Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Rhythm People , by Eddie Allen's Push and it's engaging. Opening with title track, Rhythm People , Eddie Allen on trumpet works with Jonathan Beshay on tenor sax, Misha Tsiganov on keys, Tyler Bullock II on piano, Kenny Davis on bass, EJ Strickland on drums and Steve Turre on trombone to create a driving vamp. With solo's by Allen, Turre, and Bullock on piano and critical rhythm by Strickland, this is a terrific opener. Maurice has big band styling with marimba like keyboards by Tsiganov underwriting the track. A grooving solo by Beshay on tenor really opens up the track and a swinging solo by Turre on trombone really hits followed by Allen on trumpet who's crisp attack really snaps and the lush keywork on Tsiganov brings it all back together . Very nice. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Daybreak with a super bop feel . Turre tears it up with a ripping trombone solo and Beshay's sax...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Slim Pickin' , from Mississippi MacDonald and it's strong. Opening with Trouble Doing The Right Thing , Mississippi MacDonald shows his ability to deliver in a big way with just a mic and an acoustic guitar. His soulful voice and R&B guitar styling is backed by Brent Cundall on bass and Phil Dearing on percussion. Super opener. My Bad Attitude , another track with a firm R&B feel, gives Mac a great stage for his gritty yet soulful vocals and acoustic guitar backing and light snare work is just the right touch. An interesting take on Blind Willie McTell's Statesboro Blues is fresh with none of the trademark feeling that Taj Mahal or Duane Allman put on the track, propelling it into rock fame. With a more original Piedmont fingerpicking style, this is a terrific addition. St. Louis Jimmy Oden's Going Down Slow really is cool with a slow, easy roll and acoustic style backing. Dearing contributes a re...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Keep Both Hands On The Wheel , by Babaux and the Peacemakers , and it's a solid mix of rural rock and blues. Opening with Steal Your Love , Babaux (Christian Basso) leads the way on vocals, joined by Eric Martinez on lead guitar, Mike Davidov on bass Ben Waligoske wailing on steel guitar and Jake Herman on drums. With a strong bottom and aggressive lead guitar work, this is a solid opener. Wildflower dials it back a few notches but with particularly cool vocals and resonator by Babaux and CR Gruver on B3, this track is a swampy rocker. Walk The Mile is another track that has just that right taste of Van Zant with plenty of southern swagger, gritty vocals and Martinez playing lead guitar over a warm bed of B3  and a meaty bottom. Title track, Keep Both Hands On The Wheel is a loose rocker with an effectively ragged vocal melody and B3/guitar carrying the load. Martinez plays a bluesy lead solo making this one of m...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Early Blues Sessions by Bob Corritore & Friends and it's solid Chicago style blues . Opening with I Want To Be The One features Little Milton on vocal and guitar, Chico Chism on drums, Bob Corritore on harmonica, Henry Gray on piano, and Johnny Rapp on guitar. A solid shuffle, shows Corritore, Rapp and Gray with some real nice riffs for a strong opener. Jimmy Rogers has the mic and some swinging riffs on She Loves Another Man with S.E. Willis on piano, Chism on drums, Bruce Lopez on bass. Chism has the mic on Five Long Years joined by Pinetop Perkins on piano and shows Rapp throwing down some excellent guitar lead. Lil Ed cranks up the slide on Hip Shakin' and his vocals really rock. Backed by Chism, Rapp, and Corritore, I really like this track. Tomcat Courtney has the mic on I Wonder really getting in the Chicago groove. Corritore's harp work is particularly cool on this track backed by Brian F...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Farmhouse Blues , by Randy Lee Riviere and it's packed with rowdy, growlin, blues rock. Opening with Downtown , Randy Lee Riviere on lead vocal and guitar creates plenty of swagger with Doug Lancio on guitar, Michael Saint Leon on guitar, Mike Rojas on keys, Robert Kearns on bass and Tom Hambridge on drums. Super opener. Title track, Farmhand Blues has just a touch of country mixed in to this strong blues rocker. Riviere does great with the Lou Reed delivery and I really like the simplistic yet stinging guitar attack. Moonlight is another power rocker with a thumping drum anchor, cool slide work and overdriven guitar lead.  It may not be ground breaking, but it's great solid music. Another cool track is December 1980 with it's droning bass line by Kearns and slap snare by Hambridge. With it's base blues structure and tight slide work, another notable track. On My Way Down is gritty and grimy with ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Man On A  Mission , by Manu Lanvin and it's cool and gritty. Opening with blues rocker, Just Need Me , Manu Lanvin on vocal and guitar belts out a loosely assembled blues with real grit.  With a modified Latin beat, complimented by Raphael Chassin on drums and percussion, Nicolas Bonniere on Moog bass, and Axel Bauer on guitar I really like this opener. Change My Ways is a soulful ballad with strong vocals by Lanvin, paced by Bennett Holland , bass by Laurent Vernerey and Karim Bouazza on drums and the warm horn work of Malcom Strachan and Athol Ransome . Very nice. Savigny-Sur-Orge is a solid radio track with a memorable melody, with lead vocal and guitar by Lanvin, with Chassin on drums, Vernerey on bass, Holland on keys, and Bonniere on Melotron. Saving Angel is a tight rocker with a Keith Richards guitar edge. Lanvin on vocal backed by Julie Layse , BJ Scott , Chantel and Steve Kashala one of ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Murrina , from Margherita Fava and it's a cool, creative piano centric creation. Opening with No Clue , Margherita Fava sets a firm yet expansive piano vamp with Brandon Rose on bass reinforcing the deliberate nature of the composition and Jonathan Barber on drums widening and deepening the concept. Interesting opener.  Interpreting Brahms ' Intermezzo, Op. 117, No.1 ,  Fava on piano gives new life with solid conceptual direction and Barber's snappy snare work paired with the lively bass work of Rose on bass. Very nice. Duke Ellington 's Satin Doll , likewise gets a interpretive rework with unchanged melody but a cool bop edge on rhythm and a really nice expansion on the theme through progressive soloing. Title track, Murrina , has a real nice interplay between Fava and Rose on bass. With strong melodic composition and aggressive drum direction by Barber, this is one of my favorites on the release. Wrappi...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Storybook: The Music of Mark Miller, by The Birdland Big Band and it's rich. Opening with title track, Storybook, an orchestral piece, Chris Smith holds a tight rein on the beat on drums with Brandon Lee on flugelhorn, Kenny Archer on piano and Nathan Childers on alto sax,  backed by Troy Roberts and Sam Dillon on tenor sax, Jason Marshall on bari sax, David DeJesus, Sam Dillon and Nathan Childers on flute, John Walsh on trumpet, Mark Miller, James Burton III, Ron Wilkins, Sara Jacovino on trombones, James Borowski on bass trombone, and Noriko Ueda on bass. Classic, Tenderly features Nicole Zuraitis on vocals and a rich tenor solo by Sam Dillon and a shining trumpet lead by Raul Agraz. With a solid Latin beat, Sail Away features a fluid lead line by Glenn Drewes on flugelhorn and David DeJesus on soprano sax. Zuraitis is back up fron again on Close Your Eyes over a solid bass line by Ueda. Kenny Ascher lays down a ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, For The Record , by Pete Mills and it swings. Opening with title track, For The Record , Pete Mills on Tenor sax , Jon Eshelman on B3 , Tom Davis on guitar and Zach Compston on drums get things moving. Mills rips loose on tenor laying down fluid lead before handing to Davis on guitar who is smooth as silk. Eshelman on B3 is strong with a fat tone and kicks it robust style. Swinging opener. Bird Lives is really hot with Davis and Mills cooking the melody. Mills takes the first solo and it really is smoking, held down by Compston and fattened up by Eshelman and Davis' guitar solo it bright and exciting. Eshelman lets the B3 roll and working in tandem with Compston he rolls. Excellent track. Laid back, Z is for Zadie features Mills cruising on sax and Eshelman on B3 with a real warm solo by Davis on guitar. Another kicker, Step On It , really moves with Mills hitting it right out of the gate. His soloing is tasty and...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Blues Is In The House , by Robbin Kapsalis and it's solid Chicago . Opening with title track, The Blues Is In The House , Giles Robson leads off with some classic harmonica and the deep rooted vocals on Robbin Kapsalis, backed by Francois Nicolleau and Nicolas Deshayes on guitar, Arnaud Gobin on bass, Cyril Durand on drums and featuring Joe Louis Walker on lead guitar. Solid opener. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Lead Me On with lush guitar work and soulful vocals by Kapsalis. Lonnie Chatmon 's Sittin' On Top Of The World has always been a favorite and the fine guitar work of Nicolleau and Deshayes coupled with Robson on harmonica and Kapsalis on vocals makes this another great featured track on the release. Screamin' Jay Hawkins ' I Wanna Know has a solid R&B feel with Kapsalis working with Nicolleau and Deshayes on guitar. With some tight guitar riffs and snappy drum wor...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tequila & Bullets , from Jay Hooks and it's a potent blues rocker. Opening with hard driver, Evinrude Boat Motor , Jay Hooks leads the way with fiery rhythm guitar and rugged vocals. With Matt Johnson on drums, Brock Proctor on bass and Barry Seeland on keys, giving Hooks an aggressive bottom to jump on the gas with flaming lead guitar. Strong opener. Title track, Tequila & Bullets is built over an updated Morganfield base. A relentless guitar vamp, supported by bass, drums and keys leaves an open stage for soaring guitar soloing and tandem vocal/guitar lead for a really solid track. Very cool. Rocker, Left Me Cold , has a light, Latin rhythm by Procter and Johnson and Hooks sings a cool melody. Melodic guitar phrasing shows real style by Hooks on a firm Peter Green theme. Mind Full has a gritty, very early Texas blues band feel with a simple rhythm and a lot of guitar grind over, under and around, simpl...