Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 80 Years of International Friendship , by Janice Harrington , and it's a strong entry by Janice. Opening with Old Age , an apparent tribute to her 80th birthday and it shows Harrington in fine form vocally with a firm bass line by Tabbel Dierssen, cool guitar soloing by Z.z. von Schnerck and Charles de Beaulieu, Eggo Fuhrmann on piano and Lars Plogschties on drums. On BB King style, Seven Day A Week Man Blues , Harrington exhibits great feel and has Kenn Lending on guitar playing a terrific response to her call, backed by Verner on keyboards, Svenni Savafnisson on bass and Frank Larsen on drums. Telephone Blues has the same lineup and gives Harrington the opportunity to dig in deep, pushed by the solid guitar work of Lending. Very nice. Ray Charles' Hallelujah I Love Her So , gets the full big experience with Harrington swinging. With Robert Miesbauer on alto, Max Lichtenwagner on alto, Theresia Puhringer on alto, ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mississippi Bound , from Ivor S.K. and it's quite cool. Opening with Ska flavored title track, Mississippi Bound , Ivor on lead vocal and guitar (as well as bass and hand claps), starts the release off with a bang. On I Don't Roll , he brings the pace to a slower acoustic blues feel but with contemporary radio formatting. Talkin' Shit Again is a cool country style blues with excellent mic placement making his acoustic guitar glisten. Very nice. A definite radio shot is Sex Drugs & Cigarettes with it's title, catchy melody and strong presentation. I really like Ivor's addition of electric guitar soloing over the top giving it a definite kick. Instrumental, Down The Road has a real nice country blues gait with acoustic guitar lead and rhythm. Wrapping the release is Dead Pig with a solid blues rock flavor. With a great rhythm, nice acoustic slide, simple percussive beat and strong vocals, this is a...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fall Back Home , by Suzie Vinnick and it has a nice groove. Opening with solid radio track, Lift You Up , with just the right country blues blend and a New Orleans like rhythm, Suzie Vinnick on lead vocal and acoustic guitar is backed by Davide Di Renzo on drums, Alec Fraser on bass, Colin Linden with some signature electric guitar riffs, Jesse O,Brien on organ and Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar on backing vocals. With a stronger country overtone and real nice guitar work by Linden, Salt & Pepper has a strong melody and Vinnick shines on lead vocal. I really like ballad, City & Skies with it's simple melody, straightforward vocals and nicely crafted steel guitar work by Steve Dawson. Another real nice ballad, Let Me Make It Up To You Tonight , is a bluesy ballad with jazz overtones, but retaining it's simple, country based theme, with excellent vocals by Vinnick, tasty harmonica soloing by Carlos Del Jun...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Borderlands , from John Fusco and I really like it. Opening with Coyote Man , filmmaker/singer/songwriter/musician, John Fusco starts off on this modern, country western, story telling adventure. Accompanying himself on piano and backed by George Walker Petit with some really expressive guitar and bass and Russ Lawton on drums, and backing trumpet by Conner Young, this is a real cool opener. With blues and tex-mex overtones, I really love Dance of the Seven Veils . Fusco's vocals have just the right amount of grit and with Spanish flavored acoustic guitars and percussion by Petit, this track is really tasty. Matthew Backer features some really nice slide work on Bad Luck Rides Shotgun making it a standout track with strong blues roots and solid vocals by Fusco. Very nice. Backer plays dobro on Cyanide Whiskey , a western flavored blues with a warm B3 bottom by Fusco under his vocal. Painting pictures with his words and...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, So Fine , from Eric Demmer , and it's a funky slice or blues rock. Opening with Don't Talk To Me , Eric Demmer on lead vocal and sax leads the way, backed by Jerre Jackson on drums, Dennis Delfino on bass, Hugo Rodriguez on guitar, and Barry Seelen on keys. This s**t is funky and Demmer really knows how to sauce it up. Great opener. What Was I Thinking has a real Frank Zappa story like feel with terrific backing vocals by Melanie Covington and excellent sax work by Demmer. Jordan Almes on drums, and Rick Marcel on rhythm guitar add nicely to the funk. Soulful blues, Start It All Again , showcases Demmer's vocal's and Rodriguez lays down some really nice riffs making his one of my favorite tracks on the release. Another really bluesy track, Let Me Go , digs deep with some of Demmer's sexiest sax work on the release. Simmering in B3 by Shawn Allen, another strong track. Any Day Get Away really moves tow...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ace of Blues , by Angela Strehli and it's her best in years. Opening with Bobby Bland's Two Steps From The Blues and it's soulful presentation. Strehli's vocals are smooth as silk, backed by Mike Schermer on guitar, Steve Ehrmaann on bass, Kevin Hayes on drums, Mike Emerson on keys and a power horn section of Rob Sudduth on tenor sax, Johnnie Beaumont on bari sax, and Marvin McFadden on trumpet this is a fine opener. Funky track, Ace of Spades shows Strehli falling back into her R&B feel delivering "in spades" with cool trumpet highlights by McFadden. Schermer plays a beautiful intro on Gambler's Blues , setting a deep bluesy path for Strehli, supported by Jim Pugh on B3, Emerson on keys and Sudduth, Beaumont and McFadden on horns. Schermer really digs in on this track laying you back in your seat just cruisin. Very nice. Another fine soul track, Otis Clay's Trying To Live My Life Wi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Portrait, by Mud Morganfield and it's a super mix of blues, soul and R&B. Opening with Praise Him , Morganfield on bass and vocal leads the way with really rich vocals, backed by  Felicia Collins, Shantina Lowe and Demetrius Hall on backing vocals, Rick Kreher on guitar, Mike Wheeler on guitar,  Cameron Lewis on drums, Luca Chiellini on keys, and Bob Corritore on harmonica. Solid opener. Upbeat Chicago blues cruiser, Short Dressed Woman , really sounds like his pap with Corritore on excellent harmonica, Kreher on guitar, E.G. McDaniel on bass, Billy Flynn on guitar, Barrelhouse Chuck really hammering the piano, And Beedy Eyes Smith setting an excellent beat on drums. Terrific loping Chicago blues, Love To Flirt is an excellent track with Muddy Like vocals and strong harmonica by Harmonica Hinds. Chuck again on piano and organ, McDaniel on bass, Flynn on guitar, and Smith on drums. Chuck leads off Loco Mo...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Love Hope Trust , from Roger Street Friedman , and it's a solid slice of Americana. Opening with the title track, Love Hope Trust , singer songwriter Roger Street Friedman has the joint rocking with nicely blended vocals behind his own lead, Jim Toscano on drums, Larry Campbell on guitars, Jason Crosby on piano, Matthew Schneider on bass and Teresa Williams and Lucy Kaplansky on backing vocals. Vapor In The Air has a real nice Tex-Mex feel with strong vocal melody by Friedman and really cool contributions by Gil Goldstein on accordion,  and Campbell on fiddle, mandolin and guitars. Excellent. One track that really stands out is The Ghosts Of Sugarland delivered in true folk style. A story delivered about civil war living with Campbell on acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin and fiddle, I really like this track. A warm Jackson Browne/James Taylor like, Multiply By Two , is a pure radio track with strong melodic bones....

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Home Sweet Home , from Joe Flip and it's a cool mix or country rock and blues. Opening with title track, Home Sweet Home, Joe Flip on guitar and vocal leads this way on contemporary countrified rocker. With Tim Boldt on bass, Mike Dubois on drums, Toby Marshall on piano, and with Swanny Rose on backing vocals this is a super opener. Jimi Swing is a terrific blues rocker with a heavy bottom with strong guitar riffs by Flip and a tight bottom courtesy on Marshall on organ, Boldt on bass and Dubois on drums. Possibly my favorite track on the release. Krapkicker, Anna Lee , features Flip playing a ever growing guitar melody, both picking and on slide, over a cool country beat and Marshall on organ. Very cool. Put Your Lovin' On Me is a cool laid back, blues rocker with a country sting. With Marshall holding the beef on organ, Flip is free to jam the melody on lead guitar. SRV's Lenny gets a real nice remake mai...

  I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, The Blues Don't Lie, from Buddy Guy and it's full of fire. Opening with I Let My Guitar Do The Talking , Guy shows all of the energy of his youth with terrific vocals and screaming guitar lead. Backed by Tom Hambridge on drums, Reese Wynans on B3, Michael Rhodes on bass, Rob McNelley on electric guitr and Max Abrams and Steve Patrick on horns, this is a terrific opener. Slow blues classic, The World Needs Love really falls into Guy's prime wheelhouse with excellent vocals and his trademark sound on lead guitar. Joined by Hambridge on drums, Glen Worf on bass, Kevin McKendree on piano and McNelley on backing guitar, this track screams. Follow The Money pairs Guy with James Taylor, on lead vocal, Guy on acoustic guitars with Hambridge on drums, Wynans on Wurlitzer, Michael Rhodes on bass and McNelley on electric guitar. With it's JJ Cale approach to the blues, this is a nice juxtaposition for the release. Drivi...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Feelin' It , from Jim Witzel Trio & Quartet and it's really nice. Opening with title track, Feelin' It. Jim Witzel on guitar really has solid phrasing over a strong bottom provided by Jason Lewis on drums and Brian Ho on B3. Dann Zinn steps up on tenor sax with an aggressive solo followed by Ho laying out the B3 making this a dynamic opener. In 3/4 time, Beyond Beijing has great flow with Witzel and Zinn playing in tandem on the melody. Zinn breaks free first with an abstracted melodic solo line with Ho providing plenty of bottom and the crisp rhythm work of Lewis tying it all together. Witzel has a really clear guitar tone and his phrasing is classic. Witzel really dices Gershwin's I Love You, Porgy is excellent traditional jazz style. Possibly my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the set is Cannonball Adderley's, The Old Country which is a true jazz standard. Nancy Wilson did a terrific ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rhythm Blues & Boogie by Dave Keyes and it's name says it all. Opening with Memphis flavored R&B on Shake Shake Shake on piano and lead vocal backed by Bernard Purdie on drums, Jeff Anderson on bass, and the power of Chris Eminizer on sax and Tim Quimette on trumpet. Solid opener. Another big swinger, Blues and Boogie has a little New Orleans spice and Keyes piano work shines again with power horns by Eminizer and Quimette and a real nice guitar solo by Early Times. Takin it to the street New Orleans style, Ain't Doing That No More has a great drum beat by Purdie and Eminizer and Quimette punch up the back. John Putnam on slide guitar really nails it and of course Keyes vocal and piano lead is terrific. Not Fighting Anymore is spiced up even more with a Latin beat by Pagano on drums and percussion adds backing vocals, with firm horn backing by Quimette and Eminizer and strong lead vocal by Keyes. David ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keep On! , from Lil' Red & The Rooster and it's a lot of fun. Opening with Cool Trap Boogie , the tempo is set by Felton Crews on bass and Kenny "Beedyeyes" Smith on drums and Jean-Marc Labbe' on bari sax really runs the groove. Jen "Lil Red" Milligan on lead vocals on vocal leads the way and Pascal "Rooster" Fouquet adds really nice guitar riffs. Solid opener. Billy Branch joins on Keep On Lovin You adding really nice harmonica lead and in duet with Jen on lead vocals. A laid back blues, gives Fouquet a real nice avenue to solo on guitar and his fluid lead runs really shine on this track. I love the tone that Fouquet gets on guitar on instrumental, Shakin' Em Up , with a strong bari sax support and great flair on solo by Labbe' over a cool rhythm by Crews and Smith, this is my favorite track on the release. Another favorite is Little Girl with Jen on lead vocal, it...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Puttin' On The Ritz , by Rich Willey . Opening with Poor Butterfly , a Latin fused track, Rich Willey on bass trumpet really leads the way, backed by Paul Mutzabaugh on piano, Larry Kohut on bass, and George Fludas on drums. Excellent opener. Frank Zappa's, Uncle Remus is a cool addition to this set, featuring Willey on trumpet. With clean articulation, he sails, backed by Mike Pinto on guitar, Larry Kohut on bass, Neal Wehman on drums and Paul Mutzabaugh on piano and B3. Really cool interpretation. Wrapping the release is Holy Trinity , is a lush instrumental with David Mann on soprano sax, Andrew Synowiec on guitar, Willey on bass trumpet, John Swana on EVI, and with Carey Dredman adding trumpet on the top. Solid closer for a different kind of 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 Blue...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blue Credentials , from Malaya Blue and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Your Act Has Worn Thin , Malaya up front on vocals leads this heavy bottomed hi stepper joined by Brett Lucas on lead guitar, Richard Cousins on bass, John McCullough on Hammond and Sam Kelly on drums. R&B flavored, I Can't Find No Love , has a real nice feel. Malaya hits a really nice slot and Lucas' lead guitar response is spot on. Soulful ballad, I'm Having Dreams Again , is my favorite track on the release and also the radio selection from my perspective. With it's solid melody and some of Malaya's best vocals on the release, coupled with some nice slide work by Lucas hits the spot. Funky Good Intentions, Bad Results is another strong entry with a great bass line by Cousins and some strong blues riffs by Lucas backing up Malaya. Blues rocker, Bring Me Your Sin has a terrific beat and Lucas really unloads both w...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I'll Carry You Home , by the Mighty Soul Drivers , and its a cool blend of soul and blues. Opening with the Temptations', I Can't Get Next To You, The Mighty Soul Drivers use a strong arrangement crafted by Al Green and Savory Brown to give the track a rockier feel. With Bob Orsi on lead vocal and rhythm guitar, and cool backing vocals by Tanairy Barton, solid lead guitar work by Larry Willey, Tony Delisio on bass, River City Slim on drums, Steve Donovan, John Smayda on sax and Neil Tint on horns, this is a cool opener. On hi stepper, A Little Bit of That , Willey, Smayda and Tint set the ground work, over a great bass line by Delisio and organ by Donovan. Orsi's lead vocal and supple solos by Smayda, Tint and Donovan give this track the octane to be the top radio track on the release. Very nice. Solomon Burke's deep soul track, Cry To Me , really works nicely with Orsi's lead vocal surrounded by Do...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Completion , from Griffin Woodard Group who blends solid jazz and pop vocals for a real nice release. Opening with Little Angel, Georgia Heers is featured on vocal, with a really nice bed of piano by Abe Gold, Miles Gilbert on bass, Hugh Kline on drums and of course the deep sound of Griffin Woodard on bass clarinet. With really nice piano phrasing by Gold and a strong solo by Woodard, this is a strong opener. Miles Gilbert is front and center on Bass Interlude featuring his playing alone and I personally find it terrific. Alchemy is a really cool improvisation by Woodard on bass clarinet, backed only by Kline on drums... quite provocative. With an aggressive tempo, Route 1 features Coleman Rose on tenor sax in tandem with Woodard on bass clarinet creating a great mix. With an aggressive bass line by Gilbert and solid phrasing by Gold on piano this track rips. Deneen Jones has the mic on Kyrie, an uplifting ballad ...