Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Somebody Put Bad Luck On Me , from Bob Corritore & Friends and it's another super release from Corritore. Opening with This Little Voice , Corritore, conjures so great harp tone on the intro with Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar and John Primer on vocal and guitar, backed by Bob Stroger on bass and Wes Starr on drums. Solid opener. Bobby Rush has the mic on I'm Good As Gone , a slinky R&B style blues with Smith and Dexter Allen on guitar, Chester Thompson on organ, and Steve Ferrone on drums. Very nice. Thornetta Davis is in charge on Remember Me and I gotta say, she's exceptional. I caught Davis when I went to see guitar master, Johnny Burgin and she really did a great job. Davis is joined here by Smith, Burgin, Keyes, Corritore, Stroger and Wes Starr. Very nice. Lurrie Bell leads off, Act Like You Love Me on vocal and guitar. A slow Chicago style blues with solid harp work by Corritore, is joined by ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Madeleine , from Mississippi Heat and it a packed solid with blues and blues drenched music. Opening with driving blues rocker, Silent Too Long , Brian Quinn on bass and Terrence Williams set the pace, with Giles Corey laying down some hot guitar riffs and great lead vocals by Carl Weathersby, B3 by Chris Cameron and excellent harmonica riffs by Pierre Lacocque. Solid opener. On Chicago style blues, Uninvited Guest , guitar master Lurrie Bell has the mic and lead guitar duties. With Kenny Smith on drums, this track sets up nicely to showcase Lacocque's harmonica mastery. Daneshia Hamilton really takes charge with excellent vocals on Ridin' On A Hit with backing vocals by Nanette Frank, Diane Madison and Mae Koen. With a super bass line by Quinn and strong harmonica work by Lacocque, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Michael Dotson gets the spotlight on Everybody Do Something with excellent vocals a...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Six String Soul , a double cd release by Dave Specter and it's great. Celebrating 30 years on Delmark, with remastered recordings from throughout his career and celebrating many guests. Opening with Buzz Me Specter on guitar, is joined by Barkin Bill Smith on vocal and Ronnie Earl on guitar as well as Ken Saydak on organ, Dez Desormeaux on sax, Red Groetzinger on sax, Mike McCurdy on bass and John Hiller on drums. Very cool. Specter really stretches out nicely on solo guitar on slow blues, Railroad Station . Smith, on lead vocal does a real nice job and Bob Stroger on bass anchors the track. Saydak's piano is a nice accent and sax soloing by Groetzinger is really nice. I really like instrumental, Specter's Walk, with it's deep jazz groove. Specter cruses on guitar, Desormeaux's sax solo is rich, and Saydak's organ work is strong. Tad Robinson has lead vocal on Sweet Serenity . I've always been ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Porch Sessions Volume 2 , from Tony Holiday and it's a great Chicago style blues party. Opening with She's Tuff , Victor Wainwright and his rhythm section really get things rolling with Wainwright on vocal and piano and Holiday on harmonica. With plenty of attitude in presentation and this dynamic duo, this is a strong opener. Willie Buck has the mic on Honey Bee with Rusty Zinn on slide and Kim Wilson on harmonica. Zinn really conjurs Muddy's tone on guitar and Wilson's sound is fat and rich. Excellent! In more of a Delta styling on Recipe for Love Master , Bobby Rush on vocal and Vasti Jackson on guitar really make a great team serving up a heavy helping of blues. Very nice. Going to Court is a real hot number with James Harman on harmonica and Kid Ramos and Landon Stone laying down pure fire on guitar. Lurrie Bell teams up with harpmaster Mark Hummel on a shortened take on Everyday I Have The Blues bu...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spider In My Stew, from Bob Corritore and Friends and it's terrific. Opening with Tennessee Woman , Corritore on harmonica is joined by Oscar Wilson on vocal, Tony Tomlinson on guitar, Shea Marshall on piano and sax, Patrick Skog on bass and Alan West of drums and percussion. A solid Chicago style track with a Latin beat, this is a solid opener. Moving into a full on romp, Sugaray Rayfield has the lead on vocal on Big Mama's Soul Food , backed by Kid Ramos on guitar, Blake Watson on bass and Marty Dodson on drums. Great vocals by Rayford, Corritore's always always fine harmonica work and saucy guitar work by Ramos give this track real zing. Diunna Greenleaf is upfront on Don't Mess With the Messer and with a snappy drum beat by Andrew Guterman and hot sax work by Doug James, this track is strong. Lurrie Bell delivers really inspired lead vocal and guitar on title track Spider In My Stew with Bob Margolin ...

I just received the most recent release, Can't Shake This Feeling , from Lurrie Bell and it's a big helping of Chicago blues. Opening with Blues Is Trying To Keep Up With Me , Lurrie Bell opens with a flash. Handling lead vocal and guitar, he is joined by Roosevelt Purifoy on keys, Matthew Skoller on harp, Melvin Smith on bass and Willie Hayes on drums. A cool shuffle track, Bell airs our his guitar and Purifoy dazzles as well on piano leading up to Skoller who takes it home. On upbeat, Drifting , Bell really gets a great groove going. His vocals are powerful and Purifoy's harp work is tight. Slowing it down a bit, I Get So Weary , shows Bell on some of his most expressive guitar riffs on the release. This track is smoking! On stripped down, One Eyed Woman , Bell and Skoller pretty much handle the instrumentation making it a real simple and effective track. Very nice. Excellent blues track, The Worrisome Feeling In My Heart , is propelled by really soulful vocals by Bel...

9th Annual T-Bone Walker Blues Fest September 12-13, 2014 * Longview, Texas Legendary guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, along with blues vocalist Lou Ann Barton, will head a power-packed musical lineup for the 9th annual T-Bone Walker Blues Fest. The two day event features the Wells Fargo Advisors indoor stage with reserved seating, plus the Patterson Nissan outdoor general admission stage. Performances begin at 4:00pm on Friday and 12 Noon on Saturday. Tickets are available on the festival website . Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-a-Whirl Band with Lou Ann Barton Saturday 10:45pm - 12:00am Wells Fargo Advisors Stage Rick Derringer  Friday 11:00pm - 12:00am Wells Fargo Advisors Stage Saturday 9:15pm - 10:30pm Wells Fargo Advisors Stage Eric Gales Trio Friday 9:45pm - 10:45pm Wells Fargo Advisors Stage Saturday 11:00pm - 12:00am Patter...