Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, At The Blue Front , from Ryan Lee Crosby , and it's an interesting mix of pure stripped down American blues and African blues. Opening with Going Away , Ryan Lee Crosby on vocal and 12 string lays down a solid blues, backed by Grant Smith on percussion, and Jay Scheffler on harmonica. I've Been Worried maintains an American, earthy, primitive sound but with distinct, African guitar styling not unlike Ali Farka Toure'. This is a cool, interesting track with American meter and a solid melody. Catfish , features Jimmy "Duck' Holmes joining Crosby on vocal and guitar with a Mali flavored take on the traditional blues. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Tell Me features Holmes on lead vocal and guitar with Crosby on guitar with cool percussion and Calabash by Smith. This is an interesting blues fusion release. Where musicologist and guitar player extraordinaire, Ry Cooder did a really strong work with...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Winter Hill Blues , from Ryan Lee Crosby and I like it. Opening with I'm Leaving , Crosby captures the Hill Country sound accompanying himself on guitar and backed by George Sluppick on drums and Mark Edgar Stuart on bass.   Title track, Winter Hill Blues is a really cool track showing Crosby's inclination to sing with a falsetto not unlike Skip James, his own natural voice actually being quite smooth. Crosby accompanies himself on guitar only and his guitar playing shows distinct Mali influence. Very nice. Going To Bentonia is another track that specifically caught my attention with particularly clean guitar playing, harmonic guitar tones and  falsetto vocals over a Hill Country style. Wrapping the release is Rev Robert Wilkins' Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down with Crosby on slide resonator and his natural voice. This is a really clean acoustic blues and a solid closer.    If you...