Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Half & Half, from Lara Price and it's got the spunk of a "real" classic blues rocker from the early 70's. Opening with We're Still Friends , a bluesy rocker, Lara Price, leads with her gutsy vocal style with Randy Hayes and Kid Andersen on drums, Endre Tarczy on bass, Baxter Robertson on keys, Sue McCracklin, Maureen Smith, and Lisa Leuschner on backing vocals and Mike Zito and Might Mike Schermer whipping out some sweet guitar interplay. Solid opener. Funky, Things Ain't Everything , has a terrific bottom, courtesy of Clint Simmons on drums and Nick Jay on bass. Price slips into a great vocal slot on this one and David Jimenez and Chris Tondre add tight guitar riffs, with Trevor Nealon on keys and McCracklin, Smith and Leuschner on backing vocals. This will get you moving. Solitude is a vocal showcase for Price singing an Ellington song, paired with Matt Burger on guitar. Very nice. Wrapping...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Out Of Line , by the Wicked Lo-Down and it's really strong. Opening with romping shuffle, Kill Me Or Keep Me , Nick David on lead vocal, has a great voice and Paul Size and Jeffrey Berg on guitars really add a lot of swagger. Brad Hallen on bass and Nick Toscano on drums round out the band making this a power to reckon with. Excellent opener. Chuck Berry flavored, Marchin' On , really has great form and Size adds really nice riffs. If you don't know Size, we called attention to his broad notoriety in a post ( Paul Size, Johnny Moeller, Anson Funderburgh ) back in 2011. Super musician and in great company with Judge, Funderburgh and Moeller. On The Wildest One (Lester's Boogie) , Hallen on bass sets a great boogie line and Size and Berg really get the boogie feel going and David works his own vocal against harmonica that really wails. This is a terrific boogie that will leave you wanting more. Excellent tr...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Life Is Hard , from Mike Zito and it's a solid release. Opening with driving blues rocker, Little Milton's, Lonely Man , Mike Zito on excellent lead vocal and guitar sets a great groove. With Reese Wynans setting a solid keyboard, Calvin Turner on bass, Lemar Carter on drums, and Paulie Cerra on sax, this is a strong opener. Fred James' Life Is Hard is a terrific blues track and Zito knows how to milk every drop of blues out of it. Soulful vocals and stinging guitar riffs really makes this track soar. Excellent! Zito original, Forever My Love , is a bluesy ballad with a great melody, setting up for Zito to take that standout guitar solo and his nails it. Tab Benoit's Darkness , is a good selection for this set working nicely with heave drum accents by Carter, and super guitar work by Zito and guest Joe Bonamassa. Walter Trout's, Nobody Moves Me Like You Do , enhances the set really well with it's f...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tejas Motel , from Ole Lonesome and it's a cool, modern, interpretation of traditional blues with a grungy rock feel. Opening with Yvette , Zachary Feemster on vocal and guitar sets a solid foot in the mud with thick blues but with a modern, blues rock edge. With J. Wesley Hardin on bass, Gregory Mosley on keys, Jimmy Devers on drums and Greg Achord on guitar, I really like their stripped down guitar driven, but not overplayed approach. Gold Chevy has a cool, 60's vibe with it's heavy footed bottom by Devers and Hardin and power guitar riffs by Feemster and Achord pushing Feemster's vocal call, giving it pseudo Zep feel but in a fresh, grungy way. Another LZ influenced track, Momma's Worry will have you rocking out with a great bottom and excellent melody. Otis Rush influenced, Ain't No Good , is the most traditional blues track on the release and clearly shows Feemster's vocal work and fluid g...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blood Brothers , from Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia and it's pure blues music. Opening with Hey Sweet Mama , a romping blues rocker, Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia share the mike for nicely blended lead vocals and Chuck Berry influenced guitar work makes this an excellent opener. With Zito and Castiglia on guitars, Douglas Byrkit on bass, Matthew Johnson on drums, Ephraim Lowell on drums and Lewis Stephens on keys this is a tight band. Over a classic blues vamp, Fool Never Learns is a driving rocker. Castiglia on lead vocal and Zito and Castiglia trading hot riffs, makes this a strong contender for radio airplay. My favorite track on the release is You're Gonna Burn with really strong, soulful lead vocal and excellent lead guitar work. Thumping tom tom work by Johnson compliments the track nicely and Stephens' keyboard work gives hit just the right edge. Jazzy, Hill Country Jam has a slinky rhythm and twin ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Riffin' The Blue , by Tas Cru and it's got a little bit of everything. Opening with title track, Riffin' The Blue , an easy shuffle with Cru on vocal and featuring Mike Zito on lead guitar, backed by Bill Barry on organ, Ron Keck on percussion, Lenny Milano on drums. With a rich piano intro by Katz on One More Time , Cru on guitar sets the stage with lush phrasing and his own soulful singing, cradled by Katz on organ. Backed by Andy Hearn on drums and Bob Purdy, this is a cool track. My favorite track on the release is House of the Blues , with it's slow, deep bluesy feel and Katz's fat organ bottom. Mary Ann Casale adds some really nice backing vocals and this may be Cru's best vocal effort on the release. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Memphis Gone with Cru on vocal, paired with Zito on slide guitar and only the minimal piano by Katz. With the addition of Casale, Keck, Hearn and Purdy, this i...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, So Fine , from Eric Demmer , and it's a funky slice or blues rock. Opening with Don't Talk To Me , Eric Demmer on lead vocal and sax leads the way, backed by Jerre Jackson on drums, Dennis Delfino on bass, Hugo Rodriguez on guitar, and Barry Seelen on keys. This s**t is funky and Demmer really knows how to sauce it up. Great opener. What Was I Thinking has a real Frank Zappa story like feel with terrific backing vocals by Melanie Covington and excellent sax work by Demmer. Jordan Almes on drums, and Rick Marcel on rhythm guitar add nicely to the funk. Soulful blues, Start It All Again , showcases Demmer's vocal's and Rodriguez lays down some really nice riffs making his one of my favorite tracks on the release. Another really bluesy track, Let Me Go , digs deep with some of Demmer's sexiest sax work on the release. Simmering in B3 by Shawn Allen, another strong track. Any Day Get Away really moves tow...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everybody Let's Roll , from The Texas Horns , and I really like it! Opening with title track, Everybody Let's Roll , The Texas Horns (Kaz Kazanoff on tenor sax, Al Gomez on trumpet, and John Mills on bari sax) come out steaming with Carolyn Wonderland on lead vocal, Mike Keller on rhythm guitar, Sean Giddings on keys, Chris Marsh on bass, and Tom Brechtlein on drums and featuring Anson Funderburgh with some real nice guitar lead. Solid opener. Piano boogie, I Ain't Mad With You , led by Matt Hubbard really rocks with excellent solos from Kaz and Johnny Moeller and a fat fat bottom by Mills. Excellent! A really interesting (bluesy) rework of The Beatles, I Want You (She's So Heavy) , has great horn blending with Gomez taking the lead on trumpet. With it's jazzy drum hitch by Brannen Temple, a cool organ solo by Sean Geddings and a blast of blues by Moeller on guitar, this is a punchy track.  Soulful, Pr...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Louisiana Record , from Jimmy Carpenter and it's a heaping bowl of Louisiana blues. Opening with Smiley Lewis' I Hear You Knocking , made popular by Dave Edmunds in the 70's. This track with all the trimmings has a real NO R&B feel with Carpenter on vocal and sax, Mike Zito on guitar, Casandra Faulconer on bass, Wayne Maureau on drums and John Gros with excellent piano and organ work. Super start. Carpenter blows a solid intro on Something You Got and his vocals really work nicely with spot on piano work by Gros. Another track with great piano rolls is Travelin' Mood and Carpenter balances his vocal with sax lead and Zito's slide work really adds some nice grease. With a Latin drum rhythm, Cry To Me really shows Carpenter's lead vocal qualities and his sax soloing balanced with Zito's guitar articulation really works nicely. Earl King's Those Lonely Lonely Nights is another classi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues for the Southside , from Mike Zito and it's really strong! Recorded live at the Old Rock House in St Louis, MO. this band is cranking. Opening with Mississippi Nights , Mike Zito is up front on lead vocal and guitar. Mike has great a super grinding tone and his slide work is great. Backed by Matthew Johnson on drums, Lewis Stephens on piano, Doug Byrkit on bass, this band is smoking. Larry Davis' Texas Flood really gives Zito a chance to put his foot to the floor and he doesn't hesitate a bit. His vocals are firm and his guitar work inspired and scorching! Hell On Me is a great, rolling blues with a solid walking bass line from Byrkit opening up a super land for Zito to wind it up and he's on it. Building a lot tension with his vocals and nice use of a chorus pedal, Zito sets it up nicely. Stephens' organ work adds a lot of lather setting the lob up for a slam by Zito to close. Very nice. Openin...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Love On The Rocks by Lauren Anderson and she has a powerhouse voice with a variety of music styles. Opening with Keep On a spiritual based format with a deep lead vocal by Anderson and rich vocal backing that leaves you wanting more. Back to Chicago is a cool R&B based, slightly funky blues rocker with a great feel. With a solid bottom, laid down by Matt Doctor on drums and Hutch on bass, complimented by Jim Greene on guitar, Kiran Gupta on keys and fdeaturing some real nice lead guitar riffs by Mike Zito, this is a real nice track. Slinky, Holdin' Me Down, had a funky, pop, hip hop kind of sound with repetitive monotonic vocal styling as is popular in contemporary pop music. Stand Still is a folk ballad style and one that I like pretty well. Anderson seems comfortable in this skin and with warm, guitar, drum and key backing, a strong entry for best radio track on the release. Wrapping the release is ballad, Your Tu...