Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Covered In Blues , by James Buddy Rogers and it's straight forward solid blues. Opening with Bad Boy , James Buddy Rogers lays down a solid 8 bar track with confident vocals and and full strat tone through his own BTone hand crafted pickups . His style has cool swagger and occasional delayed attack adding texture, joined by Kevin Belzner on drums and Bill Price on bass. Solid opener. On I Lied, a potent lope, reinforced by Belzner on drums on the upbeat and stinging guitar riffs by Rogers make this one of my favorites on the release. A cover of Nix's Goin' Down , is a cool change up with it's bluesy edge but a solid rocker. Using a driving " Jeff Beck " approach Price anchors the bottom and Rogers' works between the SVR and the Beck attack with his own blues stew to kick out a real nice track. Another cover is Taj Mahal's She Caught The Katy with a nice laid back feel but featuring a ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Johnny Max and His So Called Friends and it's a great blend of NO blues , country, rock and a big pot of fun. Opening with You Can Do Better Than Him , Johnny Max on vocal leads the way with Jim Casson laying down a great NO style drum rhythm and Bill Evans on piano. Mitch Lewis and Dylan Wickens , and Wayne DeAdder add real nice guitar riffs and with Steve Goldberger on bass this is a fun opener. Another track with a bit of attitude and with an easy country beat, I've Said All The Sorrys I'm Gonna Say , should get some good airplay with super lyrics and vocals. Max on vocal is joined by DeAdder who also does some cool guitar work and Casson on drums keeps a steady keel. One of my favorite tracks on the release is I've Never Met A Bridge , with it's country blues feel. N. Jay Burr on tuba adds great bass lines and Max's vocal delivery is perfect over a basic guitar rhythm by Lewis. Another favo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Sun , from Jon Hines and I really like it. Opening with title track, Memphis Sun , Jon Hines lays down a solid boogie featuring Cameron Palmer on drums, George Wolf on bass and Hines himself singing lead, playing harmonica and some knockdown electric slide with overdriven fat tone. Excellent opener. Slow easy blues, Until The Wheels , has a cool, easy feel with Jon singing lead and playing rhythm guitar. Taking a melodic solo on guitar and with with just the right texture added by Wolf on bass, this a a real nice track. Shuffle, Pitter Patter , is anchored by Wolf on bass and Palmer on drums as Hines plays a loose rhythm on guitar and takes lead on vocal. The track has a springy feel and Hines finger work ties it all together nicely. Wrapping the release is Working Man with a lumbering, rhythmic, almost Hill Country swagger courtesy Wolf and Palmer. Kevin Fletcher really gets the harmonica howling giving Hines ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hired Hand , from Geoff Arsenault and it's sketchy and raggedy ...and maybe just right. Opening with Steps To Gumbo , Geoff Arsenault sets a simple drum template and underscores it with laid back vocals. Joined by Zev Katz on bass, and Glenn Patscha on B3 and Wurlitzer this track sets a cool line, underscored by Joey Landreth on slide guitar. Strong opener. Just a dash of funk in his drums on Bullet Won't Stop gives it a real nice feel with punctuation by Patscha on Wurlitzer. Creatively interesting. Balled, The Great Divide is really a strong track feeling a bit like Dylan. His haunting vocal pairing with Amy Helm is super and Patscha's B3  works really nicely with iridescent sonic backing. Very nice. I Ain't Locked Down is a pure 2 step rocker with JJ Cale like style. Easley on bass and Arsenault on drums (and vocal) set the meter and Patscha on B3 and George Sluppick on tambourine give the track textu...

