Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Texas Queens 5 , from Bloodest Saxophone and it's powerful. Bloodest Saxophone has been playing old school sounds since 1998. Opening with I've Got A Feeling and Diunna Greenleaf on lead vocals these guys show that they mean business. With Koda Shintaro on tenor sax, Coh on trombone, Osikawa Yukimasa on bari sax, Shuji on guitar, The Takeo on upright bass, and Kiminori on drums and percussion this track has real punch. Lead vocalist Crystal Thompson really pounds out the blues on Losing Battle with really nicely presented guitar by Johnny Moeller on guitars over strong brass and sax work. Excellent! Instrumental, Pork Chop Chick is a terrific jump track with super horn solos, driving rhythm and a real nice guitar exchange between Moeller and Shuji. Very nice. Lauren Cervantes is upfront on Latin track, Run Joe . Masterful rhythms, authentic vocals, tight percussion and wild powerful horns give this track real...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Problem Child , from Dany Franchi and it's quite good. Opening with Back To The River , a full bodied R&B, horns and all with Dany Franchi on guitar and vocal,  Anson Funderburgh with round tone soloing and the Texas Horns chasing. Super opener. Give Me A Sign has a real nice piano rhythm by Jim Pugh and excellent guitar riffs by Franchi, backed by Nate Rowe on bass and Wes Starr on drums. With it's solid texas lope, Big Town Playboy features strong harp work by Greg Izor and rich lead guitar work by Franchi giving this track real traction. Soul ballad Real Love features some of Franchi's best vocal work on the release, with warm horns by Kaz Kazanoff, John Mills & Jimmie Shortel and a nice melodic guitar solo by Franchi. Very nice. Another favorite, Don't Steal My Time , has a great blend of warm vocals, great guitar riffs and fat horns. Excellent. Freddie King's Sen-Sa-Shun has real snap...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Ice Queen , from Sue Foley and I think it may be her best yet. Opening with Come To Me with Charlie Sexton joining on vocal and slide guitar, Foley adds a little funk to her already bluesy deal with Chris Maresh on bass, Chris Layton on drums and Kyle Thompson on maracas. Run has a country 2 step feel and Foley really drives this one with her ambitious guitar rhythm. Slow blues and title track, The Ice Queen , shows Foley at her purest with George rains on drums and Billy Horton on bass. Her riffs are right off a Hooker release and her vocals are simple and direct. Very nice. Shuffle track, The Lucky Ones features Jimmie Vaughan trading lead vocal and guitar riffs. With the addition of Mike Flanigin or organ, the track has an additional dimension and Foley's guitar riffs play nicely against Vaughan's. Billy Gibbons joins on Fool's Golds and his vocals really work great with Foley's. his solo work...

I just received the newest release, Numbers Man , from Andy T - Nick Nixon Band and it's super. Opening with blues driver, Shut The Front Door , Nixon leads the way on solid vocals pushed along nicely by Kaz Kazanov (tenor sax), Al Gomez (trumpet) and John Mills (Bari sax), Larry Van Loon on B3, Jim Klingler on drums and Sam Persons on bass. Anson Funderburgh joins in with a tasty solo trading riffs with Andy for a hot opener. Devil's Wife has a flavor of new Orleans courtesy of piano work by Christian Dozzler and Klingler on drums. van Loons' B3 work complimented by The Horns lays it wide open for a nice solos by Kaz and Nixon. Tall strutting, Deep Blue Sea , is a great track to showcase this bands style with Nixon's vocals and The Horns holding down the bottom. A stylized solo from Andy and B3/piano from van Loon round out the track nicely. Dozzler's lead on accordion gives Tall Drink of Water a real Cajun flavor. Andy stirs the pot with few quick riffs but t...