Quarto Valley Records artist: Savoy Brown - Blues All Around - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues All Around, from Savoy Brown and I think it's their best in years. Opening with Falling Through, Kim Simmonds sets the pace of the set with some authentic delta style riffs on electric guitar breaking into a classic boogie style rocker. With Simmonds on vocal and lead guitar, this band has more miles than most anyone short of the Stones. Simmonds, who passed away in December has held the blues rock boogie torch for 57 years and has released 42 albums...yes...42. Having personally seen at least 4 or 5 different lineups of Savor Brown (all with Simmonds), I have been a long time fan. On Going Down South, Simmonds pulls out the slide and this is a guy who really knew how to play it. From some of the best days of the band in the 70's and Tell Mama to now, Simmonds shows a super command and feel for slide guitar. Due to Peripheral Neuropathy as a side effect of chemotherapy Kim plays quite a bit more slide on this release and I'm glad he did. His approach to the instrument is strong and certainly influenced splinter group, and slide driven, Foghat who leaned more into rock. Gypsy Healer glows with Simmonds' notable Marshall tone and his harmonica and of course the always solid bottom provided by Garnet Grimm on drums and Pat DeSalvo on bass. Texas Love has great swagger with Simmonds really sitting in the groove on rhythm guitar and his lead work is well phrased. Just listen to that guitar tone on Hurting Spell and you know why people love Simmonds. One of my criticisms on modern Savoy Brown has been Kim's vocals but with each release he seemed to get more comfortable as he molded his vocals to work well with the band. His slide work on this track is fat and classic. Can't Go Back To My Hometown has a great Latin feel, not unlike fellow UK contemporary Peter Green on his composition, Black Magic Woman. I think that Simmond's lead phrasing is every bit as juicy as Green's on the original BMW and it's great to hear Kim soloing with reckless abandon once again.  Wrapping the release is acoustic blues, Falling Through The Cracks, with Simmonds accompanying himself with that classic delta styling and a fitting way for such a great guy to close his life long love of the blues. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Quarto Valley Records artists: Bonham - Bullick - self titled - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review Bonham-Bullick's self titled release and it's a smooth blend of pop, rock, soul, R&B and country. Opening with See You Again, a certain radio composition with a solid melody and featuring Deborah Bonham on lead vocal and Peter Bullick on guitars, Gerard Louis on keys, Ian Rowley on bass, and hard Newman on drums. On Albert King's, Can't You See What You're Doing To Me, Bonham gets into a cool groove and Bullick lets his blues rock chops fly. Delving deeper into the blues, Charles Brown's Trouble Blues is rich with ambiance and Bonham really works it. Bullick's guitar phrasing is poised and soulful. Very nice. I particularly like the arrangement on When This World Comes to an End, with it's suspenseful setup and then how it breaks into a more outright rocker. Reminds me of a favorite blues rock track Religion by Ten Years After. It Ain't Easy, that was made popular by David Bowie back in the 70's holds it's basic arrangement but sounds great after all of these years with strong vocals by Bonham and solid guitar riffs by Bullick. Wrapping the release is ballad, The Changeling with some of the best vocal on the release and strong atmospheric guitar work by Bullick. Solid closer. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Quarto Valley Records artist: Sean Chambers - That's What I'm Talkin About - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 9, 2021), That's What I'm Talkin About, from Sean Chambers and I really like it. Chambers put together this release as a tribute to Hubert Sumlin who he played with  for over 4 years, in fact the title of the release is due to it being a phrase that Hubert used frequently. Opening with blues rocker, Hubert Sumlin's Chunky, a funky instrumental, features Chambers on lead guitr, Bruce Katz on B3, Andrei Koribanics on drums and Antar Goodwin on bass.  With strong blues rock guitar lead and solid phrasing, this is a super instrumental opener. Howling Wolf's Rockin' Daddy gets a really hnice Wolf like vocal lead and Chambers' guitar lead is nothing short of electrifying. On St' Loius Jimmy Oden's Goin' Down Slow, Chambers works the space with excellent phrasing and his attack has fire that I've rarely heard from contemporary blues players except SRV. Excellent! On Willie Dixon's, Taildragger, Chambers digs deep on lead vocal with gritty vocals and really potent lead guitar that just oozes blues. Katz's contribution on B3 is particularly full on tis track giving Chambers a good paring to extend his soloing. Really nice. Mississippi Sheiks composition, Sittin On Top Of The World, made highly popular by the Cream, gets a healthy rework here with a less jazzy... more bluesy approach. Chambers, whos vocal has similar characteristics to Howlin Wolf defaults to another Wolf / Dixon composition in Howlin' For My Darling with the addition of John Ginty on B3 and wth a more rocking guitar attack. Very effective. Wrapping the release is Wolf's, Louise, with super pace. Chambers digs in on his vocal attack, playing his lead guitar response with excellent efficiency and sting. With cool piano work by John Ginty and emotional guitar lead, this is an excellent closer for a really strong release. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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Quarto Valley Records artist: Savoy Brown - Ain't Done Yet - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ain't Done Yet, from Savoy Brown and they are definitely on a solid path again. Opening with blues rocker, All Gone Wrong, Kim Simmonds is up front on lead vocal and guitar and Simmonds is developing into a very solid lead vocalist. His guitar  playing and blues chops are as good as any, possibly one of the best electric/contemporary lead blues rockers ever. Joined by Pat DeSalvo on bass and Garnet Grimm on drums, the band sounds tight. With it's droning bass line and steady drums beat, Borrowed Time has a classic feel. Simmonds uses a Multivox FullRotor for shimmery guitar effects and keeps the underpinnings of the track spartan. Boogie rocker and title track, Ain't Done Yet has classic Savoy Brown styling with crisp lead work by Simmonds and a solid base. Latin flavored, Feel Like A Gypsy, is a cool radio style track with a smooth, "Santana" like feel. Simmonds is a talented player and improvisor and can pull off just about anything he attempts. Very cool. One of my favorites on the release is Jaguar Car with a driving bottom and giving Simmonds open road to plays slide. If you don't know Simmonds' slide playing, think classic rock track, Tell Mama or think the and Foghat, who built their trademark sound around Simmonds' slide sound. I love the Marshall crunch on Soho Girl, a heavy weight rocker with Simmonds singing and playing with authority. His lead playing is fluid and inventive. Wrapping the release is Crying Guitar, my favorite on the release. Simmonds is an expert at defining and playing long fluid guitar lead and with just a light Latin touch, this expressive, bluesy guitar melody springs to life. Excellent closer. This is really quite a good release and if you love the Savoy Brown sound, or blues rock in general, this is one to hear!

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE