Blues Rocker Bobby Messano Release Climbs Charts

Bobby Messano Release Scores Huge on the Charts Love & Money Climbs both Roots Music Report and Billboard Bobby Messano's latest release is getting hotter and hotter as the artist continues his relentless nationwide coast to coast tour.  "Nothing beats the thrill of putting your heart into your music and then performing in front of thousands of blues fans, absolutely nothing", shared the veteran blues rocker. "The live reaction we are feeling to the songs on Love & Money is just incredible. It really is true, if you open up by going deep within people relate.  We're working our way up and down the east coast and then out to the West coast and the crowds have been phenomenal all along the way.  It's their reaction to "Love & Money" that's keeping us excited as we move city by city, state by state. The write ups we're getting in magazines like Blues Blast, Mississippi Blues Club, and Making a Scene Magazine plus the number of radio stations that are cranking out repeat plays is really fanning the flames.  Man, this one great summer!" Breaking News - Bobby Messano's Love & Money just nominated for Blues Blast Magazine's Rock Blues Album of the year....   Quick click path to Love & Money sample tracks (iTunes) Bobby Messano's "Love & Money" enters the Top 50 as reported by Roots Music Report "Love & Money" zooms to #7 on Billboard's Blues Album chart Below: Blues fans take a seat down front to see the legendary blues rocker perform at Wisconsin's Summerfest event

Arthur James - Me, Myself & I - New Release Review

I just received the newest release; Me, Myself & I from Arthur James and it's solid. Opening with 292 Nashua St., an easy flowing country style blues, James shows his command of rural country style blues picking techniques. Very nice. Blues, Blues, Blues digs into a basic 1-4-5 style and accompanies himself on guitar. His voice is well suited for acoustic blues and his technique is fluid. This is a cool track with some slick but traditionally rooted riffs. What You Tryin' To Do has a classic Piedmont styling and James' own vocal flair makes this a very an interesting variation on the common theme. Long Black Road has a real nice guitar vamp and a few JLH style riffs and again James' vocals blend nicely for original blues styling. Ooh Yeah! has a blues rock feel and a bit more modern feel. It still has a older root but with more modern execution techniques. Boogie track Things Ain't No Better has a solid rudimentary styling and James' vocals are as strong as on any track and with it's break out guitar solo, it may be my favorite for the release. Got Me A Woman is a rambling blues track with a fleet 1-4-5 without much adornment. Drownin' On Dry Land has a much more contemporary sound with traces to the root of blues. Forgotten Youth is a very modern take on blues with a strong ballad feel but slide acoustic guitar addition giving a more rural feel. Traditional song, Kumbaya, is almost unrecognizable with it's rework. An interesting guitar twist and a less sing song melody makes for a pleasant break. Waiter There's A Bomb In My Soup has a very contemporary feel. Interesting Richie Havens like composition. Wrapping the release,  Life, has a more esoteric feel with nice soloing techniques as well as harmonics.

  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 favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Cozmik Records artist: The JC Smith Band - Love Mechanic - New release review

