Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Calling Long Distance , from The Hitman Blues Band , and it's a good mix of contemporary blues. Opening with title track, Calling Long Distance , "Hitman" Alexander on lead guitar and vocal sets the pace with solid slide, driven by Bob Stander on bass and backing vocal and Guy LaFountaine on drums. With Mike Katzman on keys and a full compliment of horns like John Kelly on alto sax, Tom Mineo on tenor sax, Eric Altarac on trumpet and Al Alpert on trombone and Joanna Alexander and Nancy Hampton on backing vocals, this is a cool opener. Blood Alley is a cool driver with a taste of 60's surf music featuring keys by Katzman, and Tom Mineo wailing on sax while swimming in the sea of reverb soaked guitar by Hitman. Very cool. Low slung shuffle, Side Pocket For A Toad , has a great feel with sweet blues riffs by Hitman and punchy horn work by Kelly, Mineo, Altarac and Alpert. Foolish Pride is one of my favorit...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hey, Can you Guys Play..., from The Hitman Blues Band and it's a lot of fun. Opening with Muddy Waters' Hoochie Coochie Man , The Hitman Blues Band takes a driving boogie approach. "Hitman" Alexander on lead vocal and guitar leads the way with a droning bass line by Mike Porter, drums by Guy LaFountaine, Mikey Vitale wailing on tenor sax, Kevin Rymer on keys, Nick Clifford on bari sax and Nancy Hampton and Joanne Alexander on backing vocals. Hitman takes his guitar for a ride making this a solid opener. Robert Johnson's Come On In My Kitchen is a real nice cover with Hitman on dobro and vocal. John The Revelator gets a real nice, funky makeover which I think is the best track on the release. The band really meshes and with excellent vocal by Hitman and the addition of electric slide, trumpet by Eric Altarac, Vitale on alto sax, and a key solo by Mike Katzman, very nice. Wrapping the release is JL H...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Not My Circus, Not My Monkey , from the Hitman Blues Band and it's definitely got some cool angles. Opening with title track, Not My Circus , Russell "Hitman" Russell is upfront on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Kevin Bents on keys, Mike Porter on bass and backing vocals, Guy La Fountaine on drums, Mikey Vitale on alto sax, John Kelly on tenor sax, Eric Altarac on trumpet, Nick Clifford on bari sax, and Joanna Alexander on backing vocals. A clever radio style track with full horn backing, this track shows some real nice slide guitar work by Hitman as well.  Buy That Man A Drink has a great Rhumba rhythm and Altarac's trumpet work stands out nicely. Blind Willie Johnson gets a modern, blues rock rework with cool electric piano and guitar soloing giving it nice punch. A funky rework on John The Revelator works a balance of drums and horns with strong backing vocals making this one of Hitman's best v...