Bman's Blues Report

Required Listening  Oz Noy Born:   Tel Aviv, Israel April 25, 1972 Genre Style:  Fusion Oz Noy is an incredibly smooth Israeli-American guitarist who has spent the last few decades rewriting the rules on how jazz, funk, rock, and blues can play together. He started picking up the guitar back in Israel when he was just 10 years old, and he was so naturally good at it that he was playing professional studio sessions by 13. After becoming the go-to session guy for big records and TV shows back home, he packed his bags for New York City in 1996 to see what else he could do. Since then, he’s made a massive splash in the NYC scene, winning people over with a vibe that's all about deep, infectious grooves and wild sonic experimentation. When he isn’t tracking or touring with massive icons like Sting, Cyndi Lauper, or drum legend Dave Weckl, he’s busy releasing his own killer records. Albums like Fuzzy , Schizophrenic , and his latest drop, Rec...

Rare Air  Ronnie Earl - Blues For The West Side Ronnie Earl is the kind of guitar player who doesn’t need to rush. Born Ronald Horvath in Queens, New York, he picked up the guitar a bit later than most, finding his calling at twenty-one after catching a live Muddy Waters show. He eventually moved to Boston, soaked up the New England blues scene, and took the last name Earl as a nod to blues master Earl Hooker. By 1979, he was playing guitar for Roomful of Blues, spending nearly a decade touring and anchoring their big, swing-heavy sound. In the mid-1980s, he decided to slow things down and focus on his own voice, forming his longtime band, The Broadcasters. Named after a classic early Fender guitar, the group became his musical home for the next forty years. Together, they developed a sound that moves easily between traditional blues, late-night jazz grooves, and deep soul. What really defines his music is how much he leaves out. While other guitaris...

ALBUM REVIEW BB  & The Bullets Label: Overton Music Released: October 2, 2026 DR: TBD I f you’re looking for the sonic definition of a good time, look no further than Whanganui, New Zealand’s own BB & The Bullets. This isn’t the kind of blues-rock you sit down and analyze—it’s the kind that sounds best cranked up in a packed tavern or out on a back porch with a cold drink. Fronted by veteran guitar slinger and singer Brian Baker, the band is held down by Stu "The Glue" Duncan on bass and Brad McMillan behind the drum kit. As a power trio, these guys have that rare, unspoken chemistry where they just lock into a groove and let it roll, a vibe they’ve been perfecting across local stages and late-night jams for years.  They caught a massive wave with their 2025 debut, High Tide, turning enough heads to get picked up by the legendary French label Dixiefrog Records and proving their brand of fiery, slide-heavy blue...

ALBUM REVIEW Greg Chako - Hard Bop: For The Record Label:Mint400 Records Released: September 4, 2026 DR: TBD G reg Chako is a veteran jazz guitarist and composer who has been letting his instrument do the talking for over forty years. Born in Cincinnati, he caught the jazz bug early, eventually packing his bags for the Berklee College of Music to hone his chops. From there, his musical compass took him far beyond Ohio. He spent nearly two decades gigging, recording, and leading bands across major Asian cultural hubs like Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Those years on the international circuit shaped his signature warm tone and easygoing, lyrical style on the fretboard. Life threw plenty of curveballs along the way—including standard musician hazards like carpal tunnel and some serious health battles—but Chako always found his way back to the music. After returning to Cincinnati, he kept the momentum going by signing ...