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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!


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Thursday, December 28, 2017

Blue Barrel Records artist: The Love Light Orchestra Featuring John Nemeth - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Love Light Orchestra featuring John Nemeth and it's a super R&B show. Opening with See Why I Love You super vocalist John Nemeth leads this super group of Marc Franklin on trumpet, Scott Thompson on trumpet, Jason Yasinsky on trumpet, Art Edmalston on tenor sax, Kirk Smothers on bari sax, Jon Restino on guitar, Gerald Stephens on piano, Tim Goodwin on bass and Earl Lowe on drums. Edmalston cranks out a real nice solo on this one punched up by the tight trumpet work making it a terrific opener. Blues shuffle, Bad Breaks has terrific swagger with excellent guitar lead by Restivo and a nice tenor solo by Edmalston. Excellent! Nemeth's vocals are really nice on every track but none better than bluesy ballad, I've Been Wrong So Long, really enriched by warm sax work and punchy trumpet. Very nice.  Another shuffle, Sometimes plays Nemeth's vocals in call and response with Restino's slick guitar riffs. Stephens gets a real nice opportunity to lay out the keys and Edmalston gets the chance to throw down a squealer of his own. Very cool. Lonesome and High has great guitar lead with Nemeth's vocals riding high. The horn section here lacks nothing with depth and warmth. A cool track and one of the best on the release. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Singing For My Supper, with great incredible style. The horn section really pops on this one and Restino's soloing is emotional and fluid.  Wrapping the release is Al Green's Love and Happiness, a great closer. This band has great style and all the talent you could ask for. The people who were lucky enough to see this show live at Bar DKDC in Memphis were damn lucky.

Super job!



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Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Davide Pannozzo - Unconditionallove - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Unconditionallove, from Davide Pannozzo, and it's realy cool. Opening with Six Wires, guitarist & lead guitar player, Davide Pannozzo sets the pace with a strutting funky track with a solid bass line from Will Lee and his own melodic lead. Joined by Steve Jordan and Shawn Pelton on drums and Olli Rockberger and Ricky Peterson on Hammond and keys,  this is a super start. Rocker, One & Only has a definite radio hook, cool melody and tight beat. Chasing Illusions has a real nice modern take on the delta blues with contemporary lines. I particularly like Pannozzo's vocal pairing with Lee's bass lines. George Harrison's Wah Wah is a nice surprise with a more key laden refrain than Harrison's own but with a cool Pannozzo styled guitar lead. Very nice. The Purest Thing is a warm melodic jazz guitar melody. Extremely clean. Billy Cobham's Stratus is always one of my favorites and this one, driven by the intense bass lines of lee is no exception. Pannozzo's guitar lead is warm and fluid and the drum work is clean and tight. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Lord Knows What's In My Heart, a soothing guitar lead melody with pure tones. Shimmery keys, a deep bass bottom and sure lead work by Pannozzo makes this a strong closer for a really nice release.



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Friday, December 22, 2017

VizzTone Label Group artist: Casey Hensley - Live - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, live, from Casey Hensley and it's smokin'. Opening with Big Mama Thornton's, Big Mama's Coming Home, Hensley grinds right into it with gritty vocals and a big presence. Backed by Evan Caleb Yearsley on drums, Johnny Viau on sax and Marcos C on bass this band is first class. I really want to point out that this release features Laura Chavez and I mean it features her. Chavez has always carries a big hammer but this first track has made me a big fan. Chavez really tears it up, reminding me of the style of one of my favorite contemporary players, Rockin' Johnny Burgin and that is a huge endorsement. On original track, Put Your Lovin' Where It Belongs, Hensley digs in her heals vocally with a lot of heft.  Again, Chavez is hot on her heels hot, tasty riffs. A slow grinder with teeth. Classic, You Can Have My Husband, has a cool shuffle feel and again, right with Hansley's front work is Chavez smoking the strings... think Funderburgh. Viau sits in with a fat solo of his own giving the track a wailing kick in the back.  Screamin' Jay Hawkins' I Put A Spell On You is always a welcome favorite and Hensley shares the spotlight with Viau with a cool sax solo. Made famous by Elvis, Hard Headed Woman is a real rocker with a hot solo by Viau and super rockabilly riffs by Chavez. Excellent! Willie Dixon's I Just Want To Make Love To You has a real nice swing to it with some of the best vocals on the track and a free wheelin' guitar solo by Chavez. Very cool. Excellent jump original, Hot! Hot! Hot! really gets you shit moving with a tight bottom by Yearsley and Marcos but it's Hensley's enthusiasm and flaming guitar riffs that makes this track cool! Excellent! Koko Taylor's Voodoo Woman has a real nice funk to it again showcasing Chavez's cookin' style. This track has a great groove and I gotta say I'm glad I'm giving you something this hot before the holiday! Wow! Johnny Guitar Watson's Too Tired has a real nice groove and again Chavez steps up with incredible style. Hensley pounds it out with pro quality and teamed with Viau on sax and with Chavez...oh yeah! Wrapping the release is another Big Mama track, Ball and Chain. Now I gotta tell you, it's hard to beat Big Mama's original and equally hard to compare with Janis' version of this track, but this is a great closer. Clocking over 9 minutes, Hensley gives it her all and Chavez through an extended solo her incredible patience to build intensity slowly until ultimate eruption...I mean goose bumps. Excellent closer for a super release.



