Trabants - Lockdown - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Lockdown, by Trabants and I really like it. Opening with Freddy King flavored, Detour, Eric Penna has the lead (melody) on guitar, joined by Pete Curry on bass and drums. Penna has his own sound, but the influence is definitely King and a great opener. Title track, Lockdown was inspired by the Covid pandemic and it's obvious that these musicians didn't let the time go to waste. Influenced by the likes of British blues masters like Rory Gallagher and Peter Green title track, Lockdown is a solid slower blues featuring Penna laying down clean lead guitar phrasing over simple drum / bass backing. Quarantine is a cool improvisational blues that has thematic influence by Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac to my ear. With Penna on acoustic guitars, Glenn Brigman on Farfisa, and Curry on drums, this is an interesting venue. Tears In Rain is a strong soulful ballad with Penna on lead guitar and Hammond Organ, Anthony Brisson on drums. This may be my favorite track on the release with Penna's solid melodic soloing. Wrapping the release is Mudlark with some wide open acoustic picking and acoustic slide guitar. With a bright backing ambience this is a smart closer. 

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Ella & The Bossa Beat - In The Moment - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In The Moment, from Ella & The Bossa Beat and I really like it. Opening with Speak From The Heart, Ella Borges on all vocals, piano and bass really create a lush sound supported by her father Magrus Borges on drums. The Latin rhythm is captivating and Ella's vocals intoxicating. On Dreamer, Kim Freitas on acoustic guitar provides a clean rhythm base for Ella's vocal and Jonathan Dills on cello adds a deep richness under Ella's piano and layered vocals, supported nicely by Magrus' percussion. Excellent! I love the neo soul feel on O Tempo Traz and Ella's Portuguese vocals really add a special feel. Wrapping the release is What Happened To Our Love, a straignt up pop track with it's straight forward radio appeal. A sweet melody, lush vocal, and nicely accompanied keyboard work, held tight by Magrus is a solid closer for a really nice release. 

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Eastlawn Records artist: Planet D Nonet - Blues To Be There - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues To Be There, by Planet D Nonet and it's strong! Opening with Spacemen, a high energy romp, With excellent trumpet lead by James O'Donnell and Michael Zaporski on piano, this track is hot. Alex Harding on bari sax, and Christopher Tabaczynski on tenor sax,  and Tbone Paxton on trombone really sail with Charlie Miller on trumpet, Alex Colista on alto sax, Trevor Lamb on string bass and Sean Perlmutter on drums. Title track, Blues To Be There finds Zaporski laying down the melody on piano with Colista, Tabacynski, Wyche, O'Donnell, Miller Paxton, Lamb and Perlmutter joining in. O'Donnell blows some really soulful work on trumpet giving this track a great feel. Purple Gazelle is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's Latin rhythm, powerful bari sax work by Harding, hot clarinet by Tabaczynski, and brass highlights by O'Donnell, Miller and Paxton. Wrapping the release is VIP's Boogie / Jam with Sam. This is a smoking number with O'Donnell crusin on trumpet. Paxton takes an excellent solo on trombone followed by Wyche bari on sax, Bills on tenor sax and Zaporski on piano. Excellent closer. 

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Alpha Sun Records artist: Bridget Kelly Band - Winter's Coming - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Winter's Coming, by Bridget Kelly Band and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with title track, Winter's Coming Blues V.1, a romping shuffle with a droning bass line and hot guitar lead by Tim Fik, Kelly on vocal and Roland "Boss" Jones on drums. Funk rocker, Whirlwind has a great driving beat and solid melody. I like Fik's energetic guitar lead and Jones' drum beat keeps it tight. My favorite track on the release. Southern flavored rocker, Travelin' Bone has a great Lynyrd Skynyrd swagger. Contrasted with Kelly's bluesy vocals, Fik and Jones drive this truck hard. Wrapping the release is instrumental track, Ride The Wind with it's more progressive jazz rock sound. Fik lays down a pretty nice lead guitar solo over the thumping drum work of Jones for a solid closer. 

