Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Something New , from Michael Kaeshammer, and recorded at historic Esplanade Studios in the heart of New Orleans' Treme district, it has a definite NO flair. Opening with Scenic Route , Kaeshammer blends a rockin pop melody with great New Orleans style and hot piano riffs for a super opener with twists and turns. Backed by George Porter Jr. on bass, and the hard work of Johnny Vidacovich on drums, this track is a super opener. Pushing the horn section (William Sperandei on trumpet, Chris Gale on sax, William Carn on trombone) forward on Do You Believe , featuring Curtis Salgado on vocal and Matt Perrine really belting out the sousaphone lines with authority over a really snappy drum rhythm. Very cool. I particularly like the vocal and piano exchange on She's Gone over Vidacovish's spot on drum work and guest Whurlitzer work by Chuck Leavell. A soulful track with great drums... very nice. Who Are You is anot...

  16TH ANNUAL BLUES FROM THE TOP FESTIVAL FEATURES STAR-STUDDED LINEUP, 2 DAYS OF BLUES BLISS IN WINTER PARK, COLORADO   Saturday, June 23 & Sunday, June 24 - Music Starts 11am Both Days 2018 Blues Music Awards Winners Southern Avenue (and) Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, North Mississippi All-Stars, Nick Moss Band w/ Dennis Gruenling, Vintage Trouble, Plus More     (WINTER PARK, CO) - If it’s Summertime in Colorado, that can only mean one thing for blues lovers...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest self-titled release from David Vest and it's a rock and roller. Opening with Some Old Lonesome Day , David Vest, who handles piano and lead vocals is backed by Billy Hicks on drums, Ryan Tandy on bass and Tom Bowler and Peter Dammann on guitar. Genevieve kicks into a R&B style with a cool bass and drum rhythm and New Orleans style piano rolls by Vest and tasty guitar work by Bowler and Dammann. Boogie track, Party In The Room Next Door , kicks it up a few more notches giving Vest the open road to really rock out on piano. Following suit is a strong rockabilly style guitar solo making this one of the best tracks on the release. Elvis Presley's Leak In This Old Building really captures that R&B rockin style with gospel style piano. Traditional track, Gotta Travel On gets a Latin jazz remix with lead piano by Vest improvising the melody with tight drum riffs by Hicks giving it a New Orleans flavor. Very cool. Renovicti...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Move On, from Farmers Road Blues Band & Janice Harrington and it's got great spirit. Opening with James Cotton's I Ain't Doin Too Bad featuring Dirk Theege on slide and Janice Harrington on lead vocal and with Randolf Muhl on drums, Ralf Gehrt on keys, and Jens Bornhoft-Juhl. Dinah Washington's shuffle track, Salty Papa Blues has a great feel and a swinging sax solos from Helke Dorn and Olaf Barkow as well as a tight trumpet solo from Melf Uwe Holmer. Work Your Magic has real swagger with some of Harrington's best vocals and juicy sax work from Dorn and Barkow. Gehrt lays in some real nice piano strides, Holmer's trumpet phrasing is real nice  and Theege's guitar soloing is solid. Very nice. With a bouncy bass line and a jazzy guitar lead, Blues Rockin' has a cool groove. Moritz Kruit on guitar has a BB King approach to his soloing with fits nicely with the track, Gehrt's org...

