CLICK ON TITLE BELOW TO GO TO PURCHASE!!!! CD submissions accepted! Guest writers always welcome!!

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!


Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com
Showing posts with label Matt Schofield. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matt Schofield. Show all posts

Friday, October 7, 2016

JL Fulks - On Down The Road - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, On Down The Road from JL Fulks and I really like it. Opening with The River, Fulks sets the stage with a meaty double stop sound on his guitar and his own vocals backed by solid backing vocals by Rachel Brown. Driving rock drums work by Ian Jones and tasty bass work by Ken Burgner complimented nicely by Muggie Doo on B3 leads into a well executed guitar solo. Very cool. Snappy drum riffs by Jones opens title track, On Down The Road, a Matt Schofleid compiosition. Fulks has really learned to keep his guitar in check and uses his lead vocals to direct the track, adding really well executed guitar soloing by Schofield and his own to complete his expressions. Excellent! Slow blues number, I Believe In Love, gives Fulks the opportunity to show his metal with his guitar. His phrases are well composed and fluid showing maturity and patience. Very nice! On Honey, Ain't That Love, Fulks backs off to an easy shuffle and more primitive styling. With a solid bass line by Burgner and Thorogood like vocals, this is a cool radio style track. Wrapping the release is Phrygian Dance, a cool Greek or middle eastern sound with a hyped up rock beat. I really like this instrumental giving all of the band mates a workout with Fulks soloing throughout. I really like this release which shows super growth by Fulks over tha past year. This is a guy to watch.

View Bman Blueswriter's profile on LinkedIn

  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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

Monday, January 27, 2014

Provogue Records- Your Guide to the Blues



WE HOPE YOU'RE AS EXCITED AS WE ARE!

Boy do we have a great year of music for you. For those of you who ARE familiar with Provogue, you already know that we are an international favorite in the blues world. With artists like, Robert Cray, Walter Trout, Beth Hart, Popa Chubby, and Leslie West it's no surprise that we took home 7 honorable mentions in The Blues Magazine's Best of 2013 edition, not to mention 2 Blues Foundation nominations, and a Grammy nomination!  That's why it's no surprise we plan on making a lot of noise in 2014! 
 

WHAT'S NEW?

Fresh Artists + Brand New Releases

Whether you're into classic blues, Chicago blues, a good ol' shuffle or even your new-age progressive blues there's a big buzz coming from Matt Schofield. His latest release "Far As I Can See" serves an entree of well thought out songs that take you for a journey. The album is available worldwide on February 18th, you can click here to pre-order now. 
 

"THERE ISN'T A BETTER BRITISH BLUES GUITARIST PLAYING CURRENTLY"
-Guitar Magazine


NEW ALBUMS FOR 2014!
March 4 "A Day In Nashville" - ROBBEN FORD
April 1 "In My Soul" -  THE ROBERT CRAY BAND


 

"THE UK HAS PRODUCED THE BEST BLUES GUITARIST FROM ANY COUNTRY IN DECADES. HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE HEARD."
- Los Angeles TIMES


CONGRATULATIONS BETH!
BETH HART'S ALBUM WITH JOE BONAMASSA HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR "BEST BLUES ALBUM" AT THE 56TH ANNUAL GRAMMYS










Be sure to tune into the 56th annual Grammy's Sunday, January 26th, 2014 on CBS!

Copyright © 2014, All rights reserved.


 
No virus found in this message.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Provogue Records artist: Matt Schofield - Far As I Can See - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (February 18, 2014), Far As I Can See, from Matt Schofield and I really like it! First I'll start out by saying that this is not a pure "blues" release but blues based and fresh. Opening with From Far Away has more of a contemporary jazzy feel along the lines of Robben Ford. Schofield is an excellent singer and he spends no time at all showing what all the clamor is about with his guitar playing. Clean Break is a really slick shuffle track with solid organ contributions from Jonny Henderson. Schofield really swings this track with crisp articulated guitar runs and Jordan John is tight on drums. Getaway is a funky progressively timed track with cool bass work from Carl Stanbridge. Schofield really jumps on this track with some of the cleanest guitar riffs I've heard on a record in a long time. Excellent. One track that is bound to be a common denominator for everyone is Albert King's Breaking Up Somebody's Home. Schofield does an excellent interpretation of this classic with super vocals and scorching hot blues riffs. The anchors at bass and drums (Stanbridge and John) give Schofield freedom to give the track a lot of vocal soul and the guitar soloing would make Albert smile. Vocal backing adds just the right amount of warmth. The Day You Left is a rolling slow blues with soulful vocals contrasted against the tension of the timing of the rhythm of the bottom. Schofield adds his solos in open field here. The work is masterful and exciting. Chord progressions on the chorus give it a sophisticated feel showing a multidimensional writer/player. Again organ work by Henderson is just right. Another really super track. Oakville Shuffle is a very fleet instrumental track. With a blues bottom and jazz components this track gives the players the opportunity to really let it out. Henderson puts up a really solid key solo and Schofield shows his jazz chops. Still strongly influenced by blues this track is nothing less than superb! Hindsight has a lot of funk and even some extremely sweet sax work from James Morton. With a bit of that southern flare, Schofield shows that he's really been listening. His guitar work on this track is super and work by both Stanbridge and John is right on the money. I this track doesn't make you hop around in your seat...check your pulse...you may be dead! Everything starts off with a slower deliberate pace but erupts into a full blues shuffle with all hands blazing. Shifting gears a few times as smooth as a Porsche with paddle shifters, Schofield really shines on this track. The Neville Brothers Yellow Moon is up next and Schofield may even give it a bit more Latin than the original. Spanish guitar riffs on electric guitar is a really nice touch and splashes of street drumming really gives it a special kick. Schofield makes it really hard to review his release when every track is spectacular... I mean how many different ways can you say... this is terrific! Tell Me Some Lies ventures into two-step territory with rockin piano work from Henderson bringing that Jerry Lee Lewis flavor to a primarily vocal track with a Texas guitar twist. Final track, Red Dragon, is a Hendrix influenced blues ballad. Signature Jimi riffs are blended into an almost Roy Buchanan like blues dirge giving Schofield the opportunity to really throw his gloves down. If you like wide open guitar... this is your ticket.

 I have to say this is one of the most exciting guitar releases I have heard in a long time. It has components of a lot of different styles of music blended together and executed in a spontaneous yet meticulous manner. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves guitar music. There has to be something here that will push you buttons... if not everything!

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page. I use Facebook to spread the word about my blog (Now with translation in over 50 languages). I will not hit you with 50 posts a day. I will not relay senseless nonsense. I use it only to draw attention to some of the key posts on my blog each day. In this way I can get out the word on new talent, venues and blues happenings! - click Here

 

Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Matt Schofield - Far As I Can See To Be Released February 18 - Tour Dates Announced



MATT SCHOFIELD TO RELEASE FAR AS I CAN SEE
VIA MASCOT LABEL GROUP'S PROVOGUE
RECORDS ON FEBRUARY 18
North American Tour To Commence March, 2014

New York, NY --- Mascot Label Group has announced a February 18, 2014 release date for Matt Schofield's FAR AS I CAN SEE on the Provogue imprint.  Guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer Schofield has been frequently lauded as the British blues guitarist of current times. Overseas, Guitarist Magazine published simply, “There isn’t a better British blues guitarist playing currently”. With his debut album for Provogue, Schofield finds himself as representative for the long tradition of British Blues on the ultimate blues guitar label, and gaining a home amongst his peers - the world's greatest contemporary blues players. 

Schofield's career has been gaining momentum for the last several years on both sides of the Atlantic.  Successful runs in the UK, Europe and North America have been met with critical acclaim and exponentially increasing audiences.  The Los Angeles Times stated, “In Schofield, the U.K. has produced the best Blues guitarist from any country in decades. Head and shoulders above the herd.” 

The new collection is Schofield's fifth album, offering two choice covers from his musical heroes alongside nine original tracks.  Schofield has broadened the canvas far beyond this album being a pure Blues release.  The core is there amongst all of the cuts, but the boundaries are blurred.  Long-time fans will anticipate the epic slow blues of "The Day You Left," as the guitarist re-harmonizes a traditional 12-bar form.  The cut heard is the first take he played in the studio, totally live, with an intensity and immediacy that breathes life in to the performance.  The album's second cut "Clean Break," is a classic trio shuffle, while "Getaway" exhibits Schofield is eager to continue finding new ways to play the blues, integrating odd time signatures into the genre.  He offers, "You don't find this approach much in the genre, new or old.  To make it work, the unusual time, in this case 7/8, has to be especially groovy, with just the right feel.  The end result makes for uniquely tense solo sections where the lines played on guitar have to weave around the time. Lyrically, the inspiration came from the desire to create intimacy with the audience, by inviting them to share in the moment with the music - the same way the musicians must be in order to play it - something that, in these days of an audience filled with camera phones, seems harder to achieve."

The instrumental cut "Oakville Shuffle," features a cameo by Denny Ilett, one of Schofield's favorite U.K. jazz/blues guitarists. With "Hindsight," the horn section is in full flight in a setting Schofield describes as "What if Albert Collins and Maceo Parker sat in with Tower of Power." James Morton's funky alto sax weaves through the guitar lines. Additional tracks include an upbeat and simple organ trio track "Everything," The Texas-blues nod to Jimmie Vaughan "Tell Me Some Lies," and "Red Dragon," which is a tribute to Hendrix's approach to the Blues -- one take, all live, late at night, with the band following his every move.

As a life-long fan of Albert King, Schofield pays his respect when taking on "Breaking Up Somebody's Home."  He reveals, "When I make an album I always go back to a long list of songs I love. I’ve been compiling this list over the years, reaching back to my first discovery of blues. We tried to put our own spin on the groove, it also marks the first appearance of a horn section on one of my records."  The second cover on the release is the classic "Yellow Moon."  Schofield reminisces, "I've loved this song since I was a kid going through my Dad’s records. Funky New Orleans blues, originally done by the Neville Brothers, and produced by Daniel Lanois, who we’re also a big fan of.  I’ve tried to make this great song my own with a unique approach to the arrangement, featuring Jordan’s incredible vocals interplaying with my guitar."

Schofield is an inspired character.  His lyrical approach is driven by inspiration from all facets of life's experiences, and the impact what he reads, watches and absorbs has on his deepest thoughts.  This is best displayed with the album opener, "From Far Away."  The track is a song that has been brewing for years, where the singer finds  inspiration from Carl Sagan.  He offers, "I'm a big lover of science, humanism and their related philosophies.  Lyrically I have known for a long time that I wanted to do something inspired by Sagan’s incredible and inspiring monologue 'Pale Blue Dot' - this song is my tribute to his beautiful, stirring words."

He is no stranger to accolades, and has been honored as the recipient of major awards that include British Blues Awards Guitarist of the Year in 2010, 2011 and 2012, making him the first guitarist in the British Blues Awards Hall of Fame.  He also was complimented by Mojo Magazine with Blues Album of the Year in 2011, and received the nod for British Blues Awards Album of the Year 2010.  He was rated in the top ten British blues guitarists of all time by Guitar & Bass Magazine alongside such icons as Eric Clapton and Peter Green.  In the Penguin Book of Blues Recordings, Schofield is cited as one of only two living British artists to gain a maximum four-star rating.

Schofield will begin a North American Tour on March 13 in Ridgefield, CT, with confirmed appearances that include:
3/13     Ridgefield, CT                                    The Ridgefield Playhouse
3/14     Natick, MA                                         The Center For Arts In Natick
3/15     Fall River, MA                                    Narrows Center For The Arts
3/16     Northampton, MA                              Iron Horse Music Hall
3/17     New York, NY                                   Iridium Jazz Club
3/19     Wilmington, DE                                  World Cafe Live at The Queen
3/20     Annapolis, MD                                   Ram's Head On Stage
3/22     Richmond, VA                                   Capital Ale House
4/11     St. Petersburg, FL                               Tampa Bay Blues Festival

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Anything But Time - Matt Schofield New Review


This is my first opportunity to listen to one of Matt's recordings and I must say that I like it. It is a very uptempo recording with little of the cliche riffs typically found in many contemporary recordings. He is a very skilled guitar man with licks that more resemble Albert Lee than Albert King. That isn't a bad thing. I think SRV has that covered. When he cuts in with one of his solos they are heartfelt and fat. One song, Wrapped Up in Love, does play a tribute to King, but it certainly isn't a SRV clone nor does it sound like a King ripoff. Very nice.
The cd includes 10 tracks and all are very enojoyable. If you like the contemporary blues, this may be your ticket!