Bman's Blues Report

Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters and Colin James Both Set to Play Big Blues Bender at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on September 6 LAS VEGAS, NV – - F our-time Blues Music Award-winning guitarist Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, as well as acclaimed Canadian guitarist Colin James, are set to play the 2019 edition of the Big Blues Bender on Friday, September 6 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Both sets will take place at “The Joint”: Colin James from 6:30 – 7:45pm; followed by Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters from 8:15-9:45pm. Ronnie Earl, who has won “Guitar Player of the Year” honors four times from the Blues Foundation, was the hit of the most-recent Blues Music Awards show in Memphis with his show-stopping live performance of the Junior Wells classic, “In the Wee Hours.” Earl is following that up with the August 30 release of the latest Stony Plain Records album (on CD and vinyl formats) from the blues guitar mast...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Lost Tapes Vol. 1 , from The Hideaways , and it's terrific! Opening with Albert King's Let's Have A Natural Ball and it's on fire! With Chris James on lead vocal and guitar the band sounds more like Gatemouth Brown or Alvin Lee than King. Sean O'Neill on bass paired with Boom Boom Johnson on drums really drives the bottom and Scotty Micciche hits it hard on harp. Sensational opener. Doc Pomus' Lonely Avenue is a really cool sauntering shuffle with reverb drenched guitar soloing and it's steady beat. Junior Wells' Little By Little has super feel and James and Micciche paired on vocal makes for great stuff. Micciche takes a real nice harmonica solo on this one and really takes the track to a higher plain. James' guitar runs, double stops and fanning style fit this track to a tee. Excellent! Switching over to Chuck Berry style on Bye Bye Johnny , an strong rock n roll bottom gives J...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Revelation , from Tullie Brae who mixes power vocals and a heavy rhythm section producing a solid rock sound. Opening with Price of the Blues , Brae belts with a  Grace Slick like swagger laying heavy on the bass line of Bill Ruffino, and adding her own slide work on with David Green on drums. Powerful opener. On ballad Mississippi Rain , we see the other side of Brae's sensitive vocals with excellent guitar phrasing by Jeff Jensen and bright piano highlights by Rick Steff. On blues rocker, Break These Chains , Brae strikes a nice medium with a bluesy vocals, deep raspy guitars by Jensen and nicely highlighted by Brandon Santini on harmonica. My favorite track on the release is soul track, New Shoes with it's straightforward radio melody. Smooth, gospel like piano work over the organ on this track really drives the bottom and Brae's vocals are spot on. My other favorite track on the release is Shine , anoth...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Highway Cruise , from J. P. Reali and it's cool and laid back. Opening with My Baby Likes To Boogie , a nice paced shuffle, Reali leads the way on vocal and guitar, with cool guitar soloing  by Duke Levine on electric guitar, hot riffs by Kevin Barry on lap steel, and nice piano work by Tom West, with Jim Haggerty on bass, Mark Teixeira on drums and Dennis Brennan on harmonica. On Chuck Berry flavored, The Ballad Of A Burglar, these guys nail the Berry guitar rhythm and Reali's vocal cadence is spot on. Levine's guitar riffs are crisp, Barry,s slide work creamy and Brennan's piano work adds great texture. Blues for Casey has a real nice Grateful Dead or Arlo Guthrie feel with it's acoustic carefree flow. Barry on dobro and Levine on mandolin balance nicely with West on piano and Brennan on Harmonica. My favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is Whiskey For Blood , a  country blues tr...