Bman's Blues Report

Monday, September 29, 2025

Nola Blue Records artist: Candice Ivory - New Southern Vintage - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New Southern Vintage, from Candice Ivory, and it's powerful blues. Opening with foot stompin' boogie, Ain't So Blind with JL Hooker richness. With Candice Ivory on vocal, Jan Hartmann on harmonica and the Bluebloods (Robert Allen Parker on guitar, Khari Wynn on bass and Donnon R. Johnson) on drums, this is a great opener. I'm In Trouble is a cooking Chicago style blues with Ivory on vocal, and adds Ben Levin on piano and Adam Hill on slide guitar. Very cool. Excellent driving blues, Strong Black Mattie, really has a great Willie Dixon feel with some of my favorite vocals by Ivory on the release, adding Chris Stephenson on B3, and including some tight guitar riffs by Parker and Hill. Slow blues, Look Away, really has a great feel with Ivory really digging in vocally. With heavy reverb by Hill, emotive soloing by Parker, warm B3 by Stephenson and crisp drum work by Johnson, this is another top track on the release. Jimmy "Duck" Holmes is featured on vocal and guitar on Catfish Blues joined by Damian Pearson on harmonica, Levin on piano and Ivory on vocals. Solid, old school blues. Another old school blues, Corrina, showcases Ivory on more traditional vocal style and it works really nicely with David Evans on guitar and Levin on piano. Very cool. Memphis Minnie's World of Trouble is a great old piano blues featuring Ivory on vocal and Levin on piano, and Evans digging in on guitar, giving yet another flavor of blues. Wrapping the release is piano boogie, Shout The Boogie with Ivory really getting things moving. Levin really gets the piano rocking and Evans and Cohen play some fleet fingered riffs on guitar. Fun closer.

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Friday, September 26, 2025

Nola Blue Records artist: Maria Muldaur - One Hour Mama - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Hour Mama - The Blues Of Victoria Spivey - from Maria Muldaur and it's her best in years. Opening with My Handy Man, is easy going with Maria workin the vocals like it's her own. Backed by James Dapogny's Chicago Jazz Band (James Dapogny on piano, Kim Cusack on clarinet and alto sax, Russ Whitman on clarinet and tenor/baritone sax, Jon-Erik Kellso on trumpet, Chris Smith on trombone and tuba, Rod McDonald on guitar and banjo, Kurt Krahnke on bass annd Pete Siers on drums). Solid opener. What Makes You Act Like That features Muldaur in duet with Elvin Bishop and their vocal styles work really well together. Danny Caron on guitar lays in some real nice guitar soloing and Johnny Bones on sax, Steve Height on bass, Neil Fortano on piano, David Matthews on piano, Beaumont Beaullieu on drums really make this track. Organ Grinder Blues really has an authentic feel with Tuby Skinny backing (Craig Flory on clarinet, Greg Sherman on guitar, Max Bien-Kahn on guitar, Shaye Cohn on cornet and trumpet, Barnabus Jones on real nice trombone, Todd Burdick on tuba, Robin Rapuzzi on washboard and David Torkanowsky on piano. Taj Mahal teams up with Muldaur on vocal on Gotta Have What It Takes, with terrific piano work by Matthews and Caron on guitar. Very cool. Wrapping the release is T-B Blues with excellent backing by by Dapogny's Chicago Jazz band and some of Muldaur's best vocals on the release. There's just that feel that you get when an artist hits the slot and Muldaur does it here. Great to hear.

Thursday, September 25, 2025

JCP Records artist: Jeff Chaz - Apartment 14 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Apartment 14, from Jeff Chaz, and it's got a cool groove. Opening with instrumental title track, Apartment 14, laying down a simple rock beat rhythm guitar, bass, and drums with an infectious guitar melody and solo by Chaz. Solid opener. Serial Killer has a light taste of Latin rhythm under a rocking horn overtone featuring Chaz on lead vocal and guitar and AJ Pittman on horns. Wrapping the release is The Brownsville Crawl with a super guitar vamp and and creative use of reverb. I really like this track...a strong closer.

