Frontiers Records artist: Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks - Live Perpetual Change - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live Perpetual Change, by Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks and it's a solid replication of the original Yes compositions. Opening with Yours Is No Disgrace, a top track for Yes and it sounds fresh as in 1970's. Jon Anderson on lead vocal and guitar, joined by Andy Graziano and Robert Kipp on guitar and keys. Richie Castellano plays a masterful bass and Andy Ascolese on drums, keys and percussion really holds things tightly. Anderson really rips on Close To The Edge with fleet fingered guitar lead and vocal blening with Castellano, Graziano, Ascolese, Christopher Clark and Kipp is particularly nice. Heart of the Sunrise with it's flowing key structure, and bass soloing by Castellano is particularly cool. Another track with particularly prominent bass work is Starship Trooper of course with a healthy dose of keys and super drumming by Ascolese. And You and I is handled with finesse... flowing acoustic guitar, bell and keys supporting Anderson on vocal with band vocal backing leading into the classic rocker with showcase keyboard soloing. I've Seen All Good People rocks with power and vocal harmonies are stellar. Gates of Delirium really is a great opportunity for guitar key and drum work and at 20+ minutes of music shows the depth of the band. Wrapping the release is Roundabout with it's crystalline guitar intro rolling into a full prog rocker that really was Yes' trademark song. Solid release. Also included in the package is a full 10 track dvd. 

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Cleopatra Records artists: Two Wolf - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, self titled Two Wolf and it's a solid, blues based rocker. Opening with Keep On Movin', Two Wolf features four seasoned players with Lance Lopez on lead guitar and vocals with Greg T. Walker (Blackfoot) on bass, Kris Bell on guitar and vocals and Rusty Valentine on drums and vocals. Definitely a guitar blazing band with well blended vocals and scorching guitars, this is a hot opener. Will I Believe has an edgier feel, penciled by Bell and wide open guitar with plenty of overdrive and powerful drumming by Valentine. Percussive guitar work permeates The Wrong Road and paired lead vocals give the track a definite radio presence. Searing lead guitar work with the addition of wah and southern influenced lead guitar phrasing and riffs give the track a distinctive feel. Fox Chase really has the Southern rock aggressiveness with dueling guitars (like Blackfoot or Skynyrd) really giving the listener the adrenaline filled spirit of the music. Excellent rocker. Romeo has quite a bit of swagger with searing guitar lead and powerful lead vocals over a percussive guitar/bass riff and tight drumming by Valentine. Very cool. Wrapping the release is The Blessed and the Cursed, a definite radio track with it's memorable melody and classic guitar riffs. A driving guitar lead overlaid with fast runs and hammering drum s on the bottom really sets this track off. Solid closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Ben Thomas Tango Project - The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent (August 22, 2025) release, The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle, by Ben Thomas Tango Project and it's adventurous. Opening with The Promise of Morning, Ben Thomas on bandoneon leads the melody, accompanied by Eric Likkel on clarinet, Laura Schermer on bass, Laura Coronel on violin, Elizabeth Phelps on violin and Gabe Hall-Rodrigues on piano. A classically leaning tango in the style of Astor Piazzolla, this is a cool overture. Title track, The Man With The Grin and the Chuckle celebrates the memory of Seattle's French Chef, Thierry Rautureau, who's bistro served as the incubator for much of Thomas' music over several years of performing there. A serious composition featuring a solid interweave between Hall-Rodrigues and Thomas, with over harmony by Likkel. An Unapologetic Shift of Perspective is my favorite track on the release with a more percussive feel and Thomas giving more range to Hall-Rodrigues on piano. Wrapping the release is The Second Brick with a sweet, flowing melody presented by Thomas and Likkel, well supported by Schermer on bass, by Coronel and Phelps on violin and focused by Hall-Rodrigues on piano. 

