Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sarasota Swing by The Ron Kraemer Trio and It's a solid batch of hot jazz and blues. Opening with Junior Steps , Reggie Murray on sax and B-3 has the lead on a swinging sound. Ron Kraemer breaks looks with terrific tone and fluid lines on guitar, backed by Gregg Germony on bass and Michael Finley on brushes. Strong opener. On The Craw , Kraemer is front and center on lead guitar with warm B3, bass and light brushes behind. A strong sax solo by Murray is the icing on the cake. Swinging, At The Blase' Cafe', is really a hot track with blazing lines by Kraemer and warm B3 work by Murray. Murray breaks loose with some real nice sax before turning the lead back to Kraemer. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the release. Another great swinger is Reggie No.2 with excellent lead lines by Kraemer over a light instrumental backing and then a pairing with Murray on sax and a fat B3 solo by Murray giving the...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Jacksongs , by Jeff Berlin and it's a really nice tribute to Jack Bruce's music. Opening with Creamed , Berlin on bass and keys is joined by Ron Hembly on lead vocal, John Cowan on vocal, Gabriela Sinagra on backing vocals, Bruce Guttridge on drums and John McCracken on guitars with Alex Lifeson on solo guitar. The track begins with Politician and flows through White Room and Tales of Brave Ulysses  among others with strong guitar work and of course prominent bass work. Very nice opener. One of my favorite Mountain tracks, and another Bruce penned track,  Theme From and Imaginary Western is up next and features Hemby on lead vocal who really does a strong job of covering Bruce's beautiful vocal melody with Pat Coil on Hammond and Berlin on keys and bass (including a real nice solo) with guest Eric Johnson on guitar solo and Gregg Bissonette on drums. Excellent. Another of Bruce's beautiful melodies, One Wi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Supernatural Soul , by Ben E. King and it's solid. Opening with classic, Stand By Me , King on lead vocal is joined by Bette Smith on vocal and Ronnie Earl adding his clean virtuosity on guitar. Bassmaster, Bootsy Collins fires up a strong riff on Supernatural Thing, Part I under soulful vocals by King. Spanish guitar master, Rafael Riqueni joins King adding an authentic flavor to another classic hit. I really like King's cover of Ashford and Simpson's, I Had A Love . Kings vocals are full and soulful, floating on a bed of guitar, synthesizer and warm backing vocals. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Drifters Medley featuring This Magic Moment/Dance With Me//There Goes My Baby/Save The Last Dance For Me. Kings vocals are smooth and fresh with tight instrumental backing. Solid closer for a solid release.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues ne...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent Self-titled release, Shelton Powe and it's quite good. Opening with Amtrak Train , Shelton Powe on acoustic guitar and vocal sets a very authentic feel. With his tight Piedmont picking pattern, this is a solid opener. On John Hurt's Since I Laid My Burden Down , Powe adds real richness with his vocals against the acoustic guitar chant. Bukka White's, Shake "Em On Down is one of my favorite tracks on the release with an cool, primitive blues riff on what sounds like a primitive guitar. Excellent! Papa Charlie Jackson's Take Me Back is another captivating number with melody on guitar teamed with vocal, very effectively. I really like the simplicity of this track...what I like about the blues as a whole. Wrapping the release is John Jackson's Railroad Bill , an excellent Piedmont blues with Powe driving the fretboard like a locomotive. This is a really nice traditional blues release.    If you suppo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Midnight Blues , from Crystal Shawanda , and it's a strong R&B flavored blues release. Opening with title track, Midnight Blues , Crystal Shawanda brings her soulful vocal style to a radio oriented track with a solid melody, with Dave Roe on bass, Dwayne Strobel on guitar, and Peter Keys and Jesse O'Brian on keys and Pete Abbot on drums. Rumpshaker is a soulful track with a strong bass line by Roe and nice harmonica contributions by Steve Marriner. Why Do I Love You is a really super ballad with strong vocal harmonies by Angela Hurt, Zhaawande Strobel Nd Dewayne Strobel. Hold Me has a R&B rhythm and really has a great groove. Shawanda's vocals are powerful and backing vocals are just right with strong piano and drum support by Keys and Becket. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Walk With The Moon , with a sweet melody and ballad formation. With glistening keyboard work, rich guitar chords and a melodi...

