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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!


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Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Joyann Parker - Out of the Dark - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Out of the Dark, from Joyann Parker and it's a solid set of radio directed tracks with plenty of beef. Opening with Gone So Long, a country rock flavored track featuring Mark Lamoine on guitar and slide, Bill Golden on drums and Brad Schaefer on bass. With a lightly funky beat by Golden and Schaefer and the addition of Laycey Dreamz and Patricia Lacy on backing vocals, nested nicely on the warm key strokes  of Tim Wick on organ, Carry On is a solid country rocker with strong vocal lead by Parker. Either Way is a really nice ballad and a strong showcase for Parker's voice with only acoustic guitar and slide supporting her vocals. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Predator with it's Latin rhythm and seductive vocal styling by Parker, tasty guitar work by Lamoine and the addition of Dave Foley on trumpet. Come On Baby (Take Me Dancing) is an ideal radio track with a catchy melody and upbeat memorable feel. Rocker, Fool For You, is a hard driver with rolling drums, hammering piano and strong slide work by Lamoine under the powerful vocals of Parker. Wrapping the release is soulful title track, Out of the Dark, with the addition of strings by Greg Byers, keys by Parker, backing vocals by Bill Golden, Dreamz, Lacy and strong lead vocal by Parker. 


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Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Michael Schatte - Conundrum - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Conundrum, from Michael Schatte and it's an interesting contemporary rock release. Opening with high energy, Water In The Kettle, singer, guitar player, Michael Schatte cranks out a radio track on par with Glenn Frey. Also playing violin and percussion and backed by Ryan Spratt on bass, Riley O'Connor on drums, Sacha Visagie on vocal and Carson Freeman on sax, this track hits the note. Pop track, Genevieve, had straight up rock lines and a solid melody. Shuffle track, Please Don't Dance With My Brother, has definite blues roots with a tight rhythm by O'Connor and cool sax by Freeman. Come On Down is a solid boogie track with great drive. With Schatte on vocal, guitars, organ and bass, adding only Chad Davis on drums, this is my favorite track on the release. Bluesy ballad, In The Cold Hard Here And Now is a real cool track with a strong melody and folky twist. Schatte's mandolin work on this track add a real nice compliment. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Good King Richard, made up of traditional folk tunes and a tribute to English guitarist, Richard Thompson. This is a cool closer for a cool release. 


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Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Cathy Grier + The Troublemakers - I'm All Burn - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'm All Burn, from Cathy Grier + The Troublemakers and it's a cool blend of R&B and blues. Opening with title track, I'm All Burn, Cathy Grier is upfront on vocal and guitar, backed by Deirdre Fellner on backing vocal, Jim Ohlschmidt on guitar, Larry Byrne on organ, Greg Roteik on bass, matt Liben on drums, Pauli Ryan on percussion, and with great horn work by Andrew Spadafora on sax, Joe Neimann on trumpet and Mike Lizzo on trombone. Down on My Knees is a cool pop R&R track with clean vocals, great bari sax work and a tight dance rhythm. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Backyard Blues with strong, soul vocals by Grier, solid slide by Greg Koch and Steve Cohen on harmonica.  Bluesy ballad, Easy Come Easy Go is a terrific showcase for Grier's voice and warm organ work by Byrne cements the deal. Very nice. Bobbi Gentry's Ode To Billy Joe gets a slightly funkier rework and with the addition of Howard Levy on harmonica a bluesier overall feel. This is a cool rework of a mostly forgotten track. Wrapping the release is Cathy's Bike Song, a somber blues track with Grier accompanying herself on cigar box guitar. This is a special track that creates solid tension.


 


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Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Danny Brooks & Lil Miss Debi - Are You Ready? - The Mississippi Sessions - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Are You Ready? - The Mississippi Sessions from Danny Brooks & Lil Miss Debi. Opening with straight up rocker and title track, Are You Ready? Danny Brooks leads the way on vocal and guitar with Debi on vocal, Chalmers Davis on B3, Joel may on drums, Micah May on bass on Geri O'Neal on bass. Jesus Had the Blues has a cool strut with soulful lead guitar and vocal by Brooks, and with James Lawlis on sax, Paul Mitchell on trumpet, and Peter Hysen on tuba. Very nice. With revival gospel styling, Let Me Know is full of energy with Danny and Debi trading vocal and vibrant drum work by May. Debi gets her lead vocal showcase on John Prine's Angel From Montgomery. A cool duet with Brooks on vocal, guitar and harmonica, this is the choice radio track for the release.  My favorite track on the release is One More Mile (To Mississippi), a stripped down hill country style hollar with cajon and harmonica under lead vocal. Very nice. With a full load of soul, When I'm Holding You is another particularly track with a strong melody, warm keys and guitar and Brook's best vocal on the release. Wrapping the release is cool track, The Battle with gritty vocals by Brooks and great tuba work by Peter Hysen and strong trumpet work by Mitchell. This is a dynamite closing for a solid release. 


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Friday, January 22, 2021

Provogue artist: Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band - Straight To You Live - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Straight To You Live, from Kenny Wayne Shepherd and it's a solid rocker. This is a double pack with a cd recording as well as a dvd video of the concert. Opening with Woman Like You, KWS of course leads the pack on vocal and guitar, backed by Noah Hunt on vocal and guitar, Chris "Whipper" Layton on drums, Joe Krown on keys, Scott Nelson on bass, Mark Pender on trumpet and Joe Sublett on sax. Shepherd sets a solid pace and with his trademark vocals and fluid lead runs sets up a good opener. Elmore James' Talk To Me Baby has a real nice shuffle pace with Pender and Sublett on horns and Shepherd on guitar and slide and some of his best vocals on the release. Real nice sax work by Sublett and a hot trumpet solo by Pender gives this track a real turbo boost. Bluesy ballad, Heat of the Sun is one of my favorites on the release with soulful vocals by Shepherd and explosive, melodic guitar work by Shepherd. Very nice. Shame, Shame, Shame is a strong slower shuffle with fiery blues guitar riffs and excellent vocals by Shepherd. A nice piano solo by Krown and extensive soloing by KWS really pushes this almost 9 minute track over the top. Excellent! Joe Walsh's Turn To Stone is always a favorite and a great showcase for lead guitar players to lay it all out there. Very nice. Classic blues number turned rocker, I'm A King Bee is full of energy with a driving beat and standout key work from Krown. Wrapping the release is Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Child with KWS throwing everything at it but the kitchen sink. This is a solid review of a classic tune over 11 minutes and an excellent closer for a strong release. 


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Thursday, January 21, 2021

GSGS Music artist: Greg Sover Band - The Parade - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Parade, from Greg Sover Band and it's a strong rocker with roots in the blues. Opening with Wake Up, a firm rocker with a stiff drum rhythm and grinding guitar riff, GSB lets you know right up front that this is no ordinary blues band. With Sover on lead guitar and vocal, Garry Lee on bass, Allen James on guitars, Wally Smith on keys and Tom Walling on drums, this is a solid opener. On Feelin' Sumthin', Sover dons a resonation and lays in a cool slide riff pitted with Willing's punctuating snare strike over Lee's active bass line to create a modern, country blues rocker. It's nice to see Jack Bruce's Politician, come out on a new release. I have always love this track and Sover handles Bruce's vocal lead nicely and his own lead guitar is exciting with excellent drumming by Walling and a great bass groove by Lee. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Never Gonna Stop, a classic style rocker with a cool a super guitar/drum rhythm. Blended vocal lead by Sover and Lee and fluid rock guitar lead makes this a strong closer. 


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Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Gulf Coast Records artist: Kevin Burt - Stone Crazy - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stone Crazy, by Kevin Burt and it's a cool contemporary blues rocker with a pop edge. Opening with I Ain't Got No Problem With It, a free and easy rocker, Burt on lead vocal, guitar and harmonica is joined by Mike Zito on guitar, Doug Byrkit on bass, Matthew Johnson on drums, Lewis Stephens on keys and Jimmy Carpenter on sax. Purdy Lil Thing has a cool, swampy feel and Burt's deep, smooth vocals are excellent! Johnson's drum touch is terrific and guitar accents by Zito have just the right touch. R&B based, title track, Stone Crazy, has a laid back feel and Burt's vocals float nicely on a lush melody. You Get What You See is a smooth fusion between a blues shuffle and a Booker T jam. With it's driving guitar vamp and Carpenter's sax work, this is a cool track. With it's funky groove, Better Off Dead is one to be reckoned with. Burt lays in the pocket with the confidence of Bill Withers on the most likely radio track on the release. Wrapping the release is Got To Make A Change, an interesting ballad with wailing electric slide under Burt's soulful vocals. 


