Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, For You , by Tim Woods and its an earthy contemporary blues release. Opening with Can't Stop Rockin' with it's blend of the Doors and Ten Years After blues rock feel. Woods definitely has a Morrison vocal styling and Bobby Lee Rogers bass lines are driving. Cool opener. Another cool blues rocker, Are You Kind? has just a taste of metal but with Rogers on keys this track almost takes on a Deep Purple flavor. Mimic has a really cool, bounce to it with just the right amount of funk. Rogers' drum anchor gives Woods freedom to jam out on guitar and it's just the perfect combination of groove and lead guitar (think old Savoy Brown meets old ZZ Top). Very nice. Wrapping the release is ballad, Within , with Rogers highlighted on vocal with only the  minimal keyboard and brushed drums over his own guitar. With a solid melody and and flowing guitar lead, this is a cool closer.    If you support live Blu...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Vortex , by Tim Woods and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Ready , a cool straight up rocker with solid gritty vocals by Tim Woods who also plays some pretty serious lead guitar, backed by Bobby Lee Rodgers on guitar, bass, drums and keys. Very cool. Title track, Vortex , has an interesting sound along the lines of Wishbone Ash with an almost ethereal feel, crisp drum work and strong vocal backing by Derek Woods and Ryan Woods. Sage is an interesting self perpetuating, guitar lead, instrumental with full organ backing by Rodgers. This is my favorite track on the release. Light shuffle, I Don't Know Yet really has a crisp, jazzy feel with a great strutting rhythm. Woods' vocals are breezy and his guitar lead is fluid and resolved. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Water Is Life , a firm ballad with primarily rhythm guitar backing with cool undercurrents of key and drums. This is a solid closer to an enj...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, ...Took A While , from The Mike Duke Project and it's a soulful southern style release packed with musical elite. Opening with Little Miss Ponytail , a certain radio track, Mike Duke on lead vocal and piano leads the way with Bill Stewart on drums, Phil Yeager on bass, Ronnie Brown on guitar and Rick Kurtz on guitar. Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do features Duke with Jimmy Hall and the vocals are not only warm and solid but this is really a strong track. Let Me Be Your Fool Tonight is a real cool track with the addition of Lloyd Meadows, Angela Strehi  and Lisa Lueschner Andersen on backing vocal and featuring super accordion work by Bruce Gordon. I'm Not Sad Tonight sounds like it could be pulled right out of Van Morrison's songbook with distinct vocal phrasing and poise and the addition on Jim Pugh on B3. Very nice. Gospel flavored Torn & Scarred is Duke, accompanying his vocal lead on piano wit...

Opening with and easy going blues number, title track Belle of the Blues , Lisa Biales shows why she is know for her clear voice, well complimented by Pat Bergeson on harp and Paul Hornsby on piano. Tommy Talton plays nice acoustic guitar riffs as a compliment but this song is really ready for airplay. Sad Sad Sunday is a slow blues ballad featuring Biales at her best on lead vocals and Tommy Talton on dobro. Bad Things has a "Summertime" feel with a light acoustic guitar backing. Adding instrumentation as it builds, Randall Bramblett adds organ, Ken Wynn guitar, Bill Stewart drums, Tommy Vickery bass and EG Kight backing vocals. Very nice. Mask , a primary 40's style blues ballad shows Biales in the heart of her style. Hornsby plays a "key" role in the backing on this track and Biales leads with very solid vocals. Graveyard Dead Blues has a cool dobro lead by Talton and EG Kight backs him nicely on acoustic. Biales is consistent with her vocals, strong and...

Singer Lisa Biales Is the Belle of the Blues on New CD from Big Song Music Due March 4 Latest Album Produced by EG Kight and Paul Hornsby Features Tommy Talton, Randall Bramblett and Bill Stewart with a Special Duet from Lisa and EG OXFORD, OH – Singer Lisa Biales (pronounced “Bee-Alice”) announces a March 4 release date for her latest album, Belle of the Blues , on the Big Song Music label, with production by multi-Blues Music Award nominee EG Kight and legendary Southern Rock producer Paul Hornsby. The CD was recorded at Hornsby’s Muscadine Studio in Macon, Georgia, and features special guests Tommy Talton on guitar (Cowboy, Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts) Randall Bramblett on Hammond B3 organ (Sea Level, Steve Winwood, Widespread Panic) and Bill Stewart on drums (Cowboy, Gregg Allman, Bonnie Bramlett). Talton’s contributions on the new album especially stand out, with his work on acoustic/electric guitar, electric/acoustic slide guitar and dobro. ...