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Thursday, December 21, 2017

Dirk Digglers Blues Review - Cuba Neils - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cuba Neils, from Dirk Digglers Blues Review and it's a real kicker. Opening with Nuthin' Too Untoward, a super rocker with attitude, Darroll Wheatley has the lead on vocal and bass, backed by Mark Sweetmore on guitar, Paul Reece on keys and Aaron Gent on drums. Stinging rock riffs, usually associated with the southeastern US really give this track a hot edge. Keep Yo' Momma Down the Line has a nasty blues feel with a raw punky edge and slide guitar. I like it! Shuffle track, If You Don't Wanna Dance, maintains that edge with sounds not unlike Carl Perkins ...wound tight. Black Cat Blues settles down into a pure blues slot with Sweetmore's slide following Wheatley's vocal lead. Breaking down with a bit of funk (and some funky sax by Chris Dyer) It Ain't Fair has a real nice groove. Think "Use Me" with attitude. Very cool.  With a smokey, jazzy atmosphere, Steamroller Blues mixes blues, boogie and jazz into a laid back track with a laid back feel. Ain't No Woman follows traditional blues lines with a Latin feel and breaking into a full out shuffle but with a nice rock twist. Sweetmore, Wheatley and Reece balance nicely on Gent's rhythm and Dyers sax accents. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Go Tell Johanna, a fully blown ballad with solid vocals and melodic guitar lead. A real nice conclusion to a solid release. This may be a sleeper that you need to check out.



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Wednesday, December 20, 2017

VizzTone/Juicy Juju artist: Erin Harpe and the Delta Swingers - Big Road - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Big Road, from Erin Harpe and the Delta Swingers and it's really enjoyable. Opening with Mississsippi Fred McDowell's Kokomo, Erin Harpe takes on traditional blues with a slashing slide and solid vocals. With Jim Countryman on bass, Matt Prozialeck on harp and Kendall Divoll on drums, this is great stuff! With classic Mississippi John Hurt style, Frankie gives Harpe the opportunity to demonstrate her solid story telling blues style and finger picking acuity. Response on harp by Prozialeck adds polish to this modern interpretation of a classic track. Slim Harpo's Shake Your Hips has a more modern "Stones" feel. Harpe lets it loose on guitar and Divoll really hammers, reinforced by Countryman and pumped up by Prozialeck really delivering the goods on this super boogie. Original track, Stop & Listen is a real driver in classic blues style. Prozialeck sails on harp and Harpe's slippery slide work gives this track great support to her own super vocals. Randy Newman's bluesy ballad, Guilty, is food for Harpe's transition to the conclusion of this release with clean acoustic guitar accompaniment and solid vocals. Very nice. Wrapping the release kicks it all with funky, Gimme That (Somethin' Special) with a heavy bass groove, and modern vocals. This is a cool jam with all of the blues attributes but including harp. Great closer.



