BMG Records artist John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom - New Release Review - VINYL

 I just had the opportunity to review a Terrific release by John Lee Hooker, Boom Boom recorded in 1989. John Lee Hooker has been on of my favorite blues guys since I was a kid so to have the good fortunate to review this release on vinyl is really special. The release explodes with Boom Boom right out of the gate featuring Hooker on guitar a vocal, Jimmie Vaughn on guitar, Richard Cousins on bass, Kevin Hayes on drums and Jim Pugh on keys. Unlike some of the more contemporary releases by Hooker, this band stays out of Hookers way with his eccentric timing and vocal style, Jimmie Vaughn fitting right in the slot under Hookers trademark vocals, Pugh adds just the right amount of organ and Hayes kicking the drums tight to make this track an exceptional opener.  Hooker also plays a solo take on his classic I’m Bad Like Jesse James. This recording is not just clean but alive with plenty of air around Hooker with his vocals sounding immediate and present and his guitar seeming to fall behind him with just the right amount of environment to place him in my room. Excellent! Robert Cray joins Hooker on Same Old Blues Again with soulful guitar riffs. Richard Cousins on bass keeps his work steady and lively, stepping back giving Hooker plenty of room  to work his vocal style and guitar riffs at his own pace. Stinging solo guitar work by Cray adds nicely to the track, augmented with warm organ by Pugh. Another solo effort is Sugar Mama with Hooker singing in essential  Hooker style over his own, heavily worked guitar accompaniment.  This is crisp and beautiful. Trick Bag (Shoppin’ For My Tombstone) features Hooker up front on vocal and his own scatter style playing joined by Mitch Woods on piano, Rich Kirch on guitar, Deacon Jones on organ, Jim Guyett on bass and Bowen Brown on drums. It’ so refreshing to hear the liveliness of Hooker on vinyl again with all of the spark of original recordings and the cleanliness of a modern recording. Side two starts off with Boogie At Russian Hill pumped up by Albert Collins on guitar, and Deacon Jones on organ. Hooker rides high on vocal and guitar joined by Mike Osborn and Rich Kirch on guitars, Jim Guyett on bass and Bowen Brown on drums…. Boogie! A strong addition on the release is Hittin’ The Bottle Again featuring Hooker on National Steel Guitar and vocal. In rural blues style, Hooker sings a folk tune outright with uncompromised National Steel Guitar strumming. A cool, rare look at raw Hooker. Bottle Up And Go is another of my favorites on the release with Hooker driving the boogie. With the backing of master John Hammond on authentic harmonica and guitar, Steve Ehrmann on bass and Scott Matthews on drums this track is a gem. Hooker teams up with the great Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica for Thought I Heard. Hookers soulful vocals and rudimentary guitar riffs are paired nicely with the urgent sounds of Musselwhite making this another of the most essential tracks on the release. Excellent! Wrapping the release is I Ain’t Gonna Suffer No More with Hooker leading the way on slow blues, his vocals impeccable and his guitar riffs captured in their full regalia, backed by Osborne and Kirch on guitars, Guyett on bass, Brown on drums and Jones on organ. It really is a pleasure to hear solid recordings of Hooker without all of the modernized attempts to make him pop and fall into a rigid, unnatural playing coupled with the liveliness of vinyl. Definitely super release. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Gulf Coast Records artist: The Boneshakers - Live To Be This - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live To Be This, from The Boneshakers, and it's a soul filled blues rocker. Opening with high stepping, I'll Kick A Brick (For My Man), Jenny Langer on lead vocal sings with attitude backed with the tight drum raps of Greg Bissonette, and Randy Jacobs on guitar exchanging riffs with Rodney Lee on keys, Ron Holloway on sax, Joe Sublett on sax, and Mark Pender on trumpet and solid backing vocals by Harry Bowens, and Derrick Harris. Hot opener. Funky, How Do You Spell Love is a real workout for Langer with Bissinette on drums and super vocal and horn backing. Dobro Jones has a great country blues feel with Jacobs featured on dobro and vocal with Langer. Very nice. Here I Am is downright slinky with an excellent bottom and Ron Reinhardt on keys. Jacobs distorts his guitar for a real nice guitar solo and Langers vocals paired with Bowens, Harris, Lessly Fisher jr, and Holly Montgomery and Lenny Castro on percussion makes this one of my favorites on the release. Took A Trip has serious radio appeal with it's melody and vocal appeal and it's lightly funky rhythm and horn overtones. Wrapping the release is pop ballad, The Cake and The Candle featuring Langer in her most serious vocal mode. This would easily blend into adult contemporary airplay with it's subdued backing and vocal forward presentation, and melodic soloing by Jacobs on guitar. 

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Blues House Productions artist: John Primer - Grown In Mississippi - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Grown In Mississippi, by John Primer and it's deep rooted blues, Delta style. Opening with John's Blues Holler, an authentic style acapella track replicating the sounds that Primer heard by field workers in his youth. Rolling into Born In Mississippi with Primer showing his slick finger work and his warm vocals on acoustic guitar. Fluid, precise and solid. Very nice. Willie Dixon's Down In The Bottom features Primer guitar and vocal and Watermelon Slim on slide dobro, and backed by Billy Earheart on piano. Very nice. Bobby Rush joins on Nothin' But A Chicken Wing adding some nice harp work to this funky blues track featuring Primer on lead vocal and guitar, Harvell Thomas Jr on bass and Quicksand Martin on drums. This track is stripped down and moving. Another track with a cool funk is When I Met The Blues driven by Lee Williams on drums and featuring Lightnin' Malcolm on guitar and Primer on guitar and vocal. Charlie Musselwhite has a great showcase of his masterful harp playing on Sonny Boy Williamson's, Baby Please Don't Go working very nicely with Primer on lead guitar and vocal. One of my favorites on the release. Slow blues, Let Me Be Your Electrician, features Steve Bell Harrington on harmonica, Watermelon Slim on dobro and Primer on guitar and vocal really digging in setting up one of Primer's best solos on the release. Tight, Chicago blues, I Ain't Kickin' Up No Dust features Primer on vocal and real nice slide guitar, Deak Harp whipping out a tasty solo on harmonica, Quicksand Martin on drums and Thomas Jr on bass adding yet another texture to this already flavorful set. Wrapping the release is John's Crawdad Song, a simple take on a traditional song with Primer on vocal and guitar and Gary Vincent on bass. Solid closer for a cool release. 

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Stony Plain Records artist: Colin James - Chasing The Sun - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Chasing The Sun, by Colin James and it's chocked full of great tracks and guest talent. Opening with Protection, Lucinda Williams is up front on vocal with Colin James on vocal and lead guitar. Colin Linden on guitar adds rea nice riffs joined by Darryl Jones on bass, Charley Drayton on drums and Ann & Regina McCrary on backing vocals. This track has a strong melody with a Keith Richards feel. Excellent opener. Devilment has a really cool, New Orleans style drum rhythm by Drayton and with the addition of Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica crafting some sweet lead work, this is a strong track. Soulful radio track, How It Feels To Be Loved, really has that warm universal radio play feel featuring James on guitar and vocal, a paced, walking bass line by Jones and warm B3 contributions by Michael Hicks and Jim Hoke on sax. Very nice. Another track that has a great rock feel is This Song Kills Hate with it's guitar swagger and distinctive Darryl Jones/Charley Drayton bottom. James and Linden grind on the guitar and James' vocals are nicely matched with Ruby Amanfu. More traditional blues, John Hammond's Come To Find Out, is nicely assembled acoustic number with James on vocal and acoustic guitar and Musselwhite on harmonica, with rhythm by Linden. Solid track. Wrapping the release is Open Your Mind, a bluesy track with a dark overtone and excellent backing vocals by the McCrary Sisters. I really like this closing track... a solid closer for a real nice release. 

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Crosscut Records artist: Franck L. Goldwasser - Who Needs This Mess!!?? - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Who Needs This Mess!!??, from Franck L. Goldwasser and it's a thick slice of blues. Opening with with a solid blues number, Don't Give Up On Me Baby, Franck Goldwasser on vocal and guitar follows a SBW vamp and with strong vocals and really nice guitar work really gets things going. Backed by Ralph Carter on bass and Johnny Morgan on drums, this is a strong opener. Skwurley is a real cool instrumental with excellent slide work by Goldwasser matched with R.J. Mischo. Excellent! Playing off of a "Green Onions" skeleton, Diskum Baab Uleh Shun is another instrumental with plenty of room for Mischo on harmonica to trade riffs with Goldwasser on guitar over the solid bottom of Carter and Morgan. With a zydeco feel, Sobbby Doggy Boogy is a fun track with a great tempo, driven by Goldwasser on guitar and slide. Pure Chicago on If I Could Holler with Goldwasser on vocal and a constant harmonica vamp throughout. Traditional Waters' style instrumentation fits nicely with this track. Another Morganfield influenced track, Dumb and Dangerous has a vital rhythm with Goldwasser on Waters influenced slide style and foot stomp drum. With it's Atkins style guitar rhythm, Razzmazazz is a real nice track with Goldwasser showcasing his finger picking style. Closing the release is slow blues, Bleedin' Heart with Goldwasser breaking loose on electric blues, floating on the full organ backing of Jim Pugh. This is a real nice blues track with Goldwasser digging deep on vocal and taking no prisoners on guitar. This is a real nice closer for a solid release. 

