Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Upbeat Mood , from Music Soup and it's cool, uptempo and spontaneous. Opening with Korean Apartment , guitarist, Nestor Dimopoulos plays long flowing guitar lead, joined by Eviginia Karlafti on organ and Vagelis Kotzabasis on drums. Driving yet understated, this is a solid opener. Bacharach's, My Little Red Book is pushed by Karlafti on keys and organ before Dimopoulos breaks into a bright guitar melody. Snappy rhythm by Kotzabasis on drums. Rocker, Fun Island , is led by Kotzabasis with a tight drum rhythm and Dimopoulos on guitar plucks the melody on guitar. Karlafti takes the lead on organ and Kym Purling on piano trading with Dimopoulos making for a bright melodic tune. Wrapping the release is snappy, Appointment In Athens pairing Dimopoulos on guitar with Henry Gergen on trumpet. Hot riffs by Karlifti and Gergen make this one of my favorite tracks on the release   If you support live Blue...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Over and Over , by Tony Monaco Trio and it's a super groove. Opening with Da Daddy a high energy bop with Tony Monaco on B3 playing the melody, anchored by Zakk Jones on guitar and Reggie Jackson on drums. Monaco takes a real nice B3 solo and leads to a strong melodic guitar solo b Jones. Excellent opener. Boogie track, One For Pat (Martino) has great bones. Monaco provides a firm bass line on B3 and Jones really stretches nicely. Monaco returns on B3 reinforcing yet expanding the melody never giving you a chance to catch your breath. Very nice. Another hard driver is Ready Set Go with Monaco on B3 bass and Jackson set a remarkable pace. Monaco takes the first turn at the wheel steering with wild abandon up the keyboard working it to a frenzy. Jones doesn't relent with an excellent guitar solo of his own. Really strong. Wrapping the release is funky, Uprooted with a tight snappy drum rhythm by Jackson and by th...