Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release (September 16, 2016), Porcupine Meat, from Bobby Rush and it's a mover. Opening with I Don't Want Nobody Hanging Around , Bobby Rush has a high steppin funky opener featuring a cooking horn section, great bass lines and of course some fine harp work. With a smooth R&B feel, title track, Porcupine Meat , is a real cruiser with Vasti Jackson laying down some tight riffs on guitar over a solid bass line. Very cool. Slow blues number, Got Me Accused , really gives Rush the opportunity to show his deep blues roots. With his soulful vocals and crying harp playing, this track is heavy. Again the strong bass lines really anchor the track and salted lightly with guitar, this track is smokin. R&B track, Snake In The Grass , has strong radio play sound with a catchy hook and a solid beat. Funky track, Funk o' de Funk , has really super bass line and the funk is so deep you can smell it. Punched up horns, keyboard and nicely placed harp ...

BOBBY RUSH SIGNS TO ROUNDER RECORDS; FIRST NEW ALBUM, PORCUPINE MEAT , SLATED FOR SEPTEMBER 16 RELEASE With special guests Dave Alvin, Joe Bonamassa, Keb’ Mo’, and Vasti Jackson, and backing from the New Orleans “A” team, album cements Bobby Rush’s legacy  as blues’ most vital artist of his generation . NPR premieres a track: " I Don’t Want Nobody Hanging Around” Read and listen here. JACKSON, Miss. — Naming one’s album after a song titled “Porcupine Meat” may seem a little unusual — unless, of course, you’re Bobby Rush , who earned his first gold record in 1971 with a hit entitled ...

ROUNDER RECORDS TO REISSUE HUNDREDS OF RECORDINGS NEVER BEFORE AVAILABLE FOR DIGITAL STREAMING October releases include key bluegrass albums by  Norman Blake and Béla Fleck LOS ANGELES, Calif. — On October 1, 2015 , Rounder Records , a division of Concord Bicycle Music , will begin releasing hundreds of legacy albums into full digital distribution, making many songs available on streaming services for the first time. One new title will be announced each day via Rounder’s social media network, and each month a different musical genre will be featured, from reggae to children’s music, blues and zydeco. A Spotify playlist with one track from each album will be available at the end of each month as well. Directed by Concord   Bicycle Music   SVP of Catalog Development Sig Sigworth , in conjunction with Rounder Records founder Bill Nowlin and VP of A&R Scott Billington , this carefully curated program taps Rounder’s legacy of over 3,000...

    ROUNDER RECORDS COMPLETES MOVE  TO NASHVILLE Concord Music Group Acquires Treasured Children's Label Music For Little People,  Imprint Will Operate Under Rounder  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MARCH 6, 2014 - Rounder Records, a division of leading independent music company Concord Music Group, today announced the completion of the company's relocation from its longtime base of Boston, Massachusetts to its new home in Nashville, Tennessee.  The region's vibrant creative community and dynamic business environment offer Rounder an enormous opportunity to build on its legacy as one of America's most revered music labels.  Located in The Gulch, Nashville's popular shopping and entertainment district, Rounder's new headquarters (1209 Pine Street, Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37203) is centered in the heart of the city's thriving metropolitan core. A major force in a bro...

A few months ago I did a review of the new Rounder release, Skydog The Duane Allman Retrospective. At the time I had a digital stream of the release to listen to and did my best to review the music without the tactile cover and notes. I now have the real deal and I want to elaborate on my original commentary. First, if you don't already know, much of the reason I am so interested in the blues comes from my introduction to Skydog's music at a young age. It became a pursuit to chase down every track that he played on, every loose concert that I could find, every magazine article ... everything. Duane Allman was just a step behind the Brits in discovering the American blues and processing it for young audiences to hear, likely for the first time. He took a totally different route and approach than Clapton, Beck, Simmonds, Mayall, Page, Green, Stones and all of the fathers of the British explosion in bringing the music to the new listeners. Each of these artists came to the blues...

I just received the new release (October 15, 2013) from James Booker and it's a total dictionary on New Orleans piano. Opening with title track, Classified , Booker hammers out a rhythmic chant on the piano clearing the path for the real authentic New Orleans vocal melody. On regional soul track If You're Lonely , Booker really shines on vocals and plays with church like accuracy on piano. Alvin "Red" Tyler is outstanding on sax on this track. On previously unreleased classically structured track Warsaw Concerto , Booker shows another side of his feel for the piano. Really interesting. Back to the bar room with Lawdy Miss Clawdy falls right into the heart of Bookers strength and this Lloyd Price track is a gem. On bayou/latino medley, Tico Tico/ Papa Was A Rascal/So Swell When You're Well Booker rattles the keys in traditional New Orleans style with compliments from Tyler. One of my favorites is a cool rendition of All Around The World (Grits Ain't Gro...

I have just received the new 7 CD release, Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective , documenting Duane Allmans amazing career. I have been a Duane Allman fan since I was a fairly young man and actually learned to play guitar specifically due to Duane Allman's influence. I am one of the lucky fans who actually had the opportunity of seeing Duane live with the Allman Brothers. Having spent years amassing a large vinyl collection and making every effort to capture every groove that I could find (and a few feet of unreleased tape as well) I have had the pleasure of listening to much of Duane's work for many years. This incredible retrospective not only compiles selections from the earlier released Allman Brothers albums, Derek and the Dominos, Duane Allman double disc Anthology One and Two and The Allman Brothers' Dreams; terrific additional tracks from  all of those records that the Anthologies were compiled and much much more.  The first of the "new" stuff is thr...