Blue Bamboo Music artists: Cortez / Williams Project - Hermanos - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hermanos, from Cortez/Williams Project and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with title track, Hermanos, and a Latin rhythm carried by Doug Matthews on bass and, Walt Hubbard on drums. Chris Cortex takes the first melodic solo on guitar with clean, fluid runs over the piano work of Bob Thornton and Dan Jordan on flute. Larry Williams' trumpet is really nice with open bell and thoughtful phrasing, followed by Jordan on flute. Very nice opener. Another Latin based number is Un Pedazo De Tu Sonrisa. With a Samba beat by Jeremy Katalnic and a cool trumpet lead by Williams , reinforced by Cortez on guitar this track is anything but predictable. Thornton's direct piano solo is engaging and tight. Silhouette is an inciteful piece with a convoluted melodic interplay between  Jordan on flute, Williams on trumpet and Thornton on piano and featuring  Marco Bojorquez on bass. Topaz is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a percussive lead by Jeff Sipe and really nice guitar lead by Cortez. Williams' trumpet lead is really nice with strong runs, reinforced by Cortez on rhythm guitar and tight rhythm by Sipe. Excellent! Territorial Imperative is a cool bop track with wide open trumpet lead by Williams over Doug Matthew on bass, Hubbard on drums and Thornton on piano. Jordan really rips on tenor sax on this one creating a strong tension. Wrapping the release is Building On A Dream ... muted trumpet by Williams over clearly articulated guitar work by Cortez. Cortez really gets a nice opportunity to stretch on this one making it an excellent closer for a strong new serious jazz 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

   

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

Raul E Blanco & Jazz Wires - Brutal Fairytale - New release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Brutal Fairytale by Raul E Blanco & Jazz Wires and is shows a broad mix of jazz styles and with cool rhythms and a lot of horns. Opening with title track, Brutal Fairytale, a slinky bluesy number, Gabriella Aragon is upfront on lead vocal with strong sax work by Brant Fisher, Blanco on piano, Joseph Ballestrasse on bass and Anthony Channita on drums. Spanish Tale in Arabia is a flowing composition with clear Spanish styling. Noah Austin on trumpet and Fisher on sax really rail out and Channita on drums over Blanco's piano really make this track work nicely. Hermit's Song is a really nice ballad with a captivating melody. A lush sax solo by Fisher and cool horn support from Aragon on trombone and Austin on trumpet give the track real dynamics. Lo-Fi Banger opens with a nice bass lead, underpinned by drums and light horns. Further developing the melody is Blanco with a very thoughtful piano melody and tight drum beat by Channita. Austin has his trumpet singing. Wrapping the release is Ska-Monk is a Ska track with a Monk twist. Fisher doesn't hold back on improvisational freedom and the punch of Austin over the rhythmic playing of Blanco gives the track a continuity, continued by Fisher who joins in. Blanco's solo pulls the track with more classic playing, but the refrains are all but tame. This is a clever track and a cool 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

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

Blue Heart Records artist: Peter Veteska & Blues Train - So Far So Good - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, So Far So Good, from Peter Veteska & Blues Train and it's a solid mix of blues and rock. Opening with R&B fused rocker, one With Bad Luck, lead vocalist and on guitar Peter Veteska is joined by Alex D'Agnese on drums, Coo Moe Jhee on bass and Jeff Levine on B3. The addition of Gary Neuwirth on harmonica gives the track a cool texture and Veteska's guitar riffs really make the track pop. Shuffle, My One and Only Muse, is a cool track featuring Mikey Junior on harmonica. Veteska rolls out some real nice riffs and I particularly like his tone on the intro. Very cool. Slow blues, Low Down Dirty Blues really gives Veteska a great opportunity to show his soulful best vocals and over the warm B3 tones of Levine, his solid blues guitar chops. Rockin' East Coast Blues shows Slideman Boddy's slide work over a solid rockin rhythm lead by Veteska and punchy drums by D'Agnese. Very cool. Wrapping the release is soul infused, Can't We All Get Along. Nice vocal blending  with D'Agnese and Jhee this track has solid radio appeal making it a 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

   

