Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues and Cubes , from The Jazz Professors , and it's a full helping for straight up jazz. Opening with Blue Lamp , Jeff Rupert on sax and Dan Miller on trumpet share the lead on this first track exploring the work of Picasso. Joined by Per Danielsson on piano, Bobby Koelble on guitar, Marty Morell on percussion and Richard Drexler on bass. Cool opener. On Les Damoiselles D'avignon , Morell sets a tasty drum rhythm and Drexler's aggressive lines really have his bass humming. Danielsson lays out a terrific piano solo, followed by Rupert whose fluid sax work is undeniable. Koelble's fret work avoids the cliché with clean, thoughtful articulation. Very nice.  I really like Charlie Parker's Segment with it's paired trumpet/sax lead and tight yet highly active bottom by Drexler. Rupert's lead sax lines, punctuated by Danielson is really nicely matched with the great trumpet attack by Miller. Excellen...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Puzzlebox , from Clint Bahr and it's an interesting progressive adventure. Opening with Tabula Rasa , Clint Bahr on tambura is joined by David Jackson on flute and Dan Parkington on sitar. A somewhat freeform piece, it sets the table for a wild adventure. Rocker, New Design , features Bahr on bass, vocal, acoustic guitar, Mellotron, Moog, Baglama Raz, wood flute and percussion with Mike Hough on drums and cymbals and Jeff Schiller on bari sax, tenor sax and clarinet and quite reminds me of Adrienne Belew in style. Fall From Grace is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a definite Robert Fripp / Mahavishnu influenced structure. Adding Colin Carter on vocal, Billy Ficca on drums and cymbals, and Dan Parkington on violin this track is really cool. Kicking The Wasps Nests is a great driving rocker adding Peter Banks on solo guitar, Ficca on drums and Jack Schiller on sax... just enough structure to make it power...

  We went to an exceptional show on Friday night and if you get the opportunity to see this on tour somewhere, take the time. The show at Phoenix's famous Rhythm Room was booked as Thornetta Davis , Detroit's Queen of the Blues with an allstar blues review but it was so much more. I see and hear a lot of music but this was a lot of talent on one stage. I wasn't familiar with Thornetta's work but I always like to see Johnny Burgin when he's in town so we made the trek. The band was Bob Corritore (harmonica master and club owner), Jimi Primetime Smith , solid guitar player and a great voice, 91 year old Bob Stroger on bass who has a number of releases on his own (Eddie King, Otis Rush Sunnyland Slim, Big Eyes Smith, Carey Bell, Pinetop Perkins) and Dave Keyes on keys who has just released another new album (Popa Chubby, Odettta, David Johansen, Bo Diddley, Ronnie Specter, Eddie Clearwater, Ruth Brown, Levon Helm). Each prime member of the band got at lease two t...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Medication Time , from Todd Sharpville, and it's a solid rocker. Opening with Walk Out In The Rain , Todd Sharpville on vocal and guitar sets a tense stage with his intense vocal and Clapton like guitar riffs. Joined by Bruce Bears on Hammond, Brad Hallen on bass and Mark Texeira on drums, this is an attention grabber of an opener. Driving track, Get Outta My Way features Doug James on Bari sax, Mark Early on tenor sax, Carl Querfurth on trombone and Doc Chanonhouse on trumpet and put to great use with a full horn delivery and a strong sax solo by Early. House Rules is a great track that's likely to get you up on your feet. With it's tight rhythm and slick guitar soloing by Sharpville, this track is super. Larry McCray joins on guitar and vocal on Brothers From Another Mother and the guy's voices actually pair up quite nicely (McCray on the left). McCray and Sharpville jam out pretty nicely for the last...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ride On , by Ron Addison and it's a cool blues fused rocker. Opening with title track, Ride On , Ron Addison on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Mary Munsey on keys, Erin Larkin on backing vocals, Herb Olshin on guitar, Will Dowell on bass and Brian Seiler on drums. A straight up radio track, a solid opener. Picnic With You is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a swampy, Tony Joe White feel. Addison's guitar and vocals both show real swagger and Duane Catfish Frye adds some real cool harmonica. Bluesy ballad, Doug MacCleod's The Sun Shine Down My Way is a real nice showcase for Addison on vocal and guitar over warm organ and features some real nice sax by Munsey. Very nice. Hoo Doo is another really cool track with a great Latin beat by Seiler and guitar reverb.  Slow blues, My Heart Can't Be Broken Any More gives Addison a real nice opportunity to show his blues guitar chops with plenty o...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Road To The Blues , by Dave Thomas and it's a solid blues rock release. Opening with title track, Road To The Blues , Dave Thomas on lead vocal and guitar keeps it simple with a basic shuffle backed by Steve Jinks on bass and drums and James Goodwin on piano. Up tempo shuffle, Eye On The Money , has a lighter feel with cool guitar runs by Thomas and with the add of Michael Smith and Phil Marshall on sax, this track swings. Slower blues ballad, Another Girl is my favorite track on the release with soulful vocals by Thomas and really nice piano work by Goodwin. With a velvety pace and perfect piano phrasing, this track is tops. On After All These Years , a modern presentation of delta style blues, Thomas on guitar and vocal and backed by Gareth Tucker on harmonica and Jinks on bass and drums stretches a little on electric guitar giving the release just a little blues juice. Wrapping the release is Chuck Berry's, Memp...