Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Skeletone Machine , from Sweet Undertow and it's a bluesy rocker. Opening with Kingdom Come , a cool rocker led by Eddy Undertow on lead vocal and guitar, Jim Semitekol on slide guitar, Dave Tavel on drums, and John Eckstrom on bass. High energy rocker Rain Catch Flame , is a great track with some tight picking, wild slide and a firm rocker drum beat by Tavel. Excellent! Title track, Skeletone Machine , starts with acoustic guitar under a rocker just bursting at the seams but after a short simmer, Semitekol cranks up the electric guitar and Max Cowan on piano really gets this track rocking. I really like Soft Soft Sea with it's country rocker styling. Undertow's vocals are perfect and the addition of Steve Benzian really adds texture with Annie and Joshua Cook on backing vocals. Wrapping the release is Still Looking For You , a country flavored folk tune with solid vocals and acoustic guitar by Undertow. This...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Underground Blues , from Breezy Rodio and like every previous release, the music sails. Opening with Half Way in the Devil's Gate , Rodio lays down some real tension on lead vocal and sharing the guitar work with ace, Anson Funderburgh. Backed by Johnny Bradley on bass, Daniel C. Tabion on piano and organ, and Lorenzo Francocci on drums, I immediately know this release is going to be hot. Texas style blues, Playing My Game Too , has a really nice drum lead by Francocci and Funderburgh's guitar riffs against Rodio's vocals really set the trigger. Funderburgh always shows impeccable phrasing and Rodio's soulful vocals are spot on. Blues shuffle, The Murder is a real nice showcase for Josh Fulero on harmonica and Tabion's piano work balanced with Rodio on vocal and guitar gives the track real grip. Very nice. Slower blues, Lightning Strikes , is a nice stage for Rodio, on vocal and clean guitar lead. Stro...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, When You Call , from Matt Lomeo , and it's a lot of fun. Opening with One More 1&1 , a soulful track with definite Al Green feel. Matt's vocals are excellent and his harmonica playing strong, backed by Billy Watts on guitar, Terry Wilson on bass, James Cruce on drums, Kevin McKendree on organ, Darrell Leonard on horns, and Teresa James on backing vocals. Great opener. Another great R&B high stepper, When You Call , has great presence with Terry Wilson adding a nice slide part as well as vocals, and organ accents by McKendree. Take The Boulevard has a real nice feel nicely displaying the versatility of Lomeo's vocals. His phrasing is first rate creating a juicy texture. Very nice. Took My Bar And Left Me has a cool walking bass line by Wilson and well blended vocals by James and Lomeo. With solid keyboard work by McKendree and horn work by Leonard, this track has solid radio potential. Wrapping the relea...

 I had the pleasure to attend the Joe Bonamassa concert at the Arizona Financial Theatre (Previously Dodge Theater) in Phoenix Arizona on November 18, 2022, in support of his most recent release, Time Clocks ,  and the house was packed. I was fortunate enough to have brilliant seats not far from the stage and very near the middle of the floor. I started listening to Joe Bonamassa around 2000 when I caught an earful of his music on Pandora. Wasn't long before I had his new release, A New Day Yesterday , and Bonamassa had a new fan. I saw him shortly thereafter in a small club in Scottsdale and then at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix. He didn't have the repertoire of songs that he has now but it was amazing to see this unassuming kid with his long hair and his jeans dragging on the ground, step up on the stage and blow through his own book and quickly show how easily he could cruise from one guitar icon phrasing to another, playing their riffs and blowing back the crowd. His own big...