Unheard music from Rev. Gary Davis 'The Avant Garde Recordings' coming from Omnivore Recordings on March 23rd

REVEREND GARY DAVIS: THE AVANT GARDE RECORDINGS:  RECORDED LIVE — OCTOBER 1966 FROM OMNIVORE RECORDINGS PORTRAYS BLUES LEGEND CAPTURED LIVE AT THE PEAK OF THE LATE ’60s BLUES REVIVAL  Two-CD and digital set, the first of many Avant Garde Coffeehouse offerings,  features 22 previously unreleased tracks, plus liner notes by Bill Dahl and an unheard interview with Rev. Davis in the digital version. Street date March 23, 2018. MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Rev. Gary Davis, born in 1896 in the Piedmont region of Laurens, S.C., was a blues and gospel singer who played guitar, banjo, and harmonica and influenced a generation of blues revivalists in the ’60s and beyond — ranging from Dave Van Ronk to Keb’ Mo’. Following decades of playing the Carolinas and mentoring fellow musician Blind Boy Fuller, Davis was introduced to the American Recording Company, where he recorded the bulk of his pre-World War II work. In 1937, he became an ordained minister and released mainly gospel music. The late ’60s proved a career renaissance for the Reverend; he played to a new, largely white audience at the Newport Folk Festival. He died in 1972. In late October of 1966, Davis was captured on a single microphone in the small Milwaukee coffeehouse called Avant Garde. Only open from 1962-1968, the Avant Garde featured everything from experimental film and poetry to some of the best blues and folk performers of the era. Rev. Davis rolled out his classics “Samson and Delilah,” “Jesus Met the Woman at the Well,” “You Got To Move,” “Twelve Gates to the City” and others in an intimate setting. Omnivore Recordings will release this previously unavailable material as Reverend Gary Davis: The Avant Garde Recordings: Recorded Live — October 1966, a 2-CD set and Digital, on March 23, 2018. Musicologist Bill Dahl wrote the biographical liner notes along with memories of the venue by John Stropes of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Included as a bonus download is an interview with Rev. Davis after one of the shows. Produced by native Milwaukeean and Grammy Award-winning producer, Cheryl Pawelski with restoration and mastering by Grammy Award-winning engineer, Michael Graves, these spellbinding, never-before-heard recordings are a revealing addition to his recorded legacy.  In his notes, Stropes wrote: “The Avant Garde Coffeehouse, founded by Harold Strohmeier in 1962, was the locus of the folk/blues revival in Wisconsin. There were places like this in other geographic areas, but, in Wisconsin, none as important as the Avant Garde…The proximity to the Chicago electric blues scene provided a distinctive mix of performers. Patrons regarded the music with the same seriousness and respect given to classical music. It was a classroom. You went there to learn. You could actually sit down and have a conversation with these performers. Without the Avant Garde, there would have been no centrality for these older traditions or the recasting of these traditions by revivalists.”       Track listing: DISC ONE: 1. Samson And Delilah 2. Jesus Met The Woman At The Well 3. Twelve Gates To The City 4. Buck Dance 5. The Sun Is Goin’ Down 6. Oh Glory, How Happy I Am 7. You Got To Move 8. One More River To Cross 9. I Feel Like My Time Ain’t Long 10. Might Well Get Ready, You Got To Die 11. Soon My Work Will All Be Done   DISC TWO: 1. Children Of Zion 2. Sally, Where’d You Get Your Liquor From? 3. She’s Funny That Way 4. Maple Leaf Rag 5. You Got To Reap Just What You Sow 6. Lo, I’ll Be With You Always 7. Before This Time Another Year 8. Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning 9. Marine Band 10. I Am The Light Of This World 11. A Long Way To Tipperary   # # #

