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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!
Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com
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!
Please email me at Info@Bmansbluesreport.com
Friday, January 19, 2018
Announcing the 1st Annual Temecula Blues Festival
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Billy Thompson - BT - New Release Review
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, BT, from Billy Thompson and it's terrific! Opening with Burn It Down, Bernadette, Billy is smoking right out of the can with an extremely funky rocker. leading the way on vocal and slide guitar, backed by Michael Leroy Peed on keys, Daryl Johnson on bass, Eric Selby on drums, DK Kelly on percussion and Xzantiny Grant on vocals, these guys are hot. On blues shuffle, Phoine, Billy is backed by a stacked deck with Mike Finnigan, James Hutchinson on bass and Anthony Braunagel on drums. Finnigan really winds out the keys giving Billy plenty of air to pound with screaming riffs. Very nice. Cool R&B number, Silent Warrior has a great feel with excellent guitar riffs pushing the intensity during the beef of the track. Thompson's vocals are soulful and spot on. Very nice. With it's slick R&B tempo, Mud Island Woman is infectious and with Thompson's stinging harp riffs, crisp guitar lead and vocal lead, this may be the best track on the release. Bluesy, Stranger really showcases Thompson's soulful vocals and solid vocal phrasing. Finnigan's organ work nicely surrounds Thompson's shimmering guitar riffs, nicely accenting the suspense of the track. This track is really hot giving Thompson a great opportunity to not only showcase his vocals but to stretch on guitar. Excellent! In The Back Of Garage is a definite radio style track with an excellent melody with a soulful sound, and precise guitar work. Children Of The Sun is a smooth ballad with biting guitars riffs and rich piano faire developing into a progressive jazz tune based on a Whipping Post like rhythm. Very nice. Wrapping the release is cool, stylistic blues number, Reason For Goin' Fishin', with it's rural feel. Peed's bouncy piano work and Selby's stumble drums give the track a nice Lusiana country feel. This is a real nice closer for a real strong 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”
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Thursday, January 18, 2018
Jim Shaneberger Band - Above and Below - New Release Review
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Above and Below, from the Jim Shaneberger Band and it's quite good. Opening with Jimi Hendrix flavored rocker, My Way has a classic Stone Free feel but with a more modern polished delivery and melodic rock feel. Super opener. Shanebereger is upfront on lead vocal and guitar but this is a definite group collaboration with a solid bass line from Jeff Baldus, and tight rock lines from Steve Harris on drums. Pat Travers comes to mind as I listen to Indifference with powerful swags of guitar lead and flavorful drum riffs over a swaggering bass line. Solid ballad, Bright Side shows real strong radio appeal with a super melody, nice harmonies and acoustic guitar lead. Shuffle track, Ain't Your Daddy's Blues, gives Shaneberger a chance to use a totally different vocal style not unlike Jonny Lang. His low slung guitar riffs have plenty of sting and Carl Schantz on drums does a great job. Another real cool rocker is Way Down South with it's blues style drone note and lumbering feel. Very nice. Just Sayin', Bro is a loose guitar jam with a great bass line making it tuff to sit still. Wrapping the release is Whole Lotta Soul, a contemporary R&B style track with a feel that I would associate with Wolfman Washington for example. This track has a lot of personality with a snappy beat, nice harmonies and a warm jazz like guitar interlude. This is a real cool 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”
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Labels:
Above And Below,
Jim Shaneberger Band,
Review
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Orleans Records artist: Rockie Charles - Born For You
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Born For You, by Rockie Charles and I really like it. Opening with title track, Born For You, Rockie Charles quickly establishes that he is going his own route with influences from many reaches. I am first taken by his smooth vocals and JL Hooker like phrasing, complimented by Jerry Embry on sax. Old Black Joel feels a lot like 60's soul and Clarence Carter. A solid backing band made up of Jerry Pekinto on bass, Rick Allen and Wayne Lohr on organ, Tony D'Alessandro on drums, not to forget Charles' own Spartan guitar playing and with really sweet backing vocals by Karlene Arena and Rhea Kahler, this sound is really earthy. Excellent. On easy paced, Oh My Darling, Look What You're Doing To Me, Charles sings with the ease of Al Green in a style more like Willie Nelson. Smoky Greenwell adds a soothing harp overtone giving the track just the right hint of spice. Please Tell Me It Ain't So is one of my favorite tracks on the release with Hooker like phrasing and Green like vocal tones...an unbeatable pair. R&B track, I Need Your Love So Bad has a terrific groove with a super lead line and tight horn work by Wilber Tank on trumpet and solid vocal backing by Arena and Kahler. Don't Let Me Go calls to mind the great Wilson Picket and his vocal work over arpeggiated guitar work. One of the most soulful tracks on the release is I Just Called To Wish You A Merry Christmas. Charles falsetto vocal and Sean Kenny's bari sax are a really nice pair supported by Lohr's organ sea. Very nice. Wrapping the release is There Is A Rainbow Hangin' Over My Shoulder, a super soul track with Charles adding some really nice guitar riffs. Horn phrasing on this track really gives it that 70's Wilson Pickett feel but it's all Charles and a super track to close a really strong 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”
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https://www.amazon.com/Born-You-ROCKIE-CHARLES/dp/B000003TXK
Labels:
Born For You,
Orleans Records,
Review,
Rockie Charles
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Janiva Magness' 'Love is An Army'
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The Jimmy Zee Band - What you see is what you get. - New release review
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, What you see is what you get, from The Jimmy Zee Band and it's a solid rocker with diverse flavors. Opening with title track, What you see is what you get, Jimmy Zee shows a cool, laid back story telling style as lead vocalist not unlike Jackie Lynton, backed by Rob MacDonald and Tim Porter on guitars, Miles Hill on bass, Joel Fountain on drums and Darryl Havers on keys. I Ride Alone is a power rocker featuring Harpdog Brown on harp. I really like this tracks heavy footed bottom, snarling guitar and swaggering feel. Money has cool, almost Stones like rhythm and a great rock beat. Zee's vocals are tight and sax by Steve Hilliam, a cool track. My Old Lady Is A Freakshow that is a blend between ZZ Top and hiphop. I really like this track and backing vocals by Annabelle Chvostek. With it's laid back funk, She's A Mystery to Me, is one of my favorites on the release with Zee's raspy vocals contrasting against Chvostek's, a cool rocker with a slippery back beat and choice harp work by Brown. very cool. Wrapping the release is ballad, I'm No Good Without You with a much more somber feel overall. Understated resonator slide work sets the mood and Havers' key work provides a nice cushion for Zee's vocals with Chvostek. A nice melody and a solid feel, this is a cool closer for an interesting 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”
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Monday, January 15, 2018
Swirl Disc artist: Freeworld - What It Is - New Release Review
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, What It Is, from Freeworld and it's a horn infused party. Opening with Deeper By The Minute, Richard Cushing, lead vocalist and bass player sets the pace with Dr. Herman Green on tenor sax, Peter Climie on tenor, bari and alto sax, Andy Tate on guitar, Chris Stephenson on keys, Jared Dover on trumpet, Freedman Steorts on trombone and Greg Lundy on drums. A funky rocker with tight horns and a funky beat, cool opener. Shrimp N' Grits is a solid horn saturated instrumental. One of my favorite tracks on the release it features a real nice flow of trumpet and sax solos by Dover and Green as well as a vicious guitar solo by Tate. Another of my favorite tracks blends funk and neo soul on It's Alright. A great bass riff and shimmery piano work shine and punchy horn work keeps it tight. I fat guitar solo by Tate really hangs out against the somewhat conservative horn backing making it all the more impactful. Taking a jazzier route on For The Moment, Cushing's bass line is terrific, Dover's muted trumpet work is very cool, and flanged guitar soloing by Tate really pushes it over the top with anxious horn punch. Very nice! A great sax lead on Sideswiped really digs in over a subdued funky key rhythm and punchy horns. An expanded electric key solo adds to the overall tension of this cool instrumental and then it's back to Tate who is not bashful throwing down a bold guitar solo. Very nice. Wrapping the release is eastern influenced, Eve Waits. A creative, classical jazz track with lead bass and instrumental weaving over a solid western drum rhythm. Interesting conclusion to a really cool 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”
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Labels:
Freeworld,
Review,
swirldisc,
What It Is
Friday, January 12, 2018
Johnny Max Band - Roadhouse Soul - New Release Review
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Roadhouse Soul, from the Johnny Max Band and it's a cool boogie rocker. Opening with shuffle track, Couldn't Happen To A Nicer Guy, Johnny Max shows his solid vocals skills upfront as lead vocalist with nice slide work by Kevin Vienneau and backed by Jim Casson on drums, Rob Gusevs on keys and Russ Boswell on bass. With it's funky, jazzy rhythm, (I'm Your) 911 has a super groove, getting you hopping around in your seat. Boswell's bass line is tight and backing vocals by Quisha Wint really warm up the mix. Two stepper, I Wish I Could Write You A Love Song had a driving rhythm and Keith Richards like guitar riffs, and cool piano work adds nicely to Max's lead vocals. Title track, Roadhouse Soul is a super rocker with a grinding guitar rhythm. Gusevs' piano work really sparkles on this track and the track presses hard on the drive button with a cool overdriven guitar solo by Vienneau. With a bit of swagger and barrelhouse piano, Time Well Wasted has a real nice feel. A boogie guitar line and a tight handle on the drums gives Max full rope to swing and he does. Vienneau lay out some real nice bluesy guitar slinging here giving the track a nice kick. Wrapping the release is We've Been Together For Such A Long Time with it's mysteriously bluesy rhythm. Complex rhythm and a cool piano part make this a real nice closer for a cool 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”
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Labels:
Johnny Max Band,
Review,
Roadhouse Soul
Thursday, January 11, 2018
VizzTone Label Group artist: Heather Newman - Burn Me Alive - New Release Review
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Burn Me Alive, from Heather Newman, and it's a cool blend of cool tracks. Opening with country flavored, Willie James, vocalist/bassist Heather Newman shows rich contemporary vocal styling, backed by Keith Ladd on guitar, Ryan Ladd on keys and Cole Dillingham on drums and guitars. shuffle track, Howling For Love again shows the richness of Newman's voice complimented by some cool guitar riffs by Ladd. Latin influenced, Burn Me Alive is one of my favorites on the release with snappy drums, tight guitar riffs and sassy vocals. With it's slinky belly, How Many Times? really has a solid bottom and a super melody. Blended vocals and stinging guitar soloing make this another of my favorites on the release. Newman's own bass line sets the pace on Dirty Blues and Michael Lefever's sax work throws fuel on an already smoky fire. Stepping up with a R&B bottom, Share Your Love has a real cool feel. Newman's vocals are even more amped up and Ladd pushes the fever up with some real nice organ work. Wrapping the release is I'm Through With You and it's snappy beat. Newman really commands the floor and Dillingham's drumming is tight and precise. Ladd adds in some really flavorful guitar lines making this a real nice 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”
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