Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Spoonful of Willie Dixon , by Emma Wilson and it drips with blues. Opening with Spoonful , Emma Wilson on vocal belts out the lead with solid accompaniment by Ian Leese on bass and Mark Barrett on drums. Bennett Holland plays vital piano lead and organ and Nik Svarc plays hot lead guitar making this a strong opener. Dixon's dynamic track, I Can't Quit You Baby made popular by Otis Rush and Led Zeppelin gets a total rework with more of a shuffle feel. Wilson really grinds out the lyrics and Svarc creates some real nice guitar phrasing over the warm organ work of Holland. With a bit of a kick in tempo, Wang Dang Doodle rolls off Svarc's guitar, anchored by Barrett and Leese. Holland on piano sets the accents and Wilson rolls out the vocals in power fashion. Wrapping the release is a solid take on It Don't Make Sense (You Can't Make Peace) . Wilson digs in making this ballad her own with only light bac...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Calling , from Emma Wilson , and it's got that hot 60's Memphis sound. Opening with A Small World , with Emma Wilson on lead vocals and Kirk Smothers on sax, Marc Franklin on trumpet, Charles Hodges on organ, Leroy Hodges on bass and Steve Potts on drums. This is a solid opener. Soulful, I Still Love You , is really a nice showcase for Wilson on vocal with it's pared back instrumentation. Kicked up, Drug, has a real nice funky beat with a solid bass line by Leroy, drums by Potts, electric piano by Archie Turner, and Franklin and Smothers really sassing it up on horns. Joe Restivo gets the floor on guitar, laying down the blues on Hoochie Coochie Mama . A low slung version of Morganfield's centerpiece, Wilson really carries it nicely and Charles on organ adds just the right heat. Wrapping the release is soul classic, Since I Fell For You , with Wilson dialing it down over light guitar by Restivo, Ler...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wish Her Well , from Emma Wilson and it's a tight blend of blues, rock, soul and pop. Opening with title track,   Wish Her Well , a cool, stripped down blues track, Emma Wilson shows her cool, aloof, singing  style that works nicely with Mat Hector on drums. Contemporary soul infused pop track, Little Love Bite has a cool melody and nicely blended instrumentation by Hector on drums, Mark Neary on bass and keys, Adam Chetwood on guitars making it s solid radio track. Blossom Like Snow is an interesting blend of blues, soul and pop with a really nice melody and light instrumentation with a firm drum rhythm and rhythm guitar supporting the strong vocal of Wilson. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is slightly funky She Isn't You . Wilson's vocals, and a strong bass line by Neary gives this track a lot of wind in it's sails. Very cool. Driving rocker, Not Paying really stretches with a po...