Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blast Off! , from Duke Robillard and it's really swinging! Opening with Floyd Dixon 's, When I Get Lucky , Chris Cote is up front on vocal with Duke Robillard on lead guitar, Bruce Bears on piano, Marty Ballou on bass, Mark Teixeira on drums and Doug James and Mark Earley on wailing sax. Strong opener.  Robillard original, Feel My Cares has a deeper, BB King feel with stinging guitar work by Duke and again featuring Cote on lead vocal. Bears on organ adds a real nice warmth and James and Earley on sax really fatten the track up nicely. AM Brunner 's Play Boy Hop is a terrific sax led instrumental with James really making it wail and Duke's guitar phrasing is dynamic and urgent. Very cool. Guitar Slim 's Stand By Me really swings with Cote on lead vocal and Earley and James on horns. James takes command on bari sax really kicking up the dirt and Duke rips a classic solo of his own making this one o...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Roll With Me , from Duke Robillard and it's particularly hot! Opening with Eddie Boyd's Bluecoat Man , Robillard is on vocal and these guys are really rocking. With Doug James really humming on sax and Mark Teixeira on drums and Marty Ballou on bass giving Robillard a great platform to blow the doors off on guitar. Excellent opener. Gatemouth Brown's Boogie Uproar is hot and heavy with Robillard having a excellent solo exchange with James and Rich Lataille punched up by the likes of Pam Murray and Carl Querfurth on trombone, Al Basile on cornet, Matt McCabe on piano, Ballou on bass, and Teixeira on drums. Powerful. Willie Dixon's, Built For Comfort has a real cool feel with Robillard playing the easy shuffle under his vocals and nicely interwoven horn work by James and Murray and the tight drumming of Teixeira and groove bass by Ballou gives this track an electrifying feel. Hot, slow, blues, Give Me Back...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It's Time To Shine , from Dave Keller and it's a real nice blues rocker. Opening with Waiting For The Sunshine , Dave Keller  on vocal and guitar set up a great funky rock sound. With Jay Gleason on drums and Alex Budney on bass this opener had a really great feel, nicely augmented by Ira Friedman on keys. Excellent opener. On R&B flavored, 789-0133 , Keller really shows his ability to sing with real soul. Mark Earley on sax and Tom Palance on trumpet add real depth on this track and with warm organ work by Friedman and great backing vocals by Annika Chambers - DesLauriers, Keller takes a real nice stroll on guitar making this one of my favorite tracks (think Billy Price/Roy Buchanan pairing). Up tempo, Paint A New Life Together , has a strong melody and with a full organ envelope, Keller is upfront on vocals really showing his stuff. A power burst of guitar showmanship really mates to this track nicely. Anoth...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hit The Number , by Peter Poirier and it's really good. Opening with jump track, Jukebox , Peter Poirier is kicking it on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Brad Hallen on bass, Mark Teixeira on drums, Brooks Milgate on keys and with Sax Gordon Beadle really blowing strong on tenor sax. On Hit The Numbers , Poirier hits the ground running with strong, fluid guitar intro, with Mark Earley on sax, wailing away. Another cool track is Moanin' and Groanin' with Poirier really walking his guitar down the way. With excellent horn backing by Beadle, Earley and Tom Palance on trumpet, and meaty Hammond work by Brooks Milgate, this track has a great strut. With a Latin rhythm, You Done Lied On Me really gives Poirier a chance to step out a bit on guitar. Tight rhythm by Teixeira, warm Hammond by Milgate and strong horn support by Beadle, Palance and Earley makes this another go to track. Wrapping the release is low slung...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Attitude, from Soulful Femme and it's a tight rocker with a blues overtone. Opening with title track, Attitude , Soulful Femme principals Stevee Wellons and Cheryl Rinovato get down to business. Wellons is upfront on vocal, with Rinovato playing a great blues rhythm, backed by Albert Castiglia on guitar, Michael Bram on drums, Matt Raymond on bass and Dave Gross on Hammond. Kevin Burt adds some really soulful lead vocal on Insane Asylum . Rich, warm vocal blending with Wellons and nicely placed guitar lead by Rinovato make this one of my favorites on the release. With an R&B feel, Loser's Game has a strong melody, and with Wellons' vocal lead and a solid guitar solo, just the right feel for a top radio track. Reggae fused, Dysfunctional Funk is another track with strong radio appeal with a strong melody, solid lead vocals and nice addition of Doug Wooverton on trumpet and Mark Earley on sax. Wrapping the...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dog Bites Back , from Dyer Davis and I just gotta say, anyone who opens an album with a first class cover of a Jeff Beck rocker gets a free pass in my book and hearing Let Me Love You blowing out of my speakers with raw vocals and electrofired guitar riffs is great. Backed by Billy Dean on drums, Victor Wainwright on piano, Stephen Dees on bass, this track is excellent! Cryin' Shame has a bit of a R&B feel but is strong rock blues with clean guitar riffs and strong vocals by Davis. With David Weatherspoon on drums , Jacob Barone on bass, Billy Chapin on rhythm guitar and excellent trumpet punctuation and accents by Joe Young, Davis squeezes out for fine blues on buitar. Very nice. I really like the R&B feel of Lifting Up My Soul which makes a nice radio track. It's melody is strong and with melodic lead guitar and powerful horn work by Mark Earley and Patricia Ann Dees, this is strong. Title track, Dog B...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mercy Me , from Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters and it's strong. Opening with Muddy Waters' classic shuffle, Blow Wind Blow in Earl style and it's great. With Diane Blue handling the lead vocals nicely, Dave Limina on B3, Paul Kochanski on bass and Forrest Padgett on drums and Peter Ward sharing the guitar work with Earl, this is a solid opener. Slow blues, Blues For Duke Robillard , is prime Earl. I know that this may sound repetitive, but although Earl is an excellent player across the spectrum, his flow and chops on slow blues instrumentals are really tops in todays market. His feel, phrasing and tone is excellent and this track is an excellent example. With a slight uptick, Anthony Geraci's A Prayer For Tomorrow , is another great jam showing Earl not only with strong lead phrasing but gripping trem bends and lush chords under the beautiful key work of Geraci. Very nice. Another great shuffle, Dave...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bigman , from BIGLLOU Johnson and it a solid R&B / blues set. Opening with Lightnin' Strike , an up tempo blues strut, BIGLLOU stylistically speaks the story, backed by Mark Early on sax, Doug Woolverton on trumpet, Bill Overton on clarinet and Dwight Dukes, Terrence Grayson, Ellison Hall, Amanda Joyce, keith Sweat Monique Whittington and Monico Whittington on backing vocals. With a rumbling bass and crisp harmonica wailing by Russ Green, Chill On Cold has a great bluesy feel. Shucky Ducky (Quack Quack) has a tight Latin rhythm courtesy Ricky Nelson on drums and Kalyan Pathak on percussion and the addition of Anthony Dopsie on accordion adds a special texture. BIGLLOU had a terrific, deep voice and that timbre really comes through on this track. I Got The Fever is my favorite track on the release with it's slow, thick oozing blues. BIGLLOU really grinds out the deep vocal like nobody can and with nice pian...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Loud , by Victor Wainwright & The Train and it's spicy. Opening with Mississippi , a cool party song with a kaleidoscope of musical tones including Wainwright on vocal and keys, Billy Dean on drums, Terrance Grayson on bass, Pat Harrington on guitar, Mark Earley on sax, Doug Woolverton on trumpet, Dave Gross on percussion, Mikey Junior on vocal, Reba Russell on vocal, Stephen Dees on vocals, Patricia Ann Dees on vocals, Gracie Curran on vocals and Peanut Reed on vocals. Title track, Memphis Loud is a real locomotive with instrumental horsepower. With Wainwright really hitting the electric piano and Earley and Woolverton pushing the horns, this track has a massive opening. Smoothing into a Louisiana flavored, country tinged, track, Sing , Wainwright and Dave Gross really work the vocals. Quieting down to a real nice ballad, Disappear , Wainwright shows his strong vocal feel with a nicely crafted undercarr...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live , from Chris "Bad News" Barnes it's  a full blown boogie rocker. Opening with Back In A Cadillac , Barnes leads with his vocal power, joined by Gary Hoey on lead guitar, Steve Guyger onharp and backed by Sandy MacDonald on piano, AJ Pappas on bass, Matt Scurfield on drums, Mark Earley on sax, Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Gracie Curran on backing vocal. Little Walter's Boom Boom, Out Go The Lights gets a faster rockier pace and a strong harmonica solo by Guyger, nice sax solo by Earley, wicked guitar work by Hoey and full trumpet work by Woolverton give the track real oomph. Gravelly vocals by Barnes on a lumbering version of Morganfield's Hoochie Coochie Man is real nice with a humping bass line by Pappas and greasy solos by both Hoey and Guyger give the track a real grind. With it's Bo Diddley beat, It's Tight Like Tha t, has Curran echoing Barnes lead vocals and wicked slide by ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Man of Many Blues , from Paul Gabriel and it's got style. Opening with Latin flavored, I Feel Good , Paul Gabriel is front and center on lead guitar and vocal with Frank Davis on bass, Lonnie Gasperini on Hammond, Mark Earley on tenor and bari sax, Doug James on bari sax and Mark Teixeira on drums. On shuffle, Maybe We Can Talk A While , Duke Robillard lays in some real nice guitar lead giving the track just a little more smooth polish. Blues For Georgia is a real cool track with a jazzy edge. Gabriel's guitar lead is really nice, paired with Gasperini's Hammond organ work and the mighty Bruce Bears on piano. Very nice. My favorite track on the release is Just A Bitterness with it's soulful structure and slow bluesy pace. Gabriel's vocal strengths and really showcased on this one and addition of Robillard on guitar gives stinging guitar results. With rich sax work by Earley, this track just hits the...