Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, True Believer , from Mark Hummel and it's chocked full of smoking blues. Opening with Chicago style blues track, High Time For The Devil , Oscar Wilson on lead vocals leads the way with solid pace and force, and Mark Hummel on harmonica really shines. Bob Welsh on piano adds a perfect glisten to the track, backed by Randy Bermudes on bass, Billy Flynn on guitar, and Wes Starr on drums. Great opener. Otis Rush's slow blues, Double Trouble , is terrific with Junior Watson getting hot and heavy on guitar, and Hummel shining on lead vocal and harmonica. With Kedar Roy on bass, Brett Brandstadt on piano, Jack Sanford on sax, and Starr on drums, this is my favorite track on the release.  Peter Green's Stop Messin' Round is a great shuffle and Hummel really gets in the slot on vocal. Watson has the lead on guitar again and his phrasing is excellent, backed by Roy, Brandstadt, Sanford and Starr. Little Walter...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, True Believe r, from Hard Swimmin' Fish and it's really cool. Opening with title track, True Believer , Demian Lewis is on guitar creating a real dirty sound that has a great groove. A swampy bluesy track that really hits on the spot supported by Waverly Milor on vocal and harp, Jason Walker on drums, Randy Ball on bass and John Sharrer on organ. On funky, Five Years Hard Labor , HSF produces a raw sound with a lot of grit . A rocky kind of sound...I really like it! No Shortage Of The Blues is a nice blues rocker with an almost Steppenwolf swagger and caressed by harp. Lewis plays flashy but unassuming solos and Ball's bass work it tight. Howlin' Wolf's Howlin' For My Darlin' has just a touch more rock than the Wolf version, complimented by a rock beat by Walker and guitar riffs by Lewis. Cool! Ooh, That Was Close has a rockabilly jazz feel with fluid but dirty guitar riffs. On Love Me Or You Do...