Bman's Blues Report

The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra (APSO) has been keeping the classic '60s and '70s soul-blues vibe alive ever since guitarist Anthony Paule started the band in San Francisco back in 2007. Known for their killer horn section and a history of powerhouse vocalists, the band just welcomed their newest front man, the amazing Willy Jordan . Willy is a massive talent who already has two Grammy nominations under his belt from his time with Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio , and he has even shared the stage with legends like John Lee Hooker . Taking over the mic from former APSO greats like Wee Willie Walker , Frank Bey, and Terrie Odabi, Willy brings a totally real, down-to-earth energy to the stage. When you see them live, his commanding voice and honest vibe make for an unforgettable, heartfelt show.  🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM ▶ Listen to Album Samples (Click to Expand)                      ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Old, New, Funky and Blue , by Omar Coleman & Igor Prado and it's a cool funky blues party. Opening with I Only Have Love , Omar Coleman is on the mic laying down his James Brown best, with Igor Prado and his signature guitar riffs backed by Yuri Prado on drums, Denilson on sax and Bruno Belasco on trumpet. Solid opener. Cut You Loose is a super strutting blues track with Albert King like guitar swagger by Prado. Coleman's vocals are super and Ted Furtado rocks the bottom on bass with Felipe Magon on organ. Very cool. Answer Your Phone has a strong R&B undertone but precise stinging guitar riffs by Prado keel it on blues keel and Juninho Isidoro on drums adds critical percussion. Brown Nosin' Man has a real nice funky bottom with Furtado on bass, Isidore on drums and Coleman getting a D'Angelo influenced feel. Very cool. Wrapping the release is easy flowing, Blue Line Train In Chicago , with Co...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New Southern Vintage , from Candice Ivory , and it's powerful blues. Opening with foot stompin' boogie, Ain't So Blind with JL Hooker richness. With Candice Ivory on vocal, Jan Hartmann on harmonica and the Bluebloods ( Robert Allen Parker on guitar, Khari Wynn on bass and Donnon R. Johnson) on drums, this is a great opener. I'm In Trouble is a cooking Chicago style blues with Ivory on vocal, and adds Ben Levin on piano and Adam Hill on slide guitar. Very cool. Excellent driving blues, Strong Black Mattie , really has a great Willie Dixon feel with some of my favorite vocals by Ivory on the release, adding Chris Stephenson on B3, and including some tight guitar riffs by Parker and Hill. Slow blues, Look Away , really has a great feel with Ivory really digging in vocally. With heavy reverb by Hill, emotive soloing by Parker, warm B3 by Stephenson and crisp drum work by Johnson, this is another top tr...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Hour Mama - The Blues Of Victoria Spivey - from Maria Muldaur and it's her best in years. Opening with My Handy Man , is easy going with Maria workin the vocals like it's her own. Backed by James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band (James Dapogny on piano, Kim Cusack on clarinet and alto sax, Russ Whitman on clarinet and tenor/baritone sax, Jon-Erik Kellso on trumpet, Chris Smith on trombone and tuba, Rod McDonald on guitar and banjo, Kurt Krahnke on bass annd Pete Siers on drums). Solid opener. What Makes You Act Like That features Muldaur in duet with Elvin Bishop and their vocal styles work really well together. Danny Caron on guitar lays in some real nice guitar soloing and Johnny Bones on sax, Steve Height on bass, Neil Fortano on piano, David Matthews on piano, Beaumont Beaullieu on drums really make this track. Organ Grinder Blues really has an authentic feel with Tuby Skinny backing (Craig Flory on cl...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just Stay High from The Alexis P. Suter Band and it's terrific! Opening with God Gave Me The Blues , a powerful, slow blues, Alexis P. Suter really hits hard on this opener with her dynamite deep vocal style, over a steady bass line by Peter Bennett, keys by Will Bryant, Lee Falco on drums and soaring and dive bombing guitar soloing by song writer Jimmy Bennett. Excellent opener. Funky track, Breathe , written by bassist Byron Isaacs, has a solid groove giving Suter a solid platform for this heavy bottomed track. With Bryant on keys and Ray Grappone laying in just the right amount of aggressive drumming, this is a super track. Lumbering blues, Be On Your Way , framed by Bennett on bass, Bryant on keys and Falco on drums really plays to Suter's strong suit giving her a dark feel to really grind out the vocals and keyboard soloing by Bryant and tasty guitar soloing by Jimmy Bennett with excellent guitar phrasing an...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Pease , from Frank Bey and it's a solid  compilation of Bey's music. Opening with That's What Love Will Make You Do , Little Milton's funky blues, Bey on lead vocal is joined by Anthony Paule who really lays out some real nice riffs on guitar, Loralee Christensen on backing vocals, Tony Lufrano on keys, Nancy Wright on sax, Tom Poole on trumpet, Mike Rinta on trombone, Endre Tarczy on bass and Paul Revelli on drums, this is a great opener. R&B track, Midnight and Day has a really nice feel with Doug Travis on keys and Kevin Frieson on bass and Thomas Jefferson on drums creating a great bottom and Bey's rich vocals sharing the spotlight with  Jeff Monjack on guitar. Rolling blues, Blues Comes Knockin' is bound to get you moving, with a great bottom by Jefferson and Frieson and with with Beys dynamic vocals, hot harmonica work by Sark Damirjian and smoking guitar lead by Monjack, this is my fav...