VizzTone Label Group artist: Artur Menezes - Fading Away - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fading Away, from Artur Menezes, and it's a strong contemporary blues rock entry. Opening with title track, Fading Away, with a catchy melody and Hendrix style riffs, a drone bass riff and a wide open pathway for nicely crafted guitar soloing by Menezes. Backed by Gui Bodi on bass, Lemar Carter on drums and Kesha Shantrell and Revel Day on backing vocals. Solid opener. Come On is a strong blues rocker with a cool tapping riff and a driving bottom. With the addition of Joe Bonamassa on guitar, this track has some really nice guitar work and a great rock feel. Instrumental, Northeast, with it's jagged drumming against offset soaring guitar guitar soloing is a real interesting track. Very nice. With a lush, jazzy feel, Free At Last featuring Josh Smith on guitar, and Carey Frank on B3,  Travis Carlton on bass, Matt Mitchell on rhythm guitar has a definite Brazilian feel. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Green Card Blues, a great Jimi influenced rocker with bluesy roots and dark vocal tones. This last track is nearly 10 minutes long and not a second is wasted. Excellent! I really like Menezes' releases, often making obvious references to classic players but giving it his own direction. Check this release out. It's a strong new player. 

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50 Years of Jethro Tull - Martin Barre - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 50 Years of Jethro Tull, from Martin Barre and it's surprisingly fresh. Like most everyone, I was a Tull fan in the past but have more recently tired from hearing them over and again. I was quite surprised when I started listen to this release how new and interesting it sounded. Opening disc one with My Sunday Feeling,  Martin Barre, one of the first guitarists with Tull plays guitar with Dan Crisp on vocal and guitar, Alan Thomson on bass, Josiah J on keys and Darby Todd on drums. With it's tight boogie like delivery, this is a super opener for this new release. Barre's guitar lead is free and flowing. Love Story is a cool rocker with power guitar riff and a British sound but lacking much of the drama present in a lot of the Tull work. Very cool. Song For Jeffrey has me rocking in my seat with it's driving beat and scorching guitar riffs, driven hard by Todd on drums. The duplicated guitar intro on Nothing Is Easy is really nice and the bass line by Thomson is compelling. Barre handles the guitar solos with more contemporary riffs breathing new life into an early rock track. New Day Yesterday has taken on a new life with the rework by Joe Bonamasa in his own sets but the drum work on this track brings it back home. This is a super closer with power keys and scorching guitar soloing by Barre. Excellent! Disc 2 is a whole new ballgame. With Alex Hart and Becca Langsford on vocal over the tight acoustic string work of Barre, this is beautiful. Life is A Long Song is another acoustic track that, with only a fresh voice, takes on a new life. Cheap Day Return has such character and vocal blending with Barre's string work behind... terrific.  Breaking from the light, female vocal blending, Still Loving You Tonight features John Carter on lead vocal and Barre on naked electric guitar lead over acoustic rhythm. Home is a really nice, mostly acoustic ballad with flute melody by Frank Mead and understated electric guitar work and clean acoustic guitar lead by Barre. Locomotive Breath maintains much of the original arrangement but with acoustic instrumentation and strong female vocals by Hart and Langsford. With angelic backing vocals and mandolin under the track, hit definitely breathes fresh air.  Very clean and powerful.  The release is wrapped with live cuts of 4 heavy hitters from Tulls largest period, War Child, Bungle In The Jungle, Heavy Horses and Songs From The Wood. The tracks are new and different but not unrecognizable if you're a Tull fan. I've heard that this is a must have for Tull fans. 

 Ponder this...If you haven't listened to a Tull release in 30 years, this may renew your interest.  

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Crawling Spider: A Tribute to Mike Montgomery Vol.1: The LA Sessions - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Crawling Spider: A Tribute To Mike Montgomery Vol.1: The LA Sessions. The release was compiled by Marlon Montgomery, son of Back Street Crawler keyboardist and composer, Mike Montgomery who passed in 1991 of lung cancer. Opening with Survivor,  featuring Robbie Wyckoff on lead vocal, Billy Watts and Johnny Lee Schell on guitar, Tony Braunagel on drums, Terry Wilson on bass and Adam MacDougall on keys, this is a solid rocker. It's A Long Way Down is a cool British style blues rocker with a strong Bad Company feel. Lead vocals by Wyckoff and great backing vocal by Teresa James and Terry Wilson along with Braunagel make this track a standout. 99 Days is a straight up rocker along the lines of the Stones and Mark Campbell has the mic with cool slide work by Schell and Adam MacDougall on keys. All The Girls Are Crazy (Flood The Engine) has a real swagger with a great guitar vamp by Bill Leverty and lead vocal by Jimmy Kunes. King Of The Mountain has more of a Bowie feel with Mike Montgomery on lead vocal and keys. Backed by Brian Robertson on guitars, Paul Thompson on drums and Jimmy Bain on bass, cool Brit rocker. Another track with a great Bowie feel is Sidekick To The Stars with Montgomery on vocal, and the same line up on instrumentation. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Can't Be So Bad with Montgomery accompanying himself on piano. This is a solid tribute to Mike Montgomery and a lot of fun. 

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Billy J - Rise Above - New Release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rise Above, from Billy J and it's a solid rocker. Opening with She's Mine, a cool 60's style rocker features Billy J on vocal and guitar, Yonrico Scott on drums, Charlie Wooton on bass, and Jeremy Baum on keys, this track could have turned up on an early Englisher metal rocker. Cool opener. Shuffle, Line Em Up is a slick blues rocker with a tight bass line and solid guitar riffs. Slow blues ballad, New Car, gives Billy a strong opportunity to step up and show his stuff soloing. With a play on words with the lyrics and a plenty of space to move, Billy sets a great table. She is a simple, mostly acoustic ballad that would seem to be a direct tune for the radio. With the melody of a Lindsay Buckingham composition, this track is mellow and tight with a nice melodic guitar solo. Wrapping the release is Boomerang, a strong rocker with a driving beat and ripping guitar lead. This is likely my favorite track on the release with it's strong British rock styling, no holds barred guitar style and excellent drum beat.  

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Tres Pescadores Records artist: Rick Shea - Love & Desperation - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the latest release, Love & Desperation, from Rick Shea and it's a cool mix of country, tex mex and rock. Opening with Blues Stop Knockin' At My Door, with a great country feel and a dash of Accordion by Phil Parlapiano, bass by Jeff Turmes and drums by Shawn Nourse. Shea does a great job on lead vocal and guitar. Super opener. Down At The Bar At Gypsy Sally's is an interesting story track with shimmery guitar behind Shea's vocals and Jim Turmes on sax complimenting Shea's stylistic guitar work. Nicely crafted ballad, A Tenderhearted Love with it's memorable melody is my choice to the radio track. With it's easy guitar hook and warm B3 work by Parlapiano this track is a radio standout. Another favorite on the release is Tex Mex track, Juanita (Why Are You So Mean) with accordion and tight snare rhythm supporting Shea's vocal work. Mystic Canyon is a real nice western flavored instrumental with Shea dabbing the colors of sound on his guitar like a painter. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Texas Lawyer, a really cool western track again with accordion giving it just the right flavor. This is an unusual release and one that I really like. 

