Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Is Calling Me , from Leonard "Lowdown" Brown and it's a soulful blues release. Opening with R&B style track, Juke Joint , Brown on vocal and guitar with a good bass line and light drum rhythms. It has a smooth soulful delivery and certain radio appeal. French Quarter Woman is a cool soul tune that literally  glides. Brown's vocals are terrific and with a solid bass line, this track could be right off of a 60's soul release. Based on a Sonny Boy Williamson riff, Blues Make Me Feel Good , is a really nice track with the bass line dictating not only the tempo but the overall feel with Brown alternating back and forth on guitar and vocal. This is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Title track, Blue Is Calling Me , has a more contemporary, R&B feel with a very danceable rhythm. Wrapping the release is Mississippi Fred McDowell's, You Gotta Move . Brown puts a cool, low slung spiri...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent Self-titled release, Shelton Powe and it's quite good. Opening with Amtrak Train , Shelton Powe on acoustic guitar and vocal sets a very authentic feel. With his tight Piedmont picking pattern, this is a solid opener. On John Hurt's Since I Laid My Burden Down , Powe adds real richness with his vocals against the acoustic guitar chant. Bukka White's, Shake "Em On Down is one of my favorite tracks on the release with an cool, primitive blues riff on what sounds like a primitive guitar. Excellent! Papa Charlie Jackson's Take Me Back is another captivating number with melody on guitar teamed with vocal, very effectively. I really like the simplicity of this track...what I like about the blues as a whole. Wrapping the release is John Jackson's Railroad Bill , an excellent Piedmont blues with Powe driving the fretboard like a locomotive. This is a really nice traditional blues release.    If you suppo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let The Gods Sing , from Herman Hitson , and I like it! Opening with title track, Let The Gods Sing , with it's rich, soulful, anthem like feel, Hitson really has a great start. With chant like vocals, eccentric rhythm guitar work (which I really like) by Hitson and Will Sexton on lead guitar, a firm bass line by Mark Edgar Stuart, Will McCarley on drums and full organ attack by Al Gamble, this is a terrific opening track. A cool change up is Ain't No Other Way with it's full "James Brown" on including horn pumping...great groove. A driving, somewhat psychedelic take on Willie Dixon's Backdoor Man is really cool with wowing vocals and backing organ. Wrapping the release is an upbeat funky track, Yampertown Funk with a cool bari/tenor sax horn mix and heavy organ work over a cool drum beat and guitar rhythm. This is a cool release and if you like your stuff funky, this could be your deal!    ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sugar Is My Name , by Sugar Harp and it's a solid release of classic blues sound. Opening with title track, Sugar Is My Name , Alabama harmonica player/singer Charles "Sugar Harp" Burroughs works over a cool, Little Walter vamp. Backed by Microwave Dave Gallagher on guitar, T-Bone Dupree on bass, Ardie Dean on drums, this is a solid opener.  On slow blues, How Come My Dog Don't Bark , Dan Hoctor provides a nice organ base with Dean on drums and Dupree on bass allowing wide open passage for Sugar to solo on harmonica. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release is I Don't Want A Soul Hangin' Round with it's simple bottom by Microwave Dave on guitar and just the simplest of bass and drums by T-Bone and Ardie. Sugar has a great story telling vocal pace and his harmonica playing is super. Getting a blues rock feel going with Microwave Dave setting the pace on Lemon Squeezin' Fool , S...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (March 18, 2022), In Paris , from Beverly "Guitar" Watkins and it's a solid blues and R&B live set from a great entertainer. Opening with Baghdad Blues , a dark, Hill Country style track with plenty of grit. Backed by  rhythm guitarist Albert White, Eddie Tigner on keys, and Lil Joe Burton on trombone. On lead guitar and lead vocal, Watkins shows how it's done. Solid opener. On a rowdy cover of Ray Charles' What'd I Say , Watkins really gets the live audience going with her rockin vocals and flashy yet raw guitar style. Very cool. Lonesome Window Blues is one of my favorites on the release with it's slow pace, T Bone Walker style and featuring Watkins playing harmonica, guitar and sings. Very nice. Sugar Baby Swing is a really nice guitar showcase for Watkins with Chuck Berry style rhythm and quick little guitar riffs. Very cool. A cool cover of Cooke's You Send Me features not onle som...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release,  Big Belly Mama , from Albert Smith and it's a terrific example of stripped down blues. Smith, on broke down piano and vocal knows how to create the mood. Opening with Tell Me Mama , Smith shows a real feel for the roots of rock and barrelhouse piano playing. His vocals are primitive yet pleasing. Piano boogie, Biscuit Roller has a great feel and Smith's vocals are steady and authentic. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Give Me Back My Wig with it's soulful wailing vocal style, cool lyrics and rag tag piano style. This appears to be the same track made popular by Hound Dog Taylor but from a totally different style. Excellent! Moving into a gospel styling with Roll Is Gonna Be Called and continuing into You Are My Sunshine , Smith is just out there rejoicing in his life. Wrapping the release is Albert's Rap'n Boogie with Smith playing piano under a brief discussion with MM's Tim Duffy. Th...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Listener's Circle Vol. 50 Waiting For A Train , from Music Maker Foundation and it's very cool. Opening with Railroad Blues , J.W. Warren accompanies his own vocal on acoustic guitar. This is a very classic style blues performance and great opener. Another terrific performance from Carl Rutherford playing guitar and vocal on Shasta Daylight with it's Bluegrass styling gives the release another dimension. Very nice. Two Trains Runnin' is done to perfection by John Dee Holeman with his soulful vocals and just the right amount of echo on his electric guitar. Taj Mahal performs Spike Driver Blues in classic Mahal style with piedmont finger picking and story telling pace. Very nice. George Higgs on harmonica and vocal performs Ruby , totally unaccompanied. Excellent! Playing banjo along with his vocals, Samuel Turner Stevens lays down Railroading and Gambling . With it's jangle and symmetry, it ...