Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Drums of Compassion, from Michael Shrieve and it's an exceptional exposition of world rhythms. Opening with The Call Of Michael Olatunji , Shrieve begins this journey with Babatunde Olatunji speaking vocal incantations, surrounded with a sea of synthesized sound designs by Jeff Greinke, Joe Doria on Rhodes providing a basic melody line and excellent drum and percussion work by Shrieve. Developing into a very melodic, eastern influenced travel, this is a strong opener. Synthesizers by Grienke over a Afro/Latin rhythm by Karl Perazzo and Raul Rekow on percussion and C Smith on keys, this is a mover. I really like The Euphoric Pandiero Of Airto Moreira featuring Airto on voice and percussion leading directly into The Fierce Energy of Love with Dave Hill Jr on drums, Shrieve on brushes and Stephan Maas on drums. Wrapping the release is Hejira with Greinke on synth on Shrieve on drums and featuring Jack Dejonette on drum...

 I just had the opportunity top review the most recent release, Tu-Ner For Lovers  (Live) by Tu-Ner and it's a very cool sonic exploration. Opening with The Last Barbie Tango , Markus Reuter on touch guitar and soundscapes works with Trey Gunn on Warr Guitar to create a very interesting shape, over Pat Mastelotto's masterful drum and electronics bottom. This track is tensely stretched and highly creative. Super opener. The White Thing has a cool, ethereal, electronic intro developing with deep guitar lead and soaring guitar contrast supported by stylized percussion. Triangle Of Love has a middle eastern rhythm with finely articulated guitar phrasing floating through the mist and fat Warr guitar lead thickening the stew. One of my favorite tracks on the release is The Call Him Threnody with heavy, drum laden rhythm, fat bottom and soaring guitar. Wrapping the release is Combat And Courtship with rapid percussion, a brilliant interplay between the bass and drum and guitar. ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Me , by Katie Knipp , and it's quite entertaining. Opening with slinky, Mud , Katie Knipp is showcased with her intoxicating yet unusual vocal style. She also accompanies herself on piano, joined by Steve Ulstein on guitar and Neil Campisano on drums. Excellent opener. Funky, Vampire has a firm bass line by Ulstein and Knipp leads again on vocal and piano. This track has a number of turns and changes with a strong familiarity and again strong vocals. Time and Space is a really nice ballad with a great melody and showing a different side of Knipp on vocal and joining Ulstein on keys. Very nice. The Devils Armchair is a real cool track with a Spanish flair. I really like Knipp's vocal work and Mick Martin's lead guitar work. Wrapping the release is somber ballad, Lava Pot featuring Knipp on vocal and piano. This is a solid piece of work featuring both strong tunes and serious interpretation.    If you su...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Troublemaker , by Black Cat Bones , and it's a solid blues based rocker. Opening with Bad Enough , Black Cat Bones hit the road running with a thumping bass line by Jeff Daniels, Bill Greenberg on drums and Charles Pitts on vocals. With Richard Rivera and Kid Dynamite on guitars these guy have plenty of horsepower and aren't shy to unleash it. I really like the paired guitar work ...power vs lead which gives the track a real afterburn. Strong opener. Title track, Troublemaker , is a strong mix of Robert Johnson and southern rock. Pitts vocals have plenty of swagger and Dynamite and Rivera play off of each other with Greenberg and Daniels anchoring. Excellent stones like rocker, Act Like You Don't Care , has a great bottom courtesy of Daniels and Greenberg and lead work by Dynamite and Rivera add just the right grit under the confident vocals of Pitts. Very cool. Blues rocker, Yesterday's Gone really is in t...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live at Woodystock Blues Festival by Jay Gordon and Blues Venom and it's great heavy rock blues...just the way you like it. Opening with Morganfield's classic, Hoochie Coochie Man and it's breathing fire. I really like Gordon's approach to the blues with a hold nothing back vocal and guitar assault, Sharon Butcher's driving bass lines and Tom Parham keeping it tight on the drums. Powerful opener.  George Thorogood's I Drink Alone is a great fit for Gordon with his scorching slide and hot, overdriven guitar attack. Thumping bass by Butcher really powers the track giving Gordon a great platform to stand on. Really nice. Sonny Boy Williamson's Good Morning Little School Girl gets an excellent cover based on one of my favorite blues rock bands, Ten Years After's arrangement with an excellent driving bottom and Gordon just letting it fly. If you like blues rock...you'll love this. Wrappin...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Changing Tide , from Leon Alvarado and it's obviously influenced by Pink Floyd. Opening with The Equilibrium Of Time , Leon Alvarado on drums and keys/effects creates an alternate world to Dark Side of the Moon with the beat of the heart, chattering train and with soaring guitars by Edoardo Scordo and Damian Darlington, Tony Franklin on bass and Pablo Hopenhayn on violin cello and viola a cool opener. A View From A Different Room welcomes dynamic sax work by John Helliwell and excellent guitar soloing by Scordo over the tight drumming of Alvarado and excellent bass work of Franklin. Very nice. Dance Of The Pink Elephants is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a great drum rhythm by Alvarado, Franklin on fretless bass and excellent melodic soloing by Scordo on guitar and slide. Wrapping the release is a cover of Floyd's Brain Damage with Alvarado on vocal, keys and drums, Gary Gnaedinger on bass, gu...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Struck Down , by The Fabulous Thunderbirds and it's one of their best. Opening with Struck Down By The Blues , Kim Wilson has the mic singing lead vocals on this BB King style track. Johnny Moeller and Steve Strongman handle the gripping guitar lead with Bob Welsh on piano, Rudy Albin Petschauer on drums and Steven Kirsty on drums. Excellent opener. Classic ZZ Top style, one line bass, drives Payback Time features Wilson and Billy Gibbons on lead vocals with great harmonica overtones by Wilson and featuring Gibbons on guitar. Very cool. Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo and Taj Mahal share the mic on Nothing But Rambling , an easy shuffle with strong harmonica work by Wilson and Keb Mo on slide. Wilson back up front on romping shuffle, Whatcha Do To Me . Elvin Bishop lends his guitar work on his track giving it a nice kick and Wilson's harmonica work turns up the heat with his own spice. I really like Moeller's guitar work...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Positively 4th Street , by Rory Block and it's a stylized tribute to Bob Dylan. Opening with Everything Is Broken , Block gets it rocking with layered guitars and slide, backed by light snare and bass backing her trademark vocals. Solid opener. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Not Dark Yet , a strong blues with Block working guitar magic against her soulful vocals. Smooth slide and concise picking really makes this track stand out. One of my favorite Dylan compositions, Positively 4th Street this is a nice cover with slide accompaniment and drums. Block really captures Dylan's feel on this one. Wrapping the release is Murder Most Foul , a tough track and well dramatized by Block. This is an interesting exploration of one of America's greatest songwriters.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like -...

 I just had the opportunity top review the most recent release, Collapse The Wave , by IZZ and it's a straightforward progressive rock release. Opening with We Are The 3rd , Paul Bremner on guitars, Brian Coralian on drums, John Galgano on vocal, bass and guitar, Tom Galgano on keys and vocals and Laura Meade on vocals set the adventure afloat with tight drum rhythms, ripping guitar riffs, swelling keyboard lines and nicely woven vocals. On Brace For Impact , Tom G and Bremmer set the engines and Coralian and John on bass maintain the charge. Title track, Collapse The Wave , is one of my favorite tracks on the release with exciting guitar melody/lead and counter rhythm and nicely crafted keyboard lines and nicely blended vocals over the tight bottom by John G and Coralian. Brethren is another cool track with Coralian getting front and center with some over the top drumming. Wrapping the release is And We Will Go , with it's jagged drum rhythm and guitar riffs. With solid dual...