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Persistence , from Steve Knight and it's a strong, guitar led instrumental release. Opening with Suspects ,  inventive, Steve Knight on guitar sets the framework for a solid melody, backed by Justin Peterson on bass and Jeff Stitley on drums. With solid phrasing, unobtrusive bass and considerable high work by Stitley, this is a nice opener. Funky, Real Type Thing had a real nice bass line by Peterson and a tight rhythm by Stitley giving Knight a wide open roadway to jam. With some aggressive lead by Peterson and Knight, this is one of my favorites on the release. A cover of Tom Petty's Mary Jane's Last Dance , gets reworked pretty hard. With it's bopping rock rhythm and with a loose outline of the melody by Knight, Peterson take a cool bass solo. The melody having been stated and with Peterson and Stitley to hold the pace, Knight breaks loos with some improve of his own. Interesting workout.  In steady bop...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Changing Times , from Silent Partners , and it's a huge heaping of soul and blues. Opening with Ain't No Right Way To Do Wrong , a deep soulful blues track, Silent Partners get straight to the groove. With a rich bass line by Russell Jackson, tight drums by Tony Coleman and strong supportive guitar lead by Jonathan Ellison, this is a powerful opener. Backed by Don Daily on violin, this track has great radio appeal.  Another strong radio track is, Road To Love with excellent lead vocals and backing vocals by Lisa Lueschner Andersen and featuring cool solo guitar work by Kid Andersen. Very nice. Funky, Never Make Your Move Too Soon , has a real nice feel that will get your butt right out your chair. With BB King style "talking" guitar riffs, by Ellison, and well placed organ placement by Jim Pugh over a romping bass line by Jackson, this track is moving. I love the sweet, soulful vocal lead on Teasing Woman...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blood On My Hands , by Emanual Casablanca and it's solid rocker with a blues base. Opening with Afraid of Blood , a dark rocker with heavy overtones, Emanual Casablanca on vocal and guitar sets the tone joined by Paul Howells on guitar, Julian Chobot on bass, Teddy Sideropolous on drums and Paul Gilbert on guitar. Title track, Blood On My Hands is really a cool track with a strong, lumbering blues bottom, emphasized by Maximillian Sebastian on bass, Theodore Augustine on drums, Brother Dave on guitar and some of Casablanca's best vocals on the release. I really like blues based, Bloodshot Eyes with it's relentless thumping bass line by Chobot and solid guitar riffs by Albert Castiglia. Driving boogie, Testify is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a grinding guitar riff by Howells and it's simple blues feel. Wrapping the release is Rottenpockets with a heavily distorted guitar vamp by Sebastia...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Legend , by Junior Wells , and it's terrific. This is a compilation of vintage singles from the 50's and 60's and includes the entire gamut. Opening with Cut That Out , Junior Wells trademark harp sound is front and center with his vocal, joined by Johnny Jones on piano, Louis Myers on guitar, Dave Myers on bass and Odie Payne on drums. Excellent! Well's most notable track, Hodo Man (HooDoo Man) is on deck with Wells paired with Elmore James on his infamous slide guitar. Early In the Morning features the great Otis Spann on piano pushing Wells to the limit with Muddy Waters on guitar, Willie Dixon on bass  and Odie Payne on drums... What a lineup! On Lawdy! Lawdy! Wells harp seems to float on air, Spann on piano is excellent and of course the entire band really rocks. Syl Johnson adds guitar flair to Two Headed Woman over an active bass line by Dave Myers.  Slow blues, I Could Cry is a really gre...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Back On The Road To You , from Freedy Johnston and it's a well written and performed set of great tunes. Opening with Back On The Road To You , Freedy Johnston quickly demonstrates why he gets such critical praise. With strong vocal harmonies and a super melody, Johnston is joined by Dusty Wakeman on bass, Doug Pettibone with really nice lead and steel guitar riffs, and Sasha Smith on keys. Aimee Mann joins Johnston on Darlin' , one of my favorites on the release with it's lush melody and lightly played steel guitar by Pettibone. Shimmering keys by Smith create an iridescence on the track. Susan Cowsill joins Johnston on pop rocker, The Power of Love with a total radio melody and concise attack. Pettibone adds in some real nice guitar flavor giving it just the right blend. Wrapping the release is The Really Miss Ya Blues with it's definite radio friendly melody. Perfect vocal harmony puts you in mind of ...