track, If A Politician Was A Doctor, with Chris Peet on drums and Hanck really working the sax and pure vocals. Very nice. Ray Charles' Come Back Baby has a great feel and Hanck's soulful vocals and King Curtis like sax work are featured along with June Core on drums, Chris Burns on piano, Pugh on B3 and Andersen on bass. Albert King's Overall Junction features Hanck really honking on sax, great rhythm and lead guitar by Johnny Cat Soubrand, Andersen on B3 and D'Mar on drums. Strong instrumental. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Hanck original Run Run Baby with great lead vocals, solo and underlying sax by Hanck, Soubrand again really playing excellent lead guitar, Andersen on bass, Pugh on B3 and Jon Otis on drums. Great groove! Another cool track is When I Get My Shit Together, reminding me a lot of some of my favorite Elvin Bishop tracks with spoken dialog, low slung, soulful blues melody and excellent soloing by Hanck and Soubrand. Wrapping the release is reggae flavored instrumental, Midnight On The Reef with excellent drum rhythms by Chris Peet, excellent guitar styling by J.P. Soars, Mark Doyle on piano and soulful melodic sax work by Hanck. Strong closer for a very cool release. 


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  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! ”LIKE”

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 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Big Radio Records artist: Christopher Wyze & The Tellers - Live In Clarksdale - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live In Clarksdale, from Christopher Wyze & The Tellers and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with rocker, Three Hours From Memphis, Christopher Wyze leads the way on vocal, With Doug Banks on drums, Mark Yacavone on keys, Gerry Murphy on bass and John Boyle laying down some solid guitar riffs. Shuffle, Money Well Spent, features Wyze on vocal and with great piano backing and a Boyle working the frets nicely. Wyze pulls out his harmonica on Cotton Ain't King adding nice contrast to his lead vocals and Yacovone's keys really add depth. Good Friend Gone has the feel of Morganfield territory with straight up vocals and harmonica by Wyze and a solid guitar riff by Boyle. Leroy Carr's How Long Blues has a real nice feel along the lines of an old Clapton solo cut with a cool jam between Yacavone and Boyle. Wrapping the release is Jimmie Cox's Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out, covered by Clapton on Layla. Wyze pulls back to more of an original style arrangement, singing with Yacavone on piano. Solid closer. 


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Friday, June 13, 2025

MoMojo Records artist: Allison August - August Moon - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, August Moon, by Allison August and it's funky and sassy. Opening with Afraid of Love, Allison August shows what a great lead vocalist does and with excellent backing vocals by Maxayn Lewis and Jen Caston on, tight drum rhythm by Bryan Head, David J. Carpenter on bass, Sam Meek on guitar, Lenny Castro on percussion, Joe Sublett on sax, Les Lovitt on trumpet and Sam Meek on guitars, this track is tight! Sugaray Rayford joins August on lead vocals on I Won't Say No with a charging drum/percussion line by Tony Braunagel and Castro and a slashing guitar lead by Meek accented by Mike Finnegan on organ. Top radio track selection is Desiree with it's warm, memorable melody and vocal/keyboard interplay between August, Teresa James and Gregg Sutton and  Finnegan. Very nice. I like the cautious confidence on The Cure, and it's funky underbelly. August manages the track masterfully followed by James and Sutton on backing vocals and trademark slide work by Little Feat's Paul Barrere really gives the track a cool bite. Wrapping the release is straight up rocker, Born Yesterday with Braunagel hitting it stiff on drums and Phil Parlapiano on organ. Sublett and Lovitt on horns give the track strong support and crisp guitar work by Josh Sklair give the track additional warmth. 


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Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Fran Drew and the Lucky Strikes - Trial By Fire - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Trial By Fire, by Fran Drew and the Lucky Strikes and it's packed with energy. Opening with flamboyant music producer, Huey Meaux's Neighbor Neighbor featuring Fran Drew on lead vocal and the powerful sax work of Sax Gordon. Gene Donaldson and Steve Isherwood lay down a sassy blues guitar solo backed by Dennis Cotton on drums, and Max Samson on bass, making for a solid opener. Potent blues classic, Breakin' Up Somebody's Home, really a staple for Albert King is a solid addition here with Jeff Bousfield on keys holding down the potatoes as Isherwood and Donaldson put up the meat backing Drews vocals. Hank Ballard's track, Roll With Me Henry is set to a grounded boogie beat anchored by Samson and Cotton and features some slashing guitar riffs by Isherwood under the lead vocals of Drew. Dayna Kurtz's, I Look Good In Bad, may be my favorite track on the release with healthy piano and organ work by Bousfield and a flaming guitar solo by Jeff Bousfield giving this track a real zing. Lil Son Jackson's earthy Rock Me Baby gets into a real nice blues slot with Drew and Rich Badowski on harmonica working the lead. Wrapping the release is Memphis Minnie's Chauffer Blues featuring Badowski on harmonica and Drew on lead vocal riding high on the bouncy melody and featuring a stinging guitar solo by Isherwood. Solid closer. 


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  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! ”LIKE”

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 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening