Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tribute , from Joe Krown , and it's a New Orleans soaked release. Opening with Allen Toussaint's, All Of It , renown piano and B3 player player really gets things going, backed by  Mark Brooks on bass, Doug Belote on drums and with some searing guitar riffs by Leo Nocentelli. Powerful opener. Dr. John's Such A Night maintains all of the spirit of the Daytripper's original with Ivan Neville on lead vocal and Kassie Netherland backing, Jack Miele and John Fohl on guitar and of course Krown really  working the piano. On Ode to Mr. Davis , Krown lays back in the slot with cool piano and B3, joined by excellent sax work by Joe Sublett, Belote and Brooks. Very nice. Lightning Hopkins' Feel So Bad , features Wolfman Washington on vocal and guitar. I have always loved his style and his vocal, paired with his own funky guitar riffs makes this my favorite track on the release. wrapping the release is a stirring ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Joy Machine , from Circus Mind and it's a funky music party. Opening with Are You Ready? , lead vocalist and keyboard player, Mark Reehler sets the pace backed by Chris Crosby on bass, Dave Berg on guitar, Dane roth on drums and Steve Finkelstein on percussion and featuring Brandon "Taz" Niederauer with an outrageous guitar solo. Solid opener.  Air Waves is another track with a funk laden backbeat but leaning more to jazz rock. With strong vocal blending and cool percussion by Finkelstein, this track has cool radio appeal. Longing Song is laid back and adventurous featuring rechler backing himself on keys and with a cool guitar solo by Nels Cline. One of my favorite tracks on the release, JazzFest Time has that New Orleans pumped up street jazz sound featuring Pablo Rodriquez on trombone, Michael Amendola on alto sax, Damien Pacheco on trumpet and Richard Bomzer on bari sax. This track really hums with t...

BEHOLD THE BENDER! September 25–29, 2014. Riviera Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, Nevada. The Inaugural Big Blues Bender is no ordinary music festival! Featuring a Grammy winning line-up of music superstars, including the legendary B.B. King, this event is also a com...

As soon as I heard that Walter “Wolfman” Washington had a new live album out I had to get a copy. I have been a fan of his ever since Bman turned me on to him back in 1991. But back in October I met and made friends with him out on Duval Street in Key West. This album was recorded shortly after and was released on November 21, 2013 at the dba music club on Frenchmen Street in the Marginy. The Roadmasters consist of Jack Cruz, bass; Wayne Maureau, drums; Antonio Gambrell, trumpet; and the hardest working tenor man I know of, Jimmy Carpenter, sax. This is exactly the same band he had with him on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise when I last saw him. The horns of Gambrell and Carpenter are a frequent feature on nearly every song and they are fantastic. Better on this record than I remember on the cruise. The album starts off with an instrumental introduction, Funkyard , from the Funk Is In The House album. It’s a tune that features solos by both horn men as well Walter ...

Welcome aboard to the world’s biggest 7 day blues party!   Yes friends, 7 days where you can’t tell the blues artists from the fans. Although everybody’s experience is different –and a blues cruise vacation is exactly what you make it– a good time is had by all… day after day! So I’m going to tell you about my experience on my 4 th LRBC a few weeks ago.    I try to get on board pretty early so I can learn the layout of the ship and how to get from concert venue to concert venue in the most efficient manner.   And by doing so you get to see and talk to some of the artists before any action really starts.   Right off the bat I ran into Cyril Neville who was as lost as my wife and I.   Later I saw Lucky Peterson on a lounge chair outside his stateroom while walking the Promenade Deck.   The first night they always have a BBQ on the pool deck at departure. This time it was Rick Estrin and the Nightcats hosting the BBQ. The best part being when Ki...