Keeping The Blues Alive Records artist: Joe Bonamassa - BB King's Blues Summit 100 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, BB King's Blues Summit 100, by Joe Bonamassa and it's terrific! Opening with Paying The Cost To Be The Boss, Kingfish Ingram is featured on vocal and guitar and he really gets it done. With it's laid back BB King style and with the help of Joe Bonamassa on guitar, Lemar Carter on drums, Travis Carlton on bass, Jeff Babko on keys, Steve Patrick and Tyler Jaeger on trumpet, Marc Douthit and Jimmy Bowland on sax and Barry Green on trombone, this is a strong opener. Marcus King does an incredible job on vocal and guitar delivering Don't Answer The Door. (I've bought entire albums based on 1 track that doesn't stack up well against this track). King, Bonamassa and Josh Smith really work the guitar on this track and support from Carter, Carlton, Babko, Patrick, Jaeger, Douthit, Bowland and Green are icing on this very nice cake. Buddy Guy gets Sweet Little Angel and he digs in giving it pure Guy treatment. His vocals are soulful and his lead guitar work impeccable. Joined by Bonamassa, Smith and crew, this is a great addition to the set. Jimmie Vaughan steps up with a great cover of Watch Yourself. His vocals are super and his signature guitar work really show style coupled with Bonamassa, Smith and the addition of Calvin Turner on bass, Lemar Carter on drums, Reese Wynans on keys, Kaz Kazanoff on tenor, John Mills on bari and Al Gomez on trumpet. Jimmy Hall brings some of the finest pipes in the business to Sweet Sixteen, aired up with Larry Carlton on guitar, Bonamassa and Smith on guitars, Turner on bass, Carter on drums, Wynans on keys, Patrick on trumpet, Douthit and Bowland on sax, Green on trombone and Matt Jefferson on bass trombone. Very nice. Larkin Poe is a nice surprise on Don't You Want A Man Like Me with sumptuous vocals by Rebecca Lovell and hot slide by Megan Lovell and Babko on keys. Another great addition is George Benson on There Must Be A Better World Somewhere. Benson's vocals are terrific and Bonamassa is showcased on guitar with Douthit and Bowland on sax and Babko on piano. Very nice. Warren Haynes starts off disc 2 with How Blue Can You Get. His guitar phrasing is excellent and his tones rich nicely complimenting his strong vocals and Wynans on piano. Chris Cain's dynamic guitar riffs and vocal styling really pops on You Upset Me Baby, complimented by Banamassa and Smith on guitars. The powerful horn section including Patrick, Jaegar, Douthit, Bowland, Green and Jefferson really pump up the bottom. Robben Ford lends his extensive blues vocabulary to Ain't Nobody Home joined by Jade Macrae on vocal. Ford, crossing many genre's of music really plays exceptional riffs under the rich vocals of Macrae. Kim Wilson has lead vocals on It's My Own Fault. His soulful vocals, backed by the superb riffs of Bonamassa and Babko's piano riffs make this track stand out nicely. Danielle De Andrea's silky vocals are paired nicely with Bonamassa on guitar delivering excellent phrases, really capturing the essence of King. Excellent! Kirk Fletcher and Bonamassa on guitars wrap the release with Better Not Look Down joined by BJ Kemp and Kim Fleming on vocals. 

This is a terrific tribute release with exceptional players and an amazing 40 page book. This is a must have!

 


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Forty Below Records artist: John Mayall - The Sun Is Shining Down - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Sun Is Shining Down, from one of the fathers of modern blues, John Mayall and it's quite good. Opening with Hungry and Ready, Mayall on harmonica and lead vocals, Melvin Taylor on lead guitar, Greg Rzab on bass, Jay Davenport on drums and Carolyn Wonderland on rhythm and with Ron Dziubla on sax, Mark Pender on trumpet, Richard Rosenberg on trombone providing a power horn sound. Dynamic opener. Markus King really hits hard on Can't Take No More with slashing guitar riffs over the tight rhythm by Davenport. With it's driving bass line by Rzab, Chills and Thrills, Mayall plays a nicely phrase piano solo and adds B3 warmth and Mike Campbell lays down a strong guitar lead. Very nice. Slower blues, A Quitter Never Wins showcases Mayall on lead vocal nicely, floating on his own key backing and intuitive harmonica punctuation. One of my favorites on the release is Driving Wheel again featuring Melvin Taylor on lead guitar. With a full horn backing and Mayall's solid vocals, this is another strong contender for top track on the release. Wrapping the release is title track, The Sun Is Shining Down with it's swampy rhythm and featuring Wonderland on lead guitar. This is a cool track that really simmers. Excellent closer. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Easy Eye Sound artist: Jimmy "Duck" Holmes - Cypress Grove - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cypress Grove, from Jimmy "Duck" Holmes and it's a excellent slice or real delta blues. Opening with Skip James' Hard Times, Holmes is right there, front and center playing guitar and singing the blues just like God planned it. I mean it doesn't come much fresher than this. Get it while you can! Title track, another Skip James composition, Cypress Grove, has great feel and pace with Holmes joined by Eric Deaton on bass and Sam Bacco on drums and percussion. Don't be expecting a trap set... were talking basic...  Very nice! Muddy Waters' Rock Me has a super grinding bass line and with the addition of Marcus King on guitar and Dan Auerbach on lush slide, has strong texture. Another James track, Devil Got My Woman, is a super showcase for Holmes vocal styling and guitar work. I mean this track hurts it's so good. Excellent! All Night Long is really a short jam track which features so haunting slide work by Auerbach. Very cool. Jessie Mae Brooks' Train Train is a great track with a hill country sound. Pure vocal over just the basic of rhythm guitar and percussion, and then the addition of ghostly guitar work by Auerbach that really sets the track off. This is a track that shows a master working nicely with a master, not changing his style or "jazzing it up" like was so poorly completed with Hooker. It may have gotten him popularity, but it wasn't good. Wrapping the release is original track, Two Women, with it's simple, soulful wailing. Holmes is a treasure and fortunately, Auerbach has captured him in nature and put this perfect cd out. Super job!

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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