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Exclusive Blues Interviews, Blues Reviews, Blues Videos, Top Blues Artists, New Blues Artists.
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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com
I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
14th Annual Blues From The Top Festival: Trampled Under Foot Reunion, Much More!
Friday Music artist: Paul Nelson Band - Badass Generation - New Release review
I just received the newest release, Badass Generation, from the Paul Nelson Band and it's quite entertaining. Opening with Down Home Boogie, lead guitarist Paul Nelson is joined by Morten Fredheim on lead vocal and he can sing. This track has great swagger, think early Lynyrd Skynyrd, and a bit of funk. Nelson lays out some scorching guitar riffs and Christopher Alexander on bass Chris Reddan really deliver. Certainly one of my favorite tracks on the release. Keep It All Together has a bit more rural country rock flavor leaning ever harder toward Skynyrd's "hit" sound including banjo riffs and simple, radio worthy guitar solos. Goodbye Forever has a light radio style almost reminiscent of Ozark Mountain Daredevils featuring Frank "Kingbee" Latore on harp. Aggressive but fluid guitar riffs ride the solid bass lines of Alexander giving this track a good hook. Rock driver, Cold Hearted Mama has a strong bottom, stinging guitar riffs and a relentless cowbell giving the track plenty of heat. Easy flowing, Please Come Home, has a catchy rhythm and a mellow vocal style, paired with wispy lead and slide riffs give the track a memorable pop feel. Rock shuffle, Root To All Evil, uses a basic drone style rhythm, setting the stage for tandem vocals, slashing guitar riffs and melodic vocals. Swamp Thing is a lumbering track with gritty vocals and blues riffs. This is actually a really cool track with traces of Jimmy Page and Judas Priest. Out Of Time is a simple rock ballad with a solid hook. Come With Me blends a thumping bass line with a really strong hook giving the track a great platform for rock guitar soloing. Just the right amout of flash makes this a stand out track. Trouble picks up the funk a bit but still retaining it's rock roots. I particularly like Reddan's drum work on this track giving it the extra kick and Nelson's guitar work is hot. Fooled By Love takes a full turn sounding like it was written in Philly. It has strong echoes of Darryl Hall or Todd Rundgren with a syrupy sweet melody, slick melodic guitar soloing and a bit of grunt under it to give it texture. Very cool! Wrapping the release is Take It Back with twin guitar leads and and a 38 Special kick. Alexander and Reddan really kick up the tempo and Nelson's ripping guitar lead gives Fredheim plenty of room to wrap it up. Very cool
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Ruf Records artist: Albert Castiglia - Big Dog - New Release review
I just received the newest release, Big Dog, from Albert Castiglia and it's voracious. Opening with Let The Big Dog Eat, Castiglia bursts into flames right out of the chute. With aggressive vocals and powerful guitar work, Castiglia picks up where he left off on his last release, Solid Ground .
Backed by Mike Zito on guitars, Scot Sutherland on bass, Rob Lee on drums and Lewis Stephens on keys, this is a terrific opener. Rolling blues, Don't Let Them Fool Ya has a real solid bass line and stinging guitar answer. This track has a bit of a loose vocal delivery and the guitar exchange between Zito and Castiglia puts me in mind a lot of Elvin Bishop attitude. Excellent! Shuffle track, Get Your Ass In The Van has the Elmore James/Hound Dog Taylor slide feel and Castiglia really rocks it. One of my favorite tracks on the release this track is smokin'! Slow and deliberate, Drowning At The Bottom, is a terrific blues track with excellent trem bends and soulful vocals. Castigli lays down some really expressive guitar lead here so heads up! Easing up on the pace, Let's Make Love In The Morning, would be an easy radio sell with simple, fluid, guitar lead and a cool melodic hook. Two stepper, What I Like About Miami, has cool vocal harmonies with alt country rock style guitar riffs. Easy Distance has a light funk bottom and Sutherland's bass work is hot! Castiglia is really comfortable at vocal on this type of track and with Stephens pushing a nice organ line. Castiglia's guitar work is crisp and nasty. Chicago style blues number, Where Did I Go Wrong, is another of my favorite tracks on the release with loose, gritty vocals and hot harp work from Johnny Sansone. Foot stomper, Where The Devil Makes His Deals, is really driven by Lee's kick drum and iced by Sansone on harp. Castiglia and Zito drive to a fever pitch on guitar but keep it contained under 4 minutes. Boogie woogie track, What The Hell Was I Thinking has a bit of rock n roll with Stephens on piano and a taste of country for a good mover. Really cool double stopped guitar lines and a solid bottom give this track just the right zip. Wrapping the release is R&B ballad, Somehow and Castiglia shows a more serious side of his vocal vocabulary. A hopeful track and a solid closer for a real strong release.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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
