Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just Got Started , from Jimmy Carpenter and it's a cool mix of blues, R&B and rock. Opening with title track, (Feels Like) I Just Got Started , Jimmy Carpenter sings soulful vocals and plays warm sax, joined by Dwayne, Walter and James Morgan on vocals, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Kid Andersen on guitar, Jim Pugh on keys and D'mar Martin on drums. Solid radio style opener. On Willie Dixon's My Babe , Carpenter plays a dynamic sax opener, backed by Mike Galisatus on trumpet, Jack Sanford on bari sax, and Endre Tarczy on piano and a flashy guitar solo by Kid. Hot sax work and a swinging drum/bass line is the trick on this one. Nice! Hot, honking sax track, Jimmy Shimmy is boosted by wild organ work by Pugh and flashy guitar styling by Bobby Vega. Smokin! Allen Toussaint's funky, Night People , has a great groove, anchored by Vega on bass and D'Mar on drums. Carpenter really gets it working with sassy sax ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Right Man , by D.K. Harrell and if you're looking for a new favorite blues singer who knows how to play a great blues phrase, look no further. Opening with title track, The Right Man , D.K. Harrell on lead guitar and vocal is smooth. He knows how to swing and his riffs are clean. Joined by Kid Andersen on rhythm guitar, Jim Pugh on keys, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Tony Coleman on drums and Jon Otis on congas this is a great opener. With a lot of soul and a funky overtone, Harrell lays down Get These Blues Out Of Me . I really can't think of a more BB King like performer who sounds genuinely original. His delivery is sincere and his counterpoint guitar is effortless and rich. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Hello Trouble with a slower pace and perfect vocal/guitar call and response. Backed by Neil Levonius and John Halbleib on trumpet, Mike Rinta on trombone, Mike Peloquin on tenor and Doc Kupka on bari...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Serve It to Me Hot, from Chickenbone Slim and I really like it. Opening with title track, Serve It to Me Hot , Slim and the crew are hitting it hard. This band sound like they're ready for a rumble with the low slung power attack of slinger Laura Chavez on lead guitar and Slim on guitar and lead vocal. Marty Dodson on drums and Andrew Crane round out the band making this crew ready for just about anything. Great opener. On up tempo boogie, Wild Eyed Woman , the band cranks like they're backing HD Taylor or Slim Harpo. This may be my favorite track on the release with a great driving beat and Chavez's relentless guitar attack. Excellent! Harp wizard, Aki Kumar joins the crew on Top of the Clouds , with a solid Texas style. Chavez steps out nicely on guitar and Slim's vocals are nicely complimented by Kid Andersen and Lisa Andersen. Funky, Laying In The Weeds , is a real cool track with a solid exchange betw...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 16, 2021), Resurrection , from Mike Zito, and it's a cool blues rocker with a lot of snap. Opening with JJ Cale's, I'll Make Love To You , Zito works this blues rocker with real radio appeal. His slide work and vocals are solid, backed by Zach Zito on vocal and guitar, Matthew Johnson on drums, Doug Byrkit on bass, Lewis Stephens on keys, Eric Demmer on sax and Fernando Castillo on trumpet. Lain back, country flavored, In My Blood is a real nice track with sparkling guitar riffs and solid lead vocal, backed nicely by Lisa Leuschner Andersen. A rework of Clapton's Presence of the Lord works nicely with this set and Zito's vocals work nicely with his Clapton like guitar riffs, expanded to his own, more wide open jamming style giving the track more bite. Very nice. Blues ballad, Damned If I Do , has strong radio appeal with Zito showing both soulful vocals and nicely phrased guitr phrasing. Very nic...