Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Pass It On Down , by Chris Beard and it's a super set of blues, soul and R&B tracks. Opening with funky, Let The Chips Fall , with Brother Wilson on rhythm guitar, Marvin Parker on bass, Carlton Campbell on drums, John Tucker on keys and featuring Chris Beard on lead guitar and vocal. Hot opener. Rocker, Big Girl , has influence of Santana and the Isleys with a solid melody and vocals, a rich lead guitar solo by Beard and backing by Richard Rodolph on bass, Quinn Lawrence on horns, Jonathan Curry on keys and Duane Beard on backing vocals. One of my favorite tracks on the release is House Of Shame with slashing lead guitar work and deep vocal by Beard. Backing vocals by Mary Ellen Haden really add the right element and Parker's bass lines and tight drum work by Campbell make this one of the nicest tracks on the release. Strong bluesy R&B track, Son I Never Knew , has a real nice groove with Beard trading off...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keep On Moving , from Deuce 'n a Quarter and it has a little bit for everyone. Opening with Swinging At The Blues , a cool shuffle, features Brian Peters on lead vocal and harmonica and he has a great voice. With crisp riffs by Keith Colbert on guitar, Andre Scott on  drums, Martin O. Brown on bass and Brandon Adams on keys, this is a solid opener. I like rocker, Same Old Blues with it's blend of garage band rock and blues. Colbert's guitar work is really a strong anchor on this track and it's format makes it a good candidate for rock radio. Boogie, All She Wrote really chugs along with Peters on lead vocal and solid harmonica soloing. Kenny Neal adds guitar work and Brown's bass work really sets the pace.  Sun Kissed Wheat is a standout track on the release with it's Delta styling and showcasing Peters' harmonica and vocals. Very nice. Wrapping the release is ballad, Why with Peters on lead...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Friends Along The Way , from Mitch Woods and it features a who's who in the blues business. Opening with Ma Rainey's C.C. Rider , Van Morrison on vocal and Taj Mahal on vocal and guitar, join Mitch Woods on piano for a early blues style rendition of this classic. Very nice. Oliver Perry's Keep A Dollar In Your Pocket is a great boogie with Elvin Bishop on lead guitar and vocal, joined by Woods on piano and Larry Vann on drums. Woods really lays in his notorious piano boogie style and Bishop's guitar signature is prime. John Hammond steps up on Don Roby's Mother In Law Blues , adding not only super National steel riffs but solid lead vocals. Rolling piano riffs by Woods makes this one of my favorites on the release. Springing to life is Nasty Boogie with Joe Louis Walker on lead vocal and guitar and excellent piano by Woods. Very nice. Jimmy Liggins' Saturday Night Boogie Woogie Man is a ripping ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Straight From the Heart , from Kenny Neal and I like it quite well. Opening with Blues Keep Chasing Me , Kenny Neal sets a great funky blues pace. With a solid bass line by Darnell Neal, Arnet Hayes on piano, Brandon Adams on B3,  fat sax work by Jason Parfait, trumpet accents by Ian Smith and tight rhythms by Michael Harris, this is a solid opener. Cool blues, I'll Play The Blues For You has great pace and Neal's lead vocal and guitar are really clean and soulful. Horn backing by Parfait and Smith really adds a lot of punch, and the keyboard work of Adams and Henry really work nicely with the snappy drum work of Morris. Very nice. Louise Ana shows that New Orleans slow blues feel. With the melody carried by Lee Allen on bass, addition of Rockin Dopsie Je on washboard and Big Nate Williams on accordion, this track really has the sound. With a great walking bass line by Darnell Neal, I've Got To Tell