The Rex Granite Band featuring Sarah Benck - Spirit/Matter/Truth/Lies - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spirit/Matter/Truth/Lies from The Rex Granite Band featuring Sarah Benck and it's a soulful rocker. Opening with shuffle, Stop Doing What You Want, features Sarah Benck on loead vocals and Rex Granite on slide, backed by James Carrig  on bass and Anton Divis on drums. With it's driving beat, a hot opener. What You're Missing has great attitude with a solid rock rhythm and sassy Bonnie Raitt like vocals. Very cool. Percy Mayfield's Please Send Me Someone To Love has a deep soulful feel, showcasing some of Benck's best vocals on the release. Granite really digs in on slide with super fat tone and grease. Very nice. With a easy, island feel, Sail Away (Pt.1) has some of the tastiest slide playing this side of Ry Cooder. With lush vocals from Benck, a sure radio track. Boogie track, Steam Roller incorporates a hot horn section courtesy of Bucky McCann on sax, Michael Gurciullo on trumpet, Lou DeLuca on harmonica and Doug Montera on drums. I like the grinding guitar sound by Granite on title track, Spirit/Matter/Truth/Lies and the heavy bass line of Carrig making Led Zep like track the best rocker on the release. Wrapping the release is Sail Away (Pt 2) with a heavy bass line, eerie slide work and Grace Slick like vocals giving the track a San Francisco sound. This is a cool closer for an interesting release.

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Jay Katana - ... Brighter Than Your Future - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, ...Brighter Than Your Future, from Jay Katana and it's classically electric. Opening with Bomfunk MC's, FreeStyler has a synthesizer platform and a eurometal guitar edge. Nice opener. No Time 2b Sorry is an interesting mix of beat, metal and funk with tasty guitar riffs planted over an interesting drum riff. I Need You Now is a guitar ballad with an interesting melody and Steve Vai like spikes. Possibly the best track on the release. With a softer approach, When She Dies is mostly undistorted guitar riffing which is actually quite nice. Wrapping the release is K-Koda which has a full throttle metal bottom but with an irregular drum beat. Katana has an interesting concept. Let's see what develops.

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Biglittle Records artist: Big Shoes - Step On It - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (February 23, 2018), Step On It, from Big Shoes, and it's slick. Opening with Duplex Blues, lead vocalist and guitarist, Rick Huckaby leads this easy shuffle blending vocals with Will McFarlane on guitars, Tom Szell on bass, Mark T Jordan on keys and Kenne Cramer on guitar. Andy Peake adds drums and is joined on percussion by Bryan Brock. Light, funky, jazz rocker, There You Go, has a real nice rhythm and interwoven soloing by Huckaby, Cramer, McFarlane and Jordan. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Latin flavored, Don't You Do Me That Way with nicely stylized guitar lead, a solid piano solo from Jordan and snappy percussion rhythms. Excellent! A solid radio candidate is Ain't Nobody Loves You Like Me, with nicely blended vocals, punchy horn work and a smooth slide guitar solo by McFarlane. Pop rocker, Give It To Me Now is another strong radio track with a super melody and catchy rhythm. Wrapping the release is Honey Pie with it's slinky rhythm, country blues styling and clever vocal interweaving. The vocals are the hit on this track but super piano riffs by Jordan and cool slide by McFarlane give it that extra dose of gas. Nice closer for a solid release.

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Mark Daniel - New Truth - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent New Truth release from Mark Daniel and it's a solid rocker. Opening with Slow Setting Sun, Daniel who handles lead vocal and guitar is joined by Mickey Curry on drums and Marc Hickox on bass. Heart Stops Beating is a heavy footed rocker with a tight bottom. Daniel's vocals are crisp and his guitar playing loose and colorful with blues and metal influences. Very cool. Walk Through Fire is a definite radio track with a solid melody and a great bass line. Coming Down is an interesting rocker sounding a bit like The Police but with a more forward drive. Wrapping the release is Got It Bad with a solid melody and tight rhythm. This is a cool first release (February 23, 2018) for Daniel.

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Emily Burgess - Are We In Love? - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Are We In Love?, from Emily Burgess and it's fun. Burgess, who has played with a number of top guitarists as well as tours as a part of The Weber Brothers has stepped out on her own. Opening with Til I Get To Call You My Own, a Jimmy Reed style blues number, Emily Burgess has the mic and lead guitar role, backed by Sam Weber on guitar, Ryan Weber on bass, Ryan Brown on keys and Marcus Browne on drums. One of my favorites on the release is pop rocker, All I Wanna Do Is Love You with it's driving beat, sweet vocals and stinging guitar soloing. Blues ballad, Ain't That A Woman, has a great melody and with clean vocals and a nice melodic guitar solo, should easily garner radio play. Rocker, Only One In Your Dreams has a strong power pop sound with overdriven guitars, blended female vocals and Browne on harp. Another of my favorites is Arrested with loose, naïve style vocals, a bouncy rhythm and clever guitar riffs. Wrapping the release is acoustic vocal duet, What Has Been Is All Within, with Hillary Dumoulin. This is a cool release. It isn't straight down blues alley but it has all of the right stuff.

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Omnivore Recordings: Something Got A Hold On Me - The Ru-Jac Records Story, Volume One 1963-1964 - New release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Something Got A Hold On Me - The Au-Jac Records Story, Volume One: 1963-1964 and it's quite cool. Opening with previously unreleased, Fatback by Lamont Esquires, this release is off to a great start. This instrumental features low key but tasty guitar lead with hot sax work, all over a tight rockin' R&B track. Jessie Crawford with Kay Keys Band is up next, first with a smart Latin influenced rocker, Please Don't Go, followed by solid soul track Because I Love You So. Little Sunny Daye with the Shydells Band gives us blues ballad, A Woman Like You with super vocals and cool lead guitar work under the lead. Very nice. Celestine does a great job on You Won with it's cool rhythm. Honkin' sax work sets this track apart giving it a distinctive early 60's feel. great track. Winfield Parker really delivers on blues ballad, When I'm Alone. With only the basics of backing, Parker shows real poise. Winfield Parker set out a real nice R&B track on One Of These Mornings with snappy drums, and soulful sax soloing. Spiritual, Take Care Of Me, is a powerful track by the Fruitland Harmonizers. Really cool! The Teardrops Band featuring Marie Allen perform Cryin Won't Help You, a really hot R&B track with a great beat and cool sax solo behind a raucous voice. Trash Can is performed by an unknown artist, with solid sax solo lead. The Monkey Cha Cha is another really nice instrumental with of course a Latin rhythm and guitar and keyboard lead by The Jolly Jax. Wrapping the release is Joe (Take 5) which was previously unreleased by The Jolly Jax. Stilladog...this one's for you. Excellent closer.

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Rose Cottage Records artist: Peter Karp - Blue Flame - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Flame, from Peter Karp and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Rolling On A Log, Karp on lead vocal and guitar is joined by Kim Wilson on harp, Daniel Pagdon on bass and Paul Unsworth on drums. Kicking it up a gear, Train O' Mine is a hard driving blues rocker with Dave Keyes on piano and Dennis Gruenling sailing on harp. Warming things up a bit with slide resonator Karp gets a little greasy on Valentine's Day. Very nice. Quiet ballad, The Turning Point develops nicely into a radio style track with an interesting melody and featuring a nice guitar solo by Mick Taylor. My favorite track on the release is The Arson's Match with a distinct Elmore James feel. Featuring Karp's best vocals on the release, hot harp from Wilson and Karp and fat fat slide, nice track. A laid back, rural feel is the ticket on From Where I Stand and another of my favorites on the release. A bright melody, clean vocals and mandolin by John Zarra make this another top radio track.  Boogie, The Nietzsche Lounge has a great groove and gets your foot stomping. Karp handling vocal and piano with a great guitar boogie line supporting it makes this another outstanding track. Wrapping the release is Young Girl, a stripped down blues track with raw energy and Karp's overblown vocals with resonator accompaniment. I like this sound. Cool closer. 

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Harpo Records artist: Backtrack Blues Band - Make My Home In Florida - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Make My Home In Florida, from the Backtrack Blues Band and it's quite good. Opening with Checkin' On My Baby, BBB, lead by Sonny Charles on lead vocal and harp gets the show started with a nice easy shuffle, with Kid Royal on lead guitar, Little Johnny Walter on rhythm guitar, Stick Davis on bass and Joe Bencomo on drums. On Woke Up This Morning, Royal steps up on lead vocals and the band is swinging. Royal plays a stinging lower octave solo which has a great feel and the band is tight. Slow blues and title track, Make My Home In Florida, gives the band a nice opportunity to stretch with solid solos from Charles and Royal. Very nice. T-Bone Shuffle has a great feel, crusing along with extended solos from Charles and Royal showing some real nice trem bends. Excellent! Your Funeral and My Trial is a solid showcase for Charles on harp who has real nice tone and phrasing. Winding the band up for the close is Heavy Built Woman, a quick paced shuffle. Royal steps up with super phrasing and some keys accents giving the track a nice kick and Charles' harp hit the spot. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Tell Your Daddy with a cool drum turnaround. Albert King style riffs pour from Royal's strings and the band is swinging. Charles takes the band to a steady simmer and cooks on high to close the show. Very nice closer.

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Josh Hoyer (Soul/R&B Artist, NBC's The Voice) Releases New EP - Impacting Feb 5th, 2018

"Hoyer sang with fire and exuded a natural joy." - Rolling Stone New EP - 'The End of the Night' Josh Hoyer

Hello Bman! On Friday, January 26th, international recording and touring artist Josh Hoyer (Silver Street Records) released 'The End of the Night', a three song EP and the first new music from Hoyer since his 2017 appearance on NBC's The Voice. 'The End of the Night' is the result of a writing collaboration between Hoyer, veteran Nashville songwriter Jay Knowles (Harry Connick Jr, Blake Shelton), and producer Jon Coleman, Trace Adkins' band leader and producer. The writing sessions produced three songs; the grooving Soul number “The End of The Night”, Country-Rock anthem “Big Love”, and Soul-Pop tune “Rosario”. In addition to Hoyer’s powerful vocals, featured on the EP are some of Nashville’s most in-demand session musicians, including Kenny Greenberg (guitars), Luis Espaillat (bass), Greg Morrow (drums), Jon Coleman (piano and B3), Doug Moffet (saxophone), Quentin Ware (trumpet), and Marion Grace (background vocals).   'The End of the Night'  is Hoyer's first release since Josh's appearance on Season 12 of NBC's The Voice earlier this year. Viewers around the country took note of the soulful vocals emanating from the man that Adam Levine called a "badass," and Rolling Stone described as an artist who "sang with fire and exuded a natural joy."  Hoyer's appearances on The Voice received over 2 million views on YouTube. The new EP is a prelude to Hoyer's next full-length studio album to be recorded this spring and released in Europe in August on Silver Street Records. The release will be followed by a 6-week European tour this fall, and a US release in early 2019. 'The End of the Night' Listen on Soundcloud 320kbps MP3 Downloads from Dropbox Listen on Spotify www.joshhoyer.com

"They Call Me Mud" CD Coming from Mud Morganfield on March 9 via Severn Records

They Call Me Mud CD Coming from Mud Morganfield on March 9 via Severn Records

Blues Singer and Son of Legendary Muddy Waters Steps Out on New Album Recorded in Chicago with All-Star Cast

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Severn Records announces a March 9 release date for They Call Me Mud, the new CD from singer Mud Morganfield, son of the legendary blues icon, Muddy Waters. Produced by Mud Morganfield and Rick Kreher (who also plays guitar on the CD), They Call Me Mud was recorded at Joyride Studios in in Mud’s Chicago hometown. Mud penned 10 of the album’s 12 songs, with two others coming from his illustrious father’s catalog, “Howling Wolf” and “Can’t Get No Grinding.”

A stellar cast of Chicago area musicians adds some authentic, downhome blues touches to the recording, including Billy Flynn on guitar, Studebaker John on harmonica and backing vocals, Sumito Ariyo Ariyoshi on piano, E.G. McDaniel on bass and Melvin “Pookie Stix” Carlisle on drums.  Special guests include Billy Branch on harmonica, Mike Wheeler on guitar and Mud’s daughter Lashunda Williams, who joins her dad on a loving duet, ‘Who Loves You,’ where Mud gets to stretch out on some of his R&B grooves. There’s also a horn section featured on several tunes, and Mud, himself, plays bass on three tracks.     

“I think it’s the some of the best work I’ve ever done yet,” Mud Morganfield proclaims about the new disc. “I feel that with the variety of material I have on here, people will get a chance to hear the other sides of my music: everything from soul and R&B to jazz and, of course, blues. I got to play bass on three songs, too, and I’m so proud to a have my youngest daughter, Lashunda, sing with me on this album. She’s a natural, too, and regularly sings gospel at home.”   

In the album’s liner notes, co-producer Rick Kreher recalls how he found out about Mud and finally got a chance to meet and become friends with the big man. “About a dozen years ago or so, I heard that a son of Muddy Waters was popping up at clubs on the Westside of Chicago and sitting in for a couple of tunes. A few weeks later, a Chicago blues club was having their annual musicians Christmas luncheon and there was this guy who certainly looked like Muddy. As soon as I introduced myself and he began to talk, I knew without a doubt that this was Muddy’s son. No one could have that deep baritone voice and as soon as he gave that little ‘chuckle’ that Muddy always did, I was convinced. Since that first meeting, we have become great friends and have worked together on many musical endeavors. Mud Morganfield has grown into a superstar on the blues circuit. Certainly, there will be comparisons to his dad, but that can be expected and rightly so. Mud comes as close to the Muddy experience as one can get. He will always pay tribute to his dad with the Chicago blues ensemble sound that Muddy created. But, Mud was also brought up musically in the ‘70s and ‘80s when soul, Motown and R&B ruled the world. Mud played bass and performed with bands playing the hits of that era. This, along with his blues pedigree, has influenced Mud’s own songwriting skills, which are constantly evolving.”

They Call Me Mud is Morganfield’s third album for Severn Records. Son of the Seventh Son (2012) was the first recording that brought Mud into the blues limelight. Mud wrote most of the songs on that album, which was nominated for numerous blues awards and received rave reviews around the world. His last album, For Pops (2014), a tribute to his dad that featured harmonica great Kim Wilson, was showcased on National Public Radio and garnered a Blues Music Award nomination for Traditional Album of the Year.

Rick Kreher describes the music on the new disc as “a blues buffet, with something for everyone. We have a new signature song, ‘They Call Me Mud,’ a hard hitting funky blues with Mud growling it on home. Some rockin’ blues with Studebaker John on harp and Mike Wheeler on guitar going toe-to-toe on ‘“Who’s Fooling Who?’ We have a couple of Chicago blues stompers, ‘Walkin’ Cane’ and ‘Rough Around the Edge;’ a great minor blues, ‘48 Days,’ with Billy Flynn channeling the great Jimmy Johnson on guitar; a Stax groove on ‘Oh Yeah;’ and Mike Wheeler again getting funky on ‘24 Hours.’

“Then, to honor his dad once again we have Muddy’s slide guitar blues, ‘Howlin’ Wolf,’ and the roaring shuffle, ‘Can’t Get No Grindin’,’ where everyone takes a solo turn. And finally, a jazzy instrumental, ‘Mud’s Groove,’ featuring the great Billy Branch on harp. This was the kind of song that blues bands would play before the star of the show would appear to get them into the groove. This song is a perfect finale to a CD that showcases Mud’s take on the blues.”

They Call Me Mud – Track Listing

1) They Call Me Mud   

2)  48 Days

3)  Cheatin’ is Cheatin’  

4)  Who’s Fooling Who?  

5) Howling Wolf  

6)  24 Hours 

7)  Who Loves You 

8)  Oh Yeah

9)  Can’t Get No Grindin’  

10) Rough Around the Edge

11) Walkin’ Cane   

12)  Mud’s Groove

Pioneer Productions artist: Lex Grey and the Urban Pioneers - Usual Suspects - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Usual Suspects, from Lex Grey and the Urban Pioneers and it's solid. Opening with title track, Usual Suspects, power vocalist, Lex Grey blends a reggae beat with overdriven guitars and rock drama to create a unique sound. Backed by Vic Mix on guitars, Kala Updike on bass,Walter Tates Jr. on sax, and John Holland on drums, this band shows versatility. Country rocker, Chow Down, has a driving rock rhythm by Mix and Brian Dewan on piano and accordion, a romping bass line by Per Berquist but with just a touch of country. Blues ballad, Dirty Secret has a lot of the power and style of Big Brother and the SF blues rock style thanks not only to Grey's vocals but Dewan, Holland and Updike. Sonny Boy Williamson style blues rocker SRV is really pumped up with rock power by a grinding guitar line by Mix and frantic sax work by Walter Tates Jr. Boogie rocker, My Jellyroll has a great bottom thanks to Updike and Holland with garage style vocals and smoky harp by Rick Surrano Sr. on harp. Wrapping the release is Latin flavored, Renegade Heart. With it's solid bass line by Updike, sax work by Tates and the cool addition of Foggy Otis on ukulele, capped by a slick guitar solo by Mix, this is a nice closer to an interesting release.

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Steve Sainas - simple as this - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, simple as this, from Steve Sainas and it's calming. Opening with title track, Simple as This, Sainas accompanies his own vocals on acoustic guitar. Simple and clean. With a more deliberate rock feel, Sainas is joined by Kelly Stodola on drums and Chad Matthews on bass for solid track, Why Do We Fall. I really like this track with it's warm melody and reassuring bottom. Another of my favorites on the release is Your Light Will Shine On, with solid vocals, a nice melody and strong rhythm. My Darkest Days Are Gone presents my favorite vocals on the release supported by a warm melody and clean acoustic backing. Wrapping the release is springy, Everything's Gonna Be Alright, with it's comforting lyrics and cool melody. This is a sure departure from Sainas' blues band, Mud Dog but a solid solo effort.

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SBS Records artist: Michelle Malone - Slings & Arrows - New release review

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Slings & Arrows, from Michelle Malone and it's a tight rocker. Opening with Hooker style boogie, Just Getting Started, leader Malone shows her flex vocally and lays down some real nice slide to get this party rolling. Excellent opener! Backed by Doug Kees on guitar, Robby Handley on bass, Christopher Burroughs on drums, and Trish land on percussion, Love Yourself has a really nice funky rhythm and again, nice fat slide guitar. Beast's Boogie uses acoustic guitar and harmonica against vocal and stiff legged bass drum to create a cool, Led Zep kind of powerful acoustic blues. Very cool. With Shawn Mullins joining on vocal on Otis Redding's I've Been Loving You Too Long, Malone lays down a real nice reverb saturated remake of this classic R&B track. Driving boogie, Fox and the Hound, has classic boogie rock lines and again, Malone whips out her slide and lays it open. Who doesn't love slide boogie! Another track with a super Led Zep reference via acoustic mandolin and power bottom is Civil War. mind you, this doesn't sound like Led Zep. It's just a great reference point for the roots of this music. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Boxing Gloves, a slightly country flavored blues rocker with possibly the strongest radio oriented track on the release. With tight drumming, bluesy vocals and nice slide, this is a solid closer for a real cool release.

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Ruf Records artist: Bernard Allison - Let It Go - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (February 2, 2018), Let It Go, from Bernard Allison and it's quite good. Opening with Cruisin For A Bluesin, Allison is strutting tall with solid vocals, tight guitar riffs and a solid back up band featuring John T. McGhee on rhythm guitar, George Moye on bass, and Mario Dawson on drums. With a funky feel, Backdoor Man is a cool track. Allison has great vocal phrasing and his slide work if fresh and greasy. Another track with a springy beat is Night Train with super tight drums from Dawson and a super groove. Well paced vocals by Allison and nicely stylized blues riffs give the track a strong overall presence. With a low slung jazz vibe, Jose Ned James on sax and Allison on vocal and guitar balance nicely on a cool cross radio track. Sure footed and lumbering, Leave Your Ego has a heavy bottom and smart guitar reinforcement. Allison really gets to grips with his guitar on this one laying down some real nice fiery riffs. Excellent! On Elmore James styled Blues Party, Allison continues to open up more on guitar and his vocals are spot on. One of my favorite tracks on the release is You're Gonna Need Me, a slower paced blues number with a solid bass line. Allison is at his best when he sitting back, singing the blues and throwing hot riffs and this is it. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Castle, a quiet acoustic ballad featuring Allison on guitar and vocal. A strong closer for a super release.

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Ruf Records artist: Jane Lee Hooker - Spiritus - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spiritus, from Jane Lee Hooker and it's smoking! Opening with How Ya Doin?, Hooker opens up where they left off on their hot release, No B! back in 2016. Dana "Danger" Athens is upfront with a powerful voice and Tracy "Hightop" Almazan and Tina "T-Bone" Gorin create a sense of Thin Lizzy while Melissa "Cool Whip" Houston on drums and "Hail Mary" Zadroga on bass give you flashbacks to Van Halen. Powerful is the word. With the poise of Free, Gimme That is a solid blues rocker... oh yeah...with cow bell! Blues ballad, Later On shows a more subtle side of Athens' vocals and Almazan and Gorin's guitar tones are round and mellow. Blending Hound Dog Taylor with a modern garage rock feel gives you a hot rocking version of Lightning Hopkins' Black Rat. Excellent! Clean blues ballad, How Bright the Moon is a real spin featuring Athens on piano and total blues sincerity for one of the best tracks on the release. It doesn't have the frenzy of most (and I like frenzy) and it doesn't have the rawness of many (and I like rawness) but it is a really nice track showing what this band can do in the pure blues ballad arena. Very cool. Bobby Blues Bland's Turn On Your Love Light is a fusion of tandem (Allman like) guitar leads, Greatful Dead like jamming and of course Bland's own energy, spun into a modern blues rocker. Very cool. Wrapping the release is The Breeze, a smooth, blues (mostly) instrumental giving the gang a good chance to stretch instrumentally. Athen's lays down some of her most emotional vocals on the release here making it a perfect conclusion to another strong release by the band.

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