I received multiple copies of this release for my birthday this year from friends and family that knew that I regard D'Angelo so highly. Well, it was worth the wait! This new release, Black Messiah is spectacular! Opening with Ain't That Easy, an extremely contagious R&B track with D'Angelo's trademark syncopation this track is off the hook. An instant radio track and great groove. 1000 Deaths is a heavy impact track with ministerial vocal delivery (excerpt fromThe Murder of Fred Hampton) and plucked bass riffs over sub bass rudiments and multiple timed bass. Incredible! I have listened to this CD so many times and this track continues to blow me away. Put it in your car and listen to it drive your car crazy. This insane groove finally forms to a classic D'Angelo melody with multi vocal harmonies and over the top drum rhythms. A Eddie Hazel like guitar frenzy is created as well by Excellent! The Charade falls into more of the groove closely associated with earlier D'Angelo tracks with a beautiful bass guitar lead and simple vocal harmonies. On Sugah Daddy a simple piano riff develops into a track that is hard to get out of your head. With vocal harmonies and hand claps this track takes you for a super ride. Horns and funky rhythm guitar delivers the track but it's the groove factor here! Spanish guitar intro...yes Spanish guitar intro and quiet whispering opens Really Love one of the most beautiful compositions on the release. This is a track that will haunt you all day and night. Masterfully created, performed and delivered it excellent. Again, D'Angelo uses his strong sense of off rhythm delivery for strong impact. Warm vocal blending and a nice walking bass line sends this track over the top. I saw this track performed live and the song has so much soul that I can even remember certain motions made by D'Angelo because they were so effective that you are compelled to do it. Back To The Future (Part I) starts out very simply with D'angelo delivering with his groove but over the symphony of strings (keys) emerges a little ditty bringing to mind music from South Carolina in the 20's. Tight guitar articulation sets this track off nicely. Til It's Done (Tutu) is another of my favorites with complex timing and a sweet melody. With only dangling keyboard and twinkling guitar riffs over a bass and drum rhythm, D'Angelo delivers very effective vocals. Simply beautiful. Prayer again returns to a more basic D'Angelo groove that gets in your spine. Simple keyboard base and drums kick, this track carried almost exclusively by the artistry of D'Angelo's vocals is really strong. Another of my favorite tracks on the release is Betray My Heart. This track has quick guitar riffs and a 12 note bass line that drives the track under D'Angelo on vocals. This track blooms in jazz with brass and quick guitar underpinning. Excellent! Opened by a simple whistling melody, The Door is a bit more complex that it appears. With even a blues slide guitar riff appearing in this stripped down track of mostly percussion and hand clap, this is a real contrast to some of the heavies of parts of this release. Back To The Future (Part 2) has complex vocal intro and along the same theme as Part I continues a party groove. The final track on the release is absolutely stunning. One of the most beautiful soul tracks to hit my ears in many years, Another Life is simply off the hook. With just a taste of guitar, sitar guitar sounds and a solid groove D'Angelo lays down beautiful vocals on a beautiful melody. This is absolutely the best release I have heard this year and in a long time for that matter. Don't listen to it and try to hear VooDoo or Brown Sugar. This release is much more complex. Put it in your car and listen to it about 20 times... you will... and you may never take it out. Yes, it really is that great!
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”
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CD submissions accepted! Guest writers always welcome!!
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!
Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com
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!
Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com
Friday, February 20, 2015
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Misty Blues - With All Due Respect - New release review
I just received the newest release, With All Due Respect, from Misty Blues and it's solid. Opening with a classic blues track / R&B classic Stagger Lee made popular by Lloyd Price, Gina Coleman on lead vocals settles in a nice groove. Benny Kohn lays down a nice key line and Jason Webster and Jeff Dudziak rip a few nice guitar riffs followed by Aaron Dean on sax. Nice! Another blues classic, Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, is up next and Coleman shows her vocal chords nicely. Benny Kohn really does a nice job of highlighting the piano lead on this track and modern guitar work shines. Again Aaron Dean steps up with a hot sax solo to seal the deal. 44 Blues stays true to it's roots and again Coleman's voice is well adapted to the job. The specific guitar solos aren't noted in the liner notes but there are some particularly nice guitar solos on this track. Randall Bramblett like piano solo's on this track give it a slightly more modern feel. On Taint Nobody's Biz-ness, Dean again steps up with a really hot horn solo and Kohn lays down some really nice piano lines. Coleman's vocal versatility profiles nicely over the solid bass lines of Bill Patriquin. Take This Hammer is an old school revival style track along the lines of Will The Circle Be Unbroken. Nicely done. House Of the Rising Sun follows closely the Animals version of this classic. Coleman really handles the vocals nicely with a crisp guitar solo, hot horn solo and nice organ backing. Rollin' and Tumblin' has it's classic bounce with original hollerin' style. I particularly like Kohn's key work on this track. Baby Won't You Please Come Home has a real nice easy swing to it and the guitar phrasing on the solo riffs is particularly fluid. Dean again steps up with some ultra tasty horn work floating on smooth key work from Kohn. Going Down The Road Feeling Bad has a lot of the Delaney and Bonnie feel but with a bit more rock. Along with solos from Kohn and Dean, Webster, Patriquin, Tatten, Kohn and Dudzink all contribute to the vocal harmony. Very nice. WC Handy's St. Louie Blues holds with a jazzy blues feel. Coleman stays in the lower register of her range giving the track a particular feel. Stylistic guitar riffs and light piano work contrasted to the crisp horn overlay by Dean gives this track a particularly cool feel. Wrapping the release is Down Home Blues with a feel not unlike a Jimmy Reed tune with it's easy sway. The entire gang joins in vocally and instrumentally with a summary jam.
Very nice ending to a cool 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”
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”
Labels:
Misty Blues,
Review,
With All Due Respect
Master slide guitarist and songwriter John Campbelljohn releases 'Chin Up'
Release date: March 10, 2015
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Multiple award winning East Coast blues guitarist
John Campbelljohn is set to release his 12th album, titled Chin
Up on March 10, 2015.
A master slide guitarist and songwriter,
Campbelljohn hails from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, and over the course of
his four decade-long career has won or been nominated for countless music awards
including Maple Blues Awards, East Coast Music Awards, Real Blues Awards, Music
Nova Scotia Entertainer Of The Year, Blues Recording Of The Year & Musician
Of The Year.
His newest release, Chin Up features 12
original tracks covering a myriad of topics and sub-genres all highlighting
Campbelljohn’s prowess as a guitarist and vocalist. From the up-beat opening
number “The Mumble Boogie” the progressive blues sounds of “Meet My Maker”, the
rocking blues track “Castaway”, and the folk blues based “How Stupid Is That”,
Cambelljohn proves with each song why Blues Revue Magazine
deemed him a “guitar-god-in-the-making”.
During his career John Cambelljohn has been
featured on recordings and live shows that include names like Sting, Joni
Mitchell, Emmy Lou Harris, Leonard Cohen, Joe Ely, Willie Nelson, Robben Ford
& Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) as well as TV productions by
Sony Music Entertainment. Rich vocals and
distinctive slide guitar playing has made him a favourite at music festivals in
eastern Canada & Europe.
John Campbelljohn’s sophisticated and progressive
approach to song writing gives him a distinctive edge, mixing rock, blues,
reggae, Celtic & country into his signature style. The result is a sound
that can pummel the audience into submission one moment, while captivating them
with its subtlety the next.
@j
_cambelljohn /john.campbelljohn.7
Track List:
1. The Mumble Boogie - 3:04
2. I Got It All - 3:18
3. Meet My Maker - 3:51
4. The Poor Man Pays - 4:15
5. Castaway - 2:26
6. Attitude - 2:32
7. How Stupid Is That - 3:34
8. Stop Making Excuses - 4:40
9. Sally In The Alley - 3:50
10. Fantastico Supremo - 3:57
11. Good Morning Mr. Blue Sky - 3:19
12. She’s Gone - 3:49
"The standard of John Campbelljohn's slide guitar playing is raised to a new record high." - Rolling Stone, Germany
"It is difficult to find a good slide guitarist, who stands out from the
crowd - one who manages to do so is Nova Scotian John Campbelljohn." - Blues
Bytes, USA
"John's raw singing and his truly convincing guitar, particularly the
slide passages, are a feast for the ears, have real class." - Blues News
Magazine, Germany
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Labels:
Canada,
Chin Up,
International,
John Campbelljohn,
Nova Scotia
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
PEACH & the Electric Blues Band Return to WitZend
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Labels:
California,
Peach,
Venice,
WitZend
New Interactive JACK WHITE Video + Olivia Jean Tour Dates + Grammy Awards!
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Labels:
Jack White,
Lazaretto,
Olivia Jean,
Third Man Records
Balkun Brothers - ReDrova - New Release Review
I just received the newest release, ReDrova, from Balkun Brothers and it is a solid blues rocker. Opening with Last Jam (Oh Yeah!) this track has the solidity of early Sabbath and the attitude of Humble Pie. Guitarist/vocalist Steve Balkun has a solid voice and really knows how to grind out the riffs supported by ace drumming by Nick Balkun and heavy bass work of Caleb Battersby. This track rips! Excellent! Next up is title track ReDrova opening with a Peter Green like riff but with a lot of southern rock heavy grit. Steve shows a lot of finesse on slide work and Nick and Caleb drive the train. Very cool! Got My Boots On takes a different direction with a lively stripped down blues rocker. One of my favorite tracks on the release, it rocks! With a lot of the flavor of the new blues rockers with simple instrumentation, this track hits it square on the head. I really like Steve's vocals and stylistic guitar work on this track. Keep Me Warm has a 12 bar format but with a country rhythm. Quick paced and with howlin' slide work and finger pickin, this track blends pure blues, country and modern country rock coming up with a different sound altogether. Cool! Bippidee Bopp (name possibly taken from the drum riff), this track gets right into the Humble Pie - Road Runner groove... you got my attention! A funky blues with great bottom and slide.... what else could a guy ask for. This track is excellent! Keep It Up has a lot of the stye of Jeff's Boogie with a quick guitar riff over a fast paced boogie drive. Throw in a few jazz chords and a walking bass line and you've got it all! Sally's Blues digs down in the mud and pulls out that dark nasty blues that we all wait for. Steve's voice adapts nicely to this more bluesy styling and his quick guitar riffs under the vocals are really sweet. Larry "Buzzy" Fallstrom adds nice piano and organ work to this track for some warmth. Steve stretches out a little on this 6 plus minute track making him one of my new found blues guitar guys who I think have great chops that need to be heard! On Fried Pickle Party, Steve hits the resonator with a real nice slide riff joined by Dave Sadloski on harp. Slidin' Butt is a primarily an acoustic sliding session with a short atmospheric interlude creating a cool tension to the hard drive of the slide work. Nicely done. Tell Me (What's On Your Mind) has a real Elmore James style and is pure blues. A pure foot stomper with Steve just tearing up the resonator on slide this track is hot! Wrapping the release is Too Damn Long, more in the hill country style and a more rudimentary style. A great blues rocker, this is a perfect track to close a diverse album deeply infused in the blues and wild with slide. Do I recommend this release?.... you bet!
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”
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”
Labels:
Balkun Brothers,
ReDrova,
Review
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Arlen Roth Gets His Mojo Workin' On New Album Deal with King Mojo/Garage Door Records, Due Out April 14; Acclaimed Guitarist Convenes a "Slide Guitar Summit" on Latest CD
Arlen Roth Gets His Mojo Workin’ On New Album
Deal with King Mojo/Garage Door Records, Due Out April 14
Acclaimed Guitarist Convenes a Slide Guitar Summit
on Latest CD, with Special Guests Johnny Winter, Sonny Landreth, David
Lindley, Rick Vito, Jimmy Vivino, Jack Pearson, Lee Roy Parnell, Cindy
Cashdollar and Greg Martin,
Produced by Tom Hambridge
RIDGEFIELD, CT - Guitarist Arlen Roth announces that his new
CD, Slide Guitar Summit, which teams the acclaimed musician with
fellow slide guitar greats Johnny Winter, Sonny Landreth, David Lindley, Rick
Vito, Jimmy Vivino, Jack Pearson, Lee Roy Parnell, Cindy Cashdollar and Greg
Martin, will be released April 14 under the terms of a new deal signed with King
Mojo/Garage Door Records, distributed nationally by Burnside Distribution.
Slide Guitar Summit was produced by Grammy-winner Tom Hambridge,
and recorded at studios in New York, Nashville and Connecticut.
Called “The Master of the Telecaster,” Arlen Roth recently
celebrated the upcoming release of Slide Guitar Summit with a
special show at the City Winery in Nashville, where he was joined onstage by
album participants Rick Vito, Jack Pearson, Lee Roy Parnell and Greg Martin for
an amazing night of music. Fans that night were also treated to an advance
screening of the one-hour film, Glass, Brass and Steel: The Making of
Arlen Roth's Slide Guitar Summit Album.
