VizzTone artist: Bob Corritore and Friends - Phoenix Blues Rumble - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Phoenix Blues Rumble, from Bob Corritore and Friends and it's a great blues rumble. Opening with Big Fat Woman 489 LBS. a blues rocker featuring Chico Chism on vocal and drums, Henry Gray on piano, Paul Thomas on bass and Bob Corritore on harmonica. This is a solid opener with plenty of harmonica by Corritore. With a deep, New Orleans, R&B feel King Karl has the microphone on Mathilda, wailing some really soulful lines. With Johnny Rapp on guitar, S.E. Willis on piano Thomas on bass and Doug James on horns, this is a real standout. George Bowman has the mic for slow blues, I Was A Fool and it's one of my favorites on the release with Jon Atkinson on guitar, Danny Michel on rhythm guitar, Troy Sandow on bass and Brian Fahey on drums. Corritore is a standout on this track with thick, heavily hooded harmonica and Atkinson lays in a tasty guitar of his own to tie down the track. Shuffle, Nine Times Out Of Ten, with it's sonny Boy Williams feel, again features Bowman on lead vocal. Atkinson on guitar fans the guitar nicely, Corritore blows a strong solo on harp and Sandow and Fahey hold the bottom tight. Sugaray Rayford leads the way on The Glide with super vocals joined by Junior Watson on guitar, Fred Kaplan on piano, Kedar Roy on bass and Rena Beavers on drums. Watson takes a real nice solo with Kaplan keeping the rhythm on piano. Wrapping the release is I'm Evil, a slower Chicago style track featuring Big Pete Pearson on lead vocal. With Johnny Rapp pulling the strings on lead guitar, Corritore adding essential harmonica lead, Chris James on guitar, Matt Bishop on piano, Patrick Rynn on bass and Fahey on drums, this is an excellent closer. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Crosscut Records artist: Franck L. Goldwasser - Who Needs This Mess!!?? - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Who Needs This Mess!!??, from Franck L. Goldwasser and it's a thick slice of blues. Opening with with a solid blues number, Don't Give Up On Me Baby, Franck Goldwasser on vocal and guitar follows a SBW vamp and with strong vocals and really nice guitar work really gets things going. Backed by Ralph Carter on bass and Johnny Morgan on drums, this is a strong opener. Skwurley is a real cool instrumental with excellent slide work by Goldwasser matched with R.J. Mischo. Excellent! Playing off of a "Green Onions" skeleton, Diskum Baab Uleh Shun is another instrumental with plenty of room for Mischo on harmonica to trade riffs with Goldwasser on guitar over the solid bottom of Carter and Morgan. With a zydeco feel, Sobbby Doggy Boogy is a fun track with a great tempo, driven by Goldwasser on guitar and slide. Pure Chicago on If I Could Holler with Goldwasser on vocal and a constant harmonica vamp throughout. Traditional Waters' style instrumentation fits nicely with this track. Another Morganfield influenced track, Dumb and Dangerous has a vital rhythm with Goldwasser on Waters influenced slide style and foot stomp drum. With it's Atkins style guitar rhythm, Razzmazazz is a real nice track with Goldwasser showcasing his finger picking style. Closing the release is slow blues, Bleedin' Heart with Goldwasser breaking loose on electric blues, floating on the full organ backing of Jim Pugh. This is a real nice blues track with Goldwasser digging deep on vocal and taking no prisoners on guitar. This is a real nice closer for a solid release. 

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Provogue Records artist: Supersonic Blues Machine - Voodoo Nation - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Voodoo Nation, from Supersonic Blues Machine and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Money, SBM sets up a cool New Orleands flavored funk rocker with a solid drum line by Kenny Aronoff and featuring Kris Barras on lead vocal and guitar, Fabrizio Grossi on bass, Alex Alessandroni Jr on keys and perfect backing vocals by Francis Benitez and Andrea Grossi- Benitez. You and Me is a solid rocker that reminds me of Pink Floyd (and I actually don't know why). I think maybe it has the drive of Roger Waters' The Wall and the guitar attack by King Solomon Hicks  (doesn't sound like Gilmore), but the riffs are cut from the same cloth. Very cool. 8 Ball Lucy is one of my favorites with solid vocals, cool slide by Sonny Landreth and really cool reggae drum work by Aronoff. Title track, Voodoo Nation, has an interesting sound with really potent drum work by Aronoff, wark key addition by Alessandroni Jr. and again very effective vocal backing by Grossi-Benitez. Wrapping the release is radio track, All Our Love with it's catchy tune andlight country influence. With Charlie Starr on slide guitar paired with Barras on lead guitar and lead vocal, and strong piano work by Alessandroni, this is a strong closer. 

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Cleopatra Records : A Tribute to Eric Clapton - Various Artists - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review a recent release, A Tribute to Eric Clapton from Cleopatra Records and it covers much of his popular music over his vast career. Opening with JJ Cale's, Cocaine, blues guitar man and vocalist Kirk Fletcher and organ master Brian Auger team up for what may be Clapton's biggest hit. With Clapton like phrasing  Fletcher sets the pace for the balance of the release.  From the Cream era, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton composition, The Sunshine of Your Love is actually pretty interesting with Eric Gales on vocal and on guitar. Gales vocals are solid and his guitar soloing explosive, balancing out the Baker like powerful drumming by Adam Hamilton. Bob Marley's I Shot The Sherriff, was certainly a cool choice by Clapton for his 461 release and covered here by Pat Travers on vocal and guitar and joined by Artimus Pyle on drums has just a bit more rock that Claptons version with a great cowbell line and excellent riffs by Travers. Certainly his most popular song of recent times is Tears in Heaven given a total rework by Ana Popovic on guitar and lead vocal with Buthel Burns on bass and Jerry Wayne Kelley Jr on drums. Popovic really adds a lot of soul to this track making it the most likely radio track on the release. Snowy White makes a cool appearance with strong, Clapton influenced riffs on another Bruce/Cream composition, White Room. With Graham Bonnet on lead vocal, this track is a true classic. Wrapping the release is Steve Winwood's Blind Faith hit, Can't Find My Way Home featuring Shirley King on vocal and Tull's Martin Barre on guitar. I've always enjoyed Barre's guitar hand and am glad to see him included here on a solid wrapper to one of rock's champions. 

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VizzTone Label Group artists: Lindsay Beaver & Brad Stivers - Self titled - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release (September 10, 2021), from Lindsay Beaver & Brad Stivers and I really like it. Opening with One Condition, a blues rock n roller with a steady Chuck Berry like rhythm, Lindsay Beaver on drums and Brad Stivers on guitar share the lead vocal, Kirk Fletcher joins on guitar and Barry Cooke plays bass. Excellent opener.  With a strong Texas style lope, I Know What To Do is up next with Beaver really belting out the lead vocal and on drums, joined by Stivers on guitar, and . Joe Murphy on harmonica. The is another potent blues number. Up tempo swing track, Getting Gone, has Stivers up front on lead guitar and vocal. Beaver really holds a tight beat and with Cooke on organ Stivers really makes his guitar talk. Really nice. Another cool rocker, You've Got No Right, features Beaver on lead vocal and really plays to her vocal strength. Joined by Zach Zunis on guitar, this track has plenty of hot riffs to go around. Stivers takes his guitar for a nice walk on It's Love, a cool shuffle with Stivers and Beaver blending nicely on lead vocal. My favorite track on the release is Somebody Else Will, showcasing Stivers on lead guitar and vocal. Stivers has a really great hand for blues phrasing and he lays it all out there on this one. Excellent! Jump track, Slim Pickin' is another hot number with Cooke and Stivers really dukeing it out. If this track doesn't get you moving, youre likely dead. Wrapping the release is The Falcon's R&B classic, You're So Fine with Beavers accompaning herself on guitar. This is pure soul and a solid closer for a strong release. 

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Cleopatra Blues: Junior Wells - Blues Brothers - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Brothers by Junior Wells and featuring many contemporary blues players. Opening with low slung, Blues Hit Big Town, Colin James weighs in on lead guitar with Wells on Harp. Good Morning Little School Girl lines up Pat Travers on guitar and James Montgomery on harp. I really like Montgomery's work and his interweaving with Travers on this track is tight. One of Well's most loved classics, Messin' With the Kid gets a rework with Tyler Bryant on guitar and his open tone with just the right amount of reverb works really nicely. Baby, Scratch My Back features Albert Castiglia and I always like his style. He doesn't overplay but his notes all count. Very nice. Eric Gales is featured on Lovey Dovey, Lovey One and his confident attack on this shuffle really works nicely. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Snatch It Back And Hold It, featuring Joe Louis Walker. His guitar work is fluid and fleet with just the right bend. Wrapping the release is Hoodoo Man Blues again with Walker on guitar. Walker really is a great fit for this track with his soulful trem bends and tasty fills. This is a strong closer for a very cool release. 

