Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Better Days , from Cliff Stevens and it's it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Better Days , a solid rocker with a good SRV style swagger, features Cliff Stevens on lead guitar and vocal, Serge Dionne on bass, Eric Sauve on keys, and Sam Harrisson on drums. With a "southern rock" flavor, No Room Left has a nice ABB like feel ... I can almost hear Chuck Leavell on piano. With a strong radio melody and select guitar riffs, this is a strong radio contender. Another serious radio contender is Light Of An Angel with a pure pop ballad melody. Stevens does a nice job as vocal front man and paired with Kim Feeney on harmony and a melodic slide solo, pure radio gold. Bluesy ballad, I Love You Still , is my favorite track on the release with cool blues progressions and a strong melody. Stevens lets the music flow with some more aggressive soloing and fluid runs. Very nice. Blues shuffle, True Love has a great f...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Green Room Rumble , from Endrick and the Sandwiches and it's a lot of fun. Opening with Junior Parker's Mystery Train , Montreal's own Endrick and The Sandwich has their blues groove on. Endrick Tremblay on lead vocal, harmonica, piano, and guitar leads the way, backed by Greg McEvoy on guitar, Simon Ebber on bass, and Mandella Coupal Dalgleish on drums. Willie Dixon's slow blues, Choo Choo has really nice feel with solid vocals and giving Tremblay a little space to show his guitar chops. Very cool. Trouble In Mind , made popular by Chippie Hill is sung as a quiet duet featuring Tremblay and Rene Lauziere and hitting the spot nicely. Slim Harpo's Scratch My Back is up next and is a cool ramble. Tremblay on harp and guitar captures the funky blues feel and backing vocals balance it nicely. Original track, Devil Does is my favorite track on the release with Endrick on lead vocal and guitar and a feel t...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, All Out , from Fuel Junkie and I really like it. Opening with title track rocker, All Out , with horns blazing. Featuring Mark LcClerc on lead vocal and tenor sax, Philippe Brochu-Pelletier on tenor sax, Patrice Luneau on bari sax, Antoine Loiselle on guitar, jean-Francois Charest on bass and Philippe Fleury on drums and adding Lex French on trumpet, Andy King on trumpet, Jean-Nicolas Trottier on trombone and Olivier Lizotte on bass trombone this leaves a powerful vapor trail. High Stress, Low Money has a strong new Orleans feel with tight march style drumming by Fleury and interwoven tenor sax lead by Leclerc and Brochu-Pelletier over the solid bottom of Luneau on bari for a great follow-up. With a low down funky beat Can You Dig It? is a cool bluesy jam with great lead by Charest on bass and Loiselle on slide guitar. Excellent! Slow blues, Bad Luck , showcases the soulful vocals of Leclerc and allows plenty of room f...

Anybody Listening Part 2: Dialogues available January 22, 2016 First single "Little Bit" available on iTunes , Radio Submit and cdkmusik.com The early 2015 release of Montreal guitarist and singer-songwriter Cécile Doo-Kingué’s acclaimed solo acoustic recording, Anybody Listening Part 1: Monologues showcased Doo-Kingué’s songwriting in its rawest form, earning her accolades and multiple Maple Blues Award nominations for her exceptional guitar playing, soulful vocals, and powerful songwriting. On January 22, 2016, Doo-Kingué will release the second chapter of her trilogy exploring blues, roots, and life in their myriad of aspects. Anybody Listening Part 2: Dialogues features her strength and versatility as an all-around guitarist and musician, from blues to jazz to folk to soul to rock n’ roll.  Fiery licks and seamless melody compliment her deep, laid-back voice throughout the ...

I just received the newest release, Blue Skies , from Jordan Officer and it's actually quite amazing. I recall being quite taken by Officer's earlier release, I'm Free and this album, totally different, shows what a complete artist Officer is. Opening with the title track, Blue Skies , penned by Tom Waits, Officer slips right into a gypsy jazz mode blowing out absolutely incredibly beautiful riffs on his guitar in a very subdued studio like setting, backed by Alain Berge' on drums and Sage Reynolds on bass. Big Three Trio's Got You On My Mind has an easy blues feel. Officers guitar riffs are tight and spectacular. Fats Domino's It's You Love has trace New Orleans rhythms but subdued with light vocals over sparkling guitar riffs. Arthur Alexander's Shot Of Rhythm and Blues has a pure 60's beat feel and Officer really revs up the playful nature of the rhythm. Clever double stops, vocal harmonies and slick runs give this track a unique feel....