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, City Night , from Savoy Brown and it's smokin'! Opening with Walking on Hot Stones , Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown is back with a vengeance. With a driving, heavy bottomed blues rocker beat, Simmonds is handling lead vocal like never before and his guitar can still breathe fire. An excellent slide player and overall guitar player, this is a great opener. I love the guitar tone that Simmonds gets on Payback Time and he has definitely refined his vocal delivery which gets closer and closer to a great blues rock delivery with every release. His lead riffs are as good as ever and at his best, he can compete with anyone. Neighborhood Blues has a real nice funky slouch and Simmonds rides the pocket with excellent, call and response like Clapton on Outside Woman Blues with the Cream. My favorite track on the release, Selfish World , conjures an eerie sense of Savoy Brown from the early 70's with it's calm but h...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Livin' To Play , by Brett Spaulding & The Psychic Spies and it solid. Opening with blues based rocker and title track, Livin' To Play , Brett Spaulding on lead vocal and guitar sets a lumbering pace with solid footing. Backed by Chad Holtzman on guitar and organ, Emmet VanEtten on drums, Brent Wright on guitars and backing vocals, and Stephen Fletcher on keys, this is a solid opener. Can't Stop is sure fire radio track with a clean melody and Glenn Frey like bones. The Lucky Ones is one of my favorite tracks on the release with a solid rhythm and cool bass line. Spaulding's lead vocal, paired with backing vocals by Holtzman and Wright give it the perfect balance. Another of my favorite tracks is Everyday with it's chugging, driving, rock feel and obtuse guitar riff. Wrapping the release is Little Differences with it's garage undertone and poppy melody. This is a cool release with a lot of ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Where's Joe? , by Joe Restivo and it's really strong. Opening with late 50's jazz styling on T. Monk's Bolivar Blues , guitar player Joe Restivo has put together a really nice selection of tracks and just the right mix of musicians to pull this off. With it's bluesy style, Restivo lays out really articulate guitar soloing over the tight rhythms of Tim Goodwin on bass and Tom Lonardo on drums. art Edmaiston hammers the sax delivering a period master work making this an excellent opener. Title track, Where's Joe is a real nice shuffle led by Edmaiston, paired with Restivo on guitar. His solo break here is excellent and of course Edmaiston's sax work is really nice as well. What an opening duo! Backed down to a whisper, Starlight Motel has a really nice melody framed by Restivo and Edmaiston. Restivo's pure understanding of what this music should feel like causes his guitar runs to float o...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Light of Day , by Vince Agwada and I really like it! Opening with hard driving boogie track, Two Tons of Fun , Agwada lays it down hard and heavy with a track that will appeal to most anyone who loves blues music. I mean blazing slide guitar and great vocals by Agwada, pushed along by Brian Jones on drums and with Terri Lane on backing vocals, this track is excellent! Hard Headed Woman takes a basic blues and funks it up with a great bass line by Andre Howard, and drums by Brady Williams, keys by Roosevelt Purifoy, horns by Game Changer Horns and adding excellent blues guitar soloing throughout just killing it. Blues 99 has a heavy footed funk feel and it's grittiness maintains a blues rock framework with Agwada on guitar and bass, Steven Gillis on drums and Agwada's vocals are perfect. This may be the best opening 3 tracks on a blues rock release is many years.  If you lean more toward a Gary Moore 'ballad...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Got My Back , from Tom Euler and it's solid. Opening with title track, Blues Got My Back , Tom Euler gets the track hopping right away with this up tempo shuffle featuring Lucy Kilpatrick on keys, Michael Behlmar on drums, Von Jose Roberts on bass and leading the way on lead guitar and vocals. Super opener. On funky blues number, Bridge You Ain't Burnt , the band shifts gears with a tight bottom and Euler's strong vocals and powerful lead guitar. On ballad, Forgive Me , Euler steps the pace way back with a strong melody and pure radio track. His vocal, floating on Kilpatrick's keyboard work is soothing and mellow. Snapping back quickly on Tricky Business , Euler has the guitar up front and setting the pace. Trading lead with Kilpatrick this is a high power instrumental of the first degree. My favorite track on the release, Tough Guy , has a cool Texas style swagger, with powerful vocals, fluid guit...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Twist The Knife , from the 44's and it's hot! Opening with excellent, original instrumental track, Cutting Deep , the band holds a tight blues rally while lead guitar player, Johnny Main tears it up. Excellent style and chops makes this one of the coolest new tracks I've heard this year. With Eric Von Herzen on harp, Mike Hightower on bass, Gary Ferguson on drums and Junior Watson on guitar, this is a massive opener. On Howlin' Wollf''s Howlin' , Main sings with a raspy, Wolf like voice and rolls immediately into a nice long guitar solo, also nicely worked over by Von Herzen on harmonica. Very cool. On Morganfield's Champagne and Reefer , Main sings soulfully and Von Herzen really has nice tone with an excellent harp solo. Very cool. Doyle Bramhall II's Rosie is up next with it's swampy drive and droning lower end. Main really takes advantage of this primal feel with wailing guita...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Speakeasy , from Paula Harris , and it has old school pop jazz roots. Opening with Nothing Good Happens After Midnight , Harris shows her deep throaty voice over the sultry piano of Nate Ginsberg, with Rich Girard on bass and D'mar martin on drums. On funky, I Wanna Hate Myself Tomorrow (or Raising Hell Tonight) , Harris shows her vocal versatility and Ginsberg's piano is tops. R&B / jazz track, Good Morning Heartache has a rich melody and with it's bouncy rhythm and sparkling piano is one of my favorites on the release. Something Wicked is another smooth soulful tune with a great feel and the addition of nice trumpet work of Bill Ortiz and spoken word by Big Llou Johnson. Monk's classic, Round Midnight is a pure highlight with dark warm vocals, excellent piano and tasteful trumpet by Ortiz and spot on bass work by Girard. Wrapping the release is jazz classic, Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby ,...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Love At The All Night Café , from Jon Gindick and it's easy, breezy and bluesy. Opening with I Was Born To Wail, harmonica player, guitar player and lead vocalist, Jon Gindick sets the pace with train riffs and a up tempo beat. Backed by Ralph Carter on bass, Frack Goldwasser on guitar and Pete Gallagher on drums, the band hits the ground running. Title track, The All Night Café has a cool, Latin sway, clean guitar riffs, excellent percussion, harmonica and vocal making it one of my favorites on the release. Another of my favorites is blues number, Load Me Up Baby with it's rocking intro and it's swinging refrain with really nice guitar soloing. Very cool. Swing track, Happy Wife, Happy Life, Happy Home is another really cool track with some of Gindick's best vocals and overall great track. I Love The Feminine Girl has a clever story sure to make it a favorite with listeners and a solid beat. Wrappi...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Heart of Memphis , from Michele D'Amour and the Love Dealers and it's got real traction. Opening with Another Sleepless Night , a slick, Latin flavored track along the lines of Black Magic Woman, finds Michele up front on vocal with Jeff Cornell laying down some sweet guitar lead, backed by Patrick McDanel on bass, Dave Delzotto on drums, Brian Olendorf on keys and Noel Barnes on sax. Another breezy, bluesy track with Latin rhythm is Come On Over with Sheila Kelly and Kristi miller singing lush backing vocals. Olendorf's piano solo is smooth and a tasty trumpet insert by Greg Lyons adds just the right iridescence. Title track, Heart of Memphis has rich horns and smooth vocal leads by Michele. With a nice interwoven texture of trumpet, bass, guitar, lead and backing vocal, this is a cool radio track. One of the most fun tracks on the release is funky, Memphis Soul Stew a la James Brown style. Michele direc...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Walk Outside Again , from Leny's Girl and it's a cool rocker with blues and country roots. Opening with Pretend , a wide open country rocker with plenty of twists and turns. Featuring Kasey McKenzie on vocal, Beggsy on guitar, Brownie on drums, Cookie on harp and Tom Raw on bass, it's a solid start.  