I just received the newest release, Love Mechanic, from The JC Smith Band, and it's a ripper. Opening with jump track, Jump For Joy, Smith is out of the box on lead vocals pushed notably by Donnie Green on drums and Tommy Maitland on trumpet. Abraham Vasquez and David Sandez rips it up with nice sax work and Smith lays down a nice guitar solo as well. A rock version of Mr James Brown's infamous Cold Sweat is up next with an almost JB like roll. It cool hearing someone taking James Browns hottest track and using what is his trademark rhythm solid bass line and turning it back on itself by Robert Green. Very Cool idea. Smith wails again on lead guitar backed by the horn section making for a cool cover. R&B ballad, Come On Home To Me, is up next with a nice piano solo by Richard Palmer. Title track, Love Mechanic, is a blues rocker with a bit of chug a lug compliments of Green and Green. Cool rhythm work with horn backing and JC cuts loose with a real nice guitar solo and Todd Reid is hot on the organ as well. On shuffle track, Ring Around The Tub, Smith lays down a nice guitar solo adding to his clever lyrics. Elmore James' track, Yonder Wall gets a total make over with a heap of funk. I really like Green's drum work on this track and Vasquez and Sandez set down some real nice sax work. Smith lays in a real nice solo of his own but for me on this track it's the Green's that make it happen. Bad, Bad Feeling has a totally different feel with a simple almost train style blues rhythm and what to my ears sounds like banjo solo. Little Walter track, Last Night, takes the slow road and Smith digs in nicely on the guitar intro. Todd Reid really lays it out nicely on organ on this track making it one of my favorites on the release. Super star guitar man, Chris Cain, joins on Elmore James' shuffle track, Talk To Me Baby, and he really rips it. Staying in shuffle mode, Rocket To The Moon, has a real nice feel with a nice muted trumpet solo by Maitland and sax solo by Vasquez and Sandez. Eddie Boyd's, Five Long Years, gives Smith a chance to stretch the strings out a bit again and he does a nice job. Smith's vocals on this track are probably his best and with excellent backing by Reynolds and Maitland, a real fine track. Wrapping the release is Toronzo Cannon's Ain't No Stranger. Smith and Vasquez trade solos and Maitland and Reynolds provide solid horn support over a nice driving bass line by Green.

  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 favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Kern Pratt - Broken Chains - New release Review

I just received the newest release, Broken Chains, from Kern Pratt and the boy can play. Opening with Greenville Mississippi Blues, an Elmore James like track with nice slide riffs and Eden Brent on piano. Lights Are On But Nobody's Home is up next with a compliment of horns including Lacy Blackledge on trumpet, Bob Henderson on sax, Pete Verbois on bari and Chris Belleau on trombone. There is some exceptionally warm sax work here that you should check out and Kern absolutely smokes the guitar on this slow blues number. Excellent! Somewhere South Of Mississippi has a radio style format but nice and clean... well written. David Hyde runs a nice bass line on this track and Denise Owens on backing vocals adds a bit of warmth. Black Hannah is a high stepper with tight drums by Nelson Blanchard, nice vocals with Kern and Owens and tight horn work from Blackledge, Henderson, Verbois and Belleau. Nice blues rock guitar riffs lay out nicely on this track making it a sure radio crossover track. Cotton Pickin' is a cool upbeat blues track a great lead guitar line and sax melodic response. One that I will point out that my old pal Stilladog will likely really dig. I do! Don't Leave Me Baby has a Rhumba beat with Blanchard really digging in. Kern shares the guitar stage with Kenny Neal and along with Henderson and Verbois really crank this track up. It Hurts Me Too takes a more traditional feel with Luc Borms on harp and Pratt on acoustic guitar. Very nice! Handcuffed To The Blues gets more into a funky rock feel with an Albert King style guitar attack. Pratt, Owen, Elaine Foster and Blanchard get an almost gospel blend on vocal on this track. Very cool! Smokin' Gun features Denise Owen on lead vocal backed by Pratt for another radio track. There are some nice vocal harmonies on this track and Kern does some some hot riffs off as well. Soulshake, a classic revival style track from the 70's is up next and the vocals are blended nicely, the horns are hot and the drums are tight. Sit back and wait for the hot sax solo! Excellent! Closing the release is Broken Chains, an Eerie resonator guitar solo by Wes Lee. Almost ends too quickly. Very nice!

  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 favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

