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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!
I just received the newest release, Friday Night, from Zora Young & Little Mike and the Tornadoes and it's got texture! Opening with the dynamic, I've Been A Fool Too Long, Tony O Melio gets a great guitar groove going. With Jim McKaba on organ and piano, Robert Piazza on drums and Brad Vickers, Zora leads the way on vocals for a real nice shuffle track. Slowing down a bit R&B track, A Fool's Lament is really designed to showcase Young's vocals. With Little Mike Marknwitz adding some key harp work and Rick Johnson on sax and Gary Smith on trumpet, this track drips soul. Howlin' Wolf's 44 Blues is up next with strong piano work from McKaba. With strong a Chicago feel, this track is perfect for Young's voice, complimented nicely by Mike on harp and McKaba on piano. Easy swinging, True Love Is Hard To Find, plays the horns nicely against Young's perfect vocal phrasing. McKaba takes a real nice piano solo on this track as does O Melio. Very nice! Excellent blues track, I Love Chicago, has just that right feel with Vickers and Piazza setting the pace. McKaba lays down another super piano solo leading the way for Little Mike. Melio sets up some really hot guitar riffs of his own making this a well balanced track. With some funky rock in the air, title track, Friday Night hits the ground running. Little Mike gets a real nice opportunity to play some of the tastiest riffs on the release, with Johnson and Smith keeping it moving. McKaba jazzes up the piano a bit and Melio sets the closer. Piano Man Walls' track, Chains Of Love, maintains it's traditional arrangement with Young delivering a deep blues feel. Melio, McKaba and Little Mike each get a swat at the wall, and each hits it deep. Very nice! Little Walter's Just Your Fool and it's shuffle pace gives the release the just right boost to get it rolling. Little Mike and McKaba stretch a bit making this a real nice harp jam. Otis Spann's Country Girl has a nice easy blues saunter. Being a Spann track, McKaba has a ready made spot to show his stuff. Melio hits a particularly nice stretch of guitar on this track giving extra spice. It's the bass of Vickers that sets the pace on I'm Good punched by Johnson and Smith. Young leads on vocal giving way to McKaba and a real nice piano solo and ultimately Little Mike who cleans the bases. Very nice! Wrapping the release is Spann's Boogie (Otis Spann) and McKaba is off the hook! Excellent closer for this well done 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”
MADRID (AP) — Legendary New Orleans pianist, songwriter, producer and performer, Allen Toussaint, who penned or produced such classics as "Working in a Coal Mine" and "Lady Marmalade," has died after suffering a heart attack following a concert he performed in Spain. He was 77.
Rescue workers were called to Toussaint's hotel early Tuesday morning and managed to revive him after he suffered a heart attack, Madrid emergency services spokesman Javier Ayuso said.
But Toussaint stopped breathing during the ambulance ride to a hospital and efforts to revive him again were unsuccessful, Ayuso said. Toussaint performed Monday night at Madrid's Lara Theater.
"He was a legend in the music world," said Quint Davis, who produces the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Toussaint performed there so often — frequently as a headliner — that Davis said he referred to it as his "annual concert."
Toussaint was born in New Orleans' Gert Town, a working class neighborhood where he lived in a "shotgun" house — so-called because you could stand at the front door and fire a shotgun through to the other side of the house.
He went on to become one of the city's most legendary and celebrated performers and personalities.
At first he worked as a producer for the New Orleans-based Minit Records in 1960 before being drafted in the Army for two years.
He later went on to create his own recording studio in 1973 with fellow songwriter Marshall Sehorn, called Sea-Saint Studio. There he worked with a succession of musicians including Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, Patti LaBelle, the late Joe Cocker and Elvis Costello.
Toussaint has hundreds of hits to his name and received the Recording Academy Trustees Award during the 2009 Grammy Awards. He penned the 1966 Lee Dorsey classic "Working in a Coal Mine" and produced Dr. John's 1973 hit "Right Place, Wrong Time" and 1975's "Lady Marmalade" by the vocal trio Labelle.
In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He's also a member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. In 2013 he was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama at a ceremony in Washington.
He worked with some of the greatest names in music: Irma Thomas, the Meters, Cocker and the late Ernie K-Doe. Approaching 80, he was still active touring and performing.
He had been expected to perform a benefit concert along with longtime friend Paul Simon in New Orleans on Dec. 8 at Le Petit Theatre to raise money for the organization, New Orleans Artists Against Hunger And Homelessness.