Devil With A Gun is a real cool rock track with suspense and tension via a simple bass line, tight drum riffs, a vicious harp riff and great vocals by McKenzie. Title track, Walk Outside Again has haunting slide work by Beggsy, nicely isolating the vocals on McKenzie on the softer part of this track and giving the track real dynamics when they open up and pour on the heat. Very nice. Miss Robin Hood is a wide open rocker with a driving beat, fat slide work and McKenzie's most powerful vocals on the release. Wrapping the release is Table with a strong dose of the San Francisco psychedelic blues sound. Th...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kind of Blues , from Adam Holt and it's solid. Opening with up beat rocker, Mr. Morning Drive featuring Adam Holt on vocals and guitars, Owen Finley on bass, Greg DeLuca on drums and Donnie Sundal on keys. With it's upfront poppy sound, nice melody and lovable tempo, this is a sure radio track. One of my favorite tracks on the release is I'm Still Holdin' On with a melodic slide lead from Lee Yankie and beautifully country style vocal blending, underscored by the pedal steel work of Mark Welborn and real nice electric blues style soloing by Holt. Very nice. Piano rocker, Give The Dog A Bone is a cool stripped down rocker with a definite country twinge. Holt really has a great voice and his sense of lyrics are great. Sundal, piano work on this track set a nice groove and Holt's guitar used as punctuation is perfect. Very cool. Another country flavored track, The Bourgeoisie really is a great track ...

Carolyn Gaines Pays Homage To B.B. King, Buddy Guy & Other Blues Greats   With The Thrill Is Gone Out on August 2 Hand-picked covers convey her vocal prowess Featured players: Grady Gaines, Sr and Grady Gaines, Jr and Ric Jaz “Lady with Soul” – Johnny Rawls “Gaines’ powerful, expressive voice has hints of the languid swing of Billie Holiday” – Blues Blast Last year, fans and critics fell in love with Carolyn Gaines’ debut album, Beware Of My Dog , this year, she continues to sing her backside off, like Ma Rainey, Billie Holiday, Etta James,   Bessie Smith, and Diana Ross on her new album, The Thrill Is Gone via Polka Dot Records out on August 2, 2019. The collection is colorful and filled with snarls, sneers, growls, and guts all sung with a smile on the singer’s face. Gaines produced the album herself, and she recorded at Leon Haywood’s (“It's Got To Be Mellow,” Guitar Slim, “Bad Mama Jama”) Sunnyside Studio in Los Angeles, CA. The...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hellfire , from Kenny Parker and it's a nice blues rocker. Opening with Chicago style, I've Got My Eye On You , Dan Devins is the lead vocalist and also covers harmonica. Kenny parker with just the right groove lay down strong blues solo phrasing, all backed by Mike Marshall on bass, Dave Marcaccio on drums, Bill Heid on piano and Jim McCarty on guitar. Cool opener. Blind And Paralyzed is strong Muddy Waters flavored track with a strong Waters style guitar riff and a lyric play on Etta James' most popular track. With a firm pace and deliberate lead guitar work by Parker, a strong contemporary blues entry. Rock n Roller, Bye Bye Baby has great feel and tasty piano work by Leonard Moon on piano.  Title track, Hellfire , has a firm, lumbering bottom and great organ work by Chris Codish. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Parker's guitar soloing shows genuine fire and inspiration. Very cool. Bluesy ...

Johnny Burgin Live" on Delmark Records, CD/LP Street Date 8.16!   This live CD/LP offers twelve brand-new originals and two covers, performed in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Sonoma County, CA on Jan 5 of this year.    The band consisted of my road-tested rhythm section of Steve Dougherty and Chris Matheos in addition to some special guests and friends that I don't get to work together regularly, namely Kid Andersen, Rae Gordon, Aki Kumar, Charlie Musselwhite and Nancy Wright.  We had just one night to nail it, which made this recording a crazy, but thrilling, high wire act!  Blues legend Charlie Musselwhite's driving boogie-woogie harp on L"California Blues" is an absolute highlight.  You ...