Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dockside Saints , form Cary Morin and it's a cool blend of rhythms, pop and blues. Opening with ultra funky, Nobody Gotta Know , with it's New Orleans, flavor and mixes, Morin on guitars and vocals has terrific support from Lee Allen Zeno on bass, Brian Brignac on drums, Corey Ledet on accordion, Eric Adcock on piano and B3, Beau Thomas on fiddle, Celeste Di lorio on harmony vocals and Keith Blair and John Fohl on guitars, this is a terrific opener. Ballad, Exception To The Rule, has a strong melody and solid vocal blending. Morin's acoustic work balanced with Adcock's B3 makes for the top radio track for the release. Very nice.  High energy, Jamie Rae , has a cool accordion richness over it's tight drum rhythm and cool vocal harmonies. Another great track. I really like instrumental, Bare Trees with it's feeling of peace and solitude created by accordion, acoustic guitar, fiddle and nicely pla...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Muse , from Music Maker Relief Foundation . This cd will accompany a photography book of the same name by Tim Duffy coming out on March 28th. Opening with an acoustic jam, The Grotto Sessions , featuring Simon Arcache on guitar, Dr. Burt, Ironing Board Sam, Etta baker, Captain Luke, Rufus McKenzie, Alabama Slim and Guitar Gabe on vocal, plus a sea of others this is raw and adventurous. Taj Mahal is up next on John Hurt's Spike Drivers Blues with his distinctive vocal and guitar styling. Very nice. Eddie Tigner is up next on vocal and piano with a great boogie, Route 66 with Matt Sickles on bass, Ron Logsdon on drums, Paul Lindon on harp and with really nice guitar runs by Felix Reyes. Excellent! No question that my favorite track on the release is Robert Finley's Age Don't Mean A Thing , the title track from the spectacular release of the same name. Dom Flemons' Polly Put The Kettle On is a great ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, When I Rise from Cary Morin and it's quite good. Morin has coupled his solid vocals, crisp guitar work and fine knowledge of musical phrasing to craft his best release yet. Opening with title track, When I Rise , Morin on lead vocal works with large group of talented musicians including Steve Amedee on drums, Paul Benjaman on electric guitar, Celeste De lorio on vocals, Jay Forrest on drums, Jason Larson on vocal, piano and bass, Dexter Payne on harp and clarinet, Kim Stone on bass, Andy Weyl on piano and Lionel Young on violin. Let Me Hear The Music has a terrific melody and Morin's vocals paired with Payne's clarinet work is pure gold. The Grateful Dead's Dire Wolf gets a really strong rework and I got to say I really like it. With a bit of stiffening and drama and really nice backing vocals by Di lorio, this is a cool track. Benjamin's electric guitar soloing, coupled with Morin's steel wor...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cradle To The Grave , by Cary Morin and it's quite good. Opening with blues number and title track, Cradle To The Grave , Cary Morin accompanies himself on acoustic guitar with blues fused passion. Moving more to a country blues styling with tight and distinct finger picking which is used through most of the rest of the release, Morin's vocals are warm and inviting.  Willie Brown's Mississippi Blues nuzzles in a little closer with a nice blues vamp, Phish's Back On The Train  has a little bit of rag feel and Prince's Nothing Compare 2 U is a particularly nice arrangement... hard to say, but I like it better than others I have heard. Wrapping the release is Watch Over Me , a track with more of a Richie Havens feel. This is a happy kind of blues release and one that is interesting to listen to over and over. I really like where Cary is going and wish him the best.   If you support live ...

Going to Folk Alliance? Be sure to check out one of Cary Morin’s shows. Wednesday Feb 15: 11:30 pm Shubb Capo’s Capocabana Room 541 Thursday Feb 16: 10:30 pm Bliss Hippy Showcase  Room 638 Friday Feb 17: 12:30 am Rocky Mountain Suite Room  532 1:10 am Wolverton Home Concerts Room 749 Saturday Feb 18: 11:30 pm Rocky Mountain Suite Room 532  “ Cradle to the Grave has found its way into near constant rotation in my cd player, it’s just that good. It seems only right that Americana music should take note of this Native Americana artist. I predict that by the end of 2017, when everyone is mentioning the top releases of the year, Morin’s name will be in there with the best of them.” – Joe McSpadden, No Depression