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

Dorron Music artist: Yaron Gershovsky - Transitions - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Transitions, by Yaron Gershovsky and it's really nice. Opening with fast moving, Northern Lights, accomplished pianist, Gershovsky drives this train backed on a basic piano riff. Boris Koslov sets up a super bass line and Gershovsky really runs the keyboard end to end with tasty chops. Add in the tight drum riffs by Cliff Almond and you've got a great opener. Yaron, who  spent the past number of decades with Mathattan Transfer as Musical Director and pianist as well as working with Pharoah Sanders and Wayne Shorter (among others) has been busy. Simon and Garfunkel's Scarborough Fair is really nicely arranged and the vocal work by Aubrey Johnson is beautiful. I really like  Show Me The Way with Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, Kozlov on bass and Ross Pedersen on drums. With it's melancholy melody, Sipiagin's trumpet tone and strong reinforcement by Yaron on piano, this track really hits.  Every contemporary jazz release needs a Samba and where better to look that to Jobim  and So Danco Samba and again Johnson on vocal. Yaron's shows his ability to get out of classical styling and really gets this track moving with great bass lines by Kozlov and Almond on drums. Very nice. Another relaxed track, in 3/4 time is A Song For Mia. Opening with a more formal structure, Mia really starts to swing as the song develops. Yaron sets the pace, reinforced by Kozlov's dexterous bass lines and Pedersen is always spot on. I really like the interplay between Yaron and Kozlov on Kozlov's bass solo giving the piece a real nice balance. Wrapping the release is Gershwin's I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' again featuring multiple layers of Johnson' vocal harmonies. This band really swings and Johnson's voice is quite pure giving the track a real sparkle. 

  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

Blue Canoe Records artist: Thomas Heflin - Morning Star - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Morning Star, from Thomas Heflin and it's a smooth, pop jazz effort led by trumpet player Thomas Heflin. Opening with title track, Morning Star, the Slavic translation of Heflin's wife's name. Heflin on trumpet, is backed by Gregory Tardy on sax, Dan Hitchcock on tenor sax, Peter Stoltzman on keys, Aaron Matson on guitar, Steve Haines on bass, Xavier Ware on drums and Jorge Luis Torres on percussion. With a step up solo by Heflin and a fluid sax solo by Tardy, this is a solid opener. Interlude is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's jagged rhythm pattern and adventurous trumpet lead by Heflin. Haiku has a really cool intro ... just Heflin on trumpet derived from a jazz favorite, Stablemates by Benny Golson. As the track progresses, Tardy lays in some really adventurous sax lines, nice trumpet improvisation by Heflin and a strong bass lead by Haines. The Moon Singer is inspired by a book by Clyde Robert Bulla and is an adventurous instrumental with some nice guitar work by Aaron Matson and with strong backing vocal work by Ariel Pocock. Anna Breschine, named after Heflin's daughter is a quiet ballad with lead trumpet and Stoltzman on keys laying the groundwork for Tardy on sax and a melodic solo by Heflin. Very nice. A Radio Outro wraps the release with a hip hop beat and Heflin and tardy trading riffs with Stoltzman. 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

   

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

Kristen R. Bromley Quintet: Bluish Tide - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bluish Tide, from the Kristen R. Bromley Quintet, and it's cool and versatile. Opening with swinging, Pillar of Fire, band leader and guitarist, Kristen Bromley shows her chops with fluid lead runs and cool rhythm lead, joined by Ray Smith who lays down a solid solo of his own on sax, Steve Erickson who really does a nice job Matt Larson on bass and Jay Lawrence on drums. Tandem lead guitar and sax and a cool off time rhythm really gives Faith Preceded My Miracle a real leg up making it a firm platform for potent soloing from Bromley, Erickson and Smith. Title track, Bluish Tide is a soft swinger with dual sax/guitar melodic lead. Opening into a bop solo stage, set by Larson and Lawrence, Bromley sets up some of her tastiest lead work on the release. Smith lays in a nice sax solo and Erickson's piano work really grooves.  Bromley's rich chord work on the intro of Latin influenced, Paint Me a Picture My Love is as lush as it gets and her duet lead with Smith on alto flute is really nice. Erickson has a really delicate hand on his piano solo delivery melding very nicely into this 10 minute exploration. Very nice. Smith over Bromley on sax and guitar is really nice on Just Walkin' a super shuffle. Erickson again lays in a strong piano lead and Bromley's feel on guitar may be her best on the release. It's also nice to hear Larson and Lawrence step out a few bars on this track making it one of favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is ballad, Through the Veil with pure guitar lead and nicely blended sax by Smith. Erickson's classic piano styling really works nicely on this track and the tight underpinnings of Larson and Lawrence really hold the track together nicely. 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

