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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

Friday, August 28, 2015

Dulcie Taylor and Friends Soar Like "Wind Over Stone" on New CD, Coming September 25 from Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings





Dulcie Taylor and Friends Soar Like Wind Over Stone on New CD, Coming September 25 from Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings

Key CD Release Shows Announced

ATASCADERO, CA – Mesa/Bluemoon Recordings proudly announces a September 25 release date for Wind Over Stone, the new CD from Central California Coast-based singer/songwriter Dulcie Taylor and FriendsProduced by George Nauful and Tyson Leonard, and mixed by Keith Olsen (legendary producer/engineer for Fleetwood Mac, Ozzie Osbourne, Pat Benatar, Rick Springfield, Carlos Santana, etc.), Wind Over Stone was recorded at Colorado Studios in Atascadero, California.

Dulcie Taylor will celebrate the new album with several CD release shows, including September 13 in Arroyo Grande, Cal., as part of their “Concerts in the Park” series from 2:00 – 5:00 PM. Taylor will not only headline that show, but will also emcee the entire event concert lineup. Other key dates include a concert at Boo Boo Records in San Luis Obispo on September 26, at 5:00 PM; October 10 at the Jade Festival in Big Sur; and October 28 at the Wine & Song Concert Series in South Pasadena.

Dulcie Taylor (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, dulcimer, percussion) is joined throughout the new album by many of the same “friends” who backed her critically-acclaimed last effort, Only Worn One Time released in 2014. They include George Nauful (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals and lead vocal on “Amy” and “I Wanna Ride”); Tony Recupido acoustic guitar, backing vocals and lead vocal on “Reasons Why” and “Joyful News”); Tim Pierce and Nina Gerber (guitars); Tyson Leonard (mandolin and violin); Aaron Porter (keyboards and accordion); Bob Gross and Randy Tico (bass); and Tom Lackner, Tracy Morgan and Scott Breadman (drums, percussion).      

Together, Dulcie Taylor and Friends weave a magical spell throughout the 14 tracks on Wind Over Stone, whether on the 13 originals (most either written or co-written by Taylor) or the lone standout cover song, a gorgeous reading of the Supremes/Motown classic, “My World Is Empty Without You.”

The tone of the new disc is set by the album’s lead-off track, “Not Here, Not Today,” inspired by some of her American heroes. “I’ve always thought about what motivated the American people who revolted against English rule,” Taylor says. “These people came to America because they wanted new ways of living. Thinking about people still holding to their beliefs when their feet were freezing and they didn’t have any shoes, makes me realize this country was founded by people who wanted freedom, period.

“And Rosa Parks – my goodness. This soft-spoken woman of conviction who, in 1955, refused a bus driver’s order to give up her seat in the “colored section” to a white passenger. When the driver told her he would have her arrested, she quietly said, ‘You may do so.’ No profanity, just quiet, steely conviction. Freedom, period.

“Lastly, Flight 93 – this is what gave me the idea for the whole song. Thinking about those people who, through their cell phones, knew that the Twin Towers and the Pentagon had been hit, and by the direction they were going, figured their plane was probably headed for the White House. They knew the risk they were taking but they decided that if the plane was going down, it was going down where they wanted it to. Freedom, period.”

Other songs on Wind Over Stone touch on a wide variety of topics, including love and romance in all their incarnations.

In “Cherokee,” Taylor discourses on the physical changes this country has gone through over the years. “America is still a beautiful country, but some parts are changed forever. I’ve often thought about how beautiful it must have been before the waves of immigration. Deer on Manhattan Island, running free? And when I look at the portraits of our Native American Indians, I’ve always been so impressed by their faces – the determination, the strength. Two qualities that all people need. I love the conveniences of modern life as much as anybody, but I do know a lot of beauty has been lost arriving at this place. Everything has a price, doesn’t it?”

