Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Motel Mississippi , from Tony Holiday and it's quite good. Opening with Rob & Steal , a contemporary take on the sound of thumping drums and floating guitar riffs that I associate with Hill Country music. Tony Holiday on vocal, A J Fullerton on guitar, Dave Gross on guitar, Aubrey McCrady  on guitar, Victor Wainwright on keys, Terrance Grayson on bass, and Lee Williams Jr. on drums, this is an excellent opener. With a classic Willie Dixon bass line by Grayson, and a modern mix, Trouble is really a cool track. Holiday's vocals are strong and harmonica by Jake Friel, wild keyboard soloing by Wainwright and eccentric guitar riffs really add a lot spice to this track. Very nice. Asie Payton's Nobody But You has a great southern R&B feel (think Polk Salad Annie) with smooth vocals and choppy guitar riffs contrasting with windblown slide guitar. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Yazoo River with it's ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Third Degree Gravity , by Eric Heideman and it shows strong songwriting and execution. Opening with I Didn't Do It , a rocking boogie, Eric Heideman on lead vocal and guitar gets the track moving with Victor Wainwright on vocal and and keys, Michael Bram on drums and Matt Raymond on bass. Solid rocking opener. With Latin beat, You're Pushing Me , is snare heavy with Bram setting the pace and excellent vocal by Heideman and cool guitar riffs by JW - Jones. Howlin' Wind has a real nice melody and solid acoustic slide work by Heideman giving the track an eerie bluesy feel. My favorite track on the release is Say You Mean It Baby with a bluesy framework and strong vocals by Heideman, over the powerful piano work of Wainwright and articulate guitar phrasing by Heideman. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Turn Out Fine , a radio oriented ballad with a sweet melody. Accompanied by slide resonator and Dave Gross on o...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dog Bites Back , from Dyer Davis and I just gotta say, anyone who opens an album with a first class cover of a Jeff Beck rocker gets a free pass in my book and hearing Let Me Love You blowing out of my speakers with raw vocals and electrofired guitar riffs is great. Backed by Billy Dean on drums, Victor Wainwright on piano, Stephen Dees on bass, this track is excellent! Cryin' Shame has a bit of a R&B feel but is strong rock blues with clean guitar riffs and strong vocals by Davis. With David Weatherspoon on drums , Jacob Barone on bass, Billy Chapin on rhythm guitar and excellent trumpet punctuation and accents by Joe Young, Davis squeezes out for fine blues on buitar. Very nice. I really like the R&B feel of Lifting Up My Soul which makes a nice radio track. It's melody is strong and with melodic lead guitar and powerful horn work by Mark Earley and Patricia Ann Dees, this is strong. Title track, Dog B...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hi-Fi Drive By , by Jeremiah Johnson and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with rocking boogie, '68 Coupe Deville , with Johnson on lead guitar and vocal, backed by Allie Vogler, Emily Wallas and Mattie Schell on backing vocal and excellent piano by Victor Wainwright. Rounding out the mix is Joe Meyer on drums, Tom Maloney on guitar and piano, Paul Niehaus IV on bass and super sax by Frank Bauer. Excellent opener. With a super lope, Skippin' School , uses a solid mix of Meyer on drums and Niehaus IV on bass to set the pace. Strong vocal and lead guitars by Johnson makes this one of my favorite tracks which also features Kasimi Taylor on trumpet, Bauer on sax, Kevin O'Connor on bari sax and John Covelli and Dave Dickey on trombone. Very cool. Slinky blues, The Squeeze has a super bottom line by Niehaus IV giving Johnson a super bed to rip on guitar and he takes it. With full backing by Taylor, Bauer, O...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Yard Sale , by J-Rad Cooley and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Livin' Downtown , J-Rad Cooley leads on piano, harmonica and vocal. Joined by Victor Wainwright on piano, Aubrey McCrady on guitar, Josh Karrick on bass and Shake E. Folkes on drums, this is a simple pop rocker. Bluesy, Now She's A Drifter has a real warm feeling with strong vocals by Cooley and great piano backing by Wainwright. Lightly funky All Night Mama has a nice strut, and a regal backbeat with real nice piano and drum work. Wrapping the release is my favorite track on the release, Til Hate Is Gone , a swampy ballad with a lot of soul. This is a nice showcase for Cooley on vocal and songwriter, and his own harmonica playing adds a nice contrast over the keyboard/drum combo, tasty guitar riffs and backing vocals. This is an excellent closer for this release, sounding like it's from Muscle Shoals studio.        If yo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, WildRoots Sessions Volume 2 , from The WildRoots and it's a lot of fun. Opening with bluesy I.O.U. , Patricia Ann Dees and Victor Wainwright on lead vocal, we got a swampy New Orleans style funk, charged by Eddie Zyne on drums and Stephen Dees on bass. With a perfect harmonica vamp by Stephen Kampa and including Charlie DeChant on sax, Todd Sharp on guitar, David Kent on keys and Alberto Cruz on congas, this is a solid opener. Reba Russell and Patricia Ann Dees harmonize nicely on lead vocal on Long Way To Go over cool, acoustic and slide guitar by Greg Gumpel, Stephen Dees on bass and percussion and real nice harmonica riffs by Kampa. Very nice. Shuffle track, The Bad Seed really rocks with Bryan Bassett on lead guitar and Dyer David on second lead and lead vocal. backed by Lucky Peterson on Hammond, S Dees on bass, Top Thomas on rhythm and Scott Corwin, this is one of my favorites on the release. Bryan Bassett step...