Hurricane Katrina in 2005 flooded not only his home but his legendary studio, forcing Toussaint to flee to New York. Davis, from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, said during Katrina he also lost most of his manuscripts, his gold records and the often elaborate outfits in which he performed onstage.
"You always saw Allen with a coat and tie and wearing sandals," Davis said.
In New York, Toussaint focused largely on performing, often taking the stage at Joe's Pub on Lafayette Street in solo concerts. But like many New Orleanians, Toussaint was not able to stay away forever. Nearly eight years after Katrina, Toussaint returned permanently to the city of his birth and so much of his musical inspiration.
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”
I just received the newest release, Hot Dish from The Jimmys and hot it is! Opening with Lose That Woman, is a Latin influenced number with a swing. Featuring Jimmy Voegeli on keys and lead vocal, this track is hot out of the gate. With John Wartenweiler on bass, Perry Weber on guitar and Mauro Magellan on drums this unit is tight. Mike Bowman on trumpet, Darren Sterud on trumpet, trombone and backing vocal and Pete Ross on sax each add slick riffs of their own even venturing into surf territory with backing vocals from Al Falaschi, Alison Margaret and Faith Ulwelling making this a great opener! I really like You Say You Will which has attitude. With Roy Head style guitar riffs from Weber and Voegeli's rolling piano riffs, pushed over the top by the horn section (The Amateur Horn Stars) this track rocks. R&B style Freight Train has a blend of Wilson Pickett, Al Green and Booket T. You're kidding me ...right? No. This track is super. Solid horn lead and Weber throwing down fluid guitar riffs gives this track a real nice balance. Big swing, I Wonder, gets into big band blues style with excellent vocal and guitar phrasing. The horn section is so tight they almost sound like one fat, powerful instrument. One thing that I feel is lacking in contemporary is trombone soloing. Sterud takes care of that with a stand up blow out with the trumpets pushing him along. Excellent! Funk Schway is really smooth with a great rich horn melody. Weber takes a short guitar of his own and Magellan spices up the bottom. Ross gets his chance at the mic rolling in a real sexy sax solo followed by Voegeli on Hammond. Dig it! Texas style blues track, What Gives has a real nice lope led by Weber. The Amateur Horns fill the place with sound and Voegeli, Falaschi, Margaret and Ulwelling blend vocals nicely and again Sterud gets that fat bone back in front of the mic. These guys have a great formula for balance and know when to kick it. Excellent! Jacqui Juice leads off with a real nice Ronnie Earl style guitar intro and Voegeli comes in on Hammond. Continuing to build with orchestral precision, the horns hit the track and then recede giving the floor to Weber. Ross really swings it on sax getting it squealing more than a couple of times before handing over the floor to Voegeli on Hammond. Reuniting on lead the band takes it home. Very nice! What Chur Doin' has a solid R&B feel with James Brown structured horn work and Weber putting up a stinging guitar solo. Sterud is hitting the trombone again and it sounds great! Sit still... I dare you! Wrecking Ball is a blues based rocker with SRV like guitar riffs over a a solid bottom. Saddest Man highlight Voegeli on lead piano with T-Bone Walker like warmth from Weber. With Voegeli on lead vocal the band falls back giving the solo floor to Weber and Voegeli. Digging into a little dixieland on What My Baby Wants the band gets a real swing going with Ross on clarinet, Sterud on trumpet and trombone, Bowman on trumpet, Wartenweiler on bass, Magellan on drums and Weber on guitar. Great sound. Rockin' boogie, She's Wild, gives Voegeli on piano and Ross on sax the floor in front of a punchy brass section. Tight! Wrapping the release is Freight Train Reprise. Smooth, soulful vocals and warm organ carry the track with nice lead guitar work and crowning brass adding dynamics and a little revival. Excellent completion to a really special 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”
