Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Constellation , from Mercedes Nicole , one of Seattle top performers. Opening with Ellington's I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues , Nicole on lead vocal shows her own styling on the cover, with a real nice piano solo by Jake Sele and backed by Kevin McCarthy who put up a solid bass solo, D'Vonne Lewis on drums and a cool trumpet solo by Jay Thomas. On lively shuffle, Your Love , Nicole really seems to float on the music Evan Flory-Barnes on bass, Sele on organ, Lewis on drums and Jerry Wirkkala on guitar. An interesting take on BB King's The Thrill Is Gone is my favorite track on the release with a sway rhythm with strong solos from Sele on organ, Craig Hoyer on piano, and Flory-Barnes on bass and Lewis on drums. Ballad, This Bitter End is Nicole's best vocal showcase on the release, also being the track with the most commercial potential with the addition of Yun-En Liu on violin and cool piano backing ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Lost Nights at the Leopard Lounge , from Michele D'Amour and the Love Dealers and it's versatile contemporary blues selection. Opening with shuffle track, No Good , Michele leads the way on vocal backed by Patrick McDanel on bass, Ryan Higgins on guitar and Rennie Bishop on drums. Bringing down the tempo, Trouble is a solid track with some of D'Amour's best vocals on the release. Higgins plays sweet guitar lines over the warm bass lines of McDanel and drums of Rick Bowen. With real nice guitar riffs and trem vibrato by Higgins, a cool Latin rhythm by Bowen and a nice bass line by McDanel, Leopard Lounge has great feel. Another slower blues number, All I Do Is Work , has a pop edge and with the addition of organ, and solid guitar lines by Higgins, makes this track another strong contender on the release. Blue As Blue Can Get has a great bass line and a somewhat Brazilian feel... let's say a bluesy ...

I just received the new release (January 7, 2014), Blue Yonder , from Hard Garden and they are putting their own contemporary spin on the blues. Opening with I Feel Evil , a shuffle track with cool harp by Michael Wilde and vocals by Son Jack Jr. Son House's Depot Blues get a bit more of a light upbeat rock tempo but still holding onto blues roots. Hey Now Mary has a definite hill country blues sound with authentic style fingering. And simple rhythmic percussion. Cool track. Papa's In The Juke Joint maintains the primitive guitar sound but with a more modern drum rhythm. Vocals on this track have a modern spoken rhythm and slide guitar and harp give it a fuller dynamic. A cool electric guitar solo on this track is also particularly interesting. I Can Tell goes full force into a "smooth" Latin rhythm. This track has the most potential for airplay on the release. The Valley has a different vocal style from the rest of the release and actually puts me in mind of...

Powertrain effectively meshes the diverse influences of its members to create their unique blend of melodic metal, classic rock and power pop. The music stirs memories of the classic guitar and Hammond-driven hard rock of Deep Purple and Uriah Heep, the airy prog of Pink Floyd, the 80’s power metal of Dio and Iron Maiden, or the modern feel and moodiness of Alice In Chains. Though their diverse rock sound is not easy to pigeonhole into any one genre, Powertrain is consistently defined by their strong musicianship and tight, melodic songwriting. Powertrain can trace its roots back to Heir Apparent’s European tour in the fall of 2006, which featured a touring lineup that included bassist Bobby Ferkovich, drummer Jeffrey McCormack, and Op Sakiya on keys. Shortly after that tour concluded, McCormack and Ferkovich joined Dead Prjct, a solo endeavor of Fifth Angel lead guitarist Kendall Bechtel. Dead Prjct proved to be short-lived however, and Ferkovich and Sakiya again banded together al...

Born & raised in Seattle, Key grew up exploring the great world of the Pacific Northwest during a time when the old Indian totems still stood tall and proud, when the powerful Indian spirit still breathed freely in nature. One can hear this presence in Key's guitar tone, resonating beyond the mundane. Key's work ethic developed during the summers he spent on a large wheat and cattle ranch. As a child he had to feed the pigs, which were bigger than he was. Later he drove heavy farm equipment and fought brush fires. Key's rite of initiation into manhood came via the Marine Core. Based at El Toro, Key became exposed to the vibrant music scene in and around Los Angeles. This was the era when R & B dominated the radio and jazz was at its peak. Sam Cook, the sounds of Motown, and Ray Charles filled the air. He heard Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck, Sonny Rolands, and Charles Mingus, all live in their prime. This era segued wayed in to psychedelic blues ripping ...

