Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tales From The West , from Shaw Davis & The Black Ties , and I really like it. Opening with power blues rocker, Take My Hand , guitarist and lead vocalist, Shaw Davis  sets a signature sound with his Marino / Hendrix / Trower like blues rock style. With a tight rhythm section of Patrick Stevenson on bass and Bobby Van Stone on drums, these guys are hot. On Zappa's classic blues rocker, Willie The Pimp , Stevenson and Van Stone really turn up the heat with heavy, precise bottom and in addition to Davis' great vocals exceptional guitar soloing. Excellent! With a funk rock beat, Mama Told Me gets this train grooving. Excellent drum work by Van Stone set this track off nicely and with a rumbling bass line Shaw just rips the guitar lead.... oh yeah...you know what I mean... step back. Ok... you really got me with Junior Kimbrough's I Gotta Try You Girl and it's hill country style. Taking it's simplist...

Three Show Dates - Three Cities Not one but three separate show dates in the Sunshine state starting with Tallahassee then Spring Hill and then closing out in Tampa .  March 16th - The Junction at Monroe - Tallahassee March 17th - Marker 48 Brewing - Spring Hill March 18th - Ferg's Live - Tampa Seeing is believing - click and experience The Ally Venable Band Learn more about Ally - click here

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Way Back Home , from the Backtrack Blues Band and it's solid. Opening with Going to Eleuthera , a snappy shuffle, Sonny Charles leads the way on lead vocals and Kid Royal is hot on his heels on lead guitar. Rounding out the troupe is Little Johnny Walter on rhythm guitar, Joe Bencomo on drums and Stick Davis on bass. Victor Wainwright is featured on piano and does a real nice job and Charles really makes his harp sing. Nice opener. On Tell Your Daddy , the band sets a funky dance groove with a boogaloo bass line. Breaking into a smooth shuffle Royal plays it like a stud and the deal is on. Breaking back, Charles brings his harp to the forefront with great tone. Shoot My Rooster has a real nice blues lope with Charles' harp on call and Royal's guitar on response. One of my favorite tracks on the release, this track features super piano work by Wainwright in the mix with Royal and Charles. Excellent. Sonny Boy Wi...

I was raised on a healthy mix of New Orleans Ragtime Funk, Hard Driving 70s Classic Rock and Heavy Metal. Discovered Pure Delta Blues when I began to play Harp at age 18. Guitar shortly followed and I have been searching for my sound ever since.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Steve Arvey started playing Music seriously when he was 18 years old. While in college in Gainesville, Florida he met John Vilardo who was the first person that he ever jammed with. Soon after he was meet to Ben Andrews. Ben was a country blues ragtime guitarist from Washington, DC. Bent turned me on to the great country bluesmen like Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Bukka White and Leadbelly just to name a few. When I first heard Leadbelly it seemed my whole life changed. Ben really was my first big influence into the blues. He showed me how to fingerpick and got me into playing bass. Another person from Gainesville and an early influence was Barrelhouse Chuck. Chuck had a large record collection and was playing in the Robert Hunter Blues Band. Robert Hunter was a blind saxophone player who had worked with Bobby “Blue” Bland in the sixties. Eventually Chuck moved out to Seattle and Ben and I formed another band to back up Robert Hunter. The same year Bo Diddley moved to Gainesville. ...

​ With an extensive background in gospel and a lifelong passion for soul music, Betty Fox has burst onto the Florida music scene in a whirlwind of controlled yet unabashed passion and has taken the hearts of anyone wise enough to lend her their ear. Betty Fox appreciated singing early in life and performed for the first time at a church play at the age of 4. Her family had a deep love for southern country gospel and tight harmonies which they would express at every family gathering, and that is where her affinity for music began. "My uncle Fred would pound on the keys with his monster hands and the harmonies would resonate in my soul", Fox says. Now, at age 27, this fiery songstress has her own musical project with quite a few heart wrenching, lyrically driven and musically sound original tracks that beg the question "What kind of life must this old soul have lived?" To support her talent, she has carefully selected musical heavyweights Matt Walker on guitar, Bar...

