Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Duke and his Dames of Rhythm, by Duke Robillard and it's a mighty swing fest. Opening with From Monday On , Sunny Crownover has the floor, backed by Bruce Bears on piano, Brad Hallen on bass, Mark Teixeira on drums, Jon Erik Kellso on trumpet, Billy Novick on clarinet and alto sax, Carl Querfurth on trombone and of course Robillard on guitar. A bright prance, this track has super clarinet, strong guitar riffs, a powerful bass line and a particularly nice trombone solo by Querfurth. Maria Muldaur had the floor on Got The South In My Soul and again, powerful clarinet soloing by Novick and bright guitar riffs by the Duke really set it off. Kelley Hunt steps up to the mic on Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone , a solid blues ballad with solid vocals, jumping into swing time with Mark Earley's brilliant tenor sax solo. Kellso's trumpet work, Bears' piano work, another clarinet solo by Novick a...

I just received the newest release, The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard (September 25, 2015), by Duke Robillard and I personally think that's it's his best outing in years. This terrific exploration into American music begins with a sensitive acoustic guitar rendition of Stephen Fosters' My Old Kentucky Home . Very nice intro. Early blues track, Big Bill Broonzy's Big Bill Blues features Robillard on vocal and guitar and Matt McCabe on piano with just the right amount of swing. Very nice! Robillard original, I Miss My Baby In My Arms , has a really nice feel featuring Billy Novick on clarinet. His sensitivity on the stick contrasted against McCabes delicate piano work is perfect. Jimmie Rodger's, Jimmie's Texas Blues features Robillard on vocal (and yodeling), resonator and Mary Flowers on slide. An easy country blues track it has a very nice pace and warm feel. Novick is back on Robillard penned, Backyard Paradise , and it has a deliberate pa...

Stony Plain Records Set to Release The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard on September 25 A Decade in the Making, Latest Album from Multi-Award-Winning Guitarist Includes Special Guests Maria Muldaur, Jay McShann, Jerry Portnoy and Sunny Crownover EDMONTON, AB – Stony Plain Records announces a September 25 release date for The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard , a very special album from the two-time Grammy nominee and multi Blues Music Award winning guitarist that focuses on the music that has informed his over 50-year career as a performing artist, bandleader and producer of seminal American roots music. The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard was recorded primarily at Duke’s own Mood Room studio, with additional work done at Lakewest Recording and some live recording done at the Blackstone River Theater in Cumberland, Rhode Island.     “This project has been about a decade in the making for various reasons I won't go into her...

I have just received the newest release, Right Here Right Now by Sunny Crownover . On this recording, Crownover is backed by an all-star cast of musicians including Duke Robillard (guitar), Bruce Bears (keys), Brad Hallen (bass), Mark Teixeira (drums), Sugar Ray Norcia (harp) and a horn section that includes Doug James on sax. The release opens with Oh Yes I Will , a Wilson Pickett style R&B track and sets the tone for the release. One Woman Man has a funky blues structure with a jazz engine. Robillard lays down some nice funky, jazzy guitar riffs adding nice spice to the track. Love Me Right gets right into the Chicago blues groove with Sugar Ray andwering the call of Crownovers voice on harp. Right Here Right Now , the title track, is a country styled ballad and pegged squarely at the airplay market. Roll Me Daddy stays in the pop vein but with a bit more blues especially infused by the harp work of Sugar Ray. Cook In Your Kitchen tweaks up the speed a bit but really has...

SHINING STONE RECORDS SIGNS BLUES SINGER SUNNY CROWNOVER AND WILL RELEASE HER LABEL DEBUT CD, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW , PRODUCED BY DUKE ROBILLARD, ON OCTOBER 2 MIAMI , FL – Shining Stone Records announces the signing of Massachusetts-based blues singer Sunny Crownover and the upcoming release of her label debut CD, Right Here, Right Now , produced by Duke Robillard, on October 2. Shining Stone Records is part of the Blue Duchess/Shining Stone Records Group founded by Robillard and Jesse A. Finkelstein. Right Here, Right Now was recorded at Lakewest Recording by John Paul Gauthier and showcases Crownover’s stunning voice backed by an all-star cast of musicians including Duke Robillard on guitar, Bruce Bears on keyboards, Brad Hallen on bass, Mark Teixeira on drums and a horn section that includes Doug James on sax. Multiple Blues Music Award nominee Sugar Ray Norcia guests on harmonica. To those who know Sunny Crownover only from earlier collaborations w...