Bman's Blues Report

BLUES GUITAR SUPERSTAR WALTER TROUT HEADLINES BLUE STAR DENVER 8 BENEFIT CONCERT, SILENT AUCTION AND  GEAR DRIVE   Saturday, March 23 - TURNHALLE BALLROOM AT THE TIVOLI - 6:00PM Hosted By Blue Star Connection in Conjunction w/ Grand County Blues Society     (DENVER, CO) - Blues guitar superstar Walter Trout headlines Blue Star Denver 8 , a Benefit Concert, Silent Auction, and Gear Drive, Saturday, March 23, at Turnhalle Ballroom at The Tivoli, located at Metropolitan State University of Denver, 900 Auraria Parkway. Doors open 5:30pm, showtime is 6:00PM. Tickets: $25.00 (General Admission), $35.00 (Reserved), $69. (VIP); $750.00 (VIP Premier Table). Info: (303) 726-6111 or visit www.bluestarconnection.org...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (February 22, 2019), Nobody Told Me , from John Mayall and it's quite good. Opening with Magic Sam's, What Have I Done Wrong , a solid  blues rocker, Mayall on lead vocal, keys and harp is joined by Greg Rzab on bass and Jay Davenport on drums and features Joe Bonamassa on guitars. Great opener. Larry McCray joins on The Moon Is Full with blistering guitar riffs over a really hard driving bass line by Rzab. Excellent! Rush veteran, Alex Lifeson joins on Evil And Here To Stay , a lumbering blues track with a healthy dose of Mayall on vocal, harp and piano. Lifeson shows an excellent adaptability from his hard driving rock sound to soulful blues riffs. Very nice. Little Milton's That's What Love Will Make You Do has a funky bass line by Rzab and tune master Todd Rundgren fires off some blistering blues guitar riffs of his own. Gary Moore's, The Hurt Inside , is one of my favorites on the release again...

Shane Dwight Returns With NO ONE LOVES ME BETTER OUT APRIL 5 ON RED PARLOR RECORDS USA Today called him an “ace songwriter” Shane nails life to the wall like a WANTED sign out in the wild west. Critically acclaimed blues maverick, Shane Dwight, will pull you into his house by the ear after the first chord of  No One Loves Me Better  out on Red Parlor Records out on April 5, 2019. This esteemed independent label has long been a champion of music’s best songwriters, and Dwight is no exception. This new collection of songs is some of his most personal yet – gut-wrenching, and heartbreaking to date. The story of a man finding love, committing a crime, and wanting redemption runs deep in Shane’s songs. From the heartwarming “No One Loves Me Better” to the dark “Bullets & Gasoline” to the sassy “Sucker,” Shane nails life to the wall like a WANTED sign out in the wild west. Shane’s songwriting has evolved so far that he may be untouchable...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, High Road , from Katie Henry and it's an interesting release with cool ballads and hot rockers. Opening with country style rocker, Nowhere Fast , Katie Henry opens her debut release on lead vocal and keys. With a bluesy slide to her vocal style, John Ginty on organ, Antar Goodwin on bass, Moe Watson on drums and with a hot picking by Jonathan Fritz on guitar. this is a solid opener.  Chapels has a southern gospel flavor on a pop track with rich vocals and trademark Marcus Randolph on pedal steel guitar. Bluesy ballad, Carry You , has a terrific melody and feel. Henry's vocals are soothing with particularly precise drum work by Watson and supple guitar soloing by Fritz. Very nice. Funky R&B track, Someday , has a solid back beat from Watson and featuring Anthony Krizan with some real nice slide work under the solid vocal structure of Henry. Wrapping the release is Takes A Lot with springy Billy Preston funk...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Somebody Save Me , from Sugaray Rayford and it's cool, dark and funky. Opening with The Revelator , Rayford is trudging into dark country. With an ominous bass line by Taras Prodaniuk, punctual guitar work by Rick Holmstrom, and cool trumpet by Mark Pender, with additional work by Sasha Smith on keys, Ron Dziubla on sax and Richard Rosenberg on trombone as well as a voodoo sounding choir made up of Eric Corne, Brittany Gael Vaughn, Brittney S. Wheeler, Gabriel M. Newman, J-Blake White, &Terika Jefferson. R&B track, You and I has an excellent melody with full horn section compliments of Pender, Dziubla and Rosenberg making is a solid radio track. One