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Cleopatra Records artist: Kirk Fletcher - My Blues Pathway - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, My Blues Pathway, from Kirk Fletcher and I really like it. Opening with R&B flavored, Ain't No Cure For The Downhearted, Fletcher is front and center on lead guitar and vocal over a pumping bass line by Travis Carlton and drums by Lemar Carter, with Jeff Babko on keys, Joe Sublett on sax and Mark Pender on trumpet. Strong opener. No Place To Go is one of my favorite tracks on the release with is stepping pace, strong vocals and the horn work of Sublett and Pender accenting crisp guitar riffs by Fetcher. Very nice. Slinky blues, Struggle For Grace, is in the vein of King's Thrill is Gone with solid lead vocals and stinging lead guitar by Fletcher, David Kida on drums and warm horn support by Sublett and Pender. Super. Slow blues, Heart So Heavy really finds Fletcher in a nice groove with his trademark soulful guitar bends and fluid runs and his vocals sound as good as ever. Excellent! Sonny Boy Williamson's Fattening Frogs For Snakes is up next and using a cool shuffle feel driven by Babko on keys and Kida on drums and Carlton on bass. Fletcher gets a nice grip on his guitar and has it squealing for more. Very cool. Instrumental, D is for Denny is a pretty straight forward shuffle with Fletcher laying down the melody. His use of the lower fretboard for the melody, paired with Sublett and Pender on horns really gives the track a retro blues feel. Wrapping the release is Juke Boy Bonner's Life Gave Me A Dirty Deal with Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica, Josh Smith on National Resophonic guitar and Fletcher on guitar and lead vocal. With it's more acoustic delta feel, this is a solid closer for a really strong release. 

 


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Cleopatra Blues artist: Kirk Fletcher - My Blues Pathway - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, My Blues Pathway, from Kirk Fletcher and it's great. Opening with blues rocker, Ain't No Cure For The Downhearted, Kirk Fletcher opens his newest release with a smooth rolling track. Joined by Travis Carlton on bass, Lemar Carter on drums, Jeff Babko on keys, Joe Sublett on sax and Mark Pender on trumpet, Fletchers vocals are crisp and his guitar riffs fluid. Ballad, Love Is More Than A Word, gives Fletcher a nice chance to play and sing in the soul vein. Reinforced on organ by Babko, and with nice horn work, this is a real nice track also giving Fletcher to scream a bit on guitar. Very nice! In the vein of A Thrill Is Gone, funky, Struggle For Grace is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Fletcher's vocals are perfect and his guitar work fluid and gripping. Switching gear into a rolling blues with a organ vamp by Babko and really strong soloing by Fletcher, this is a great change up. Slow blues, Heart So Heavy is another favorite on the release with well phrased lead lines and excellent vocals. Sublett and Trumpet really add nice punctuation but it's Fletcher's attack and BB King like phrasing on the guitar that gives this track drive. Instrumental, D Is For Denny is a cool shuffle with a slick low, mid fretboard melody. This track is almost like a Freddie King design but not exactly. Fletcher takes you for a nice ride with tight drums by David Kida and solid horn support by Sublett and Pender. Wrapping the release is delta style blues, Life Gave Me A Dirty Deal, featuring Fletcher on acoustic guitar and lead vocal and  Charlie Musselwhite on harmonica and joined by Josh Smith on National Resephonic Guitar. With solid bones and tight, authentic feel, this is a nice closer for a really strong release. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Cleopatra Records artist: William Shatner - The Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Blues, from William Shatner, yes that William Shatner. What's it like...you'll have to see for yourself.  Opening with blues classic, Sweet Home Chicago, Shatner teams up with Brad Paisley who throws down some cool blues and country riffs along with Jurgen Engler on guitar, bass and banjo, Chris Lentz on keys and Adam Hamilton on drums, bass, guitar and harmonica. Shatners vocals are freeform and emotional. Otis Rush's I Can't Quit You Baby, features Kirk Fletcher who runs some real nice glues riffs of his own and manages Shatner's freeform vocals nicely. Cream's Sunshine of Your Love is up next, mostly in spoken word and I gotta say that Hamilton's work on drums is exceptional and Landreth wails on slide. Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore takes BB King's, The Thrill Is Gone to the next level and Shatner's vocals are as relaxed as I've ever heard on this track. Pat Travers screams on guitar on Screamin Jay's, I Put A Spell On You and Shatner keeps his cool with almost shouted lyrics. I think that Smokestack Lightning with Steely Dan and Doobies' Jeff Skunk Baxter is my favorite track on the release with Shatner "sing" crying where he almost sounds high. Baxter doesn't let up a bit with slashing guitar riffs. With a serious nature, As The Years Go Passing By, Shatner seems to be performing a play (Like Jack Palance singing country) and featuring Arthur Adams with sweet soloing. The track that I find best suited to Shatner on the release is In Hell I'll Be In Good Company with Albert Lee. His spoken work is animated and Lee's guitar work is spry. Actually very cool. Wrapping the release is Secrets Or Sins, with a whisper like vocal and a shuffle rhythm. I really am not sure what Shatner was trying to do with this release, but it got my attention.

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Cleopatra Blues artist: Shirley King - Blues For A King - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues For A King, from BB King's daughter, Shirley King and it's jam packed with blues and legends. Opening with Joe Louis Walker's All Of My Lovin' , King is up front on lead vocal backed by Walker on guitar and Jurgen Engler on guitar, bass and drums. Holding firm on a R&B setup, King sets a straight 60's styling radio track. With super guitar work by Elvin Bishop under King's bluesy vocals, I Did You Wrong has a cool shuffle beat and a tight bottom. An unexpected rock gem, Steve Winwood's Can't Find My Way Home features Martin Barre with some excellent guitar and is one of my favorites and also possibly King's best vocal effort on the release. Gallow Pole maintains it's folk roots but with a rock edge and underlying guitar work by Harvey Mandel with really is a strong compliment. A rework of a Jr Wells track features vocal and harp by Wells, adding guitar by Walker, bass by Engler and strong vocal leads by King. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Etta James' At last using the conventional arrangement and featuring Kings own vocals. With the addition of Steve Cropper on guitar, a solid closer. 

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Hipsterdumpster Records artist: Matty T Wall - Transpacific Blues Vol. 1 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Transpacific Blues Vol. 1, from Matty T Wall and it's quite entertaining. Opening with John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom, Matty T Wall picks up Hookers classic and moves it forward. With toasty guitar riffs, solid vocals, the firm brush work of Ric Whittle on drums and Stephen Walker on bass, and the addition of great slide work of Dave Hole, this is a real cool opener. Hi Heel Sneakers gets a cool, funky treatment, with terrific lead by Wall and Eric Gales. Very nice. On Albert Collins' Quicksand, Kid Ramos steps up with Walls on lead guitar and with a rolling pace, quick shuffle keeps you bopping in your seat. Excellent! T Bone Walker's Stormy Monday take a different turn altogether with a great slow pace but with a different (than the original) melody. This adds tension and with hard grabbed, stinging, guitar riffs Wall keeps you plastered to your seat and listening close. Very cool. Kirk Fletcher sits in on Albert King's Born Under A Bad Sign and again, Wall uses the melody loosely with cues to the original track, especially Walkers spot on bass lines. This freedom to let it all hang out gives the track a definite freshness. Wrapping the release is Robert Johnson's Crossroads, turned rock classic by The Cream and now reworked with a military like drum beat and a Hill Country feel. I like this release. Not only does it have a all-star cast of guitar slingers, it's got a different story to tell. Very cool. 

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Ruf Records artist: Mike Zito & Friends - Rock 'N' Roll - A Tribute to Chuck Berry - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rock 'N' Roll - A Tribute to Chuck Berry, by Mike Zito and this disc is loaded. Opening with St. Louis Blues and Charlie Berry II, Mike Zito handles guitar and lead vocals, backed by Matthew Johnson on drums, Terry Dry bass and Lewis Stephens on keys. Joanna Conner joins on Rock and Roll Music and there is just no match for that dynamo on slide guitar. Powerhouse player, Walter Trout steps in on Johnny B Goode, a long time favorite of blues and rock players alike. Trout's fluid, high intensity attack is well suited for this classic. Very nice. On Wee Wee Hours, master showman, Joe Bonamassa is featured and he lays out a full tour of the fretboard hitting about every fret on every string, making it seem totally effortless and with great feel. Clocking in at almost 5 and a half minutes, Bonamassa gives you the grand tour. Smoking. Robben Ford takes more of a country flavored approach to You Never Can Tell, contrasting nicely with earlier gun slingers. His poise and music sensibility adds nicely to the overall mix. Simplicity is the word on Luther Dickinson's approach on Too Much Monkey Business. A great rocker with vocal duet and straight up Berry riffs, this track is great. Shared lead vocal with Ally Venable gives School Days a unique perspective and holding tight to the rhythm as Venable and Zito jam is just a bit different. I like Kirk Fletcher's understated guitar work on Brown Eyed Handsome Man, tight and flavorful with soul. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Chuck Berry's classic ditty, My Ding A Ling that is tackled by Kid Andersen who tackles it with all seriousness. Vocals are playful but solid and guitar work full of stylized bens. Super closer. 

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Kirk Fletcher - Hold On - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hold On, from Kirk Fletcher and it's quite good. Opening with R&B style track, Two Steps Forward, Fletcher shows his power as both a soulful lead singer and excellent lead guitar player. His guitar style is warm like cray, fluid like Clapton and funky like Hendrix but all original. Super opener. Sad Sad Way has a Jimmy Reed style with plenty of enthusiasm, hot guitar riffs, and super backing by Matt Brown on drums and Jonny Henderson on keys. One of my favorite tracks on the release is soulful ballad, The Answer with warm, rich guitar accompaniment over a soft bed of organ and Fletcher's solid vocals. Fletcher really knows how to milk the blues from his guitar and this track is an excellent example of his chops. Really nice. Time's Ticking is a great slower blues/rock number with clever drumming which, with organ tension sets a terrific stage for Fletcher to unleash the fury...and unleash he does. Terrific! Dupree is a super jazzy/blues track in the manner of JG Watson or WW Washington. Excellent! Wrapping the release is a terrific soul track, Hold On with beautiful backing vocals by Jade McCrea and an excellent guitar interlude by Fletcher. Excellent closer. 

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Bejeb Music artist: Deb Ryder - Grit Grease & Tears - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Grit Grease & Tears from Deb Ryder and it's quite good. Opening with Ain't Gonna Be Easy, a smooth driving jazz track, Ryder steps up big time on lead vocals backed by Tony Braunagel on drums, Ric Ryder on bass and the great Mike Finnegan on Hammond. Johnny Lee Schell is wicked on guitar with some really hot riffs and the horn section, Joe Sublett on sax and Darrell Leonard on trumpet really top it off. Get A Little Steam Up is a cool high stepper with Ryder sharing lead vocals with Sugarray Rayford. This track has a great groove and Kirk Fletcher and Johnny Lee Schell sharing guitar lead. Very nice. Boogie rocker, Blink Of An Eye, features some real nice slide work by Schell and heavy drum riffs by Braunagel. Title track, Grit Grease & Tears is a lumbering soul rocker with especially warm harp work by Bob Corritore and a simple, solid drum work from Braunagel. R&B track, Sweet Mary Anne, is a solid radio track with warm backing vocals by Schell, Ryder, Leslie Smith and Finnigan. Sublett and Leonard give the track just the right touch of horns paired with Finnigan's keyboard to balance Ryder's vocal lead. Fletcher and Schell set a nice platform on blues number, Lord Knows I Do, with T-Bone Walker style and Finnigan's mastery nicely highlights Ryder's vocals. One of my favorite tracks on the release. With a bit of JG Watson like style, Panic Mode gets the funk on. Fletcher blasts a rel nice solo with Finnigan, Leonard and Sublett juicing it up and solid male backing vocals by Finnigan. Little Feat style sets the pace for Just Her Nature. Kenny Gradney's bass work and Braunagel's drum work really anchor this one. Albert Lee's shows real finesse on guitar and Ryder's vocals are super. Very nice. New Mechanic (Patrick's Blues) has a real hard boogie bass line courtesy Ric and Pieter Van Der Pluijm works it with Finnigan, Schell and Fletcher to set a great blues stage in this solid boogie. Prisoner of War is another hot boogie ... like a hot update of Hip Shake or ZZ Top's La Grange. Yes, this thing smokes with Van Der Pluijm on harp, Braunagel on drums, Ric on bass, Finnigan on keys and Schell on guitar. Excellent! Wrapping the release is easy paced Chicago style blues number, Right Side Of The Grass. With it's super walking bass line by Ric, tight drums by Braunagel, energetic organ work by Finnigan, and Deb's grinding vocals, with a dash of harp by Corritore and a few hot riffs by Schell and Fletcher, this track is a great closer for a really nice release.



