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Showing posts with the label Kenneth Blevins

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Zac Harmon & The Drive - Live - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live , from Zac Harmon & The Drive and it's super! Opening with soulful, NTRO , Nate Robinson on bass and Gino Iglehart on drums set a solid foundation, with Corey Lacy building on keys and lush guitar work by Zac Harmon and Kingston Livingston really setting the bar. Terrific opener. Blue Pill Thrill has super movement and soulful vocals by Harmon. Lacy on keys works the rhythm with Robinson and Iglehart and Livingston and and Harmon play stinging riffs on guitar really giving this track some kick. Deep blues track, Feet Back On The Ground features Albert King like stinging riffs and super soulful vocals by Harmon. Keeping the music floor low allows Harmon plenty of space to go dynamically from soft to wow quickly adding real emotion to the track. Excellent! Boogie Down is a strong jam with a firm piano base by Lacy giving Harmon plenty of headroom for vocal corralling. Lacy lays in some real tasty keyboar...
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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!


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Qualified Records artist: Yates McKendree - Need To Know - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Need To Know , from Yates McKendree and I really like it. Opening with solid blues number, Burnin' Tears , Yates McKendree on lead guitar and vocal really sets a nice pace. With Steve Mackey on bass, Griffin Photoglou on drums, Robert Frahm on rhythm guitar and Kevin McKendree on piano and Hammond , Yates vocals are strong and his BB King flavored guitar attack really fits this track perfectly. Excellent opener. Run It In The Ground is a super hot runner with Muddy Waters roots. Yates is really riding high on lead vocal and his guitar work sails with Kevin and Frahm kicking it with heavy support by Griffin. James Brown 's, I Don't Care gets a real nice cover by Yates with his soulful voice and solid horn backing by Steve Herrman on trumpet, John Hinchey on trombone and standout sax work by Jim Hoke on tenor and bari sax . Chris Kenner 's Something You Got has a real nice funk underpinning by Kev...
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New Wilderness Records artist: Randy Lee Riviere - Blues Sky - New Release Review

By Bman -
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  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Sky , Randy Lee Riviere , and it's got a cool stripped down blues rock feel but more like pre classic (rock) than newer Stripes or Keys efforts. Opening with American Redoubt , Riviere on lead vocal and guitar sets the pace with a James Gang kind of vamp and monotone singing. I actually think this is quite interesting with Kevin McKendree on guitar and keys, Kenneth Blevins on drums, and David Santos on bass. Needles has a slinky southern rock structure, blues rock guitar lead, but blended with Lou Reed vocal aesthetics. Very interesting. What You Know About Pain? is a funky blues rocker with a strong underlying guitar lead. I haven't really heard anything like this since early Savoy Brown. This is definitely my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the set is ballad, Cold Cold River with a simple melody and rich backing vocals by Ann, Regina and Freda McCrary. This is an interesting release and certainl...
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Qualified Records artist: Yates McKendee - Buchanan Lane - New Release Review

By Bman -
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  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release,  Buchanan Lane , from  Yates McKendree  on the indie Qualified Records label, and it moves. Opening with jazzy  Out Crowd , Yates on piano sets a great stage, backed by his father Kevin McKendree and Big Joe Maher on drums and percussion. Excellent opener. On BB King's  Ruby Lee , Yates moves over to guitar and lead vocal showing excellent versatility. With classic rhumba/blues styling, this track really swings. Backed by Kevin on piano, Steve Mackey on bass, Jim Hoke on sax, Andrew Carney on trumpet and Roland Barber on trombone, this track is tight. Original track,  No Justice  really digs in with Yates playing lead guitar, bass, drums and organ (and singing) joined by Kevin on piano. If you wonder if this kid has chops... listen to this track. Excellent! Earl King's funky R&B blues number,  Always A Good Time  gives Yates a chance to show even more style on vocal and...
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VizzTone Label Group artist: Lloyd Jones - Tennessee Run - New Release Review

By Bman -
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 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tennessee Run , from Lloyd Jones and its a cool blend of blues, R&B, funk and pop giving it a bright, energetic feel. Opening with hard driving R&B track, You Got Me Good , Jones on lead vocal and guitar really has the place hopping. Backed by Kevin McKendree on keys, Steve Mackey on bass, Kenneth Blevins on drums, Jim Hoke on sax, Quentin Ware on trumpet and Roy Agee on trombone this is a strong opener. Rock n roller, I Wish I Could   Remember Loving You , has a great rhythm guitar pace with Jones paired with Teresa James on lead vocal and McKendree's piano work is outstanding. One of my favorite tracks on the release is funky swamp track, Bayou Boys with McKendree on organ and cool horn interplay by Hoke, Ware, Agee and with Richard Metz on percussion. Very cool. Hoke lays in a really nice bari solo on another funky swamp track, That's All I Want which also features LaRhonda Steele on vocal. Dilly Dal...
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