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Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Miss Emily - Live At The Isabel - New Release Review


 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live at the Isabel, from Miss Emily and it's solid. Opening with Sometimes It's Better To Lose, Miss Emily takes command of the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts with her powerful vocals. Backed by Van Sheen, James McKenty and Rob Baker on guitar, Gord Sinclair on bass, Seamus Cowan on bass, Zak Colbert on bass, Sean Jensen and Rob Radford on drums, Benni Vander on keys, Jon "Bunny" Stewart on sax, and Spencer Evans on piano. Who Is He is a slinky R&B number with a cool guitar vamp and lush backing vocals by Kelly Prescott and Chad Murphy on backing vocals. Gospel flavored Three Words, is one of my favorite tracks on the release with super dynamics and heartfelt vocals, accompanied by piano. Very nice. The Letter, made popular by Joe Cocker is up next and really a strong rendition, closely following Cocker's arrangement. Soulful ballad, Blue Is Still Blue is a great showcase for Emily and another of my favorites on the release. With a sparse background, mostly piano, this track is strong. Another flavor is The Sellout with it's R&B basis. Emily hardly takes a breath nailing it to the wall and with rich backing vocals and tight guitar answer to her call, this track is very nice. Wrapping the release is Hold Back the River with it's gospel roots, acapella, handclaps and all. I really think that this is a cool release and one that should get some attention.


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Monday, January 18, 2021

Random Chance Records artist: Martin Lang - Bad Man - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bad Man, from Martin Lang and it's pure blues. Opening with Reefer Head Man, a real nice Chicago blues, featuring Martin Lang on lead vocal and harp, Little frank on guitar, Illinois Slim on bass and  Dean Haas on drums. Lang's phrasing and sense of feel is really classic sounding like original Chicago blues rather than a current day take. Very nice. He Don't Love You is a great track with some of Lang's best vocals on the release. His harp tone is warm and round and David Waldman on piano adds classic blues piano. Harp boogie, High as a Georgia Pine is a top notch track with Lang riding high on harp over a solid bass line by Illinois Slim. The Mix Up is another harmonica instrumental with a Latin flavor. Lang has a great feel for just how much harp to add with a great balance of guitar by Little Frank. Mood Indica is a cool, slow blues instrumental with really nice exchanges between Frank and Lang. Very nice. All Gone Now is a really cool strut with Lang on harmonica melody. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Stacys On My Feet, a slow blues with Lang on lead vocal and David Waldman on piano. This is a strong closer for a really nice release. 


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Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Earwig Music Company artist: Andy Cohen - Tryin' To Get Home - New Release Review

 


I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tryin' To Get Home, from Andy Cohen and it's a cool, rural blues release. Opening with Blind Boy Fuller's Step It Up And Go, Andy Cohen wastes no time in showing that he's a serious student of the blues and a solid vocalist. His finger picking work is strong and his vocal delivery perfect. Excellent opener. Cohen shows broad versatility sitting behind the piano on Louis Jay Meyers Memorial Stomp. This is a really nice piano blues and with great feel, and a strong composition by Cohen. Another Cohen original, Puffin' That Stuff is one of my favorites on the release. A short finger picked guitar rag, this track will be a favorite in concert and on the disc. Very cool. Mississippi John Hurt's Talkin' Casey, is a classic blues story track with Cohen punctuating Casey's story with acoustic slide. Very nice. Reverend Gary Rag is a great tune and a cool tribute to Davis by Cohen. With his fleet fingered runs and classic patterns, this track is tight. RG Davis's trademark track, Death Don't Have No Mercy, is always a favorite and Cohen's handling of it is strong. Blind Blake's West Coast Blues is another finger twister and Cohen works it over nicely with articulate string runs and vocal engagement. Excellent! Wrapping the release is another Cohen original, Planxty: Miss Joanna Swan a nicely paced blues rag with an imbed melody over the picked rhythm. I real nice closer for an excellent acoustic blues release in the vein on Blake or Davis.


