Bman's Blues Report

Monday, December 7, 2015

Buddy Guy's "Born To Play Guitar" Nominated For Two Grammy's

We are delighted to announce that Buddy Guy's "Born To Play Guitar" is nominated for two Grammy's - "Best American Roots Performance" and "Best Blues Album" - in the 58th Annual GRAMMY awards. The complete nomination slate is at http://www.grammy.com/nominees.

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Shemekia Copeland Receives Grammy Award Nomination

SHEMEKIA COPELAND'S OUTSKIRTS OF LOVE

RECEIVES GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATION

CD NAMED ALBUM OF THE YEAR BY THE BLUES MAGAZINE (UK)

Blues/soul/roots singing sensation Shemekia Copeland's new CD, Outskirts Of Love, received a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Blues Album category from the Recording Academy on Monday, December 7. Winners will be announced in Los Angeles on February 15, 2016. This is Copeland's third Grammy nomination. Copeland, the reigning "Queen Of The Blues," also appears on Muddy Waters 100, a various artists tribute album also nominated for Best Blues Album.

The outstanding Shemekia Copeland news does not end with the Grammy Award nomination. The prestigious United Kingdom publication The Blues named Outskirts Of Love its 2015 Album Of The Year. In the magazine's review of the record, writer Rev. Keith Gordon says, "Shemekia Copeland is one of the best singers performing today. A rich blend of blues, soul and roots-rock that will astound the casual listener while rewarding Copeland's longtime fans. Pure joy." Editor Ed Mitchell calls it "a mature masterpiece of modern blues."

Copeland’s return to Alligator Records with Outskirts Of Love (she recorded four albums for the label from 1998 through 2006) finds her at her most charismatic. She mixes freshly written material with thrilling reinventions of songs originally recorded by Solomon Burke, ZZ Top, Jesse Winchester, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jesse Mae Hemphill and her father, the late Johnny Clyde Copeland. MOJO magazine says, "It is Copeland’s thrilling voice, part Koko Taylor, part Mavis Staples and capable of incredible expression, that makes Outskirts Of Love so super-special. Spectacular, stirring, sanctified and sassy…at the crossroads where funk meets blues rock. Her band, led by producer Oliver Wood, and featuring guests Billy F Gibbons, Robert Randolph, Alvin Youngblood Hart and Will Kimbrough, is faultless throughout."

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”

Stony Plain Records artists: Eric Bibb & JJ Milteau - Lead Belly's Gold - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Lead Belly's Gold, from Eric Bibb & JJ Milteau and it's pure gold! This release, composed mostly of traditional and Lead Belly originals is spiced with a few originals by Bibb and Milteau. Opening with Grey Goose, Bibb handles vocals with only basic percussion by Larry Crockett, his own guitar accompaniment and Milteau on harp. With a light hearted approach the song seems to float. A medley of When That Train Comes Along/ Swing Low Sweet Chariot features some of the best vocal work that I have heard from Bibb. Soft, heartfelt and sensuous, backed by expressive harp work from Milteau. Very nice. On A Monday has a really nice gait. With it's playful nature, Michael Robinson.s backing vocals and Cajun flare it almost seems a celebration of a prison song. The House Of The Rising Sun has an eerie serenity that I have never heard from this track. Bibb's rich vocals and Milteau's melodic harp work seem the perfect match for this beautiful track. Back in a Cajun feel, Midnight Special retains much of the rock beat that it has come to be associated with but keeps a fresh sound. Bring A Little Water, Sylvie has a light Piedmont feel with Bibb's vocals and Milteau's harp just riding lightly on the melody like a cloud. Addition of bass by Gilles Michael and drums by Crockett on Where Did You Sleep Last Night gives it a very clean aesthetic with only Bibb on vocal and Milteau on harp. Very nice. Pick A Bale of Cotton falls very close to the original Lead Belly arrangement with solid vocal and guitar enhanced by harp and drums. Maintaining much of the waltz feel of Goodnight, Irene, Bibb adds a soulful vocal and Milteau nicely compliments his vocals on harp with nicely accented snare work by Crockett. Rock Island Line is a blues rocker with a train feel. Given that little bit of extra spice, this track delivers. Bourgeois Blues is another of my favorite tracks on the release with it's low slung delivery and pure blues feel. Milteau lays in a really sweet harp solo over Bibb's guitar cords. Delivering this hard track with light, effortless confidence has a cool result. Very nice! Bibb original, Chauffeur Blues is written from the perspective of Bibb as Led Belly speaking to former boss John Lomax. Pointed and crisp. Stewball is a clever little story about a race horse and with it's uptempo rock style adds a different dimension. Titanic, with it's distinctive picking features Bibb on vocal and banjo with Milteau on harp. Maintaining it's early blues styling but with Bibb's warm vocal, this track is smooth. Wrapping the release is Bibb original, Swimming In A River Of Songs. A happy go lucky track, this concludes possibly my favorite Bibb release with a bopping beat. Very nice!

Friday, December 4, 2015

American Showplace Music artist: Chris O'Leary - Gonna Die tryin' - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Gonna Die Tryin', from Chris O'Leary and it's in your face super! Folloing up to last year's Live At Blues Now! this release is long awaited. Opening with Can't Help Yourself, a slinky blues track with a gritty guitar vamp by Chris Vitarello and Chris O'Leary on lead vocal and harp this track is a great opener. Backed by Matt Raymond on bass, Bruce Katz on piano and Jay Devlin on drums, O'Leary hits solid on his harp solo making this one of the best opening tracks of the year! 19 Cents A Day has a strong, SB Williamson vamp behind it but with a fast driving pace really kicks it. Katz on organ really lays it out there with a hot solo with Andy Stahl and Chris Difrancesco joining on sax. Hot! Hook, Line and Sinker has a funky R&B feel Willa Panvini and Libby Cabello adding super backing vocals alone with Stahl and Difrancesco on sax. Vitarello adds some really nice guitar lines over Raymond's driving bass line and the sax men blow out some great riffs. Excellent! Title track, Gonna Die Tryin' has a Latin beat and great guitar tone under the lead vocals. Vitarello steps up with a real nice guitar solo on this track sticking with a blues fuesd latin feel. O'Leary breathes great power into his harp on this track giving it just the right spark. Slow blues track, Letters From Home, opens with a really soulful guitar solo from Vitarello riding on the back of of Katz's subtle organ work. O'Leary shows a variety of different vocal styles throughout this release. His powerful vocals earlier in the release are nicely matched here with super soulful phrasing. This is a powerful track that stands tall on this release of excellent tracks. The Devil Drove To Town In A V8 Ford is a rocking, country style track with flames. Vitarello really strings it out on this one with some lower fret work that hits hard. Nice pick up after the grinding blues number. The Machine has a really cool feel with alternating tom tom beat and double stopped guitar rhythm. Vitarello plays some really stinging guitar riffs under O'Leary's solid vocals with harp accents. Excellent! With it's shuffling lope, Walking Contradiction is the one track that just screams Chicago on this track and O'Leary milks it for all it's worth with his smoking harp work. Harvest Time rolls out a New Orleans style beat by Devlin and rolling piano from Katz. Warm backing vocals by Cabello and McCarthy along with slide guitar give the gumbo real spice. One More Saturday Night has a slick swing led by O'Leary on vocal and harp. Rock n roll riffs into the blues give the track great traction and Katz's organ work fills out the bill. Wrapping the release is funky, Tell It To Me Straight with Albert King like delivery. This is another of my favorite tracks with a slice of the best of everything. O'Leary's vocals are perfect, katz delivers a great organ solo, Vitarello plays it funky, backing vocals a strong and the band is in the groove...seriously! This is an excellent release!

