Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just Wanna Have Fun , from Mike Goudreau Band and it's a swinging blues release. Opening with Don't Wanna Go To Work , Mike Gougreau on lead vocal and guitar leads the way with Dany Roy on trumpet responding to his call, backed by Norman Lachapelle on bass, Richard Irwin on drums and Paul Shrofel on keys. A cool shuffle, this track gives Goudreau plenty of space to run the frets. Solid opener. With a nice lope, How Can I Change Your Mind , really hits the slot. Singing just behind the beat, Goudreau gives the track a real laid back feel and Shrofel on keys lay out a sweet solo of his own. Rockin blues, Big Black Dog , plays nicely with Goudreau putting out some of his best vocals and crisp guitar riffs over the funky rhythm of Shrofel on keys and Irwin on drums. With a light, easy pace, Happy Since You're Gone , is a jazzier piece with Goudreau crooning and nice muted trumpet and flute by Roy. Next up is Come H...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Voyages  & Other Stories , by Guy Belanger and it's a solid release with contemporary blues style. Opening with Bayou's Ride , Rob MacDonald on slide, Claude Fradette on guitar, Bruce Cameron on piano, Marc-Andre Drouin on bass and Michael Dufour on drums giving Belanger a solid base for his crafty harmonica adornment. Nice opener. On slow blues, Do I Move You , Sylvie Desgroseillers on lead vocal and perfect guitar response over a great bass drone by Drouin really creating a perfect showcase for Belanger on harmonica. Certainly one of my favorites on the release. Jump track, Duck Soup really has a grate feel with harmonica/guitar duet on the intro and super breakouts by Belanger and MacDonald. Excellent! With a modern shuffle feel, King Bee , features Belanger on vocal and harmonica over some real tasty dobro work by MacDonald and bass by Alec McElcheran. Wrapping the release is Au Bout Du Chemin , a strong ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Eldorado , from Guy Belanger and it's pretty cool. Opening with instrumental, Carving The Wind , featuring Guy Belanger interweaving his harmonica work with Robert MacDonald on guitar over the bass work of Marc-Andre Drouin and Michael Dufour on drums. A pure Latin beat sets the tone for instrumental title track, Eldorado , with it's crisp rhythm and swaying feel. Belanger crafts a really nice melody and MacDonald shapes flowing guitar tones that almost sound like the wind. Very nice. A track with an overall blues feel and real tension, When Will I Know features Belanger on lead vocal and harmonica and Bob Stagg on b3, piano and Wurlitzer. This is a really sensitive track with a great radio sense. One of my favorite tracks on the release is light funky jazz rocker, Wicked with it's super bass line from Drouin, and Belanger on harmonica melody and including a real nice guitar solo by MacDonald. Another trac...

Quebec's Masterful Harmonicist   Guy Bélanger Set To Release Eldorado October 25 Bélanger's sixth solo album coming out via Bros Records Quebec’s most sought-after harmonica player, Guy Bélanger is set to release his 6th solo album, Eldorado on October 25th on Bros Records. This long-awaited new release features a mix of original blues songs and instrumental gems that highlight his remarkable melodic touch. Eldorado is another demonstration of the top-notch chemistry Bélanger and his band can attain in studio. This brilliant assemblage of original songs also contains a few surprising covers, of note a delta blues version of Prince's “Sign 'O The Times” and a joyous rendition of Van Morrison’s “Bright Side of the Road”.  With a storied career that has spanned more than four decades, Bélanger has worked with some of Quebec’s bi...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Traces & Scars , from Guy Belanger , showcasing his talents as a composer, band leader and harmonica player. Opening with My Dearest Friend , a crisp instrumental, Belanger shows why he is so highly regarded as a serious harmonica player, joined by Rob McDonald on guitar. Picking up the pace on Better Days and with a bluesier sound, Belanger maintains tight technique over nice guitar and lap steel work by Andre Lachance by  and percussion by Michel Roy. Little Heart is a real nice ballad featuring particularly sensitive vocal and harmonica by Belanger making it my radio pick for the release. Rocker, See The Light ,  featured some really tasty electric guitar soloing by Kaven Girouard with bass by Marc-Andre Drouin and drums by Michel Roy. Funky jazz tune, Common Ground , showcases Rob McDonald on guitar with Lachance and Belanger giving it a real springy feel. Luce Dufault takes the mic for solid ballad, W...