Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Eldorado , from Guy Belanger and it's pretty cool. Opening with instrumental, Carving The Wind , featuring Guy Belanger interweaving his harmonica work with Robert MacDonald on guitar over the bass work of Marc-Andre Drouin and Michael Dufour on drums. A pure Latin beat sets the tone for instrumental title track, Eldorado , with it's crisp rhythm and swaying feel. Belanger crafts a really nice melody and MacDonald shapes flowing guitar tones that almost sound like the wind. Very nice. A track with an overall blues feel and real tension, When Will I Know features Belanger on lead vocal and harmonica and Bob Stagg on b3, piano and Wurlitzer. This is a really sensitive track with a great radio sense. One of my favorite tracks on the release is light funky jazz rocker, Wicked with it's super bass line from Drouin, and Belanger on harmonica melody and including a real nice guitar solo by MacDonald. Another trac...

Quebec's Masterful Harmonicist   Guy Bélanger Set To Release Eldorado October 25 Bélanger's sixth solo album coming out via Bros Records Quebec’s most sought-after harmonica player, Guy Bélanger is set to release his 6th solo album, Eldorado on October 25th on Bros Records. This long-awaited new release features a mix of original blues songs and instrumental gems that highlight his remarkable melodic touch. Eldorado is another demonstration of the top-notch chemistry Bélanger and his band can attain in studio. This brilliant assemblage of original songs also contains a few surprising covers, of note a delta blues version of Prince's “Sign 'O The Times” and a joyous rendition of Van Morrison’s “Bright Side of the Road”.  With a storied career that has spanned more than four decades, Bélanger has worked with some of Quebec’s bi...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Big Mistake , from Mister Goodfaith and it's a solid pop rocker rooted in the blues. Opening with Castaway , with it's cool melody and Nashville styling, Mister Goodfaith (aka physician Dr. Fabien Bonnefoy) shows a knowledge of songwriting and tight rhythms. With an emphasis on lead vocal and guitar solo turnarounds, Goodfaith keeps it light and tight. Break Up has a particularly cool hook with it's short guitar riff and harmonized refrain, simple by bluesy guitar soloing and tight drum work. I really like the loose, cavernous guitar tone on Wild Horses , compiled with it's sweet melody and single stroke drum rhythm. Never Again proves to be the strongest rocker with a driving guitar intro and radio ready melody. Goodfaith demonstrates over and over his ability to create interesting, well constructed tracks. Wrapping the release is title track, Big Mistake , another really nice track with a strong melo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Big Beets , from Martin Goyette , and it's got pure soulful style. Opening with a cool guitar intro courtesy of Jim Bland,  singer, songwriter and harp player, Martin Goyette,  pounces on St. John Morning Blues , like my assistant on a muffin. With an interesting New Orleans style, driven by Jarrod Atkins on bass and really spiced up by the stumble drumming of Louis-Etienne Drouin this is a way nice opener. Night Out flashes a R&B style and Goyette's vocals are nicely suited. Stylistic guitar playing by Bland gives the track balance. Very cool. I really like the undertone of Rolling with it's ominous bass line and punctual key work by Chris Trauchner. I've only heard on guy who successfully pulls off vocals like this and it's Joe Cocker. Very nice. Fusion track, As Long As We're In Town , has a great bass line, accented by Trauchner on keys and tight drum work of Drouin. MaryPier Guilbeault ...

  QUEBEC BLUES ARTISTS SWEEP MAPLE BLUES AWARDS The Paul DesLauriers Band and Angel Forrest win multiple awards The fast-paced performance rich gala featured a moving memorial tribute to the late John Mays (Fathead), Brian Cober and past Blues With A Feeling Award Winner Bob Walsh (January 23, 2017) Toronto, ON – Canadian blues artists from coast-to-coast were honoured by their peers at the 20th Annual Maple Blues Awards gala in Toronto last night as a crowd of blues lovers gathered to celebrate Canadian blues at Koerner Hall.   Quebec blues artists swept the awards with honours going to trio The Paul DesLauriers Band who won Entertainer of the Year, Electric Act of the Year, Drummer of the Year for Sam Harrisson , and Bassist of the Year for Greg Morency . Blues belter Angel Forrest took home three awards including Female Vocalist of the Year, Recording/Producer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year...

I just received the newest release, I'm Free , from Jordan Officer and it's terrific! Opening with At Least I've Got The Blues , a cool walking, Thrill Is Gone like track, Officer talks his lyrics, not unlike one of my all time favorites, Roy Buchanan, and lets his guitar do the talking. His guitar knows exactly what to do with beautiful tone and unquestionable phrasing. Excellent! A Night Of Fun , is up next with a carnival kind of feel. Tony Mason on drums and Jeff Hill on bass balance out this track. With a cool light jazzy touch this is a bright player. Title track, I'm Free , is a nice slow T-Bone Walker style track with beautifully articulate guitar work. Charley Drayton on drums and Andy Hess just sit tight in the pocket as Officer shows how it is done. Brilliant! When We Were Just Two is a cool retro track with a Bo Diddley beat. Loose guitar work and rhythmic backing make this a cool track. I'm All Alone had a cool Roy Head like vamp with a minimalist...