 I just had the opportunity to review the mot recent release, Eye Of The Storm , from Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin and it's strong. Opening with gritty Ray Wylie Hubbard's blues rocker, Snake Farm , Murray Kinsley on lead vocal and cigar box guitar slides in with thick overdrive and bluesy finesse. Dave Tettmar on drums pairs with Laura Greenberg on bass and backing vocal, setting a rock solid bottom and Steve Marriner adds great harmonica riffs making this a dynamic opener. Driving rocker, Dressed In Black , is led by Jesse O'Brien on organ, Greenberg on bass  and Kinsley on vocal and guitar but features hot harmonica riffs by Marriner. With Britsh blues overtones, this track has a great flair. Shuffle, Friday Blues , has a cool, easy pace ana features Marriner on harmonica and Kinsley on vocal upfront. O'Brien on piano lays in a real nice solo followed by Marriner making this track the most logical radio track. Wrapping the release is Blues For Sorrow , a solid, ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New Orleans Sessions , by Blue Moon Marquee and it's New Orleans blues, simplistic and raw. Opening with Memphis Minnie's Black Cat Swing , BMM hits the ground running with Danny Abrams on bari sax and BC Coogan setting the tempo for lead vocal work by Jasmine Colette who also plays bass. AW Cardinal on rhythm guitar and Nicholas Solnick on drums rounds out the troop for this enjoyable track. Charlie Patton's lively Shake It and Break It features Cardinal on lead vocal and guitar. A true party rocker with honking sax work by Abrams and a cool upright solo by Colette, this track jams. Slow blues, What I Wouldn't Do , features Cardinal on electric guitar and belting out the blues. With rolling piano work by Coogan and meaty sax work by Abrams, this track wails. A rowdy take on St James Infirmary hosts Cardinal on lead vocal and guitar and highlights the firm piano work of  Coogan and Abrams deep sax work ma...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Watch Your Step! , from Mojo Minefield , and it's a cool blues based rocker. Opening with title track, Watch Your Step , Tyler Fry on lead guitar and vocal set the pace with a tight drum rhythm by Ethan Meters, Scott Carere on bass, and organ work by Nick Royal McNeil. Fry cuts loose with some real solid soloing using fuzz and overdrive giving it a real edge. Livin' Ain't That Hard is a strong blues rocker with a great drum rhythm and solid vocal harmonies under Fry's lead vocal and matched with guitar lead with real attitude. Love this track. Change The World is another favorite with a heavy bottom. It got a great call and response with Fry singing the melody and then the trio coming back with a power response (think a more refined War Pigs with super harmonies and fluid bluesy guitar lead). Another strong track. Forget You Blue s is a deeply rooted blues rocker nodding to Muddy but with real rock edge. F...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Simple Songs For Complicated Times , by Ndidi O and it's quite entertaining. Opening with Get Gone , with it's strong melody, Ndidi O shows how clear and strong her voice is, backed by Dawn Pemberton, Khari McClelland, and Keri Latimer on backing vocals. I really like Gary Craig's drum flair and with Sam Howard on bass, rhythmic key work by Chris Gestrin and dynamic slide work by Steve Dawson, this is a potent opener. Dawson plays acoustic guitar as well as pedal steel adding quite a bit of texture to Light On with it's poppy feel and vocal styling. Stripping it back to pure folk vocal on In May , Ndidi blends vocals nicely over the wailing pedal steel of Dawson. With just light touches of percussion and bass and finger picked National steel body. This is a strong entry to the release. Entering into Al Green territory, R&B infused, Too Late , is one of my favorites on the release with a moving rhythm a...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Calling , from Rene' Huard and it's a contemporary blues rocker. Opening with Hard Times , an up tempo rocker, Rene' Huard on lead vocal and harmonica sets a strong pace. HIs vocals are clear and his harmonica rich and melodic. Joined by Jack de Keyzer on guitars, Alec Frazer Jr. on bass, Al Cross on drums, Eric Lambier on keys and Richard Thornton on percussion, this is a cool opener. Blues based rocker, Demolition Man , has a real nice feel with a great rhythm. Huard's vocals are really strong and his harmonica work pure. With a fluid yet understated guitar solo by de Keyzer, a perfect radio track. With it's traditional blues groove, I really like I Do , featuring Huard's vocal and super harp work over a grinding rhythm and flaming lead guitar by de Keyzer. With it's seductive guitar intro by de Keyzer and smooth melody, Sharp Curves is another track with strong radio appeal. Wrapping ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Buried In The Hail , and it's a pretty interesting mix of contemporary rock and blues. Opening with Hello In There , an instrumental featuring Belfast born, Dom Martin on acoustic guitar, this really creates a cool setting for what's to come. Martin kicks things up a notch with Daylight I Will Find , a cool rocker with blues overtones. Martin has a strong voice and his acoustic guitar work, along with pounding percussion and a strong melody make this a favorite on the release. Ramping it up a to driving drums and electric slide, Martin shows great finesse on Belfast Blues . His stirring slide work and emotion filled vocals give this track a lot of positive tension. With it's loose, funky rhythm, ragged guitar riffs, concise soloing and tight bottom, Unhinged is the most creative track on the release and certainly is my top pick on the release. Howlin' is a contemporary rag tune with nimble fingered Martin d...