Bman's Blues Report

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Jangling Sparrows - Bootstraps and Other American Fables - New Release Review

By Bman - March 06, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bootstraps and Other American Fables , from Jangling Sparrows and it's really cool. Opening with Estuaries , a rocker with a contemporary beat, rowdy vocals and a wide open guitar rhythm, this is a solid opener. All That I Was Never Afraid has a great "Frank Black" like feel with dynamic vocals and open jangling electric guitars by Paul Edelman and a strong melody, wrapped by stern lead guitar, firm bass work by Louis Stein and drums by Joe Grey. Highway Jawn is a really cool track with fleet fingered picking by Edelman and snappy snare work by Grey. This track has a definite country flair and brings to mind old Charlie Daniels. Boogie track, Label's All Mine has a great feel, formed by a walking bass line by Stein. Edelman story telling lyrics are accentuated by his dramatic delivery and loose guitar work making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is Bootstraps , an ...

Hamilton Loomis - This Season - New Release Review

By Bman - March 05, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the latest release, This Season , from Hamilton Loomis and I got to tell you, it's the best seasonal album I've ever heard (non traditional of course). I typically will only review a "seasonal" release just before the holidays, but this one somehow slipped by (came in too late for my work load) and I decided to listen to it anyway. I always like Loomis' work. Opening with the title track, This Season , Loomis has that great soulful funky beat that he's known for. Puts you in a good mood right off. Mike Meade's bass groove is perfect, Brannon McLeod's drumming is tight and Loomis' own vocal, keyboard and guitar is tops. This is the radio track but think of it in the class of Sly or Stevie Wonder. Super opener. Another cool funky pop track is Lay Around and Love . It's got the beat, it's got the hook and Hamilton's delivery on vocal and harmonica is super. The more contemporary but traditional G...

Jim Roberts & The Resonants - A Month of Sundays - New Relese Review

By Bman - March 04, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Month of Sundays , from Jim Roberts & The Resonants , and it's a cool blues, rock country fusion. Opening with blues rocker, Skeeters , Jim Roberts on lead vocal and slide guitar sets a strong pace. With a funky bass line by Rick Hollander, a hot sax solo by Pat Zicari and with Bobby Spencer on sax and Michael Leasure on drums, this is a solid opener. With a contemporary take on delta style blues on What Her Evil Do , Roberts vocals are deep and rich, slide acoustic guitar is tight and mandolin tasty and Joey Gomez adds a nice harmonica top giving it just the right touch. Title track, A Month of Sundays is a cool, jazzy track with a great bass line by Hollander. Hi fret slide work by Roberts over Hollanders bass line and the crisp drum work of Mike Harvey is strong. This track has that special weave making it my radio choice on the release. Long Haired Mississippi Hippie has a great groove with that North Mi...

Spona artist: Tomislav Goluban - Memphis Light - New Release Review

By Bman - March 03, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Light , from Tomislav Goluban , and it's a cool eastern European slice or blues. Opening with rocker, Hayloft Blues , harmonica man, Tomislav Goluban introduces his 11th studio release with the backing of Jeff Jensen on guitar, David Green on drums, Rick Steff on keys, and Bill Ruffino on bass. Jensen plays a hot intro on soulful blues number, Fun Starts Here , featuring Vince Johnson who really pounds out the lead vocals. Jensen smokes the track with a great guitar solo, contrasted with cool piano work by Steff. Country Bag , a strong Chicago blues style track gives Goluban a great opening to show his blues chops and guest, Mark Johnson lays down some real nice slide guitar giving the track great texture. Another flavor introduced is a surf blues, Party Time Blues , with it's rocking rhythm, melodic harmonica, a slick slide solo by Johnson and cool backing vocals by Reba Russell and Daunielle Hill. Wrap...

