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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!
Lee Palmer, Al
Cross, Lance Anderson, David Woodhead, Elmer Ferrer
Toronto based singer-songwriter and guitarist
Lee Palmer has released two full length CDs, both recorded live off-the-floor.
His third recording is set for release in Spring 2015.
“Those Winter Blues” is a sneak peek
from Lee Palmer’s third album, Like Elway. The seasonally
correct single highlights well known Toronto musicians Al Cross, David Woodhead,
Lance Anderson and Elmer Ferrer. Elmer Ferrer also mixed, co-produced and
co-wrote the track “Wonderful Life”, from Like Elway, to be released in
the Spring of 2015.
Respected recording engineer, George
Seara recorded the 10- track, live album at Noble Street Studios in Toronto. It
all took place one cold winter day, this past December.
“Those Winter Blues" is available on
CD Baby, Radio Submit and Airplay Direct.
Quotes:
"...Americana with a big arching A,
incorporating blues, folk and country ... You get the feeling that in those
years before he started making his own records, that Palmer was a bit of a
collector of stories and was probably more than a bit player in a lot of them,
there is a tone, a quality to the material that suggests a real sense of
ownership." - Neil King, Fatea Magazine
"A first-rate singer-songwriter. Worthy to be heard, this Lee Palmer. Where
have you been all this time, Lee?" - Fred Schmale, Real Roots Cafe
NEW RELEASE FROM SMOKIN' JOE KUBEK & BNOIS
KING NOW AVAILABLE!
Blind Pig Records
has released Fat Man's Shine
Parlor, the latest studio album from Smokin' Joe KubekandBnois King, one of the most talented guitar tandems in
any genre.
Joe and Bnois have been thrilling music fans all
around the world with their red-hot Texas rockin' blues for twenty-five years,
and have developed into a dynamic musical tour de force, with Joe's flame
throwing guitar work complemented by Bnois' cool, jazz-inflected playing and
soulful vocals.
Their incendiary live shows feature two top
flight guitarists intuitively locked in with each other and backed by a
firepower rhythm section, making for a powerful and irresistible
combination.
Regarding the CD title - as a young musician, Smokin’ Joe
Kubek would venture in the wee hours after a gig to a declining, somewhat
unsavory Dallas neighborhood in search of fried chicken. A commercial district
for African-Americans, the area had been a hotbed for jazz and blues musicians
from the 1920’s through the 50’s where you could also find gun and locksmith
shops, tattoo studios, pawnshops, and pool halls.
Joe was fascinated by one remaining establishment across the street called
“Fat Man’s Shine Parlor.” Ostensibly a place to get your shoes shined, to
those in the know, it was also a place for other activities such as gambling,
drinking, and womanizing.
Joe sees this CD in a similar light – crack open the door, and inside you’ll
find lots more than advertised. Only in this case, the pleasures will be
musical.
For more info, or to order this great CD for $15,
please click HERE. To buy this CD for only $10 as part of our 5 CDs for $50
offer, please click HERE.
To order the CD or downloads from Amazon, please click HERE. You can pre-order the album now from
iTunes, with individual tracks available on the release date,
next Tuesday, February 3rd. For the iTunes store, please click HERE.
I just received the newest release, Boomerang, from Eric Sardinas and Big Motor and it rocks! Opening with with kick ass Run Devil Run, a blues rocker with a strong back beat and great slide. Great opener featuring Sardinas on vocal and slide, Levell Price on bass and Byran Keeling on drums. Kicking out the stops with a real rocker is title track Boomerang. This is a hard driving rocker with the heart of a freight train. Taking down the tempo a little, Tell Me You're Mine keeps a heavy rock flavor but with slide and blues riffs, it's hard not to hear the blues roots. Sardinas has his own slide style which breaks the Duane Allman/Derek Trucks/Bonnie Raitt mold influenced more by the likes of Steve Marriott or Johnny Winter to my ear. Morning Glory has a much more acoustic blues feel featuring mostly Sardinas on slide and vocal. Very nice. Bad Boy Blues takes the standard 12 bar format and classic guitar riffs complimented by Dave Schulz on keys. This is a straight forward blues track with a load of slide ... what's not to like! Hard pop rocker, If You Don't Love Me, aims square at the radio with a catchy melody and call and response vocals. Leiber and Stoller classic Trouble gets a stiff blues rock slap with a slow bluesy start including raucous slide resonator work but wrapping the track in fine rock fashion. Very cool! Long Gone is another solid rocker with solid blues roots. Although Sardinas doesn't sound at all like Lynyrd Skynyrd (the real Lynyrd Skynyrd) I can help thinking that he captures the spirit of them on a track like this. Rock on! On Howlin' Wolf's How Many More Years, Sardinas sets a really nice shuffle groove with a stiff rhythm. Again his own rowdy slide style adds nicely to the ruggedness of the overall track making it a definite blues track and a definite rocker. Super! Wrapping the release is rock n roller Heavy Loaded with strong shuffle beat. With a fun, raw rhythm and Celine Cavin on Mojo Juice Harp this is a terrific rock, boogie to conclude a very enjoyable 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”
Performing
Locally: Sue's Tavern in Frazier Park - Saturday, February
7
“I’m out on
the streets again/I’ve been sleeping in my car/I got these worn-out shoes/ Just
smoked my last cigar,” drawls the St. Augustine, FL, native known simply as Bo,
front-man of Bo and the Bluesdrivers, buttressed by a stinging guitar
and a sturdy rhythm section held down by longtime musical partners, Bluesdrivers
bassist Brian “Chewy” James and drummer, J. J. Garcia.
That’s
right, Bo & the Bluesdrivers play it like they’ve lived it, paying those
hard-living dues, forming from a chance meeting after joining forces at an open
jam hosted a decade ago by Chewy and J.J. Ten years after, they’re still
together and tighter than ever.
“From the streets of New York/To the
streets of L.A./It seems all the same/Day to day/I’ve been through the
darkness/I’ve walked through the light/The streets are all the same/Night after
night.”
The band have performed on special occasions in the L.A. area
over the years at clubs and parties of friends, but more recently have started
to develop a strong following that has seen them with consistent bookings all
over Southern California (full itinerary below). “The band came
together both naturally and organically, with no stress or drama…Just making
music that we dig," says drummer JJ Garcia.
Says Bo:
“We’re a band of brothers with mutual respect for each other and our abilities.
Always striving to be the best at what we do.”
A veteran of the
Florida club scene, Bo’s travels have seen him sitting in with legendary
drummers Buddy Miles (Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsies, Delfonics, Bootsy Collins)
and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Artimus Pyle, before moving from Florida to L.A. fourteen
years ago. A world-class guitarist, you can hear his affinity for a variety of
genres - from jazz, funk and soul to rock & roll, coming through loud and
clear on such originals as “Out In The Streets”; audience favorite “Walkin’ In
The Park”; and tasty instrumentals like “Sea Song” (and) “Chillin’”, along with
well-chosen covers of classics by Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pink Floyd and ZZ
Top, among others.
Bo’s Bluesdrivers backbeat is provided by the
stalwart team of J.J. and Chewy, who have worked together for close to two
decades - previously performing in renowned SoCal-based band Stone as well as
also currently with the steadily-growing rock group, Judge Jackson. The longtime
rhythm section have several national tours under their belts and a resume that
includes collaborations with famed horror director John Carpenter, both
on-screen and as part of the soundtracks for his films, including
Vampires and Ghost of Mars. Judge Jackson has performed and
recorded music that has appeared on a variety of TV, movies and sporting events,
including Fox Sports and Super Bowl XLV.
Bo & the Bluesdrivers have
just finished recording a new album at Pawnshop Studios, which is slated for
release later this year.
"Out On The Streets" - Bo and the Bluesdrivers
BO AND THE BLUESDRIVERS - UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS/SPECIAL
EVENTS
Feb. 5
(Thur.) BERGIES Santa Clarita,
CA
Feb. 7 (Sat.)
SUE'S TAVERN Frazier Park,
CA
Feb. 13
(Fri.) KX93.5 FM LAGUNA BLUES* Laguna Beach,
CA
Feb. 17
(Tues.)HOUSE OF
BLUES West Hollywood, CA
Feb. 20
(Fri.) ARCADIA BLUES CLUB Arcadia, CA
Feb. 21
(Sat.) LAKESIDE SPORTS BAR Helendale,
CA
Feb. 28
(Sat.) MADD BAILEY'S PUB Pine Mtn. Club,
CA
March 1
(Sun.) MADD BAILEY'S PUB Pine Mtn. Club,
CA
March 5
(Thur.) BERGIES Santa Clarita,
CA
March 7
(Sat.) HARRY'S NIGHT CLUB Pismo Beach,
CA
April 2
(Thur.) BERGIES Santa Clarita,
CA
May 22
(Fri.) RUN-A-MUCCA RALLY Winnemucca, NV
May 23
(Sat.) RUN-A-MUCCA RALLY Winnemucca, NV
May 24
(Sun.) RUN-A-MUCCA RALLY Winnemucca, NV
May 30
(Sat.) INDIAN HILL MUSIC FEST Tehachapi, CA
May 30
(Sat.) DOGHOUSE SALOON Tehachapi, CA
July 3
(Fri.) WINDY MESA Page,
AZ
July 4
(Sat.) WINDY MESA Page,
AZ
Aug. 8
(Sat.) FIESTA DAYS FESTIVAL Frazier Park,
CA
I just received the newest release (2/10/15), Heart Of Memphis, from Robin McKelle & The Flytones and it's got a cool vibe. Opening with About To Be Your Baby, a funky, high stepping, horn infused soul track. If you grew up in the 60's and 70's listening to Al Green and the like, you'll certainly find this groove! Up next is Good Time, a faster, Ike Turner like track again in the soul vein. Thick with horn and including a tambourine, this track is jumping. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, made popular by The Animals, gets a bit of a kick in the pants with a faster pace, unusual key work and brighter vocals. Control Yourself is an easy paced ballad with pop jazz overtones. It really has a nice bop making me think a bit of Badu. Very cool! Delbert McClinton's Forgetting You is a soulful ballad with simple horn backing and a country twist ... almost like a Muscle Shoals recording. Title track, Heart Of Memphis is an easy soul ballad with a simple back beat. Like A River is back in the Al Green arena with a nice slap and solid horns. Easier That Way opens with a nice guitar riff settling into a soul ballad. Warm B3 and organ work blended nicely with horns makes this a solid radio track. What You Want has a real nice bottom and McKelle shows over and again that she really has the voice to carry off soul like it was invented. I real nice groove with a bit of Gladys Knight feel makes this a memorable track. Good & Plenty is a soul rocker with a solid straight up beat and tight horn backing. Baby You're The Best has a real smooth soul sound with a lot more contemporary feel. Down With The Ship is more of a pop track with a soul twist. Light guitar backing, with keys and horns deliver the vocals on top. Wrapping the release is a tight soul ballad, It's Over This Time. Exhibiting strong emotion and nice vocal backing, this is a great track to wrap a fairly cohesive of contemporary soul tracks.
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”
D.A. Foster ~ The Real
Thing Shaboo/VizzTone 01/27/2015
"Four decades in R&B music.
Now it's his time. He's the real thing...." Mike
Finnigan
We're doing some additional work for D.A. Foster above and
beyond the work being undertaken by VizzTone. Please reply if you would like a
review copy.
D.A. Foster learned to sing the blues from some of the greats, up
front and personal. Starting at age 19 and all through his 20's (1971-1982), he
was hands-on co-owner of the legendary Connecticut roadhouse, the Shaboo Inn.
The Shaboo introduced newcomers like Aerosmith, the Police, Hall & Oates,
Journey, ACDC, Cheap Trick, Dire Straits and Elvis Costello, and hosted blues
greats by the week — Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker,
T-Bone Walker, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, James Cotton, Koko Taylor, B.B.
King, Albert King, Freddie King, Bonnie Raitt, and more. When many of these
blues legends discovered D.A.'s natural vocal talents, they mentored him
and invited him to cut his chops onstage with them.
In 1979 D.A. formed
his own band, the Shaboo Allstars. Matt Murphy was just coming off the Blues
Brothers movie and jumped at the opportunity to be the guitar player in the
band. Foster credits Matt Murphy for launching the band with a license to work
anywhere, and they toured the US for the next two years. In 1982 the Shaboo
closed its doors, and the legendary Harvey Brooks began a five-year run with the
band, during which they did a 7-night run opening for Stevie Ray Vaughan
Meanwhile, D.A. continued working as a talent buyer and started a music
production company.
In D.A.'s 35-plus year bandleader career, many
notables have joined him onstage — Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Keith Richards,
Dan Aykroyd, Maceo Parker, Buddy Guy, Mike Finnigan, Kal David, and countless
others... and he has a long support history with B.B. King.
D.A. Foster
is THE REAL THING — a deep blues & R&B singer of the first order, making
timeless music with longtime friends, producers Tony Braunagel and Mike
Finnigan, their phenomenal, Grammy award-winning Phantom Blues Band, and a few
other very special people.
~ REPRESENTING ~ Charlie Musselwhite ~
Juke Joint Chapel 57th Annual Grammy Award Nominee “Best
Blues Album” 2015 Blues Music Award (BMA) Nominee
“Harmonica” June Core ~ 2015 BMA Nominee
“Drums”
Gary Clark Jr. ~
Live 2015 BMA Nominee “Contemporary Blues Male
Artist”
Missy Andersen ~ In The
Moment 2015 BMA Nominee “Soul Blues Female
Artist”
Otis Clay & Johnny Rawls ~ Soul
Brothers 2015 BMA Nominee “Soul Blues Album” & “Soul
Blues Male Artist” (Otis & Johnny)
Vaneese
Thomas ~ Blues For My Father 2015 BMA Nominee “Soul
Blues Album” & “Soul Blues Female
Artist”
Altered Five Blues Band ~ Cryin’
Mercy 2015 Best Self-Produced CD
Winner
Anthony Gomes • Bobby Hurricane Spencer •
Chris Daniels & The Kings featuring Freddi Gowdy D.A.
Foster • Grady Champion •Hurricane Ruth • Jeremy McEwen • Jon Spear
Band Magnus Berg • Ray Goren • The Reverend Shawn
Amos
I just received the newest release (February 17, 2015), Way Down South, from Igor Prado Band and Delta Groove All Stars and it's smokin! Opening with Ike Turner's, Matchbox, Sugaray Rayford leads the way on vocal and Prado really romps the guitar. A heavy slung blues, Prado throws stiff riffs and wild trem work making this a terrific opener! John Hunter's, Ride With Me Baby has an easy rock beat with deep blues roots. Kim Wilson has the lead on vocal and Prado shows his fleet fingered guitar work. Yuri Prado on drums and Rodrigo Mantovani on bass keep it tight. Muddy Water's She's Got It, featuring Mud Morganfield on lead vocal sounds like it's right out of 60's Chicago with Ivan Marcio on harp and Donny Nichilo doing a great Otis Spann. Morganfield, Marcio, Nichilo and Prado really do capture Muddy's band sound with a lot of authenticity. Very cool! Lowell Fulsom's Baby Won't You Jump With Me features Ari Borger on piano and Lynwood Slim on vocal with cool jazzy guitar work from Prado and Junior Watson and tight sax work from Denilson Martins. James Lane's, What Have I Done, has a smooth groove led by Mitch Kashmar on vocal and harp. Kashmar really takes a nice romp on his solo as does Ari Borger on piano and Prado shows again that he's got great guitar chops. Jr. Walker and the Allstars' Shake & Fingerpop keep all of the R&B groove of the original with super stinging guitar riffs and lead vocals from Prado, a super bass run by Mantovani. Raphael Wressnig does a super job on B3. On Elmore James' Talk To Me Baby, Rod Piazza takes the mic for lead vocal and harp. Honey Piazza joins in on piano with Prado on lead guitar super charging this track. Excellent! Jerry West's If You Ever Need Me, keeps the original feel of the 60's R&B lead by Kim Wilson on vocal and harp. Very Nice! Joe Tex's You Got What It Takes has a nice twist on the original with Prado and JJ Jackson sharing the vocal lead. Keeping the guitar work tame on this number, Prado's finesse on the fretboard isn't hindered with quiet but cool riffs. Sugaray Rayford's Big Mama Blues has the girth of a Muddy Waters track with Prado and Monster Mike Welch doing the guitar Muddy style. Rayford leading the vocal charge and Borger tickling the keys, this track is right off the Chicago stage. Sweet! Paul Gayten's R&B swing tune You Better Believe It, led by Lynwood Slim on vocal and chased by Borger on piano and Martins on sax make this one really hot number. Prado jumps up and stiff arms the crowd with a flaming guitar solo keeping with the pace of the release. On Jerry West's, Rooster Blues, Wallace Coleman takes the vocal and harp lead and gets right into the Chicago groove. Yuri Prado (drums) keeps this track on a tight leash and Borger lays down a great piano solo. Prado really lets it out on this track proving once again that he can hold his own with just about anyone on the blues circuit. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Omar Coleman's Trying To Do Right with Coleman on vocal and harp. Prado takes the acoustic guitar and shows how powerful the simple instrument can be in the right hands. This is a powerful acoustic track and a great conclusion to a terrific 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”
Celebrating The Blues With Heartfelt Gospel
Feeling
Seven veterans of the blues unite and share the
feeling with the world
About six months ago Neil Barnes, a west coast bluesman
here in the United States, contacted me about a project he had been working on
for years. He told me about his idea of assembling great soulful, powerful
voices along with a band that could deliver a sound as if it came out of heaven.