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Henry Gray & Bob Corritore - Cold Chills - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cold Chills, from Henry Gray and Bob Corritore and it's a heaping serving of Chicago blues. Opening with Cold Chills, Henry gray is upfront on lead vocal and piano and Corritore has great tone and fullness. Backed by Bob Margolin on guitar, Johnny Rapp on guitar, Chico Chism on drums and Pops McFarlane on drums, this unit is tight. Fats Domino's Don't You Lie To Me is a great track for Gray with natural piano spotlight and Corritore is mic'd forward in the mix which I really like. John Brim gats the mic on slow blues, Moonlight Blues, also taking the lead on guitar with Corritore on harmonica, Paul Thomas on bass, and Chism on drums. This track has a great feel and balance. Eddie Taylor Jr leads the way on guitar and vocal on Going Away Baby with Corritore on harmonica, Illinois Slim on on guitar, Brian Fahey on drums, and Bob Stroger on bass. Very nice. Gray is back on piano on Mother - In - Law Blues featuring Robert Jr Lockwood on guitar and Chism on drums, Rapp on guitar and Mario Moreno on bass. In the slot, solid. Tail Dragger is upfront on Hurt Your Feelings and Johnny Burgin adds tasty lead guitar. With Slim on guitar, Fahey on drums and Stroger on bass, deep Chicago blues. Jimi "Primetime" Smith is at the mic on You For Me a cool shuffle track with a nice lope. Gray and Corritore really shine on this track with Troy Sandow on bass and Marty Dodson on drums. Chief Schabuttie Gilliame does an outrageous job on lead vocal on boogie, Javelina Jamboree with Burgin smoking the guitar and great piano riffs by Gray. Backed by Moreno on bass and Chism on drums, this is my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is slower blues, Going Down Slow with Gray back on lead vocal and piano and chilling guitar riffs by Rapp. This is an excellent closer for a really strong traditional Chicago blues release. 

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Rick Fines - Solar Powered Too - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Solar Powered Too, from Rick Fines, and it's a soft blend of blues, tropical and folk music. Opening with Below The Surface, a smooth acoustic ballad, Rick Fines accompanies him vocal on Cuban Tres and Baritone Guitar. With it's solid melody and accomplished vocal and guitar work, this is a fine opener. With traditional blues guitar riffs and slide by Fine and Roly Platt laying in some really nice harmonica, Worry be The Death of Me is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Country style blues, Laundry On The Line, is nicely executed by Fines with tight finger patterns and warm vocals. Another of my favorite tracks on the release is Tex Mex styled, That's What Makes You Strong with Melissa Payne joining on vocal, Alec Fraser on bass, Gary Craig on drums, and Jimmy Bowskill on Mandolin. Very nice.  Slow, country style ballad, One Lone Loon has a beautiful melody and with singing pedal steel guitar by Bowskill, paired with Fines on guitar and vocal makes for a very nice track. Fines' resonator slide work on upbeat Never Let Go, really adds great texture to this radio style track. Wrapping the release is acoustic blues, Scared To Dance with it's prominent finger picking and solid vocals by Fines. This is a solid effort and enjoyably fast. 

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VizzTone Label Group SWMAF Records artists: The Kid Ramos / Bob Corritore - Phoenix Blues Sessions - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Phoenix Blues Sessions, from Kid Ramos and Bob Corritore and I really like it. Opening with Aw Shucks Baby, Kid Ramos and Bob Corritore really have a jam packed release here. With Nappy Brown on lead vocal, Henry Gray on piano, Mario Moreno on bass, Chico Chish on drums, Johnny Rapp on guitar and of course Corritore on harmonica and Ramos on lead guitar this is a solid opener. Super shuffle, Come On In is a perfect style for Ramos' guitar slinging style with it's swagger and features Gray on lead vocal and piano. Ramos walks it out nicely making this one of my release favorites. Slow blues, 24 Hours features Dr. Fish on lead vocal and he really digs in nicely working in really nicely with the soulful guitar lead of Ramos. Another slow blues, Mother In Law Blues, features Chism on lead vocal, Paul Thomas on bass and Tom Mahon on piano. I really like the piano guitar interplay between Mahon and Ramos on this one. Possum In My Tree is another real nice track, this time featuring Big Pete Pearson on vocal. Ramos pulls out the side on this one and with a Muddy Water kind of styling and with Mahon on piano. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Snakes Crawls At Night with Chief Schabuttie Gilliame on lead vocal with strong guitar lead, piano by Mahon on piano and Corritore on harmonica making for a super closer. 

