Bman's Blues Report

I just received a copy of the new release, Blues In My Soul , by Lurrie Bell and it certainly lives up to my high expectations. Bell is one of those guys that continuously puts out great music! Opening with T-Bone Walker's Hey Hey Baby , a really strutting blues track bringing to mind Albert Collins and Gatemouth Brown, Bell plays some sting riffs backed by Marques Carroll on trumpet, Chris Neal and Mark Hiebert on sax and strong key work from Roosevelt Purifoy. Blues In My Soul is a great slow blues track allowing Bell the opportunity to bare his soul, both vocally and on the fretboard.... excellent! On Bill Broonzy's I Feel So Good , Matt Skoller adds really cool harp riffs leading the way for Bell to swing. She's A Good "Un has a real smooth groove and Bells syncopation on his solo on this track is particularly effective. On 'Bout The Break Of Day , Bell really digs in on the intro making you sweat just listening. This is a great track featuring Bell but al...

Have you heard of this guitar wiz from East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania that goes by the name of Rob Carlton? If not, get ready for the blazing hot sound of RC as he excites the world with his phenomenal playing skills. Originally from Long Island, NY, this guitarist is no stranger to the music game as he has played in many bands over the years. One band in particular, Empyre, helped Rob gain more notoriety and exposure early on his career. This band had the pleasure of opening up for and touring with such acts as: Cinderella, Zebra, Blue Oyster Cult among others. Fun times for Carlton & company during those Empyre years, but the journey was far from over. Three albums later after leaving Empyre, Rob decided to start a new band titled Sevenfold. He would go on to tour big Christian festivals such as SuperFest traveling all over the United States. From there, it was time for Rob to make some music of his own as a recording solo artist. The first solo album recorded would be called...

I just received a copy of the new release, Kingsvile Jukin' by Studebaker John & the Maxwell Street Kings and it's a raw blues butt whoopin good time! Opening with Mississippi To Chicago with all of the vigor and crispness of Hound Dog Taylor! On When They Played The Real Blues , John plays in traditional Chicago style along with great harmonica. Shake It Down Now is a real cool track with contemporary sound but keeping it's primitive roots. Over driven guitar and vocals give it a definite raw texture. The Rest Is Up To You is a cool boogie pushed along by Steve Cushing on drums and Bob Halaj on bass. Grinding guitar riffs are teams with super harp riffs making this one of the best tracks on the release. On I Am The Houserocker , John has a real greasy groove and his slide playing is right out of Elmore land. John's voice is also particularly cool on this track. Howlin' In The Moonlight blends the droning sound of a primitive delta track with Howlin...

I just received the newest release (June 25, 2013), Coming Out Swingin' from Candye Kane and it may be her best effort to date. Opening with the title track, Coming Out Swingin' Kane and notable guitarist Laura Chavez literally come out swinging!! This authentic swing track features really tasty guitar riffs but conjures the feel from the 40's with Bill Caballero on trumpet, April West on trombone, Jerry Viau on sax and tight tom tom work from Fred Rautmann. On Rock Me To Sleep , Kane leads the way with swell vocals and Chavez plays some remarkably clean guitar work backed by Sue Palmer on piano and Kennan Shaw on bass. I'm The Reason Why You Drink has a Chuck Berry flavor but with a twist of horns and of course Kane on vocals. Chavez steps up again on this track showing that she well knows the fretboard. Bill Watson also adds nice harp work on this track. One of my Personal favorites, Invisible Woman , is a slow bluesy ballad track with shimmery guitar work. Low fr...

Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck (born 24 June 1944) is an English rock guitarist. He is one of the three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds (the other two being Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page). Beck also formed The Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. Much of Beck's recorded output has been instrumental, with a focus on innovative sound, and his releases have spanned genres ranging from blues rock, heavy metal, jazz fusion and an additional blend of guitar-rock and electronica. Although he recorded two hit albums (in 1975 and 1976) as a solo act, Beck has not established or maintained the sustained commercial success of many of his contemporaries and bandmates. Beck appears on albums by Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Morrissey, Jon Bon Jovi, Malcom McLaren, Kate Bush, Roger Waters, Donovan, Stevie Wonder, Les Paul, Zucchero, Cyndi Lauper, Brian May, Stanley Clarke and ZZ Top. He was ranked 5th in Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarist...