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ain't Nobody Worried , by Rory Block and it's a solid entry into her Power Women of the Blues series (Volume 3). Opening with Mavis Staples' I'll Take You There , Block accompanies herself with her resilient acoustic guitar as well as slide and percussion with soulful lead vocal and great backing vocals. Strong opener. On Mary Wells' classic R&B track, My Guy (My Girl), Block does a really nice job to retain the pop orientation of the original again, only with the backing of her guitar and percussion. Very nice. On Etta James' I'd Rather Go Blind , Block digs deep to that extra feeling and produces solid vocal results. With only the minimal of guitar and warm backing vocals, this track really works nicely. Carole King's stellar, You've Got A Friend works well for Block, overdubbing her own vocal backing with her own lead on one of the late 20th century's best tracks. Wrapping t...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Find A Better Way , from The Commoners and it has all of the swagger and sting you would want. Opening with title track, Find A Better Way , Chris Medhurst shows what a rock frontman is supposed to sound like. With a touch of Steve Marriott, and a powerful bottom, led by Adam Cannon on drums and Ben Spiller on bass as well as solid guitar riffs by Ross Haynes Citrullo gives this track real bite. More than Mistakes has a firm bottom and some real nice lead guitar by Citrullo, supported by Miles Evans-Branagh on keys and Medhurst on rhythm guitar. Solid radio track. Naturally , has a strong melody and rich backing vocals by Chantal Williams, Shezelle Weekes and Tash Lorayne, coupled with a strong sway making it another top radio candidate. I Won’t adds another dimension with just a touch of country blues, and the steel guitar finesse of Michael Ekhart and really nice vocal blending. Very nice. Wrapping the release is s...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Jukebox Junkie , by Finnish rocker Andy McCoy and it's a solid rocker with a twist. Opening with I'm Gonna Roll , a great power rocker with a driving beat, McCoy is up front on guitar with Sammy Aaltonen, Matthew Janaitis and Tommi Piipponen on vocal, Christian Wentzel on drums and Matthew Janaitis on bass.  Hot Night In Texas gas a great thumping bottom with Jamie Hembree and Niki Westerback on vocal and Jouni Kari on keys giving McCoy a great platform to show his guitar aero acrobatics. Very cool. Climax Blues Band's I Couldn't Get It Right , gets a minor redo with Janaitis on vocals and Roni Star on percussion, Kari on keys and overlayed guitar soloing by McCoy. 60's surf styling comes to play on Funnel of Love featuring Sofia Zida on vocal and space age keyboard work by Kari and some otherworldly guitar from McCoy. Wrapping the release is UKSubs' Countdown with a cool rock bottom by Janaitis a...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live Down Underground , by Matty T Wall and it's a hot new blues rocker...live! Opening with Broken Heart Tattoo , Australian blues guitar player Matty T Wall hits the road running with his aggressive guitar attack and solid vocals. Joined by Ric Whittle on drums and Leigh Miller on bass this is a romping boogie. Solid opener.  Slideride is a hot rocker with Wall letting his slide do the talking. With a driving beat, Wall shows a relentless approach on guitar with the rawness of Hound Dog Taylor. Excellent track. Another driving track, Scorcher , shows Wall's excellent picking style mixed with dark overtones. Miller sets a great pace and Whittle adds fuel to the flame. This track is a scorcher. This Is Real slows things down quite a bit with Wall strumming a chord and then singing melodic phrases. With only the simplicity of Miller's bass and Whittle's drum strokes, this track really sits nicely. As the tr...

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Remain , from Bywater Call and it's a cool, modern, southern flavored, funk fused rocker. Opening with Falls Away , Meghan Parnell on lead vocal, shows clear command of the track with Dave Barns on guitar, Stephen Dyte on trumpet and trombone, Bruce McCarthy on drums, Mike Meusel on bass, Julian Nalli on sax and Alan Zemaitis on keys. I particularly like the stiff drum rhythm by McCarthy played against the lush slide work of Barnes. Great opener. Title track, Remain , has all of the components of a top radio track with it's sweet, memorable melody, strong vocals and instrumental arrangement with just the right amount of guitar. Let Me Be Wrong has a lot of sting with it's R&B beat and excellent vocals by Parnell and warm keyboard / vocal backing. Meusel sets a great bass posture on Sea We Swim and with McCarthy on drums, Zemaitis on keys and full horn support of Dyte. Parnell really swings it vocally making t...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Oh Suzana Blues , from David Owen and it's solid acoustic country blues. Opening with Soul of a Sullen Man, David Owen on vocal, harmonica and guitar is joined by Dominic Davis on bass and Fats Kaplin on violin. Very nice in a Rev Gary Davis style. On All Folks Get The Blues , Owen takes to a Piedmont style picking, complimenting his vocal with harmonica with special guest Colin Linden adding guitar as well. Very nice. Bankruptcy Blues is a cool, delta style blues with Owen on vocal, harmonica and guitar. This track has a real Mali undertone giving it a rich delta feel. Title track, Oh Suzana Blues is a real simple country folk blues with it's straightforward approach and vocal dominance. Wrapping the release is So Lonesome Without You , a cool folk track featuring Owen on vocal and harmonica and Colin Linden on dobro. Nicely crafted and presented, this is a solid closer for a cool acoustic release.    ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Scream, Holler & Howl , from Blue Moon Marquee , and it's a cool blend of blues, swing gypsy jazz and more. Opening with title track, Scream, Holler and How l, Blue Moon Marquee (A.W. Cardinal - vocal and guitar and Jasmine Colette - bass) gets this newest release (September 9, 2022) moving with a cool variation on a Howlin' Wolf theme with a spin. Backed by Darcy Phillips on Hammond, Matt Pease on drums Jerry Cook on sax this is a cool opener. Hound Dog On A Chain is a strong blues rocker with a driving bottom. With Colette on vocal and bass, and Cardinal on guitar really gets moving with a Booker T kind of sound complimented by Phillips' organ work. Lowlands has an early jazz sound with definite bluesy roots. With Colette on lead vocal and Bonnie Northgraves on sassy trumpet, this is a very cool track. Slinky, Come On Down really has a nice feel thanks to the snappy underpinnings by Pease on drums and C...