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Mercedes Nicole - Too High A Price To Pay - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Too High A Price To Pay, from Mercedes Nicole and it's a cool mix of blues and soul. Opening with blues rocker, I'll Play The Blues For You, with Mercedes Nicole on lead vocal and featuring Rod Cook screaming some real nice King sized blues riffs on guitar. With Scotty Harris on bass, Jake Sele on organ, Andrew Cloutier on drums and Tommy Warren, Stacy Jones, Ben Lange and Patrice O'Neil on backing vocals a solid opener. John Hiatt's Feels Like Rain is presented as a soulful ballad and Nicole's lead vocals, caressed in backing vocals has a great feel. Another soulful ballad, Breathe Again is radio focused with a strong melody, slow danceable timing and a real nice sax solo by Alexey Nikolaev. Another slow blues track is Elmore James', The Sky Is Crying, with wailing guitar work by Cook. Solid vocals by Nicole and warm organ work by Sele flesh out the track. Wrapping the release is Ease My Soul an easy soul/pop track with a solid melody and smooth melodic guitar work by Cook. Nicole's vocals float on the melody with nice organ and piano work by Sele adding warm backing. Solid closer.

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Lost World Music artist: The Christopher Dean Band - Steppin Out - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Steppin Out, by The Christopher Dean Band, and it's a cool mix of blues, rock, soul and pop. Opening with Crying Sam Collins' My Road is Rough and Rocky, Christopher Dean on vocal and guitar sets a rockin pace with Carl Snyder on piano, Rob Fraser on bass and Dave Hollinsworth on drums. Cool slide work holds the track in the blues for a cool opener. Pop track, Here With Me, has solid radio potential with a strong melody and vocals. T-Bone Walker's That Old Feeling Is Gone has a cool shuffle feel with nice, boogie piano by Snyder and Walker style guitar riffs by Dean. Curtis Mayfield's I'm The One Who Loves You features an easy guitar accompaniment and a Latin rhythm. With plenty of falsetto vocals and backing vocals by Steve Lombardelli a solid entry to the lineup. Wrapping the release is Hound Dog Taylor's boogie, She's Gone with Dean on vocal and wicked guitar, Snyder on piano and Lombardelli on horns driving it home with the solid base of Holingsworth on drums. Strong closer.

Monday, September 22, 2025

World Talent Records artist: Forrest McDonald - Songs From My Soul - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Songs From My Soul, from Forrest McDonald and it's a simple folk blues release. Opening with On Your Life's Road, a blues structured track with McDonald playing acoustic guitar and singing the melody together. This is a cool effect that really focuses the listeners attention on the story. I Can't Stop The Love has a bright melody with McDonald strumming the rhythm and singing the happy melody with clever acoustic turnarounds. Ballad, I Need You, has sonic tension created between McDonalds vice and guitar. With a solid melody and upbeat rhythm, this is one of my favorites on the release. Shuffle, That's How I Want Our Love, has a great feel with solid vocals and straight up acoustic guitar accompaniment. Blue Morning Sun has a Morganfield structure but a definite original spin. McDonald makes it his own with contemporary style vocals and stylized guitar work. Electrified blues, Misery and Blues kicks up the whole game a few notches with John McKnight on drums, Lee Gammon on bass, Matthew Wauchope on piano, Jimmy King on trumpet, Norman Franks on sax, Pix Ensign on harmonica and some real nice guitar work by McDonald. Wrapping the release is classic country blues, Trouble In Mind with McDonald singing straight up and playing conventional blues riffs. Strong closer.

Friday, September 19, 2025

Gulf Coast Records artist: The Boneshakers - Live To Be This - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live To Be This, from The Boneshakers, and it's a soul filled blues rocker. Opening with high stepping, I'll Kick A Brick (For My Man), Jenny Langer on lead vocal sings with attitude backed with the tight drum raps of Greg Bissonette, and Randy Jacobs on guitar exchanging riffs with Rodney Lee on keys, Ron Holloway on sax, Joe Sublett on sax, and Mark Pender on trumpet and solid backing vocals by Harry Bowens, and Derrick Harris. Hot opener. Funky, How Do You Spell Love is a real workout for Langer with Bissinette on drums and super vocal and horn backing. Dobro Jones has a great country blues feel with Jacobs featured on dobro and vocal with Langer. Very nice. Here I Am is downright slinky with an excellent bottom and Ron Reinhardt on keys. Jacobs distorts his guitar for a real nice guitar solo and Langers vocals paired with Bowens, Harris, Lessly Fisher jr, and Holly Montgomery and Lenny Castro on percussion makes this one of my favorites on the release. Took A Trip has serious radio appeal with it's melody and vocal appeal and it's lightly funky rhythm and horn overtones. Wrapping the release is pop ballad, The Cake and The Candle featuring Langer in her most serious vocal mode. This would easily blend into adult contemporary airplay with it's subdued backing and vocal forward presentation, and melodic soloing by Jacobs on guitar.