BLUES LEGEND EDDY CLEARWATER: JANUARY 10, 1935 - JUNE 1, 2018 Grammy-nominated Chicago blues legend Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater died of heart failure on Friday, June 1, in his hometown of Skokie, Illinois. He was 83. Born Edward Harrington on January 10, 1935 in Macon, Mississippi, Clearwater (as he came to be known) was internationally lauded for his blues-rocking guitar playing, his original songs and his flamboyant showmanship. He was inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame in 2016, and also won two Blues Music Awards including Contemporary Male Blues Artist Of The Year in 2001. Clearwater was equally comfortable playing the deepest, most intense blues or his own brand of rocking, good-time party music – a style he called “rock-a-blues,” mixing blues, rock, rockabilly, country and gospel. Between his slashing guitar work and his room-filling vocals, Clearwater was among the very finest practitioners of the West Side style of Chicago blues. DownBeat...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, First Class Life , by Mike Zito and I really like it. This is an excellent follow-up to Zito's 2017 release, Make Blues Not War that I reviewed last year and I think that he's on a great run! Opening with Mississippi Nights , a country blues flavored rocker, Zito leads on guitar and vocals, backed by Lewis Stephens on keys, Matthew Johnson on drums and Terry Dry on bass. Winding his slide out he really gets it cranking. What an opener! Title track, First Class Life not only has great style and feel, it has a real story and excellent slide work making it one of the top tracks on the release (and a super radio track to boot). Slower blues ballad, The World We Live In , has a strong melody and Zito's vocals are spot on. His guitar work, in response to his lead vocal is nicely punctuated. With the country funk of a Dickey Betts composition, Mama Don't Like No Wah Wah , has a real moving groove with Zito, j...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nightlife , from John Clifton and it's solid gold blues. Opening with Charlie Musselwhite's Strange Land , John Clifton on lead vocal, harp and guitar, joined by Scott Abeyta on guitar, Matt Moulton on bass, John Shafer on drums and Brian Szopinski on piano set a solid old style groove. Lee Moses' excellent soul number, Sad About It is up next and Clifton's really plays it to the hilt. The band really sits on this one making it one of my favorites on the release. Little Walter's Long As I Have You is another top track with excellent vocals, super harp and excellent guitar soloing by Abeyta. Very nice. Cool original track, Swamp Dump has a smooth Latin blues feel with a nice tandem harp/guitar melody and easy rhythm. Jump track, How About That is an excellent instrumental with a driving bass line fluid lead guitar work along the lines of Gatemouth Brown and hot harp work leading the way. Very cool...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Chosen by the Blues, from Willie Jackson and it's solid. Opening with Just An Old Dog , Willie Jackson sings the blues, old style joined by Dillon Young on lead guitar, Jon Willis on bass, (Paxton Eugene on drums and Ace Andersson on harp. On slow blues, Big Boned Woman , Jackson really delivers on vocals and also gives Young a chance to show his stuff as well. His articulate lead work, coupled with the harp work of Andersson makes this track one of my favorites on the release. Sleeping On The Job is a real cool, real time blues track with contemporary a theme but with old style roots, rich vocals and slid harp. Wrapping the release is up-tempo shuffle, Diggin' My Shovel with some strong innuendo. A lively guitar solo, and a firm bass line, this is a super closer with catchy lyrics that will certainly leave a memorable smile on many listeners faces.   If you support live Blues acts, up and coming ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Powerful Stuff! , from Webb Wilder & The Beatnecks and it's a high energy rocker. Opening with Make That Move , Wilder on lead vocal and guitar sets a quick pace and euphoric guitar mood. Backed by Jimmy Lester on drums, Donny Roberts on guitars and Kelley Looney on bass, this is a cool opener. Lost In the Shuffle is a cool "shuffling rocker" with a solid melody and with greasy guitar riffs has just the right edge to make a great radio track. My favorite on the release, I'm Wild About You Baby , is a tense rocker with a rockabilly beat and real nice slide work by Wilder. Super. Another high energy rocker, Nutbush City Limits features a great driving beat and stinging guitar riffs, pushed by Blakely on bass and Lester on drums. Revenooer Man is a great rock and roller with a country twist. No missing the chance to get a few country style riffs and keeping the Blaster style vocals, this track is q...