Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just Got Started , from Jimmy Carpenter and it's a cool mix of blues, R&B and rock. Opening with title track, (Feels Like) I Just Got Started , Jimmy Carpenter sings soulful vocals and plays warm sax, joined by Dwayne, Walter and James Morgan on vocals, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Kid Andersen on guitar, Jim Pugh on keys and D'mar Martin on drums. Solid radio style opener. On Willie Dixon's My Babe , Carpenter plays a dynamic sax opener, backed by Mike Galisatus on trumpet, Jack Sanford on bari sax, and Endre Tarczy on piano and a flashy guitar solo by Kid. Hot sax work and a swinging drum/bass line is the trick on this one. Nice! Hot, honking sax track, Jimmy Shimmy is boosted by wild organ work by Pugh and flashy guitar styling by Bobby Vega. Smokin! Allen Toussaint's funky, Night People , has a great groove, anchored by Vega on bass and D'Mar on drums. Carpenter really gets it working with sassy sax ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cooking With Gas , by Big Harp George and it's a solid set of original blues tracks. Opening with title track, Cooking With Gas , Big Harp George on lead vocal and chromatic harmonica leads the way on this sassy track with D'Mar Martin on drums, Joe Kyle Jr. on bass and featuring Michael Peloquin contributing a hot sax solo. Latin flavored Doom Loop has a tight drum and horn section with Doug Rowan on bari sax, Ed Morrison on trumpet, Peloquin on tenor sax, Mike Rinta on trombone, Kid Andersen on guitars and great guitar flare from George. Soulful blues, Wine Is My Friend has a firm bass line by Kyle Jr. working with George's great vocals, Andersen on guitar and James Dwayne and Walter Morgan on backing vocals. Funky instrumental, Maceosity really moves with Jerry Jemmott on bass and D'Mar on drums. A lively horn section and Burns on keys fuels the flame and Peloquin on diatonic harmonica works in nicely ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, From My Soul , by Marcel Smith and it's sopping with soul. Opening with I'm Coming Home to You , a cool, traditional soul tune that could literally come from the 60's with it's excellent lead vocal by Marcel Smith, background vocals by The Sons of the Soul Revivers and featuring Kid Andersen on guitar, Mike Rinta on trombone, D'Mar Martin on drums, Endre Tarczy on bass, Jim Pugh on keys, Aaron Lington on sax, and John Worley on trumpet. Very cool. Wake Me When It's Over is one of my favorites on the release with it's perfect melody, lightly applies backing of Tarczy on bass, D'Mar on drums and a vibraphone solo by Andersen supporting the lush vocals of Smith. Drunk is a tight R&B track with hot percussion by Jon Otis, a brassy trombone solo by Rinta, and sassy horn work by Worley all tied together by Smith's magnetic vocals. Nothing Left To Burn really moves with terrific vocals by...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cut My Spirit Loose , by Big Harp George , and it's cooking! Opening with boogie track, It's Tuesday , George is firing on all cylinders. With Kid Andersen laying down signature guitar riffs and backed by Doug Rowan on bari sax, Michael Peloquin on sax and Mike Rinta on trombone the house is rocking. George on harmonica and lead vocals and joined by Chris Burns on keys, June Core on drums, Joe Kyle Jr. on bass and with Lisa Leuschner Andersen, James Dwayne and Walter Morgan on backing vocals, this is a great opener. With a real nice New Orleans beat, Bustin' Out is a strong instrumental led by George on harmonica, Jeff Lewis on trumpet Peloquin on sax, Rowan on bari and Rinta on tuba. This is punchy. Tight drum work by Core and bass by Kyle, and a sassy sax solo by Peloquin and a great trombone solo by Rinta makes this my favorite on the release. Jump Abu Lula! is another great track with George really harping...