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Forty Below Records artist: Joe Louis Walker - Weight Of The World - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Weight Of The World, by Joe Louis Walker, and it's a cool uncompromised blues release. Opening with title track, The Weight Of The World, Joe Louis Walker on lead vocal and guitar leads the way on this R&B soaked track. His funky approach and with Eric Corne and Gia Ciambotti on backing vocals gives it even a gospel like feel. His guitar work is great, surrounded by Scott Milici on organ and backed by John Medeiros Jr on drums, Eddie Jackson on bongos, and Geoff Murfitt on bass. Strong opener.  Soul track, Hello, It's The Blues, really has a rich approach with smooth backing vocals and Eric Gorfain on violins and tasty nylon string guitar work by Walker. Very nice. Blues rocker, Blue Mirror is my favorite track on the release with a strong feel of Chuch Berry or Keith Richards. Walker puts his own signature on it complimented by great riffs and great driving rhythm by Milici on piano, Murfitt on bass and Medeiros Jr on drums. Great! Wrapping the release is boogie, You Got Me Whipped, with a firm bass line by Murfitt and warm organ by Milici. I think Walker has held his best vocals for the last and really shines on this track and his guitar riffs are snappy and bluesy. Excellent closer. 

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Rick Berthod - Tribute To Peter Green - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tribute To Peter Green, by Rick Berthod, and it's a solid retro of an important blues guitar revivalist of the 70's. Opening with If You Be My Baby, Rick Berthod on vocal and guitar and vocal leads the way with Ronee Mac on bass, Brett Barnes on drums and Junior Brantley on Vocal and Piano. On the Green track that Santana made popular, Black Magic Woman, Berthod does a real nice job of getting the harmonic ring and the general Green "les paul" grind. Nice phrasing and of course track recognition will make this the top track on the release.  John Zito joins on slide guitar adding a real nice depth to Albatross, paired with Berthod and with Mac on bass, Billy Truitt on piano and Barnes on drums. Cool shuffle, Stop Messing Around, adds Chris Tofield, Stoney Curtis and Mike Varney on dueling guitars to the mix over Truitt on Hammond giving this track real traction. Berthod lays down his coolest guitar work on Driftin' with a warm bed of Hammond by Truitt. This track just hits the right groove. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Latin infused, Loved Another Woman, with Jason Walker joining Berthod on guitar. This is super track and strong in appeal like Black Magic Woman. Cool release. 

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Domi Edson Trio - Stories From Solitude - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stories From Solitude, from Domi Edson Trio and it's every enjoyable. Opening with Frank Foster's Shiny Stockings, Spencer Zweifel on piano sets the melody on piano. A bright bouncy pace is the theme with Bobby Wiens on drum and of course highlighting the deft bass work of Domi Edson on upright bass. Nice opener. Domi's New Blues is a strong track with Edson leading the way on upright bass and Wiens on brushes. With a boogie feel, Zweifel adds in a melodic piano solo fleshing out the track nicely. One of my favorite tracks on the release isoriginal composition, Panoramic, a melodic ballad with a light, Latin, drum rhythm and nicely phrased piano melody and firm support from Edson on bass. Arthur Schwartz's You And The Night And The Music has great tempo and a lively bass line by Edson tightly stuck to Zweifel on piano melody and with fluid improvosation really makes this track fly. With a bit of space for Wiens to solo on this one, another great addition. Crocos has a tight Latin influenced rhythm reinforced by Wiens on rinshot and Edson with well placed bass. Piano melody is well articulated by Zweifel making this an ideal radio track. When You're Smiling is Edson's track with melody led by Edson on bowed bass. With only brushes and a hit of piano punctuation on a good portion of the track, Edson really shines. Filling out the track Zweifel takes the lead for a really solid close. Wrapping the release is Freddie Hubbard's Up Jumped Spring with a really springy pace. Edson lays in a real nice bass solo and and then Zweifel following her lead really lays it out. With excellent balance from Edson and Wiens, this is a strong closer. 

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Acute Inflections - Let Go - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let Go, from Acute Inflections, and it's cool and interesting. Opening with vocal classic, Blue Skies, Elasea Douglas, has the melody and Sadiki Pierre works the bottom with real gusto on stand up bass. Douglas' delivery is fresh and Pierre's bass work is tight and stimulating. Strong opener. Sam Cooke's dynamic, Change Is Gonna Come, really is nicely done by Douglas and Pierre just lays down the framework and stays out of the way. This is obviously a great track and a solid cover. Rise Up really has nice balance between Douglas and Pierre with Douglas again handling the melody and Pierre's deep bass thump accentuating the point. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Pierre playing the intro on What A Wonderful World using the bowed bass. Douglas captures the lead on vocal and with a well worked bass line by Pierre delivers on this Bob Thiele penned classic made popular by Louis Armstrong. This is an interesting release with a stripped down yet complete, rich delivery on voice and bass only. 

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No Label Records artist: Steve Hill - Dear Illusion - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dear Illusion, from Steve Hill and it's a great mix of blues, rock and pop. Opening with All About The Love, Steve Hill uses a bold blues hook with great vocals and  his own guitar riff, and the backing of Wayne Proctor on drums to st the stage, joined by Jacques Kuba Seguin on trumpet, Mario Allard on bari sax and Eduard Touchette on trombone, Felicien Bouchet on trumpet, Nacim Brahimi on tenor sax, and Gregory Julliard on trombone for some up tempo revival like reinforcement. Power opener. Rocker, Everything You Got has a great, snappy beat and Hill's vocals are super. With a bluesy riff on guitar, and some hot soloing to boot and punchy, understated horns by Sequin, Allard and Touchette, this track is a great radio track. Don't Let The Truth Get In The Way (Of A Good Story) is another great melody with a tight rhythm. What I love is the change up when Hill kicks his riffs into overdrive with slide and a heavy botto. Possibly my favorite track on the release. Funky, She Gives Lessons In Blues, is another of my favorite tracks on the release with it's lumbering bottom, snappy rhythm guitar and excellent vocal by Hill. With punctuation by Seguin, Allard and Touchette and scorching guitar by Hill, this track is tough to beat. Wrapping the release is ballad, Until The Next Time, with it's sweet melody and a strong melodic guitar solo from Hill over the warm work of Seguin, Allard and Touchette giving the release a soft closer. 

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Kate Hamann - Momentary Beauty - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Momentary Beauty, from Kate Hamann and I really like it. Opening with Latin flavored, Butterflies, Leading the way on trumpet is Kate Hamann (rhymes with ramen) with strong tone and dexterity, joined by Jason Arkins on alto sax, Diego  Melgar on guitar, Angel Perez on piano, Mike Ramos (rah-moass) on bass and Max Marsillo (mar-sill-oh) on drums. This track is lively and agressive with just the right tension. Great opener. On Daydream, Hamann takes a softer flugelhorn approach giving the first main stage to Melgar on guitar. His phrasing is excellent, punctuated by Perez on piano. I really like Hamann's style as she expands on the primary melodic theme, followed by Perez on piano. Very nice. Hamann takes front and center vocally on Stepping Stones. She a solid, clear voice and contrasts nicely with her own flugelhorn, and Arkins' tenor sax solo has a richness that really balances this track nicely. One of my personal pleasures of jazz music in particular is the use of space and when Hamann takes her horn for a ride, the band comesdown with just a hint of piano. An inspired solo by bassist Ramos is icing on the cake. Very nice. Wrapping the release is vocal lead track, Songs We Used To Sing, with a radio memorable melody. Keeping the instrumentation lower on snare, piano and bass, the track is a solid closer for a really strong release. 

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Qualified Records artist: Yates McKendee - Buchanan Lane - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Buchanan Lane, from Yates McKendree on the indie Qualified Records label, and it moves. Opening with jazzy Out Crowd, Yates on piano sets a great stage, backed by his father Kevin McKendree and Big Joe Maher on drums and percussion. Excellent opener. On BB King's Ruby Lee, Yates moves over to guitar and lead vocal showing excellent versatility. With classic rhumba/blues styling, this track really swings. Backed by Kevin on piano, Steve Mackey on bass, Jim Hoke on sax, Andrew Carney on trumpet and Roland Barber on trombone, this track is tight. Original track, No Justice really digs in with Yates playing lead guitar, bass, drums and organ (and singing) joined by Kevin on piano. If you wonder if this kid has chops... listen to this track. Excellent! Earl King's funky R&B blues number, Always A Good Time gives Yates a chance to show even more style on vocal and guitar, with Kevin on Hammond B3, Greg Garner on bass, Kenneth Blevins on drums, Jim Hoke on sax, Andrew Carney on trumpet and Roland Barber on trombone. Funky New Orleans track, Qualified surely tastes like Dr. John gumbo with Yates on vocal and guitar and Kevin on signature piano, Garner on bass, Blevins on drums, Hoke on sax, Carney on trumpet, Barber on trombone. With the the McCrary Sisters backing it all up, this track hums. Guitar Slim's It Hurt's To Love Someone, is explosive with Yates again showing another root in his playing skill. His vocals are pure and his riffs vibrant. Another excellent slower blues track is Tampa Red's Please Mr. Doctor. Yates not only sings soulfully but hammers the blues out of his guitar in grand fashion. Excellent! Wrapping the release is original composition, Voodoo, with a funky back beat. Featuring Kevin on Hammond and real nice guitar riffs by Yates, this is an excellent closer for a really excellent release.

