Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release (March 17, 2015), In The Mix , from Bernard Allison and it's tight. Opening with Colin James track Five Long Years , Allison kicks out a top notch rocker featuring George Moye on bass, Mario Dawson on drums, Bruce McCabe on keys and a real nice sax solo from Jose Ned James. Allison gnashes his blues guitar teeth on a reprise setting the track on afterburners. Easy blues rocker Call Me Momma has a bit of the New Orleans funky groove and Allison's vocals are smooth. Luther Allison's Move From The Hood has a great blues groove set by Moye and Allison's vocals are perfect. Allison lays into the guitar for some swinging blues solos making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Tell Me Who , a sweet soul ballad, again shows the strength of Allison's vocals and sets up nicely for smokin solo riffs from James and Allison. Very nice! Something's Wrong has a real hot 12 bar Elmore James feel with hot slide work complimented...

I just received the newest release, Boomerang , from Eric Sardinas and Big Motor and it rocks! Opening with with kick ass Run Devil Run , a blues rocker with a strong back beat and great slide. Great opener featuring Sardinas on vocal and slide, Levell Price on bass and Byran Keeling on drums. Kicking out the stops with a real rocker is title track Boomerang . This is a hard driving rocker with the heart of a freight train. Taking down the tempo a little, Tell Me You're Mine keeps a heavy rock flavor but with slide and blues riffs, it's hard not to hear the blues roots. Sardinas has his own slide style which breaks the Duane Allman/Derek Trucks/Bonnie Raitt mold influenced more by the likes of Steve Marriott or Johnny Winter to my ear. Morning Glory has a much more acoustic blues feel featuring mostly Sardinas on slide and vocal. Very nice. Bad Boy Blues takes the standard 12 bar format and classic guitar riffs complimented by Dave Schulz on keys. This is a straight forw...

Bluesman Bernard Allison Is In the Mix on First New Studio Album in Six Years, Coming March 17 on Jazzhaus Records FREIBURG, GERMANY – Blues guitarist and singer Bernard Allison will release his first new studio album in six years, In the Mix , on March 17 from the Germany-based label, Jazzhaus Records. Produced and arranged by Bernard Allison, In the Mix features 10 tracks, including five originals, as well as covers of two songs from his legendary father, Luther Allison (“Move from the Hood” and “Moving On Up”), plus tunes from Colin James (“Five Long Years”), Freddie King (“I’d Rather Be Blind”) and Tyrone Davis (“I Had It All the Time”). Although firmly rooted in the blues, the music on In the Mix shows Bernard’s myriad of influences, including soul, rock and R&B. Allison says about the recording sessions: “ I was very excited to record with my reformed group. We went into this recording with the mindset to not make a recording flooded with screamin...

I've just received the newest release (UK release date may 6, 2013) Hurricane by guitar virtuoso Danny Bryant . Bryant, a protege of guitar slinger Walter trout has assembled a solid package of blues rock tracks heavily laden with confident vocals and edgy guitar. Opening with Prisoner Of The Blues , Bryant shows his take no prisoner attitude with strong vocals, fast finger work and stinging vibrato. Greenwood 31 is a really cool track blending early swampy blues roots with Jimi Hendrix flare and his own powerful style. This is a real strong track. Can't Hold On is a more solemn track opening with piano by Richard Hammerton. Constructed as a ballad, Bryant shows his singing chops before digging in on some hot bluesy guitar. Title track Hurricane is a rocker and really structured in the radio track vein. Actually puts me in mind of some of Bowie's work. Devil's Got A Hold On Me is a hot boogie track building into a rocking guitar fest. I'm Broken is a cool blu...