Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tony Holiday's Porch Sessions and I really like it. Vocalist and harmonica player, Tony Holiday has put together a great release here with a who's who of the blues business. Opening with Pick-Pocket Fingers a cool shuffle track Holiday on lead vocal is joined by James Harman on harmonica, Kid Ramos on guitar, Landon Stone on guitar and Kid Andersen on bass, this is a cool opener. John Primer steps in on lead vocal and guitar on They Call Me John Primer with featured harp work by Bob Corritore and Holiday and Joel Meza Jr. on drums. I always love Primer's slide style and Corritore has beautiful tone. Very nice. An easy, funky track, A Woman Named Trouble , showcases John Nemeth and Jake Friel with Holiday on vocal and harmonica. This is a funky funky track with a great bass line by Anderson. Excellent! Mitch Kashmar and Ronnie Shellist join Holiday for Three Way Party and slower but soulful guitar and ha...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bad Tattoo , from Mighty Mike Schermer , and I really like it. Opening with She Won't Be Coming Back , a cool Latin rhythm rocker features Mighty Mike on vocal and guitar and in particular Eric Bernhardt on bari sax. Nancy Wright slaps down a really nice tenor sax solo of her own and with Paul Revelli on drums, Steve Ehrmann on bass and Austin Delone, this is an excellent opener. Slipping into a really nice R&B groove on Lover's Hall Of Fame , Schermer shows his outright style on vocal and guitar backed by D'mar on drums, Kid Andersen on bass and organ and Dennis Love on congas and vocal. Shifting gears again on How Much Longer , Schermer gets on a country track with a really nice Cajun spice. With Revelli on drums, Ehrmann on bass, Delone on piano/Farfissa and Lisa Lueschner Andersen on backing vocals this track has great radio flavor and sets up explosive guitar riffs by Schermer. Title track, Bad Tatto...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, On The Other Side Of The Water , from Luca Burgalassi and it's a cool, laid back fusion of blues, country, folk and jazz. Opening with title track On The Other Side Of The Water , Luca Burgalassi presents a soft, rich melodies and harmonies accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica, with Dave Hufstedler on bass, Gianni Apicella on drums and Valentina Sorberra on backing vocals. Soothing. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Blues In My Mind with a James Taylor like style. Trading electric guitar riffs with Franco Ceccanti gives the track an extra kick. Very nice. On Broken Heart Blues , a solid shuffle track, Burgalassi shares the mic with Resa Gibbs who adds real spice. Backing by Jackie Merritt on harmonica and Dave Hufstedler on bass gives the track texture. Easy flowing electric jazz number, Minor and Major Change has a real nice sway and understated but charged electric guitar soloing by Burgalassi a...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Reborn , by AG Weinberger and it shows a smooth transition from earlier hard core blues to a more relaxed and flexible release. Opening with Willie Dixon's Wang Dang Doodle , AG Weinberger's approach has a cool jazz feel with light piano and double bass by Hars Viktor under his smoky vocals it's a different approach that I haven't heard and I like it. His guitar soloing is much more progressive with a more improvisational and less traditional approach... actually breaking time and going into a running jazz line. Excellent opener. With a bit of New Orleans funky jazz, Cseke Gabor on piano and excellent drums rhythms by Pusctai Csaba, Sweet Little Number is a great platform for Weinberger's R&B vocal approach. Very nice. On shuffle track, The Fool's Lucky Day , Weinberger approaches 50's bebop jazz and both his vocals and guitar are up to it pared with Bob Margolin on slide guitar. This is...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Smokehouse Serenade , from Kerry Kearney Band and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Shakin' Like Jelly , a driving shuffle, Kearney on lead vocal and guitar leads the way with some fiery riffs, supported by Frank Kingbee Latorre on harp, Mario Staiano on drums, Gerry Sorrentino on bass and David Bennett Cohen on keys. Blind Willie McTell's Statesboro Blues gets a dash New Orleans with a stepping rhythm and cool trumpet by Victor Poretz and Charlie Wolfe on harp. Fireplug is a somewhat funky blues rocker. Staiano's rhythm on this track sets the pace and I like Cohen's bouncy piano soloing. A more traditional delta style blues, No Way Back Blues gives Kearney a solid opportunity to show his acoustic blues guitar work. Very nice. Wake me, Shake Me, Bake Me is one of my favorites on the release with a great rhythm, a hot guitar, piano and harp solos. Very cool. Sittin' On Top Of The World h...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Taking It To The Street, by Tony Campanella and I really like it. Opening with title track, Taking It To The Street, Tony Campanella, and it's an aggressive blues rocker with a veracious guitar sound and a Jimi style swagger.  Shuffle's have never sounded so good as when SRV was cooking but Pack It Up sounds great. Mike Zito's rhythm guitar is fat and solid and Campanella's lead is firm and authoritative. Very nice. Slowing it down a bit on One Foot In The Blues, Campanella shows he has great vocal shops and his lead guitar work is strong and soulful. Backed by Terry Dry on bass, Matt Johnson on drums, Lewis Stephens on keys and Zito on rhythm, this track is hot! My first exposure to Good Morning Little Schoolgirl wasn't Sonny Boy or even Johnny Winter. It Was Alvin Lee and Ten Years After. Every take I've heard on this track has been solid but this is a real nice one with hard kick bass drumming ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Tip Of The Hat To Fats , by Mitch Woods and it's terrific. (Live from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2018) Opening with boogie track, Solid Gold Cadillac , Mitch Woods is slammin right out of the gate. With his smooth vocals and hot piano riffs, Mitch it rockin'. Backed by Amandee Castenell on tenor sax, Brian Cayolle on tenor sax, Roger Lewis on bari sax, John Fohl on guitar and Terence Higgins on drums, this track great. Down Boy Down is another excellent track with smoking riffs by Fohl and Castenell. Woods shows his New Orleans chops on Mojo Mambo and Fohl isn't shy to lay down dome riffs of his own. Flavorful! Rolling into a Fats Domino set, Woods pulls up Blue Monday featuring real nice tenor and bari sax solos setting the pace. Walking To New Orleans is another nice showcase for the horn section with Woods leading and fanning the flames. Getting the piano rolling boogie style, Woods...

