Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Behind The Veil , from Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind , and as always it's a feast for the ears. Opening with Casco Bay with it's waltz tempo has a really cool swagger. Ricci on lead vocal and dynamic harmonica tone sets the pace with Kaitlin Dibble on backing vocal, Brent Johnson on guitar and backing vocal, Jack Joshua on bass and vocal and John Perkins on backing vocal makes this a really interesting opener. Switching to New Orleans R&B sound on 5-10-15 , Dibble has the lead on vocal, a really strong harmonica solo by Ricci and Kid Andersen's guitar work really set this track apart. Very nice. Bobby Rush's Ain't She Fine is a great track with an aggressive, funky rock beat. I love the lead vocal lines and Johnson's guitar work in concert with Joshua on bass and Perkins on drums, all wrapped by Ricci on harp is terrific. Classic, St James Infirmary is a smart pick for this band giving Ricci a ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, My Chops Are Rolling! from Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind and it's really great! I really like Ricci's work and every time I get the chance to review one of his releases I remember why I do this. There is always something great coming around the bend! Opening with Break In The Rain , a drum heavy rocker with cool slide work and easy vocals Ricci is off to a super start his fluid harmonica styling...uniquely his. Backed by John Lisi on guitar and vocal, Andy Kurz on vocal and bass, John Perkins on drums and Kaitlin Dibble on vocal, the band is hot. On Don't Badger The Witnes s, Ricci's vocals are haunting and Lisi's guitar work outrageous. Excellent! F_ck The Falcons (Who Dat Nation) is presented in two forms on this release and this is the non edited version. I bit blunt maybe but in good spirit and in New Orleans style...this track is terrific! On Barbara Lynn's classic, If You Should Lose Me , ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Approved By Snakes , by Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind and it's quite good. Opening with My True Love Is A Dope Whore , a salty, stinky, slinky, funky track with tight instrumentals and intelligent, sassy vocals (think Jim Morrison meets Frank Zappa or Klaus Doldinger's Passport meets Peter Wolf). Andy Kurz lays down a sweaty bass line and Ricci blows great harp over frantic guitars by John Lisi and Sam Hotchkiss and solid drums by Adam Baumol....what an opener! With a more "contemporary", maybe Chili Peppers influenced, Something Just Arrived , the band is a bit more contained but by no means tame. This band is rocking but and taking names. Bluesy and theatrical, Broken Toy , follows a more conventional road but Ricci's vocals warp the senses and his harp playing is sensational, paired squarely with wild guitar. Very cool. Kurz sets up a really nice bass line to open Eddie Harris' Listen Here ...