Bman's Blues Report

 II just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Thanks For The Good Ole' Music and Memories, by Jewel Brown  and it's a cool Latin flavored blues and R&B release. Opening with Jerry , a Cuban infused track with Brown on lead vocal, Clayton Dyesse on keys, Joshua Washington on guitar, Owens Williams Sr on drums, Eli Meaux on trumpet, Wyclef Gordon II on trumpet, Zedekiah Franklin on sax, Jarvis Hooper on trombone, Chris Cotton on trumpet, and Dashon Brown and Nic Allen on backing vocals. Nitches and Glitches is a jazzy R&B style swing number with plenty of feel. With a lot of attitude by Brown, Nic Allen on bass and strong drums by Williams, a cool entry. With a firm bass riff by Allen, Brown carries this radio focused track vocally with backing vocals by Dashon and Allen. Slinky, Flatitude , has a cool, jazzy feel with Dyesse creating a suspense on keys. This is my favorite track on the release with solid vocals by Brown. Wrapping the release is up tem...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Pier 43 , by Paul Filipowicz and it's solid Filipowicz if you know his style. Opening with Old Time Superstition and Paul on slide guitar and vocal, this set is off to a good start. With it's blues rocky feel, Al Dorn on harp, Steve Lewis on bass and Brian Tito Howard on drums, this is a solid opener. Lewis opens title track, Pier 43 with a cool, sauntering bass vamp. Paul gets into a really nice groove with long flowing guitar lead and twisted blues riffs. Paul is no Clapton or Bonamassa but his notes are heartfelt and piercing. Talk about 9 plus minutes going fast...really! I particularly like When I Get To Town with a droning bass line by Lewis and jangly drum rhythms spurring on Paul and his RL Burnside like chanting. He is relentless on guitar always looking for that punctuation. Very cool. Paul digs up Slim Harpo's Hip Shake and with his unmistakable guitar/amp sound, this track really boogies. Sit st...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ramon , from Christopher McBride , and it's really moves. Opening with Lady D , dedicated to McBride's mother, this track features excellent trumpet lead by JS Williams, Jonathan Edward Thomas on piano and McBride on sax. Backed by Noah Jackson on bass, Cedric Easton on on drums. Excellent opener. Bronx Unchained has a urban syncopation with McBride and Williams working together against the groove yet a sophisticated attack. Thomas' piano work really hits the spot and then in double time Williams' trumpet lead is fleet and McBride's solo intense with an excellent chaser by Easton on drums. Stand Your Ground is a contemplative, 3 part composition. Opening with Jackson setting the scene on bass, the track slowly builds with Williams on trumpet, McBride on sax, Thomas on piano and Easton on drums. In the " Confrontation " segment, Williams and McBride really work it driving the track to an exhila...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live At The Palladium , by Damon Fowler & Friends and it's a smoking release. Opening with It Came Out Of Nowhere , a cool R&B infused blues track, Fowler on lead vocal and guitar is hot and heavy. I like his style and his voice. Joined by Dan Signor on keys, Justin Headley on drums, and Chuck Riley on bass, Fowler sets this one and lays his solo on the end like a pro. This is a fine opener. On Somethings Change , one of hte best Harmonica players on the planet, Jasson Ricci joins Fowler with some excellent riffs and both contributing to a energetic instrumental frenzy. Breaking into a a stretched reggae beat on Don't Feel Like Going There Today , Ricci, Fowler and Signor each have a turn at the wheel. Very nice. My favorite on the release, Tax Man , has a great blues structure ala Jeff Beck's Blues Deluxe. Fowler's vocals are excellent, coaxed along by Ricci who really lays it out there on harmoni...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, How Many Roads? , from Lex Grey and the Urban Pioneers , it's a solid mix of R&B, soul, blues and rock. Opening with In It Together , Lex Grey is upfront on vocal, backed by Vic Mix on guitar, Ed Wasilewski on bass, Brian Dewan on Hammond and piano and with Chuck Burdick on drums. Grey really slips into the groove and the track literally ozzes from the grooves. Very nice opener. On Willie Dixon flavored Ain't From Mississippi, Grey shouts out my favorite track on the release with a great guitar vamp by Mix, piano by Wasilewski. Strong. Slow blues infused, Aches and Pains is a nice showcase for Grey on vocal, with rich Hammond work by Dewan, and featuring Greg Holt on fiddleand Ken Marchesani on drums. Rocker, After A Lifetime , shows a different side of Grey with it's new wave feel. Tight with Sonny Rock on drums and Mix on synth. Wrapping the release is Angel , my top choice for radio track on the release...