Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Heard The Lie , from Gina Sicilia and it's a solid R&B release. Opening with title track, Heard the Lie , Sicilia blends pop, country and blues to come up with a solid radio track featuring backing by Herman Matthews on drums, Davey Faragher on bass, Arlan Oscar on keys and Josh Smith and Dave Darling on guitars. How Many Times is a strong soul track showcasing Sicilia's vocals as well as the top notch writing of Darling and smooth backing vocals of Bernie Barlow, Brie Darling, D'Andree Galipeau, Conner Pasich, Connie Cham and Kirk Pasich. Bad Company's Ready For Love is next with a bit more polish than the original with deep rich vocals by Sicilia, a light Latin beat and a nice key solo by Oscar. Janey Street's Angels Watching , is a really nice track with a perfect balance of melody and vocals. Another track with a dash of country is Sugar with just another example of Sicilia's flexibili...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tug of War , from Gina Sicilia , and it's soulful. Opening with I Don't Want To Be In Love , with solid pop foundation, is backed by Dave Darling and Zack Zunis on guitars, Dave Darling on bass and backing vocals, Matt Tecu on drums, Arlan Oscar on organ and piano. Showing that Memphis soul sound on He Called Me Baby , Sicilia belts out my personal favorite on the release with Ron Jennings on guitars, Ken Pendergast on bass, Scott Key on drums and Joel Bryant on B3. On contemporary radio track, Never Gonna End , Jennings, Pendergast and key are back but with Walter Runge on piano. Bluesy ballad, They Never Pay Me , features some of Sicilia's vocal work carried by the soothing B3 work of Runge and nice bass lines of Pendergast and with a curiously nice guitar solo by Jennings. 60's pop track, Tell Him , made popular by The Exciters, is a cover, fairly close to the original but with a fresh spin. Lennon /M...

VizzTone's Blues Music Award Wish List! We are so proud of the artists we're working with at the VizzTone label group!  Of course, the BLUES MUSIC AWARD nominators haven't made their choices yet, but If it were up to us...we'd see some of the nominations listed below. Cick on the CDs to listen to the music, and we bet you'll agree! Candye Kane Coming Out Swingin' (feat. Laura Chavez ) Coming Out Swingin’— the brilliant new record from feminist power poet and vocalist CANDYE KANE, her extraordinary guitarist and co-writer Laura Chavez , and her exceptional band. It’s a jukebox for the mind that moves the body and spirit with a broad selection of originals and hip covers. • CONTEMPORARY BLUES FEMALE ARTIST • CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM • GUITARIST (Laura Chavez) • BB KING ENTERTAINER • SONG: "Invisible Woman" • ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2013 IBC Solo/Duo Winne...

MEDIA BLAST Gina Sicilia Will Perform At The Bing Lounge June 21 st KINK-FM Presents Unique Live Streaming Music Experience Vizztone Recording Artist Gina Sicilia will perform live at the music streaming Bing Lounge on June 21 at 12PM (Noon) Pacific Time with her band. The performance will take place at the KINK-FM station in Portland, Oregon. Gina will perform songs from her newest release “It Wasn’t Real”, that came out earlier this spring to rave reviews. The Bing Lounge has become a virtual hot spot for music acts across the spectrum, and after the streaming, KINK-FM will archive it for later use and viewing. You will be able to watch it from their channel: http://www.alphabroadcasting.com/binglive/ Produced by Grammy-winner Glenn Barrett, It Wasn’t Real was recorded at Morningstar Studios in Gina’s hometown of Philadelphia, and features the singer backed by a cadre of local all-star session players who bring a soulful intensity that matches Si...

BRAND NEW FROM THE VIZZTONE LABEL GROUP mmm, mmm, mmMemphis!  and coming soon.... Hey All Y'all (note the vernacular, we're getting in the mood) — Lots of VizzTone folks are heading to Memphis this week, so we wanted to take this opportunity to give one more shout out to our BMA nominees, talk about our Big Blues Party on Beale, and brag about our new and upcoming releases! So first of all, one more big CONGRATS and GOOD LUCK to the Blues Music Awards nominees from our VizzTone/Vizzable family: OUR NOMINEES... Ann Rabson w/Bob Margolin / Not Alone - Acoustic Blues Album Bob Margolin- Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year Phantom Blues Band - Blues Band of the Year Tony Braunagel (Phantom Blues Band, Robert Cray Band) - Drums Mike Finnigan (Phantom Blues Band) - Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Diunna Greenleaf (Vizzable Music Artist) - Koko Taylor Award      ...

I just received the newest release, It Wasn't Real , from Gina Sicilia . Sicilia has a rich voice and a smooth delivery. Opening with the title track, It Wasn't Real , Sicilia delivers a sultry pop jazz track with nice sax work backing by Jay Davidson. Next up is a track that I became familiar with through my love for James Brown. This has a totally different feel with a more laid back swing type groove. Davidson again steps up with a sweet solo. Walkin Along The Avenue has a distinct 40's sound and possibly the coolest track on the release. Dennis Gruenling plays some really complimentary harp on this track and Joel Bryant adds a nice B3 line. City By The Water is a strong radio play track with a real bluesy feel. Davidson again gets the chance to shine with a real solid sax solo. The release is wrapped with country influenced Walkin' Shoes . Overall this release will appeal to a more adult audience with strong pop melodic tendencies. It is very well done.  If yo...

BRAND NEW FROM THE VIZZTONE LABEL GROUP Gina Sicilia It Wasn't Real free track download & listening party! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE TITLE TRACK & HEAR THE ALBUM The VizzTone label group proudly presents It Wasn't Real , the new CD from dynamic roots music singer/songwriter Gina Sicilia .  This compelling release promises to expand her burgeoning career as one of the most creative, exciting and diverse artists in the genre today. Produced by Grammy-winner Glenn Barratt, It Wasn’t Real was recorded at Morningstar Studios in Gina’s hometown of Philadelphia, and features the singer backed by a cadre of local all-star session players who bring a soulful intensity that matches Sicilia’s emotionally-charged vocals.   The new album’s nine original songs showcase Gina’s growth as a songwriter who can deal with universal themes of love and fate, but is able to inject a personal deep-felt longing th...

Dynamic Roots Music Singer/Songwriter Gina Sicilia Readies New CD, It Wasn’t Real , for Release April 30 on VizzTone Label Group New Album Produced by Grammy-Winner Glenn Barratt PHILADELPHIA, PA - Dynamic roots music singer/songwriter Gina Sicilia announces an April 30 release date for It Wasn’t Real , her new CD on the VizzTone Label Group, which promises to expand her burgeoning career as one of the most creative, exciting and diverse artists in the genre today. Produced by Grammy-winner Glenn Barrett, It Wasn’t Real was recorded at Morningstar Studios in Gina’s hometown of Philadelphia, and features the singer backed by a cadre of local all-star session players who bring a soulful intensity that matches Sicilia’s emotionally-charged vocals.  The new album’s nine original songs showcase Gina’s growth as a songwriter who can deal with universal themes of love and fate, but is able to inject a personal deep-felt longing throughout with ...