Bman's Blues Report

If you are looking for an album that completely changes how you think about the double bass , Jon Hamar’s Música Callada is it. Instead of playing the same old classical tracks everyone expects, the Pacific Northwest bassist steps out from the background to deliver something deeply personal, warm, and refreshing. From the very first note, you can tell this isn't an album made for stuffy concert halls or classical music snobs. Backed by pianist Adrienne Fontenot , Hamar takes quiet, hidden-gem melodies and turns them into an easy, soulful conversation. It is a beautifully laid-back record that blends his massive jazz background with classical roots, proving that he is just as incredible leading the band as he is backing up other legends. Here is a closer look at why this album deserves a spot on your playlist.   🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM ▶ Listen to Album Samples (Click to Expand) Add this Record to Your Collection Available in CD and D...

The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra (APSO) has been keeping the classic '60s and '70s soul-blues vibe alive ever since guitarist Anthony Paule started the band in San Francisco back in 2007. Known for their killer horn section and a history of powerhouse vocalists, the band just welcomed their newest front man, the amazing Willy Jordan . Willy is a massive talent who already has two Grammy nominations under his belt from his time with Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio , and he has even shared the stage with legends like John Lee Hooker . Taking over the mic from former APSO greats like Wee Willie Walker , Frank Bey, and Terrie Odabi, Willy brings a totally real, down-to-earth energy to the stage. When you see them live, his commanding voice and honest vibe make for an unforgettable, heartfelt show.  🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM ▶ Listen to Album Samples (Click to Expand)                      ...

Blues powerhouses Johnny Rawls and Dave Keller just dropped their new collaborative album, Tribute to Soul, out now on Third Street Cigar Records. This 11-track project is a high-energy shoutout to the legends of the chitlin circuit, packed with huge vocal duets and blazing horns. It is a masterclass in deep soul-blues, born out of a musical brotherhood that has been cooking for over 15 years.  Johnny Rawls is a living Mississippi legend who was leading the band for soul icon O.V. Wright at just 17. He has backed giants like Joe Tex and Eddie Floyd, and he is still dominating today, recently taking home Soul Blues Album of the Year at the 2026 Blues Music Awards. Johnny brings his signature, velvety-smooth Southern vocals and decades of rhythm guitar mastery to this project. Dave Keller is a Vermont-based singer and guitarist known as one of the finest modern torchbearers of deep soul. Dave has built a fierce reputation for his wild live shows, emotional vocals, and razor-sharp gui...

Johnny Nedlee Shines Born: Tuscaloosa, Alabama April 25. 2015 - April 20, 1992 Genre Style: Delta Blues Johnny Shines Jr. was a force of nature in the blues world, single-handedly bridging raw Delta traditions with the electrified, gritty pulse of Chicago. As a young guitarist, he soaked up the mystical aura of the Delta, famously claiming that his mentor Howlin’ Wolf had "exchanged his soul with Lucifer" to unlock his musical powers. Shines later hit the road for wild, unpredictable tours across the U.S. and Canada with the legendary Robert Johnson, playing everywhere from raucous house parties to muddy levee camps. Yet, despite his explosive talent, crooked record deals and industry roadblocks eventually broke his spirit, forcing him to sell his gear and swap his guitar for construction tools. But you can’t keep a true bluesman down. In 1966, Shines staged a spectacular mid-life comeback that rocketed him onto international stages and scored him a G...

Sergio Pereira is a Rio -born guitarist and composer whose music seamlessly bridges traditional Brazilian groove with American jazz sophistication. Growing up in Rio during the vibrant 1960s and 70s, he picked up the acoustic guitar (violão) at age eight, heavily inspired by bossa nova legends like João Gilberto and Tom Jobim .  His journey took a major turn in the 1980s when he relocated to New York City to study under jazz icons like Chuck Wayne and Sal Salvador . By the 1990s, Pereira was taking his global sound on the road, performing across Europe, Africa, and beyond. That lifetime of travel and training shines through in his latest album, Colors of Time, released on May 18, 2026.  The record is a beautifully relaxed masterclass in contemporary Latin jazz , layering warm South American moods with smooth, atmospheric bossa textures. Pereira captures a rich sense of memory and quiet sophistication across the tracks, effortlessly blending his signature acoustic strings ...