Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Motel Mississippi , from Tony Holiday and it's quite good. Opening with Rob & Steal , a contemporary take on the sound of thumping drums and floating guitar riffs that I associate with Hill Country music. Tony Holiday on vocal, A J Fullerton on guitar, Dave Gross on guitar, Aubrey McCrady  on guitar, Victor Wainwright on keys, Terrance Grayson on bass, and Lee Williams Jr. on drums, this is an excellent opener. With a classic Willie Dixon bass line by Grayson, and a modern mix, Trouble is really a cool track. Holiday's vocals are strong and harmonica by Jake Friel, wild keyboard soloing by Wainwright and eccentric guitar riffs really add a lot spice to this track. Very nice. Asie Payton's Nobody But You has a great southern R&B feel (think Polk Salad Annie) with smooth vocals and choppy guitar riffs contrasting with windblown slide guitar. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Yazoo River with it's ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Porch Sessions Volume 2 , from Tony Holiday and it's a great Chicago style blues party. Opening with She's Tuff , Victor Wainwright and his rhythm section really get things rolling with Wainwright on vocal and piano and Holiday on harmonica. With plenty of attitude in presentation and this dynamic duo, this is a strong opener. Willie Buck has the mic on Honey Bee with Rusty Zinn on slide and Kim Wilson on harmonica. Zinn really conjurs Muddy's tone on guitar and Wilson's sound is fat and rich. Excellent! In more of a Delta styling on Recipe for Love Master , Bobby Rush on vocal and Vasti Jackson on guitar really make a great team serving up a heavy helping of blues. Very nice. Going to Court is a real hot number with James Harman on harmonica and Kid Ramos and Landon Stone laying down pure fire on guitar. Lurrie Bell teams up with harpmaster Mark Hummel on a shortened take on Everyday I Have The Blues bu...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soul Service , from Tony Holiday , and is solid throughout. Opening with Payin' Rent on a Broken Home , a strong blues rocker, Tony Holiday on lead vocal and harmonica sets a cool strutting pace, backed by Landon Stone on guitar, Max Kaplan on bass, Danny Banks on drums with Ori Naftaly on guitar and Victor Wainwright on keys. Low slung shuffle She knocks Me Out , has a great feel and Holiday's harmonica tone is full and a tasty work solo by Stone is poised and tight. A cool island feel spins Day Dates (Turn Into Night Dates). With simplified drum rhythms and airy guitar work Holiday crafts this track nicely and blends vocally with Kaplan, complimented by melodic harmonica. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Ol' Number Nine, a rumbling blues rocker with nicely paired vocals and a rumbling bass line by Kaplan. Holiday's vocals are strong and his harmonica work reinforces the "train" theme of ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tony Holiday's Porch Sessions and I really like it. Vocalist and harmonica player, Tony Holiday has put together a great release here with a who's who of the blues business. Opening with Pick-Pocket Fingers a cool shuffle track Holiday on lead vocal is joined by James Harman on harmonica, Kid Ramos on guitar, Landon Stone on guitar and Kid Andersen on bass, this is a cool opener. John Primer steps in on lead vocal and guitar on They Call Me John Primer with featured harp work by Bob Corritore and Holiday and Joel Meza Jr. on drums. I always love Primer's slide style and Corritore has beautiful tone. Very nice. An easy, funky track, A Woman Named Trouble , showcases John Nemeth and Jake Friel with Holiday on vocal and harmonica. This is a funky funky track with a great bass line by Anderson. Excellent! Mitch Kashmar and Ronnie Shellist join Holiday for Three Way Party and slower but soulful guitar and ha...