Bman's Blues Report

        Multiple BMA Nominee, vocalist Tad Robinson, headlines 1st Annual Temecula Blues Festival.    (TEMECULA, CA) -  The burgeoning SoCal Inland Empire finally has it's very own Blues Festival with the advent of the 1st Annual Temecula Blues Festival , Civic Center Plaza, 41000 Main St., taking place Saturday, April 21, from 12 Noon until 10 pm (rain or shine). Tickets: $38., now available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/temecula-blues-festival-tickets-37343345953 . Info: (951) 676-2722 . Presented by The Old Town Blues Club (formerly The Lucky Stone). All ticket sales final.                                        ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, BT , from Billy Thompson and it's terrific! Opening with Burn It Down , Bernadette , Billy is smoking right out of the can with an extremely funky rocker. leading the way on vocal and slide guitar, backed by Michael Leroy Peed on keys, Daryl Johnson on bass, Eric Selby on drums, DK Kelly on percussion and Xzantiny Grant on vocals, these guys are hot. On blues shuffle, Phoine , Billy is backed by a stacked deck with Mike Finnigan, James Hutchinson on bass and Anthony Braunagel on drums. Finnigan really winds out the keys giving Billy plenty of air to pound with screaming riffs. Very nice. Cool R&B number, Silent Warrior has a great feel with excellent guitar riffs pushing the intensity during the beef of the track. Thompson's vocals are soulful and spot on. Very nice. With it's slick R&B tempo, Mud Island Woman is infectious and with Thompson's stinging harp riffs, crisp guitar lead  and vocal l...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Above and Below , from the Jim Shaneberger Band and it's quite good. Opening with Jimi Hendrix flavored rocker, My Way has a classic Stone Free feel but with a more modern polished delivery and melodic rock feel.  Super opener. Shanebereger is upfront on lead vocal and guitar but this is a definite group collaboration with a solid bass line from Jeff Baldus, and tight rock lines from Steve Harris on drums. Pat Travers comes to mind as I listen to Indifference with powerful swags of guitar lead and flavorful drum riffs over a swaggering bass line. Solid ballad, Bright Side shows real strong radio appeal with a super melody, nice harmonies and acoustic guitar lead. Shuffle track, Ain't Your Daddy's Blues , gives Shaneberger a chance to use a totally different vocal style not unlike Jonny Lang. His low slung guitar riffs have plenty of sting and Carl Schantz on drums does a great job. Another real cool rock...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Born For You , by Rockie Charles and I really like it. Opening with title track, Born For You , Rockie Charles quickly establishes that he is going his own route with influences from many reaches. I am first taken by his smooth vocals and JL Hooker like phrasing, complimented by Jerry Embry on sax. Old Black Joel feels a lot like 60's soul and Clarence Carter. A solid backing band made up of Jerry Pekinto on bass, Rick Allen and Wayne Lohr on organ, Tony D'Alessandro on drums, not to forget Charles' own Spartan guitar playing and with really sweet backing vocals by Karlene Arena and Rhea Kahler, this sound is really earthy. Excellent. On easy paced, Oh My Darling, Look What You're Doing To Me , Charles sings with the ease of Al Green in a style more like Willie Nelson. Smoky Greenwell adds a soothing harp overtone giving the track just the right hint of spice. Please Tell Me It Ain't So is one of m...

GRAMMY-NOMINATED SINGER-SONGWRITER JANIVA MAGNESS REACHES A NEW CREATIVE APEX  WITH THE POWERFUL, GENRE-SPANNING  LOVE IS AN ARMY She’s reunited with producer Dave Darling for her   14th album, which fuses the classic sounds of Memphis and Nashville with a modern focus on songs that balance love, hope and protest.  Street date: February 23rd. Guests on this Americana-Soul album are Americana pillars Delbert McClinton,  Poco’s Rusty Young and Della Mae’s Courtney Hartman, as well as prolific blues artists Charlie Musselwhite and Cedric Burnside LOS ANGELES, Calif. — After  Janiva Magness  added a 2016 Grammy nomination to her 26 Blues Music Award nominations — with seven wins, incl...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, What you see is what you get, from The Jimmy Zee Band and it's a solid rocker with diverse flavors. Opening with title track, What you see is what you get , Jimmy Zee shows a cool, laid back story telling style as lead vocalist not unlike Jackie Lynton, backed by Rob MacDonald and Tim Porter on guitars, Miles Hill on bass, Joel Fountain on drums and Darryl Havers on keys. I Ride Alone is a power rocker featuring Harpdog Brown on harp. I really like this tracks heavy footed bottom, snarling guitar and swaggering feel. Money has cool, almost Stones like rhythm and a great rock beat. Zee's vocals are tight and sax by Steve Hilliam, a cool track. My Old Lady Is A Freakshow that is a blend between ZZ Top and hiphop. I really like this track and backing vocals by Annabelle Chvostek. With it's laid back funk, She's A Mystery to Me , is one of my favorites on the release with Zee's raspy vocals contrast...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, What It Is , from Freeworld and it's a horn infused party. Opening with Deeper By The Minute , Richard Cushing, lead vocalist and bass player sets the pace with Dr. Herman Green on tenor sax, Peter Climie on tenor, bari and alto sax, Andy Tate on guitar, Chris Stephenson on keys, Jared Dover on trumpet, Freedman Steorts on trombone and Greg Lundy on drums. A funky rocker with tight horns and a funky beat, cool opener. Shrimp N' Grits is a solid horn saturated instrumental. One of my favorite tracks on the release it features a real nice flow of trumpet and sax solos by Dover and Green as well as a vicious guitar solo by Tate. Another of my favorite tracks blends funk and neo soul on It's Alright . A great bass riff and shimmery piano work shine and punchy horn work keeps it tight. I fat guitar solo by Tate really hangs out against the somewhat conservative horn backing making it all the more impactful. Taki...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Roadhouse Soul , from the Johnny Max Band and it's a cool boogie rocker. Opening with shuffle track, Couldn't Happen To A Nicer Guy , Johnny Max shows his solid vocals skills upfront as lead vocalist with nice slide work by Kevin Vienneau and backed by Jim Casson on drums, Rob Gusevs on keys and Russ Boswell on bass. With it's funky, jazzy rhythm, (I'm Your) 911 has a super groove, getting you hopping around in your seat. Boswell's bass line is tight and backing vocals by Quisha Wint really warm up the mix.  Two stepper, I Wish I Could Write You A Love Song had a driving rhythm and Keith Richards like guitar riffs, and cool piano work adds nicely to Max's lead vocals. Title track, Roadhouse Soul is a super rocker with a grinding guitar rhythm. Gusevs' piano work really sparkles on this track and the track presses hard on the drive button with a cool overdriven guitar solo by Vienneau. With...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Burn Me Alive , from Heather Newman , and it's a cool blend of cool tracks. Opening with country flavored, Willie James , vocalist/bassist Heather Newman shows rich contemporary vocal styling, backed by Keith Ladd on guitar, Ryan Ladd on keys and Cole Dillingham on drums and guitars. shuffle track, Howling For Love again shows the richness of Newman's voice complimented by some cool guitar riffs by Ladd.  Latin influenced, Burn Me Alive is one of my favorites on the release with snappy drums, tight guitar riffs and sassy vocals. With it's slinky belly, How Many Times? really has a solid bottom and a super melody. Blended vocals and stinging guitar soloing make this another of my favorites on the release. Newman's own bass line sets the pace on Dirty Blues and Michael Lefever's sax work throws fuel on an already smoky fire. Stepping up with a R&B bottom, Share Your Love has a real cool feel. N...