Somebody ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 6, 2021), Under Your Spell , by Tito Jackson and it blends modern funk, blues, pop and rock for his own style. Opening with Wheels Keep Turning, Jackson on lead vocal and guitar sets a pop pace joined by Michael Harris on drums, Michael K Jackson and Brandon Adams on keys, Darnell Neal on bass, Jason Parfait and Ian Smith on horns. I really like the horn work and slide guitar efforts by Jackson on this track. Heavy footed, Under Your Spell, has a great foot drum thump and with strong addition by Joe Bonamassa on guitar, Robert King on bass and sassy horn work by Parfait and Smith, this track has a great groove. R&B track, Big Leg Woman has a strong sax intro by Parfait, and gives Jackson a great chance to shine on lead vocal, features Kenny Neal on guitar with Jackson and keeps with the theme of ballsey horn throughout. My favorite track on the release is You're Gonna Push Me To Far with some really nicel...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (May 28, 2021), Whole Nother World , from Patti Parks ,  and it's a mix of blues, soul, funk and gospel. Opening with shuffle, I'm Trouble , Patti Parks sets a swing pace on lead vocal with Kenny Neal on lead guitar, Carlton Ross on rhythm guitar, Arlando O'Connor on bass, Fredrick Neal on keys, Michael Harris on drums Brandon Adams on organ, Guy Nirelli on organ and with some hot sax from Jason Parfait. On slower blues, More Than You'll Ever Know showcases Neal's soulful guitar lead working nicely with warm organ overtones by Adams surrounding some of Parks' best vocals on the release. A softer yet effective take on James Brown's It's A Man's Man's Man's World, Parks delivers on vocals, with strong support from Neal, O'Connor, and Harris. Neal shares the mic on straight up blues track, Baby Bee playing harmonica and guitar with little other backing. Pure blues... very nice. ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Friends & Legends of Louisiana, an idea created by Lucas Spinosa and Mike David  and it's a broad swatch of blues featuring a who's who of contemporary artists. Opening with shuffle, Beale Street Blues , Jason Parfait is upfront on lead vocal and wailing on sax, backed by Cranston Clements on guitar, Bob Henderson on guitar, David Hyde on bass, Ian Smith on trumpet, Brian Brignac on drums, Lucas Spinosa on keys and Seth Lecoq on guitar fills. Swinging opener. Wayne Toups has the mic on Belly Of The Beast and featuring Sonny Landreth on guitar. Very nice. Don Rich's lead vocals on Want It To Be are soulfully excellent with strong horn emphasis and a strong sax solo by Parfait. Kenny Neal is upfront on vocal and harmonica on Southern Side of Life . Warm backing vocals by Bob Henderson, Elaine Foster and Taylor Lendo really make this track sail. Rocker, Living In A Fantasy features Ryan Foret on lead vocal...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live At The Toronto Blues Festival , from Downchild (The Downchild Blues Band) and it's packed full of blues and stars. Opening with piano boogie, Can You Hear The Music , with Mike Fonfara on keys,  Chuck Jackson on lead vocal and Donnie Walsh on harmonica, Chuck Jackson and Pat Carey on sax, Gary Kendall on bass and Mike Fitzpatrick on drums, this is a lively opener. David Wilcox joins on shuffle, It's A Matter Of Time adding slide and vocal. With great feel and energy, this is an all out party. I'm Gonna Tell Your Mama is packed with energy featuring Gene Taylor  piano and giving Walsh a great opportunity to really hang out there on harmonica. Very cool. Finland's favorite slide player, Erja Lyytinen joins on harmony vocal and slide guitar on Mississippi Woman, Mississauga Man , a cool blues rocker with Cajun kind of rhythm. Shotgun Blues is one of my favorite tracks on the release with Kenny Neal on ...