NOLA Blue records artist: Frank Bey - All My Dues Are Paid - New Release Review

By Bman - March 02, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, All My Dues Are Paid , by Frank Bey and it's a solid mix of R&B, soul, funk and blues. Opening with Eddie Palmieri's Idle Hands with it's excellent NO funk. Bey really works this one Jim Pugh on organ, Eric Spaulding on sax solo, Jack Sanford on bari sax, Nancy Wright on tenor sax, John Helbleib on trumpet, Alex Petersen on drums, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Martin Winstad on percussion, Kid Andersen on guitar and Lisa Leuschner Andersen on backing vocals. Excellent opener! Rick Estrin's, Calling All Fools is a great shuffle with some really cool work by Nancy Wright and showcasing Bey's silky smooth vocals. Very nice. One of my favorites on the release is another Rick Estrin track, I Bet I Never Cross Your Mind , with it's slow, bluesy approach, and terrific guitar work by Kid Andersen. Nancy Wright's sax is thick and juicy and Pugh's organ solo is prime. Percy Mayfield's Ha Ha in th...

Hipsterdumpster Records artist: Matty T Wall - Transpacific Blues Vol. 1 - New Release Review

By Bman - February 27, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Transpacific Blues Vol. 1 , from Matty T Wall and it's quite entertaining. Opening with John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom, Matty T Wall picks up Hookers classic and moves it forward. With toasty guitar riffs, solid vocals, the firm brush work of Ric Whittle on drums and Stephen Walker on bass, and the addition of great slide work of Dave Hole, this is a real cool opener. Hi Heel Sneakers gets a cool, funky treatment, with terrific lead by Wall and Eric Gales. Very nice. On Albert Collins' Quicksand , Kid Ramos steps up with Walls on lead guitar and with a rolling pace, quick shuffle keeps you bopping in your seat. Excellent! T Bone Walker's Stormy Monday take a different turn altogether with a great slow pace but with a different (than the original) melody. This adds tension and with hard grabbed, stinging, guitar riffs Wall keeps you plastered to your seat and listening close. Very cool. Kirk Fletcher sits...

Black Cat Bones - Tattered & Torn - New Release Review

By Bman - February 26, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tattered & Torn , by Black Cat Bones and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Manslaughter , with it's driving bass line by Jeff Daniels, Black Cat Bones show their blues rock roots. With Charlie Pitts on vocal, Jerry Sommers on drums and Richard Rivera and Gary David on guitars these guys drum up the feeling of the early days of blues rock music and Humble Pie. Dead Broke Blues maintains a rock swagger and solid lead vocals, but what really stands out to me are the impressive guitar accent lines by Rivera and David. Rather than long flowing lines of solos, these guys insert strategically placed accents that set the track off nicely. Slow blues, The Race , has a real solid melody and lead vocal by Pitts and introduces some nice sax soloing by Clay Brown, Carla Brownlee (bari sax) and Amochip Dabney (in this order). Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release is rocker, Pay You Back With Interest ,...

Sugar Blue - Colors - New Release Review

By Bman - February 25, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Colors by Sugar Blue and the title reflects it's musical diversity. Opening with the familiar rhythms of Bo Diddley on And The Devil Too , Sugar Blue covers lead vocal but more importantly, plays some pretty frantically cool harmonica. Backed by Rico McFarland on guitar, Brady Williams, Llaria Lantieri on bass and Damiano Della Torre on keys a cool opener. We Will Be Alright is a smooth sensitive ballad with a strong melody. Backed by Della Torre on keys and the angelic vocals of Afrika Riz... very nice. A funky remix of The Beatles, Day Tripper , has a great beat, presents some of Sugar's best vocals on the release and gives Sugar a cool track to jam on harmonica over. Solid. Acoustic blues shuffle, Good Old Days , gets your foot stomping along with McFarland on guitar and Washboard Chaz on Washboard. Dragging out some excellent blues guitar riffs, McFarland really hits it as Sugar crafts a suggestive tale, Di...

Griff Hamlin and the Single Barrel Blues Band - I'll Drink To That - New Release Review

By Bman - February 24, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'll Drink To That , by Griff Hamlin and the Single Barrel Blues Band and I really like it. Opening with Texas/R&B flavored, Almost Level with the Ground , Griff Hamlin and the Single Barrel Blues Band sounds like a solid blend of SRV and Robert Cray. Great guitar tone and that super soulful feel by lead vocalist and guitar lead, Hamlin is blended with a wealth of organ by Ty Bailie and the horn backing of Jonathan Bradley on trumpet, Eric Letta on sax, Kevin Hicks on trombone and Laura Hamlin on bari sax making a great fabric, anchored by Mark Smith on bass and Chris Atchley on drums. Hamlin not only has the fat, rich tone but the man can scream on guitar with fluid, meaningful soloing. Excellent opener. Boogie shuffle, Down and Out has a strong, driving beat and complimenting Hamlin's solid lead vocal is super piano work of Bailie and his own liquid guitar riffs and punchy horns. Radio style blues ballad,...

