Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Simple Songs For Complicated Times , by Ndidi O and it's quite entertaining. Opening with Get Gone , with it's strong melody, Ndidi O shows how clear and strong her voice is, backed by Dawn Pemberton, Khari McClelland, and Keri Latimer on backing vocals. I really like Gary Craig's drum flair and with Sam Howard on bass, rhythmic key work by Chris Gestrin and dynamic slide work by Steve Dawson, this is a potent opener. Dawson plays acoustic guitar as well as pedal steel adding quite a bit of texture to Light On with it's poppy feel and vocal styling. Stripping it back to pure folk vocal on In May , Ndidi blends vocals nicely over the wailing pedal steel of Dawson. With just light touches of percussion and bass and finger picked National steel body. This is a strong entry to the release. Entering into Al Green territory, R&B infused, Too Late , is one of my favorites on the release with a moving rhythm a...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fall Back Home , by Suzie Vinnick and it has a nice groove. Opening with solid radio track, Lift You Up , with just the right country blues blend and a New Orleans like rhythm, Suzie Vinnick on lead vocal and acoustic guitar is backed by Davide Di Renzo on drums, Alec Fraser on bass, Colin Linden with some signature electric guitar riffs, Jesse O,Brien on organ and Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar on backing vocals. With a stronger country overtone and real nice guitar work by Linden, Salt & Pepper has a strong melody and Vinnick shines on lead vocal. I really like ballad, City & Skies with it's simple melody, straightforward vocals and nicely crafted steel guitar work by Steve Dawson. Another real nice ballad, Let Me Make It Up To You Tonight , is a bluesy ballad with jazz overtones, but retaining it's simple, country based theme, with excellent vocals by Vinnick, tasty harmonica soloing by Carlos Del Jun...

 I just had the opportunity t oreview the most recent release, Hope Dies Last , from Steve Marriner and it's a  blues fuzed rocker. Opening with Take Me To The City , Daniel Neill sets a stiff snare beat, Joined by Jim Bowskill on lead guitar and Ian McKeown on bass and of course Marriner on lead vocal, guitar and harmonica. Strong opener. High energy rocker, How High is one of my favorites on the release with Glenn Milchem on the drum kit and Bowskill again on lead guitar. Marriner has a markledly more rocking sound and it's tight. Samantha Martin guests with Marriner  on lead vocal on Enough with Jesse O'Brien on piano and B3, Darcy yates on bass, Boswkill on steel guitar and Milchen on drums. This is the definite radio track on the release with a solid melody and smooth presentation. Another really cool track is Uptown Lockdown with it's funky bottom courtesy Yates and Milchen and fat lead guitar work by Boswkill. Very cool. Petite Danse has a definite French/New...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Eye Open , from Kat Dancer and it's cool. Opening with shuffle, Way I Like It Done , Dancer is upfront on lead vocal and guitar, with Steve Dawson on guitar and some hot pedal steel,  Gary Craig on drums, Jeremy Holmes on bass, Dominic Conway on tenor sax, Jerry Cook on bari sax, Malcolm Aiken on trumpet, and Kevin McKendree really working the piano. Strong opener. With it's drone bass line, Lonely And The Dragon is one of my favorites on the release with bluesy vocals, some really tasty blues guitar soloing and solid horn backing. Another hot track is New Orleans flavored, Frenchman Street Shake . Craig's tight drum rhythm, with Dansen's vocal timing, solid horn work and excellent slide work by Dawson gives this track real traction. Another favorite on the release is One Eye Closed with it's driving rhythm and punky rock attack. Wrapping the release is Mi Corazon, a Tex-Mex number featuring Dans...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Halfway Home By Morning by Matt Andersen and it's quite cool. Opening with solid R&B style track, What Would Your Mama Say with a great melody, super rhythm, and featuring Andersen on lead vocal and guitar, Steve Dawson on guitars, Mike Farrington, Chris Gestrin on keys, Jay Bellerose on drums and the fabulous McCrary sisters on backing vocals. Excellent opener. Free Man is even a little swampier with solid sax by Jim Hoke, trombone by Charles Rose and Steve Hermann on trumpet. Give Me Some Light is likely the radio track from the release with excellent lead vocal and John Hiatt like feel. Everything just clicks on this track. A driving beat and a funky rhythm really makes Gasoline stand out as one of my favorites. It's got everything including punchy horns, great drums, hot slide, great lead vocals and super backing vocals. Excellent. Powerful ballad, Been My Last has rich lyrics and a strong melody. ...

