CLICK ON TITLE BELOW TO GO TO PURCHASE!!!!
CD submissions accepted! Guest writers always welcome!!
I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Sunny Soul, from Endrick & the Sandwiches and it's an interesting blend of folk, and pop/rock tunes with a number of twists and bends. Opening with Mambo Intro, Endrick Tremblay sets up dialog over what sounds like electronic durms... rolling into Cheeseburger Blues, a blues shaped pop tune featurning Endrick on vocal and guitar, Mandela Coupal Dalgleish on drums, Simon Ethier on bass and Anne Lauziere on backing vocals. Mama's Rollerblade is a cool pop rocker with a tight rock edge, along the lines of The Eagles of Death Metal. Another tight little rocker is My Money with a a cool guitar riff by Endrick and a solid bass line by Ethier. Possibly my favorite on the release. Soul based, You Don't Need A Crowd To Be A Star, is short but cool with nicely worked vocals. The Party has a blues rocky feel with minimal guitar lead and cool harmonica by Endrick and blended vocal backing. Crossing over into a funk, How Do I Know About SC? has a straight up drum beat and vocals that breaks into a Frank Zappa like turmoil before returning back to a light female lead rap. The closer on the release is Doing Well (Sunny Soul) is a cool funk rocker with lead vocal melody and guitar riffs over low key drums by Dalgleish and keyboard by Endrick.
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
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Storyteller, from Irish blues-rock sensation, Eamonn McCormack and it touches on many faces of european rock. Opening with The Great Famine, a folky rock tune with atmospheric backing and tight rock guitar riffs, Eamonn (pronounced A-min) McCormack leads on vocal and guitar, backed by Edgar Karg on bass, Max Jung-Poppe on drumsand Arne Weigand on keys. Sounding a bit like David Bowie with the Beatles, Help Me To Understand is a sool, low key rocker with a solid bass line by Karg and powerful vocals by Eamonn. Jacking up the rock side of the business, Tie One On sounds like it's heavily influenced by Thin Lizzy with it's snappy drum rhythm and super Rory Gallagher like slide work. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release is hard driving, Cowboy Blues, with it's tight bottom and slashing slide work. Very cool. On blues ballad, In A Dream, McCormack is up front on vocal with solid support from Weigand on organ and long, melodic guitar lead giving the track broad crowd appeal. Another of my favorites on the release s straight up rocker, With No Way Out. Tight drumming and a driving bass line is the secret here with simple straight ahead rhythm. Cold Cold Heart has a lot of swagger with a solid walking bass line, creative vocal presentation and rowdy guitar work. Very cool. Wrapping the release is tight rocker, Make My Move, with high energy drums, a thumping bass and soaring roffs complimenting McCormack's vocal work. This is a diverse release with some real cool rock onboard.
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
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Montreux Years, from Etta James and it's dynamite. Opening with Breakin' Up Somebody's Home, Etta James hits like a truck on lead vocal, supported by Herman Roscoe Ernest III on drums, Ronnie Buttacavoli on trumpet, Bobby Murray on guitar, Josh Sklair on guitar, Bobby Vega on bass, Kraig Kilby on trombone, Richard Howell on sax, David Matthew on keyboards, Donto James on percussion and Claude Nobs on harmonica. Great opener. Emotionally charged, A Lover Is Forever, is a quiet contrast to the opener with James wooing the mic over the electro acoustic guitar work of Murray and Sklair. Very nice. Rockin, Tell Mama, has great drive, with hot vocal by James, backed by Klaus Doldinger on sax, Lew Soloff on trumpet, Rick Wakeman on keys, David Fathead Newman on sax, Brian Ray on guitar, Richard Tee on keys, Steve Ferrone on drums and David Lowrey on bass. R&B track, Something's Got A Hold On Me gets an uptempo, gospel like feel with backing by Ernst III, Buttacavoli, Murray. Jim Pugh on keys, Sklair on guitar, Vega on bass, Kirby on trombone, Donoto foster on percussion, Howell and Sametto Dennis on vocal. Excellent! Slinky, high stepper, Come To Mama is really great with a strong under pinning by Vega and Ernest III, a scorching guitar solo by Murray and great horn work by Buttacavoli, Kilby and Howell. A string of ballads including At Last, Trust In Me and Sunday Kind of Love is really nice, with james showcasing the jazz styling that made her famous. Very nice. Rolling the blues out big and strong, I Sing The Blues For You is wide open with a full jam by Murray, Sklair, Matthews and Richard Cousins and solid horn backing by Buttacavoli and Kilby. Closing the forst cd is Baby What You Want Me to Do with Brian Ray with a solid guitar solo , Cash McCall on guitar, Tony Cook on drums, Gene Dinwitty with a potent sax solo, fred Beckmeier on bass, Bobby Martin on keys, Keith Johnson on trumpet and Claude Nobs on harmonica.
