Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Does Hound Dog Taylor: Try It... You Might Like It! , by GA - 20 and it's off the hook! First I have to say that I am thrilled to have a vinyl copy of this release and that in itself is a pleasure. I routinely do my reviews at my office using a computer and complimentary speakers and in this case, being able to review on my home system and in my dedicated listening room. I am also going to describe the packaging because that is also a real treat. My personal collection of blues records has at times exceeded 5000 lp's and this is one of the nicest covers both graphically with a photo of Hound Dog Taylor's hand in red on a bright yellow cover and a cover that is built of heavier reinforced cardstock than I remember on any of my records going back to the 50's and 60's... beautiful! The vinyl is heavy duty and as quiet as you could imagine.  Opening with She's Gone, Pat Faherty on lead vocal and madly...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release October 15, 2021, Diddley Bow , from Archie Brown & the Young Bucks , formed in Newcastle in 1975. This release was written and produced in lockdown with a tight sound, despite not being in the same town. Opening with TexMex style, You Just Don't Know , Patrick Rafferty on accordion adds just the right sound to lead the vocals by Kevin McKay and Guitarist Tony Wadsworth. Backed by Chris Ringer on bass and Steve Dolder on drums, this is a cool opener. Straight up rocker, Ballad, Venus in the East is a solid radio contender with a strong melody and classical piano and vocal backing. Blue Bird . with it's Latin jazz rhythm and smooth approach could have broad appeal. Solid underlying guitar lead by Wadsworth and warm backing vocals carry the track and an interesting trumpet solo by ex-Chart Commando's Steve Nash highlight the track. Wrapping the release is Mummy's Boy , a simple ballad with a strong melody ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, What Happens Next , from Davy Knowles and it's an interesting mix of electric blues, rock and acoustic folk. Opening with rocker, Light of the Moon , Davy Knowles on lead vocal and guitar leads the way for this radio style track. Backed by Tod Bowers on bass, Andrew Toombs on keys, and Jeremy Cunningham on drums, this track has an 80's retro feel. Ballad, Roll Me , is a nice showcase for Knowles soulful vocal style and reverb saturated lower octave guitar lead adds a cool suspense over the Toombs work on keyboards. Blues soaked, Devil and the Deep Blue Sea , has a solid melody, a cool guitar vamp, plenty of reverb and some of Knowles' tastiest guitar work on the release. Another choice radio track, River , has a memorable melody and soulful vocals. A bluesy guitar solo by Knowles adds a nice dash of spice but doesn't get too far outside of the basic track framework. Wrapping the release is a very nice acous...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Legends Play The Beatles , from Cleopatra Records , and it's an interesting mix of Beatles covers by notable rock, pop and folk icons. Opening with Here Comes The Sun , Richard Page has the lead vocal and Steve Morse has the guitars, backed by Jay Schellen on drums and Billy Sherwood on keys. With a nearly identical arrangement to the original, Page sets the stage. Heart's Ann Wilson does an acoustic cover of Across The Universe backed by acoustic guitar and percussion. Very nice. Surprise rockers Molly Hatchet Cover Back In The USSR ... Beach Boys style backing vocals and all. Air Supply covers, A Long And Winding Road with a bit more theatrical vocal lead by Russell Hicthcock and nice bass work by Billy Sherwood. Another interesting cover is Tomorrow Never Knows by Electric Moon. Komet Lulu's FX, Sula Bassana synth and drums by Marcus Schnitzler rocks this track. My disappointment on the release is Jack Bruc...