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bigman , from BIGLLOU Johnson and it a solid R&B / blues set. Opening with Lightnin' Strike , an up tempo blues strut, BIGLLOU stylistically speaks the story, backed by Mark Early on sax, Doug Woolverton on trumpet, Bill Overton on clarinet and Dwight Dukes, Terrence Grayson, Ellison Hall, Amanda Joyce, keith Sweat Monique Whittington and Monico Whittington on backing vocals. With a rumbling bass and crisp harmonica wailing by Russ Green, Chill On Cold has a great bluesy feel. Shucky Ducky (Quack Quack) has a tight Latin rhythm courtesy Ricky Nelson on drums and Kalyan Pathak on percussion and the addition of Anthony Dopsie on accordion adds a special texture. BIGLLOU had a terrific, deep voice and that timbre really comes through on this track. I Got The Fever is my favorite track on the release with it's slow, thick oozing blues. BIGLLOU really grinds out the deep vocal like nobody can and with nice pian...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wasted Youth , from Mick Kolassa, and it's chocked full of hot contemporary blues players doing what they do best. Opening with blues rocker, Throwing Away These Blues , Kolassa on vocal and guitar leads the way with James Cunningham on drums, Tullie Brae on backing vocal, Rick Steff on piano, Jeff Jensen on guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass and Marc Franklin on trumpet. Solid opener. Title track, Wasted Youth , has a thunder bass line by Ruffino and with Doug McMinn on drums, Brad Webb lays in some real nice slide work and Eric Hughes adds some real nice harmonica. Funky rocker, I Can't Get Enough gives Anthony Paule a nice chance to show his stuff and Kirk Smothers blows a real nice sax solo topping the track off. Victor Wainwright plays a real clean piano on Feeling Sorry For Myself , a cool blues track with just the right amount of sway. Brandon Santini adds his superlative harmonica tone to My Mind Doesn't Wa...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, WildRoots Sessions Volume 1, from The WildRoots and it really cool. Opening with Eddie Floyd's classic, 634-5789 , Stephen Dees on bass, Victor Wainwright on piano and lead vocal and Patricia Ann Dees on lead vocal and sax, joined by John Oates on rhythm guitar, Eddie Zyne on drums, Todd Sharp on lead guitar, David Kent on piano, and Beth McKee on backing vocal this is a soulful opener. Move Along Part 1 is a super jam with tight percussion and horns. With Patricia on lead vocal, Greg Gumpel on guitar, Gerard Guida on Hammond Robert Caban on percussion, and Billy Dean on drums this is a hot track. Charlie DeChant lays in a really nice tenor sax solo soulful ballad, Our Last Goodbye featuring John Oates on lead vocal. Very nice. Venturing into spiritual music, Cradled In The Bosom of Jerusalem , has deep gospel styling with rich vocal work by Wainwright, Particia, Beth McKee, drums by Alberto Cruz and acoustic slide ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soul Service , from Tony Holiday , and is solid throughout. Opening with Payin' Rent on a Broken Home , a strong blues rocker, Tony Holiday on lead vocal and harmonica sets a cool strutting pace, backed by Landon Stone on guitar, Max Kaplan on bass, Danny Banks on drums with Ori Naftaly on guitar and Victor Wainwright on keys. Low slung shuffle She knocks Me Out , has a great feel and Holiday's harmonica tone is full and a tasty work solo by Stone is poised and tight. A cool island feel spins Day Dates (Turn Into Night Dates). With simplified drum rhythms and airy guitar work Holiday crafts this track nicely and blends vocally with Kaplan, complimented by melodic harmonica. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Ol' Number Nine, a rumbling blues rocker with nicely paired vocals and a rumbling bass line by Kaplan. Holiday's vocals are strong and his harmonica work reinforces the "train" theme of ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent Landslide Records Tribute to Sean Costello and it's really cool. Opening with Same Old Game , Albert Castiglia puts up a rumbling 2 step and lays down some real nice guitar work for an excellent opener. Steve Marriner brings How In The Devil with it's perfect shuffle beat great vocals and harp work. Title track, Don't Pass Me By has an almost spiritual feel with Victor Wainwright leading the way. This is an excellent blues ballad with great tension and stinging guitar work. Bob Margolin's guitar work on Low Life Blues is really outstanding with super Muddy Waters like slide and riffs. I always love the Mississippi All Stars and their rural approach and their treatment of Father is no different. With fat slide work and excellent vocals over a basic essential drum beat and keys make the track my favorite on the release. Debbie Davies brings shuffle track, Don't Be Reckless With My Heart and does a great jo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Come Undone , from Gracie Curran and it's meaty. Opening with title track, Come Undone , Gracie Curran is back with her newest release and a lot of soul. This is old school styling with Damon Fowler on guitar, Matt Walker on guitar and bass, Justin Headley on drums, Pat Harrington on drums, Victor Wainwright on keys, Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Mark Earley on sax really delivers the goods. Curran's vocal phrasing and style, with a touch of reggae is just right for an excellent opener! High energy swing track, Stay Up! , shows Curran is not only happy digging in deep but very light on her feet. Fowler's fleet fingered guitar work is nicely backed by Jeremy Powell on keys and New Orleans style horn work by Woolverton and Earley give this track extra zip. On shuffle track, Sweet Sativa , Fowler pulls out the slide giving the track a down home feel and playing off backing vocals, Curran has this track right...