Bman's Blues Report

Thursday, June 6, 2024

VizzTone Label Group artist: Mathias Lattin - Up Next - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Up Next, from Mathias Lattin and it's a solid blues set. Opening with Who's Been Loving On You, 2023 International Blues Challenge winner, Mathias Lattin is front and center on lead vocal and guitar showing his soulful blues style. With a droning bass line this track really finds it's groove and Shawn Allen on keys, and Mark Simmons Jr. on drums keep it tight. Strong opener. Can't Stop Feeling also has a driving bass line, compliments of Jesse Gomez and With Nick Andres on drums and full tilt organ by Andrew Douglas gives Lattin plenty of space to lay down some really nice riffs. Party has a traditional blues vamp led by Lattin and Gomez and Douglas is riding high on organ. 2nd Degree has a rock edge with standout drum work by Nick Andres. With overdriven vocals by Lattin and blues rooted rock lead by Lattin, this is my favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is up tempo soul rocker, Lose Some Weight, with smooth vocals by Lattin. Tight guitar riffs, warm organ by Douglas, Gomez on bass and Andres on drums make this a solid closer for a cool release.

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Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Pugnacious Records artist: Sean Riley & The Water - Stone Cold Hands - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stone Cold Hands, from Sean Riley & The Water and it's an interesting blend of blues, rock, country and folk. Opening with Dance Me One More Time, a track with real New Orleans and Mississippi roots traces Sean Riley on vocal and guitar stirring the gumbo. With Dean Zucchero on bass, Mike Barras on drums, Phil Bream on organ, Sunpie Barnes on accordion, and real nice backing vocals by Tiffany Pollack, Megan Harris Brunious and Whitney Alouiscious Sanders, this is a solid opener. Cool, foot stomper, Truck Route Blues, features some real nice blues harmonica by Barnes, playing company with Riley on lead vocals. With a basic 2 step rhythm, this track is contagious. Jimmy Reeds easy shuffle, High and Lonesome is one of my favorite tracks on the release with solid vocal lead and tight guitar lead by Riley over stripped down Zucchero on bass and Barras on drums. Bluegrass jam, Rosie's Rag, is a really cool track featuring Riley on dobro, Zucchero on bass, Barras on drums, Breen on organ and Waylon Thibodeaux on fiddle. Excellent! Wrapping the release is up beat boogie, Shine A Little Stronger. With Riley upfront on guitar and vocal, backed by Pollack, Brunious, and Sanders, and pumped up organ by Breen the gospel overtones over Riley's slide work give this track the juice. Strong closer.

Monday, June 3, 2024

VizzTone Label Group artist: Bob Margolin - Thanks - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Thanks, by Bob Margolin and I think it's his best in years. Opening with shuffle, Going Down To Main Street, Bob Margolin in on lead vocal and slide guitar and he really makes it talk. With a solid bass line and simple stomp rhythm this is a strong opener. In Morganfield style, Mean Old Chicago really digs up the Mud with this track which really has the Waters feel. This release is named in celebration to the 50 years since Margolin joined Waters band. Love the Waters style slide. Another cool track is Baby Can't Be Found with it's rocking blues rhythm. Margolin on lead vocal and strumming jangly strings gives the track an old school feel. Jimmy Rogers' Hard Working Man puts Margolin right in the slot with it's slower pace. Playing picked lead over real nice second line lead, this is the deepest track on the release. Wrapping the release is Just Before Dawn, a solid slower blues with some of Margolin's best vocals on the release and reverb saturated guitar lead, glistening. Nicely placed counter noted and tight, finger sliding gives the track a brilliance of it's own. Very nice closer.

Friday, May 31, 2024

Green Bullet Records artist: The Liam Ward Band - Shine - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Shine, from The Liam Ward Band, and it's a cool, harmonica led blues band. Opening with cool shuffle, I Got Lucky, featuring Liam Ward on lead vocal and harmonica. Zach Bartlett on bass, Malcolm Thorne on guitar and a few cool riffs and with Joe Harris on drums, this is a super opener. On title track, Shine, Ward really digs in on harmonica with rich tone and Bartlett and Harris rip the Bo Diddley beat. Reinforced by Thorne on guitar and slide this is a killer track. Boogie track, Pack Your Sense Of Humor has a great driving feel, courtesy of Thorne, reinforced by Bartlett and Ward rides the wave on vocals. He kicks it in gear on harmonica and then brings it down to a slow boil where Thorne lays in some tasty riffs. On Latin flavored, Do What You Do the groove gets infectious with strong lead by Thorne and Ward teamed with Helen Hart and Bryony-Rose Ward on backing vocals. Wrapping the release is harmonica focused, Give It All Up For You with Ward trading harmonica riffs and vocal. This is a solid closer for a cool release.

All proceeds from sales of this album will go to the Stroke Association, who support stroke survivors and their families across the UK and Beyond.

Thursday, May 30, 2024

Guitar Woman Records artist: Sue Foley - Live In Austin Vol. 1 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live In Austin Vol. 1, from Sue Foley and it's an energetic blues rocker. Opening with New Used Car, a straight up rocker, Sue Foley is locked and loaded on guitar and with her adept vocals she has it going. Backed by Jon Penner on bass, Corey Keller on drums and Derek O'Brien on guitar this is a potent opener. On Willie Dixon's Howlin For My Darlin, Foley shows plenty of swagger. I really like her guitar work on this one, working with O'Brien with just the right blend of blues feel and sting. Jodi Williams' Hooked On Love with it's Latin rhythm is really nicely done. Foley grinds out the lead with double stops and flair and Keller's drum work sets a great pace. This is a tasty track with tasty riffs. Excellent! Little Son Joe's, Me And My Chauffeur Blues, really is a nice showcase for Foley on vocals. Low slung, Better, shows plenty of vocal swagger, it's boogie theme, reinforced by Penner sets a great blues groove and fanning guitar riffs give the track a cool rock edge. Wrapping the release is Cheap Tricks', High Roller with a solid drum pace and poppy feel.

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Gulf Coast Records artists: Blood Brothers - Live In Canada - Mike Zito - Albert Castiglia - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blood Brothers - Live In Canada from Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia and it's super strong. Opening with driving rocker, Hey Sweet Mama, Zito and Castiglia blend nicely on vocal setting up a terrific groove, backed by Doug Byrkit on bass, Matt Johnson on drums, Ephraim Lowell on drums and Lewis Stephens on piano. Excellent guitar solos by both make this a terrific opener. Blues rocker, Fool Never Learns, opens with flaming guitar riffs and solid vocals. This drum pair is every bit a great match as Zito and Castiglia with hot riffs flying. On low slung, No Good Woman, Zito has the lead on vocal and the gang has a really nice groove going. Trading riffs with Castiglia these guys really drive this one. Soulful vocals and potent guitar work make this one of my favorites on the release. Hill Country Jam is a cool, stretched shuffle giving everybody a broad space to show their stuff. Zito and Castiglia play in tandem setting the melody before breaking to a more segmented driving rock feel. Stephens takes a meaty organ ride bringing it back to a shuffle where Zito plays strong fluid phrases on guitar. Castiglia takes the ball and runs with it with hot lightning of his own. Byrkit really lights up the bass when he gets his turn, followed by Johnson and Stephens. Very nice. Castiglia pulls out You're Gonna Burn and just blisters the audience with his Les Paul and his own supple vocals. If this track doesn't knock you back in your seat...nothing will. Joined by Zito, this is all out fire. Excellent! Wrapping the release is a rabble rousing cover of Neil Young's Rockin' In The Free World. Lead off by Zito this is a great driving closer. With slashing guitar riffs by Zito and alternating vocals and guitar soloing by Castiglia this is a great closer.

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Emma Wilson - Memphis Calling - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Memphis Calling, from Emma Wilson, and it's got that hot 60's Memphis sound. Opening with A Small World, with Emma Wilson on lead vocals and Kirk Smothers on sax, Marc Franklin on trumpet, Charles Hodges on organ, Leroy Hodges on bass and Steve Potts on drums. This is a solid opener. Soulful, I Still Love You, is really a nice showcase for Wilson on vocal with it's pared back instrumentation. Kicked up, Drug, has a real nice funky beat with a solid bass line by Leroy, drums by Potts, electric piano by Archie Turner, and Franklin and Smothers really sassing it up on horns. Joe Restivo gets the floor on guitar, laying down the blues on Hoochie Coochie Mama. A low slung version of Morganfield's centerpiece, Wilson really carries it nicely and Charles on organ adds just the right heat. Wrapping the release is soul classic, Since I Fell For You, with Wilson dialing it down over light guitar by Restivo, Leroy and Potts. I really like Charles organ solo on this track giving it the air it needs for a strong closer.