Guitarist Steve Dawson Draws Lucky Hand On Instrumental Acoustic Album Coming June 15 from Black Hen Music Special Guests Include a String Quartet Arranged by Jesse Zubot, and Appearances by Charlie McCoy and John Reischman “ It is inspiring to hear modern instrumental music for guitar that is articulated within true song form. Steve Dawson’s new album conjures the ghost of John Fahey for me – not in imitation, but by way of joining a tradition and then extending its range. I find this song cycle to be intelligent and challenging; joyful and deeply romantic; both earthy and untethered. It is affirming – and music to which I shall soon be returning.”  – Grammy-Winning Artist and Producer Joe Henry NASHVILLE, TN – Black Hen Music announces a June 15 release date for multiple Juno-award-winning musician/producer Steve Dawson’s new instrumental acoustic album, Lucky Hand . The new recording showcases Dawson’s brilliant fingerstyle work...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Better The Devil You Know , from Big Dave McLean and it's quite good! Opening with Life On The Road , Big Dave McLean has a casual, JJ Cale meets "Little Feat" easy blues feel joined by Steve Dawson on lead guitar, Gary Craig on drums, Jon Dymond on bass, and Kevin McKendree with cleverly stylistic piano. On Muddy Waters' You Can't Lose What You Never Had , McLean opens with fiery slide riffs and his vocals are raw. McKendree's piano really gives the track a Chicago sound with his piano work and acoustic guitar work by McLean and Dawson's eccentric slide work carries the track nicely. The traditional, You'll Need Somebody On Your Bond , gets a country two step remake with a warm intro by Ann and Regina McCrary. Dawson's dobro work and Fats Kaplin on fiddle add even further to the country / bluegrass edge. Uptempo, I Need You , is a cool country blues number and McClean pulls out the ...

I just received the newest release, Bloodline , from Kenny Neal and it has strong blues and R&B roots. Opening with country blues influenced, Ain't Gon Let The Blues Die with it's Elvin Bishop/country flavored gospel flavor. This track is off and running with Kenny Neal on slide guitar and lead vocals, Tom Hambridge on drums, Tommy Macdonald on bass and Syreeta, Tyrell, Jazzy, Brine', Kaydence Bates, Tahj Mosby and Darien Neal as well as the McCrary sisters. Title track, Bloodline , has a deep groove with a funky bottom and Kenny on lead vocal and harp. Cool loping Plain Old Common Sense is one of my favorite tracks on the release with great guitar work, supeer vocal phrasing, nice piano lines and strong horn backing from Quentin Ware on trumpet, Billy Huber on trombone, Tyler Summers on sax and Dana Robbins on sax. Very cool. On Willie Nelson's Funny How Time Slips Away , skillful piano work and crafty vocals give this track the weight of a serious R&B/c...

I just received the newest release, Solid States and Loose Ends , from Steve Dawson and it's a smooth integration of blues, country and bluegrass... in other words... very cool! Opening with Loose Ends , a cool, swampy blues funk, Dawson on guitar and vocal is joined by Gary Craig on drums, John Dymond on bass, Kevin McKendree on organ, Jim Hoke on sax, Steve Herrman on trumpet and Regina and Ann McCrary on backing vocal. With solid vocals, really tasty slide, warm horns and cool lower register guitar work, with the hot backing vocals, this track is an excellent opener! Broken Furniture Blues has an upbeat rural rock feel with acoustic guitar picking driving the train. Again Dawson slips in some excellent slide riffs backed by Craig and Dymond. Leave My Name Behind has a really nice Rev Gary Davis feel reinforced by Mike Bub on bass. The choice of resonator on this track with some choice electric guitar riffs, backed by Fats Kaplin on viola, really cool sax work by Jim Hoke ...

