Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Speed Of Life , by Dudley Taft and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Wanted Man , Dudley Taft, the great, great, grandnephew of US President William Howard Taft, hits the road running with a funk rhythmed rocker contributing strong melodic vocals, and guitar riffs, supported by Nick Owsianka on drums, Dave Marks on bass, keys and percussion, Bennett Holland on keys, and Ashley Charmae and Gina McCann on backing vocals. Forward rocker, Work It Out has a great driving rhythm and nicely harmonized vocals with potent guitar soloing by Taft. Pretty Little Thing has a cool, SRV like guitar riff to start it off and trademark Taft vocal harmonies electrify the track backed by real nice guitar work supported by Holland on keys. Very cool. Topaz Blue has a real nice swagger. Owsianka on drums really stands on it on this one and Holland's keys saturate the track giving Taft plenty of room to soar on guitar. Into T...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Guitar Kingdom , from Dudley Taft and he picks up where he left off with his blues metal feel and solid construction. Opening with Black and Blues , Taft on vocal and guitar has his own style. His vocals are all rock and his guitar riffs, rooted in the blues have a serious springiness along the path paved by Frank Marino. With Kasey Williams on bass and Alex Dungan on drums this is a solid opener. I like the open rock feel of Oil And Water with a driving bottom and fluid lead guitar by Taft and the support of Andy Smith on keys. Very nice. Get Stoned is a sure fire track with a metal riff and solid melody. Blending the intensity of the likes of Ozzy, lush vocal blending and blues undertones really makes this an interesting track. Wrapping the release is A Quitter Never Wins with it's bluesy ballad structure and metal like vocal styling. This is my favorite track on the release with sophisticated blues guitar phrasing...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Volume 3  from Blind Racoon Nola Blue Collection and it's chocked full of tasty tracks. Opening with Time To Forget You , from Willie Bo Walker and Danny Flam , a slow paced blues track with screaming slide and fat horns is always a great start. John Nemeth 's contribution, I Can See Your Love Shine , has a cool modified reggae beat with some tasty guitar and harp work with a poppy feel. Clarence Spady 's, Surrender is a warm, slow blues with cool, soulful vocals, tight, nicely phrased guitar riffs and crystal clear piano. Laura Tate 's I Need A Man , features solid vocals and with punchy horns and snappy drums, and really nice piano work, commands attention. CD Woodbury performs classic, Can't Eat That Stuff No More , with plenty of humor and spunk. Dudley Taft blends blues and rock for The End Of The Blues , with his own stylistic boogie rock and rock guitar styling. Rocker, Memphis Hotline , is Bri...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cosmic Radio , from Dudley Taft and it's reinforces Taft's reputation as a blues rocker with dark metallic overtones. Opening with title track, Cosmic Radio , Taft and company storm into the grooves with that trademark pounding rhythm and well blended vocals by Taft and Ashley Charme. High energy blues rocker, The Devil mixes traditional blues riffs and more modern metal style figures giving this track a hot rocking sound with Taft's fluid finger work and vocals. Backed by Kasey Williams on solid bass and Walfredo Reyes Jr. on drums this track hums. I like the modified funk bass line on One In A Billion with it's almost stroll tempo. The classic metal overtones in Taft's work always gives it a classic rock sound and the blues undertones gives it a fine complexity. Blues ballad, Relentless , features lead vocal by Taft's daughter, Ashley Charmae, and with it's radio craving melody and nicely cr...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Simple Life, from Dudley Taft and it's a solid blues rocker with a modern rock edge. Opening with Give Me A Song , a strong radio style track with a catchy melody and a solid beat, Taft's vocals are solid and his guitar lead straight on. Backed by Kasey Williams on bass, and Chris Ellison on drums, a strong opener. With a more aggressive edge, In Your Way has a strong bottom via Walfredo Reyes Jr on drums and Taft's rhythm guitar. His lead work is clean and tight. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Bombs Away with it's bright rock feel and Taft's electrifying guitar lead. Warren Haynes' If Heartaches Were Nickels gives Taft the perfect venue to show his blues chops. With an extended lead guitar solo he grinds deep in the fretboard and soars over the rhythm of John Kessler on bass and Reyes Jr. on drums. Very nice. Wrapping the release is driving rocker, Back To You with Mike Tapogna ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Summer Rain , from Dudley Taft and it's a powerhouse. Opening with Flying On Love , a power blues rocker, Taft is back with a vengeance. Heavy overtones, distortion soaked guitar riffs, pounding drums and beefy bass is the ticket. Taft on lead vocal and guitar, is backed by Kasey Williams on bass, Jason Patterson on drums and Reese Wynans on organ. Title track, Summer Rain , is a strong rocker with a memorable melody, strong guitar riffs, nicely harmonized vocals and super drumming by Mike Taponga. I particularly like Edge Of Insane with it's simple vocal and guitar pairing and cool hook as well as some of the best vocals on the release. One of my favorites on the release is Live or Die with it's tone saturated guitar riffs and classic Robin Trower like, rock overtones. This is a track that players will dig into. Very cool. Another standout track is Don't Let It Fade with it's lumbering bop groove...