I just received the newest release, Songs From The Road by Thorbjorn Risager & Black The Tornado and it's terrific! I gotta say I am really looking forward to getting home and reviewing the DVD concert but I am currently on the road so the CD will have to do for now. Opening with If You Wanna Leave, a solid blues rocker, Risager's vocals are incredible from the first note! Supported by Peter W. Kehl on trumpet, Hans Nybo on Tenor sax, Kasper Wagner on alto sax and Emil Balsgaard on keys this train moves! Risager shares guitar duty with Peter Skjerning and is backed by Lisa Lystam and Ida Bang on vocal giving the track a real fullness. Excellent opener! Paradise has a real nice strut and hot jazz interweave, punctuated by the horn section, Soren Bajgaard on bass and Martin Seidelin on drums. Very nice! Drowning has the flare of a cabaret but Risager's thick, rugged vocals nicely with the trumpet carrier, sax solo and sweet melody. A real nice cover of Big Joe Turner's Baby Please Don't Go has a driving pace with trumpet and flaming guitars. With an almost surf style guitar solo, this track rocks! Too Many Roads has warm slide work under the melody and caressing gospel like vocal backing presenting a rich envelope. Victor Young's China Gate maintains a stately ballad feel, accented by unearthly slide guitar tones. Excellent! Rock n' Roll Ride rolls out on strong tom tom work by Seidelin and great slide guitar but Risager's voice is so strong that he could perform alone! Backed by horn, piano,Lisa and Ida, this track swings. Excellent R&B track, Through the Tears, is such a terrific track to highlight Risager's vocal talent. With slide guitar riffs & tight horn punctuation, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Long Forgotten Track has the of feel a cowboy song but with an easy swing. On My Way is a very rudimentary take on the primitive blues. With only bass, percussion, and basic piano, Risager and his slide deliver the word. Very nice! Rocker, All I Want, in contrast, is full out driving with backing vocals and horns. Risager and Skjerning get into a nice guitar duel on the track showing real pyrotechnics. High Rolling is a strong rocker with a Keith Richards basis. Risager's dominent vocal style and Balsgaard's organ work is nicely carried by Bang & Lystan on background vocal. Risager throws down a few good guitar riffs. Seidelin's drum work is particularly effective on this track punched up by Kehl, Nybo and Wagner. Classic, Let The Good Times Roll is a perfect track for this band to start it's wrap up. Risager and Skjerning show their guitar chops delivering the good without stepping on each other and as they peak, Balsgaard on piano, and full horn compliment set the place on fire. Very nice!! Nicely executed, I Won't Let You Down is a softly delivered duet with only the minimal of guitar and instrumentation. Wrapping the release is funky, Opener, with grinding guitar riffs and hot horn solos, supporting background vocals and tight bass and drums. A great closer to a super concert. Can't wait to get home and watch!
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”
I just received the newest release (November 6, 2015), Keep Coming Back, from Mike Zito & the Wheel and it's a real rocker! Opeing with title track, Keep Coming Back, Zito is leading the way on vocal and screaming hot slide guitar. Jimmy Carpenter on sax, Scot Sutherland on bass, Rob Lee on drums and Lewis Stephens on keys really rock the house! Excellent opener!! Keeping up the driving rhythm with Chin Up, with a little more country rock twist. Rocking guitar lines and soulful sax work from Carpenter nicely compliment Zito's vocals. Easy country rock track, Get Busy Living has that laid back Dickie Betts Blue Skies feel. A perfect radio track, has cool vocal blending with Carpenter and Suzie Sims. Country rock ballad, Early In The Morning, nicely highlights Zito's vocal work, backed on vocal by Riley Zito. Comfortable track for cross radio play. I Was Drunk is a cool style ballad with a twist of southern blues. This is a really nice gritty track with Anders Osborne sharing vocal and guitar lead. Very nice! Lonely Heart takes a turn toward jazz with a poppy, blues fused funk. This is a quiet, but really nicely executed, track with stylized guitar and percussion by Trina Shoemaker. Zito's vocals are pure and his guitar work seems to float in the mix. Sweet! Girl From Liberty is a pop rocker in the vein of John Cougar. Zito holds this track in the palm of his hand with strong vocals and a really nice guitar solo setting it out nicely. Next up is Bob Seger's, Get Out Of Denver. With all of the enthusiasm of the original, Zito and Carpenter really drive the train and Stephens' piano work is super. Zito rips off a great rockin' guitar solo and the track romps into Carpenter's super sax solo. Excellent! Nothin' But The Truth is a low slung blues rocker and Zito really shows off his signature warm guitar tone. Zito, with Keith Richards like style, and Carpenter, with full sax timbre rock the house. Warm slide guitar opens funky swamp track, Cross The Border. This is my favorite new track on the release with it's perfectly crafted vocal lines, guitar and rhythmic phrases. Real nice! Super ballad, What's On Your Mind, has really nice guitar harmonic overtones sprinkled over Zito's soulful vocals, and warm sax phrasing from Carpenter. Carpenter takes a really smooth melodic sax solo leading into the final stanza as Zito delivers the track home. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a remake of John Fogerty's Bootleg. Zito's own style is really not terribly dissimilar to Fogerty's so this track is a natural. With David Farrell and Riley Zito on backing vocal, expressive sax soloing from Carpenter, driving drum work from Lee and hot riffs from Zito, this is a great party track to end a rocking 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”
