Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dear America , from Eric Bibb and it may be his best in years. Opening with Whole Lotta Lovin' with it's rolling acoustic guitar riff and backing instrumentation by Ron Carter on bass and Glen Scott on keys this track had a very friendly warmness. Shaneeka Simon joins Bibb and Tommy Sims on lead vocal, and teamed with Steffan Astner on slide guitar gives this track strong appeal. Slower, lumbering Whole World's Got The Blues features a nice appearance by Eric Gales who lights up his electric guitar and Sims on bass, and Glen Scott on drums fill out the bottom. A modern take on the delta style blues, title track, Dear America pairs Bibbs acoustic guitar and vocal over Chuck Anthony on electric guitar, Scott on drums and percussion, Christer Lyssarides on mandola and Simon and Big Daddy Wilson on backing vocals. Strong ballad, Emmett's Ghost plays to Bibb's strength in songwriting, vocal and acoustic gu...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Triangle, by Lisa Mills and I really like it. I feel immediately that this release will solicit comparisons to some of more known blues singers but I think that Mills has her own voice. This first set was recorded in Muscle Shoals and the opener, Little Richard's Greenwood, Mississippi is a warm R&B style rocker with plenty of spunk. Backed by Clayton Ivey on keys, Bob Wray on bass, John Willis on lead guitar, Fred Mollin on rhythm and acoustic guitars and Justin Holder on drums and with punchy horn work by Jim Hoke on sax and Steve Herman on trumpet, this is a solid opener.  Clarence Carter's, Tell Mama has the spunk you'd expect from James or Joplin but her vocals are in a groove and with the unmistakable horn work of the south, the cool guitar solo by Willis and key solo by Ivey, it's all south! Very nice. Moving on to Memphis for the next set the tracks get a little more funky with That...

I just received the newest release (October 21, 2014), I'm Changing , from Lisa Mills and it's stunning! Opening with Better Than This/ I Don't Need You Anymore , Mills opens up a quiet bluesy ballad. Her easy pace and confidence is quite becoming. Rick Hirsch lays in a really nice guitar solo joining Ian Jennings on bass and Jimmy Roebuck on drums. I Don't Want To Be Happy is a simple ballad with Mills accompanied by Jennings on bass, John Milham on drums and Corky Hughes on guitar. Mills really has a colorful voice and it is nicely on display here. I Need A Little Sunshine has a nice gospel like feel, with a twist of country and a pinch of island. Britt Meacham adds some nice soft melodic chorded soloing. Nice! Title track, I'm Changing , is a very solid ballad and beautifully written and executed track. Pat Murphy overlays a soft fiddle solo over Mills own accompaniment on acoustic guitar. Very nice! Eyes So Blue has cool island feel and Mills voice melds ...

Alabama Singer Lisa Mills Says I’m Changing on New CD Coming Oct. 21 from Her MillsBluz Record Label MOBILE, AL – Blues, roots and gospel singer Lisa Mills announces an October 21 release date for her new CD, I’m Changing , on her MillsBluz record label, distributed nationally by Burnside Distribution. I’m Changing was recorded primarily at Back Door studios in Mobile and was produced by Lisa Mills and Ian Jennings. The album showcases Mills backed by an impressive cast of musicians including guitarist Rick Hirsch and drummer T. K. Lively of Wet Willie fame, as well as guitarist Corky Hughes (Bo Diddley, Black Oak Arkansas). Bassist Ian Jennings has a host of world-class recording credentials, including work on albums with J eff Beck ( Crazy Legs ), several albums with Van Morrison and Tom Jones, plus appearances with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Ian was also named Britain's best bassist last year by one of the UK’s top blues magazines. Lisa Mills is ...

With a US release date of October 18, 2011 this may already be on the street. I just received a copy of the new Lisa Mills recording Tempered In Fire. If you don't know Lisa she is a Mississippi born vocalist moved to Glastonbury and now residing back in Mobile, Alabama. You can definitely hear the UK influence on her southern roots. This cd has some really strong tunes executed very well by Lisa. The overall tone of the cd is a crossover between the R&B, Blues and country. She has done particularly well renditions of Wet Willie's "Keep on Smilin' and Otis Redding's "These Arms of Mine" as well as a few tunes by others and originals as well. Enjoy! “Like” Bman’s Facebook page. We use Facebook to spread the word about our blog. We will not hit you with 50 posts a day. We will not relay senseless nonsense. We use it only to draw attention to some of the key posts on our blog each day. In this way we can get out the word on new talent, venues and blu...