Labels:
Albert Castiglia,
Big Dog,
Mike Zito,
Review,
Ruf Records
Monday, May 2, 2016
LoungeSide Records artist: Jeff Plankenhorn - SoulSlide - New Release Review
I just received the newest release, SoulSlide, from Jeff Plankenhorn and it's a cool melodic release with a country twist. Opening with Lose My Mind, a gospel flavored track, Jeff Plankenhorn shows strong vocal prowess and excellent electric slide skills. Joined by Miles Zuniga on guitars, Yoggie on bass, Brannen Temple on drums and Ruthie Foster and Malford Milligan on backing vocal, this track is excellent! Sam and Dave's, You Got Me Hummin' get's a cool make over with lead vocals shared by Plankenhorn and Milligan, backing vocals by Foster and relentless with fat slide leads. Very nice. Trouble Find Me lays back a bit with more of a pop country flavor. Warm vocal harmonies, organ work by Dave Scher and Rami Jaffe complimented by a super slide guitar voice makes this a prime radio track. Like Flowers has a driving rock beat with Plankenhorn and Foster trading lead vocals. Strong slide work on this track makes it a real strong seller, nicely complimenting the super vocals. Bright and poppy, Dirty Floor has a super rhythm and solid melody. A light funky guitar rhythm and a gritty lead electric guitar gives this track real traction. Kansas City Nocturne is a really haunting track with piano and eerily beautiful guitar work with blending like vocals from the spectacular Crosby Nash release from the 70's. Born To Win is pure R&B with great movement, vocals and harmonies. This track just has a great feel. Super! Vagabond Moonlight is a smart ballad with warm vocal and instrumental interplay. Easily a cross station seller. Mockingbird Blues is a track with very attractive vocal lead and ultra clean acoustic and slide guitar work. Really nice! Headstrong is a rocker with a heavy bass line and contemporary harmonies. Clean lead electric guitar and slide accent gives the track just a touch country. Live Today is a country flavored rocker with dueling guitar leads and a nice bass lead riff. Wrapping the release is Walking In the Sun, a country track with a lot of Wilson Pickett style soul. Plankenhorn really does show that he not only has a great voice but a very versatile vocal style as well as exceptional slide guitar taste. This release has many flavors but there is a string of continuity that ties it all together as a really nice release.
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
Friday, April 29, 2016
Plan-it - Records artists: Dan Treanor's Afrosippi Band With Erica Brown & MJ - Born To Love The Blues - New release review
I just received the newest release, Born To Love the Blues, from Dan Treanor's Afrosippi Band and it's a lot of fun. Opening with a cool boogaloo track, Can You Hear Me, featuring Erica Brown on lead vocals and a solid boogaloo bottom from Scott Headley (drums), Jack Erwin (bass) and Dan Treanor who also lays out a pretty smooth solo on guitar. On Done Got Old, the Afrosippi gets a strong rework and i really like it. Brown's vocals and Treanor's harp work are hot on the top and a driving rhythm section makes this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Funky track, Who Knows Who, has a real nice strut and Treanor displays a smokey taste on harp nicely complimenting Brown's vocals and a cool bass line from Erwin. Hurt Like Mine is a modern blues with deep roots. Traces of Black Keys are evident with raw guitar riffs and Treanor's harp lead and Brown's vocals are top notch. Excellent! The classic, A Change Is Gonna Come, features Merrian Johnson on lead vocal with really subtle tasty guitar and harp backing from Treanor. Very nice! Love Ain't Easy To Find is back to the boogaloo feel but with a gospel twist. Brown's phrasing is really nice and Treanor sits on a real nice guitar solo balancing the track nicely. Michael Hossler opens A House Is Not A Home with a nice slide guitar riff and Brown rides the wave. Hossler carries the weight on this track with Brown's laid back phrasing adding nicely. Heat has a R&B feel again featuring Merrian Johnson on lead vocal. This track has a real recognizable feel and melodic hook making it an easy radio cross player. Junior Wells' Knocked Out has an interesting James Brown kind of styling with a totally dofferent style of harp attack, Brown's vocals are some of her best on the release and Treanor really plays the blues. Very cool! Mississippi Fred's Blues has "Othar's" whistle and the traditional military style snare work often associated with country blues and vocals that I'd associate with New Orleans. Once cranked up, a raw blues rocker featuring some radical low fretboard slide work. Missing has a really deep sound like voodoo and blues. Harp, guitar chants and soulful vocals by Johnson... Excellent! Wrapping the release is Next To Me, one of the most solid radio style tracks on the release featuring Johnson on lead vocals. With a strong hook and solid instrumentation, a super 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 grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Sweet Lucy Records artist: Kelly Richey - Shakedown Soul - New Release Review
