Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sunset Blvd 1969 , by Humble Pie and it’ gives a very cool insight into one of the most dynamic blues rockers of the era. Headlined by Peter Frampton , a well known guitar wiz and Steve Marriott , possibly the best blues rock vocalists of our time, this band was spectacular. This is a recording that I have never heard and recorded live at the Whiskey A Go-Go , this catches the band in all of it’ s rawness and very finely recorded on their first US tour. Opening with the Yardbirds ’ For Your Love , this track has a whole new feel. Jerry Shirley sets a cool bongo like rhythm and Peter Frampton plays Flamenco  stylized acoustic guitar, backed by Marriott on acoustic rhythm guitar. Marriott, always soulful wails the lyrics, complimented by Frampton who plays lush acoustic lead throughout. This is a real cool track and not at all what you’d expect from the band who “Rocked the Fillmore” but it’s quite good. Next up i...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ain't Done With The Blues , by Buddy Guy coinciding with his 89th birthday and it's jammed with over an hour of blues and rock. Opening with Hooker Thing , Buddy lays down a classic John Lee Hooker acoustic guitar riff and sings Buddy style. This really captures the playful guitar finesse of Guy. Blues rocker, Been There Done That is a great opener with a kick ass beat and shows Buddy singing like he's a kid and with aggressive guitar riffs, joined by Chuck Leavell on B3. Rob McNelley on rhythm guitar, Kevin McKendree on piano and Tom Hambridge really hangs tight on the drums. I just saw Kingfish last week and he really knows how to put things right. He's featured on funky, Where U At with his funky blues guitar styling under Buddy's silky smooth vocals. The addition of horns on this track add nicely to the richness and Hambridge's drumming works great with McKendree on piano. Excellent! Buddy ta...

I just had the opportunity to pose the newest release, All Blues , from Peter Frampton and I think it's his best effort in years. Frampton Comes Alive was great in it's time but this release shows maturity and poise. Opening with Willie Dixon's I Just Want To Make Love To You , Frampton reworks this classic track without adding a lot of fluff. With Rob Arthur on keys, Adam Lester on guitar, David Labruyere on bass, and Dan Wojciechowski on drums this is a great basic core. Kim Wilson adds strong harp riffs throughout and Frampton shows that he knows more than the basics about blues with his more traditional based guitar riffs. Very nice. On Taj Mahal's She Caught the Katy , Frampton adds even a little more of a funky bottom than Mahal used and the track feels really good. The firm bass work by Glenn Worf and stiff woodblock by  Wojciechowski give this track legs and Frampton uses them nicely to propel fluid guitar riffs. Very nice. Instrumental cover of Carmichael...

PETER FRAMPTON BAND’S ALL BLUES DUE FOR RELEASE JUNE 7 VIA UMe “I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU” (FEATURING KIM WILSON) PREMIERES TODAY SIRIUSXM SIX-WEEK SERIES “THE PETER FRAMPTON SHOW” DEBUTS MAY 10 ON DEEP TRACKS CHANNEL PETER FRAMPTON FINALE— THE FAREWELL TOUR KICKS OFF THIS SUMMER photo credit: Austin Lord     “ One of rock ‘n’ roll’s lifelong major players ” All Blues , the forthcoming covers album from the Peter Frampton Band , is set for release on June 7 via UMe . The album is a collection of Frampton’s favorite blues classics and was recorded with his longtime touring band, made up of Adam Lester (guitar/vocals), Rob Arthur (keyboards/guitar/vocals) and Dan Wojciechowski (drums). “ I Just Want To Make Love To You ” (featuring Kim Wilson ) is the first song to be released from the new album, and is available now with digital album pre-order. Listen/share the track HERE . All Blues was recorded ...

LESLIE WEST PRESENTS DEAN MISSISSIPPI QUEEN GUITAR TO LONG-TIME FAN AND MICROSOFT CO-FOUNDER PAUL ALLEN WEST TO RELEASE SOUNDCHECK ON NOVEMBER 20 Album Features West Joined By Jack Bruce, Brian May, Peter Frampton, Bonnie Bramlett, Max Middleton And Others EPK: New York, NY -- On Thursday evening at BB Kings in New York City, Leslie West welcomed long-time fan and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.  Pictured below are West and Allen, shortly after the guitarist presented one of his signature model guitars to the historical figure.  On November 20, Leslie West will release Soundcheck via Provogue / Mascot Label Group, his latest studio recording which features appearances from Jack Bruce, Brian May, Peter Frampton, Bonnie Bramlett, Max Middleton and others. West will celebrate his 70th birthday on October 22. www.lesliewestofficial.com www.facebook.com/lesliewestmountain

I just received the newest release (November 20, 2015), Soundcheck , from Leslie West , and it has a new flavor and hot riffs from the guitar ace. West's 16th release opens with Left By The Roadside To Die , a classic rocker augmented by David Biglin on synthesizer. West is really looking at multiple textures adding acoustic slide guitar, and powerful electric guitar riffs to his own rugged vocals making this a great opener. Tracy Chapman's Give Me One Reason gets a power rock rewrite with the vocals kept on the lower side and the guitar doing a nice response to his vocal call. Here For The Party is a straight ahead rocker with West leading the charge vocally. His classic distorted guitar tone and driving bottom makes this a great rocker. A real interesting minor key version of traditional ballad, You Are My Sunshine , with only basic keyboard setup and featuring Peter Frampton trading solos with West on slide. Very nice! AC/DC tribute, Empty Promises/Nothin' Sacred fe...

Frampton’s latest work, Hummingbird in a Box , will be simultaneously released in the UK and US on Tuesday 24th June via RED Distribution/Sony Music . The new music was inspired by the Cincinnati Ballet , featuring seven original guitar pieces in Frampton's virtuosic stylings. Frampton composed all songs on the mini-album along with Gordon Kennedy , who also co-produced the recording. The two previously teamed up for Fingerprints , which garnered them both a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album. Photo Credit: © Larry Marano / Getty Images The music debuted in April 2013 at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center for the Arts. Two of the Cincinnati Ballet’s spring production’s segments were choreographed to existing Frampton music - with Frampton and his band performing live - while a third section featured the new composition by Frampton and Kennedy. Of the project Frampton notes, “Writing for dance was a wonderfully freeing experience. There wer...

Following his critically acclaimed new album Thank You Mr Churchill , and his successful 35th Anniversary Tour of his multi-platinum selling live album Frampton Comes Alive! , Grammy®-winning guitarist and songwriter Peter Frampton will play a rare UK concert at the London Camden Roundhouse on Tuesday 5th November . This special one-off UK concert will see Frampton performing songs from his extensive catalogue. FCA! 35: An Evening with Peter Frampton , a live 2DVD, Blu-ray and 3CD set of the 35th Anniversary of Frampton Comes Alive! was released last November by Eagle Rock Entertainment. On the DVD, Peter performs the best selling live album in its entirety along with a second set including songs from his Grammy®-winning career. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday 26th April from www.kililive.com , 0844 871 8803 or 0844 482 8008 . PETER FRAMPTON London Camden Roundhouse Tuesday 5th November 2013 Tickets: £30 (+ bo...

Following his critically acclaimed new album Thank You Mr Churchill , and his successful 35th Anniversary Tour of his multi-platinum selling live album Frampton Comes Alive! , Grammy®-winning guitarist and songwriter Peter Frampton will play a rare UK concert at the London Camden Roundhouse on Tuesday 5th November . This special one-off UK concert will see Frampton performing songs from his extensive catalogue. FCA! 35: An Evening with Peter Frampton , a live 2DVD, Blu-ray and 3CD set of the 35th Anniversary of Frampton Comes Alive! was released last November by Eagle Rock Entertainment. On the DVD, Peter performs the best selling live album in its entirety along with a second set including songs from his Grammy®-winning career. Planet Rock will run an exclusive 48-hour ticket presale from 9am on Wednesday 24th April via www.planetrock.com . Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday 26th April from www.kililive.com , ...