Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rise 'N' Shine , from Brandon Isaak and it's simply cool. Opening with shuffle track, Right Around The Corner, Brandon Isaak blends his catchy melody with his strong vocal styling, guitar work and Willie MacCalder's piano work for a super solid opener. Another real cool track, Can't Do No Wrong , has that hot jazz swing with excellent finger work, punctual harp, and seductive lyrics by Isaak. Excellent! One of my own personal favorites on the release is PhD in The Blues with a bopping bass line, a slight, funky, Albert King style and hot, smoking guitar. Country style blues, Me And The Blues is a real nice showcase for Isaak's voice and his slide dobro, followed only lightly by Chip Hart on drums is just perfect. Another particularly soulful track, Blame It On The Girl is my personal choice for radio track with an excellent melody and really inviting vocal work by Isaak, with primarily key ba...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Murder Creek , from Murray Kinsley & Wicked Grin ( cool name by the way ) and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with 70's Brit style blues style rocker, This Old Dawg , featuring Murray Kinsley on lead guitar and vocal, Rod Williams on harp, Leigh-Anne Stanton on bass, Tom Bona on drums, Sonny Del Rio on horns & Jesse O'Brien on keys this band is standing on solid footing. Latin rhythms permeate Dance The Blues with cool, floating harp work by Williams working nicely with flowing guitar lead by Kinsley. Very nice. Electrifying slide work opens heavy bottomed, Trouble Coming , a cool, deep rocker with solid vocals and loose guitar and harp work. Interesting. Traditional blues styling on So Long, Too Soon , makes it the likely candidate for top track with soulful vocals and Kinsley's bluesiest guitar soloing on the release. Very nice. Bass driving rocker and title track, Murder Creek has a grea...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent 2 disc release, Global Griot , from Eric Bibb and it's very warm and rich with heavy cultural influences. Opening with Gathering of the Tribes , Bibb blends the rhythms and instrumentation of Africa with his own warm vocal styling creating a unique sound. Rolling into Wherza Money At Bibb works a Jamaican sound and with key trumpet, organ and string accents weaving a really nice cultural textile. Very nice. Boogie track, Black, Brown and White takes on a traditional American blues form with soulful vocals, great rhythm and style. A Room For You is a light, folk style track with nimble fingerpicking, cool percussion and trademark Bibb vocals. Solo Cissokho is featured on Spirit Day, a cool West African flavored track with Harrison Kennedy on vocals. Very cool. Instrumental, Picture A New World is a nice guitar progression on a basic melodic them creating a peaceful sound with interwoven textures of sound. Wrapping the re...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Biting Through , from Old Riley & the Water and it's a great example of rough and tumble blues rock. Opening with Willie Dixon's Howlin' For My Darlin' , Old Riley & The Water establish firm footing with a rudimentary beat and vintage sound. Sean Riley on guitar and vocal, working with Ray Micarelli on drums, Andrew Landry on bass, Joshua Cook on guitar and vocal and Scott Craver on harp runs a pretty tight ship. Blues Walking , opened on resonator guitar and slide has the contemporary blues sound of the early Rolling Stones, Yardbirds or Humble Pie in acoustic mode. Although many bands have gone down this road, few have done it well. Nice job. Title track, Biting Through , is a great rocker with a raw blues edge. The vocal distortion really adds texture and the lower octave guitar work fattens it up nicely with underplayed guitar soloing and harp. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Power To Chan...

Taylor Scott Band Set to Release New CD,  All We Have , Produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, on March 1, with Guest Appearance by Henry Garza of Los Lonely Boys DENVER, CO - Taylor Scott Band announces a March 1 release date for their new CD, All We Have . Produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, All We Have showcases the band’s exciting mix of rock, funk, soul and blues music that has made them fan-favorites not only in their Denver, Colorado, home base, but around the world, as well.  The album includes a special guest appearance by guitarist  Henry Garza of Los Lonely Boys.  The album’s even-dozen tracks feature 11 originals penned by Taylor Scott, plus a scintillating cover of Sleater-Kinney’s “Good Things.” Besides Taylor Scott on guitar and vocals, the band includes Jon Wirtz (keyboards, harmony vocals); Chris Harris (bass); and Lem Williams (drums); augmented by a horn section percussion, harmonica and backing vocals. “When ...

  TOMMY CASTRO & THE PAINKILLERS ANNOUNCE 2019 NORTH AMERICAN KILLIN' IT LIVE TOUR New Album Killin' It Live Set For March 1 Release In US And Canada       "Castro’s aggressive, inspired attack on vocals and guitar is phenomenal." –Washington Post "Tommy Castro & The Painkillers showcase the power of the blues, soul and down-and-dirty rock ‘n’ roll...rousing and infectious. This is energizing, scorching, soul-shaking music….pure pleasure." –Living Blues Tommy Castro & The Painkillers have announced plans for their 2019 Killin' It Live North American tour. Killin’ It Live -- the band's new CD set for March 1 release in the US and Canada -- is a nonstop, spirited mix of blues, rock and soul, with rollicking, hypnotic grooves fueled by Castro’s fervent vocals and the band's muscular musicianship. On that same date, the band will begin their tour in Castro's longtime sto...

