Bman's Blues Report

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, ...Took A While , from The Mike Duke Project and it's a soulful southern style release packed with musical elite. Opening with Little Miss Ponytail , a certain radio track, Mike Duke on lead vocal and piano leads the way with Bill Stewart on drums, Phil Yeager on bass, Ronnie Brown on guitar and Rick Kurtz on guitar. Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do features Duke with Jimmy Hall and the vocals are not only warm and solid but this is really a strong track. Let Me Be Your Fool Tonight is a real cool track with the addition of Lloyd Meadows, Angela Strehi  and Lisa Lueschner Andersen on backing vocal and featuring super accordion work by Bruce Gordon. I'm Not Sad Tonight sounds like it could be pulled right out of Van Morrison's songbook with distinct vocal phrasing and poise and the addition on Jim Pugh on B3. Very nice. Gospel flavored Torn & Scarred is Duke, accompanying his vocal lead on piano wit...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live , from Chris "Bad News" Barnes it's  a full blown boogie rocker. Opening with Back In A Cadillac , Barnes leads with his vocal power, joined by Gary Hoey on lead guitar, Steve Guyger onharp and backed by Sandy MacDonald on piano, AJ Pappas on bass, Matt Scurfield on drums, Mark Earley on sax, Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Gracie Curran on backing vocal. Little Walter's Boom Boom, Out Go The Lights gets a faster rockier pace and a strong harmonica solo by Guyger, nice sax solo by Earley, wicked guitar work by Hoey and full trumpet work by Woolverton give the track real oomph. Gravelly vocals by Barnes on a lumbering version of Morganfield's Hoochie Coochie Man is real nice with a humping bass line by Pappas and greasy solos by both Hoey and Guyger give the track a real grind. With it's Bo Diddley beat, It's Tight Like Tha t, has Curran echoing Barnes lead vocals and wicked slide by ...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Shine , from Ghost Town Blues Band and it's a funky, bluesy, rock mix. Opening with rocker, Running Out Of Time , Matt Isbell on lead vocal and slide guitar sets up a radio ready track, backed by Taylor Orr on guitar and vocal, Kevin Houston on sax and vocal, Suavo Jones on trombone, trumpet and vocal, Matt Kramer on bass and vocal, Andrew Mc Neill on drums and vocals and Cedric Taylor on B3, piano and vocal. Title track, Shine , is a horn saturated soul flavored rocker with excellent drum accent and super guitar riffs.  My favorite track on the release is slinky, soul track, Lyin' To Yourself   with Isbell's strongest vocals on the release, warm B3 reinforcement and solid horn work by Jones. I particularly like Isbell's guitar lead on this track giving it a southern sparkle. Another of my favorites is High Again with it's straight forward melody, funky rhythm and "Allman signature twin lead...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Love Love Love, from Jacqui Brown and it's packed with country style pop tracks and bluesy ballads. Opening with Bend , a two stepper, Jacqui on lead vocal is backed by Paul Brown on lead guitar, Tony Braunagel on drums, Bob Glaub on bass, Lew Laing on drums and Brother Paul Brown on keys. Title track, Love, Love, Love is a smooth radio ballad featuring nicely blended vocals between Jacqui and Paul. Paul sets in a Bluesy country flavored solo on guitar giving the track just a little more spice. Shuffle track, Flow Like A River has some of the most soulful vocals on the release with nice key work by brother Paul and Paul digs in nicely with a solid guitar solo. Wrapping the release is Somebody's Child , a real nice ballad featuring Jacqui on lead vocal with only the minimum of backing, primarily piano under the lead. This is a solid closer for this release.    If you support live Blues acts, up and c...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dog Eat Dog , from Billy Price and it's old school R&B. Opening with Funky rocker, Working On Your Chain Gang , Price, who has one of the smoothest voices on the circuit leads the way with strong support from Alex Pettersen on drums, Jerry Jemmott on bass, Jim Pugh on keys, John Halblieb on trumpet, Jack Sanford on sax, Kid Andersen on guitar and organ, and Walter, James and Dwayne Morgan on backing vocals. Very cool. Smooth pop jazz track, Lose My Number sounds like it's right off of a Steely Dan record with it's strong melody and supple vocals over a organ lead backing melody. Eric Spaulding adds a real nice sax solo on this one giving it a real kick. With a smooth dance groove, title track, Dog Eat Dog is really in the groove with great lead vocals by Price, tight backing vocals by Lisa Leuschner Andersen and Alabama Mike, cool congas by Vicki Randell, the super sax work of Spaulding and great harmo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Friends of the Blues 2 , by Myles Goodwyn and it's easy going. Opening with shuffle track, Hip Hip a shuffle track with Kenny Blues Boss Wayne on piano and Blair Mackay on drums, Goodwyn on lead vocal and ripping some tight guitar riffs. Bobby Womack's, All Over Now, gets an interesting rework with John Main on piano, Shrimp Daddy on harmonica and John Canpbelljohn on slide. Very cool. More traditional blues track, Fish Tank Blues , has cool guitar pick and slide technique over a slightly funky rhythm under Goodwyn's vocals. Campbelljohn is back on slide on Daddy Needs New Shoes , a quick paced shuffle with a snappy beat and backing vocals by Reeny Smith and Lisa Macdougall. Up next is I Saw Someone That Wasn't There (And It Was You) , a blues rocker with some of the best vocals on the release and likely the best radio track on the release. With it's solid melody, call and response guitar riffs by ...

I just had the opportunity to review the debut self titled release from Northern Social and I really like it. Like earlier work by Wickens and the Grand Nationals this new release has a lot of edge and genuine blues feel. Opening with Waiting , a strong rugged blues rocker, Dylan Wickens, who handles lead vocal, guitar and bass, paired with Mike Rajna on drums and percussion created a sound that is much bigger than two guys. Solid rhythms, vocals and power guitar makes this a great opener. Am I Wrong has a straightforward rock beat with vibrant rhythm guitar with Wicken's vocals carrying the melody. King Of Hearts has a lumbering blues feel with a heavy accent on the 2 and 4 and a fat fat guitar rhythm. Wicken's lead guitar work is tasty and raw where Rajna's drum work is tight and focused. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Dead Neighbor Blues with an easy acoustic country blues feel. Particularly effective is the simplicity of foot drum and tambourine by Rajna u...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Too Much Mustard , from Wentus Blues Band with Duke Robillard , and I really like it. Opening with revival style track, Stayed At The Party , these guys are raising the roof. With Robban Hagnas on Bass, Niko Riippa on guitar, Duke Robillard on guitar, Pekka Grohn on piano and Hammond, Daniel Hjerppe on drums and Juho Kinaret on vocal and percussion this track is pumped. Robert Johnson's Judgement Day is up next with a cool modern twist. It maintains the rudimentary feel and Kinaret's vocals are strong, but the interwoven guitars by Robillard and Riippa and Grohn's piano, with harp over the band is terrific. One of my favorite tracks on the release is She's a Killer Hot Blonde , a great boogie with cocky blues guitar style. Excellent! Slower paced, Right In Your Arms , is a super blues ballad and a nice showcase for Kinaret on vocal and with excellent blues guitar solo phrasing by Riippa. High powered boo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dancing In The Belly Of The Beast , from Bushmaster and it's an interesting blues rocker. Opening with Profile , a straight up shuffle featuring Gary Brown on lead vocal and guitar, Justin Kimball on bass, Justin Pinkney on drums, Tim McDonald on keys, Tracy Nelson and Vickie Carrico on backing vocals this track has a solid vocal bass line and full gospel like backing vocals. Stirring in a bit of funk on Ajax And Hot Wax , brown doesn't sound like Wolfman or JGW but you can hear the influence.  A real nice floating guitar solo by Brown in this track reinforces the overall coolness of the track. Slow blues number, Nowhere To Stand , has a smooth bass driven bottom with distorted guitar lead under contemporary lyrics and a strong organ line. Miss Sexy Fine is a funky rocker with a flavor of Jimi. Fan style rhythm guitar playing and solid lead guitar playing by Brown is spicy.  One of my favorites on the release...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Twice As Nice , from Brad Vickers and his Vestapolitans and it's it's freewheeling blues. Opening with Big Maceo's Worried Life Blues , Vickers on guitar and lead vocal leads the Vestapolitans in a traditional shuffle. With Bill Rankin on bass, Jim Davis on tenor sax, Dave Keyes on piano, VD King on bari sax and Dean Shot on guitar, a solid opener. On Jimmy Reed's Close Together, Margey Peters joins on backing vocal and bass. Her touch gives the track an additional dimension and a raspy sax solo Davis adds a nice spice. Coast to Coast is a cool rocker with hot solos by Vickers, Keyes, and Davis. Very cool. Vickers turns over the mic to Peters for Twice As Nice , deferring his work to bottleneck guitar and with wailing nice clarinet by Davis. Memphis Jug Band's Stealin' Stealin' is my favorite track on the release with Mikey Junior on vocal and harmonica with Peters (who also plays bass) an...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Real Street, from Tad Robinson and it's jam packed with R&B soul music. Opening with Changes , a real nice "Al Green" flavored track, Tad Robinson shows what much of the world already knows... he's a great singer with poise and style. Backed by Charles Hodges on Hammond, Leroy Hodges on bass, Howard Grimes on drums, Joe Restivo on guitar, Kevin Anker on piano, Mark Franklin on trumpet, and Kirk Smothers on sax, this is a great opener. Bluesy ballad, Search Your Heart is really strong and Robinson's exceptionally smooth vocals, backed by Devin Thompson on vocals and the warm Hammond work of Hodges and with a crisp guitar solo by Restivo make this one of my favorites on the release. Excellent! Another really bluesy track, Love In The Neighborhood has a great R&B style but checks off the blues box nicely with soulful vocals and harmonica by Robinson and solid guitar lead by Restivo. My favo...