Ruf Records artist: Mike Zito & Friends - Rock 'N' Roll - A Tribute to Chuck Berry - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rock 'N' Roll - A Tribute to Chuck Berry, by Mike Zito and this disc is loaded. Opening with St. Louis Blues and Charlie Berry II, Mike Zito handles guitar and lead vocals, backed by Matthew Johnson on drums, Terry Dry bass and Lewis Stephens on keys. Joanna Conner joins on Rock and Roll Music and there is just no match for that dynamo on slide guitar. Powerhouse player, Walter Trout steps in on Johnny B Goode, a long time favorite of blues and rock players alike. Trout's fluid, high intensity attack is well suited for this classic. Very nice. On Wee Wee Hours, master showman, Joe Bonamassa is featured and he lays out a full tour of the fretboard hitting about every fret on every string, making it seem totally effortless and with great feel. Clocking in at almost 5 and a half minutes, Bonamassa gives you the grand tour. Smoking. Robben Ford takes more of a country flavored approach to You Never Can Tell, contrasting nicely with earlier gun slingers. His poise and music sensibility adds nicely to the overall mix. Simplicity is the word on Luther Dickinson's approach on Too Much Monkey Business. A great rocker with vocal duet and straight up Berry riffs, this track is great. Shared lead vocal with Ally Venable gives School Days a unique perspective and holding tight to the rhythm as Venable and Zito jam is just a bit different. I like Kirk Fletcher's understated guitar work on Brown Eyed Handsome Man, tight and flavorful with soul. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Chuck Berry's classic ditty, My Ding A Ling that is tackled by Kid Andersen who tackles it with all seriousness. Vocals are playful but solid and guitar work full of stylized bens. Super closer. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Will Jacobs & Marcos Coll - Taking Our Time - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It Ain't Safe, by Will Jacobs & Marcos Coll and it's genuinely funky blues. Opening with It Ain't Safe, Will Jacobs gets things spinning with excellent vocal and guitar styling. Laying low but making every note count is Marcos Coll on harmonica. Jacobs sings with a mid register solidity with nice falsettos and sprints guitar riffs that nicely punctuate his vocals. Excellent opener. On Chicago style shuffle, Going To Berlin, Coll steps up in traditional Chicago fashion and lays his chops flat out. Jacobs shows he can cross over to straight blues with strong lead lines all supporting his super lead vocals. Very cool. C.J.' Bounce is a really fine boogaloo based blues instrumental with Jacobs and Coll sharing the melody respectively. With alternating lead lines, Jacobs and Marcos use this conventional R&B format to create my favorite track on the release. Another terrific track is Blues Cazorla Boogie with Coll really winding it out and Jacobs playing blistering riffs as well. Terrific instrumental. A rolling James Brown style rhythm is fused with the blues on One Too Many Times, giving it an unusual but very successful blues cadence. Very nice. Wrapping the release is a live version of Going To Berlin with it's strong Chicago roots. With Jacobs firing the rhythm and Coll bringing the harp, Jacobs lead vocal give this release a great closer.


