Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Blues Is In The House , by Robbin Kapsalis and it's solid Chicago . Opening with title track, The Blues Is In The House , Giles Robson leads off with some classic harmonica and the deep rooted vocals on Robbin Kapsalis, backed by Francois Nicolleau and Nicolas Deshayes on guitar, Arnaud Gobin on bass, Cyril Durand on drums and featuring Joe Louis Walker on lead guitar. Solid opener. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Lead Me On with lush guitar work and soulful vocals by Kapsalis. Lonnie Chatmon 's Sittin' On Top Of The World has always been a favorite and the fine guitar work of Nicolleau and Deshayes coupled with Robson on harmonica and Kapsalis on vocals makes this another great featured track on the release. Screamin' Jay Hawkins ' I Wanna Know has a solid R&B feel with Kapsalis working with Nicolleau and Deshayes on guitar. With some tight guitar riffs and snappy drum wor...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Be Cool , from Willie J. Campbell and it's really strong. Opening with You Better Let Go , Sugar Ray Rayford is upfront on lead vocal, with Willie J. Campbell on bass, Brooks Milgate on keys, Kid Ramos on guitar and Jimi Bott on drums. Ramos lays out a really nice guitar solo on this somewhat funky track, nicely complimented by Condron Hampton on congas. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Can't Stay Away , featuring Janiva Magness on lead vocal and Brian Templeton on backing vocal, as well as Anson Funderburgh showing exceptional finesse on guitar. Also appearing on this track are Mike Morgan and Shawn Pittman on guitars.  Excellent! Templeton has the mic on Drone with it's droning bass line and features the harmonica wizardry of Jason Ricci. There's hardly a track that Ricci contributes to that I don't think that he improves substantially so this is another of my favorites. another Texas styl...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Super Soul Session! , by Arlen Roth and Jerry Jemmott and its a cool updated, guitar super charged, soul package. Opening with soul favorite, I'm Just A Mortal Man , African vocalist, Mukamuri, is upfront on lead vocal with a super bass line by Jerry Jemmott and featuring some tasty riffs by "telecastermaster" Arlen Roth. On BB King's The Thrill Is Gone , Roth lays down sensuous guitar lead under the soulful vocal lead of Joe Louis Walker.  Not just a regular cover of King's classic, Roth remakes the sinuses of the song giving it new vitality. Aretha's Chain of Fools maintains all of it's soulful swagger but nobody could ever tough her vocals so Roth takes the melody on guitar giving it a thorough rework and Jemmott rocks the bottom. This will get you moving. Mukamuri on lead vocal gives Dobie Gray's Drift Away new legs with solid lead vocal over the thumping bass lines of Jemmott and  C...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Weight Of The World , by Joe Louis Walker , and it's a cool uncompromised blues release. Opening with title track,  The Weight Of The World , Joe Louis Walker on lead vocal and guitar leads the way on this R&B soaked track. His funky approach and with Eric Corne and Gia Ciambotti on backing vocals gives it even a gospel like feel. His guitar work is great, surrounded by Scott Milici on organ and backed by John Medeiros Jr on drums, Eddie Jackson on bongos, and Geoff Murfitt on bass. Strong opener.  Soul track, Hello, It's The Blues , really has a rich approach with smooth backing vocals and Eric Gorfain on violins and tasty nylon string guitar work by Walker. Very nice. Blues rocker, Blue Mirror is my favorite track on the release with a strong feel of Chuch Berry or Keith Richards. Walker puts his own signature on it complimented by great riffs and great driving rhythm by Milici on piano, Murfitt on bass...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Voodoo Nation , from Supersonic Blues Machine and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Money , SBM sets up a cool New Orleands flavored funk rocker with a solid drum line by Kenny Aronoff and featuring Kris Barras on lead vocal and guitar, Fabrizio Grossi on bass, Alex Alessandroni Jr on keys and perfect backing vocals by Francis Benitez and Andrea Grossi- Benitez. You and Me is a solid rocker that reminds me of Pink Floyd (and I actually don't know why). I think maybe it has the drive of Roger Waters' The Wall and the guitar attack by King Solomon Hicks  (doesn't sound like Gilmore), but the riffs are cut from the same cloth. Very cool. 8 Ball Lucy is one of my favorites with solid vocals, cool slide by Sonny Landreth and really cool reggae drum work by Aronoff. Title track, Voodoo Nation , has an interesting sound with really potent drum work by Aronoff, wark key addition by Alessandroni Jr. and again...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Louder, by Misty Blue and it's solid. Opening with gospel style blues, A Long Hard Way, Gina Coleman on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Seth Fleischman on guitar, Ben Kohn on keys, Rob Tatten on drums, Bill Patriquin on bass, Aaron Dean on sax, and Wendy Lipp, Rebecca Mattson and Kathy Ryan on backing vocals. Powerful opener. Super voice, Big Llou Johnson joins Coleman on lead vocals on How The Blues Feels . This is a potent track with an attack quite like Cream's version of the Mississippi Sheik's Sitting on Top Of The World with really nice guitar work by Fleischman, a great bass line by Diego Monque, heavy drum work by Tatten and solid harmonica addition by Bob Stannard. With New Orleans rhythm, Seal Of Fate really gets moving. Aaron Dean on sax, Chris Rand on bari sax, David Vittone on accordion and Tatten on drums carry the meat of the track and spice by Kohn on keys and Fleischmann on guitar add...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bigman , from BIGLLOU Johnson and it a solid R&B / blues set. Opening with Lightnin' Strike , an up tempo blues strut, BIGLLOU stylistically speaks the story, backed by Mark Early on sax, Doug Woolverton on trumpet, Bill Overton on clarinet and Dwight Dukes, Terrence Grayson, Ellison Hall, Amanda Joyce, keith Sweat Monique Whittington and Monico Whittington on backing vocals. With a rumbling bass and crisp harmonica wailing by Russ Green, Chill On Cold has a great bluesy feel. Shucky Ducky (Quack Quack) has a tight Latin rhythm courtesy Ricky Nelson on drums and Kalyan Pathak on percussion and the addition of Anthony Dopsie on accordion adds a special texture. BIGLLOU had a terrific, deep voice and that timbre really comes through on this track. I Got The Fever is my favorite track on the release with it's slow, thick oozing blues. BIGLLOU really grinds out the deep vocal like nobody can and with nice pian...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, You Get What You Give: Duets, from Dave Keller and it's a solid set of blues, R&B and soul. Opening with One More Tear , featuring Annika Chambers on vocal, Keller on lead vocal and guitar is backed by Ira Friedman on organ, Alex Budney on bass, Jay Gleason on drums, Mark Earley on sax, Mario Perrett on tenor sax and Tom Palance on trumpet. A potent R&B track and a super opener. Title track, You Get What You Give , pairs Keller with Annie Mack shows a lot of soul in this, radio track with it's strong, memorable melody. One of my favorite tracks on the release, The Evil That Men Do , features Keller trading lead with Trudy Lynn, Annika Chambers, Annie Mack and Johnny Rawls on what is definitely my favorite track on the release. It's composition is sophisticated and melodic and reminiscent of the best of early Elton John ballads. With Friedman on piano and Tom Palance on trumpet, this is a great track. L...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Brothers by Junior Wells and featuring many contemporary blues players. Opening with low slung, Blues Hit Big Town , Colin James weighs in on lead guitar with Wells on Harp. Good Morning Little School Girl lines up Pat Travers on guitar and James Montgomery on harp. I really like Montgomery's work and his interweaving with Travers on this track is tight. One of Well's most loved classics, Messin' With the Kid gets a rework with Tyler Bryant on guitar and his open tone with just the right amount of reverb works really nicely. Baby, Scratch My Back features Albert Castiglia and I always like his style. He doesn't overplay but his notes all count. Very nice. Eric Gales is featured on Lovey Dovey, Lovey One and his confident attack on this shuffle really works nicely. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Snatch It Back And Hold It, featuring Joe Louis Walker. His guitar work is fluid and fleet...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Supergroove , from guitarist Andy Watts , Israel's Ambassador of the Blues and it's solid and features appearances by Joe Louis Walker and Eliza Neals. Opening with title track, Supergroove , Watts leads the instrumental on guitar, backed by Eyal Klein on keys, Ioram Linker on sax, Gregory Rivkin on trumpet, Llan Hillel on bass and Top Bollig on drums. Linker's solo on bari really sets the track apart, moving real air. Roy Young has the mic on Rick Estrin's shuffle, Living Hand To Mouth featuring Coastin Hank on harmonica and crisp guitar soloing by Watts. My favorite track on the release is slow burner, Burning Deep , featuring Joe Louis Walker on lead vocal and some real nice guitar work by Watts. Walker really digs in and Watts matches him step for step. Very nice. Young is back up front on funky, Pack It Up with it's contagious groove. Watts hangs nicely in the pocket accenting the track with punct...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Comin' On from Joe Louis Walker and it's a fireplug. Opening with rocker, Feed The Poor , a funky blues rocker, Walker on lead vocal and Jorma on lead guitar, John Bradford on bass, Dorian Randolph on drums, Juma Sultan on percussion and Bruce Katz. This track is heavy. Super backing vocals by Bradford, and Randolph almost give it a Daryl Hall edge. Cool opener. R&B track, Someday, Someway is certainly one of my favorites on the release with Carla Cooke at the mic. Her vocals are terrific and with Walker on backing vocal and guitar and joined by Lee Oskar and his classic harp tone, Eric Finland on keys, Bradford on bass and Randolph on drums. Excellent! Easy shuffle, Old Time Used To Be has Walker on 12 string and vocal, with Joh Sebastian on harp and  Keb Mo on slide. Katz has a real nice piano solo on this one and adds an overall bright feel to the track. Swampy Bowlegged Woman, Knock-Kneed Man has a...