Gypsy Soul Records artist: Bywater Call - Self titled - New Release Review

By Bman - February 21, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release by Bywater Call and it's very nice. Opening with thick, Derek Trucks like slide tone from Dave Barnes, Arizona is a soulful, funky pop rocker. Meghan Parnell has a smooth, soulful lead voice and backed by Samantha Martin, Stacie Tabb, Sherie Marshall and Chantal Williams, this is almost angelic. A nice sax solo by Jullian Nalli, tight trumpet by Stephen Dyte, a firm hand on bass by Mike Meusel, nicely worked keys by Alan Zemaitis and rhythmic drumming by Bruce McCarthy, this is a super opener. A super rock guitar riff by Barnes sets Talking Backwards on a straight ahead groove and again Parnell has a firm hand on the lead. Punchy horns, a hot sax solo by Nalli and just the right tough of organ and piano by Zemaitis make this a solid rocker. R&B ballad, Nightmare is really a great track with a super melody and lead vocals by Parnell. Backing vocals by Carleigh Aikins and Chantal Williams over a ligh...

Endless Blues Records artist: Kern Pratt - Greenville, MS ... what about you? - New Release Review

By Bman - February 20, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Greenville, MS … What about you? , from Kern Pratt and it's a straight up blues rocker. Opening with Loving That Feeling , Kern Pratt is digging into that southern funky blues pot with a great New Orleans rhythm. leading the way on vocal and guitar, this track is moving with Chris Gill on slide, Bobby Walker on rhythm guitar and drums and Bob Dowell on bass and keys. Cool opener. Slow blues track, Baby's Got Another Lover is a real nice track with Pratt singing lead and responding with smart guitar riffs of his own. With the addition of Shannon Goree on drums, this is one of my favorites on the release. In the vain of Jimmie Oden, Something's Gone Wrong has a really nice bottom courtesy of Dowdell and Pratt again gets a nice chance to stretch on guitar and Kris Jenson lays out a real nice sax solo. Bluesy ballad, Rita not only has nice instrumentation but a perfect radio melody. Sharing lead vocal spot w...

Chantel McGregor - Bury'd Alive - New Release Review

By Bman - February 19, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bury'd Alive from Chantel McGregor and it's a heavy power house blues rocker. Opening with lumbering, Take The Power , Chantel McGregor opens the show with a wall of sound starting with her power chords and solid vocals and backed by Colin Sutton on bass and Thom Gardner on drums. Opening the guitar barrage, McGregor wield her guitar like Thor's axe. Very heavy. Another track with a malicious attack is Caught Out with it's metalesque guitar riffs contrasted by McGregor's rock ready vocals. Sutton really works the bass with power surges and Gardner's drumming technique is tight and powerful. Very Strong. Eternal Dream is an elaborate production, using dynamic tension between the sweetness of McGregor's voice and light acoustic guitar to a heavy, fully loaded, searing, electric guitar with just the right distortion and blues rock riffs over a thumping bass line and drums. Very nice. I partic...

SSR Free Roll Records artist: Jack Mack & The Heart Attack - Live from Centennial Park, Atlanta 1996 - New Release Review

By Bman - February 18, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live From Centennial Park, Atlanta 1996 by Jack Mack & the Heart Attack and it's a great party. Opening with More Soul, a cool funky, organ infused track with punchy horns, Jack Mack is live! Hi stepping Breakin' Down The Wall , has solid lead vocals by TC Moses and Tim Scott who also plays bass, Andrew Kastner on guitar, Bill Bergman on tenor sax, John Paruolo on B3, Lester Lovitt on trumpet and Alvino Bennett on drums. Strong melody and vocal harmonies over a great bass line and a super rhythm guitar make this a great party track. Staples Singers' hit, I'll Take You There has a great groove and sets up nicely for the Heart Attack with it's fluid funky bass line, tight horn riffs and soulful vocals. Very cool. Another treat is one of my favorites, a cover of James Brown's Sex Machine . Let's face it, nobody's James Brown, but these guys do lay down a super groove for over 5 minutes, ...

