Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Attitude, from Soulful Femme and it's a tight rocker with a blues overtone. Opening with title track, Attitude , Soulful Femme principals Stevee Wellons and Cheryl Rinovato get down to business. Wellons is upfront on vocal, with Rinovato playing a great blues rhythm, backed by Albert Castiglia on guitar, Michael Bram on drums, Matt Raymond on bass and Dave Gross on Hammond. Kevin Burt adds some really soulful lead vocal on Insane Asylum . Rich, warm vocal blending with Wellons and nicely placed guitar lead by Rinovato make this one of my favorites on the release. With an R&B feel, Loser's Game has a strong melody, and with Wellons' vocal lead and a solid guitar solo, just the right feel for a top radio track. Reggae fused, Dysfunctional Funk is another track with strong radio appeal with a strong melody, solid lead vocals and nice addition of Doug Wooverton on trumpet and Mark Earley on sax. Wrapping the...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rock 'N' Roll - A Tribute to Chuck Berry , by Mike Zito and this disc is loaded. Opening with St. Louis Blues and Charlie Berry II, Mike Zito handles guitar and lead vocals, backed by Matthew Johnson on drums, Terry Dry bass and Lewis Stephens on keys. Joanna Conner joins on Rock and Roll Music and there is just no match for that dynamo on slide guitar. Powerhouse player, Walter Trout steps in on Johnny B Goode , a long time favorite of blues and rock players alike. Trout's fluid, high intensity attack is well suited for this classic. Very nice. On Wee Wee Hours , master showman, Joe Bonamassa is featured and he lays out a full tour of the fretboard hitting about every fret on every string, making it seem totally effortless and with great feel. Clocking in at almost 5 and a half minutes, Bonamassa gives you the grand tour. Smoking. Robben Ford takes more of a country flavored approach to You Never Can Tell...

  TOMMY CASTRO & THE PAINKILLERS ANNOUNCE 2019 NORTH AMERICAN KILLIN' IT LIVE TOUR New Album Killin' It Live Set For March 1 Release In US And Canada       "Castro’s aggressive, inspired attack on vocals and guitar is phenomenal." –Washington Post "Tommy Castro & The Painkillers showcase the power of the blues, soul and down-and-dirty rock ‘n’ roll...rousing and infectious. This is energizing, scorching, soul-shaking music….pure pleasure." –Living Blues Tommy Castro & The Painkillers have announced plans for their 2019 Killin' It Live North American tour. Killin’ It Live -- the band's new CD set for March 1 release in the US and Canada -- is a nonstop, spirited mix of blues, rock and soul, with rollicking, hypnotic grooves fueled by Castro’s fervent vocals and the band's muscular musicianship. On that same date, the band will begin their tour in Castro's longtime sto...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Playdate! , from Nancy Wright and it's smokin! Opening with funky, Why You Wanna Do It , Wee Willie Walker takes the lead on vocal and Nancy Wright really sails on sax. Joe Kyle Jr. sets the pace on bass with some heavy lines and J. Hansen's drum work is tight. Excellent opener! On Willie Dixon's I Got What It Takes , Kyle again sets a strong bass line and Tommy Castro brings a real nice guitar solo. This track is in the groove and Wright delivers a great sound on sax backed by Tom Poole on trumpet and Faris Jarrah on trombone. Yes He Do is a great swinger with Victor Wainwright really taking control on piano. Wright takes it higher and the two hit it out of the park. Super. Eddie Shaw's Blues For The Westside is an absolute screamer with Wright really digging in. Chris Burns' piano work on this track really stands out and Joe Louis Walker stands tall with soulful guitar riffs fluidly added throughout as ...

  FIVE ALLIGATOR ARTISTS NOMINATED FOR EIGHT BLUES BLAST MUSIC AWARDS Blues Blast, the internet blues magazine, has announced the nominees for its 2016 Blues Blast Music Awards. Five Alligator Records artists received a total of eight nominations. Shemekia Copeland, Curtis Salgado and Toronzo Cannon each received two nominations. Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials and Tommy Castro & The Painkillers each received one. Voting is free and open to the public at www.bluesblastmagazine.com beginning July 1 and running through August 15. Winners will be announced at the 2016 Blues Blast Music Awards ceremony, held at The Fluid Events Center in Champaign, Illinois on September 23rd, 2016. Alligator nominees are as follows: SHEMEKIA COPELAND : Contemporary Blues Album - for Outskirts Of Love Female Blues Artist CURTIS SALGADO: ...

I just received the newest release, Honey For The Biscuit , from Tasha Taylor and it has a super groove. Daughter of Stax giant, Johnnie Taylor, Tasha has some big shoes to fill and this release shows that she's not following on anyone's coattails. Opening with Feel So Good , Tasha Taylor sets the pace with a a super R&B number featuring Taylor on really nicely phrased vocals, guitar and keys, backed by Nathan Watts on bass, Don Wyatt on Wurlitzer and piano, John Notto and Jon Taylor on guitars and tight horn phrasing by Jamelle Williams, Matthew Demerrit & Lamar Buillary on horns. Wedding Bells is a soulful track with some of my favorite vocals on the release. Painterly instrumental arrangements nicely frame the featured vocals of Taylor. Excellent! Family Tree has a much more laid back R&B feel and features nicely phrased guitar work by Keb Mo. Tom Hambridge penned Weatherman , has a cool funky bottom with a real nice drum beat and again, really nicely orches...

I just received the newest release, Blues In Good Hands , by Mighty Mike Schermer and I really like it! Opening with R&B track, Baby Don't Stop featuring Mighty Mike on lead vocal and guitar, Paul Revelli on drums, Steve Ehrmann on bass, Tony Stead or organ, Austin Delone on piano, Terry Hanck on sax, and backing vocals by Shelley King and Carolyn Wonderland. Hanck steps up with a clean solo and Mighty Mike throws down a nice riff or so himself but I gotta mention that I really like Delone's piano work on this track. Great radio track with a cool melody and a good hook. With a funky beat, Heaven's On The Other Side struts in and Ehrmann's bass really sets the pace. Mike rips really tasty blues guitar lines over a warm organ line by Stead. With a laid back Philly kind of sound, It's A Pleasure , really hits a solid. It's catchy melody, even pace and warm overall feel, with Delone on electric piano and nice jazz style guitar work from Schermer makes this...

I just received the newest release, Jammin' On The High C's from Mitch Woods' Club 88 recorded live on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise and the talent was really flowing. Opening with Big Mamou , Woods, along with members of Roomful of Blues lays down a full tilt boogie. An excellent trumpet, sax and piano solos on this track make it an excellent opener. Next up is Tain't Nobody's Bizness with a stripped down swing. Victor Wainwright and Julia Magness join in giving a different feel vocally... and great piano work contribute to an excellent track. Classic rocker, Rip It Up features Tommy Castro and he really adds some great rockin' guitar riffs to Woods' piano and vocal talents. Backed by the Roomful of Blues horns this track rocks. Lucky Peterson is featured on vocals on Bright Lights Big City , maintaining much of Jimmy Reeds original feel. Breakin down with a little Zydeco, Dwayne Dopsie brings Jambalaya on accordion and vocal. Woods tickles...

I just received the newest release, Livin' Life Not Worryin' from the Dennis Herrera Blues Band and it's terrific! Opening with All This Fun's for Free , a cool blues rocker featuring Igor Prado. Herrera brings a great band featuring Rich Wenzel who really plays out the piano on this track. Prado throws down some hot rockin riffs on guitar and Herrara's vocals are just right. Denis Depoitre steps on the gas with his harp playing topping off this real nice opener. Can't Get Enough is a stinging rocker with Alan Maggini with great tone on guitar and Wenzel laying down some great organ riffs. Loping, Damn Uncle Sam opens with Depoitre on harp and a cool Lee Campbell drum riff. Herrera has just the right vocal style for this track and Maggini cuts it up pretty nice on guitar. Hank Van Sickle's bass lines are spot on, with Wenzel giving the track a great rhythm. Uptempo blues, Chicago style, Love You Good , has a cool vintage feel with distorted vocals and ...

THE REAL BLUES FESTIVAL OF ORANGE COUNTY 6   The Orange County Blues Society is proud to present, for the sixth year in a row, The Real Blues Festival of Orange County. Malone's Concert Venue, 604 E Dyer Rd, Santa Ana, CA 92705,  (714) 979-6000 will once again be hosting the event.  The date this year is Sunday, September 13 from noon until 8 PM. Tickets are $20 at the door, $15 on the Orange County Blues Society website and $10 for any card  carrying Blues Society member. ...