Bman's Blues Report

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 ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It's A Blues World . from Sugar Brown and it's real cool. Opening with up tempo shuffle track, Hummingbird , featuring Sugar brown on vocal and guitar, Rockin' Johnny Burgin on guitar, Michelle Josef on drums, and Russ Boswell on bass. Cool opener. Love Me Twice has a great rhythm and signature Johnny Burgin guitar soloing. Really nice. With the addition of banjo by Nicol Robertson, Minnie Heart on fiddle and Julian Fauth on piano, Lousy Dime has an interesting rural feel and classic lines . One of my favorites on the release. Another of my favorites is title track, It's A Blues World , with a classic House of the Rising Sun progression. Subtle guitar riffs by Burgin, coupled with SB's vocal and harp, along with clean piano work by Fauth give this tack just the right balance. Out Of The Frying Pan has a strong rural blues feel with raw amplification on guitar and vocal giving the track a real aut...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Howlin' At Greaseland , from Kid Andersen's Greaseland Studios and it's strong. This all-star tribute release to Howlin' Wolf features many of today's greatest blues players. Opening with Meet Me In The Bottom , Alabama Mike is upfront on lead vocal backed by Rick Estrin on harp, Alex Pettersen on drums, Bobby Yamalov on bass, Kid Andersen on guitar and slide and Lorenzo Farrell on piano paving a wide path. On Smokestack Ligntnin' , John Blues Boyd has the mic, joined by Rockin' Johnny Burgin and Kid Andersen, Joe Kyle Jr. on bass, Estrin on harp, D'Mar on drums and Jim Pugh on piano. Very nice. Howlin' For My Darling features Terry Hanck on sax and vocals, backed by Johnny Cat Soubrand on guitar, Andersen on bass, Pettersen on drums and Pugh on piano. Both Hanck and Soubrand stretch a bit instrumentally adding nicely to the tight groove.  Tail Dragger is upfront on I'm Leaving Yo...