Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Brad "Guitar" Wilson , by Brad Wilson and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with The Ballad of John Lee , Brad Wilson on guitar and vocal sets a terrific "John Lee Hooker" like boogie backed by Brian Beal on bass and Adam Gust on drums. With the addition of harmonica, this is a smoking opener. Cesta Ayers' track, Someday After Awhile gives Wilson the opportunity to shine on vocal and his guitar playing shows great feel. Backed by Beal, Peter Wolf on drums and Frankie Vriens, this track really simmers. Otis Rush's I Can't Quit You Baby retains much of Rush's original arrangement and at over 8 minutes gives Wilson a chance to really shine on guitar. His phrasing is strong and his vibrato tight and stinging. Backed by Oscar Huguet on bass and Adam Gust on drums, this is a strong addition to the set. Wrapping the release is blues rocker, Drivin' , with a contemporary radio feel. A...

I just received the newest release, Power Blues Guitar Live , from Brad Wilson and it's captures him at his best. Opening with Muddy Waters' Got My Mojo Workin g, Wilson springs to life with a high energy cover of this classic track with a more modern, blues rock take. Aggressive guitar riffs and backing by Oscar Huguet on bass and Thaxter Drums gives this track an almost Cream like feel. Super opener. On Freddie King's I'm Tore Down , Wilson keeps the energy high and Kirk Nelson adds a nice slice of keyboard. Giving the track legitimate swing on a Pat Travers like guitar attack, this track moves. Willie Dixon/Otis Rush track, I Can't Quit You Baby , develops a really nice blues groove with warm jazz chords under the melody. One of the nicest tracks on the release, Wilson stretches it out for 8+ minutes. Driving jazz track, All Kinds Of A Fool , is up next and Wilson's vocals and Nelson's key lines give it nice burn. Kofi Baker (Ginger Baker's son) ...

I just received the newest release, Blues Thunde r, from Brad Wilson and it's a mix of pop and guitar stylist. Opening with Is It Any Wonde r, Wilson, who takes lead vocal and guitar, sings smoothly in quiet pop form but with tasty guitar riffs throughout. Backed by Brian Beal on bass, Amrik Sandhu on drums and Kirk Nelson on keys, this is a perfect radio track. Up tempo, Change It Up has an almost Latin rhythm and Wilson's riff, although not really Spanish in origin, have a kind of Santana feel. Moody blues ballad, Blue Shadow , features Wilson on vocal with really clean piano work by Nelson. This is a pretty classic 50's style jazz track executed in cool form. Taking a page from Robben Ford's book, Wilson rips some pretty nice riffs in contrast to this otherwise subdued track. Very nice! Blues rocker, Step By Step has a nice rhythm to it and Tumbleweed Mooney adds some real nice harp work as well. Title track Blues Thunder is a definite fist pumper throw back ...

I just received the newest release (October 8, 2013), Hands On The Wheel , from Brad Wilson . Ready for some hard driving blues rock...well, here it is! Wilson opens his newest release with Hands On The Wheel , a serious rocker. Rocket, another rocker with over driven rock riffs featuring Brian James on bass, and JJ Garcia on drums. Nobody But You opens with an Elmore James slide riff but rolls into a boogies track with twists and turns. All Kinds Of A Fool shows Wilson has his hands firmly on the throttle pushing the guitar into high for high power riffs and then down to 1st for vocals. The Road Back To You , another blues infused rocker, shows a more controlled pace but with hot riffs pushing the dynamics. Cruisin' The Coast has tandem slide guitar parts sounding a bit reminiscent of riffs but Les Dudek. It is a lighter jazzy track but with a melodic instrumental sound. The Ballad Of John Lee is a straight up boogie with traces in Texas. This is a pretty solid guitar ripper...

I just received the new recording, Blues Magic , by Brad Wilson . Wilson has assembled 11 original tracks with strong airplay appeal. Blues Magic is a smooth rocker with light latin Rhythms not unlike contemporary Santana. Raining In My Heart has a R&B feel along the lines of Boz Scaggs. Roll With Me continues with Wilson's own flavor in this case maybe sounding a little like Steve Miller. Hot Stuff has a slick blues rock sound and cool guitar riffs are scattered throughout. My One Desire is a soul style blues track featuring solid vocals from Wilson and of course featuring strong guitar work. Cryin' Lonely Teardrops has a R&B feel and On A Summer Day continues a smooth rock feel. Nobody But You starts with a classic Elmore James riff and keeps the drive going for a cool blues rocker. Wilson brings the tempo down for I'm Still Breathin' , a bluesy ballad. The Road Back To You is a straight up rocker which could easily see strong airplay. Wintergreen, a qui...