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Tracy Nelson - Life Don't Miss Nobody - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Life Don't Miss Nobody, by Tracy Nelson and it's really good. Opening with Strange Things Happening Every Day, Tracy Nelson on vocal really gets things moving. Kevin McKendree on piano knows how to play a boogie and backed by John Gardner on drums, Byron House on bass, Mike Henderson on electric guitar, this is a great opener. With a Spanish taste, title track, Life Don't Miss Nobody features Nelson on lead vocal and Wurlitzer, with Mike Dysinger on congas and Guiro, House on bass, Larry Chaney on 12 string guitar and Cuatro and Steve Conn on piano and with the tight horn work of Jack Warner on sax, Dominique Caster on trumpet, and Chase Carpenter on trombone. Very nice. Willie Nelson steps up on Honky Tonkin' sharing the lead vocals with Nelson. Mickey Raphael adds some tasty harmonica lead melody and I particularly like Mike Johnson's contribution on steel guitar. One of my favorites on the release. Terry Hanck joins on Gene McDaniels' Compared To What. With Tracy on lead vocal and Hanck on vocal and sax, this track is great. Gardner and House set the rhythm and Steve Conn on piano seeds a great solo by Hanck. Excellent track. Chuck Berry's Brown Eyed Handsome Man gets a cool, New Orleans twist with Nelson surrounded by Irma Thomas, Marcia Ball, Dianne Davidson, Vickie Carrico, Larry Chaney and Reba Russell on complimentary vocals really giving the track a solid richness. Wrapping the release is Hard Times featuring Nelson alone on vocal and 12 string acoustic guitar. A pure traditional track, this is an excellent closer. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Jimmy Carter - Blind Faith - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (September 20, 2021), Blind Faith, from Jimmy Carter (Co-Founding member of The Blind Boys of Alabama) and it takes pieces of a number of genres of music and blends them together nicely. Opening with After The Storm, Carter on lead vocal, is joined by Joey Williams with some nicely finessed gypsy style guitar, Ryan Joseph on violin, Steven Ray Ladson on bass and tidy drum rhythms by Chris Marshak. Solid opener. With a cool R&B feel, Dream On, has a snappy rhythm and super backing vocals. With a firm bass line. forward trombone solo by Freddie Lonzo, and piano backing by Max Leake, this is one of my favorites on the release. Charlie Musselwhite  lays in some nice harmonica work on Find Your Way Home with the addition of Joseph on violin, and a jazzy piano solo by Peter Levin. Wrapping the release is blues shuffle/gospel track, Why Me, with Musselwhite, on harmonica, Ron Pullman on guitar and powerful choral backing by the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. This is a solid first release by Carter and one with a lot of flavor.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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True North Records release: A Sweet Relief Tribute to Joey Spampinato - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (June 25, 2021), A Sweet Relief Tribute to Joey Spampinato, NRBQ founding member and writer of all of the tracks on thie release. Opening with blues rocker,You Can't Hide, by Al Anderson on lead vocal and guitar, with Carl Minor on acoustic guitar, David Dorn on keys, Steve Mackey on bass, and Evan Hutchings on drums. Energetic opener. Los Lobos contributes Every Boy and Girl, with David Hildago on guitar, accordion and vocal, Steve Berlin on sax, Vince Hidalgo on bass and David Hildago Jr on drums. Pop tune, How Can I Make You Love Me, is performed by She and Him with Zooey Deschanel on vocal and M. Ward on guitar and keys. The Minus 5 brings us Don't She Look Good in a slightly punky rockabilly style. Scott McCaughey on guitar, piano, organ, percussion and vocal with Mike Mills on bass, Peter Buck on guitar, and Joe Adragna on drums and with a really cool guitar solo by Dave Depper. I really like Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale's work on How Will I Know. Simple guitar and drum accompaniment under nicely blended the vocal duet is the ticket. Bonnie Raitt's take on Green Lights is electrifying with Scott Ligon on guitar, Terry Adams on clavinet, Casey McMcDonough on bass, John Perrin on drums and wild slide work and lead vocal by Raitt. Excellent! Robbie Fulks does a stright up country work on Chores keeping it fun with Val McCallum on guitar and backing vocal, Davey Faragher on bass and backing vocal and Pete Thomas on drums in support of Fulks on guitar and lead vocal. Very cool. The Nils set out a real straight rocker with edge in That's Alright with Carlos Soria on bass and vocal, Mark Donato on guitar and vocal, Phil Psarakos on guitar, Emilien Catalano on drums, Peter Work on harmonica and featuring Chris Spedding on lead guitar a cool ass kicker. Wrapping the release is Kami Lyle with Joey Spampinato on First Crush. This track is quite cool with a simple Brazilian feel. Kami's vocals backed by her own piano and trumpet, and Joey Spampinato on guitar, bass and vocal is an excellent closer for this ecclectic release.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Cleopatra Records artist: Kirk Fletcher - My Blues Pathway - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, My Blues Pathway, from Kirk Fletcher and I really like it. Opening with R&B flavored, Ain't No Cure For The Downhearted, Fletcher is front and center on lead guitar and vocal over a pumping bass line by Travis Carlton and drums by Lemar Carter, with Jeff Babko on keys, Joe Sublett on sax and Mark Pender on trumpet. Strong opener. No Place To Go is one of my favorite tracks on the release with is stepping pace, strong vocals and the horn work of Sublett and Pender accenting crisp guitar riffs by Fetcher. Very nice. Slinky blues, Struggle For Grace, is in the vein of King's Thrill is Gone with solid lead vocals and stinging lead guitar by Fletcher, David Kida on drums and warm horn support by Sublett and Pender. Super. Slow blues, Heart So Heavy really finds Fletcher in a nice groove with his trademark soulful guitar bends and fluid runs and his vocals sound as good as ever. Excellent! Sonny Boy Williamson's Fattening Frogs For Snakes is up next and using a cool shuffle feel driven by Babko on keys and Kida on drums and Carlton on bass. Fletcher gets a nice grip on his guitar and has it squealing for more. Very cool. Instrumental, D is for Denny is a pretty straight forward shuffle with Fletcher laying down the melody. His use of the lower fretboard for the melody, paired with Sublett and Pender on horns really gives the track a retro blues feel. Wrapping the release is Juke Boy Bonner's Life Gave Me A Dirty Deal with Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica, Josh Smith on National Resophonic guitar and Fletcher on guitar and lead vocal. With it's more acoustic delta feel, this is a solid closer for a really strong release. 