In the song, “Prayers,” Taylor revisits her upbringing. “I was raised by a church-going single Southern Baptist Mother; she didn’t send us to church, she took us,” she remembers. “We always had Family Bible time before going off to bed, each of us reading something from a “Child’s Story of the Bible.” I was the baby and I remember how happy I was when I could read aloud too, just like my older sisters. I realize now what a wonderful way it was to send a child off to bed, with the voices of my sisters and my mother in my head. Then, I would say my prayers with her. My mother stressed the love and forgiveness side of things, something I will always be grateful for.”

Poetry has been a main inspiration throughout Taylor’s songwriting, and in “I Take it Back,” she references one of the best. “Sometimes in the heat of the moment, a person can say things they REALLY shouldn’t say, and too much as well,” Taylor offers. “This is a song about a woman who’s let her mouth get away from her. As Carl Sandburg so beautifully said -

‘Look out how you use proud words.
When you let proud words go, it is not easy to call them back.
They wear long boots, hard boots; they walk off proud; they can't hear you calling--
Look out how you use proud words.’”

The album’s closing song, “Love Like Yours and Mine,” carries a universal message. “This song was inspired by the belief that one’s home needs to be a place of love and acceptance,” Taylor states. “And if a person lives long enough to be old and dream back through the years, you want to have had a true love to remember and be grateful for.”

For information, visit www.dulcietaylor.com and www.mesabluemoon.com. Dulcie’s Facebook page is located at https://www.facebook.com/dulcietaylor.

Previous Quotes on Dulcie Taylor’s Music

“It’s already been a good year for singer-songwriter Dulcie Taylor, seeing as how she’s won her second consecutive New Times Music Award as Best Songwriter 2014. How appropriate, given the finely etched songs on her fifth album, Only Worn One Time, replete with reflections on mortality, heartbreak, self-reliance, self-doubt, commitment and similar weighty topics relevant to the real world on a daily basis … she seems poised to take a whole different kind of journey next time around. It’ll be worth waiting for, guaranteed.” – Deep Roots Magazine

“Dulcie Taylor writes from the heart. Filled with provocative imagery, universal sentiment and hopeful (yet oftentimes sad) story-songs, her folksy Americana comes to the fore with the help of some master instrumentalists.” – Aquarian Weekly

“Taylor has a sharp eye for details that helps to elevate her songs above the norm.” – Icon Magazine

Dulcie Taylor Tour Dates

8/29     Asuncion Wine Bar – Paso Robles, CA
9/01     Picking Up the Tempo (Live on KCBX) – San Luis Obispo, CA
9/03     Socrates – Atascadero, CA
9/06     Ragged Point – Big Sur, CA
9/13     Arroyo Grande Concerts in the Park (2-5 PM) – Arroyo Grande, CA
9/19     Wild Horse Winery – Paso Robles, CA
9/20     Luna Red – San Luis Obispo, CA
9/23     Paso Robles Golf Club – Paso Robles, CA
9/25     Costa de Oro Winery – Santa Maria, CA
9/26     Boo Boo Records (CD Release Show - 5:00 PM) – San Luis Obispo, CA
9/27     Shell Café – Pismo Beach, CA
10/02   Cheren Ranch (CD Release Show) - Atascadero, CA
10/03   Sea Pines – Morro Bay, CA
10/04   Otter Rock Café – Morro Bay, CA
10/10   Jade Festival – Big Sur, CA
10/11   Sea Venture – Pismo Beach, CA
10/12   Cambria Pines – Cambria, CA
10/17   The Pour House – Paso Robles, CA
10/18   Ragged Point – Big Sur, CA
10/23   1880 Union Hotel - Los Alamos, CA
10/24   Chateau Lettau Winery – Paso Robles, CA
10/25    Luna Red, San Luis Obispo, CA
10/28   Wine & Song Concert Series – South Pasadena, CA
10/31   Vina Robles Winery – Paso Robles, CA

What's Not To Like? - David Gogo's Vicksburg Call





What's Not To Like? - David Gogo's Vicksburg Call 

New promo video, pre-order instant download and tour dates





 




