Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Long Live Them Blues Vol. 1 , from Houston based duo, Dry Johnson and I really like it. Opening with lumbering blues rumbler, Daddy's Got A Cadillac , features favorites Annika Chambers and Mike Zito on vocals with Zito and Terry Dry on guitars and Matthew Robert Johnson on drums. Cool opener. On title track, Long Live Them Blues , Trudy Lynn's distinct lead vocals are coupled with Steve Krase on harp and Mighty Orq on guitar for a grinding groove. John Del Toro Richardson has the lead on guitar and vocal on Hit That Highway , a real nice blues shuffle. Two stepper, Drunk Girl With A Tambourine has kevin Snit Fitzpatrick on lead vocal and the Mighty Orq on guitar. This is really a strong track with kick. Juke Joint is a slick shuffle with a Bob Wills feel. Featuring Dry on lead vocal and Mighty Orq and James Wilhite on guitar this track is a great swinger. A track with a lot of texture is I Walk Alone featuri...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kids, Dogs & Krazy Women from The Bob Lanza Blues Band and it's a super dose of old style blues with a fresh feel. Opening with title track, Kids, Dogs and Krazy Women , Bob Lanza (vocal and guitar), Anthony Krizan (guitar, vocal, drums and percussion), John Ginty (keys), Dave Lockhart (bass) and Vin Mott (drums, harmonica) are a force to be reckoned with. With a slinky rhythm, solid vocals, slide guitar and harp, this track is a cool opener. Texas boogie Not The Man I Use To Be is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's droning bass line, B3 soloing by Ginty and gripping blues solo by Lanza. very nice. Another of my favorites is Full Time Lover with it's slow, blues guitar riffs and soulful vocals. Excellent! Hey Cotton is a strong track with a driving blues pace and rock n roll guitar riffs and hot harp work by Mott in tribute to James Cotton. Shuffle track, Every Side of Lonesome has a f...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just Waitin' , from Steve Krase Band and it's strong. Opening with Hank Williams' Settin' The Woods On Fire Steve Krase on lead vocal and harp gets this country flavored boogie rockin'. Backed by David Carter on guitar, and Tamara Williams on drums, a super opener. I Don't Mind has an up tempo "Bo Diddley" beat and with flaring tom tom work by Williams an excellent floor for some hot riffs by Krase. Kenan Ozdemir joins with lead guitar on Just Waitin' On My Brand New Baby , a cool Chicago style shuffle matching super harp and guitar leads behind solid vocals. Very nice. One of my favorites on the release is a Zydeco take on The Ballad of Jed Clampett . With Brian Jack on accordion, Mike Vee on rubboard and James Gilmer on percussion added to Krase's vocal and harp and the tight rhythms of Williams, this is super. Slow blues, Nobody Loves Me exhibits some of Krase's best v...

The Bob Lanza Blues Band Talks About Kids, Dogs & Krazy Women on New CD Coming August 31 from Connor Ray Music HOUSTON, TX – Connor Ray Music announces an August 31 release date for Kids, Dogs & Krazy Women , the new CD from New Jersey-based blues guitarist Bob Lanza and his band.  Kids, Dogs & Krazy Women is Bob’s fifth album release. Digital pre-release sales start July 31. Bob and the band will celebrate the new album’s release with a special CD party and show on Saturday, September 29, at the legendary Stanhope House, 45 Main Street, Stanhope, New Jersey. Kids, Dogs & Krazy Women has been a long time coming. Working with acclaimed producer and performer, Anthony Krizan (Spin Doctors, Noel Redding, Lenny Kravitz), at his Sonic Boom Recording Studio in Raritan, New Jersey, Lanza delivers a mix of covers and originals, done only the way he can do it. The album also includes a tribute to the late, great harmonica master, James Cot...

Harmonica Ace Steve Krase Expands His Blues Roots on New CD, Just Waitin’ , Coming June 15 from Connor Ray Music HOUSTON, TX – World-class harmonica player Steve Krase expands his blues music into new territory on his fourth CD, Just Waitin’ , coming June 15 on Connor Ray Music. Produced by Rock Romano (who also played bass and sang backing vocals), Just Waitin’ features Steve Krase (vocals and harmonica), backed by a solid cast of additional notables, including David Carter (guitars and backing vocals); Tamara Williams (drums, percussion and backing vocals); James Gilmer (percussion); Brian Jack (accordion); Mike Vee (rubboard); and Kenan Ozdemir (lead guitar). Steve Krase will celebrate the new album with a special CD pre-release show at Houston’s famed Big Easy Club on Friday, May 18th (5731 Kirby Dr., Houston), where he’ll be joined by several special guests including the legendary singer Trudy Lynn, plus James Gilmer on percussion and Brian Jack on accordion. ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Should've Seen It Coming , from Steve Krase and it has great swagger. Opening with Brand New Thang , I'm immediately struck by the stinging guitar work of Mark May backed by Rick Roman on bass, Richard Chokakian on drums and of course the fine vocal and harp work of Steve Krase. On Willie Dixon's  Latin influenced Crazy For My Baby , Krase sits in the groove with James Gilmer on percussion. Very nice. On slow blues number, Let The Four Winds Blow , David Carter lays down a nice guitar lead and Krase plays up the appeal today to zombies in Fat's Dominos classic track. Randy Wall takes a real nice piano solo on this one giving the track a nice sparkle. Title track, Should've Seen It Coming has a cool , voodoo kind of groove with a great bass line by Roman. Again Wall stretches his hands nicely on piano and Carter does some fine fret work, complimenting Krase on lead vocal and harp. With it's light...

Blues Harmonica Ace Steve Krase Sets April 21 Release Date for New CD, Should’ve Seen It Coming , on Connor Ray Music HOUSTON, TEXAS – Blues harmonica ace Steve Krase announces an April 21 release date for his latest album on Connor Ray Music, Should’ve Seen It Coming , which includes special guest appearances from label mates Trudy Lynn, Mark May and Bob Lanza. Krase will celebrate with several Houston CD release shows, including Friday, March 24 at The Big Easy Social & Pleasure Club ( www.thebigeasyblues.com ) and Saturday, March 25 at Martini’s Blu Café ( www.martiniblu1.com ). Steve will also perform at the “Houston Has Hart” show on Sunday, March 26 (4-8 PM), at Rockefeller’s, a benefit for the Blues Foundation’s Hart Fund that provides health services and more for blues musicians nationwide. Several other Houston area blues artists will perform as well, along with special guests and a silent auction. Steve Krase is well-known as the harmonica player behin...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'll Sing The Blues For You , from Trudy Lynn and she doesn't miss a beat. Opening with rockin' blues shuffle, Alright Baby , Lynn is joined by Steve Krase on harp, David Carter on guitar, Terry Dry on bass, Randy Wall on keys, and Matt Johnson on drums. A cool jam, Lynn leads the way and Krase is really jammin'. On Lowell Fulsom's Black Night , Carter steps up with a cool guitar solo, nicely framing Lynn's featured vocals. With a cool bass line by Dry, Thru Chasin' You , has a funky bottom and cool instrumentation. Shuffle, Honky Tonk Song , has a real nice groove with lead harp work by Krase and tight key work by Wall. Memphis Minnie's World Of Trouble is up next and the definite standout track on the release. Lynn's vocals are deep and sultry bathed in blues. Ramblin' Blues is a easy driving blues along the lines of Key to The Highway. Lynn lays it out there capped nicely by K...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Time To Let Go , from the Bob Lanza Blues Band and it's rockin'. Opening with boogie woogie track, Mind Your Own Business , Lanza leads the way on vocal and guitar but not without heavy support from Randy Wall on piano, The Cranberry Lake Horns and Vin Mott on drums. Excellent! On title track, Time To Let Go , Lanza leads an easy, jazzy track with light fingered guitar riffs and a bluesy twist. With supple vocals and cool horn backing this track is just right. Snappy drumming by Mott on When The Sun Comes Up gives it a cool spring and snappy bottom for super guitar riffs by Lanza. Slower blues number, Your Turn To Cry , sets a nice groove with Lanza punctuating his vocal with stinging guitar riffs. Very cool! Rush'n The Blues is a low slung blues instrumental and Lanza pulls out the stops. Riding along on a nice B3 air by Wall this track is one of my favorites on the release. Chicago style track, Follow Y...

Connor Ray Music Set to Release New CD from Acclaimed Houston Blues Singer Trudy Lynn, I’ll Sing the Blues for You , on October 21 Trudy Lynn Will Celebrate New Album’s Release with a Special Show at Houston’s Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club on Saturday, October 22 HOUSTON, TX – Connor Ray Music announces an October 21 release date for I’ll Sing the Blues for You, the new CD from acclaimed Houston-based blues singer Trudy Lynn. I’ll Sing the Blues for You features 10 tracks dripping with blues, soul and R&B, and includes her unique takes on songs from Big Mama Thornton, Lowell Fulsom, Memphis Minnie and Johnny Copeland, among others, as well as the funky original, “Thru Chasin’ You,” destined to be a fan favorite. Backing Trudy on the new album are label president Steve Krase on harmonica, David Carter on guitar, Terry Dry on bass, Randy Wall on keyboards and Matt Johnson on drums.   Trudy Lynn will celebrate the new album with a special CD rele...

I just had the opportunity to review the debut release, No Glass Shoes , from Ally Venable Band and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Trainwreck , a cool track with a solid walking bass line by Zach Terry, Ally Venable takes the lead on vocal and guitarist Bobby Wallace simmers nicely. Title track, No Glass Shoes , has a bluesy basis with a strong guitar and bass vamp. Elijah Owings keeps the bottom tight on drums and Venable's vocals are sassy. Boogie track, Woke Up This Mornin' , has a great driving bass line with call and response guitar riffs. Wise Man has a cocky, Junior Wells feel and Venable grinds her vocals, displaying her guitar licks backed by Randy Wall on keys. On Junior Wells, Messin With The Kid , her vocals have edge and her guitar playing shows adventure. Too Much Too Soon has a really solid, bass line and features Steve Krase on harp. A super track, may be my favorite on the release. Wrapping the release is the Chris Smither track, Love Me Like...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Heart Attack,  from The Jeremiah Johnson Band and it has swagger! Opening with Mind Reader , a blues rocker with great guitar tone and great vocal harmonies, this track is a great opener. With it's country flare Johnson leads on vocal and guitar with Jeff Girardier on bass and backing vocal, Benet Schaeffer on drums and Nathen Hershey on keys. Super opener. Lumbering along, Room Of Fools brings to mind the best of Humble Pie with it's super rocking blues feel and a solid underlying guitar riff. I really like this track with it's ringing chords and Johnson's almost pleading vocals. Very cool. Flat Line has a jazzy edge with a cool walking bass line by Girardier, piano by Hershey and sax by Frank Bauer. Even Johnson's country rock guitar style feels light and airy. Very nice. With more of a country twist, Get It In The Middle is a great boogie with a solid bottom and Johnson's fingers danc...

Connor Ray Music Signs 2016 International Blues Challenge Finalist The Mighty Orq Houston-Based Singer/Guitarist Is Playing Up a Storm on Label Debut CD, Love in a Hurricane , Set for Release on May 20 HOUSTON, TX – Connor Ray Music announces the signing of Houston-based singer/guitarist The Mighty Orq, and will release the 2016 International Blues Challenge finalist’s label debut, Love in a Hurricane , on May 20. Recorded at Houston’s legendary Sugar Hill Studios and produced by The Mighty Orq and Josh Applebee, Love in a Hurricane features his regular touring band: The Mighty Orq (vocals, electric, acoustic, resonator, cigar box and Weissenborn guitars); Jimmy Rose (drums, percussion, mandolin); Barry Seelen (organ, piano, accordion); and Terry Dry (bass). “I'm particularly excited about the new album because I've finally been able to combine all the elements of my various performance styles in one place,” Orq says about the new Love in a Hurrican...

Photo: John Abbey, Trudy Lynn Connor Ray Music Label Announces New CEO Music industry veteran John Abbey takes the helm January 2015 Houston, Texas based Connor Ray Music announced today that John Abbey will assume control of the day to day operations as General Manager and CEO. Connor Ray Music was originally founded in 1995. Steve Krase, Founder and President of Connor Ray Music, had this to say about the announcement,   “John Abbey is one of the most well-known personalities in this business and brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the company. We are excited about the future of Connor Ray Music with John at the helm!” John Abbey commented, "I found everyone within Connor Ray and those around Connor Ray to be on the same page. Everyone wants to accomplish the same goals and the unity is amazing.  We will be keeping our eyes open for artists that are of t...