Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues And The World Beyond , from Likho Duo , and it's quite cool. Likho Duo was formed by Italian guitar and harmonica player, Noe' Socha and upright bass player, Cliff Schmitt in 2016. Opening with acoustic boogie, Derby Street Blues , Schmitt sets a firm footing on bass and Socha plays clean stylized guitar riffs, accompanying himself on harp. Schmitt also takes a few bars for himself rounding out the track. Nice opener. Willie Dixon's Spoonful is next with reinforcement of the melody on bass with tight harp lead. Slide work by Socha takes the blues influence even deeper complimented by his harp work. Muddy Waters' I Can't Be Satisfied it a real hot take with lead work by Socha on harp supported by Schmitt on bass. Kicking it into high gear, Socha rips out the slide and harp to the end. Very nice. Socha's Romance Among Thieves is a really nice track. Possibly my favorite on the release with ...

I just had the opportunity to review the debut release, Cursed , from Bad Luck Woman & Her Misfortunes . Opening with Snatch & Grab It , Raha Javanfar, lead vocalist and bassist for Toronto based swing band is kicking it. A walking bass line with Andrew Moljgum on sax, Galen Pelley on drums, Tom Moffett on trumpet and Adam Beer Colacino on guitar makes for a great opener.  With it's Latin influence, I Don't Know About You , is a super track showing Javanfar's vocals, and Tom Moffett on trumpet and Moligun on bari really set this track off. Very nice. Memphis Minnie's bluesy, Bad Luck Woman has a cool feel fired by Jay Swinnerton's piano work and stylistic guitar work by Fraser Melvin. One of my favorites is Spinach Song with it's rag feel. Javanfar's vocals are perfect and with strong bass, cool rhythm guitar and kazoo...perfect. Boogie track, Went Down , has a real nice feel with a great bass line, strong trumpet soloing by Moffett. Very cool. ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dream Train , from Alastair Greene and it's a smokin' rocker. Opening with title track, Dream Train , Greene on lead vocal and guitar, joined by Jim Rankin on bass and Austin Beede on drums really hit the road hard including fiery slide work by Greene. Big Bad Wolf is a great boogie rocker with grinding guitar rhythm and slashing solos. Excellent! Billy Gibbons penned, Nome Zayne   has a heavy bottom and cool pinched guitar harmonics. One of my favorite tracks on the release is blues ballad, Another Lie , featuring features Walter Trout on guitar and Mike Finnigan on organ and some of the best Greene guitar riffs on tape in a while. Excellent! Acoustic instrumental, Song For Rufus , shows Greene's guitar virtuosity with serious intent. An exceptional piece of recording and playing. Dare Devil is a cool 12 bar number with a nice solo from Dennis Gruenling on harp, Mike Finnigan on organ and of course Greene o...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Last Shade Of Blue Before Black , by The Original Blues Brothers Band and it's great! Opening with Jimmy Reed's Baby What You Want Me To D o, Bobby "Sweet Soul" Harden with Tommy "Pipes" McDonnell on harp and vocals and Rob "The Honeydripper" Paparozzi on harp and vocals take center stage with super harmony and John Tropea plays terrific guitar soloing backed by Tom Malone on trumpet, Baron Raymonde on alto sax, Eric "The Red" Udel on bass, Lee "Funkytime" Finkelstein on drums, Leon "The Lion" Pendarvis on organ, Rusty "Cloudmeister" Cloud on clav, Wurlitzer and piano. High stepping, Cherry Street , features McDonnell on lead vocals, Birch Johnson on trombone and Raymonde really rips on alto sax. Eddie Floyd is up on lead vocals on slinky, On Saturday A Night , and guest Tom Malone on bari sax  and with tight, warm horn backing. Harden ta...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Two , from Sunday Wilde and Reno Jack and it's colorful. Vocalist/ piano player, Sunday Wilde leads the way on opener, Howlin' Wolf's Howling For My Darling with guitars by Steve Koch and Johnny MacLeod, bass by Reno Jack and drums by Cleave Anderson. I really like Jack's interpretation on Moonlight Rising which is like a cross between Lou Reed and Roger Waters. Very cool. Shuffle track, 5-10-15 Hours has a super blues feel pairing Jack and Sunday on a cool duet. MacLeod's bass work and light brush strokes of Anderson are a nice backdrop for a cool jazzy guitar lead. Bluesy ballad, No Matter How Far features Sunday on lead vocal and piano in her best vocal track on the release. Wrapping the release is duet, L eaving On Your Mind which really sets off Jack and Sunday against Jack's bass playing. A solid closer for an interesting release.