  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Delmark Records artist: Johnny Burgin - Live - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live from Johnny Burgin and it's really good. Opening with brisk shuffle, You Got to Make A Change, Johnny is upfront on vocal and guitar, backed by Aki Kumar on harp, Kid Andersen on guitar, Chris Matheos on bass and Steve Dougherty on drums. Excellent, slow blues, Can't Make It Blues, Johnny really shines with his soulful vocal and blistering guitar riffs. Most people don't think of Chicago bluesmen as hot, slingers with real pyrotechnics but Burgin is here to show you that Buddy Guy is no longer the only game in town. Excellent! There are only a few contemporary players that can really pull off the funky blues like Albert King could and Burgin is one of them. She Gave Me The Slip is a great example with solid blues riffs over a great funky beat. Time for a great Chicago blues instrumental and Kumar is up and ready on harp. Burgin, Andersen and Kumar really kick it on this one with smoke flying. Rae Gordon has the mic on Late Night Date Night and she grips this track by the scruff and shakes it. Burgin and sax ace Nancy Wright add some real nice lead rhythm and Kid Andersen covers on piano. Wright is featured on You Took The Bait and Gordon is back on vocal. Johnny steps up with lush, T Bone Walker styling and rich tone and Wright's sax work is excellent (you listening Stilladog). Louisiana Walk is an excellent instrumental shuffle showcasing Burgin's chops and it's great to see some of that get out here on disc. Wright's tone is unmistakable in the background as Burgin "Walks" that dog around like a king! Charlie Musselwhite is up next on Blues Falling and Burgin steps back letting him take the lead with one short burst of "fancy picking" behind his own vocals. Musselwhite plays with the enthusiasm of a teenager but has the chops of the seasoned blues player that he is. One of my favorite tracks on the release is When A Bluesman Comes To Town. Johnny's vocal phrasing really nicely with Musselwhite's harp work and Burgin not only gets aggressive with his guitar but seems to be grabbing his riffs with real attack and tension. I love this. It's something that smooth players don't seem to get. Very very cool! Wrapping the release is Latin flavored shuffle, Jody's Jazz, with a great mixture of blues riffs, terrific Burgin classic vibrato, and supple chords. Wright steps in with another few rich sax solos and Burgin closes it down with his own run of jazz and blues riffs. It's great that Delmark has caught one of the most dynamic guitar players on the scene in live action. Highly recommended. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Brad Heller - The Sentence - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Sentence, from Brad Heller and it's honest, straight forward, radio style folk rock. Opening with Eternal Season, with it's jangly amplified acoustic guitar strum and single stroke snare simplicity, singer /songwriter Brad Heller newest release could be filling the void left by the departure of Tom Petty. His lyrics are strong and his vocals solid. Title track, The Sentence, is subtle in acoustic instrumentation with only the hint of guitar and drums by Ronn Pifer accompanying Heller's vocal, storytelling melody and with harmony by Ted Crenshaw. The Greatest Crime is a strong alt country track, again with very simple drum rhythm, featuring some of Heller's best vocals, paired with Adrian Varnam and clean electric guitar work by Crenshaw and Zeke Roland. Folk track, Chasing Wolves is another favorite with a strong vocal line and warm vocal harmonies by Varnam, smooth lead guitar soloing and rich organ work by Phil Bevilacqua and Heller's own harmonica. Very nice. Another favorite folk style track is Eucharist, with a natural swaying rhythm and fat slide guitar wailing under the melody. Wrapping the release is The Garden Tree, a well poised track with rich organ underlayment and firm acoustic guitar rhythm. Heller's vocals and songwriting are consistently solid throughout the release making for a relaxing listen. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

  “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Mark Newman - Empirical Truth -- New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Empirical Truth, from Mark Newman and it's a solid rocker. Opening with a cool, slide saturated boogie, Scapegoat, Mark Newman leads off on vocal with Craig Privett on bass, Shawn Murray on drums and Kevin McKendree on keys. Solid opener.  Mississippi Mile is a super rocker that could garner strong radio appeal with it,s straightforward melody and classic slide sound. A fast walking bass line by Privett and with it's slightly countrified beat, confirmed by Newman's finger picking guitar work and strong vocal harmony with Jacob Koch. Very nice. One of my favorites on the release is Sharin' The Blues with it's low slung attack and acoustic slide. Slightly jazzy, slightly funky, Everything You Know, is a real nice instrumental with paired lead guitars on melody. McKendree's keyboard anchors the tune so that Newman can slide tunefully and Murray's drumming is tight and strong. Very nice. Lowell George's Roll Um Easy is a nice surprise with an easy, Jackson Browne like approach. Newman's voice, blended perfectly with Naomi Margolin's over a simple picked resonator and slide. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Lycanthropy, a contemporary style rocker.  A solid, Todd Rundgren like composition, its a great radio track and a strong closer. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Sue Decker - Outskirts of Love - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Outskirts of Love, by Sue Decker and it's a solid rural country flavored blues release. Opening with Lay Me Down In the Indigo, Sue Decker, shows a solitary sound, singing toe to toe with her resonator guitar. This is an interesting track and a cool opener. Wynn Gogol adds full keyboard support and Damian Graham on bass giving The Stain a strong radio feel. A nice melody and Decker's unique vocals give this track solid traction. A real nice acoustic blues is Too Close to the Bone, one of my favorites on the release. Fingerpicked and simple, may be Decker's best vocal track on the release. Easy flowing pop tune, Let Me Begin with You, has a contemporary rock rhythm and strong melody, with horn programming by Gogol. Backing vocals by Gavin Hodgins and Gogol give this track a healthy radio feel. Another of my favorites on the release is folk flavored Silver Anniversary, with a great melody, strong lead vocal and basic acoustic guitar accompaniment by Adam Dobres on guitar and vocal harmony by Hodgins. Wrapping the release is stripped down blues, Travellin' Light, featuring Decker accompanying her vocal on resonator. This is a special release, blending folksy blues with pop music. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Hudspeth & Taylor - Folie a deux - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Folie a deux, from Hudspeth & Taylor and its a contemporary take on contemporary acoustic blues. Opening with Big Fat Hairy Lie, an acoustic boogie featuring Brandon Hudspeth on acoustic guitar and slide and Jaisson Taylor on vocal and percussion. Solid opener. I Know It's Gonna Rain Again is a nice, quiet, almost supernatural sounding slower blues. Hudspeth's guitar work is patient and supportive under Taylor's vocals. A cool Piedmont Style Candy Man has a happy go lucky feel with articulate picking and casual whistling under the smooth vocals of Taylor. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Low Down Dirty Dealer Man with a cool percussion rhythm and contrasting high fret slide work by Hudspeth. Acoustic guitar run, and title track, Folie a Deux is a really nice display of finger picking style. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Daddy Baby, the most complex and funky of the tracks on this release. With slide following closely on the lead vocal and a tight drum rhythm. Almost a R&B track but holding to the blues format, Taylor's vocals coast right on top of Hudspeth's slide work. Very nice closer. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Eddie 9V - Left My Soul In Memphis - New Release Review