West Tone Records artist: The Lucky Losers - A Winning Hand - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, A Winning Hand, from The Lucky Losers featuring Cathy Lemons and Phil Berkowitz. Opening with Change In The Weather, a bluesy pop track, with just a touch of funk. Phil and Cathy share lead vocals and Michael Peloquin (sax), Tom Poole (trumpet) and Mike Rinta (trombone) add a nice horn section. Upbeat rocker, I Take What I Want, features a nice harp solo from Phil and drums with Robi Bean. Jimmy Rogers' What Have I Done, is up next with a cool easy swing beat. Cathy and Phil share lead vocals and Chris Burns carries the load on piano. Title track and southern rocker, A Winning Hand, features Steve Freund on lead guitar. This track has a familiar feel like a blend of (Sweet Home Alabama, Werewolf of London and Last Dance with Mary Jane). Suicide By Love has a primary bluesy jazz feel. Joe Kyle on upright bass and Jay Hansen on drums set the stage and Chris Burns lays down a nice sheet of piano. Lemons takes the lead on vocal and this may be the coolest track on the release, featuring a nice solo from Phil on harp and Kid Andersen on guitar. Bob Dylan's What Was It You Wanted gets a funky bottom compliments Steve Hazlewood on bass and Robi Bean on drums. Chris Burns' B3 work on the track adds a nice warmth and Marvin Green hits the note on lead guitar as Cathy and Phil share lead vocals. Allen Toussaint's What Is Success has a nice warm jazzy feel with Ben Rice on slide guitar mimicking the note sliding effect of Cathy and Phil's voices and Burns does a particularly nice job on piano. Long Hard Road is Phil's best vocal effort on a funky jazz number. Marvin Greene is back again laying down some tasty guitar riffs backed by Kevin Zuffi on organ, and Peloquin and Poole on horns. Uptempo blueser Baby You Got What It Takes has a great driving rhythm courtesy of Kid Andersen, Marvin Greene and Steve Hazlewood. Phil steps up with a hot harp solo on this number as well making it one my favorites on the release. Cry No More has a touch of Latin rhythm making for a nice pleasant ride. Zuffi rolls the Nord keyboard for a nice flavorful solo and Bean keeps the bottom tight. Driving blues track, Detroit City Man, gets a nice boogie groove going with Bean on drums, Evans on bass and Berkowitz on harp carrying the load as Lemons has the lead vocals. Wrapping the release is Don't You Lose It, a slow country blues ballad. Burns creates a nice effect with his Wurlitzer piano, the tempo and vocal blending on this track and the guitar work by Andersen make this a great finisher.

  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 favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

New CD from British Blues Godfather John Mayall, "Find a Way to Care," Set for Release September 4th on Forty Below Records

New CD from British Blues Godfather John Mayall, Find a Way to Care, Set for Release September 4th on Forty Below Records

Vinyl LP to Follow in Fall

LOS ANGELES, CA – Forty Below Records announces a September 4th release date for Find a Way to Care, the new CD from legendary blues musician John Mayall, distributed by Sony/RED. Forty Below Records will also release a special vinyl LP version of the new album in the fall.

Watch the video trailer premiere of the making of the Find a Way to Care album here: 

Produced by John Mayall (who also did the graphic design and artwork for the album) and Forty Below’s Eric Corne, Find a Way to Care was recorded at the House of Blues Studio in Encino, California. In addition to Mayall (vocals, piano, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, clavinet, guitar and harmonica), featured on the sessions are Rocky Athas (lead and rhythm guitar), Greg Rzab (bass) and Jay Davenport (drums), who collectively are now into their seventh year as John’s band. The group is also augmented by a horn section on several tracks.

About the new album, Eric Corne says, “I really wanted to feature John's keyboard playing on this record. He’s truly one of the most lyrical, economical and underrated keyboardists around. We also wanted to change things up a bit after the success of A Special Life and the addition of a horn section on several tracks was a really fun way to do that. As good as the last album was, I think this one is even better.”

The even-dozen tracks on Find a Way to Care include a scintillating group of new songs and savvy covers of “Mother in Law Blues” (Don Robey),  “The River’s Invitation” (Percy Mayfield), “I Feel So Bad”(Lightnin’ Hopkins), “Long Distance Call” (Muddy Waters), “I Want All My Money Back” (Lee Baker) and Drifting Blues” (Charles Brown).

About his choice of cover songs on the new album, Mayall says, “Every time I make an album, I always feel I owe it to my fans to come up with fresh and varied interpretations of the blues. With this in mind, I chose an assemblage of songs that includes perhaps some slightly lesser-known bluesmen, and that all had either different beats or special instrumental treatments. I also found three songs that would be further enhanced by the addition of horns.”