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Succubus Swing , by Xanthan and it's a experimental rock band with many threads of influence. Opening with (Hey You) Hybyc , Xanthan shows heavy musical overtones with power guitar work by Max Miller and precise drum riffs by Boz Miller with Corin Gatwood on bass and vocal. I like the progressive nature of the guitar lead on Colliskeions 23 . With it's Fripp like construction and rock like attack, this may be my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is In Killeen with a driving drum rhythm, riding guitar stream and a guitar rhythm that really works well with the thumping bass work of Gatwood. This track mixes darkness with brightness making it's own way. A cool closer.    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 gr...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Lights Went Out In Dallas, by Mike Morgan and the Crawl and it's super. Opening with Ding Dong Daddy , Mike Morgan is up front on lead vocal and guitar dueling with master Anson Funderburgh and it's an excellent opener with Drew Allain on bass, and Danny Cochran on drums. With a name like Funkafaction , you know it's gonna be funky, with Morgan on guitars, Mike Flanigin on B3, Reo Casey on Rhodes piano, Allain on bass and Kevin Schermerhorn on drums. This is a strong track that really moves. Title track, The Lights Went Out In Dallas , has a catchy melody and firm lead vocals by Morgan and backing vocals by Andrea Wallace plus Matt Farrell on B3 making it my choice for radio track for the release. I like the groove of boogie, Out In The Jungle with it's low slung rhythm and guitar pace. Morgan on vocal and guitar, Casey steps up with a cool solo on guitar himself and the slap rhythm of Schermerhorn on ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Night At The Rhythm Room , by Until The Sun and it's a solid blues based rocker. Opening with Battle Cry , Alyssa Swartz is upfront on lead vocal and has just the right blend of grit and polish. With Brandon Teskey on guitar, Chris Tex on drums and Glenn Peacock on bass, this band is tight and stout. Southern California born, Teskey opens Hell of a Thing with a red hot blues solo, paving the way for Swartz's vocal lead. This is his showcase and his tone is pure and sweet and his dynamics noteworthy. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Death in Disguise with a good emotional balance between Swartz and Teskey. Soul ballad, Burning Home , has some real radio potential with a solid melody, good front work by Swartz and just enough guitar adornment to catch your interest. Wrapping the release is Led Zep's Whole Lotta Love with open guitar interpretation by Teskey over a solid base by Peacock...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Lush , by Lauren Glick and it's a smooth mix of blues and rock. Opening with ballad, Don't Add Up , Lauren Glick on vocal, bass and keys, blows open the doors on this release with vocal power. Her voice is solid and the melody is very radio oriented. With tight backing by Scott Malaby on guitar, Bobby Malaby on drums and Matt Vangasbeck on keys, this is a solid opener. Soulful, Love and Peace , is pure melody with Glick up front and center on vocal with only enough instrumentation to back a solid radio track. Her voice is gritty enough to make it stand out yet, smooth enough to appeal to a broad audience. With a lot of punch, Poor Boy , has a cool back beat and warmed up by Vangasbeck's organ work, one of my favorites on the release. Glick's vocals really work well on this track and Malaby's guitar accents really add nicely to the mix. Wrapping the release is Perfectly Capable , with it's bluesy gu...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Phantom Threshold , from Steve Dawson, and it's an interesting blend of blues and country. Opening with Cozy Corner with a meandering melody somewhat like a movie soundtrack, Dawson blends acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, and marxophone with Jay Bellerose on drums, Jeremy Holmes on bass, Chris Gestrin on keys and Daniel Lapp on violins providing a supple background for his solo pedal steel explorations. Very cool.  Ol' Brushy has a funky bottom with Gestrin on Wurlitzer, clavinet and organ, Bellerose on snare and Homes on bass providing a really strong framework allowing Dawson's steel guitar soloing in contrast with Gestrin's own melodic work. The Waters Rise is a pure C&W style melody with steel guitar lead over a rhythm strum on a National tricone and with really smart accordion work by Fats Kaplan. One of my favorites on the release. Lily's Resistor is a really nice track in 3/4 time...