Bman's Blues Report

F  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Don't Look Back , from Pierre Lacocque's Mississippi Heat , and it's one of his best. Opening with You Ain't The Only One , Sheryl Youngblood really gets things going with powerful vocals, joined by Pierre Lacocque on harp, Giles Corey on lead guitar, Johnny Iguana on piano, John Kattke on keys, Brian Quinn on bass, Jason Edwards on drums, Marc Franklin on trumpet, Kirk Smothers on sax and Nanette Frank, Diane Madison and Mae Korn on backing vocals. Solid opener. On Chicago blues , Stepped Out Of Line , Inetta Vison and Daneshia Hamilton have the lead vocals and Lacocque really works the harp. Great piano work by Iguana, Corey on guitar, Kattke on keys, Big Mike Perez on bass, Edwards on drums, and Billy Flynn on guitar. This is a super entry. Youngblood is back up front on Can't Take It and with a great rumbling tempo and Fylnn and Corey ripping the lead guitar riffs Lacocque really get down on...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Calling , from Emma Wilson , and it's got that hot 60's Memphis sound. Opening with A Small World , with Emma Wilson on lead vocals and Kirk Smothers on sax, Marc Franklin on trumpet, Charles Hodges on organ, Leroy Hodges on bass and Steve Potts on drums. This is a solid opener. Soulful, I Still Love You , is really a nice showcase for Wilson on vocal with it's pared back instrumentation. Kicked up, Drug, has a real nice funky beat with a solid bass line by Leroy, drums by Potts, electric piano by Archie Turner, and Franklin and Smothers really sassing it up on horns. Joe Restivo gets the floor on guitar, laying down the blues on Hoochie Coochie Mama . A low slung version of Morganfield's centerpiece, Wilson really carries it nicely and Charles on organ adds just the right heat. Wrapping the release is soul classic, Since I Fell For You , with Wilson dialing it down over light guitar by Restivo, Ler...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, From The Shoals , by Barbara Blue , and it's some funky, R&B blues. Opening with The Shoals , Barbara Blue on lead vocal leads way with a stellar backing band featuring  Bernard Purdie on drums, David Hood on bass, Clayton Ivey on keys and Will McFarlane on guitar. On Clarence Carter's Tell Mama , Blue adds a nice compliment of Marc Franklin on trumpet, and Brad Guin on sax plus Davor Hacic- Hutch on guitar for a solid rendition of the classic track. Shuffle track, Slide Man is a cool track featuring Blue on vocal and McFarlane on slide guitar. With it's catchy melody and smooth guitar work, this is a cool number. Too Far is my favorite track on the release with it's arpeggiated guitar submelody and excellent guitar lead by McFarlane and strong sax work by Guin. Wrapping the release is slow boogie, Trail of Tears with it's drone bass line by Hood and strong vocal lead by Blue, nicely accented by M...

 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, Fight The Good Fight , from Vaneese Thomas , and it's a great mix of R&B and soul. Opening with powerful track, Raise The Alarm , with it's hi stepping Al green styling really gets this release amped up. Thomas has a great voice and plays keys with Wayne Warnecke on drums and bass, Al Orlo on guitars, Jon Cobert on organ, Marc Frankiln on trumpet, Kirk Smothers on bari sax,  Lannie McMillan on tenor sax, and with Emily Bindiger and Kati Mac, this track is a home run. My radio choice for the release is Same Blood Same Bone , a soulful track with excellent lead by Thomas and beautiful backing vocals by Lisa Fisher, a hot guitar solo by Orlo and punchy horns. Very nice. Ballad, Time to Go Home has a gospel richness... Thomas' vocal over Orlo on acoustic guitar and mandolin and the addition of Joe Mennonna on Accordion. Wrapping the release is soulful ballad, Lost In The Wilderness . A strong showcase for the ve...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Leave The light On, from The Love Light Orchestra and it's quite good. Opening with soul track, Time Is fading Fast, front man, John Nemeth on lead vocal sounds great. With it's Memphis sound, dominated by horns by Marc Franklin and Scott Thompson on trumpet, Jason Yasinsky on trombone, Art Edmaiston on tenor sax and with some outrageous alto sax by Kirk Smothers and including Joe Restivo on guitar, Gerald Stephens on piano, Tim Goodwin on bass, and Earl Lowe on drums, this is a great opener. Blues shuffle, Come On Moon has a really great feel with excellent guitar work by Restivo and warm horn backing by Franklin, Yasinsky, Edmaiston, Smothers and Paul McKinney on trumpet. On Lowell Fulson's 3 O'Clock Blues, Restivo really steps out on one of my favorite tracks on the release. His paced guitar soloing, and of course the excellent vocals of Nemeth accented by Thompson and Franklin really push this track ove...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Uncle Mick's Christmas Album , by Mick Kolassa , and it's quite entertaining. Opening with Mariah Carey's, All I Want For Christmas , and I think its a real solid cover. Never been crazy about pop music and Kolassa's slow bluesy approach with Jeff Jensen on lead guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass, Rick Steff on keys and James Cunningham on drums gives this track a new, fresher life. Original track, The Best Christmas Ever , is up next with a funky R&B approach. Kolassa on lead vocal and with warm backing vocals by Reba Russell and Susan Marshall over cool piano and organ work by Steff set a nice stage and pinched down guitar soloing by Jensen adds spice. Johnny Moore's Merry Christmas Baby really gives Jensen a chance to show some real nice riffs both bluesy and jazzy making it one of my favorites on the release. Tom tom laden rhythm gives Jingle Bells and whole new face. Get far enough from the music tha...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wasted Youth , from Mick Kolassa, and it's chocked full of hot contemporary blues players doing what they do best. Opening with blues rocker, Throwing Away These Blues , Kolassa on vocal and guitar leads the way with James Cunningham on drums, Tullie Brae on backing vocal, Rick Steff on piano, Jeff Jensen on guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass and Marc Franklin on trumpet. Solid opener. Title track, Wasted Youth , has a thunder bass line by Ruffino and with Doug McMinn on drums, Brad Webb lays in some real nice slide work and Eric Hughes adds some real nice harmonica. Funky rocker, I Can't Get Enough gives Anthony Paule a nice chance to show his stuff and Kirk Smothers blows a real nice sax solo topping the track off. Victor Wainwright plays a real clean piano on Feeling Sorry For Myself , a cool blues track with just the right amount of sway. Brandon Santini adds his superlative harmonica tone to My Mind Doesn't Wa...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live On Beale Street: A Tribute To Bobby "Blue" Bland. from Rodd Bland and the Members Only Band and it's terrific! Opening with R&B track, Up And Down World, Chris Stephenson has the lead on vocal and keys, with Rodd Bland on drums, Jackie Clark on bass, Harold Smith on guitar, Marc Franklin and Scott Thompson on trumpet and Kirk Smothers on sax. Great opener. Ashton Riker is on lead vocal on St. James Infirmary and really works it. I've always like this track and this remake works really nicely. Jerome Chism has the mic on R&B track, I Wouldn't Treat a Dog (The Way You Treated Me) with a particularly strong drum rhythm and tight horn backing. Chism's vocals work perfectly on this track and I really like the activity of Bland on drums who really pushes the beat. Excellent! Slower blues, Soon As The Weather Breaks, is one of my favorites on the release with punched horns and suspenseful org...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Express Connection , from Tomislav Goluban and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with title track, Express Connection , eastern European harmonica player, Tomislav Goluban flexes his muscle on this hard driving blues rocker with Jeff Jensen on guitar, David Green on drums, Rick Steff on keys and Bill Ruffino on bass. A solid ballad, Pale Blue Eyes has a real nice melody featuring Goluban on lead vocal and cool reverb soaked guitar by Jensen and Mark Johnson on slide and Kelly Zirbes on backing vocal. Blues shuffle, Extra Boom really sits nicely in the groove and Goluban works the Chicago styling nicely on harmonica. Steff lays in a cool electronic keyboard solo and Jensen follows with some cool riffs of his own. Blues rocker, No Future In Your Past , has great pace and features Kirk Smothers on sax, Marc Franklin on trumpet and Zibes on backing vocals. Wrapping the release is Beast Walk with a cool organ melody by S...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, If You Can't Be Good, Be Good At It!, by Mick Kolassa and I think it's his best release yet. Opening with I Can't Help Myself, a R&B style track with a light funky beat featuring Kolassa on lead vocal and acoustic guitar, Jeff Jensen on electric guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass, John Blackmon on drums, Rick Steff on keys, Marc Franklin on trumpet, and Kirk Smothers on sax, this is a solid opener. With deep gospel richness, James Taylor's Lo and Behold has great guitar underpinnings and super vocal by Yullie Brae. Rocking title track, If You Can't Be good, Be Good At It! is clever and has solid guitar riffs by Jensen, and power horn work by Franklin and Smothers. My favorite track on the release, A Good Day For the Blues , features nice guitar work by David Dunavent and Jensen and some of Kolassa's best vocal work on the release. Smooth blues ballad, Slow and Easy Love gives Jensen a wide road to...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Postcard from Beale Street , by Eric Hughes   Band and it contains a variety of music styles and turns. Opening with shuffle, Ain't Whipped Yet , Hughes is upfront on lead vocal and sweaty slide with Walter Hughes on backing guitar and vocal, Leo Goff on bass, and Brian Aylor on drums. Great guitar tones by Eric give this track a great spice. Oh, Booze! has a terrific, early Beale feel with solid vocals by Eric, with trumpet by Marc Franklin, Kirk Smothers on sax and Mick Kolassa on tussolin, spoons and backing exclamations. Ballad, Homesick Angel is the definite radio track on the release with a strong melody, solid backing vocals and tight accompaniment. Straight up acoustic blues ballad, Blackberry Patch has Eric on lead vocal and slide resonator over Walter on guitar. Simple and solid. Blues rocker, Waiting For That Day has a super boogie (woogie) feel with a great bass line by Goff, organ by Steff and harmoni...