Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Front Porch , from The Mary Jo Curry Band , and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Nothin' Is Easy , a romping boogie, Mary Jo Curry is a solid leader and vocalist with Albert Castiglia on guitar, Rick Snow on drums, Chris Rogers on bass Michael Rapier on slide guitar, Brett Donovan on Hammond and Brian Moore on sax. Cool opener. Shuffle track, All Your Lies, really showcases Curry's vocal prowess and with a swell of Hammond by Donovan, riding drums by Snow and a flurry of guitar work by Rapier. Bluesy ballad, Explaining The Blues, shows the silky smoothness of Curry's voice and with warm keys from Ezra Casey creating tension and tight ride cymbal by Snow. I like guitar shuffle, Shake & Bake , featuring the fancy finger work of Tom Holland on guitar, backed by Snow, Rogers (who lays in a cool bass solo), Rapier, Casey and with a heavy sax solo by Moore. Very cool. Edgar Winter's, We All Had ...

I just received the newest self titled release from Mary Jo Curry and it should have broad audience appeal. Opening with Ooooo Weeee , an easy blues number featuring Curry on lead vocal over a basic blues riff. Dick Garretson on trumpet provides key accents and Michael Rapier and James Armstrong on guitar, Darryl Wright on bass, Andrew Blaze Thomas on bass, Brett Donovan on keys, Mike Gillette on sax and Larry Niehaus on trombone. A cool walking bass line by Lawrence Baluden sets the pace for Husband #2 and Rapier and Armstrong lay out cool guitar runs under the smooth vocals of Curry. Junior Wells' Little By Little is on of my favorite tracks on the release with clear vocals and a solid blues backing and tight key work from Donovan. Slow ballad, Wrapped Around My Heart , penned by Tom Hambridge really shows Curry at her best belting out a radio oriented track. Her vocals are powerful and rich, with cool guitar lead work. Very nice. Steppin' is a cool slow boogie with re...