I just received the newest release, Everybody Wants A Piece, from Joe Louis Walker and it's explosive. Opening with title track, Everybody Wants A Piece, Walker is rockin'. Backed by Philip Young on keys, Lenny Bradford on bass and Byron Cage on drums these guys are rolling. Walker really cuts loose with voracious guitar riffs making this a kicker of an opener. Harp screaming opening on Do I Love Her sets the pace for this blues oriented rocker. A nice organ solo from Young and a solid bottom make this track tick. Buzz On You is a casual rock n roll track with some Chuck Berry flair. Walker takes his guitar for a cool rock drive with smooth vocal harmonies. Black & Blue is a solid radio track with a super hook, interesting guitar solo and ultimate guitar anthem soloing. Very nice! Funky rocker, Witchcraft has a cool fusion of blues, rock and jazz. With it's cool percussion, tight bass and snappy drumming singed by Walkers searing guitar riffs, this is one of my favorites on the release. Rumbling blues rocker, One Sunny Day pairs Walker's vocals with his lead guitar work for a particularly effective delivery. Rapid fire guitar riffs and soaring soloing tops off this track. The standout track on the release for me is Gospel Blues. Young sets up a real nice bed of gospel style organ work and Walker lays out some really nice razors edge blues riffs. He really shakes it loose on this track, demonstrating why he is known as one of today's top blues players. Excellent! Another of my favorites is classic, Wade In The Water with spiritual overtones but with a funky rock beat. Keeping a strong gospel feel with beautiful vocal harmonies, Walker infuses blues guitar riffs and funk. Very smooth! Man Of Many Words is a really cool track with a feel like it just came out of Muscle Shoals. Funky guitars, riding organ, snappy drums and bumpin bass highlight Walker's best vocal effort on the release. Strong based blues driver, Young Girl Blues has a real nice Texas lope. Walker plays slick and clean on this track showing how nimble his gingers can be on such swaggering track. A real nice keyboard solo centers the track and 50's style vocal harmonies give the track a unique character. Very nice! Wrapping the release is 35 Years, a stone boogie with Walker on slide. Keeping it stripped, Hooker style really propels this track making it an excellent closer.
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”
Kirk Fletcher has been hailed by
Joe Bonamassa as "hands-down one of the best blues guitarists in
the world." Now you can delve deep into the blues with the
celebrated guitarist in a new instructional video and book pack from
Hal Leonard.
The video lessons cover a variety of rhythm and lead blues guitar
styles and concepts, with loads of licks, riffs, solos, and more. The
accompanying book features note-for-note transcriptions of every
video example in easy-to-read rhythm tab notation. Topics covered
include Texas blues, Chicago blues, slow blues, rock and roll,
soloing concepts, scale applications, and much more to take your
blues guitar skills to the next level.
Kirk Fletcher has commanded the respect and acclaim of critics,
peers, and fans across the globe. He is a four-time Blues Music Award
nominee and has played with a variety of popular artists, including a
four-year role as lead guitarist of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. He is
also the frontman of his own band, having released three studio
albums and a live album.
Founded
in 1947, Hal
Leonard Corporation is the world's largest music print publisher
and digital content provider, producing educational publications,
songbooks, sheet music, reference books, DVDs, magazines, eBooks,
digital sheet music, apps and more. The company is also a major
distributor of music technology products, selling and marketing the
most popular software, hard goods and accessories available today, to
musicians and recording enthusiasts around the world. In its
more than 200,000 available publications and products, Hal Leonard
represents many of the world's best known and most respected
publishers, artists, songwriters, arrangers and manufacturers. The
company is headquartered in Milwaukee, WI and also has domestic
offices in Winona, MN; New Jersey and Boston, and offices abroad in Australia,
Belgium, China, Germany, Holland, Italy, Switzerland and the United
Kingdom.