 

 

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Qualified Records artist: The Rock House All Stars - Let It Bleed Revisited: An Ovation From Nashville - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let It Be Revisited: An Ovation From Nashville, by The Rock House All Stars and it's a cool cover of the Stones tenth US album. Opening with Gimme Shelter, Jimmy Hall (Ex Wet Willie, Jeff Beck, etc) is upfront on vocal joined by Bekka Bramlett and they do a terrific job. Kevin McKendree on guitar really does a nice job covering the guitar lead and Yates McKendree is tight on drums with John Heithaus on bass with added harmonica by Hall. Lee Roy Parnell adds some real country to Honky Tonk Women called Country Honk here. Not at all trying to replicate Jagger and with Rob McNelley on guitar and Luke Bulla on harmonica, this is a great track. Rick Huckaby is up front on Midnight Rambler joined by Stephen Hanner on harmonica and solid guitar work by Kevin and McNelley. Nalani Rothrock on lead vocal and James Pennebaker on steel adds a real nice contrast to the release on You Got The Silver and it's authentic R&B country feel. Wrapping the release is Wild Horses with Lilly Hiatt and Luke Bulla (also fiddle) up front in vocal duet. A track with real country roots and a great melody, Kevin and  McNelley on guitars and Pennebaker on steel reall make this a solid closer. 

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Delmark artist: Demetria Taylor - Doin' What I'm Supposed To Do - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Doin' What I'm Supposed To Do by Demetria Taylor and it's a rowdy, R&B infused, blues release. Opening with Eddie Taylor's, Chicago style blues, 83 Highway, Demetria picks up where she left off with fiery vocals, joined by Billy Flynn on lead guitar, Mike Wheeler on guitar, Larry Williams on bass, Brian James on keys and Melvin Carlisle on drums. Excellent opener. Williams isn't messin' around with his funky bass line on Bad Girl Day. This aggressive bass line really sets the pace for this track adorned with cooll guitar work by Wheeler and Carlos Showers and full organ by James and tight to the bottom drumming by Carlisle. Another Eddie Taylor track, funky high stepper, Welfare Blues, really gets moving with a lot of push by Williams, saturated organ by James and strong vocals by Demetria. With it's Al Green styling, Wheeler penned, I'm Gonna Tell It lays nicely in the groove. With a firm bass line by Williams, and cool guitar riffs by Wheeler, this is a strong radio contender. Another strong R&B track, Stay Gone, has good radio potential with a great melody and a perfect timing. A tight solo by Wheeler really hits the spot and punchy bass work by Williams gives it the bottom it needs. Wrapping the release is easy shuffle, Young Gun Taylor, featuring Demetria in call and response with Wheeler on guitar and rolling piano work by James. This is a solid closer for a totally enjoyable release. 

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Electro-Fi Records artist: Harrison Kennedy - Thanks For Tomorrow - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Thanks For Tomorrow, by Harrison Kennedy, and it's refreshing. Opening with All I Need Is You, Kennedy shares the mic with Ruthie Foster, backed by Colin Linden on acoustic guitar, John Dymond on bass, Jesse O'Brien on organ and Gary Craig on drums.. With a strong melody and blues overtones, it's a solid opener. With a casual, Taj Mahal feel, Easiest Thing really is nice with Chris Caddell on guitar and slide. Warm organ backing by O'Brien adds depth on this, one of my favorite tracks on the release. Women is my radio selection on the release with a strong melody, excellent vocals by Kennedy and again cool slide work by Caddell. With a remake of Van Morrison's Crazy Love, Harrison's soulful vocals, coupled with Caddell's "Lindley Like" slide work really does the trick. Wrapping the release is Just Wanna Play with a light, springy feel and featuring Kennedy adding harmonica to his lead vocals. This is a real toe tapper and a solid closer for a fun release. 