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Chris Vincent & The Raw Deals - Good Crook - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good Crook, from Chris Vincent & The Raw Deals, and it's a raw blues rocker. Opening with title track, Good Crook, Chris Vincent on vocal and guitar links up with Johnny Vidacovich on drums and Dean Zucchero on bass opening a pure, rocking set. With just a rattle of guitar, drubbing bass and snapping snare, this is cool. Come Clean has a sweeter melody with jangly guitar rhythm giving it an almost Keith Richards sound. Overdriven tone and looseness gives the track a real gutsy feel. Nice. High energy, Screwdriver Keys is Vincent driving hard n guitar, with monotone vocals. His guitar soloing is unique and ear catching making this one of my favorites on the release. What Johnny Said is a solitude ballad with some of the most melodic guitar playing on the release. Vincent's vocals and lyrics are particularly effective and his sliding and percussive guitar attack is super. Wrapping the release is Catherine The Great, a real solid track with progressive melodic structure and providing a more cohesive melody for Vincent's ragged vocals. His expression on slide gives the track just enough to make it the most commercially accessible track on the release. Solid closer. 

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Larry Kurtz & The Law Breakers - Take A Ride - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Take A Ride, from Larry Kurtz & The Law Breakers and I really like it. Opening with blues rocker, Headwaters Hill Country, Larry Kurtz on lead vocal and harmonica sets a two step feel with Scott Bruyea on drums, Sam Carothers on bass, and James Legere on guitar and backing vocals. One Step on The Devil has a real cool back beat and Kurtz sails in with warm harp tones. With Legere laying down warm tones on guitar, Kurtz brews tasty harmonica riffs. Very nice. Bruyea lays down a real nice tom tom beat basis for Let Me In and Legere fills with overdriven chords making a real nice underblanket for Kurtz on vocal and harmonica. Breaking out with nicely phrased guitar work by Legere, this is my favorite track on the release. Kick ass rocker, God's Gift, has a real feel of Paul Kossof with its signature riff and Bruyea on drums kicks up the dust. Kurtz on vocal and harmonica shows a real strut. Wailing harmonica by Kurtz defines up tempo, So Glad You're Home, with its skiffle beat and vocal harmonies featuring Legere and Kurtz. Legere lays down some real nice guitar lead and Kurtz follows with a solid harmonica solo of his own. With a Slim Harpo rhythm and a light Gibbons boogie on guitar, Teardrop Tim gets rolling. Alternating solos between Legere on slide and Kurtz on harmonica, this is a strong closer.

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Delmark Records artist: Tad Robinson - Soul In Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Soul In Blue, from Tad Robinson and it's terrific! Opening with R&B flavored track, Keep It In The Vault, Tad Robinson on vocal sets up a solid groove with Brian Yarde on drums and Dave Murray on bass and Kevin Anker on keys and Tommy Leino on guitar lays down some real bluesy riffs. Soulful, Out Of Sight and Out Of Mind really illustrated what I really love about Robinson. His vocals are silky smooth and dripping with soul. Clean piano backing by Alberto Marisco and meaty guitar work by Paul Holdman backed by Chris Vitarello on rhythm creates real tension, soothed by the lush vocals of Devin B Thompson and Lorie Smith. Excellent. Another soulful track, Deeper Than You Think really is deep in the soul with a throbbing bass line by Steve Gomes and features Mark Buselli  on trumpet, Rich Cohen on tenor sax, and Anker on organ really pushing Robinson's rich vocals. Forgive and Forget features so real guitar style by Holdman and Robinson is smooth in the pocket on vocal. I like the balance of David Murray on bass and Yarde on drums. Very nice. Wrapping the release is This Time, a strong soulful track with great vocals by Robinson. Geraldo De Oliveira on congas adds just the right rhythm  with Mike Wheeler on guitar, Carlos Showers on guitar, Larry Williams on bass, Pooky Styx on drums, Roosevelt Purifoy Jr. on organ and Anker on keys. Smooth closer. 