Friday, May 24, 2024

Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations - Live At The Shamrock - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live At The Shamrock, by Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations and it's tasty. Opening with easy blues rocker, You're Gonna Hear Me On The Radio, with Dustin Arbuckle up front on lead vocal and harmonica. Arbuckle has a really solid voice and rich harmonica tone and with the addition of Brandon Hudspeth on guitar, Caleb Drummond on bass and Kendall Newby on drums, this is a solid opener. Hard driving, Chicago style blues rocker, Across The Desert, gives Arbuckle a great opportunity to get his harmonica ramped up and Hudspeth on guitar fans the flames really well taking the track to a boil. Sioux City Strut is a terrific boogie with Hudspeth turning up the heat. Sliding into the slot on harmonica, Arbuckle really cranks up the jam. This is my favorite track on the release. Excellent! Shuffle, Woman Down In Arkansas features Arbuckle, Drummond and Newby on harmony vocals and a real nice harmonica led melody. Hudspeth turns on the blues with solid guitar phrasing. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Bob Dylan's Tombstone Blues and Arbuckle maintains Dylan's loose vocal delivery style, contrasted with up tempo rhythm by Newby and rowdy guitar work by Hudspeth. Strong closer.

Thursday, May 23, 2024

Flying Horse Records artists: The Flying Horse Big Band - A Message From The Flying Horse Big Band - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Message From The Flying Horse Big Band, by The Flying Horse Big Band and it's energetic. Opening with Free For All, the band is off to a hard run featuring Josh Mercado, Adam Zapf, Robert Schmidt, Phebe Rich and Elijah Simmons on trumpet and hard driving James Fortune on drums. Edmond Quint Johnson lays on a nice tenor solo, joined by Paul Van Wormer on lead alto and Micah Silverstein on alto, Steven Grant on tenor and Noah Mosca on bari. Dan Parish, Ralph Rodriguez, Gabe Funk and Ben Fuller on trombone are on brass, Noah Charles lays in a nice guitar solo and Michael Santos on bass and Jack Hoag on piano rounds out the field. Peace is a real nice ballad featuring Mercado on solo trumpet and Parish on trombone. With it's warm melody and rich harmonies, it's certainly my choice track on the release. Johnson belts out a real nice tenor solo and Jamesly Jean-Mary holds down the drum spot. Very nice. Latin flavored, Gregory Is Here, features Van Wormer on alto, Charles on guitar and Parish on trombone, all taking strong solos adding beautifully to the mix. Silverstein really steps out on alto over the powerhouse horn section and Johnson adds a nice one of his own making this another of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is On The Ginza a brassy track with warm piano work by Hoag and plenty of punch. Van Wormer really sails on alto with plenty of sax work from the crew, Mercado's trumpet chops shine and Jean- Mary keeps the bottom tight. Solid closer.

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Scott Emmerman - Spheres - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Spheres, from Scott Emmerman, and it's quite interesting. Opening with title track, Spheres, Scott Emmerman on guitar develops a comprehensive melody line on guitar with intense drum and percussion accompaniment by Marty Zevin. Emmerman weaves a cool, jazzy chord foundation with a Spanish flavored fusion lead, breaking loose with electric branches. Very cool. On Steppin In It, Emmerson builds his melody line over his own keyboard and programmed drumming sequence. Judgement Day has a cool, keyboard intro developing with a wandering lyric melody. Programmed rhythms by Emmerman really build a stout foundation for his complex guitar interplay and added drums and percussion by Zevin really give the track teeth. Wrapping the release is Yearning For Your Love, a smooth jazz number with a radio melody. Developing from a light keyboard and programmed drum melody, Emmerman crafts a lightly funky jazz track. Cool closer.