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Dewayne Pate - On The Up Side - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, On The Up Side, from Dewayne Pate, and it really is a strong release with a jazz spine and blues, funk and rock undertones. Opening with a tight fusion drum rhythm by Dennis Chambers on 4 the 5 of It and featuring Norbert Stachel on soprano sax, this track is moving. With Dwayne Pate punctual bass riffs and well adorned by Ray Obiedo on guitar, Peter Horvath on piano, David Kirk Mathews on synths and Frank Martin on synths. Excellent opener.  Funky blues, Iceman, showcases Tony Lindsay on lead vocal and the excellent guitar work of Chris Cain. Satchel again shines , this time on tenor sax with the power section of Johnnie Bamont on tenor and bari saxes, and Joel Behrman and with Brian Collier on drums, Obiedo on rhythm guitar, Matthews on B3 and of course the romping bass line of Pate. This track will have you moving. Another cool funky track, Imperial Strut, this time with an obtuse bass line and time signature by Pate  really scratches that itch. With Satchel on flute, lush piano by Matthews, Michael Spiro on percussion, and featuring Juan Luis Perez on vocal, Robben Ford showing adventurous guitar lead, and David Garibaldi on drums this track really shines. Cool shuffle, Blues Ala Monmouth features slick guitar lead by Ford and Marc Russo on alto sax. This track will have you tapping your foot with a romp of a bass line from Pate, Kevin Hayes on drums, Mathews on organ, Bamont on tenor and bari sax, and Behrman on trumpet. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Curtis Mayfield's, People Get Ready, with a soft approach. With Amikaeyla Gaston on vocal, Pate with complex counterpoint on bass and Karl Perazzo on percussion. This is a quiet yet solid closer for a strong release. 

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Spencer Mackenzie - Preach To My Soul - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Preach To My Soul, by Spencer Mackenzie, and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with Baptized By Cold Water, Spencer Mackenzie on guitar and lead vocal hits the road running with a solid composition, strong vocals and cool riffs. Backed by Miles Evans on keys, Steve Pelletier on bass, Adam Cannon on drums, this is a real nice opener. Title track, Preach To My Soul, is a soulful radio oriented track with warm Hammond backing and a catchy melody by Mackenzie. Up tempo driving rocker, Test Drive, definitely has a lot of radio flash with cool vocals, prominent rhythm guitar and Evans contributing heavily on Hammond. R&B drenched, Your Turn To Cry, is one of my favorites on the release with a great melody and perfect horn support by Julian Nalli on sax and Stephan Dyte on trumpet. Ballad, Two Doves is a definite radio track showcasing Mackenzie's vocal skills and featuring Ross Hayes Citrullo on guitar. Wrapping the release is Battle from Within, another track with definite radio appeal with a great melody, harmonies and nice guitar phrasing on the closing guitar solo. This is a strong release with a lot of commercial potential. 

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NOLA Blues Records artist: John Nemeth - May Be The Last Time - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, May Be The Last Time, from John Nemeth and it's really cool. Opening with traditional The Last Time and John Nemeth putting a strong gospel/R&B spin on it. With excellent lead vocal by Nemeth, Elvin Bishop on guitar, Kid Andersen on bass, Bob Welsh on guitar, Willy Jordan on drums and excellent vocal backing by Alabama Mike, Jordan, Andersen and Welsh, this is a terrific opener. With Elvin Bishop on this release it's great to see a resurrection of one of his great tracks, Rockbottom, from the Jo Baker era and featuring Nemeth on harmonica and lead vocal. Bishop steps up with his signature playing style and this release is two and 0. Very nice. Bishop gets the mic on his classic, Stealing Watermelons and with his fat guitar sound coupled with Andersen on guitar and Welsh on baritone guitar, this track is FUNKY. Wilson Pickett's, I Found A Love, works so nicely in this set with both Nemeth and Bishop favoring old soul music. Nemeth's vocals and Bishop's classic slide work really gives this track rocket fuel. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Bishop's I'll Be Glad with his clamped down squawking guitar over a solid bass line by Andersen, soulful vocals by Nemeth and excellent backing vocals by Mike, Jordan, Andersen and Welsh. This release has 11 great tracks (all eleven are great) and leaves you wanting more. This is one of those easy recommendation releases. Just buy it!

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