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Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Endless Blues Records artist: Mick Kolassa - If You Can't Be Good, Be Good At It! - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, If You Can't Be Good, Be Good At It!, by Mick Kolassa and I think it's his best release yet. Opening with I Can't Help Myself, a R&B style track with a light funky beat featuring Kolassa on lead vocal and acoustic guitar, Jeff Jensen on electric guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass, John Blackmon on drums, Rick Steff on keys, Marc Franklin on trumpet, and Kirk Smothers on sax, this is a solid opener. With deep gospel richness, James Taylor's Lo and Behold has great guitar underpinnings and super vocal by Yullie Brae. Rocking title track, If You Can't Be good, Be Good At It! is clever and has solid guitar riffs by Jensen, and power horn work by Franklin and Smothers. My favorite track on the release, A Good Day For the Blues, features nice guitar work by David Dunavent and Jensen and some of Kolassa's best vocal work on the release. Smooth blues ballad, Slow and Easy Love gives Jensen a wide road to really lay down on lead guitar and he capitalizes nicely over the warm organ bed of Rick Steff. Howlin' Wolf's Who's Been Talking? has a super Latin (read Santana) rhythm and features Dunavent and Jensen again on guitar with super backing by Willie Hall on drums and Weston Caldwell on percussion. Very nice! Wrapping the release is acoustic ballad, She Kept Her Head Up with it's easy rhythm and cool melody over reverb saturated guitar lead and tight drum rhythms by John Blackmon. 


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Friday, January 8, 2021

Dreams We Share artist: David Rotundo Band - So Much Trouble - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, So Much Trouble, from David Rotundo Band, and it's tasty. Opening with She's Dynamite, a strong blues rocker, features David Rotundo on lead vocal and harmonica, Milky Burgess on guitar, Ron Weinstein on organ and piano, Dean Schmidt on bass, Andrew Cloutier on drums and Darian Asplund on sax this is a super opener. Slower blues, I Must Be Crazy, is one of my favorite tracks on the release with solid lead vocal,  Weinstein really working the organ and fine guitar work by Burgess. Very cool. Too Blue, with it's easy sway is another cool track with haunting backing vocals by Annie Jantzer always strong lead by Rotundo and wailing guitar work by Burgess. Drinking Overtime is a swinging shuffle with over the top organ by Weinstein and solid sax by Asplund. Rotundo wails on harmonica and works his vocals into a frenzy. Trying to find it is a solid rocker with group vocal featuring Rotundo, Lee Oskar, Erik Yager, Chris Weortink, Nick Foster, Timothy Hill, Julia Vega, Brian Madsen, and Ginger Woo pushed by Cloutier and Schmidt and featuring nice harmonica by Rotundo and guitar soloing by Burgess. Wrapping the release is traditional blues track, Trouble In Mind, featuring Rotundo accompanying his own vocals on acoustic guitar and harmonica. A cool rendition of a classic and a fitting closer. 


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Thursday, January 7, 2021

Tim Woods - Vortex - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Vortex, by Tim Woods and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Ready, a cool straight up rocker with solid gritty vocals by Tim Woods who also plays some pretty serious lead guitar, backed by Bobby Lee Rodgers on guitar, bass, drums and keys. Very cool. Title track, Vortex, has an interesting sound along the lines of Wishbone Ash with an almost ethereal feel, crisp drum work and strong vocal backing by Derek Woods and Ryan Woods. Sage is an interesting self perpetuating, guitar lead, instrumental with full organ backing by Rodgers. This is my favorite track on the release. Light shuffle, I Don't Know Yet really has a crisp, jazzy feel with a great strutting rhythm. Woods' vocals are breezy and his guitar lead is fluid and resolved. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Water Is Life, a firm ballad with primarily rhythm guitar backing with cool undercurrents of key and drums. This is a solid closer to an enjoyable release. 