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Back Pages , by Fred Hostetler and it raw and gritty. Opening with Hey Corporate Vandals , Fred Hostetler lays down a blues rocky kinda JJ Cale feel. Backed by Eric Troyer on keys this has a magnetic groove. Delta style , Taming The Wolf , weaves back and forth through different primitive blues concepts. This is an interesting track with nods to ole Howling Wolf himself. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Orphan Blues with just a taste of Morganfield under the gritty exterior. Raggedy slide work by Hostetler adds to the track nicely. A cover of Bill Withers ' Ain't No Sunshine is a bit more polished but what really stands out is the Hooker like timing, giving things their own time and space. I like it. Wrapping the release is solid ballad, You Found Me , featuring Hostetler on vocal and guitar with backing vocals and keys by Eric Troyer. Solid closer.    If you support live Blues ...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Arrival , from The Lucky Losers and it is their best release yet. Opening with funk infused, S-C-A-M , Cathy Lemons leads the way with solid vocals backed by the pumped up horn work of Doug James on tenor sax, Mike Rinta on trombone and John Halbieb on trumpet. With Phil Berkowitz on vocal, Chris Burns on keys, Simon Govan Smith on guitars, Edgar San Gabriel on bass, Jon Otis on drums, and Kid Andersen on keys, this is a high stepping intro. Lemons really digs in vocally on Pull On The Rope with some of her best vocals on the release. Smith grinds out a strong guitar intro and with Berkowitz on harmonica, Otis on drums, Gabriel on bass, Burns on keys and warm backing vocals, this is another strong track. Phil is up front on vocal and soulful harmonica on Sorry Brother . This track has a real slinky feel and Burn's key work coupled with the excellent percussion by Otis gives this track a dark, rich feel. Pig...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Healer , by Bobby Rozario , and it's cool jazz rock with potent Latin influences . Opening with title track, Healer , Bobby Rozario opens with fluid guitar riffs underscored by Neil Nail Alexander on organ, James Genus on bass, Nathaniel Townsley on drums, and Jhair Sala on percussion and Rosario , Keith Fluitt , and Carlton Jumel Smith on vocals. Lively opener. On Supreme , they crank up the brass with inclusion of Joe Romano on trumpet and Jimmy Bosch on trombone with vocals in almost chant form reminiscent of a similar track by McLaughlin and Santana . Rozario's guitar work is electrifying and the rhythmic percussion work of Sala, Townsley and Rozario is hypnotic. Latin rocker , Spirits , has a solid bottom courtesy of Danny Kean on organ, bass by Aalics Bronson and Robby Ameen on drums. Tight guitar riffs by Rozario give this track a real jam. Wrapping the release is Seasons , a funky, Latin rocker s...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Calm Before The Storm , by Bryan Beller and it's quite good. Bassist, Bryan Beller, additionally known for his work with The Aristocats has done some work with parts of his last solo release resulting in this release. Opening with Greasy Wheel , Bryan Beller on bass is joined by Rick Musallam on guitar who really knocks it out of the park with his rhythmic guitar exchange with Joe Travers on drums and Jeff Babko on Hammond. Relentless guitar lead on Cave Dweller , driven by Beller and Travers and a funky Hammond solo by Babko make this a really great opener. Lumbering drum rhythm by Toss Panos and a staggering bass line by Beller gives lead guitar player, Griff Peters a super field to plays a beautifully obtuse melody. An authoritative bass line by Beller really gives this track weight and Peter's, " Beck " like phrasing and distortion makes this a real standout. Excellent! Wrapping the release is...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Down the Hatch , by Tom Hambridge , and it's a solid mix of blues, rock and soul . Opening with driving, Willie Dixon's Gone with it's train like rhythm. Tom Hambridge on lead vocal and drums leads the way with aggressive guitar rhythm by Rob McNelley , and pumping bass by Tommy MacDonald . Solid Opener. MacNelley sets the pace for shuffle, I Want You Bad with solid rhythm and stinging lead guitar. Hambridge adds a driving pace on drums and solid lead vocal. Hard Times is a cool track with a solid vocal melody by Hambridge and haunting guitar wails by MacNelley and heavy tom tom work by Hambridge. Very cool. My favorite track on the release is Believe These Blues with it's funky rhythm and soulful vocals by Hambridge and relentless guitar work by MacNelley. Additional texture by Jimmy Wallace adds depth to an already very cool track. Piano boogie, You Gotta Go Through St. Louis is another favorite with...