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Whiskey Bayou Records artist: Alastair Greene - The New World Blues - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The New World Blues, from Alastair Greene and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Living Today, a straight up blues rocker, Alastair Green is upfront on mic and lead guitar with Tab Benoit on drums and harmony vocal and Corey Duplechin on bass and backing vocal. Adding a cool funk (think Sly and the Family Stone) on Lies And Fear brings out a whole different flavor. With funky rhythm and really warm blended harmony vocals, this track is super. Benoit shows great drumming dexterity driving Greene's guitar soloing to a new place and Duplechin's bass work is spot on and tight. Excellent! With a dash of JJ Cale styling, When You Don't Know What To Do, is a solid rocker giving Green a wide open field to really punch it. His bluesy riffs balance nicely with Benoit's snappy drumming. One of my favorite tracks on the release is No Longer Amused with it's tight bluesy bottom and soulful guitar soloing by Greene. Very nice. Instrumental, Back At The Poor House is a really cool shuffle with Greene taking full reins in developing a solid groove. This is definitely a great ride. Another track with a strong bottom courtesy of Duplechin is Find Your Way Back Home with Greene carving out blues riff after blues riff. Super. With it's heaver blues rock approach, Alone And Confused is another favorite with excellent guitar runs, strong vocals and an overall gripping feel. Excellent! Wrapping the release is title track, The New World Blues, with it rock bottom and great slide vamp. Greene takes a looser approach both vocally and on guitar, not unlike Johnny Winter, on this track and he really lights it up. I really like this track and the release overall. 

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Justin Howl - Wanderlust - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wanderlust, from Justin Howl and it shows a unique blend of country, blues, rock and folk. Opening with Interstate 55, Justin Howl wastes no time in getting things going. With his fleet fingered guitar vamp and his harmonica answer, Howl takes command vocally with the presence of a seasoned veteran. Sweet Babe is 3/4 time will have you stompin' your foot in concert with Howl's firm guitar rhythm and his harmonica riffs perfectly frame his story telling vocals. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is I Must Confess with it's driving rhythm and Dylan like vocal delivery. His detailed harmonica playing is a great accent to this track. Title track, Wanderlust, has a lot of zest with traces of country and modern composers such as Frank Black. This track moves like the wind and feels like a cool breeze in your hair. With quick paced guitar accompaniment and howling harmonica, this has a strong melody. The Magician has real blues roots with it's call and response format, slide work and harmonica answer behind Howl's solid vocals. wrapping the release is slow country style blues, Josephina with it's terrific wandering return. This is a strong closer for a real cool acoustic release. 

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VizzTone Label Group / SWMAF records artist: Dave Riley & Bob Corritore - Travelin' the Dirt Road - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Travelin' the Dirt Road, by Dave Riley & Bob Corritore and it's solid Chicago real deal blues. Opening with I'm Not Your Junkman, Dave Riley is upfront on vocal and guitar, with Bob Corritore on harmonica, backed by Johnny Rapp on guitar, Matt Bishop on piano, Dave Riley jr. on bass, and Tom Coulson on drums. With it's up tempo rhythm , solid vocal and Corritore's harp work, super opener. Slow blues, Come Here Woman really sits in the groove with strong vocal and guitar work by Riley and Rapp and strong harmonica contributions by Corritore. Shuffle, Let's Have Some Fun Tonight shows Riley at his best on vocal and strong guitar lead and Corritore's harmonica work make this one of my favorites on the release. A lot of rhythm punch, and cool piano riffs by Bishop adds nice texture to My Baby's Gone.  VooDoo Woman, VooDoo Man is another solid shuffle and a real nice guitar solo by Riley sets nicely against his authoritative lead vocal. Corritore riffs off nicely over a solid blanket of rhythm guitar and Bishop on piano.  Doggone Blues has a slower pace and really works the groove. Contrasting guitar lines between Riley and Rapp under the howling of Riley on vocal and solid harmonica riffs by Corritore make this another favorite. Elmore James style track, Friends, romps along with cool slide guitar like riffs and Riley really works his vocal to the max. Very cool. Wrapping the release is slow, acoustic style blues ballad, Safe At Last, with cool, melodic guitar and harmonica, supporting the pure soulful vocals of Riley. With it's gospel overtone and blues roots, this is a strong closer for a solid release.

