Bman's Blues Report

When Ledbetter Heights was first released, it quickly became a breakout success, going Gold within months and earning Platinum certification by early 1996 . The album spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart, and Guitar World ranked Shepherd the No. 3 blues artist in the worl d, behind only B.B. King and Eric Clapton . He wrote or co-wrote the majority of the material, an uncommon accomplishment for a teenage blues guitarist at the time, and named the album in honor of a historic neighborhood in his hometown that pays tribute to blues legend Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter. 🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM ▶ Listen to Album Samples (Click to Expand) Add this Record to Your Collection Available on CD and in Digital Formats. 🛒 Buy Album on Amazon Store As an Amazon Associate, Bman earns from qualifying purchases. < The Deep Dive Ke...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dirt On My Diamonds Vol. 1 , from Kenny Wayne Shepherd and it's a solid blues rocker with plenty of radio potential. Opening with title track, Dirt On My Diamonds , Kenny Wayne Shepherd is back with his excellent vocals, tuneful melodies showing excellent swagger. With full horn/synthesized backing, Shepherd pours on his blistering guitar solos but just enough to wet your appetite. Funky, Best of Times , had a real nice bass line that plays against a horn line and Shepherd carries the melody vocally. With his guitar pumped through a wah pedal it really ties the funky rhythm with his bluesy attitude. Another pop track with its funky salting is Man on a Mission featuring Shepherd on vocal and keyboard backing complimenting Shepherd's rhythm guitar and drums. There's no lack of talent by KWS on guitar as he plays free flowing solos reminiscent of traditional southern rock. Wrapping the release is Ease My Mind wi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Trouble Is...25 , from Kenny Wayne Shepherd and it's great to hear. A release and reinterpretation of his second release, Trouble Is, Trouble Is ...25 sounds pretty fresh. Opening with Slow Ride , KWS really gets the program started with great vocals,  high energy blues riffs, and excellent sustain. With Chris Layton on drums, Kevin McCormick on bass and Reese Wynans on keys, this is a strong opener. Laid back, Everything Is Broken , anchored by Layton, has great drive and KWS shows all of the southern guitar spunk he has accumulated during his career. (Long) Gone has terrific Texas style swagger with hot guitar riffs and the addition of harmonica on this track really pumps it up. Classic, Somehow, Somewhere, Someday is just slow (fast) enough to really hit the groove. Wynans keyboard adds real tension and KWS's guitar work is stinging. Wrapping the release is Bob Dylan's fabulous Ballad of a Thin Man and KWS...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Heart of Fire , from Ally Venable and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with title track, Heart of Fire , Venable is upfront with this Hendrix/Trower flavored radio track. Backed by Elijah Owings on drums, Bobby Wallace on bass and Pat Fusco on keys, Venable's vocals are solid and her riffs undeniable. With a bit of finger picking and acoustic slide, Played the Game still has a pop feel but with a bit more bluesy edge. Bobby Wallace adds keys and Venable's own acoustic slide work gives it a nice feel. Heavy blues rocker, Bring On The Pain , features Kenny Wayne Shepherd and he plays stinging riffs that propel this track under the vocal harmony of Venable. This track has a real nice edge and with the heavier rhythm work, one of the best on the release. Bill Withers' ultra funky track, Use Me , is up next with Owlings, Wallace and Venable creating a great rhythm under Venable's vocals. Very nice. A play...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Straight To You Live , from Kenny Wayne Shepherd and it's a solid rocker. This is a double pack with a cd recording as well as a dvd video of the concert. Opening with Woman Like You , KWS of course leads the pack on vocal and guitar, backed by Noah Hunt on vocal and guitar, Chris "Whipper" Layton on drums, Joe Krown on keys, Scott Nelson on bass, Mark Pender on trumpet and Joe Sublett on sax. Shepherd sets a solid pace and with his trademark vocals and fluid lead runs sets up a good opener. Elmore James' Talk To Me Baby has a real nice shuffle pace with Pender and Sublett on horns and Shepherd on guitar and slide and some of his best vocals on the release. Real nice sax work by Sublett and a hot trumpet solo by Pender gives this track a real turbo boost. Bluesy ballad, Heat of the Sun is one of my favorites on the release with soulful vocals by Shepherd and explosive, melodic guitar work by Shepherd. Ve...

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...

  16TH ANNUAL BLUES FROM THE TOP FESTIVAL FEATURES STAR-STUDDED LINEUP, 2 DAYS OF BLUES BLISS IN WINTER PARK, COLORADO   Saturday, June 23 & Sunday, June 24 - Music Starts 11am Both Days 2018 Blues Music Awards Winners Southern Avenue (and) Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, North Mississippi All-Stars, Nick Moss Band w/ Dennis Gruenling, Vintage Trouble, Plus More     (WINTER PARK, CO) - If it’s Summertime in Colorado, that can only mean one thing for blues lovers...

A Tribute To Les Paul: Live From Universal Studios Hollywood coming to DVD on September 8th A live concert tribute to the "godfather of the electric guitar" Les Paul,  featuring the world's best guitarists. With a legendary career as a hit-making musician, solid-body electric guitar trailblazer, and an inventor of unprecedented recording techniques, he has impacted and influenced the many facets of the music industry like none other. Filmed live at what was then the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on February 8, 2006, A Tribute To Les Paul: Live From Universal Studios Hollywood gives viewers a front row seat for an unforgettable night of powerhouse performances, as some of music's biggest names come together to honor the ultimate icon. The night is headlined by show-stopping numbers from an all-star slate of Paul disciples, that includes Slash and Edgar Winter teaming up o...

TITLE TRACK FROM KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD BAND’S LAY IT ON DOWN PREMIERES VIA BILLBOARD NEW ALBUM OUT AUGUST 4 ON CONCORD RECORDS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES THIS SUMMER   “[Shepherd] is a guitarist who can easily mesmerize an audience with his playing ability and through his passionate and energetic solos.”—The Huffington Post The title track from Lay It On Down , five-time Grammy nominee and critically acclaimed guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd ’s forthcoming ninth album, is now premiering via Billboard ; listen/share the track at http://bit.ly/2ssLzqU . Billboard notes, “The gentle ‘Lay It On Down’—which Shepherd co-wrote with ‘Blue On Black’ collaborators Mark Selby and Tia Sillers—certainly represents something different for Shepherd and company.” Shepherd explains, “ It’s, like, a midtempo ballad, which surprises some people, but I love ballads. I grew up in the era of the power ballad. That was the biggest thing on the radio when I was ...