David Gogo Introduces "What's Not To Like?" - view on YouTube here


Cordova Bay Records and David Gogo are set to release Gogo's 14th album, Vicksburg Call, on September 4th, 2015. Early reviews are already calling it "THE album of his career." (John The Rock Doctor, Gonzo Online) and "one of Gogo’s strongest to date." (Victoria Times Colonist)

Pre-Order now and instantly get downloads of " What's Not To Like?", “Cuts Me To The Bone” and “Our Last Goodbye".  www.davidgogo.com/shop

Gogo is also heading out on the road for several tour dates throughout Western Canada and Europe. Dates detailed below. 


About Vicksburg Call

For over two decades David Gogo has been recording and performing all over the world, bringing his magnetic and accessible groove-fueled blend of blues and rock to audiences of all ages.  The British Columbia based guitarist and vocalist's name has become synonymous with the Canadian blues scene, and with good reason.  Vicksburg Call (September 4) is Gogo’s 14th release and is poised to add even more acclaim to an already impressive inventory.  He’s earned numerous accolades, including five JUNO nominations and multiple Maple Blues Awards.  He has thousands of tour miles under his belt and has played on stage with B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Bo Diddley and Otis Rush as well as opened for ZZ Top, Buddy Guy, Charles Bradley and many others.

Undoubtedly a rockin’ blues album, Vicksburg Call was recorded in a studio with a live, intimate atmosphere, which yielded an overall grittier sound with lots of feeling.  "I wanted this album to have more of a “band” feel to it, rather than just going into the studio and basically dictating the parts to the musicians", says Gogo.  "I also wanted as many songs as possible to have a very live feel and be easily transferrable to the stage."

With the help of his backing band consisting of Bill Hicks on drums and Jay Stevens on bass, each of the tracks on Vicksburg Call are replete with the grooves, emotion and soulful delivery that David Gogo is known for. From the opening rocker “Cuts Me To The Bone”, the  bluesy “Fooling Myself”, featuring Kim Simmonds and the haunting “There’s A Hole”  with a guest appearance from Shawn Hall of The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer.  Vicksburg Call also highlights Gogo’s aptitude for selecting cover songs that one would not expect to hear on a blues album including Neil Young’s “The Loner”, Stephen Stills’ “Jet Set (Sigh)”, and Annie Lennox’s “Why”.

“In the time that has passed since the last album, there has been a lot of loss in my life with the passing of friends and colleagues in the world of music. There were many sad days, but also tears of joy when I think back at fond memories from my time on the road”, Gogo recalls. “Relationships can also have their ups and downs as the years pass by, and many of my new songs deal with this. I tried to write from many viewpoints of love and loss, reconciliation, regret, acceptance and hope for new horizons.”

Gogo’s passion for blues and his extraordinary, virtuosic guitar talents are laid bare alongside his emotions on this album - a combination that grabs you from the opening bars and keeps you hooked through all 10 tracks.


 /DavidGogoBlues  @DavidGogoBlues

                             Photo by Scott Doubt


Track Listing

1. Cuts Me To The Bone (3:19)
2. Fooling Myself (4:12)
3. The Loner (3:55)
4. There’s A Hole (3:26)
5. Jet Set (Sigh) (4:16)
6. What’s Not To Like? (3:01)
7. Our Last Goodbye (6:21)
8. Vicksburg Call (5:06)
9. Coulda Shoulda Woulda (2:37)
10. Why (5:29)


Upcoming Tour Dates:


August 29 - Woofstock Music Festival, Prince George BC
August 30 - PNE Mosaic Concert Series, Vancouver BC
September 5 - Fascinating Rhythm, Nanaimo BC *in-store appearance
September 11 - Waverly Hotel, Cumberland BC
September 19 - The Bassment, Kamloops BC *solo
September 25 - Ghost Town Blues - Maple Creek SK *solo
October 1 - Ironwood Stage And Grill, Calgary AB
October 2 - Vangeli's - Saskatoon, SK 
October 3 - B Street Bar, Edmonton AB
October 4 - Fratter’s Speakeasy, Red Deer AB
October 10 - Tally Ho Sports Bar, Victoria BC
October 16 - Canal Bank Shuffle, Thorold ON
October 30 - Duncan Showroom, Duncan BC
November 28 - De Flint, Amersfoort Netherlands
December 4 - Theater De Molenburg, Delfzijl Netherlands
December 5 - L’Esprit, Rotterdam Netherlands

New Blind Pig releases out today!


blindpigrecords.com
NEW BLIND PIG RELEASES OUT TODAY!
Titles from Zac Harmon and the Andy T-Nick Nixon Band
Blind Pig Records has just released a pair of fine CDs from venerable blues acts:
ZAC HARMON  
"RIGHT MAN RIGHT NOW"

Zac Harmon is an award-winning guitarist, organist, singer, and songwriter whose distinctive style combines the best of old-school soul-blues artists with modern lyrics and themes that bring the blues into a new century.
Right Man Right Now is contemporary music that proves just how alive and relevant the blues is today.  Addressing issues straight from today’s headlines, Zac presents them in a  fresh original style built on the best blues tradition.  And he has some incredibly talented musicians helping him - guests include Bobby Rush, Lucky Peterson, Anson Funderburgh and Mike Finnegan.

After a very successful twenty-plus year career as a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles, where he worked with the likes of the O'Jays, the Whispers, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Black Uhuru, and Michael Jackson, Zac moved to Dallas to pursue his dream of becoming a top-flight touring blues artist
The album provides definitive proof that Zac Harmon is indeed the right man to firmly establish all that blues can and should be right now in the second decade of the new millennium.

CDs available at fine shops everywhere - support your local record store!  CDs and downloads are also available from Amazon.   And you can get downloads from this and other fine Blind Pig recordings at the Pig Pen page on iTunes.

Zac Harmon Upcoming Tour Dates
Aug. 29
Dallas, TX
Babbs Brothers BBQ
Sept. 10
Omaha, NE
The 21st Saloon
Sept. 11
Chicago, IL
Buddy Guy's Legends
Sept. 12
Grafton, WI
Paramount Blues Festival
Sept. 19
Denton, TX
Denton Blues Festival
Oct. 8
Helena, AR
King Biscuit Blues Festival
Oct. 18
Fredericksburg, TX
Blankets and Blues
Oct. 29
Sioux City, IA
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Oct. 30
Topeka, KS
Uncle Bo's
Oct. 31
Topeka, KS
Uncle Bo's


ANDY T - NICK NIXON BAND  
"NUMBERS MAN"


The Andy T-Nick Nixon Band displays musicianship at its highest. The blues has a history of great partnerships, and Numbers Man offers proof positive that Andy T and Nick Nixon belong in that select group.
 

Andy T’s jazz-tinged guitar style is influenced by T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Magic Sam, and Albert Collins among others, yet it remains his own. The velvet-voiced Nixon, part of Nashville’s thriving blues and R&B scene in the 60’s and 70’s, sings in a style that recalls Jimmy Witherspoon and Billy Eckstine. Even though he’s now in his 70’s, Nixon’s voice still has all the power and energy of a man half his age and it’s crystal clear that this man was born to sing the blues.

Combined with Andy T’s bold, vibrant tones and equally rooted guitar style, it makes for a uniquely satisfying brand of soulful blues. Numbers Man was produced by renowned Texas guitarist Anson Funderburgh, and features the great Kim Wilson’s harmonica on one of the tracks.

CDs available at fine shops everywhere - support your local record store!  CDs and downloads are also available from Amazon.   And you can get downloads from this and other fine Blind Pig recordings at the Pig Pen page on iTunes.

Andy T-Nick Nixon Band Upcoming Tour Dates
Aug. 30
Nashville, TN
Hard Rock
Sept. 17
Dothan, AL
Blues at the Clarion
Sept. 18
Marietta, GA
Darwin's
Sept. 19
Tallahassee, FL
Bradfordville Blues Club
Sept. 22
Nashville, TN
Nashville Music Series
Sept. 25
Champaign, IL
Blues Blast Music Awards
Oct. 10
Helena, AR
King Biscuit Blues Festival

Plano Road Publishing artist: Crooked Eye Tommy - Butterflies & Snakes - New release review

I just received the debut release, Butterflies & Snakes, from Crooked Eye Tommy and it's actually quite good! Opening with a cool blend of John Bonham style rhythm and early Lynyrd Skynyrd swagger, this track tells a crazy myth of Crooked Eye Tommy. West coast vocalist/guitar player/songwriter Tommy Marsh leads this band in what is undoubtedly his strongest effort. This is a cool track with nice slide work joined by Paddy Marsh on guitar as well as Glade Rasmussen on bass and Tony Cicero on drums. Very cool. Next out of the box is Come On In with a much richer Latin R&B feel sung by Paddy. This is a really hot track putting me in the theme track from the Wire (Cable TV show), Way Down In The Hole, written by Tom Waits. This is a really great song with euphoric guitar work throughout and super drum work by Cicero and joined by Jimmy Calire on sax and keys. Excellent! Jimmy Reed style track, I Stole The Blues, stays tight in the groove with rich vocals from Paddy and hot sax work from Calire. Funky jazz rocker, Time Will Tell, shows off some Allman Brothers style guitar lead with a twist of Larry Carlton/Denny Diaz flash for a poppy radio style track with a cool melody. Tide Pool is a really clean soul track featuring paddy on lead vocal with a rich melody and vocal harmonies. Solid keys carry the load and Marsh gets great guitar tone on his smokey solo making this another super radio track. Somebody's Got To Pay has a nice easy swing and casual guitar soloing. Calire isn't messing around when he steps up with his sax blowing the top off. Love Divine has a lot of 70's styling with and some really nice over the top guitar lines. With it's bright but funky beat and tight vocal package and twin guitar leads, it hits the line. Very nice! After The Burn is a hot, Latin influenced rock number that drives. Marsh plays a really crisp guitar solo on this track reinforcing what we all knew all along... he's damn good! Calire lays out another smooth key solo and Marsh is back again bolting the door closed with nicely articulated guitar phrases. Very nice! Texas style rocker, Mad And Disgusted, gets the joint rockin' with a driving beat and super piano work from Calire. Getting the Southern swagger going again, Calire really kills it on this one. Marsh's vocals really work well with this band and his brother's vocals, a deeper shade of blue is a great contrast. Soulful, Over And Over, has a real nice slower pace, digging for rich blues. Calire brings it on sax again and Marsh grinds out a super solo of his own. There is a female vocalist on this track singing background that is very reminiscent of the Dark Side Of the Moon. Very nice! The release is wrapped up with a pop country track, Southern Heart which could easily make a run on the country radio market.

  View Bman Blueswriter's profile on LinkedIn 

  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”

 