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Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Lightnin' Records artist: Peter Parcek - Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven, by Peter Parcek and it's quite good. Opening with Peter Green's, World Keep On Turning, Parcek presents a dark, drum heavy track with flashy guitar. Solid blues rocker. On Blind Lemon Jefferson's, See That My Grave Is Kept Clean, Parcek's guitar chords are shimmery and haunting, his vocal interpretation is excellent and his solo guitar work is eerie. I've heard this track done numerous times by modern players but none as well as this. Very nice. Instrumental, Pat Hare has a country blues flair with modified chicken pickin' and cool harp work from Mickey Raphael. Ashes To Ashes is a really nice contemporary number with strong, ancient bone from Lil' Son Jones with slashing slide work and cool harp work from Raphael. Shiver has a cool mid century surf rock beat lead by Parcek's guitar and reinforced by Marco Giovino on drums. Andy Sanfospago lays in some real tasty lap steel guitar riffs paired with Parcek's own lead work creating a real cool track. Don Nix's Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven is a great track with solid blues treatment. A great 12 bar sound with reverb, slide, pedal steel leading up to an excellent blues guitar solo and great vocals make this one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is Jennie Mae Clayton's shuffle track, Aunt Caroline Dyer Blues. Playing it in a traditional manner with Deanie Richardson and Jeremy Van Cleave on violin, Russ Pahl on mouth harp and Dennis Crouch on standup bass this track has a real rural feel. A solid closer for a strong release.



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Monday, December 18, 2017

Andrea Marr - Natural - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Natural, from Andrea Marr and it conjures up images of old time soul and R&B. Opening with driving number, Force Of Nature one can't help thinking of Otis Redding and his aggressive vocal styling. backed by Dave Reynolds on guitar, Rob Little on bass, Roby Corelli on drums, Cameron Fallaw on keys, and with powerful horn work of Sean Rankin on trumpet, Jeff Mead and Stuart Byrne on tenor sax, and Byrne on bari sax, this track is moving. Aretha Franklin's Rock Steady has great movement with a heavy bass line by Little and punchy horn lines. Blues ballad, That's Where Love Ends, is a super showcase for Marr's vocal lead as well as a nice sax solo by Andy O'Connell. Let's Take It To The Bedroom is a rumbling blues number and features a nice guitar solo by Reynolds. What Do I Have To Do had a super James Brown strut with cool bass work by Little and tight drums work by Corelli and trumpet by Rankin. Closing the release is Sticks and Stones, a dark jazzy ballad with a deep bass line by Steve Temple and a slick guitar solo by Reynolds. 

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Friday, December 15, 2017

Mike 'Mudfoot' McDonald - Play This - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Play This, from Mike 'Mudfoot' McDonald and it has a good feel. Opening with Tired Of The Same Old Rut, an island flavored rocker, McDonald leads on guitar and vocals with Edwin Romikat on drums, Cory Turnbull on bass, Pat Rush and Russell Williams on guitar,and Mick Evans on percussion. On Screamin' Jay Hawkins' I Put A Spell On You, McDonald's vocals seem tailored for the track. Guitar soloing on this track is particularly cool with the addition of Mike Branton on guitar. Whistle Blowin' has a real nice feel featuring real nice guitar work both behind and upfront by McDonald and a nice piano solo by John Lee. On Valerie, McDonald and Pat Rush play a real nice guitar duet melody reminiscent of the Allman Brothers and Chuck Leavell with solid bass work by Al Richardson and tight drumming by Randy Coryell. Light and jazzy...very nice. Slide is a cool shuffle featuring McDonald playing a real nice slide guitar melody over a solid bottom and Lee's bright piano solo. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a reprise of Tired Of The Same Old Rut with plucky bass lines, reggae guitar rhythms and full rock guitar riffs under paired vocals.



