Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New Southern Vintage , from Candice Ivory , and it's powerful blues. Opening with foot stompin' boogie, Ain't So Blind with JL Hooker richness. With Candice Ivory on vocal, Jan Hartmann on harmonica and the Bluebloods ( Robert Allen Parker on guitar, Khari Wynn on bass and Donnon R. Johnson) on drums, this is a great opener. I'm In Trouble is a cooking Chicago style blues with Ivory on vocal, and adds Ben Levin on piano and Adam Hill on slide guitar. Very cool. Excellent driving blues, Strong Black Mattie , really has a great Willie Dixon feel with some of my favorite vocals by Ivory on the release, adding Chris Stephenson on B3, and including some tight guitar riffs by Parker and Hill. Slow blues, Look Away , really has a great feel with Ivory really digging in vocally. With heavy reverb by Hill, emotive soloing by Parker, warm B3 by Stephenson and crisp drum work by Johnson, this is another top tr...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, When The Levee Breaks , from Candice Ivory , and it's a updated rework of the music of Memphis Minnie. Opening with Me And My Chauffeur , Candice Ivory has a different kind of voice that I typically hear in contemporary blues singers but with plenty of sass. Joined by guitar/bass wizard, Charlie Hunter, Da Shawn Hickman on pedal steel and George Sluppick on drums this is a cool opener. I really like the application of African style percussion by Brevan Hampden and Atibe Rorie on You Can't Rule Me continuing throughout the track with Kickman on steel and Sluppick, all supporting to focused vocal of Ivory. When You Love Me has a more traditional feel with Hunter on finger picked guitar and Ivory just singing from the heart. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is funk soaked World Of Trouble . Not only does Hunter and Hickman really get this thing going and potent percussion backing but Ivory digs dee...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The River's Invitation , by Robert Allen Parker is it's quite entertaining. Opening with rocker, The Sound Of A Revolution , a vibrant instrumental with smoking drums by Paul Taylor, Brian Wells and Howard Grimes, Parker on guitars and Gerald Stephens  on keys. My favorite track on the release is traditional Jesus Is On The Main Line with great slide by Parker and strong vocal work by Kennard Farmer, Sheba Potts- Wright and Hope Clayburn. Excellent! Indian Dream / 1 Way 2 Fly is a cool track with soaring violin work by Krista Lynne and Cello by Jana Misener, breaking into a crisp, Kink's like rocker. Farmer is again up front on lead vocal with Parker setting a guitar rocking feel and offering up some cool blues rock riffs. Progressive jazz rocker, The Movement, features Stephens on keys and cool Latin percussion by Michael Alan Todd and Melvin Turner under fluid Latin rock guitar riffs. Very cool. Another of...