Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It's Time , from Steve Kozak Band , and it's quite good. Opening with shuffle track, Cane Sugar Sweet , Kozak on lead guitar and vocal is backed by Dave Webb on keys, Roger Brant on bass and Chris Nordquist on drums. On Jody Williams track, You May , Kozak brings the tempo down to a cool swing and lays down incredibly fine guitar riffs. On Magic Sam's, Every Day and Every Night , Shawn Hall joins on harp pushing Kozak to dig in with smoking blues guitar riffs. If you haven't heard this guy... you're missing the boat. R&B with a twist on That's Cool With Me , features warm sax work and clean jazz guitar runs. One of my favorites on the release, Stranger In My Hometown , has warm Hammond tones and solid vocals by Kozak topped off with crisp piano and guitar solos. One of the coolest tracks on the release is Love, Life and Money with just the right pace, soulful guitar solo and bright, expressiv...

The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer Partner With Music Maker Relief Foundation   For Immediate Release: September 21, 2012; (Stratford, Ontario) – Vancouver’s edgy blues duo The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer have partnered with the Music Maker Relief Foundation to help impoverished and aging blues musicians put food on the table and get the medical help that they need. Through their crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo.com, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer are offering several perks to donors, including digital downloads of their CDs, DVD packages and more.   Music Maker Relief Foundation preserves and promotes the musical traditions of the American South. Since 1994 they have partnered with traditional artists over 55 years old who survive on a yearly income of less than $18,000, sustaining their day-to-day needs while building their careers. Through Music Maker, our rich heritage of folk music will not be lost with t...