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Take My Rider, by Douglas Avery and it's jam packed with raw blues tracks. Opening with Kokomo Arnold's Bad Luck Blues , Avery on vocal and harmonica slips into a fine shuffle. Backed by Carl Sonny Leyland on piano, Franck Goldwasser spinning some real nice guitar riffs, Ralph Carter on bass and organ and Johnny Morgan on drums this is a solid opener. Original track, Malibu Burnin' opens with some really tasty slide work, a droning drum beat and thumping bass, providing a great backdrop for Avery on lead vocal. I like it raw and this is it. Little Walter's Just Keep Lovin' Her is a real nice showcase for Avery on harp. With a nice walking bass line, one of  my favorites on the release. Delta style Jelly Jelly is strong with slide resonator and Avery on harmonica. This is blues, man. Blind Owl Boogie has great tempo reinforced by Morgan and Carter. Avery's vocals are great and Goldwasser's ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dog Bites Back , from Dyer Davis and I just gotta say, anyone who opens an album with a first class cover of a Jeff Beck rocker gets a free pass in my book and hearing Let Me Love You blowing out of my speakers with raw vocals and electrofired guitar riffs is great. Backed by Billy Dean on drums, Victor Wainwright on piano, Stephen Dees on bass, this track is excellent! Cryin' Shame has a bit of a R&B feel but is strong rock blues with clean guitar riffs and strong vocals by Davis. With David Weatherspoon on drums , Jacob Barone on bass, Billy Chapin on rhythm guitar and excellent trumpet punctuation and accents by Joe Young, Davis squeezes out for fine blues on buitar. Very nice. I really like the R&B feel of Lifting Up My Soul which makes a nice radio track. It's melody is strong and with melodic lead guitar and powerful horn work by Mark Earley and Patricia Ann Dees, this is strong. Title track, Dog B...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 9 to 5 , by 3D Jazz Trio and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with Harry Warren's, I Only Have Eyes For You , Cleveland Jazz Legend Award winner, pianist Jackie Warren sets the melody, punctuated by tight drum rhythms by Sherrie Maricle. Critically acclaimed bassist, Amy Shook steps up with a tasty acoustic bass solo and Warren's followup improvisation is really nice. Super opener. Gil Fuller's Tin Tin Deo really gives Warren a lot of space to run, first in Latin rhythm with excellent syncopation by Maricle and Shook, before breaking briefly into a full swing and later a full gallop. Very nice. A really nice arrangement of Miguel Matamoros' Lagrimas Negras really hits the spot, first in classic Cubano styling but relaxing into a modern jazz samba. With light drum accompaniment and accented bass work, Warren's fingers literally dance on the keyboard. Shook adds in a bowed bass solo which really works ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Original Dap King , by Ernie Vincent and it's great mix of R&B, blues, soul and funk. Opening with Body Shop , with it's funky feel, Ernie Vincent on lead vocal and guitar really gets it going. Jimbo Mathus drive the train on piano with Taylor Hollingsworth on guitar, Hank West on horns, Matt Patton on bass, Bronson Tew on drums and with wicked backing vocals by AJ Haynes, Schaefer Llana and Matt Patton. Blues rocker, Jealousy, is a cool, laid back track with super vocals and nicely stylized guitar work. Blues Filler is a funky groove with Vincent singing in what I'd call a Jimi Hendrix style and distorted, blues based rock guitar riffs. Very cool. On Seven Sisters, Vincent really does a nice job of singing and trading vocal lead with his blues rock guitar lead. Mathus' percussive piano rhythm adds nicely to the well poised bass lines of Patton and Tew's excellent drum work. With it's James Br...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Standard-ized , by Eric Goletz and it's really enjoyable. Opening with Charlie Parker's Now's The Time , bandleader and trombonist, Eric Goletz shows exceptional skill on trombone with an excellent lead solo, followed by Don Braden on soprano sax. With Henry Heinitsh's strong guitar work, Jim Ridl laying in a really nice piano solo of his own, Brian Glassman on bass, and Steve Johns on drums, this is a great opener. On a more solitude take on Juan Tizol's Caravan , Goletz shows what great trombone tone is with nicely inventive phrasing. Joe Mowatt percussion on this track adds a lot of depth and Goletz lets it all hang out on his solo and in tandem with Ridl on piano. Add in strings by Robin Zeh and Paul Woodiel on violin, David Gold and Michael Roth on viola, Sarah Hewitt -Roth on cello and Brian Glassman on contra bass, this track really is cool. Eden Ahbez's, Nature Boy really is a showcase for ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, For The Feral Heart , by Mick Kolassa , and it's got a solid mix of blues, Latin and pop track. Opening with Running To You , Kolassa on vocal and guitar leads the way with a galloping rhythm by Andrew McNeil on drums and Bill Ruffino on bass. Jeff Jensen on guitar, and Rick Steff on keys round out the mix for this solid opener.  A redo of Dave Mason's Feeling Alright really has a great feel with it's creeping "Season of the Witch" sensability. Steff's key work is spot on and Jensen's guitar work hypnotic with key backing vocals by Tullie Brae. Very nice. Easy flowing, Love Ain't Supposed To Make You Cry is another track to watch with really sumptuous guitar lead by Jensen, reminicent of the late Peter Green early in his career. Very nice. Love In My Size is a strong acoust ballad with a grat melody. Kolassa on acoustic guitar and vocal is nicely highlighted by Jensen on slide guitar rea...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live! At The Fallout Shelter , by  Diane Blue All-Star Band and it's a funky blues party. Opening with I Got A Good Thing and a cool R&B feel, Diane Blue on vocal gets things rolling with Lorne Entress on drums, Dave Limina on Hammond and Chris Vitarello on guitar. Reggae infused blues track, I Cry has a real nice feel with Limina setting up a cool bass line  (on keys) under Diane's solid vocal phrasing. Vitarello lays in a real nice guitar solo with fluid runs and gripping punctuation. Guitar virtuoso, Ronnie Earl takes center stage on slow blues, Leave Me Alone and of course he has some of the sweetest blues phrasing on the planet. Frequently paired with Diane, I think that he brings out the best in her. This is a deeply soulful track with warm Hammond work by Limina and of course an excellent solo by Earl and Vitarello. My favorite track on the release. Blues rocker, Take A Look is a strong radio contend...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Capricorn , by Eddie 9V and it follows his earlier releases chocked full of excellent blues guitar work, soul, R&B and blues. Opening with Beg Borrow and Steal , this track reall has the sound of the soulful south and Muscle Shoals and Capricorn Studios where this release was recorded. With Eddie on lead vocal, drums, bass and guitar,  Chad Mason on keys, Noah Sills on sax, Cody Matlock on rhythm guitar,  and Dusty Mccook Guitars. Solid opener. Slow blues, Are We Through has a real soulful feel with excellent vocals by Eddie. This is certainly one of my favorite tracks on the release with the addition of Spencer Pope on organ and some really tasty guitar riffs by Eddie. Excellent! Another cool, R&B track, It's Going Down has great radio appeal with Hoah Sills on alto sax and Chad Mason on keys. Very nice. Surprise track, Bob Dylan's, Down Along the Cove brings back rich memories of one of my own bl...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, As The Crow Flies , from Seth Rosenbloom and it's reall good. Opening with title track, As The Crow Flies , Seth Rosenbloom shows excellent vocal skills and plays lead guitar, paired with Ryan Taylor on slide guitar and backed by Jesse Williams on bass, Bruce Bears on organ, and Mark Teixeira on drums. Taylor on rhythm and slide really works nicely to give Rosenbloom plenty of active guitar work to solo over with really strong results. Nice opener. Poised vocal phrasing over a really nice bass line makes Set Me Free a prominant leader for the radio track on the release. With full backing vocals by Sonya Rae Taylor and Erica Van Pelt, this is a real cool track. Slow blues, Can't Trust Your Neighbor , not only gives Rosenbloom a great opening to demonstrate his vocal skills, but show his excellent blues guitar phrasing and dexterity. My favorite track on the release. Excellent! Shuffle track, Ain't Nothing Wrong ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tales of Time , by Joe Bonamassa and he is really pulling it together. A performance of his new solo release, Time Clocks, Tales of Time opens with Notches , and Bonamassa has a solid riff going with a heavy footed kick drum by Lemar Carter and full bass by Calvin Turner. Building a full blown blues rocker with Reese Wynans on keys,and Josh Smith on guitar Bonamassa on lead vocal and fluid guitar solos ans backing vocals by Jade MacRae, Dannielle DeAndrea and Mahalia Barnes makes this a terrific opener. The deeper you get into the release the more you see that it is built as a continuous piece of art somewhat like a Pink Floyd release. All of the songs relate and one is as powerful as the next. Mind's Eye starts off light with a ballad style, Bonamassa on guitar and vocal but slowly builds to epic proportions with full band and rich backing vocals. Very strong. Throwing in a bit of R&B construction, Known Unknow...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, From The Shoals , by Barbara Blue , and it's some funky, R&B blues. Opening with The Shoals , Barbara Blue on lead vocal leads way with a stellar backing band featuring  Bernard Purdie on drums, David Hood on bass, Clayton Ivey on keys and Will McFarlane on guitar. On Clarence Carter's Tell Mama , Blue adds a nice compliment of Marc Franklin on trumpet, and Brad Guin on sax plus Davor Hacic- Hutch on guitar for a solid rendition of the classic track. Shuffle track, Slide Man is a cool track featuring Blue on vocal and McFarlane on slide guitar. With it's catchy melody and smooth guitar work, this is a cool number. Too Far is my favorite track on the release with it's arpeggiated guitar submelody and excellent guitar lead by McFarlane and strong sax work by Guin. Wrapping the release is slow boogie, Trail of Tears with it's drone bass line by Hood and strong vocal lead by Blue, nicely accented by M...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Riffin' The Blue , by Tas Cru and it's got a little bit of everything. Opening with title track, Riffin' The Blue , an easy shuffle with Cru on vocal and featuring Mike Zito on lead guitar, backed by Bill Barry on organ, Ron Keck on percussion, Lenny Milano on drums. With a rich piano intro by Katz on One More Time , Cru on guitar sets the stage with lush phrasing and his own soulful singing, cradled by Katz on organ. Backed by Andy Hearn on drums and Bob Purdy, this is a cool track. My favorite track on the release is House of the Blues , with it's slow, deep bluesy feel and Katz's fat organ bottom. Mary Ann Casale adds some really nice backing vocals and this may be Cru's best vocal effort on the release. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Memphis Gone with Cru on vocal, paired with Zito on slide guitar and only the minimal piano by Katz. With the addition of Casale, Keck, Hearn and Purdy, this i...