Bman's Blues Report

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live at the Eddy , by The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer and it's a great live concert. Opening with Cry A Little , a soulful rocker seeming like a boogie just waiting to bust loose features Shawn Hall on vocal and harmonica and Matt Rogers on guitar, backed by Andrina Turenne and Dawn Pemberton on backing vocals and Geoff Hilhorst on keys. With a solid bottom and raw guitar riffs, this is a solid opener. Roll with the Punches is a cool, Mississippi Hill Country flavored track with great harmonious vocals gives the track real feel. Love Me 'fore Ya Leave Me' is another hill country flavored, stripped down rhythm but with the addition of Hall's harmonica and rich backing vocals it gives the track a real full southern rock twist. Very nice. Father's Son has a real nice underlying funk over a basic stripped down rocker. Hall's harmonica work adds nicely to the feel and the gospel like vocal tensi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nightwalk , from Dave Weld & the Imperial Flames and the man knows how to boogie. Opening with Mary Who , Weld on lead vocal and guitar gets into a cool JL Hooker groove, backed by Harry Yaseen on piano, Kenny Pickens on bass, and Jeff Taylor on drums. One of favorite tracks on the release is slide guitar loaded, Red Hot Tabasco featuring Weld on lead vocal and slide over a Latin beat. With Tom Hambridge on drums and Tony Carpenter on percussion this track is caliente. I really like Now She's Gone with Graham Guest on B3, and featuring Bill Branch on harp and Weld with some of the wildest slide work on the release. Very cool! Donde Vas is another Latin flavored track featuring Monica Myhre on lead vocal and with Weld adding some key lead guitar work and a fat sax solo by Rogers Randle, Jr. backed by spicy brass work by Kenny Anderson on trumpet and Bill McFarland on trombone. Uptempo, Loving You is another soli...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, American Roots Project , from Jack's Waterfall and it's a cool mix of blues, rock, New Orleans, Latin and R&B music. Opening with New Orleans R&B influenced, Louise , Jack Licitra on vocal and piano has that traditional rolling piano style, with Trifon Dmitrov on bass and Mark Carpentieri on second line flavored drums. My Baby's Gone A Long Time has a contemporary vocal feel with just the right amount of funk by Dmitrov. Warmed by the organ addition and timed by the piano work of Licitra, this track has strong radio potential. Jack's Rag is a great little piano workout with a vintage feel. Another top track on the release is bluesy, West Texas Ghost Story , with it's strong melody, tight drum work and solid vocals. I've Been Listening really commands your attention with a strong melody, gospel like piano structure and nice vocals by Licitra. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Like An Eag...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Run To Daylight , from The Groove Krewe featuring Nick Daniels III and it a cool R&B/funky blues package. Opening with title track, Run To Daylight , Daniels III on lead vocal and bass sets a smoky New Orleans groove with Eddie Bayers on drums, Nelson Blanchard on percussion and keys, Jonathan Boogie Long on lead guitar, Rex Pearce on rhythm guitar, and Jason Parfait and Ian Smith on horns. Cool opener. Ultra funky, In The Groove Zone really has great movement. With a potent bass line, tight drums and punchy horn work and cool keys, this is guaranteed to get your backside moving. With a more contemporary pop sound, Sweet Situation really shows standout vocals by Daniels III for the most radio oriented track on the release. Wrapping the release is Raising Cane On The Bayou , another strong radio contender with solid vocal blending, and with prime key support and top horn support is a solid closer.   ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live At Audley Theatre by The Jake Leg Jug Band and it's jammed full of hokum and rag style tunes. Opening with I Can't Dance (I've Got Ants In My Pants) featuring Jack Tasker on banjo and lead vocal, teamed with Duncan Wilcox on bass, Neil Hulse on guitar, Liam Ward on jug, Bryony Rose on washboard and backing vocal, and Alex Clarke on sax. On suggestive track, I Had To Give Up Gym , features Ward on vocal and harmonica with a light approach to the subject and with cool guitar soloing by Neil and sax by Alex. Slower paced, Fogyism features Bryony on lead vocal, bluesy harmonica work by Liam and cool clarinet answer by Alex. Cool, folksy Easy Ridin' Mama is a good closer for disc one with the band singing background vocals, cool harmonica by Liam over Jack on banjo and overlying sax by Alex. Opening disc 2 is Caught Us Doing It another suggestive track with just the right amount of jazz. A swinging sa...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release Chuck Wright's Sheltering Sky , from Chuck Wright and it's quite interesting. Opening with instrumental, The Weight of Silence , bassist Chuck Wright (ex Alice Cooper, Slash, Greg Allman, Quiet Riot) has a cool release on his hands. Featuring Allen Hinds with some soaring guitar lead, and backed by Luis Villegas on acoustic guitar, Ed Roth on B3, Tim Janssens on keys, Tom Hatziemanouel on electric guitar, and Scott Breadman on percussion, this is a super opener. Army of Me is a great track with an infectious bass line by Wright, reminiscent of  lines by Rhonda Smith and Tal Wilkenfeld of Jeff Beck fame. This driving bass line and the slap drumming by Griffin by set a perfect stage for vocalist, Whitney Tai, backed by Hatziemanouel, Walter Ino on Rhodes piano and Tim Janssens on synth. Excellent! Funk rocker, It Never Fails really has a great sound with a stiff drum line by Pat Torpey coupled with Wrights bass wor...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Just Folkin Around , by Juke Joint Jonny & The Kindred Spirits and it's a cool update on traditional blues. Opening with Muddy Waters' I Can't Be Satisfied , Jonny on vocal and National Steel Guitar, is joined by Steve Rusin on harmonica, Ben Bernstein on bass and Mike Stevens on percussion. Solid traditional style opener. Dylan's  Tomorrow Was A Long Time is presented as a cool acoustic finger picker with Jonny accompanying his own vocal on guitar. On John Mooney's Dirty Rat, Jonny really kicks up the pace with slide on the national, rapid fire lyrics and tight backing by Rusin, Dave Peterson on bass and Stevens on percussion. Crafted by John Rizzo and Steve Rusin, Terre Haut Blues is one of my favorites with great fingerpicking and vocal by Jonny. Another of my favorites on the release is Taj Mahal's classic, Fishin' Blues . Jonny's voice is just perfect for this track and his picki...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Outdated Emotion , from Delbert McClinton and it's a assemblage of the songs that influenced him the most. Opening with traditional folk track updated and made popular by Lloyd Price, Stagger Lee, McClinton uses mostly Price's arrangement and with a vocal intro by Robert Bailey, the likes of Yates McKendree on drums, Kevin McKendree on piano, Jim  Hoke on sax, and with vocal backing by Wendy Moten and Vicki Hampton this track is a solid opener. Jimmy Reed's The Sun is Shining and it's classic shuffle beat provides a great slot for McClinton vocally joined by Yates, Kevin and includes McClinton on harmonica. Little Richard's Long Tall Sally really gets up and goes with McClinton really feeling the lyrics, Yates on bass and drums, Kevin on piano and featuring Hoke on sax. Great track. One of favorite tracks on the release is Ray Charles' I Want A Little Girl and McClinton singing sweet soul with K...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live In LA from Rique Pantoja and it's very enjoyable. Opening with Arpoador , Brazilian piano ace Rique Pantoja sets the pace, joined by Jimmy Earl on bass, Joel Taylor on drums and Cassio Duarte on percussion for a fast paced jam making it difficult to sit still. Ricardo Silveira plays electric guitar with super dexterity adding solid lead runs and contrast. Very cool. Da Baiana is light and breezy with Steve Tavaglione on flute paired with Pantoja on melody. Pantoja takes the first solo with great intensity and Silviera's guitar work is crisp and fluid, capped by Tavaglione on flute. Morena has a traditional contemporary jazz feel with Tavaglione playing melody on sax. A  hot guitar solo by Silviera adds a bit of blues and Pantoja adds solid vocals to this track cementing it's status as the most likely radio track with it's memorable melody. Wrapping the release is Pra Lili with it's inventive st...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, On A Hot Tin Roof , by StratCat Willie & The Strays and it's a mixture of blues and rock/rockabilly. Hot Tin Roof is a rocker with a rockabilly flair. Led by StratCat Willie Hayes on vocal and guitar this track is moving with Neal Massa on keys, JOHN Wilson on bass, Dave Fiorini on drums, Rich Graiko on trumpet, JOsh Cohen on sax, and Mabel Welch and Sing Trece on backing vocals. Way Too Fast is a hot footed shuffle with cool vocals and strong solo's by Cohen, Graiko and Hayes. I like the swampy feel of Redneck Woman with it's Creedance kind of feel and cowbell and drums by Dave Fiorini, Massa on organ and lots of guitar flair by Hayes. Bluesy Cryin' is classic with Hayes on lead vocal, working with his guitar in call and response.  Mezcal is a cool Latin rocker instrumental featuring Hayes just jamming out the lead. With tight backing by Vinnie Burvee on bass and Dave Salace on drums, this is a coo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Puppets: The Music of Gregg Hill and it's cool and relaxing yet instrumentally stirring. Opening with Andy's Lament , vocalist Aubrey Johnson leads the way with easy Brazilian style scat. Randy Napoleon takes the lead and runs with a really solid Kenny Burrell style fluid lead improvisation and chord display. Bassist, Rodney Whitaker gets the second lead and lays in a really nice solo of his own before the circle back to Johnson, backed by Quincy Davis on drums. Very nice opener. Pianist, Rick Roe sets the stage on Lyrica , another track with a loose, Brazilian feel and featuring the vocal work of Lament and really showcasing the tight drumming of Davis. Napoleon's lyric lead style on guitar is likely the root of the track title with it's free flowing melody continued by Roe on piano.  Still Life of a Tuba is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's casual bop styling. Roe takes a really expr...