 


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Stony Plain Records artists: New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers - Volume 1 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Volume 1, from New Moon Jelly Roll Freedom Rockers and it's great stuff. Opening with Blues, Why You Worry Me features Charlie Musselwhite on lead vocal  and harmonica. A strong Chicago style shuffle, also includes Alvin Youngblood Hart and Jimbo Mathus on guitars, Jim Dickinson on piano, Luther Dickinson on guitars, mandolin, Cody Dickinson on drums, Chris Chew on bass and Paul Taylor on tub bass. Super opener. Charlie Patton's Pony Blues is a super follow up with it's Hill Country styling and Hart on lead vocal. It's no secret that Mathus is one of my favorite contemporary musicians with his quirky style and super grooves (not to mention his solid country sound). Night Time features Mathus on lead vocal and one of his infectious, funky grooves, driven by Chews' bass line and strong harmonica work from Musselwhite. Very cool. One of those cool party rags, Come On Down To My House, features the late Jim Dickinson on piano and lead vocal, joined by a really comfortable weaving of the entire group on vocal and acoustic instruments. Super country blues stew. Mathus is back at the mic on Shake It and Break It, a cool rag with the classic rag styling of random instrumental blending, stagger drumming and high riding harmonica by Musselwhite. Wrapping the release is the Mississippi Sheiks' Stop and Listen Blues featuring Dickinson on mandolin, Mathus on guitar and Hart on guitar and lead vocal. This is a strong closer for a really cool release.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Delmark Records artist: Johnny Burgin - Live - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live from Johnny Burgin and it's really good. Opening with brisk shuffle, You Got to Make A Change, Johnny is upfront on vocal and guitar, backed by Aki Kumar on harp, Kid Andersen on guitar, Chris Matheos on bass and Steve Dougherty on drums. Excellent, slow blues, Can't Make It Blues, Johnny really shines with his soulful vocal and blistering guitar riffs. Most people don't think of Chicago bluesmen as hot, slingers with real pyrotechnics but Burgin is here to show you that Buddy Guy is no longer the only game in town. Excellent! There are only a few contemporary players that can really pull off the funky blues like Albert King could and Burgin is one of them. She Gave Me The Slip is a great example with solid blues riffs over a great funky beat. Time for a great Chicago blues instrumental and Kumar is up and ready on harp. Burgin, Andersen and Kumar really kick it on this one with smoke flying. Rae Gordon has the mic on Late Night Date Night and she grips this track by the scruff and shakes it. Burgin and sax ace Nancy Wright add some real nice lead rhythm and Kid Andersen covers on piano. Wright is featured on You Took The Bait and Gordon is back on vocal. Johnny steps up with lush, T Bone Walker styling and rich tone and Wright's sax work is excellent (you listening Stilladog). Louisiana Walk is an excellent instrumental shuffle showcasing Burgin's chops and it's great to see some of that get out here on disc. Wright's tone is unmistakable in the background as Burgin "Walks" that dog around like a king! Charlie Musselwhite is up next on Blues Falling and Burgin steps back letting him take the lead with one short burst of "fancy picking" behind his own vocals. Musselwhite plays with the enthusiasm of a teenager but has the chops of the seasoned blues player that he is. One of my favorite tracks on the release is When A Bluesman Comes To Town. Johnny's vocal phrasing really nicely with Musselwhite's harp work and Burgin not only gets aggressive with his guitar but seems to be grabbing his riffs with real attack and tension. I love this. It's something that smooth players don't seem to get. Very very cool! Wrapping the release is Latin flavored shuffle, Jody's Jazz, with a great mixture of blues riffs, terrific Burgin classic vibrato, and supple chords. Wright steps in with another few rich sax solos and Burgin closes it down with his own run of jazz and blues riffs. It's great that Delmark has caught one of the most dynamic guitar players on the scene in live action. Highly recommended. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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"Johnny Burgin Live" Street Date 8.16, Single Available Now!

Johnny Burgin Live" on Delmark Records, CD/LP Street Date 8.16!   This live CD/LP offers twelve brand-new originals and two covers, performed in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Sonoma County, CA on Jan 5 of this year.  The band consisted of my road-tested rhythm section of Steve Dougherty and Chris Matheos in addition to some special guests and friends that I don't get to work together regularly, namely Kid Andersen, Rae Gordon, Aki Kumar, Charlie Musselwhite and Nancy Wright.  We had just one night to nail it, which made this recording a crazy, but thrilling, high wire act!  Blues legend Charlie Musselwhite's driving boogie-woogie harp on L"California Blues" is an absolute highlight.  You could feel a jolt of electricity run through the crowd when Portland, Oregon-based Rae Gordon took the stage.  The end result is a raw, fresh, and original all-star set of blues, shot through with live energy.   PLEASE NOTE: While the CD street date is 8.16, the LPs won't be available for purchase until January.  I'll keep you posted. CHICAGO CD RELEASE PARTY: Sept 19, Martyr's. 8-11, 3855 N Lincoln Ave, featuring the Chicago debut of Portland OR's award winning singer Rae Gordon and a rare appearance by Bollywood Blues star Aki Kumar.  Buy advance tickets here. EXCLUSIVE SWAG BAGS: Twenty 50$ bonus Swag Bags are available.  These will include a Delmark t-shirt, a bit of vintage memorabilia, a gift certificate for the autographed LP, free entry, and a band meet and greet from 7-7.30.  Reserve yours now via Paypal, click here or send payment to rjohnnyband@gmail.com.     THE TOUR CONTINUES...   It's been a great summer-- I had a great time in at one of the world's best blues festivals in Cazorla, Spain with Tail Dragger and Quique Gomez performing in a centuries-old bullring.  We also had a fun swing through the UK and the privilege of appearing with Billy Boy Arnold and Charlie Musselwhite at The Chicago Blues Festival.  For a youtube clip of Billy Boy Arnold with me in Madrid. click here.  Upcoming dates:  Fri-Sat:  July 19-20: Bejar Blues Festival, SPAIN, with Tail Dragger.  Wed July 24: Ina Mae's, duo show w Chris Matheos, Chicago Fri, July 26: The Washington, Burlington, IA Sat, July 27: Merchant St Festival, Kankakee, IL Sun, July 28: The Iron Post, Urbana IL 3-6 Thurs, Aug 1: The Smoke Daddy, duo show, Chicago  Fri, Aug 2: Third Base, Springfield, IL Sat, Aug 3: Elements Wine Bar, Valparaiso, IN Sun, Aug 4: private party, Greencastle, IN Wed, Aug 7: Ina Mae's, duo show, Chicago Thurs, Aug 8: The Smoke Daddy Wrigley, Chicago Fri, Aug 9: Acorn Coffeehouse, Wheaton IL   Sat, Aug 10: Flatted Fifth Blues and BBQ, Bellevue, IA  Sun, Aug 11: Bobber's, Winslow, IL 2-5 I'll have some new shirts and stickers as well on this trip-- here's the style: Aug 12-Sept 17: EU TOUR: Stockholm, Malmo Sweden, Swing Blues Festival Wespelaar Belgium, shows in Kouvola and Lahti in Finland, a house party and MOJO in Copenhagen, a house party in Lucern Switzerland, club dates and The Vinovo Blues Festival with Fast Frank near Turin, Italy, and a string of dates in Rome with Marco di Folco.  FALL TRAVELS: Watch for dates in Chicago, Michigan, Indiana, The Carolina Downhome Blues Festival, Pensacola FL, and then working my way back to Portland, OR by November 1.