Canada's National Blues Awards Land in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa and Hamilton Maple Blues Award Nominations Led by MonkeyJunk, Downchild and Steve Hill (October 30, 2014) Toronto, ON - The Toronto Blues Society will be celebrating the 18th annual Maple Blues Awards by honouring nationally and internationally recognized Canadian blues artists from across the country on January 19th, 2015.  Toronto artists lead with twenty seven nominations, followed by Montreal (15), Vancouver (9), Ottawa (8) and Hamilton (7). Ottawa’s MonkeyJunk and Toronto’s Downchild each received five nominations followed by Montreal’s Steve Hill with four. There are plenty of other acts each with multiple nominations including Fathead, Raoul & the Big Time , The 24 th Street Wailers , Brandon Isaak, Steve Strongman and Harrison Kennedy. Quebec blues artists are well represented with nominations for Jordan Officer, Angel...

 " Montreal’s Steve Hill is hands-down the meanest guitar player in Canada."   Richard Burnett, Montreal Gazette     One of Canada’s most prolific and exciting guitarists, Steve Hill has recorded the much anticipated follow-up to his JUNO nominated Solo Recordings Volume 1, which also won album of the year at the International Blues Challenge, held in Memphis in 2013. Solo Recordings Volume 2 is a step up for Hill, embracing his roots and showcasing his talents and love of blues music even further. Solo Recordings Volume 2 and its predecessor was recorded live in the studio with Hill not only on guitar and vocals, but also on bass drum, hi-hat, shakers and whatever he can do with his feet at the same time.   Featuring tracks that are heavy and hard hitting, deep and melodic, Hill manages to nail a wide rage of emotions with his songwriting and masterful guitar playing. With eight original songs and three covers, inc...

Marjolène Morin (born 2 August 1953 in Montreal, Quebec), professionally known as Marjo, is a Quebec singer-songwriter. After singing in two musicals of François Guy, Marjo joined the band Corbeau in 1979, two years after the group was started by Pierre Harel. Her solo career began shortly after Corbeau disbanded with the theme song for the film La Femme de l'hôtel which earned a Genie Award for Best Original Song in 1985. In 1986, her debut album Celle qui va sold more than 250 000 copies.   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 favorite band!

From Chicago to Asia , guitarist James Green has hypnotized audiences around the world since 1979. James, a Montréal native, is known on the local and international music scene with performances in arenas, amusement parks, Montréal Jazz and various Blues festivals. At the Chicago Music-Fest, one of James’ favorite venues, he surprised crowds with his electrifying performances. “ Chicago is where you’ve got to be” says James, “if you can make it here, home of the electric Blues, you can make it anywhere”. James picked up his first guitar at age 16 and in 1979, a mere three years later, signed on as lead guitarist for cult-phenom band The Blushing Brides. From 1979 to 1981, the band toured across North America , averaging 250 gigs a year with attendance of up to 10,000 fans. After gaining popularity and experience, the band put out its first album, Unveiled in 1981. Their first hit, “What You Talkin’ About” was co-written by James and lead singer Maurice Raymond. In 1983, James left ...

I just received a copy of the first full length, all original release, Black Satin Blues , from Texarillo . Opening with I'd Rather Get Shot Down , singer, songwriter, guitar player Dwane Rechil leads a posse of 3 including Ricardo Bacardi (bass and vocals) and Ken Loudmann (drums and percussion) on an rockin blues a la Elmore James. Rechil shows his experience on the rock road with hot guitar riffs and modern vocal style. Next up is Elevator Operator , a soul/funk styled track with southern rock guitar riffs driving the trio into Macon country. 24-7 Blues has a laid back feel with a cool back beat and blues rock styling. This could easily be a radio track. Has a good hook and melody giving Rechil a good footing for some of his tastiest riffs on the release. Long Way (From Loving You) , is a blues based ballad with rich guitar leads and vocals along the lines of Gary Moore or Joe Bonamassa. This track, conjuring some really cool tone and fluent riffs will likely have strong appea...

From Chicago to Asia , guitarist James Green has hypnotized audiences around the world since 1979. James, a Montréal native, is known on the local and international music scene with performances in arenas, amusement parks, Montréal Jazz and various Blues festivals. At the Chicago Music-Fest, one of James’ favorite venues, he surprised crowds with his electrifying performances. “ Chicago is where you’ve got to be” says James, “if you can make it here, home of the electric Blues, you can make it anywhere”. James picked up his first guitar at age 16 and in 1979, a mere three years later, signed on as lead guitarist for cult-phenom band The Blushing Brides. From 1979 to 1981, the band toured across North America , averaging 250 gigs a year with attendance of up to 10,000 fans. After gaining popularity and experience, the band put out its first album, Unveiled in 1981. Their first hit, “What You Talkin’ About” was co-written by James and lead singer Maurice Raymond. In 1983, James left...