Roots-Based Singer/Fingerstyle Guitarist Cary Morin Set to Release New CD, Cradle to the Grave , January 13 FT. COLLINS, CO – Roots-based singer/fingerstyle guitarist Cary Morin announces a January 13 release date for his fourth CD, Cradle to the Grave . Recorded and engineered by Richard Werdes at Studio Underground in Ft. Collins, Colorado, the new album completes a three-album project of acoustic recordings by Cary Morin, who’s been acclaimed as “one of the best acoustic pickers on the scene today.” Stream the track, “Lay Baby Lay,” here: http://www.carymorin.com/track/1138398 .    Cary Morin will celebrate the new album with a special CD release show on January 13th at The OtterBox Digital Dome Theater in the Ft. Collins Museum of Discovery:   http://fcmod.org/the-museum/digital-dome/ . On Cradle to the Grave , Cary Morin brings together the great musical traditions of America and beyond like no other artist. These recordings provide a timeline of h...

Diggin': " Sweet Home Chicago "  Will Dawson, John Dee, Tim Duffy I took John Dee Holeman to play for the Elementary and Middle School students at Orange County Charter School yesterday. It was wonderful to see the kids fascinated with the John Dee's Piedmont Blues, accompanied by Tim Duffy and Will Dawson, the school's elementary music teacher. The younger students wildly clapped during songs, mouths open in awe, absorbing the music. When Tim asked John Dee to explain the Blues, he said "Well, the blues, it's a feelin' you have. When I was young, the work was hard, and the pay was low... you might be upset, but you couldn't get real mad, you know. The blues, it's a feelin'." One of the things I love most about working at Music Maker is helping people discover our artists, and the music they play. This was one of those great times - however, what I don't see as ...

The most commonly sung song for English-speakers on New Year's eve, "Auld Lang Syne" is an old Scottish song that was first published by the poet Robert Burns in the 1796 edition of the book, Scots Musical Museum. Burns transcribed it (and made some refinements to the lyrics) after he heard it sung by an old man from the Ayrshire area of Scotland, Burns's homeland. It is often remarked that "Auld Lang Syne" is one of the most popular songs that nobody knows the lyrics to. "Auld Lang Syne" literally translates as "old long since" and means "times gone by." The song asks whether old friends and times will be forgotten and promises to remember people of the past with fondness, "For auld lang syne, we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet." The lesser known verses continue this theme, lamenting how friends who once used to "run about the braes,/ And pou'd the gowans fine" (run about the hills and pulled u...

I just received the new release "Sing It Louder" from Cary Morin. The release is filled with upbeat acoustic folk/blues tunes which are expertly crafted and sung by Morin. It's curious listening to this recording as it brings to mind the early music of James Taylor where his singing was soothing, invigorating and enjoyable. Morin is a terrific guitar player and uses his acute dexterity to play both chords and finger pick his way through the recording. I have listened to it a number of times today and would say based upon my description, it isn't the typical recording that I would buy, but I am very happy that I have it and plan to play it often. Cary demonstrates great songwriting, singing and playing talents and has put together a very cool recording that if given the exposure it deserves, should find it's place in many permanent collections. Great job! “Like” Bman’s Facebook page (available in over 50 languages). I will not relay senseless nonsense. In this...

Cary Morin's "Sing It Louder" is December Record Club Release! Next Generation Artist Cary Morin is about to release his first album on the Music Maker label! "Sing It Louder" features pared-down acoustic Native Americana blues, and highlights Morin's deft fingerstyle guitar talents and distinctive songwriting style while showcasing his decades of music experience. Tim describes Morin as "a brilliant guitarist, heartfelt songwriter and soulful singer whose music gives us pause to reflect on life's greatest rewards." The album is the December release for the Music Maker Givin' It Back Record Club , which makes a great gift for loved ones! Order the Record Club in December and get not only "Sing It Louder," but three other new releases in 2012! Or, buy Cary's album by itself here .   Listen:  Boo Hanks -   Girls Are Crazy About Me   Digging through the stacks: Boo Hanks   ...