An award winning songwriter, composer, recording and performance artist who turns trash into musical treasure with his homemade Frankenstein 'Nobro' resophonic guitars, constructed from recycled garage sale junk and who has gained multinational media attention via recent compositions like, "Wall Street Bail Out Blues". A virtuoso in the musical folk art of bowing melodies with a hand saw. "One of the best in the world". Major industry recording collaborations continue to garner fans and worldwide recognition. Featured in a half dozen film and video projects across the US, on the recordings of more than a dozen Northwest artists, in addition to 21 self produced recordings since 1995.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

After 7+ years with Lil’ Bill & the Blue Notes, Mark decided to branch out on his own. The result is the Mark Riley Trio - formed in 2003. Their eclectic mix of music has been a hit ever since. Mark, Howard & Marty have been playing music for a combined total of 120+ years.....Mostly in the Pacific Northwest, but at times all over the U.S.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

The bottom line is ‘Is it real and does it make you happy?’ To me, the answer is a decidedly “Yes” to both. The bottom line is ‘Is it real and does it make you happy?’ To me, the answer is a decidedly enthusiastic, ‘Yes’, to both. I was shopping locally at a music store and was taken aback at how few new and used Blues LPs were in stock when compared to the vast number LPs of Rock, Rap, Jazz and other genres. Yeah, OK, I get it. The demise of physical format music continues to be predicted. Purchase of listening rights to “cloud” and down-load content continues to grow. With that said, if vinyl is outdated and only making a somewhat of a comeback in a small segment of the music fan market, I simply ask, where in the hell are the Blues records, CDs and other media that no one seems to want? A brief conversation with an employee reminded me that I resided in Phoenix, AZ rather than NYC, Chicago, Memphis, Saint Louis or other more likely markets. None the less, I heard a noise that pi...

Robert "Bumps" Blackwell (May 23, 1918 – March 9, 1985) was an American songwriter, arranger, and record producer, best known for his work overseeing the early hits of Little Richard, as well as grooming Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Lloyd Price, Sam Cooke, Herb Alpert, Larry Williams, and Sly and the Family Stone at the start of their music careers. He should not be confused with another songwriter: Otis Blackwell. Born Robert Alexander Blackwell in Seattle, Washington, he led a jazz group in the late 1940s that included pianist Ray Charles and trumpeter Quincy Jones. He moved to Hollywood, California to continue studying composition, but he instead took a job at Art Rupe's Specialty Records as an arranger and producer. He worked with Sam Cooke, Larry Williams, Lloyd Price and Guitar Slim, as well as producing Little Richard's rise to stardom in 1955. In addition to producing Little Richard's breakthrough hit "Tutti Frutti" following hearing him sing the ...

WA Blues Society’s 2009 BB Award Winner “BEST NEW BAND” SJB continues to blow fans away with their high-energy, genre bending performances. Amazing vocals, incredible musicianship, outstanding songwriting and powerful, dynamic arrangements – it’s easy to understand why Stacy and her band are captivating the crowds and gathering new fans at each event they perform. Stacy Jones not only impresses with a vocal richness beyond her years but is also a top-notch harmonica player as well as playing keyboards and acoustic guitar. The entertaining trio of Rick Bowen (drums), Tom Jones (bass) and Jeff Menteer (guitar) provides the foundation for a strong ensemble sound and the band’s obvious joy of making music together is contagious. In 2009 The Stacy Jones Band took the Seattle music scene by storm, playing over 115 gigs & festivals as well as winning the Best New Band award from The Washington State Blues Society. The band released a limited edition CD Live at the Triple Door, in Septembe...

David Brewer. Big? Yeah! Intimidating? Maybe. Dull? Never! And definitely talented. All those years of playing blues rooms have accomplished a very good thing. They’ve created a seasoned player with a sly knack for catchy songwriting, monster guitar chops and near genre-perfect banged-up vocals. Brewer’s been living the life of a bluesman for 40 years. Although he was born and still lives in Seattle, his mom is from Florida and his dad is from Tennessee. He went to high school in Hawaii with Gabby Pahinui’s kids. He’s part Seminole and very proud of his American Indian heritage. After a tour in Vietnam, in 1969, he made his way back to Seattle via Texas. Once back, he toured for 2 ½ years with Albert Collins. David first toured Europe in 95’ and 96’, he's been doing his solo show overseas for the past four years.. He’s won The Washington Blues Society’s awards for “Best Guitar Player” and “Best Songwriter” several times. He weathered good times and bad and shared the stage with ...