With over a quarter of a century under his belt and 14 years fronting his own band, Lee is causing quite the buzz on a national and international level. In 2013, Lee Delray headlined the 4th Annual Blues Bash in Hackettstown, N.J., along with Blues/Rock Legend Johnny Winter. He was also invited on as supporting act for “Superharp” James Cotton at The Stanhope House, N.J. Lee’s cd “570-BLUES” is getting airplay in over 15 countries and over 40 US states, and rapidly building a worldwide fan base. Lee’s style has been called a ferocious mix of Albert King, Albert Collins, and Luther Allison. He has also been compared to more modern artists like Tommy Castro, Nick Moss, Joe Moss, Chris Cain, and Bryan Lee. If you enjoy any of these artists you will love Lee Delray. Born in Florida and raised in N.Y.C., Lee started playing guitar at age 11 after finding an old flat top in a back corner of his garage. Lee gave up the guitar one year later for the drums after seeing a Krupa/Rich s...

SHANYTOWN IS KEEPING THE LEGEND ALIVE ON NEW SELF-TITLED CD FROM GARAGE DOOR RECORDS VAN ZANT NEPHEWS RONNIE AND ROBBIE MORRIS CARRY ON SOUTHERN ROCK BAND TRADITION JACKSONVILLE, FL – Growing up Southern – or from anywhere else on the globe for that matter - true fans of rock and roll know all about the history of the Van Zant family of Jacksonville, Florida. Known as the “First family of Southern Rock,” they have thus far produced three landmark groups: Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special and the Johnny Van Zant Band. Now, there is a proud new addition from Southern Rock’s first family, a hot new band called Shanytown, who’ve released their debut album self-titled CD on Garage Door Records. Shanytown is led by “Lil Ronnie” Morris (lead vocals/guitar) and Robbie Morris (drums), both nephews of the late Ronnie Van Zant, as well as Donnie and Johnny Van Zant. Ronnie and Robbie Morris’ musical roots run deep and like their uncles they are the real deal. ...

Guitarist Sean Chambers Announces His Most- Extensive Tour Ever New CD, The Rock House Sessions , Produced by Reese Wynans, Set for Release on October 15 TAMPA, FL – Guitarist Sean Chambers, whose new CD, The Rock House Sessions , is set for release on October 15 from Blue Heat Records, has announced his most extensive tour schedule thus far in support of the new album. His latest itinerary includes performances in a number of markets that Sean has not played in a long time, plus many he’s never played before, including all of his upcoming California shows, as well as San Antonio, Fort Worth, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Phoenix, Boulder, Cedar Rapids and New Orleans. Sean Chambers is booked by The Jo-Ann Freda Agency (203-530-1019 / joannfredaagency@gmail.com ). The Rock House Sessions is the first album he’s recorded as Sean Chambers rather than The Sean Chambers Band; and producing for the  first-time is legendary keyboard player Reese Wynans...

I just received the newest release, This River (June 24, 2013), by JJ Grey & Mofro and I really like it. Opening with Your Lady, She's Shady , Grey lays down a hip hop style rhythmic attack with ultra cool horn, harp and guitar solos. On Somebody Else , one of my favorite tracks on the release, Grey sounds a lot like Al Green in arrangement and style with it's prancing strut. With reverb on the guitar, Stax style drumming and horns on the bottom, his song is really sweet. 99 Shades of Crazy is a straight up rocker with a blues twist. Grey knows how to use rhythm and the vocal blending and horn support makes this a strong radio candidate. The Ballad Of Larry Webb is an extremely tasty track. Strong melody and vocal execution with only minimal instrumentation for atmosphere, this is another of the best tracks on the release. Florabama is a funky pop like track and actually reminds me a lot of Kiss (Prince). Addition of sax and trumpet work on this track gives it a lot of...