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, P apa Didn't Raise Me Right, from The Porkroll Project , and it's a solid mix of rock, blues and country. Opening with title track, Papa Didn't Raise Me Right , lead singer and guitarist, Neil "Porkroll" Taylor is up front setting the mood, backed by Walter Runge on organ, Anthony Pieruccini on bass, and John Thomas on drums. With a Latin rhythm on Down In Mexico , Taylor tells a pretty good story and Thomas does a real nice job on keeping the rhythm tight. Taylor's Santana flavored guitar lead feels good and backing vocals by Runge, Pieruccini and Thomas really work nicely in the mix. Blues ballad, Crescent Moon , sports nice sax work by David Renz and Taylor's lead guitar lead is firm and smooth. Funky mix, Mama Put The Gun Down , really works nicely due to Pieruccini's bass and Runge's organ, under the clever vocal work and some of Taylor's best guitar lead on the release. With ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release from Rusty Ends Blues Band and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with What's Next, a crisp, up tempo shuffle, Rusty Ends on lead vocal and guitar pairs up with some muscular harmonica work by Jim Rosen and backed by Dave Zirnheld on bass and Gene Wickliffe on drums. Cool opener. Secrets In The Street has a warmer feel with  Rod Wurtele on B3 and a fluid guitar lead by Ends. With a bit of a Freddie King, Sinner's Strut is a cool shuffle with Ends leading the way on guitar harmony and with Danny Kelly on drums and added percussion by Barry Shaw. Slower blues, Something Wrong Going Wrong , gives Ends a chance to showcase his blues phrasing. Hi vocal styling reminds me a bit of Mike Bloomfield. One of my favorite tracks on the release is rocker, I'm Searching , with it's driving bottom, Wurtele on piano, solid vocals by Ends and relentless harmonica by Rosen. Latin rhythm permeates High Beams ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release (September 24, 2021), Put A Lid On It , by Diane Durrett & Soul Suga and it's a blend of soul, blues and gospel. Opening with In My Soul, Durrett works her magic with a soul base and gospel overtones and rich backing vocals over Yoel B'nai Yehuda on B3, Melissa Junebug on drums/percussion and Gregg Shapiro on bass. Cool opener. I like Sweeter Love Grows as the releases best radio track due to it's sweet melody and nicely blended vocals, a solid guitar solo by Daniel  Groover and some of Durrett's best lead vocals on the release. Another track with gospel overtones, Wish It Would Rain has really solid footings, soulful lead vocals and great, piano and organ work by Yehuda. Very nice. Wrapping the release is punched up funky rocker, Make America Groove , featuring Mike Burton on sax, Melvin Jones on trumpet, Fuji Fujimoto on bass and Ian Schumacher on guitar and a chorus of backing vocalists including Adam M...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Blues Never End , from Elly Wininger and it's a solid take on traditional blues. Opening with Sister Rosetta Tharpe's, Let That Liar Alone , Elly Wininger on lead vocal and guitar and Lou Pappas on upright bass set the bar for the entire release. Elly's riffs are tight and her playing shows her enjoyment for the real deal. Skip James' Special Rider Blues is a particularly cool track with Wininger's voice being nearly as high as James' falsetto vocal. Her acoustic guitar, the only accompaniment for this track is really solid. Title track, The Blues Never End , is a really melodic ballad by Wininger. It's purity and structure make it my choice for radio track on the release and possibly Wininger's best vocals on the release. Tony Joe White's As The Crow Flies is one of my favorites with Wininger on slide/resonator, Mike Merenda on banjo and Eric Parker on percussion. Matching the voc...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (September 24, 2021), Scrutiny , by the Bowmans , and it's a warm vocal release. Opening with Digger , twin sisters, Sarah and Claire Bowman weave beautiful melodic harmonies. Joined by Christian Winiker on electric guitar, Mathias Kunzli on drums and Wolfgang Zwiauer on bass as well as Partik Zosso and Daniel Somaroo on beat programming, this is an interesting. Sarah opens Wildfire accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, backed with cool keys by Claire. Their voices blend so nicely and a strong melody, this track having that special dynamic that really gets your attention. A burst of electric guitar soloing by Winiker drives the point home making it one of my favorite tracks on the release. Very nice. Blue Light is a particularly nice track with lush vocal harmonies and a very delicate keyboard backing. Very nice. Wrapping the release is When It Breaks , a cool track with a simple yet effective melody and subtle piano ...