Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Real You , by Greg Nagy , and it's super with healthy doses of soul, R&B, blues, and rock. Opening with title track, The Real You , lead singer, guitarist, song writer, Greg Nagy on lead vocal shows a real feel for R&B. With Josh Ford on guitar, Dale Grisa on organ, John Baron on bass, Todd Glass on drums, Lynne Calloway on backing vocals, Jim Alfredson on organ, Keith Kaminski on sax, this is a solid opener. CeeLo Green's Crazy is a cool addition giving Nagy a open field to show his soulful vocals and bluesy guitar chops, complimented by Dale Grisa on organ and Richard Curran on strings. Very nice. Thornetta Davis steps up in duet with Nagy on George Harrison's remarkable, Something . I have always loved Davis' voice and with Josh Ford laying down some real nice guitar lead, this is an excellent blues rock addition. R&B track, Baby, What Took Your Love Away From Me has a cool, Robery Cray ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Medication Time , from Todd Sharpville, and it's a solid rocker. Opening with Walk Out In The Rain , Todd Sharpville on vocal and guitar sets a tense stage with his intense vocal and Clapton like guitar riffs. Joined by Bruce Bears on Hammond, Brad Hallen on bass and Mark Texeira on drums, this is an attention grabber of an opener. Driving track, Get Outta My Way features Doug James on Bari sax, Mark Early on tenor sax, Carl Querfurth on trombone and Doc Chanonhouse on trumpet and put to great use with a full horn delivery and a strong sax solo by Early. House Rules is a great track that's likely to get you up on your feet. With it's tight rhythm and slick guitar soloing by Sharpville, this track is super. Larry McCray joins on guitar and vocal on Brothers From Another Mother and the guy's voices actually pair up quite nicely (McCray on the left). McCray and Sharpville jam out pretty nicely for the last...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Joseph and the Velozians and it's way cool. Opening with Pretty is as Pretty Does , bassist and songwriter Joseph Veloz lays down a really funky bass line, complimented by Jim Alfredson on keys, and Donny Brown on drums and percussion. Larry McCray has lead vocal and guitar and does an outstanding job, with trumpet punctuation by John Rickert. Nice opener. Contemporary makeover of Morganfield's Got My Mojo Working features Thornetta Davis on lead vocal and Carlton Washington on guitar as well as some smoking organ work by Alfredson. Then throwing a changeup moving into a Chicago blues/gospel closing.  Great hot redo. The Velozian Shuffle is one of my favorites on the release with solid guitar lead by Washington, a real nice piano solo by Phillip J Hale, strong organ work by Alfredson, Dave Marcaccio on drums, and of course Veloz on bass. Excellent! Just Jammin' Again is a cool, funky, jazz style jam with a ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release. A Time Like This , from The McKee Brothers , and it's bright and bouncy. Opening with How Can I Miss You Baby?, a cool swing blues with a taste of Lyle Lovett. With Denis McKee on lead vocal and guitar, Bobby West on keys, Bobby Watson on bass, Steve Stephens on drums, Lee Thornburg on trumpet, Doug Webb on sax and featuring Tim Douthit on harmonica, it's a cool opener. Soulful shuffle, It Is What It Is , has that easy swing feel that was so much a part of the Memphis sound. McKee, backed by Maxayn Lewis on vocal and with great work on keys by West really carries it nicely. With gospel overtones, Realize has a cool funky feel. The groove is really nice and strong lead work by McKee and backing vocals by Lewis, along with a little Latin spice and Thornburg and Webb's horn punctuation really makes this track one that stands out. With it's driving Fats Domino feel, Bluer Than You has that classic New Orleans ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Moon Over Montgomery , by The McKee Brothers and it's flavorful. Opening with Pig Feet , a jazzy track with cool backing vocals, Jeff Robinson on lead vocals, backed by Denis McKee on guitar, Hammond and vocal, Bobby West on keys, Ralph McKee on lap steel, Bobby Watson on bass and particularly Jerome Edmonson on classic drums. Andy Wilson adds a really nice chromatic harp, Bob Schultz on bari sax and Andy Georges  on acoustic guitar are complimented by Maxayn Lewis, Melissa McKee, Dennis Lockett on vocals. Funky, I Feel Like Dynamite , has a cool James Brown feel with tastes of the Temptations, Tower of Power and Dave Mason. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release, You Know How I Lie , has some of the best vocals, both lead and lush backing on the release, smart lead guitar runs by Laith Al-Saadi, trumpet and trombone by Lee Thornburg and tenor and bari sax by Doug Webb. Very nice. With an orchestral qua...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Olivia , from Tucci and it's quite interesting. Opening with High Roller , a Latin flavored blues rocker, Larry McCray is upfront on lead vocal and guitar. Steve Tucci on guitar and Donnie Richards on B3 really style up this track with drums by Michael Tucci, bass by Harry DeBusk and sax by Shawn Murphy. On I Don't Need It , another track with strong Latin rhythms, McCray is again upfront and Tucci's rich guitar chords really warm the track. Murphy steps up with a real nice sax solo on Gimme Some Of Your Love and Steve lays down some cool guitar riffs of his own, joined by Dan Ryan on B3. Steve takes the mic on Overtaxed Blues with a little help from McCray on guitar. A cool blues with a snappy rhythm and a rock return. Hey Florida has not only the Allman Brothers rhythm but also guitar styling in the likes of Southbound or One Way Out. Shawn Murphy is up front on lead and sax for one of the bluesiest tra...

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 ...

Larry McCray & The Jackpots Sábado 14 de Abril – 22 hs Sala Academia Desafíos – Brentana 46 – Neuquén. Entradas en: Librería El Amante – Av Argentina 245. Luego de dos años de ausencia, vuelve a nuestra ciudad el músico más virtuoso del blues moderno: Larry McCray . Quien fuera el guitarrista de Albert Collins y James Cotton , llega a nuestra ciudad a presentar material propio y recorrer el cancionero moderno del blues. _____________________________ Opiniones: “En una época en donde las leyendas del género se despiden de los escenarios, es conmovedor encontrar artistas como McCray, quien además de aportar una excelente voz y una exquisita técnica en la guitarra, aporta tal vez lo más importante del blues: el sentimiento”. The New York Times - 2011 ________________________________ Biografía Corta Larry McCray: Larry McCray, el segundo hijo menor entre 9 hermanos, se crió en una pequeña granja en Magnoli...

Larry McCray is one of a handful of talented young blues performers leading the genre across boundaries and into the new century. McCray’s savage blues-rock guitar and warm, soulful vocals have drawn attention worldwide. McCray’s hard work paid off when he became the first artist signed by Virgin Records’ blues division – Pointblank Records. In 1990, they released his debut, “Ambition,” which was well received by the U.S. and European press. 1993 saw the release of McCray’s second album, Delta Hurricane, which was recorded in Memphis with the notoriously funky Uptown Horns. The guitarist’s gut wrenching rendition of Warren Haynes’ power ballad, “Soul Shine,” opened many ears to McCray’s talent and diversity. In 1998, Born To Play The Blues moved the story of McCray’s broadly appealing music forward another giant step. Bold, brawny, often dazzling guitar lines are matched with confident, soul-drenched vocals. Understated funk rhythms and crunchy rock riffs meet searing slow blues and bo...