Bman's Blues Report

Friday, February 21, 2025

Lightning In A Bottle Records artist: Chad Rupp and the Sugar Roots - Gate C23 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gate C23, by Chad Rupp and the Sugar Roots and it's strong. Opening with Fresh Suits, a strutting blues rocker, features Chad Rupp on lead vocal and guitars, joined by LaRhonda Steele, Arietta Ward and Ms. Vee on backing vocals Ken Scandlyn, on guitar, Jimi Bott on drums, Timmer Blakely on bass and Ken Brewer on organ. Sassy opener. Title track, Gate C23, is a deep blues track with Rupp and Ms. Dee on vocal and excellent guitar work by Rupp and Kenny Blue Ray, Brady Goss on piano, Gene Ermal on drums and featuring Joe McCarthy, Bradley Ulrich and Pat Pepin on horns. Smoking! Super shuffle, Blues City Cafe, really rolls with solid guitar lead and vocal by Rupp and excellent harmonica work by Mitch Kashmar. Soulful, You'll Be Singing My Songs, is rich with vocal lead and harmonies and excellent harmonica work by Kashmar and a stinging guitar solo by Rupp. Very nice. Fat Kid Boogie is a cool change up with a hot beat. Rupp on vocal and Kashmar (on harmonica) really get this track rocking and with Blakely on bass and Goss on piano. Wrapping the release is O.V. Wright's Blind, Cripples and Crazy with deep funk. Rupp, Steele, Ward and Vee really work the vocals and with Rupp laying down hot guitar riffs, Goss on piano, Kashmar on harmonica, and Ray on guitars, this is an excellent closer. Great release.

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Thursday, February 20, 2025

Copper Fox Music artist: Mile Marker Zero - Coming Of Age - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Coming of Age, from Mile Marker Zero and it's a solid dose of 80's progressive rock. Opening with A Place In Time, Dave Alley on lead vocal and Mark Focarile on keys set the intro for Best Is Yet To Come with it's spirited, guitar and drum driven attack. With Dave on lead vocal and guitars, Doug Alley on drums, Focarile on keys, Jaco Lindito on bass and John Tuohy on guitars and backing vocals this gets ramped up. Title track, Coming of Age has a solid, memorable melody, strong vocals, a very nice Spanish flavored guitar solo and a tight drum rhythm by Doug making this a likely radio track. My favorite track on the release is heavy handed, Heavy Days with excellent guitar work by Dave and smashing drum work by Doug. Wrapping the release is End Of August with an acoustic guitar rhythm leading to Dave leading the way over a bed of subtle piano and percussion. The melody develops nicely with solid phrasing by Focarile on keys giving the track strong thematic body. This is a solid closer for a comprehensive composition.

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Jay Lang - Blues Vol 1 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Vol 1, from Jay Lang and it's a lot of fun. Opening with country blues, Sweet Honey, Jay Land plays a real nice Piedmont style finger picking with authentic vocal style. Simple, clever and well done. Strong opener. A natural story teller, his Hopalong Tracy puts me in mind of one of my favorite tracks from Elvin Bishop tracks, Have A Good Time. It's laid back, funny and down right great! My Sweet Mama has a bit of rag mixed in with Brad Porter on drums and sweet trombone work by Bob Dowell. Charley Patton's Shake It, Break It is an excellent addition with solid vocal and guitar by Lang, Eric Carlton on piano and Brad Porter on drums. Pine Box is a cool, laid back blues track with great vocals by Lang, backed by Carlton who stretches a bit on piano and Porter on drums. Wrapping the release is I've Been Saved, a Rev. Gary Davis style track with Lang laying down the blues on acoustic and vocal only. This is an excellent closer for a totally excellent release.

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

APM Records artist: Mississippi MacDonald - I Got What You Need - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Got What You Need, from Mississippi MacDonald and it's a strong blend of blues and soul. Opening with rumbling blues, I've Got What You Need with it's stinging Albert Collins like lead guitar and thick bluesy lead vocals by Mississippi MacDonald, backed by Eliott Boughen on bass, Jim Kimberley on drums, Phil Dearing on guitars and keys and Lucy Randall on backing vocals, the release is off to a great start. Slow blues, Stop! Think About It! is one of my favorite tracks on the release with gripping Albert King influenced lead guitar work MacDonald really knows how to pour it on. 3.35 AM is a cool guitar instrumental with a rocking beat. Very cool. Gospel classic, If I Could Only Hear My Mother Pray Again with excellent lead and backing vocals and excellent lead guitar work over Dearing's organ. Very nice. Wrapping the release is deeply soulful, Your Dreams, featuring MacDonald really digging deep on vocal and guitar, paired with Dearing on piano. This is a serious release with soulful blues. Check it out!

Friday, February 14, 2025

House of Berry Productions artist: Kat Riggins and Her Blues Revival - Revival - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Revival, from Kat Riggins and Her Blues Revival, and it's soul drenched blues. Opening with shuffle, Lucky, Kat Riggins on lead vocal leads the chase with Shaelyn Mulberry and Mark Barner on backing vocals, understated but tasty lead guitar work by Erik Guess, and Tim Mulberry on bass, drums and keys. Solid opener. With a real great feel, Southern Soul, really gets swinging. Riggins vocals are soulful and Guess screams on guitar with great backing vocals by Mulberry and Barner. Set Me Free is one of my favorite tracks on the release with lush vocals and winding guitar work by Guess over a tight rhythm by Mulberry. Wrapping the release is soulful, Healer with it's subtle manner. With Guess and Mulberry creating the ambiance, Riggins takes it home. Solid closer for a very cool release.

