Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Arrival , from The Lucky Losers and it is their best release yet. Opening with funk infused, S-C-A-M , Cathy Lemons leads the way with solid vocals backed by the pumped up horn work of Doug James on tenor sax, Mike Rinta on trombone and John Halbieb on trumpet. With Phil Berkowitz on vocal, Chris Burns on keys, Simon Govan Smith on guitars, Edgar San Gabriel on bass, Jon Otis on drums, and Kid Andersen on keys, this is a high stepping intro. Lemons really digs in vocally on Pull On The Rope with some of her best vocals on the release. Smith grinds out a strong guitar intro and with Berkowitz on harmonica, Otis on drums, Gabriel on bass, Burns on keys and warm backing vocals, this is another strong track. Phil is up front on vocal and soulful harmonica on Sorry Brother . This track has a real slinky feel and Burn's key work coupled with the excellent percussion by Otis gives this track a dark, rich feel. Pig...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, California Trap , from Andrew Duncanson , and it's a busting with soul. Opening with Relearning To Climb , a cool soul tune with a great melody, featuring Andrew Duncanson on lead vocal, backed by Tia Carroll, Lara Price and Lisa Leuschner-Andersen on backing vocals and a full compliment of Memphis instrumentation. Kid Andersen on guitar, Michael Peloquin on tenor sax, Ed Morrison on trumpet, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Dmar Martin on drums, Jim Pugh on B3, and Mike Rinta on trombone really give this track a breath of reality. Solid opener. Chugging, Hold Me Back , really gets moving with Duncanson on vocal and guitar and featuring Peloquin on harmonica as well as guitar. Title track,  California Trap is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a BB King/Mike Bloomfield feel. Kid Andersen is stellar on guitar backed by Baxter Robinson on piano and excellent vocals by Duncanson. Dripping in soul, What Kind Of Man ,...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cooking With Gas , by Big Harp George and it's a solid set of original blues tracks. Opening with title track, Cooking With Gas , Big Harp George on lead vocal and chromatic harmonica leads the way on this sassy track with D'Mar Martin on drums, Joe Kyle Jr. on bass and featuring Michael Peloquin contributing a hot sax solo. Latin flavored Doom Loop has a tight drum and horn section with Doug Rowan on bari sax, Ed Morrison on trumpet, Peloquin on tenor sax, Mike Rinta on trombone, Kid Andersen on guitars and great guitar flare from George. Soulful blues, Wine Is My Friend has a firm bass line by Kyle Jr. working with George's great vocals, Andersen on guitar and James Dwayne and Walter Morgan on backing vocals. Funky instrumental, Maceosity really moves with Jerry Jemmott on bass and D'Mar on drums. A lively horn section and Burns on keys fuels the flame and Peloquin on diatonic harmonica works in nicely ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Right Man , by D.K. Harrell and if you're looking for a new favorite blues singer who knows how to play a great blues phrase, look no further. Opening with title track, The Right Man , D.K. Harrell on lead guitar and vocal is smooth. He knows how to swing and his riffs are clean. Joined by Kid Andersen on rhythm guitar, Jim Pugh on keys, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Tony Coleman on drums and Jon Otis on congas this is a great opener. With a lot of soul and a funky overtone, Harrell lays down Get These Blues Out Of Me . I really can't think of a more BB King like performer who sounds genuinely original. His delivery is sincere and his counterpoint guitar is effortless and rich. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Hello Trouble with a slower pace and perfect vocal/guitar call and response. Backed by Neil Levonius and John Halbleib on trumpet, Mike Rinta on trombone, Mike Peloquin on tenor and Doc Kupka on bari...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, From My Soul , by Marcel Smith and it's sopping with soul. Opening with I'm Coming Home to You , a cool, traditional soul tune that could literally come from the 60's with it's excellent lead vocal by Marcel Smith, background vocals by The Sons of the Soul Revivers and featuring Kid Andersen on guitar, Mike Rinta on trombone, D'Mar Martin on drums, Endre Tarczy on bass, Jim Pugh on keys, Aaron Lington on sax, and John Worley on trumpet. Very cool. Wake Me When It's Over is one of my favorites on the release with it's perfect melody, lightly applies backing of Tarczy on bass, D'Mar on drums and a vibraphone solo by Andersen supporting the lush vocals of Smith. Drunk is a tight R&B track with hot percussion by Jon Otis, a brassy trombone solo by Rinta, and sassy horn work by Worley all tied together by Smith's magnetic vocals. Nothing Left To Burn really moves with terrific vocals by...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stuff I've Been Through , by Alabama Mike and I really like it's funky blues sound. Opening with title track, Stuff I've Been Through , Alabama Mike's lush vocals lead the way, joined by Kid Andersen and Rusty Zinn on guitars, Jim Pugh on keys, Jerry Jemmott on bass, D'Mar on drums and with great horn work by Bernard Anderson on sax, Mike Rinta on trombone, Doug Rowan on sax and Jeff Lewis on trumpet. Great opener. Another track with a great groove is King Cock , with a great back beat by D'Mar, and Jemmott on bass and featuring Anson Funderburgh on guitar with some real tasty riffs. Mike not only has lead vocals but adds harmonica and the horn section is back with a lot of heat. Excellent. A cool, R&B style track, Damage Control, features a different rhythm section of Bobby Young on guitar, Lorenzo Hawkins on Keys, AJ Joyce on bass and Ronnie Smith on drums. This is a cool track and it really d...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cut My Spirit Loose , by Big Harp George , and it's cooking! Opening with boogie track, It's Tuesday , George is firing on all cylinders. With Kid Andersen laying down signature guitar riffs and backed by Doug Rowan on bari sax, Michael Peloquin on sax and Mike Rinta on trombone the house is rocking. George on harmonica and lead vocals and joined by Chris Burns on keys, June Core on drums, Joe Kyle Jr. on bass and with Lisa Leuschner Andersen, James Dwayne and Walter Morgan on backing vocals, this is a great opener. With a real nice New Orleans beat, Bustin' Out is a strong instrumental led by George on harmonica, Jeff Lewis on trumpet Peloquin on sax, Rowan on bari and Rinta on tuba. This is punchy. Tight drum work by Core and bass by Kyle, and a sassy sax solo by Peloquin and a great trombone solo by Rinta makes this my favorite on the release. Jump Abu Lula! is another great track with George really harping...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Standin' Pat , from The Lucky Losers w/ Cathy Lemons & Phil Berkowitz and it's an interesting mix of rock, blues, funk and soul (and more). Opening with Pack Up The Bags , a rag fused pop track with a bluesy edge, Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz harmonize on vocals and Berkowitz lays in some nice harmonica, backed by Chris Burns on keys, Endre Tarczy on bass and Jon Otis on drums. Also featured are Kid Andersen on lead guitar, Mike Rinta on trombone, Michael Peloquin on tenor sax, and Brian Catania on trumpet. Swamp funky, Somewhere In The Middle has a terrific bottom courtesy of Tarczy and Otis and featuring Berkowitz on vocal and guitar is one of my favorite tracks on the release. A solid R&B track, Down In Memphis Town has the strong bones of a 60's radio hit. Lemons has the lead on another of my favorite tracks on the release with cool slide and organ work by Andersen. Soulful ballad, They Wrecked...