Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Issaquena Getaway , from Charlie Barath and it's a lot of fun. Opening with cool strut,  I Gets Around , Charlie Barath on vocal and harmonica leads the way with the confident riffs of Andrew Sherer on guitar and Johnny Burgin on with solid lead guitar, Mark Yacovine on piano, Mike Law on bass and Danny Banks on drums. Cool opener. Slinky, Waitin' For The Queen , featuring a cool story by Barath a signature guitar solo by Burgin and soulful harmonica solo by Barath. Cool interlude. Shuffle, I Might Fall In Love , has a real nice lazy lope with an harmonica and guitar trades. A cool radio track with an easy melody, just perfect for kicking back. I really like Brass Monkey with Banks riding the up beat on drums, Yacavone on organ, and a jangly loose guitar solo by Burgin. On low slung, That Wasn't Me , Barath digs in on vocals and Burgin's guitar work is understated but it scratches the itch and a sou...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just Me and My Friend (s) by Charlie Barath and it's quite good. Opening with a refined field holler, The Forgotten Man , It's just Charlie Sutton on vocal and Barath on harmonica. I really like this track as an opener with it's entry to the blues and it's basic simplicity.  Breaking into a full blues rocker, Travelin' Woman gives Barath the opening to show his Chicago style harmonica skills, backed by Jimmy Adler on guitar, Mike Law on bass, Gordon Grottenthaler on drums and John Burgh on organ. Really nice. Another change in directions on Ohio , with it's back country (almost western) folk style. I really like this track with Barath leading on vocal and harmonica, adding Jeff Scheller on acoustic bass, Pete Freeman on dobro, Ray Bruckman on mandolin and fiddle. Excellent! Open the swinging doors and welcome in full honky tonk country and western, Little Turtle Nightlight . With Sam Stuckey join...