Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Play Loud & Smoke Often , from Cryin' Out Loud , and it's a good set of rocking blues. Opening with I Smoke Cigars and I Play The Blues , a jazzy blues rocker, Brandon Stallard on lead vocal and guitar gets things rocking joined by Ben Chute on guitar and slide, Jim Fratini on bass,  Erik Lawrence on sax, Mark "Bluesboy" Kanter on harmonica and Jeff Glidden drums. On boogie track, You Can Dance to the Blues , Fratini on bass sets the pace with Brooks Milgate on keys and piano and Stallard on vocal. Stallard lays in a hot guitar solo and Lawrence blows a cool sax solo of his own. My favorite track on the release is bass driven, Instead , with it's drum/bass echo rhythm and fiery guitar lead and full organ solo by Milgate and Lincoln Blake. Moonshine Lover has a light feel and memorable radio melody. With it's bouncy rhythm and vocal harmonies it plays well for airplay. Up tempo rocker, Time Awa...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Too Much Blues ,  from Willie J. Laws Jr. and it's dripping in funky blues. Opening with Regl' Ol' Blues , Willie J. Laws Jr. on vocal and guitar sets the stage for a soulful sort of blues. His phrasing is super and his guitar work mature, backed by Dave Johnson on bass, Brooks Milgate on keys, Justin Blackburn on drums, Erik Lawrence on sax, and Siobhan Magness on backing vocals. Strong opener. Stuck in Traffic is a particularly cool track with that Curtis Mayfield funky stew feel. Laws uses a great blend of vocal and guitar to get just the right mix. Title track, Too Much Blues has a super bass line by Johnson leading the way and Jaws singing in somewhat a BB King style with real nice guitar phrasing, punched up by Milgate on organ. Another funky blues, You Don't Love Me , really has a great feel, alternating Johnson's bass line with Laws' vocals, tied together by Milgate on keys and Blackburn o...