Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Playin' With My Friends , by Jeff Pitchell and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Eye For An Eye , Jeff Pitchell on lead vocal and guitar sets up a real nice shuffle. With smooth, Steve Miller like vocals and cool style Pitchell is joined by Wolf Ginandes on bass, Floyd Murphy Jr. on drums and Jeff Levine on keys. Solid opener. Your Magic Eyes , has a definite SRV/Johnny Lang feel with lush guitar rhythm and stinging riffs. One of my favorites on the release is  Magic Sam's  Out In The Cold with it's Rhumba rhythm, soulful vocals and solid guitar, paired up with Jimmie Vaughan's son Tyrone with a comparable sound to Wait's, Down In The Hole, used as the theme track for TV's The Wire. Very nice. Rick Derringer joins Pitchell on vocal and guitar on Unsung Hero of the Blues . Derringer was an early influence of mine from his early work with Johnny Winter And (blistering blues). A real nice tra...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 6, 2021), Under Your Spell , by Tito Jackson and it blends modern funk, blues, pop and rock for his own style. Opening with Wheels Keep Turning, Jackson on lead vocal and guitar sets a pop pace joined by Michael Harris on drums, Michael K Jackson and Brandon Adams on keys, Darnell Neal on bass, Jason Parfait and Ian Smith on horns. I really like the horn work and slide guitar efforts by Jackson on this track. Heavy footed, Under Your Spell, has a great foot drum thump and with strong addition by Joe Bonamassa on guitar, Robert King on bass and sassy horn work by Parfait and Smith, this track has a great groove. R&B track, Big Leg Woman has a strong sax intro by Parfait, and gives Jackson a great chance to shine on lead vocal, features Kenny Neal on guitar with Jackson and keeps with the theme of ballsey horn throughout. My favorite track on the release is You're Gonna Push Me To Far with some really nicel...