Ian Siegal Meets Johnny Mastro - Easy Tiger - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Easy Tiger, from Ian Seigal and Johnny Mastro and I really like it. Anyone who's been reading my notes for a few years, knows that I really like my blues with a raw edge and this release has that covered in spaces. Opening with blues rocker, Four On The Floor, I hear traces of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac and Oh Well. This is a great rocker with Ian Siegal on vocal and guitar, and Johnny Mastro on harp and vocal, backed by Josh Kerin on bass, Smoke on guitar and Chris Davis on drums. Explosive. Rock and Roller, Baby You Can Get Your Gun has a great rhythm with Mastro really blowing the harp and a driving bottom. Dog Won't Hunt has a real Hill Country feel with a monstrous bellow of vocal over a great super rhythm guitar, followed by Mastro's harp work. Excellent! I really like the hooded and echoed vocals on Miss Your Cadillac over the conventional rock rhythm and solid guitar lead by Siegal. Another of my favorites on the release is Quick To The Gun which really digs deep. I love the hooded vocal and clear vocal in parallel along with frenzied guitar work over an Otis Rush like attack. Really strong. Wrapping the release is Oedipuss, a cool rocker with a blues edge. Paired vocals and paired lead (guitar and harp), gives this track a real different feel. I gotta say I really enjoyed this release and will be listening a bit more at home. 

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Nola Blue Records artist: Frank Bey - Peace - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Pease, from Frank Bey and it's a solid  compilation of Bey's music. Opening with That's What Love Will Make You Do, Little Milton's funky blues, Bey on lead vocal is joined by Anthony Paule who really lays out some real nice riffs on guitar, Loralee Christensen on backing vocals, Tony Lufrano on keys, Nancy Wright on sax, Tom Poole on trumpet, Mike Rinta on trombone, Endre Tarczy on bass and Paul Revelli on drums, this is a great opener. R&B track, Midnight and Day has a really nice feel with Doug Travis on keys and Kevin Frieson on bass and Thomas Jefferson on drums creating a great bottom and Bey's rich vocals sharing the spotlight with  Jeff Monjack on guitar. Rolling blues, Blues Comes Knockin' is bound to get you moving, with a great bottom by Jefferson and Frieson and with with Beys dynamic vocals, hot harmonica work by Sark Damirjian and smoking guitar lead by Monjack, this is my favorite track on the release. If You Want Me is a really nice track featuring real nice sax work by Bob Maxon and deep organ work by Andrew Samuels. Bey really digs in vocally and Monjack rips on lead guitar making this another stand out track on the release.  Hi stepper, Blues In The Pocket has a terrific groove with essential woodblock (muted cowbell) by Omar Hill and a sassy sax solo by Allen Weber. Wrapping the release is a soulful take on John Lennon's, Imagine, with Beys soulful vocal set off nicely by Jim Pugh on organ and piano.  Kid Andersen on guitar, John Halbleib on trumpet, Ric Feliciano on trombone, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Dmar Martin on drums fill out a the excellent backing group and Nancy Wright  adds a stellar sax solo. 

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MoMojo Records Records artist: Max Hightower - Nothin' But The TRUTH - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nothin' But The TRUTH, from Max Hightower and it's a romper. Opening with funky blues rocker, Double Bubble, Max Hightower blows the intro announcing that something big is about to happen and he doesn't disappoint. Leading on vocal and funky rhythm guitar, Hightower gets things moving and kicks up on harmonica some fat fat tone. Joined by Brandon Phelps on drums, Steadman Williams Sr. on bass, James Beaumont on sax and Rob Davis on keys, this is a great opener.  Twitchy Witcha keeps that funky groove going with Davis on piano and Beaumont on sax rolling over Phelps on rimshot and funky funky vocals. Adam Lessneu joins on trombone and sousaphone and Hightower breaks loose on harmonica and it's not subtle. Great tone. Sweet Gum Tree has a strong New Orleans jam flavor with active Drum/bass/guitar work and Beaumont on sax and Adam Lessneu on trombone working with Hightower on vocal and harmonica in lead. Thick Jello is a great name for a funky rocker with great rhythm and Hightower working the vocals over a tight bass/drum rhythm and lively trombone work by Adam Lessneu. Shuffle, I Ain't Lyin' really is smooth with a strong melody and vocals by Hightower, mellow sax soloing by Beaumont and solid piano support by Davis. Wrapping the release is Assmograph with it's super funky beat. Williams lays down a funky line reinforced by Phelps and Hightower blows the melody on harmonica. Beaumont on sax takes a nice run of his own balanced by Atkinson on guitar. Cool closer. 