Guitarist Dudley Taft Unleashes Torrents of Blues-Rock Sounds on New CD, Summer Rain , Coming September 15 from American Blues Artists Group Label CD Dedicated to America’s Men & Women in the Military  CINCINNATI, OH – Blues-rock guitar master Dudley Taft announces a September 15 release date for Summer Rain , the newest disc from the Cincinnati-based artist on the American Blues Artist Group label. Summer Rain is his fifth studio album, consisting of 11 all-original songs, and dedicated to the men and women of the armed forces who accept tours of duty in far-away places, leaving their families behind. A running theme of anguished separation and endless toil run through the album. “I have the greatest respect for those men and women who serve in the military, especially those who are deployed halfway around the world in the hot spots of sectarian conflicts,” Taft says. “This album pays tribute to these soldiers who sacrifice much of their lives to def...

I just received the newest release (October 16, 2015), Skin and Bones , from Dudley Taft and it's a hot fusion of blues, country, rock, hip hop, metal, grunge and Dudley Taft! Opening with title track, Skin and Bones , Taft delivers vocals in almost a hip hop style but the guitars say country rock. Taft knows how to get his listeners attention when he grabs the strings and he does it. Lonesome Memphis Blues has a strut pushed along nicely by John Kessler on bass and Jason Patterson on drums. Warming organ work from Reese Wynans and soothing backing vocals from Rachael Williams gives this track balance and an slightly jazz feel but Taft's guitar tone says rock baby! Ain't Nothing Gonna Stop Us Now is a driving rocker with laser like focus. A simple pleasing melody and swift fingered blues guitar riffs make this an ideal radio track with a bleeped "F***off". Johnny Winter's Leland Mississippi Blues , keeps it's straight, Willie Dixon like blues romp. Th...

Dudley Taft Rips Into You With Skin And Bones The Guitarist’s New CD Out October 16, 2015 “… making paint peel from the walls with the heat of his guitar blitzkrieg…” - Deep Roots Atlanta GA – American Blues Music Group recording artist Dudley Taft brings his own version of the blues to the table with Skin And Bones , a hair-raising collection of blues, rock and a slice of grunge pie to be served on October 16, 2015. Recorded at Muchmore studio in his home in Cincinnati and Omni Sound in Nashville he and bassist John Kessler co-produced the record. Skin And Bones came from three sessions with Jason Patterson on drums and John Kessler on bass at Taft’s home studio once owned by legendary rock icon Peter Frampton in Cincinnati, OH. Yes, that guy. Taft bought the house with the intent of utilizing the studio full time.  He didn’t know the support phone number when setting up the room would lead him to Frampton himself. Taking cues from Neil Young and his stud...

I just received the newest release (May 20, 2014), Screaming in the Wind , by Dudley Taft and he continues to explore new territory. Opening with Skip James' Hard Time Killing Floor Blues uses a basic blues backdrop and twists of rock and metal to forge his own sound. His subtle yet solid approach on this track baits you in until he springs the rock trap where he and his band of rockers, John Kessler (bass), Jason Patterson (drums), andn Reese Wyans(organ)lay it all out. Freddie King's Pack It Up is a cool rock track with a great beat and almost Steve Miller like vocals, Taft wailing away on his guitar solo's yet keeping the track contained for easy airplay. Tom Hambridge joins on the track playing drums and the Muscle Shoals horn section (Charlie Rose on trombone, Jim Horn on sax and Vinnie Seizeilski on trumpet) adds that over the top sound. Red Line has a lot of southern rock feel with a solid drum/bass bottom and even a Golden Earring kind of rumble with a Billy G...

DUDLEY TAFT SCREAMS ABOUT NEW CD Screaming In The Wind will be out on 5/20  Starting on this Tuesday, April 22nd, there will be a teaser of the new songs from Dudley's CD, "Screaming In The Wind", posted twice a week on his social media sites. He will be starting with the last song first all in Taft fashion of course leading up to the release date on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is where you see how he gets his mojo going to give his music that extra umph. So follow along with the links below!  DT FANS DT Twitter DT SITE DT YT Dudley will have a 5 day exclusive video run on the mag's site starting MAY 12 for his song, "Screaming In The Wind".  Guitar Master Dudley Taft Is Screaming in the Wind on Latest CD, Coming May 20 from American Blues Artist Group New Album of Bl...