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Kim Field and the Perfect Gentlemen - Don't Need But One - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Don't Need But One, by Kim Field and the Perfect Gentlemen and it's super. Opening with R&B track, Don't Need But One, Kim Field shows what a front man is supposed to do with an excellent vocal presence, backed by Joe McCarthy on trumpet, Rob Rayfield on essential bari sax, Denny Bixby on bass, Whit Draper on guitar, Vyasa Dodson on guitar and Jimi Bott on drums. Hot opener. Chicago style blues, Please Don't Ask Me, features Field on vocal and super harp, and Dodson lays in some real stylin guitar riffs. Very cool. Slow, soulful blues, Black Diamonds is one of my favorite tracks on the release with an excellent feel, really nice guitar lead by Dodson and rich organ work by Louis Pain. Cool shuffle, Dress The Monkey provides a great showcase for Field on harmonica. His fat tone with the off beat drumming really males this a standout track and Dodson's guitar work is in the groove. Very nice. Another cool shuffle, Emergency, penned by Dodson features excellent harmonica work by Field and lush guitar lead by Dodson. Really nice! Wrapping the release is Gershwin ballad, The Man That Got Away mixing blues with swing. Pain creates a warm environment on organ for Field's harmonica lead, Botts drums and and Rayfield's bari playing really adds nicely to the track. Excellent closer for a great release. 

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Dave Bass Trio Nuevo - Vol. 2 - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Vol. 2, from Dave Bass Trio Nuevo and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with LeGrand/Lester Left Town, Wayne Shorter's homage to Lester Young is bright and springy with excellent piano lead by Dave Bass, tight bass and a well defined solo by Tyler Miles and crisp drumming by Steve Helfano. Egberto Gismonti's Frevo provides Bass a Latin structure for a track with a lot of movement. With Miles pouring on a strong bass solo and Helfano holding tight on percussion, this is a strong contribution. Introspective original track, Questions, has a really nice melody featuring Bass on piano over the tight percussion work of Helfano. Miles gets another opportunity to solo here and I really like his phrasing. Bud Powell's, Dance of the Infidels really moves with Bass laying down my favorite piano riffs on the release. Providing accent piano work for Miles' bass lead and trading riffs with him really sets this track off nicely. Bass' creation, Journey With Bach is really cool reworking Bach's Toccata passages with a contemporary feel and strong soloing by Miles on bowed bass. Wrapping the release is Lennie Tristano's Lennie's Pennies, Tristano's take on Artur Johnston's hit. Bass really works the melody  and Miles gets a real nice bass solo of his own making this an excellent closer for a really strong release. 

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RCA/Silvertone Records artist: Buddy Guy - Ain't Done With The Blues - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Ain't Done With The Blues, by Buddy Guy coinciding with his 89th birthday and it's jammed with over an hour of blues and rock. Opening with Hooker Thing, Buddy lays down a classic John Lee Hooker acoustic guitar riff and sings Buddy style. This really captures the playful guitar finesse of Guy. Blues rocker, Been There Done That is a great opener with a kick ass beat and shows Buddy singing like he's a kid and with aggressive guitar riffs, joined by Chuck Leavell on B3. Rob McNelley on rhythm guitar, Kevin McKendree on piano and Tom Hambridge really hangs tight on the drums. I just saw Kingfish last week and he really knows how to put things right. He's featured on funky, Where U At with his funky blues guitar styling under Buddy's silky smooth vocals. The addition of horns on this track add nicely to the richness and Hambridge's drumming works great with McKendree on piano. Excellent! Buddy takes it down slow on Blues On Top and his beautiful vocals are paired with his raw guitar playing and McKendree on piano. Excellent! How Blues Is That is a great Chicago style blues with McKendree on piano nicely complimenting Buddy's vocal and hot riffs and rock slide hero...yup, Joe Walsh, sits in on slide giving it a great fat electric sound, anchored by McKendree. Buddy's not holding back. Buddy hooks up with Peter Frampton on blues rocker It Keeps Me Young. Buddy belts the blues and Frampton plays some straight up lead with McKendree on piano and his vocals are perfect, holding off his own guitar solo till the end for a hot ending. With a humping bass line, Upside Down has a real Wilson Pickett feel and Buddy belts it out and wails on guitar. Punchy horn backing gives the track more traction and Leavell, McKendree and Hambridge pull it all together. Very nice. Another acoustic blues is One From Lightnin', a short few bars of Lightnin riffs showing respect to Mr Hopkins... one of my all time favorite blues players. Whipping out a boogaloo beat, Earl King's Trick Bag is up next and Buddy is having a blast. Hambridge really plays up the drums and McKendree the piano, giving free way to Buddy to grab those spine tweaking guitar riffs that he's known for. Wrapping the release is a great cover of J.B. Lenoir's Talk To Your Daughter setting a great groove on acoustic guitar paired with McNelley on guitar and Hambridge on percussion. Strong closer. 