Shining Stone Records Signs Guitarist Paul Gabriel and Will Release His Label Debut CD, What’s the Chance, on June 18 Album Produced by Duke Robillard and Also Features Special Guests Mark Naftalin and Roomful of Blues Horns MIAMI, FL – Shining Stone Records announces the signing of Connecticut-based guitarist Paul Gabriel, and will release his label debut CD, What’s the Chance , on June 18. Produced by Duke Robillard, What’s the Chance features Paul Gabriel backed by a core band of Billy Bileca on bass, Nick Longo on drums and Larry “Buzzy” Fallstrom on keyboards. Special guests on the new album include Duke Robillard on guitars and background vocals; former Butterfield Blues Band alumnus Mark Naftalin on piano; Bruce Bears on keyboards; Steve Pastir on guitar; and the Roomful of Blues Horns consisting of Rich Lataille on alto/tenor sax, Mark Earley on tenor/baritone sax, and Doug Woolverton on trumpet. For decades, Paul Gabriel has been a region...

Ethel Davenport b April 12, 2010 of Jacksonville, Florida, singing "The Great Big Jubilee." She was one of the Gospel promoters during the Golden Age of Gospel and she would bring lots of big names, including the ones she mentioned in this song.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”  

I received a sampler of music from Ocala, Florida. It has a mixture of musical styles and musicians. The commonality in the release is Alma Mares on keys. Russell Alexander opens the set with a ballad backed by keys. Deep Sharma follows with Longing , a quiet ballad with eastern influences. Waltz Trisle is an interesting keyboard jazzy instrumental. Another track by Deep Sharma , She Is Falling , has a British eighties/nineties pop sound. I Want To Be One featuring Carl Erwin is a reggae beat track with smooth vocals. autumn, another instrumental composition on keys is well written and executed. Old Town Chicago , with Marta Kubisova and June has a lot of traditional country roots. Dave Trezak is up next with a classic ballad, Dancing In Your Eyes . Lullaby featuring Peter Sujan maintains an ethereal sound of vocal over keys. Pedro , another instrumental, has a Spanish flare and classic writing. Memory by Dave Trezak is spoken poetry over light keys. Quasimodo , another ins...

I just received the new release (to be released April 9, 2013), Split Second , from Nicole Hart and Anni Piper and it's quite good! The release opens with a vocal duet rhumba, Can't Let You Go . This track has a good beat and you can dance to it... I mean John Ginty plays a cool organ part on an otherwise primarily radio oriented track. Up next is Clap Your Hands , along the lines of Ray Charles' What I Say. Ron Rauso plays a hot guitar riff on this track and Ginty takes a nice piano and organ solo as well, all driven by the hot shot drumming of Sim Cain. Ain't Nobody Watchin' slows the train down a bit and Sandy Mack steps up on harp. Piper sings nice lead on this track with heavy support from her bass. The Classic rockabilly track, Dream Baby , is covered here very nicely by the duo. Rauso and Ginty take turns throwing a riff into the mix on this track. On You Can't Make Somebody Love You , rich vocal treatment and a swampy spiritual arrangement make this a...

I just had the chance to listen to The Electric Room by Parlor Jones. Jones (vocal and guitar) and company [Eliot Falk (bass), Jeff Drake (Drums), Marlon Savarino and Bob Markos (harp), Joey D. Dunlop (keys), Perry Sheldon (guitar), Jo Ann Hudson and Jann Childers (Backing vocals)] have assembled a set of blues pop tracks for basic listening pleasure. The songs range from We're Gonna Rock and Roll Tonight, with a retro English blues pop sound to a Outside Woman Blues, a Cream cover of a classic blues track. You Must Know I Love You has the classic lines of the Kinks or Buddy Holly. Southbound Train is a driving blues rock track along the lines of Foghat but move conventional guitar soloing and adding of harp work. Take The Time, the bluesiest of the original tracks featuring some nice guitar work by Jones as well as a relentless harp ambiance. Cream's White Room ans Politician as well as the Beatles Glass Onion round out the set with classic style and giving Jones the opportu...

Williams was born blind in southern Florida circa 1915 to parents who were migrant farm workers. During his youth, he attended the St. Petersburg School for the Blind (also Ray Charles’ alma mater) and became sufficiently proficient on guitar to begin a career as a street musician in the 1930s. He eventually settled in Philadelphia in 1935 and often traveled to New York City, where he plied his trade in Harlem during his visits. It was there that he met Rev. Gary Davis, whose influence can be heard in Williams’ guitar and singing style. His repertory was an extremely eclectic one. As a street musician, he primarily performed sacred material, although he knew a number of proto-blues folk songs and topical material from the 1930s and 1940s as well. He was also familiar with a few blues compositions, but as the booklet notes point out, he preferred “8- or 16-bar blues to the more widespread 12-bar form.” Welding discovered Williams performing sanctified numbers to accordion accompaniment ...

Richard Allen (Blue) Mitchell (March 13, 1930 – May 21, 1979) was an American jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and funk trumpeter, known for many albums recorded as leader and sideman for Riverside, Blue Note and then Mainstream Records. Mitchell was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He began playing trumpet in high school where he acquired his nickname, Blue. After high school he played in the rhythm and blues ensembles of Paul Williams, Earl Bostic, and Chuck Willis. After returning to Miami he was noticed by Cannonball Adderley, with whom he recorded for Riverside Records in New York in 1958. He then joined the Horace Silver Quintet, playing with tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor and drummer Roy Brooks. Mitchell stayed with Silver's group until the band's break-up in 1964, after which he formed a group with members from the Silver quintet, substituting the young pianist Chick Corea for Silver and replacing Brooks, who had fallen ill, with drummer Al Fo...

I just received a copy of Forgive Me, a release by Little Mike and the Tornadoes and its super! Little Mike Markowitz (vocal and Harp) has assembled a crew of players and together they make a great crew. Opelousas is a really cool instrumental track featuring Troy Nahumko on guitar and Sonny Rhodes on steel. This is a loping Elmore James/Freddie King style track with plenty of room for guitar soloing and Little Mike brings it on harp. Wait A Minute Baby is another track in the Texas groove but pushed with horns and featuring some cool organ work by Jim McKaba. Nothin' I Wouldn't Do has a bit more of the soul sound and isagain backed with the horns giving it an authentic soul sound. Warren King plays a light jazzy guitar solo on this track as well. Tell Me Baby comes out of the gate rompin'. Rhodes plays some cool steel (slide) riffs on this track and Cam Robb (drums) and Chris Brzezicki (bass) keep the bottom on track. Little Mike shows his chops on this track and his vocal...

John Coltrane sax Jimmy Garrison bass Elvin Jones drum Mc Tyner piano Jimmy Garrison (March 3, 1934 – April 7, 1976) was an American jazz double bassist born in Miami, Florida. He was best known through his long association with John Coltrane from 1961–1967 He formally joined Coltrane's quartet in 1962, replacing Reggie Workman. The long trio blues "Chasin' the Trane" is probably his first recorded performance with Coltrane and Elvin Jones. Garrison appeared on many classic Coltrane recordings, including A Love Supreme. In concert with Coltrane, Garrison would often play unaccompanied improvised solos, sometimes as the prelude to a song before the other musicians joined in. Garrison also had a long association with Ornette Coleman, first recording with him on Ornette on Tenor and Art of the Improvisers. He and drummer Elvin Jones have been credited with eliciting more forceful playing than usual from Coleman on the albums New York is Now and Love Call. Outside of th...

Noble "Thin Man" Watts (February 17, 1926 – August 24, 2004) was an American blues, jump blues and rhythm and blues saxophonist. He primarily played tenor saxophone. Allmusic journalist Bill Dahl considered Watts "one of the most incendiary [...] fire-breathing tenor sax honkers" of the 1950s Born in DeLand, Florida, Watts studied violin and trumpet in his youth, later switching to sax. He gained musical training at Florida A&M, where he played in the school's marching band with future saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. Hired to play with The Griffin Brothers after college, Watts began his professional career. During the 1950s, he would work with Lionel Hampton, Dinah Washington, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, the Everly Brothers, and others. He also appeared on American Bandstand with Johnny Mathis in 1957, and performed in the house band at a Harlem club owned by boxer Sugar Ray Robinson. Watts's career would eventually decline by the mid-19...