Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the mot recent release, Eye Of The Storm , from Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin and it's strong. Opening with gritty Ray Wylie Hubbard's blues rocker, Snake Farm , Murray Kinsley on lead vocal and cigar box guitar slides in with thick overdrive and bluesy finesse. Dave Tettmar on drums pairs with Laura Greenberg on bass and backing vocal, setting a rock solid bottom and Steve Marriner adds great harmonica riffs making this a dynamic opener. Driving rocker, Dressed In Black , is led by Jesse O'Brien on organ, Greenberg on bass  and Kinsley on vocal and guitar but features hot harmonica riffs by Marriner. With Britsh blues overtones, this track has a great flair. Shuffle, Friday Blues , has a cool, easy pace ana features Marriner on harmonica and Kinsley on vocal upfront. O'Brien on piano lays in a real nice solo followed by Marriner making this track the most logical radio track. Wrapping the release is Blues For Sorrow , a solid, ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gin House , from Wayne Nicholson and I really like it. Opening with Gin House Blues , Wayne Nicholson is upfront on vocal, joined by James Logan on guitar, Bruce Dixon on bass, Neil Robertson on drums, Kim Dunn on piano and Hammond, Bill Stephenson on grand piano, Tony Diteodoro on guitars, Steve Marriner on harmonica and guitars and Lisa MacDougall on backing vocals. This is raw energy focused in a strong blues rock package. With it's Robert Johnson like construction, Cream like attack and Stones like finesse, this is a solid opener.  Mother Earth Blues has a deep rock rhythm with a stiff rim shot by Robertson driving the train. Warm Hammond tones by Dunn and Logan's slide work fill the track with raw energy and Nicholson eggs it on. Jimmy Reed's Honest I Do , provides a solid platform for vocal duet by Nicholson and MacDougall. With Dunn on piano and Logan laying down Reed like riffs, this track is a cool br...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cadillac Man , from Rick Vito , and it very cool. Opening with Love Crazy Baby , a solid shuffle Rick Vito on lead vocal and guitar takes command of the track, backed by Mojo Johnson on drums, and Jim Hoke on sax. Blues rocker, Little Sheba has a cool mix of blues, rock and ethnic overtones, with Steve Marriner on harmonica working nicely together with Vito on guitar and vocal. A tight drum line by Jackson and Vito on bass makes this an ideal radio track. Slow blues, Crying at Midnight , is a real nice track with a super melody showcasing Vito's vocals as well and his Fleetwood Mac guitar influence. Very nice. Chicago style blues, Barbeque'n Baby had a great feel with Vito on slide guitar and vocal. This is a pretty hopping track and surely a favorite. Instrumental. Just Another Day is one of my favorites on the release featuring the lead slide work of Vito, backed by Hoke on sax, Jackson on drums, and Kevin MacK...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Midnight Blues , from Crystal Shawanda , and it's a strong R&B flavored blues release. Opening with title track, Midnight Blues , Crystal Shawanda brings her soulful vocal style to a radio oriented track with a solid melody, with Dave Roe on bass, Dwayne Strobel on guitar, and Peter Keys and Jesse O'Brian on keys and Pete Abbot on drums. Rumpshaker is a soulful track with a strong bass line by Roe and nice harmonica contributions by Steve Marriner. Why Do I Love You is a really super ballad with strong vocal harmonies by Angela Hurt, Zhaawande Strobel Nd Dewayne Strobel. Hold Me has a R&B rhythm and really has a great groove. Shawanda's vocals are powerful and backing vocals are just right with strong piano and drum support by Keys and Becket. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Walk With The Moon , with a sweet melody and ballad formation. With glistening keyboard work, rich guitar chords and a melodi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Strongman Blues Remedy, Volume 1 , from The Strongman Blues Remedy and it's chocked full of foot tapping blues. Opening with blues rocker, Hard Luck , leader Steve Strongman adds great slide riffs, bass and harmonica to his solid lead vocal efforts for a super radio track. Joined by Dave King on drums and Jesse O'Brien on keys this is a great opener. Dawn Tyler Watson has the mic on Fine Young Man , a solid radio track with country and blues roots. Slick slide work by Strongman and with O'Brien on keys and King on drums, another fine track. Slow blues, White Lightnin' is my favorite track on the release with Strongman's best vocals on the release and strong, soulful, fluid guitar lead, backed by Alec Fraser on bass. Excellent! Crystal Shawanda has the mic on Tell Me I'm Wrong and her vocals are sassy and powerful against the bluesy riffs of Strongman. Wrapping the release is Love Comin' I...