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Wednesday, January 6, 2021

VizzTone Label Group artist: Bob Margolin - Star of Stage and Screen - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Star of Stage and Screen, by Bob Margolin and it is a continuation of his most recent acoustic release, This Guitar and Tonight. Opening with acoustic blues and title track, Star of Stage and Screen, Margolin is back with his voice and guitar. A cool, stripped down delta style shuffle, Margolin sits upfront with a mostly vocal track with a tight rhythm and some cool riffs. My favorite track on the release is After Party with it's up tempo shuffle beat, straight up acoustic rhythm guitar and some real nice slide, all by Margolin. Another favorite on the release is ruff and tumble, Let It Go with it's slide guitar signature riffs and Margolin's best vocals on the release. Wrapping the release is March 2020 In Stop Time, with Margolin working his words about the state of politics and the current US leadership. maintaining the track to mostly vocal with accent guitar, it's true to it's blues roots and a firm closer.


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Monday, January 4, 2021

Blue Rock Records artist: Dennis Jones - Soft Hard & Loud - New release review

 


I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soft Hard & Loud, from Dennis Jones and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Revolves Around You, with it's reggae/funky beat fueled by Cornelius Mims on bass, Raymond Johnson on drums and the vocal and guitar lead of Dennis Jones. His melodic, yet fiery lead work works nicely with this radio focused track. Cool opener. I Love The Blues is a solid blues ballad with Bennett Paysinger on B3 and along with Jones' warm vocals some real tasty guitar work. With a lot of fire, Front Door Man has a driving SRV like vamp. Layered lead guitar work by Jones really sets up this blues rocker nicely. Another track with a strong shot of radio appeal is funky blues rocker, Gonna be Alright. Fluid lead guitar soloing and a cool melody really sets this track apart. The anchor on this release and my favorite is slow blues, I'm Not, with it's T-Bone Walker structure and with Jason Freeman on B3. Jones really takes his guitar for a nice run on this one with heavy bending and strong blues phrasing. Clocking on at over 5 minutes, this track is hot. Wrapping the release is high energy rocker, Burn The Plantation Down. Jones has put together a nice release here with plenty of guitar to fill your ear.


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Tuesday, December 29, 2020

400 Bears - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 400 Bears by a band with the same name (Paul Wilkinson, artist) and it's a cool mix or country, rock, blues and blue grass. Opening with Borderline, an easy flowing jam style track along the line of Hot Tuna with just a dash of gospel with country rock style guitar lead, organ and tight drum rhythms. Solid opener.  With a mic'd resonator and steel style riffs, Holy Place has a real country sound and a strong melody. Wilkinson's vocals and backing vocals blend just perfectly. Take It Slow is a great track with bluegrass roots and a freewheeling tempo. Wilkinson really hits the nail on the head perfectly. Based on a Jimmie Rogers rhythm, Small Town crosses over between country, jazz and blues. With a full organ chorus and light snare work under low end fret work along the lines of Bill Kirchen, this track gets into a nice groove. Finger picking a metal bodied resonator guitar and with the addition of slide, country blues style Good Bear is a terrific instrumental track and one of my favorites on the release.  Wrapping the release is Hammer, s homey, folk track with warmly blended vocals with acoustic guitar and steel guitar backing. This is a different kind of release but a nice one.




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Monday, December 28, 2020

JD3 & The Jondo Trio - Something Good - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Something Good, from JD3 & The Jondo Trio and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Restless Soul, Nate Mosley on lead guitar and vocal, backed by Stu Way on bass, Paul Osborn on drums and Chris Dafford on keys and horns set up a great track. With a solid rhythm and grinding guitar work by Mosley this is a strong opener. With a funky, soulful Albert King like approach, Big Daddy is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Mosely has a deep, gritty voice and with a full bottom, cowbell and confident guitar lead, over a tight bass line, this is a great groove. Texas is a cool, laid back rocker with pocked guitar riffs that will throw you back in your seat. The band has just the right swagger and behind the powerful vocals of Mosely, this band has something special. Bluesy ballad, Try, Try, Try has a strong melody falling right in the Ray Charles roadway with tight soulful guitar lead and soloing. This is a great radio track with all of the essential elements. Very nice. Wrapping the release is strong blues rocker, Whatchucan with a dose of southern attitude and tight drums work. With his amp on hot the tone oozes blues. This is a tight unit and a release that I really enjoyed.



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