Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Seven Day Blues , from Johnny Tucker and I really like it. Opening with Talkin' About You Baby , Johnny Tucker has the rugged voice of a pure blues man. Backed by Big Jon Atkinson on guitar, Troy Sandow on bass, Scott Smart on guitar, and Malachi Johnson on drums, this is a solid opener. With the addition of Sandow on harp, Tired of Doing Nothing has super presence, really, imaging that I haven't experienced in my office location on many occasions thanks I believe to the expert engineering of Atkinson (in Mono). If you listen to this, you won't need to have someone tell you it's special. It's way apparent! On Why Do You Let Me Down So Hard , Tucker's vocals are super and Atkin's guitar work is downright outstanding. Excellent! Title track, Seven Day Blues , is funnkkyy! Again, Sandow's harp work over Atkinson's bass, working in concert with Tuckers vocals really make the groove. With...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, After A While , from Wee Willie Walker and The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra and it's really strong. Opening with Second Chance , a cool R&B track featuring Walker on lead vocal, backed by Anthony Paule on guitar, Paul Olguin on bass, Tony Lufrano on keys, Derrick "D'Mar" Martin on drums and vibes, Tom Poole on trumpet, Derek James on trombone, Charles McNeal on tenor sax, Johnnie Bamont on bari sax and flute, and featuring Loralee Christensen, Larry Batiste and Glenn Walters on backing vocals. Title track, After A While is a particularly soulful track and Walker really digs in vocally. Of particular note is the warmth of the horn section especially the rich tenor work of McNeal and the throaty bari work by Bamont. Slick, R&B track, I Don't Want To Take A Chance , has solid radio potential with Walkers effortless lead and nicely presented backing vocals. Thanks For The Dance has a Tex Mex fe...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Full Circle , from Rev. Billy C. Wirtz and it's a blast. Opening with a Rock n Roller, Too Old , Wirtz takes the lead on piano and vocal with great flair. Joined by Mark Wenner on smoking harp, Mark Stutso on drums, Johnny Castle on bass, and with Paul Bell ripping some hot riffs, this is a great opener. On Smokie, Part 2 , a swinging boogie, Wirtz and Bob Driver on guitar lays down some really nice instrumental lines. One Point Five is a clever track about not being number one in someone's life but the alternatives that aren't all bad. With it's country flavor and some cool country riffs, this is funny. With it's stripped down piano accompaniment, Mama Was A Deadhead , Wirtz tells a clever story of the live of Dead fan's children. Another rock n roller, Rockin' Up To Gloryland has a great feel with a tight bottom and cool lead soloing by Bell and Wenner. With it's somber, ballad pace, ...

Al Basile Creates New Roots Music Masterpiece with B’s Expression , Due September 18 on Sweetspot Records Latest Release Is Most-Fully Realized Album Yet RUMFORD, RI – Singer/songwriter/cornetist Al Basile announces a September 18 release date for B’s Expression , the new CD from the “Bard of the Blues,” distributed nationally by City Hall Records. Produced by long-time friend Duke Robillard and recorded at Lakewest Recording Studio in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, B’s Expression features 13 all-original Al Basile songs, backed by a simpatico band that includes Duke Robillard – guitars; Mark Teixeira – drums; Bruce Bears – keyboards; Brad Hallen – bass; Doug James – tenor and baritone sax; and Carl Querfurth – trombone. An original member of the seminal roots music group, Roomful of Blues, Al Basile is a multiple Blues Music Award nominee. He’s written songs for and/or appeared on over 10 Duke Robillard albums, including the Grammy nominated Guitar Groove-a-Rama ...

I just received the newest release, Not Goin' Away , from Bey Paule Band and it's rich. Opening with Black Bottom , a soulful track featuring Frank Bey on lead vocal and Loralee Christensen, Lisa Leuschner and Larry Bastiste on backing vocals. Soft cradling horn work by Nancy Wright on sax, Mike Rinta on trombone and Tom Poole add a really nice additional dimension. High stepper, Kiss Me Like You Mean It , has a cool melody and nice organ work from Tony Lufrano. Anthony Paule's clever guitar riffs give the track extra sting against Paul Revelli's tight drums and running bass line from Paul Olguin. Slinky blues track, Right In Front Of You , has a great bottom and Lufrano lays down a really nice piano groove and Paule takes center stage for a clean precise guitar solo. Soul ballad, Next To My Heart, gives Bey a nice platform to show off his soulful vocal chops, with Lufrano and Paule both adding sweet soulful riffs. Very nice! Someone For You is a nice easy R&B t...

I just received the newest release, Back Porch Party , from The Nighthawks and I really like it. Recorded live at Montrose Studio in Richmond Virginia, this release keeps the volume nice and easy but the enthusiasm is high. Opening with Rock This House , Mark Wenner has got the harp cooking and, Wenner, Paul Bell (guitar), Johnny Castle (bass) and Mark Stutso (drums) harmonize nicely on vocals. Bell tosses in his own jazz filled riffs on guitar for a nice topper. Hot start! On W alkin' After Midnight , The Nighthawks get a easy pace, Wenner taking center stage on vocal and harp. Down In The Hole has a Latin rhythm with Bell emphasizing the tempo. The band breaks into a smooth shuffle and Wenner carries a nice harp solo throughout. Ike Turner's Matchbox is up next with a R&B swing. I really like Wenner's harp solo on this track which almost takes off. Bell gets a cool swing going on guitar as well with some dynamic chords. Super! Willie Dixon's Tiger In Your Tan...

