Bman's Blues Report

Rafael Greco —the legendary Venezuelan saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and long-time creative engine behind Guaco —is finally stepping completely out of the big-band shadow to do exactly what he wants. On his new album, Verses Under My Shadow , he skips the predictable jazz tropes to build something way cooler: a hypnotic, avant-garde sandbox where Central African polyrhythms , vocal loops , and literary vibes collide, backed by heavy hitters like Dave Weckl and Jimmy Haslip . It’s an ambitious, deeply personal masterclass in groove and texture, and it sets the perfect stage for the sonic trip we're about to dive into.   🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM   Add this Record to Your Collection Available in Digital Formats. 🛒 Buy Album on Amazon Store As an Amazon Associate, Bman earns from qualifying purchases. The Deep Dive Verses Under My Shadow is a solid entry into modern fusion that shows what happens when Rafael Greco is left to m...

Ingrid Jensen Born: North Vancouver, B.C. January 12, 1966 Genre Style: Jazz Ingrid Jensen has been hailed as one of the most gifted trumpeters of her generation. As a sought-out teacher, collaborator, and soloist, it is easy to see why the New York Times calls her “as versatile as she is vigorous.” After graduating from Berklee College of Music in 1989, Jensen was offered a position at the prestigious Bruckner Conservatory in Linz, Austria. In the 1990s, she recorded three highly acclaimed CDs for the ENJA record label, becoming one of the most in demand trumpet players on the global jazz scene. Settling in New York City, she joined the innovative jazz orchestras of Maria Schneider (1994- 2012) and Darcy James Argue (2002-present). She has performed with a multigenerational cast of jazz legends ranging from Clark Terry to Esperanza Spalding. Jensen has also performed alongside British R&B artist Corrine Bailey Rae on Saturday Night Live and recorded with C...

Dustin Arbuckle and the Damnations bring a wealth of vintage blues authority and roots-rock grit to the forefront of the contemporary Americana scene. Fronted by the soulful, commanding vocals and fiery harmonica work of veteran musician Dustin Arbuckle , the band features an incredibly tight instrumental foundation built on Brandon Hudspeth ’s electrifying guitar lines, Caleb Drummond’s deep bass grooves, and Colby Aiken’s steady, driving rhythm. Emerging from the heartlands, the group has earned a fierce reputation for cross-pollinating traditional delta blues with swampy southern soul , country rock , and high-energy roots swagger. On their latest album, this collective musical maturity takes center stage, channeling decades of road-tested experience into a powerful showcase of unfiltered songwriting, blistering instrumentation, and deeply authentic groove.   🎵 LISTEN & SUPPORT THE ALBUM   Add this Record to Your Collection Available in Digital Forma...

If you’ve spent any time around the mid-Atlantic roots scene over the last forty years, you’ve likely crossed paths with J.P. Reali . He is the kind of picker who feels less like a performer on a stage and more like an old friend sharing a lifelong obsession from a front-porch rocking chair. For decades, Reali was a pillar of the Washington, D.C. blues circuit, collecting award nominations and heading down to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge , all while mastering the bouncy fingerpicking of Piedmont ragtime and the heavy slide guitar of the Mississippi Delta . Now based out of Newark, Delaware, his latest creative detour feels like his most personal one yet. On his new late-2026 EP, Grateful Blues , Reali revisits his college days at American University when he was a dedicated Deadhead catching as many Jerry Garcia shows as possible. Recorded up the road at Turtle Studios in Philadelphia, the record strips away the stadium-sized jams of the Dead and runs them through th...