Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Drop The Hammer , from Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith & The House Bumpers and it's a cool fusion of a number of sounds rooted in the blues. Opening with Head Pounder , a loose jam, Smith, who plays drums and leads on vocal blends African rhythms with delta styling and contemporary fluidity with the help of Billy Flynn on guitar and Omar Coleman on harp for an interesting perspective on the blues. Sliding into a more traditional shuffle, Hey Daddy , lead by Smith, backed by Mae, Clara and Theodore Smith on vocal and Flynn, Ari Seder on guitar, Felton Crews on bass Luca Chellini on piano, and Coleman on harp. R&B track, Scratchin' Your Head features Flynn and Seder on guitars over and cool bass line by Crews and laid back funky vocal by Smith. Chellini's organ work really fits in nicely and solos by Flynn and Coleman make this a really cool groove. Funky, What In The World , rides heavy on the bass...