Bman's Blues Report

Rare Air  Olli Soikkeli  I've been watching Olli Soikkeli's work for a couple of years and his hot jazz style is mesmerizing. Born in Nurmes, Finland and based in NYC, Soikkeli was introduced to the music of great Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz, which has been his primary focus since. Olli played in jazz clubs and festivals across Finland, and toured Europe with Sinti Guitarist Paulus Schäfer . While still young, he’s already played with notable artists such as Bucky Pizzarelli , Stochelo Rosenberg , Tommy Emmanuel , Andreas Öberg , Cyrille Aimee , Antti Sarpila and Marian Petrescu . After move to New York City in 2014. Olli has played legendary venues such as Town Hall , Herbst Theatre ,   Birdland Jazz Club , Blue Note , Iridium and the Lincoln Center . Olli recorded his first album “Trois Générations” (2011) with Hot Club de Finlande and Vitali Imereli and recorded his second album “Kouvola Junction” (2012) with Paulus Schäfer and Arnoud va...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Jukebox Junkie , by Finnish rocker Andy McCoy and it's a solid rocker with a twist. Opening with I'm Gonna Roll , a great power rocker with a driving beat, McCoy is up front on guitar with Sammy Aaltonen, Matthew Janaitis and Tommi Piipponen on vocal, Christian Wentzel on drums and Matthew Janaitis on bass.  Hot Night In Texas gas a great thumping bottom with Jamie Hembree and Niki Westerback on vocal and Jouni Kari on keys giving McCoy a great platform to show his guitar aero acrobatics. Very cool. Climax Blues Band's I Couldn't Get It Right , gets a minor redo with Janaitis on vocals and Roni Star on percussion, Kari on keys and overlayed guitar soloing by McCoy. 60's surf styling comes to play on Funnel of Love featuring Sofia Zida on vocal and space age keyboard work by Kari and some otherworldly guitar from McCoy. Wrapping the release is UKSubs' Countdown with a cool rock bottom by Janaitis a...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cargo , from Jarkka Rissanen & Sons of the Desert , and I think it's just the right kind of cool! Opening with Tomcat, a laid back R&B based track with Latin and Blues/Jazz influences, it just cruises like an early WAR record. With Jarkka Rissanen and Markus Vaisanen on guitars, Ilpo Komulainen on bass and Esa karki on drums and percussion, this is a solid opener. Title track, Cargo , is a real nice instrumental ballad featuring Rissanen on lead and baritone guitar melody. Although this track doesn't have the signature guitar riffs nor does it even attempt Jeff Beck's phenominal fretwork, I that Beck would gravitate to this sound. I know that I do. Excellent! Pow-Wow has a modernized Delta sound and a dash of hill country percussion with Rissanen on slide guitar and Vaisanen soloing on electric guitar over a firm bass line by Komulainen and sweet tom tom work by Karki. Very cool. Roll Call is another ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Too Much Mustard , from Wentus Blues Band with Duke Robillard , and I really like it. Opening with revival style track, Stayed At The Party , these guys are raising the roof. With Robban Hagnas on Bass, Niko Riippa on guitar, Duke Robillard on guitar, Pekka Grohn on piano and Hammond, Daniel Hjerppe on drums and Juho Kinaret on vocal and percussion this track is pumped. Robert Johnson's Judgement Day is up next with a cool modern twist. It maintains the rudimentary feel and Kinaret's vocals are strong, but the interwoven guitars by Robillard and Riippa and Grohn's piano, with harp over the band is terrific. One of my favorite tracks on the release is She's a Killer Hot Blonde , a great boogie with cocky blues guitar style. Excellent! Slower paced, Right In Your Arms , is a super blues ballad and a nice showcase for Kinaret on vocal and with excellent blues guitar solo phrasing by Riippa. High powered boo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Been Meaning To Tell You , from Ina Forsman and it's really strong. Opening with power ballad Be My Home , Forsman presents her vulnerable sounding vocal style over organ and piano by Red Young and gospel like backing vocals by Mark Kazanoff and Alice Spencer. Very nice. On Get Mine , blending hip hop vocal delivery and funky wah wah guitar by the notorious Laura Chavez, joined by Brannen Temple on guitar and Chris Maresh on bass really kicks this release into gear. Stepping high on Genius , Forsman moves further into a R&B groove with an excellent bass line and the Texas Horns (Mark Kazanoff - sax,  John Mills bari sax, Al Gomez - trumpet, Randy Zimmerman - trombone) with yet more sassy guitar style by Chavez. An interesting track, Why You Gotta be That Way has strong lines in neo soul with flavors of one my favorites, Eryka Badu. The band glistens on piano and tight bass and drum lines makes this fusion track...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Throwback , from Wentus Blues Band and I really like it. Opening with Carey Bell's Wrapped Up In Love , lead vocalist, Juho Kinaret has a super voice for the blues with excellent riffs from Niko Riipa on guitar, Robban Hagnas on bass, Pekka Grohn on keys and Daniel Hjerppe on drums. Very nice. Eddie Kirkland's Rainbow is very soulful with definite flavors of Robert Cray. Kinaret's voice is spot on and Grohn's organ work adds a real nice texture. Another Kirkland track, Done Somebody Wrong , really rides nicely in the groove with excellent vocals from Kinaret and stinging guitar riffs from Riipa... possibly my favorite track on the release. Hungry John's Feel So Young is a great boogie in the vein of Slim Harpo. With driving bottom work by Hagnas and Hjerppe;  overflowing organ by Grohn and Kinaret, coaxing the whole set along, this is another of the top tracks. Another Carey Bell track, Hard Work...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bad Intention , from Slim Butler and it's terrific! Slim has great style and it's been too long since I reviewed his last release Inner Blues back in 2013. Opening with All About You a cool R&B style blueser, a la Robert Cray, Tad Robinson shows just how sweet his voice is on soulful music and with a tight band lead by Jarmo " Slim" Puhakka on nicely stylized guitar riffs, Esko Ollila on drums, Harri Taitonen on keys and Hannu Lehtomaa on bass and punched up by the horn section (Slimcuts) of Tapio Maunuvaara on trumpet, Jukka-Pekka Peltoniemi on trumpet, Olli Tuomainen on tenor sax and Antti Napankangas on trombone. Great opener. On driving rocker, Mean Trouble , Andrew Black has the mic with a heavier feel and Slim keeps things close on guitar. On funky, Junk In The Trunk , you get a definite Tower Of Power feel with nice horn work, Black again on lead vocal and excellent drum work from Olli...