Disc 2 is all recorded in July of '75. Opening with a funky, Respect Yourself, James' vocals are gritty and tight, backed by Brian Ray on guitar, Frank Able on keys, Poindexter on sax, Klaus Doldinger on tenor sax, Johnson on tuba and bass trombone and John Paul Jones on bass. Drown In My Own Tears is an excellent soul track in the lines of Aretha '69 or her work at Muscle Shoals. Excellent! An excellent remake of her original track, I'd Rather Go Blind, is included her and she really works hard on that 9+ minute presentation. Very nice. Slow blues, Baby What You Want Me To Do, gives james a great opportunity to stretch thsi famous blues track to new heights. With her powerful vocals and the guitar work of Ray shining, backed by Poindexter, Doldinger, and Johnson, this is really cool. Wrapping the set is TBone Walker's Stormy Mondy with excellent guitar work by Ray and Albe's delicate key strokes setting the pace. The warm sax work of Poindexter prepares the way and james holds nothing back with a stellar vocal performance that pushes the band even further. Excellent closer for an excellent pair of discs.
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
Clay Melton To Open For Grand
Funk Railroad State Fair Of Texas
Chevrolet Main Stage
Houston, TX (June 15 2021) - Just Announced! Blues Rocker Clay Melton "Say That You Love
Me" will bring his over the top blues rock sound to the Texas
State Fair. This will be Clay's third annual appearance on the
Chevrolet Main Stage and this year he will open for the internationally
world famous Grand Funk Railroad. Clay's Watchtower Entertainment
Management Company in cooperation with Glenn Smith Presents
Incorporated is thrilled to present this latest news to blues rock fans
around the world. Clay shares, "This is just too cool, I
mean Grand Funk Railroad I am jacked to the nth degree!"
Melton had just left the studio where he had been recording his new
upcoming release when he received the news. Grand Funk Railroad
with super hits like "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Feelin'
Alright" have never looked or sounded better and will perform on
stage October 3rd at 8:30pm. This show will be included in the
price of admission tickets and will not require a separate ticket to
attend.
As Seen In Blues Festival Guide, Blue
Monday, Living Blues, Making A Scene & Rock And Blues International
Magazines
Experience the Clay Melton sound....
Quote From Glenn Smith on working with Clay
(28 years
promoting the #1 selling solo artist in history, Garth Brooks)
"I
have been booking and promoting talent for Headline Performers, and
Venues worldwide (see www.GlennSmithPresents.com)
for over 40 years, in basically all popular genres including Pop, Rock,
RnB, Country, Hip Hop, Blues, Latin, and CCM. Here in Texas, we have NO
shortage of incredibly talented artists, both “discovered, and
undiscovered”. Occasionally, someone comes along that really turns my
head, and a couple years ago, that person was Clay Melton. I was
and continue to be impressed with not only his Command of the guitar, and
vocals, but to deliver his presentation with a “believability” that’s
rare in someone of his young age. I simply urge everyone to keep an eye
(and ear) out for him. In my opinion, he’s got “something special”, and I
will continue to book and support him on his Journey!" - Glenn Smith,
President - Glenn Smith Presents Inc.
The number one
syndicated blues radio show in Australia
......Host
Barry Maxwell
"Awesome video and ripping song. I love the energy and
the passion and the soul. He got me from the start with the dramatic
intro...Fabulous! I love the rawness in his vocal and he sings with
conviction. Awesome riff and love the dirty guitar tone throughout.
This next generation blues musician has got it! This is what
Blues Rock
should sound like!
The longest
running blues show
in Italy The Catfish Blues
Show
KBA
Recipient Edoardo Fassio
"Thank you John for sending Clay's dynamic audio track. It
is being aired on our Catfish Blues Show at
Radio Banda Larga."