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Strong Brew , from Ilya Portnov and it's quite good. Opening with shuffle track, Sunny Afternoon Blues , Ilya Portnov leads on melody on harmonica, joined by Kid Anderson on bass, Chris Burns on keys, Ben Andrews on violin and June Core on drums. Cool key work and sinuous violin work give this track an earthy feel. Surfin' the Baltic Sea is a real cool surf track with a definite twist. Dynamic harp work and a great melody, spanked along by snappy drums and a smoky organ solo and a super guitar add by Andersen makes this a real killer. Dance of a Lonely Doll is a particularly cool track featuring Portnov on chromatic harp and it's old world charm makes it one of my favorites on the release. Andersen's bass work and classic handling of piano riffs really emphasize the beauty of the track. Very nice. Rev. Gary Davis' Cincinnati Flow Rag is a cool and loosely flowing acoustic track with slappy drum wo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, State Of Groove , from Mama SpanX and it moves. Opening with Rocket , a funky dance tune, lead vocalist, Nikki Armstrong is backed by Steve Johnson on guitars, Harlan Spector on keys, Steve Sadd on tenor and soprano sax, Julie Sax on alto and bari sax, Russ Mullen on trumpet and trombone, David Ambercrombie on bass, and Ben Beckley on drums and percussion. With slick sax solos by both players and a tight guitar solo by Johnson, this is a cool opener. R&B strutting, Wild Emotion has an authentic 60's sound with trumpet and sax fillers, a nice bass line, cool backing vocals and a snappy bottom. Blues ballad, Wrong Side Of The Garden , is a showcase for Armstrong. Warm sax soloing and tight guitar riffs nail this track. James Brown's influence is really clear on Alligator Boogaloo with it's funky back beat. Julie and Steve both step up with tight sax solos on this one giving it super traction. Wrapping th...

Singer/Songwriter Patrick Coman Reflects on the Tree of Life with New CD of Blues-Roots Music Coming February 23, Featuring Peter Parcek and Marco Giovino CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Roots-based singer/songwriter Patrick Coman announces a February 23 release date for his new CD, Tree of Life , on his For the Sake of the Song label imprint. Produced by acclaimed guitarist Peter Parcek and drummer Marco Giovino (Robert Plant, Buddy Miller), who both also play on the new disc, Tree of Life was recorded at Dagotown Recorders in Holden, Mass., and features 11 original songs penned by Coman, plus a cool cover of Leon Russell’s “Magic Mirror.” Watch a live video in the studio during the recording of the title track, “Tree of Life:”  In addition to Patrick Coman on vocals and rhythm guitar, plus Peter Parcek on lead guitar and Marco Giovino on drums, percussion and organ, the talented group of players assembled for the recording sessions included Joe Klompus...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live At Lazybones , from Paul Winn Band and it shows his diversity in music. Opening with blues rocker, Down So Long , Winn on guitar and vocal winds the place up nicely with Rick Wilson on harp, backed by Emile Nelson on bass and Dom Robinson on drums. Cool opener. Adding a little rhythm to the blues, Take The Long Way Home has a pop like feel with a definite funky bottom. Look Around moves into a more jazz arena with smooth vocals and tight harp riffs. A hot sax solo by Gary Honor really punches this track up giving it a edgy character. Very cool. Shuffle track, I Like A Drink , is another super showcase for Wilson's harp work and the overall tight feel of the band. Wrapping the release is Taylor , a solid ballad showing strong songwriting and Winn's strong vocals and fluid, articulate guitar lead, backed by Johann Willenberg on keys. This is a cool release with a little adventure.   If you suppor...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Belle Of The West , from Samantha Fish and it may be her best effort yet. Opening with American Dream you have an immediate sense that this isn't a typical Samantha Fish release. Produced by Luther Dickinson, this release is in a whole new strata. Laden with fife and drums by Sharde Thomas, and with Trina Raimey and Tikyra Jackson on drums, this track has a distinct Mississippi feel. Blood In The Water showcases Fish's lead vocal and harmonies with Amy LaVere who also plays bass. A swampy track with sparse but distinct guitar work and eerie violin work by Lillie Mae, this is a cool track. Cowtown has a distinct country sound with a certain blues flavor. Addition of Fender Rhodes by Jimbo Mathus gives a nice texture and Fish sounds more comfortable both vocally and with guitar work in this "new" style. I also really like the heaviness of the drums on this track which really punch it right. Very nice....