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...

NURS'N BLUES MUSIC FEST BENEFITS MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM; PRESENTED BY BUFFALO MUSICIAN AND NURSE, PATTI PARKS; GRAMMY-NOMINATED KENNY NEAL HEADLINES STRONG LINEUP   Saturday, May 25 - THE COVE  - 3PM to 10PM Patti Parks, creator of the Music Therapy program, is also a member of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.    (Depew, NY) - The Nurs'n Blues Music Fest takes place at The Cove , 4701 Transit Rd., Saturday, May 25. Showtime: 3pm to 10pm. Tickets: $20. Donation in advance, $25. at the Door. Info: (716) 870-3600 or visit https://www.musicisart.org . Proceeds benefit Nurs'n Blues Therapy Program, that uses Blues Music Therapy for those struggling with chemical dependency. Presented as a non-profit collaborative by the Blues Society of Western New York and Music Is Art .    Nurs'n Blues Music Fest features two stages with continuous music all day long, headlined by Gramm...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Still I Rise , by Brigitte Purdy and it's a solid hit record. Opening with Hoodoo , a rocker with a driving bass line compliments of Dave Osti, Brigitte Purdy leads charge with powerful vocal melody backed by Drake Shining on keys, Donnell Spencer on drums and Kenny Neal on harp. My Kinda Blues is an uptempo track with a country blues shuffle feel. Hot guitar picking by Osti gives this track some real electricity under the sassy vocals of Purdy. Funky, If I Could has a real nice plucky bass and bump rhythm and Purdy's restrained vocals are spot on. Bluesy, Lucille Don't You Weep is my choice track of the release with it's thumping bass line, electric piano and my favorite lead and backing vocal on the release. Osti's guitar soloing on the track really stands tall. Very nice. R&B style Blues Angel has a real nice hook and smooth radio presence. Wrapping the release is title track, Still I Ris...

Blues Guitar Legend Kenny Neal Receives Grammy Nomination  for Best Contemporary Blues Album. “Bloodline” Los Angeles - Cleopatra Records would like to proudly congratulate Kenny Neal on his Grammy Nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album. for his “Bloodline” album released through the Cleopatra Blues imprint. Kenny Neal is an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and is widely renowned as a modern swamp-blues master who also is a member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and a multi-award winning talent. Born in 1957 in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, Neal began playing music at a very young age, learning the basics from his father, singer and blues harmonica player, Raful Neal. Family friends like Lazy Lester, Buddy Guy and Slim Harpo contributed to Kenny's early musical education. At 13, he joined his father’s band and, four years later, he was recruited and toured extensively as Buddy Guy’s bass player. Through the years, Neal has shared the stage...

I just received the newest release, Bloodline , from Kenny Neal and it has strong blues and R&B roots. Opening with country blues influenced, Ain't Gon Let The Blues Die with it's Elvin Bishop/country flavored gospel flavor. This track is off and running with Kenny Neal on slide guitar and lead vocals, Tom Hambridge on drums, Tommy Macdonald on bass and Syreeta, Tyrell, Jazzy, Brine', Kaydence Bates, Tahj Mosby and Darien Neal as well as the McCrary sisters. Title track, Bloodline , has a deep groove with a funky bottom and Kenny on lead vocal and harp. Cool loping Plain Old Common Sense is one of my favorite tracks on the release with great guitar work, supeer vocal phrasing, nice piano lines and strong horn backing from Quentin Ware on trumpet, Billy Huber on trombone, Tyler Summers on sax and Dana Robbins on sax. Very cool. On Willie Nelson's Funny How Time Slips Away , skillful piano work and crafty vocals give this track the weight of a serious R&B/c...

I just received the newest release, I'll Be Home For Christmas from Kenny Neal and it has a bit of blues mixed into it's traditional and modern Christmas. Opening with upbeat 12 bar number, Christmas Comes But Once A Year , Neal takes the lead on vocal and harp with Vestie Jackson on guitar, Darnell Neal on piano, Frederick Neal on keys and Bryan Morris on drums. With a slower pace classic Christmas ballad, Silver Bells gets a R&B, Ray Charles flavor. Neal does a real nice job on lead vocals and guitar backed by Darnell, Fredrick and Bryan. Next up is a rolling version of Winter Wonderland featuring Syreeta Neal on lead vocal, Kenny on harp and guitar, and Kenny Neal Jr on bass and drums. Very nice! Syreeta does a real nice job on Merry Little Christmas backed by Joel Joseph on piano. On Please Come Home For Christmas , Kenny is back up front on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Fredrick on piano, Bryan on drums and Vestie and Darnell on guitars. Kenny's guitar s...