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Strange Things Happening , by Kid Ramos and it's terrific! Opening with title track, Strange Things Happening Everyday , a great track written by Sister Rosetta Thorpe, one of the great unsung stars of the blues. Brian Templeton on vocal leads the way joined by Dave Limina rockin' on organ, Mike Turturro on bass, Stephen Hodges on drums and Kid Ramos playing both tight rhythm and excellent lead guitar. Excellent opener. With definite spiritual roots, I'm Working On A Building , Templeton really pushes the track higher and Kid really has his guitar talking. Very nice! Kid's son Johnny Ramos, really stands out on soulful, Oh What A Meeting . His vocals are outstanding as are the backing vocals and Kid's playing is over the top dripping with feeling. Wow!  Driving blues rocker, An Answer for Isaac conjures a Muddy Waters feel with Templeton chanting the lyrics and fiery harmonica and Ramos playing wide op...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Generations of Blues: West Side Legacy , from Larry Taylor and the Taylor Family and it's strong. Opening with She Treat Me Just The Same , Larry Taylor on lead vocal and drums leads the way. With a bluesy R&B feel, he sets a solid drum line, joined by Joe B. Brinson on guitar, Abraham Avery on bass, Barrelhouse Bonni on keys and hot sax work by Ronnie G. Solid opener. Demetria Taylor steps up to the mic on Bad Girl , a nice shuffle and she's the perfect leader for this track. Her vocals are sassy and tight, backed by Eddie Taylor Jr on guitar and Ronnie G. on sax and Duke Harris on keys.  Brenda Taylor is featured on lead vocal on I Found Out with Jerry-O Mansfield on guitar and Ronnie G on sax. This is a strong track with a great balance between Brenda and Ronnie. Demetria is back up front on funky, You Belong To Me . This is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a hot sax solo by Ronnie G. I Paid M...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Back To Baton Rouge , from Lil' Jimmy Reed with Ben Levin and it's terrific. Opening with Jimmy Reed shuffle, Down In Virginia , Lil' Jimmy Reed is up front on guitar, harmonica and lead vocal and showing excellent aptitude at both gets this release going. Backed by super piano guy, Ben Levin on piano, Aron Levin on second guitar, Walter Cash Jr on bass and Ricky Nye on drums. On slow blues, They Call Me Lil' Jimmy , Reed gets the chance to show some really tasty guitar riffs, complimenting his strong blues vocals. This track may be my favorite on the release. Fats Domino style blues, Back To Baton Rouge has a war swagger and Reed's trademark guitar sound elevates the track. Another Jimmy Reed track, I'm The Man Down There , has that Jimmy Reed Strut. Lil' Jimmy really does it nice with satiny vocals and broad sound harmonica over a solid bottom. Wrapping the release is Mailbox Blues with it...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Golden Girl , from Trudy Lynn and I really like it. Opening with Tell Me and it's cool rhythm, Trudy Lynn really hits the road running lending no clues that she's reached that golden 75 mile marker. With the tasty guitar soloing of Yates McKendree, backing vocals of Teresa James, Brannen Temple on drums, Kevin McKendree on drums and Terry Wilson on bass this is a solid opener. Heavy footed If Your Phone Don't Ring , will have you slinking around in your seat and Lynn's vocals are really strong. Adding to the mix is Steve Krase on harmonica and real nice slide work by Yates. Boogie track, Trouble With Love is a grate addition featuring Anson Funderburgh on guitar, Krase on harmonica and strong low vocal backing by Wilson. Super. Funky, R&B style blues, Live With Yourself plays really well in Lynn's vocal wheelhouse and she drains every drop of soul out of this track. With horn backing by Darrell Le...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Leave The light On, from The Love Light Orchestra and it's quite good. Opening with soul track, Time Is fading Fast, front man, John Nemeth on lead vocal sounds great. With it's Memphis sound, dominated by horns by Marc Franklin and Scott Thompson on trumpet, Jason Yasinsky on trombone, Art Edmaiston on tenor sax and with some outrageous alto sax by Kirk Smothers and including Joe Restivo on guitar, Gerald Stephens on piano, Tim Goodwin on bass, and Earl Lowe on drums, this is a great opener. Blues shuffle, Come On Moon has a really great feel with excellent guitar work by Restivo and warm horn backing by Franklin, Yasinsky, Edmaiston, Smothers and Paul McKinney on trumpet. On Lowell Fulson's 3 O'Clock Blues, Restivo really steps out on one of my favorite tracks on the release. His paced guitar soloing, and of course the excellent vocals of Nemeth accented by Thompson and Franklin really push this track ove...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live On Beale Street: A Tribute To Bobby "Blue" Bland. from Rodd Bland and the Members Only Band and it's terrific! Opening with R&B track, Up And Down World, Chris Stephenson has the lead on vocal and keys, with Rodd Bland on drums, Jackie Clark on bass, Harold Smith on guitar, Marc Franklin and Scott Thompson on trumpet and Kirk Smothers on sax. Great opener. Ashton Riker is on lead vocal on St. James Infirmary and really works it. I've always like this track and this remake works really nicely. Jerome Chism has the mic on R&B track, I Wouldn't Treat a Dog (The Way You Treated Me) with a particularly strong drum rhythm and tight horn backing. Chism's vocals work perfectly on this track and I really like the activity of Bland on drums who really pushes the beat. Excellent! Slower blues, Soon As The Weather Breaks, is one of my favorites on the release with punched horns and suspenseful org...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 16, 2021), Bayou Liberty , from Tiffany Pollack & Co. and it's a cool blend of New Orleans blues and country. Opening with Spit on Your Grave , a solid shuffle, Tiffany Pollack on lead vocal shows her power, backed by John Nemeth on harmonica, Brandon Brinious on guitar, Stoo Odom on bass, Christopher on sax and Ian Petillo on drums. The track has just the right amout of grit to make it different. Very cool. Colors has a real nice sway to it with Pollack riding the wave and nicely stylized guitar lead by Brunious. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Sassy Bitch , a funky blues rocker with it's obvious hook and some real lnice sax work by Johnson. With a light country flavor, Baby Boys is a cool ballad with strong lead vocals and with nice steel guitar highlights by Eric Lewis. With a bit of R&B worked into it's country roots, Livin' For Me has a funky bottom and Johnson shines on sa...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stronger Than Strong , from John Nemeth and it's tasty. Opening with Chicago bluesy, Come On And Take It , with Nemeth on vocal and harmonica, Danny Banks on drums, Matthew Wilson on bass and Jon Hay on guitar. With it's tight rhythm and classic styling, it's a solid opener.  With darker overtones and Nemeth's soulful vocals, Sometimes is a strong player that is a great showcase for Nemeth's vocal strength and harmonica reinforcement. Throw Me In The Water is a great rocker with a rockin beat and a moving bass line by Wilson, potent vocals by Nemeth and some flashy guitar work by Hay on guitar. Very nice. I really like Chain Breaker with it's blues vamp driven by Wilson and plenty of room for Nemeth and Hay to cruise. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Work For Love with it's infectious bass line and Nemeth's soulful vocals. Adding a little bounce to a classic blues pat...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (9/18/20), Below Sea Level , from Eric Johanson and I really like it! Johanson, who grew in Louisiana has blues rock in his blood. Opening with Buried Above Ground you hear distinct influences of Free/Humble Pie and the best of the blues rock generation mixed with Luther Dickinson and the best of the southern blues rockers in this totally fresh sound. This may be the best blues rock release of it's kind since Humble Pie's Smokin'! Cody Dickinson on drums lays down a great tom tom beat and with Johanson on gritty guitar and excellent lead vocal and Terrence Grayson on bass, this release is off to a great start. On Down To The Bottom , Johanson slips on his slide and cranks up the heat. This is a modern boogie in the vein of Hooker but with fat fat slide tones and strong vocals. Really excellent! Blues ballad, Changes The Universe , has the potential to rival Gary Moore with better vocals, a sweet melody line and ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, MacDaddy Mojeaux, from Gregg Martinez (pronounced Mart nez with a silent i) and it's a cool soul and R&B set. Opening with Ray Charles' I Believe to My Soul , vocalist Gregg Martinez puts his own  R&B spin on  this classic track with a voice that shows loud and clear why he has lead such bands as King Fish, The Heat and The Boogie Kings. Backed by Tim Courville on drums, Charles Ventre on Hammond, Tony Daigle on percussion, Claude Salles on trombone, Allan Linker on trumpet and Ronnie Eades on sax, this is a great opener. Followed by Don Nix's Same Old Blues , Martinez digs deep down for a great soulful blues ballad, accented nicely by stinging guitar work. Very nice. Skylark's Wildflower is up next with a traditional soul mix but there's no taking from Martinez's pure vocals and style. Very nice with solid background vocals by Carla Benson and Evette Benton. One of my favorites on the r...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, All My Dues Are Paid , by Frank Bey and it's a solid mix of R&B, soul, funk and blues. Opening with Eddie Palmieri's Idle Hands with it's excellent NO funk. Bey really works this one Jim Pugh on organ, Eric Spaulding on sax solo, Jack Sanford on bari sax, Nancy Wright on tenor sax, John Helbleib on trumpet, Alex Petersen on drums, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Martin Winstad on percussion, Kid Andersen on guitar and Lisa Leuschner Andersen on backing vocals. Excellent opener! Rick Estrin's, Calling All Fools is a great shuffle with some really cool work by Nancy Wright and showcasing Bey's silky smooth vocals. Very nice. One of my favorites on the release is another Rick Estrin track, I Bet I Never Cross Your Mind , with it's slow, bluesy approach, and terrific guitar work by Kid Andersen. Nancy Wright's sax is thick and juicy and Pugh's organ solo is prime. Percy Mayfield's Ha Ha in th...