Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release, I'm Free , from Jordan Officer and it's terrific! Opening with At Least I've Got The Blues , a cool walking, Thrill Is Gone like track, Officer talks his lyrics, not unlike one of my all time favorites, Roy Buchanan, and lets his guitar do the talking. His guitar knows exactly what to do with beautiful tone and unquestionable phrasing. Excellent! A Night Of Fun , is up next with a carnival kind of feel. Tony Mason on drums and Jeff Hill on bass balance out this track. With a cool light jazzy touch this is a bright player. Title track, I'm Free , is a nice slow T-Bone Walker style track with beautifully articulate guitar work. Charley Drayton on drums and Andy Hess just sit tight in the pocket as Officer shows how it is done. Brilliant! When We Were Just Two is a cool retro track with a Bo Diddley beat. Loose guitar work and rhythmic backing make this a cool track. I'm All Alone had a cool Roy Head like vamp with a minimalist...

I just received the newest release, Hear Me Calling (November 28, 2014), from Nathan James and it has a real nice feel. This release is actually two separate releases in one, the first, Hear Me Calling , was inspired by field recordings by Alan Lomax. The second, Natural Born This Way , more New Orleans, Swamp Pop and Down Home blues. Opening disc one is title track, Hear Me Calling , a stripped down blues track with harp and resonator guitar. Look Before I Leap puts me in mind of Brickyard Blues, an old track made popular by James Montgomery. Clean articulate resonator playing brings a nice life to this track. Piedmont style track, Still I Wanna Know , is a bright finger style acoustic guitar track with James on lead vocal. Very nice! A boogie track with a twist, Doing The Same To You , has a Latin flavor and a finger style break. Interesting mix. Baby Where Did You Go has very classic delta blues styling and honesty. Possibly my favorite track on disc one. Curley Weaver's No...

I just received the newest release, The John Weeks Band , by the John Weeks Band and it has a cool flavor. Opening with All Night , a laid back 12 bar number, Weeks on guitar and vocal, Andras "AC" Csapo on keys, Curtis Hawkins on bass and Tim "Chooch" Molinario on drums set the pace. Devil In My House has a bit more of a easy rock feel with Csapo on harp backing acoustic guitar and vocal by Weeks. Instrumental jump track Why Don't We Sleep On It , really kicks. Led by AC on harp and with a nice walking bass line by Hawkins, this track is built to spill. Weeks shows he knows his way up and down fretboard as he trades riffs with AC on harp. Very nice! How Can You Love Me settles down in a nice slow groove. Featuring cool organ work from AC, Weeks is back on lead vocal and quiet, steady guitar solo. I Want To Get Back Home has a definite rock beat with a taste of funk. AC steps up with fine lead harp work and Weeks plays some of his tastiest guitar riffs on...

I just received the newest release (October 21, 2014), The Blues Soul of Billy Boy Arnold , from Billy Boy Arnold and it's solid. Opening with R&B track Coal Man , Arnold leads the way on vocal with heavy support from Rich Lataille on sax, Mark Earley on sax and Doug Woolverton on trumpet. Hopping right on the harp on the intro of the classic I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water , Arnold plays this boogie out with slick guitar work from Duke Robillard and Bruce Bears who always shines on piano. Taking the last solo spot on the track Arnold rips out a nice one chased by Mark Teixeira on drums. You Give Me Nothing To Go On has a solid R&B feel with Robillard stepping up with a nice solo. Arnold hops on a cool solo of his own and Bears rolls high under the melody. 99 lbs. , another R&B laden track is straight up rolling straight to the radio with it's hook. Joe Tex's A Mother's Prayer is a high stepper with warm backing vocals from Anita Suhanin and Jack Gauthi...

I just received the newest release (October 21, 2014), Looking In The Mirror , from Howard Glazer. Opening with Midnight Postman , Glazer delivers on a funky R&B style number featuring a nice organ solo from Larry Marek and of course the fiery guitar works of Glazer. Stephanie Johnson and Maggie McCabe back Glazer on vocal joined by Chris Brown on bass and Charles David Stuart on drums. Broken Down Hotel Blues has a stagger step, broken drum riff start which I really like. A clever blues rocker, this track is all about the rhythm. Take Me Baby opens with a nice electric guitar solo with cool saturated amp sound. Marek really rides the keys and under vocals by Glazer and McCabe. All I Ever Wanted is an unusual track with a Frank Zappa like vocal bridge. Nicely phrased guitar riffs highlight this track with a cool drum rhythm under the bottom. Walking In Detroit is a cool 12 bar shuffle with McCabe and Glazer trading lead vocal parts. David Kocbus hits the note on trumpet topp...

