Nola Blue Records artist: Maria Muldaur - One Hour Mama - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Hour Mama - The Blues Of Victoria Spivey - from Maria Muldaur and it's her best in years. Opening with My Handy Man, is easy going with Maria workin the vocals like it's her own. Backed by James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band (James Dapogny on piano, Kim Cusack on clarinet and alto sax, Russ Whitman on clarinet and tenor/baritone sax, Jon-Erik Kellso on trumpet, Chris Smith on trombone and tuba, Rod McDonald on guitar and banjo, Kurt Krahnke on bass annd Pete Siers on drums). Solid opener. What Makes You Act Like That features Muldaur in duet with Elvin Bishop and their vocal styles work really well together. Danny Caron on guitar lays in some real nice guitar soloing and Johnny Bones on sax, Steve Height on bass, Neil Fortano on piano, David Matthews on piano, Beaumont Beaullieu on drums really make this track. Organ Grinder Blues really has an authentic feel with Tuby Skinny backing (Craig Flory on clarinet, Greg Sherman on guitar, Max Bien-Kahn on guitar, Shaye Cohn on cornet and trumpet, Barnabus Jones on real nice trombone, Todd Burdick on tuba, Robin Rapuzzi on washboard and David Torkanowsky on piano. Taj Mahal teams up with Muldaur on vocal on Gotta Have What It Takes, with terrific piano work by Matthews and Caron on guitar. Very cool. Wrapping the release is T-B Blues with excellent backing by by Dapogny's Chicago Jazz band and some of Muldaur's best vocals on the release. There's just that feel that you get when an artist hits the slot and Muldaur does it here. Great to hear. 

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Mercedes Nicole - Too High A Price To Pay - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Too High A Price To Pay, from Mercedes Nicole and it's a cool mix of blues and soul. Opening with blues rocker, I'll Play The Blues For You, with Mercedes Nicole on lead vocal and featuring Rod Cook screaming some real nice King sized blues riffs on guitar. With Scotty Harris on bass, Jake Sele on organ, Andrew Cloutier on drums and Tommy Warren, Stacy Jones, Ben Lange and Patrice O'Neil on backing vocals a solid opener. John Hiatt's Feels Like Rain is presented as a soulful ballad and Nicole's lead vocals, caressed in backing vocals has a great feel. Another soulful ballad, Breathe Again is radio focused with a strong melody, slow danceable timing and a real nice sax solo by Alexey Nikolaev. Another slow blues track is Elmore James', The Sky Is Crying, with wailing guitar work by Cook. Solid vocals by Nicole and warm organ work by Sele flesh out the track. Wrapping the release is Ease My Soul an easy soul/pop track with a solid melody and smooth melodic guitar work by Cook. Nicole's vocals float on the melody with nice organ and piano work by Sele adding warm backing. Solid closer. 

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World Talent Records artist: Forrest McDonald - Songs From My Soul - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Songs From My Soul, from Forrest McDonald and it's a simple folk blues release. Opening with On Your Life's Road, a blues structured track with McDonald playing acoustic guitar and singing the melody together. This is a cool effect that really focuses the listeners attention on the story. I Can't Stop The Love has a bright melody with McDonald strumming the rhythm and singing the happy melody with clever acoustic turnarounds. Ballad, I Need You, has sonic tension created between McDonalds vice and guitar. With a solid melody and upbeat rhythm, this is one of my favorites on the release. Shuffle, That's How I Want Our Love, has a great feel with solid vocals and straight up acoustic guitar accompaniment. Blue Morning Sun has a Morganfield structure but a definite original spin. McDonald makes it his own with contemporary style vocals and stylized guitar work. Electrified blues, Misery and Blues kicks up the whole game a few notches with John McKnight on drums, Lee Gammon on bass, Matthew Wauchope on piano, Jimmy King on trumpet, Norman Franks on sax, Pix Ensign on harmonica and some real nice guitar work by McDonald. Wrapping the release is classic country blues, Trouble In Mind with McDonald singing straight up and playing conventional blues riffs. Strong closer. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: The Boneshakers - Live To Be This - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live To Be This, from The Boneshakers, and it's a soul filled blues rocker. Opening with high stepping, I'll Kick A Brick (For My Man), Jenny Langer on lead vocal sings with attitude backed with the tight drum raps of Greg Bissonette, and Randy Jacobs on guitar exchanging riffs with Rodney Lee on keys, Ron Holloway on sax, Joe Sublett on sax, and Mark Pender on trumpet and solid backing vocals by Harry Bowens, and Derrick Harris. Hot opener. Funky, How Do You Spell Love is a real workout for Langer with Bissinette on drums and super vocal and horn backing. Dobro Jones has a great country blues feel with Jacobs featured on dobro and vocal with Langer. Very nice. Here I Am is downright slinky with an excellent bottom and Ron Reinhardt on keys. Jacobs distorts his guitar for a real nice guitar solo and Langers vocals paired with Bowens, Harris, Lessly Fisher jr, and Holly Montgomery and Lenny Castro on percussion makes this one of my favorites on the release. Took A Trip has serious radio appeal with it's melody and vocal appeal and it's lightly funky rhythm and horn overtones. Wrapping the release is pop ballad, The Cake and The Candle featuring Langer in her most serious vocal mode. This would easily blend into adult contemporary airplay with it's subdued backing and vocal forward presentation, and melodic soloing by Jacobs on guitar. 

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Reference Recordings artist: Doug MacLeod - Between Somewhere and Goodbye - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Between Somewhere and Goodbye by Doug MacLeod, and it's that cool, MacLeod blues rock thing. I've been reviewing Doug's releases for over 10 years and I find him like JJ Cale in that his music is cool, clever and somewhat definable... and that's good. Opening with Memphis In Your Soul, MacLeod sets off with a lightly funky, track with soulful vocals, an easy guitar riff, and with Paul Ossola on bass, Lynn Williams on drums and Cindy Walker, Marie Lewey and Carla Russell on backing vocals. MacLeod lays in one of his understated, single string guitar solos making for  perfect opener. Keep On Walking On is a straight up shuffle with really light instrumental backing almost dominated by a single snare/tambourine snap and MacLeod's vocals, backed by Lewey, Russell and Walker and another traditionally simple yet interesting guitar solo. Very solid melody and performance. I Ain't No Stranger has a spirit of it's own like any good, old school delta blues track. With resonating guitar vamps, story telling vocals and distant drum and percussion this track is not aa radio track but shines on it's own. Shuffle, I Don't Like Your Chances, powered by MacLeod's guitar and Mark Jordan on piano gives the release some juice and MacLeod fans an energetic guitar solo to compliment his Bromberg like vocal delivery. Vey cool. I like the guitar vamp on Watching The Sun Go Down developing into another of those MacLeod, hidden gems with it's understated melody. His vocals are raspy yet perfect to deliver on just such a track. Solid closer. 

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LA Reserve Records artist: Nick Biello - New America - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New America, from Nick Biello, and it's jamming. Opening with Bel Canto, Nick Biello on alto sax, paired with Charlie Porter on trumpet leads the way with an energetic melody. George Colligan on piano adds substative piano punctuation over the tight rhythm of Alex Tremblay on bass and Peter Kronreif on drums. Biello cuts loose on sax really wailing a great solo, followed by Porter who delivers a rich, earthy trumpet solo handing to  Colligan on piano who develops a super groove followed by a strong bass solo by Tremblay. Solid opener. Slightly Perilous is my favorite track on the release with double time instrumentation by Porter and Biello. Anchoring the track is Colligan on piano, handing off to Biello for a tremendous rip roaring solo. Porter, more laid back attach still makes you sit back and take a breath. Off to the races again with Colligan, this track really is strong with excellent punctuation by Tremblay and Kronreif. Ballad form, A Long Way To You has a warm melody led by the expressive phrasing and tone of Biello on sax. Comforting reinforcement by Colligan on piano gives the track a homey feel. Porter's trumpet solo is smooth and sensuous with nice blending by Biello. Very nice. Wrapping the release is title track, New America with it's bop feel. Biello winds it up with an exhilarating sax solo contrasted with Porter's more laid back yet perfect trumpet solo. I like Colligan's feel on piano and the richness of Tremblay's work on bass ever encouraged by the tight kit work of Kronreif. Strong closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Marc Seales - People & Places - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, People & Places, from Marc Seales with Ernie Watts and it's tasty. Opening with Rue Cler, with it's suspensive bottom created by Marc Seales on piano and floating lead by Ernie Watts on tenor sax sets a yearning feeling, anchored by Bruce Lett on acoustic bass and Moyes Lucas Jr on drums. Prelude is a quiet piano piece, nicely illustrated by Seales alone. Sensitive and introspective. The Muddy Chicago Blues has a real nice sway to it. With Seales, Lett and Lucas setting the platform, Watts wails to meat and taters. With soulful phrasing and tight articulation Watts rides high, edged on by the clever piano punctuation of Seales. Taking over the lead on piano, Seales has the blues flowing like a second language with deft and fluidity. Lett gets his run as well with double timed bass riffs on an aiery form. Very cool. I particularly like The Gingi with it's light, creative rhythm pattern by Lucas with mostly rim shots, cymbals and snare punction and Lett on bass. Melodic lead by Seales on tenor and Seales on piano really stretch this piece giving it real weight. Wrapping the release is Home Light with it's almost gospel like foundation created by Seales on piano. Watts soars on sax with firm piano punctuation creating a solid melody and Seales takes the tension down with sensitive piano phrasing.  This is an excellent closer for a very cool release. 

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Origin Records artist: Mike Pope - The Parts You Keep - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Parts You Keep, from Mike Pope, and I really enjoy it. Opening with Misgivings, a lively track with a driving piano melody featuring Geoffrey Keezer, building with an aggressive snare rap by Nate Smith and breaking into a sensual bass solo by Mike Pope who builds the track with the hands of a sculptor. Very nice. I love the cover of Charlie Parker's Steeplechase featuring Roxy Cross on sax. Pope laying down a funky bass line and breaking into a wicked electric piano solo by Keezer, this track is hot. Dashan's Flying Ubercar really moves with terrific underpinnings by Smith and Pope. Keezer rides high on this groove before a total break and accelerated bass solo by Pope. Really nice. Barolo Blue was my favorite track on the release with an infectious angular bass groove, nicely playing against Smith on drums and with free wheeling piano by Keezer and jagged guitar soloing by Amaury Cabral. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Spharenmusik from Winterreigen Opus 13 No.5 featuring the classical piano of Ann Almond Pope, Mike's 85 year old mother who along with his father, David Pope, both being world class classical pianists. This really is wonderful. 

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Leggero Records artist: Victoria Cardona - Que Paso - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Que Paso, from Victoria Cardona, and it's fully bodied Latin music. Opening with Que Paso En La Habana, Victoria Cardona on vocal and guitar, fully backed vocally by Marilyn Scott, Jimmy Branly and Tim Goodman really get a warm Latin feel. With Kevin Richard on percussion, Rene Camacho on bass, Goodman on organ, San Miguel Perez on Cuban Tres Guitar, Francisco Torres on trombone, and some real nice flute work by Justo Almario. Solid opener. Another original track, Ghost has a strong radio appeal with Cardona playing some really tasty guitar lead, joined by Jimmy Branly on drums, Kevin Ricard on percussion, Jimmy Haslip on bass, Bill Payne on piano, Goodman on guitar, organ mandolin and backing vocals. Very nice. Rhodes Royale really gets in the slot with Cardona on vocal, guitar, percussion and steel drums, joined by Rene Camacho on bass. It's up tempo rhythm really gives the track a lively feel. One of my favorites on the release is Isolina Carrillo's Dos Gardinias with lush vocals by Cardona and beautiful work by Almario on sax and clarinet. Reggae flavored Tuesday Rain is laid back with warm brass. Wrapping the release is Lowell George's Spanish Moon. Branly and Ricard sets the stage with excellent rhythm and Cardona singing in Cuban. Bill Payne on piano adds a familiar groove and Jimmy Haslip on bass are well supported by Torres, Almario on horns and Goodman on guitar. Excellent closer. 

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Subcat Records artist: Grupo Pagan - Power - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Power, from Grupo Pagan and it's a solid Latin flavored rocker. Opening with title track, Power, Edgar Pagan sets the lead with an excellent Latin bass line complimented with a full compliments of percussion by Emedin Rivera on drums, Joshua Dekaney on percussion, Jimmy Branley on percussion, Bill DiCostimo on keys and featuring Edgar on vocal, Este on hand drum and chants, Aam Fisher on nicely stylized guitar and backing vocals by Rhonda Paduano and Jose Varona. Energetic opener. Another track with strong Latin rhythms is Tito with clean guitar lead by Jeff Richman and Bill DeCosimo on keys, with solid bass work by Pagan, Luis Conte and Rivera on percussion and Joe Driscoll on beatbox. Sol has a cool Brazilian feel led by Daniel Pardo on flute with Pagan on bass and vocal, excellent work by Jimmy Haslip on synth, JoseVarona on drums, and Dave Donley on percussion. Very nice. Wrapping the release is cool latin rocker, Camila Vida Mia with Pagan setting a solid bass line and lead vocals, and tasty guitar lead by Irv Lyons Jr. Haslip adds real nice texture on keys and Shane Patterson on drums hold  the rhythm tight. Solid closer for a solid release. 

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Kristen R. Bromley Quartet - Wes 101 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wes 101, from Kristen R. Bromley Quartet and it's groovin'. Opening with cool shuffle, Bring It On, Kristen Bromley lays down the melody on guitar with fluid phrasing, accompanied by Melanie Shore on organ, David Ian Baker on bass and Matt Coleman. Shore breaks loose with a swinging solo and brings it back to the melody. Solid opener. Title track, Wes 101 really has a Montgomery flavor with familiar riffs and styling. Bromley captures both the spirit and the tone nicely. Warm lead lines by Shore add nice depth. A surprise drum splash by Coleman is a hot treat. With it 3/4 timing, House Of Fire is my favorite track on the release with super work by Shore and Bromley, a tight solo by Baker and snappy drum edge by Coleman. Wrapping the release is low slung shuffle, Indy Blues with Bromley and Shore really catching a groove. Bromley really gets loose on this track with swinging guitar work and a super bass solo by Baker tops it off. 

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Origin Records artist: ZurHub - Countryside Motorways - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Countryside Motorways, by ZurHub and it's flavorful, Latin infused music. Opening with Social Trust, Mattan Klein on flute trades a melodic exchange with Ezequiel Hezi Jait on guitar, promoted and anchored by Itay Simhovich on piano, Assaf Hakimi on bass and Dani Benedikt on drums. Crisp, well articulated flute soloing by Klein opens the dialog and Jait on guitar follows through with nicely phrased lead of his own. Solid opener. Forget About It really has terrific flow with a super bass line by Hakimi and giving Simhovich a clear runway to nicely elaborate on the theme. Klein's flute lead is really well presented with excellent poise and precision. Very nice. Feliz is a really strong track giving Jait an opportunity to really show his stuff followed by Klein on flute and a lush bass solo by Hakimi. Title track, Countryside Motorway, has a very flowing feel seasoned with Brazilian rhythm. Led off by Klein on flute and punctuated by Simhovich on piano this track has a very soothing feel growing to an exciting climax. Wrapping the release is heavily syncopated, Lick Your Toad, featuring a super paired duet featuring Klein on flute with Jait on guitar. Klein, Jait and Simhovich each compose energetic and inspired solos for a strong closer. 

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Roller Records artist: V&BT - Diamonds at the Rainbow's End - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Diamonds at the Rainbow's End (Live in Norway), by V&BT (Vigdis & Bla Trad) and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Stormy Weather, V&BT hit square on with a straight forward rocker, featuring Vigdis Haugen on lead vocal, Tom Pettersen on guitar and backing vocal, Bjorn Lokling on bass and Christer Persson on drums and backing vocals. Confession is another straight forward rocker with a strong melody and with solid harmonies and clean lead guitar soloing by Pettersen a prime radio track. Break That Chain is another track with a radio melody. Pettersen plays some grinding guitar work and Persson's drumming is tight. Title track, Diamonds at the Rainbow's End has a reggae undertone rhythm giving it real alternate flavor with some of the best guitar riffs on the release and Haugen's vocals really shine. Wrapping the release is a rework of House of the Rising Sun showcasing Haugen's vocal prowess over a subdued accompaniment. Pettersen really winds up the track with some scorching riffs. Solid closer. 

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Frontiers Records artist: Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks - Live Perpetual Change - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live Perpetual Change, by Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks and it's a solid replication of the original Yes compositions. Opening with Yours Is No Disgrace, a top track for Yes and it sounds fresh as in 1970's. Jon Anderson on lead vocal and guitar, joined by Andy Graziano and Robert Kipp on guitar and keys. Richie Castellano plays a masterful bass and Andy Ascolese on drums, keys and percussion really holds things tightly. Anderson really rips on Close To The Edge with fleet fingered guitar lead and vocal blening with Castellano, Graziano, Ascolese, Christopher Clark and Kipp is particularly nice. Heart of the Sunrise with it's flowing key structure, and bass soloing by Castellano is particularly cool. Another track with particularly prominent bass work is Starship Trooper of course with a healthy dose of keys and super drumming by Ascolese. And You and I is handled with finesse... flowing acoustic guitar, bell and keys supporting Anderson on vocal with band vocal backing leading into the classic rocker with showcase keyboard soloing. I've Seen All Good People rocks with power and vocal harmonies are stellar. Gates of Delirium really is a great opportunity for guitar key and drum work and at 20+ minutes of music shows the depth of the band. Wrapping the release is Roundabout with it's crystalline guitar intro rolling into a full prog rocker that really was Yes' trademark song. Solid release. Also included in the package is a full 10 track dvd. 

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Cleopatra Records artists: Two Wolf - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, self titled Two Wolf and it's a solid, blues based rocker. Opening with Keep On Movin', Two Wolf features four seasoned players with Lance Lopez on lead guitar and vocals with Greg T. Walker (Blackfoot) on bass, Kris Bell on guitar and vocals and Rusty Valentine on drums and vocals. Definitely a guitar blazing band with well blended vocals and scorching guitars, this is a hot opener. Will I Believe has an edgier feel, penciled by Bell and wide open guitar with plenty of overdrive and powerful drumming by Valentine. Percussive guitar work permeates The Wrong Road and paired lead vocals give the track a definite radio presence. Searing lead guitar work with the addition of wah and southern influenced lead guitar phrasing and riffs give the track a distinctive feel. Fox Chase really has the Southern rock aggressiveness with dueling guitars (like Blackfoot or Skynyrd) really giving the listener the adrenaline filled spirit of the music. Excellent rocker. Romeo has quite a bit of swagger with searing guitar lead and powerful lead vocals over a percussive guitar/bass riff and tight drumming by Valentine. Very cool. Wrapping the release is The Blessed and the Cursed, a definite radio track with it's memorable melody and classic guitar riffs. A driving guitar lead overlaid with fast runs and hammering drum s on the bottom really sets this track off. Solid closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Ben Thomas Tango Project - The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent (August 22, 2025) release, The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle, by Ben Thomas Tango Project and it's adventurous. Opening with The Promise of Morning, Ben Thomas on bandoneon leads the melody, accompanied by Eric Likkel on clarinet, Laura Schermer on bass, Laura Coronel on violin, Elizabeth Phelps on violin and Gabe Hall-Rodrigues on piano. A classically leaning tango in the style of Astor Piazzolla, this is a cool overture. Title track, The Man With The Grin and the Chuckle celebrates the memory of Seattle's French Chef, Thierry Rautureau, who's bistro served as the incubator for much of Thomas' music over several years of performing there. A serious composition featuring a solid interweave between Hall-Rodrigues and Thomas, with over harmony by Likkel. An Unapologetic Shift of Perspective is my favorite track on the release with a more percussive feel and Thomas giving more range to Hall-Rodrigues on piano. Wrapping the release is The Second Brick with a sweet, flowing melody presented by Thomas and Likkel, well supported by Schermer on bass, by Coronel and Phelps on violin and focused by Hall-Rodrigues on piano. 

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Dave Bass Trio Nuevo - Vol. 2 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Vol. 2, from Dave Bass Trio Nuevo and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with LeGrand/Lester Left Town, Wayne Shorter's homage to Lester Young is bright and springy with excellent piano lead by Dave Bass, tight bass and a well defined solo by Tyler Miles and crisp drumming by Steve Helfano. Egberto Gismonti's Frevo provides Bass a Latin structure for a track with a lot of movement. With Miles pouring on a strong bass solo and Helfano holding tight on percussion, this is a strong contribution. Introspective original track, Questions, has a really nice melody featuring Bass on piano over the tight percussion work of Helfano. Miles gets another opportunity to solo here and I really like his phrasing. Bud Powell's, Dance of the Infidels really moves with Bass laying down my favorite piano riffs on the release. Providing accent piano work for Miles' bass lead and trading riffs with him really sets this track off nicely. Bass' creation, Journey With Bach is really cool reworking Bach's Toccata passages with a contemporary feel and strong soloing by Miles on bowed bass. Wrapping the release is Lennie Tristano's Lennie's Pennies, Tristano's take on Artur Johnston's hit. Bass really works the melody  and Miles gets a real nice bass solo of his own making this an excellent closer for a really strong release. 

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