Bman's Blues Report

LEGENDARY CUBAN SINGER OMARA PORTUONDO RETURNS TO NORTH AMERICA ON HER LAST-EVER WORLD TOUR “LAST KISS” TOUR REACHES LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK, CHICAGO, WASHINGTON DC AND MORE photo credit Johann Sauty Omara Portuondo , legendary Cuban diva and original member of the famed Buena Vista Social Club ™, comes to North America this spring/summer for the final time as part of her worldwide “ Last Kiss ” farewell tour. Highlights of the tour’s North American portion include performances at the Regent Theater in Los Angeles , Sony Hall in New York , the Barns at Wolf Trap in Washington, D.C. and the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago . See below for a list of dates. On the road, Portuondo will be joined by a traditional piano/bass/drums/percussion lineup consisting of acclaimed GRAMMY Award nominated pianist Roberto Fonseca , Andres Coayo on percussion, Ruly Herrera on drums and bassist Yandy Martinez . Portuondo’s last-ever worldwide tour comes on the heels of her m...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Going Back Home , from Benny Turner & Cash McCall and it's quite fun. Opening with rumbling R&B track, Got To Find A Way , Turner is upfront on lead vocal and bass joined by Carla Davis. This track has solid horn punch with Jason Mingledorff on sax, Barney Floyd on trumpet and includes Cash McCall and Butch Mudbone on guitars, Raishene Webb on keys and Terry Saffold on drums. McCall steps front and center on Willie Dixon's Spoonful sharing the guitar work with Turner, Joe Krown on keys, Webb on organ, and Johnny Sansone on harmonica. McCall original, Money is a really cool track with spoken dialogue by McCall and only base piano, drums and walking guitar rhythm. Very nice. Elmore James' Shake Your Money Maker has great pace with Turner on lead vocal, Mudbone on slide and a nice sax solo by Mingledorff. Another EJ track, It Hurts Me Too features Billy Branch on harmonica as well as Turner and McCal...

