Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, WE3 Live from the Dennis Jones Band and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with funky blues track, Blue Over You , Dennis Jones on lead vocal and guitar is backed by Sam Correa on bass and Raymond Johnson on drums. Tight and funky with some really tasty bass work and Jones' slashing guitar style, this is a solid opener. Hot stepper, Hot Sauce , has a really snappy drum line with a driving bass line giving Jones the opportunity to play some country styled blues riffs. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Don't Worry About Me with an aggressive bass line and flowing blues guitar soloing by Jones giving the track real bite. Boogie track, Super Deluxe has a real nice flow with components of Texas blues and jazz mixed equally giving it a foot stomping, guitar gripping edge. Very nice. Funky blues rocker, Enjoy The Ride , has a great bottom giving Jones a great platform for his assertive rhythm playing an...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Lucky Star , from Brooks Williams and it's got a bright, bluesy folk feel. Opening with Bright Side of the Blues, a poppy track with Williams on vocal and acoustic guitar, backed by Phil Richardson on piano, Kevin McGuire on bass, Stuart Brown on drums and Rab Noakes on smooth backing vocals, Williams shows his strong capabilities as a singer songwriter. Something You Got is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's easy feel and melodic guitar soloing by Williams. With it's Caribbean styling, Mama's Song has a great rhythm. With it's country blues form, Gambling Man has nicely blended vocals and cool finger picking. Ballad, Whatever It Takes has a strong melody with only the necessary backing from McGuire on bass, Brown on drums, and Rachael Lightbody on backing vocals. Very nice. A second inclusion of Rock Me , this time with only Williams on guitar and vocal and Hans Theessink on mandol...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Mudstomp Tapes , by Stone Stanley and it's quite good. Opening with Bitter End , th is setup, Jason Trombley on vocal, drums and guitar, Scott Longnecker on bass, Dan Stevens on percussion, Jim McComas and Ralph Gilbert on guitar has a raw, rugged and soulful sound that just grabs you. Trombley's vocals are gripping and Gilbert's guitar is in your face like a stiff slap. Very cool. Another rocky raw blues number, So Glad uses the same formula but it just doesn't get tired. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Beast Inside , has a country ballad format, soulful slide soloing and solid country licks. Cobble Hill is stepped up in tempo but the fat slide work is ever present and vocals are crisp. Another standout track is Unfaithful Woman with a really nice melody and clean electric guitar soloing along the lines of Peter Green, Mark Knopler or David Gilmore. Very nice. Warren Haynes...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Honey Up , by Vanessa Collier and I really like it. Opening with funky, New Orleans soaked, Sweating Like A Pig is a great track with  sassy vocal lines and great sax swing. Collier is really getting it going now. With Nick Stevens  on drums, Nick Trautmann on bass, William Gorman on keys, Laura Chavez on guitars, Quinn Carson on trombone and Doug Woolverton on trumpet, this track is a opener that's hard to beat! Title track Honey Up has a deep funky groove and Trautmann really sets the pace. Collier is booked as a sax player but her vocal style and efforts are top notch giving this track a certain spank. This track has an incredible groove led by Trautmann and Stevens and with this horn section you better step back... it's about to blow. Hot! Percolatin' has an infectious feel and Collier really sails on it showing her excellent feel for the music, shored up by Gorman on organ. Super. The Fault Line giv...

Every Soul’s a Star on New Dave Keller CD, Due from Catfood Records on October 19 Label Debut CD Produced by Grammy-Winner Jim Gaines EL PASO, TX – Catfood Records announces the October 19 release of Every Soul’s a Star, the label debut from acclaimed soul/blues singer and guitarist Dave Keller. Produced by Grammy-winner Jim Gaines (Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Luther Allison) and recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, Every Soul’s a Star showcases 10 original songs, plus a scintillating cover of the Aretha Franklin classic, “Baby, I Love You.” Keller’s soulful vocals are beautifully supported by The Rays, which includes not only legendary Motown guitarist Johnny McGee, but also Bob Trenchard – bass; Dan Ferguson - Hammond B3, Wurlitzer, keyboards; Richy Puga – drums; Mike Middleton – trumpet; Nick Flood - tenor and baritone sax, plus the heavenly voices of Janelle Thompson and Shakara Weston - background vocals; and Christopher Serrano – percussion....