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Thursday, December 14, 2017

Gandy Dancer Records artist: Peter Ward - Blues On My Shoulders - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues On My Shoulders, from Peter Ward and it's quite good. Opening with solid shuffle, She Took It All, Peter Ward on guitar and lead vocal sets a great pace with Mudcat Ward on bass, Neil Gouvin on drums and Sugar Ray Norcia on harp. Excellent opener. Surf rocker, Which Hazel, is a solid rocker along the lines of Chuck Berry with a strong surf twist. Clever lyrics and guitar riffs by Ward give this track a lot of gas. On title track, Blues On My Shoulders, Anthony Geraci adds nice piano and I particularly love the guitar work by Monster Mike Welch. Collaborate is all about lush chords and sassy sax and Ward's guitar work with Sax Gordon Beadle's sax work is just that. Excellent! Shuffle track, It's On Me is another outstanding entry on the release with a hot sax solo from Beadle and hot fingering from Ronnie Earl and Ward. Very nice. Southpaw is a hot number with a smoking B3 solo from Rusty Scott, solid bass work from George Dellomo, and hot guitar riffs by Ward.  One of my personal favorites on the release is jump track, Kansas City Blues featuring great vocals, a strong bass line by Joe Delia and really nice soloing by Ward. Wrapping the release is Drummin' Willie, about Willie Big Eyes Smith with Neil Gouvin on druma, Mudcat on bass and Sugar Ray Norcia on harp. This is a strong release with a lot of cool surprises. Check it out. 

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Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Al Corte' - Mojo - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mojo, from Al Corte' and it's a cool soul & R&B release. Opening with title track, Mojo, lead singer Al Corte' sets the stage for this cool track with a solid melody and nice vocals. Featuring Leroy Hodges on bass, Rev. Charles Hodges Sr. on B3 and Steve Potts on drums, this track hums with a strong guitar solo by Michael Toles and backing vocals by Candice Rayburn, Sharisse Norman and Stefanie Bolton. Also contributing throughout the release are Jim Spake on tenor sax, Kirk Smothers on bari sax, Lannie McMillan Jr. on tenor sax, Marc Franklin on trumpet and flugelhorn. I'll Never Lose My Love For The Blues features a cool slide riffs by Brad Webb and a strong bottom end. Very cool. John Nemeth's harp contributions to Juke Joint Jive add a crisp edge to this soulful stepper and I particularly like the Hammond work by Hodges and the soulful work by Smothers on the bottom. Soul tune, Blessed To Have Your Near has a super gospel edge nicely complimented by Hodges Sr. on piano and the strong overall vocals. It's A Good Day has a really cool groove with moving percussion by Corte' and perfect accents by Franklin, Hodges, Rayburn, Norman and Bolton. Very nice. Wrapping the release is soul ballad, You Hurt Me So Good showcasing Corte' at his best, with warm backing vocal harmonies, Ron Miller.s piano, Hodges Sr's B3 and McMillan Jr.s tenor sax. Excellent closer.



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Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Goonzy Magoo Records artist: Jim Vegas - Soul Shattered Sister - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soul Shattered Sister, from Jim Vegas and it's an interesting mix of rock, pop and soul. Opening with title track, Soul Shattered Sister, Jim Vegas leads on vocal and guitar backed by Sam Young on bass, Luke Young on sax and Philip Holmes on drums. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Till The Whole Thing Blows, an easy paced ballad with a nice melody, warm sax tones and comforting guitar riffs. Not That Strong is a solid boogie with a driving pace and sax overtones. Love Is Coming Back Around has a polished Steely Dan feel with it's tight, solid rhythm, Fagan like vocals and jazzy sax approach. Very nice.  Another lead track on the release is Lightning Hit The Box with warm sax, polished guitar riffs and soulful singing. Very nice. Closing track, Sun Is Gonna Smile, has a smooth sway and nice melody. This is an interesting release with plenty of easy paced melodies. 

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Monday, December 11, 2017

Andre' Bisson - Break - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Break, from Andre' Bisson and it's a solid set of bluesy tracks. Opening with title track, Break, lead guitarist and vocalist, Andre' Bisson belts out a cool R&B melody, backed by Gordon Aeichele on alto and tenor sax, Bil Holinaty on bari and tenor sax, Loretta Hale on trumpet, Mike Rowell on bass, Sean Bruce Parker on drums and Jesse O'Brien on piano, B3 and Wurlitzer. With a lot of that early 70's style, Bisson throws his riffs out like a true pro. Funky, I Got The Right, has a great horn backing and especially nice bari sax leading into a fluid guitar solo by Bisson. I also really like O'Brien's piano work giving the track real sparkle. Ballad, The Reason Why, is particularity strong with and solid melody, warm vocals and nice backing horn work. Hi Stepping, Next In Line is power packed with some of the best vocals on the release, backed up with punchy horns and rocking guitar riffs. Latin flavored, Your Attention (I Don't Need) has a really nice feel with snappy rim shots, wurlizter piano soloing and powerful vocals. Slower blues number, Reflections, has a really nice feel and opens nicely for Bisson to solo on guitar, Backing keys by O'Brien add nice tension and horn work adds dynamics. Very nice. Another funky number, The Last Sandwich in Hungry Town, has a cool bass groove, courtesy of Rowell, with O'Brien, Aeichele, Holinaty and Hale setting up for Bisson's light, jazzy solo. Eleanor Rigby has a clever light jazz approach with a real nice trombone solo by Rob Sommerville. Wrapping the release is simple, rural flavored ballad, Nothing At All (Live) with very nice harmonized vocals, and cello by Hale. A nice closer for a cool release.



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Friday, December 8, 2017

Casey James: Strip It Down - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Strip It Down, by Casey James and it's quite good. Opening with blues rocker, All I Need, Tommy MacDonald sets a Ray Manzarek style bass groove and Casey James on lead vocal and guitar takes the bait. His vocals are gritty and his guitar tone is warm and rich. Backed by Kevin McKendree on Wurlitzer, Tom Hambridge on drums and Ron McNelley on rhythm guitars, this is a band made in heaven. Two stepper, Bulletproof, has a great feel and Delbert McClinton joins on vocal giving it great style and screaming harp work gives it great edge. Hurt Me More has a real nice Texas lope where McKendree's dancing key work nicely compliments James' vocals and guitar riffs. Very nice. Pat Buchanan's harp work sets the tone for Latin flavored blues number, I Got To Go with a great sound. Hambridge's tight rhythm patterns drive this track, McKendree's B3 solo adds color and James guitar soloing and vocals are top notch. Little Willie John's, Need Your Love So Bad, is one of my definite favorites on the release showcasing James' vocal style and providing just that right forum for an expressive guitar solo. Excellent! With a taste of R&B, James steps forward on strong radio track, Different Kind Of Love with a solid melody, joined by Wendy Molten on backing vocals and potent horn work by the Muscle Shoals Horns. Very nice. McKendree opens Makin' Up, a potent rocker, with a rolling piano riff and they're off to the races. A definite foot stomper, and excellent piano/guitar exchange make this another of the favorite tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is Fight You For The Blues, a raw blues number with James on lead guitar and McNelley on slide giving the track real grit. McDonald's bass lines and McKendree's B3 work add to the tension and Hambridge's perfect accent drumming really kick it. Super closer.



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Thursday, December 7, 2017

The McKee Brothers - Moon Over Montgomery - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Moon Over Montgomery, by The McKee Brothers and it's flavorful. Opening with Pig Feet, a jazzy track with cool backing vocals, Jeff Robinson on lead vocals, backed by Denis McKee on guitar, Hammond and vocal, Bobby West on keys, Ralph McKee on lap steel, Bobby Watson on bass and particularly Jerome Edmonson on classic drums. Andy Wilson adds a really nice chromatic harp, Bob Schultz on bari sax and Andy Georges  on acoustic guitar are complimented by Maxayn Lewis, Melissa McKee, Dennis Lockett on vocals. Funky, I Feel Like Dynamite, has a cool James Brown feel with tastes of the Temptations, Tower of Power and Dave Mason. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release, You Know How I Lie, has some of the best vocals, both lead and lush backing on the release, smart lead guitar runs by Laith Al-Saadi, trumpet and trombone by Lee Thornburg and tenor and bari sax by Doug Webb. Very nice. With an orchestral quality, Kicks, has a boogie beat and Denis McKee lays down some real nice guitar riffs, punctuated by Thornburg and Webb. Gotta check out Webb's tenor solo on this one...very nice. bayou Man has a real nice groove, nicely blended vocals and slick slide work by Stan Budzynski. Smooth but funky jazzer, Go 2 Work! has a great bass lines by Bobby Watson and in addition to the rich vocal leads by Robinson, Reggie Gonzales, Maxayn Lewis and Melissa McKee features really nice beautiful soprano sax lines by Webb. R&B track, Runaway Love has a classic hit lines with a great melody, nicely matched vocals and instrumentation. Latin flavored, Late at Night has warm vocal work and exceptional rhythm with punchy trumpet by Thornburg and great lead vocal and guitar by Larry McCray. Funky blues number, Blues of the Month Club, features Denis on lead vocal and guitar. Tight horn work by Thornburg and Webb and precision drum strokes by Edmondson nicely frame funky blues guitar riffs by Denis. Wrapping the release is Kenny Loggins' Celebrate Me Home featuring Melissa McKee on lead vocal. A culmination of the bands efforts on the release with Webb's solo, a solid closer. 

