Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release, Save My Soul , from Ray Goren and it's quite good. Opening with Stop , Goren on lead vocal and guitar steps up with a poppy blues rocker and a really soulful voice. I need to compare his vocals to someone? OK...Stevie Wonder. Yeah, the kid can sing and has nice phrasing. Matching his solid vocals with a mean streak on the guitar gives Goran the double whammy, swacking this track right at the radio hard! Save My Soul is a bit rockier with solid drum works from Rob Humphreys and an explosive guitar solo by Goren showing his chops. On ballad, Can't Live Like This , Goren stretches out vocally, showing his soul roots. Real nice radio track. I Need You Here To Stay is my favorite track on the release with a modern R&B feel and traces of D'Angelo syncopation in vocal delivery. Masterful guitar riffs flow giving weight to the instrumentation. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Rise Together actually has the feel of an earlier era of Wo...

I just received the newest release, Stepping Into Time , from Georgie Bonds and it's smooth. Opening with the classic St. James Infirmary , Georgie Bonds, singing a capella establishes himself immediately as a solid soulful vocalist. Joined on The Blacksmith , a Robert Johnson rooted blues track with cool rhythm and slide work from Neil Taylor as well as Kenny Githens on bass,Andy Haley on drums, Walter Runge on organ and with a gritty harp solo from Buddy Cleveland this is a real nice track. On swing jazz track, What More? , Bonds really takes the track for a ride and sax work from Dave Renz adds a heavy warmth. Harry Jacobson whips down a slick guitar solo as well. On New Orleans influenced Lord, Oh Lord Haley and Runge really set the tempo and Buddy Cleveland punctuates Bonds fine vocal work. Daily News is a bluesy ballad and Bonds is certainly up to the soulful task. Neil Taylor plays a well heeled guitar solo over the solid organ work of Runge and still regiment of Haley....

I just received the newest release, Hurricane Unleashed , from Bobby "Hurricane" Spencer and he unleashes his hurricane of funky horn work on you. Opening with Gotta Get Back to Chicago , a blend of funk, jazz and blues, Spencer lets the juice flow on vocal and tenor sax. Andrea Balestra on guitar adds some funky rhythm and Mo Beeks rides under the track on keys. On You're All I Need , a slower R&B style track, Spencer has a more serious radio style in mind. Camarillo has a real nice swing blues feel (a la Kansas City Blues) and Spencer lays down some rich vocal leads. A real cool track Matias Alvear Fall on bass and Dario Benzoni on drums keep it tight. Lester Lands opens the track on guitar with a standard 12 blues riff. Dueling instrumentally with Spencer on sax this is a pretty cool jam. Lovers Hill is a R&B style pop track with warm vocal lead and backing by Kelly Chappue. Little Mama is a sassy strut with King Curtis like sax riffs. A very cool track. O...