Connor Ray Music Set to Release New CD from Houston-Based Duo, Dry Johnson, Long Live Them Blues Vol. 1 , On October 5 HOUSTON, TX – Connor Ray Music announces an October 5 release date for the debut CD from Houston-based duo, Dry Johnson, Long Live Them Blues, Vol. 1 .    Dry Johnson is comprised of bassist Terry Dry and drummer Matthew Robert Johnson, who collectively have formed the powerhouse rhythm section backing award-winning Texas guitarslinger Mike Zito for almost two years. Zito returns the favor on Long Live Them Blues, Vol. 1 by playing guitar and singing on several tracks of the new disc. Zito also joins another Houston favorite, Annika Chambers, for a soul-searing vocal duet on the lead-off song, “Daddy’s Got a Cadillac.” Other special guests on the Dry Johnson debut include legendary singer (and Connor Ray labelmate) Trudy Lynn, guitarists John Del Toro Richardson, Mighty Orq and James Wilhite, harmonica ace Steve Krase...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Pacing the Floor by Blue & Lonesome duo (Li'l Ronnie & Gordon Harrower) and it's solid. Opening with Honeyboy Edwards' Drop Down Mama , Ronnie Owens on vocal, foot drum and harp and Gordon Harrower on vocal and guitar digging deep in fertile delta roots. Wine Headed Woman is a rumbling boogie with a driving guitar rhythm and strong harp chants. Very nice. On Muddy Waters' Mean Red Spider , Harrower's vocals are inspired and his guitar work spot on providing perfect balance for Owen's harp riffs. Original track, Too Fast For Conditions is a cool blues rocker with rich slide work by Harrower on resonator guitar and featuring Owens on harp. Super nice. Another original and title track, Pacing the Floor is a traditional boogie, stripped down with a solid guitar line and vocal by Harrower and harp soloing by Owens. This band really does create the magic of  Sonny and Brownie, Cephas and Wi...

Blues Legend Junior Wells “Box of Blues” 6CD Set To Be Released By Cleopatra Blues Includes vintage studio recordings from 1953 to 1979 of Wells' best loved tracks PLUS never before released live material from 1983 to 1997! Los Angeles -  Cleopatra Blues is releasing a gorgeous 6CD box set celebrating a true blues legend, the “Sexy Bitch” himself, Junior Wells! The release includes vintage studio recordings from 1953 to 1979 of Wells' best loved tracks such as “Messin' With The Kid,” “She's A Sweet One,” “Little By Little” and more PLUS never before released live material from 1983 to 1997! Packaged in a custom made, genuine wood cigar box with 48-page booklet of extensive liner notes by music journalist Dave Thompson and rare photos plus a mini harmonica that really works! Track List: DISC 1: Stylin' & Profilin' 1. Lovey Dovey Lovey One 2. Little By Little 3. Come On In This House 4. Messin’ With The ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Get Your Groove! , from Bruce Katz Band and it's strong. Opening with the traditional Hesitation Blues , Katz attacks it in anything but a traditional way. With a heavy swing, Chris Vitarello leads the way on lead vocal and guitar, with the powerful strokes of Bruce Katz on B3 and bass and the tight rhythm of Ray Hangen on drums. Vitarello lays out some real clean blues fused guitar lines that really give this track some spank and Katz's own B3 soloing is impeccable. Freight Train is a cool Allman influenced, nearly 10 minute jam track with plenty of stretch time for Vitarello and Katz with an interlude from Elizabeth Reed and the power drumming of Jaimoe.  Funky, Shine Together (Tribe of Lights) , has great feel and features really nice drum soloing by Jaimoe and a cohesive, combined solo effort by Katz and Vitarello. Very nice. Somber blues ballad, River Blues is one of my personal favorites on the release w...