Queen of Blues/Rock Guitar Joanna Connor Performing At The Dallas Guitar Show New Album Coming This Summer & Lots of Festival Dates  Northport NY - M.C. Records is proud to announce that the Queen of Blues/Rock Guitar, Joanna Connor will be performing at The Dallas International Guitar Festival this Friday. Other legendary guitarists performing at the weekend long event include Sonny Landreth, Paul Reed Smith, Larry Mitchell, Eric Gales and many more.  Click the photo of Joanna to get the complete schedule for all three days.                                                           Joanna Connor might be the best—or most original—blues-based slide guitar player you're likely to come across today. Or tomorrow.   Guitar World   -  https://www.guitarworl...

Cash McCall (January 28, 1941 - April 20, 2019) It is with great sadness that we share the news that Cash McCall passed away on April 20, 2019 after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer. His gentle spirit, humble nature and genuine kindness were a joy to behold, and he will be deeply missed. Funeral details for Cash Saturday, May 4, 2019 Wake: 10:30 am Funeral: 12:00 pm The Healing Center Full Gospel Baptist Church, 3885 Tchulahoma Rd, Memphis, TN 38118 Cash McCall July 1978 Montreux Jazz festival, Switzerland Photo By Lionel Decoster Cash McCall July 2018 Ecko Studio, ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, How To Polish Your Longhorns , from Jay Kipps Band and it's a cool blend of different style of music with a mutual theme of good stuff. Opening with Colt 45 , a great western style instrumental track in the vein of Rawhide with a bit of Dick Dale mixed in. Chard Burford leads the charge with solid finger work and backing by Jay Kipps, Chris Lubker on bass and Cory Bruyea on drums. Low slung, funky blues, Rotten Apple Blues has deep rooted guitar riffs by Burford and Kipps, and Kipps own harp and vocals give it real texture. Big Old Engine is a cool, country style blues (think upbeat Grateful Dead) with slick guitar riffs, an aggressive bass line and smoking harp supporting Kipps masterful vocals. Very nice. Another twist is Sinister with it's tight pop rock style. If you know The Eagles of Death Metal, that's the format and Kipps really executes well. Gonzo (Live) is one of my favorite tracks on the releas...