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release, Victor Wainwright and The Train and it's rockin. Wainwright on lead vocal and keys pushes a nice duel with guitarist Pat Harrington, on Healing , backed by Billy Dean on drums and Terrance Grayson on bass. Also adding a nice bit of oomph are Mark Earley on sax and Doug Woolverton on trumpet. Nice opener. Train is a hot boogie woogie track with Wainwright really driving hard on vocal and piano. Woolverton and Earley fill nicely and Reba Russell's vocals are super.  Excellent track. Soulful, Dull Your Shine is a really nice track that puts me in mind of D'Angelo with a suspenseful approach to the song and super vocals. Also of particular note on this track is a sweet guitar solo by Greg Gumpel. Blues with a distinct R&B feel, Thank You Lucille , is possibly my favorite track on release featuring some of Wainwright's best vocals on the release and Monster Mike Welch handling the lead guita...

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 ...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Way Back Home , from the Backtrack Blues Band and it's solid. Opening with Going to Eleuthera , a snappy shuffle, Sonny Charles leads the way on lead vocals and Kid Royal is hot on his heels on lead guitar. Rounding out the troupe is Little Johnny Walter on rhythm guitar, Joe Bencomo on drums and Stick Davis on bass. Victor Wainwright is featured on piano and does a real nice job and Charles really makes his harp sing. Nice opener. On Tell Your Daddy , the band sets a funky dance groove with a boogaloo bass line. Breaking into a smooth shuffle Royal plays it like a stud and the deal is on. Breaking back, Charles brings his harp to the forefront with great tone. Shoot My Rooster has a real nice blues lope with Charles' harp on call and Royal's guitar on response. One of my favorite tracks on the release, this track features super piano work by Wainwright in the mix with Royal and Charles. Excellent. Sonny Boy Wi...

Backtrack Blues Band Brings It Way Back Home on New Harpo Records CD Coming on September 2 Special Guests Include 2016 BMA Winner Victor Wainwright ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Tampa Bay-based group Backtrack Blues Band announces a September 2 release date for Way Back Home , on Harpo Records, distributed in the USA by Select-O-Hits and in Canada on Flaming Cheese Records. This is the fifth CD from Backtrack Blues Band, which has won three consecutive Tampa Bay Music Awards for “Best Blues Band.” 2016 Blues Music Award-winner Victor Wainwright adds his major chops on piano throughout the album’s 10 tracks, a perfect blend of Chicago blues (a la Paul Butterfield Blues Band) and the rompin’, stompin’ Texas style of the early Fabulous Thunderbirds. Members of Backtrack Blues Band are Sonny Charles – lead vocals, harmonica; Kid Royal – lead guitar; Little Johnny Walter – rhythm guitar; Joe Bencomo – drums; and Jeff “Stick” Davis – bass.  Founded in 1980, this talented ...

I just received the newest release, Jammin' On The High C's from Mitch Woods' Club 88 recorded live on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise and the talent was really flowing. Opening with Big Mamou , Woods, along with members of Roomful of Blues lays down a full tilt boogie. An excellent trumpet, sax and piano solos on this track make it an excellent opener. Next up is Tain't Nobody's Bizness with a stripped down swing. Victor Wainwright and Julia Magness join in giving a different feel vocally... and great piano work contribute to an excellent track. Classic rocker, Rip It Up features Tommy Castro and he really adds some great rockin' guitar riffs to Woods' piano and vocal talents. Backed by the Roomful of Blues horns this track rocks. Lucky Peterson is featured on vocals on Bright Lights Big City , maintaining much of Jimmy Reeds original feel. Breakin down with a little Zydeco, Dwayne Dopsie brings Jambalaya on accordion and vocal. Woods tickles...

 Cool New Video! - "The Devil's Bite" Blind Pig Records has released a new video from Victor Wainwright entitled "The Devil's Bite."  The song is a "cautionary tale" with macabre and mysterious implications about the dangers that lie in wait for the unwary. "Wainwright relates a frightening warning to beware of forces that can do you harm, utilizing a vocal style straight from the Tom Waits school of singing," said Chicago Blues Guide. Wainwright, two time winner of the prestigious Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year award, says about the video: "Consumed by lust and betrayed by trust, the protagonist soon learns the hard way that he's responsible for his own fate." The song is a track from Boom Town , the latest stud...