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Eyed Soul Volume I , by J.T. Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters and it's very cool. Opening with R&B track, Anything I Can Do , J.T. shows just how smooth he can be on lead vocal backed by Ian Frederick Johannessen and Arnfinn Torrisen on rhythm guitar, Morten Nordskaug on bass, John Grimsby on drums, Paul Wagnburg on B3 Jens Petter Antonsen on trumpet and trombone and a nice guitar intro by Dave Fields. Stay With Me All The Time is a classic with a super melody and really nice balance. On Allen Toussaint's Nothing Takes The Place Of You , J.T. really shines with his soulful lead vocal with Borge-Are S. Halvorsen on sax, Deanna Bogart on backing vocals and nice solo guitar work by Mike Zito. Excellent! Funky blues number, You Got Me Down has a great bass line compliments Nordskaug and the clean cowbell work of Grimsby is not at all lost. Guitar solos by Johannessen and Torrisen give the track that s...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hard Blue Space , from Little Boys Blue w/ Kid Memphis and it's a super dose of solid blues. Opening with Six Feet Down , a real nice blues groove with interwoven tones of Kid Memphis on guitar, JD Taylor on vocal, Dave Thomas on B3, David Mallard on bass and Mark Brooks on drums. Excellent opener. On 12 bar number, Loving Kind , Alex Taylor, Andrew White run the rhythm as Kid solos and JD handles vocals and harp. With it's primary backbone based on Chicago blues, this track has great feel. Blues Bug really sits down low giving JD the opportunity to really shine on vocal and harp. Sure footing and nicely phrased guitar work by Kid makes this my favorite on the release. R&B track, Cold Inside shows a different dimension of the band with Steve Cropper like rhythm and strong vocal delivery by JD. Fluid guitar runs by Kid Memphis and stinging harp attack compliment JD's lead vocals. Might As Well is a coo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Living With Your Ghost , from Kara Grainger and it's solid. Opening with straight up rocker and title track, Living With Your Ghost , Kara Grainger leads on vocal with Anders Osborne on guitar, Ivan Neville on keys, J.J. Johnson on drums and Dave Monsey on bass. With it's steady rhythm, slick guitar solo and memorable melody, this is a certain radio track. Working My Way Back Home has a particularly intriguing drum rhythm and super slide from Osborne. Very nice. My favorite vocal track on the release is Nowhere To Be Found nicely showcasing Grainger's emotional delivery, emphasized by Neville's organ work and warm slide work of Osborne. Spirited track, You're In New Orleans features a vocal duet by Osborne and Grainger. Lightly salted with guitar, drums and keys and with the injection of the Texas Horns, excellent. Funky, Groove Train really gets a great groove going with a solid bass line by Mo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Farmer's Almanac , from Brother Dege and it's a more refined progression on his earlier foundations. Opening with Partial To Bitters , a somber instrumental, Dege crafts a very interesting fabric of music on guitar and slide joined by Doug Belote on drums and Kent Beatty on bass. The Shakedown has a really strong feel with Greg Travasos on kick drum and Deje on vocal and resonator. The drumming by Travasos and the frenzied playing by Deje really gets this one cranked up. The Ballad of Ingo Swann is a solid rocker with powerful vocals and a jagged beat and almost UK euro rock feel making this a definite stand out track. Laredo is on of my favorites on the release with swampy rock roots and penetrating slide work. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Partial To Bitters Pt. II . As it begins ... so it ends with a haunting melody and well crafted scenes. Very cool.    If you support live Blues acts, up an...