Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soul Doctor , from Jimmy Carpenter and it's cool mix of blues, rock, soul and R&B. Opening with blues rocker and title track, Soul Rocker , Jimmy Carpenter on lead vocal and sax sets the pace with hot guitar work by Nick Schnebelen, Red Young on keys, Jason Langley on bass and Cameron Tyler on drums. Shuffle, Wild Streak has a cool swing and features a real solid sax solo by Carpenter and so great slide by Trevor Johnson. New Orleans flavored, Love It So Much is one of my favorites on the release with hot drum work by Tyler, a great bass line by Langley, Doug Woolverton on trumpet, Mark Earley on Bari sax and of course strong vocal and sax work by Carpenter. Slower blues track, Need Your Love So Bad really gives Carpenter a chance to shine on vocal and sax and Johnson's lead guitar work is very nice. Funky, Wanna Be Right is a solid radio entry with excellent key work by Young, super vocals by Carpenter,...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Tools , from Kathryn Grimm and it is a pop driven blues rocker. Opening with shuffle track, You Make Me So Happy I Can't Sing The Blues , backed by Kelly Swift on bass, Charlie Swift on drums and featuring Fenix Sanders on sax. With a quiet Latin influence, Gone is a cool rocker with nice guitar soloing by Grimm and a hot sax solo by Kelly. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Talking To The Wind with it's mode deliberate Latin rhythms, solid vocal blending and bass work by Michael Sunday and Robin James on drums. Bluesy, Miss Celie's Blues is a solid shuffle featuring Fenix Sanders on sax with a good workout and a more sensual side of Kathryn's vocals. Wrapping the release is quiet ballad, Empty Space , featuring Kathryn on lead vocals and Johny Powel on flute over Grimm's own acoustic guitar accompaniment. Very nice.    If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues ta...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sweet Thing , from Moonshine Society and it's rich in blues. Opening with title track, Sweet Thing , lead singer, Black Betty uses her heavy, Big Mama styling to throw this track around like a rag doll with support from the likes of Jason Ricci with Joe Poppen on guitar, Wes Lanich on keys, Tod Ellsworth on bass and Rodney Dunton on drums. R&B ballad, Come On Home has great depth with the addition of Ron Holloway on tenor sax, Vince McCool on trumpet, Ken Wenzel on Bari sax and Billy Mayfield on backing vocals. Very nice. Funky, Southern Roads is one of my favorites with a super back beat and Ricci back on harp pushing Betty vocally and the excellent drum and guitar combo of Dunton and Poppen. Use Me On Guilded Splinters takes Bill Withers' classic Use Me, reinforces the funky rock bottom and hits it with a really hard dash of guitar, then rolls it all up in gumbo … Dr John style with I Walk On Guilded Sp...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, As Live As It Gets , from Polly O'Keary and the Rhythm Method and it's a solid performance. Opening with high stepper, Red Light with it's romping bass line by O'Keary under her powerful vocal lead, backed by David Miller on guitar and Tommy Cook on drums. Funky blues, In My Father's House has a really great bottom with cool lead guitar by Miller and ever tight drum snap by Cook. O'Keary's bass line is relentless and her vocals full and heavy. Slow blues, Black Crow Callin' is my favorite track on the release with O'keary digging deep on her best vocal effort on the release and Miller really takes it to the next level with excellent lead phrasing volume swells and trem bends. Very nice. Blues rocker, I Don't Understand is another track that will get your heals high and people on the dance floor. O'Keary's vocals are solid and commanding and Cook's use of snare is p...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ten Thousand Watts , from Altered Five Blues Band and it's a scorcher. Opening with hard driving boogie, Right On, Right On , Jeff Taylor's gritty vocals lead the way over the thumping bass line of Mark Solveson and solid drum work of Alan Arber. Steve Cohen screams on harp and Jeff Schroedl on guitar really makes you want to put this on your main system and crank it up...Excellent! With an Albert King like swagger, Schroedl leads off on title track, Ten Thousand Watts and with an already powerful bottom cranks off an a head slapping lead solo keeping Taylor company right up front. Wow! Balance between Raymond Tevich on keys and Schroedl's rhythm guitar give Taylor a strong platform to continue the onslaught on Great Minds Drink Alike ... a rowdy shuffle. Keep it coming boys! Dollars & Demon s is a super dark blues number with super vocal phrasing and excellent guitar tone. Schroedl really pulls out the...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Solo Ride , from Bruce Katz and it's a cool blues piano extravaganza. Opening with piano boogie, Down At The Barrelhouse , Katz is really rolling with a great boogie line on the bottom and solid great lead on top. Excellent opener. Tampa Red's It Hurts Me Too on piano has a totally different dynamic and Katz works it hard. Maintaining it's shuffle structure, Katz's hands are gold. With poise and elegance, Katz plays ballad, Dreams of Yesterday , with it's serene melody with a touch of gospel balance. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Easy Livng with it's early jazz/blues roots. Katz sets it up nicely and then hits the solo opening trill. Maintaining a slow but sure pace, his phrasing is strong. Very nice. Another piano boogie, Watermelon Thump really grinds out the blues in barrelhouse style. Very nice. Closing the release is Redemption with the structure of a movie soundtrack. Katz...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Yours Truly, Me , from Alex Lopez and it's a smooth and polished radio blues rocker. Opening with Woe Is Me, a pop rocker featuring Lopez's on lead vocal, backed by Kenny Hoye on keys, Steve Roberts on bass and David Nunez on drums with some particularly nice light jazz runs on guitar. I'm A Working Man shows cool guitar form over a somewhat funky drum and bass bottom. Blues ballad, I Love You Blues (Redux) has a sweet melody and melodic guitar soloing, backed by solid organ and piano work byKenny Hoye and with Steve Pagano on bass and Michael Maxim on drums.  Sinful is a cool bluesy ballad with some of Lopez's best vocals on the release. His guitar playing has great style and adventure. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Cheating Blues (redux) with it's rock n roll styling. Pagano's bass work and the tight drums riffs of Maxin give solid bottom to Hoye for his organ solo.    If you sup...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Simple Life, from Dudley Taft and it's a solid blues rocker with a modern rock edge. Opening with Give Me A Song , a strong radio style track with a catchy melody and a solid beat, Taft's vocals are solid and his guitar lead straight on. Backed by Kasey Williams on bass, and Chris Ellison on drums, a strong opener. With a more aggressive edge, In Your Way has a strong bottom via Walfredo Reyes Jr on drums and Taft's rhythm guitar. His lead work is clean and tight. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Bombs Away with it's bright rock feel and Taft's electrifying guitar lead. Warren Haynes' If Heartaches Were Nickels gives Taft the perfect venue to show his blues chops. With an extended lead guitar solo he grinds deep in the fretboard and soars over the rhythm of John Kessler on bass and Reyes Jr. on drums. Very nice. Wrapping the release is driving rocker, Back To You with Mike Tapogna ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release , Good Life , from Seth James and it's quite good. Not since the early inception of Little Feat have I heard anything quite this strong in this vein. Opening with Brother , a funky, swampy blues number, James on lead vocal and guitar has heavy backing by Bob Britt and his sweet Lowell George like slide style, Kevin McKendree on keys, Lynn Williams on drums and excellent backing vocals by Windy Moten. A solid compliment of horn work by Jim Hoke on sax, Roy Agee on trombone and Vinnie Ciesielski on trumpet. Excellent opener. Continuing is that funky blues vein, title track, Good Life , has a strong woven instrumental feel with thick slide work by Britt. James' vocals are solid and tuneful Very cool. Yates McKendree steps up with a real nice guitar solo and some of James' best vocals on the release on easy R&B ballad, From Way Behind .  Radio track, I'm Coming Home is dripping with soul with excellent l...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One More Foot In The Quicksand , from Les Copeland and it's honest. Opening with blues rocker, Change Of Pace , Les Copeland sets up on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Cameron Ward on bass and Scott Grant on drums. On Big Bill Broonzy's When I Been Drinking , Copeland goes it alone with electric guitar. This is a particularly cool tract with solid vocals and excellent country blues style guitar accompaniment. Very cool. Freddie King's Woman Across The River gets a real funky edge. The base arrangement remains intact but Copeland's added funk gives it a really fresh feel. Copeland lays in some real nice riffs and Ward's bass lines are excellent. Another cool, country style blues track, Perfect Man Like You , blends solid vocals by Copeland, backed by flat picking and slide guitar overlays. Very nice. Slow blues number, Uncle To Aunt, gives Copeland a real nice opportunity to just stretch and show h...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Pickled & Aged , from Misty Blues, and it's a blend pf many flavors of blues. Opening with rag time, Split Whiskey , lead vocalist Gina Coleman has strong backing by Jason Webster on banjo, Bill Patriquin on trumpet, Benny Kohn on keys, Rob Tatten on tuba, Aaron Dean on sax and Diego Monque on drums. Great opener. Rolling into funky, Our Travelling Blues , Tatten really spices up the bottom with a great funky beat and excellent sax work by Dean really give Coleman a great foundation. My favorite track on the release is instrumental, It's A Jungle Out There with a terrific Latin beat and an overall jazz framework. With excellent tom tom work by Tatten and percussion by Coleman, Kohn on piano, Patriquin on trumpet, Dean on sax and Webster on guitar, this is a great ride. Another more aggressive track is Take A Long Ride with it's lumbering beat. Coleman digs in on vocals and Dean really screams on sax. ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, My Chops Are Rolling! from Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind and it's really great! I really like Ricci's work and every time I get the chance to review one of his releases I remember why I do this. There is always something great coming around the bend! Opening with Break In The Rain , a drum heavy rocker with cool slide work and easy vocals Ricci is off to a super start his fluid harmonica styling...uniquely his. Backed by John Lisi on guitar and vocal, Andy Kurz on vocal and bass, John Perkins on drums and Kaitlin Dibble on vocal, the band is hot. On Don't Badger The Witnes s, Ricci's vocals are haunting and Lisi's guitar work outrageous. Excellent! F_ck The Falcons (Who Dat Nation) is presented in two forms on this release and this is the non edited version. I bit blunt maybe but in good spirit and in New Orleans style...this track is terrific! On Barbara Lynn's classic, If You Should Lose Me , ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Come Undone , from Gracie Curran and it's meaty. Opening with title track, Come Undone , Gracie Curran is back with her newest release and a lot of soul. This is old school styling with Damon Fowler on guitar, Matt Walker on guitar and bass, Justin Headley on drums, Pat Harrington on drums, Victor Wainwright on keys, Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Mark Earley on sax really delivers the goods. Curran's vocal phrasing and style, with a touch of reggae is just right for an excellent opener! High energy swing track, Stay Up! , shows Curran is not only happy digging in deep but very light on her feet. Fowler's fleet fingered guitar work is nicely backed by Jeremy Powell on keys and New Orleans style horn work by Woolverton and Earley give this track extra zip. On shuffle track, Sweet Sativa , Fowler pulls out the slide giving the track a down home feel and playing off backing vocals, Curran has this track right...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Here To Make You Feel Good , from Arthur Adams and it's solid gold. Opening with Tear the House Down , a funky track with a definite dance feel, features Adams on lead guitar and vocal, backed by Ronnie Laws on sax, David Leach on percussion, Reggie McBride on bass, Hense Powell on keys, and James Gadson on drums.  Smooth, Latin influenced R&B style track, Pretty Lady has a real nice melody and with Freddie Washington on bass. Adams gets his guitar "singing" with Santana like flair over the strong percussion of Gadson. Very nice. Adams puts in a particularly strong vocal effort on radio track, Forgive Me . The addition of Lee Thornberg and Lester Lovett on trumpet, as well as Bill Bergman on sax gives the track an overall warmer feel and Adams' jazzy guitar lead shines. My personal favorite on the release is excellent blues number, By Myself , with BB King styling. Adams is strong vocally and on ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Before Me , by Ben Levin and it's really cool. Opening with Big Bill Broonzy's I Feel So Good , Ben Levin shows how it should be done as a leader on piano and lead vocals. With perfect dynamics and a great team featuring strong lead guitar work by Bon Margolin, and Bob Corritore on harmonica, this track is tight. Backing this star front line is Aron Levin on guitar, Chris Douglas on bass and Oscar Bonal on drums. Super opener. On Freddie King's instrumental, This Morning , Margolin and Corritore lay down really nice solos complimenting Levin's own solo and the tight drum work by Bernal. Excellent! On Confessin' The Blues , Levin shows some of his best vocals on the release. His style is crisp and his style is smooth. Corritore just lays back in the seat on his solo and his tone is excellent. Margolin's guitar solo is smooth and has great feel. Title track, Before Me has really nice New Orleans s...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release Rain City Blues by Arsen Shomakhov and I really like it. Opening with a real nice blues track, Full-Time Lover with a strong swagger, Arsen Shomakhov sets the pace with his strong vocal and guitar work. With Kid Andersen on bass, Alexander Pettersen on drums and featuring Aki Kumar on harmonica, this is a super opener. Charged up, No More! is a great rock n' roller with Andersen on piano and harmony vocals. Excellent! Taken down a notch, Women and Whiskey has a great feel. With a loping rhythm, stylish guitar and solid B3 playing by Andersen, it's one of my top choices. Instrumental guitar shuffle is really slick with a thorough workout on guitar with tight rhythm by Pettersen. Boogaloo! is another favorite with funky bass and key work by Andersen. Get ready to dance! New Orleans flavored Sitting On A Fence is a cool jazzy track with nicely blended vocals and snappy drum work by June Core. Shomakhov's vo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release. Tall, Dark & Handsome from Delbert McClinton and Self-Made Men + Dana and it's pretty interesting. Opening with foot stompin shuffle, Mr. Smith McClinton really has a groove going. With great sax work by Jim Hoke and trumpet by Dana Robbins, this track is hot. Backing vocals by Vicki Hampton, Wendy Moten and Robert Bailey and a super band including Joe Maher on drums, Glenn Worf on bass, Bob Britt on guitar, Kevin McKendree on piano and B3, Jim Hoke on bari and tenor sax, and Quentin Ware on trumpet, Dana Robbins on tenor sax and Roy Agee on trombone, this band is super. On light swing track, No Chicken On The Bone , McClinton's vocals are well primed and Stuart Duncan shines on violin. Again excellent backing vocals by Hampton, Moten and Bailey enrich the track and Britt on acoustic guitar and mandolin nicely compliment McKendree's piano work. Very nice. With a jazzy undertow, Lulu has a loose, small...