I just received the newest release, Set Me Free, from Angela Lewis Brown and it's quite cool! Opening with Blues Blues Lovin', a funky pop rocker, ALB shows her clear vocal style accompanied by Chris Carter on drums, Ashley Hurst and Dunbar Delmar on harp and with some tight guitar riffs from Alisdair Pickering on guitar. Set Me Free has a distinctive American soul feel with Carter and Pickering developing the rock component on guitars and Zenny Lee on backing vocal. Easy paced ballad, Summer Nights is nearly accapella with ALB and Lee harmonizng nicely with only the basic of guitar and drum as support. Very nice! I'm Feeling Good About Me is a prominent radio style track with all of the finesse and polish required of it. A strong melody, clear vocals and a good hook mike this a prime pick. Hopeless is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a soulful melody and really strong vocals. It has a nice groove and a solid bass with an easy stated guitar line. Very nice! Better Man has a gritty blues style bottom with choice harp riffs and punctual guitar riffs. I has a strong R&B feel with ALB almost jamming vocally in a soulful interpretation of overlapping lines. Ice Cold Tears is a somber ballad that really cuts with a bluesy knife. Layered vocals, simple stylized guitar riffs, well placed backing vocals and basic accompaniment makes this my favorite track on the release. Excellent! Stepping up the pace a bit with That's You, a blues based rocker, ALB adds in a little funk and a cool strut. Carter's rhythmic percussion and Lee's backing vocals along with teasing guitar riffs by Pickering are particularly key on this track nicely supporting ALB's vocals. Wrapping the release is I'll Be There, a soulful tune bring the work of Luther Ingram. Possibly the strongest vocal work on the release, and with melodic complimentary guitar lead, a strong closer for a solid 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”
I just received the newest release, One At A Time, from Eddie Cotton and it's a great followup to his first release, Here I Come which was on my favorites list from last year!
This release is off and running from the start with title track, One At A Time, a soulful blues track with Cotton on vocal and hot guitar riffs.
James "Hotdog" Lewis , who passed away only a week ago today adds some real nice keyboard work on this release.With Myron Scott laying down a nice bass line and Samuel Scott Jr. on drums this track is moving, nicely complimented by Kimble Funchess on trumpet, Jessie Primer III on sax and Mike Weidick on trombone. Very nice! With it's super walking bass line by Bennett, Be Careful has a classic blues sound but with a definite R&B overtone. Cotton has a great voice and Carlos Russell adds harp giving it a cool contemporary feel. People keep commenting that we have to keep the blues alive. This is positive proof that all you got to do is play good blues and it will spring to life. Super! Slow blues number, Better Deal gives Cotton a real nice opportunity to lay it all out and that's exactly what he does. With a hot and crispy extended guitar intro, Cotton sets the fire and with his vocals he fans the flames. Hotdog's contributions on this track add a lot of texture and Bennett's bass sets the stage. Cotton has a real nice ability to play under the lead vocal with hot guitar riffs keeping you on edge awaiting his solo and he doesn't disappoint. Cotton is fluid and emotional with a great feel for phrasing. Excellent! Catch I Wanted is funky with cool horns and Al Green like vocals. Hi steppin and happy, this is a great track! R&B track, Dead End Street, has really nice harmonies with JJ Thames who's release Tell You What I Know was also on my favorites list last year! A smooth and mellow track with strong radio potential. Texas style, Fair Weather Lover, shows Cotton's influence by Albert King with strong stinging guitar riffs and phrasing. This is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a perfect balance between Cotton's vocal and solid guitar riffs. This guy is sorely underrated as a guitar player with clear, fresh phrases and stinging punctuation. Funky, Filling Me With Pleasure, finds Cotton on slide and Mayfield like falsetto. Bennett again gives the track spring and Hotdog and the Jackson Horns punch. Lumbering blues track, Hard Race To Win, again rides tight on the back of Bennett on bass. Cotton knows how to lay back and sing the blues with a solid platform under his feet and injecting clever riffs of texture. I really like his style and the little pieces of history I hear in his delivery. His vocal phrasing even hints at James Brown. Je Ne Sais Quoi has a real nice strut that defies you to sit still in your seat. Hotdog rides hard on the organ giving it a spiritual quality but Bennett digs in on bass making you bob you head. Cotton's