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Taste Good Music artist: Tim Gartland - Right Amount of Funky - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Right Amount of Funky, from Tim Gartland, and it's a cool blend of blues, rock, soul and  funk. Opening with Waste A Worry, Tim Gartland on vocal and harmonica takes the lead with backing vocals by Nalani Rothrock and tasty, SRV like guitar riffs by Robert Frahm. Jody Nardone on keys, Mike Joyce on bass and Jack Bruno on drums round out the band for a cool opener. Dennis Drummond opens A Better Life with a clean acoustic guitar riff transitioned quickly to a Latin flavored rhythm with Andy Peake on percussion and Bruno on electric guitar. Bruno's drums, firm bass backing by Joyce and terrific vocal and harmonica by Gartland make this a standout track. I particularly like Walk Away with it's rural strut. With underlying harmonica work by Gartland and perfect styling on vocal by Gartland and Rothrock, this track has just the right feel. A stiff snare swat by Bruno, warm key accompaniment and a sweet guitar solo by Frahm gives this track great traffic. Led by Joyce on bass and Bruno on drums, reggae rhythm floats Alone Time under Gartland and Rothrock's vocals, and Frahm's guitar soloing in the style of Mark Knopfler balances the track out nicely. Wrapping the release is Stop Working Me with it's Willie Dixon feel. Gartland on vocal and harmonica lead the way and solid slide work by Frahm make this a solid closer. 

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Nola Blue Records artist: Kid Ramos - Strange Things Happening - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Strange Things Happening, by Kid Ramos and it's terrific! Opening with title track, Strange Things Happening Everyday, a great track written by Sister Rosetta Thorpe, one of the great unsung stars of the blues. Brian Templeton on vocal leads the way joined by Dave Limina rockin' on organ, Mike Turturro on bass, Stephen Hodges on drums and Kid Ramos playing both tight rhythm and excellent lead guitar. Excellent opener. With definite spiritual roots, I'm Working On A Building, Templeton really pushes the track higher and Kid really has his guitar talking. Very nice! Kid's son Johnny Ramos, really stands out on soulful, Oh What A Meeting. His vocals are outstanding as are the backing vocals and Kid's playing is over the top dripping with feeling. Wow!  Driving blues rocker, An Answer for Isaac conjures a Muddy Waters feel with Templeton chanting the lyrics and fiery harmonica and Ramos playing wide open on guitar with plenty of overdrive.  An outstanding take on The Louvin Brothers' (Edgar Edens penned) Satan's Jeweled Crown is really terrific with a traditional Spanish Bajo Sexto presented in excellent fashion by Kid and with Johnny and Templeton sharing the lead vocals in traditional Mexican style. I love the trumpet work by Takazo and Kaizo Hall and Jesse Cuevas' contributions on accordion. This track kicks into 4th gear for the finale. Excellent. Wrapping the release is Senior Roy Crain's I'm A Pilgrim in solid revival style. What do you get when you meld revival and Ramos? Pure blues featuring Templeton on lead vocal, and Kid on lead and rhythm with his classic tone. Limina on piano and organ held tight by Turturro and Hodges make this a strong close for one of the best new releases I've heard this year. You owe it to yourself to hear this album.

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Pure Panhandle Music artist: D. Scott Riggs - Somewhere Not Here - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Somewhere Not Here, by D. Scott Riggs and it's a super take on traditional acoustic blues. Opening with Hard, So Hard Sometimes, D. Scott Riggs has the perfect combination of gravely vocals and resonator guitar presenting spartan blues. His delivery is unwavering and solemn. Gripping opener. Nicely articulated finger picking carries Riggs gritty vocals on Troubled, So Troubled with his paired vocal and guitar melody and well adorned yet brief, guitar turnarounds between chorus'. Very nice. Riggs presents a more contemporary sound on These Walls Don't Own Me without breaking his traditional blues presentation. I like his almost Farka Toure' guitar styling on this track giving it a brighter, change up. Instrumental, The Breaking of The Day is a really nice track with a great melody and the addition of slide to the turnaround is haunting. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Goodnight My Angel, Goodnight, with a modest waltz feel (think Lead Belly's Goodnight Irene) and Riggs wailing the lyrics accompanied by his resonator. This release results from Riggs sudden loss of his wife and I believe that he has paid a great tribute to her, focusing his inner feelings in this solid release. 

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Rattlesnake Music Artist: Matt "The Rattlesnake" Lesch - Blues Cut Like Glass - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Cut Like Glass, by Matt "The Rattlesnake" Lesch and it's hot. Opening with Feel So Good, an up tempo shuffle featuring Matt "The Rattlesnake" Lesch on lead vocal and realy laying down some excellent lead guitar work. Backed by Chuck "Popcorn" Louden on drums,  and Taylor Streiff on organ, this is an excellent opener. Low slung, Big Legged Woman, opens with a fat sax lead by Ian Buschmann with Ben Schafer on tenor sax, Dan Smith on tenor, Streiff on piano, Gus Thornton on bass and Louden on drums setting a solid platform for more of Lesch's blue guitar riffs. Very cool. Latin flavored blues, Sittin' At The Station has a Peter Green feel with clear single line lead over rich cords and with strong vocals by Lesch and warm organ by Wayne Sharp, John Davies on bass and Louden on drums, this is a real nice track. Title track, Blues Cut Like Glass, has a deep, Gary Moore feel with it's ballad format. With it's radio melody, full horn backing on Lesch's vocals and sometimes poised, sometimes soaring guitar lead, this is the top candidate for radio play.  High energy instrumental, Let Me Cook For Ya could be right off of a Gatemouth Brown album with fleet finger work and style. Excellent! Wrapping the release is easy shuffle, Jammin' At Paul's with Lesch trading lead guitar work with Sean "Mack" McDonald (who also contributes organ). This really is a formidable release that warrants some real listening. 

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McKenna Moonah Blues Duo - Breaking News - New release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Breaking News, from McKenna Moonah Blues Duo and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with title track, Breaking News, Jay Moonah on lead vocal and harmonica and bass/percussion creates the structure of a Texas boogie with Mike McKenna playing lead guitar throughout.  Thursday Night Boogie has a great feel with Moonah on vocal and harmonica leading the way and McKenna playing lead and some fine guitar riffs in answer. I really like the feel on Adria for radio track with it's driving bottom and vocals by Moonah and straight forward melody. Wrapping the release is Scarborough Blues with McKenna on acoustic slide and Moonah on vocal and harmonica. Cool, country blues closer.

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MuleTone Records artist: Mark Muleman Massey - Been A Long, Long Time - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Been A Long, Long Time, by Mark Muleman Massey, and it's a strong mix of blues, soul and R&B. Opening with title track, It's Been A Long, Long Time Clayton Ivey on keys and Robert Fossen on harmonica set the pace for Mark Muleman Massey on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Roger Starr on drums and  Bob N. Weaver on bass. On funky blues, Can't Tell Me Nothing About The Blues showcases Massey on lead vocal over Ivey's active keyboard work and features a nice slide solo by Billy Lawson. Give Me Your Love is a terrific soul track featuring Massey really belting the blues over the warm keyboard backing of Ivey. Very nice. Another soulful track, Bobby Womack's I'm Sorry About That, really hits a sweet spot with excellent vocals by Massey and lush horn backing by The Webster Street Horns. Wrapping the release is Your Good Stuff, a funky radio track with Massey on vocal with tight rhythm by Starr and punchy horn work by The Webster Street Horns. Solid closer for a solid release. 

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Momojo Records artist: The Bob Lanza Blues Band - Breadman's Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Breadman's Blues, by The Bob Lanza Blues Band, and I really like it. Opening with Johnny Jihngo, a cool blues rocker, Bob Lanza is upfront on guitar and vocal with healthy sax work by Nick Conte. Eric Heilner on keys,  Steve Kirsty on bass and Nick Fishman on drums keep it tight and the slashing guitar lead of Lanza really delivers. Excellent opener. Strutting blues rocker, Cut Off My Right Arm really hits the slot with gripping SRV/Albert King style guitar attack and his vocals are gritty and real. Really nice. Ballad, Same Old Blues, has a strong melody, supported by Heilner on keys and Lanza's guitar chops are A1. Shuffle, A Man Like Me, has traditional form and solid lead lines supporting some of the best vocals on the release. Honey Hush has a great, Latin rock twist giving Lanza, Heilner on piano and Vin Mott on harmonica great room to solo. Very cool. Roller Coaster has that signature Allman Brothers/Dicky Betts country rock feel with plenty of room for Lanza to show his stuff on guitar and with some beefy bass riffs by Kirsty. Solid closer. 

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Coast Road Records artist: Preacher Boy - Ghost Notes - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ghost Notes, from Preacher Boy and it's a cool blues rock release with it's own style. Opening with Up The River Again, Preacher Boy lays down a Bo Diddley beat on drums with rhythm guitar and loose female backing vocals. Intriguing. Reverb saturated guitar envelopes Preacher's pain drenched vocals on, Dashboard Dial, a cool, bluesy ballad. With just a light touch of TexMex, I really like this track. Chop Wood, Carry Water has a simple folksy/blues feel. With Preacher carrying the melody on vocal and simple guitar, harmonica and drum backing, this track has a Pixies kind of construction, yet totally different delivery. Nice. Trying To Get To Mobile is raw folk rock track with underdriven, stylistic guitar lead and cool vocals. See All The People is a solid radio track with a earthy melody and solid vocals. The addition of harmonica fattens this track up a bit giving it a memorable aura. Wrapping the release is Light A Candle showcasing Preacher on slide resonator and heartfelt vocals following a pure melody over electric guitar and drums. This is a real cool release and one that needs to be listened to over and again.

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Big Al And The Heavyweights - Blues Power - New Release Review

 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. Robertson's harmonica on this track is reminiscent of the tone by the great Lee Oskar adding nicely to this track. Wrapping the release is boogie track, Fast Drivin' featuring Robertson on lead vocal and harmonica. Electric slide and grinding boogie rhythm by Anton working with Cedeno on bass and Al on drums makes this a solid closer. 

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Out of the Past Music artist: Steve Howell & The Mighty Men - Yeah Man - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Yeah Man, by Steve Howell & The Mighty Men and it's soothing.  Opening with Blind Lemon Jefferson's Long Lonesome Blues, Steve Howell on vocal and guitar leads this contemporary shuffle joined by Chris Michaels on guitar, Dave Hoffpauir on drums and Jason Weinheimer on bass and keys. Easy going, cool opener. J.B. Hutto's 20% Alcohol is a cool track with a solid strut feel and free wheelin' guitar run. Jack Lawrence's I'm Glad For Your Sake is really a nice bluesy ballad featuring Howell on vocal with lush guitar adornment and Weinheimer on keys. Very nice. Joe Zawinul's Mercy Mercy Mercy was a great tune written for the great Cannonball Adderley and enhance with lyrics by JG Watson. Howell keeps the original structure sans vocals and parlays the original sax tune into a reverberant guitar tune. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Bob Dylan's Chimes of Freedom featuring another nicely crafted guitar lead by Howell. This is a real smooth release with simple yet effective moves creating a pleasurable listen. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Jimmy Vivino - Gonna Be 2 of Those Days - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gonna Be 2 of Those Days, and it's a super contemporary blues rocker. Opening with Blues In The 21st Century, Jimmy Vivino on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Joe Bonamassa for a straight up blues rocker with a driving rhythm and super slide work. Joined by Rich Pagano on drums, Mark Teixeira on percussion, and Scott Healy on piano, this is a strong opener. Title track, Gonna Be 2 Of Those Days, has a real nice groove with excellent vocals by Vivino, With Jesse Williams on bass, Scott Healy on piano Rich Pagano on drums and some real tasty guitar work by Vivino, this track is smoking. Slow blues, Fool's Gold is my favorite track on the release with soulful vocals, deep full B3 work and excellent guitar work by Vivino. With Pagano on drums and Williams on bass, this track is tops. Another standout track is Shady Side Of The Street with it's Howlin' Wolf like story telling and daunting bass line by Williams. Vivino really works the vocals on this track and his guitar work weaves nicely throughout the track. Wrapping the release is acoustic country blues, Back Up The Country, featuring Vivino on vocal and guitar and John Sebastian on guitar and harmonica. This track is laid back but really does a nice job to wind down the session. Solid closer. 

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Endless Blues Records artist: Sunny Bleau & The Moons - Passion & Regrets - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Passion & Regrets, by Sunny Bleau & The Moons, and it's a smooth mix of rock, blues and pop. Opening with Two Glasses of Whiskey On Ice, with it's bluesy, Latin overtone features Sunny Bleau on vocal and slick guitar work by Nicholas A. Cocco on guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass, James Cunningham on drums  and Rick Steff on keys. Easy shuffle, Low-Down-Middle-Aged- Blues, coasts on piano by Steff and snare swat by Cunningham giving Sunny plenty of room to belt it out. Full swing shuffle, S-H-E-W-O-M-A-N, had a rumbling bass line by Ruffino and features Jeff Jensen trading riffs with Cocco on signature guitar  and Kiersi Joli ripping on harmonica in support of Sunny on vocal. Very cool. Ballad, You Put Me Out, is my choice for radio track with it's memorable melody and straightforward vocal attack. With Steff on Wurlitzer and Sunny on vocal, this track is strong. Wrapping the release is Memphis Bound, a soulful ballad featuring Sunny on lead vocal and Jensen on baritone guitar. Breaking into a revival style rhythm, Sunny works with Joli to close this out big.  

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Heavydrunk Records artist: Heavydrunk and Watermelon Slim - Bluesland Theme Park - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bluesland Theme Park by Heavydrunk and Watermelon Slim and it's really sweet! Opening with charging, Bluesland Theme Park, a high stepper with vaudevillian sound and Mad Dogs and Englishman horn vamp.  With Rob Robinson on lead vocals and Watermelon Slim on harmonica this is really potent. Featuring great interpretative innovation by Roy Agee on trombone, Emmanuel Echem and Lorenzo Molino on trumpet, Evan Cobb and Maxwell Abrams on sax this is a potent opener. Funky, New Wine is another meaty track with excellent vocals and notable bass by John Allouise and Brian Allen, Ricky Burkhead on drums and some real nice slide work by Slim. Watermelon Girl has a really nice Texmex/island feel with excellent vocals, nice slide and great percussion work by Burkhead. Another favorite on the release is Better Worser Too with thick vocals and, sassy horn work and funky funky bottom. Can be remiss by not mentioning the excellent backing vocals by Etta Britt, Tabitha Fair and Maggie Richardson. Grinding guitar work and punchy horn work by Echem, Molina and Agee make this one of my absolute favorites! Acoustic, Little Bighorn featuring Slim on vocal and dobro is really a tasty track with authentic country blues feel. Very nice. Wrapping the release is R&B flavored, Fresh, featuring Robinson on lead vocal and punchy horn work, cradled by Kevin McKendree and Eric Bikales on keys. This really is a terrific release and this is a solid closer. A must hear release. 

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Guitar One Records artist: John Brennan - One Way Ride - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Way Ride, from John Brennan, and it's a real nice set of blues rockers. Opening with Nothin' To Lose, John Brennan on vocal, slide and drums sets a solid blues foundation. With it's traditional sound and, electrified hollow body slide sound and solid vocals, Brennan shows a purity that I rarely hear on contemporary blues releases. On Elmore James', Shake Your Money Maker, I think the track sounds spontaneous along the lines of Hound Dog Taylor. A great cut and hot slide. On Robert Johnson's shuffle Ramblin' On My Mind, Brennan's vocals are highlighted with solid slide, balancing with acoustic rhythm guitar. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Where'd You Stay last Night, a vibrant rocker with a late 50's/early 60's sound. Stripped down with basic guitar, drum and vocal, this track rocks. Slipping in with some real nice lead/slide guitar and a rockabilly feel, this is an excellent closer. 

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