Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kansas City O'clock , by Mike Bourne Band , and it's a swift kick in the pants. Opening with Can't Be Anybody But Myself , Mike Bourne is and original on vocal accompanying himself on guitar and backed by Bryan Herrman on drums, Jim Beisman on the hot piano, Patrick Recob on bass and featuring sweet sax work by Dougan Smith on tenor. Excellent opener. Loping boogie, Too Old To Be Young , has a great feel, with Bourne on vocal and tight off beat drumming by Kerry Denton . Mister B.T. adds in the top trumpet and Dan Star on sax is on spot. Bourne's guitar soloing is original and cool and Bob Paige on piano holds tight. Title track, Kansas City O'clock is a cool rock and roller featuring Smith on sax, Beisman on piano, Nick Hmeljak on trumpet, Greg Clinkingbeard on bass and Bourne doing what he does on lead vocal and guitar. Absolutely cool. Three Blind Mice is a wicked little blues with a cool ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Crusin' Kansas City , from Mike Bourne Band and it's straight up rockin' blues. Opening with laid back title track, Crusin' Kansas City with my man Johnny Burgin on guitar with Mike Bourne, Patrick Recob on bass, and Dave Creighton on organ. Cool opener. Swing track, Lose Your Rings, Keep Your Fingers features Bourne on lead vocal and beefy organ work by Creighton. Burgin steps up with his hot, stylistic guitar soloing giving the track real sting. Morganfield sound permeates, Hollow Man with John Paul Drum on harmonica and Bourne on vocal. Adam Hagerman on on drums and Recob on bass keep the bottom tight and understated slide work adds nicely to the set. Loose With The Truth is absolutely my favorite track on the release with real nice vocal work by Bourne, a featured trumpet solo by Greg Hopkins a cool sax solo and Johnny Burgin loose with some of the signature, blistering guitar work that makes him on...