Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Side Hustle , from One Dime Band , and it's a cool R&B/blues release. Opening with title track, Side Hustle , Paul Gallucci on lead vocal and John Brauchler on guitars lead the way with Romen Dubois on drums laying down a tight rhythm and a poppy bass line by Paul Kochananski driving the beat. Cool opener. With a mix of blues and folk on What You Done? , Gallucci on vocal and slide guitar has the floor. A cool ballad, with Tim Curry backing on vocal, a cool bass line by Kochanski and accordion by Alizon Lissance, a cool track. Dr. Shine is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a solid melody, strong vocals and harmonica by Gallucci. Driving rocker, Backbell has a terrific beat and with Lissance on piano and a cool sax solo by Mario Perrett, a top radio contender giving Brauchier a little stretching room on guitar. Another solid track is blues rocker, Babylon Clouds , with it's bluesy bass line, and ex...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In My Mind, by Ilana Katz Katz and it's an interesting, pop/blues release. Opening with title track, In My Mind , Katz on lead vocal and fiddle sets contemporary pop stage, backed by Johnny Burgin on guitar, Stephen Dougherty on drums and Chris Matheos on bass. Burgin leads off on shuffle, Woman, Play the Blues with traditional delta style riffs. Katz's shows a certain juxtaposition with her contemporary vocal styling and her bluegrass approach on fiddle in this setting. Very interesting. Burgin opens Shuffle/boogie, Won't Pass Me By with a classic Walker style intro, and Katz's simple vocal/fiddle styling. Very cool. On Well, Well Blues Burgin steps up with some of his signature licks. Katz's vocals are some of the best on the release making this my choice for best on the release. Hangman's Reel is another of my favorites with a total venture from the blues to traditional bluegrass. Katz cover...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Playing With Fire , from Liz Mandeville , and it's a solid blues entry. Opening with smooth shuffle, Bailing the Titanic , Mandeville on lead vocal and guitar is backed by Dario Lombardo on lead guitar, Andy Sutton on drums, and Steve Hart. Comfort Food Blues is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's Chatmon like sound and excellent slide work from Minoru Maruyama and Darryl Wright on bass. On Chicago style track, I Just Cry , Philippe Fernandez rips some great guitar riffs pushing Mandeville into a great vocal zone. With Gilles Gabisson on harp,  and Andre Howard on bass this track is smokin.  He Loves My Biscuits is a great swing track with my favorite vocals on the release. A smooth delivery, accented by the vocal and violin contributions of Ilana Katz Katz and additional vocals by Carl Uchiyama and real nice guitar runs by Mandeville, makes this another of the top tracks on the release. Peter St...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Subway Stories , by Ilana Katz Katz and it's a big slice of blues, jazz and Americana all rolled into one. Opening with Boogie track, Don't Forget , Ilana Katz Katz, vocals and fiddle, is joined by ex Canned Heat guitar player and producer, Barry Levenson, Mike Sandberg on drums and Hank Van Sickle on bass. On 12 bar blues number, Subway Blues , Sugar ray Norcia adds his special harp work to the tasty riffs of Levenson and Ilana for one of the more solid of the blues tracks on the release. Motherless Child gets a real soft handling and with it's warm guitar chords, intense blues guitar lines somber violin work and child like innocence on vocals shines as one of my favorite tracks on the release. With it's jazzy slant, Roosevelt Sykes' Ice Cream Freezer Blues features Anthony Geraci on piano and has some of the hottest guitar riffs (and bawdy lyrics) on the release. Super groove, Requiem , is a rea...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Movin' On , by Ilana Katz Katz and it's original and interesting. Opening with Baby Please Don't Go , Ilana immediately grabs your attention with the lonesome sound of the Appalachian fiddle in a blues setting with Cedric Watson on banjo and in duet with Katz on vocals and Daniel Sanda on drums. Barry Levenson adds masterful guitar riffs to Sweet To Mama with Katz on vocal and fiddle, Mike Sandberg on drums and Hank Van Sickle on bass. Reuben's Train has a pure Appalachian sound with Katz's vocals and fiddle. Tanya switches gears with a stylistic jazz track. Nicely adorned by Katz and Bobby Radcliff this track is soothing and smooth with a solid rhythmic bottom courtesy of Geoff Wright on bass and Dave Moore on drums. On Blues for Bobby Radcliff , Chas Justus and Katz play a cool acoustic blues with traditional Piedmont style. Very cool. I really like Demon Blues which has a bit of a Ali Farke Toure so...

I just received the newest release, I've Got Something To Tell You , from Ilana Katz Katz , and it's quite good. I'll preface this review with a note that this release is strongly bluegrass/ rural feel and has a unique open look at the blues. Opening with Marilyn's Blues Ronnie Earl and Katz trade riffs (guitar and violin) over a solid blues bass line by Jesse Williams. Very nice. On John Lee Hooker's She's Long She's Tall , a strong sense of Hooker and boogie underlies this updated version of a classic blues track. Katz is on lead vocal and violin and Earl provides percussive guitar rhythm. On traditional track Cruel Willie Blues , Katz really takes the lead on what I'd call a traditional fiddle tune, joined by Marylou Ferrante on guitar for a simple country instrumental. Robert Lockwood Jr.'s Take A Little Walk With Me features Diane Blue on lead vocal and she does a really sweet job. Ronnie Earl is back on lead guitar, this track falling square...