I just received the newest release, Shakedown Soul, from Kelly Richey and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with Fading, a solid rocker, Richie, on vocals and guitar is joined by Rikk Manning on bass and Tobe Donohue on drums. With quite an aggressive bottom, Richey grinds out blues riffs on her guitar giving this release a good start. You Wanna Rock has a really cool rhythm and a gargantuan guitar and bass riff. With absolute style, Richey leads on vocals and breaks out with an excellent guitar solo. This track has so much swagger it deserves it's own zip code. Excellent! Lies, another solid rocker, has the addition of John Lord like keyboard by Lee Carroll and Richey's guitar solos are nicely punctuated by additional drums and percussion by Robby Cozensa. The Artist In Me has a lot of grit and a super drum sequence. Love has an interesting early San Francisco sound. Richey's voice resembles Karen O. but her guitar says drive. Cool! Afraid To Die is a cool, suspenseful romp. With a heavy overtone and loose grungy backing, this track leaves a feel of Ted Nugent. Only Going Up has a solid drive and an interesting turn around. Hot bass lines and crisp drums keep this track tight. Just Like A River is a straight up rocker with traces of Led Zep with driving drums and a big bass line. I Want To Run adds a bit of funk and hops the track. I really like Manning's bass work on this track giving it extra zip. Richey flexes her guitar muscles on this track a bit for a solid punch. Wrapping the release is an acoustic version of Fading. Interested in a solid blues rocker...here ya go!
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
Labels:
Kelly Richey,
Review,
Shakedown Soul,
Sweet Lucy Records
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Earwig Music Company artist: Les Copeland - To Be In Your Company - New Release Review
I just received the newest release, To Be In Your Company, from Les Copeland and it's lively and entertaining. Copeland, Honeyboy Edwards' traveling companion, working partner and student for 15 years, has released his second collection and this one's a doozy. Opening with title track, To Be In Your Company, Copeland sings about his friend, Honeyboy as he lays down a rudimentary Piedmont style pattern on acoustic and soloing over the top on electric guitar. Very nice. Slipping and sliding on acoustic, Borderline tells the story of crossing and being detained in border towns. Stealin' has a certain period styling and a mellow acoustic sound. I particularly like Copeland's vocals on this track with a bit of loose vocal improvisation. Henry Townsend's Why We Love Each Other has a really nice meter, with Cat Wells joining on harmony. Knucklehead is a track about the interplay between Copeland and his wife, Sarah. With his Herb Ellis hollow body tuned to open D, this track has a really unusual acoustic jangle. Cool. Jim Stafford's Swamp Witch is up next with poetic like descriptions. Primarily a folk tune, this is cool expressive track. A simple ballad, Something Nice and Sweet, has a nice melody, expressive lyrics and backing vocals by Sari. Jelly Roll Morton's Whinin' Boy is played pretty straight up and will always bring to mind Hot Tuna's version. A cool blues track, it's easy to appreciate the sensitivity of Copeland's voice. Friend, is a light blues based ditty, about the wife stealer. Copeland's acoustic guitar work on this track are particularly clean and effective. If I Was A Bad Man, has a really gritty feel and traditional slide blues styling. Copeland really slays it on this one so listen up. Bessie is a really sensitive track recounting Honeyboy and his admiration for his wife. Very nice! Gordon Lightfoot's Ribbon of Darkness is a simple modern folk ballad with a sweet melody and articulate guitar interplay with Copeland's vocals. Bob Dylan's Moonshiner has a certain poetic feel to it showing Dylan's strong sense of writing. Copeland keeps his adornment to a minimum giving the song a refreshing feel. Ray Davies' track, Sunny Afternoon is one of my favorite tracks with few variations from the Kinks original. Toned down to a simple acoustic country track how it was likely originally written gives it a warm feel. I'd Be Lonely Too is an upbeat track featuring a duet with Sari and more prominent guitar lead without breaking the simple folk rhythm. Billy Joe Shaver's I'm Just An Old Chunk of Coal has a lot of spring in it's rhythm and Copeland's finger picking technique is tight. Very nice! Slashing slider, Crosstown is driven by a train rhythm. Copeland's vocals have a lot of the old country styling giving the track an authentic old time feel. Wrapping the release is I Dream About You, a snappy country blues track. One final country blues solo shows some smoke and it's done. Very cool release.
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
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”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
Labels:
Earwig Music,
Les Copeland,
Review,
To Be In Your Company
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Tinsley Ellis Announces Release Of Red Clay Soul on June 3 Alongside Initial Dates Of Global Tour
TINSLEY ELLIS ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF NEW STUDIO
ALBUM TITLED RED CLAY SOUL ON JUNE 3
PRE-ORDER LIVE ON MAY 15 VIA ARTIST SITE AND AMAZON
Extensive
Global Tour Planned From May Through December To Support Release
Atlanta, GA --- Tinsley Ellis has travelled a million miles,
and through that journey he has become a man with clarity about where he stands
today and his future destination. As a proud Georgia-based artist, with
his new album Red Clay Soul he celebrates a legacy built on four decades
of performing, recording and song writing. Travelers headed to Florida or
other destinations in the Southeastern U.S. encounter red clay embankments as
they hit the state of Georgia, and Ellis has chosen to title this new collection
Red Clay Soul to celebrate the music of the area. He offers,
"Georgia is where the Blues has got Soul. From the gospel inspired Ray
Charles, to the R&B of James Brown and Otis Redding, to the Rock and Roll
of Little Richard, to the Blues Rock of The Allman Brothers Band, all these
acts have one thing in common. They all have the sound of Georgia and down here
we call that sound red clay soul."
Over
the past 40 years, Tinsley Ellis has performed in all 50 states, across Canada,
Europe, South America and Australia. He's taken the stage in Russia, the
Canary Islands and other destinations not on the traditional touring circuit.
His vision for the future is to continue to release the type of albums that
push the boundaries of Blues and to expand his touring radius. He reflects,
"Playing concerts is what I've done the longest. From the time I was a
young teenager watching BB King, Howlin' Wolf and Billy Preston, to the great
new music of today, I've taken what I've learned from these masters and incorporated
it into my concerts. From BB King, I learned about performing with dynamics.
From James Brown, I've learned about putting on a seamless, exciting concert.
From The Allmans, I've learned about how to excite fans with extended
instrumental jamming. I try to learn something new about putting on shows at
every concert I attend."
There
are a number of special guests on the new album who have strong ties and
history to Ellis' career. Oliver Wood from The Wood Brothers, and
keyboardist/producer Kevin McKendree both return as a collaborators.
Ellis states, "Kevin is someone I have recorded with on every studio album
I've done since Fire It Up, which was produced by Tom Dowd. On
this one, he co-produced with me for the first time, and it was his idea to
record live in the studio. That insight and vision yielded an album that is
different and more exciting than the others we've done in his Nashville-based
studio. When it comes to Oliver Wood, he was in my band in 1993-94, and
was a big part of my 1994 Storm Warning album. A decade ago, we wrote
"Givin' You Up," and it finally comes out on Red Clay Soul. I
love what Oliver brings to the song on both guitar and vocals. We decided to
leave the long jam version on the album, and it's fun as hell."