I just received the newest release (May 19, 2015), Southside , from Sugaray Rayford and it's got a great groove! Opening with Southside Of Town , Ralph Carter develops a great walking bass line stage for Rayfords solid vocals. Backed by Allan Walker on sax and Gary Bivona on trumpet as well as Jade Bennett, Zara Davis and Rachele Quiogue on vocals, Leo Dombecki lays out a nice keyboard solo and Gino Matteo rips on guitar continuing under the vocals throughout the track. Very nice! Slinky funk track, Miss Thang , again is heavily reliant on the bottom provided by Carter as well as Lavell Jones on drums. Rayford adds girth with his beefy vocals and Matteo rides the funky wave with tight guitar riffs. High stepping, Live To Love Again , really gets you moving and with horn and guitar punctuation is a clear radio play hit. Matteo lays out a crisp guitar solo and Walker and Bivona add warmth. Excellent! On shuffle track, Texas Bluesman , Matteo really take a nice guitar solo. Rayford...

I have just received the newest release, Wishing Wel l, from Hans Theessink . A totally acoustic effort from Theessink, he performs originals as well as covering tracks by Townes van Zandt, Brownie McGhee and Bob Dylan. Theessink has a very warm voice and an clean picking style which is well demonstrated on Wishing Well which also includes complimentary slide work. A favorite of mine, Wayfaring Stranger is handled very nicely with a nice balance between guitar, vocals and backing steel. A Piedmont style track, Take Your Picture , has a bit of a quicker tempo sounding quite a bit like John Hartford. Make shift instrumentals are a nice addition to an authentic country blues track. Traditional track Make Me Down A Pallet On Your Floor , still highlighting Theessink vocals has very tight instrumental components such as acoustic, slide guitar and mandolin coming forward like jems. A particularly nice version of Alberta Let You Hair Hang Down , again with a country blues twist is nicely ba...

I just received the new release, Nasty Habit from Ron Dziubla and it's far out! I mean it's far out! This is a time machine musical trip with a man and his sax. Opening with Fine Time, Dziubla shows what sexy sax sounds like. An instrumental track when Dziubla isn't blowing the doors off, James Intveld is playing some mighty fine guitar riffs. Second up is Loose , a sax driven surf tune backed by Sam Bolle on bass and Pete Curry on drums. Get out your board moon doggie! (Stilladog ... check this one out! It's got your name on it!) Moan is a seductive sax ballad with some real grinding tone. Dziubla really groans this one out pulling out really great sounds. Featuring a nice light guitar solo this track could easily be a soundtrack from a 50's TV show. Slapped , another surf like rocker, showing hot sax riffs not seen on a blues record in such a collection in years. This track is also complimented by great guitar work from Intveld. The title track, Nasty Habit ,c...

I just received the newest release, Delta Time , by Hans Theessink & Terry Evans and it's terrific! This very earthy and warm recording begins with Delta Time , a bouncy blues track written by Theessink with deep thick vocals, acoustic and slide guitar. Blues Stay Away From Me has a real roots (country) feel and beautiful vocal harmonies with Ry Cooder bringing in some distinctive riffs. A great duet on It Hurts Me Too brings freshness to a well traveled track. The instrumentation has been applied like paint on a canvas just a light dab here and there as required. How Come People Act Like That , another cover track, is handled in a fresh light and again the duo with their rich vocals and Ry Cooder adding his flair on guitar makes for a very cool track. The Birds and The Bees , a classic pop track, has been included memorializing Evans contribution to the original track some 50 years ago. Build Myself A Home , a Thessink original, has a distinct gospel feel and is beautifu...

I've been listening to a new release, Root Walking , by Big Walker . Big Walker has assembled 12 original compositions including 17th and 18th century poems. It's Hard , the opener is a standard Chicago blues track and grooves quite nicely. Raise A Rukus has the flavor of a back country compound with hoot and hollarin along with a stripped down blues singing, guitar and harp. Wild Black Bill uses the blues format to tell an interesting little story not unlike the early southern blues... very cool. Run Nigri Run really has that southern voodoo sound and is a great track. The Hypocrite Blues has the characteristics of a early American country song ... possibly from the Appalachians. Can't Take No Train head back to Chicago for a high steppin' early electric Mud type track. Midnight Specia l is the traditional track whose authorship is unknown. It was first recorded in around 1900 and has since been recorded by everyone from Ledbelly to CCR. There is a cool acoustic s...

City Hall Records artist Barbara Carr will be releasing her newest recording, Keep The Fire Burning on August 21, 2012. A seasoned soul singer with previous records at Chess records as well an one solo album, Good Woman Go Bad, Barbara has teamed up with Catfood house band, The Rays featuring Richy Puga on drums and percussion, Dan Ferguson on keys, Johny McGhee on guitar, Bob Trenchard on bass, Andy Roman on sax, Mike Middleton on trumpet and Robert Clairborne on trombone. I've had a chance to review this new cd and it's a solid soul collection. Hanging On By A Thread has a driving rhythm with a slick guitar solo and just the right touch of horns. We Have The Key could be a classic ballad with perfect balance and strong vocals by Carr. Keep The Fire Burning , the title track, is a nicely written and executed soul ballad. Johnny Rawls join Carr for a vocal duet on Hold On To What You Got , a track that should see great airplay. You Give Me The Blues is another great additi...