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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues In Hand, by Al Basile and I really like it. Opening with All of Your Lies, Al Basile on lead vocal and cornet create a real funky groove backed by Mark Teixeira on drums, Brad Hallen on bass, Bruce Bears on keys, Jeff "Doc" Chanonhouse on trumpet, Doug James on tenor sax and a stellar guitar solo by Kid Anderson. Excellent opener. Blues After Blues is another really strong track with a deeper feel and a soulful Albert King kind of vibe. Basile plays a soulful cornet solo and his vocals, along with Anderson's sweltering guitar work and Bears' organ solo give this track real traction. Up tempo soul track, Thank You Fool has a real radio appeal with it's solid melody and smooth organ solo by Bears. Good Rhythm is an easy paced blues track featuring Basile's vocals and a real nice piano solo by Bears. A lower octave, stylized, guitar solo by Andersen adds to the dark feel of the track. My Dearest Dream has a reaal nice bluesy feel with Basile on vocal and cool laid back trumpet work by Chanonhouse and smooth piano work by Bears. Wrapping the release is funky, When You Lose Your Money, has just a hint of BB King with accents by Chanonhouse and a firm bass line by Hallen giving the track a distinct feel. A simple, soulful cornet solo by Basile and his own distinct vocal style and a stylized guitar solo by Andersen makes this a solid closer for an enjoyable release.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gonna Be 2 of Those Days, and it's a super contemporary blues rocker. Opening with Blues In The 21st Century, Jimmy Vivino on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Joe Bonamassa for a straight up blues rocker with a driving rhythm and super slide work. Joined by Rich Pagano on drums, Mark Teixeira on percussion, and Scott Healy on piano, this is a strong opener. Title track, Gonna Be 2 Of Those Days, has a real nice groove with excellent vocals by Vivino, With Jesse Williams on bass, Scott Healy on piano Rich Pagano on drums and some real tasty guitar work by Vivino, this track is smoking. Slow blues, Fool's Gold is my favorite track on the release with soulful vocals, deep full B3 work and excellent guitar work by Vivino. With Pagano on drums and Williams on bass, this track is tops. Another standout track is Shady Side Of The Street with it's Howlin' Wolf like story telling and daunting bass line by Williams. Vivino really works the vocals on this track and his guitar work weaves nicely throughout the track. Wrapping the release is acoustic country blues, Back Up The Country, featuring Vivino on vocal and guitar and John Sebastian on guitar and harmonica. This track is laid back but really does a nice job to wind down the session. Solid 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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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 My Money is really an excellent showcase for Robillard when he lays back and stretches. With solid vocals and hot horns by Murray and James, Robillard lays down some stellar phrasing giving this track real legs and Ballou and Teixeira holding down the bottom allow it to fly. Wrapping the release is cool shuffle, Don't You Want To Roll With Me with smooth vocals by Robillard and excellent guitar phrasing held tight with Teixeira. James gets on more chance to play it hot and he optimizes every note. 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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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, Jacks and Tens, a pure blues instrumental with Poirier out for a cool stroll. Earley on bari sax is fatter than hell, contrasting nicely with Milgate on piano. This is a solid closer for a really nice release.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Six Strings of Steel by Duke Robillard an it's terrific. Opening with Barney Kessel's Git With It!, Duke Robillard hits the ground running. This is a great tune and Robillard knows how to sell it. Joined by Marty Ballou on bass, Mark Teiseira on drums and with an outstanding solo by Doug James on sax, this is an excellent opener. On, Shame, Shame, Shame, Robillard really gets things rockin. Chris Cote does a great job on vocal and another outstanding solo by James and of course strong guitar work by Duke. Chuck Willis' Love Struck is deep in soul and Cote does an excellent job. Warm organ work by Bruce Bears paves the way for exceptional guitar phrasing by Robillard making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Leo Parker's Billy In The Lion's Den is an excellent showcase for James and he really does shine. Robillard springboards from the deep throaty work of James with his own light fingered attack, then trading solid riffs making this another exceptional track on the release. Lowell Fulson's Lovin' You fits nicely into this set with it's R&B feel and with James and Bears holding the line for Cote on vocal and nicely stylized guitar lead by Robillard, a strong addition to the set. Wrapping the release is Link Wray's Rumble. Nothing has the grit of Wray's classic, and that reverb saturation is so time perfect. Robillard really works it making it a perfect closer for one of his best releases in years.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, B's Time, by Al Basile and it's a cool retrospective of Basile's 25 years with Sweetspot Records using up to date technology on the remastering. Opening with You Showed Me Something, from 2009 release, Soul Blue, Basile on cornet and lead vocals is joined by Mark Teixeira on drums, Bruce Katz on keys, Marty Ballou on bass, Doug James on sax, and Carl Querfurth on trombone, that walking bass line really sets up for great solos by Basile, Katz and James. Great opener. Two stepper, Drive Me Darling from the 2001 release Shaking The Soul Tree had a cool psychedelic rock vibe with solid vocals by Basile. Jeff McAllister on drums, Tom West on keys, John Packer on bass and some wild guitar work By Duke Robillard really makes this track a standout. Light jazz track, B.D. from the 2003 release Red Breath is chilled and relaxed giving Basille a lot of room to breathe on cornet and sets up with real nice lead work by Paul Odeh on keys, backed by Marty Richards on drums, and Marty Ballou on on bass. Very nice. A splash of reggae on Causing Joy from the 2009's Soul Blue features Basile on some real nice vocal, Doug James on sax, Ballou on bass, Katz on Katz on keys, Teixeira on drums really lays in the slot. Wrapping the release is driving rocker, 1.843 Million from 2010 release The Goods, with a tight drum set from Teixeira, and really heavy bass work by Brad Hallen. Basile's cornet sings and Robillard laying in some vital riffs makes this track an 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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, As The Crow Flies, from Seth Rosenbloom and it's reall good. Opening with title track, As The Crow Flies, Seth Rosenbloom shows excellent vocal skills and plays lead guitar, paired with Ryan Taylor on slide guitar and backed by Jesse Williams on bass, Bruce Bears on organ, and Mark Teixeira on drums. Taylor on rhythm and slide really works nicely to give Rosenbloom plenty of active guitar work to solo over with really strong results. Nice opener. Poised vocal phrasing over a really nice bass line makes Set Me Free a prominant leader for the radio track on the release. With full backing vocals by Sonya Rae Taylor and Erica Van Pelt, this is a real cool track. Slow blues, Can't Trust Your Neighbor, not only gives Rosenbloom a great opening to demonstrate his vocal skills, but show his excellent blues guitar phrasing and dexterity. My favorite track on the release. Excellent! Shuffle track, Ain't Nothing Wrong, with it's snare reinforced lope really hits the spot and gived Rosenbloom a great opening to lay down some Texas style riffs. Wrapping the release is slow blues, Give Me The Ring Back with it's BB King style phrasing is a really great closer. Rosenbloom is a great vocal front man and his call and response phrasing is strong. This track will have you sitting back and nodding your head. Great closer for a really strong release.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (9/19/2022), Through With Cool, by Al Basile and it may be my favorite yet. Opening with Keep On Living, with a cool Latin beat by Mark Teixeira on drums and Brad Hallen on bass we're off to a great start. Basile who sings and plays cornet really rides the slot and just seems to hit it perfectly with Bruce Bears on keys and Kid Andersen provides some real nice guitar effects, all backed by Doug James on sax and Doc Chanonhouse on trumpet. Super opener. On blues swinger, I'm Waiting has a real nice feel with Chanonhouse on trumpet, punctuating Basile's vocal lead and Andersen's guitar style is terrific as always. Basile lays in a cool muted cornet solo giving the track an overall jazz approach giving it yet one more dimension. Very nice. Uh Huh is a cool strut with punchy horn work over the basic rhythm section supporting Basile's vocal. Basile lays in a cool cornet solo which is real nice but when Andersen steps up on guitar, I gotta say, his style really is cool and relentless. Very nice. Another cool blues number is Turnabout Is Fair Play and Basile knows how to set the table with strong vocals. Andersen is right on spot with some scorching guitar riffs again making me sit up and take notice but Basile is back on cornet letting you know who wrote the show. Very cool. We Lie On Your Grave is a really nice track with a sumptuous melody, emphasized by the effortless cornet solo on Basile and Andersen again really plays scorching riffs under the melody. Wrapping the release is title track, Through With Cool, with it's conventional blues vamp played in understated fashion by Andersen to the lead vocal by Basile. This is a simple, straightforward closer for a real nice release.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, They Called It Rhythm & Blues, by The Duke Robillard Band, and it's another stellar performance by the Duke and his crew. Opening with swing blues, Here I'm Is, Chris Cote on lead vocal really does a nice job with excellent fluid guitar lead by Robillard, and solid backing by Bruce Bears on keys, Marty Ballou on bass, Mark Teixeira on drums and Doug James on sax. Fools Are Getting Scarcer, James really does a great job stepping out on bari and tenor sax solos over a hot R&B feel. Excellent! Kim Wilson takes the lead on Tell Me Why with his trademark vocals and solid harmonica work. Robillard's guitar lead is impeccable and the band is solid. John Hammond is up front on Homeless Blues with his delta based vocal and playing style. I really like Hammond and am glad to see him on this release. With distinctive drum work by Teixeira and piano by Bears, this track is one of my favorites. Freddy King's Someday After Awhile, is a real showcase for both Cote and Robillard with exceptional vocal lead and plenty of room for Duke to stretch. Very nice. Kim Wilson does a rework on Guitar Slim's Things I Used To Do, The Things I Forgot To Do, and Wilson works it nicely. Duke's guitar soloing really captures the styling of Slim and the piano work of Bears is spot on, with reinforcement by James and Mark Earley on sax. Very cool. Wrapping the release is hot instrumental jam, Swingin' For Four Bills, featuring really nice front work by Duke, Sue Foley and Mike Flanigin. This is a super track and great closer for Robillard on this newest release.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, B's Testimony, from Al Basile and it's a real cool mix of blues and jazz. Opening with Lucky Man, a lightly funky, New Orleans flavored track with loose drum rhythm by Mark Teixeira, Brad Hallen on bass and Bruce Bears on piano. Adding in a bit of rock to the blues on If All It Took Was Wishing, Basile on cornet works with Doug James and Doc Chanonhouse to get just the right sound. Funky blues, I'm Bad That Way features some real tasty guitar work from Kid Andersen under some of Basile's best vocals on the release as well as a real nice laid back cornet solo that flows perfectly. Horn backing by James and Chanonhouse give it just the right amount of soul. Andersen steps up early on Up Close And Personal Best with some real hot riffs and follows with some absolute stinging solo guitar lead and Basile's muted cornet soloing lays in the slot making this one of my favorites on the release. Shuffle, I Oughta Be Your Monkey, is a lot of fun with just Basile front and center on cornet and lead vocal and a cool interface between Andersen's fine guitar work and the horns of James and Chanonhouse. Very nice. Another tight guitar solo by Andersen highlights It's Your Pain. Kid blends chickin pickin styling with bluesy approach, Basile's own laid back cornet solo laid in and the rich organ work of Bears tying it all together. On Through Thick and Thin Andersen really gets loose on guitar and if you've never heard that, it's an absolute joy. The guy really can play and he's really inventive. He swings from riff to riff with wreckless abandon and blows the top off of this one. Excellent! Built around a similar musical theme as "A Thrill Is Gone" Would I Do That To You?, is a great R&B shaped blues number. Basile leads on vocal with horn response by James and Chanonhouse. This track is a real sweet showcase of his cornet work and again resolves with Andersen just slaying the guitar. His bends, mixed with his (what sounds like) whammy vibrato is off the hook. Soft horn backing by James and Chanonhouse really add warmth for a strong finish. Wrapping the release is He Said, She Said, a low slung blues number with a real nice piano display by Bears and solid vocals by Basile leading to another hot guitar solo by Andersen. Basile closes the show with a poised cornet solo line. Really cool release.
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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Couldn't find a video for the release but here's one anyway with Al and Kid:
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Bash, by Duke Robillard & Friends and it may be his best recent release. Opening with Do You Mean It, Chris Cote is up front on lead vocal with Robillard on guitar, Bruce Bears on piano and Hammond, Mark Teixeira on drums and Jesse Williams on bass. With it's up tempo shuffle feel and super lead work by Robillard, super opener. Piano boogie, What Can I Do showcases strong piano by Bears and super sax by Greg Piccolo, Rich Lataille and Doug James and again. With Cote on lead vocal again and some really hot guitar riffs by Robillard, this track spins. With it's bluesy lope, Rock Alley is a great track to show Robillard at his best. His guitar phrasing is terrific and his feel is soulful. A bluesy sax solo by Lataille really adds great spice on this track. Very nice. Michelle Willson steps up on lead vocal on swing track, You Played On My Piano giving it a great feel and a rich, fat, sax solo by James really kicks this track up another notch. On I Ain't Gonna Do It, Mark Braun really sets the pace on piano with Marty Richards on drums, Marty Ballou on bass, Al Basile on cornet and Sax Gordon on sax. Hot track. Robillard handles lead guitar and vocal on Give Me All The Love You Got with it's sturdy blues feel and fat sax bottom. Robillard dances stylistically on the fretboard showing that fluid finger work that he's well known for. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Just Chillin', a cool, instrumental blues jam with a relaxed feel. Piccolo lays in a really nice sax solo, followed by nicely phrased guitar soloing by Robillard. A Hammond solo by Bears adds real texture to the track making this a strong closer for a solid release.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, B's Hot House, from Al Basile and it's a great mix of blues, R&B and soul. Opening with So Called Story Teller, a lumbering "Thrill Is Gone" like track with Basile on lead vocal and cornet, and featuring Duke Robillard with some mighty tasty guitar riffs. Backed by Mark Teixeira on drums, Brad Hallen on bass, Bruce Bears on keys, Doug James on sax and Doc Cannonhouse, this is a super opener. Shuffle track, Razor Wire has a great stride with Bears' "Booker T like" organ vibe and Robillard's riffs lead nicely into a cool cornet solo by Basile. Very nice. R&B track, Give Me That Look is one of my favorites with it's easy groove and sax/trumpet accent. Basile's vocals on this track are my favorite on the release as well with solid piano work giving it that polish. Another of my favorites on the release is What Dogs Wanna Do, with Robillard dialing his guitar into warm round sound over a Latin rhythm. Horn chorus behind the lead guitar sounds almost vocal like giving the track an almost gospel feel. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Time Has Made A Fool Of Me, a bass reinforced shuffle with muted horns on the return. Basile's vocals guide the track and a loose, jazz style trumpet gives the track a cool feel. This is a solid release by Basile and another cool release outside of the guitar mainstream.
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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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 nail on the head. Very nice. Wrapping the release is blues rocker, Dear John Letter. With it's blended lead vocal chorus and Christine Ohlman and it's overall radio styling, it makes for a solid closer and the most likely radio track. Cool closer for a cool release.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Highway Cruise, from J. P. Reali and it's cool and laid back. Opening with My Baby Likes To Boogie, a nice paced shuffle, Reali leads the way on vocal and guitar, with cool guitar soloing by Duke Levine on electric guitar, hot riffs by Kevin Barry on lap steel, and nice piano work by Tom West, with Jim Haggerty on bass, Mark Teixeira on drums and Dennis Brennan on harmonica. On Chuck Berry flavored, The Ballad Of A Burglar, these guys nail the Berry guitar rhythm and Reali's vocal cadence is spot on. Levine's guitar riffs are crisp, Barry,s slide work creamy and Brennan's piano work adds great texture. Blues for Casey has a real nice Grateful Dead or Arlo Guthrie feel with it's acoustic carefree flow. Barry on dobro and Levine on mandolin balance nicely with West on piano and Brennan on Harmonica. My favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is Whiskey For Blood, a country blues track with Dave Bromberg style vocals. I really like this track as well with it's pure bluegrass style instrumentation and cool harp work by Brennan. nice closer for a cool release.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ear Worms, from Duke Robillard Band it's quite good. Opening with rock n' roller, Don't Bother Trying To Steal Her Love, Dave Howard is up front on vocal with Bruce Bears on piano, Mark Teuxeira on drums and Marty Ballou on bass. Robillard shows his stuff with do real nice low octave tones and country twanging riffs. Chris Cote has lead vocal on Living With The Animals, a smooth bluesy ballad with stinging guitar riffs by Robillard. Beautiful phrasing and tone give this track an extra boost. Traditional pop tune, Careless Love gets some spice with an up bound swing beat and done totally instrumental with solid lead by Robillard and cool Hammond work by Bears. Very nice. Klem Kilmen is on lead vocal on Chuck Berry's Dear Dad, a fiery rocker with slick bluesy bends and tight riffs by Robillard and a cool piano solo by Bears. Allen Toussaint's funky, Yes We Can has some real nice edgy telecaster riffs, wah wah, almost sounding like the late great Roy Buchanan. This may be my favorite track on the release with just a low key bottom rumble and Bears on vocal. Very nice. Teixeira leads the way on the Neville Brothers' Yellow Moon. With it's swaying New Orleans sound, reverby guitar tones and boppy organ, this is another top track. Wrapping the release is classic R&B hit, You Belong To Me with nicely stylized, clean, round lead on guitar rather than vocal. Resting nicely in the warmth of Bears' organ work, and with a rich solo of his own, this is a solid closer for a real nice release.
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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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 terrific. On Freddie King's,You Know That You Love Me, Poirier's guitar riffs are fluid and the piano work of McCabe's piano work is excellent. Wrapping the release is Freddie King's Heads Up with it's surf beat. Poirier works it hard against the tom tom work of Teixeira for a cool closing instrumental.
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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I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Quiet Money, from Al Basile and it has great body! Basile, hot cornet player and legendary first trumpet with Roomful of Blues is back with Duke Robillard on guitar, Mark Teixeira on drums, Brad Hallen on bass, Bruce Bears on piano, Doc Chanonhouse on trumpet, Rich Lataille on tenor sax and Doug James on tenor and bari saxes. Opening with Blues Got Blues, Basile and Robillard lead the way with balanced lead lines making for a solid opener. On Simple Ain't Easy, Robillard lays out some really tasty lead work under Basile's vocals giving it great feel. Basile steps up with muted cornet and plays off the tempo for super accent. On title track, Quiet Money, James has the bari out and the heft really sets the track. With an easy swing, Basile's vocals ride the groove on this laid back number. Put Some Salt On It, a prime 12 bar number, Basile lays in a real nice cornet lead, complimenting his vocals and Robillard's guitar work is stinging. Jump track, The Time Is Now, has a snappy pace and loose, flamboyant guitar riffs by Robiolard, and well punctuated cornet lead by Basile. Swing track, I Woulda Been Wrong is one of my favorites on the release with signature guitar riffs by Robillard and some of Basile's best vocals on the release. Robillard really digs deep and lays out some of the most expressive riffs on Not Today. James really steps up with a fat sax solo on True To Form paired nicely with solos by Robillard and Basile. Wrapping the release is ballad, Who's Gonna Close My Eyes? Featuringthe vocals of Basile deep bari work by James, Bears piano finesse and a melodic solo by Basile, this is a solid closer to a solid release.
I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Mid-Century Modern, from Al Basile and he's spot on. Sporting a who's who of musicians, Basile mixes blues, funk, rock and jazz for a real Mid-Century experience. Opening with Keep Your Love, Where's My Money, a slick new Orleans style track with a cool back beat, Basile and his crew, Rich Lataille, Duke Robillard, Bruce Bears, Doug James, Monster Mike Welch, Mark Teixeira and Brad Hallen set the club scene nicely. Basile sets a real nice table on cornet, complimenting his vocals and super stylized piano by Bears makes this track sing. Funky, Like You or Despise You, has a cool trumpet vamp by Jeff "Doc" Channonhouse and over a nice bass line by Hallen, Basile lays out a really cool cornet riff and Monster Mike's guitar work is slick. On Midnight Blue Persuasion, a straight R&B groove, Basile presents some of the top vocals on the release. This track has a real nice feel, like R&B from the 60's with his own cornet work on showcase. Tickle My Mule is a clever track with innuendo and I really like Monster Mike's guitar work on this track. Excellent! Really getting into the Louis Jordan swing thing , I've Gotta Have Meat, is great track and the band is really cooking. Rich Lataille and Doug James really shine on this track with hot sax work. Funky, Like A Woman, , Like A Man features Duke Robillard screaming hot on guitar with Albert King like riffs. I love King and this track is hot! Blank Dog has a really nice groove with saxes a blazing and snappy drum work by Mark Teixeira. Nice trumpet work by Doc and excellent guitar riffs compliment Basile's soulful cornet work making this another super track. Shuffle track, Carry These Blues has great warmth and sports great vocals and cornet work by Basile, nice trumpet work by Doc, essential piano backing and some real nice guitar riffs by Welch. Swampy, No Truth To The Rumor, rides heavy on the back of Hallen, with Bears laying in some terrific piano lines and Basile's cornet hot spots. On light shuffle, Listen To The Elders, Basile goes down more of a big band path with trumpet and sax work taking a stronger spot. James' work on bari sax is really hot and I always love Bruce Bears work on everything he does. Basile has a real nice hand with his cornet laying in just the right amount of seasoning. Soul track, Night Crossing, has strong radio bones with a funky bottom compliments of Hallen. Big Trees Falling is really nice and funky and Hallen is setting the pace. With Doc hitting the trumpet on rhythm, Basile steps up on cornet taking lead. Welch rips some really fat riffs over Bears clever piano riffs giving the track some really traction. Wrapping the release is Lie Under The House with Me, a quiet jazz track with an almost Miles feel. Basile takes some of his best horn rides on this track and Robillard sets up for a slam of his own on this one with nicely articulated guitar work. Calm and soulful, a nice closer for a different taste of blues.
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