Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Neon Highway Blues , from Gary Hoey and it's a solid blues rocker with lots of heat. Opening with, Under The Rug , a funky blues rocker with a definite Eric Gales added guitar flavor. Hoey's style is easily discernable from Gales and they work together nicely. With Matt Scurfield on drums, Sandy MacDonald on organ and AJ Pappas on bass, a solid opener. Slowing it down to a cool blues pace, Mercy of Love is up next with Josh Smith joining Hoey for some real blues fireworks. Excellent! One of my favorite tracks on the release is shuffle track, Your Kind Of Love with an super shuffle feel and slick slide guitar work. Very nice. Don't Come Crying is a solid 8 bar number featuring Hoey's son Ian laying down some serious riffs with the old man. This is a cool track and showcases what's coming up for the blues world. For those seeking the blues ballad style with lead guitar a la Gary Moore, Almost Heaven...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Coming Closer To The Day , from Robin Trower and I quite like it. The unearthly soaring riffs of Trower are missing but a soulful, nicely phrased blues player with continued sensitivity is here. Opening with Diving Bell , a lumbering blues rocker, Trower handles bass, guitar and vocal and does it with style. His rhythm guitar is chorded and distorted and his lead work, slicing and overdriven. His sense for the blues is strong. On title track, Coming Closer To The Day , has a light Latin rhythm and airy guitar lead and with upper and lower fretboard contrast, this is a really solid track. The Perfect Wrong is a gritty blues track with cool vocals and a strong drum lead and signature blues riffs by Trower giving it a good blast of steam. Little Girl Blue is one of my favorite tracks on the release is a quiet, ballad like structure but with excellent guitar lead over warm chords throughout. Very, very nice. Don't Eve...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Please Come Home , from Jimmie Vaughan and it's solid. Opening with Lloyd Price's R&B track, Baby, Please Come Home Vaughan has the mic and joined by George Rains on drums, Ronnie James on bass, Billy Pitman on rhythm guitar, Doug James on bari sax, Greg Piccolo on tenor sax, this band is rockin. On Lefty Frizzell's shuffle No One To Talk To (But The Blues) , Vaughan's vocals are stellar and his guitar playing low slung and meaningful. Chuck Willis' What's Your Name? has a real great tempo and the steady drumming by Rains sets the tempo and James' sax work is fat and meaty. Very nice. Low slung, It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day) has a real nice off beat pace and Vaughan's guitar lead answers the response nicely and his soloing with James' bari work is really nice. Fats Domino's So Glad has a great feel with hot sax work by James and Piccolo and I really like Vaughans unu...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In The Middle Of Nowhere , from John Clifton and it's quite good. Opening with the excellent, I'm Leaving You Baby , with it's firm Chicago romp style. John Clifton, former leader of MoFo Party Band, has his own gig and on lead vocal and harp, this gig is hopping. Backed by Scott Abeyta on guitar, Jake Finney on bass, Edward Fritz on drums, Bartek Szopinski on piano and John Shafer on tambourine and cowbell this band is tight. On shuffle track, If It Ain't Me , Clifton is howling on harp and his vocals are vibrant. I particularly like Szopinski's piano work and the fluid guitar soloing of Abeyta on this track. Very cool. Cool Spot In Hell is a good name for a laid back jazzy track in the middle of a hot set. Abeyta lays in some really nice lead runs and Szopinski's phrasing is terrific leading up to Clifton's own lush harp scape. Very nice. Four Years Ago is a great driving blues track with...