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It's My Life , from Bobby Kyle and it's a cool, R&B style rocker. Opening with Johnny Copeland's Daily Bread , Bobby Kyle shows his unique styling in vocal and guitar, backed by Everett Boyd on bass, Joel Perry on guitar, Marc Copell on drums, and Dave Keyes on keys. Driftwood has an almost Allman feel is their early, era. Kyle's vocals are solid and Keyes' accordion work gives it a totally different sound. Soul ballad, Highway Man , is one of my favorite tracks on the release with smooth pace, tension and solid horn backing by Laron Land on tenor sax, Alex Harding on bari sax, and James Smith on trumpet. Radio strong track, Blood From A Stone , is another of my favorites with solid soul roots and super horn backing. Sax solos from Land and Harding as well as a nice trumpet line from Smith give this track a cool edge.  Eddie Kirkland's I've Got My Bloodshot Eye's On You is a simple ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Two Dogs , from Popa Chubby and it's a straight up rocker. Opening with arena style track, It's Alright , Chubby shows powerful vocals backed by Sam "Freightrain" Bryant on drums, Andy Paladino on bass, and Dave Keyes on keys. With a taste of funk and a rocking backbeat, Tipitina Horowitz on trumpet and Andrew Garrison on tenor sax, punch up the track with Chubby hitting a real nice groove on vocals hot solo guitar riffs. Title track, Two Dogs , has a real cool feel with a slinky dance rhythm and screaming guitar lead under the melody. Very cool. Shakedown is a strong rocker built over a base riff like Heartbreaker/Livin' Lovin' Maid by Led Zep. This is a strong rocker with hot riffs. Latin flavored instrumental, Cayophus Dupree is my absolute favorite track on the release with solid guitar lead throughout over warm organ by Keyes. Excellent! Me Won't Back Down has a jazzy but voodoo sou...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 140 Nickels , from Jangling Sparrows and it's a country pop flavored release. Opening with Party Ain't Over , singer, songwriter, guitarist, poet, performer delivers an American flavored Harry Nielsen style track. Pretty nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Burnin' A Hole has a great hook and solid melody. Joined by Todd Omley/Edwin Mericle on drums, Robert Lovejoy on bass, and Eric Ciborski on keys, this is a super radio track. Forward soulful vocals and echoing guitars on Take Home Your Coat make it another of my favorites with real feeling. Cheaper Down The Road is a great country style rocker with snappy drums and hot guitar riffs. Another standout track. Wrapping the release is Pops Is Coming Up , an easy going acoustic number. A cool story teller, this track is a mellow but potent closer for a cool release.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Duke and his Dames of Rhythm, by Duke Robillard and it's a mighty swing fest. Opening with From Monday On , Sunny Crownover has the floor, backed by Bruce Bears on piano, Brad Hallen on bass, Mark Teixeira on drums, Jon Erik Kellso on trumpet, Billy Novick on clarinet and alto sax, Carl Querfurth on trombone and of course Robillard on guitar. A bright prance, this track has super clarinet, strong guitar riffs, a powerful bass line and a particularly nice trombone solo by Querfurth. Maria Muldaur had the floor on Got The South In My Soul and again, powerful clarinet soloing by Novick and bright guitar riffs by the Duke really set it off. Kelley Hunt steps up to the mic on Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone , a solid blues ballad with solid vocals, jumping into swing time with Mark Earley's brilliant tenor sax solo. Kellso's trumpet work, Bears' piano work, another clarinet solo by Novick a...