Thursday, September 18, 2025

VizzTone Label Group artist: Long Tall Deb & Colin John - Light It Up - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Light It Up, from Long Tall Deb & Colin John and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with title track, Light It Up, Long Tall Deb on lead vocals leads the way with rockbluesy guitar riffs by Colin John supported by Chris Butler on bass and Jason Edwards on drums. Lesson In The Ground is a lumbering rocker with a thumping bass line, with guitar harmonics and nicely interwoven backing vocals. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Hear Them Moan with some of Deb's sweetest vocals on the release and really nice lap steel by John. Excellent! Black Light Wolf has great swagger with a heavy bass/drum bottom and super low register guitar work. Deb's vocals are strong and John's guitar work attention grabbing. Wrapping the release is Crooks Thieves and Liars, an interesting ballad with a country feel. Debs vocals are strong and I really love John's attack on lap steel. This is a cool closer for a real nice release.

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Reference Recordings artist: Doug MacLeod - Between Somewhere and Goodbye - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Between Somewhere and Goodbye by Doug MacLeod, and it's that cool, MacLeod blues rock thing. I've been reviewing Doug's releases for over 10 years and I find him like JJ Cale in that his music is cool, clever and somewhat definable... and that's good. Opening with Memphis In Your Soul, MacLeod sets off with a lightly funky, track with soulful vocals, an easy guitar riff, and with Paul Ossola on bass, Lynn Williams on drums and Cindy Walker, Marie Lewey and Carla Russell on backing vocals. MacLeod lays in one of his understated, single string guitar solos making for perfect opener. Keep On Walking On is a straight up shuffle with really light instrumental backing almost dominated by a single snare/tambourine snap and MacLeod's vocals, backed by Lewey, Russell and Walker and another traditionally simple yet interesting guitar solo. Very solid melody and performance. I Ain't No Stranger has a spirit of it's own like any good, old school delta blues track. With resonating guitar vamps, story telling vocals and distant drum and percussion this track is not aa radio track but shines on it's own. Shuffle, I Don't Like Your Chances, powered by MacLeod's guitar and Mark Jordan on piano gives the release some juice and MacLeod fans an energetic guitar solo to compliment his Bromberg like vocal delivery. Vey cool. I like the guitar vamp on Watching The Sun Go Down developing into another of those MacLeod, hidden gems with it's understated melody. His vocals are raspy yet perfect to deliver on just such a track. Solid closer.

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Exulans DMD artist: The Bluesmasters Featuring Cassie Taylor - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release from The Bluesmasters, and it's rich with gospel, soul and blues. Opening with Downward Road, Cassie Taylor fills the air with soulful vocal backed by Larea Edwards, and Chrissy Grant. With the thumping bass line of Kassidy Kent, and Sally Van Meter on lap steel, this is a strong opener. Slow paced, Sit Down Servant really gives Taylor to sing the blues and with Edwards and Grant on on backing vocals, Van Meter on Lap steel and Christian Teele on drums, another solid entry. With plenty of gospel wealth and sway, You're Gonna Make Me Cry, Taylor leads the way and Eric Moon on keys fleshes out the instrumentation and Teele amps up the bottom. I Wonder Why is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's droning bass line by Tim Tucker and Teele on drums. The interplay between Taylor, Grant and Edwards is lush and Doug Lynn's harmonica adds a great accent. Wrapping the release is a cool cover of Chain Of Fools featuring Taylor on vocal and with soulful backing vocals by Taylor, Grant and Edwards.

Monday, September 15, 2025

VizzTone Label Group - Willie Buck & Bob Corritore - OH YEAH! - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, OH Yeah!, from Willie Buck & Bob Corritore and it's rich Chicago infused blues. Opening with title track, Oh Yeah, Bob Corritore and Willie Buck have a hot one here. Buck on lead vocal really has the stuff on vocal and Corritore really knows how to conjure the Chicago mojo on harmonica. Featuring Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar, Billy Flynn on guitar, Ben Levin on piano, Bob Stroger on bass and Wes Starr on drums, this is a super opener. On William Crawford's That Ain't Enough, Buck's vocals are particularly gritty and Bob Margolin really digs in with Muddy Waters style slide. Playing with Waters for 7 years, Margolin plays this like it's second nature. Corritore's style on harmonica is perfect on this traffic. Corritore has the mic on Went Home This Morning and he wails. Mojo Mark Cihlar and Jon Atkinson join on guitar lays out some terrific riffs and Troy Sandow on bass and Brian Fahey on drums round out the band making this one of my favorites on the release. Morganfield's Baby Please Don't Go follows original arrangement and Buck is really in the groove. This track is always a easy sell and Corritore and Buck sail high. Wrapping the release is Let Me Find Out Your Name with Levin on piano, and featuring Billy Flynn on guitar. A slow deep groove gives Buck plenty of space for his vocals to breathe and Flynn's tone is terrific. Corritore closes out the track with some lower octave blowing really giving it guts. Strong closer.