smooth vocals and easy rhythm guitar is just right. Shuffle track, Mississippi, is uptempo BB King style without the fist clap. Cotton is showing that he has what it takes to be today's top blues performer with Russell and John Genous on backing vocal. Hotdog rides the wave on keys and Cotton stylistically grooves along on guitar over the melody. Very nice! On more casual blues number, My Money, Grady Champion who's last release Bootleg Whiskey was reviewed here as well, joins on harp. This track has a real nice blend of Hotdog's excellent piano riffs, Cotton's clever guitar riffs and Champions harp texture making it a real easy going blues number. Getting back into the R&B styling, Ego At Your Door, is a super track with very strong backing vocals from Thames. Hotdog again on organ gives the track excellent warmth and the Jackson Horns do a real nice job of giving the track it's wind. I really like this track and it's gospel R&B style roots. Excellent! Race To The Dollar has a real nice fusion of R&B and blues with Al Green style vocals and SRV style guitar riffs. Cotton has his own voice and his own style but keynotes to the past are his stepping stones. Very nice job! Wrapping the release is a solemn blues number, War Is Over. Cotton musters the most soulful vocals on the release on this track and his guitar riffs are light and tasty. With a solid bass line from Bennett, simple keyboard tension from Hotdog and straight drum line from Scott this track is wide open for Cotton to place his shots just where he wants them. Confidently placed and soulfully expressed, this track is an excellent closer to an excellent 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”
I just received the newest release, Battle Scars, from Walter Trout, and if has a definite mellowing and maturation but keeps the fire. Opening with Almost Gone, a blues based rocker with a feel of Led Zep blended with Aerosmith. Rock solid drumming from Michael Leasure and rich vocal harmonies along with harp overtones balance out Trouts flaming hot guitar riffs. Great opener! Omaha opens with romping tom tom work and Trout singing almost in a field of smoke. An onslaught of guitar enters with high dynamic quality and then disappears as quickly as it came. Nice rocker. Throw out some funk and Trout is doing the boogaloo on Tomorrow Seems So Far Away. I really can't describe how it's different but I like Trout's vocals more than earlier seeming more smooth and hearty. A real nice harp solo grounded by Sammy Avila on keys and Johnny Griparic on bass creates a solid mix. Ballad, Please Take Me Home, is so creamy it could be the Eagles. Nicely blended vocals and solid guitar accompaniment enriched by the key work of Avila gives this track extremely solid radio potential. You want to know if Trout lays it out..of course he does but in a more controlled melodic bluesy fashion. Perfect radio track. Butt kicker Playin' Hideaway has all of the flare that you would expect from Billy G track. Trout's vocals are unmistakable and Leasure's drumming is solid. I really like Trout's alternate approach to guitar soloing on this track, fresh, but unmistakably Trout. Haunted By The Night has an interesting guitar interlude on it with cool volume swells. Trout has always used his share of swells but these feel particularly haunting like I've only experienced listening to the great Roy Buchanan. Interesting track. Rocker, Fly Away, features really developed vocal lines with nicely blended harmonies and a definite hook. Trout takes his strat on a spin but as in any great band, it's the drums that make it fly and Leasure is rock solid. Move On is another solid rocker and another track with much more developed melody and vocal lines. I particularly like Trout's guitar soloing on this track taking it on a nice ride without going over the edge. Slipping on the slide and getting a little funky again, Trout leads My Ship Came In. Avila's organ work against Trout's rhythm guitar work sets the stage. Again harp work takes a lead and Trout spills out some haunting guitar swells before kicking it open and letting it all out. Great rocker! One of my favorite tracks on the release, Cold, Cold Ground, is a hot lumbering blues. You want to hear Trout grip it and rip it...here you go! What initially attracted me to Trout wasn't his fast fingering or explosive riffs but his ability to lay down highly emotional guitar phrases and squeeze great tone. This is the track! Excellent! Wrapping the release is cowboy style ballad, Gonna Live Again. Without sounding cliche, it has the renewed sound of a man on a new train. His vocals are distinctively Trout, with his voice sounding more familiar against a style that is almost foreign to my expectancy. I like it!
This is a different kind of release from Walter and one that definitely deserves exploration!
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”
I just received the newest release, Clinch! by The Blues Overdrive and I really like it! Opening with suspenseful track, Pistol Blues, this Danish band really understands it's craft. With a feel of North Mississippi and easy instrumentation by Martin Olsen on guitar and vocal, Andreas Andersen on guitar, Thomas Birck on bass and Lars Heiberg on drums these guys create an invite to their cool blues interpretation. Rolling Thunder steps up the rock feel but maintains the stripped down feel with cool double stopped guitar riffs. Cool! Shuffle track, Three Time Lover, starts to show more of the richness of Olsen's vocals and Olsen and Andersen compliment each other nicely as they trade lead/rhythm guitar riffs. Duke Robillard steps up with a signature solo of his own blending right in. Very cool! A little twist of Latin in the rhythm give Woman Of Love a more pop blues feel. Simple guitar riffs and overtones of JJ Cale make the track smooth and breezy. John Nemeth's Daughter of the Devil is one of my favorite tracks on the release having a bit of a Kimbrough feel. With it's swampy feel and tight guitar riffs (featuring Robillard) this is certainly one of my favorite tracks on the release! Jealous has a cool shadowy sound and maybe a track of early Black Keys. This track is infectious and with it's slightly out double stops is extremely effective in creating tension. It even has an underlying almost western guitar themed solo... excellent! Joel Patterson joins on Cherry providing a cool lap steel aura. With it's Latin rhythm this track is airy and fun. Another of my favorite tracks is blues rocker, Lay Your Burdon Down, again with a real stripped down feel and almost a John Kay feel. Vibrant guitar riffs on this track and tight drumming from Heiberg gives it an almost Jimi Hendrix blues taste. Very smart! Living Here With You is an excellent track with a JJ Cale style. With it's light funky rhythm and Mark Knopfler style lead guitar penned against it's David Gilmore like vamps, this track is sure a winner. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Aurora, a thick and greasy track with really rich guitar tones. Olsen's vocals are really soulful on this track and with it's strong blues flavor and even John Lee Hooker like blues riffs, is my favorite on the release. This is an absolute sleeper of a release that needs to be heard!
Check it out!!
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”
James "Hot Dog" Lewis: Bobby Rush's longtime keyboardist
LONGTIME BOBBY RUSH KEYBOARDIST JAMES “HOT DOG” LEWIS DIES
Burial fund established for 27-year veteran of
Rush’s band; celebration of life scheduled for October
29-31 in Jackson, Mississippi
JACKSON, Miss. — Keyboardist James “Hot Dog” Lewis died in his sleep after a battle with lung
disease on Friday, October 23, at his home in Jackson. Lewis, who
was 60 years old, was a beloved, respected figure in the
Mississippi and international blues community.
Lewis
was best known as the keyboard player in Bobby Rush’s band, where he earned his nickname with his
zesty, freewheeling style on and off the stage for 27 years. He
played on many albums with Rush and performed internationally as
part of the Bobby Rush
Band.
Lewis’
life will be celebrated with a concert on Thursday, October 29 at
Jackson’s Metro City Complex at 7 p.m. Visitation at Jackson
Memorial Funeral Services will be from 1 to 7 p.m. on Friday,
October 30, and the funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on
Saturday, October 31. Contributions to help pay for funeral
arrangements can be sent directly to Jackson Memorial Funeral
Services, 922 Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Jackson, MS 39213. Call
(601) 969-9457 for more information.
“‘Hot Dog’ played with
me for about 30 years,” says Rush. “He was the most
wonderful-hearted guy you would ever want to meet. He was a great
musician who played in a lot of good bands. He will be missed by
many friends and fellow band members. He was a dear friend,
musician and player. He played on 25-30 of my records and we
traveled on a lot of road together.”
“Hot Dog” was born on
May 4, 1955 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and moved to Jackson,
Mississippi when he was a child, after being adopted by his
grandparents. He grew up and attended high school in Jackson,
where he played locally with a band called Two-Three. Lewis
traveled to Japan for about a year, and when he returned to
Jackson, drummer Bruce Howard introduced him to Rush. He played
exclusively with Rush for several years following.
Lewis’
work with Rush took him across the United States, Europe and
Asia, including a performance for 40,000 people at the Great Wall
of China. He will be remembered by his bandmates as an
exceptional musician, solid friend and uplifting personality who
always made them laugh and looked out for those close to
him.
Journalist David Whiteis
recalls: “He was an excellent blues and R&B pianist,
obviously, but I’ll never forget hearing him in the green room
before various shows, sitting at a piano playing Broadway show
tunes, standards from the Great American Songbook and classical
selections for his own satisfaction and for that of the
people gathered around him.”
Pictured: Bobby Rush, Bruce Howard, Mizz Lowe,
Jazzii A,
various folks in China, and Hot Dog