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Out Of The Past Music - Steve Howell & The Mighty Men - Friend Like Me - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Friend Like Me, from Steve Howell & The Mighty Men and it's got style! Opening with Baby Face Thomas' Another Friend Like Me with it's boogie woogie rhythm line. Howell on vocal and guitar leads the way with Chris Michaels on electric guitar, Dave Hoffpauir on drums and Jason Weinheimer on bass. The walking bass line of Jason and fluid guitar lines of Chris make for an interesting trip. Bukka White's Aberdeen, Mississippi Blues is up next with a snappy country flare. I really like the loose guitar soloing technique on this track giving it a raw flavor. Charley Patton's Elder Green Is Gone has a cool R&B flavor with raw country guitar riffs. This music has an unusual JJ Cale kind of vibe...laid back but pointed. Very cool! Reverend Gary Davis' Oh, Lord, Search My Soul has a casual shuffle feel. With a droning guitar rhythm and easy set lyrics the track lulls you back. Little Sadie is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's traditional western (cowboy) feel. Josh Thomas' Roustabout has a primitive sound played on gut-string gourd banjo with sonic electric guitar backing. This track maintains a simple blues base with experimental echo electric guitar work. I really like the pairing! Nelson Harmon's This Old Hammer is the most commercial track so far with melodic electric guitar work over finger picked acoustic work. Very clean. Noah Lewis' Viola Lee Blues comes from Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers but was a popular jam by the Grateful Dead. This track has an almost Creedence Clearwater guitar feel (think Suzie Q)with it's fat sound. I really like this track! John Phillips' Me and My Uncle has been done by may of the 70's bands including Phillips' own Mamas and Papas, Joni Mitchell and the Dead. Again with a cowboy western feel, this track has a simple beauty. Elongated guitar work on this track is also to be noted with the looseness of Neil Young. Wrapping the release is Mark Barkan's Pretty Flamingo, a hit by Manfred Mann and covered by Gene Pitney and the Everly Brothers. This track has a very strong melody and a certain solid closer for a unique release.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Steady Rollin' Records artist: Bob Margolin - My Road - New Release Review