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Severn Records artist: Devin B. Thompson - Tales Of The Soul - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Tales of the Soul, by Devin B. Thompson and it's super. Opening with Love To See You Smile, Devin B. Thompson sets up a great groove. Leading on vocal with top notch help from Steve Gomes on bass, Robb Stupka on drums, Johnny Moeller on guitar, Kevin Anker on piano, Benjie Porecki on organ, Mark Morella on percussion Kenny Rittenhouse and Joe Donegan on trumpet, Antonia Orta on sax, Bill Holmes on trombone and backing vocals by Thompson, Caleb Green, Christal Rheams and Kennedy Thompson, hold onto your hat! One of my favorite tracks on the release is gospel influenced, Something You Can Do Today, written by Gamble and Huff, the leaders of the Philly Sound has such a super feel and Thompson really capitalizes vocally with warm backing organ, key trumpet punctuation and great backing vocals. Excellent! With a super bottom by Stupka and Jimmy Earl on bass, and great horn work by Rittenhouse and Donegan, this track will really have you moving. Smooth and easy, Can't Get Over You is another strong track with a magical rhythm really highlighting Thompson's lead and really strong backing vocals. On Get Home Tonight, splashing in some funk and excellent guitar lead by Robben Ford, Thompson shows super poise and phrasing. Wrapping the release is Tell Me, with power soul track with a funky bottom and punchy horns. Moeller lays into his wah pedal and plays some funky blues riffs giving the track just a dash of blues to accent it's true soul nature. I really like this release. If you like Al Green and Curtis Mayfield, check this out!

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Al Gold - Al Gold's Paradise - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Al Gold's Paradise, from Al Gold and it's raw funky blues rock. Opening with That's My Baby, guitarist/vocalist, Al Gold is joined by Jerry Cordasco on drums, Mitch Eisenberg on guitar, Jared Gold on organ, Eric Heilner on piano and Baron Raymonde on bari sax. Cool opener. Shuffle, Paradise (Downhome), features Gold on slide guitar and Johnny Sansone on harmonica. Loosely crafted blues styling on Mr. Banker has the vitality of a Hill Country blues track that I really like with tight snare drumming and rhythm guitar riffs. Piano boogie, Got A Mind has Eric Heilner on keys and a hot bari solo by Raymonde complimenting Love's own guitar work and rowdy vocals. Smokin. My favorite track on the release is slow blues, Won't Sleep Tonight with it's glistening chords, soulful vocals and enchanted lead guitar work. Wrapping the release is cool, Latin infused, Maplewood Limbo. With it's cool guitar lead and tight drums and percussion, this is a great closer. 

