Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release from Landslide Records , 40th Anniversary , a two disc compilation celebrating their 40th anniversary and a full house of great artists. Opening with Tinsley Ellis and the Heartfixers and Drivin' Woman . Ellis is a great choice to open this retrospective with his fiery guitar attack and tight rock shuffle beat. Strong opener. The Bluesbusters' track, If The Phone Don't Ring , is up next led by Little feat guitar and vocalist Paul Barrere in collaberation with Dregs keyboardist Lavitz and associated Feat personalities. This is a great track and solid addition to this release. Damon Fowler contributes Make The Best Of Your Time . Fowler was a great addition to Landslides lineup with his rugged vocal, strong rhythm and terrific slide work, I always look forward to his releases. Sean Costello was a unique talent and spectacular blues player. His contribution here is Motor Head Baby with it's slow swagger and Costello...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sovereign Town , from Geoff Achison and it's quite good. Opening with folk rocker, Skeleton Kiss, Achison, on guitar and vocal crafts a definitely radio worthy track with solid backing by Andrew Fry on bass, Dave Clark on drums, Liam Kealy on Hammond and John McNamara on backing vocals. Title track, Sovereign Town has a real nice feel with rich warm backing vocals and a blend of finger picked and slide guitar by Achison supporting his distinctive vocals. Very nice. With a light jazzy touch, Misha Bella has a cool George Benson touch but maintaining Achison style country runs. Kealy's Hammond solo balances the track nicely making it one of my favorites on the release. Another particularly interesting track is World of Blue with fluid delivery, a strong melody, warm backing vocals, nice slide and just the right amount of Hammond. Excellent! Instrumental track, Hand of Faith , has a very soothing melody and wit...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release; Another Mile, Another Minute ; from Geoff Achison and it's quite good. Opening with High Wire , Achison keeps the beat simple and with Richard Tankard on keys, Gerry Pantazis on drums and Roger McLachian on bass, lays down some real nice riffs on guitar backed by Susie Ahern on vocal. With it's reggae/pop feel, Working My Way Back Home has a real interesting sound, with a solid bass line, cool organ feel and colorful guitar work.  Shuffle track, I'm Gonna Ride features cool harp work by Chris Wilson and pure rock riffs from Achison. An infectious bass line by McLachian on really sets off A New Bad Habit and Sax by Paul Williamson and trumpet by Jack Howard give it a great backdrop for Achison's cool, stylist vocals.  Title track, Another Mile Another Minute has a smooth R&B feel with solid lead vocal by Achison and warm backing by Hannah Harwood, Steve Romig as well as the smooth horns of Will...

A cool first look at Geoff Achison's new video, High Wire. Enjoy!

CHRIS WILSON has been an essential part of blues and rock music scene in Australia since taking the stage with the Sole Twisters over twenty years ago. Stints with Harum Scarum and Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls followed, and by the end of the 80s Chris was renowned as one of our finest vocalists, harmonica players and songwriters, fronting the superb Crown of Thorns. Chris has appeared at every major Australian festival and his performances, filled as they are with his own brand of sensuality and the dynamic power that leaves his audiences so satisfied, are always a highlight. Chris' stage presence, voice and talent are all as big as the country he lives in. Chris Wilson is a master of his craft.   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!

I had the pleasure of having Australian guitar great Geoff Achison stopping by my radio show this past Thursday. He played a few songs and told some stories. Great player, great guy..  Thanks Greg!   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!

I have just received the newest release, Classically Blue Live , a new CD/DVD live recording from Geoff Achison and Adrian Keating . This recording is much more fusion and ballad than blues but interesting just the same. The first track, Each Long Day is a well composed track with very clean classically executed guitar intro, smooth fusion oriented violin work by Adrian Keating and further electric guitar exchanges with Achison and Keating. Julia Day plays flawlessly on drums and Tim Sampson plays driving articulated bass lines. You And I is a strong ballad accompanied primarily by acoustic guitar with orchestral backing. One Ticket, One Ride is a rock style track with a bit of funk making it a catchy track. Bridge gets back to the more sophisticated time signatures of a fusion track but with a bit more vocal that is typically associated with this type of music. It is really quite well orchestrated and instrumentally interesting. Apparatus opens with a very unusual funky guitar ...

GEOFF’S UPCOMING U.S. TOUR DATES INCLUDE SOLO ACOUSTIC SHOWS, PERFORMANCES WITH HIS SOULDIGGERS BAND & SOME SPECIAL SHOWS FEATURING RANDALL BRAMBLETT ATLANTA , GA – Australian blues/roots guitar sensation Geoff Achison, whose sound combines elements of blues, funk and jam band music, will hit the American shores with a vengeance for an extensive tour starting in March and extending through June in support of his upcoming CD release, Little Big Men , due for release April 10 on Jupiter 2 Records. Little Big Men , which will be available for sale on Amazon.com, iTunes, CD Baby and at the artist’s website, contains a re-mastered version of 14 tracks originally released to great acclaim in Australia several years ago but had been in limited release in the U.S., augmented by three previously unavailable bonus tracks. To celebrate the new CD release, Geoff Achison will embark on a series of shows showcasing his many talents as a guitarist and singer, ...

In a career that has already spanned a half-century, Jorma Kaukonen has been the leading practitioner and teacher of fingerstyle guitar, one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots music, blues, and Americana, and at the forefront of popular rock-and-roll. He was a founding member of two legendary bands, The Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna, a Grammy nominee, a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the most in-demand instructor in the galaxy of stars who teach at the Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp that he and his wife operate in picturesque Southeastern Ohio. The son of a State Department official, Jorma Kaukonen, Jr. was born and raised in the Washington D.C. area, with occasional extended trips outside the United States. He was a devotee of rock-and-roll in the Buddy Holly era but soon developed a love for the blues and bluegrass that were profuse in the clubs and concerts in the nation’s capitol. He wanted to take up guitar and make that ki...