VizzTone Label Group artist: Bob Corritore & Friends - You Shocked Me - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, You Shocked Me, from Bob Corritore and Friends and it's chocked full of great Chicago based blues. Opening with Hiding Place, John Primer has the lead on vocal and guitar backed by Anthony Geraci on piano, Wes Starr on drums, Jimi Primetime Smith on guitar and Bob Stroger on bass. This is a terrific opener with high energy. Diunna Greenleaf is up front on vocal on title track, You Shocked Me with Bob Margolin on guitar, LA Jones on guitar, Ben Levin on piano, Starr on drums, Adrianna Marie on  bass and Corritore on harmonica. Super track. Alabama Mike has the mic on slow blues, Somebody Stole My Love From Me, a soul jammed track. With excellent harmonica lead by Corritore, Stroger on bass, Margolin on guitar, Fred Kaplan on piano, and Starr on drums, this is one of my favorites on the release. Love Francine Reed's vocals on Don't Need Your Permission, a swinging shuffle with Corritore really humming on harmonica. With Johnny Main on guitar, Bill Fahey on drums and Mike Hightower on bass, this is another great track. Diunna Greenleaf and Jimi Primetime Smith have the mic on Sunny Day Friends, a real nice shuffle with Johnny Rapp on steel, Kaplan on piano, Corritore on harmonica, Troy Sandow on bass and Andrew Gutterman on drums. Very nice.  Wrapping the release is Blues For Hippies featuring Alabama Mike on lead vocal, Stroger on bass, smith on guitar, Kaplan on piano and Fahey on drums. Corritore really winds the harmonica out on this track. This is a great closer for a really nice release. 

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Big Legal Mess artist: Herman Hitson - Let The Gods Sing - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let The Gods Sing, from Herman Hitson, and I like it! Opening with title track, Let The Gods Sing, with it's rich, soulful, anthem like feel, Hitson really has a great start. With chant like vocals, eccentric rhythm guitar work (which I really like) by Hitson and Will Sexton on lead guitar, a firm bass line by Mark Edgar Stuart, Will McCarley on drums and full organ attack by Al Gamble, this is a terrific opening track. A cool change up is Ain't No Other Way with it's full "James Brown" on including horn pumping...great groove. A driving, somewhat psychedelic take on Willie Dixon's Backdoor Man is really cool with wowing vocals and backing organ. Wrapping the release is an upbeat funky track, Yampertown Funk with a cool bari/tenor sax horn mix and heavy organ work over a cool drum beat and guitar rhythm. This is a cool release and if you like your stuff funky, this could be your deal! 

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Blue Heart Records artists: The Texas Horns - Everybody let's Roll - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everybody Let's Roll, from The Texas Horns, and I really like it! Opening with title track, Everybody Let's Roll, The Texas Horns (Kaz Kazanoff on tenor sax, Al Gomez on trumpet, and John Mills on bari sax) come out steaming with Carolyn Wonderland on lead vocal, Mike Keller on rhythm guitar, Sean Giddings on keys, Chris Marsh on bass, and Tom Brechtlein on drums and featuring Anson Funderburgh with some real nice guitar lead. Solid opener. Piano boogie, I Ain't Mad With You, led by Matt Hubbard really rocks with excellent solos from Kaz and Johnny Moeller and a fat fat bottom by Mills. Excellent! A really interesting (bluesy) rework of The Beatles, I Want You (She's So Heavy), has great horn blending with Gomez taking the lead on trumpet. With it's jazzy drum hitch by Brannen Temple, a cool organ solo by Sean Geddings and a blast of blues by Moeller on guitar, this is a punchy track.  Soulful, Prisoner In Paradise, features Guy Forsyth on lead vocal and is the certain radio track with brassy backing and a real nice trumpet solo by Gomez and a warm sax solo by Kaz. Wrapping the release is JB Lenoir's J.B.s Rock with hot drumming by Jason Corbiere and sassy sax work by Kaz. Flanigin rolls in some warm organ tones and Jimmie Vaughan  lays down some trademark guitar riffs making this a great closer. 

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Maremil Music artist: Alex Lopez - Nasty Crime - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nasty Crime, from Alex Lopez and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with rocker, World on Fire, Kana Leimbach leads the way with a firm drum rhythm, joined by Kenny Hoye on keys. Lopez handles lead vocal and places a grinding guitar riff over the bass lines of Steve Roberts. Lopez's melodic lead and slide guitar give the track a full attack over the relentless attack by Leimbach. With a swing, Lopez delivers easy blues ballad, When The Sun Goes Down, with soulful vocals over a cool piano riff. A melodic guitar solo by Lopez and a memorable melody,  makes this track a solid radio contender. Title track, Nasty Crime, is a straight up rocker with a funky back beat. With jangly guitar work by Lopez and John Lord like organ work by Hove over a snappy beat, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Driving rocker, No Way, shows how tight the band can be. With a solid melody and strong vocal attack this is another solid radio entry. Wrapping the release is That's Alright with it's bluesy feel and nod to Billy Gibbons. Lopez lays out some real nice guitar work here with clean blues phrasing over rhythm guitar and organ baking this a solid closer.  

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Vintage LaNeil Records artist: Orphan Jon and the Abandoned - Over The Pain - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Over The Pain, from Orphan Jon and the Abandoned, and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with a strong rocker, Tight Dress, ace guitarist Alastair Greene sets the pace with fleet fingered rock riffs, supported by Ray Sadolsky on bass, Jason Blakely on drums and featuring Jon English onlead vocal. This is a hot rocker that is sure to get your attention. Blues ballad, Over The Pain features Jon with Rebecca Aguilar on vocal with Mike Malone on piano, and some real tasty blues lead guitar by Greene. This track should have strong radio appeal with a solid melody and vocal lines. Swampy, Broken Angel, has a terrific rhythm line courtesy of  Blakely and overdriven tones on extra funky lead guitar by Greene add yet another dimension. Thick blues tone come from Greene's national guitar in pure old school style on the intro and then the track cuts loose. With a thumping bass line by Sadolsky and rowdy vocals by English it's Greene's relentless slide guitar that makes this one of my favorite tracks on the release. On Redheaded Woman Blues, English on vocal and Greene on national steel acoustic guitar set down an authentic style delta blues with minimal drum work. Very nice. Everyone Knows is a great blues rocker with authoritative tom tom work by Blakely and rich slide guitar work by Greene under the focused lead vocal of English. This is a really strong blues rocker in the vein of the origins of blues rock.  Wrapping the release is revival style track, There's No Need, with vocal exchanges between English and Aguilar and powerful organ work. This is a high energy closer for a really strong release.   

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Patty Tuite - Hard Case of the Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Hard Case of the Blues by Patty Tuite and its a full hand of country, blues and rock tunes. Opening with Nothin' But Trouble, Patty Tuite is upfront on lead vocal and rhythm guitar, with real nice slide guitar by Paul Nelson, harmonica by Bobby Rush, and with Jeff Armstrong on drums and David Johnson on bass. Glad I'm Through With You has a vampy, New Orleans blues sound with Brooks Milgate on keys, Rico Amero on trumpet and Justin Blackburn on drums. My Silent Love is a real nice track with Tuite layering her own guitar playing over her own guitar playing. This track is very soothing and may be my favorite on the release. Jazzy shuffle, I Want A Lover, features Milgate on piano providing a solid lead line under Tuite's sultry vocals with Paul Loranger on bass and Blackburn on drums. Wrapping the release is title track, Hard Case of the Blues, a real nice ballad featuring some of Tuite's best vocals on the release and some real nice stylized guitar work by Nelson. This is a cool track to close a solid release. 

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Cleopatra Records artist: Linda Gail Lewis - Early Sides 1963-1973 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Early Sides 1963-1973 from Linda Gail Lewis and is runs the gamut from early R&B to early rock, country and blues. Opening with CC Rider, Lewis on vocal really swings it. Joined by Scotty Moore on guitar and George Webb on bass, Morris Tarrant on drums, W R Fields on and with honking sax work by Luke Wright, this track really hums. With telling, string backing, country ballad, Small Red Diary is a solid showcase for Lewis' vocals with Jerry Reed on guitar, Harold Bradley on guitar, Bob Moore on bass and Buddy Harmon on drums. Blues rocker, Jim Dandy, has great energy with flashy guitar work by Mike Deasy and Ben Benay and Butch Parker on keys. Another solid country ballad, My Heart Was The Last One To Know. With Pig Robbins on piano, Kenneth Lovelace on fiddle and solid steel guitar work, this is a classic. Another great country entry is What Is Love with potent steel guitar work, Robbins on piano and Lovelace on fiddle under Lewis' stellar vocals. Wrapping the release is I Should Have Not Have Fallen In Love With You with it's country blues feel. With Lewis on lead vocal and piano, Leo Leblanc handles the steel work like a champ, joined by Tommy Cogwell on bass, Gene Chrisman on drums and Charlie Chalmers, Sandra Chalmers and Donna Rhodes on backing vocals, this is a solid closer for a real strong release. 

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Jeff Dale & The South Woodlawners - Blood Red Moon - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blood Red Moon, from Jeff Dale & The South Woodlawners and it's cool mix of blues based tracks. Opening with shuffle, You Made Your Own Bed, Jeff Dale on vocal and slide guitar leads the way, backed by Aaron Barnes on bass, Glen Doll on harmonica, Brian Lara on drums, Derek Phillips on keys, and Jon Slembieda on guitar. On title track, Blood Red Moon, I really like the swampy groove produced by Dale on guitar and vocal, joined by Elizabeth Hangan on backing vocal and Dane Little on cello. Autumn Blues is another interesting track with shimmery backing guitar and keys and sultry sax work by Steve Sax. Wrapping the release is funky blues, Things'll Get Worse with a Bo Diddley feel. With Slembieda laying down a rhythmic guitar vamp, Dale sings and plays slide, with hot harmonica punctuation by Glen Doll and Phillips on keys. This is a solid closer for a cool release. 

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Second Half Records artist: Chris Antonik - Morningstar - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Morningstar, from Chris Antonik, and it's a blend of pop, rock and blues. Opening with heavy footed, Waves of Stone, with Derek Downham on drums, comes lumbering out of the blocks with Antonik on lead vocal and guitar, joined by Jerekus Singleton on lead guitar, Guenther Kapelle on bass, Jesse O'Brian on keys, Alison Young on sax, Richard Underhill on bari sax and backing vocals by Marlene O'Neill and Ciceal Levy on harmony vocals. Funky bottomed, Back To The Good, has a radio feel with cool backing vocals by Levy and adds William Carn on trombone and Tom Moffett on trumpet and features some scorching riffs by Antonik. The Greatest Americans (Part I and II) explore more artful music with Alison Young on synthesizer and sax, and featuring Antonik on open guitar melody and vocal leading into a funky rocker adding Derek Downham on drum programming and organ, and Lee Rogers on bass. Wrapping the release is ballad, Grace, with Antonik on vocal with Alan Zemantis on piano, slowly building with rich harmony vocals by Marlene O'Neill and Ciceal Levy, and slowly building with lead guitar by Antonik, Kapelle on bass, Riley O'Connor on drums and Derek Downham on organ, synthesizer and percussion. This is a cool release with a little something for everyone. 

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Provogue Records artist: Walter Trout - Ride - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ride, from Walter Trout, and it's a solid rocker with solid blues roots. Opening with Ghosts, a solid blues rocker, Trout on harmonica, guitar and vocal sets a heavy tempo, beefed up by Teddy Andreadis on Hammond organ, Michael Leasure on drums and Jamie Hunting on bass. This is a heavy footed, lumbering track and Trout lays out a searing guitar solo giving the release a great start. So Many Sad Goodbyes is another solid rocker with nicely overdriven guitar tone and Trout's featured vocals with Eric Corne singing in tandum. Reinforcement by Andreadis on Hammond gives the track a rich sound and the strong snare work of Leasure paves the way for another of Trout's slicing guitar solos. The strongest blues number on the release is Waiting For The Dawn with Trout leading the way, playing melodic lead on guitar. Folding his vocals nicely into the mix, warmed by the undertone of Andreadis' Hammond, this track is all about Trout's ability to squeeze his unique blues out of his strat and he certainly can do that. Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Better Days Ahead with Trout really laying his guitar open and letting the blues fly. With Andreadis on organ, the thump of Hunting on bass and powerful drumming by Leasure, Trout wailing the lyrics and his guitar showing full emotion. Excellent! Another cool track is snappy rocker, Leave It All Behind, with Trout feeding rockabilly style riffs, Anthony Grisham on rhythm guitar, rolling Wurlitzer work by Andreadis, and strong horn support by Aaron Liddard on sax. Wrapping the release is radio style track, Destiny, with Trout showing his softest vocals, backed by Corne, and warm guitar riffs, blended with Andreadis on Fender Rhodes and Hammond, Leasure on drums and Hunting on bass. Solid closer for another solid release by Trout. 

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Provogue Records artist: Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Trouble Is ... 25 - New Release Review (CD/DVD)

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Trouble Is...25, from Kenny Wayne Shepherd and it's great to hear. A release and reinterpretation of his second release, Trouble Is, Trouble Is ...25 sounds pretty fresh. Opening with Slow Ride, KWS really gets the program started with great vocals,  high energy blues riffs, and excellent sustain. With Chris Layton on drums, Kevin McCormick on bass and Reese Wynans on keys, this is a strong opener. Laid back, Everything Is Broken, anchored by Layton, has great drive and KWS shows all of the southern guitar spunk he has accumulated during his career. (Long) Gone has terrific Texas style swagger with hot guitar riffs and the addition of harmonica on this track really pumps it up. Classic, Somehow, Somewhere, Someday is just slow (fast) enough to really hit the groove. Wynans keyboard adds real tension and KWS's guitar work is stinging. Wrapping the release is Bob Dylan's fabulous Ballad of a Thin Man and KWS really knows how to work it. His vocals are soulful and believable and his responding guitar riffs scream. Wynans' organ and piano add another dimension. This is an excellent closer for a really strong redo by Shepherd. I'm checking out the concert DVD later tonight.

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Outside In Music artists: Barry Coates, Jimmy Haslip, Jerry Kalaf - New Dreams - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New Dreams, from Barry Coates, Jimmy Haslip, Jerry Kalaf and the title seems quite appropriate. Opening with Towner, Kalaf on drums, forms a tight, stabling, drum reference as Haslip creates a chord like structure over which Coates plays soaring solo lines. Very nice. On Faith, Kalaf uses brushes on the snare head and cymbal to give structure, firmed by Haslip's bass lead and adorned by the articulated melody by Coates. Before is a playful track with Coates on synth, super improvisational bass lead by Haslip and a direct snappy drum line by Kalaf. My favorite track on the release is Sacred with a percussive rhythm by Coates freeing Haslip to play lead on bass and giving the space to Kalal to improvise on drums. Wrapping the release is Retrograde giving Kalaf the lead with explosive percussion over the synth guitar work of Coates. With atmospheric work by Coates, Kalaf really works the heads, leading to rudimental bass lines and painterly solo work by Haslip on bass. This is a really interesting set of music but not one that you're likely to dance to. Enjoy. 

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Ian Danter - The Rule of Three - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rule of Three, from Ian Danter, and it's a solid rocker. Opening with One Over the Eight, a driving rocker features Danter on vocal, drums, bass and rhythm guitars, joined by Mark Thompson-Smith on backing vocals and Tim Raybould on lead guitar. Massive Passive Aggressive is a real hot track with the two piece, high energy feel that I love about the Eagles of Death Metal. With it's pop melody and grinding guitar work working strong with Danter's vocal/drum work, this track is smokin'. With classic rock swagger, Route Of All Evil has a real stiff bottom and Raybould's guitar work is spot on. Thunderous drums are the keystone of I Was There and winding the track Raybould kicks the track into overdrive with stinging guitar riffs. Blending in the mellow backing vocals, this track has real radio potential. Wrapping the release is Last Chance Wagon, another high energy track with a radio melody and tight rhythm. Danter knows what it takes to make this thing fly and he's got his foot on it all the way. Excellent closer. 

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Blue Bamboo Music artist: Chris Cortez - Live at Blue Bamboo - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live at Blue Bamboo from Chris Cortez and it's quite good. Opening with The Visit, Chris Cortez leads the way with his cool, fluid lead work on guitar. Bob Thornton on piano takes the second lead with vibrant phrasing over the tight bass lines of Doug Mathews and Jeff Sipe on drums. This is a strong  opener with a potent upbeat melody. Arlington Park has a cool Latin feel with the addition of Joel Rosenblatt on drums, Ron Jenkins on bass, Jeff Rupert on sax and John DePaola on trumpet. Both Rupert and DePaola add really solid lead work making this a standout track. Very nice. Different Strokes is a cool bop tune with really nice muted trumpet work by DePaola, accented by Thornton. Both Thornton and Cortez stretch on melodic solos and Rosenblatt shows his stuff as well, making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Funky, Aarrgh, really hits a nice groove with Cortez grinding in with some more aggressive over driven guitar lead. Rupert really sails on sax lines and super sub melody by DePaola. Excellent! Wrapping the release is the subtle, A Remark You Made, with it's quiet melody, and Cortez alone on guitar, showing all of the tones of his jazz electric guitar, played with a mix of finger articulation and lush chords. Very nice closer for a strong release. 

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Madfish Music artist: Jeff Cotton - The Fantasy of Reality - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Fantasy of Reality, by Jeff Cotton and it's curiously cool. Opening with Does It Work For You, an abstract progressive rocker, this track has the feel of a Fripp/ Belew composition. With spoken lyrics on echo, a straightforward drum rhythm and assorted overlaid guitar riffs and themes, this track is really interesting. A more classically oriented, Ivy, shows Cotton's depth as a composer and acoustic guitar artist. With a solid central melody, I really like this track. Quirky, Elvirus, is really a modern take on traditional blues, with a contemporary theme... vocal backed by acoustic slide. On The Thread is an eccentric take on an instrumental surf theme. I like quirky but not kitschy and this track slides in nicely. With a driving drum line, interwoven electric guitar riffs, Indian influences and slide guitar, this track really is cool. Heavy, is another delta style blues instrumental, even mimicking the surface noise found on old 78rpm records. Although much of the vocal delivery is tongue in cheek, the slide work is right on. Hear The Word is a thematic blues/ rock track with a jazz overtone, changing themes and "Jack Bruce" like vocals.  Wrapping the release is Clean In Nature's Stream with it's folk like rhythm guitar and vocals. The surprise is Cotton's relentless electric attack which permeates the theme making for a rich completion. 

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Sweet Undertow - Skeletone Machine - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Skeletone Machine, from Sweet Undertow and it's a bluesy rocker. Opening with Kingdom Come , a cool rocker led by Eddy Undertow on lead vocal and guitar, Jim Semitekol on slide guitar, Dave Tavel on drums, and John Eckstrom on bass. High energy rocker Rain Catch Flame, is a great track with some tight picking, wild slide and a firm rocker drum beat by Tavel. Excellent! Title track, Skeletone Machine, starts with acoustic guitar under a rocker just bursting at the seams but after a short simmer, Semitekol cranks up the electric guitar and Max Cowan on piano really gets this track rocking. I really like Soft Soft Sea with it's country rocker styling. Undertow's vocals are perfect and the addition of Steve Benzian really adds texture with Annie and Joshua Cook on backing vocals. Wrapping the release is Still Looking For You, a country flavored folk tune with solid vocals and acoustic guitar by Undertow. This is a really cool release with a number of different sounds but with a strong central thread that I like. 

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Windchill Records artist: Breezy Rodio - Underground Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Underground Blues, from Breezy Rodio and like every previous release, the music sails. Opening with Half Way in the Devil's Gate, Rodio lays down some real tension on lead vocal and sharing the guitar work with ace, Anson Funderburgh. Backed by Johnny Bradley on bass, Daniel C. Tabion on piano and organ, and Lorenzo Francocci on drums, I immediately know this release is going to be hot. Texas style blues, Playing My Game Too, has a really nice drum lead by Francocci and Funderburgh's guitar riffs against Rodio's vocals really set the trigger. Funderburgh always shows impeccable phrasing and Rodio's soulful vocals are spot on. Blues shuffle, The Murder is a real nice showcase for Josh Fulero on harmonica and Tabion's piano work balanced with Rodio on vocal and guitar gives the track real grip. Very nice. Slower blues, Lightning Strikes, is a nice stage for Rodio, on vocal and clean guitar lead. Strong. Another cool showcase for Fulero is Latin flavored, Hello Friendo, with super harmonica lead melody. Rodio lays in a real nice guitar solo of his own over the excellent drum rhythm of Francocci and Tabion's piano. Sugar Daddy is Tabion's showcase with Otis Spann like piano work and warm organ, surrounding Rodio's vocal and lead guitar work. Really nice track. Wrapping the release is Bluesoned, the real showcase for Rodio on guitar. His style is richly toned and stylized with emotional phrasing, contrasted  with Tabion's piano work. Strong closer. 

Very nice. 

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