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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!


Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com

John Renbourn has passed - Our thoughts are with his family

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British folk guitarist John Renbourn, a founding member of Pentangle whose solo career stretched for more than 50 years, was found dead at his home in Hawick, Scotland, on March 25. He was 70. Renbourn’s body was discovered after he failed to show up for a concert at the Ferry in Glasgow on March 25. Renbourn’s agent Dave Smith confirmed the news, but no cause of his death was given. One of the finest folk musicians of the 1960s and ‘70s, Renbourn was an active performer up until his death. He had already played nine shows this month in the U.K. with guitarist Wizz Jones and was set to return to Crete for a guitar workshop in May. Renbourn, like many early British rock ‘n’ rollers and folk musicians, got his start playing skiffle before studying folk music and classical guitar. In London in 1964, he started performing in pubs in Soho, accompanying singer Dorris Henderson, with whom he would eventually record the albums There You Go and Watch the Stars. During...

VizzTone Label Group artist: Debbie Davies - Love Spin - New release review

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I just received a copy of the newest release (4/21/15), Love Spin , from Debbie Davies and she rips as always! Opening with Life Of The Party , Davies has a little of the Albert King funky sting in her guitar with Paul Opalach on organ, Wilbo Wright on bass and Don Castagno on drums. Title track Love Spin , still holds a light funk but with a bit more country funk along the lines of Elvin Bishop. Opalach lays out a real nice lap steel solo and Davies hits right back with a fine articulate solo of her own. On ballad Let The Heartaches Begin , super sax man joins Davies on on lead vocal and throws out a healthy sax solo. Davies lays down one of the nicest guitar solos on the release... controlled but sweet. Don't Change It Up has a solid bottom by Scotty Spray on bass and is joined by Jay Stollman on vocals. Another number with a funky rhythm, this track has solid commercial potential. Davies plays some hot plucky lead on this number heating things up nicely. Shuffle track, It...

Creative Records artists: The Grahams - Glory Bound/Rattle The Hocks - New release review

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I just received the newest release, Glory Bound/Rattle The Hocks from The Grahams and it's lively. Opening the studio recordings with title track, Glory Bound , the Grahams are riding the rail in western style with a driving drum rhythm and flashy country guitar. Gambling Girl is a country style track with Alyssa Graham in the lead with hit radio vocals. Harp work over a punchy piano part makes for a cool track. Western style ballad Blow Wind Blow features a steady rhythm guitar part and nicely blended vocals. Lay Me Down has a spiritual quietness and sweet vocals by Alyssa. Other musicians on this set include Ryan Engleman, Gabe Pearson, John Fullbright, Byron Berline and Dan Walker. High energy bluegrass track Kansas City is spry with jig with fiddle, chicken picken electric guitar, and rail riding steel guitar chased by solid bass and driving snare. Very cool! Ballad, Mama , has a clear rural feel and spiritual overtones. Nicely blended vocals and tight instrumentals are...

Lisa Biales Cover Girl Blues Blast Magazine

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The March issue of  Blues Blast Magazine features Lisa Biales Read all about it: HERE Blues Blast Music Award Nominee Lisa Biales performs at the Music  Awards show. Watch HERE Lisa Biales and Doug Hamilton Thursday, March 26  8-10pm O'Pub 10. W Park Place,  Oxford, Oh It's Spring Break ;-) Springtime @ The Big Song Music House!   Guitar Virtuoso Beppe Gambetta   Saturday March 28th at 8pm     While Beppe lives in his native Genova ,  Italy, he travels to North America at least four times a year to play music. We are excited to have Beppe in Ohio for this once in a lifetime up-close-and-personal Big Song Music House experience. Read all about Beppe on:  Wikipedia Watch Beppe Gambetta play Dixie Breakdown:  HERE But more importantly, come to ...

American Showplace Music artist: Slam Allen - Feel These Blues - New release review

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I just received the newest release, Feel These Blues , from Slam Allen and it's a hard driver. Opening with title track, Feel These Blues , Allen on guitar and lead guitar sets the pace. Joined by keyboard wiz John Ginty, Jeff Anderson on bass and Dan Fadel on drums, these guys show they mean business. Allen slashes with Albert King like bend phrasing and mean intent. Cool! All Because Of You has a really smart bluesy guitar intro sliding into a Otis Rush like tempo with cleverly styled guitar riffs. Ginty and Allen trade alternate drop in riffs as punctuation around Allen's lead vocals. Very nice! R&B styled, In September , lays easy ground work for a radio track with slick guitar work and also showcasing Allen's soulful vocals. The Blues Is Back showing definite influences of Mr BB King. Allen's vocal phrasing is spot on and his Albert King/ SRV guitar phrasing is hot! Baby Please Don't You Go is a boogie rock n roller. Flashing guitar chops over a Chuck ...

Clarksdale, Mississippi's Juke Joint Festival is "half blues festival, half small-town fair, all about the Delta"

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Clarksdale, Mississippi's 12th annual Juke Joint Festival unites crazy old bluesmen and leaky juke joints with paddling pig races and greasy soul food!   2015 LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR CLARKSDALE, MISSISSIPPI'S WORLD-FAMOUS JUKE JOINT FESTIVAL   Clarksdale, Mississippi – Clarksdale, Mississippi’s Juke Joint Festival may only be celebrating its 12th edition, but it is already the stuff of blues legend.   “2014 was the biggest Juke Joint Festival yet, and so far, 2015 looks to top it,” according to festival co-organizer Roger Stolle. “Our annual festival now attracts attendees from almost 30 foreign countries, almost 50 states and over 50 Mississippi counties. Still, the most important number here is the number of bluesmen in their 70s, 80s and even 90s who play our fest."   JUKE JOINT FESTIVAL LINEUP: www.jukejointfestival.com   This year's from-the-old-school lineup includes blues legends like Cedell Davis, Big G...

Colorado Belle's River Bar Lounge Presents: Bo & The Bluesdrivers

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BO & THE BLUESDRIVERS IS "SOCAL'S HARDEST-WORKING BLUES BAND"; THEY'RE NOW ON TOUR THROUGHOUT 2015 Performing At: RIVER BAR LOUNGE (AT THE COLORADO BELLE) (Friday, April 17, Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19)    (LAUGHLIN, NV) - Bo and the Bluesdrivers "Southern California's Hardest-Working Blues Band" perform in concert at Colorado Belle's River Bar Lounge , at Colorado Belle Hotel/Casino & Resort , 2100 S. Casino Drive, Laughlin, Friday, April 17; Saturday, April 18; and Sunday, April 19. Showtime is 8 p.m.-1 a.m. all three nights. Free admission. Info: (702) 298-4000 or http://www.coloradobelle.com/entertainment/river-bar-lounge.html . Bo and the Bluesdrivers perform as part of the big Blues & Brews Riverwalk Festival.    Bo and the Bluesdrivers are the Cover Story in All Access Magazine (December 2014). Read it here: http://allaccessmagazine.com/2014/12/18/introducing-bo-blue...

Trudy Lynn has a new release coming

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Shown: Ms Trudy Lynn with guitar legend Paul "Lil Buck" Sinegal to be featured on several tracks 2015 BMA Nominated Blues Great Trudy Lynn Back In The Studio CD release date early May  Ms. Trudy Lynn has personally chosen her musicians and the doors are locked tight at Rock Romano's Red Shack Recording Studios and with good reason.  Trudy has once again personally chosen the numbers that the CD will host and this team of very experienced artists are working toward recording another smash hit.  2014 found Trudy's "Royal Oaks Blues Cafe'" on the Connor Ray Music label topping Billboard's blues album chart at #1 while radio airplay charts revealed Trudy in the top five for four months in a row.  To say that the enthusiasm in the studio is at an all time high this time around could almost be an understatement. "I have worked with Trudy on more than one project in the studio.  She'...