I just received the most recent release, Stat(u)e of Mind from Southpaw Steel 'N' Twang and it's terrific! This is a creative release with a lot of diversity. Opening with Gateway , a subtle instrumental, JP Monkkonen on bass, acoustic and baritone guitars, Tero Mikkonen on drums, percussion and ukulele, and Ville Leppanen on steel, electric, resonator and vocals, this is a really nice tune with lead primarily in resonator. Gentle Storm has a blend of progressive with a touch of country with Leppanen on lead steel. Funky instrumental, Aloha Garage , has a snappy drum beat, strong bass line and a cool lead steel making this a cool rocker. Water , has bit of a Latin feel and at times sounds like The Mars Volta with rowdy vocals but cruising swing on steel. Very cool! Route 68 really jazzes it up but with a modern touch. Excellent jazz chords and jamming with a bit of twang bar laid in is just the right touch. This track really opens up with strong addition of drum work...

I just received the newest release, a self titled debut from Ina Forsman and it's terrific! Opening with Hanging Loose , Ina Forsman hits the road running with a solid and powerful, almost indescribable voice. Joined by Laura Chavez and Derek O'Brien on guitars, stellar piano work by Nick Connolly on keys, Russell Jackson on bass Tommy Taylor on drums and Mark Kazanoff on sax, John Mills on bari, Al Gomez on trumpet and Aaron Kazanoff on trumpet this is a solid opener. On Pretty Messed Up you hear solid sounds of the 60's R&B scene and Forsman sings like a star. Showing total confidence and composure, this girl can perform. With a cool piano opening by Connolly, Bubbly Kisses , eases up with a bit of 40' style mystery. Forsman's voice is intoxicating and with subtle nuance and outright power she commands your attention. Backing vocals by Alice Spencer, Tommy Taylor, Nick Connolly and Mark Kazanoff with sassy trumpet work by Al Gomez sets this track up nicel...

I just received the newest release, Ain't Bad Yet , from Micke Bjorklof (pronounced Be-York-Loaf) & Blue Strip and it's an excellent blues rocker. Opening with Last Train To Memphis , a driving rocker with great blues riff. Vocalist Micke Bjorklof leads the way and guitarist Lefty Leppanen chases on slide guitar backed by Teemu Vuorela on drums and Seppo Nuolikoski on bass. On Sweet Troublemaker , the band picks up a serious rock beat heavily reinforced by Vuorela on drums and Nuolikoski on bass. Tim Lewis joins on keys with Micke on lead vocal, Lena Lindroos and Veera Railio on backing vocal and Lefty on slide. Excellent rocker! Lefty opens Rain In Jerusalem with really rich, thick slide tones reinforced by Lewis on keys. With Timo Roiko-Jokela on percussion and Vuorela on drums, this track has a super rhythm. Super track! Offbeat funky, Get Ya In Da Mood has it's own sound and Bjorklof adds blues harp to his lead vocals. Lefty lays down a really nice guitar solo...

