Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Takin' & Givin' from Levee Town and it's got flavor. Opening with a country two stepper, title track, Takin' & Givin' shows nice vocal blending between Jacque Garoutte and Brandon Hudspeth who also throws down some cool guitar riffs, backed by Adam Hagerman on drums, Jacque Garoutte on bass & Chris Hazelton on Hammond. High Flyin' Mama is a cool funky rocker with a super bass line by Garoutte. This track is really smoking with hot Hammond work by Hazelton and Hudspeth on guitar. Warm loping blues, Kansas City Woman , features Jaisson Taylor on lead vocal and cool harp work by Jimmie Meade. Mr. Jameson is a cool swing track with fleet fingered guitar work by Hudspeth and cool backing vocals by Garoutte and Hudspeth over a cool walking bass line by Garoutte and slick piano riffs by Walser. Excellent! Walkin' Down The Road is a solid blues track with warm harmonies and clever gu...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, By My Side , from James "Buddy" Rogers and it's strong! Opening with Come Back To Me , a solid blues number with a super lope, Rogers had the lead on vocal and guitar establishing firm ground. With Freddie king like riffs and with solid backing from Slammin Mike Wedge on bass, James Hollywood Badger on drums and Lewis Stephens on keys, this is a great opener. On title track, By My Side , Rogers shows a smooth R&B style and his vocals are soulful and fitting. Stephens key board work is bright and clear nicely surrounding Rogers vocal phrasing. Very nice. On rocker, Can't Get You Off My Mind , Rogers had the solid drive of Chuck Berry but doesn't use and stereotypical riffs. His charge is direct and tight. Sweet ballad, You Belong , has an almost Eric Clapton feel with fresh, electric guitar riffs playing under the melody. Don Nix's Goin' Down is up next with a mix of Jeff Beck and Freddi...

I just had the opportunity to review Heavy Days , the latest release from Katy Guillen & The Girls and I really like it. Opening with Driving To Wake Up , Katy Guillen & The Girls let you know right up front that they mean business. Guillen on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Claire Adams on bass and vocal and Stephanie Williams on drums producing an authoritative rock sound with edge. Guillen's vocals may be similar to Chrissie Hynde with healthy attitude but with more clarity and blending with the vocals of Adams, a new fresh sound. A stripped down 3 piece sound is all you need and these ladies show that big time. Guillen is also no wall flower when it comes to guitar attitude laying it out there pretty nicely. Heavy Days has an essential blues rock sound and raw energy but with just the right amount of melodic backing harmony to pull you in. These girls are putting on the heat and Williams kicks ass on drums... and that adds real weight as they swing from sweet vo...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Live at Knuckleheads Vol 1   from Nick Schnebelen Band and I really enjoyed it. Opening fleet fingered rocker, I'm Goin' , this band is on fire. Nick Schnebelen, founding family member of Trampled Under Foot, has lead vocals and guitars and he's ripping. Joined by Heather Newman on guitar and vocal, Joe Voye on drums and Cliff Moore on bass, this is a great opener! Newman takes the lead on Willie James , with a little more of a country flare, the band is taking this crowd by storm. Schnebelen's riffs are hot and explosive. Cover of Gnarls Barkley's Crazy , featuring Newman on lead vocal maintains it's original pop format but with a snarling guitar solo backing Newman's solid vocals. Slow ballad, Desperate Heart , again features Newman on lead vocal and gives Schnebelen a terrific opening to really kick out the stops on his blues riffs. Clocking in at over 5 minutes and with a touch of old San Fra...

Siblings Danielle, Kris and Nick Schnebelen grew up with the Blues. Their parents, Bob and Lisa, were active in the thriving Kansas City Blues scene, playing in local bands and competing in the Kansas City Blues Challenge. Bob and Lisa’s band didn’t make it to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis — but their kids did. When TUF arrived in Memphis for the 2008 IBC they were followed by huge, wildly enthusiastic throngs of hometown supporters, eager to cheer for their favorite musical family. And when TUF took First Place in the competition and Nick won the Albert King award for best guitarist, it was a sweet victory for the Schnebelen family and for Kansas City itself. TUF has been on a roll ever since, becoming popular repeat headliners at clubs, festivals and cruises around the world and releasing CDs and a DVD on their own label (TUF Records). Trampled Under Foot’s brand new CD, Badlands was produced by Tony Braunagel, and features guest appearances by Mike Finnigan and eng...

