Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release from The Bluesmasters , and it's rich with gospel, soul and blues. Opening with Downward Road , Cassie Taylor fills the air with soulful vocal backed by Larea Edwards , and Chrissy Grant . With the thumping bass line of  Kassidy Kent , and Sally Van Meter on lap steel, this is a strong opener. Slow paced, Sit Down Servant really gives Taylor to sing the blues and with Edwards and Grant on on backing vocals, Van Meter on Lap steel and Christian Teele on drums, another solid entry. With plenty of gospel wealth and sway, You're Gonna Make Me Cry , Taylor leads the way and Eric Moon on keys fleshes out the instrumentation and Teele amps up the bottom. I Wonder Why is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's droning bass line by Tim Tucker and Teele on drums. The interplay between Taylor, Grant and Edwards is lush and Doug Lynn 's harmonica adds a great accent. Wrapping the release is...

I just received the most recent release, Volume Three , from The Bluesmasters and its got a lot of cool. Opening with Loving Man , an easy flowing blues track featuring Hazel Miller on lead vocal. Miller has a powerful voice and is constant edged by stinging guitar riffs by guitarist Tim Tucker. Can't Let You Go , also featuring Miller on lead vocal, is firmly paced by Larry Thompson on drums and Kassidy Tucker on bass. Tim Tucker lays down some really hot riffs on this track with Mitch Towne on keys providing strong support on the bottom. Little Walter's Up The Line is done as a R&B style blues track featuring Mickey Thomas on vocal and Doug Lynn on harp. This track is made to get you on your feet and should easily do that. The Colorado Boogie is a cool instrumental track with nice harp lead by Lynn. Easily my favorite track on the release. Miller is back on lead vocal on Suspicious, a soul style blues track with long claws. Miller really does a nice job on this trac...

In dedication to Pinetop Perkins and Hubert Sumlin, both who played on this recording, a second volume of The Bluesmasters has been released. Featured are Mickey Thomas (vocals), Cassie Taylor (vocal and bass), hazel Miller (vocal),Eric Gakes (guitar) Rusty Anderson (guitar), Tim Tucker (guitar), Doug Lynn (harmonica), Aynsley Dunbar (drums), Larry Thompson (drums)and Ric Ulsky (Hammond B-3). First up is Sam Cooke's Bring It On Home To Me done jumps style with Taylor on vocals and Tucker kicking out a hot riff on guitar. Elmore James tune Talk To Me Baby gone swing shuffle again finds Taylor and Tucker rocking the joint with a cool harp riff from Lynn pushing Tucker on guitar. Johnnie Johnson standard Tanqueray gets a shuffle feel and Miller leads the way for a totally different feel altogether. Willie Dixon's I Just Want To Make Love To You gets a slinky feel. Don Nix ballad Same Old Blues features Taylor at her best and Tucker lays down a real strong guitar solo. I'...