  I almost can't believe that I am writing this but I guess each of us ends up there at some point. I have likely seen Jeff Beck more times in concert than any other band, local or international.  Beck, who has been considered likely the greatest "rock" guitar player of all time died in his home yesterday from Bacterial meningitis. I'm totally dumbfounded. He just came through town a month or so ago. The average rock listener would think that Jeff has a good ear and picked up a lot of things like the talk box from Peter Frampton (the opposite) or tapping from Eddie Van Halen (again opposite) because Beck never wanted to be a star. He liked to tinker. He had abstract thoughts that he would try out. Others would say that's cool and make a career of his little ideas. This is a guy who never wanted fame or fortune. Just wanted enough money to toy with his hotrods and play a few riffs...and to have fun.  Goodbye Mr Beck

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Find A Better Way , from The Commoners and it has all of the swagger and sting you would want. Opening with title track, Find A Better Way , Chris Medhurst shows what a rock frontman is supposed to sound like. With a touch of Steve Marriott, and a powerful bottom, led by Adam Cannon on drums and Ben Spiller on bass as well as solid guitar riffs by Ross Haynes Citrullo gives this track real bite. More than Mistakes has a firm bottom and some real nice lead guitar by Citrullo, supported by Miles Evans-Branagh on keys and Medhurst on rhythm guitar. Solid radio track. Naturally , has a strong melody and rich backing vocals by Chantal Williams, Shezelle Weekes and Tash Lorayne, coupled with a strong sway making it another top radio candidate. I Won’t adds another dimension with just a touch of country blues, and the steel guitar finesse of Michael Ekhart and really nice vocal blending. Very nice. Wrapping the release is s...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Start Over Again , from The Rockats and it's a great rocker. Opening with Nervous Breakdown , it's hard not to sing along with it's classic rockabilly flavor and even some Johnny Cash like vocal. This is and excellent opener with Dibbs Preston on vocal, Danny B. Harvey on guitar, Barry Ryan on guitar, Clem Burke on drums and Smutty Smiff on bass. With it's surfy feel, Rock Baby Rock , will get you bobbin with Ryan taking the first solo and Harvey taking the second solo. Very cool. Low slung bluesy ballad, Start Over Again could get all the couples on the dance floor and a real nice guitar solo by Ryan gives the track a solid blues kick. One of my favorites on the release is swinging, Lucky Old Rockabilly has super guitar riffs by Harvey and Preston's vocals are always solid. Wrapping the release is Tanya Jean with Tim Scott on guitar with Ryan and Tommy Darnell on drums. This is a straight up rocker w...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Still That Way Today , from South Island Rhythm Kings and it's a rolling blues party. Opening with title track, Still That Way Today , "Lazy" Mike Mallon on harmonica and lead vocal, heads this cool shuffle, with Carson Mallon on guitar, Dan Dube' on keys, Nick Dokter on drums, and Jack Lavin on bass. Solid opener. Cool vocal blending on Sonny and Brownie's Cornbread Peas Black Molasses gives this easy shuffle the wealth added to the genre by the originals with authenticity, and nice riffs by both Mallons. On Jimmy Raney's You Drink Too Much Booze , Dube' really adds nicely with tasty piano riffs under Mikes vocals. Very cool. Carson's vocal/guitar lead on Someday really hits the spot with a lot of punch. His riffs are tight and his vocals swing. Very nice. Carson and Mike both dig in deep on slow blues, I Live Out In The Country , with Muddy Waters style slide work by Carson and strong...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keeping It In The Family , by Sir Rod & The Blues Doctors , dedicated to keeping alive the sounds and spirit of blues master Sterling "Mr. Satan" Magee. Magee was featured in the Netflix screened documentary, Satan & Adam, with Adam Gussow on harmonica. With Atlanta based "Sir Rod" Patterson, Magee's nephew, and Alan Gross on guitar, this trio released an album, Come Together in 2020 and are back now with this live release. Opening with Shake, Rattle and Roll , Gross sets a cool rock and roll guitar rhythm with solid harmonica work by Gussow and featuring Patterson on solid lead vocal. On Mack Rice's R&B mega hit, Mustang Sally , the guys get into a great groove with Patterson really showing his vocal prowess. James Brown's I Feel Good (I Got You) is up next with it's original arrangement. These guys do a real nice job of a track that was normally covered with full horns an...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Burn It Down , from Lauren Anderson and it's a smokin' blues rocker with a solid blend of bluesy ballads. Opening with title track, Burn It Down , Lauren Anderson on vocal leads the way with stinging guitar work by Dan Wecht, and with Hutch on bass, Johnathan Smith on keys, and Matt Doctor on drums. Slinky, Soul Is Mine is dominated by super tom tom feel by Doctor, Smith on organ and Wecht on slide guitar. Anderson really works her voice nicely against the soulful feel of the track making it one of my favorites on the release. Albert Castiglia makes a guest stop on Zombie Blues really getting the fretboard going on this high energy rocker. Soulful, I Know , shows a terrific combination of Anderson's vocal and songwriting skills creating, in my opinion, the top radio track on the release. Lumbering, Hit The Spot has a strong funk rocker with a strong melodic hook and super guitar lead by John Salaway. Another...