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ZOHO Roots artist:Jay Willie & James Montgomery - Cadillac Walk - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Cadillac Walk, from Jay Willie & James Montgomery and it's tasty. Opening with Leiber and Stoller's Three Cool Cats with it's jazzy blues feel featuring Montgomery and Willie on vocal, Montgomery on harmonica, Willie on guitar, Paul Opalach on bass, and Bobby T Torello on drums. Solid opener. A more traditional blues take on the Stones' Satisfaction is pretty cool. With grittier guitar work by Willie and complimentary harmonica work by Montgomery takes this track from the rocky streets of England into the streets of Chicago. Very cool. Easy shuffle, Detroit Blues, has a solid groove and plenty of space for soulful riffs by Montgomery Willie. Very nice. High energy, Montgomery Boogie, is a smoking rock fused instrumental featuring Montgomery leading the way and hot accents by Willie on guitar. Johnny Winter's I'm Yours and I'm Hers gets a little bit of rock fused into a great blues track but maintaining the "Winter" slide style. One of my favorite tracks on the release, Willie fires it up and Montgomery fans the flames. Wrapping the release is another Winter track, Mean Town Blues, with that great blues rock pace and strong vocal delivery by Willie. He shows adept slide fluidity running through Winter's riffs and keeping the track ripping. Super closer. 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Erin Harpe - Meet Me In The Middle - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Meet Me In The Middle, from Erin Harpe, and it's a cool, acoustic country blues release. Opening with self penned, All Night Long, Harpe on acoustic slide and lead vocal, backed by Jim Countryman on ukulele bass and backing vocals. With a slight boogie beat and a touch of swing, this is a cool opener. Sippie Wallace's Woman Be Wise is a great showcase for Harpe's vocals and her guitar work is clean and tight. Lucille Bogan, well know for her suggestive lyrics, penned I Hate That Train Called the M&O, and Harpe does a great job of delivering the goods with a powerful voice and tight blues riffs. On blues classic, Rollin' and Tumblin' Harpe hangs tight on slide over the thumping bass line of Countryman. A cool interpretation, possibly my favorite on the release. Geeshie Wiley's country blues track, Pick Poor Robin Clean, has a lot of spunk and piedmont playing, accompanied by Harpe on kazoo gives the track real spunk. Next up is Memphis Minnie's What's the Matter With the Mill, a great little track and Harpe delivers it nicely. With cool little acoustic riffs and pure vocals, the release is steady and cool. Wrapping the album is original track, One Fine Day, with super vocal harmonies and clean, crisp guitar picking. Solid closer for a solid release. 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Danielle Miraglia - Bright Shining Stars - New Release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bright Shining Stars, from Danielle Miraglia, and it's a solid contemporary acoustic blues release. Opening with original track, Sounds Like Home, Miraglia on lead vocal and acoustic guitar, backed by Laurence Scudder on viola has the sound of the delta. Ma Rainey's C.C. Rider has a strong country feel on a slow, guitar driven pace and accents by Scudder adds a real nice contrast. Janis Joplin's Turtle Blues shows Miraglia's own take on Joplin's style, blended with acoustic folk styling and some real tasty guitar chops. One of my favorites tracks on the release is Keb Mo's You Can Love Yourself with it's country blues style picking and with the addition of some real nice slide work by Peter Parcek. Bob Dylan's Meet Me In The Morning has reall nice dynamics with some of Miraglia's best vocals on the release. Her tight slide riffs add significantly to the feel of the track and Richard Rosenblatt's harmonica work is just right. Another cool interpretation is Tampa Red's When Things Go Wrong (It Hurts Me Too) with solid vocal and guitar soloing by Miraglia. Wrapping the release is s cool acoustic ballad, Bright Shining Stars, penned by Tom Bianchi. Pure vocals by Miraglia and a light touch on her guitar accompaniment make for a solid closer. 

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VizzTone Label Group artist: Ben Levin - Carryout Or Delivery - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Carryout Or Delivery from Ben Levin and it's solid R&B and blues. Opening with You Know, a cool Chicago style  shuffle, Levin on piano and lead vocal nails it. Backed by Aron Levin on guitar, Chris Douglass on bass, and Oscar Bernal on drums, this is a hot opener. I really like Too Good For Me with it's electric piano sound and Levin's New Orleans styling. Very nice. With the phrasing of a key Elmore James track, Have You Lost Your Mind? has solid vocal delivery and with a strongly reinforced rhythm, super organ soloing. Instrumental, NOLA Night really captures the New Orleans sound with super piano and tight rhythms by Bernal. My Back Scratcher is a cool R&B track with a real Booker T feel reinforced by Levin on organ and tight rhythm from Douglass and Bernal. Papercut is another New Orleans R&B blues track with traditional, one note piano rhythm, single snare drumming and cool electric guitar touch from Aron Levin. Bill Nettles' Hadacol Bounce has a great boogie feel with New Orleans turnarounds and traditional vocal styling. A cool old track with new life. Wrapping the release is Floyd Dixon's Time Brings About A Change with it's soulful melody and featuring some of Levin's best vocals on the release, tightly cradled by the warm guitar lines of Aron Levin. Excellent closer. 

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