Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Been There by Jonas Scott Cowan and it's a rocking pop blues party. Opening Muddy Water's, Catfish Blues , Cowan is hot out of the chute with hot slide work, piano by Carl Rodenberg and a tight rhythm by Danny Erkman on drums and Jon Rochner on bass. With a regimental drum lead Black Boots maintains a rigid, military style drum line with bluesy vocal and warm slide guitar tones. Adding a little Cajun spice and Lacy Jean on fiddle, Another Fiddle is a stylized pop rocker. Rodenberg and Erkman maintain the form and warm backing vocals make this a cool radio track. R&B ballad, I Miss The Girl , is my favorite track on the release with it's direct melody, solid vocals and slick guitar and piano soloing. Very nice. Jacobsville Jail has a really dark and solid early blues feel with warm backing vocals by Stillwell, Rochner and Rodenberg. Another of my favorites is Rollin' On , a solid blues ballad. Cowa...

I just received the newest release, Hoodoo That We Doo from the Beat Daddys and I like it! Opening with These Chains , a swampy blues track featuring Larry Grisham on vocal and harp, David Parks on drums, John Gillespie on bass and Tommy Stillwell on gritty slide guitar and backing vocal. Great opener! Sorry , has a dark blues rock feel super vocal backing and nicely blended guitar and harp work over a tight drum beat. You Made Me Cry sets up nicely around a cool driving bass line by Gillespie. Patrick Preston boost the middle with some cool organ work and Stillwell lays down some stinging guitar riffs in this well balanced track. The Moment has a smooth R&B feel, nicely featuring Grisham's super vocals. Stillwell lays down a really clean guitar solo on this track but doesn't venture far from the melody. Shuffle track, Pie or Cake has a cool blues feel with Grisham on vocal and harp. Hoodoo Woman has a really nice Latin feel (Way Down In The Hole/Black Magic Woman) ...