Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fortuna , from Bex Marshall and it's really good. Opening with blues rocker, Preaching To The Choir , Bex Marshall on lead guitar and lead vocal, sets the pace with Aurora Mannola laying down a driving bottom on bass and Richie Stevens on drums. Toby Baker on keys really works nicely against the wailing guitar lead of Marshall on this strong opener. Funky blues rocker, I Can't Look You In The Eye , features Marshall on lead vocal and slide with Scott Coopwood on lead guitar, Barry Bays on rhythm guitar, Robert Eugene Daniels on bass, and Brian Schilling on drums. A solid rocker with plenty of teeth. There's no denying the attraction of Marshall's vocal style on Table For One , and with a cool, bouncy funk by Baker on Keys and the solid bottom by Daniels and Stevens, this track could be a cool radio track. Wrapping the release is When It's Gone , a poppy track with a cool, bluesy feel. With a clean guita...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Medication Time , from Todd Sharpville, and it's a solid rocker. Opening with Walk Out In The Rain , Todd Sharpville on vocal and guitar sets a tense stage with his intense vocal and Clapton like guitar riffs. Joined by Bruce Bears on Hammond, Brad Hallen on bass and Mark Texeira on drums, this is an attention grabber of an opener. Driving track, Get Outta My Way features Doug James on Bari sax, Mark Early on tenor sax, Carl Querfurth on trombone and Doc Chanonhouse on trumpet and put to great use with a full horn delivery and a strong sax solo by Early. House Rules is a great track that's likely to get you up on your feet. With it's tight rhythm and slick guitar soloing by Sharpville, this track is super. Larry McCray joins on guitar and vocal on Brothers From Another Mother and the guy's voices actually pair up quite nicely (McCray on the left). McCray and Sharpville jam out pretty nicely for the last...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Emotional Gangster , from Popa Chubby and it's a cool, aggressive blues rocker. Opening with driving, Tonight I'm Gonna Be The Man , Popa Chubby rips on slide over a rumbling beat. With tandem vocals he sets the pace and charging drums keep the tension. A cool, bluesy melody and blues rooted slide riffs saturate the track. Solid opener.  On Morganfield's Hoochie Coochie Man , Chubby gives the blues classic his own twist, retaining the bluesy roots but interjecting just a taste or rock. With a droning bass line he never gets to fast but he does take the time to show his chops on Water's original phrasing. Very nice. Harmonica wizard Jason Ricci sits in on Save The Best For Last , a low slung shuffle with a Jimmy Reed feel. Chubby really lays on the beat giving it a pronounced lope and his vocals are prime. Ricci and Chubby trade phrases making this one of my favorites on the release. Elmore James' Dust M...

I just received the newest release, Balkun Brothers by the Balkun Brothers and it is raw, bluesy and rowdy. Opening with Been Drivin' , the Balkun Brothers do have a driving beat and with over the top drumming by Rick Balkun, a solid guitar base and single lead lines by Steve Balkun, these guys set high expectations (think stripped down blues version of Golden Earring). I Know What Ya' Did has a boogie bottom and heavy feet along with nicely blended vocals and tidy slide playing. These guys have something here that you gotta hear! She Got It All has a real strong guitar riff that sets the stage and solid vocals with a sound like Steppenwolf had a baby with the Stripes or the Keys. Steve's guitar work is flamboyant but contained in context maintaining a hard blues line with great vocals. Control Yourself leans strongly toward contemporary 2 piece blues rock bands and has a great sound with tight vocals and essential drum and guitar riffs. Excellent! Cold Heart is a ...