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Greenville, MS … What about you? , from Kern Pratt and it's a straight up blues rocker. Opening with Loving That Feeling , Kern Pratt is digging into that southern funky blues pot with a great New Orleans rhythm. leading the way on vocal and guitar, this track is moving with Chris Gill on slide, Bobby Walker on rhythm guitar and drums and Bob Dowell on bass and keys. Cool opener.  Slow blues track, Baby's Got Another Lover is a real nice track with Pratt singing lead and responding with smart guitar riffs of his own. With the addition of Shannon Goree on drums, this is one of my favorites on the release. In the vain of Jimmie Oden, Something's Gone Wrong has a really nice bottom courtesy of Dowdell and Pratt again gets a nice chance to stretch on guitar and Kris Jenson lays out a real nice sax solo. Bluesy ballad, Rita not only has nice instrumentation but a perfect radio melody. Sharing lead vocal spot w...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Real Street, from Tad Robinson and it's jam packed with R&B soul music. Opening with Changes , a real nice "Al Green" flavored track, Tad Robinson shows what much of the world already knows... he's a great singer with poise and style. Backed by Charles Hodges on Hammond, Leroy Hodges on bass, Howard Grimes on drums, Joe Restivo on guitar, Kevin Anker on piano, Mark Franklin on trumpet, and Kirk Smothers on sax, this is a great opener. Bluesy ballad, Search Your Heart is really strong and Robinson's exceptionally smooth vocals, backed by Devin Thompson on vocals and the warm Hammond work of Hodges and with a crisp guitar solo by Restivo make this one of my favorites on the release. Excellent! Another really bluesy track, Love In The Neighborhood has a great R&B style but checks off the blues box nicely with soulful vocals and harmonica by Robinson and solid guitar lead by Restivo. My favo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 149 Delta Ave , from Mick Kolassa and the Taylor Made Blues Band and the talent is thick. Opening with I Can't Slow Down , a 2 steppin rocker, Mick Kolassa on lead vocal is backed by David Dunavent on guitars, Leo Goff on bass, Lee Andrew Williams on drums, Chris Stephenson on keys and Susan Marshall and Daunielle Hill on backing vocal this is a cool opener. Eric Hughes joins on US 12 to Highway 49 , a smart shuffle with solid harp work. Cotton Road is one of my favorites on the release with roots in chain gang work songs. Toronzo Cannon adds some really smart guitar lead and wailing backing vocals make this track rich with feel. Pullin Me Down has a creeping R&B blues style with solid bass work from Goff, crisp guitar soloing by Jeff Jensen and includes tight trumpet and sax work by  Marc Franklin and Kirk Smothers. Very nice. A funky version of Ashford and Simpson's I Don't Need No Doctor has a real...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fish in dirty H2O , from Barbara Blue and it's solid. Opening with My Heart Belongs To The Blues , Barbara Blue is joined by Will McFarlane on guitar, Dave Smith on bass, Lester Snell on keys and Bernard Purdie on drums. With it's smooth smoky feel, Blue displays the richness of her deep voice. Boogie blues, Accidental Theft features some really nice slide work compliments of Scott Sharrard giving the track a thick gutsy texture to compliment Blues own gutsy vocals. Dr Jesus has a gospel style with warm backing vocals by Maureen Smith, Candace Mache, Lorina McMinn and Lynette "Sue" McCracklin and some spicy guitar accents by Michael Tols.  Shuffle,  Gravy Train has a sparky pace with plenty of horn by Lonnie McMillan on tenor sax, Marc Franklin on trumpet, Jim Spake on bari sax, and Steve Graham on trombone. Another bluesy shuffle, That's Working On Me works really nicely with Blues vocals and te...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wisdom & Decay , from Jeff Jensen and it's flavorful. Opening with Little Milton's I'm Living Off The Love You Give , you get a strong sense of soul from Jensen's hometown of Memphis. With Jensen on guitar and vocal, this band is packed with sound featuring Bill Ruffino on bass, David Green on drums, Chris Stephenson on organ, and a powerful dose of horns from Kirk Smothers on sax and Marc Franklin on trumpet. 2000 Days has a sensitive Latin rhythm and James Cunningham on percussion. A nicely phrased guitar solo by Jensen gives this track a nice boost.  With a formula that made the Doobies popular, Jensen hits that smooth rhythmic groove, pumped up by horns, clean melodic guitar riffs and backed by Reba Russell on vocal. With a slinky Latin feel, Downtown , has a firm bass edge by Ruffino, muted trumpet and simmering guitar lead giving the track a fiery feel.  Bob Dylan's Tonight I'll Be Sta...