Ellis’
travels have earned him a gifted musical life filled with coveted
experiences. Being present as a relevant artist yielded organic
opportunities many dream of. He shares, "My proudest moments onstage
have been the times I've been invited to sit in with my musical heroes: Buddy
Guy, Albert Collins, Otis Rush, James Cotton, The Allmans and so many
others. In 2013, I was invited to be a part of the Blues At The
Crossroads 2 Tour, a run that celebrated the music of Muddy Waters and Howlin'
Wolf. I was the 'Rock Guy' on the tour. The other frontmen were guys who
actually recorded and toured with Muddy and Wolf. They were James Cotton and
Bob Margolin from Muddy's band and Jody Williams, the Chess Records session
guitarist who recorded on many Wolf and Bo Diddley sides. And The Fabulous
Thunderbirds backed us all up. It was cool because I was the youngest frontman
on the tour, and they rode me hard, calling me a 'little whippersnapper' and
'sonny boy.' The stories these guys told as we traveled coast to coast were
hilarious. To this day, I don't underestimate how much they schooled me
musically."
The
new album is on Ellis' own Heartfixer Music label, of which he reveals,
"I've been in the business of music for over 40 years now. I've been
passed around like a joint from label to label, from booking agency to booking
agency, from manager to manager, and from producer to producer, so I've learned
a lot. Knowing what works in the music business can be very valuable, but
knowing what doesn't work in the music business is priceless. Things are
changing fast in the music business, and it's adapt or die." The
label name comes from a piece of his own history. In 1981,
"Chicago" Bob Nelson and Ellis formed a traditional Blues band called
The Heartfixers in Atlanta, a name inspired by the Albert King song called
Heartfixin' Business. The label is named after that band. The Heartfixers
recorded 4 LPs, and disbanded when Ellis signed to Alligator Records as a solo
artist in 1988.
Tinsley
Ellis has achieved a lot of success and worked with some of the best in the
business. He has toured the globe, released 19 albums (with Red Clay
Soul), and hit the heights of commercial success with songs covered by
other artists – notably, Jonny Lang recording "A Quitter Never
Wins." Ellis even gave Derek Trucks his recording debut on Ellis' Storm
Warning. He won Rock/Blues Album Of The Year with Tough Love in 2015
from Blues Blast Magazine and made many "Best
Of" lists within Downbeat and others. Tinsley Ellis continues
to release compelling music. And he continues to bring it night after night at
one venue after another across the globe, sharing his blues-steeped legacy,
fine songwriting, and deep pride in being a Georgia-based artist.
Confirmed
appearances include:
5/12 Key West,
FL
Key West Theater
5/13 Boca Raton,
FL
The Funky Biscuit
5/14 Tallahassee,
FL
The Moon
6/08 Kansas City,
MO
Knuckleheads Saloon
6/09 Minneapolis,
MN
Dakota Jazz Club
6/10 Chicago,
IL
Navy Pier
6/11 Auburn Hills,
MI
Callahans Music Hall
6/12 Indianapolis,
IN
Jazz Kitchen
6/17 Macon,
GA
Cox Capital Theater
6/19 Birmingham,
AL
Workplay Theatre
6/23 Asheville,
NC
Isis Theatre
6/24 Charlotte,
NC
The Double Door Inn
6/25 Atlanta,
GA
City Winery
6/30 Bloomington,
IL
The Castle Theatre
7/02 Grafton,
WI
Centennial Park
7/12 Annapolis,
MD
Ram's Head
7/14 New York,
NY
Iridium Jazz Club
7/15 Somerville,
MA
Thunder Road
7/16 Sellersville,
PA
Sellersville Theater
7/17 Pawling,
NY
Daryl's House
7/21 Fall River,
MA
Narrows Center For The Arts
7/22 Wilmington,
DE
Summer Concert Series
7/23 Hampton,
VA
Hampton Block Party
7/30 Calgary,
AB
Calgary International Blues Festival
8/11 Cleveland,
OH
Music Box Supper Club - Ballroom
8/12 Columbus,
OH
Woodlands Tavern
8/13 Cincinnati,
OH
Cincy Blues Fest
9/10 Travelers Rest,
SC
Music In The Park Concert Series
10/09 Daytona Beach,
FL
Daytona Blues Festival
10/21 Newburry,
SC
Newburry Opera House
10/29 San Juan,
PR
Legendary R&B Cruise (Until 11/05)
12/02 Park City,
UT
Egyptian Theatre
12/03 Park City,
UT
Egyptian Theatre
Labels:
Red Clay Soul,
Tinsley Ellis
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