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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Heavy On The Blues, from Rory Block and it's a hip, blues rocker. Opening with Tommy Tucker's High Heel Sneakers, Rory Block sets a great pace on acoustic guitar and excellent slide supporting her own vocals on this rocking track. Buddy Guy's funky, What Kind Of Woman Is This is very soulful with Block squeezing the vocals and sharing guitar lead/slide with Jimmy Vivino. Right in the slot. Spiritual,Hold To His Hand is one of the strongest tracks on the release with Block overlaying her own voice over her own voice choir style for a very nice outcome. Charley Patton's Down The Dirt Road Blues has a real earthy feel with Block grinding out the blues vocally and deft finger style accompaniment on acoustic guitar. Memphis Minnie's Me And My Chauffeur is a great track with Block's notable acoustic guitar accompaniment and warm slide styling. Her vocals on this track are particularly effective. Wrapping the release is Buddy Guy's ballad, Stay Around A Little Longer. A sensitive track with heartfelt vocals and nicely phrased guitar soloing, this is a solid closer.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
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For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gonna Be 2 of Those Days, and it's a super contemporary blues rocker. Opening with Blues In The 21st Century, Jimmy Vivino on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Joe Bonamassa for a straight up blues rocker with a driving rhythm and super slide work. Joined by Rich Pagano on drums, Mark Teixeira on percussion, and Scott Healy on piano, this is a strong opener. Title track, Gonna Be 2 Of Those Days, has a real nice groove with excellent vocals by Vivino, With Jesse Williams on bass, Scott Healy on piano Rich Pagano on drums and some real tasty guitar work by Vivino, this track is smoking. Slow blues, Fool's Gold is my favorite track on the release with soulful vocals, deep full B3 work and excellent guitar work by Vivino. With Pagano on drums and Williams on bass, this track is tops. Another standout track is Shady Side Of The Street with it's Howlin' Wolf like story telling and daunting bass line by Williams. Vivino really works the vocals on this track and his guitar work weaves nicely throughout the track. Wrapping the release is acoustic country blues, Back Up The Country, featuring Vivino on vocal and guitar and John Sebastian on guitar and harmonica. This track is laid back but really does a nice job to wind down the session. Solid closer.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
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For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Finyl Vinyl, from Canned Heat and it's really enjoyable. Opening with a rowdy rocking boogie, One Last Boogie, Canned Heat blows the roof off of this newest release. Featuring Jimmy Vivino on lead vocal and guitar Heat is packing with Dale Spalding ramping it up on harmonica, Fiti De La Parra on drums and Rick Reed on bass. Strong opener. Dave Alvin guests on Blind Owl singing lead and playing guitar. With it's droning bass line by Reed and tight drum line by De La Parra, this is a hot track. Wicked guitar soloing by Alvin and Vivino and solid harmonica by Spalding playing really take this track higher. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Tease Me with it's bluesy feel. Spalding has the mic and does a real nice job on vocal and harmonica. Spalding's up again on A Hot Ole Time but it's the fleet fingered work of Vivino that makes this track in my eyes. Very nice. Slow blues, When You're 69, features Vivino on lead guitar and vocal. This track really lets the guys get down and dirty mixing Vivino's slide and Spalding's harmonica. Hot! Wrapping the release is There Goes That Train, a New Orleans R&B style track with a relentless vamp and giving Spalding a great opportunity to play his blues. Solid closer.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, So Far, from Bob Margolin and Bob Corritorewith special guest Jimmy Vivino and it's solid blues. Opening with Steady Rollin' On, Bob Margolin leads this acoustic duo on lead vocal and guitar with Bob Corritore on harmonica. Written by Margolin, this acoustic delta style blues is a cool opener. Robbie Robertson's It Makes No Difference is on of the Band's super tracks and one of my favorites on this release, blending vocals by Margolin and Jimmy Vivino who also contributes guitar and showing a totally different side of Corritore on harmonica in a totally non Chicago blues stance. Boogie, Now and Then is a cool mover featuring Corritore on harmonica over the steady drive by Margolin on guitar. Very cool. Bob Corritore's Salt River Stomp is another of my favorites as an instrumental with a lot of hot licks. Wrapping the release is John Lee Williamson's, My Little Machine with Margolin on lead vocal and guitar. His playing is tight a strong and Corritore's harmonica is loud and proud. Excellent closer.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, This Guitar and Tonight, from Bob Margolin and it's an acoustic blend of folk and acoustic blues. Opening with delta style title track, This Guitar and Tonight, Margolin, who handles lead vocal and guitar in tandem with Jimmy Vivino on acoustic guitar lays it out like he was Skip James or Robert Johnson, pure and simple. The guitar playing is tight and vocals wailing. Solid opener. Margolin gets his Muddy on with Waters like slide work on Over Time. Margolin spent years in Muddy's band and plays his own soulful take on the classic slide style. Dancer's Boogie is a lively track with hot jazz style guitar riffs and Margolin's best vocals on the release. Harp master, Bob Corritore joins Margolin on Blues Lover, a romping shuffle. One of my favorites on the release is country style story blues, I Can't Take Those Blues Away. Margolin delivers the story over a solid guitar vamp. With a more contemporary sound, Predator, is more of political commentary on the presidency over a guitar vamp. This is a different type of release for Margolin with a definite acoustic flair.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hokum Blues, from Chris "Bad News" Barnes, and it's true to the old style 30's blues. Opening with Tampa Red's It Hurts Me Too, Barnes' vocals are solid with super slide work from Jimmy Vivino and Steve Guyer on harp, backed by Will Lee on bass, Shawn Pelton on drums and Bette Sussman on piano. Kicking it into swing mode and getting a little suggestive, Barnes struts Let Play With Your Poodle, featuring a real nice piano solo by Sussman and crisp guitar riffs by Vivino. Very nice. Prohibition style, I'm Gonna Get High, maintains a lot of the "prance" of the area and caller style vocals. Wild slide work on Bo Diddley rhythmed It's Tight Like That really gives this track a great presence. The Hokum Boys',You Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff, is one of my favorites on the release with cool vocal harmonies and easy going rhythm. With a Latin beat, Keep Your Mind On It has really nice percussion by Pelton and particularly nice guitar work by Vivino, topped off by cool piano twist by Sussman and a cool harp solo by Guyger. Another track with a pure 30's style, even a quasi megaphone sound, is Let Me Pat That Thing with it's suggestive yet funny lyrics. Another nice solo by Sussman on piano is topped off by cool trumpet work and a nice clarinet solo. A cool rocker by the Hokum Boys, Caught Him Doing It really has a nice rockabilly flair and strong solos by Vivino and Sussman. Closing with Tampa Red's Christmas and New Years, Barnes hits the spot on vocals and Vivino's slide work is thick and greasy. I cool closer for a nice retro style blues release.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
ANNOUNCING THE 15TH ANNUAL BLUES FROM THE TOP FESTIVAL:
TWO BIG
DAYS OF BLUES ROYALTY IN BEAUTIFUL WINTER PARK, CO
Enjoy Fabulous Thunderbirds, Anders Osborne, C.J. Chenier
& the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Carolyn Wonderland, Alvin Youngblood
Hart, And More, All In A Beautiful Mountain Setting!
~ Presented With Pride By The Grand County Blues Society,
In Memory of Blues From The Top Founder, John Catt ~
Saturday, June 24 (11am to 6pm); Sunday, June 25 (10:30am to
6pm)
(Winter Park, CO) - Announcing the 15th Annual Blues From The Top Festival, two big days
of blues royalty in a beautiful mountain setting, located at Hideaway
Park, 78820 US Highway 40, taking place Saturday,
June 24 and Sunday, June 25. Gates open
10am, with music from 11am to 6pm (Saturday) and 10:30am to 6pm (Sunday).
Currently, General Admission tickets are $30. (one day), $50. (2 days);
prices will increase. V.I.P. Experience: $100.00 per day per person,
$185. for two days. V.I.P. Seating features Stage Right starting at the
Front Row; Daily Buffet; Private Bar with two Complimentary Drinks each
day; free water and soft drinks; Shade Tents with tables and chairs; and
Private Restrooms. Kids 12 and under, free (when accompanied by an
adult). Tickets on sale now at www.bluesfromthetop.org.
For additional BFFT Festival information visit www.bluesfromthetop.org.
Blues From The Top is presented with pride by the Grand County Blues Society, in memory of Blues from
The Top Founder, John Catt.
The two-day lineup is packed! Appearing on Saturday,
June 24: The Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson; Little Hurricane;
C.J. Chenier & the Red-Hot Louisiana Band; Jimmy Vivino and The Kate
Moss 3; Austin Young Band. Sunday, June 25 features performances by
Anders Osborne, Carolyn Wonderland, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Analog Son,
Danny Franchi, and Mountain Gospel featuring Ali Grayson.
~About
Some of the Headliners at 15th Annual Blues From The Top ~
For over thirty years, The
Fabulous Thunderbirds have been the
quintessential American band. The group’s distinctive and powerful sound,
influenced by a diversity of musical styles, manifested itself into a
unique musical hybrid via such barn-burners as “Tuff Enuff” and “Wrap It
Up”. Co-founder Kim Wilson, the sole original member, still spearheads
the group as it evolves into its newest incarnation. “We started as a
straight blues band”, vocalist and harmonica player Wilson says. “We now
incorporate a mixture of a lot of different styles. We’re an American
music band and we’re much higher energy than we were before.” In addition
to Wilson, the current Thunderbirds line-up features Jay Moeller on
drums, Johnny Moeller and Mike Keller on guitar, and Randy Bermudes on
bass.
A musical force equipped with the soulful vocals of
Janis and the guitar slinging skills of Stevie Ray, Carolyn Wonderland reaches into
the depths of the Texas blues tradition with the wit of a poet. She hits
the stage with unmatched presence, a true legend in her time.
"Carolyn Wonderland's live shows are just outright phenomenal. Top
notch, five-stars, off the meter - whatever the clinch., Carolyn and her
band meet it...Her voice can be as beautiful as an angel and as powerful
as a Class 5 hurricane all within the drop of a hat...One thing's for
certain, some forces - even those barely five feet tall - cannot be
contained" (ROCKZILLAWORLD).
Between the potency of his richly-detailed
songwriting, his intensely emotional, soulful vocals and his piercing,
expert guitar work, New Orleans' Anders Osborne is a true musical treasure. He is among the most original
and visionary musicians writing and performing today. Guitar Player calls
him "the poet laureate of Louisiana's fertile roots music
scene." New Orlean's Gambit Weekly has honored Osborne as
Entertainer of the Year. Osborne's songs have been covered by artists as
diverse as Brad Paisley, Tab Benoit, Jonny Lang, Trombone Shorty and
Aaron Neville, to name a few. His songs have appeared in multiple feature
films. A powerful live performer, Osborne has won over fans through
non-stop touring as well as a heralded collaboration with the North Mississippi
All-Stars and Southern Soul Assembly.
Clayton Joseph Chenier, who fronts C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band, was born September 28, 1957 - the son of the great
King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. C.J.'s father was the first Creole
musician to win a Grammy Award. C.J. spent his childhood in the tough
tenement housing projects of Port Arthur, Texas. His earliest musical
influences were an eclectic mix of funk, soul, jazz and Motown, and his
first musical instruments were piano, tenor saxophone and flute. It
wasn't until his 21st birthday, after winning a scholarship and studying
music at Texas Southern University, that C.J. first performed with his
famous father and the legendary Red Hot Louisiana band.
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The James Montgomery Blues Band, from James Montgomery and it's a cranking homage to Paul Butterfield. Opening with funky rocker, One More Heartache, Montgomery blows the doors open with his always powerful harp, backed by George McCann on guitar, David Hull on bass and Jeff Thompson on drums and punched up by the Uptown Horns including Crispin Cloe on sax, Larry Etkin on trumpet, Arno Hecht on sax and Bob Funk on trombone. Super opener. Nick Gravenites' Born In Chicago gets a bit more bounce that Nick's original and McCann sports a real nice guitar solo opening the way for Montgomery's harp solo. Very cool. Little Walter's Blues With A Feeling is solid and Montgomery's vocals are raw and gritty. I particularly like the tight guitar work by McCann on this track giving it a casual pace along with stinging riffs. Young Woman's Love just has that snap making it sit solid on your foot. McCann is featured on lead vocal and Montgomery really digs in with fat, well formed harp riffs making this one of my favorites on the release. Sure to be the release favorite, I Got A Mind To Give Up Living, features Jimmy Vivino on lead guitar and he really pours it on. Montgomery's harp work is relentless and his vocals soulful. Excellent! On Elmore James' Shake Your Moneymaker, McCann slips on the slide and the band is loosely tight like Hound Dog Taylor giving this track real life. Good Question is a jazz born R&B track that really sings. Grace Kelly sets up a real nice sax solo and Montgomery rides high on the rhythmic drum work of Thompson and a moving bass line by Hull. McCann cuts loose with a real nice solo of his own and the band circles back for a final refrain. Very cool. With it's walking bass line, One Plus One absolutely struts. Closing the release is Junior Parker's Mystery Train. Cooked in full JL Hooker, boogie style, Montgomery works the band into a real lather for this sensational closer.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE
I just received the newest release, My Obsession, from Shari Puorto and she's still slamming it. Opening with funky rocker, It's A Damn Shame, Puorto's vocals are tight and her phrasing is super. Johnny Hawthorn knows how to make it hot on guitar and Bob Glaub's bass lines are smokin. Backed by Kenna Ramsey, Julie Delgado and Mike Finnigan, this is my favorite track on the release. On Home of the Blues, Jimmy Vivino and Steve Fister step up on lead and slide guitar (respectively) and Mike Finnigan's B3 work is super. Rock and roller, Six Months Sober is square down the middle with Jim Pugh's piano and B3 and slide soloing by Hawthorn is smooth. Sugar Daddy is a slower sure stepper with a drone bass line and slap snare from Tony Braunagel. Title track, My Obsession, opens with a subdued niteclub feel but kicking into a solid rocker with Vivino and Finnigan trading lead riffs under Puorto's cool vocals. Old Silo Road is a quiet ballad, primarily the purity of Puorto's voice and Finnigan's piano. Johnny Lee Schell's tasty slide riffs add a real nice touch to this solid radio track. Workin' The Room has a definite country feel with a two step rhythm and nicely executed piano work from Barry Goldberg. Schell again steps up with a cool guitar solo making this another track that could easily hit multiple radio lines. Better Left Unsaid has a R&B styling with cool backing vocals from Ramsey, Delgado and Finnigan. Schell's rhythm guitar work and Finnigan's piano work give this track a lot of textural traction. With a New Orleans feel, What's The Matter With The World, has a real nice rhythm and Schell's slide work is spot on the mark. Finnigan gives the track a nice boot of his own with nicely stylized piano work. Very cool! Steve Fister adds his own guitar zip to All About You, a serious ballad with Schell joining on rhythm guitar. The interweaving guitar styles, coupled with Puorto's vocals make this another serious radio track. Turned To Stone has a real "Jackson Browne" feel with Johnny Hawthorn playing some excellent David Lindley style pedal steel lead throughout. Goes without saying that this track, with a cool melodic hook and slick pedal work, could really hit big. Wrapping the release is the soul classic, When A Man Loves A Woman. Finnigan on B3, Pugh on piano and with Darrell Leonard and Joe Sublett on horns, gives this track a rich clarity and Vivino's clean guitar work, coupled with Puorto's power makes this a perfect track to close it up.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
NEW ALBERT
CUMMINGS ALBUM ! Guitar
Wizard Releases "Someone Like You"
Albert Cummings, a rare talent renowned for his
uniquely muscular yet polished guitar wizardry, has released a new studio
CD entitled Someone Like You. The album was produced in Los
Angeles by Grammy-winner David Z, and features special guest and labelmate
Jimmy Vivino (bandleader on the Conan
TV show) on three tracks.