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soul Doctor , from Jimmy Carpenter and it's cool mix of blues, rock, soul and R&B. Opening with blues rocker and title track, Soul Rocker , Jimmy Carpenter on lead vocal and sax sets the pace with hot guitar work by Nick Schnebelen, Red Young on keys, Jason Langley on bass and Cameron Tyler on drums. Shuffle, Wild Streak has a cool swing and features a real solid sax solo by Carpenter and so great slide by Trevor Johnson. New Orleans flavored, Love It So Much is one of my favorites on the release with hot drum work by Tyler, a great bass line by Langley, Doug Woolverton on trumpet, Mark Earley on Bari sax and of course strong vocal and sax work by Carpenter. Slower blues track, Need Your Love So Bad really gives Carpenter a chance to shine on vocal and sax and Johnson's lead guitar work is very nice. Funky, Wanna Be Right is a solid radio entry with excellent key work by Young, super vocals by Carpenter,...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Come Undone , from Gracie Curran and it's meaty. Opening with title track, Come Undone , Gracie Curran is back with her newest release and a lot of soul. This is old school styling with Damon Fowler on guitar, Matt Walker on guitar and bass, Justin Headley on drums, Pat Harrington on drums, Victor Wainwright on keys, Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Mark Earley on sax really delivers the goods. Curran's vocal phrasing and style, with a touch of reggae is just right for an excellent opener! High energy swing track, Stay Up! , shows Curran is not only happy digging in deep but very light on her feet. Fowler's fleet fingered guitar work is nicely backed by Jeremy Powell on keys and New Orleans style horn work by Woolverton and Earley give this track extra zip. On shuffle track, Sweet Sativa , Fowler pulls out the slide giving the track a down home feel and playing off backing vocals, Curran has this track right...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Empty Arms , from Peter Poirier , and it's a solid does of R&B/blues. Opening with BB King's cool shuffle, Bad Luck , vocalist/lead guitar player takes the lead backed by a strong troupe of players including Brad Hallen (bass), Mark Teixeira (drums), Matt McCabe (piano) and Mark Earley (saxes). Sleepy John Estes' Someday Baby maintains much of it's original character  with maybe a little Muddy influence. Playing it fairly straight, Poirier's vocals are clean and his guitar lead tight. BB King's, I Wonder Why , is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a great swing. Earley lays in a real nice sax solo and Poirier's vocals and guitar work are really solid. With a Latin beat, BB Kings' And Like That is compact like BB wrote it with tight, essential guitar soloing and nice sax by Earley. Willie Dixon's I Cry For You has a super Chicago strut and Poirier's vocals are terri...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release, Victor Wainwright and The Train and it's rockin. Wainwright on lead vocal and keys pushes a nice duel with guitarist Pat Harrington, on Healing , backed by Billy Dean on drums and Terrance Grayson on bass. Also adding a nice bit of oomph are Mark Earley on sax and Doug Woolverton on trumpet. Nice opener. Train is a hot boogie woogie track with Wainwright really driving hard on vocal and piano. Woolverton and Earley fill nicely and Reba Russell's vocals are super.  Excellent track. Soulful, Dull Your Shine is a really nice track that puts me in mind of D'Angelo with a suspenseful approach to the song and super vocals. Also of particular note on this track is a sweet guitar solo by Greg Gumpel. Blues with a distinct R&B feel, Thank You Lucille , is possibly my favorite track on release featuring some of Wainwright's best vocals on the release and Monster Mike Welch handling the lead guita...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (November 17, 2017), The Luckiest Man , from Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters and it's really strong. Opening with Don Robey's Ain't That Loving You , and a great groove featuring Diane Blue on vocals, the band is smoking. Earl's perfect syncopation on his solos backed by Dave Limina on keys, Forrest Padgett on drums and Paul Kochanski on bass...excellent opener. Jim's Song is a quiet, introspective track using primarily guitar chords as the skeleton and guitar lead soloing as a lush environmental flesh. Very nice. With a cool swing, Blue is back up front on Heartbreak (It's Hurtin' Me) . Limina really takes the floor with his B3 solo and Earl tears it up nicely with great balance and style. Soul track, Never Gonna Break My Faith really shows off Blue's vocal style at it's best. Earl and Limina carry the weight, but this track is all about Blue and she kills it. Sugar Ray Norcia...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kingdom of Swing , by Adrianna Marie and her roomful of all-stars , and it's tasty. Opening with Kingdom of Swing you are transported to the 40's with a great bottom by Kedar Roy on bass and Brian Fahey. The ROOM is FULL with the Roomful Horns and a terrific trumpet solo by Doug Woolverton and excellent solo by Carl Querfurth and of course super sax work by Doug James, Rich Lataille and Mark Earley. Wow! Marie belts away on Better Beware and the warmth of James, Lataille and Earley is super. With super sax solos on this one and the cool piano work of Al Copley and a really nicely styled guitar solo by Jones, this is another winner. Catch the ripping sax solo by James on Sidecar Mama teamed with Earley and Lataille and raw guitar work of Jones for a grand slam. Jones plays some particularly warm solo lead on Duke Ellington's Mood Indigo teamed with some of Marie's best vocals on the release making...