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Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Lost Bayou Records artists: Lost Bayou Ramblers - Kalenda - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kalenda, from the Lost Bayou Ramblers and it's a earthy taste of Lousiana. Opening with Sabine Turnaround, Andre Michot on accordion and Louis Michot on vocal and fiddle present this rural music in it's purity supported by Eric Heigle on drums, Korey Richie on bass, Jonny Campos on guitar and Kirkland Middleton on T-fer. Granny Smith is a real foot stomper with particularly hot drumming by Heigle. La Valse de Balfa/ The Bathtub is a particularly cool track with environmental sounds over Kirkland Middleton on drums. Very cool.  Si J'auris Des Ailes is another interesting track with a strong melody by accordion and fife over super, stumble march drumming. Nezpique is a lively jig with a droning bass line, churning fiddle and tom tom. Title track, Kalenda, has a very cool African feel with definite Creole/Cajun influences. Mysterious and cool. Wrapping the release is Aloha Golden Meadow, Andre's playing pedal steel, Hawaiian style against sonic backing. The tune is haunting and enchanting...very nicely done.



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Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Big Wing Records artist: Kings & Associates - Tales of a Rich Girl - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tales of a Rich Girl, by Kings & Associates and it's quite good. Opening with slinky blues number, Truth Be Told, Benjamin Cunningham leads the way with slashing lead guitar and lead vocal in duet with Angela Portolesi, backed by Stephen Portolesi on bass, Matt Williams on guitar, Kelvin Sugars on drums and Louie Higuera on Hammond and piano. Very nice. Deadwood is a driving blues rocker with a great bass line and stinging guitar lead. Soul tune, Nitty Gritty, is really well constructed with a great duet with Portolesi and Cunningham and impressive instrumental dynamics. Peace x Peace is a super, gospel based track beautifully featuring Portolesi's vocals. I particularly like the organ and piano work by Higuera adding super tension and the backing vocals on this track are over the top. Excellent! Another real mover is All That's Good has a great bass line and Higuera's Hammond work is tops. Charlie B is a smoking James Brown style R&B track with tight drumming by Sugars. Hot! Live and acoustic, Tales of a Rich Man, features Cunningham on lead vocals along the lines of Delaney and Bonnie. Nicely blended vocals on a laid back blues base. Wrapping the release is 1000 Ways, a strong ballad featuring Portolesia and Cunningham sharing lead. Cunningham's melodic guitar soloing, paired with nice vocal blending and dynamic drumming by Sugars make this an excellent closer for a strong release.



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Monday, December 4, 2017

Lock Alley Music artist: Lara and the Bluz Dawgz - Out Here In The Blue - New relese Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Out Here In The Blue, by Lara and the Bluz Dawgz and it's smooth. Opening with Easy Come, Easy Go, vocalist Lara Germony has the lead backed by Gregg Germony on bass, Al Rowe on guitar, Carlos Ruiz on drums, Reggie Murray on sax and B3 and Dan Nadasdi on keys. Soulful title track, Out Here In The Blue gives Murray a chance to really show his chops with smooth Sanborn like tones. Germony vocals on this track are particularly strong Rowe gets a chance to stretch a bit as well making it one of my favorites on  the release. Catch Me If You Can has a pop. Steeley Dan guitar rhythm but a soulful sax line by Murray giving it a real nice feel. High stepping, Smoke Break, has a great bluesy bottom with strong lead from Murray, Rowe and Nadasdi. Boogie, Custom Made, sports a cool walking bass line, a bright piano solo by Nadasdi and a fat sax solo by Murray. R&B track, Moonlight is a nice showcase for Germony on lead vocal and a slick solo by Rowe. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Wrong Question with it's driving R&B rhythm and Jr Walker like feel. Eric Walker sets out a deep bari line with Chuck Lyons on trombone, Stuart Naylor on trumpet and with Murray on sax solo and nice phrasing by Rowe on guitar this is a solid closer.



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