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Zac Harmon & The Drive - Live - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live , from Zac Harmon & The Drive and it's super! Opening with soulful, NTRO , Nate Robinson on bass and Gino Iglehart on drums set a solid foundation, with Corey Lacy building on keys and lush guitar work by Zac Harmon and Kingston Livingston really setting the bar. Terrific opener. Blue Pill Thrill has super movement and soulful vocals by Harmon. Lacy on keys works the rhythm with Robinson and Iglehart and Livingston and and Harmon play stinging riffs on guitar really giving this track some kick. Deep blues track, Feet Back On The Ground features Albert King like stinging riffs and super soulful vocals by Harmon. Keeping the music floor low allows Harmon plenty of space to go dynamically from soft to wow quickly adding real emotion to the track. Excellent! Boogie Down is a strong jam with a firm piano base by Lacy giving Harmon plenty of headroom for vocal corralling. Lacy lays in some real tasty keyboar...
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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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Overton Music artist: Russ Green - Stone Cold - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stone Cold , from Russ Green , and it's a driving blues rocker. Opening with Lint Redux , you are immediately in the middle of a swampy blues with modern effects. With a firm foot stomp by Felix Pollard on drums and Vic Jackson on bass Russ Green on harmonica and vocals really has the earthy feel. Giles Corey on slide gives the track great grease and Green's harp work is strong. Excellent opener. 12 Feet of Water opens with a terrific harmonica aria before grinding into a super drum driven romp. With the feel that I can only describe as Hill Country , Green delivers such soulful vocals, comforted by Joe Monroe on keys, this track just grabs you. Green's harmonica is like a shuddering wind blowing through you with the thumping bass of Vic Jackson and Vince Agwada on guitar. Excellent! Easy going shuffle, Nobody Knows has a smooth, supple melody with backing acoustic guitar, minimal drum work and melodic ha...
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Sugar Daddy Records artist: Anni Piper - Men Are Like Potato Chips - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Men Are Like Potato Chips , by Anni Piper and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Devil Bride , Brian Foxworth really set a solid drum rhythm giving Anni Piper on vocal and bass a great platform for her chugging rocker. Ted Swanson   lays in some nicely stylized guitar work and Jimi Bott rounds out the band on percussion. Sassy, title track, Men Are Like Potato Chips , has a vintage blues style lead by Chris Shuttleworth on tuba and Steve Kerin on keys giving the full range to Piper on lead vocal. I do like  Shuttleworth's tuba solo on this one. Cheetah , is my favorite track on the release is tasty guitar work by Swanson, and strong drum beat by Foxworth, John Dover contributing a tight trumpet lead and of course smooth lead vocal by Piper. Thunderous drums by Foxworth open Match With A Sasquatch rocking with Piper's vocals and Tim Langford and the track picks up a hot James Brown funky drum rhyth...
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Zac Harmon & The Drive - Live - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live , from Zac Harmon & The Drive and it's super! Opening with soulful, NTRO , Nate Robinson on bass and Gino Iglehart on drums set a solid foundation, with Corey Lacy building on keys and lush guitar work by Zac Harmon and Kingston Livingston really setting the bar. Terrific opener. Blue Pill Thrill has super movement and soulful vocals by Harmon. Lacy on keys works the rhythm with Robinson and Iglehart and Livingston and and Harmon play stinging riffs on guitar really giving this track some kick. Deep blues track, Feet Back On The Ground features Albert King like stinging riffs and super soulful vocals by Harmon. Keeping the music floor low allows Harmon plenty of space to go dynamically from soft to wow quickly adding real emotion to the track. Excellent! Boogie Down is a strong jam with a firm piano base by Lacy giving Harmon plenty of headroom for vocal corralling. Lacy lays in some real tasty keyboar...
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deelagee Records artist: Denise La Grassa - A Crossroads Communion - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Crossroads Communion , from Denise La Grassa , and it's a hard driving blues rocker. Opening with Big Bad Dream , Timothy Walker sets a high pace rhythm with Alvin Santner on guitar and Steven C. Manns on bass setting the stage for Denice La Grassa on vocal. Pounding opener. Bluesy, Who Will Mourn You? , has a lumbering feel with a prominant bass line by Manns and super overdriven guitar by John Kregor a blues soaked vocals by La Grassa. I'll Play The Blues For You is my favorite track on the release with LaGrassa sharing the mic with Manns and the addition of Pierre Lacocque on harmonica and dome really nice guitar work from Santner. Wrapping the release is rocker, Go Bad Mouth Yourself with it's cool drum rhythm and La Grassa adding contrasting organ to her own vocals and funky guitar work by Santner.   If you support live Blues acts , up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more abo...
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Dida Pelled - I Wish You Would - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Wish You Would, by Dida Pelled and I really like it. Opening with John Lee Hooker's Dimples , Dida Pelled leads the way on vocal and guitar. Taking this classic blues track and adding a kick, Dida not only sings the vocals but gives the guitar a total jazz twist with fluid lead and soloing. With Sullivan Fortner on piano, Tony Scherr on bass and Kenny Wollesen on drums, this is a strong opener. Clarence Williams' Sister Kate has a prohibition era feel with a twist of New Orleans thanks too Wollesen and Fortner and Pelled's own guitar style is bluesy and inviting. Excellent. Mary Lou Williams' Rosa Mae , and a real nice bass line giving the track a solid sub rhythm reinforced by Wollensen on drums. Pelled has the lead on guitar and she's not messing around with excellent guitar chords and bluesy phrasing nicely woven with Fortner on Rhodes piano. Lonnie Chatmon's classic, Sitting On Top Of The Wo...
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Sledgehammer Blues artist: Joe Krown Trio +1 featuring Papa Mali - Qualified - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Qualified , by Joe Krown Trio +1 featuring Papa Mali and it's strong. Opening with Dr. John's , Qualified , Joe Krown on piano with Papa Mali on guitar and lead vocals really create a ruckus. Casandra Faulconer on bass nicely augments the excellent rhythm work of Eric Bolivar on drums. Excellent opener. Driving piano blues, Mess Around , anchored by Krown on piano also features some super work by Jason Mingledorff on bari sax and Mali wails on guitar giving the track a nice edge. Allen Toussant's funky, Going Down , has a great back beat emphasized by Bolivar on drums and Krown rides high on organ. Another funky treat is Papa Mali's Neckbone with a super funky guitar rhythm with a killer warm organ saturation and a snappy bottom by Faulconer and Bolivar. Mali original, Honey Bee , has a cool, bluesy feel with great trombone work by Mark Mullins and a strong piano solo by Krown. Wrapping the releas...
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MoMojo Records artist: Carmen Ratti Band featuring Jill Dineen - Come To Me - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Come To Me , from Carmen Ratti Band featuring Jill Dineen and it has a cool groove. Opening with No Delusion , a slinky track with a well woven rhythm backing, Jill Dineen on vocal really holds tight on the reins. Carmen Ratti on rhythm and lead guitar adds tome distinctive riffs feeding Tony Lufrano on keys, Steve Hazelwood on bass and Randy Hayes on drums. Super opener. Bluesy ballad and title track, Come To Me , is a nice showcase for Dineen on lead vocal and Ratti's soulful guitar phrasing drips blues. Organ saturation by Lufrano and solid backing vocals by Lisa Leuschner Andersen adds just the right juice. Riley is real nice instrumental (think Thrill Is Gone ) with Ratti laying out the melody with crisp, clear, electric guitar work and Lufrano's organ solo is warm and inviting with a great bass lead by Hazlewood. Really cool track. Blues rocker, Coming Down , has a super funky rocking sound with great...
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Blue Sky Tunes artist: Mike Guldin - While I Can - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, While I Can , by Mike Guldin and it really hit's the spot. Opening with Driving Rain , Mike Guldin is upfront on vocal and guitar and this track really has a great groove. Guldin's vocals are soulful and with Steve Mackey on bass and Lynn Williams on drums the strut is heavy. Kevin McKendree really works the organ providing a great back beat and Guldin and James Pennebaker play some stinging riffs making this first track worth the price of admission. Excellent! Rocker, Always A Woman has a cool Latin beat, reinforced by a driving rhythm guitar layer. Guldin was made to sing this music with his natural delivery and Pennebaker really rips it lose on guitar with snappy drum work by Williams. A cool stroll, When The Bills Come Due , has a stiff cowbell strike over Mackey on bass. Gulden on guitar and vocal, and McKendree on keys give legs to this swampy rocker. Don Williams ' New Orleans flavored, Oh Lonesom...
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Qualified Records artist: Seth James - Motormouth - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Motormouth , from Seth James and it's terrific! Opening with Why Should I Suffer , vocalist extraordinaire, Seth James, creates a great vibe with his rich, R&B style vocal lead and his own lead guitar work, joined by Kevin McKendree on keys, Rob McNelley on guitar, Steve Mackey on bass, Lynn Williams on drums and super backing vocals by Alice Spencer and Etta Britt and and punchy horn work by Jim Hoke on sax, Steve HHermann on trumpet and John Hinchey on trombone. Excellent!  Soulful, I'm In Trouble has a great, slinky feel with James, Spencer, Britt and Jackie Wilson really working the vocals and featuring McKendree on piano. Hoke, Herrmann and Hinchey keep the back hopping and Mackey and Williams the bottom tight. Super. Country swing track, I'll Be Gone , has a great feel with excellent lead vocals by James and excellent piano work by Jeff Taylor. Eddie Dunlop on steel guitar gives the track real sti...
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J&R Collective artist: Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival - Electric Eden - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release. Electric Eden , from Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Breaking Chains , Jennifer Lyn on lead vocals cranks up the band with fiery vocals, joined by Richard Torrance on vocal and guitar, Jim Anderson on drums and vocals, Barb Jiskra on keys and Nolyn Falcon on bass. Silky guitar riffs by Torrance give the track a real kick making this a solid opener. A cool remake of Grace Slick 's White Rabbit fits the set nicely with tight rhythm by Anderson on drums driving the vocals of JL. Sucker For The Pain is one of my favorites on the release with a great back beat, and solid lead and harmony vocals and excellent piano work by Jiskra. A real kicker on the release is swampy, Baggage with a true Little Feat feel. Lyn's vocals are spot on and Jaxon Fitterer really winds up the slide, joined by Falcon, Jiskra and Anderson driving the rhythm. Excellent. Wrapping the r...
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Ruf Records artist: Dana Fuchs - Live In Denmark - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live In Denmark , from Dana Fuchs and she kicking it in high gear. Opening with blues rocker, Double Down On Wrong , Piero Perelli on drums and Kevin Mackall on bass really have the place rocking. Fuchs has a strong voice and Jon Diamond is relentless on guitar blending blues with contemporary rock riffs. Blue Mist Road opens with light backing and strong vocals by Fuchs. Breaking it wide open, Diamond winds it out on guitar with overdriven guitar tones, backed by solid drum work by Perelli and great lead bass riffs by Mackall. Very nice track. One of my favorite tracks on the release is ballad, Nothing You Own with a great melody, subdued guitar lead and excellent vocal by Fuchs. Diamond takes a melodic guitar solo with plenty of oomph giving the concert a super change of pace.  Borrowed Time is a country rock styled track with a a stiff kick by Perelli. A strong radio track, this is a great concert track a...
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Lexie Blue - Too Glam To Give A Damn - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Too Glam To Give A Damn , from Lexie Blue and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with title track, Too Glam To Give A Damn , Blue with her trademark voice leads the way with Pete Bullard on guitar, Kevin Schoepke on bass, Gary Martin on drums, and Jack Rivers on keys. Driving opener. R&B flavored, Sit Down & Hush , really has a strong bottom courtesy of Schoepke and Martin. With Blue, grinding out the blues and Bullard on guitar, this is a nice groove. Bluesy, Sneaking Out , gives Blue a real nice chance to dig down and Bullard grinds out a strong guitar solo as well. Wrapping the release is Chin Wagging with a powerful tom tom rhythm by Martin and guitar by Bullard. Double timing the rhythm, Blue's vocals are raw and energetic, with chicken pickin' by Bullard  and Martins drums add just a dash of New Orleans. Solid closer.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and wa...
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Rainstorm Records artist: Leeann Atherton - Good God - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good God , from Leeann Atherton and it's gospel/revival soaked music. Opening with Lieber and Stoller's Saved , Leeann Atherton really belts it out on this opener. With Johnny "V" Vernazza (Elvin Bishop Band) winding it up on slide guitar, Edward "Hott" Cleveland, Rob Lamonica and Bob Berman on keys, and Mike Bernhan on bass. Atherton original track, Joy , has a real bopping feel with Rob Lamonica on piano and solid backing vocals by Austin Atherton, Johnny V, Laura Jane Wilcox and HeartBeat Pro. Joe South's classic, Games People Play , really plays to the richness of Atherton with nice guitar work by Mac McNabb and warm organ work by Berman. Harry Dixon Loes' This Little Light Of Mine has new spunk with Atherton really swinging it. Solid rhythm guitar by McNabb, and warm organ and hot guitar riffs by Johnny V make this a real nice cover. Another Atherton original, Smack Dab In A Mirac...
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Guitar One Records artist: Sandy Atkinson - The Best of Sandy Atkinson - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Best of Sandy Atkinson , by Sandy Atkinson , and it saturated with soulful vocals and hot guitar blues. Opening with Sweet Little Pieces , Ben Sudano on bass  Tom Bell on drums lay down a super SB Williams/Hooker boogie line with Cannon Quinn on guitars and Sandy Atkinson on vocal and guitar. Solid opener. Got The Wrong Number has a western/bluesy feel with Atkinson on acoustic guitar and vocal pairing with Quinn on guitars and nice piano work by Dean Germain. Boogie, Cook In Your Kitchen showcases Tomcat Blake on guitars with Atkinson's vocals, Richard Price on bass, Dan Degregory on drums, Henry Burke on keys and Wayne Beardwoods on sax. I like the slower, acoustic blues of Back To The Livin (live) featuring solid vocal and guitar work of Atkinson and Quinn. Very nice. Talkin To The Animals is a cool blues rocker with a springy rhythm. With saucy vocals by Atkinson, Quinn on guitar, Germain on keys, Suda...
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Lightning In A Bottle Records artist: The CD Woodbury Trio - Bulldog - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bulldog , from The CD Woodbury Tri , and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Wicked Grin , CD Woodbury sets the pacd with a strong hammer on riff with Robert Baker thumping a single not bass line and Bill Ray on drums. Woodbury tells the story on lead vocals adds in guitar soloing that adds just the right amount of pepper. Solid opener. Doc Pomus' Little Sister stays simple with it's pop roots with Woodbury laying down a guitar riff and including Davis soloing on harmonica. Blues rocker, Gaslight Road , has a deep bass/drums groove and Woodbury, on guitar, creates a Green's Fleetwood Mac feel adding gritty vocals. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks by Jack Bruce , Politician , is up next with Woodbury bringing on the suspenseful melody on guitar. He doesn't have Bruce's voice, but he really does a great job on this track Overdubbing clean chords with eccentric slide riffs and tight picked ...
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Big Mama Productions artist: The Alexis P. Suter Band - Just Stay Live Recorded Live At The Falcon - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just Stay Live Recorded Live At The Falcon by The Alexis P Suter Band , and it's terrific! Alexis P. Suter is one of those vocalists that come along once in a lifetime and her take on Blind Willie Johnson 's John The Revelator is powerful .With her deep rich vocals backed by Vicki Bell, and pushed by the stirring slide work of  Jimmy Bennett, this track is off the hook. Joining Suter on the set is The Band's Garth Hudson who lays out an epic piano improvisation. One of Gregg Allman 's best tracks, It's Not My Cross To Bear , really works nicely with this set. Suter's deep, rich voice is perfect for this track with Benny Harrison on organ and Bennett really laying down the blues on guitar and Hudson on piano. A monumental blues by a monumental vocalist.  Hole That I'm In has a super Latin rhythm and the band is really moving. Bennett gets a Santana-esque guitar solo going and Harrison's o...
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E-H Records artist: Eliza Neals - Thunder In The House - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Thunder In The House , by Eliza Neals and I think that it's her best yet. Opening with Speedy Beady , a blues rocker, with a potent bottom, by Steve Lacross on drums and Doug Woem on bass give Eliza Neals a great stage to showcase her stellar vocals. Adding in Micheal Puwal on guitars, this is a potent opener. Lumbering, Blues Bombshell takes the form of a standard 8 bar with Neals wailing and Puwal playing dual slide lead guitars and adding Detroit Mike Hepner on B3 and grand piano and Justin Headley on drums. Unoriginal Bitch is a broke down blues rocker. Keep it simple, and with Neals on vocal and piano, Puwal on guitar, Woem on bass, Mark Leach on B3 and Headley on drums this is right up the middle. Wrapping the release is title track,  Thunder In The House , with a dark, swampy feel. Neals both on lead and backing vocals creates a strong vocal platform, added to by Puwal who is really effective on slid...
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