Canadian Blues & Roots Artist Michael Jerome Browne Announces New Album and Tour Dates That's Where It's At! to be released on Borealis Records February 8, 2019   Michael Jerome Browne is a three-time Canadian Folk Music Award winner (Traditional Singer, 2015; Solo Artist, 2012 & 2008), Maple Blues Award winner (with 32 nominations since 1999), Kerrville (Texas) New Folk Finalist, four-time Juno Award Nominee in both the Roots/Traditional and Blues categories. He is a multi-instrumentalist, a songwriter, and a living encyclopedia of American Roots music. That’s Where It’s At! is Michael Jerome Browne’s latest collection, focusing on soul music through the lens of a traditional blues player. Recorded largely live off the floor in Sherbrooke and Montréal (Québec) and Hamilton (Ontario), Michael’s fingerstyle guitar and warm, unaffected vocals are front and centre, accompa...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Triggers Be Trippin , by Randy McAllister and the Scrappiest Band In The Motherland and it's smokin' good blues rockin'! Opening with In A Flick of a Bic , a driving rocker with solid vocals and harp by McAllister, and exceptional slide phrasing by Brandon Hudspeth this track is really cooking. Patrick Smith is tight on bass and Danny Cochran adds excellent bottom on drums. Super opener. Beauty and Ugly Upside Down (Ode to Lizzie Velasquez) is a natural radio rocker with a good melody, backing vocals by Andrea Wallace, cool  lyrics and classic slide work. Very nice. Add in just the right amount of dirty funk and you got Bring It On Backbreaker with gritty harp work, a great bass line by Jacque Garoutte, stinging guitar soloing by Hudspeth, with and drums by Cochran. Wrapping the release is We Can't Be Friends (If You Don't Like Jimmy Reed) with it's R&B feel, hot slide, catchy lyrics and s...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'm All Yours , from Rich Hope and it's quite interesting. Opening with It Comes Alive which reminds me of the Chambers Brothers, Rich Hope on vocal and guitar shows real rock drive backed by Adrian Mack on drums and vocals, Erik PH Nielsen on bass and vocals and Matt Kelly on keys. This track is a real throw back and a good one. Creepstone is a cool driving rocker with snappy drum work and a solid bass line. Hope has a cool guitar hand which lays down glistening riffs without the pyrotechnics. Very refreshing. La Iguana is a slower darker track with a wailing vocal, great bass line, rumbling organ and grinding guitar. This is really cool. 5 Cents A Dance is a solid rocker with an English feel from say the 60's (Manfred Mann/Kinks/ with a edgy punky feel). Excellent! Juke Boy Bonner's Runnin Shoes is up next with a definite edgy, rocky feel. I really like Hope's approach on this traditional blues...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Strong Roots , from In Layman Terms , and it's funky, soulful, rocking blues. Opening with title track, Strong Roots , Cole (guitar and vocal) and Logan Layman (bass and vocal) lead this funky track with Hamed Barbarji on trumpet and Nick Davidson on drums. It really has a super feel and show some of Logan's best vocals on the release. I'm Somebody , with a happy go lucky sense and just a twist of country, Cole really lays into his cigar box guitar and Davidson's percussion is zany and tight. One of my favorite tracks on the release is straight up slow blues, Ain't Gonna Fake It No More , with T-Bone Walker like chords, supple vocals by Logan and laid back trumpet work by Barbarji and firm blues guitar riffs by Cole. Very nice. With it's walking bass line, Notice Me , really struts with solid vocals, swinging trumpet solo and crisp guitar work.  Wrapping the release is Way Too Far a rocking blues...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Prime Cuts: The Very Best of the Beast From The East , by Popa Chubby and it's a broad representation of Chuby's work. Opening with Life Is A Beatdown , a contemporary hip hop style track from from Peace, Love & Respect, seemingly directed at airplay featuring solid guitar work and backed by Steve Holley on drums and Nicholas Damato on bass. Jimi's Hey Joe , Flashed Back, is always a great track and Chubby is all over the guitar with fiery riffs backed by Larry Crockett on super drums and Kris Jefferson on bass. Very cool.  Hi stepping, Stoop Down Baby from It's Chubby Time, has a great funky beat by Don Castagno and Seth Farber on Hammond. One of my favorites on the release is instrumental track, San Catri , from the Gas Money release. Chubby's melody is solid and his solo melody lines are smooth and moving. Jazz based Caffeine and Nicotine , from Hit The High Hard One, is another of my favorites wi...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Shaken But Not Deterred , from Peter V Blues Train and it has great spirit. Opening with shuffle,  I Don't Want To Leave Memphis , led by Peter V. on vocal and guitar is backed by Alex D'Agnese on drums, Sean Graverson on bass, Aron Gornish on keys, with Jeff Levine on B3 and Danny Walsh wailin' on sax. By The River has a slinky rhythm with Coo Moe Jhee on bass, Levine on B3 and cool funky guitar rhythm and solo riffs by Bob DelRosso. T Bone Shuffle opens with rich sax work by Walsh who shares the solo spotlight with Peter and Levine. I particularly like the funky attitude of Alibi with tight drums, cool vocals and stinging guitar lead. Getting Closer Now has a funky Latin fused rhythm and joining Peter on vocal is Vaness Vause with Gary Neuwirth on harp. Very cool. Continuing with the contagious, funky rhythm on Been So Long , Peter lays out some of his best vocals on the release with Paul Livinsky on d...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Beatles Blues Blast , from Gaetano Letizia & The Underworld Blues Band and it's a different look at the Beatles. This release covers 17 of the Fab Four's top hits with lots of twists and turns. Opening with Come Together , Gaetano Letizia on guitar and vocal, Mike D'Elia on drums and vocals and Lenny Gray on vocal and bass give the Beatles active guitar and a funky edge they never had. Beatles classic rocker Money gets a good workout with bluesy guitar riffs and even a visit to Surfaris land. Tax Man gets a shuffle beat, extended guitar lines and a fresh sound. While My Guitar Gently Weeps has a stately sound with solid guitar work, a snappier drum beat and "Vanilla Fudge" like vocal harmonies. One of my favorite remakes on the release is Latin flavored instrumental cover of And I Love Her . The band is well balanced with just the right amount of bass and drum under an expressive lead guitar ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release from Jim Dan Dee and I like it quite well. Opening with rocker, Save My Soul I can't not draw comparisons to Roger Waters with it's bottom driven rhythm, raucous vocal delivery by James Stefanuk and female backing vocals by Jules Cordosa, with drums by Shawn Royal and sax by Jason Sewerynek. Although I really don't think that this band sounds like Pink Floyd, a lot of the things that I like about it have a similar construction. Payday has powerful keyboard work by Jesse Karwat and solid guitar soloing by Stefanuk. Very nice! I love the soulful vocal lead on Just Cuz which just oozes richness and just the right about of backing vocal with deep sax work by Sewerynek and clean guitar solo lines by Stefanuk. Excellent! With it's John Lee Hooker romp, When You Move Like That There , is my favorite on the release with it's heavy handed drum and bass lines and all out feel. Excellent! Who does...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Late Last Night - Elixir of Sara Martin , by Laurie Jane & The 45's and it has a vintage sound and some down right rockin'. Opening with title track, Late Last Night , the band tries to capture the spirit of Louisville's prohibition era's Sara Martin with contemporary twists and execution. Laurie Jane Duggins has the vocal lead with Cort Duggins on guitar and piano, Scott Dugdale on drums, Jason Embry on bass and Brian Hogg on sax. Blind Man Blues has a staid Basin Street pace showing cool trumpet work by Eric Snyder and guitar soloing by Screamin' John Hawkins. maintaining much of it's original patina, Strange Lovin' Blues is raw with cool slide and some of my favorite vocals on the release. Sugar Blues is a solid blues rocker with a strong vocal line and rocking guitar riffs. Very cool. Atlanta keeps much of the early blues house feel with the jangling piano and modest fidelity. Wrap...

Mosher St. Records Presents   MIDNITE JOHNNY / Saturday, January 5th www.crazyunclemikes.com 6450 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton, 9 PM-10 PM -SOLO,  10:30 PM -1:30 PM -BAND  Midnite Johnny review…October 3, 2018…. Posted October 4, 2018 by dvcrow56 in Uncategorized. MIDNITE JOHNNY LONG ROAD HOME MOSHER STREET RECORDS PLP 1850 YOUR NEW OCCUPATION–SLOW BURN INSIDE–CRAZY MAMA–LONG ROAD HOME–LOOKIN GOOD–TIRED OF FOOLIN AROUND–ALL THE BLUES–MOTELS, WHISKEY, AND ME–BETCHA BY NOW–BABY BATTER–HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE–KEY TO THE HIGHWAY–OUTTA TIME–THAT’S ALL YOU GONNA GET–LONG ROAD HOME (ACOUSTIC) Guitarist Midnite Johnny (Morana) was long a mainstay of the south Florida blues scene, and, since his relocation to the UK, virtually the whole round blues world knows he’s here! His latest set is the aptly-titled “Long Road Home,” thirteen originals and one cover that shows hi...