Qualified Records artist: Yates McKendree - Need To Know - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Need To Know, from Yates McKendree and I really like it. Opening with solid blues number, Burnin' Tears, Yates McKendree on lead guitar and vocal really sets a nice pace. With Steve Mackey on bass, Griffin Photoglou on drums, Robert Frahm on rhythm guitar and Kevin McKendree on piano and Hammond, Yates vocals are strong and his BB King flavored guitar attack really fits this track perfectly. Excellent opener. Run It In The Ground is a super hot runner with Muddy Waters roots. Yates is really riding high on lead vocal and his guitar work sails with Kevin and Frahm kicking it with heavy support by Griffin. James Brown's, I Don't Care gets a real nice cover by Yates with his soulful voice and solid horn backing by Steve Herrman on trumpet, John Hinchey on trombone and standout sax work by Jim Hoke on tenor and bari sax. Chris Kenner's Something You Got has a real nice funk underpinning by Kevin on organ, Frahm on rhythm and Kenneth Blevins on drums and Yates takes his guitar to town with excellent phrasing on lead and some of his best vocals on the release. See See Rider gets a real nice R&B meets jazz makeover and Yates plays some of his most outrageous guitar to date. This track may seem like it would be a sleeper, but it's anything but. Excellent! Willie Dixon's I Can't Stop is outrageous with Yates seeming to ooze Otis Rush and his falsetto vocal contrast are wild. With Kevin on piano, Frahm on rhythm Mackey on bass and Photoglou on drums, this release really does continue to get deeper. Wow! Hot shuffle, Good As Gone, is manned by Yates on vocal, lead guitar, bass and drums and Kevin on organ and guitar. This thing is a blast! Wrapping the release is Tide, a cool instrumental with progressively building intensity created by Yates adding more and more layers of washer and dryer, Guitars, bass, and Hammond to a cool beat by George Sluppick on percussion. This is a great release and an easy recommendation. You gotta get this!

  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”

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Little Village artist: Nic Clark - Everybody's Buddy - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everybody's Buddy, by Nic Clark and it's strong. Opening with lazy shuffle, Laughing At The Rain, Nic Clark shows a warm voice, backing himself on dobro and accompanying himself on harmonica. Joined by Charlie Hunter on guitar and bass and George Sluppick on drums, this track has definite air potential. With an R&B feel, It'll Be Alright sounds like it's out of Sam Cooke's songbook. Harmonica, nicely phrased, warm vocal lead, Hunter's bass line and Sluppick with rimshots makes this a really nice track. Showing Jimmy Reed style on Don't Count Yourself Out, Clark's vocal and harmonica really solidify as the most focused up tempo blues track on the release with Hunter and Sluppick just adding the bottom for Clark's work. Very nice. My favorite track on the release, How I Met The Blues really is a showcase for Clark's vocal and harmonica work with some beautiful guitar chords by Hunter over his own bass line and the simple percussion of Sluppick. Strong. Title track, Everybody's Buddy, has an acoustic "country blues" feel with Clark on vocal and harmonica and nicely overlaid pedal steel work by DaShawn Hickman. Wrapping the release is folky, Breathe Slow with Clark on vocal and dobro and backing vocal by Wendy Hickman. Solid closer for a cool change of pace release. 

  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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening