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Exclusive Blues Interviews, Blues Reviews, Blues Videos, Top Blues Artists, New Blues Artists.
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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
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Ironing Board Sam In the Studio!
Royal Southern Brotherhood - Don't Look Back: The Muscle Shoals Sessions Out May 26
Don’t Look Back: The Muscle Shoals
Sessions
Produced by Tom
Hambridge and Blessed by FAME founder Rick Hall
Cyril Neville’s Royal
Southern Brotherhood Eyes May 26th
For 3rd
Studio Album
“They
are not a band – they are an extravaganza” – John
Hiatt
Atlanta, GA – Ruf Records
recording group, Royal Southern Brotherhood (RSB) preps for their much
anticipated third studio album, Don’t Look Back: The Muscle Shoals
Sessions for release on May 26th.
This album was recorded at the legendary FAME Studios (est.
1960 - Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Otis
Redding) in Muscle Shoals, AL with Grammy award-winning producer Tom Hambridge
and the band’s new guitar line up as Cyril Neville leads the charge forward.
Don’t Look Back is a spiritual journey that
only Cyril Neville can lead. The elite percussionist’s experiences combined with
these talented, energetic players create a new sound that remains reverent to
the blues traditions. This highlights the magic that happens when great songs
are performed by great bands.
The magic of FAME was not lost on
band leader, Cyril Neville. The longtime musical icon almost sounded like a star
struck upstart when speaking of the experience, stating, “I stood in the same
place (vocal booth) as Wilson Pickett!”
The energy and excitement was not lost on the rest of
the band. The process began when the band gathered at a rented house along the
Tennessee River. The river is famous for the singing-like sounds it makes as the
waves lap against the shores. According to the legend of The Singing River, which
is associated with the Yuchie tribe, it
is believed the flowing waters sounded like a woman singing. The time in
the rented house not only inspired much of the material, it allowed the band to
develop the chemistry that separates a band from a group of musicians.
For their third effort, RSB
brought in two new fiery guitar slingers, Bart Walker and Tyrone Vaughan, to
breathe new energy into the band's sound. The new blood is there to help the
venerable Cyril Neville on percussion and vocals with the thunderous rhythm
section of Yonrico Scott and Charlie Wooton to up the funk while maintaining the
blues and rock that has brought Royal Southern Brotherhood a growing, worldwide
audience.
The constant touring and
recording has paid off: in 2014, the band won a Blues Music Award for BEST DVD
for Songs From The Road – Live In Germany. This year they are
nominated for BEST ROCK BLUES CD for their sophomore effort,
heartsoulblood and that will be decided in Memphis at the Blues
Music Awards held in May.
Songs like “Big Greasy” recalls old school funk and
Go-Go music, a sparse “Anchor Me” is a tender love ballad while the Neville
autobiographical “Hell or High Water” is filled with the showman’s life and its
struggles. The banjo-tinged title track, “Don’t Look Back” which is sung by
Bart, brings in a country texture to give it a traveling feel.
Listen to a sneak peek of three songs: RSB - 3 Song Teaser
All these great songs came from various places as the
band toured. Whether it was a sound check in the mid-west or a cheap hotel lobby
or some studio in Europe, the band fleshed out their ideas (often recorded on
their cell phones), so they had structure and hooks worked out before reaching
FAME. This allowed the band and Hambridge to concentrate on performance instead
of spending time developing ideas.
Hambridge was so mesmerized by the quintet’s cohesiveness he
didn’t want to touch a thing but the record button. The other cats on tape are
Dumpstaphunk’s Ivan Neville on keyboards/organ and legendary Jimmy Hall on harp
scattered about adding flare to the tunes.
Bart Walker, with his tinted
glasses and curly hair, has a powerhouse voice that cuts through the music.
Classically trained as a formal opera singer, Walker hails from the Nashville
area and he spent time in both Mike Farris from The Screamin’ Cheetah Willies
and Reese Wynans (and old SRV bandmate) musical outfits. His 2013 release,
Waiting On Daylight, garnered both national and international
acclaim. This attention gave Bart the cache to see a lot of the world via Ruf
Records President’s, Blues Caravan Tour, which spotlights new talent to sizable
audiences. Now a seasoned player, Walker was ready and able to join the
Brotherhood. “Joining RSB was the best idea anyone had for me,” said the affable
Walker.
This was Tyrone Vaughan’s second time collectively playing
with the others and he fell into place as if he were a longtime bandmate. Being the son of Jimmie Vaughan and
the nephew of the iconic SRV can be a heavy burden to bear. Fortunately,
Tyrone is unaffected by the adulation for his family, and developed his own
gifted style and signature tone. Tyrone cut his own path by working his way up
through the Austin (a town drenched in guitar heroes for the uninitiated) club
scene in his teens, eventually packing clubs around Texas. Through hard work,
studying the masters and a tip or two from the family, Tyrone has developed a
soulful voice along with a guitar tone that mixes blues, rock and country.
As for the 65-year-old Neville, a world-renowned
percussionist has long been considered New Orleans royalty for his stints in the
Grammy Award winning Neville Brothers, Galactic and The Meters. Neville’s
career has spawned 45 some odd years and has included performances with music
icons such as Bono, Joan Baez, Dr. John and Tab Benoit. His philosophical
beliefs and activist voice blend effortlessly when Cyril sits down to write. His
intuition to the world and people are reflected within his soulful singing voice
which creates a magnetic force between the listener and him.
In 1989, Cyril penned “Sister Rosa,” about the Civil Rights
icon, Rosa Parks. USA Today honored Neville by choosing the song as one of the
most inspirational song about Martin Luther King’s, “I Have A Dream,” speech on
the 50th anniversary of the historical oration given during the march
on Washington (Parks was in attendance). “Sister Rosa” may not have had a change
on the movement at the time, but Neville’s composition reminded a country of the
thousands of souls that risked their lives to bring an end to a shameful
tradition in the U.S.
This past year, Cyril found
himself being interviewed by another drummer, Dave Grohl, of the Foo Fighters,
for the “Sonic Highways” documentary on HBO. This eight-part series that
followed the Foo Fighters around to various US cities, capturing the music scene
and history that is unique to that city. Grohl, who directed the series,
interviewed other Nawlins luminaries Dr. John, Allen Toussaint and Troy
“Trombone Shorty” Andrews to gain an understanding of the Crescent City’s unique
musical sound.
Cyril will lead the charge into
the next Royal Southern Brotherhood crusade with this new album, Don’t
Look Back with eyes narrowed. And just like John Hiatt says, “They are
not a band, they are an extravaganza!” A sound and sight event of pure talent
mixed in with love for their art, the music and their fans, the Loyal Royals.
The band will be in full touring
mode throughout the year with radio and media campaign behind them.
Please see their website for further information: www.royalsouthernbrotherhood.com
Windchill Records artist: Breezy Rodio - So Close To It - New Release review
I just received the newest release, So Close To It, from Breezy Rodio and it's terrific! Opening with a track made popular by BB King, When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer, Rodio leaves no question if he can sing emulating one of the greatest in BB King. The totally surprising thing to me is his Mike Bloomfield like guitar phrasing. Wonderful! Backed by Ariyo Sumito on piano, Light Palone on bass and Lorenzo Francocci on drums, this first track is a knockout! Quique Gomez opens title track, So Close To It, on harp and Jen Williams with rich, gospel like backing vocals makes this track really special. Rodio's crisp vocals and tight gripped guitar solos make this another must hear. Latin rhythm and a Ray Charles feel fuses Just About To Lose Your Clown, and Rodio throws down some really sweet Spanish jazz guitar riffs. Backed by Chris Foreman on organ and Art Davis on trumpet this track is hot! 12 bar Chicago style Walking With My Baby (She's So Fine) features master harpster Billy Branch Ariyo really gets the piano rolling. Sneakin' Around has a solid R&B feel with Rodio taking a vocal spotlight. Doug Scharf on trumpet adds nice punctuation and Rodio takes the opportunity to play super bluesy guitar riffs off of the melody. Very nice! Snappy paced On Time To Come Back Home, again with the feel of Ray Charles, gives Ariyo some space to lead the way and Bill Overton adding warmth on sax. Kicking it into high gear the track takes on full revival lead by Chris Foreman on organ. Too Lazy has a kicked back jazz feel with Overton and Davis on horns and Ariyo on piano nicely complimenting Rodio on vocal. Supple jazz lines by Rodio on this track enter into Ronnie Earl land nicely demonstrating his broad range of technique. Very nice! On uptempo jazz felt blues, Mary, Rodio bends into A King land and the band swings. Super nice groove! Rodio is joined on lead vocal by Joe Barr and Carl Weathersby on The Day I Met You. This not only gives the track more texture but gritty soul. Nice and easy guitar riffs are smoothly integrated into the track making it one of the best tracks on the release. Blues swinger I Can't Get Enough Of You features really nice piano work by Ariyo and smooth guitar swing from Rodio. Eight bar vocal blues ballad, Please Accept My Love has a solid feel of the 50's and is it well anchored by Foreman, Ariyo and Davis. On T-Bone Walker styled I Win Some More, Rodio really nails the guitar to the wall with his guitar intro. Lurrie Bell has the lead vocal on this track and really takes it home. He shares guitar solo's with Rodio thru out the track making it the overall best track on the release. Excellent! Otis Blackwell's One Broken Heart For Sale has the early rock/R&B feel with Foreman taking a nice ride on the organ. How Much Can A Poor Man Take digs deep into the rural blues. This is the closest thing to early John Lee Hooker I have heard done on a modern record (Sounds more like Hooker than Hooker on his last albums). This raw blues with Hooker riffs and feeling. Love it! Closing the release is Bernice Carter's Evil Hearted Woman. This is another spectacular track delivered T-Bone Walker style. Ariyo dances the keys over the melody like Otis Spann and Rodio does likewise with his guitar. When he does break for a solo, the track blossoms.
This is an absolutely excellent old style blues release and one that demands immediate attention!
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:
Breezy Rodio,
Review,
So Close To It,
Windchill Records
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Introducing Band From The Boardroom; at Arcadia Blues Club
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"Fat Man's Shine Parlor" #1 at radio!
Corinne West Travels the "Starlight Highway" on New CD, Coming May 19 from Make Records
Corinne West
Travels the Starlight Highway on New CD, Coming May 19 from Make
Records
Special CD
Pre-Release Show for Her Full Band Set at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley,
California, on April 4
LARKSPUR, CA – Corinne West announces a May 19 release date
for Starlight Highway, the new album from the Californian artist
issued on her own Make Records imprint, distributed nationally by Burnside
Distribution. West will offer local San Francisco Bay Area fans a special
advance musical treat in the form of a pre-release show with her full band on
Saturday, April 4, at Berkeley’s famed Freight & Salvage venue (http://www.thefreight.org/) starting at
8:00 PM.
Corinne West, who recently returned from an official showcase
and additional performances at the International Folk Alliance music conference
in Kansas City, will perform a number of songs off the new CD at the Freight
& Salvage show, backed by her group The Bandits, which includes several of
the musicians who perform with her on Starlight Highway.
Additionally, Corinne West and The Bandits will also perform another pre-release
show as part of the “Lighted Window Concerts” series at the Unitarian Church in
Campbell, California, near San Jose on April 18, at 7:30 PM. Announcements of
additional US shows are forthcoming, as is an extensive European tour coming
later this year.
A fourth generation Californian, Corinne West, who now
resides in the mighty redwood forests of the state’s coast north of San
Francisco, has been described as “the Siren of the Sierras” by the SF Bay Area’s
Times Herald. Another reviewer from the North Coast Journal
in Arcata, California, declared,” “West’s voice invokes angels, if
angels had a dangerous side.” Corinne’s powerful and eloquent voice, coupled
with the way she forges a song, has earned her a unique identity within the
global acoustic roots scene. Relix noted her “voice of gold,”
coming at you with honey, velvet-dusk wine and distant sage. Legendary BBC radio
DJ Bob Harris proclaimed, “I love Corinne’s music and truly believe in her as an
artist. She has spirit, integrity and talent. I am a massive fan.”
The songs on West’s latest recording came about after a
year-long sabbatical in Austria, which culminated in the new disc.
“Starlight is my first completely self-produced record,” West says
about the sessions. “I wanted to create a body of songs that moved my music
forward in new directions, while paying tribute to the music I have done in the
past. This influenced my decisions regarding the instrumentation; piano, organ,
acoustic rock angles, heavy harmonies, the deep-drive of drums, the laid back
floating ballads… I wanted to play with many flavors, and I didn’t hold back on
using any spices while in the sonic kitchen.”
Joining her in creating these musical recipes are such
celebrated players as Ricky Fataar – drums; Edo Castro - 7 string fretless bass;
Kelly Joe Phelps - guitar, vocals; John R. Burr - Hammond organ, Wurlitzer; Karl
Sevareid - electric bass; Mike Marshall - mandolin, octave mandolin; Henry
Salvia - Hammond organ, piano, Wurlitzer, accordion; and Joe Kyle Jr. – acoustic
bass, electric bass. Starlight Highway was recorded at Opus
Studios in Berkeley, California; and the Skywalker Ranch in Novato,
California.
“I am fortunate to be able to surround myself with extremely
talented musicians,” offers West. “Kelly Joe Phelps and I recorded and toured as
a duo for two years, and he is highly featured both vocally and on guitar. Mike
Marshall produced my 2007 release, Second Sight, and it was pure
fire and pearls to have him embellish a few of the slower songs and lend some
serious steam to the title track. Ricky Fataar (Bonnie Raitt, Beach Boys) was
recommended by my rock-solid engineer, David Luke. We connected right off the
bat, and he brought in so much groove and such a bed to lean into. It's amazing
how when music is tight... it all becomes beautifully loose.
Everyone on the record was a gem to work with, and it was a
high adventure for me to both steer and gently hit cruise-control at times to
get just the right synergy, tones and movement the songs were reaching
for.
“The songs for Starlight Highway have taken
quite a journey. Many of them were written in 2011, on the heels of my last
release, and have been waiting - wherever it is that songs do wait - for a place
to land and sing themselves. The songs are decidedly more revealing than others
I have released; less dripping in metaphor, more direct and perhaps
stark.”
“This is an intimate record, and covers a lot of territory,”
adds West, summing up the new album. “I marvel at how deeply personal
experiences so often translate into universal and mythic principals. It’s as
though there is an invisible blueprint somewhere, continuously showing up in
stories and art. My aim with this recording is to communicate a personal emotive
glimpse of what we all experience in our own way, on our own roads, as we climb,
fly, fall, isolate, believe, reinvent, connect, dream... Though seemingly
different, we are all somehow cut from the same cloth.”
Click here to
watch the fundraiser video on the making of Starlight Highway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2S2eV0GLP0
To hear song
samples of some of the tracks of her upcoming CD, click on this link: http://www.corinnewest.com/starlight-highway-samples.php
For more
information, visit her new website coming soon at www.corinnewest.com
Labels:
California,
Corrine West,
Starlight Highway
HAMILTON LOOMIS -- March 2015 Schedule
Email
not displaying correctly? View
it in your browser.
Here's the March 2015 schedule --
West Coast, here we come! DISCOUNT TICKETS are available for some shows listed below, so click "TICKETS" in the listings below to get yours. The full schedule is at www.hamiltonloomis.com/schedule.html ! 3/6/15 Mandeville, LA Ruby's Roadhouse 9:30pm 3/7/15 Beaumont, TX Madison's 9:30pm 3/13/15 Littleton, CO Englewood Correctional Facility 1pm (closed to public) 3/13/15 Littleton, CO Toad Tavern 9pm TICKETS 3/14/15 Rock Springs, WY Johnny Mac's 8pm 3/15/15 Salt Lake City, UT Bleu Bistro 6pm to 9pm 3/17/15 Loomis, CA Country Club Saloon 6:30 to 9:30pm 3/18/15 Santa Cruz, CA Moe's Alley 7:30pm TICKETS 3/20/15 Sacramento, CA Torch Club 9pm 3/21/15 Fresno, CA Club Habanos 7pm TICKETS 3/22/15 San Francisco, CA Biscuits & Blues 7pm 3/27/15 Galveston, TX Crow's Cantina 9pm 3/28/15 Austin, TX One 2 One 8pm to 9:30pm TICKETS
Please forward this
email to any of your friends/family in these
cities!!
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Labels:
Hamilton Loomis,
Tour Schedule
RJ Ray Entertainment, Inc., artist: Ray Goren - Save My Soul - New release Review
I just received the newest release, Save My Soul, from Ray Goren and it's quite good. Opening with Stop, Goren on lead vocal and guitar steps up with a poppy blues rocker and a really soulful voice. I need to compare his vocals to someone? OK...Stevie Wonder. Yeah, the kid can sing and has nice phrasing. Matching his solid vocals with a mean streak on the guitar gives Goran the double whammy, swacking this track right at the radio hard! Save My Soul is a bit rockier with solid drum works from Rob Humphreys and an explosive guitar solo by Goren showing his chops. On ballad, Can't Live Like This, Goren stretches out vocally, showing his soul roots. Real nice radio track. I Need You Here To Stay is my favorite track on the release with a modern R&B feel and traces of D'Angelo syncopation in vocal delivery. Masterful guitar riffs flow giving weight to the instrumentation. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Rise Together actually has the feel of an earlier era of Wonder and his pop/soul mastery with a modern polish. Can't argue with success. This release has a lot of strengths and not many weaknesses. Goren is proving to be a tasteful guitarist with good song writing capabilities and a strong voice. Nice job!
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:
Blind Raccoon,
Inc.,
Ray Goren,
Review,
RJ Ray Entertainment,
Save My Soul
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Black Hen Music artist: Big Dave McLean - Faded but Not Gone - New release review
I just received the newest release (March 3, 2015), Faded but Not Gone, by Big Dave McLean and it's gritty and solid. Opening with Tough Times, a 12 bar Chicago style blues track with Steve Dawson on National Steel guitar and Kevin McKendree on organ. On I Best Choose To Pick The Blues, McLean picks up the pace and Colin Linden contributes the smooth slide guitar. On Dead Cat On The Line with a bit of bluegrass influence and Piedmont style, McLean is joined on vocal by Dawson who also plays banjo. John Dymond adds bass, Gary Craig drums and Colin James some really tight mandolin work. On western style ballad, The Fallen, McClean takes the spotlight vocally backed by sweet electric and steel guitar work by Dawson. Very cool! Sittin' On A Fence has a light country 2 step feel. Double stop guitar riffs by Dawson are a really nice touch on this track. Don't Get Mad, Get Even is built over a 12 bar structure but has a much more contemporary feel and a catchy melody. The lyrics are certain to attract the crowds attention and McKendree rolls a nice piano solo to top things off. Devil's In The Jukebox has an easy country rock pace with slicing slide work from Dawson. McKendree never disappoints with his nimble organ solos rounding out this track. A Latin rhythm from Craig and hot slide work from Dawson, complimented by McKendree's tight piano work lead this track up to the bridge where McLean takes it to swing time and back. Tom Waits' Mr Siegal has a New Orleans blues feel with particularly effective drum work from Craig. The grittiness of McLeans vocals contrasted against Dawson on banjo and McKendree on organ make this one of my favorites on the release. Shades Of Grace is an easy country style folk tune with a nod to Amazing Grace. The McCrary sisters add some supple backing vocals on this track giving it extra warmth. Oh- Mr. Charlie - Oh has a number of the characteristics of an old gospel or slave song giving it an immediate bump up. I like this track a lot with it's rudimentary style, guitar work from Dawson and backing vocals from the McCrary sisters. McLean accompanies himself effectively on harp on this track as well. Wrapping the release is Skip James' Devil Got My Woman. Stripped down to only McLean on vocal and National steel guitar, this track maintains the feeling of the delta and a fitting conclusion to an adventurous 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”
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