Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ramblin' From Coast To Coast , from Johnny Burgin and it's an excellent new addition to his already great output. There's a reason that Johnny is one of my favorite players out there...and this is it! Opening with title track, rocker, Ramblin' From Coast To Coast , Johnny Burgin, who's a good enough a singer to front about any band in the country, on lead vocal and guitar getting things rolling, backed by Danny Banks on drums, Christian Dozzler on piano, Jon Hay on bass and with Jad Tariq on guitar. Solid opener. Up next is Gettin' My Blues On , with heavy a Curtis Mayfield vibe. This song is so good it's downright spooky. Johnny's vocals are soulful and his guitar work strong. Banks on drums, Hay with a great bass line, Barry Seelen on organ and Lisa Leuschner Andersen, Marina Crouse, Jill Dineen on backing vocals, I can't wait to hear this one live. There's a lot of Chicago in Sile...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Porch Sessions Volume 2 , from Tony Holiday and it's a great Chicago style blues party. Opening with She's Tuff , Victor Wainwright and his rhythm section really get things rolling with Wainwright on vocal and piano and Holiday on harmonica. With plenty of attitude in presentation and this dynamic duo, this is a strong opener. Willie Buck has the mic on Honey Bee with Rusty Zinn on slide and Kim Wilson on harmonica. Zinn really conjurs Muddy's tone on guitar and Wilson's sound is fat and rich. Excellent! In more of a Delta styling on Recipe for Love Master , Bobby Rush on vocal and Vasti Jackson on guitar really make a great team serving up a heavy helping of blues. Very nice. Going to Court is a real hot number with James Harman on harmonica and Kid Ramos and Landon Stone laying down pure fire on guitar. Lurrie Bell teams up with harpmaster Mark Hummel on a shortened take on Everyday I Have The Blues bu...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wrong Kind Of Love , by Rae Gordon Band and it's solid. Opening with hi stepper, Comin' Back For More , Rae Gordon is in high gear immediately with her sassy vocals and high powered horn section of Allen Kalik on trumpet, Scott Franklin on sax and the power rhythm section of Pat McDougall on keys, Kivett Bednar on guitar, Ed Pierce on drums and Joseph Conrad on bass. Bednar peels away with a ripping trill and laid out guitar solo before a funky conclusion. Great opener. Soulful ballad, How You Gonna is a certain radio track and super showcase for Gordon's vocals. Nicely harmonized vocals with Bednar and McDougall, with warm organ work by McDougall and trumpet highlights by Kalik make for a tidy package. My favorite track on the release is Sea Of Blue , a slower blues track with an inviting organ leader. Bednar and McDougall maintaining a calm sea under the tempest of Gordon's vocals creates nice tension...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live from Johnny Burgin and it's really good. Opening with brisk shuffle, You Got to Make A Change , Johnny is upfront on vocal and guitar, backed by Aki Kumar on harp, Kid Andersen on guitar, Chris Matheos on bass and Steve Dougherty on drums. Excellent, slow blues, Can't Make It Blues , Johnny really shines with his soulful vocal and blistering guitar riffs. Most people don't think of Chicago bluesmen as hot, slingers with real pyrotechnics but Burgin is here to show you that Buddy Guy is no longer the only game in town. Excellent! There are only a few contemporary players that can really pull off the funky blues like Albert King could and Burgin is one of them. She Gave Me The Slip is a great example with solid blues riffs over a great funky beat. Time for a great Chicago blues instrumental and Kumar is up and ready on harp. Burgin, Andersen and Kumar really kick it on this one with smoke flying. Rae Gor...

Johnny Burgin Live" on Delmark Records, CD/LP Street Date 8.16!   This live CD/LP offers twelve brand-new originals and two covers, performed in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Sonoma County, CA on Jan 5 of this year.    The band consisted of my road-tested rhythm section of Steve Dougherty and Chris Matheos in addition to some special guests and friends that I don't get to work together regularly, namely Kid Andersen, Rae Gordon, Aki Kumar, Charlie Musselwhite and Nancy Wright.  We had just one night to nail it, which made this recording a crazy, but thrilling, high wire act!  Blues legend Charlie Musselwhite's driving boogie-woogie harp on L"California Blues" is an absolute highlight.  You ...

11TH ANNUAL VENTURA COUNTY BLUES FESTIVAL FEATURES NEW LOCATION; ALL-DAY HEADLINING ACTS; FESTIVAL-ENDING ALL-STAR "JAM SESSION" DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF THE LATE BB CHUNG KING                                Saturday, April 30, 2016      (Camarillo, CA)  - An exciting, new location; all-day headlining acts; festival-closing All-Star Jam dedicated to the late BB Chung King; en...