Mesa / Blue Moon Recordings artist: Bill Banfield's Jazz Urbane - Take Time To Listen - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Take Time To Listen, from Bill Banfield's Jazz Urbane, and it's warm and bluesy. Opening with This Time, a solid track featuring Bill Banfield on a big box guitar, milking all of the rich tone on each chord as he picks himself up and down the fretboard. A nice melody and nice articulation make this a strong opener. Gershwin's Summertime is lushly presented with a slight flavor of Latin with rolled picking and rhythm. Joseph Kosma's classic Autumn Leaves also has a Spanish flavor with strong phrasing and plucked melody followed by rich chords. Very nice. Elton John's Your Song is a cool change up with plenty of finger picked runs and chord reinforced phrasing. Song For Earl is a soulful tribute to Earl Klugh with parallel octave hits and fleet fingering. Wrapping the release is an adventurous romp on Churchill's Someday My Prince Will Come, a certain classic with deep roots. A total rework and new arrangement gives this track a fresh face and makes it a cool closer. 

  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 looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

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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

Shifting Paradigm Records artist: Philip Weberndoerfer - Tides - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tides, from Philip Weberndoerfer and it's mature, lush and pleasing. Opening with Little B's Poem, German native, Philip Weberndoerfer paints a rich melody with his guitar, backed by Richard Mikel on bass and Peter Traunmueller on drums. A jagged time signature strengthened by Mikel and Traunmueller provides Weberndoerfer a clear canvas to illustrate his craft. A tight bass solo by Mikel really adds nicely to the landscape making this a super opener. Peace Of Constance is a understated composition led by Dayna Stephens on sax. Interweaving of Stephens and Weberndoerfer on guitar, supported by Mikel really makes for a satisfying listen. Salted Sweets slowly builds whisper with Stephens taking the melodic lead on sax. Weberndoerfer joins on guitar further embellishing and extending the concept with carefully placed bass and drum rhythm and a really strong drum solo accentuating the playful nature of the track. Very nice. Simple Task is the most direct track on the release with Stephens on sax and Weberndoerfer on guitar setting up the melody. Mikel and Traunmueller set a firm footing and Weberndoerfer created a perfect bop melody. Stephens takes the second lead over a great walking bass line by Mikel. Mikel gets his turn up front and plays a really strong solo of his own wrapping back to the base melody with Stephens. Excellent. Wrapping the release is One Of These Days, with warm guitar chords by Weberndoerfer and an active bass line by Mikel.  Clear guitar lead and crisp drum work make this a solid closer for a real 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 looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE" 

   

 “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