I just received the newest release (1/8/16), My Road, from Bob Margolin and it's quite interesting. Opening with My Own Life, a rough and tumble blues romp with the feel of Elvin Bishop, Bob leads on guitar and vocal with Tad Walters on harp and Chuck Cotton on drums. Ballad More and More features clean, country style picking by Margolin and nice ringing chords. I Shall Prevail has a Willie Dixon feel with powerful vocals and guitar accents by Margolin and drums by Cotton. Goodnight has the simple beauty of a primitive delta blues but with Margolin's mellow vocals. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Understanding Heart, has a Latin punch by Cotton and cool slide effects by Margolin. Very cool! Sean Costello's Low Life Blues has a solid Chicago sound with Tad adding nicely on harp. Margolin's guitar work on this track stands out nicely making this another track that really cooks. Nappy Brown's Bye Bye Baby opens with cool vocal harmonies by Margolin, Cotton and Walters. With a 50's style vocal interplay and Tad's harp work, this track has it's own sound. Rockin' blues track, Young And Old Blues has a great beat and my favorite vocal lead on the release. Margolin lays in a nice Boogie woogie guitar rhythm and tight guitar dressing giving this track top notch rating. Cowboy style ballad, Ask Me No Questions, has a really nice feel in 3/4 time with little more than a vocal harmony, harp and light guitar work. Very nice! Tex Rubinowitz penned, Feelin' Right Tonight, has a real cool rock blues feel and Walters blows hot harp riffs. Margolin trades out some really stylized guitar riffs getting the track down tight. Very cool! Devil's Daughter has a swampy feel with slide guitar and solid bass by Margolin. Another of my picks from this release features Margolin hitting some really sweet guitar riffs making the track the releases most memorable. Wrapping the release is stripped down, Terry Abrahamson penned Heaven Mississippi. With it's straight ahead delta rhythm and simple guitar riffs, this is a fine closer for Margolin's latest release.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Document Records release - Blues, Blues Christmas Volume 4 1925 ~1962 - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Blues, Blues Christmas Volume 4 1925~1962 from Document Records and it covers a lot of area. Opening disc one is Charles Brown's R&B classic, Please Come Home For Christmas. Roy Milton And His Solid Senders put up a bluesy, Christmas Time Blues and The Drifters a swinging R&B cover of White Christmas. One of my favorites is Arthur Guitar Boogie Smith's Sensational Trio on Guitar Jingle Bells. Classic blues from Peetie Wheatstraw is as solid as it gets on Santa Claus Blues. Clarence Williams' Blue Five covers the same track but in 40's swing/big band style. Bob Wills does an easy country swing, Santa Is On His Way. With a Latin twist big band Sam Manning with the Melodettes dances into Looking For Me Santa Claus. The Qualities do an unusual arrangement of It's Christmas Time and Freddie King lays down some hot riffs on I Hear Jingle Bells. Champion Jack DuPree is hot on the keys and great vocal delivery on Santa Claus Blues, another of my favorites. The Cadillacs have a rocking arrangement on Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer with a hot sax solo and the Marquees do a 50's trip, Santa Done Got Hip. Bobby and Boobie do a quick rocker, Cool Cool Xmas with a swinging guitar solo and Chuck Blevins does straight up rock n roller Sleighbell Rock. The Enchanters have a definite island feel with Mambo Santa Mambo and Bill Lacey with Lil Armstrong and her Ebony-Aires do Cowboy Santa Claus with an authentic cowboy feel. The Mighty Spoiler does Father Christmas, another track with an island feel. Jackson Trio with the Ebonaires are as simple 50's as it gets with solid male vocals and piano driver and the first disc closes with Billy Ward and His Dominoes and a heartfelt R&B Christmas in Heaven. Little T-Bone opens disc 2 with a hot guitar solo T-Bone Walker style on Christmas Time. His vocals are hot and the overall pace superb making this another of my favorites on the release. Nathaniel Mayer does a twisting Mr Santa Claus and Marvin & Johnny harmonize on R&B track, It's Christmas. Prairie Ramblers really set up terrific harmonies, cowboy style on Cowboy Santa Claus and Kathy and Jimmy Zee put up an early 60's style rockin Santa Clause Rock And Roll. Nap Hepburn & March of Dimes set a terrific island feel on Tell Santa Claus backed by a full orchestra and Johnny Moore's Blazers with Frankie Ervin do a real nice Christmas Eve Baby in solid electric blues style. Dixon Brothers use rural country vocal harmonies and simple acoustic backing on A Mother, A Father, A Baby and Gribble, Lusk York do a real folk jig with banjo and fiddle on Christmas Eve. The Dixon Brothers are back with another nice rural country vocal, Answer To Maple On The Hill - Part 4. The Golden Gate Quartet present a traditional arrangement of Silent Night acapella, certainly one of the more rich and somber tracks on the release. The Victory Five do a terrific acapella spiritual Children Go Where I Send Thee followed by the Middle Georgia Four on Twenty-Fifth Day Of December. Very rich! The Ward Singers are all out spiritual with piano on Sweet Little Angel Boy followed by Angelic Gospel Singers on A Child Is Born in uplifting style. The Ward Singers return with Glory Glory To The King continuing for one last spiritual followed by R&B The Falcons and Orchestra on Can This Be Christmas. This track drips 50's with a wealth of backing vocals followed by a calypso Lord Executor with Gerald Clark and His Caribbean Serenaders on Christmas Is A Joyful Day, a really cool track. The Qualities return one last time on Happy New Year To You, a simple track with paired male and female vocals and wrapping the release is R&B track After New Years Eve by The Heartbeats. This is an interesting mix of holiday tracks with a splash of music from many decades. Check it out!

