Bman's Blues Report

Timing is everything, and at 63, Trevor B. Power is exactly where he is supposed to be. With Two Crows —the band's fourth release in a remarkably short span—Power is proving that music is woven into his soul. "I wish I would have gotten started recording sooner," he laughs. "But life unfolds exactly when it’s meant to." That unfolding has led to a major creative hot streak. Hot on the heels of Are We Ever Free , Trevor immediately teamed back up with producer Dave Fields. "I told Dave, ‘Let me just keep writing and we’ll keep recording,’" Power says. "He’s phenomenal at what he does with my songs." But Two Crows was also forged in real-world heartache. The past year brought heavy losses for Power, including his older brother John and Derek and the Dominos legend Bobby Whitlock—both pivotal influences on his life. Through the grief, Power maintains a powerful perspective. Two Crows stands as a resilient, soul-stirring reflection of an artist...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rise Above , from Billy J and it's a solid rocker. Opening with She's Mine, a cool 60's style rocker features Billy J on vocal and guitar, Yonrico Scott on drums, Charlie Wooton on bass, and Jeremy Baum on keys, this track could have turned up on an early Englisher metal rocker. Cool opener. Shuffle, Line Em Up is a slick blues rocker with a tight bass line and solid guitar riffs. Slow blues ballad, New Car , gives Billy a strong opportunity to step up and show his stuff soloing. With a play on words with the lyrics and a plenty of space to move, Billy sets a great table. She is a simple, mostly acoustic ballad that would seem to be a direct tune for the radio. With the melody of a Lindsay Buckingham composition, this track is mellow and tight with a nice melodic guitar solo. Wrapping the release is Boomerang , a strong rocker with a driving beat and ripping guitar lead. This is likely my favorite track on t...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Force of Will , from Dave Fields and it's quite good. Opening with modern boogie, I Love My Baby , multi instrumentalist Fields on vocal and guitar (among other things) is joined by Bill Ferns on harp. A solid melody and rhythm and always tight vocals make this opener a natural radio track. Big Block is a hard driving blues rocker with tight drum beat by Van Romaine and metal influenced blues guitar riffs that will curl your hair. Very cool. Hunger is a bit more of an abstract rocker with a solid foundation and Jeff Beck influenced guitar riffs with Buddy Allen on bass and Lee Jeffryes on drums. Very nice. Straightforward blues ballad, Why Can't You Ever Treat Me Right is really strong with excellent modern blues soloing by Fields and excellent vocals. Joined by Bjorn Hagset on bass and Kare Andersen on drums, this is my favorite blues track on the release. Another solid blues ballad, It's Not Ok with Fie...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Unleashed , from Dave Fields and it's over the top! I've had the opportunity to review a few of Dave Fields' releases and each one gets progressively more aggressive and wild... and that's good. Opening with Anticipating You , Fields is surrounded with a great crew of musicians including Kenny Soule on drums, Erik Boyd on bass, Vladimir Barsky on keys and Doug Hinrichs on percussion. This is a super rolling jazz number and one that really showcases Boyds' bass style and Fields fluidity on outrageous riffs. Excellent opener. On Don Nix 's Going Down Fields, Sam Bryant on drums and Andy Huenerberg on bass crack open Jeff Beck 's mix on this track and wind it up. Throwing every guitar riff know to man at it, this track kicks ass in contemporary style. My Mama's Got The Blues has a cool swagger and cutting guitar riffs under the lead vocal and melody. Backed by Boyd on bass and JT Lauritse...

I just received the newest release (July 1, 2014), All In , from Dave Fields and it's quite strong. Opening with Changes In My Life , a blues shaped rocker, Fields,playing most all instruments lays out a pop blues rocker with a catchy feel and blues riffs blended with modern tapping techniques making for an interesting change of pace. Voodoo Eyes is up next with more of a ballad style but with a cool rhythm. Fields again steps up with some really nice guitar riffs and key work that nicely highlights the track. Let's Go Downtown has a really happy feel and pacing march rhythm not a lot unlike what you might expect from Wet Willie or Elvin Bishop. This is a cool track with strong blues guitar riffs. Yeah, he has a better voice than my pal Crabshaw, but I ain't holding that against him. Nice track. Dragon Fly takes a much more serious approach to the music with more of an orchestral arrangement, powerful bottom and soaring guitar. Cream's (Robert Johnson) Cross Road ...

I just received the newest release, , from Dave Keyes and it's a variety of good time, boogie, blues and R&B... I mean it's a literal party! Opening with Here She Comes Again , Keyes has a great band playing feel good blues music a la Elvin Bishop. This is such a great style blending horns and vocals featuring Keyes on vocal and keys, Frank Pagano on drums,Sue Williams on bass, Chris Eminizer on sax, Tim Ouimette on trumpet and Popa Chubby screaming away on guitars! You Think I Don't Know is a soul ballad remaining somewhat contained making it a prime radio track. Popa takes a few bars to add his personal signature to this track and it blends beautifully into the mix. Nothing Left To Lose has a bit of a Latin feel but with R&B style keys and vocals. With a little Louisiana piano roll keeping the track moving along, Eminizer and Ouimette add a great horn backing. Guitarist Dave Fields steps up for a flaming guitar solo on this track adding some additional spice ...

I just received the newest cd, Detonation , from Dave Fields . Fields has assembled 12 strong blues rock oriented tracks, all with a different twist from Reggae to straight Blues. The cd opens with Addicted To Your Fire , a a rocker with somewhat of an arena style. In The Night takes it to the next step with a funky beat and some pretty tasty guitar riffs. Doin' Hard Times opens with some fiery riffs and features Joe Louis Walker. This track has some more contemporary blues lines and features some real sweet guitar soloing. Bad Hair Day gets a real serious reggae beat and Fields really digs in for some hot riffs on this track. The Alter , again a more contemporary use of music with blues roots features some fiery guitar riffs. Better Be Good takes the blues from a swing jazz direction for a pretty cool track. Fields again shows he has the chops and can make is guitar talk big time. Pocket Full Of Dust hits dead center with an Albert King/Otis Rush/Big Mamma Thornton style blue...