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Jukebox Junkie , by Finnish rocker Andy McCoy and it's a solid rocker with a twist. Opening with I'm Gonna Roll , a great power rocker with a driving beat, McCoy is up front on guitar with Sammy Aaltonen, Matthew Janaitis and Tommi Piipponen on vocal, Christian Wentzel on drums and Matthew Janaitis on bass.  Hot Night In Texas gas a great thumping bottom with Jamie Hembree and Niki Westerback on vocal and Jouni Kari on keys giving McCoy a great platform to show his guitar aero acrobatics. Very cool. Climax Blues Band's I Couldn't Get It Right , gets a minor redo with Janaitis on vocals and Roni Star on percussion, Kari on keys and overlayed guitar soloing by McCoy. 60's surf styling comes to play on Funnel of Love featuring Sofia Zida on vocal and space age keyboard work by Kari and some otherworldly guitar from McCoy. Wrapping the release is UKSubs' Countdown with a cool rock bottom by Janaitis a...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Brace Yourself (Live) , from Too Slim & The Taildraggers , and it's a concert full of butt kicking, country blues based rock. Opening with Mississippi Moon , Tim "Too Slim" Langford on guitar and vocal cranks this dude up with Zach Kasik on bass and vocal and Jeff "Shakey" Fowlkes on drums and vocals. Devil In A Doublewide has the straight up country rock feel that is prevalent in "country" music today. With a solid melody, cool vocal hook,  rock guitar riffs and a driving beat...can't miss. Bluesy, My Body , has a haunting undertone and working with the solitary guitar wail of Langford and the cool drum chant of Fowlkes  and the bass counter of Kasik is my favorite track on the release. Another track with a heavy blues rock feel is Blood Moon with it's heavy bottom, droning bass line and wailing guitar work. Landford really works this track with strong vocal and melodic lead...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, You Shocked Me , from Bob Corritore and Friends and it's chocked full of great Chicago based blues. Opening with Hiding Place , John Primer has the lead on vocal and guitar backed by Anthony Geraci on piano, Wes Starr on drums, Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar and Bob Stroger on bass. This is a terrific opener with high energy. Diunna Greenleaf is up front on vocal on title track, You Shocked Me with Bob Margolin on guitar, LA Jones on guitar, Ben Levin on piano, Starr on drums, Adrianna Marie on  bass and Corritore on harmonica. Super track. Alabama Mike has the mic on slow blues, Somebody Stole My Love From Me , a soul jammed track. With excellent harmonica lead by Corritore, Stroger on bass, Margolin on guitar, Fred Kaplan on piano, and Starr on drums, this is one of my favorites on the release. Love Francine Reed's vocals on Don't Need Your Permission , a swinging shuffle with Corritore really humming on har...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let The Gods Sing , from Herman Hitson , and I like it! Opening with title track, Let The Gods Sing , with it's rich, soulful, anthem like feel, Hitson really has a great start. With chant like vocals, eccentric rhythm guitar work (which I really like) by Hitson and Will Sexton on lead guitar, a firm bass line by Mark Edgar Stuart, Will McCarley on drums and full organ attack by Al Gamble, this is a terrific opening track. A cool change up is Ain't No Other Way with it's full "James Brown" on including horn pumping...great groove. A driving, somewhat psychedelic take on Willie Dixon's Backdoor Man is really cool with wowing vocals and backing organ. Wrapping the release is an upbeat funky track, Yampertown Funk with a cool bari/tenor sax horn mix and heavy organ work over a cool drum beat and guitar rhythm. This is a cool release and if you like your stuff funky, this could be your deal!    ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everybody Let's Roll , from The Texas Horns , and I really like it! Opening with title track, Everybody Let's Roll , The Texas Horns (Kaz Kazanoff on tenor sax, Al Gomez on trumpet, and John Mills on bari sax) come out steaming with Carolyn Wonderland on lead vocal, Mike Keller on rhythm guitar, Sean Giddings on keys, Chris Marsh on bass, and Tom Brechtlein on drums and featuring Anson Funderburgh with some real nice guitar lead. Solid opener. Piano boogie, I Ain't Mad With You , led by Matt Hubbard really rocks with excellent solos from Kaz and Johnny Moeller and a fat fat bottom by Mills. Excellent! A really interesting (bluesy) rework of The Beatles, I Want You (She's So Heavy) , has great horn blending with Gomez taking the lead on trumpet. With it's jazzy drum hitch by Brannen Temple, a cool organ solo by Sean Geddings and a blast of blues by Moeller on guitar, this is a punchy track.  Soulful, Pr...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nasty Crime , from Alex Lopez and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with rocker, World on Fire , Kana Leimbach leads the way with a firm drum rhythm, joined by Kenny Hoye on keys. Lopez handles lead vocal and places a grinding guitar riff over the bass lines of Steve Roberts. Lopez's melodic lead and slide guitar give the track a full attack over the relentless attack by Leimbach. With a swing, Lopez delivers easy blues ballad, When The Sun Goes Down , with soulful vocals over a cool piano riff. A melodic guitar solo by Lopez and a memorable melody,  makes this track a solid radio contender. Title track, Nasty Crime , is a straight up rocker with a funky back beat. With jangly guitar work by Lopez and John Lord like organ work by Hove over a snappy beat, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Driving rocker, No Way , shows how tight the band can be. With a solid melody and strong vocal attack this is a...