Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 106 Miles To Chicago , from The B. Christopher Band and it's a party band deluxe. Opening with Floyd Dickson's Hey Bartender the band is swinging. With Eddie Testa on vocal, B. Christopher on guitar, Anton Fig on drums, Nick Douglas on bass, Bruce Katz on keys, Andy Snizter on sax, Ryan Keberle on trombone, and Tony Kadleck on trumpet, the house is rockin'. Robert Johnson's Sweet Home Chicago has much of the Blues Brother's swagger with blazing horns, cool piano work by Katz, bluesy guitar swagger by Christopher, a sweltering sax solo by Snizter, warm trombone work by Keberle and smooth vocals by Testa. On Taj Mahal's slinky, She Caught The Katy , Testa really delivers on vocal with Kadleck on trumpet and Studebaker John on harmonica pushing the top. Christopher lays in a real nice guitar solo pulling forth strong emotion from Mahal's original arrangement. Wrapping the release is the horn line...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Snapshots From The Second Floor , by The B. Christopher Band and is a hot one. Opening with jumping blues instrumental, All Twisted Up , B. Christopher and Studebaker John on harmonica really get your heart pumping from the very start. With Anton Fig on drums and Nick Douglas on bass, this track is terrific. The sauntering bass line by Douglas on Sugar Baby sets a terrific path for Christopher's melodic guitar lead. Very nice. take It Home has a driving boogie rhythm courtesy Douglas and Fig giving a clear runway for Studebaker and Christopher to take off. With it's Latin overtone, Who You Gonna Turn To Now really moves. Featuring Ellard James "Moose" Boles on lead vocal and some really nice slide work by Christopher this track is a solid add to the set. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Late Night Crying , has traditional blues roots with a firm bass line by Eric Collier and strong lead vocals ...