VizzTone Label Group artist: 11 Guys Quartet - Small Blues and Grooves

By Bman - February 17, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Small Blues and Grooves from 11 Guys Quartet and it's very enjoyable. Opening with Freddie King styled, Road Trippin' , Paul Lenart on guitar leads the way, sharing the front line with VizzTone President, Richard Rosenblatt on harmonica and backed by Chuck Purro on drums and Bill "Coach" Mather on bass. Solid opener. Next up is high energy blues track, Jackrabbit, with hot riffs by Rosenblatt on harmonica. Lenart really pelts the guitar with his aggressive riffs, the group really giving it a good workout. Sleepless is a really nice slower blues with Rosenblatt blowing the harmony on harmonica. key accents by Lenart and firm bass work by Mather gives this track a solid footing on Purro's beat. I really like Speakeasy Serenade with stumble beat drumming by Purro and lower fret guitar melody by Lenart under the soulful harmonica wailing of Rosenblatt. Hey Daddyo is a real cool Bo Diddley infused ...

Shuttle Music artist: Jay Gordon's Blues Venom - Slide Rules - New Release Review

By Bman - February 14, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Slide Rules , from Jay Gordon's Blues Venom and it is really hot. Opening with Dripping Blues , a smoky, 12 bar number, Gordon is right there on the end of the limb with his flame thrower on full. This guy plays guitar like we all love to drive, foot on the gas...wide open. His vocals are really in the style of Steve Marriott (a great thing) and his slide touch is firm and full. Backed by Sharon Butcher on bass and Tom Parham on drums this is a solid opener. Another super slide number, Pain , is a solid showcase for Gordon and his slide guitar. Think Rod Price (Foghat) or Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown) for tone and sound. This guy definitely has it. Kicking it into gear, Lost In Time is a great rocker with more super slide work by Gordon. I don't want to make this seem like a one man band because the rhythm section is really solid but Gordon really does light it up. Very cool. Flipping over to an electric boogie, Lucky ...

Ron Addison - Testify - New Release Review

By Bman - February 13, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Testify , from Ron Addison and it's a super debut effort. Opening with title track, Testify , a rumbling blues rocker, vocalist Ron Addison shows real attitude, backed by Billy Crawford on lead guitar, Martin Addison on bass, Mike Stephenson on drums and with Charlotte Austin, Renee Mort and Lori Addison on backing vocals. Sax player, Mary Munsey plays a sultry intro on No Damn Good , a slow blues ballad. Ron shows that he's ready for the big times on lead vocal and DC Wolfe lays down some sweaty lead guitar work, making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Keep Loving Me is a solid rocker with a real Chuck Berry swagger. Wolfe's guitar riffs and the piano work of Don Eanes give Addison the power he needs. Nice job. Another bluesy ballad, Long Ago Another Time features Addison in a vocal duet with Samantha Grayson. This track has the most memorable melody on the release and again, some real nice ...

Rae Gordon Band - Wrong Kind of Love - New Release Review

By Bman - February 11, 2020

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wrong Kind Of Love , by Rae Gordon Band and it's solid. Opening with hi stepper, Comin' Back For More , Rae Gordon is in high gear immediately with her sassy vocals and high powered horn section of Allen Kalik on trumpet, Scott Franklin on sax and the power rhythm section of Pat McDougall on keys, Kivett Bednar on guitar, Ed Pierce on drums and Joseph Conrad on bass. Bednar peels away with a ripping trill and laid out guitar solo before a funky conclusion. Great opener. Soulful ballad, How You Gonna is a certain radio track and super showcase for Gordon's vocals. Nicely harmonized vocals with Bednar and McDougall, with warm organ work by McDougall and trumpet highlights by Kalik make for a tidy package. My favorite track on the release is Sea Of Blue , a slower blues track with an inviting organ leader. Bednar and McDougall maintaining a calm sea under the tempest of Gordon's vocals creates nice tension...

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