Black Hen Records Artist Steve Dawson Debuts “Music Makers & Soul Shakers” Podcast NASHVILLE, TN - Black Hen Records artist Steve Dawson’s new podcast, "Music Makers and Soul Shakers," is now up on iTunes, and is also available on his website (link below). Episode 1 features an interview with guitarist and composer, Bill Frisell. Episode 2 is with acoustic musician and songwriter, Tim O'Brien.   The next two episodes to be released will feature Oliver Wood from the Woods Brothers and bluesman John Hammond.   Steve describes the show’s format as “long-form interviews with interesting musicians and producers. Additional interviews in the can include Gurf Morlix, David Hood, Stephen Hodges, Fats Kaplin, Mary Gauthier and Steve Cropper.” Steve Dawson’s new CD, Solid States & Loose Ends , releases on Friday, April 1.                     ...

I just received the newest release, St Louis Times , from Jim Byrnes and I really like it! Opening with Albert King track with that Latin twist, Don't You Lie To Me is a cool number with cool vocals and guitar work from Byrnes and John Hammond on harp. Somebody Lied has an easy flowing pace and Darryl Havers holds the body together with cool organ work but it's the hot work of Hammon on harp and some slick slide work from Steve Dawson that cooks this track. Chuck Berry's Nadine has a cool New Orleans style blues going and Dawson takes a sweet steel guitar solo on this track. Old Dog / New Tricks takes the New Orleans style even a step deeper with the addition of clarinet by Tom Colclough who while blended with the gutsy vocals of Byrnes makes this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Very cool! You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone has a R&B / spiritual flavor which really highlights Colleen Rennison as a second lead vocalist. Havers takes a lead organ solo...

I have just received the newest release, Rattlesnake Cage , by Steve Dawson and it's excellent! Opening with Blind Thomas At The Crime Scene Dawson wastes no time showing that clean finger picked acoustic music without a lot of showboating is alive and well. If you like Leo Kottke or Gary Davis, you're bound to appreciate this first number. Excellent! Flophouse Oratory is a fast paced country style blues track on slide acoustic guitar reminiscent again of Kottke. I really like this track and it's clean excellent execution. The Medicine Show Comes To Avalon , a cool rag trck with a carousel melody is very sweet and well executed. Swapping over to resonator for Rattlesnake Cage, Dawson retains his finger picking rudiment but is more aggressive as demanded by the instrument and adds a very nice sliding component. Lighthouse Avenue I believe is played on a (Michael Dunn) Weissenborn ... and a sweet melody through such a warm instrument with beautiful harmonics. Butterfly...

  Guitarist Steve Dawson Is Ready to Shake the Rattlesnake Cage on New Black Hen Music CD Coming February 18, 2014 All-Instrumental Solo Disc Showcases a Master Guitar Player NASHVILLE, TN – Black Hen Music announces a February 18, 2014 release date for Rattlesnake Cage , the all-instrumental latest CD from master guitarist Steve Dawson. The album’s original 11 tracks showcase Dawson in a no-frills setting: just him, his guitars and a microphone to record all the beautiful tones emanating from his fingers. Rattlesnake Cage is the album that Steve Dawson’s growing numbers of fans have been waiting for and finally gives them the opportunity to hear Steve interact with his guitar in a way that has never been captured on record before. Until now, hearing the sweet melodies and deep soul of Steve playing solo guitar has been a treat reserved for live audiences in intimate settings.  These new simple and unadorned recordings hearken ba...