Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues All Over My Shoes , by Hanna Pk and it's solid. Opening with New Orleans flavored, Mirror Mirror , Pk who was born and raised in South Korea and now lives in Rochester NYsets a nice groove on piano and backed by Kenny Neal on bass, guitar and harmonica. On Bad Woman , she lays down a cool piano boogie and sings like she was born in the heart of the delta. Very nice. Slipping into a cool NO rhythm on I'm Losing You, Pk shows real versatility both on piano and vocally. Backed by Lil Mike Harris on drums this track is pure groove. Brandon Adams adds some real nice organ under Pk's super vocals and piano work and with it's solid melody making this a solid radio contender. One of my favorites on the release is slower blues, It's Been Raining In My Heart with plenty of soul, organ and excellent vocal work again by Pk. Not at all shy at the keyboard, her fingers know the blues like a second language. Ex...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (May 28, 2021), Whole Nother World , from Patti Parks ,  and it's a mix of blues, soul, funk and gospel. Opening with shuffle, I'm Trouble , Patti Parks sets a swing pace on lead vocal with Kenny Neal on lead guitar, Carlton Ross on rhythm guitar, Arlando O'Connor on bass, Fredrick Neal on keys, Michael Harris on drums Brandon Adams on organ, Guy Nirelli on organ and with some hot sax from Jason Parfait. On slower blues, More Than You'll Ever Know showcases Neal's soulful guitar lead working nicely with warm organ overtones by Adams surrounding some of Parks' best vocals on the release. A softer yet effective take on James Brown's It's A Man's Man's Man's World, Parks delivers on vocals, with strong support from Neal, O'Connor, and Harris. Neal shares the mic on straight up blues track, Baby Bee playing harmonica and guitar with little other backing. Pure blues... very nice. ...