I just received the newest release (October 21, 2014), I'm Changing , from Lisa Mills and it's stunning! Opening with Better Than This/ I Don't Need You Anymore , Mills opens up a quiet bluesy ballad. Her easy pace and confidence is quite becoming. Rick Hirsch lays in a really nice guitar solo joining Ian Jennings on bass and Jimmy Roebuck on drums. I Don't Want To Be Happy is a simple ballad with Mills accompanied by Jennings on bass, John Milham on drums and Corky Hughes on guitar. Mills really has a colorful voice and it is nicely on display here. I Need A Little Sunshine has a nice gospel like feel, with a twist of country and a pinch of island. Britt Meacham adds some nice soft melodic chorded soloing. Nice! Title track, I'm Changing , is a very solid ballad and beautifully written and executed track. Pat Murphy overlays a soft fiddle solo over Mills own accompaniment on acoustic guitar. Very nice! Eyes So Blue has cool island feel and Mills voice melds ...

Forty Below Records Announces October 27 Release Date for Gatefold Two-LP Vinyl Set of John Mayall’s Acclaimed Latest Album, A Special Life LOS ANGELES, CA – Forty Below Records announces an October 27 release date for the special gatefold two-LP vinyl set from the legendary “Godfather of British Blues,” John Mayall, of his universally-acclaimed album, A Special Life , distributed by Sony/RED. The new album was recorded last November at Entourage Studios in North Hollywood and was produced by Mayall, with co-production, engineering and mixing by Eric Corne. A Special Life also boasts original cover art and design created by John Mayall. Reviews of A Special Life have been over-the-top and acknowledge Mayall’s lofty place in blues history. “After over a half-century of playing the blues, John Mayall is a genuine master, and he has certainly led A Special Life ,” said Living Blues magazine. “ I’d easily put this one among Mayall’s best efforts – and that inclu...

             The Todd Wolfe Band bring their "Miles To Go" Tour to the midwest and Canada, kicking off with a show at the House of Blues Back Porch in Chicago on Monday, October 13. Complete itinerary below. Pictured (from left): Roger Voss, drums; Todd Wolfe, guitars-vocals; Justine Gardner, bass. TODD WOLFE BAND KICKS OFF "MILES TO GO"  MIDWEST/CANADIAN TOUR W/ A SHOW AT HOUSE OF BLUES/CHICAGO, MONDAY, OCT. 13    (CHICAGO, IL) - The Todd Wolfe Band , one of the hardest-working blues-rock ensembles in the business, launch their Fall "Miles To Go" U.S. Midwest/Canadian Tour with a show at the Back Porch at House of Blues , 329 N. Dearborn St., Monday, October 13. 8 p.m. $5.00. Show Info: (312) 923-2000 or http://www.houseofblues.com/chicago . Complete tour itinerary below.    Longtime guitar ace Todd Wolfe is known for his work with Sheryl Crow (five years as ...

I just received the newest release, Only The Sky Knows , from the Tyler Porch Band and it hits hard. Opening with Who Am I , TPB sets a aggressive blues rock posture. This band picks up where Mahogany Rush left off and as a trio these guys are heavy! Featuring Porch on vocal and lead guitar, Brad Kemp on bass and Joey Robertson on drums. This track has a nice helping of flashy guitar riffs as well as a cool bass solo and cowbell...love cowbell. Oh, Lady is up next with a cool slide solo reminding me quite a bit of the Allman's Every Hungry Woman but progressing into something much heavier...think Mountain with vocal harmonies. Very nice! Title track, Only The Sky Knows , is more of a quiet rock ballad has nicely blended vocals and guitar soloing not unlike Joe Bonamassa or Peter Frampton... you say that's quite a spread? Not as much as you might think. Jess is a straightforward rocker with a pop hook. This track is the automatic radio track with Steeley Dan clean vocals. ...

I just received the newest release from Aki Kumar and it's a solid dose of Chicago blues. Opening with Snooky Pryor's Judgement Day , a smooth slinging number, has Kumar on vocal and harp and Little Jonny with crisp guitar work. On Hank Ballard's Hoochie Coochie Coo , Kumar really gets the band in the groove with his focused vocals. Frankie Ramos adds a real nice sax soloing to the mix and Bob Welsh lays down some real nice piano lead. I particularly like Rusty Zinn's guitar soloing on this track. On title track, Don't Hold Back , Ramos again adds the heat on sax and June Core on drums as well as Vance Ehlers on bass really hold the line. On James Moore's Buzzin' , Core sets a snappy snare rhythm and Kumar sets up a nice harp melody. Johnny Cat Soubrand and Little Jonny lay down some nice guitar on this track as well. On original track, Let Me Get Closer , Kumar really sets a nice table both vocally and on harp. On Jimmy Reed's She Don't Want Me ...