Spinning in The Netherlands, Podomatic, and iTunes
Rob van
Elst - Host/producer
"John, This is a great track. We are gonna use it on our
show. Blues Moose is on two regional radio stations in The
Netherlands plus we also stream on Podomatic and iTunes. On those
we are always #1 in the Blues chart."
Canada's CKOL Radio Toronto Blues In The
Bottle Radio Show
.....Host John
Sillberg
"Can't go wrong with hard driving percussion driven blues. Nice
tight band. Clay has a good blues-shouter voice. I will definitely
play it
Spain's Blues En Las Ondas Radio Show
Host Daniel
Monedero Tórtola
"We are broadcasting Clay Melton's
amazing "Say That You Love Me" on our radio show. The show
will also appear on Universidad X Radio."
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Montreux Years, from Nina Simone and it's really a great representation of her live performances. This compilation covers all of her 5 Montreux performances. Disc one a composite of cuts from various years and disc two her 1968 performance in full. Opening with a demonstration of her classical training on piano on Someone to Watch Over Me, Simone really gets the keys rolling showig real keyboard prowess and power. On shuffle track, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free, Simone lays down a simple piano line and sings with her casual but succinct style with heavy piano accent. Very cool. See-Line Woman with backing vocal has it's southern blues roots and chant like nature. Very much like primitive field hollars, it relates to prostitutes lining up to perform "favors" as the sailors come to shore. Don't Smoke In Bed is a fairly classic Simone track with it's dramatic classical/jazz piano presentation and Simone's soulful voice. African Mailman is a vibrant instrumental starting with piano and light snare, slowly building with tom toms, cowbell, and cymbal. Very cool. Liberian Calypso has a strong island rhythm with piano and percussion under Simone's strong vocal and crowd audience vocal participation. I really like this release but one of my favorites is Ne Me Quitte Pas, a Belgian ballad sung in french. With only her piano and vocal, this is a terrific track. Rocking the close on cd one is My Baby Just Cares For Me with Simone really rolling the keys. Her ability to get in the slot and drag you there with her is remarkable and this track is a cool closer for the disc.
Disc 2 opens with Simone classic, Go To Hell with it's bulldozer like approach and terrific followthrough. Simone is on top of her game here and the vocals are strong and clear. On her own super hit, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, really popularized by the Animals, Simone maintains her easy, laid back approach. With Buck Clarke on drums, Gene Taylor on double bass, Sam Waymon on organ and perecussion and hot guitar by Henry Taylor, this is strong. Funky, Backlash Blues has a real groove, created by Clarke and Taylor, reinforced by Simone on vocal and piano. Great changeup in the middle of the set. The set is wrapped with two encores, Gin House Blues and I Wish I How It Would Feel To be Free. Gin House Blues gets a firey, R&B, Ray Charles like make over that really gets the stage romping like a revival tent with extended solos by Clarke, Waymon, and Taylor. Very nice. Winding it down on I Wish, Simone has the audience in her hands. This is the perfect closer having laid it all out there and giving the crowd a chance to catch their breath with a gospel like sway.
This is an excellent release and one long coming.
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
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (June 25, 2021), A Sweet Relief Tribute to Joey Spampinato, NRBQ founding member and writer of all of the tracks on thie release. Opening with blues rocker,You Can't Hide, by Al Anderson on lead vocal and guitar, with Carl Minor on acoustic guitar, David Dorn on keys, Steve Mackey on bass, and Evan Hutchings on drums. Energetic opener. Los Lobos contributes Every Boy and Girl, with David Hildago on guitar, accordion and vocal, Steve Berlin on sax, Vince Hidalgo on bass and David Hildago Jr on drums. Pop tune, How Can I Make You Love Me, is performed by She and Him with Zooey Deschanel on vocal and M. Ward on guitar and keys. The Minus 5 brings us Don't She Look Good in a slightly punky rockabilly style. Scott McCaughey on guitar, piano, organ, percussion and vocal with Mike Mills on bass, Peter Buck on guitar, and Joe Adragna on drums and with a really cool guitar solo by Dave Depper. I really like Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale's work on How Will I Know. Simple guitar and drum accompaniment under nicely blended the vocal duet is the ticket. Bonnie Raitt's take on Green Lights is electrifying with Scott Ligon on guitar, Terry Adams on clavinet, Casey McMcDonough on bass, John Perrin on drums and wild slide work and lead vocal by Raitt. Excellent! Robbie Fulks does a stright up country work on Chores