I just received the newest release, Broken Chains , from Kern Pratt and the boy can play. Opening with Greenville Mississippi Blues , an Elmore James like track with nice slide riffs and Eden Brent on piano. Lights Are On But Nobody's Home is up next with a compliment of horns including Lacy Blackledge on trumpet, Bob Henderson on sax, Pete Verbois on bari and Chris Belleau on trombone. There is some exceptionally warm sax work here that you should check out and Kern absolutely smokes the guitar on this slow blues number. Excellent! Somewhere South Of Mississippi has a radio style format but nice and clean... well written. David Hyde runs a nice bass line on this track and Denise Owens on backing vocals adds a bit of warmth. Black Hannah is a high stepper with tight drums by Nelson Blanchard, nice vocals with Kern and Owens and tight horn work from Blackledge, Henderson, Verbois and Belleau. Nice blues rock guitar riffs lay out nicely on this track making it a sure radio cross...

8th Annual Ventura County Blues Festival New Name, New Venue, Legendary Lineup A Full Day Of Blues Music And Family Enjoyment  At Our New Location, Moorpark College   (Formerly The Simi Valley Blues Festival)   Benefits The American Diabetes Association & Local Charities      (MOORPARK, CALIF) - New name, new venue, legendary lineup: Michael John's 8th Annual Ventura County Blues Festival takes place Saturday, April 27, 2013 at Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Rd., Moorpark. Gates open 10 a.m., music starts 11 a.m. Tickets $25 in advance, $30. day of show. Kids 12 and under free with adult. Plus food and craft vendors; guitar giveaway signed by all the artists; special kid's area; and silent auction including new autographed Fender guitar signed by Johnny Rivers, and photo opportunity (with Rivers). Info: www.venturacountyblues.com or call the Festival Hotline: (805) 501-7122 . Festival proceeds benefit the American...

Kenny Neal (born October 14, 1957, New Orleans, Louisiana), son of Raful Neal, is an American blues guitar player, singer and band member. Neal comes from a musical family and has often performed with his brothers in his band. Neal preserves the blues sound of his native south Louisiana, as befits someone who learned from Slim Harpo, Buddy Guy and his father, the harmonica player, Raful Neal. In 1987, Neal cut his debut album for the Florida record producer, Bob Greenlee — an updated swamp feast initially marketed on King Snake Records as Bio on the Bayou. Alligator Records picked it up the following year, retitled it Big News from Baton Rouge!! In 1991 he also proved to be a talented actor in the Broadway production of the folk musical Mule Bone (by Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston), singing numbers written by Taj Mahal. Neal has played with blues stars including Lucky Peterson and Lazy Lester, and was at one time a member of The Downchild Blues Band, during a period of re...

Billy Branch has followed a very non-traditional path to the blues. Unlike many blues artists, he isn't from the South. Billy was born in Chicago in 1951 and was raised in Los Angeles. He first picked up a harmonica at the age of ten and immediately began to play simple tunes. Billy returned to Chicago in the summer of '69 and graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in political science. It was during these years that he was introduced to the Blues. He soon became immersed in the local blues scene. He spent a great deal of time at legendary blues clubs such as: Queen Bee’s and Theresa's Lounge; he learned from such stalwart harmonica players like: Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, Junior Wells and Carey Bell. His big break came in 1975 during a harmonica battle when he beat Chicago legend, Little Mac Simmons at the Green Bunny Club. He made his first recording for Barrelhouse Records and began to work as an apprentice harp player in Willie Dixon's...