Live Music Band: The Jules Carter Trio, Format: 3 piece, Genre: Blues Rock, Location: Knebworth, Herts, Current Gigs: 19 (playing in Hertford, Ilford, Clavering, Redhill, Streatley, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn, Huntingdon, South Oxhey)   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” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Revolver is a fiery, hard-driving group based out of the Chippewa Valley. Revolver’s musical goal is to fire up an audience to transcend the mundane and get its groove on as the band performs a rockin’ live show of addictive aural pleasure. Members are Nick Foytik (g), John Nietz (g), Bob Willihan (b), Eric Pierson (k), and Zach Brawford (d) - all are well-known in the musical community for their past individual projects, and now come together to create a “local legends supergroup” influenced by 70s Blues Rock, Boogie Woogie, Jazz, and Funk   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” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Dutch band Sugar Boy and the Sinners represents the newest generation of European blues bands. Only playing the Dutch music scene since 2010, Sugar Boy and the Sinners already played most of the important Blues, Roots and Jazz festivals in the Netherlands. In september 2012 the young band has won the prestigious Dutch Blues Challenge, representing the Netherlands at the European Blues Challenge in Toulouse (France) and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis (USA) in 2013. On top of critical acclaim by long time blues fans, the band also brings the music to a whole new generation of music lovers. With the anticipated debut album planned for spring 2013, Sugar Boy and the Sinners is about to burst unto the European music scene.   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” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience ...

Raymond Douglas "Ray" Davies ( born 21 June 1944) is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for The Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave. He has also acted, directed and produced shows for theatre and television. Since the dissolution of the Kinks in 1996, Ray Davies has embarked on a solo career as a singer-songwriter. Davies was born at 6 Denmark Terrace, Fortis Green in Muswell Hill, North London, England. He is the seventh of eight children born to Fred and Annie Davies, including six older sisters and younger brother Dave Davies. He went to William Grimshaw Secondary Modern School (now called Fortismere School). Davies was an art student at Hornsey College of Art in London in 1962–1963, when the Kinks developed into a professional performing band. After the Kinks obtained a recording contract in early 1964, Davies emerged as the chief songwriter and de facto leader of the band, especially after the band's breakthro...

I just received the newest release, Gone To Texas from Mike Zito and the Wheel and I really think it's cool. From the first note, literally, Zito has my attention. I'm a guitar player of sorts and the tone that Zito has coming right out of the box is ground zero for a guy like me. The recording showcases noted guests such as Delbert McClinton on vocal and harp, Sonny Landreth on guitar, Susan Cowsill on vocal and Lewis Stephens on keys as well as his own band featuring Jimmy Carpenter on sax and guitar, Rob lee on drums and Scot Sutherland on bass. Opening with the title track, Gone To Texa s , Zito puts up a good entry for the airplay track for the release. It has an authentic country feel with nice sax work by Carpenter. Rainbow Bridge is a really nice track with lead slide work New Orleans style. lee directs the rhythm reinforcing the back beat and Susan Cowsill adds nice harmonic vocals to Zito's lead. Landreth lays down some nice riffs on this track being one of my...

Erik Torsten "Totta" Näslund (1 April 1945 – 19 June 2005) was a Swedish blues musician and actor. Näslund was born in Sandviken and grew up in the small northern town Köpmanholmen, but moved to Gothenburg in 1970 to find work. He was working in the Gothenburg docks when he joined Nynningen, a rock group with leftist political texts and inspired by the Russian Communist poet Mayakovsky. Totta Näslund became the group's main singer. In the mid-1970s, Nynningen fused with Nationalteatern, a musical theater ensemble with many members. Totta Näslund joined the group as singer, guitar-player and actor. Nationalteatern developed away from the theater and became a straight rock group, a rock orchestra as they called themselves. Even though Totta never wrote any own songs for the band, he was probably the most prominent member, next to Ulf Dageby. Nationalteatern was one of the many leftist music and theater groups that came together in 1977 to form Tältprojektet, The Tent Pr...

I just received a copy of the most recent release, Yesterday Today and Tomorrow from Janice Harrington and it's really strong and sensual. I'll start off by saying that there can be a very fine line between what we term Jazz and what we term blues and it really depends upon the listener and the context. This has a number of markers of jazz music but it is strongly blues and I really like it. Featuring Lloyd Mayers (piano), Keter Betts (bass) and Jimmy Cobb (drums) the album opens with I Thought About You , a strong vocal performance from Harrington accompanied primarily by Mayers. On New Blowtop Blues , Betts takes some really nice acoustic bass lines leading to a very strong strong blues track featuring great phrasing from Harrington complimented by Mayers on piano. This is a terrific track. A really tasty bass solo on this track is well worth mentioning as these bottom guys never get the attention that they deserve. Salty Papa Blues has a cool walking bass line leading t...

The Blues....... It's embedded in every note Daniel Castro plays. And he’s spread the gospel all over — from festivals like The San Jose Fountain Blues Festival and Sonora Fire On The Mountain to The Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival in Washington State and Bitterroot Smokin’ Blues Festival in Montana. He has shared the stage with legends like John Mayall, Joe Lewis Walker, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, The Staple Singers, CJ Chenier, Long John Hunter, and Tab Benoit. Beloved by fans and musicians throughout the West Coast, Daniel Castro is fiercely loyal to them all. “He’s got that real deal feel — Daniel Castro is a great musician and entertainer,” says San Francisco Bay Area blues legend Elvin Bishop, who neatly explains why blues aficionados habitually revisit Castro’s expanding circuit of venues. They crowd into upscale showcases like The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, Fox Theater in Redwood City, Mystic Theater in Petaluma, and State Theater in Modesto, as w...

