Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Far Enough , from Jimmie Bratcher and it's a lively new entry. Opening with swampy title track, Far Enough , Jimmie Bratcher on lead vocal and guitar gets this party moving. With a funky blues rhythm by Craig Kew on bass, Brandon Draper on drums and Aaron Mayfield on organ, excellent steel guitar work by Eric Stark and super backing by Charity Von Mozafari and Charmelle Cofield this track is a great start. With a full horn entourage of Bob Harvey and Steve Molloy on trumpet, Mark Cohick on bari sax, Brett Jackson on tenor sax, create a backing suitable for Mr. Boogaloo himself, Bratcher on lead vocal tells the story of Memphis Slim . Claptonesque guitar lead and a moving bass line give this track plenty of feel. R&B track, Why Is It We Don't Dance Anymore has a great melody by Bratcher on vocal and with a hot bass line by Kew and the punchy horn section, with a tight solo by Cohick, this track is perfect for ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'm Hungry , from Jimmie Bratcher and it's a cool mix of swampy rock and blues. Opening with I Love Her Name , a cool boogie rocker, Bratcher is joined by Craig Kew on bass, Joe Selle on drums, and John Selle on keys. Bratcher has an aggressive guitar style and attacks his solo with real grunt. Cool opener. With a laid back easy pace, Mama Won't Fry No Chicken , has a real comfortable gait with Aaron Mayfield on B3 and Terry Hancock on drums turning up the heat for a cool relaxed guitar solo by Bratcher. Rocker, Where You Gonna Stop , is low slung and with solid vocals and stinging guitar work by Bratcher, this track is one of my favorites on the release. Eric Stark's keys under Bratcher's lead guitar and tight stick work by Hancock may this a hot instrumental. With a New Orleans rhythm, Green Bananas is loose with super horn work over the fun vocals on Bratcher. Soul classic, Grit's Ain't Gro...

As you might imagine I get quite a pile of music to review and sometimes timeliness isn't on my side but I did receive a CD from Rev. Jimmie Bratcher that not only gives you something more interesting to listen to during the season, but is also a super release, so here's the review. Opening with the title track, Man! It's Christmas , Bratcher drops the bomb and a cool jazzy track. Featuring Bratcher on vocal and hot licks, Paul Draper on B3, Rick Yord on bass, and Brandon Draper on drums, this is a solid opener. traditional Hymn, Go Tell It On The Mountain is now a shuffle with country blues style singing and great acoustic guitar and slide with Tulsa Reed on harp. Very cool. Bell Carol Blue is another tune that will be very recognizable as a Christmas song but with such a tasteful blue jazz arrangement, you'll be grooving with nice flugelhorn and piano soloing by Eric Stark and excellent vocals and guitar work by Bratcher. Instrumental track,  Going To Grammy...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, This Is Blues Country , from Jimmie Bratcher and it's fresh. Opening with Hank Williams' Honky Tonk Blues , Jimmie Bratcher on guitar and vocal, adds a blues spin to this country classic joined by Aaron Mayfield on keys, Terry Hancock on drums and vocals and Larry Van Loon on B3 and Wurlitzer. Jimmie Davis' You Are My Sunshine gets a snappy jazz makeover putting in mind an arrangement by Passport. With hot drum work by Hancock and flashy guitar riffs, this track takes on a whole new life. Marty Robbins' Singing The Blues has a real nice groove, with a hot electric guitar solo and slide guitar work by Sean McDonald is great for added spice. Hank Snow's I Don't Hurt Anymore has a real contemporary ballad feel and Santana like guitar clarity definitely enhances it's appeal. Very nice. Jim Reeves' Am I That Easy To Forget is slowed way down and placed into a blues frame. It really sounds ...

Jimmie Bratcher Explores In, “Jupiter and Mars” On Blues Rock Review Digital Album Sampler During the summer months, Jimmie Bratcher will be a part of the Blues Rock Digital Album Sampler for his song, “Jupiter and Mars”, from his release, “Secretly Famous”.  “I wrote most of the songs on Secretly Famous and had the honor of co-writing the opening track, ‘Jupiter & Mars,’ with my son Jason,” says Bratcher. “The song was Jason’s idea and once I read the first line – ‘Blinding light, flash of chrome, hot-head blonde in a tricked out Ford’ - I was hooked. There’s also something about my playing on this song that is just wrong enough to be right and the groove drags you into the song so you can’t help but feel it. All the songs I wrote on Secretly Famous are for people like me.  People that hurt, that love, that laugh people that need to forget about their troubles and enjoy life.” So if you are a subscriber to the online mag then you are in ...