of my favorites on the release is I'd Kill For You, Honey , with a super moving blues bottom featuring a super bass line by Prodaniuk, Eamon Ryland on slide and Eric Corne on harp complimenting Rayford's excellent vocals. Soul ballad, Somebody Save Me , ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Got Lucky , from Randy Casey and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Bed Bug Blues , a really cool track, Randy Casey on lead guitar and vocal shows just what kind of tone you can get out of the right guitar. With fat, swampy slide work and greasy lead, Casey get right to it. Backed by David J. Russ on drums and Al Bergstrom on bass, this is a great sound. Knee slapper, Soo Line is a snappy country flavored blues with plenty of energy and bluesy fingerpicked slide. Russ' drum work lends that "train" feel with harp work by Pinetree Paynich. Clever shuffle track, Little Weed is an easy blues ditty discounting the concern with a little MJ. Short and sweet, a crowd pleaser. With the heat and funk of ZZ Top, Strange is one of my favorite tracks on the release with just the right about of rock and blues. Steve Thorpe's key work under Casey's solid vocals and strong guitar lines, accented by t...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keep On Turning , from Seth Rosenbloom and it's really quite good. Opening with blues ballad, Keep On Turning , lead guitarist and vocalist, Seth Rosenbloom shows really strong vocal skills as well as a great sense of blues guitar playing with strong phrasing and feel. Excellent opener backed by Travis Carlton on bass, Gary Novak on drums and Scott Kinsey on keys. Shuffle track, I Can't Take It has a Texas blues feel with traces of Albert King and SRV. Very nice. BB King's Heartbreaker has a cool, up beat pace with great guitar style, punched up by the trumpet playing of Jamelle Adisa and sax work by Dan Boissy. One of my favorite tracks on the release is slow blues ballad, Right About Now , with strong vocals, excellent drum accents by Novak and clocking in at over 5 minutes has just the right amount of guitar to satisfy. Elmore James' Look Over Yonder Wall has a really nice funky beat giving Rosenblo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Chicago Blues Heaven , from Eddie Kold Band . Opening with Blues Heaven , a shuffle track with a European flavor, features Eddie Kold on guitar and lead vocal, Lukas Diehl on organ, Sven Ostrowski on bass and Christian Wubben on drums. Jimmie Reed's Big Boss Man gets a Booker T style R&B rework with a distinctive romping bass line by Ostrowski and slashing guitar work by Kold. Very cool. I really like the deeper blues structure of Think About You All The Time with a lumbering bottom and excellent guitar phrasing. Jungle Cat has a classic rock structure with a solid dose of R&B and some of the best vocals on the release. I've got To Use My Imagination has a great high stepping feel featuring soulful vocals by Delores Scott. Kold's guitar lead on Gasman 2018 is certainly the most bluesy on the release with excellent phrasing and turns. Hungry Call has a cool, Sissy Strut feel with a darker sense and...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Heartland & Soul from Kevin Burt and it's quite entertaining. Opening with Day Day , a funky R&B track with really nice vocals by Kevin Burt . backed by Jerry Jemmott on bass, Derrick DMar Martin on drums, Kid Andersen on guitar, Jon Otis on percussion, Jim Pugh on keys and with Lisa Leuschner on backing vocals, this is a great opener. Thank You is a solid soul track with a great set up. Rhythmic rim shots and a warm bass line set the pace on this one that does a sideward salute to Sly's Thank You ( Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). Working this track over and over, Burt really milks the soul out of it. Very nice. I really like the soulful movement of Real Love and it's traditional R&B vocal phrasing with solid harp work by Burt. A slower, almost folksy take on Lennon & McCartney's Eleanor Rigby reminds me of Richey Havens and that's good. Unsung vocal hero. Never is a super bluesy ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, World Full of Trouble , by Big Al and the Heavyweights and it's a lot of fun. Opening with title track, World Full of Trouble , Lance Younger on lead vocal