Friday, May 17, 2024

Strange Woman Records artist: Leigh Pilzer's Seven Pointed Star - Beatin' The Odds - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Beatin' The Odds, by Leigh Pilzer's Seven Pointer Star, and it's packed with gems. Opening with SKCC, Pilzer's homage to Billy Strahorn's UMMG, Mercedes Beckman on sax and Ally Hany Albrecht on trumpet create the melody line anchored by Amy K Bormet on piano, Sherrie Maricle on drums, and Amy Shook on bass. Albrecht lays down a real nice solo, followed by Beckman on alto and Pilzer on bari who really rips it by the way. A quick solo by Shook brings us back to the melody. Solid opener. Mysterious, The Platinum Taxi, has a dark theme with sax paired with trumpet. A cool bass line by Shook and dark undertones by Jen Krupa on trombone really create the scene. An excellent, fluid sax solo by Pilzer and active drum work by Maricle, chased by Bormet on piano adds to the tension. A soulful trombone solo by Joe Jackson on And Then It Stopped really caught my attention, bouncing on the rhythm of Allyn Johnson on piano and Pilzer squeezes out a bari sax solo that's so thick and juicy that you need a knife. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Where Will We Go? with a great opening theme by Pilzer on bass clarinet. With Kenny Rittenhouse on trumpet and Tim Green on alto sax, the melody develops. Johnson on piano expands the melody providing plenty of space for a really nice solo by Shook on bass. Deep deep bass sax drives the track as Frank Russo jams on drums. Circling back the ensemble concludes a really cool release.

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Horizon Music Group artist: Bart Bryant - Backstage II - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Backstage II, from Bart Bryant, and it's a solid blues rocker with plenty of energy. Opening with Robin Trower's, Day Of The Eagle, Bart Bryant leads the way on vocal and guitar. The original arrangement is pumped up with horn work by Bill Holloman and the bottom it held rock steady by Alex Giosa on drums and Robert Liptrot on drums. Nice opener. Willie Dixon's I Can't Quit You Baby really has a nice feel. Floyd Domino on piano sets the mood under Bryant's rich vocals and Otis Rush like guitar riffs. Bryant pulls out great references with double stops and Buchananesque bends Scott Spray on bass and Tyger MacNeal hold down the bottom. Slow blues, Past The Pain, features some real nice harmonica work really coaxing the blues out in Bryant's vocals. Breaking into 3 time, Giosa adds another dimension and Floyd Domino on piano and Holloman on horns adds to the richness. R&B flavored You Make Me Move features Bryant's vocals nicely and the addition of Robert Cray style riffs gives the track real soul. Wrapping the release is Motown Groove adding Simone Young-Brown. With Domino on organ, Spray on bass, Livin Pop on drums and Holloman on horns, this is a hi stepper to close the release.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

J&R Collective artist: Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival - Live From The Northern Plains - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release Live From The Northern Plains, from Jennifer Lyn & The Groove Revival and I really like it. Opening with shuffle, Gypsy Soul, Jennifer Lyn on lead vocal and Richard Torrance on lead guitar really get this rocking. With Peter Green like riffs, solid piano work by Barb Jiskra, Nolyn Falcon on bass and Jim Anderson on drums, this is a strong opener. On a cover of Chris Smither's Love Me Like A Man, Lyn really digs in vocally with nice phrasing and rich bluesy feel. Jiskra lays down some real nice piano soloing and Torrance rips it loose really putting the track into a spin. Very nice. Slower blues, Going Round In Circles is one of my favorites on the release with solid vocals by Lyn and really crisp guitar rips by Torrance. Jiskra's piano work gives the track a super additional dimension. Wrapping the release is gospel influenced, You Can Take It All. Vocals by Lyn, Torrance and Anderson and paired guitar lead along the lines of ABB by Lyn and Torrance top off the track. Solid closer.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Dixiefrog Records artist: Bex Marshall - Fortuna - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Fortuna, from Bex Marshall and it's really good. Opening with blues rocker, Preaching To The Choir, Bex Marshall on lead guitar and lead vocal, sets the pace with Aurora Mannola laying down a driving bottom on bass and Richie Stevens on drums. Toby Baker on keys really works nicely against the wailing guitar lead of Marshall on this strong opener. Funky blues rocker, I Can't Look You In The Eye, features Marshall on lead vocal and slide with Scott Coopwood on lead guitar, Barry Bays on rhythm guitar, Robert Eugene Daniels on bass, and Brian Schilling on drums. A solid rocker with plenty of teeth. There's no denying the attraction of Marshall's vocal style on Table For One, and with a cool, bouncy funk by Baker on Keys and the solid bottom by Daniels and Stevens, this track could be a cool radio track. Wrapping the release is When It's Gone, a poppy track with a cool, bluesy feel. With a clean guitar lead and a bed of organ, overlaid with bluesy guitar riffs, this is a solid closer.

Monday, May 13, 2024

Gulf Coast Records artist: Chris BadNews Barnes - BadNews Travels Fast - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, BadNews Travels Fast, from Chris BadNews Barnes and it's solid set of rock and blues rock. Opening with radio style rocker, and title track, BadNews Travels Fast, BadNews Barns on lead vocal leads the way with a tight guitar lead by Kenny Greenberg, driving bass lines by Tommy MacDonald, and Tom Hambridge snapping tight on drums. Ace harmonica player, Jimmy Hall who led his own band, Wet Willie and worked quite a bit with the honorable Jeff Beck really makes a nice contribution here. Excellent opener. True Blues is a cool, upbeat blues track along the lines of Thrill Is Gone. Not sure most would pick up on it, but it really does have some searing guitar riffs by Walter Trout. Driving rocker, BluesBaller Baby calls on Mike Rojas on keys to do the heavy lifting with Barnes on this one and he really does a fine job. Kenny Greenberg rips hot guitar solo on this one and Max Abrams sails on sax making it a definite hot spot in the release. Wrapping the release is cool rocker, Mushrooms Make Me A Fun Guy with it's spoken vocal lines and rock stroking guitar rhythm. Rojas uses electric piano to carry the counter melody and MacDonald and Hambridge hold the bottom tight. This is a fun release.

Friday, May 10, 2024

Ruf Records artist: Alastair Greene - Standing Out Loud - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Standing Out Loud, by Alastair Greene and it's a potent blues rocker. Opening with Texas style rocker, You Can't Fool Me, Alastair Greene has a relentless attack on guitar and strong vocals. He is joined by Todd Bolden on driving bass and Adam Abrashoff who doesn't miss a lick on drums. Excellent opener. Only Do has a great guitar hook that gives Greene a hard anchor to fall back to between his explosive solos. Steady on bass with Bolden and really tight riffs by Abrashoff on drums. Title track, Standing Out Loud, is my top choice for the radio track with a strong melody and bluesy guitar riff under Greene's vocal. Foot stomping, Temptation, really moves with gangly guitar rockin and forward vocals. Traditional rock based guitar riffs drive this track giving it a lot of octane. Slow blues, Rusty Dagger is my favorite, with plenty of space for Greene to really let the dog out. Very cool. Traditional Bullfrog Blues is the closer on this set with a real Rock and Roll feel. Greene slips on his slide and lets it wail, backed by Mark Epstein on bass and Kevin Hall on drums. Strong closer.

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Jason Arkins - In Focus - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In Focus, by Jason Arkins, and it's an aggressive fusion set. Opening with Mister Behaving, with it's stirring instrumental backing and whirling rhythms, Jason Arkins on sax sets a somewhat sedate melody as a baseline, with Beau Cornelius on piano, Leo Folsom on synths, and with Mike Ramos and Jack Dratch on bass and drums respectively chomping at the bit to run. Arkins leads the crew on a really strong adventure sonically in his second pass with tight rhythmic piano work by Cornelius and Folsom lays in a very cool synth solo of his own. Ramos never takes his foot off the throttle with a great bass line and Dratch's riffs are hot. Strong opener. Cut Scene opens with a preponderance of something to come with an easy melody and tight rhythm. Dratch kicks the track up a notch with rimshots and Cornelius on electric piano gives the track air. Arkins has a full out call and response with Folsom on synths and Ramos and Dratch are at the end of their leashes again. Very hot. Wrapping the release is forward moving, A Squeegee Situation with Arkins setting a distinct melody on sax paired with Ramos. The first break Arkins really takes a soulful turn with excellent melodic solo phrasing and I gotta say Ramos is always in earshot and I love it. Dratch never misses a beat and with the 2 key players, this track always has body. Ramos gets a chance to talk a nice walk and it's one of my favorite spots on the release. This is a definite one to catch if you like melodic fusion.