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David M'Ore: Holy Sinners & Sinful Saints - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Holy Sinners & Sinful Saints, by David M'Ore and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Me And My Baby, David More on lead vocals and guitar is joined by Wade Olson on drums and Marshall St. Clair on bass. A cool track with a funky back beat, a solid opener. Title track, Holy Sinners And Sinful Saints, features More laying down some stinging guitar lead under gritty vocal and with it's driving is a strong rocker. Bluesy ballad, Bleeding Heart, features a melodic guitar lead with rich, distorted tone and a crisp bottom. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the release with strong radio potential. Lumbering, Hoochie Man, is a real nice blues based rocker with a solid guitar vamp. Bottom heavy, gritty and filled with super guitar overtones, under the lead vamp, this is another of my favorite tracks on the release. Still In Love With You is a real nice track with notes of Santana and Gary Moore filtering through into a solid bluesy ballad. Wrapping the release is blues rocker, Money and Trouble with a super blues guitar vamp, and lead vocal, overlaid with screaming lead guitar soloing. Olson and St. Clair anchor the bottom giving More plenty of space to lay it all out there. Solid closer. 

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Cold Plunge Records artist: Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet & Eden Kelly - Catalyst - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Catalyst: The Music of Gregg Hill, by Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet & Elden Kelly and it's full helping of diversified world flavors. Opening with Traveling With Gregg, Dave Sharp on bass enlists Henrik Karapetyan on violin, Igor Houwat on oud, Elden Kelly on guitar and Mike List on percussion on an exotic East Indian/fusion journey. Karapetyan on violin with List on percussion set the pace and Houwat and Kelly engage enthusiastically. 13th Century Lion has a medieval/eastern flavor creating a thematic nature led by Houwat and Kelly and anchored by List on drums. Karapetyan takes an adventurous ride on violin, exchanging with Houwat accented by List. Cidade has a warm melody crafted by Karapetyan and Kelly with minimal percussion by List. Houwat takes a real nice excursion on oud before returning to Karapetyan. This is a really solid track and my favorite in the set. Wrapping the release is The Stray Moonduck with a blend of tabla and Latin music. With it's Eastern rhythm and Spanish overtone melody, this track is a cool closer with seductive violin by Karapetyan and Spanish style guitar with a real twist. 

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Paradiddle Records artist:The Kerry Kearney Band - Self Titled - New release review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent self titled release from The Kerry Kearney Band, and I like his style. Opening with Otis Rush's All Your Love, Kerry Kearney on lead guitar and vocal resurrects this classic with solid vocals and flaming guitar lead. Bringing to mind the command of Peter Green in Fleetwood Mac, Kearney is joined by Gerry Sorrentino on bass, Mario Staiano on drums and Bill Lifford on harmonica. Excellent opener. Original track, slow blues, Harder To Breathe features Camryn Quinlan on lead vocals and she really digs in. Kearney really rips his slide work on this track, joined by Jack Licitra on keys and follows back yet with a ripping lead solo. Quinlan's voice puts me in mind of Jo Baker and her solid contribution to Bishop's band of the 70's. Very nice. Dylan's Meet Me In The Morning has a cool hitch to it and Kearney's vocal style is a little different on this one but alternating with his soloing, very potent with a wealth of keys by Licitra. Folky, West Of The Ashley has a poppy/ Garcia/Dead feel with Kearney taking the lead, playing the melody on mandolin over Sorrentino on bass, Staiano on drums and Jeff Naimoli on percussion. Off To The Jubilee has a real Bishop/Bloomfield feel with Kearney on vocal and scorching guitar. Hot bass lines by Sorretino and a tight drum line by Staino, this track hits the spot. Wrapping the release is seasonal track, Santa's Got A Brand New Bag, featuring Quinlan on lead vocal and plenty of organ by Mark Mancini. With a real nice guitar solo by Kearney, this is a cool closer for a cool release. 

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Max Frank Music artist: Royce Campbell - Vagabond - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Vagabond, by Royce Campbell and if you like that full brass sound, this may be your ticket. Opening with Peepers, Terry Vosbein gets his band pumped up with Bill Schnepper, Greg Moody, James Cotton, Kelli Birchfield and Kyle Greaney on sax, Chris Magee, Alec Moser, Brian Quakenbush and Kerry Moffit on trumpet, Matt Niess Tom Lundberg, Tom McKenzie and Tyler Bare on trombone, Matthew Billings on piano, Bob Bowen on bass and DeWayne Peters on drums. Royce Campbell lays down a real nice guitar solo followed by Niess on trombone for a swinging starter. On A Sharp Blues, Campbell crafts a really tasty solo followed by Bowen on bass. Tom Ludberg really stands out on trombone with a stellar solo of his own. Latin flavored, Mambo Puente is a really cool track with it's terrific rhythm, nicely capitalized by Campbell on guitar and a super trumpet solo by Chris Magee. Middle Ground leads off with Campbell on guitar really hitting the groove. Low key saxes surround the melody and trumpet punctuation really gives the track heat. Wrapping the release is Viper with it's driving guitar lead and featuring James Cotton with a vibrant tenor solo. Punchy brass and horn saturation define the track for a solid closer. 

