Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Science of Sound , by Deep Energy Orchestra and it's really strong. Opening with Morning Over Madrid , Gary Husband on keys creates a thought provoking intro invoking mystery, developing into a solid theme with powerful rhythmic basis. Reinforced by Jason Everett on seven string fretless bass and further expanded by Ann Lindquist on flute and firmly anchored by Don Gunn , this is a super opener. Captain Quirk has a terrific progressive feel led by Don on drums and Everett on bass. Adam Holzman on keys, fleshes out the field with melodic electric violin by Joe Deninzon and Mark Lettieri on guitar really rips it paired with Holzman. Another track I really like is The Secrets of Subtraction with it's funky rhythm and power bass lines / drum bottom by Everett and Don. Husband on keys paired with Jimmy Thomas on guitar really sails creating synergy that makes them seem as one. Very nice. Trey Gunn on Warr ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Select Habits of Invertebrates , by Trey Gunn & David Forlano and it's mind expanding. Opening with title track, Select Habits of Invertebrates the duo creates a flexible electronic soundscape anchored by percussive lead and intriguing sonic phrases. With the addition of electronic expressions and glitches. This is really a strong opener. Litigation of the Monkey features Forlano on alto sax forging the primary theme and Gunn's unworldly guitar explorations. This is really quite interesting and spatial. Wrapping the release is The Wind That Ended History with an interesting rhythmic tonal vamp, overlaid by flowing soundscape. Cavernous electronics, looped rhythms and abstruse themes give this track a confident footing. This is a complex recording and one that is best listened to in entirety for best possible digestion.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live In Merida , from 3Below and it's stimulating. Opening with Relamparia , Trey Gunn on Warr guitar, Alonso Arreola on electric bass and Michael Manring on fretless bass start the journey. Joined by Emmanuel Pina on oud, this track has a really cool flow of progressive, eastern and fusion themes. Excellent opener. Versos has a distinctly eastern flavor led by Pina on oud and seated nicely by Gunn and Manring and held tight by Arreola. Gunn on Warr guitar creates an unworldly wail on Forest Floor . Leading into bass heavy Big Fungus, a melodic track with dynamic interweaving between Arreola, Gunn, Manring and Pina. One of my favorites on the release. Mournful, The World Is Everything That Is The Case is a terrific blend of Gunn and Manring harmonizing creating a mind bending sonic tapestry. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Area opening with a riff by Pina on oud and joined by Arreola on bass. With a lively pace a...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Drums of Compassion, from Michael Shrieve and it's an exceptional exposition of world rhythms. Opening with The Call Of Michael Olatunji , Shrieve begins this journey with Babatunde Olatunji speaking vocal incantations, surrounded with a sea of synthesized sound designs by Jeff Greinke, Joe Doria on Rhodes providing a basic melody line and excellent drum and percussion work by Shrieve. Developing into a very melodic, eastern influenced travel, this is a strong opener. Synthesizers by Grienke over a Afro/Latin rhythm by Karl Perazzo and Raul Rekow on percussion and C Smith on keys, this is a mover. I really like The Euphoric Pandiero Of Airto Moreira featuring Airto on voice and percussion leading directly into The Fierce Energy of Love with Dave Hill Jr on drums, Shrieve on brushes and Stephan Maas on drums. Wrapping the release is Hejira with Greinke on synth on Shrieve on drums and featuring Jack Dejonette on drum...

 I just had the opportunity top review the most recent release, Tu-Ner For Lovers  (Live) by Tu-Ner and it's a very cool sonic exploration. Opening with The Last Barbie Tango , Markus Reuter on touch guitar and soundscapes works with Trey Gunn on Warr Guitar to create a very interesting shape, over Pat Mastelotto's masterful drum and electronics bottom. This track is tensely stretched and highly creative. Super opener. The White Thing has a cool, ethereal, electronic intro developing with deep guitar lead and soaring guitar contrast supported by stylized percussion. Triangle Of Love has a middle eastern rhythm with finely articulated guitar phrasing floating through the mist and fat Warr guitar lead thickening the stew. One of my favorite tracks on the release is The Call Him Threnody with heavy, drum laden rhythm, fat bottom and soaring guitar. Wrapping the release is Combat And Courtship with rapid percussion, a brilliant interplay between the bass and drum and guitar. ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, T-1 Contact Information , from Tu-Ner and it's an excellent exploration of a theme. With some of the most prestigious names in Avant-Garde / progressive rock style music, this is quite an exhibition spread over 2 CDs.  Opening with Crowfin , Pat Mastelotto, lays out a really interesting rhythm pattern over which Markus Reuter creates an adventurous lead on guitar with atmospheric contributions by Trey Gunn on stick. If you aren't familiar with this trio, Reuters has been pioneering this style of music for quite some time wit this band as well in other endeavors. Mastelotto is widely known for his work with King Crimson as it Gunn who also had his ow band as well as a member of KTU. 31 is a deep groove with a solid funky like bass line from Gunn. Very nice. On Contact Information, an extremely heavy footed track, Mastelotto sets a deep stage and Reuter literally soars. Poem About A Sad Horse is a cool. introspect...