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, This Is Blues Country , from Jimmie Bratcher and it's fresh. Opening with Hank Williams' Honky Tonk Blues , Jimmie Bratcher on guitar and vocal, adds a blues spin to this country classic joined by Aaron Mayfield on keys, Terry Hancock on drums and vocals and Larry Van Loon on B3 and Wurlitzer. Jimmie Davis' You Are My Sunshine gets a snappy jazz makeover putting in mind an arrangement by Passport. With hot drum work by Hancock and flashy guitar riffs, this track takes on a whole new life. Marty Robbins' Singing The Blues has a real nice groove, with a hot electric guitar solo and slide guitar work by Sean McDonald is great for added spice. Hank Snow's I Don't Hurt Anymore has a real contemporary ballad feel and Santana like guitar clarity definitely enhances it's appeal. Very nice. Jim Reeves' Am I That Easy To Forget is slowed way down and placed into a blues frame. It really sounds ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues and Boogie, Vol. 1 , from Kim Wilson and it's a heavy dose of old style Chicago blues. Opening with harp instrumental Bonus Boogie , Wilson is hitting on all cylinders, backed by Big Jon Atkinson on guitar, Bob Welsh on guitar, Troy Sandow on bass and Malachi Johnson on drums. Excellent! Sonny Boy Williamson's, Ninety-Nine features Wilson on lead vocal and harp and it's one of my favorites on the release. Pure Chicago style and Wilson's tight harp tone is the ticket here. Big Maceo's Worried Life Blues is up next with a solid slower pace highlighted by the keen piano work of Barrellhouse Chuck. John Lee Hooker's Same Old Blues has a swinging blues feel a la BB King or T Bone Walker. Billy Flynn steps in with some choice riffs on guitar, complimented by Larry Taylor on bass, Richard Innes on drums and Jonny Viau on horns. Very nice! Magic Sam's Look Whatcha Done has a great groove wi...

I saw a great show at the Rhythm Room , the premiere blues club in Phoenix, last week and it was great. The Rhythm Room is a real Phoenix landmark that took over where the mason Jar left off. That's where I last saw Albert King. At the Rhythm Room I've seen a number of super shows and artists including Johnny Winter, Joe Bonamassa and Jimbo Mathus. I moved a while back and live outside of the city now. It makes it a lot tougher to see a mid week show, but when I heard that Rockin' Johnny was playing town, I knew I was going to be there. I've seen Johnny a number of times both on his own and with Tail Dragger.  I remember seeing him on film a number of years ago where he was playing backup player and just with a few riffs, he stood out and got my attention. Now with a number of his own excellent releases under his belt, Rockin' Johnny puts on one hell of a show! He pulls from his most recent release Neoprene Fedora  as well as a few other terrific releas...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spankin' Hank , from Paul Dougherty and it's interesting. Dougherty, born in Houston is now living in Munich and reinterpreting Hank Williams tracks opening with My Sweet Love Ain't Around . A casual swing with cool guitar riffs, a cool opener. On Move It On Over, Dougherty adds a Bo Diddley beat, organ and with his lower octave vocals, gives the track a whole new feel. Slide guitar with what sounds like Hawaiian tuning really gives it a cool vibe. Tear In My Beer has a simple country rocker beqat with snappy drums and vocal harmonies. I like it. Another track that really stands out is Low and Lonely with it's lope and again Hawaiian sounding lap guitar. Very cool. Bluesy track, Lonesome Whistle , maintains a bit of it's country flavor but with the addition of casual military style drumming and harp. With a more straight forward rock style, Rockin' Chair Money has a cool groove.  Wrapping the...