Monday, November 30, 2015

Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin - Stormy Water - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Stormy Water, from Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin and it's a great stripped down blues rocker. Opening with Dance Pretty Mama, Kinsley on lead guitar and vocal, joined by Rod Williams on harp gets this train rockin. Leigh-Anne Stanton on bass and vocals and Liam Melville on drums and vocals show that this band knows how to boogie. Kinsley rips loose with a raw guitar solo capping a super opener. By My Side is another solid rocker with a new wave touch but never falling far from it's blues roots with blues based guitar riffs, blues harp and a blues bottom. Shine opens with a cool tom tom rhythm and almost John Doe like vocals. Kinsley definitely experiments with his guitar and Williams as well on harp with Melville nailing them to the ground solid. Very cool! Sleepy John Estes', Everybody Oughta Make A Change gets a great rock beat with a taste of surf and a taste of the Eagles of Death Metal. I really like this track. Excellent! Evil Coming Round has a solid blues base with a modern flare and a solid rock feel (think Steppenwolf). Williams really blows it out on this track over a steady bottom and Kinsley rips it wide open. Another excellent track! I'm Mad has it's feet solidly in the blues with it's shuffle feel. Kinsley's vocals are heavy and his guitar work a lot in the early British blues masters style. Very cool! Fast paced rocker, Fast Fast Car has a Chuck Berry style and a great beat. Alain McCann adds a great piano ride on this track that really punches the sound. Very cool! Opening with slide riffs, Death If You Find Me has a solid blues rock feel. Williams sets up some really nice harp riffs on this one and Stanton's bass work drives it hard. Boogie woogie track, Talk Is Cheap, has a great feel with super vocals. Williams harp work nicely accents the melody and his solo work is strong. Kinsley also lays down some slick guitar riffs of his own giving the track that 70's blues rock punch. I like it! You're Gone has a cool offsetting melody. With an unusual guitar rhythm and sonic harp and guitar work and cool organ lines this track has a totally different feel that adds to the texture of the set. Wrapping the release is a full out jam, Let Me Love You, with Williams on harp and Kinsley on vocal and slide. A full out driving rocker, this is a super closer to a super set!

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Canadian blues artist Jordan Patterson releases first single from The Back On Track Recording Project

Canadian blues artist Jordan Patterson releases first single from The Back On Track Recording Project

"She's Cool" is available on Radio Submit, Radiodirectx, DMDS and iTunes

Full album set for release on February 12, 2016

“Blessed with a voice that many performers would die for, Patterson has the wit and personality that guarantee him success. This man is a class performer and a major star in the making.” - Blueprint Magazine

After spending nearly the last decade and a half forging a highly successful career in artist tour management and concert & event promotion, popular Canadian blues vocalist/harp player Jordan Patterson has returned to his first love and passion; playing and singing the blues. The success of Patterson’s 2014 four song EP release The Back On Track Recording Project has thrust this contemporary blues artist back in the spotlight, reigniting a successful and exciting career and marking the triumphant return of one of Canada’s most beloved blues artists.

Patterson has performed at notable music festivals at home and abroad including the Tampa Bay Blues Festival, Trois Rivieres Blues Festival, Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, the UK’s Burnley National Blues Festival, the London Blues Festival, Helsinki, Finland’s April Jazz Festival and many more. Patterson has also performed at venues throughout North America and Europe with some of the music industry’s true legends, including James Brown, Barbara Morrison, Carlos Santana, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Mick Fleetwood, Robert Cray, Son Seals, Savoy Brown and Texas bluesman, U.P. Wilson, with whom he recorded the album Whirlwind. In 1996, Patterson released his debut album Give Me a Chance with The D.C. Hurricane. The solid offering featured guest performances from blues legends Bobby Rush and Bobby Parker which led to the opportunity to record sessions for the BBC Musical Archives, which were broadcast all throughout the European continents; amassing him many more fans in the process.

The 2014 release of the The Back On Track Recording Project EP instantly raised Patterson’s profile within the Canadian and international blues community with extensive airplay on Canadian radio and in the USA, including rotation on Sirius XM radio and the track “Don’t Take Me Down” was featured on Elwood’s BluesMobile and selected as one of Elwood’s Blues Breakers. The EP was featured in notable publications such as Blues Matters!, Living Blues, PopMatters, New Canadian Music and more.

Now, Patterson is set to release the full-length Back On Track Recording Project with The Jordan Patterson Band, featuring drummer Benjamin Rollo, bass player Mark McIntyre, guitarist Darryl Romphf, Washington DC-based, guitarist Bobby Thompson alongside Patterson on vocals and harmonica. Renowned vocalist Skyler Jordan (aka Barbara Wilson) makes a guest appearance on two tracks,“You’re My Girl” and “Can We Fall In Love Again”. This tight, heavy line-up of stellar musicians add depth and groove to perfectly compliment Patterson’s smoky vocals. The album consists of 10 original songs all written by Patterson, showcasing his many musical influences including funk, rock, blues and soul. The CD is produced by the band’s guitarist Darryl Romphf. With six new tracks (Favourite Boy, Can We Fall In Love Again, She’s Cool, You’re My Girl, Living Without Your Love and Do You Believe) as well as remixed and mastered versions of the original four tracks from the EP (Play My Song, If You’d Help Me Please, Heartbreaker and Don’t Take Me Down), Patterson’s exceptional harmonica playing, sophisticated song writing and refreshing blend of rock n’ roll and blues are all highlighted throughout this highly anticipated release.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Finedog Records artist: Mighty Mike Schermer - Blues In Good Hands - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Blues In Good Hands, by Mighty Mike Schermer and I really like it! Opening with R&B track, Baby Don't Stop featuring Mighty Mike on lead vocal and guitar, Paul Revelli on drums, Steve Ehrmann on bass, Tony Stead or organ, Austin Delone on piano, Terry Hanck on sax, and backing vocals by Shelley King and Carolyn Wonderland. Hanck steps up with a clean solo and Mighty Mike throws down a nice riff or so himself but I gotta mention that I really like Delone's piano work on this track. Great radio track with a cool melody and a good hook. With a funky beat, Heaven's On The Other Side struts in and Ehrmann's bass really sets the pace. Mike rips really tasty blues guitar lines over a warm organ line by Stead. With a laid back Philly kind of sound, It's A Pleasure, really hits a solid. It's catchy melody, even pace and warm overall feel, with Delone on electric piano and nice jazz style guitar work from Schermer makes this a radio success story. Reggae track, One Tear At A Time, has a really nice Jimmy Cliff kind of feel with Keith McArthur on bass and spot on guitar riffs from Schermer and perfect vocal blending between Schermer and Randle. Very nice! Pop jazz track, World Gone Crazy has a nice Steeley Dan feel with some of Schermer's best vocals on the release. Nancy Wright hits the sax on this number adding warmth and texture and Schermer's own guitar riffs at the bottom of the fret board are really nice! The writing on this release is really quite good with traces to many of the great song writers of the 70's to now. Blues In Good Hands has a real Becker/Fagen compositional style (Any Major Dude Will Tell You) but based around a different style. It is quite interesting and successful with Hanck on sax and King and Wonderland adding smooth backing vocals. Shuffle track, Wait-On-Me Woman, is more Dylanesque with a definite blues feel. Greg Izor's contributions on harp and Damien Llanes on drums give it it's looser style. Nice! New Orleans style Most People has just a twist of Chuck Berry (Almost Grown) and Schermer's vocals paired with Delone's piano deliver the goods. A plucky guitar solo from Schermer and breaks the basic 2 step pace but compliments the track nicely. Boogie Woogie track, Barkin' Up The Wrong Tree, features Marcia Ball, the perfect piano player for this track. With it's country blues feel and casual vocal delivery, Elvin Bishop would be proud. Schermer takes and excellent guitar solo followed by Ball. One of my favorites on the release. Latin style, Take Me By The Hand, lets Llanes loose on drums, complimented by Izor on harp. Schermer has a rockin good time on vocal and guitar and Johnny Bradley's bass line is perfect. Tommy Castro joins on Stop Cryin' the hottest blues track on the release. With only simple bass and drums complimenting the vocal, Castro (on left) and Schermer really tear this one up. Excellent!! R&B track Baby Be Kind, is another track that really lends itself to cross radio play. John Nemeth trades harp riffs with Schermer on guitar giving the track nice balance. Wrapping the release is Hear You Calling Him Baby, has a strong dose of New Orleans and a spunky guitar solo from Schermer over the stylized piano work of Stead. Excellent closer! I definitely recommend that you check this one out!