Bman's Blues Report

LESLIE WEST PRESENTS DEAN MISSISSIPPI QUEEN GUITAR TO LONG-TIME FAN AND MICROSOFT CO-FOUNDER PAUL ALLEN WEST TO RELEASE SOUNDCHECK ON NOVEMBER 20 Album Features West Joined By Jack Bruce, Brian May, Peter Frampton, Bonnie Bramlett, Max Middleton And Others EPK: New York, NY -- On Thursday evening at BB Kings in New York City, Leslie West welcomed long-time fan and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.  Pictured below are West and Allen, shortly after the guitarist presented one of his signature model guitars to the historical figure.  On November 20, Leslie West will release Soundcheck via Provogue / Mascot Label Group, his latest studio recording which features appearances from Jack Bruce, Brian May, Peter Frampton, Bonnie Bramlett, Max Middleton and others. West will celebrate his 70th birthday on October 22. www.lesliewestofficial.com www.facebook.com/lesliewestmountain

I just received the newest release (November 20, 2015), Soundcheck , from Leslie West , and it has a new flavor and hot riffs from the guitar ace. West's 16th release opens with Left By The Roadside To Die , a classic rocker augmented by David Biglin on synthesizer. West is really looking at multiple textures adding acoustic slide guitar, and powerful electric guitar riffs to his own rugged vocals making this a great opener. Tracy Chapman's Give Me One Reason gets a power rock rewrite with the vocals kept on the lower side and the guitar doing a nice response to his vocal call. Here For The Party is a straight ahead rocker with West leading the charge vocally. His classic distorted guitar tone and driving bottom makes this a great rocker. A real interesting minor key version of traditional ballad, You Are My Sunshine , with only basic keyboard setup and featuring Peter Frampton trading solos with West on slide. Very nice! AC/DC tribute, Empty Promises/Nothin' Sacred fe...

Bob Corritore, one of the top Chicago blues harp players on the planet today and owner of the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, AZ brought a terrific concert to town last night and I was fortunate enough to be in attendance. Corritore, a native of Chicago moved to Arizona over 30 years ago and is such a part of the blues music fabric here that he is sometimes taken for granted by locals. Making routine appearances here around his own recording and touring schedule he often becomes a complimentary musician to guests in his own house. His instrumental release, Taboo is certainly one of the best contemporary blues harp releases that I have heard. Last night, hosting a great group of Chicago musicians, Corritore took the stage with Eddie Taylor Jr. (guitar and lead vocal),Illinois Slim (guitar) and Brian Fahey (drums). This was a terrific set of straight up Chicago blues showing just how good Taylor is both as a lead singer and blues guitarist and giving Corritore the opportunity to...

 SMOKIN' JOE KUBEK  (1956 - 2015)   Acclaimed blues guitarist Smokin' Joe Kubek passed away suddenly on October 11, 2015, in North Carolina. His long-time musical partner Bnois King said, "He loved the blues. He was always very serious about the music and the presentation of the music.  He had a modern style but he really studied those old cats.  And, he would literally give you the shirt off his back.  He was a great friend." Visitation Hours This Sunday, October 18, visitation hours for fans who want to pay their last respects will be from 3-5 pm at Donnelly's Colonial Funeral Home, 606 West Airport Freeway in Irving, Texas (972-579-1313).  The following graveside service will be private, restricted to family and very close friends only. Thanks to Music Cares, The Blues Fou...

I just received the newest release, Left With The Blues , from Andre' Bisson and it's soulful and tasty. Opening with the title track, Left With The Blues , Bisson wastes no time in digging into a bluesy soul number. His own lead vocals and piano work, kissed nicely by Bil Holinaty on sax, Loretta Hale on trumpet, Kevin Beeby on bass and really rich backing vocals from JP Shalala, Deanna Shalala and Stacy Hunt. Very nice! Pumped up rock driver, Borrowed Time , is fueled by a driving guitar lead by Bisson and Loretta Hale on trumpet. Slinky blues track, Play Me A Fool has a sassy saunter and I feel Bisson's best vocal effort on the release. Jason Logue and Robert Dickson join on trumpet and Rob Somerville on trombone really giving it a full horn sound and New Orleans style piano on this track gives it a real sweet touch. Nice! R&B track, All I Need , has a real Jackie Wilson feel. Again horn work gives the track a lot of fullness and with it's perky beat, compl...

NIGHTBIRD -EVA CASSIDY'S 'COMPLETE BLUES ALLEY' 20TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION ARRIVES DECEMBER 11 IN THE U.S. FROM BLIX STREET RECORDS RE-MASTERED TWO-CD SET FEATURES 12 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED RECORDINGS, INCLUDING 8 NEVER-BEFORE-HEARD SONGS PERFORMED BY THE LATE SINGER ONE NIGHT, ONE TAKE (JANUARY 3, 1996) "She possessed a silken soprano voice with a wide and seemingly effortless range, unerring pitch and a gift for phrasing that at times was heart-stoppingly eloquent."   --The New York Times Eva Cassidy, the late singer whose signature version of "Over the Rainbow" underscored the In Memoriam portion of the 2015 Emmy broadcast, is remembered in NIGHTBIRD -a two-CD set that affords everyone the opportunity to experience Eva's tour de force performance at the Blues Alley jazz club in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 1996.  Arriving on December 11 , th...