“This Slide Guitar
Summit album was a longtime dream come true for me,” recalls Arlen Roth
about the recording sessions. “It's like a group of old friends getting together
for a great time that is rooted in our serious and mutual love for what we
do.”
Recording with the late Johnny Winter was also special for Roth, since it turned out be Winter’s last session before he passed away in 2014. “Getting to work with the legendary Johnny Winter was such an incredible feeling, and it got the album totally off on the right foot,” says Roth. “It was hard to believe that I was sitting there playing ‘Rocket 88’ with him, when I could remember being 16 years old and watching Johnny from the very front at Woodstock in 1969....this album is of course, dedicated to this slide and blues guitar master who always served to inspire us all.”
Roth has fond memories of all the
tracking sessions. “Each player brought something unique to this project and the
interaction between me and them is what I was looking for in making each track
truly unique” he says. “And Tom Hambridge and I go way back together as
musicians and as friends, so I was really happy to be able to see this great
producer lend his magic touch to this project. I also loved how so many of the
artists came in with some very strong choices for the songs for us to do, and
how we got to pay tribute to many of the great slide players before us such as
Lowell George, Elmore James and Duane Allman. I suppose the thing about this
album that intrigues me the most is how with the common thread of slide guitar
we were all able to touch upon so many styles, emotions, traditions and also
break new ground at the same time!”
Guitar legend Arlen Roth is considered one of the most
influential guitarists of all time, and during the course of his 45-year-career
has toured the world and recorded with an amazing list of artists, including
Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, John Prine, Phoebe Snow, Levon Helm, Ry Cooder,
Eric Andersen, Dusty Springfield, Janis Ian and The Bee Gees, among others. His
teaching and creation of the Hot Licks Video pioneered music and
guitar education all over the world, with his videos having sold in excess of
2.5 million copies. His current online lessons and blogs for
Gibson.com have over 1 million followers. Arlen was also the man
behind the legendary blues film, Crossroads, creating the guitar
parts, directing the guitar scenes and working alongside fellow guitarist Ry
Cooder and actor Ralph Macchio during the film’s production. He
was voted in the “Top 50 Acoustic Guitarists of All-Time” by
Gibson.com and in the “Top 100 Most Influential Guitarists
of All-Time” by Vintage Guitar Magazine. He has eight best-selling
books to his credit, and his book, Hot Guitar, is a compilation of
10 years of his wildly popular column for Guitar Player
Magazine.
Roth’s first album
Guitarist, won the Montreux Critics Award for “Best
Instrumental Album of the Year” in 1978, and his last album,
All Tricked Out!, garnered four Grammy nominations.
His new Slide Guitar Summit CD is similar in approach to his
classic and legendary album, Toolin’ Around (1993),
which featured duets with guitar greats such as Danny Gatton, Duane
Eddy, Brian Setzer, Duke Robillard, Albert Lee, Sam Bush and Jerry
Douglas, and which also became a film documentary. He followed up that album
with Toolin’ Around Woodstock, with Levon Helm, Sonny
Landreth and Bill Kirchen.
Arlen Roth
continues to record and tour all over the world. His current band, The Cordobas,
features Eddie Denise on bass, Shannon Ford on drums and Chris Foley on second
guitar. His daughter, Lexie Roth, also sings with the band, and
has become a superb recording artist, vocalist and songwriter in her own right,
with many credits to her name, such as singing on the recent Les Paul tribute
album (she sang "Vaya Con
Dios”), plus singing the blues classic, “Night Life,” on
the album with Levon Helm.
With songs that cover multiple genres of music, Slide
Guitar Summit promises to reach a wide ranging audience of fans and
promises to be one of the most celebrated albums of the year.
Arlen Roth is
also the founder and CEO of the “International Guitar Hall of Fame and Museum,”
which has been a long-time dream
for him to create.
To
download a hi-res color photo of Arlen Roth (photo credit: Diana), click
here:
http://www.markpuccimedia.com/ArlenRoth.jpg. For more information, visit www.arlenroth.com,
www.facebook.com/arlenroth and www.guitarhalloffame.com
Passenger, Joan Armatrading, Frank Turner, Joan Baez / Cambridge Folk Festival - First names announced
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