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

Noisy Records artists: Cross and Keeling - October is Marigold - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, October is Marigold, by David Cross and Andrew Keeling. This is a very interesting release spanning classical, rock, progressive and even eurojazz. Cross, who has played violin with King Crimson and Keeling who has collaborated with Robert Fripp are together for their second composition as a follow up to their earlier 2009 release, English Sun. This is largely improvised music so more difficult to describe in a traditional way, but it is mind expanding and enjoyable and should be viewed as a singular piece of music with many interwoven movements... so here goes. Opening with Marigold 1, Keeling on piano presents a simple piano structure composed of two chords and Cross plays a beautiful melody on Violectra. Very nice. On title track, October is Marigold, Kelling again constructs a structure on keyboard but then interweaves layers of flute.  As the theme progresses, Cross adds electric violin to the weave for a complex yet stimulating composition. On Strong as a Mountain Lion, Keeling plays a loose melody on flute, almost nature like, with Cross interjecting complimentary electric violin lines, making for an almost obtuse yet congruous environment of music. Returning again to a Marigold theme (Marigold 2) Cross' cello like playing is rich and welcoming with only the least amount of piano structure. Another section of "call and response" with Ever Nearer and Marigold 3 reinforces the earlier theme and gets progressively more rich as the music develops. The Spiking Darts That Were Trees is the most aggressive of the movements with abstract concepts and distorted looping creating even more interest. Wrapping the composition is The Dark Edge of Desire and Marigold 4 with a bottom of Cross' violin created texture and Keeling on guitar arpeggiating in a staggered stair stepping manner. The intensity continues to grow as Keeling adds piano structure and Cross adds firm Violectra strokes for a powerful, loosely constructed melody... ultimately winding down with another Marigold 4 movement and rich cello like melody. This is an adventurous piece and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

  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

Schoolkids Records artist: Sam Moss - blues approved - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (January 28, 2022), blues approved, from Sam Moss and it's jam packed with soulful, Muscle Shoals/Stax influenced blues. Opening with Rooster Blood, a blues rocker featuring Moss on lead vocal, bass and guitar, and backed by Mitch Easter on drums is a great start to this release. On King of My Hill, Moss shows how soulful his vocals can be with a strong similarity to Gregg Allman and horn backing by Crispin Cioe. A strong R&B style track with that pure, country soul feel really makes you think it's right out of Alabama. Vida Blanche is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's Keith Richards/Stones attack, solid slide playing and strong sax work by Cioe. Very cool! Mike Bloomfield's, If You See My Baby really swings right in there giving moss an opportunity to show a bit more diversity both vocally and on guitar. Joining on bass is Henry Heidtmann and Ted Lyons on drums with Wezo Wesolowski adding some real nice harmonica riffs to some of Moss' best guitar work on the release. Nightflight Over Berlin is a cool allowing Moss to just light it up over a firm rock rhythm. With plenty of sustain and soaring bends. Very nice.  Wrapping the release is a fairly obscure Stones blues track, Who's Driving Your Plane? The track actually had that rag tag sound that the Stones had on early releases with solid piano work by Ted Lyon and cool guitar riffs by Moss. Cool closer for a really interesting 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

   

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

Brandon Tesky - Screaming Into the Void - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Screaming Into The Void, by Brandon Tesky and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with title track, Screaming Into The Void, band leader and guitarist lays down a cool rock blues rock riff backed by Chris Tex on drums and Jon Nadel on bass. Establishing this solid instrumental, Tesky opens up with a cool onslaught of blues lead making this a solid opening jam. Blues progression, Vertigo on the heights of Desire is a cool, blues ballad with Tesky again at the lead on melodic guitar lead, backed by Will Kyriazis on keys and Tex on drums. With it's beautiful melody, this is a very cool track. King shuffle, Side Tracked, has a distinctive Freddie King vibe showing Tesky's blues knowledge and solid dexterity. Dance of the Fiddler's Bitch is a cool blues rocker blending SRV style swagger with more contemporary guitar riffs, Changing keys as Tesky rolls from phrase to phrase, I can definitely see Frank Marino influences. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Latin influenced, Equinox featuring Danny Markovitch on sax. The walking bass line by Nadel provides a real nice contrast with jazz runs by Tesky making this one on my favorites on the release and a 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