Smithsonian Folkways Presents a 50 Year Retrospective of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival New Box Set, to be released May 10, 2019, Features Five Discs of Live Music from 1974 to 2016 Highlights Iconic New Orleans Musicians Like Trombone Shorty, Irma Thomas, Big Freedia, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Allen Toussaint, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, Kermit Ruffins, Terence Blanchard, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Champion Jack Dupree, Buckwheat Zydeco, and many more! For 50 years, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival , known to Fest-goers as simply Jazz Fest , has brought the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Big Easy to millions of festival goers. In celebration of Jazz Fest’s golden anniversary, venerable record label Smithsonian Folkways is proud to ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 7 Minutes Late , from Chris O'Leary and I really like it. Opening with R&B track, What The Devil Made Me Do , O'Leary on lead vocal creates a lot of steam backed by Andrei Koribanics on drums, Matt Raymond on bass, Jeremy Baum on organ Chris Difrancesco on sax and some cool guitar soloing by Chris Vitarello with Peter Hopkinson and Greg Gumpel on guitars. One of my favorite tracks on the release is funky, One More Chance At Love , with a great bass, drum and rhythm guitar bottom giving O'Leary an excellent stage to show his excellent vocal and harmonica styling as well as slick guitar soloing by Hopkinson and Gumpel. Another favorite, Second Time Around is a straight, solid boogie. Grinding guitar soloing highlights the track over rimshots, harp boogie and super vocals. Excellent! Basin Street style blues on She Ain't Coming Back not only explores cool vocals but mandolin work by Gumpel and really n...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, When I'm Gone , from GProject Blues Band , and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with blues/rocker, and title track, When I'm Gone , lead singer and piano player Michael Staudenmeyer leads the nice paced shuffle, backed by TomBo on drums, James Ransom on bass, and Leonidas Kyriakakos on guitar. Smooth and slow, Someday Baby is a really nice track with solid vocals and a strong melodic guitar lead by Kyriakakos. Very nice. Can't Take It With You is another shuffle rocker with strong bones. Kyriakakos lays hard on the strings wailing away. One of my favorites on the release, The Old Have Moved On , is subtle but really effective with soulful vocals and strong guitar soloing.  Getting into Boogaloo mode, The Date , has a terrific beat and with it's irregular return, and tight guitar riffs makes it a top contender for the release. (Think Mary Had A Little Lamb).  Kyriakakos really fans the flames on Ta...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mule , by Henry Townsend , and it's solid old school blues. Opening with Bad Luck Dice , Townsend is on vocal and piano laying down really strong piano blues. This is a great intro of things to come. Townsend's vocal wailing continues into Things Have Changed with terrific piano and added mandolin by Yank Rachell. On boogie piano track, The Old Man's Soul , Townsend changes it up a bit but it's all Townsend with signature piano style and vocals. Very nice. Vernell Townsend has excellent lead vocals on Tears Come Rollin' Down with additional guitar to henry by Norman Merritt. One of my favorite tracks on the release is It's A Hard Road To Travel with some of the more refined vocals by Townsend with smooth piano lead. Rachell joins Townsend on guitar on Talkin' Guitar Blues, another solid romping blues track with a cool jagged rhythm. Piano instrumental, Alley Strut is a cool piano boogie w...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Breakfast In September , from Andres Roots and it's quite good. Opening with The Sheik of Hawaii Pt. 1 , Andres Roots is on a steel resonator and making terrific slide sounds. With a riff that has just a touch of middle eastern flavor, Roots attacks the strings. His work is sure and true. Excellent opener. Tango Walk features Roots, joined by his one time teacher, Halvo Livamagi blending a tango guitar rhythm and slide soloing by Roots. This is a nicely balanced track with well blended techniques. 4 AM Hot Dog is a cool rag time track clearly showing Roots finger mastery and authentic style. Very nice. Another excellent blues track, Leif's Guitar Blues is a super display of finger picking and slide technique. Thing Stephan Grossman. Waltzin' Blue on electric guitar with slide is really lush with super bass notes injected much like Kottke does. Very nice. With really fat slide tone, 7th Heaven is really ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Griot , from Gaye Adegbalola , previously of Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women. Opening with Nothing's Changed , Gaye takes on her world challenges with song. Over a strong rhythmic Bo Diddley beat, Gaye delivers the word from her perspective, citing her observations of todays prejudice.  FMG is an African based track with a chant based upon the fight against female genital mutilation. (You're) Flint Water is a bluesy shuffle with slick slide work by Jeff Covert, organ by Keith Armstead,  and solid horn backing by Zack and David Smith on trumpet, Steve Patterson on sax and Dan Haverstock on trombone. Solid ballad, Gon' Be Alright , is my favorite track with smooth vocals, guitar and organ by Gaye and smooth guitar lead by Covert. Doc Pomus penned, (There Is Always) One More Time slides in nicely with warm vocals, a beautiful melody and acoustic guitar by John Freund and Gaye. Sorry, But … No Shame is a...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Choices , from Willa Vincitore and it's got soul. Opening with Just Ain't The Same , a low slung blues track with hot vocals this is a solid opener with Doug Abramson on bass, Karl Allweier on guitar, Scott Millici on keys and Lee Falco on drums. Hi-stepper Need A Little Help has great pace and feel. One of my favorites on the release, Willa really pushes the band with a slick guitar solo by Allweier. A solid soul track, Trust, is a top radio style track with Willa seemingly floating on the rhythm and nice backing vocals by Falco and Millici. Another clean lead guitar lead by Allweier really dresses the track nicely. Wrapping the release is Annie Lennox's, Money Can't Buy It with a straight ahead dance beat.  Nicely blended vocals and just the right amount of funk, make this a cool closer.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news an...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Muse , from Music Maker Relief Foundation . This cd will accompany a photography book of the same name by Tim Duffy coming out on March 28th. Opening with an acoustic jam, The Grotto Sessions , featuring Simon Arcache on guitar, Dr. Burt, Ironing Board Sam, Etta baker, Captain Luke, Rufus McKenzie, Alabama Slim and Guitar Gabe on vocal, plus a sea of others this is raw and adventurous. Taj Mahal is up next on John Hurt's Spike Drivers Blues with his distinctive vocal and guitar styling. Very nice. Eddie Tigner is up next on vocal and piano with a great boogie, Route 66 with Matt Sickles on bass, Ron Logsdon on drums, Paul Lindon on harp and with really nice guitar runs by Felix Reyes. Excellent! No question that my favorite track on the release is Robert Finley's Age Don't Mean A Thing , the title track from the spectacular release of the same name. Dom Flemons' Polly Put The Kettle On is a great ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Who Shot John? from Eric Schenkman and it's quite different. Opening with shuffle track I'm Alright , Eric Schenkman sets his bar solidly high with solid vocals and cool and loose blues guitar riffs. Backed by Shawn Kellerman on bass, Van Romaline on drums and Cody Dickinson on drums, washboard and piano these guys have an unusually appealing style. Lincolns Feat is a stripped down blues rocker with an almost hill country feel with just the right guitar tone and simple rhythms. Very cool. Title track, Who Shot John? is really quite cool with wild and wreckless guitar lead over a springy, party like beat. Excellent. With a lot of sway, slower blues, Sign of the Times has more traditional guitar lead and Brent Barkman on B3 gives the track depth making it one of the more universally appealing tracks on the release. High energy (think Houndog Taylor) blues rocker, Far Away is just simple cool blues rockin' w...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Peace Of Mind , from Danny Lynn Wilson with his blend of country, folk rock and blues. Opening with somber ballad When Will The Loving Start with it's captivating melody, featuring Wilson on lead vocal and acoustic guitar, backed by Danielle Gross on vocals, Clare Moses on vocal, Matt Raymond on bass and Ray Hangden on drums. Really nice. Another cool ballad, Sympathy For Your Man has a haunting feel with cool reverb laden guitar work by Dave Gross and Sean Daly on lap steel. Middle Class Blues has a cool ragtime feel. It's easy swing pace, vibrato guitar and cool vocals make this a top track. More upfront blues guitar riffs on Arkansas Trotter , staggering drum work and some cool tenor sax work by Doug James give this track a very solid feel. Rag style blues shuffle, Fuss 'N" Fight has a bright and energetic pace with clever guitar ditties as accents on certain phrases. Tight, finger picked acoustic...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Church of the Blues , from Watermelon Slim and it's great! From the time Slim opens on St. Peter's Ledger , this release is hot. Leading on slide and vocal and backed by John Allouise on bass, Brian Wells on drums and Bob Margolin on guitar, this is a super opener. On Muddy Waters' Gypsy Woman , Slim really takes the harp for a trip with hair curling squeals and vibrant Waters style slide work. Excellent!  Funky, New Orleans flavored Post Modern Blues has a great rhythm with Nick Schnebelen on slide, Matt Blagg on trumpet, Kevin Webb on trombone and Chris Hicks on sax. Very cool. Joe Louis Walker lends a soulful hand on electric guitar with gripping punch on Mni Wiconi . The Water Song with a light funk, R&B style horn backing and solid vocals. Really nice. One of my favorite on the release is That Ole 1-4-5 with it's traditional styling, strong vocals and with Ike Lamb and Slim sharing the excellen...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Been Meaning To Tell You , from Ina Forsman and it's really strong. Opening with power ballad Be My Home , Forsman presents her vulnerable sounding vocal style over organ and piano by Red Young and gospel like backing vocals by Mark Kazanoff and Alice Spencer. Very nice. On Get Mine , blending hip hop vocal delivery and funky wah wah guitar by the notorious Laura Chavez, joined by Brannen Temple on guitar and Chris Maresh on bass really kicks this release into gear. Stepping high on Genius , Forsman moves further into a R&B groove with an excellent bass line and the Texas Horns (Mark Kazanoff - sax,  John Mills bari sax, Al Gomez - trumpet, Randy Zimmerman - trombone) with yet more sassy guitar style by Chavez. An interesting track, Why You Gotta be That Way has strong lines in neo soul with flavors of one my favorites, Eryka Badu. The band glistens on piano and tight bass and drum lines makes this fusion track...