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stripped Down In Memphis , from Big Jack Johnson and it's a big helping of old school, delta style blues. Opening with Jimmy Reed's Baby What You Want Me To Do , Big Jack Johnson on guitar and vocal is teamed up with Kim Wilson on harmonica. With a steady, jangly acoustic guitar rhythm under his solid vocal delivery and Wilson's soulful harmonica riffs, this is a great opener. Andy Gibson's The Hucklebuck is a classic with the electric guitar turned up to warm. A stirring rhythm and again with Wilson soloing on harmonica, this is a terrific track. Wild Child Butler's See Me Coming is a cool, laid back, blues jam feat Butler on harmonica and vocal and Johnson on guitar and vocal. Wrapping the release is Bill Doggett's The Hully Gully Twist with Wilson on harmonica and Johnson on electric guitar. A rambling blues with a romping guitar lead and harmonica solo counterpoint, this is a strong closer fo...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bring It , by Miss Bix, and it's a cool blend of blues, rock, pop and soul. Opening with Ain't No Such Thing , Leslie Letven Bixler (Miss Bix) fronts the band on lead vocal, backed by Frank Goldwasser on guitar and Ralph Carter on bass, drums and guitar. A soul fused number with nicely blended vocals, a nice opener. On country flavored Trail of Tears , Goldwasser's slide guitar work really gives the track a southern blues rock feel, with Carter on resonator and Bix's vocals are soulful and lively. The Girl You Adore is one of my favorites on the release with a strong melody and really nice vocals by Bix. With Goldwasser on 12 string, John Thomas on Wurlitzer and Carter on bass, this track really has meat. Funky, Red Walls pairs Bix with Keeshea Pratt on vocal making for a really strong sound. Goldwasser on guitar, Tom Canning on B3, Bill Bixler on sax and Carter on guitar, bass and drums gives this track...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Established 1972 , by The Nighthawks and it's a solid rocker. Washington D.C.'s legendary blues rockers have released a new album and they haven't lost a step. Opening with rocker, Nobody , Mark Wenner is upfront on harmonica and lead vocal, backed by Dan Hovey on guitar, Mark Stutso on drums and Paul Posciotta on bass. With it's driving rhythm and take no prisoners feel, this is a strong opener. Boogie track, Coming and Going , not only has a great rhythm but the concept line is great and Hovey's guitar lead is hot. Wenner lays in some real nice blues riffs on harmonica making this one of my favorites on the release. Ask Me Nice has a really bluesy feel with trademark harp tones and phrasing by Wenner and an overall slinky vibe. Funky, Gas Station Chicken , has a great bass line by Pisciotta and fine vocals punched up by Wenner on harmonica and some flashy guitar work by Hovey. Very cool. Wrapping the...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Yard Sale , by J-Rad Cooley and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Livin' Downtown , J-Rad Cooley leads on piano, harmonica and vocal. Joined by Victor Wainwright on piano, Aubrey McCrady on guitar, Josh Karrick on bass and Shake E. Folkes on drums, this is a simple pop rocker. Bluesy, Now She's A Drifter has a real warm feeling with strong vocals by Cooley and great piano backing by Wainwright. Lightly funky All Night Mama has a nice strut, and a regal backbeat with real nice piano and drum work. Wrapping the release is my favorite track on the release, Til Hate Is Gone , a swampy ballad with a lot of soul. This is a nice showcase for Cooley on vocal and songwriter, and his own harmonica playing adds a nice contrast over the keyboard/drum combo, tasty guitar riffs and backing vocals. This is an excellent closer for this release, sounding like it's from Muscle Shoals studio.        If yo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Novare , from Harvey Valdes and it's quite good. This is a performance of J.S. Bach's Lute Works on electric guitar and  this isn't just any electric guitar but a super hot rod Tesla Classic guitar designed and built by extraordinary German luthier, Ulrich Teuffel. These guitars are built to do things that other guitars can't and Valdes shows how very good they can sound. It's difficult to pick through a classical composition describing nuance and style. The project consists of Lute Suite in C, BWV 997 (which has been arranged in A-Flat Minor);  Prelude, Fugue and Allegro in E-Flat Major, BWV 998 (which has been arranged in D-Flat Major); Prelude In C Minor, BWV 999 (which has been arranged in D-Flat Minor); and Fugue in G Minor, BWV 1000 (which has been arranged in A-Flat Minor). Needless to say, these pieces have been exquisitely composed and now interpreted and executed by Valdes who demonstrates ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Take Your Time , from Ben Levin and it's a super entry to a strong line of super releases by Levin. Opening with title track, Take Your Time , Levin on piano and vocal fronts a band of great players including my man Johnny Burgin on guitar and Shorty Starr on drums. A cool shuffle track this is a strong opener and gives Burgin space to lay down some real nice riffs. Lil Ed Williams joins on Why Do Things Happen To Me with his distinctive guitar feel and vocal work. I really like the work that Levin has been doing and paired with Lil Ed on guitar, Aron Levin on guitar, Walter Cash on bass and Ricky Nye on drums, he's on fire. Burgin is up again as featured lead player on Latin influenced, Out Of Your Own Way . Burgin can really set the fuel and ignite it and I can tell his playing style immediately. I didn't know he was playing on this release on the first pass through and I heard this track and said... wow Joh...