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, High Desert Heat , from Too Slim and the Tail Draggers , and it's quite good. Opening with Chambers Brothers' classic, Time Has Come Today , with it's driving beat and memorable guitar riff, led by Tim "Too Slim" Langford on guitar and vocal. . Cool opener. Breaking into Trouble , Langford sets up a cool boogie, joined by Sheldon "Bent Reed" Ziro on harmonica, Jeff "Shakey" Fowlkes on drums and Zach Kasik on bass. Stories To Tell has a classic "Jimi" rock styling with a strong guitar solo with great bends and squealing pinched harmonics. Very cool. With it's low slung Texas swagger distorted "fuzz" guitar and tandem vocals, One Step At A Time, sounds like early ZZ Top. Very nice. Wrapping the release is instrumental title track, High Desert Heat , with it's western undertones, low range guitar riffs and shimmery guitar lead. Langford's solid slide ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Steel , from Joe Goldmark . Opening with instrumental, Night Flight , Joe Goldmark showcases his steel guitar craftsmanship on a modern country/jazz track backed by Paul Ravelli on bass, Tony Lufrano on keys and Gary Potterton on guitars. On Rufus Thomas' All Night Worker , Goldmark shifts into R&B mode with Glenn Walters on lead vocal and maintaining his just this side of country edge on steel. Jimmy McCracklin's The Wobble is high energy with DeWayne Pate on bass, Henry Salvia on keys and Rob Sudduth on sax. Very cool. Lefty Frizzell's Look What Thoughts Will Do , is pure country and my choice for best track on the release featuring Dallis Craft on lead vocal and authentic country steel swinging by Goldmark. BB King's Beautician Blues has a great swing with Glenn Walters on lead vocal this track has a swinging blues style. Very cool. Slow country style instrumental, I Want To Be With You For...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Black Crow Callin' , from Polly O'Keary and the Rhythm Method and it's a serious blues rocker. Opening with Hard Hearted World , Polly O'Keary attacks on vocal and bass with a take no prisoners drive. Backed by Tommy Cook on drums  and with punishing guitar riffs by David Miller and solid piano work by Eric Robert, this is a great opener. Red Light is another driving rocker with a thumping bass line and scorching hot guitar riffs. Slow blues number, Black Crow Callin' shows a more sensitive side of O'Keary with rich vocals, and Jim McLaughlin on harp. Miller's blues guitar phrasing on this number are rich and fluid. Excellent! High stepper, Yours To Lose , is really pumped up by the Powerhouse Horns featuring Rich Cole on sax and Pete Kirkman on trumpet and the grinding guitar riffs of Miller. Very cool. Reconciled is a solid blues ballad that not only gives O'Keary a chance to belt one ...

Multi Blues Music Award Nominee Al Basile Brings His Songs and Stories to Life on New CD, Me & the Originator , Out June 15 on Sweetspot Records RUMFORD, RI – Multi Blues Music Award nominee Al Basile brings his original songs and stories to life on the new CD, Me & the Originator , releasing June 15 on Sweetspot Records. Produced by Duke Robillard, who also adds his guitar talents on the new disc, Me & the Originator showcases Al’s abilities as a storyteller in poems and songs, and as a vocalist and cornet player , backed by an additional group of New England-based all-star musicians, including Mark Texeira (drums), Brad Hallen (bass), Bruce Bears (keyboards), Doug James (tenor and baritone sax) and Jeff “Doc” Chanonhouse (trumpet). Al Basile, who is also a prize-winning poet , will celebrate the release of the new CD by performing Me & the Originator as a one-man show at the West Chester Poetry Conference, West Chester, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Ju...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fried Rice & Chicken , from Little Freddie King and its a lot of fun. Opening with Willie Woods' super groove, Cleos Back , Freddie Martin aka Little Freddie King lays down his primitive, real deal blues. King has a loose but smart guitar style on this instrumental, backed by Earl Stanley on bass, Kerry Brown on drums and Crazy Rick Allen on organ. Very cool. Slow blues number, Mean Little Woman features King on vocal and this is where the rubber meets the road. Not only does King have meaty raw chops, but his vocals are authentic and unpolished. Excellent. The Great Chinese is drums laden with cool guitar rhythms. Ray Charles' What'd I Say is spirited with vibrant key work by Allen and  tight guitar and vocal by King. Very nice. Sing Sang Sung is a great rumble with Wacko Wade Wright on drums, Anthony Anderson on bass Bobby Lewis DiTullio on harp and of course Kings own spontaneous riffs on guitar. V...