Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, King Size , by Big Shoes and it's addicting. Opening with Jimmy Hall 's, Halfway To Memphis , with a real R&B style. Featuring Rick Huckaby on lead vocal and guitar, this track has a real strut with Jimmy Borland on bari sax, Steve Hermann on trumpet and Charlie Rose on trombone, Mark T Jordan on keys, Tom Szell on bass, Kenne Kramer on guitar, Will McFarlane on guitar, Bryan Brock on percussion and Lynn Williams on drums. Solid opener. Right About Now has a real " Little Feat " feel with a swampy bottom courtesy of Williams and Brock. Bluesy slide guitar really sounds nice and Jordan's piano work adds terrific upper rhythm. Very nice. Shuffle, I Don't Need Nobody , penned by Cramer has a real nice groove filled out by Herman, Boland and Rose and Jordan sets up a real nice piano solo, leading to a cool guitar solo by McFarlane. Super track. Buckwheat Zydeco 's Make It Easy On Y...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Occupied , from Eric Jerardi and it's sopping with sweet soul sound. Opening with Do Right By Him , a super soulful track, Eric Jerardi shows his vocal chops over the solid horn work of the Muscle Shoals Horn section (Charles Rose - Trombone, Steve Herman - Trumpet, Doug Moffet - sax) and his own tasteful bluesy guitar riffs. Marie Lewey & Cindy Walker add vital, rich backing vocals over a solid bass by David Hood, piano by Clayton Ivey, Kelvin Holley on rhythm guitar and Milton Sledge on drums. Excellent opener. Jeff Healey's Don't Take It Personally maintains the R&B feel but leaning more to the blues rock styling, Jerardi shows a funky, wah wah guitar edge with soaring delivery. Very nice. Title track, Occupied , really has great bones with soulful vocals, a solid melody and great backing vocals, dressed with warm organ work and excellent blues guitar lead. Ultra funky, Never Let The Old Man In ,...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Strip It Down , by Casey James and it's quite good. Opening with blues rocker, All I Need , Tommy MacDonald sets a Ray Manzarek style bass groove and Casey James on lead vocal and guitar takes the bait. His vocals are gritty and his guitar tone is warm and rich. Backed by Kevin McKendree on Wurlitzer, Tom Hambridge on drums and Ron McNelley on rhythm guitars, this is a band made in heaven. Two stepper, Bulletproof, has a great feel and Delbert McClinton joins on vocal giving it great style and screaming harp work gives it great edge. Hurt Me More has a real nice Texas lope where McKendree's dancing key work nicely compliments James' vocals and guitar riffs. Very nice. Pat Buchanan's harp work sets the tone for Latin flavored blues number, I Got To Go with a great sound. Hambridge's tight rhythm patterns drive this track, McKendree's B3 solo adds color and James guitar soloing and vocals are to...