Bman's Blues Report

Houston, Texas-Based Glenna Bell Presents Lone Star: Songs and Stories Straight from the Heart of Texas on April 15 HOUSTON, TX – Singer-songwriter Glenna Bell announces an April 15 release date for her new CD, Lone Star: Songs and Stories Straight from the Heart of Texas , the provocative new album of songs from the native Texan. Produced by Mark Abernathy and  recorded at Sugar Hill Studios in Houston, The Finishing School in Austin and Sea Fog Studio in England, Lone Star offers an authentic array of songs ranging in mood and tempo from a cover of the chart-topping ballad, “Everybody’s Changing,” by the UK band Keane, which showcases its writer Tim Rice-Oxley on piano and harmonium, to Glenna’s all-original “Pig in Lipstick Blues,” featuring veteran Austin players Johnny Nicholas (Asleep at the Wheel) on boogie-woogie piano/guitar and George Reiff (Joe Walsh) and Rick Richards ( Ray Wylie Hubbard ) on bass and drums.  Themes run the gamut from story-so...

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I just received the newest release, Blizzard of Blues , from Tommy Z and it's got style. Opening with Lovergirl has a nice Chicago feel featuring Tommy Z on guitar and vocal, Damone Jackson on drums and Stanley Swampski on bass and featuring Jeremy Keyes on harp. Nice opener. Rocker, Going To A Party , has the sting of a SRV number with a driving beat, monster bass lines an hot riffs by Z on guitar showing why his releases continuously get rave reviews. Memory Of Love stands out immediately with great guitar tone and added organ work by Kein Urso. I particularly like this track with strong lead vocals, warm backing vocals, floating organ and really rugged lead guitar work. Very cool! Blues for KP is a solid slow blues number with meaty creative guitar riffs planted throughout. I really like this track with over 8 minutes of warm runs, jazz chords, fluid blues phrases and plenty of trem bends. Excellent! Shuffle track, Bags of Cool is a smart track with a great walking bass l...

I just received the newest release, Live at IOTA , from Bobby Thompson and it's quite good! Opening with Good Things That We Have , a solid R&B style track with nicely blended vocals, a full bass line from Seth Morrissey and a super keyboard curtain from Wes Lanich, this is a really nice opener. Bobby Thompson, who isn't shy as a guitar player rips a pretty dynamic solo to back up his vocal work with Morrissey and Jeff Mills keeps the bottom tight. Nobody's Fool is a straight up pop rocker with a smooth melody and a minimal instrumental ornamentation. Again really has radio track written all over it with a super melodic hook making it a track that I would expect to get multi genre play time. Down To Here is one of my favorites on the release with complex vocal harmonies and a heavier bottom. Playing stinging blues based guitar riffs, Thompson has a really strong voice actually reminding me quite a bit of Jack Bruce. Thompson lets the dog off the leash on this tra...

I just received the newest release, Ruff 'n' Roar from the Mick Clarke Band (Live at Scratchers) and it's hot! From the opening riff on the opening track, Elmore James' Happy Home , this release rips. Mick Clarke (guitar and vocal), joined by Chris Sharley (drums) and Eddie Masters (bass) really know how to crank it up. This band has the energy of early Savoy Brown or ZZ Top. What that means is endless boogie with flaming hot slide riffs! On Good Morning Blues , Clarke has his amp tuned in just right for that fat saturation and his riffs are thick. Masters keeps the blues vamp going an Sharley sets a tight bottom for a great romp. On Memphis Slim's Rockin' the Blues , MCB gets that Hooker electric boogie really cranking. This track was "made for" Stilladog. Showing his relentless slide attack, Clarke tears it up! Slowing it down just a little on 9 minute plus, Love Me Or Leave Me , gives the band a breather and solos, including a nice one from Mas...

I just received the newest release, The Prodigal Returns , by Keith Stone and it's a healthy slice of New Orleans. Opening with Prelude (Just A Closer Walk With The) featuring the incomparable Dr John on piano, Tim Stambaugh on sax, Kevin Clark on trumpet, David Phy on Trombone and Cale Pellick on alto sax. This is the unmistakable sound of New Orleans. Better Things To Do is a funk infused rocker with hi steppin horns and tweaking guitars.Featuring Stone on vocal and guitar, David Hyde on bass, Nelson Blanchard on drums and organ, Lacy Blackledge on trumpet and Mike Broussard on sax. First Love digs down for a smooth blues number and Stone rips some really gripping riffs on this one. With Blackledge and Broussard on horns, Hyde's guiding bass riffs and Blanchard's drum and key contributions, this one's hot! Cindi Leigh has a cool bass rhythm and flavorful accordion work from Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes. With some of the best vocals on the release this track...