Added to the mix are original songs that always feature Mayall’s take on the current human condition, as well as universal truths. “As always, I draw from my own experiences and thoughts about things in my life so that from album to album I create on ongoing musical diary of my life,” he explains. “The blues never lets me down!”

Find a Way to Care comes following an especially exciting year-long period of great music from Mayall that included the 2014 release of his first studio album in five years, A Special Life, and the April, 2015, release of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – Live in 1967 (Never Before Heard Live Performances). The live album was a critically-lauded archival recording of one of the best of his Bluesbreakers band lineups that featured Mayall, as well as Peter Green (lead guitar), John McVie (bass) and Mick Fleetwood (drums). It showcased a band that was together for only a scant three months, yet created a lasting legacy, made an immense impact on music and led to the formation of one of the most acclaimed groups of all-time when Green, McVie and Fleetwood left to form Fleetwood Mac.

For over 50 years, John Mayall has served as a pioneer of blues music, rightly earning him the title, “The Godfather of British Blues.” In 2013, John signed with producer Eric Corne’s label, Forty Below Records, and has since been experiencing a true artistic and career renaissance.

He continues to perform extensively both in the USA and abroad, and has an ambitious touring schedule in place for the rest of the summer and fall that was booked by Monterey International Artists (www.montereyinternational.net).

To download a hi-res color photo of John (photo by Jeff Fasano), click here: http://www.markpuccimedia.com/John-Mayall.jpg

For more information, visit www.johnmayall.com and www.fortybelowrecords.com

Find a Way to Care Track Listing

1     MOTHER IN LAW BLUES    key of E                                                      3:11

2     THE RIVER’S INVITATION    key of Bb                                                 3:47

3     AIN’T NO GUARANTEES      key of Eb                                                  3:24

4     I FEEL SO BAD    key of E                                                                           4:18

5     FIND A WAY TO CARE   key of F                                                            3:41

6     LONG DISTANCE CALL    key of G                                                         4:29

7     I WANT ALL MY MONEY BACK   key of Bb                                        3:18

8     ROPES AND CHAINS   key of A                                                              4:17

9     LONG SUMMER DAYS   key of D                                                          3:50

10   DRIFTING BLUES   key of G                                                                     4:20

Bonus Tracks

11   WAR WE WAGE    key of B                                                                     4:15

12   CRAZY LADY    key of G                                                                            3:34

John Mayall Current US Tour Itinerary

7/1                         Whisky a Go Go                                                Hollywood, CA

7/2                         Belly Up Tavern                                                Solana Beach, CA

7/3                         The Coach House                                             San Juan Capistrano, CA

7/5                         The Canyon Theater                                       Agoura Hills, CA

7/7                         Soho Restaurant & Music Club                   Santa Barbara, CA

7/8                         Moe’s Alley Blues Club                                  Santa Cruz, CA

7/9                         Ace of Spades                                                   Sacramento, CA

7/10                       Yoshi’s                                                                  Oakland, CA

7/11                       City Winery                                                         Napa, CA

7/12                       Rogue Theatre                                                  Grants Pass, OR

7/13                       Tower Theatre                                                  Bend, OR

7/14                       Shedd Institute for the Arts                        Eugene, OR

7/15                       Aladdin Theater                                                Portland, OR

7/16-7/19            Jazz Alley                                                             Seattle, WA

Additional dates forthcoming …

Stony Plain Records artist: Jeff Healey - Vintage Jazz, Swing and Blues - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Vintage Jazz, Swing and Blues from Jeff Healey and it's great! Healey, a serious vintage record collector (over 30,000 78's of classic 20's and 30's music) was well known as Canada's top rock and blues guitar player and band leader but prior to his untimely death in 2008 opened a club in Toronto and formed Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards. Fortunately, some of that fine work that Jeff did in his love for the early music is compiled here as a part of The Best of Series. Opening with Kalmar and Ruby's Three Little Words, featuring Healey on vocal and guitar, Jesse Barksdale on rhythm guitar Reide Kaiser on piano, Colin Bray on bass and the exceptional solo work of Tom Pletcher on coronet and Dan Levinson on clarinet. You've never heard Healey play this guitar style. Excellent! Lang and Venuti's intrumental, The Wildcat, screams along with really nice violin work from Drew Jurecka on violin and Healey on guitar. Wow! Carmichael and Parish classic, Star Dust, features Healey's solid vocals with Roberto Rosenman with an excellent guitar solo. Snyder, Smith and Wheeleer composition, The Sheik of Araby, finds Healey not only on lead vocal but playing really fine trumpet along with Ross Woolridge on clarinet, Jurecka on violin, Reide Kaiser on piano, Colin Bray on bass and Gary Scriven on drums and washboard. This track rips! Jones and Collins, Guitar Duet Stomp, shows some of Healey's most sensitive guitar work along the lines of Django and Bireli. Strong! Harling and Coslow track Sing You Sinners really digs into the Dixieland sound. This track has the full lineup with Healey on vocal, trumpet and guitar; Jurecka on violin, Barksdale on guitar; Bray on bass; Christopher Plock on soprano and alto sax; Chris Barber on trombone and Brian Graville on piano. Excellent! Hill and Williams composition, I Would Do Anything For You, features Healey on vocal, guitar and trumpet, Plock on soprano sax, Gary Scriven on drums, Barksdale on acoustic guitar and kaiser on piano. Super! Mercer and Malneck swinger, Pardon My Southern Accent, features Healey on vocal, Scriven on drums, Bray on bass, Kaiser on piano, Danny Douglas on trombone and Ross Woolridge on clarinet. Shelton Brooks' Some Of These Days, features an excellent acoustic "gypsy" guitar solo and trumpet solo from Healey. This track swings! Meyer and Ruby composition, My Honey's Lovin' Arms, shows just how smooth Healey can be on lead vocal on these tracks, with Levinson matching up nicely on clarinet to Pletcher on coronet. Kaiser on piano and Bray on bass fill out the piece with Barksdale on rhythm guitar and Healey throws out a really nicely articulated swing guitar solo. Fine! Carmichael's Hong Kong Blues has a comical feel to it next to much of the release but some of the guitar picking on this track is so fine it had to be included. Wrapping the release is Pinard, Bernie and Casey's classic, Sweet Georgia Brown, and it is a full out jam with Healey singing over the top backed by Barber on trombone, Jurecka on violin, Plock on sax, Barksdale on guitar, Bray on bass, Graville on piano and Scriven on drums. This is an excellent review of Healey's work outside of the blues rock genre and a must have for anyone at all interested in contemporary swing jazz. Excellent!

  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 favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Cheap Wine Records artist: Sleepy Eyes Nelson - Hair of The Dog - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Hair Of The Dog, from Sleepy Eyes Nelson and it's a selection of live tracks from his 2015 American tour. Opening with John Lee Granderson's Watch Out Girl, Nelson's vocals are clear and his guitar is strong. Billy Bizor's, She Stays Drunk, is a great foot stomper with classic lyrics and driving riffs. Unemployment Blues is a cool track written by Nelson. A bit more contemporary sounding but with all of the trace items to the original, I like it. Nappy Brown's Night Time Is The Right Time, continues in the finger picked theme and nicely articulated tracks. Lil' Son Jackson track, Young Woman's Blues has always been on the favorite list and Nelson does a real nice job with it using a sliding techniques that I particularly like. I Spent It All has the sounds of rain in the background giving it a particularly nice ambiance. Continuing into Salad Dodger which is uptempo and certainly a blues but almost a rocker. Cool! Lightnin' Hopkins tracks Late In The Evening and Gambling Blues are great with authentic Hopkins riffs. You Don't Steal From Me has a real nice guitar break and traditional style melody. Very nice! Old House Covered In Blues is played on slide guitar and has a haunting quality. Although not a traditional slide sound, I really like Nelson's style. Blind Boy Fuller's Step It Up And Go has a real nice driving rhythm and the real roots of rock. Wrapping the release is Bad Luck Follows Me Around has a ballad feel and a fine story. A cool conclusion to this traditional blues release... oh and I really like toe cover art!

  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 favorites band! -  ”LIKE”