Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Not In My Lifetime , from Wee Willie Walker and the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra and I really like it! Opening with R&B track, Don't Let Me Get In Your Way Wee Willie Walker is strutting up front with the mic, backed by Anthony Paule on guitar, Tony Lufrano on keys, Endre Tarczy on bass, Kevin Hayes on drums, Bill Ortiz on trumpet, Charles Mcneal on tenor sax, Rob Sudduth on bari sax, Derek James on trombone and terrific backing vocals by Larry Batiste, Sandy Griffith and Omega Rae on backing vocals. Shifting into soul, Over and Over is one of my favorite tracks on the release with excellent vocal phrasing and warm vocal  backing. Another sweet soul tune is Darling Mine with great feeling and strong guitar solo phrasing by Paule. With a high strut, Jon Thomas' Heartbreak really kicks in with the horns and organ blazing. Ortiz lays out a really nice trumpet solo giving this track a real kick but of course i...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, After A While , from Wee Willie Walker and The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra and it's really strong. Opening with Second Chance , a cool R&B track featuring Walker on lead vocal, backed by Anthony Paule on guitar, Paul Olguin on bass, Tony Lufrano on keys, Derrick "D'Mar" Martin on drums and vibes, Tom Poole on trumpet, Derek James on trombone, Charles McNeal on tenor sax, Johnnie Bamont on bari sax and flute, and featuring Loralee Christensen, Larry Batiste and Glenn Walters on backing vocals. Title track, After A While is a particularly soulful track and Walker really digs in vocally. Of particular note is the warmth of the horn section especially the rich tenor work of McNeal and the throaty bari work by Bamont. Slick, R&B track, I Don't Want To Take A Chance , has solid radio potential with Walkers effortless lead and nicely presented backing vocals. Thanks For The Dance has a Tex Mex fe...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Playdate! , from Nancy Wright and it's smokin! Opening with funky, Why You Wanna Do It , Wee Willie Walker takes the lead on vocal and Nancy Wright really sails on sax. Joe Kyle Jr. sets the pace on bass with some heavy lines and J. Hansen's drum work is tight. Excellent opener! On Willie Dixon's I Got What It Takes , Kyle again sets a strong bass line and Tommy Castro brings a real nice guitar solo. This track is in the groove and Wright delivers a great sound on sax backed by Tom Poole on trumpet and Faris Jarrah on trombone. Yes He Do is a great swinger with Victor Wainwright really taking control on piano. Wright takes it higher and the two hit it out of the park. Super. Eddie Shaw's Blues For The Westside is an absolute screamer with Wright really digging in. Chris Burns' piano work on this track really stands out and Joe Louis Walker stands tall with soulful guitar riffs fluidly added throughout as ...

Classic Soul Blues Singer Wee Willie Walker Vaults to the Front of Public Attention with Three Blues Music Awards Nominations for If Nothing Ever Changes CD MINNEAPOLIS, MN – In one of the most amazing and powerful music stories of the past year, under-recognized classic soul blues singer Wee Willie Walker, who was previously best-remembered for a few 1960s obscure singles for Goldwax and Chess Records, released a new album, If Nothing Ever Changes , which has captured the hearts and minds of blues and soul music fans around the world. That led to his being nominated in three major categories by the Blues Foundation for the upcoming Blues Music Awards, to be held in Memphis on May 5: Album of the Year, Soul Blues Album and Soul Blues Male Artist. Members of the Blues Foundation can vote at www.blues.org , with voting open until the end of February. To stream the music on the If Nothing Ever Changes album, click on this link: https://soundcloud.com/littlevillagefoun...