Bman's Blues Report

I just received a copy of the new release; Red, Hot & Blues ; by the Chicago Blues All-Stars and it's a funky blues blast! Opening with Walter Jacobs' Everything Gonna Be Alright , 'Killer' Ray Allison and Daniel 'Chicago Slim' Ivankovich are knocking a hole in it with wild screaming guitars. A super horn section; Johnny Cotton on trombone,Garrick Patten on sax and Kenny Anderson on trumpet; are bringing the funk. On Phil Guy's Feeling Sexy , Roosevelt 'Mad Hatter' Purifoy on keys, Johnny B. Gayden on bass and Jerry Porter on drums set a great groove for a James Brown style track with really cool under the track guitar riffs and horn fanfare throughout. Anji Brooks steps up on BB King's Wonder Why , taking the lead vocal role and harp wonder man Scott Dirks lays down some smokin' hot harp riffs. (Stilladog...you listening...this is your deal!) Killer steps up with a hot rippin guitar solo of his own making this one of the hottest trac...

"Killer" Ray Allison first broke into the Blues scene in the late 70's playing drums behind Blues legends Buster Benton, L.V. Banks, Snooky Prior, Lovee Lee, Valerie Wellington, Paul Butterfield, J.W. Williams, Syl Johnson, Left Hand Frank, Robert Junior Lockwood, Sunnyland Slim, Magic Slim, Sammy Longhorn, BB Odem, Lefty Diz, Bonnie Lee, Dave and Lewis Meyers, Willie Dee, Don Griffin, Mississippi Heat, Big Walter, Buddy Guy, Phil Guy, Big Time Sarah, Melvin Taylor, Five Blind Boys, Lucky Peterson, Jody Noah, Joe Cocker, Junior Wells, Muddy Waters and James Cotton, too name a few... In 1995 Ray appeared in the movie "Things To Do In Denver When Your Dead" with Andy Garcia and has also shared the stage with The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana. In 1998 Ray had the honor of performing for for former President Bill Clinton and former First Lady Hillary Clinton at Hillary's Birthday party in Chicago. In both the years 1998 and 2000 Ray was nomin...