Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Fool's Heart , from Justin Saladino Band and it's groovingly smooth. Opening with A Fool I'll Stay , a melody rich track with a catchy hook, Justin Saladino on lead guitar and vocal crafts a top radio track, joined by Gabriel Forget on bass, A.J. Aboud on drums and Felix Blackburn on guitars. Add a little bounce and you have Honey , a polished R&B track with just the perfect balance of guitar and vocal.  Take What You Need is polished with a solid weave of vocals, keys and guitar. This is as close to Steely Dan as it gets. My favorite track on the release is Bad Habit with it's skipping funky rock fusion feel. Saladino's vocals are cool and lain back and the guitar, bass and drums workout is terrific! Bluesy ballad, Peace Be With You , has a strong melody and familiar feel with smooth vocals and nicely accented guitar work over warm organ backing. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Mama Said ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The One-Man Blues Rock Band , a new live album from Steve Hill and it's powerful. Opening with Rhythm All Over , a power rocker, Steve Hill wastes no time making you a believer. With an excellent rock voice, the terrific ability to accompany himself as well as any band and fluid slide riffs, this is an excellent opener. His lead guitar on Go On , make you actually sit back and listen. This guy's playing has such presence that it rivals Jimmy Page and Alvin Lee. We're talking strong phrasing and focused notes. With a solid bass line and strong melody, Hill has great energy.  Excellent! Never Is Such A Long Time oozes blues like it was born in the Mississippi hill country but with a firm grip on modern rock and guitar techniques and tight drum rhythm giving it not only an emotional power but also strong musical punch. Very nice!  Little Walter's Hate To See You Go is a great blues rocker with Hill just k...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Southbound I-95 , from JP Soars and it's really cool. Opening with Ain't No Dania Beach , there's a country flavor but still folky/rock along the lines of the Band...you know...just right. Joined by Travis Colby on organ, Paul DesLauries on ultra cool slide, Greg Morency on bass, and Sam Harrison on percussion, this is a stylin' opener. Swamp funky, Sure As Hell Ain't Foolin' Me , is a great track with a solid bass line and vocal delivery by Soars. His guitar playing is really nice as well, backed by Teresa James on vocals, Oscar Santiago on percussion and Scott Ankrom on trumpet, this is my favorite track on the release.  Title track, Southbound I-95 has great Dale/surf feel with dancing guitar work and a great rocking bass line by Jason Newstead. Excellent! Rock n Roller, The Grass Ain't Always Greener , will really get you moving with a tight piano solo by Colby and a ripping sax solo by ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Straitjacket , from Jeremiah Johnson and it's quite good. Opening with title track, Straitjacket, Jeremiah Johnson has a hot one on his hands. With a driving beat, a rolling bass line by Tom Maloney, Benet Schaeffer on drums Frank Bauer on sax and Mike Zito on rhythm guitar, Johnson on guitar and lead vocal this is a solid opener. Blues fused but with a great R&B style back beat, Getting Tired is one of my favorites on the release with a hot sax/bass lead and strong guitar fronting. another really cool track is Blues In Her Eyes with a great melody, solid vocals and crisp guitar lead. Rock and roller, Keep on Sailing has a strong boogie underpinning and slick slide work by Zito. Slow blues number, King & Queen , has some of the best vocals by Johnson on the release and an extended guitar solo on this 6 plus minute track is gold. Excellent! Zito move upfront on 9th and Russell , a slower country rocker wit...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (August 17, 2018), Bad Penny from Vanja Sky and it's a pop rocker with zip. Opening with title track, Bad Penny , Vanja Sky wastes no time in demonstrating her no prisoners attitude with a swaggering track that could easily be from the Lynyrd Skynyrd songbook. Leading the band on guitar and vocal Sky is backed by Mike Zito on guitar, Terry Day on bass, Matthew Johnson on drums and Lewis Stephens on keys. Low Down And Dirty is my favorite track on the release with what to me sounds like Mike Zito on vocal and slide guitar. This track has a gritty two step feel with cool guitar lead and vocals by Sky making this track hot hot hot! All Night has a poppy/rock feel with firm rhythm guitar and polished vocals by Sky. Ballad, Inside Pain has a smooth Mark Knopfler guitar feel and a solid radio melody. Another of my favorites is Give Me Back My Sou l with a great SRV /Texas lope with Dave Smith on bass and Yonrico Scott ...