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues For A King , from BB King's daughter, Shirley King and it's jam packed with blues and legends. Opening with Joe Louis Walker's All Of My Lovin' , King is up front on lead vocal backed by Walker on guitar and Jurgen Engler on guitar, bass and drums. Holding firm on a R&B setup, King sets a straight 60's styling radio track. With super guitar work by Elvin Bishop under King's bluesy vocals, I Did You Wrong has a cool shuffle beat and a tight bottom. An unexpected rock gem, Steve Winwood's Can't Find My Way Home features Martin Barre with some excellent guitar and is one of my favorites and also possibly King's best vocal effort on the release. Gallow Pole maintains it's folk roots but with a rock edge and underlying guitar work by Harvey Mandel with really is a strong compliment. A rework of a Jr Wells track features vocal and harp by Wells, adding guitar by Walker, ba...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Comin' On, by Joe Louis Walker, and it's a great blend of Blues, Soul, R&B and Rock musical styles. Opening with Feed The Poor , a funky blues rocker, Walker joins with legendary Jorma Kaukonen on lead guitar who brings a ragged edge to this otherwise soulful track. With John Bradford on bass, Dorian Randolph on bass, Juma Sultan on percussion and Bruce Katz on organ this is a strong opener. Carla Cooke contributes lead vocal on Someday, Someway, a real nice soulful blues ballad. Her vocals, backed by Walker, on guitar and vocal, and with Lee Oskar on harmonica, Eric Finland on piano, Randolph on drums and John Bradford, this is definitely one of my favorites on the release. Keb' Mo on slide guitar and John Sebastian on harp join Walker on 12 string laying down a real nice shuffle, Old Time Used To Be . Backed by Katz on piano, Scott Petito on bass, Randolph on drums and Sultan on percussion thi...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Living In The Shadows , from Tyler Morris , and it's a cool blues rocker. On this, his second release, Morris plays lead guitar and sings with band mates Terry Dry on bass, Matthew Robert Johnson on drums and Lewis Stephens on B3 and Wurlitzer. Gary Moore's hard driving rocker, Movin' On , sees the band on full tilt with Morris throwing every rock based riff you can think at it. Quick fingered runs, and bends with just a bit of distortion to make it sound dirty gives this track it's sting. Joe Louis Walker and Mike Zito guest on vocals on Tony Joe White's Polk Salad Annie . Maintaining that original swamp rock feel this is a cool track with Morris working the slide nicely  over the steady drumming of Johnson. Bluesy ballad, Temptation , is Morris' best showcase of his vocal strength and Stephens' B3 enhances the tension giving Morris a nice platform to play melodic blues runs on guitar. Amanda...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues On Fire , from Andy Watts and it's a cool, contemporary blues rocker. Opening with a blues strut, Full Throttle , Andy Watts on lead guitar is joined by Eyal Klein on keys, Elad Gellart on sax, Gregory Rivkin on trumpet, Tom Mochaich on bass and Avi Barak on drums. With a fat bari solo by Gellart and a stinging guitar solo by Watts, a cool instrumental opener. Joe Louis Walker joins on title track, Blues On Fire providing soulful vocal lead and Watts sails along nicely on guitar with well articulated guitar phrasing. Very nice. A real nice cover/interpretation of Steve Ray Vaughn's Riviera Paradise floats along with great fire and spirit provided by Watts guitar riffs. With the addition of Rivkin on trumpet giving it just a bit of a jazzy feel, and a bright, clear piano interlude, this is a strong track. Roy Young is featured on lead vocal on JJ Cale's I Got The Same Old Blues with a distinct R&B...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Viva Las Vegas Live from Joe Louis Walker and it's really great! Opening with I'm Not Messing Around , a rolling blues rocker, Walker has lead vocal and guitar with the super Bruce Bears on piano, Lenny Bradford on bass Dorian Randolph on drums. Walkers guitar riffs are scorching and crisp and Bears' piano tight and precise. Excellent opener. Into low slung shuffle, Young Girls Blues ,  Walker's vocals are rich and Bears' piano work is grand. I have admired Bears' work for a long time and it's always super to hear him live where he can stretch a bit. Very nice. Ok...you want Walker. You want guitar and here it is! Sugar Mama , a slower blues number with extended guitar soloing. Walker has excellent chops and most of you already know and this track gives him the opportunity to let it all hang out... or should I say, he's more than 6 minute into the track before he starts to sing...think ab...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Soul of the King , from The BB King Blues Band and the title hits the nail on the head. Opening with Irene Irene , Russell Jackson has the mic and Kenny Wayne Shepherd plays scorching hot guitar riffs making this an excellent opener. The hear of the band is James Boogaloo Bolden on trumpet, Eric Demmer on lead sax, Jackson on bass, Walter King on sax, Herman Jackson on drums, Darrell Lavigne on keys, Lamar Boulet on trumpet, Wilburt Crosby on guitar, Brandon Jackson on drums, and Raymond Harris on trombone. Kenny Neal is up next on Sweet Little Angel covering both lead guitar and vocal. His playing is more mellow but no less soulful as he gets a good grip on the track in BB King style. Diunna Greenleaf's supreme vocal styling is There Must Be A Better World Somewhere and Demmer literally blows the doors off with his sensational sax soloing. Excellent! Solid soul on She's The One with Demmer on lead vocal a...