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, What I Was For You: re.think, from Nancy Goudinaki and it's very nice. Opening with Barrios' classic, La Catedral , guitarist Nancy Goudinaki is fluid with excellent classical styling, and clean vocal harmonies. On title track, What I Was For You - re.think , Goudinaki is joined by JD Allen on tenor sax who trades melody lines. This is a very serene track with contemplative phrasing and beautiful tone. Nereids features Goudinaki, paired with electric bassist, Richie Goods on a classically influenced folk piece. With a simple melody led by Goudinaki on acoustic guitar and with counter supportive work by bass, this is an interesting piece. Baden Powell's jazz composition, Berimbau is nicely presented by Goudinaki with it's Latin rhythm and strong pop melody. My favorite track on the release is Barrios' El Ultimo Canto featuring Goudinaki in top form playing this beautiful classical piece flawlessly. W...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Devil Don't Like It , by the Dedicated Men of Zion and it's really strong. Opening with Lord Hold My Hand , I am immediately thinking this may be the best opening track on any new release I've heard this year. The Dedicated Men of Zion, Anthony Daniels, Antwan Daniels, Marcus Sugg and Dexter Williams really have this track chugging. Backed by Will Sexton on guitar, Matt Ross-Spang on guitar, Mark Edgar Stuart on bass and Al Gamble on organ, these guys are on fire. Rock My Soul is another terrific track with excellent soulful lead vocal and rich, deep background vocals. God's Got His Eyes on You is a strong revival style gospel track that is high in energy and full vocal blending. R&B track, I'm Going Home has a firm bass line setting the pace and strong lead vocal and blues guitar riffs by Sexton and warm organ work by Gamble gives this track pure radio appeal. Wrapping the release is soulful...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hog Wild , from The Hogtown Allstars and it's super. Opening with New Orleans flavored, Mr. Lucky , featuring Chuck Jackson on lead vocal, Gary Kendall on bass, Pat Carey on sax, Teddy Leonard on guitars, Howard Moore on trumpet, Jim Casson on drums and featuring super piano work by Tyler Yarema on piano and backing vocals by Quisha Wint, Jill Zadeh and Selena Evangeline. Shuffle, Real Good Night has a party feel with solid horn backing by Carey and Moore and prominent placement by Wint, Zadeh and Evangeline. Moore lays in a real nice guitar melody on this track but this tune really is prime for airplay. Subway Casanova is one of my favorite tracks with it's swampy, funky rhythm and great slide work by Leonard. Chicago style blues, Biscuits and Beans is stripped down with Jackson on vocal and harmonica and Leonard on guitar. This is as pure and simple as it gets. Very nice. Wrapping the release is I Ain't Ly...

  I just had the opportunity to review Bonham-Bullick 's self titled release and it's a smooth blend of pop, rock, soul, R&B and country. Opening with See You Again , a certain radio composition with a solid melody and featuring Deborah Bonham on lead vocal and Peter Bullick on guitars, Gerard Louis on keys, Ian Rowley on bass, and hard Newman on drums. On Albert King's, Can't You See What You're Doing To Me , Bonham gets into a cool groove and Bullick lets his blues rock chops fly. Delving deeper into the blues, Charles Brown's Trouble Blues is rich with ambiance and Bonham really works it. Bullick's guitar phrasing is poised and soulful. Very nice. I particularly like the arrangement on When This World Comes to an End , with it's suspenseful setup and then how it breaks into a more outright rocker. Reminds me of a favorite blues rock track Religion by Ten Years After. It Ain't Easy , that was made popular by David Bowie back in the 70's ho...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Called My Name , by Anthony Geraci and its strong. Opening with That Old Pine Box which features Sugar Ray Norcia on lead vocal. A quick moving tempo and poised vocals by Norcia as well as super guitar work by Charlie O'Neal, Geraci on keys, Paul Loranger on bass and Jeff Armstrong on drums and this is a super opener. Boston Stomp is a super piano boogie featuring Geraci at the keys and with a great walking bass line by Loranger and Armstrong on drums this track moves. Slow blues, Corner Of Heartache And Pain features Erika Van Pelt on lead vocal. Solid work between Van Pelt on vocal and Geraci on piano and organ creates a really ice dialog and Geraci's bluesy piano solo caps this track nicely. Blues superstar, Walter Trout sits in on lead guitar on Into The Night and his feel and tone is immediately apparent. With his melodic lead, and Geraic's piano/organ solo work, this soulful track is easily my f...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Real Blues , from Jim Dan Dee , and I really like it. Opening with Guitar Slim's The Things That I Used To Do , Jim Stefanuk on lead vocal and guitar is on attack. His vocals are strong and his riffs relentless. Backed by Shawn Royal on drums, Dwayne Lau on bass and Jason Sewerynek on sax, this is a fiery opener. On title track, Real Blues , the band uses a slow firm pace to create dynamics and Stefanuk plays lead arpeggiation and fluid lead runs over reverb saturated harmony. With David Gilmore like phrasing, this track is sure to be a fan favorite. Rock and roller, Two Shakes of a Lamb's Tail has a cool backbeat courtesy of Royal and Lau. Sewerynek really punctuates with his sax work and Stefanuk's vocals are cocky with stinging guitar riffs to back 'em up. Solid. I like the approach on T for Trouble with a heavy bottom and heavy guitars under the vocal. Sewerynex wails the blues on sax and Stefanuk grin...