keeping it fun with Val McCallum on guitar and backing vocal, Davey Faragher on bass and backing vocal and Pete Thomas on drums in support of Fulks on guitar and lead vocal. Very cool. The Nils set out a real straight rocker with edge in That's Alright with Carlos Soria on bass and vocal, Mark Donato on guitar and vocal, Phil Psarakos on guitar, Emilien Catalano on drums, Peter Work on harmonica and featuring Chris Spedding on lead guitar a cool ass kicker. Wrapping the release is Kami Lyle with Joey Spampinato on First Crush. This track is quite cool with a simple Brazilian feel. Kami's vocals backed by her own piano and trumpet, and Joey Spampinato on guitar, bass and vocal is an excellent closer for this ecclectic 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
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Cause Of It All, from The Reverend Shawn Amos and I think it's his best yet! Opening with Willie Dixon's Spoonful, Amos cuts it back to the bare necessities and I love his style. paired with guitarist, Chris "Doctor" Roberts, this is electrifying. Amos' vocals seem to scream out of the dark as do his harmonica riffs and the Doctor's fat toned guitar work is over the top. Excellent opener! Muddy Waters' Still A Fool is another excellent tract with the mostly clear (not distorted intentionally) vocals by Amos and warm throaty tones of the Doctor's guitar really carrying the word. Chester Burnett's Color And Kind leans more to super soulful vocals and warm, rich harmonica work by Amos. Powerful. A quiet rendition of Little Walter's, Can't Hold Out Much Longer, really works Amos on vocal and harmonica with no distortion and the Doctor on clean acoustic guitar. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Muddy Water's, Little Anna Mae. Amos really does a nice job of bringing out the blues left in this track by Morganfield and with clean, blues acoustic guitar riffs by the Doctor makes this an 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
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nowhere To Go But Up, from Smiling Jack Smith & The New Panama Limited and it's an interesting blues rock set. Opening with Another Year Gone, a blues based rocker, Smiling Jack Smith leads the way on guitar and vocal, backed by David Herrington on tuba and Quique Villafane on drums. David Gwynn holds down the lead guitar role with some really nice riffs includig a few pinched harmonics and phrasing that would make Roy Buchanan proud. On easy folk blues, Been Worryin' it's the tuba backing by Herrington that really gets my attention under some of the best vocals on the release by Smith. Very nice. Uptempo rocker, Don't Pray Me No Prayers When I'm Gone, is a super to tapper with a country style flavor. Underlying tuba work by Herrington hits the mark. Randon Walk Start All Over Again is a cool, nearly spoken word track with a solid bass line (on tuba) and nicely phrased guitar lead by Gwynn. Laid back, Southbound Train, is a cool radio style track with a strong melody, western and slide style guitar work by Gwynn, the the solid bottom by Herrington on tuba, and snappy drum riffs by Villafane. wrapping the release is title track, Nowhere To Go But Up, with it's sing along style and country flavoring. An extended guitar solo by Gwynn blends nicely with the acoustic work of Smith, Herrington on tuba and Villafane on drums. Good 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
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Where and When, from Kelly's Lot and it's a solid blend of blues and country. Opening with Stronger, a basic acoustic blues number featuring Kelly Zirbes on lead vocal, Perry Robertson on rhythm guitar, Doug Pettibone on lead guitar and David Grover on bass. Zirbes has a solid voice with just a slight grit and Pettibone's tight guitar riffs over the rhythm of Grover and Robertson makes for a cool opener. Reworking Howlin Wolf's, Somebody In My Home, kelly gets the feel of Wolf's performance without his thickness and gruff and Pettibone's slide work very nice. Uptempo, Howlin' Wolf's Nature, has a real nice guitar line and Kelly's vocals are the best on the release. Robert Johnson's Stones In My Passway is my choice track on the release with a nice balance between Kelly's lead vocal, the rhythm work of Grover and Robertson and the solid slide work of Pettibone. The dual acoustic guitar work on That Fool creates a nice background for Kelly's lead vocal which lays right on the pocket. Very nice. Ma Rainey's rag blues, Black Eye Blues has a great feel and again Kelly's vocals are nicely suited for the track. Smooth understated acoustic backing and Kelly's management of the seductive lyrics gives this track just the right touch. Wrapping the release is Ship, a contemporary acoustic blues with a rocky feel. Kelly sings against the boogie line of Grover and the slide accents of Pettibone making this a cool closeer.
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