Friday, September 12, 2025

LA Reserve Records artist: Nick Biello - New America - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New America, from Nick Biello, and it's jamming. Opening with Bel Canto, Nick Biello on alto sax, paired with Charlie Porter on trumpet leads the way with an energetic melody. George Colligan on piano adds substative piano punctuation over the tight rhythm of Alex Tremblay on bass and Peter Kronreif on drums. Biello cuts loose on sax really wailing a great solo, followed by Porter who delivers a rich, earthy trumpet solo handing to Colligan on piano who develops a super groove followed by a strong bass solo by Tremblay. Solid opener. Slightly Perilous is my favorite track on the release with double time instrumentation by Porter and Biello. Anchoring the track is Colligan on piano, handing off to Biello for a tremendous rip roaring solo. Porter, more laid back attach still makes you sit back and take a breath. Off to the races again with Colligan, this track really is strong with excellent punctuation by Tremblay and Kronreif. Ballad form, A Long Way To You has a warm melody led by the expressive phrasing and tone of Biello on sax. Comforting reinforcement by Colligan on piano gives the track a homey feel. Porter's trumpet solo is smooth and sensuous with nice blending by Biello. Very nice. Wrapping the release is title track, New America with it's bop feel. Biello winds it up with an exhilarating sax solo contrasted with Porter's more laid back yet perfect trumpet solo. I like Colligan's feel on piano and the richness of Tremblay's work on bass ever encouraged by the tight kit work of Kronreif. Strong closer.

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Missouri Morning Records artist: Johnnie Johnson - I'm Just Johnnie - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'm Just Johnnie, by Johnnie Johnson and it's cooking. Opening with title track, I'm Just Johnnie, Johnnie Johnson on piano and vocal leads the way with terrific style. Tony T lays in some blistering slide work on guitar, backed by the heavy horn section of Jm Manley and Ray Vollmar while Kenny Rice on drums and Gus Thornton on bass round out the band. Excellent opener. On I Get Weary, Max Baker plays a heartfelt blues intro and solo on guitar and Charles Glenn sings a silky smooth lead. Johnson plays a hot, well articulated solo on piano and with Paul Willett on organ, Dickie Steltenpohl on bass, and Andy O'Connor on on drums, this is a strong track. Powerhouse horns by Doc Simpson, Tom O'Brien and Ray McAnallen open Let The Good Times Roll with Kenny Rice on lead vocals. Bonnie Raitt really shines on slide guitar followed by Johnson's signature piano style. Excellent. Three Handed Woman gets a real nice swing going with Johnson really rocking the piano and singing and featuring Tony T on guitar laying down some potent riffs on guitar. Instrumental, Blues In G, features Johnson front and center on piano and again rich piano styling by Tom Maloney. Trading solo's this is a great track. Another great boogie is Johnnie Johnson Blues with Johnson on lead vocal and piano, Johnny Rivers on guitar, Thornton on bass and Rice on drums. Johnnie just has a flair that shines beyond the music. Wrapping the release is piano shuffle, Long Gone, with Johnson leading the way on piano. Maloney stands on it with a real nice guitar solo and some tight double stops giving the track and greasy feel, even more accentuating Johnson's clean delivery, backed by Thornton on bass and Rice on drums. Very nice. The two disc set also includes a second disc on interviews with Johnson and Radio Hall of Fame and SiriusXM DJ Pat St.John discussing Johnnie's career in one of the last interviews before his passing on April 12 2005.