How do you do a tribute to one of the most inventive guitar players that ever lived? You just lay it out there and enjoy! James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is widely considered to be the greatest electric guitarist in music history and one of the most influential musicians of his era despite his mainstream exposure being limited to four years. He achieved fame in the United States following his 1967 performance at the Monterey Pop Festival after initial success in Europe with his group The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Later, he headlined the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival and the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. He favored raw overdriven amplifiers with high gain and treble and was instrumental in developing the previously undesirable technique of guitar amplifier feedback. Hendrix helped to popularize use of the wah-wah pedal in mainstream rock, which he often use...

Stacy Jones has had the opportunity to share her cut-loose harp riffs and sultry chops with some of the most well known blues musicians around. Born and raised in Seattle, Stacy began playing the piano at four years old. At seven she picked up the guitar and at eight her father, Tom, started bringing her up on stage to sing Hank Williams tunes with his band -- she hasn't been able to stay away from the stage since. Stacy met up with Beth Wulff at fourteen and that's when she was truly introduced to the blues. At sixteen she started learning how to rip on the harmonica and became a regular at The Scarlet Tree blues jams where she met Annieville and had the opportunity to trade riffs with Alice Stuart, Mark Dufresnes (Roomful of Blues), Mark Whitman, Dave Conant and many other incredible musicians. A few years later Stacy got the opportunity to play with "The Seattle Blues" headed by Tim Sherman and John Hodgkin. This experience opened several doors for her and after me...

Son Jack Jr & Michael Wilde are an award winning traditional blues duo based out of Seattle, WA. Neither are strangers to the music industry, counting 30+ years of touring and recording experience between them, both in the US and Europe. They released their first joint album (“Walk The Talk”) in September 2010 and have received widespread and regular national airplay peaking at #2 Picks To Click on XM/Sirius Radio and hit #49 on the National Roots Music blues). The duo’s spirited and energetic acoustic performances are what set them apart, and live shows have been described as “intoxicating, intense, exciting experiences”. “We play blues in the way we believe it was intended to sound back in the day, meaning rough and ready dance music, if you know what I mean”. Theirrepertoire consists of predominantly original material but also pays respect to a carefully chosen set of covers by the likes of Charley Patton, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Big Bill Broonzy, RL Burnside and Tommy ...

Robert "Bumps" Blackwell (May 23, 1918 – March 9, 1985) was an American songwriter, arranger, and record producer, best known for his work overseeing the early hits of Little Richard, as well as grooming Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Lloyd Price, Sam Cooke, Herb Alpert, Larry Williams, and Sly and the Family Stone at the start of their music careers. He should not be confused with another songwriter: Otis Blackwell. Born Robert Alexander Blackwell in Seattle, Washington, he led a jazz group in the late 1940s that included pianist Ray Charles and trumpeter Quincy Jones. He moved to Hollywood, California to continue study composition, but he instead took a job at Art Rupe's Specialty Records as an arranger and producer. He worked with Larry Williams, Lloyd Price and Guitar Slim, as well as producing Little Richard's rise to stardom in 1955. In addition to producing Little Richard's breakthrough hit "Tutti Frutti" following hearing him sing the song in the stu...

James Howard has been in love with playing music since the age of five, when he picked up his first instrument, inspired by his grandfather, an acoustic guitarist from Hawaii. Howard played his first professional gig at fifteen and has honed his talent and developed his career as a blues, rock and acoustic guitarist, composer, vocalist, bandleader and recording session side man of choice for over thirty three years in clubs, festivals and recording studios from his native San Francisco, California to his current home in the Seattle, Washington area. He has opened for artists including Robin Trower, John Waite, UFO and Greg Kihn and played, as a sideman, with Greg Allman's solo back-up band, The Alameda All Stars. Recently he played with Dave Weckl and Melvin Lee Davis in Big Fork Montana. Over the years, Howard has garnered numerous fans with his dynamic, expressive playing, his thrilling, dexterous technical skill and his casual, gracious manner on stage, consistently playing to s...

Isaac Scott, a blues guitarist and singer was well known on the Seattle music scene and in such venues as the San Francisco Jazz Festival. His left foot and right leg were amputated in 1987 because of the diabetes. Despite the physical handicaps, Scott kept performing in a wheelchair--a black one to match his customary cowboy hat, pants and shirt. Credited with helping to build the Seattle blues sound, Scott retained tinges of the down-home blues from his native Arkansas. His music combined blues with elements of gospel and soul. Scott, whose father was a railroad man, grew up in Portland, Ore., where he was exposed to both gospel and blues. He taught himself to play piano and guitar and began his career performing with gospel groups. He toured the West Coast with one, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi. But from 1974 on, Scott concentrated on blues and became something of a founding legend for the groups and clubs that flourished along Seattle's First Avenue. If you like what I’m...