Bman's Blues Report

Required Listening  Aretha Franklin - Unforgettable: A Tribute To Dinah Washington Born:  Detroit, Michigan March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018 Genre Style:  Soul, Jazz, Blues Aretha Franklin wasn't just a singer—she was a total force of nature who completely earned her title as the "Queen of Soul." Growing up singing gospel in her dad's Detroit church, she took that raw, powerhouse emotion and channeled it into a secular music career that defined a whole era. When you hear classics like "Respect" or "Think," you’re hearing a four-octave vocal range that could practically move mountains, backed by her own incredible, often underrated skills as a jazz-trained pianist. Beyond dominating the charts with 18 Grammy wins and becoming the first woman ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Aretha's music became the actual soundtrack for the Civil Rights and feminist movements. She had this rare ability to si...

Required Listening  Luther Dickinson Born:  Western Tennessee January 18, 1973 Genre Style:  Rock Blues Luther Dickinson is an incredible guitarist, singer, and producer who really channelled the spirit of the Deep South when he co-founded the North Mississippi Allstars. Growing up as the son of the legendary Memphis producer and musician Jim Dickinson, music was practically in Luther's DNA. He spent his formative years soaking up the raw, hypnotic hill country blues vibe directly from local icons like R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. In 1996, he and his brother Cody hitched up to form the Allstars, blending those old-school acoustic blues traditions with a heavy dose of psychedelic rock, jam-band energy, and funk. They instantly shook up the roots music scene, landing multiple Grammy nods and turning their live shows into legendary, high-octane celebrations. Outside of the Allstars, Luther has been all over the rock and roots world a...

Required Listening  Shirley Horn Born:  Washington D.C. May 1, 1934 – October 20, 2005 Genre Style:  Jazz, Blues Shirley Horn, who lived from 1934 to 2005, was an acclaimed American jazz singer and pianist celebrated for her smoky contralto voice and her masterful ability to perform exceptionally slow, intimate ballads while accompanying herself on the piano. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., she was a child prodigy who trained classically at Howard University before transitioning to jazz and forming her own trio at age twenty. She rose to national prominence in 1960 after legendary trumpeter Miles Davis discovered her debut album, Embers and Ashes, and adamantly insisted she open for him at New York’s Village Vanguard. Although she recorded with major producers like Quincy Jones, Horn famously chose to step back from heavy touring and industry pressures during the 1960s and 1970s to remain close to home and raise her daughter. She exp...

Required Listening  Nacho Castanon Born:  Madrid, Spain Genre Style:  Chirigota Punk One Hand Man's Band is basically the sonic mad-science project of Nacho , an underground musician from Madrid, Spain, who decided he didn't need a full lineup to make a ton of noise. Playing everything at once as a true one-man garage band, he smashes together raw, dirty guitar riffs, driving percussion, and blown-out vocals into a fast, frantic sound. He's also spent time fronting the garage duo The Awesome J'Haybers and sharing stages with heavy hitters like Guadalupe Plata, but this solo gig is where he lets loose. It all peaked in May 2011 when he dropped a self-titled, 9-track album on Bandcamp for free, blending classic garage rock with a hilariously chaotic, bilingual style he calls "Chirigota Punk." It's pure, unpolished DIY energy made for anyone who loves their rock and roll fast, loud, and a little bit unhinged. 👈 Chec...

Required Listening  Robert Pete Williams Born:  Zachary, La March 14, 1914 - December 31, 1980 Genre Style:  Delta Blues Robert Pete Williams  was born into a sharecropping family in Zachary, Louisiana, back in 1914, growing up working the fields with no formal schooling. He picked up music relatively late, picking up a home-made cigar box guitar around the age of 20 and teaching himself a deeply personal way of playing. His life took a sharp turn in 1956 when he shot a man at a nightclub in what he claimed was self-defense. Convicted of murder, he was sentenced to life at the notoriously harsh  Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola , where his raw talent might have stayed hidden forever. Instead, ethnomusicologists Harry Oster and Richard Allen discovered him at Angola in 1958, captivated by the haunting, stream-of-consciousness songs he sang about prison life. Oster was so moved that he lobbied the governor for Williams' release...

Required Listening  Ingrid Jensen - Kind of New  I’m traveling today so I’m posting an album that I really love that you may never have heard. No review. Pure music.  'Kind of New' is  a captivating jazz album that bridges the gap between traditional and contemporary styles, showcasing a diverse array of talented musicians . Led by keyboardist Jason Miles , the album features Ingrid Jensen on trumpet and Jay Rodriguez on various saxophones and bass clarinet. 🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM ▶ Listen to Album Samples (Click to Expand) Add this Record to Your Collection Available in Heavyweight Vinyl, CD, and Digital Formats. 🛒 Buy Album on Amazon Store As an Amazon Associate, Bman earns from qualifying purchases. Ingrid Jensen has been hailed as one of the most gifted trumpeters of her generation. As a sought-out teacher, co...