VizzTone Label Group artist: Tony Holiday - Porch Sessions - New release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tony Holiday's Porch Sessions and I really like it. Vocalist and harmonica player, Tony Holiday has put together a great release here with a who's who of the blues business. Opening with Pick-Pocket Fingers a cool shuffle track Holiday on lead vocal is joined by James Harman on harmonica, Kid Ramos on guitar, Landon Stone on guitar and Kid Andersen on bass, this is a cool opener. John Primer steps in on lead vocal and guitar on They Call Me John Primer with featured harp work by Bob Corritore and Holiday and Joel Meza Jr. on drums. I always love Primer's slide style and Corritore has beautiful tone. Very nice. An easy, funky track, A Woman Named Trouble, showcases John Nemeth and Jake Friel with Holiday on vocal and harmonica. This is a funky funky track with a great bass line by Anderson. Excellent! Mitch Kashmar and Ronnie Shellist join Holiday for Three Way Party and slower but soulful guitar and harmonica soloing gives this track a rich feel.  Guitar boogie, Goin' To Court features Harman and Ramos and it's hot. With a great rhythm guitar line by Stone, Harmon plays for style and Ramos smokes the frets. Very nice. On Coin Operated Woman, Holiday has the mic again and Chicago guitar man, Rockin' Johnny Burgin fans the frets. Holiday is front and center on harp and does a really nice job balancing his smooth vocals and lead harp and Burgin is restrained but his riffs are tight and aggressive. Wrapping the release is This Time I'm Gone For Good featuring the excellent vocals of William Kidd. Holiday's harmonica nicely surrounds the deep richness of Kidd with only a touch of Stone's precision guitar punctuation. Very nice closer for a strong release. 

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Blue Elan Records artist: Janiva Magness - Love Is An Army - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (February 23, 2018), Love Is An Army, by Janiva Magness and it's earthy. Opening with R&B track, Back To Blue, Janiva Magness shows authority in the shadows of Mayfield and Green with Stephen Hodges on drums, Davey Faragher on bass, Arlan Schierbaum on keys, Doug Livingston on pedal steel, Dave Darling on guitar, Phil Parlapiano on piano and Darrell Leonard, Joe Sublet and Alfredo Ballesteros on horns. Also contributing backing vocals are Kudisan Kai, Sugaray Rayford, Gary Pinto, Natasha Pinto, Thrones, Aurelia, Dave Darling and Brie Darling. Excellent opener. Another nice entry is Tell Me with strong vocals and real nice guitar work by Darling. Ballad and title track, Love Is An Army, has a strong melody with warm pedal work by Livingston and really nice vocal duet between Magness and Bryan Stephens. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Down Below with a really earthy feel and featuring Courtney Hartman on guitar and banjo. Faragher's bass line on What's That Say About You really sets the track apart with super vocal blending by Magness and tight guitar riffs from Darling. Another track with super R&B roots, but with a strong blues root is Home, with Cedric Burnside. This is a strong track and has a really firm grim on early blues. Very nice. Wrapping the release is power ballad, Some Kind Of Love featuring Magness on vocal, only backed by Parlapiano on piano. Powerful closer to a solid release.

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Dog House Records artist: Harpdog Brown - Travelin" With The Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Travelin' With The Blues, by Harpdog Brown and I really like it. Opening with Better Days, a rolling blues number, Harpdog is upfront on vocal and his signature harp work with Jordie Edmonds on guitar, Pat Darcus on bass, Carl Sonny Leyland on piano, Jimmy Morello on drums and featuring Kid Andersen with some hot guitar riffs. On Otis Spann's Must Have Been The Devil, Brown settles down nicely into the Chicago style on vocal and strong harp with Edmonds and Little Victor laying down some real tasty guitar. On Latin flavored, Moose On The Loose, Brown and Charlie Musselwhite play off of each other on harp. With Mike Thorne on cowbell, and solid guitar riffs by Edmonds, this track rocks. Boogie Woogie track, For Better or Worse, features Andersen laying out some really nice rocking riffs with a nice twang. Excellent! Slowing it down a bit on What's Your Real Name, Brown tells it Bishop style, but subbing harp for Red Dog. Rusty Zinn lays in some really nice rhythm and under the vocal lead work giving this track cool texture. Anther Chicago style track, Home Is Where The Harp Is swings right into the groove with solid vocals and crisp harp work from Brown. Tight track. Muddy Waters track, Hard Days Blues has great character and Brown's vocals and harp work are spot on. Wrapping the release is Hayward Boogie, a cool instrumental with Brown and Edmonds just jamming out. Very cool closing to a solid release.



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Henrietta Records artist: Charlie Musselwhite - I Ain't Lyin' ... - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, I Ain't Lyin'..., from Charlie Musselwhite and its Chicago style blues pure and simple. Opening with Latin flavored, Good Blues Tonight, Musselwhite is joined by Matt Stubbs on guitar, June Core on drums and Steve Froberg on bass. With classic Musselwhite harp styling and a snazzy guitar solo by Stubbs this is a cool opener. Elmore James' Done Somebody Wrong, is up next and has classic 70's arrangement not unlike Beck and Page or the Allmans but with Musselwhite's signature vocals and harp riffs. Stubbs has a clean guitar dialog which, with cool vibrato has a punch of it's own. Long Lean Lanky Mama is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's freewheeling harp and deliberate guitar attack. Very nice! Slow blues, Always Been Your Friend, really gives Stubbs a solid floor to solo on guitar and Musselwhite delivers nicely on harp and vocals. Morganfield style, If I Should Have Bad Luck, is a great toe tapper with a classic 12 bar bottom. Musselwhite's trademark tone and phrasing is perfect on this number and Stubbs hits it running in pure Chicago style. My Kinda Gal is a high power track with hot riffs. Both Musselwhite and Stubbs unload on this track, Stubbs at time with almost Western style riffs. very cool! Cool shuffle track, Blues, Why Do You Worry Me, hits a fine groove , set by Froberg and Musselwhite hits it square on. Walking guitar riffs by Stubbs are placed in perfect style making this another of my favorites on the release. Continuing in cool Chicago style, 300 Miles To Go, has a great energy and Musselwhite's phrasing is pure and tight. Stubbs adds another of his slick solos adding even more texture to an already strong track. Long Leg Woman digs in the funk with bass,guitar & drum rhythm section giving Musselwhite a solid vehicle to solo over. A cool departure and solid track, this track has a nice feel. Duke Pearson penned instrumental ballad, Cristo Redentor, is a super track with Musselwhite playing the melody on harp. This is a very nice track and gives Musselwhite the opportunity to play outside of the box. Excellent! Wrapping the release is an unedited version of Good Blues Tonight. With it's Latin flavor, clean riffs and great tone, it's a great closer as it was opener.

 

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Josh Smith - Over Your Head - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Over Your Head, by Josh Smith and I really like it! Opening with aggressive blues rocker, How Long, Smith takes no time at all establishing his presence. A heavy bass line by Calvin Turner, drums by Lemar Carter and solid vocals and lead guitar by Josh Smith, this track hits hard. With rock solid footing, Smith sets the track on fire with creative guitar riffs. His work is also complimented by Joe Bonamassa on guitar. Excellent! Title track, Over Your Head, is a well written rocker with grinding guitar riffs and gravelly vocals. I really like Smith's poise and guitar attack which shows both composure and explosiveness. Very cool! Strongly blues oriented, When I Get Mine, has a modified shuffle feel with cool blues guitar phrasing over a melodic bass line. Very smooth! Walking jazz bass line by Turner sets the pace for Still Searching with Jeff Babko on keys. This is a really nice improvisational piece that has a great groove. First Hand Look is a super rocker with an uneven rhythm. This is a terrific track non concentric drumming and a contagious rhythm. Want a mix of Led Zep, Tommy Bolin and Billy Cobham... this is it! Excellent!! Next up is ... and What, a swinging blues instrumental. With it's wah wah cranked open, Smith and Kirk Fletcher just lay down the nicest guitar grooves over a tight rhythm pattern by Turner and Carter. Excellent! Up next is Smoke And Mirrors with a super dynamic intro breaking into a funky rock groove. With a light twist of Stone Free, this track moves along gathering tension which is released in a power bomb over and again by this 3 piece dynamo! Pusher is a funky rocker, Smith responding to his own poised vocals with crisp guitar riffs. Carter's kick drum and slap snare/rim shot combo sets the pace and Turner's bass groove is infectious. Super! Better Off is a quiet ballad featuring Charles Jones on vocals and Jeff Babko on keys. This is a special track with an almost Philly sound. Sensuous guitar soloing by Smith nicely compliments this beautiful track. You'll Find Love has a Muddy Waters/Willie Dixon kind of feel reinforced by Charlie Musselwhite on harp. A cool and easy blues vamp with modern dressing, this track opens up as it progresses with swinging blues guitar riffs and harp work. Wrapping the release is a reprise of How Long, with a tight drum rhythm, bass line and distorted guitar soloing. This is an excellent closer to an excellent release!

 

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Stony Plain artist: Colin Linden - Rich In Love - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Rich In Love, from Colin Linden and it's very entertaining. Opening with Knob & Tube, an easy paced blues pop track featuring Linden on mandolin and vocal and backed by Amy Helm on vocal, the release is off to a good start. R&B slanted, I Need Water has a slick, Boz Scaggs style. Linden delivers nicely on this track with quiet but really interesting slide riffs, backed by John Dymond on bass, Gary Craig on drums and Tim Laur on organ. Very nice! Delia Come For Me is a strong ballad with Linden on vocal accompanying himself on acoustic guitar and overdubbing a really sweet slide guitar track. Solid writing and performance. Harp master, Charlie Musselwhite adds his signature harp styling on The Hurt, a bluesy ballad. Linden opens the electric slide up a bit on this track giving it a nice contrast and Reese Wynans dances on piano giving the track a certain sparkle. Everybody Ought To Be Loved is a soulful ballad and one that should have solid radio appeal. Harmony vocals from Amy Helm and Wynans on keys gives the track added warmth but this track with it's strong melody and tight execution should see a lot of airplay. Title track, Rich In Love, has a really nice ambiance with Linden playing a lone guitar in what sounds like a cavernous void. His voice, teamed on melody is joined by Musselwhite on harp with clever accents and Helm on warm harmonies making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Date With The Stars has a romantic 50's almost Hawaiian sound with a sweet melody and beautiful guitar tone backed by Lauer on organ. Lush! And Then You Begin has a definite country blues guitar picking style under Linden on vocal. No More Cheap Wine has a definite rock feel with Craig leading the way with a snappy drum beat. Linden sets a nice vocal groove and chases himself with spanky slide work. Wynans on organ gives the track depth and Dymond keeps a solid bass line going as Linden makes flashes of David Lindley tone. Very nice! Luck Of A Fool has a cool easy rock feel and Linden sings with solid emotion. A cool guitar rhythm and pointed organ accents by Wynans gives the track a toe tapping feel. I Made A Promise is a somber ballad with warm electric guitar accompaniment and well placed electric slide accents. Very nice! Wrapping the release is Paybacks Are Hell, a simple acoustic ballad with Linden on vocal and acoustic guitar. A sweet little tune and a nice closer for a solid release.


 

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”