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Impetus Records artist: Masha Campagne - Alegre Menina - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Alegre Menina, by Masha Campagne and it's quite enjoyable. Opening with Brazilian flavored, Bahia Com, Masha Campagne delivers nicely on vocal creating a very soothing feel. Ricardo Peixoto on guitar adds clean, articulated soloing backed by Scott Thompson on bass Rafael Barata on drums, and Brian Rice on percussion. Strong opener.  Coracao Vagabundo is up next with Campagne's vocals floating on a soft samba rhythm. Peixoto creates a beautiful acoustic guitar solo adding just the right contrast for this track. Cobra Criada is a really cool track with an unusual time signature. I really like Peixoto's electric work on this track which is both tasty and exciting, Scott Thompson on bass adds a cool solo of his own, and Barata's drum rhythm is exceptional. Wrapping the release is Estrada Do Sol with colorful accompaniment by Frank Martin on piano nicely complimenting Campagne on vocal. His soloing is crisp and clear adding a minimal yet essential component to this excellent closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Michael Dease - City Life: The Music of Gregg Hill - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, City Life, from Michael Dease and it's super. Opening with Willow Walks In, Michael Dease outlines the melody on trombone, backed by Linda May Han Oh on bass Jeff "Tain" Watts on drums. Dease really is stellar on trombone stretching the track and Oh and Watts expand the palette nicely for a terrific opener. With a driving bass line by Oh, Dease creates a sonic environment on Movie Theme with some of the richest trombone solo work I've heard in a while. Watts expands the track with a variety of percussion tones and a tight rhythm and Brooklyn Dease adds color on vocal. Very cool. Sweet Georgia Gillespie is a terrific track with fleet slide and articulation by Dease, a fleet bass solo by Oh gives the track breadth and Watts really works the skins making this one of my favorite tracks on disc one. Claxilever shows Dease in bold form with full throated trombone and Oh again really forms a nicely fluid solo on bass provoking Watts to a boil on drums. Say What? is another great track with a bopping lead by Dease. Disc 2 opens with Tea Time and Dease adds Nicole Glover on tenor sax to the mix. The opening melody finds Dease paired with Glover creating the feel and the track is deep and intense. Dease takes the first solo really digging in on trombone and Glover's unmistakable style on tenor really adds another dimension to this already great sound. Another addition to this disc is Geoffrey Keezer on piano who a is stylistically perfect choice. Grave Concerns has a warm melody pairing Glover with Dease on the intro. Dease lays out a really nice solo, accented nicely by Watts, Keezer and Oh. Keezer is up next with a crisp, decisive solo of his own and Glover, who always has exceptional phrasing continues the theme with a warm sensitive touch.  Rainy Afternoon has a quiet feel with Dease and Glover playing harmonic tones to each other with just a hint of piano by Keezer over drums and bass. Oh gets the floor and plays emphatically over the light accompaniment of Keezer. Glover really hits the groove with a warm tenor solo over the tight, funky splash of snare and cymbal of Watts and Keezer on piano before the floor is given back to Dease with really works his magic on trombone. Excellent track. Skittles is a fiery track with ripping drum tempo by Watts and Dease absolutely ripping it up on trombone. Glover claims the spotlight and shows once again she's ready to take charge at any time. I've got to tell you I've seen Glover live and when she plays it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Not to be left behind, Keezer on piano works his magic with Watts really playing up a storm. Powerful. My favorite track on the release is Blues For Herb and Glover really lets it all go. Leading the way on tenor, her tone is strong and her phrasing excellent. Dease follows on second solo trading with Oh and it's a terrific matchup. Keezer steps up for a well articulated solo of his own followed back by Glover and Dease to close out the track. Terrific! Wrapping the release is Lafayette Square, opening by Keezer and with Dease on melody. Joined by Glover the track builds before breaking back for Dease's first solo on trombone. Glover gets her shot and then a longer improv by Keezer. Oh and Watts hold the groove tight and Dease folds back in with a raspy enthusiasm joined by Glover closing out the track. Really excellent set. 

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Treated and Released Records artist: Reverend Freakchild - A Bluesman of Sorts - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Bluesman of Sorts, by Reverend Freakchild, and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with laid back rocker, Green and Brown Blues, with the smokey feel of John Kay, the Rev has the vocal lead and harmonica along with rhythm guitar, backed by John Robinson on bass and Patrick Carmichael on drums. Cool track. On Robert Johnson's Come On In My Kitchen, the Rev sets up a cool acoustic slide and falsetto vocal paring, not unlike Johnson or Skip James adding to it's stark blues feel. Willie Newbern's Roll and Tumble Blues is another track with authentic treatment with primitive acoustic slide work, harmonica and "hambone" carrying some of the best vocals on the release. Original shuffle, A Day Late and A Dollar Short, has a cool groove with bass, drums and organ backing the Rev on vocal.  Chris Whitley's Dust Radio is a cool closer for disc one with slack string guitar giving the track a real back alley feel. Side two opens with a rocking take on Jimmy Reed's Big Boss Man. The Rev digs in on electric guitar, complimenting his vocal and harmonica, backed by organ and percussion...a solid contribution. John Lennon's Yer Blues give the Rev a great foil to play contemporary blues rock with a heavy bottom. He digs in vocally and with a pounding bass/drum anchor and full organ revival, he really rocks this track. Lightnin' Hopkins' Death Bells has super, scatter guitar acoustic accompaniment giving it an authentic Delta feel and his vocals are nicely adapted to the style. Very cool. Wrapping the release is Fenton Robinson's (Peppermint Harris') As The Years Go Passing By has a vintage 60's sound featuring soulful vocals by the Rev and some really flamboyant blues riffs to top it off. Solid closer for a real nice release. 

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 “Like” Bman’s Facebook page and get support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening