Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Yeah Man, by Steve Howell & The Mighty Men and it's soothing.  Opening with Blind Lemon Jefferson's Long Lonesome Blues , Steve Howell on vocal and guitar leads this contemporary shuffle joined by Chris Michaels on guitar, Dave Hoffpauir on drums and Jason Weinheimer on bass and keys. Easy going, cool opener. J.B. Hutto's 20% Alcohol is a cool track with a solid strut feel and free wheelin' guitar run. Jack Lawrence's I'm Glad For Your Sake is really a nice bluesy ballad featuring Howell on vocal with lush guitar adornment and Weinheimer on keys. Very nice. Joe Zawinul's Mercy Mercy Mercy was a great tune written for the great Cannonball Adderley and enhance with lyrics by JG Watson. Howell keeps the original structure sans vocals and parlays the original sax tune into a reverberant guitar tune. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Bob Dylan's Chimes of Freedom featuring another nicel...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good As I Been To You , from Steve Howell & The Mighty Men featuring Katy Hobgood Ray and it's freshly familiar. Opening with 50's blues rocker, Bacon Fat, Howell leads on vocal and guitar with Chris Michaels on guitar, Dave Hoffpauir on drums, and Jason Weinheimer on bass and setting a strong groove. On Memphis Minnie's New Dirty Dozen , Katy Hobgood Ray takes the mic and her vocals blend nicely with the throaty guitar work of Howell. Walter Davis' Come Back Baby has a smooth approach, along the lines of Eric Clapton and Howell's vocals are perfect with just the touch of guitar. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Blues In The Bottle with it's ideal symmetry. Howell's vocals are smooth and the backing guitar, bass and drums are spot on. A lightly salted guitar solo by Howell tops off the track nicely. Wrapping the release is Blind Blakes You Gonna Quit Me played in easy shuff...

I just received the newest release, Friend Like Me , from Steve Howell & The Mighty Men and it's got style! Opening with Baby Face Thomas' Another Friend Like Me with it's boogie woogie rhythm line. Howell on vocal and guitar leads the way with Chris Michaels on electric guitar, Dave Hoffpauir on drums and Jason Weinheimer on bass. The walking bass line of Jason and fluid guitar lines of Chris make for an interesting trip. Bukka White's Aberdeen, Mississippi Blues is up next with a snappy country flare. I really like the loose guitar soloing technique on this track giving it a raw flavor. Charley Patton's Elder Green Is Gone has a cool R&B flavor with raw country guitar riffs. This music has an unusual JJ Cale kind of vibe...laid back but pointed. Very cool! Reverend Gary Davis' Oh, Lord, Search My Soul has a casual shuffle feel. With a droning guitar rhythm and easy set lyrics the track lulls you back. Little Sadie is one of my favorite tracks o...