Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Supramundane Blues , from Reverend Freakchild and he lays down some really nice, old school, delta style blues here. Opening with Son House's Preachin' The Blues , Freakchild has a great feel on vocal and slide acoustic guitar. Excellent opener. Blending country swing and gospel on Crying Holy , Freakchild really gets things hopping with backing from Chris Parker on drums, Matt Rae on lead guitar. Righteous! Romping boogie, Personal Jesus , has super drive with Hugh Pool on harmonica and bass, Parker on drums and Freakchild on vocal. Strong! Contemporary boogie, Factors Of Awakening features Kevin Griffin on lead vocal, guitar and bass. ZZ Tops' Jesus Just Left Chicago gets a total redo with a folksy approach but with with soulful vocals, and harmonica backing. Hot Tuna's version of Good Shepherd is up next with Mark Karan on lead guitar, Malcolm Oliver on bass and Steve Sirokin on keys. Rev Gary Davis'...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keep Moving On , from Dexter Allen and it's a solid mix of soul, R&B and blues. Opening with title track, Keep Moving On , Dexter Allen sets up a high stepper on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Christopher Minter on drums and Joey Robinson on keys. Solid opener. Shuffle Blues Eyed Girl has a a cool swing and fluid lead guitar under Allen's vocal. One of my favorite tracks on the release is slow blues track, F.A.B.U.L.I.S.T. Woman with it's BB King like call and response style guitar riffs and some of Allen's best vocal on the release. Lightly funky, If I Ain't Got You is a real cool track giving you a strong urge to get up and move. Very cool. Soul track, Can't Live Without You , is another of my favorites on the release with gospel like bones and great vocals by Allen. Wrapping the release is R&B influenced blues track, My Cup Of Tea , with a rolling beat and strong vocal lead by Allen...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mas , from Rich Chorne' and it's a solid blues release. Opening with breezy shuffle, I Just Can't Stop Loving You featuring Kathy Lyon on lead vocal, Rich Chorne' on lead guitar is joined by Erik Unsworth on bass, Ricky Malichi on drums and Bud Hewett on keys. Boogie track, Where's the Love , features Rich Cagle and Julia Cozby on vocal and with it's aggressive bass line gives Chorne' a nice opening to show his stuff on lead guitar. Very nice. Boogie Woogie Fever again features Lyon on lead vocal, backed by Cozby and Cagle on backing vocal, Hewett's flashy key board work  and the up tempo pace make this one of the best tracks on the release. Shuffle, I Gotta Get Home , features Chorne' on lead vocal and gives everyone a chance to show their stuff. With it's light melody and jam format, another release favorite. I like the Latin flavor of Down In The Quarter with snappy drum work by...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bruised , from Thy Dirty Deuce, and it's an updated blues rock release. Opening with Call It  What You Will , Thy Dirty Deuce shows a distinct southern rock sting with Rob Atwood on lead guitar and vocal, backed by Jamey Clark on drums, Gregory Roteik on bass, David Passow on harmonica and Matt Ostlund on sax. Title track, Bruise , is a salty blues rocker with a cool bass riff and Jim Morrison like vocal delivery by Atwood. I really like the addition of Jeff Hamilton on lap steel on this track giving it a more aggressive sound. Lean Black Cadillac has a heavier sound with metal characteristics but almost Zappa like construction and still a bluey edge. Very cool. Another blues based track with a metal edge is One Crazy Summer with it's grinding guitar work and heavy overtone but soulful harmonica wailing by Passow. Very cool. One track stands out to me with strong radio appeal and that's You Might . With it...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fred's Blue Chair Blues , from Fred Hostetler and it's a cool set of straight forward blues and ballads. Opening with Jimmy Reed's Bright Lights, Big City , Fred Hostetler lays down the simplest of blues tracks using only his voice and an acoustic guitar. Deep Deep Well is one of my favorite tracks on the release with Hostetler on acoustic slide showing some real clean riffs and super blues feel. Taming The Wolf is another cool track with some delta style picking. This isn't hot and fancy finger work but authentic and cool leading into a cool JLH style boogie. Wrapping the release is Salt Tears with it's country style acoustic guitar feel and vocal. This is a solid set of contemporary blues with honest roots. Very cool.    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’...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'm Hungry , from Jimmie Bratcher and it's a cool mix of swampy rock and blues. Opening with I Love Her Name , a cool boogie rocker, Bratcher is joined by Craig Kew on bass, Joe Selle on drums, and John Selle on keys. Bratcher has an aggressive guitar style and attacks his solo with real grunt. Cool opener. With a laid back easy pace, Mama Won't Fry No Chicken , has a real comfortable gait with Aaron Mayfield on B3 and Terry Hancock on drums turning up the heat for a cool relaxed guitar solo by Bratcher. Rocker, Where You Gonna Stop , is low slung and with solid vocals and stinging guitar work by Bratcher, this track is one of my favorites on the release. Eric Stark's keys under Bratcher's lead guitar and tight stick work by Hancock may this a hot instrumental. With a New Orleans rhythm, Green Bananas is loose with super horn work over the fun vocals on Bratcher. Soul classic, Grit's Ain't Gro...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Express Connection , from Tomislav Goluban and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with title track, Express Connection , eastern European harmonica player, Tomislav Goluban flexes his muscle on this hard driving blues rocker with Jeff Jensen on guitar, David Green on drums, Rick Steff on keys and Bill Ruffino on bass. A solid ballad, Pale Blue Eyes has a real nice melody featuring Goluban on lead vocal and cool reverb soaked guitar by Jensen and Mark Johnson on slide and Kelly Zirbes on backing vocal. Blues shuffle, Extra Boom really sits nicely in the groove and Goluban works the Chicago styling nicely on harmonica. Steff lays in a cool electronic keyboard solo and Jensen follows with some cool riffs of his own. Blues rocker, No Future In Your Past , has great pace and features Kirk Smothers on sax, Marc Franklin on trumpet and Zibes on backing vocals. Wrapping the release is Beast Walk with a cool organ melody by S...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, One Eye Open , from Kat Dancer and it's cool. Opening with shuffle, Way I Like It Done , Dancer is upfront on lead vocal and guitar, with Steve Dawson on guitar and some hot pedal steel,  Gary Craig on drums, Jeremy Holmes on bass, Dominic Conway on tenor sax, Jerry Cook on bari sax, Malcolm Aiken on trumpet, and Kevin McKendree really working the piano. Strong opener. With it's drone bass line, Lonely And The Dragon is one of my favorites on the release with bluesy vocals, some really tasty blues guitar soloing and solid horn backing. Another hot track is New Orleans flavored, Frenchman Street Shake . Craig's tight drum rhythm, with Dansen's vocal timing, solid horn work and excellent slide work by Dawson gives this track real traction. Another favorite on the release is One Eye Closed with it's driving rhythm and punky rock attack. Wrapping the release is Mi Corazon, a Tex-Mex number featuring Dans...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Firebreather , from Skylar Rogers and she shows a powerhouse voice. Opening with Hard Headed Woman , Rogers' vocals dance on a floor of rock with a light funky bottom. Featuring Steven J Hill and Marty Gibson on guitars, Jerry Ewing on bass, Pete Zimmer on keys and Bradley Arl on drums, this is a solid opener. R&B track, Like Father Like Daughter has real radio appeal with it's great lead vocal and melody and solid backing vocals by Arl, Hill, Ewing and Vanessa Hudson. Soul track, Failure has really a great melody and gives Rogers a great opportunity to showcase her phrasing over a simple guitar lead backing. Title track, Firebreather is a potent rocker with heavy drums and organ. Rogers holds the track in her hand stirring and fiery guitar solos give the track extra punch. My favorite track on the release is Drowning , with it's arpeggiated keyboard and potent bottom accenting the tension in Roger's ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sweet Soul Song , from James Holvay and it is sweet! Opening with Working On It , James Holvay conjures up the prime 60's soul sound with a snappy beat and super rhythm guitar. With Les Falconer on drums, James Manning on bass, Stu Pearlman on keys and Holvay on guitar and lead vocal and backed by Cliff Curtis, Ron Douglas and Les Falconer on backing vocals. Very nice. Holvay shines on On Still The Fool , with distinct influences of Curtis Mayfield being felt with classic vocal phrasing, reverb saturated guitar work, strings and smooth backing vocals. Wrapping the release is Talkin' About , with an Impressions feel. Light instrumentation, handclaps and horns with excellent vocal blending and swaying rhythm spells perfection on the closer on this really 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 --...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tick Tock Tick , from Will Porter and it's a cool slice of music. Opening with title track, Tick Tock Tick , a Dr John track features the Dr with his Will Porter with his soulful lead vocal, backed by Thaddeus Richard on keys, Todd Duke on guitars, Brian Brian Quezergue on bass and and Bunchy Johnson on drums. My favorite track on the release is original Why Do We get Blue? which is a stellar showcase for Porter's voice and backing vocals by The Womack Brothers and with a tasty baritone guitar solo Jimmy Haslip. Ike turner's funky, I'm Blue , is really pumped up with super horn work by Mic Gilette and Johnnie Bamont. Solid blues, I Can Do Bad By Myself is another favorite with deep roots, featuring sreat soulful vocal by Porter, warm keys by Richard, powerful horns by Gilette and Bamont and strong guitar soloing by Leo Nocentelli. Very nice. Smooth jazz ballad, Don't Go To Strangers has the strings a...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Songs From French Street by the Christopher Dean Band and it's a cool rock/R&B release. Opening with Can I Get It , Dean is upfront on lead vocal and guitar, backed by song writer. Johnny Rawls on vocal and guitar, Rob Fraiser on bass, Dave Hollingsworth on drums, June Thomas on organ, Carl Snyder on piano and Steve Lombardelli on horns. Cool opener. On You Walked Away , Dean rolls into a bluesy rock format and possibly the radio track on the release. With it's up beat drum rhythm and Latin/blues fused guitar lead, this track is strong. Keep On Lovin' Me is really a blues rocker with a SRV flavor but with an R&B overtone. It's ramped up drums and power horn backing make it one of the top tracks on the release. Another favorite is soulful track, Walls , with it's Curtis Mayfield like feel. Dean works this track nicely with just the right blend of vocal and lead guitar. Beautiful. Add in a bit o...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Not My Circus, Not My Monkey , from the Hitman Blues Band and it's definitely got some cool angles. Opening with title track, Not My Circus , Russell "Hitman" Russell is upfront on lead vocal and guitar, backed by Kevin Bents on keys, Mike Porter on bass and backing vocals, Guy La Fountaine on drums, Mikey Vitale on alto sax, John Kelly on tenor sax, Eric Altarac on trumpet, Nick Clifford on bari sax, and Joanna Alexander on backing vocals. A clever radio style track with full horn backing, this track shows some real nice slide guitar work by Hitman as well.  Buy That Man A Drink has a great Rhumba rhythm and Altarac's trumpet work stands out nicely. Blind Willie Johnson gets a modern, blues rock rework with cool electric piano and guitar soloing giving it nice punch. A funky rework on John The Revelator works a balance of drums and horns with strong backing vocals making this one of Hitman's best v...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, From Steve's Shed , by Gravely James and it's an upbeat folk blues release. Opening with 103 , James shows a lot of energy on vocal and acoustic guitar with foot stomps and spoon like percussion featuring Gravely James (Chris Madronich) on vocal and guitar. Well structured ballad, Atlantis on My Lips has a radio friendly melody and a quiet approach making it my selection for radio play. With it's driving guitar rhythm and excited vocals, Farewell Anita is likely to be a strong crowd favorite in live performances with a memorable melody, hootin' and hollerin'. Shoot 'em Down has the classic lines of a traditional folk song with a super melody and straight forward accompaniment. With it's winsome whistling, Cold Stone Heart is a peppy little track with snappy guitar riffs and some of James' best vocals on the release. Wrapping the release is Beers with Joe Lapinski, a vibrant and energet...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Forgiver and the Runaway , from AJ Fullerton and it's a solid blues rocker with a rural feel. Opening with Remind Me Who I Am Again , AJ Fullerton on lead vocal and guitar exudes confidence with Anna Ruddick on bass, Glenn Milchem on drums, and strong key work by Jesse O'Brien as well as warm vocal backing by Chantal Hendricks and the Marrinaires. Very nice. Slippin' Away is a cool, contemporary shuffle with a super melody and great lead vocals. A smooth balance between the solo guitar work and the piano lead really works nicely. Rocker, Say You'll Stay is one of my favorites on the release with  harmonica work by Paul Reddick and vibrant guitar lead by Fullerton and Steve Marriner. Another of my favorite tracks on the release is Never Was with a distinct C Berry rhythm pattern that makes you feel the beat. An excellent solo of excellent pedal steel work by Aaron Goldstein contrasts really nicely wi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Living In The City , from Big Harp George , and it's a solid mix or blues and rock. Opening with Build Myself an App , a rock track with a retro beat features Big Harp George on lead vocal and harp, Chris Burns on keys, Doug Rowan on bari sax, Joe Kyle on bass, June Core on drums, Kid Andersen on guitar and the Sons of the Soul Revivers (James Dwayne and Walter Morgan) on backing vocals. Heading Out to Itaipu has a cool, light Latin feel with excellent percussion by D'Mar, Little Charlie Baty on guitar, Carlos Reyes on Paraguayan harp and violin, Kid Andersen on bass, and really nicely crafted harmonica lead by George. Laid back blues, Bayside Bounce , has a cool, shuffle beat with Ben Torres on bari sax, Andersen on bass, and featuring Baty with some really tasty guitar riffs under George's harmonica lead. Blues shuffle, First Class Muck Up is my favorite track on the release with it's boogie beat and hea...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Backyard Blues , by the Blues Society of Central PA . It's a collection of tracks of varying blues styles written and performed by Central Pennsylvania artists and it's a lot of fun. Opening with A Bad Influence , a cool shuffle by Blues On The Loose featuring Lewy Dean on lead vocal and harmonica, Jay McElroy on keys and guitar, and Doug Porter on bass. Rose Hudson with Barrelhouse performs Since We've Been Apart , a slow blues with a lot of tension featuring a drone bass line by John McGovern, Mark Huber on keys, Tommy Leanza on drums and Steve Davis on guitar, supporting the resonant vocals of Hudson. The Mighty Klucks step up with potent guitar led instrumental, C Jam , featuring Todd Klucker on guitar, Christina Klucker on bass ad Sam Welday on drums. Very cool. Bob Wineland and the House Band lays down a real nice up tempo shuffle, What Have You Done For Me Lately , with a driving bass line, fluid key...