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

Liberation Hall artist: Scott Ellison - There's Something About the Night - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, There's Something About the Night, by Scott Ellison and it's packed full of blues and a lot of fun. Opening with loping boogie, Half A Bottle Down, Ellison shows great guitar swagger and solid vocals. Backed by Rick Robbins on rhythm guitar, Lou Castro on bass, Robbie Armstrong on drums and Jon Greathouse on keys, this is a solid opener. On Bobby Blue Bland's Ain't No Love, Ellison shows great soul on vocal and lays down some stinging guitar riffs, backed by Ginger Blake, Maxine Waters, Julia Waters and Oren Waters on vocals. Very cool. Swinging shuffle, Bury Your Bone At Home is a strong front runner for popular track with it's clever lyrics and excellent overall feel. Another loping Texas style boogie, Meat and Potatoes gives Ellison a nice opportunity to lay down some cool slide work, joined by David Bernston on harmonica. Slow, TBW style, Good Year For the Blues, is my favorite on the release with it's strong vocals and some of Ellison's hottest, ripping guitar work on the release. With tight R&B rhythm, Chains of Love is another standout track with just that right groove, smoky guitar accents and terrific backing vocals by Ginger, Maxine, Julia and Oren. Shuffle, Revolutionary Man, is another track with some solid slide work by Ellison and vocal work by Chris Campbell along with Ellison. Wrapping the release is funky, Where Do You Go When You Leave with it's James Brown, Boogaloo beat by Ron McRorey, piano by Walt Richman and sweet backing vocals by Ginger, Maxine, Julia and Oren. Solid closer for a real cool 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

   

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

The Old No. 5's: Moment To Lose - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Moment To Lose, by The Old No.5's and it's a contemporary rocker. Opening with We're Here, a smooth instrumental with a slide guitar melody by Brock Alexander with minimal support by Adam Walker, this release is off to a cool start that serves as an intro to explosive, Same Old You. Continuing with slide, rhythm and vocal by Brock , Olie Bowden on bass and vocal, Adam Watson on percussion and vocal, Taylor Smith on guitar, Howard Mahan on guitars and TJ Erhardt, cool pair. Driving rocker, Rock and Roll has terrific energy and a cool guitar riff under solid vocals. This track has a lot of guitar bot upfront and understated. Nice job. Shuffle track, Purdy, has the attributes of a radio track, paired with dual lead guitars ringing back to southern rock roots. Easy, melodic lead guitar work by Alexander, Smith and Mahan gives the track a nice contrast between the smoothness of the melody and interwoven guitar soloing. Wrapping the release is acoustic ballad, What Does That Prove, with Alexander on lead vocal and guitar with Erhardt on keys. A solid closer for a contemporary rock 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

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

Grant Dermody & Frank Fotusky - Digging in John's Backyard - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (January 14, 2022), Digging In John's Backyard, by Grant Dermody & Frank Fotusky and it's a solid acoustic blues release focused around the work of mutual friend, John Jackson. Opening with Blind Blake's Hey Hey Daddy Blues, Fotusky takes the lead on guitar and vocal. This is a springy, Piedmont style track with a solid harmonica solo by Dermody and continued super picking by Fotusky. Another Blind Blake track, Police Dog Blues has Dermody on lead vocal and guitar with some really nice stylistic harmonica riffs. One of my favorite tracks on the release is slower paced, You Better Lie Down with focused vocals and wailing harmonica by Dermody and tasty blues riffs by Fotusky. Rev Gary Davis' classic, Death Don't Have No Mercy is another of my favorites on the release featuring Fotusky on lead vocal and guitar. I've always loved this track and with understated harmonica  throughout and a rich solo by Dermody as well as some nicely picked lead harmony by Fotusky, this track hits it square. Wrapping the release is Alberta with some of Dermody's best vocals on the release and sweet harmonica lead to boot. 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

   

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

Another Planet Music LTD. artist: Mississippi MacDonald - Do Right, Say Right - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Do Right, Say Right, from Mississippi MacDonald and  I really like it. Opening with easy shuffle, I Was Wrong, Mississippi MacDonald is firing on all cylinders with a great soulful voice and fat, BB King like guitar phrasing, joined by Phil Dearing on keys, Elliot Boughen on bass and Mark Johnson-Brown on drums. One of my favorite tracks on the release is funky blues, It Can't Hurt Me with it's Albert King influenced guitar riffs and MacDonalds solid vocals. Organ and horn accents throughout buy Dearing really punch up the track and aggressive bass lead by Boughen adds real bottom. Check out the tasty guitar lead on Drinker's Blues. MacDonals's fat bends and double stop accents really sets this track with strong backing vocals by Lucy Dearing. Slow Blues, If You Want A Good Cup Of Coffee is another of my favorite tracks on the release. MacDonald has a really solid voice, no taking away from that but when he knuckles down on guitar, he can really play. His trem bends and phrasing are really juicy and pinched harmonics accent nicely over the keyboard bed set by Dearing. Excellent! Keep Your Hands Out Of My Pocket is a particularly hot track with MacDonald showing that his influences are broad. With hints of T-Bone Walker, BB King, Albert King, and SRV to name only a few, MacDonald has you sitting back just riding the wave. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Your Wife Is Cheating On Us, a clever shuffle with traditional BB King formatting. With "horn" punch and keyboard backing, MacDonald uses this track as his vocal showcase and it's bound to be a crowd pleaser. His guitar riffs are stinging and his sensitivity it spot on. This is a really strong track to close 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

   

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

AC Myles - Transitory - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Transitory, from AC Myles and it's a steady set of rock tracks. Opening with Upstairs, That Was Her, AC Myles on lead vocal and guitar leads the way on what could easily be a television shown theme song with rock guitar riffs and joined by Phil Santellan on bass and Brian Bischel on drums. With a funky beat, Other Side is a cool rocker with solid vocals and some of my favorite guitar work on the release. 3 Ways is a straight up rocker with a solid beat and well blended vocals. Country flavored, Sonder City is a flavorful instrumental with clean drum work and dual guitar pairing for call and response. Wrapping the release is trance rocker, Dirty Dark, with a an electronic like bottom and subtle guitar work as melody and embellishments. This release is a mixed bag of music with a little of something for everyone.  

  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

Forty Below Records artist: Sugaray Rayford - In Too Deep - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In Too Deep, from Sugaray Rayford and it's chocked full of R&B style blues. Opening with funky, Invisible Soldier, Sugaray Rayford is upfront with his powerful voice, backed by Rick Holmstrom on guitar, Drake Hunkikaid Shining on keys, Taras Prodaniuk on bass, Matt Tecu on drums and a powerful horn section consisting of Aaron Liddard on trumpet and Tom White on trombone. I really like the slinky bass line on No Limit To My Love  blended with the subtle guitar lead of Eamon Ryland and vocal backing by Gia Ciambotti and Eric Corne. Very nice. Please Take My Hand is a really warm vocal track with sonic roots in field hollers or work songs. Nicely paired vocal backing by Rayford and Corne sets the lead vocal off nicely. My favorite track for radio play is One with it's smooth bottom and rich vocal. I like Prodaniuk's bass line on this one and the violin and cello work of Eric Gorfain and Richard Dodd. Wrapping the release is Booker T style United We Stand, with it's funky bottom and high stepping beat. Steve Cropper like guitar riffs from Holmstrom and punchy horns from Finch and White make this a 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”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

   

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

Virginia and The Slims - Busman's Holiday - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Busman's Holiday, from Virginia and The Slims and it's a collection of contemporary blues and jazz pop tracks. Opening with easy shuffle, Let It Go, Joanna Best leads the way on lead vocals with James Kamp on sax, John Davis on bass, John Barrett on drums and with some slick guitar riffs from Howie Neal. Traditional blues shuffle, Sugar Baby, again lead by Best, has a really really cool lead guitar / rim shot exchange between Neal and Barrett giving this track a solid excursion. My favorite track on the release is Latin flavored, The Way I Walk with a terrific rhythm by Barrett and shimmery guitar chords and clean lead by Neal and some of Best's showcased vocals on the release and a solid sax solo by Kamp. Wrapping the release is Shine, another Latin flavored tracks with Hank Bones joining Best on vocal. This is a full release of pop intense tunes with a commercial flavor. 

  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

Jon Spear Band - B-Side Of My Life - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, B-Side Of My Life, by Jon Spear Band and it's a solid rocker with pop tunes and Blues roots. Opening with funky, Big Talk with it's juicy bass line by Andy Burdetsky, the opener features Jon Spear on guitar, Dara James with beefy lead vocal and rhythm guitar and John Stubblefield on drums. Excellent! Title track, B-Side Of My Life is a cool rock n roller with Spear on lead vocal and guitar, James on harmonica and some really flashy piano work by Skip Haga. Neville Brothers' Yellow Moon is framed by a strong bass line by Burdetsky and tom toms by Stubblefield with really nice vocal and guitar lead by James. Very nice. Blues ballad, Darker Side features soulful vocal lead and guitar soloing by James, with a firm bass foundation making it one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is swing track, Time For The Blues, with shared lead vocal by Spear and James and a cool walking bass line by Burdetsky. This is a cool release with a lot of flavor. 

  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