 DR John, the flamboyant New Orleans singer-pianist whose hoodoo-drenched music made him the summarizing figure of the grand Crescent City R&B/rock ‘n’ roll tradition, died Thursday of a heart attack at age 77. “Towards the break of day June 6, iconic music legend Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr., known as Dr. John , passed away of a heart attack,” a statement on his social media pages said. “The family thanks all whom shared his unique musical journey & requests privacy at this time. Memorial arrangements will be announced in due course.” Rebennack had already tallied more than a decade of experience as a session musician in his hometown and Los Angeles when he rose to solo fame in the late ‘60s after concocting his voodoo-influenced, patois-laced persona of “the Night Tripper.” In their history of postwar New Orleans music “Up From the Cradle of Jazz,” Jason Berry, Jonathan Foose and Tad Jones wrote richly of the artist they called “a true original The writers de...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Take Me As I Am , by Meg Williams and it's a solid R&B/rock entry. Opening with radio track, Come On Over To Me, a slide guitar infused (Dan Wecht) R&B track, Williams leads the way on vocal and guitar, backed by Clayton Ivey on organ, Bob Wray on bass, Justin Holder on drums and Sara Rogers on backing vocals. Solid opener. Funky, Shame , is a bit sassy with Will McFarlane joining Wecht on guitar. With a snappy rhythm this track us upbeat and catchy. Little Bit Of The Devil is another radio strong track with a solid beat, and flashy slide work giving Williams a solid base to show her vocals over. Title track, Take Me As I Am , paired with What About Me are a great pop duo with super melody and nice vocal delivery by Williams. I like the additional complexity of Make A Move with it's vocal duet with Rogers and rock style guitar soloing giving it just a bit more textural bite. Wrapping the release is co...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Confessin' My Dues , by Terry Robb , and I really like it. Opening with Butch Holler Stomp , a smoking hot finger pickers delight, Robb, regarded as one of the top finger picking blues guitarists shows why! Excellent opener! On, It Might Get Sweaty , Robb is joined by Dave Captein on bass and Gary Hobbs on drums for a funkier blues number with a definite jazzy edge. Robb literally smokes the fretboard with Captein and Hobbs holding the bottom solid. Very nice. In the pure blues vein, Darkest Road I'm Told , has strong blues runs and solid vocals by Robb. My favorite track on the release, Three Times The Blues explores the T Bone Walker style of blues with deep feeling, excellent runs and solid phrasing, backed by Captein on bass and Hobbs on drums. Very nice.  Title track, Confessin' My Dues has a great country blues feel with a springy rhythm and confident phrases. In Rev Gary Davis style, Death Of Blind A...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Travelin' Woman , from South Side Chicago's Mary Lane and its real nice. Opening with title track, Travelin' Woman, Lane shows why her reputation precedes her large as life. Joined by Travis T. Bernard on drums, Chris Cameron on keys, Jim Trullio on guitar and bass, Terry Ogolini and Gene Barge on sax, Don Tenuto on trumpet and with flaming hot slide work by Louie Zagoras this is a super opener. Up tempo blues track, Leave That Wine Alone , has a great tempo and Lanes vocals are sassy. Johnny Grey on B3, Phil Miller on slide and Paul Mertens bass harmonica work is solid and backing vocals by Simbryt Dortch and Yvonne Gage really add nicely to the bottom. Corky Siegel sits in on harmonica on shuffle track, Some People Say I'm Crazy and with solid piano work by Grey, a very cool track. One of my favorite tracks on the release is soul soaked, Let Me Into Your Heart with it's gripping vocal feel and go...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Blues Came Falling Down - Live 1973 , by Johnny Shines and it's rich in traditional blues. Playing during his career with Robert Johnson as well as Robert jr Lockwood, Mississippi Fred McDowell and Willie Dixon Shines is a lesser publicly known but spectacular blues man. Opening the never before released Live recording from 1973, with Big Boy Boogie shines starts this one man show with fleet fingered blues picking that will make you sit back with wonderment. Seems A Million Years , a strong delta blues track shows Shines is not only an accomplished guitar player but with a terrific voice, transitioning smoothly from his wonderful mid range singing voice to his nearly falsetto wailing as was prominent with James and Johnson among others. Very cool. On classic, Kind Hearted Woman , you find a perfect balance of Shines' singing and guitar work, both smooth as silk and uniquely Shines.  One of my favorite track...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Into The Soul , by Josh Hyde and it's quite nice. Opening with swampy rocker, Rocking Chair , Josh Hyde sets a mean stage with solid vocals and vicious slide riffs, paired with the fine backing of bass of Ron Eoff, drums of Derrek Phillips and keys of Jimmy Wallace. Cool opener. Painfully soulful, For You I Ache oozes sensitivity and stress with the wailing vocals of Hyde and really nice backing sonic guitar work by Hyde and pedal steel work of Chris Lippincott and contrasting brightness of Wallace's piano. Very nice. Stinging blues guitar work of Hyde on Lover's Curse makes it a standout with a radio style melody and particularly tight drumming by Phillips. One of my personal favorites on the release is Down On Bourbon Street , a stylish ballad with interesting vocal harmonies and a lightly salted Latin beat. Wrapping the release is Reasons Why , a particularly heartfelt ballad highlighting Hyde's vo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bad Things , from Sean Pinchin and it's a tasty rocker. Opening with If You're Gonna Leave M e, Sean Pinchin charges for open field with a pumped up sound that could rev up a crowd. Rock style slide work and hand claps/tambourine/bass and foot pedal give you all the drive you need. Title track, Bad Things has a real cool swagger and a real nice slide feel. Bottom compliments of Jane Luvite (drums) and Rob Szabo (bass and keys) give it plenty of oomph and backing vocals by Jamie Grey add texture. Digging down into the delta, Skip James' Devil Got My Woman maintains it's mystery with multiple slide guitar textures but gets a light funky workover giving it a cool radio appeal. Stripping back the skin even more, Blind Willie Johnson's Nobody's Fault But Mine really gives Pinchin the opportunity to play old style blues, old style...vocal and guitar. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Steve Strongma...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Hell Bound for Heaven by Manx Marriner Mainline and it's solid. Opening with Nothing , a cool blues shuffle, Harry Manx has the lead on vocal and banjo with Steve Marriner on harmonica and electric guitar and timed by Moe Duella on drums. This is a real nice opener showcasing some real nice riffs by Marriner on both harp and guitar. Title track, Hell Bound for Heaven , has a darker delta style feel but with a more contemporary Paul Rogers spin. Manx injecting the eccentric sound of the Mohan Veena adds mystery and even more with slide. Marriner's lead vocal and harp is solid. Rattlesnake is a easy rocking two step blues with Marriner on Baritone guitar, harp, drums and vocal and Manx on slide, backed by Clayton Doley on Hammond. This track has really nice changes in addition to a solid melody. With it's Latin beat and some of Pops Staples' original gospel structure, Wish I Had Answered is one of my favorit...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live On The East Coast , from the Lee Boys and it's terrific! Opening with funk laden spiritual track, In The Morning , Derrick and Keith Lee on lead vocal, Alvin Lee on guitar, Chris Johnson on screaming pedal steel, Alvin Cordy Jr, on funky bass and Earl Walker on drums. Excellent opener! On blues shuffle, Don't Let The Devil Ride , the band really gets humming with Johnson really winding it up. This band is tight. On classic R&B track, I'll Take You There , Derrick and Keith really get into a nice groove with a solid bottom by Cordy who also takes a nice walk of his own, leading to an extended guitar jam. Very nice. Alvin lays in some real nice riffs under the nicely harmonizing vocals of Derrick and Keith. Rick Lollar on lead guitar gives Testify a little smoke over a simmering hot vocal lead and driving bass runs of Cordy and of course the ever present pedal soloing of Johnson. Very cool! Wrapping...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tele Masters , from Arlen Roth and it's super. Featuring a who's who of telecaster players, this release has it all. Opening with Remington Ride with Steve Wariner and Cindy Cashdollar, this track has a lot of country spice and great picking. Wariner and Roth each take turns showing their chops and Cashdollar's lap steel work is impeccable as always. backed by Tom Hambridge on drums, Tommy MacDonald on bass and Billy Panda on acoustic guitar, this is a super opener. A funky, lumbering arrangement to Big Bill Broonzy's Key To The Highway gives it a fresh new life. Jack Pearson has a great voice on lead and sharing lead guitar  with Roth, this track has really digs in. One of my favorites. A track featuring a great finger picking shoot out is Bunky with Brad Paisley. If you are wondering if this release is a guitar players album...oh yeah! Will Ray and Roth strut tall with Link Wray's Rumble . Keep...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Deep In My Soul , from Big Daddy Wilson , and it's a solid mix of R&B and blues. Opening with I Know , a super R&B track Big Daddy Wilson (Blount) sounds off with a warm soulful voice, backed by Laura Chavez on guitar, Dave Smith on bass and Steve Potts on drums and the super horn backing of Brad Guin on sax, Ken Waters on trumpet and Trinicia Butler and Kimberlie Helton on backing vocals. Funky, Tripping On You has solid commercial potential with a super melody, a hot bass line, crisp guitar soloing by Chavez and tight backing vocals by Butler and Helton. Another smooth R&B track, Hold On To Our Love , is really nice with warm lead and backing vocal, shimmery lead guitar and cool organ work by Rick Steff. One of my favorite tracks on the release is funky soul track, Deep In My Soul with an excellent beat, a super groove, organ ride, great horn punch by Guin and Waters and edgy guitar work by Chavez. Exc...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soulshaker , from Rick Vito and  it's really cool. Opening with low slung Texas style blues number, She's Just Too Fine , Vito is hitting on every cylinder right out of the gate. His vocals are strong and his slide work great. Backed by Rick Reed on drums, this is a great opener. I Do Believe has a snappy, revival pace with drums on the 2 and 4. Vito's slide work is contagious with excellent tone and vibrato. Doggin' Around is a cool instrumental ballad with lead slide guitar and Kevin McKendree on organ. This is one of absolute favorites on the track with a smooth style and trademark slide. Very nice. Two stepper, Dancin' Little Sister has a great beat blending early rock and roll with boogie guitar. How can you not love this! Another instrumental ballad, Soul Shadow , features strong drums rhythms by Charlies "Mojo" Johnson playing in beautiful sympathy to Vito's excellent slide pl...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Do The Hip-Shake Baby! , from Bob Corritore & Friends and I really like it. Corritore usually sticks pretty close to traditional Chicago style blues but not on this one. He's mixing it up but the mix is great. Opening with Shake Your Hips , Mighty Joe Milsap is upfront on vocals and they are rich and powerful. With Alan West on drums and percussion this track has a swampy rhythmic feel and Corritore's harp work is used like a sharp knife carving in essential riffs. Very nice. Alabama Mike leads on Gonna Tell Your Mother , a classic R&B track with Johnny Rapp and LA Jones on guitar, Adrianna Marie on bass, Fred Kaplan on keys and Brian Fahey on drums. With sassy backing vocals and a slick guitar solo, this track is swinging. Bill "Howl-N-Madd" Perry gets down, slow and gritty on You Better Slow Down . Corritore has his harp singing on this one over the classic guitar riffs of Perry and Rapp. Ver...

Acclaimed Guitarist and JUNO Award Nominee KEVIN BREIT to Release New Stella Bella Strada Album on May 31 from Stony Plain Records TORONTO, ON -- Stony Plain Records is proud to announce the release of acclaimed guitarist and performer Kevin Breit’s Stella Bella Strada , his second solo album for the label, to be available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and all digital retailers on May 31 . Retail CD sales commence June 7. Produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Kevin, himself, Stella Bella Strada marks his fourth release on Canada’s leading folk/roots label, Stony Plain Records (he also recorded two albums with fellow guitar whiz, Harry Manx). “Kevin Breit is one of the most creative and imaginative musician I've ever worked with,” says Holger Petersen, founder and president of the label. “What he brings is far beyond incredible guitar playing. He is a master arranger, composer and soulful visionary, whose tones and phrasing color his music with sophi...