I just had the opportunity to review All We Have , the most recent release by Taylor Scott Band who mixes smooth ballads with clean rockers. Opening with funky rocker, Somebody Told Me , lead vocalist and guitarist, Taylor Scott shows powerful pipes, backed by Jon Wirtz on piano, Chris Harris on bass, Lem Williams on drums. His slick guitar styling and the and tight drumming by Williams make this a great opener. Salted Watermelon has all of the qualities of a great radio track with it's strong melody, solid vocal lead, well blended backing vocals by Steve Watkins and nicely blended instrumentation. One of my favorites on the release is Carry Me Away with it's jazzy overtones, dual guitar lead and springy rhythm. Another well crafted ballad, The Walk , shows real radio potential with a super melody, glistening keyboard work and some of Scott's best vocals on the release. With horn backing by Mark Gonzalez (trombone), Josh levy (bari sax), Gilbert Elorreaga (trumpet), ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Drop The Hammer , from Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith & The House Bumpers and it's a cool fusion of a number of sounds rooted in the blues. Opening with Head Pounder , a loose jam, Smith, who plays drums and leads on vocal blends African rhythms with delta styling and contemporary fluidity with the help of Billy Flynn on guitar and Omar Coleman on harp for an interesting perspective on the blues. Sliding into a more traditional shuffle, Hey Daddy , lead by Smith, backed by Mae, Clara and Theodore Smith on vocal and Flynn, Ari Seder on guitar, Felton Crews on bass Luca Chellini on piano, and Coleman on harp. R&B track, Scratchin' Your Head features Flynn and Seder on guitars over and cool bass line by Crews and laid back funky vocal by Smith. Chellini's organ work really fits in nicely and solos by Flynn and Coleman make this a really cool groove. Funky, What In The World , rides heavy on the bass...

NURS'N BLUES MUSIC FEST BENEFITS MUSIC THERAPY PROGRAM; PRESENTED BY BUFFALO MUSICIAN AND NURSE, PATTI PARKS; GRAMMY-NOMINATED KENNY NEAL HEADLINES STRONG LINEUP   Saturday, May 25 - THE COVE  - 3PM to 10PM Patti Parks, creator of the Music Therapy program, is also a member of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.    (Depew, NY) - The Nurs'n Blues Music Fest takes place at The Cove , 4701 Transit Rd., Saturday, May 25. Showtime: 3pm to 10pm. Tickets: $20. Donation in advance, $25. at the Door. Info: (716) 870-3600 or visit https://www.musicisart.org . Proceeds benefit Nurs'n Blues Therapy Program, that uses Blues Music Therapy for those struggling with chemical dependency. Presented as a non-profit collaborative by the Blues Society of Western New York and Music Is Art .    Nurs'n Blues Music Fest features two stages with continuous music all day long, headlined by Gramm...

PETER FRAMPTON BAND’S ALL BLUES DUE FOR RELEASE JUNE 7 VIA UMe “I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU” (FEATURING KIM WILSON) PREMIERES TODAY SIRIUSXM SIX-WEEK SERIES “THE PETER FRAMPTON SHOW” DEBUTS MAY 10 ON DEEP TRACKS CHANNEL PETER FRAMPTON FINALE— THE FAREWELL TOUR KICKS OFF THIS SUMMER photo credit: Austin Lord     “ One of rock ‘n’ roll’s lifelong major players ” All Blues , the forthcoming covers album from the Peter Frampton Band , is set for release on June 7 via UMe . The album is a collection of Frampton’s favorite blues classics and was recorded with his longtime touring band, made up of Adam Lester (guitar/vocals), Rob Arthur (keyboards/guitar/vocals) and Dan Wojciechowski (drums). “ I Just Want To Make Love To You ” (featuring Kim Wilson ) is the first song to be released from the new album, and is available now with digital album pre-order. Listen/share the track HERE . All Blues was recorded ...