I just received a copy of the newest release (July 9, 2013), Runnin' With The Wolf , from Omar Dykes and it's a solid new blues effort. Opening with the title track, Runnin' With The Wolf, an original track that is worthy of being written by the Wolf himself sets the stage for a full out wolf pack. Dykes has a great voice to project the Wolf and complimented by Derrek O'Brien on guitar, Ronnie James on bass, Ted Roddy on harp and Wes Starr on drums this is a cool track. Next up is Killin' Floor done with a driving beat but Dykes kills it on guitar and is joined this time by Mike Buck. On The Red Rooster , Dykes does a nice job of creating a new feel to a real classic. Dykes adds real flair on guitar this track and of course his vocals are really super. On Howlin' For My Baby , Eve Monsees joins the mix on guitar, Dykes keeping the track fairly close to the original but just adding enough flavor to make it his own. Spoonful is one of my favorite tracks on t...

I just received the newest release, The Blues Don't Say It All by Ron Beer and it explores a number of different musical styles. Opening with the title track, The Blues Don't Say It All, Beer creates a funky blues rock style and a tasty little guitar solo. If We Don't Talk is a bit more uptempo but stays in the funky rock blues stream. Opening with searing guitar riffs, Beer sets a nice path. Possibly the best track on the release. I Understand is a R&B style ballad backed bu simple but effective guitar riffs and horn backing. Close To The Fire is a swing blues track with heavy horns and a light pace. Bill Evans adds some real nice key work on this track. Give Me Shelter has a latin Rhythm and really sounds like it is from a Billy Joel release. Light jazz tune Puppets and Pantomime has very prominent vocals and horns. Sax dominated solo work on this track makes it a real strong contender for prime time airplay. Call Me A Doctor is done in a vaudeville/ New Orl...

I just received the newest release, Every Tongue Has A Tale To Tell , by the Black Tongued Bells and it's a swampy, bluesy blast! Opening with Comin' Back For More , BTB establish a solid swampy beat with slide guitar and really likable grindy vocals. D. Miner has his way with the slide and actually puts me in mind of Little Feat at it's earliest, his vocals reminiscent of Jack Lynton of Savoy Brown (Jack The Toad) fame. Down In The Hood has a bit of comedic social commentary but it's all about the sound for me. Anthony Cook on bass and Ray Herron on drums lay it down solid and Miner just grinds away with those cool vocals. Guitars arent all over screaming on this track but interesting riffs abound on this release. Wyman Reese adds keys on this track as well adding still more texture to an already gritty track. Jukin' Joint is an upbeat rocker which breaks out of the deep grind and possibly getting a broader audience, but also losing some of the ragged charm fo...

I just received a copy of the new release, Live At The Acoustic Grill , by Al Lerman . Lerman, a super harp player, singer and guitarist has assembled an all acoustic set including such classics as Close To You, It Hurts Me Too and Good Morning Little School Girl which is one of the cooler of the guitar tracks. Charmalene is a cool track with a particularly nice harp solo. Move On Up is another of my favorites. Lerman hits a nice stride on this track with crisp guitar and harp work. My absolute favorite track on the release is an original style arrangement of Cocaine. Kept simple and straightforward, this track really really sits tight and Lerman's harp work is particularly vocal in nature. Don't Leave Me Baby is a real nice heartfelt contemporary blues track. Slippery Slope , a fast paced boogie has driving acoustic guitar rhythm complimenting Lerman's vocals and his harp work on this track adds to the dynamics. On Slim Harpo's Miss You Like The Devil , Lerman ...

Blues is alive and kicking! As proof just mingle with the audience of a G-Project Blues Band show. When the Hallertauer blues musicians are in town you might see parents harmoniously going to the concert with their young ones. G-Project Blues Band, with founder Tom Zauner, combines with its varied and groovy Blues, simply supply a timeless onstage sound. After a few years with different musicians, the current formation has come together. The band is based on the core: Tom Zauner-drums; James Ransom-bass; Max Bretz-guitar and the unique Michael Staudenmeyer-vocals & piano. Self composed songs varying from Delta Blues to Texas Blues and powerful guitar riffs gaurantee a relaxed and diversified Live-On-Stage blues evening! Interpreting music from musicians like Robert Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Hendrix, Joe Bonamassa, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton and many more the way the musicians feel it, straight from the heart, without trying to change everything ...

Spend The Longest Day/Night Of The Year At Harvelle's! Larry "Fuzzy" Knight Presents...  Blowin' Smoke & The Fabulous Smokettes (St. Louis-Style Rhythm & Blues Revue) Saturday, June 22@Harvelle's/Santa Monica                                                                           "Blowin' Smoke began their evening's musical journey through their own world of electric rhythm and blues, funk, rock, and Southern soul...the dance floor was packed, and everyone fell under the spell  of Larry "Fuzzy" Knight's band and his soulful sirens, the Smokettes."                       ...