Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ernestine Blues , from Bob Corritore & Friends and it's a big solid scoop of pure blues. Opening with Tony Coleman on vocal and guitar on How'd You Learn To Shake It Like That , Coleman has a great feel for Chicago style blues and Corritore is one of the best on harp on old Chicago style. Joined by Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar, Bob Stroger on bass, and Anthony Geraci on piano, this is a solid opener. Pat Thomas is featured on vocal and guitar on Big Fat Mama with Corritore adding choice harp riffs. This is a particularly strong track with authentic delta styling and Hooker like meter with no exact number of beats in a measure. Pure! Tia Carroll has the mic on Sam Cooke's Ernestine . With solid R&B styling and warm backing vocals by Eboni McDonald, Diamond Porter and Yolanda Tharrington, Doug James on sax, Geraci on piano, Bob Margolin on guitar, Stroger on bass, and Wes Starr on drums, this...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Early Blues Sessions by Bob Corritore & Friends and it's solid Chicago style blues . Opening with I Want To Be The One features Little Milton on vocal and guitar, Chico Chism on drums, Bob Corritore on harmonica, Henry Gray on piano, and Johnny Rapp on guitar. A solid shuffle, shows Corritore, Rapp and Gray with some real nice riffs for a strong opener. Jimmy Rogers has the mic and some swinging riffs on She Loves Another Man with S.E. Willis on piano, Chism on drums, Bruce Lopez on bass. Chism has the mic on Five Long Years joined by Pinetop Perkins on piano and shows Rapp throwing down some excellent guitar lead. Lil Ed cranks up the slide on Hip Shakin' and his vocals really rock. Backed by Chism, Rapp, and Corritore, I really like this track. Tomcat Courtney has the mic on I Wonder really getting in the Chicago groove. Corritore's harp work is particularly cool on this track backed by Brian F...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keep On Pushing , by Kirk Fletcher and it's rich. Opening with It's Love Baby , Kirk Fletcher leads off this new release with super vocals and excellent phrasing. JD Simo on guitar, Jason Smay on drums and Ron Eoff on bass round out the band for an excellent opener. Big Boy Crudup 's I'm Gonna Dig Myself A Hole 's got super Chicago styling with Fletcher on lead vocal and fleet fingered lead guitar that will have your head bobbing big time (if not your foot stomping). Percy Mayfield 's classic, Lost Love , which really folds nicely into this set. With heartfelt guitar lead, this track will likely have you closing your eyes and nodding your head. Very very nice. Original shuffle, Keep On Pushing has a real Freddie King feel. Fletcher's fleshy vocals adds real emotion to the track and his guitar a woody crispness over the the solid bass lines of Eoff. Super. Bernard Anders ' Here In The D...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Light It Up , from Long Tall Deb & Colin John and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with title track, Light It Up , Long Tall Deb on lead vocals leads the way with rockbluesy guitar riffs by Colin John supported by Chris Butler on bass and Jason Edwards on drums. Lesson In The Ground is a lumbering rocker with a thumping bass line, with guitar harmonics and nicely interwoven backing vocals. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Hear Them Moan with some of Deb's sweetest vocals on the release and really nice lap steel by John. Excellent! Black Light Wolf has great swagger with a heavy bass/drum bottom and super low register guitar work. Deb's vocals are strong and John's guitar work attention grabbing. Wrapping the release is Crooks Thieves and Liars , an interesting ballad with a country feel. Debs vocals are strong and I really love John's attack on lap steel. This is a cool closer for a r...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, OH Yeah! , from Willie Buck & Bob Corritore and it's rich Chicago infused blues. Opening with title track, Oh Yeah , Bob Corritore and Willie Buck have a hot one here. Buck on lead vocal really has the stuff on vocal and Corritore really knows how to conjure the Chicago mojo on harmonica. Featuring Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar, Billy Flynn on guitar, Ben Levin on piano, Bob Stroger on bass and Wes Starr on drums, this is a super opener. On William Crawford's That Ain't Enough , Buck's vocals are particularly gritty and Bob Margolin really digs in with Muddy Waters style slide. Playing with Waters for 7 years, Margolin plays this like it's second nature. Corritore's style on harmonica is perfect on this traffic. Corritore has the mic on Went Home This Morning and he wails. Mojo Mark Cihlar and Jon Atkinson join on guitar lays out some terrific riffs and Troy Sandow on bass and Brian Fahey on d...