hits it hard with Destin Thibodeaux on hot harp and crisp guitar riffs from Bob Margolin. Tight drumming by Big Al and bass by Dean Galatas keep a tight groove under the rumbling keys of Wayne Lohr making for a solid opener. With a funky bass line by Galatas and a real R&B sax line by Lance Ellis, Fool For You has a nice groove. Wath, BB King like guitar phrasing by Younger on Testify, over gospel like backing vocals by Donna Slater and Cathy Pace give younger great traction for top radio track on the release. Very nice. Country funk on Big Old Rusty Car really works nicely with Billy Preston like  organ by Lohr, and hot sassy sax work by Ellis. Very cool. Conjuring the bluesy soul of Blood Sweat and Tears, Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right , has a swaying ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Put On Your Red Shoes , from Bobby BlackHat and it's smooth and bluesy. Opening with I Smell Another Man On You , Bobby BlackHat Walters, takes the lead on vocal, backed by Brian Eubanks on bass, Tom Euler on guitar, Michael Behlmar on drums and Lucy Lawrence Kirkpatrick on keys. Larry Burwald's pedal steel slide work, complimented by Kirkpatrick's keys and Bobby's own harp work make for a nice opener. With a heap of R&B, ballad, This Grey Beard is strong with a good story line and memorable melody. Burwald's easy paced slide work and Tom Euler's articulate lead really gives this track a special feel. With a Latin rhythm, title track, Put On Your Red Shoes , has a great feel with lively drums and excellent guitar soloing. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Grim Reaper has a spacy, San Francisco blues sound with arpeggiated chords, solid vocals and smoking hot guitar and organ solos. ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blind Boy Billy , from Sauce Boss and it's a different recipe from earlier releases with David Davidson featured on strings. A companion to just released memoir entitled The Life and Times of Blind Boy Billy not only tells Wharton's story but includes a songbook and a cookbook. Opening with the title track, Blind Boy Willie , Sauce Boss (Bill Wharton) leads the way on vocal, guitar and one man band, accompanied by Davidson, Joe Murphy on sousaphone, Dennis Holt on snare and Jamie Paul and Jason Eskridge on backing vocals. A bluegrass flavored track, Davidson winds it up Charlie Daniels style. On Jimmy Buffett's I Will Play For Gumbo , Sauce Boss on lead guitar, one man band and guitar parties over cool sousaphone work by Murphy. Foot stompin' blues rocker, Little Driver , is raw and gutsy with cool slide and primitive rhythm. Otis Redding's, Dock Of the Bay , is polished and soulful with acoustic/sli...

Mekons Announce New Album  Deserted, Out on March 29 L-R: Dave Trumfio (bass), Susie Honeyman (violin), Jon Langford (vocals/guitar), Steve Goulding (drums), Rico Bell (accordion/vocals), Tom Greenhalgh (vocals/guitar), Lu Edmonds (saz, cumbus, oud), Sally Timms (vocals). Photo credit: Ricky Malpas ( hi-res ) Plus, RollingStone.com Premieres Video For "Lawrence of California" and Announces New European and U.S. Tour Dates British folk-punk collective the Mekons will release a new album  Deserted  ( PRE-ORDER HERE ) on March 29. It is their first formal studio album since 2011's Ancient & Modern . RollingStone.com announced ...

SERBIAN BLUES PIANIST, KATARINA PEJAK TO RELEASE NEW DISC PRODUCED BY MIKE ZITO ROADS THAT CROSS OUT FEBRUARY 15TH ON RUF RECORDS It takes a brave artist to blaze their own trail. From her birth-city of Belgrade to the Marz Studios in Texas where she recorded her dazzling new album, Katarina Pejak has walked countless roads and stuck a thousand pins in the map. Now, with Roads That Cross , this award-winning performer unveils a fresh set of songs that follow her muse wherever it leads her. Inspired by blues, jazz, country and rock ‘n’ roll – and shaped by all the cities she’s called home – this is music that crosses borders and brings people together. As producer Mike Zito says: “Katarina is one of a kind…” Making her debut on the iconic Ruf Records – and taking part in the label’s famous Blues Caravan tour in 2019 – Roads That Cross is the stone-cold classic that Katarina has promised since the start. Rewind to the post-millennium and this upcoming artist was a...