Singer Crystal Shawanda Chases Dreams and Trades Country for Blues on New VooDoo Woman CD, Coming September 21 from True North Records Her New Gritty, Soul-Drenched Release Available Via Download Now TORONTO, ON – True North Records announces a September 21 release date for singer Crystal Shawanda’s new CD, VooDoo Woman. The new album is already available via download at these platforms:     iTunes Labelstore Spotify Sometimes, even the most instinctive singers need a little time to find their true voice. Just ask Crystal Shawanda. The celebrated Canadian-born, Nashville-based songwriter and musician has built a decade-long career on her hugely emotive performances, scoring a major label deal, chart hits, critical acclaim, marquee tours and a fervent fan following along the way. She was even the subject of a reality show, “Crystal: Living the Dream” on the CMT television network. Yet it has taken Shawanda until studio album number five...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Break It Down , from Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen and it's quite cool. I've listened to this release a number of times and I keep hearing new stuff. Opening with A Little Bit , a really cool neo soul track blended strongly with raw guitar attack by Dustin Douglas, a meaty bass line by Matt Gabriel and tight drum rhythms by Tommy Smallcomb and you get something really cool. Think "D'Angelo light' jamming with David Gilmore in a modern rock band. Very cool! Destiny has an even more rocky feel almost into Living Color territory. Goodbye is another particularly interesting track with a Led Zep spin. It doesn't have the Bonzo bottom but the riffs are the children of Page and even the vocals are "Plant"ish, although Douglas' vocals are much more listenable than Plant's. Another track with a definitive Page riff and a JP Jones line is Out Of My Mind . This is a partic...

Coming off of an incredible GRAMMY win for 2015’s  SHINE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE  (Best Roots Gospel album), Nashville rocker Mike Farris keeps it earthy and personal on  SILVER & STONE , out September 7 on Compass Records. The title refers to his wife's ring, and the album is a celebration of their 23 years of marriage and her steadfastness in sticking by him through his years struggling with addiction and alcoholism. Now sober for 7 years, Farris has the energy and conviction of a man saved, a stack of anecdotes and life experiences that would make most people’s heads spin, and a soulful vocal delivery reminiscent of  Sam Cooke  or  Otis Redding .  SILVER & STONE  isn’t a “gospel” album by any means, but Farris still takes us to church on these 12 engaging tracks, including a cover of  Bill Withers ’  “Hope She’ll be Happier.”   Produced at Compass Sound Studio (AKA “Hillbilly Central” – the birthplace of...

Singer Trudy Lynn Declares Blues Keep Knockin’ on Her New Connor Ray Music CD, Coming July 27 New Album Features Special Guests Steve Krase, Bob Lanza and Carolyn Wonderland HOUSTON, TX – Six-time Blues Music Award nominee Trudy Lynn will release her new CD, Blues Keep Knockin’ from Connor Ray Music on July 27.  Backing Trudy’s vocals on the new disc are m usicians Steve Krase – harmonica; David Carter – guitar; Terry Dry – bass; Matt Johnson – drums; Jim Brady – trumpet; and Dan Carpenter – sax; with special guests Bob Lanza and Carolyn Wonderland on guitar. Trudy was recently honored with three nominations for the Living Blues Magazine Awards, with voting currently underway at the magazine’s website: www.livingblues.com . “I want to thank all my blues fans new and old, or should I say ‘mature,’ for being with me through my journey with the blues, both near and far,” Trudy says in the album liner notes. “My name is Trudy Lynn and I sing t...

DAVID OLNEY THIS SIDE OR THE OTHER Black Hen Music, Release Date: August 24, 2018 David Olney’s New Album Examines The Shadowy Situations Up And Around Walls, Over Borders and Asks For Open Hearts Nashville, TN – One listen to the brand-new album, “This Side or The Other,” and you’ll know David Olney is a man familiar with the wandering life and yearning heart of a poet. After more than 30 years in music, he’s had as many incarnations as you can imagine. His resume has expanded to include acting, poetry and a popular weekly stream cast. All of this adds to Olney’s strength as a songwriter’s songwriter, and one of Nashville’s founding fathers of Americana music.   While “This Side or The Other” is not a concept album, there are some recurring themes. The frequent reference to walls in these songs – walls being built and tumbling down – will suggest that while Olney has encountered more than his own share of walls, he is still trying his best to understa...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, #5or5000 , by CeCe Teneal & Soul Kamotion and it's terrific! The significance of the title is a simple one: "We would always say whether there's five people or five thousand people in the audience," Teneal says, "and that just kind of stuck with us for this record. We're gonna give the show of a lifetime, we're gonna lay it all on the line, because every person deserves to get what the message is, they're gonna experience the same thing." Opening with 90 MPH , a soul/rock blend, Teneal has great pipes and a super feel. James Adkins on drums, Terrell Kimble on bass, Chris Baptiste on keys and especially the hot guitar riffs of Lavon Rushing and smoking hot drum beat of James Adkins give this track real beef and the backing vocals of the entire band is tight. I think that readers know I like the neo soul movement and this band blends that with Victor Wooten, Frank Zappa...you na...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (7/16/18), Uptown Cool , from Big Harp George , and it's tight. Opening with loping shuffle, Down To The Rite Aid , Big Harp George has it running from the first note with his great harp sound, singing duet with Loralee Christensen backed by Chris Burns on piano, Alexander Pettersen on drums, Kid Andersen on bass, Little Charlie Baty on guitar, Michael Peloquin on sax and Mike Rinta on trombone. Very nice. Alternative Facts has a laid back, sauntering feel with real cool harp soloing and great guitar backing by Kid Andersen. Latin fused track, I Wanna Know has strong rhythmic Santana like influences with D'mar on percussion and nice backing vocals by Christensen and warm sax tines by Peloquin, strong bass lines by Andersen and trademark harp soloing by George. On bluesy, Nobody's Listening , Little Charlie really lays in a articulate guitar solo and George some of his best vocals on the release. Standing In T...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (July 14, 2018), Endangered Species: The Essential Recordings , from Cyril Neville and it's chocked full of New Orleans fused funk. This release is actually one of two releases, the first being a 5 disc retrospective (The Complete Recordings) and the finely distilled 1 disc compilation (The Essential Recordings) which I am reviewing.  Opening with Love Has Got To Win Cyril has a great pumping bass line and with tight rhythms, smart backing vocals and a solid melody, the track is super. Second Line Soca is a polished look at second line rhythms having a bit more sophistication than street music but all of the energy. Very cool. With a funky hip hop rhythm and a floating sax riff, Funkaliscious really moves. One of my favorite tracks on the release is soulful, Calling All Souls with warm lead vocals, a great bass line, super melody and excellent vocal backing.  Running With The Secord Line really has that str...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sidewinder , from Matty T Wall and is features some hot guitar playing. Opening with Slideride , an electric slide guitar instrumental, Wall wastes no time in kicking the release into high gear backed by Ric Whittle on drums and Stephen Walker on bass. Great start. On Sam Cooke's classic, Change Is Gonna Come , Wall takes the lead on vocal and does quite a nice job. Complimented by Jonas Petersen on strings, Gordon Cant on organ, Walker on bass and Whittle on drums, the setup is perfect for a sensuous guitar solo by Wall making this a choice track. Rocker, Shake It is another stand out track with a driving beat, cool vocals and ravenous guitar lead. Hot! Don Nix's Going Down gets a remake with a bit of a juke on Beck's earlier "rockification" on this classic. Wall pushes it more with a newer blues rock approach and with tight drumming from Whittle and backing vocals by Deli Rowe feels fresh.  My c...