I just received a copy of the newest release, Beat A Demon , from Rock-n-Rick Patterson and it's really different. Opening with the title track, Beat A Demon , Patterson unleashes a voodoo sounding blues track that will stick you. With a voice like Captain Beefheart and a melody that could be right off of a Screamin Jay record, Patterson really lays out some cool guitar riffs and effects. St. Louis Girl is an upbeat swing blues with Patterson and Nick Schnebelen on guitar joined by Kris Schnebelen on drums and Danielle Schenebelen on bass. I've Been Thinkin' "Bout You has a cool bass line which really sets the track up nicely. A more contemporary blues rock style makes it practical for broad airplay and the hook is solid. Don't Have To Worry is a spiffy blues infused rock track with delta roots, cocky guitar work and spot on percussion. Sonny Kenner is a story tellers track. I've always liked tracks like this (Billy The Mountain, Mind Bender, Jack The T...

The Rev Jimmie Bratcher Is Secretly Famous on New Blues-Rock CD Coming March 5 on Ain’t Skeert Tunes Latest Album from Singer/Guitarist Was Produced by Multi-Grammy-Winner Jim Gaines KANSAS CITY, MO – The Rev Jimmie Bratcher announces a March 5 release date for Secretly Famous , the latest CD from the blues-rock singer/guitarist, coming from Ain’t Skeert Tunes. Produced by multi-Grammy-winner Jim Gaines and recorded at his Bessie Blue Studio in Stantonville, Tennessee, Secretly Famous marks the second time the two have collaborated on an album project; Gaines also produced Bratcher’s 2006 release, RED . “ Secretly Famous is my seventh album but I really feel like it’s my first,” says Bratcher. “This album is different for me because I went further back into my roots than on any of my other albums, back to a time before I became “The Rev.” Back to the blues-rock root that I learned playing that old guitar.” “That old guitar” Bratcher refers to is a clas...

Larry Davis (December 4, 1936 – April 19, 1994) was an American electric Texas blues and soul blues musician. He is best known for co-composing the song "Texas Flood", later recorded to greater commercial success by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Davis swapped playing the drums to learn to play the bass guitar. In the mid 1950s, Davis had a working partnership with Fenton Robinson, and following the recommendation of Bobby Bland was given a recording contract by the Duke label. Davis had three singles released, which included "Texas Flood" and "Angels in Houston". Thereafter, Davis had limited opportunity in the recording studio. He resided in St. Louis, Missouri for a while, and played bass in Albert King's group. He also learned conventional guitar at this time, as the original guitar playing on Davis's recording of "Texas Flood" was by Robinson. Several single releases on the V...

Big Joe Turner (born Joseph Vernon Turner Jr., May 18, 1911 – November 24, 1985) was an American blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri. According to the songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him." Although he came to his greatest fame in the 1950s with his pioneering rock and roll recordings, particularly "Shake, Rattle and Roll", Turner's career as a performer stretched from the 1920s into the 1980s. Turner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Known variously as The Boss of the Blues, and Big Joe Turner (due to his 6'2", 300+ lbs stature), Turner was born in Kansas City and first discovered his love of music through involvement in the church. Turner's father was killed in a train accident when Joe was only four years old. He began singing on street corners for money, leaving school at age fourteen to begin working in Kansas City's nightclub scene, first as a cook, and later as a singin...

I just received the newest release, Lather, Rinse, Repeat from Jason Vivone & The Billy Bats . The line up is Vivone on vocal, guitar and harp; Matt Bustamante on drums, Jeremy Clark on bass; Paula Crawford on vocal and guitar; Imani Glasgow on vocal and percussion and Ben Hoppes on vocal and banjo. The release opens with a seductive I Hear A Heartbeat , a Texas Boogie style track with tempting lyrics and rippin' cigar box slide. Baby Fat using a tongue in cheek rhythm features Vivone on solo vocal and minimal band backing except a slide melody and drums. The Nina, The Pinta, The Santa Maria is a sped up Chicago blues with 50's style vocals and classic blues riffs but with a touch of humor and instrumentals. The Black Lone Ranger , loosely based on a Muddy Waters track and with a touch of George Thorogood, keeps the groove and again gives the slide king a chance to show his stuff. One Hot Mother , a prototypical 12 bar blues track allows Vivone the freedom to sing cleve...

Charles Parker, Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), also known as "Yardbird" and "Bird", was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Parker acquired the nickname "Yardbird" early in his career and the shortened form, "Bird", which continued to be used for the rest of his life, inspired the titles of a number of Parker compositions, such as "Yardbird Suite", "Ornithology", "Bird Gets the Worm", and "Bird of Paradise." Parker was a highly influential jazz soloist and a leading figure in the development of bebop,a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, virtuosic technique, and improvisation. Parker introduced revolutionary harmonic ideas, including rapid passing chords, new variants of altered chords, and chord substitutions. His tone ranged from clean and penetrating to sweet and somber. Many Parker recordings demonstrate virtuosic technique and complex melodic lines, sometimes combining jazz with ...

Kimberly, who is originally from the Kansas City area, has played in clubs from the age of sixteen. She graduated from The University of Southern California with a degree in jazz guitar. She has worked with saxophonist Joe Houston, Zola Moon, The Shirelles, and JJ "Bad Boy" Jones. Kimberly has toured the U.S. and Canada playing venues such as The Portland Rose Festival, The Playboy Jazz Festival (Pasadena) and The Santa Monica Twilight Concert Series (sharing the stage with Roomful of Blues). In 1998, she was nominated as "outstanding guitarist" by the L.A. Music Awards. Kimberly's first solo CD, Old, New, Borrowed and Blues, has been the subject of rave national and international reviews in publications such as Blues Review. It also received world-wide airplay and was picked up by BDC, a national distributor. In 2001, tunes from the disc made it to the finals for the awards-a competition for independent music. Kimberly is also an active educator with fifty plus...

Jeannie Cheatham, along with her husband, bass trombonist Jimmy Cheatham, has co-led "the Cheathams" (also known as the Sweet Baby Blues Band) since the mid-1980s. It is surprising that more groups have not tried to emulate this band, for the Cheathams perform music that crosses over between Kansas City-type swing and blues, always featuring several notable horn players, Jeannie's vocals and plenty of spirit. Their music is very accessible and swinging, yet creative within the swing tradition. Jeannie Cheatham started studying piano when she was five, became a professional early on, and worked with Big Mama Thornton on and off for ten years. She gigged with a variety of top blues greats, including T-Bone Walker, Dinah Washington, Jimmy Witherspoon and Joe Williams, and in 1984 she toured with Cab Calloway. Jimmy Cheatham through the years has played bass trombone with Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Thad Jones and in a backup group with Ornette Coleman. the Cheathams, who...

Blues guitarist Charles "Chuck" Norris was born in Kansas City, MO. on August 11, 1921. Between 1947 and 1951 he recorded several records in Los Angeles for Coast, Imperial, Selective, Mercury and Aladdin. His final two recordings were made in New York City for Atlantic in 1953. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a compilation that rounds up all of his recordings, even though his Atlantic sides have been reissued for a number of years. Norris passed away in 1989. If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Pete Johnson (March 25, 1904 – March 23, 1967) was an American boogie-woogie and jazz pianist. Journalist Tony Russell stated in his book The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray, that "Johnson shared with the other members of the 'Boogie Woogie Trio' the technical virtuosity and melodic fertility that can make this the most exciting of all piano music styles, but he was more comfortable than Meade Lux Lewis in a band setting; and as an accompanist, unlike Lewis or Albert Ammons, he could sparkle but not outshine his singing partner". Fellow journalist, Scott Yanow (Allmusic) added "Johnson was one of the three great boogie-woogie pianists (along with Lewis and Ammons) whose sudden prominence in the late 1930s helped make the style very popular". Johnson was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He began his musical career in 1922 as a drummer in Kansas City. From 1926 to 1938 he worked as a pianist, often accompanying Big Joe Turner. Record producer John Ham...

I just received this debut release Wanna Feel Somethin ' by Mary Bridget Davies . Excuse my French but this cd kicks ass. Seven of the 10 tracks on this release are self penned and the band just cooks. Davies has a great blues voice and a lot of Aretha's flair. That's a killer combination. Your Kinda Love has roots in Muddy with rhythm along the lines of Hoochie Coochie Man but this song is strait up and Davis sings with conviction. Won't pay You Mind is a jump blues and has great guitar lead track which gets you going. Again Davies has terrific vocal style. There are some cool horn and guitar solos throughout that give the already great track some real some weight. Same Ol' Blues slows things down and gives Davies the chance to show her vocal styling which by the way doesn't resemble American Idol (whew!). Again Davies vocals are punctuated with very nice guitar accompaniment by Dave Hayes. Here is where you can really see some of the Aretha influence come ...

Born January 10, 1929, Leon Estelle was given The Mr.Blues of Kansas City Award by The Mayor of Kansas City! In 1958 Leon was Awarded The Best Blues Guitarist in The 5 State area.After spending a few years in Chicago hanging out with musicians such as Elmore James and others he returned to Kansas City.And it seemed like people came out of the woodwork to pick up on what he was laying down.This is a great example of some of the people that would want to see what Leon and his friends/family were up to.K.C.Kelsey and D.C.Belamy and others stop in. Glenn Patrik traveled from California to lay down some guitar work.Other musicians I recognize would be Duck Warner-trumpet,Chris Baker -sax Henry Hart -harp,Jessie "Spoon" Wilson percussion,Steve Shoemaker -trombone to name a few.One thing I would like to mention,Leon adopted 2 young guitar players and I'm proud to say I adopted him as my second Dad as well!The other is Glenn Patrik who he called Mr.Blues Jr.which he titled one of...

Home based in Branson Mo., Smooth Down Under has been performing their blend of Rocking Roadhouse Blues, since early 2010 in the Branson and Springfield Mo area, as well as Northern Arkansas. The membership is comprised of 3 unique artists from different parts of the U.S.A., who found each other in Branson and came together as Smooth Down Under. More recently with shows in K.C., Mo. And Lake of the Ozarks. On guitar and lead vocals is Richard Lee Wilson, the newest member to the band. Richard comes to us from Blue Springs, Mo. He's been known more recently in the K.C. area with his own band, The Sunday Morning Casualties. On bass is Steve “Smooth Thunder” Cole. Originally from K.C. Mo. Steve has been playing bass for over 36 yrs. He moved to the Ozarks in 1999 to get away from the fast pace of the city. Along with a the many rock acts he’s performed with, he has shared the stage with many of the legends that makes Kansas City Blues what it is. On Drums, is Eric Sokol, original...

Tyler D. "T.D." Bell (Dec. 26,1922- Jan 1999) Guitarist/vocalist Bell is a local legend, the leader of the hottest band on the East Side, T. D. Bell and the Cadillacs, during the heyday of the Victory Grill in the 1950s. Bell, who came to Austin in the early 1950s, provided early performing experience in his bands for many of the blues and jazz players on the East Side of Austin. Bell's bands, which generally featured Erbie Bowser on piano, backed up virtually all of the touring blues and R&B acts to come through Austin in the 50s. He had a long association with Victory grill owner Johnny Holmes. One of the few older musicians in town to work full-time during his early years, Bell did not take on outside work until later in life. He now has a small trucking business and had essentially retired from music until Erbie Bower asked him to reform their band for the Victory Grill reunion in 1987. While Bell has some touring experience, he never worried about making the big ...

Big Joe Turner (born Joseph Vernon Turner Jr., May 18, 1911 – November 24, 1985[1]) was an American blues shouter from Kansas City, Missouri. According to the songwriter Doc Pomus, "Rock and roll would have never happened without him." Although he came to his greatest fame in the 1950s with his pioneering rock and roll recordings, particularly "Shake, Rattle and Roll", Turner's career as a performer stretched from the 1920s into the 1980s. If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”