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Is Still Alive, by Will Wilde , and it's a strong new blues entry. Opening with title track, Blues Is Still Alive , Will Wilde on vocal and harmonica is coming on strong. With solid vocals and scorching harp lines, paired with Walter Trout on lead guitar, Blues Is Still Alive a ear catcher. Backed by Bobby Harrison on rhythm guitar, Greg Coulson on keys, Steve Rushton on drums, Russell Carr on bass, and backing vocals by Dani Wilde, Lindsey Bonnick and Chloe Josephine on backing vocals, this is an excellent opener. Wilde really opens the door on blues rocker, Don't Play With Fire with some of the most intense harmonica work that I've heard in a while. Driving blues rocker, Trouble Of That Girl has a great driving bottom thanks to Rushton and Carr. Wilde really adds a hot lead harmonica making this one of the hot radio likely tracks on the release. On Slow blues, Stole My Love , the band lays back and gi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Power , by Big Al And The Heavyweights , and it's saturated with real blues. Opening with Big Freight Train , Marcel Anton on lead vocal and guitar really gets the release hopping. His fluid guitar riffs and Dale Robertson on harmonica lead the way, joined by Dennis Cedeno on bass and Big Al on drums. If is a strong, bluesy, ballad with a terrific melody and excellent phrasing. Anton lays down some of his best vocals here making this one of my favorites on the release. Springy, Tired Of Waiting , is a great volley between Anton on lead vocal and Robertson on harmonica and Anton's fleet fingered soloing really makes this track shine. R&B flavored, Got What I Like , is another really nice track with excellent vocals by Anton and rich, gospel like, backing vocals by Cedeno and Robertson. Very nice. Latin flavored, I Want To Know , is really flavorful with vibrant vocals and stinging lead guitar work. Robertso...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Doin' The Shout!, from Bob Corritore & Friends and it's cooking! Opening with shuffle, Say Baby Say, Thornetta Davis is upfront on lead vocal and I really like her style. With my pal Johnny Burgin on guitar, Dave Keyes on piano, Bob Corritore on harmonica, Bob Stroger on bass and Wes Starr on drums, this is a great opener. Woman Wanted features Oscar Wilson on lead vocal and Muddy Waters like slide work by guitar wiz Bob Margolin. I really do love his loose slide and with Stroger on bass, Anthony Geraci on piano, and Starr on drums, this is a super track. Francine Reed has an unmistakable voice and her addition on I Guess I'm A Fool is a terrific idea. With Duke Robillard adding lush guitar, Corritore up with key harmonica lead, Ben Levin on piano, Ben Hedquist on bass and Lewis Nash on drums, this is a solid soul track. Wilson is back on lead vocal on Just A Dream and it really lays in the groove. His vocal...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live And Havin' Fun , from Deb Ryder and it's a boat load of high steppin fun. Opening with Fun Never Hurt No One , with it's pumping rhythm, Deb Ryder is upfront leading the way on gritty vocals and Lon Price and Joe Sublett on sax. Tony Braunagel lays down a steady drum rhythm with Ric Ryder on bass and Johnny Lee Schell on guitar. Paul Litteral on trumpet and Jim Pugh on trombone really open the track up with brass. Solid Opener. Temporary Insanity has plenty of sway with Schell leading the way on guitar and Pugh, Price and Litteral on horns. Ric's bass work adds a real nice bottom giving Deb a solid footing for her powerful vocals. Albert Lee lays down some real nice guitar riffs on Ma Misere for a strong addition to the set. Braunagel sets up a hot, New Orleans rhythm and Albert Lee picks some real nice riffs under the soulful vocals on Deb. Funky, I'm Coming Home , leads off with Price wailing o...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Up Next , from Mathias Lattin and it's a solid blues set. Opening with Who's Been Loving On You , 2023 International Blues Challenge winner, Mathias Lattin is front and center on lead vocal and guitar showing his soulful blues style. With a droning bass line this track really finds it's groove and Shawn Allen on keys, and Mark Simmons Jr. on drums keep it tight. Strong opener. Can't Stop Feeling also has a driving bass line, compliments of Jesse Gomez and With Nick Andres on drums and full tilt organ by Andrew Douglas gives Lattin plenty of space to lay down some really nice riffs. Party has a traditional blues vamp led by Lattin and Gomez and Douglas is riding high on organ.  2nd Degree has a rock edge with standout drum work by Nick Andres. With overdriven vocals by Lattin and blues rooted rock lead by Lattin, this is my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is up tempo soul rocker, Lose ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Thanks , by Bob Margolin and I think it's his best in years. Opening with shuffle, Going Down To Main Street , Bob Margolin in on lead vocal and slide guitar and he really makes it talk. With a solid bass line and simple stomp rhythm this is a strong opener. In Morganfield style, Mean Old Chicago really digs up the Mud with this track which really has the Waters feel. This release is named in celebration to the 50 years since Margolin joined Waters band. Love the Waters style slide. Another cool track is Baby Can't Be Found with it's rocking blues rhythm. Margolin on lead vocal and strumming jangly strings gives the track an old school feel. Jimmy Rogers' Hard Working Man puts Margolin right in the slot with it's slower pace. Playing picked lead over real nice second line lead, this is the deepest track on the release. Wrapping the release is Just Before Dawn , a solid slower blues with some of Marg...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 11x11 , from 11 Guy Quartet and it's super. Opening with rhythmic blues mover, Lightning Road , Richard Rosenblatt sets the pace with great harmonica tone, over the solid drum rhythm of Chuck Purro and Bill Mather on bass. Paul Lenart really amps up the track with some hot slide making this a strong opener. Slow, chord driven, Blues Beyond Midnight , really should get a lot of traction with Lenart letting it all hang out on his melodic guitar lead, paired with Rosenblatt taking a real nice solo of his own on harmonica. Excellent! Hard driving, Drivin' A Fast Ca r really has great momentum with Purro and Mather leading the way. Lenart and Rosenblatt really cook this one with Lenart singing lead vocals. Another top notch track. With real swagger, Stompin' Blues gets that Chicago sound cooking. Lead by Rosenblatt on harmonica, and Lenart riding high on slide this track has a terrific groove. With a cool Latin bea...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Somebody Put Bad Luck On Me , from Bob Corritore & Friends and it's another super release from Corritore. Opening with This Little Voice , Corritore, conjures so great harp tone on the intro with Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar and John Primer on vocal and guitar, backed by Bob Stroger on bass and Wes Starr on drums. Solid opener. Bobby Rush has the mic on I'm Good As Gone , a slinky R&B style blues with Smith and Dexter Allen on guitar, Chester Thompson on organ, and Steve Ferrone on drums. Very nice. Thornetta Davis is in charge on Remember Me and I gotta say, she's exceptional. I caught Davis when I went to see guitar master, Johnny Burgin and she really did a great job. Davis is joined here by Smith, Burgin, Keyes, Corritore, Stroger and Wes Starr. Very nice. Lurrie Bell leads off, Act Like You Love Me on vocal and guitar. A slow Chicago style blues with solid harp work by Corritore, is joined by ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Damn Good And Ready , from Chickenbone Slim and it's a cocky, blues rocker. Opening with High Ballin' Train , a southern style rocker with plenty of swagger, Chickenbone Slim on guitar and vocal leads the way and Laura Chavez really lets it fly on guitar. With Marty Dodson on drums, Justice Guevara on bass and Kid Andersen on everything else, this is a powerful opener. Low slung, Drink Me has a great lope and Slim's vocals are spot on. Stylistic guitar soloing by Chavez gives the track a nice boot and a heavy bottom by Guevara really is solid. Chavez lays down some searing riffs on Damn Good and Ready with just the right amount of funk from Guevara and Dodson. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Ice In My Whiskey , with it's heavy bottom and guitar reinforced melody. Stinging guitar work by Chavez reverberates over a bass and drum vamp as the band collects for it's refrain. Another track that ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Satisfied- An Anthology , by Gaye Adegbalola and it's packed full of tracks from 9 of her solo projects. The Dirty Dozens is a strong piano boogie with great vocals by Gaye and excellent piano by Jeff Covert. One of my favorites on the release is Tippin' On The Down Low with plenty of swing. Rodney Barnes adds great personality on piano giving it a terrific vintage feel. I really like Gaye's vocal work on Prove It On Me Blues . Her ability to dig in and deliver is well demonstrated, backed by Barnes on piano. Simple acoustic blues, Blues For The Greens starts off with Gaye alone with guitar but explodes with full support of Covert on keys, bass, drums and slide guitar. Sensitive, Winona , is a quiet blues featuring Gaye on vocal and guitar and Phil Wiggins on harmonica.  Wrapping the release is Lift Every Voice and Sing , in duet with Resa Gibbs. A solid closer for a lifetime of music.    If ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, High Rise Blues from Bob Corritore & Friends and I really like it. Opening with Last Time featuring Jimmy Rogers on vocal and guitar, this band is in the groove. With Chico Chism on drums, SE Willis on piano, Johnny Rapp on guitar, Bruce Lopez on bass and Bob Corritore on harmonica, this is a solid opener. Title track, High Rise Blues , features Chism on vocal and he does a great job.  Rapp is joined by Luther Tucker who rips some great guitar riffs backed by Gordo Moraga on bass and Chism on drums. Chicago blues, Honey Where You Going has a great feel with Corritore upfront on harmonica joined by Sam Lay on vocal and drums. Rapp and Chris James on guitar Patrick Rynn on bass round on this great track. Pinetop Perkins is featured on vocal and piano leading Grinder Man . His quiet yet firm vocal style provides great balance for his deliberate piano style and Corritore gets the harmonica humming on this one. W...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, What Key Is Trouble In? , from Nick Schnebelen and he on top of his game. Opening with blues rocker, Ten Years After, Fifty Years Later , my man Alvin Lee is called to mind with it's driving power and effortless rocking. Nick Schnebelen on lead vocal and guitar really understands this style and doesn't copy Lee but has his energy with his own riffs and melodies. A great rocking blues. On title track, What Key Is Trouble In? , Nick really hits the R&B groove along the lines of Wilson Pickett, with excellent Albert King like guitar riffs. This is an excellent track with plenty of room to move. Backed by Cliff Moore on bass, Adam Hagerman on drums, Red Young on keys and Aaron Mayfield on organ, this is a tight band. Shuffle track, Pain Aside , has a real nice feel and showcases Nicks vocals nicely. With Moore's tight bass line and inventive blues attacks from Nick, this is a really cool track. Driving boogie, ...