OK...You may only get one or two a year...this is it! I just had the opportunity to review the new release, Left My Soul In Memphis, from Eddie 9V (9 Volt) and it's terrific! You like blues singers...you got it! You like searing blues riffs...you got it! You like real blues like oxidation on a farm find 40's Ford...you got it! Eddie 9V may be the best kept blues secret on the planet!

Opening with Look Over Yonder Wall, Eddie 9V has it all (well mostly). He plays every instrument and sings (except keys by Rhett Huffman). Fat lead guitar tone upfront and clean rhythm guitar over the sound of brass, raspy bluesman voice, thumping bass, and drums. Yep. He delivers. I mean just listen. Phrasing like Freddie King, funky like Albert and a unique old school guitar tone … terrific!  On Bottle and the Blues, Eddie's opening riffs are as exciting as you favorite players and then he digs in on vocals with nice chords. Why doesn't everybody do this? The line level from one track to the other is a little off so be careful but New Orleans is powerful with howling vocals and excellent guitar lead and "horn" backing over a potent drum and bass line. Really falling into a FUNKY Albert King like groove on instrumental, Bending With The Kings, Eddie 9V kills it. His phrasing and fine finger work is just terrific. When is this guy coming to town?! Over to a tromping shuffle, 36th & Main, Eddie has a cool charging rhythm line that gets you thinking Ike Turner and with poised vocal style and flame thrower like guitar attack he just lets it fly. Excellent! Lo-Fi Love slides into R&B and Eddie shows his best soulful vocal style with near falsetto highs and crisp rhythm jazzy guitar lead. Excellent changeup. Want a real Freddie King like workout. Check out Don't Test Me. Freddie would do a quick rhythm thing over a blues rocker and Eddie has his own version of it...at least that's what this sounds like to me. It doesn't sound like Freddie King playing...it sounds like Eddie 9V inspired by a Freddie King attack, jamming in Freddie King spirit. Very cool! Wrapping the release is 1945 (Cocaine & Rum), a modified Muddy Waters like blues take. I have to say, this  may be as impressed with a 23 year old new act as I have even been.



Excellent release!

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Reaction Records artist: Randy McAllister - Spitball, Shatter and Patch - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spitball, Shatter and Patch, from Randy McAllister and it's a healthy dose of country blues. Opening with Relax Watch the Crash, McAllister on lead vocal teams up with Heather Newman on backing vocal and supported by Brandon Hudspeth on slide guitar and Bill Mckemy on tuba take a soft acoustic approach to the blues with a lightly country style. A quiet but effective opener. Slamming the door open on The Loudest Chicken with the addition of Cliff Moore on bass, and McAllister's own drums Hudspeth winds up the slide and McAllister really winds it up. A hard driving blues rocker. Soulful, Kingsland is one of my favorites on the release with expressive vocals and harmonica by McAllister over well balanced acoustic picked and slide guitar. Pure blues is the story on The Song That Writes Itself, with a solid melody, vocals and BB King like phrasing by Hudspeth. Wrapping the release is blues rocker, The Girl's In Love (With Herself), a curious but strong rocker with a tight rhythm, electric slide guitar and a solid vocal delivery by McAllister. This is a super closer for a real cool release. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Endless Blues Records artist: Sister Lucille - Alive - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Alive, from Sister Lucille and it's a solid rocker with strong R&B, funk and blues roots. Opening with Won't Give It, a super funky rocker with horns and a heavy bass line, Sister Lucille, fronted by Kimberly Dill shows great swagger. With Jamie Holdren on lead guitar, Kevin Lyons on drums and Eric Guinn on bass and with Peter Climie on sax, Jared Dover on trumpet and Andrew Earle on trombone, a tight opener. On See My Baby, Holdren steps up front showing his slide guitar chops and sharing lead vocal position with Dill. With a southern stomp kind of attitude and solid bottom, this track rocks. Latin flavored Devil's Eyes has a real nice rhythm and tasty lead by Holdren and Dill's vocals really work nicely with the lone trumpet of Dover. Eric Hughes steps in on harmonica on blues track, Respect Your Woman trading the spotlight with Dill on lead vocal. The addition of Reba Russell on backing vocal, Holdren's stiff fingered guitar attitude and the strong blues influence makes this one of the top tracks on the release. Wrapping the release is Lost, featuring Holdren on lead guitar with Dill pairing nicely on harmony. His trailing guitar lead, working with the lead vocal really sets the tone for this track with clean piano work by Chris Stephenson and tight drum work by Lyons. Nice closer. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Electro-Fi Records artist: Mark Hummel - Wayback Machine - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wayback Machine, from Mark Hummel and it old school Chicago style blues. Opening with Flim Flam, a cool blues number with a great bass line courtesy of R.W Grigsby, with Mark Hummel on harmonica and lead vocal, backed by Rusty Zinn on guitar, Aaron Hammerman on piano and some great percussion by Dave Eagle. Super opener. A real nice Chicago flavored shuffle, Cut That out really provides a nice platform for Hummel on harmonica and Billy Flynn shows his chops on guitar, also joined by Kid Andersen. Hummel original, Road Dog is a super harmonica piece with eccentric percussion by Eagle giving it a real primitive feel.  One of my favorites on the release is Breathtaking Blues, a cool, harmonica lead instrumental with a nicely executed piano solo by Hammerman and Eagle's zany percussion. Very cool. Another favorite is Gillum's Crazy About You with a really cool pace, with barrelhouse, rat a tat percussion and Hummel's personal touch on vocal and harmonica. Very nice. Slow blues, Pepper Mama has really nice framework for interwoven harmonica, piano, vocal and guitar by Flynn, Hammerman and Hummel. Hammerman takes the mic on Rag Mama Rag with it's authentic blues flavor and it's loose instrumental jam. Joe Beard joins on Five Long Years adding excellent vocal and guitar to this Boyd classic. With Hummel's solid harp work, this is a strong 1st generation style blues track. Another early style track is Say You Will also featuring the guitar and vocal work of Beard is up next and hits it right down the pipe. If you love delta blues, you will love this track!  Wrapping the release is country style blues Mean Old Frisco, featuring Beard on vocal and guitar but with Andersen on bass and Hummel on harmonica giving it a more current and polished feel. This is a really enjoyable release with a lot of effort to inventiveness on originality. Very nice. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Make It Real Records artist: Matchedash Parish - Saturday Night - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the debut release, Saturday Night, from Matchedash Parish and it's really strong. Matchedash Parish, made up of 12 musicians and with each a real contributor, you expect greatness … and you get it. Opening with When The Rain Comes, a subtle blend of rock, blues, funk, gospel and R&B (plus more) this sounds like the second coming of one of the best rock bands of all time..."The Band". Lead by Matt Weidinger on vocal and keys , this is such a great sound. The full compliment is Lance Anderson on lead vocal and keys, Quisha Wint on  lead vocal and leading the choir, Michelle White backing vocals, Jill Zadeh backing vocals, Shamakah Ali on drums, Ben Rolo on drums, Art Avalos on percussion, mark McIntyre on bass, Mackenzie Jordan on guitar, Gene Hardy on sax and William Sperandei on trumpet, this is a full ensemble. With a proud, Al Green like strut and full gusto, Where There Is Love, follows right on the heels and the second powerful song out of two served up. Seriously they could stop here and have made a better music set than many full recordings out there. With a full load of New Orleans flavor, God Gave You Hands features Wint on lead vocal and a great spiritual based, R&B track. This band is giving you both barrels all the time...no filler. Slipping in a really nice sax solo by Hardy over glistening electric piano and organ this track is fat fat fat and punchy with trumpet by Sperandei.  Excellent!  Not Sold On Getting Old is a cool, funky track with Anderson on lead vocal. With a polished melody, solid bass lines, real nice keyboard and slide solos and great backing vocals, another shining track. Hopeless Romantic again features Anderson on lead vocal with great gospel like backing this track has a Van Morrison like feel. A great melody, healthy warmth and strong instrumentation woven loosely throughout, think Tupelo Honey on steroids. Congo Strut is really instrumentally oriented with terrific jazz runs by Sperandei, Anderson and Weidinger. Excellent New Orleans flavor. Wrapping the release is upbeat rocker, This Love Can't Last with Anderson back on lead vocal and strong trumpet support by Sperandei and great vocal backing by Wint, White and Zadeh. Jordan's slide work really spices up the mix and Hardy's sax work is tight. Excellent closer. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Ben Racine Band - Live A Montreal - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live A Montreal, from the Ben Racine Band and it's quite entertaining. Opening with Addiction, a swaggering blues rocker, Ben Racine, lead vocalist and guitar player has super presence, with deep throaty bari sax by Mathieu Moose Mousseau and backed by Kaven Jalbert on tenor sax, Charles Trudel on keys, Francois Dube on bass and Nicky Estor on drums. I really like Contageous, a soulful rocker with a stiff drum beat. Warm sax work and solid vocals set the pace and again Moose steps up with a nice sax solo, bookended with another by Racine and Jalbert. Very nice! JG Watson's Cuttin' In is one of my favorites with it's soulful melody smoky sax work by Jalbert and tight guitar riffs by Racine. Southbound Girl is a up beat shuffle with great vocals and guitar lead by Racine, tight riffs by Estor and a warm under blanket by Trudel and Jalbert. Excellent! Boogaloo rhythm gives No Smoke Without Fire a great feel and Moose and Jalbert really work it. Move On has a great working funky beat, reinforced by Jalbert and Moose. This would have been a great concert to see and the crowd was treated here with more than 15 tracks. Check it out! 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Ruby Shoes Music artist: Jennifer Truesdale - Through The Circle - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Through The Circle, from Jennifer Truesdale and it's pure adult contemporary with a bluesy twist. Opening with light shuffle track, I Need You Tonight, singer/songwriter, Jennifer Truesdale presents a polished package with just the right grit, backed by Joe Musella on guitar, Bill D'Agnostino on drums, Marty Ballou on bass, John Mulroy on piano, Tom West on B-3, Rarika Tokushige on sax, Hiro Tokushige on trumpet, Angel Subero on trombone, and a full house of Lydia Harrell, Kit Holliday and John Grant Tolbert III on backing vocals. Strong, jazzy, radio track, Daydreaming, hits all of the marks for a crowd pleaser with a solid melody, doubled vocals, nice harmonies and a jazzy beat. An interesting cover of John Fogerty's Have You Ever Seen The Rain is actually quite nice with vocal tension and a cool bluesy guitar solo by Musella. Another track with smooth balance is Sunrise with mellow vocals over strong bass lines by Ballou and bright piano work of Mulroy. Wrapping the release is My Life, an easy, soulful ballad with piano underpinnings. Although this release will not likely appeal to most of the blues readers, it should fare well in the adult contemporary market. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Black Hen Music artist: Matt Patershuk - If Wishes Were Horses - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, If Wishes Were Horses, by Matt Patershuk and it's a cool blend of folk, blues and country. Opening with The Blues Don't Bother Me, a springy, modern style country track, has many traces of original country and western music like Patershuk on lead guitar and earthy vocals, super baritone guitar work by Steve Dawson and backing vocals by Kristin Webber and Larissa Maestro and full backing by Gary Craig on drums, Jeremy Holmes on bass, Chris Gestrin on piano and Charlie McCoy on harmonica. I really like the tango styling of instrumental, Horse 1 (For Bravery & Good Fortune) with excellent guitar soloing by Patershuk and Dawson, McCoy on harmonica and Gestrin on keys. Very nice! Alberta Waltz, a country styled ballad, has great feel and authenticity. With Patershuk on lead vocal, clean piano work by Gestrin and Dawson's complimentary steel guitar work, this is definitely on of my favorites on the release. Another track with a distinctive flavor is Velvet Bulldozer with it's country blues styling, the rich vocals of Patershuk, roaring slide work of Dawson, excellent punctuation by Craig and Charlie McCoy's distinctive harmonica sound. Excellent! Real authentic country and western track, Let's Give This Bottle A Black Eye has it all. Patershuk was made to sing this track and Gestrin has studied authentic country piano styling. Dawson seals the deal with his pedal steel guitar... let me say now before the review is over...get this release! There are a few short interludes throughout the release called Horse (1-2-3 &4). Alone, they are hard to review, but they are meaningful little blips featuring Maestro, Gestrin, and Dawson separately which add nicely to the overall composition. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Louisiana flavored country rocker, Red Hot Poker, with a cool balance of raspy vocal by Patershuk, controlled pedal steel by Dawson, electric keys by Gestrin and Holmes on bass. Excellent closer.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

  “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Delta Roots Records artists: Battle of the Blues Chicago vs Oakland - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Battle of the Blues, Chicago vs Oakland id it's drips soul. Opening with Broke Ass Man, a sweaty, R&B track by Mz. Sumac, you got honest to goodness soul and hot vocals over warm organ and piano by Chris Burns, and deep bass by Aldwin London. Willie Nelson's, Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away has a great soulful take by Aldwin London, a super singer and bass player with soulful sax by John Brumbach singing to the music. Very nice. Take It Easy features the lap steel soloing of Freddie Roulette over a cool Twist Turner melody.  Rusty Zinn's slashing guitar style steps forward on Good Morning Mr. Blues and the vocal prowess of Nat Bolden. Pure blues all the way with Leo Q. Allen on trumpet, a great track. "Mr Excitement", Del Brown belts out a soulful, Now That I've Gone. Showing incredible soul prowess, Brown has a powerful voice that carries the understated instrumentation. Brumbach is back with another powerful sax solo pumping the track even higher. Very nice. Another hot guitar instrumental is Red Tide and Roulette again shows incredible feel. Gerald McClendon's solid entry, Cold In The Streets, is one of my favorites on the release with super vocals and Mark Wydra's guitar work over the bass lines of Art Love are magic. Wrapping the release is Emery Williams Jr. on soul track, Mama Don't You Weep, with Bernard Anderson on sax and a great bass line by Art Love. This is a really nice release of R&B, Soul and Blues and a great way to wrap up the year. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

 

“Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE

Landslide Records A Tribute to Sean Costello - Various Artists - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent Landslide Records Tribute to Sean Costello and it's really cool. Opening with Same Old Game, Albert Castiglia puts up a rumbling 2 step and lays down some real nice guitar work for an excellent opener. Steve Marriner brings How In The Devil with it's perfect shuffle beat great vocals and harp work. Title track, Don't Pass Me By has an almost spiritual feel with Victor Wainwright leading the way. This is an excellent blues ballad with great tension and stinging guitar work. Bob Margolin's guitar work on Low Life Blues is really outstanding with super Muddy Waters like slide and riffs. I always love the Mississippi All Stars and their rural approach and their treatment of Father is no different. With fat slide work and excellent vocals over a basic essential drum beat and keys make the track my favorite on the release. Debbie Davies brings shuffle track, Don't Be Reckless With My Heart and does a great job with strong vocals and slick Davies riffs. Wrapping the release is Oliver Wood and Amy Helm on Feel Like I Ain't Got A Home, a great soulful number with raw, freewheeling guitar work. This is a solid tribute release and great music. 

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

  “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE