Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Way That I Wish It Was , by Maggie Fraser and it's classic roots music at it's best. Opening with Your Ghost , Maggie Fraser on vocal and acoustic creates a special environment, joined by Rich Roxborough on keys and Alec Fraser on backing vocals, Guitars and Circus bass. Pure country, The Cornfield is a real nice track with Maggie paired with Colleen Hodgson on vocal, and authentic fiddle and pedal steel by Chris Bartos and Alec Fraser on bass, drums and acoustic guitar. Very cool. Our Little Canoe is a really nice track with European influenced Mandolin and bodhran by James McKie and Fraser on Bass and keys. Excellent! Title track, The Way That I Wish It Was , has classic country  bones, a solid melody and with Denis Keldie on organ and accordion, and Fraser on bass and guitar, another solid contribution. Wrapping the release is Song For Susan , a sold ballad featuring Maggie on vocal, Bartos on violin and ...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues All Around , from Savoy Brown and I think it's their best in years. Opening with Falling Through , Kim Simmonds sets the pace of the set with some authentic delta style riffs on electric guitar breaking into a classic boogie style rocker. With Simmonds on vocal and lead guitar, this band has more miles than most anyone short of the Stones. Simmonds, who passed away in December has held the blues rock boogie torch for 57 years and has released 42 albums...yes...42. Having personally seen at least 4 or 5 different lineups of Savor Brown (all with Simmonds), I have been a long time fan. On Going Down South , Simmonds pulls out the slide and this is a guy who really knew how to play it. From some of the best days of the band in the 70's and Tell Mama to now, Simmonds shows a super command and feel for slide guitar. Due to Peripheral Neuropathy as a side effect of chemotherapy Kim plays quite a bit more slide on...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The World In A Jug, from Jimi "Primetime" Smith and Bob Corritore and it's a healthy dose of pure Chicago blues. Opening with title track, I Got The World In A Jug, Jimi "Primetime" Smith on lead vocal and guitar really gets this set rolling in Morganfield style. Bob Corritore shares the spotlight and shows the great tone and phrasing that he's know for. With Fred Kaplan on piano, Johnny Rappy on guitar, Bob Stroger on bass and Brian Fahey on drums, this is an excellent opener. Corritore really ramps it up on You For Me with classic high octave octane and with Henry Gray on piano, Rapp on guitar, Troy Sandow on bass and Marty Dodson on drums, this is a definite favorite. Shuffle, Blinded, is one of my favorites on the release really showcasing Primetime's excellent guitar phrasing and vocals and a strong solo by Corritore on harmonica, backed by Shea Marshall on organ, Tony Tomlinson on bass...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It Was Time , from Mark Ortwein and it's a cool, and well executed set. Opening with title track, It Was Time , Mark Ortwein on tenor sax lays out a supple melody over the aiery key work of Frank Glover and with Frances Wyatt on drums and Olas Ortwein on bass. Solid opener. Featuring Josh Kaufman on vocal, I Can't Make You Love Me with it's strong melody and with excellent sax soloing and Paul Langford on piano, Peter Hansen on bass and Craig Hetrick on drums, an ideal radio track. Very nice. No More Butterflies is another really nice track with Ortwein on bari sax and flute really carving out a great melody. Cranking up the track with Olas on bass, Carrington Clinton on drums and John Fell on guitar, this track really moves. Very nice.  I really like the groove set on Lonnie's Lament with a great bass lead by Peter Hansen and a real interesting electrified bassoon solo and great riffs by John Fell on guit...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Art of Duo Volume One , from John Daversa & Tal Cohen and it's quite interesting. Opening with Artful Sparring , a piece with a strong Latin rhythm, Daversa on piano sets a firm melody with interplay from Cohen on EVI who fleshes out the melody, providing plenty of space for improvisation by each. Very nice. On Art of Sanity , Cohen takes the spotlight on trumpet with foundational piano work by Daversa. Artful and inventive, Cohen's trumpet melody is sparce yet inviting and Daversa's piano work is rich and full. Junk Wagon Cameo is a cool track with Cohen on EVI creating a rhythmic melody, answered by Daversa's clear piano jousting making for a really interesting exploration. Radiant Heart is my favorite track on the release with it's contemplative piano lyric and soft, muted trumpet melody and soft vocals by Cohen. Wrapping the release is Dave Brubeck's In Your Own Sweet Way with strong ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Temptation , from The Gayle Harrod Band and it's full dose of blues. Opening with hip shakin, Sweet Memphis Man , Gayle Harrod on lead vocal is joined by Brian Simms on piano, Greg Boyer on trombone, Brad Clements on trumpet Brent Birckhead on sax, Stan Turk on guitar, Chuck Ferrell on drums and a great bass rhythm by Christopher Brown. Title track, Temptation , really showcases the richness of Harrod's voice with light backing by Simms on keys, Buddy Speir on slide guitar and Rachelle Danto on harmonica.  Slide saturated Waiting In The Shadows is another strong showcase for Harrod's vocals with harmonica and acoustic guitar giving the traditional blues style track real traction. With a Latin backbeat and horns, God Laughed should be a real crowd pleaser. It's strong melody, cool backing vocals by Mary Ann Redmond, Dusty Rose and the Voices of Faith of the First Baptist Church of Baltimore Choir and swing...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, With A Little Help From Her Friends , from Teresa James and it's quite good. Everybody knows the Beatles songbook and many of their tracks have been covered but James has really done a nice job in reinterpreting this list of top tracks. Opening with Ticket To Ride , Teresa James shows all of the style that she's known for and with a Texas saunter and with a strong bottom by Terry Wilson on bass and Richard Millsap on drums, super keys by Kevin McKendree and excellent guitar riffs by Wilson. Don't Let Me Down was an excellent choice for this set. James' voice is made for it and McKendree on piano and organ really works nicely with Wilson on slide. Excellent. Oh Darlin' sets itself nicely as a blues ballad and pairing James' vocals with Yates McKendree on lead guitar really is stellar. Beautiful, You Won't See Me , is really an excellent choice with soulful vocals by James and just the right ble...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rough Around The Edges , from Lone Star Mojo and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with This Time , a romping rocker, Jo Splawn on Hammond on B3 and lead vocals gets things going with an aggressive bass line by Tim Maloney, Scotty Biggs and Mark Snyder on guitar and Barry Sloan on drums. Snyder knows how to coax the blues outta this rocker with a fiery rocker making this a solid opener. With a splash of R&B, Texas Drought is a real nice track with good radio melody. I really like Snyder's guitar approach on this one with plenty of poise and oomph. With a bit of southern swagger, Crazy About The Woman is another cool track with strong lead vocal by Splawn and nicely blended backing vocals. Biggs and Snyder trade guitar riffs adding a bit of bite for a real nice track. Another cool track is rocker, Fine and Nasty with a great interplay between the guitars and drums and a driving bass line. Snyder on slide gui...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Heavy State Loving Blues , from Mississippi MacDonald and it's a R&B infused blues rocker. Opening with Howlin' Wolf a driving R&B track with Booker T like rhythm and Albert King style overlay on guitar by Mississippi who also leads on vocal this track is humping. Phil Dearing on guitars and keys, Elliot Boughen really romping the bass, and Texas Joe McRoury on drums holds the bottom tight. Another driving R&B flavored track, Blind Leading The Blind really shows just how soulful Mississippi's vocals are. Again Boughen's contribution on bass is vital and Vaneese Thomas on duet vocal is terrific. Mississippi's guitar work is stinging and keyboard horn work by Dearing really balances things out. Really nice. Heading South is dripping with funk with smoking hot guitar riffs by Mississippi and a strong vocal line that pays the bill. With irresistible rhythm, excellent guitar lead and great voc...

  I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live From The Red Shed , by Kurt Allen and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Graveyard Blues , Kurt Allen on lead vocal and guitar, Gregory Schaberg on drums and Bill Morlan on bass have plenty of swagger and sting. Strong opener. Slow blues, How Long , really has the perfect crowd  components with tension, soulful vocals, a solid melody and solo guitar. Shuffle, Watch Yo Step has a real nice feel with a classic blues vamp and British blues feel. Allen rips it loose on slide for a rowdy conclusion. Wrapping the release is Better Think Twice , a cool blues jam with a great bass line giving Allen plenty of space to solo over the melody. This may be my favorite track on the release... a solid closer for a solid 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 ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, if somebody told me..., by Delta Wires and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with Can't Win For Losin' , a Sonny Boy Williams based vamp, cranked up a bit with Ernie Pinata on harmonica and lead vocal, backed by Tom Gerrits on bass, Richard Healy on guitar, Tony Huszar on drums, David Bowman on trombone, John Christensen on trumpet, Caleb Murray on sax and Richard Sylvester on keys, a solid opener. On title track, if somebody told me... Pinata takes the tempo down giving Healy a real nice forum to show his guitar chops. On Lucille Bogan's Sloppy Drunk , Pinata kicks up the tempo and with a strong harmonica lead, and with Murray holding the rear, this track has a great feel. My favorite track on the release is Sonny Boy Williamson's Hand Outta My Pocket with an excellent pace and Pinata shining on harmonica and lead vocal and slick guitar retort by Healey. Wrapping the release is Basie's Blues In...

 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...