Producer Z, who's worked with Buddy Guy, Prince, Jonny Lang, and Gov’t Mule,
said, “Albert Cummings writes, plays and sings the blues like nobody
else. What a blast to watch him jell in the studio with some of the
best musicians in Los Angeles.”
Master builder
turned master guitarist, Albert has become a favorite of fans who love
soulful, explosive rocking blues. Double Trouble, the late Stevie
Ray Vaughan’s rhythm section, was so impressed with Albert’s talent that they
volunteered to play on and produce his debut recording in 2003.
Billboard said his “guitar
work is sizzling.” Guitar
One exclaimed, "He attacks his axe with unbridled ferocity
and deep soulfulness.”
And in an audio
exclusive, noted publication Guitar Player is premiering one of the new tracks
on their website - "Meatlocker" (an instrumental featuring Albert
and Jimmy Vivino) HERE.
Cummings said, "I'm tremendously excited about this CD and the team of
people that will be working this record. It was such a pleasure to also work
with David Z and Jimmy Vivino and so exciting to share their excitement about
the potential this record has."
CDs are available at
better record stores. To purchase CDs and downloads from Amazon, please click
HERE. Downloads from
this and other fine Blind Pig releases are available from "The Pig
Pen" on iTunes HERE.
I just received the newest release, Someone Like You, from Albert Cummings and it rocks! Opening with hot rocker, No Doubt, Cummings sets up a great groove with Reggie McBride on bass, Tony Braunagel on drums and Mike Finnigan on organ. Cummings vocals, blended with Teresa James are prime and his guitar riffs are tight and clean. Excellent! Pop rocker, I Found You has more of a tame sound but Cummings puts his trademark guitar riffs on the track giving it just the right amount of spank. Up Your Sleeve is a real cool shuffle track with fluid guitar riffs and nice double stops. Finnigan has such a great touch on organ just playing a note here and there...but it's the right note at just the right time... not an easy thing to do. A swinging guitar solo ensues and the track really does move. Very nice! So Strong is a quiet ballad with a sweet melodic guitar solo making it a clear radio track. Finally In Love is a clean rocker with a 2 step rhythm. Cummings really has a pretty good voice and his guitar tone on this track is rich! Fluid riffs and a solid snare from Braunagel and icing by Finnigan makes this another solid track. Boogie track, Make Up Your Mind, has a great feel and just the right amount of grind on Cummings strat to perk up my ears. A nice feel for just how much to play makes the difference between average and real nice and this track hits! Slow blues track, Little Bird, my definite favorite on the release starts off with a really creamy blues guitar riff by Cummings that makes you just lay back and breathe. McBride's bass line drives the pace and with Finnigan playing the melodic filler, Cummings controls this track with his soulful vocals and his smoking hot guitar riffs. If you've heard Cummings really dig in before and you're wanting to hear it again...this is it. At over 7 minutes this track is steamy! Peppy swinger Meatlocker, is a quick paced shuffle track with nice jazz influences. Excellent chord selections, crisp percussion and nice guitar lead makes this instrumental another of my release favorites. Understated country blues track, I'm In Love With You, has a nice swagger with authoritative guitar riffs and solid melody line from Cummings. Driving blues track, Old Dog, sets a great groove and Cummings hits every edge with slashing guitar riffs. Finnigan helps to pump up the tension and McBride's walking bass line and tight drum work from Braunagel makes this another key track on the release. Wrapping the release is a hot blues shuffle, Stay Away From My Sister, and Cummings kicks it up a notch with stinging guitar riffs pushed along by Braunagel. Excellent finish to a overall strong release.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