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Relish , from Dave Kalz , and it's a strong retro blues rocker. Opening with Mexico with it's drum heavy rhythm, hits the road running right from the start with Kalz on guitar and vocal, Greg Hulub on bass, Lewis Stephens on organ and Kevin McDonald on drums. Kalz of course brings experience from being a founder of Honeytribe with Devon Allman, as well as other high profile groups. On title track, Relish , with it's British blues influences, Kalz stretches a little on guitar with it's continuous guitar runs. Very cool. Werewolf Blues is one of my favorites with it's sauntering shuffle beat and realy cool electric and slide guitar riffs from Kalz and Mike Zito. Stone Cold Stuck is a hot rocker with laid out rock n roll riffs and a driving bottom. Texas style blues rocker, Route 666 not only has a great rock form but excellent guitar riffs and tone and traces of RBG. Surf rocker, She's Got A Hemi i...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 16, 2021), Resurrection , from Mike Zito, and it's a cool blues rocker with a lot of snap. Opening with JJ Cale's, I'll Make Love To You , Zito works this blues rocker with real radio appeal. His slide work and vocals are solid, backed by Zach Zito on vocal and guitar, Matthew Johnson on drums, Doug Byrkit on bass, Lewis Stephens on keys, Eric Demmer on sax and Fernando Castillo on trumpet. Lain back, country flavored, In My Blood is a real nice track with sparkling guitar riffs and solid lead vocal, backed nicely by Lisa Leuschner Andersen. A rework of Clapton's Presence of the Lord works nicely with this set and Zito's vocals work nicely with his Clapton like guitar riffs, expanded to his own, more wide open jamming style giving the track more bite. Very nice. Blues ballad, Damned If I Do , has strong radio appeal with Zito showing both soulful vocals and nicely phrased guitr phrasing. Very nic...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Brothers by Junior Wells and featuring many contemporary blues players. Opening with low slung, Blues Hit Big Town , Colin James weighs in on lead guitar with Wells on Harp. Good Morning Little School Girl lines up Pat Travers on guitar and James Montgomery on harp. I really like Montgomery's work and his interweaving with Travers on this track is tight. One of Well's most loved classics, Messin' With the Kid gets a rework with Tyler Bryant on guitar and his open tone with just the right amount of reverb works really nicely. Baby, Scratch My Back features Albert Castiglia and I always like his style. He doesn't overplay but his notes all count. Very nice. Eric Gales is featured on Lovey Dovey, Lovey One and his confident attack on this shuffle really works nicely. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Snatch It Back And Hold It, featuring Joe Louis Walker. His guitar work is fluid and fleet...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stone Crazy , by Kevin Burt and it's a cool contemporary blues rocker with a pop edge. Opening with I Ain't Got No Problem With It, a free and easy rocker, Burt on lead vocal, guitar and harmonica is joined by Mike Zito on guitar, Doug Byrkit on bass, Matthew Johnson on drums, Lewis Stephens on keys and Jimmy Carpenter on sax. Purdy Lil Thing has a cool, swampy feel and Burt's deep, smooth vocals are excellent! Johnson's drum touch is terrific and guitar accents by Zito have just the right touch. R&B based, title track, Stone Crazy, has a laid back feel and Burt's vocals float nicely on a lush melody. You Get What You See is a smooth fusion between a blues shuffle and a Booker T jam. With it's driving guitar vamp and Carpenter's sax work, this is a cool track. With it's funky groove, Better Off Dead is one to be reckoned with. Burt lays in the pocket with the confidence of Bill With...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cry Out, by Kat Riggins and it's a cool mix of blues, R&B, pop and soul. Opening with funky, Son of a Gun , Riggins leads the band with attitude. With Doug Byrkit on bass, Brian Zielie on drums, Louis Stevens on keys and Mike Zito on guitar, this is a solid opener. R&B track Meet Your Maker , has a great bass line by Byrkit and a great overall flow with the addition of cool sax work  by Eric Demmer and Fernando Castillo on trumpet, making it one of my favorites on the release. Soul tune, Heavy , has a really nice feel with strong vocals, a warm undercarriage of keys by Stevens and slide guitar by Zito making this an easy selection for radio track on the release. Wicked Tongue is a great showcase for Albert Castiglia who throws down a great flurry of hot riffs in support of Riggins' sassy lead vocals. I love the crunch on Zito's guitar on Burn It All Down , a solid shuffle. Riggins's vocals are ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Living In The Shadows , from Tyler Morris , and it's a cool blues rocker. On this, his second release, Morris plays lead guitar and sings with band mates Terry Dry on bass, Matthew Robert Johnson on drums and Lewis Stephens on B3 and Wurlitzer. Gary Moore's hard driving rocker, Movin' On , sees the band on full tilt with Morris throwing every rock based riff you can think at it. Quick fingered runs, and bends with just a bit of distortion to make it sound dirty gives this track it's sting. Joe Louis Walker and Mike Zito guest on vocals on Tony Joe White's Polk Salad Annie . Maintaining that original swamp rock feel this is a cool track with Morris working the slide nicely  over the steady drumming of Johnson. Bluesy ballad, Temptation , is Morris' best showcase of his vocal strength and Stephens' B3 enhances the tension giving Morris a nice platform to play melodic blues runs on guitar. Amanda...