A few weeks late but here is the review of Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers newest release, The Christmas Swing and it's quite good. Opening with Jingle Bell Blues , a really bluesy twist on Jingle Bells allows Harpe great latitude in super slide work and solid vocals. Backed by Jim Countryman on bass, Matt Prozaleck on harp and Chris Arizalone on drums, this really is a super attempt at making non traditional Christmas music listenable (as opposed to the wildly played but horrible Springsteen's Santa Claus is Coming to Town). Country swinger, The Night Before Christmas , has Harpe telling the famous story in synch with country blues picking, light percussion and solid harp. Traditional 30's style, At The Christmas Ball has Harpe belting out the blues accompanied by kazoo and John Juxo on piano. Very cool. Title track, The Christmas Swing has a solid bass groove and nice vocal harmonies with harp work by Richard Rosenblatt. Chuck Berry's sixties rocker, Run R...

As you might imagine I get quite a pile of music to review and sometimes timeliness isn't on my side but I did receive a CD from Rev. Jimmie Bratcher that not only gives you something more interesting to listen to during the season, but is also a super release, so here's the review. Opening with the title track, Man! It's Christmas , Bratcher drops the bomb and a cool jazzy track. Featuring Bratcher on vocal and hot licks, Paul Draper on B3, Rick Yord on bass, and Brandon Draper on drums, this is a solid opener. traditional Hymn, Go Tell It On The Mountain is now a shuffle with country blues style singing and great acoustic guitar and slide with Tulsa Reed on harp. Very cool. Bell Carol Blue is another tune that will be very recognizable as a Christmas song but with such a tasteful blue jazz arrangement, you'll be grooving with nice flugelhorn and piano soloing by Eric Stark and excellent vocals and guitar work by Bratcher. Instrumental track,  Going To Grammy...

Marshall & The Fro Take ‘Live at The Backroom’ on the Road Whether with his classic outfit ‘The Fro’, or in various other guises, Byron Shire local Marshall Okell has become one of the most enduring faces of the blues and roots festival scene in Australia, and for ...