I just received the newest release, Heavy Water , from Fo'Reel and I gotta say it's spectacular! Opening with one of my favorite all time funky blues tracks, Breaking Up Somebody's Home this band sets a solid groove. C.P. Love is a superb singer and he's gunning hard on the first track. Johnny Neel on organ and Mark Domizio on guitar set the pace and Domizio really makes the guitar squirm with his soulful riffs. A super horn section consisting of Jon Smith (tenor sax), Ward Smith (bari sax) and Barney Floyd (trumpet) really add depth to this already deep recording. Excellent! Next up is the title track, Heavy Water , and it has a funky New Orleans jazz funk feel. Love is again leading the way and Daryl Burgess keeps the bottom really tight pushing David Hyde on bass. Nice solos from Neel and Domizio add nicely to Love's lush vocals. Leave Your Love Alone has a change up on vocals lead by Rick Lawson. A walking bass line by Hyde really sets the tempo for this ...

I just received the newest release, Live At Blues Now! from the Chris O'Leary Band and it has a super groove. This release was recorded live in Basel, Switzerland in March of 2014. Opening with Give It , a one-chord modal blues structure with a repeating guitar figure and Diddley-style rhythm, O'Leary leads the way into this live set on vocal and harp. Joined by Chris Vitarello and Alex Schultz on guitar, Andy Stahl on tenor sax, Chris DiFrancesco on bari sax, Matt Raymond on bass and Jay Devlin on drums this band is tight. On jump track, Trouble , the band ramps it up with Schultz laying down some hot smokin' guitar work. O'Leary cranks it up as well with a mighty solo of his own. Very nice! Louisiana Woman has a swampy sound with a nice bass lead from Raymond. Cool shimmery guitar effects from Vitarello as well as a soulful guitar solo and the masterful harp work from O'Leary make this a really cool track. R&B style track Walk The Walk really invites the ...

TEXAS: Come on out and welcome Hamilton & Band back from their Europe tour! Our Houston show  (Last Concert Cafe) on Fri. Oct. 3 features the youngest bands to ever do a show with Hamilton (ages 9, 11, 13, & 13)...see the listing below for details! 10/3/14 Houston, TX Last Concert Cafe (w/guests Campfire Soul & Rusted Avenue ) 8pm TICKETS 10/4/14 Houston, TX Guitars N Cars Fundraiser @ Sam Houston Racepark 6pm TICKETS 10/10/14 Breda, NETHERLANDS Blues Night Breda @ Mezz 8pm 10/11/14 Dunkerque, FRANCE Bay Car Blues Festival 11:30pm 10/24/14 Beaumont, TX Madison's 9:30pm 10/25/14 Houston, TX Private Event 10/30/14 Ganado, TX Rear Window Listening Room 8pm 10/31/14 Galveston, TX Crow's Cantina 9pm Halloween Party! 11/1/14 Conroe, TX Dosey Doe Music Cafe 8pm TICKETS Please forward this email to any of your friends/family in these cities!! www.hamiltonloomis.com

I just received the newest release (September 30, 2014), Everlasting Arms , from Luke Winslow-King and it's quite interesting. Opening with title track, Everlasting Arms , LWK sets an easy spiritual blues feel singing in tandem with wife, Esther Rose. A laid back country blues, LWK handles primary lead vocal and smooth slide guitar work. Very nice. Swing That Thing has a lot of jangle and a feel of the hill country blues. A simple blues holler not unlike Mr Burnside might put down, and clean rhythmic guitar rhythm and slide work ...this is a very cool track. Levee Man has a strong feel of New Orleans jazz and bright trumpet Ben Polcer as well as some nice clarinet and trombone work. A very nice Basin Street feel. Graveyard Blues is a simple ballad with nice piano accompaniment by Polcer. An easy set 3/4 pace really showcases the nice blend between Rose and LWK's vocals. Cadillac Slim digs deeper into the New Orleans feel with drummer Benji Bohannon leading the way. LWK la...

           "Nelson tackles not just traditional blues, but rock, country and even a bit of jazz. It’s quite the mix, but Nelson deftly pulls off the transitions. One thing about Nelson is that he’s a heck of a talent on the guitar: if Brian Wilson thought he was starting fires in the neighbourhood where he was recording Smile just by making music, Nelson pretty much starts infernos every time he touches his instrument’s strings. The guy can shred, particularly at slide guitar, and his voice is somewhat reminiscent of heartland rocker John Hiatt. " - PopMatters Drew Nelson , conceivably one of Canada’s most criminally underrated musicians, is back with his first album in eight years and a renewed determination to reignite a successful career that he had almost turned his back on. The Ottawa based singer/songwriter/guitarist decided to focus on domestic life for a while after many years of playing 200-plus dates. “I gre...