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Bitches Blues , from Sass Jordan and it's really quite good! Opening with Johnny Winter's, Still Alive and Well , Sass Jordan maintains Winter's gritty approach, joined by Steve Marriner on bass, Cassius Pereira on drums, Jesse O'Brien on keys and stinging guitar riffs by Chris Caddell and Jimmy Reid. Strong opener. O'Brien really digs on on piano on Even , a slow piano blues giving the spotlight to Jordan's vocals and she really shines on this one. Excellent! Mississippi Fred McDowell's You Gotta Move has a great delta feel with Caddell on slide and only the simplest percussion on the bottom, supporting Jordan's vocals. Very cool. Lowell George's Sailin Shoes is really a great selection for this band with strong slide work by Caddell and great vocal harmonies by Jordan, Caddell, Reid, Marriner and O'Brien. The band really pulls together tightly on this one but of particular note is the...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release by Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns and I really like it! Opening with Temperanceville with it's cool New Orleans march rhythm anchored by N. Jay Burr on tuba and Jim Casson on drums, Mike Branton on slide guitar and Wayne Deadder on guitars exchange leads on this making this a terrific opener. Funky, Marshville Station , again has an incredible groove set by Casson and Russ Boswell on bass and with the addition of Brent Barkman on organ and Bernie LeBarge adding solid lead guitar lines over the top, this is a great track. Deadder Branton and Burr are back on The Right Road to Boyle has terrific, easy flowing slide over a solid New Orleans beat. White Pigeon gives Deadder a solid opening to lay down some real nice jazz style riffs and Branton's slide work, doubled with Burrs tuba sets a funk rocky Southern feel. Wrapping the release is The Dream of Chantler with eerie slide work by Branton balanced...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Open Road , from Colin James and I really like it. On James' landmark 20th release, James covers some classic blues tracks and adds some of his own. Opening with Tony Joe White's As the Crow Flies , James cranks out a real driving boogie with stinging lead guitar, backed by Geoff Hicks on drums, Norm Fisher on bass and Simon Kendall on keys. Strong.  Albert King's Can't You See What You're Doing To Me , is up next and with Chris Caddell on rhythm, Steve Hilliam on sax, this is another potent track with excellent phrasing by James. Magic Sam's That's Why I'm Crying fits in perfectly with it's slower pace, giving James a chance to stretch a bit with soulful vocals and nicely crafted solo lead. Excellent! James original, When I Leave This House , has a country rocking honky tonkin feel that will get you moving. James really plays guitar to this one with a nice flair and the addition of Jes...

 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, The Forgiver and the Runaway , from AJ Fullerton and it's a solid blues rocker with a rural feel. Opening with Remind Me Who I Am Again , AJ Fullerton on lead vocal and guitar exudes confidence with Anna Ruddick on bass, Glenn Milchem on drums, and strong key work by Jesse O'Brien as well as warm vocal backing by Chantal Hendricks and the Marrinaires. Very nice. Slippin' Away is a cool, contemporary shuffle with a super melody and great lead vocals. A smooth balance between the solo guitar work and the piano lead really works nicely. Rocker, Say You'll Stay is one of my favorites on the release with  harmonica work by Paul Reddick and vibrant guitar lead by Fullerton and Steve Marriner. Another of my favorite tracks on the release is Never Was with a distinct C Berry rhythm pattern that makes you feel the beat. An excellent solo of excellent pedal steel work by Aaron Goldstein contrasts really nicely wi...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent Landslide Records Tribute to Sean Costello and it's really cool. Opening with Same Old Game , Albert Castiglia puts up a rumbling 2 step and lays down some real nice guitar work for an excellent opener. Steve Marriner brings How In The Devil with it's perfect shuffle beat great vocals and harp work. Title track, Don't Pass Me By has an almost spiritual feel with Victor Wainwright leading the way. This is an excellent blues ballad with great tension and stinging guitar work. Bob Margolin's guitar work on Low Life Blues is really outstanding with super Muddy Waters like slide and riffs. I always love the Mississippi All Stars and their rural approach and their treatment of Father is no different. With fat slide work and excellent vocals over a basic essential drum beat and keys make the track my favorite on the release. Debbie Davies brings shuffle track, Don't Be Reckless With My Heart and does a great jo...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Hell Bound for Heaven by Manx Marriner Mainline and it's solid. Opening with Nothing , a cool blues shuffle, Harry Manx has the lead on vocal and banjo with Steve Marriner on harmonica and electric guitar and timed by Moe Duella on drums. This is a real nice opener showcasing some real nice riffs by Marriner on both harp and guitar. Title track, Hell Bound for Heaven , has a darker delta style feel but with a more contemporary Paul Rogers spin. Manx injecting the eccentric sound of the Mohan Veena adds mystery and even more with slide. Marriner's lead vocal and harp is solid. Rattlesnake is a easy rocking two step blues with Marriner on Baritone guitar, harp, drums and vocal and Manx on slide, backed by Clayton Doley on Hammond. This track has really nice changes in addition to a solid melody. With it's Latin beat and some of Pops Staples' original gospel structure, Wish I Had Answered is one of my favorit...

Sue Foley, Crystal Shawanda, Jenie Thai, Harry Manx & Steve Marriner, Earle & Coffin to perform at Maple Blues Awards Raoul Bhaneja hosts Koerner Hall National Blues Gala February 4 Montreal’s Guy Bélanger to host lobby afterparty "Winner’s Circle Jam” (Toronto) – The Toronto Blues Society has announced the performers who will grace the stage at Koerner Hall in Toronto for the 22nd annual Maple Blues Awards gala and concert, to be held on Monday, February 4th, 2019. Heating up the cold February night will be performances from some the of the hottest Canadian blues artists including, Steve Marriner of MonkeyJunk with Harry Manx , guitarist/singer-songwriter Sue Foley , who is nominated in six categories, Jenie Thai , who is nominated for Piano/Keyboard P...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Highway , from Colin James and it's super! Opening with Freddie King's Boogie Funk , James is really ripping with excellent guitar tone and pace. Craig Northey is on rhythm guitar, with Norm Fisher on bass and Pat Steward on drums. Simon Kendall's organ work is tops and Steve Marriner's harp is vital. On Peter Green's Watch Out , James steps up on lead vocal and the pace is just right. Jesse O'Brien is up or organ with Steve Pelletier on bass and Geoff Hicks on drums. James lays down a solid guitar solo and Simon Kendall lays in a nice organ solo as well. Tommy Johnson's Big Road Blues gets a more modern rocking beat with James on vocal and slide. With an almost JJ Cale feel, this track could see a multi channel radio play. Made famous by Freddie King and Jeff Beck, Don Nix's Going Down is up next with a solid blues rocking drive. O'Brien's piano work is tight and James'...

I just received the new release (released formally on March 26, 2013), Better For You, by Chris Antonik and it's quite interesting. The release opens with Long Way To Go , a funky rock track with some really cool guitar by Antonick and harp work by Steve Marriner. Turn To Shine has the warm feeling of a Delaney and Bonnie track and it really feels like you're taking a bite of the old ATCO/Muscle Shoals/Capricorn stuff. Josh Williams' vocals are great and his guitar playing has the over driven sound of Duane and the rhythmic pacing of Dickey. Very cool! Come From A Good Place is a softer edged song with a lot of airplay potential. Like the song before, sweet horns back the track and in this case, lead vocals are handled by Shakura S'Aida who is obviously solid and Antonik grinds in some really hot guitar riffs. Broken Man features Mike Mattison singing a soulful ballad over a quiet background and light jazz rhythm. Up next is Walter Horton's Have A Good Time , a...