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Roseleaf Records artist: Lisa Mann's Northwestern All-Stars - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Great Women in Blues, by Lisa Mann's Northwestern All-Stars, and it's powerful. Opening with traditional spiritual numbers, Wade In The Water/Swing Low Sweet Chariot really demonstrating the richness of Odabi's voice...wow. Rolling into rocking blues, I Sing The Blues, Odabi holds the crowd in her hands supported by the potent backing of Mann on bass, Jimi Bott on drums, Louis Pain on organ, and flaming guitar work by Ben Rice and Jason Thomas. Very cool. Pops Staples' Why Am I Treated So Bad has a lightly funky arrangement with rich harmonies by Odabi and Mann and crushing double stops against cool lead by Rice and Thomas really gives this track a potent signature. One of my favorites. Rudy Toombs' R&B hit, 5-10-15 Hours is smooth as silk with Odabi swinging the lead and Mann, Rice and Thomas setting the groove. Tasty blues riffs by Thomas and a tight bottom by Bott give this track great traction. Rose Marie McCoy's So Good To My Baby turned driving boogie has a lot of spring and hot solos by Rice on guitar and Pain on keys gives this track that extra something. Wrapping the release is Willie Dixon's Wang Dang Doodle with plenty of swagger with Mann driving the bottom on bass, Rice and Thomas laying in hot riffs and Odabi holding court. The organ efforts of Pain really add a lot of flavor to this track on organ, winding it up for an solid closer.

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Origin Records artist: Marc Seales - People & Places - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, People & Places, from Marc Seales with Ernie Watts and it's tasty. Opening with Rue Cler, with it's suspensive bottom created by Marc Seales on piano and floating lead by Ernie Watts on tenor sax sets a yearning feeling, anchored by Bruce Lett on acoustic bass and Moyes Lucas Jr on drums. Prelude is a quiet piano piece, nicely illustrated by Seales alone. Sensitive and introspective. The Muddy Chicago Blues has a real nice sway to it. With Seales, Lett and Lucas setting the platform, Watts wails to meat and taters. With soulful phrasing and tight articulation Watts rides high, edged on by the clever piano punctuation of Seales. Taking over the lead on piano, Seales has the blues flowing like a second language with deft and fluidity. Lett gets his run as well with double timed bass riffs on an aiery form. Very cool. I particularly like The Gingi with it's light, creative rhythm pattern by Lucas with mostly rim shots, cymbals and snare punction and Lett on bass. Melodic lead by Seales on tenor and Seales on piano really stretch this piece giving it real weight. Wrapping the release is Home Light with it's almost gospel like foundation created by Seales on piano. Watts soars on sax with firm piano punctuation creating a solid melody and Seales takes the tension down with sensitive piano phrasing. This is an excellent closer for a very cool release.

Monday, September 8, 2025

Alan Arena - Deceived - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Deceived, by Alan Arena, and it's a solid easy rocker. Opening with Raised On Radio, a laid back shuffle with harmonized vocals by Alan Arena and Jamie Brown, Paul Nelson and Arena on guitars, Brad Hallen on bass, Marty Richards on drums, Brooks Milgate on organ and Stephen Clements on percussion. Title track, Deceived, is a tasty track with a stylized Latin rhythm. There is some real nice shapely guitar instrumentation on this track and with addition of Milton Smith on strings and the warm backing vocals by Allyssa Jones, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Lightly funky, Devil In The Bottle, has a real cool feel with excellent harmonized lead vocal, perfectly crafted keys by Milgate and tasty guitar work by Arena. Memphis Slim's slinky shuffle, Mother Earth is really cool with solid vocals by Arena and Jerry Portnoy adding signature riffs on harmonica. Very nice. Wrapping the release is an instrumental cover of title track, Deceived. The melody is played by Sax Gordon Beadle and the track really takes live with the lively rhythms of Clements, Milgate and Richards. Solid closer.

Friday, September 5, 2025

Origin Records artist: Mike Pope - The Parts You Keep - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Parts You Keep, from Mike Pope, and I really enjoy it. Opening with Misgivings, a lively track with a driving piano melody featuring Geoffrey Keezer, building with an aggressive snare rap by Nate Smith and breaking into a sensual bass solo by Mike Pope who builds the track with the hands of a sculptor. Very nice. I love the cover of Charlie Parker's Steeplechase featuring Roxy Cross on sax. Pope laying down a funky bass line and breaking into a wicked electric piano solo by Keezer, this track is hot. Dashan's Flying Ubercar really moves with terrific underpinnings by Smith and Pope. Keezer rides high on this groove before a total break and accelerated bass solo by Pope. Really nice. Barolo Blue was my favorite track on the release with an infectious angular bass groove, nicely playing against Smith on drums and with free wheeling piano by Keezer and jagged guitar soloing by Amaury Cabral. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Spharenmusik from Winterreigen Opus 13 No.5 featuring the classical piano of Ann Almond Pope, Mike's 85 year old mother who along with his father, David Pope, both being world class classical pianists. This really is wonderful.