Micke Bjorklof: Lead vocals, harmonica, guitar Lefty Leppänen: Electric- and national steel guitar, vocals Teemu Vuorela: Drums Seppo Nuolikoski: Bass, vocals Timo Roiko-Jokela: Percussion, MalletKAT Bandleader and singer Micke Bjorklof founded Blue Strip with bass player Seppo Nuolikoski in 1991. After a few changes at the very start the line up has been the same for over fifteen years. They started as an acoustic blues/rock cover band but before long the roots & blues music and producing original material took over. Today the band is one of the most popular live acts in the roots & blues scene in Finland. They have stirred up audiences around Scandinavia and Europe with their energetic live shows wherever they play, from small clubs to big festival arenas. Opening shows for names like B.B King, FabulousThunderbirds, Little Feat, Bill Wyman Rhythm Kings, Solomon Burke, Robert Plant etc.” In 2007 Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip finished up work on their latest release t...

I just received a new release, Hale's Pleasure Railway from Southpaw Steel 'n' Twang and it's really an eclectic blast! Opening with Open Field , Ville Leppanen plays some distinctively American country style pedal steel guitar riffs over jazz grass riffs on guitar. Joined by Tero Mikkonen on drums and JP Monkkonen on bass, these guys have concocted a formula that really successfully blends country, jazz, blues and bluegrass sounds in an exciting way. Bayou , again with pedal steel lead has a bit of muted strings and jazz fusion funk sounds. This is a great track. Alternating between picking and slide is a cool effect for this all instrumental track. Secret Sunset has a distinctively Hawaiian sound even including ukulele. Ville breaks away from the solid Hawaiian slide work and picks a bit giving the track texture but this thing is all tropical. Bad Alley has a beautiful classical (electric) intro before entering into a modern take on swamp blues and gypsy jazz wi...

THE MUSTANGS, who originate from Orimattila, were formed from the remnants of THE SCAVENGERS in 1981, when it’s former members Jari Aaltonen – rhythm guitar; Markku Tuominen – bass and Jarmo Tuominen – drums, teamed up with new recruit Matti Luhtala on lead guitar. Matti Luhtala started to play guitar at the age of 14 and he was soon invited to play rhythm guitar in his first band called THE BAT. After a few years Luhtala met Jari Aaltonen in the band STINGRAY, which featured Jari on guitar and vocals. After some experience in a few other bands, 18-year-old Matti was invited to join THE SCAVENGERS just before the summer of 1981 as the former lead guitarist Ari Ovaska had left the group. Jari Aaltonen was also 14 when he received his first guitar. It would not take too long before the talented rhythm guitarist entered his first band. Before starting up THE SCAVENGERS, the Tuominen brothers had mainly been playing in various dance music line-ups, which usually were led by their father,...

I just received the newest release, Inner Blues , from Slim Butler and it really smokes! Opening with Mr Big Shot , this band is crankin from the start. Featuring Andrew Black on vocal and Jarmo Pahakka and Otis Grand on guitar this track is a real burner. What Have You Done , featuring Sugar Ray Norcia on vocals and Puhakka on guitars is a slow R&B style blues and it is right on target. Juhani Vitikka on keys, Hannu Lehtomaa on bass, and Markku Orislahti on drums round out the band on this great track. Jarmo has a real sweet ability to hold back on the guitar and then explode with hot meaningful riffs. Super! Never Lose My Soul , another R&B style track but with a bit of Latin influence features Norcia and his silver throat again on vocals and Jarmo plays some really tasty electric and acoustic classically influenced guitar riffs setting this track apart. A Heart Of Ice again features Black on vocals and finds a real guitar partnership to reckon with. Otis Grand playing a ho...

Pekka "Albert" Johannes Järvinen (born October 25, 1950 in Iitti, Finland, died March 24, 1991 in London, England) was a Finnish guitarist. He is most well known as a fast-fingered and skilled guitar player of Finnish rock band Hurriganes. He got his stage-name Albert from one of his idols, blues guitarist Albert King. Järvinen started playing acoustic guitar at the age of eight. He studied classic guitar playing under the teaching of Ivan Putilin before switching to electric guitar. He got his first electric guitar (Gretsch) in 1965. He played in numerous bands, including blues band The Harp, Poison, the background band of singer Kristian, and later Eero Raittinen and Kalevala before replacing Ile Kallio as a guitarist of Hurriganes in May 1972. He also worked as a studio guitarist for many Finnish singers in that time. In 1975 Järvinen left Hurriganes and played with Rock-Jerry before founding a new blues rock band, Royals which tried to challenge the success of Hurriganes...

When did you last hear a vibraphone hobnob with a frantic slide guitar? Probably never, but now you can. After a five years wait, Micke Björklöf & Blue Strip finally delivers a new album "Whole´Nutha Thang", featuring eleven exquisitely completed new songs. The album was recorded in London, England with producer Neil Brockbank (Nick Lowe, Tanita Tikaram, Bryan Ferry) in fall 2006. In addition to the excellent band members there are guest appearances by horn players Matt Holland and Martin Winning (Van Morrison, Lisa Stansfield) and keyboard player Geraint Watkins, known for his work with Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman, Van Morrison and Mark Knopfler. The album title “Whole´Nutha Thang” refers to a new era for the band. The whole process of recording in London was a big thing on its own and it can also be regarded as a giant step for the band towards an international career as a roots & blues music artist. The song writing is stronger than ever and the band is really gro...

Erja Lyytinen (Photo by Hans Lehtinen) ‘Forbidden Fruit’ is the fifth solo album from Erja Lyytinen, a pocket dynamo often referred to as Finland’s Queen Of The Slide Guitar. She had also been tagged as her homeland’s answer to Bonnie Raitt. Though flattering, neither epithet is entirely accurate. Lyytinen can play the Dobro and is highly accomplished in many different forms of guitar technique – not just bottleneck blues. And like Bonnie Raitt, Erja Lyytinen chooses not to dwell exclusively in any one particular niche. The blues is her home – undeniably so – but she loves to explore, blur and, where appropriate, transcend the genre’s boundaries. Born in Kuopio, a small town in central Finland, Erja was raised by a musically-orientated family on the sounds of Led Zeppelin, the Beatles and Deep Purple. She also listened to a lot of pop music, especially Madonna and Michael Jackson. By the age of 15 she was singing and playing the violin with her mother (a bassist) and father (who ...

A distinguished member of the European blues elite, PEPE AHLQVIST (born on 4th of July 1956) is an internationally known Finnish blues artist. During his 40-year-long career he has frequently performed with many legendary blues artists.He has managed to maintain his popularity through the years by presenting fabulous and successful recordings with various bands and giving over 5.000 gigs and concerts. Pepe Ahlqvist is considered a talented and personal singer-guitarist-harmonica player with individual style who also writes his own songs. Pepe began his career in the turn of the 1960's and 1970's. CHICAGO OVERCOAT, his band in the 1970's, thrived under the shield of the legendary Love Records, wherefrom Pepe moved on to collaborate with Fazer/Warner Music for a good period of time. In the late 1980's and early 1990's PEPE AHLQVIST H.A.R.P. recorded several indispensable albums. Besides Finland, the Pepe Ahlqvist albums have been released for i...

Black River Bluesman and his Cockroach Combo destroyed the woods and the mountains around their tiny hometown of Mustio Finland by carving their guitars, drums and harmonicas from whole ironwood trees with their bare hands and by using John Henry..s twelve pound hammer (with four foot handle) they beat down those mountains for brass, silver and iron (and coal to fire this thing) to fashion the rest of the parts they needed. When they were finished they stomped their thirst with a bottle of RL Burnside..s Bloody mthrfckr and sat down in the full moon light at that muddy crossroads between Holly Springs Mississippi, Mustio and County Kisko to play Their raw dirty beautiful Blues.................Rick Saunders, Deep Blues (USA), August 2006. Jukka plays Johnny Lowebow’s genuine handmade custom cigar-box guitars, the most special of which is the doubleneck stereo baritone. Multi-instrumentalist Andy, who joined the band in the days of the Croaking Lizard quartet, functions in this line-up a...

Varhama suunnitteli kahdeksankymmentäluvun puolessa välin sähköistä blues-rockbändiä, joka soittaisi valtaosin hänen omia sävellyksiään – niitä oli vuosien varrella kertynyt pöytälaatikkoon. Sopivat miehet löytyivät joskus 80/90 –luvun taitteessa ja homma polkaistiin käyntiinkin, vaan lyhytaikaiseksi jäi Blues Business. Bassoa siinä soitti Jarski Poutiainen, rummuissa oli Hanski Rontu, koskettimissa Jari Puheloinen ja perkussioista vastasi Timo Ronkainen; Baby Boy lauloi ja soitti kitaraa. Vaikka homma tyrehtyi, jäi kaipaus yhtyeen konseptista. 1989 Asia tuli sopivasti esille vuonna ’98, jolloin Jarski Poutiainen ja Jaska Heinonen kysyivät, olisiko Varhamalla jemmassa J. Leinon bändille sopivia bluesbiisejä. Niinpä Pentti kasasi itseään nuoremmista, entisistä Tiirismaan koulun oppilaista (ko. koulussa Varhama on toiminut jo vuosia historian opettajana ja on kuulemani mukaan pidetty opettaja) yhtyeen, jolla aikoi äänittää vain demobiisit Leinon bändin kuultavaksi. Ryhmittymän bändikemia...