I must say that Neil had my attention. So we worked together and created the one
sheet that would accompany the new release as it went into radio
distribution.
Months would go by and every once in a while I would get a
note from Neil letting me know the project was very much alive and that he was
grateful for my patience and my assistance. In one such note he let me know
that he had retained Todd Glazer, the Alaskan Blues Radio promoter. This
meant Neil was getting close to a release date. A few days later I received two
CDs in the mail. I listened to it and then I listened to it again. I called
Neil and asked him if I could send it my good friend, Ron Haney, of Take One
Creative. Ron received the CD and wrote me immediately. This is what he
wrote:"Neil Barnes, on his latest CD
release, Hyde and Seek, has gathered a group of musicians and vocalists that are
so true to the genre they couldn’t hide it if they wanted to. From the first
track, Don’t Let the Devil Ride, to the last, Tears, Tears and More Tears, the
listener is taken on a blues pilgrimage that exemplifies what the genre is all
about while at the same time embracing the essence of other powerful genres like
gospel, rock and even R&B. It’s so refreshing to hear a group of players and
artists just simply do their material without trying to convince us of anything.
When the true authenticity and God-given gifts are present and allowed to speak
forth no convincing is necessary. The music, message and delivery stands for
itself." I was totally blown away by Ron's
remarks.
Then the Hyde and Seek team sent the video link that I have
attached within this press release. I attached it because once again I am blown
away. The video is not a music video per se, no, it's the story of how these
people brought this piece of work to life. You know what this new release is
- it's that feeling that occurs when soulful, heartfelt music reaches your
ears. The kind that touches you and you embrace it, that's exactly what it
is... Enjoy
I just received the newest release (1/27/15), Wish For What You Want, from the Billy Walton Band and it's a rocker. Opening with the title track, Wish For What You Want, lead vocalist and guitar player, Billy Walton sets a nice pace driven by William Paris with a great bass line. Walton and Paris sing nicely in tandum and Walton gets the guitar screaming over the top. A bit more rock than blues but strong bones. True Lovin Man has a bit more of a R&B flavored rock feel again with Walton leading the way on vocal. Mike Finnegan adds some solid key work and Paris blends nicely on backing vocal. With Eric Clapton like accuracy and backed by John D'Angelo on drums, Ian Gray on trombone, Steve Hyde on trumpet and Sean on Sax this is a solid radio player. Mountain is a solid rocker with a stiff bass drum line. Blistering guitar riffs and a driving bottom carry this track. Felix Cavaliere's Come On Up has a real Mitch Ryder feel but with a bluey guitar riff. Cool! Blues Comes A Knockin has a simple country pace with quiet percussion and vocals complimented by Walton on resonator slide guitar and Southside Johnny on harp. Forgive And Forget has a driving bass line and rowdy guitar riffs reminding me quite a bit of Jeff Healy's style. Solid pop styling and horn backing make this a super track for airplay. Change has a swampy feel and iridescent shimmery guitar sounds. Finnegan lays in just the right keys and D'Angelos latin rhythm is spot on. Worried Blues has the structure of a Robert Johnson song but is laid out more like Robert Palmer. A cool electric guitar solo on this track gives it a nice punch. Till Tomorrow, led off by a nice key intro by Finnegan walks the line between R&B and rock. I think this is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a well crafted melody and nicely blended musical lines. Willie Deville/Doc Pomus track, Just To Walk That Little Girl Home is an easy pop track with a Eagles flair. Walton has a nice voice and this track is all about his vocal blending with Paris. Saxman Joey Stann leads It Doesn't Matter from the first note. With the general influences of the likes of Elvis Costello, Bruce Springstein and 80's rock, this track should have broad appeal. Wrapping the release is Hudson County Star has a basic country feel with simple vocal harmonies and a simple pace. Kicking it into high is drummer D'Angelo followed by Walton on slide and super piano work by Finnegan. A full blown country blues rocker, this is a great track to conclude this 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”