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, We Don't Own The Blues , Miss Bix & The Blues Fix and it's slinky cool. Opening with Follow Me Down , a blues based rocker, Miss Bix (Leslie Bixler) has a casual singing style over an equally cool, swampy rhythm. With Ralph carter on bass and guitar, JT Thomas on B3, Brian Calway on harmonica and Gary Mallaber on drums, this is a memorable opener. Another swampy track in the vein of Tony Joe White, If You're Doing What I'm Thinking , has a real funky rhythm with Franck Goldwasser laying down some real nice lead guitar and RJ Mischo on harmonica. Low slung Voodoo Man digs down in the blues with solid vocals,  a droning bass line by Carter and Goldwasser's lead guitar playing is tops. Straight up rocker, You're A Child is built over a Jimi Hendrix kind of framework but filled out nicely with lush vocals by Bix and Chad Smith's drumming is tops. Wrapping the release is ballad, All The Time...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Show Me Where To Sign , from Chris Eger Band and it's solid blues rock. Opening with shuffle rocker, Eatin' Crow , Egar on lead vocal and guitar has a firm approach backed by Greg Morrow on drums, Eli Beaird on bass, JT Corenflos on rhythm guitar and Moose Brown on keys with a dynamic horn section made up of Steve Herrman on trumpet and Jim Hoke on sax. R&B track, Last Addiction is one of my favorites with it's funky rhythm, punchy horns and toned down screaming guitar lead. Very cool. Another track with a super back beat is Too Much Fire with super lead vocals and strong drums. This track is clean and polished giving it a clear radio profile. Wrong Five O'clock is a pop rocker with a hook. With it's catchy lyrics and melody, another good radio track. Wrapping the release is the second of two (this one extended) SRV tracks. With it's Jimi Hendrix structure and obvious tribute to Stevie Ra...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, B's Hot House , from Al Basile and it's a great mix of blues, R&B and soul. Opening with So Called Story Teller , a lumbering "Thrill Is Gone" like track with Basile on lead vocal and cornet, and featuring Duke Robillard with some mighty tasty guitar riffs. Backed by Mark Teixeira on drums, Brad Hallen on bass, Bruce Bears on keys, Doug James on sax and Doc Cannonhouse, this is a super opener. Shuffle track, Razor Wire has a great stride with Bears' "Booker T like" organ vibe and Robillard's riffs lead nicely into a cool cornet solo by Basile. Very nice. R&B track, Give Me That Look is one of my favorites with it's easy groove and sax/trumpet accent. Basile's vocals on this track are my favorite on the release as well with solid piano work giving it that polish. Another of my favorites on the release is What Dogs Wanna Do , with Robillard dialing his guitar into warm r...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In The Dark from Sparky Parker is it's an energy packed fireball. Opening with title track, I n The Dark , a solid radio rocker, lead singer and guitarist Sparky Parker shows his showmanship with solid vocals and use of wah wah on his rhythm work under the lead. With Kevin Berry on drums and Phillip Lock on bass, a cool opener. This Old Thing has great rhythm, super tone and stinging guitar riffs under solid melody making it another strong radio contender. Games has a classic blues guitar styling and Parker's vocals really shine on one of my favorites tracks on the release. Sleepy Town is blues but a newer, less formal styling, strong lead guitar and nicely blended vocals gives it a great unique appeal. Excellent! The rolling Stones' country rocker, Dead Flowers , is always a great track and this is no exception. Parker takes the pace up just a notch and with a tight rhythm and simple paired vocals gives...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mississippi Blend , from Ghalia and it's got great attitude and style. Opening with, Gypsy Lady , a blues based track with a rockin beat, Brussels born Ghalia (Vauthier) Volt shows her understanding of real blues with it's raw feeling and emotion. Leading on vocal and slide guitar Volt has a lot of help from Lightnin' Malcolm on lead guitar, Dean Zucchero on bass and Cedric Burnside on drums. Easing into a swampy blues number, Meet You Down The Road has the kind of rawness you'd expect from the hill country with Watermelon Slim on harp, Smokehouse Brown on lead and slide guitar, Zucchero on bass and Burnside on drums. The dual slide guitar sound is intoxicating under her soulful vocals and the tight rhythms are perfectly punctuated by Burnside. Very cool. I really like heavy footed blues rocker, First Time I Died . It has real kick. Volt focuses on vocals and does a great job with excellent timing by Co...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Holla & Moan , from The McMaMarr Project and it's dripping in soul. Opening with title track, Holla and Moan , a romping R&B track John McNamara and Andrea Marr team up vocally making a really cool team. McNamara handles lead guitar backed by Bobby Manuel on guitar, Ray Griffin on bass, Willie Hall on drums, Lester Snell on keys, Scott Thompson on trumpet, Lannie McMillan on tenor sax, and Jim Spake on bari sax. With a solid bass line by Griffin, Throwing Down a Little Love has a real firm beat and great vocal blending highlighted by great blues guitar riffs by McNamara. Soul ballad, History has a taste of country and a nice dash of blues with warm vocals and melody. Definitely the top radio track on the release. Another easy floating vocal track, Something That's Real , blends the honesty of early country music with R&B for a unique soulful blend. Wrapping the release is Blues Brought Me Here , a ...