Keeping The Blues Alive Records artist: Joe Bonamassa - BB King's Blues Summit 100 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, BB King's Blues Summit 100, by Joe Bonamassa and it's terrific! Opening with Paying The Cost To Be The Boss, Kingfish Ingram is featured on vocal and guitar and he really gets it done. With it's laid back BB King style and with the help of Joe Bonamassa on guitar, Lemar Carter on drums, Travis Carlton on bass, Jeff Babko on keys, Steve Patrick and Tyler Jaeger on trumpet, Marc Douthit and Jimmy Bowland on sax and Barry Green on trombone, this is a strong opener. Marcus King does an incredible job on vocal and guitar delivering Don't Answer The Door. (I've bought entire albums based on 1 track that doesn't stack up well against this track). King, Bonamassa and Josh Smith really work the guitar on this track and support from Carter, Carlton, Babko, Patrick, Jaeger, Douthit, Bowland and Green are icing on this very nice cake. Buddy Guy gets Sweet Little Angel and he digs in giving it pure Guy treatment. His vocals are soulful and his lead guitar work impeccable. Joined by Bonamassa, Smith and crew, this is a great addition to the set. Jimmie Vaughan steps up with a great cover of Watch Yourself. His vocals are super and his signature guitar work really show style coupled with Bonamassa, Smith and the addition of Calvin Turner on bass, Lemar Carter on drums, Reese Wynans on keys, Kaz Kazanoff on tenor, John Mills on bari and Al Gomez on trumpet. Jimmy Hall brings some of the finest pipes in the business to Sweet Sixteen, aired up with Larry Carlton on guitar, Bonamassa and Smith on guitars, Turner on bass, Carter on drums, Wynans on keys, Patrick on trumpet, Douthit and Bowland on sax, Green on trombone and Matt Jefferson on bass trombone. Very nice. Larkin Poe is a nice surprise on Don't You Want A Man Like Me with sumptuous vocals by Rebecca Lovell and hot slide by Megan Lovell and Babko on keys. Another great addition is George Benson on There Must Be A Better World Somewhere. Benson's vocals are terrific and Bonamassa is showcased on guitar with Douthit and Bowland on sax and Babko on piano. Very nice. Warren Haynes starts off disc 2 with How Blue Can You Get. His guitar phrasing is excellent and his tones rich nicely complimenting his strong vocals and Wynans on piano. Chris Cain's dynamic guitar riffs and vocal styling really pops on You Upset Me Baby, complimented by Banamassa and Smith on guitars. The powerful horn section including Patrick, Jaegar, Douthit, Bowland, Green and Jefferson really pump up the bottom. Robben Ford lends his extensive blues vocabulary to Ain't Nobody Home joined by Jade Macrae on vocal. Ford, crossing many genre's of music really plays exceptional riffs under the rich vocals of Macrae. Kim Wilson has lead vocals on It's My Own Fault. His soulful vocals, backed by the superb riffs of Bonamassa and Babko's piano riffs make this track stand out nicely. Danielle De Andrea's silky vocals are paired nicely with Bonamassa on guitar delivering excellent phrases, really capturing the essence of King. Excellent! Kirk Fletcher and Bonamassa on guitars wrap the release with Better Not Look Down joined by BJ Kemp and Kim Fleming on vocals. 

This is a terrific tribute release with exceptional players and an amazing 40 page book. This is a must have!

 


  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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

   

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening

Universal Music Enterprizes artist: Peter Frampton - All Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to pose the newest release, All Blues, from Peter Frampton and I think it's his best effort in years. Frampton Comes Alive was great in it's time but this release shows maturity and poise. Opening with Willie Dixon's I Just Want To Make Love To You, Frampton reworks this classic track without adding a lot of fluff. With Rob Arthur on keys, Adam Lester on guitar, David Labruyere on bass, and Dan Wojciechowski on drums this is a great basic core. Kim Wilson adds strong harp riffs throughout and Frampton shows that he knows more than the basics about blues with his more traditional based guitar riffs. Very nice. On Taj Mahal's She Caught the Katy, Frampton adds even a little more of a funky bottom than Mahal used and the track feels really good. The firm bass work by Glenn Worf and stiff woodblock by Wojciechowski give this track legs and Frampton uses them nicely to propel fluid guitar riffs. Very nice. Instrumental cover of Carmichaels' Georgia On My Mind shows Frampton's beautiful guitar work at it's best with luck phrases and clean articulate runs. Very nice. With a fresh Bo Diddley beat, Frampton's slide work really sets Dixon's, You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover, off nicely.  With the full disclosure that I'm a firm Miles Davis fan, Davis' All Blues is up next and Frampton dials the guitar back to all clean and with guest star, Larry Carlton, and a crisp piano solo by Arthur, sets up an excellent and very notable cover of this classic track. Excellent! On Jimmy Oden's Going Down Slow, Frampton and Steve Morse trade flaming blues riffs with a modern twist giving a different flavor for most any listener. Wrapping the release is Don Nix's Same Old Blues with a real gospel presentation, emphasized by Arthur's keyboard work and Frampton's best vocals on the release. His guitar playing is soulful and well stated without over statement. Very nice closer for a very solid 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

  “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Larry's Blues - Larry Carlton

Larry Carlton (born March 2, 1948, Torrance, California) is an American jazz, smooth jazz, jazz fusion, pop, and rock guitarist. He has divided his recording time between solo recordings and session appearances with various well-known bands. Over his career, Carlton has won four Grammy Awards for his performances and compositions, including performing on the theme song for the hit television series, Hill Street Blues (1981)
Like my Facebook Page, Post your video on my wall or post great blues photos or events! Share your favorite postings and get more exposure for your favorite band! - ”LIKE”

Slow Blues Jam - Larry Carlton and Robben Ford

Robben Ford (born December 16, 1951) is an American blues, jazz and rock guitarist.
Ford was born in Woodlake, California, United States, but raised in Ukiah, California, and began playing the saxophone at age 10, picking up the guitar at age 13. Robben and his brothers Mark (harmonica) and Patrick Ford (drums) had a band they named the Charles Ford Blues Band in honor of their father.

Ford began playing professionally at age 18 when the Charles Ford Blues Band got a gig backing Charlie Musselwhite.[1] The band also recorded two albums The Charles Ford Band and Discovering the Blues. Next Ford put together a band with Bay Area musicians that became Jimmy Witherspoon's backup band. Ford recorded two albums with Witherspoon, Live and Spoonful'. The Ford Blues Band reunites periodically, and released live albums in the 1980s and 1990s.

Larry Carlton (born March 2, 1948, Torrance, California) is an American jazz, smooth jazz, jazz fusion, pop, and rock guitarist and singer. He has divided his recording time between solo recordings and session appearances with various well-known bands. Over his career, Carlton has won four Grammy Awards for his performances and compositions, including performing on the theme song for the hit television series, Hill Street Blues (1981).
“Like” Bman’s Facebook page (available in over 50 languages). I will not relay senseless nonsense. In this way I can get out the word on new talent, venues and blues happenings! - click Here