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Regina Royal Records artist: Diane Blue - Blues In My Soul - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Blues In My Soul, from Diane Blue and it's really good! Blue has teamed up with blues guitar superman, Ronnie Earl and it's a beautiful match. Opening with That's What They Call The Blues, a wicked loper, Blue throws out some ultra thick vocals and Earl unleashes the dog on his strat. Joined by Lorne Entress on drums, Dave Limina on keys and Jesse Williams on bass, this track is a killer. On Nina Simone's Do I Move You, Blue gets into a more introspective space with nice piano work from Limina and a really nice guitar solo from Bobby Gus. Bobby Womack's Nothing You Can Do has a gospel swing featuring yet another side of Blue's voice and backed by John Moriconi on trumpet and vocals, Scott Shetler on sax and soul style vocal backing by Toni Lynn Washington. Excellent Lil Green blues track, In The Dark is on of the absolute standout tracks on this release. Blue stands solid delivering a modern vocal rendition of this classic blues number, backed by Mr Earl. Limina adds just the right balance of piano and B3 over Gus' rhythm chords as Earl plays some of the most soulful lines you'd ever want to hear. Excellent! Another track made famous by Nina Simone, I Love Your Lovin' Ways gets a strong R&B flavor. This is a great switch up after such a soul searcher and Gus lays in some real tasty guitar riffs over the hot key work of Limina and great vocal blending of Washington. Someday Soon opens with a beautiful B3 intro by Limina and staying in the R&B vein, Blue's vocals, complimented nicely by Shetler on sax leads to a nice harmonica solo by Blue herself. Gus spanks the guitar with his beautiful articulation on this track giving it a definite blues kick. Excellent! Aretha Franklin's Soulville, has a real 60's sound with hot sax work from Shetler and trumpet highlights from Moriconi. Following a fun track another Franklin track, Today I Sing the Blues, an absolutely excellent rendition of the queens classic. Is Blue Franklin... no. She doesn't need to be. She is an excellent singer and does an excellent job on this track teamed up again with master guitar man Ronnie Earl. Masterful gospel style B3 from Limina adds just the right amount of tension and Earl drives this train right up to the edge. Excellent! Another track made popular by Nina Simone, Day and Night, gets a lighter pop touch with a driving bass line from Williams, and cool guitar riffs by Gus and harmonica from Blue woven throughout. I Can't Shake You is a solid soul track featuring warm, heartfelt vocals from Blue. Earl, controlled but ever on top, plays really nice guitar solos throughout the track as punctuating landmarks in a war sea of sound created by Limina on keys. More to a country 2 stepper Blue pulls out Man About Town, a track that could easily see cross radio play. JLL style piano work by Limina is off the hook with tight drum work from Entress. Driving bass lines by Williams and Blue's own harmonica work highlight the track, topped off by Gus' flashy rock styled guitar riffs. Ballad, Cry Daddy,is another track that could easily be radio bound. Rich B3 backing throughout and a nice guitar solo from Gus gives the track additional texture. Wrapping the release is a funky Koko Taylor track, Jump For Joy. Blue trades vocals with Washington on this horn saturated track and a cool bass solo from Williams is a nice intro to Limina's B3 interlude. Moriconi and Shetler add horn punch and Earl steps up with a smoker of a solo of his own. Solid conclusion to one of the best releases I've heard this year!



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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Bluzpik artist: Joel Zoss - Florida Blues - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Florida Blues, from Joel Zoss and it has a light airy feel. Opening with Have You Seen My Rider, an easy blues with a pop feel. Zoss, a fine vocalist, shows his fluid hand at the fretboard joined by Jeff Adkins on bass and Matt Calderin on drums. A track that is so radio friendly that I feel familiar with it already, Papers of Light, has a contagious melody and brilliant simplicity. Blues based Vodka and Red Bull actually reminds me of an old Jonathan Edwards track which carried a lot of popularity alone. Clever vocals and clean guitar picking showcase this track. Very nice. Sentimental ballad, The Riddle Song, is nicely constructed and performed. Another blues toned number, Street Vet Chant, has classic blues guitar riffs and solid vocals. Zoss shows a clear knowledge of musical styling and performance. Big Bill Broonzy's, Key To The Highway, has a fresh modern acoustic feel but with a classic blues arrangement. Nicely articulated guitar soloing by Jeff Harding stands out as well. Two Fish is a simple pop track with a solid melody. Albert's Song has a real nice blues guitar riff repeating throughout although the track maintains a modern pop styling. Very nice! A really slick version of Ledbelly's classic, Goodnight Irene, is a total surprise with it's original rock spin. Wrapping the release is Follow Me I'll Turn Your Money Green that feels so blue I'd swear it's a John Hurt track. Nice blues picking and simple arrangement with solid vocals make this a prime cut to close the release.

  View Bman Blueswriter's profile on LinkedIn 

  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”