Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Crawlin' Kingsnake , from John Primer & Bob Corritore and it's a full house, blues release. Opening with Take A Message , John Primer on lead vocal and guitar starts off this dynamic shuffle. Bob Corritore steps up pretty quickly on harmonica with great Chicago style blues chops that he's well known for, adding a nice solo by Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar, and joined by Bob Stroger on bass, Anthony Geraci on piano and Wes Starr on drums. Super opener. Willie Dixon's Down In The Bottom is up next with a cool bass line by Stroger and potent piano rhythm by Geraci. Primer's vocals are solid and Corritore trades solos with Primer and Smith adding nice balance. John Primer's shuffle, Hiding Place has a really great feel with vocal swagger by Primer and a driving guitar/ piano feel. Corritore lays out a real nice harmonica solo and Primer's solo nods to Elmore James. One of my favorite tracks o...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Phoenix Blues Sessions , from Kid Ramos and Bob Corritore and I really like it. Opening with Aw Shucks Baby , Kid Ramos and Bob Corritore really have a jam packed release here. With Nappy Brown on lead vocal, Henry Gray on piano, Mario Moreno on bass, Chico Chish on drums, Johnny Rapp on guitar and of course Corritore on harmonica and Ramos on lead guitar this is a solid opener. Super shuffle, Come On In is a perfect style for Ramos' guitar slinging style with it's swagger and features Gray on lead vocal and piano. Ramos walks it out nicely making this one of my release favorites. Slow blues, 24 Hours features Dr. Fish on lead vocal and he really digs in nicely working in really nicely with the soulful guitar lead of Ramos. Another slow blues, Mother In Law Blues , features Chism on lead vocal, Paul Thomas on bass and Tom Mahon on piano. I really like the piano guitar interplay between Mahon and Ramos on this o...

I just received the newest release (September 17, 2013), Hush Your Fuss! , from Dave Riley and Bob Corritore and is got a great groove! Opening with title track Hush Your Fuss! , a track right from the delta, Riley's gravely voice and Corritore's harp punctuation keep this acoustic brother to Nobody's Fault But Mine on track. Baby Please Come Home has a strong Chicago feel with a more electric sound and Brian Fahey on drums. A smooth Chicago swing gives Corritore a nice opening to play solo. On No Cussin' , the men take a Morganfield road and Corritore again plays some real nice harp work in support of Riley's great vocals. Dave "Yahni" Riley Jr. pushes the band along on bass on this very traditional sounding track. Snuff Drippin' Woman has a nice slow pace giving Corritore the opportunity to dig in deep on a gripping harp solo. Riley has authentic blues vocal feel and delivery with clean complimentary guitar riffs. On R&B style track Mississi...