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The McKee Brothers - Enjoy It While You Can - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Enjoy It While You Can, from The McKee Brothers and I love it. Opening with One Of Us Gots Ta Go, a jazzy blues track in the style of WW Washington, this track is hot! Featuring Bob Schultz on lead vocal and Kirk Fletcher on lead guitar this track swings. Denis McKee on guitar, Bobby West on piano, Jim Alfredson on Hammond, Duncan McMilan on Wurlitzer, Ralph McKee on bass and Jerome Edmonson on drums is a solid unit but throw Lee Thornburg on trumpet, Doug Webb on sax and Sophia on backing vocal and you have pure power! Funky, Change, has a slinky feel and a cool bass line by Bobby Watson. Schultz's vocals are super and Fletcher trading off with the horn section and really nice accent vocals by Melissa McKee make this a really sweet track. A real screamer, A Little Bit Of Soul features Larry McCray on lead vocals and guitar. I really like Larry's vocals and his guitar work is crisp. The horn section is tight and a driving bass line from Bobby Watson really works. This music is woven like fine silk with Dennis, Melissa McKee and Maxann Lewis bringing the backing vocals. Excellent! Title track, Enjoy It While You Can, finds Schultz back up fron on lead vocals and and features smoking guitar solos from McCray and Stan Budzynski. Tight drum work by Edmonson and the back pump by the horn section is essential. Bluesy ballad, A Long Way Back Home, has a nice gospel like organ base by Alfredson and Dave mcKee shows his own flare on lead guitar riffs. Very nice. Melissa McKee and Sophia Hanifi really blend nicely on backing vocals and Webb hits a nice stride of his own on sax. Very nice. Another jazz funk number with hot bass riffs, Connections, will have you moving in your seat. Watson sets the pace and Schultz rides the groove. Fletcher on lead guitar, Jonathan Ovalle on percussion and the hot horn section backed by Melissa McKee and Reggie Gonzales on vocals...excellent! If I haven't made it clear yet...I really like this release. Right There, features Schultz on lead vocal and Fletcher on lead guitar. Webb lays out a nice sax riff becoming a part of the constant refrain and the horn section is really rocking. Melissa, Sophia and Reggie and really hot and Webb's soloing is absolutely smoking! Fletcher is always on his game and this track is breathing heavy with super bari work under the bottom with Watson's bass. Excellent! Dr. John's Qualified is an absolute favorite with very little change in arrangement but with really nice slide work from Budzynski as well as cool wah wah effects. Edmonson's drum funk is tight and thumping bass work from Watson is really solid. Thornburg on trumpet and trombone and Webb on tenor and bari gives the track extra pop ... yes... Schultz's lead vocals are super and of course any Dr John track would be dead in the water without super piano work by Dennis McKee. Desperate Situation is a cool R&B track which should easily get a lot of radio play with it's hook. This release is so well put together that I can tell you right now it is one of the best releases I've heard this year. McKee's guitar work hits all of the accents and the backing vocals are rich. The horn work on this track is spot on and parts like the subtle soprano sax solo by Webb are so unexpected and cool. Getting the James Brown on with a rolling funk, Dennis McKee takes the lead on vocal with refreshing ease and Larry McCray sits back and steps on the gas riffing high over a rolling bass line by Ralph McKee and Glenn Giordano. Very nice. Earl King's, It All Went Down The Drain, has a looser feel with deep bari sax notes pushing the train. Stan on slide, Rick Berthod on fills, Dave Kaftan on second solo, Dennis McKee on tremolo guitar... this track has a lot going on. Wrapping the release is Patti Griffin's ballad, Up To The Mountain, featuring Melissa McKee on lead vocal. McCray has the lead guitar playing a really nice melodic but screaming solo and Barsimanto the drums. With choral like horn work by Thornburg and Webb, this track is a solid cruiser.



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Josh Smith - Over Your Head - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Over Your Head, by Josh Smith and I really like it! Opening with aggressive blues rocker, How Long, Smith takes no time at all establishing his presence. A heavy bass line by Calvin Turner, drums by Lemar Carter and solid vocals and lead guitar by Josh Smith, this track hits hard. With rock solid footing, Smith sets the track on fire with creative guitar riffs. His work is also complimented by Joe Bonamassa on guitar. Excellent! Title track, Over Your Head, is a well written rocker with grinding guitar riffs and gravelly vocals. I really like Smith's poise and guitar attack which shows both composure and explosiveness. Very cool! Strongly blues oriented, When I Get Mine, has a modified shuffle feel with cool blues guitar phrasing over a melodic bass line. Very smooth! Walking jazz bass line by Turner sets the pace for Still Searching with Jeff Babko on keys. This is a really nice improvisational piece that has a great groove. First Hand Look is a super rocker with an uneven rhythm. This is a terrific track non concentric drumming and a contagious rhythm. Want a mix of Led Zep, Tommy Bolin and Billy Cobham... this is it! Excellent!! Next up is ... and What, a swinging blues instrumental. With it's wah wah cranked open, Smith and Kirk Fletcher just lay down the nicest guitar grooves over a tight rhythm pattern by Turner and Carter. Excellent! Up next is Smoke And Mirrors with a super dynamic intro breaking into a funky rock groove. With a light twist of Stone Free, this track moves along gathering tension which is released in a power bomb over and again by this 3 piece dynamo! Pusher is a funky rocker, Smith responding to his own poised vocals with crisp guitar riffs. Carter's kick drum and slap snare/rim shot combo sets the pace and Turner's bass groove is infectious. Super! Better Off is a quiet ballad featuring Charles Jones on vocals and Jeff Babko on keys. This is a special track with an almost Philly sound. Sensuous guitar soloing by Smith nicely compliments this beautiful track. You'll Find Love has a Muddy Waters/Willie Dixon kind of feel reinforced by Charlie Musselwhite on harp. A cool and easy blues vamp with modern dressing, this track opens up as it progresses with swinging blues guitar riffs and harp work. Wrapping the release is a reprise of How Long, with a tight drum rhythm, bass line and distorted guitar soloing. This is an excellent closer to an excellent release!

 

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New Release from Hal Leonard: Burning Blues Guitar

Kirk Fletcher Burns the Blues in New Book/Video Pack Burning Blues Guitar Watch and Learn Authentic Blues Rhythm and Lead Guitar  by Kirk Fletcher $16.99 (US) Inventory #HL 00144038 ISBN: 9781495016721  UPC: 888680060640  9" x 12", 48 pages  Now available! See More Online! Sample Pages Sample Videos Kirk Fletcher has been hailed by Joe Bonamassa as "hands-down one of the best blues guitarists in the world." Now you can delve deep into the blues with the celebrated guitarist in a new instructional video and book pack from Hal Leonard. The video lessons cover a variety of rhythm and lead blues guitar styles and concepts, with loads of licks, riffs, solos, and more. The accompanying book features note-for-note transcriptions of every video example in easy-to-read rhythm tab notation. Topics covered include Texas blues, Chicago blues, slow blues, rock and roll, soloing concepts, scale applications, and much more to take your blues guitar skills to the next level. Kirk Fletcher has commanded the respect and acclaim of critics, peers, and fans across the globe. He is a four-time Blues Music Award nominee and has played with a variety of popular artists, including a four-year role as lead guitarist of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. He is also the frontman of his own band, having released three studio albums and a live album. Burning Blues Guitar is available from music and bookstores or by visiting www.halleonard.com.  About Hal Leonard Founded in 1947, Hal Leonard Corporation is the world's largest music print publisher and digital content provider, producing educational publications, songbooks, sheet music, reference books, DVDs, magazines, eBooks, digital sheet music, apps and more. The company is also a major distributor of music technology products, selling and marketing the most popular software, hard goods and accessories available today, to musicians and recording enthusiasts around the world. In its more than 200,000 available publications and products, Hal Leonard represents many of the world's best known and most respected publishers, artists, songwriters, arrangers and manufacturers. The company is headquartered in Milwaukee, WI and also has domestic offices in Winona, MN; New Jersey and Boston, and offices abroad in Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, Holland, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.