Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Room , from Jon Zeeman and it's got heft. Opening with rolling boogie, All I Want Is You , Jon Zeeman hits the ground running with a great walking bass line from Phil Macarthur and tight drum lines from Mr. Butch Trucks. Nice riding organ work by Tom Regis really shines it up and Zeeman's own guitar riffs make for an excellent opener. On Robert Johnson's. Love In Vain , Zeeman follows The Stones arrangement fairly closely which is really nice. Electric piano soloing by Taylor is lush and Zeeman's own guitar work smooth and inspired. George Lilly adds the drums on this one and Zeeman's vocals are top notch. On shuffle track, Next To You , Butch Trucks again lends his impeccable timing and Zeeman lays out some really tasty guitar riffs. Jimi Hendrix's Still Rainin', Still Dreamin' has a smoking James Brown bottom and Zeeman really scorches the fretboard with hot riffs on this one. If ...

I just received the newest release, Down On My Luck , from Jon Zeeman and it's quite entertaining. Opening with a loping shuffle, You're Right, I'm Wrong , Zeeman shows a good command of the guitar and shore handed riffs. Rich guitar tones sounding like a strat through a Super drive the track. With a band made up of Phil McArther on bass, George Lilly on drums and Tom Regis a d Bob Taylor on keys, these guys are tight. Down On My Luck is a strong, slow blues ballad with complex jazz construction. A really nice melody gives Zeeman a nice platform for his vocal and warm organ backing gives him adequate space for interesting guitar riffs. Hangman's Bridge has a distinct Jimi Hendrix Foxy Lady rhythm and a Don Nix like melody sounding a bit like Mahogany Rush. Really strong blues rock track. I Love Everybody again has a Hendrix influence but in this case over Muddy Waters. A really cool twist. I Love Everybody continues in the contemporary Muddy Waters/Johnny Winter ...