Marjolène Morin (born 2 August 1953 in Montreal, Quebec), professionally known as Marjo, is a Quebec singer-songwriter. After singing in two musicals of François Guy, Marjo joined the band Corbeau in 1979, two years after the group was started by Pierre Harel. Her solo career began shortly after Corbeau disbanded with the theme song for the film La Femme de l'hôtel which earned a Genie Award for Best Original Song in 1985. In 1986, her debut album Celle qui va sold more than 250 000 copies.   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 favorite band!

David Wilcox (born July 13, 1949 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian rock musician. Montreal native, David (Karl William) Wilcox drew inspiration from musician Elvis Presley at the early age of six. Wilcox soon picked up the guitar and began playing, having his first live performance (to a room of ex-convicts) at fourteen years old. In 1970, Wilcox replaced Amos Garrett in Ian & Sylvia Tyson’s band, Great Speckled Bird, playing backup for acts such as Anne Murray, Carl Perkins, and Charlie Rich. In 1973, after two records, Wilcox left the band to go solo and never looked back. Wilcox's first band, David Wilcox and the Teddy Bears, hit local stages as a flashy character with an oversized waxed moustache, a baggy suit and a flower in his lapel. His debut album, Out of the Woods came out in 1977. Out of the Woods produced his three top hits, "Do the Bearcat", "Bad Apple", and "That Hypnotizin’ Boogie". Wilcox signed with Capitol Records in 1982, re-rel...

Hoodoo Man is a blues & roots, one-man-band, based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. What started as a side project for Montreal, bass stalwart, Mike Reilly, has now become an energetic live act that mixes classic blues and originals that pay tribute to the early blues legends. He sings, plays guitar, drums, and rack harp simultaneously, evoking a trio from days gone by. A lively performance, not to be missed! If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Historically, the blues has been a vocal musical form. Field hollers soared across the cotton and tobacco fields of the southern United States long before the first guitar god plugged in his amp. The first blues records focused on singers. Mamie Smith, Bessie Smith, and Ethel Waters made their mark with their voices. Even instrumental virtuoso Blind Lemon Jefferson sold records, on the strength of his voice and the content of his lyrics. Richard Carr continues the tradition of the blues singer. Carr grew up in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, not generally regarded as a hot bed of the blues. During summers on the Alabama Gulf Coast he spent many Sundays listening to the all- day gospel music radio broadcasts. Richard Carr didn't plan on becoming a blues singer. His earliest influence was classical Latin choral music at the local convent school. Although his first love was the drum, Richard's godfather decided the guitar made less noise and Richard soon began taking lessons at a nearby...

Dale Boyle is a Gaspé born, Montreal-based award-winning folk, country, and blues singer-songwriter. He has been called “One of the best to emerge from north of the border” (AmericanaHomeplace.com) and “an accomplished musician, a fine singer, and an exceptionally thoughtful, meticulous songwriter" (CanadianBlues.ca). Dale's songs tap into a number of subject areas, from the out-of-work miner to the First World War veteran; the local bartender to the small town painter. He is an International Narrative Song Competition Winner; Lys Blues Songwriter of the Year award Winner; Two-time Lys Blues Folk/Blues Artist of the Year award Winner; International Songwriting Competition and USA Songwriting Competition finalist. Dale has appeared in the CBC ENJEUX documentary film Le Mystère Coffin and his music has been included in the Learning Landscapes online journal and the audio version of Daniel Levitin’s best selling book, The World in Six Songs: How the Musical Brain Created Human Na...

Justin Saladino is a 16 year old blues-rock guitarist, singer and songwriter from Montreal, Quebec. Growing up in a musical family, guitars were never too far from reach. It was no coincidence that Justin would start a love affair with the guitar. Eager to learn he started taking lessons from his uncle. By the age of 9 he was showing an amazing ability in playing songs by artists like: Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Led Zeppelin, Buddy Guy and Santana. Now he is a fusion of all these artists making his identity and style. Justin has played over 50 shows with ex-band members Matthew Passalacqua and Adam Passalacqua of “Runaway Slide” receiving a substantial praise from the blues community here in Quebec and among other fellow musicians and critics. He has shared stages and jammed on numerous occasions with artists like Paul Deslaurier, Jim Zellers, Ronnie Baker Brook, Steve Marriner, Angel Forest, Mike Deway, Trevor Finlay , Lalya Zoe, Carl Tremblay, Jimmy James and Guy Belanger. In ...