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Blue Canoe Records artist: Randy Hoexter - Tomorrowsville - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tomorrowsville, from Randy Hoexter and it's a strong fusion release. Opening with Rosetta Stone, with it's jagged drum rhythm by John David and Randy Hoexter on piano, this track is humming. Sam Skelton adds some solid phrasing on sax and Justin Powell on trumpet join Jimmy Haslip on bass to really fill out the track but this is a great opener. The Dragonfly has a funky bottom and the addition of Mike Stern is a killer idea with his signature guitar work in contrast with Hoexter's clean yet adventurous piano phrasing. Very nice. Up tempo, The Wine-Dark Sea really gives Sam Skelton a broad stage to really rip on sax and features Roberta Setzu on lead vocal. Another track with with exciting pace is Particle Accelerator. Hoexter and Skelton both lay down really nice solo concepts and the tight rhythms of Haslip, David and Emrah Kotan on percussion, complimented by Powell on trumpet and Eric Alexander on trombone make this an exceptional track. Wrapping the release is an adventurous track, In Bright October, featuring Skelton on bass clarinet and sax in complex melody with Hoexter on piano nicely balanced by Haslip and David. Solid closer.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Stony Plain Records artist: Eric Bibb - In The Real World - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In The Real World, from Eric Bibb. Opening with Take The Stage, a quiet, well penned, ballad with Bibb on guitar and vocal, Glen Scott on drums bass, Hammond and featuring haunting slide by Robbie McIntosh. Very nice. Everybody's Got A Right is a lively track with lighter than a feather lyrics and lush slide work by McIntosh and super backing vocals by Agnese Stengrevics, Chris McGreevy and Glen Scott. This River (Chains & Free) is a ethereal track with confident lead vocals by Bibb and excellent featured vocals by Shaneeka Simon and lush backing vocals by Sepideh Vazin' and Simon. Exception track. Another standout track is Dear Mavis with a steady, percussive, guitar pattern by Bibb under his deep seated vocals. With Glenn Scott on synths, this track is quiet but effective. Out of the ordinary, The Real World is a real nice track with a supple melody and soothing vocals by Bibb and Scott, accompanied by McIntosh on guitar, David Davidson on violin, David Angell on violin, Monisa Angell on viola and Carole Rabinowitz on cello. Wrapping the release is Victory Voices featuring a duet between Bibb and Lily James with McIntosh on guitar, Scott on drums, piano and bass, Vaziri on backing vocals and Rabinowitz on cello. Warm closer.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Mojo Minefield - Watch Your Step! - New New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Watch Your Step!, from Mojo Minefield, and it's a cool blues based rocker. Opening with title track, Watch Your Step, Tyler Fry on lead guitar and vocal set the pace with a tight drum rhythm by Ethan Meters, Scott Carere on bass, and organ work by Nick Royal McNeil. Fry cuts loose with some real solid soloing using fuzz and overdrive giving it a real edge. Livin' Ain't That Hard is a strong blues rocker with a great drum rhythm and solid vocal harmonies under Fry's lead vocal and matched with guitar lead with real attitude. Love this track. Change The World is another favorite with a heavy bottom. It got a great call and response with Fry singing the melody and then the trio coming back with a power response (think a more refined War Pigs with super harmonies and fluid bluesy guitar lead). Another strong track. Forget You Blues is a deeply rooted blues rocker nodding to Muddy but with real rock edge. Fry's vocal are super and the trio really brings this bad boy home. Wrapping the release is funky blues rocker, Ain't One To Gamble with great amp saturation and plenty of real swagger. These guys really get it (and deliver).

Monday, February 10, 2025

Amaury Faivre - My Americana - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, My Americana, by Amaury Faivre and it's cool and flavorful. Opening with Tumbleweed, a solid pop track with a folksy feel, Amaury Faivre handles vocals, harmonica, guitars and bass, joined by Julien Compagne on drums. Nice opener. Another track with a memorable melody is Doggone Soul with warm vocals, harmonica, mandolin and slide acoustic guitar by Faivre and drums and percussion by Compagne giving the track a dark reggae sound. Bluesy, It's Time For Me, is my favorite track on the release with soulful vocals by Faivre who compliments himself masterfully on harmonica, bass and guitar. Great track. Wrapping the release is bluesy folk track, Goodbye Joe featuring Faivre on acoustic guitar and harmonica. This is a really clean track and a solid closer for an interesting release.

Friday, February 7, 2025

Wilderness Records artist: Randy Lee Riviere - Concrete Blues - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Concrete Blues, from Randy Lee Riviere, and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with Mania, with a pop style theme, Randy Lee Riviere on lead vocal and guitar sets the pace. Joined by Kenny Greenberg and Bob Britt on guitars they create an interwoven melody, anchored by Stephen Mackey on bass and Tom Hambridge on drums. On Just Trying To Get Back Home, Hambridge used heavy tom tom to set the pace and Riviere's monochromatic vocals give the track a cool feel. His guitar styling on this track makes it my favorite with it's low slung bluesy feel. Stranger In My Head had an interesting British rock feel with jangly country style guitar riffs. Very cool. Dark tempered, Moccasin Lake is another cool track with a drum heavy bottom and crisp guitar riffs. Title track, Concrete Blues has a rocky rhythm with bluesy slide soloing and Mike Rojas adding some real nice piano work. Wrapping the release is rocker, Drive with Rojas on organ working nicely with Riviere on rhythm guitar. With a folky construction and country flavoring, this is a cool closer for a solid release.

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Subcat Records artist: Tas Cru Band - All Natural Cage-Free and Fan-Fed - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, All Natural Cage-Free and Fan-Fed, by Tas Cru Band and it's laid back bluesy fun. Opening with Dat Maybe, Cru on vocal and guitar leads the way on a straight up rocker, with Mia Casale on backing vocals, Tom Terry on bass, Scott Ebner on keys and Phil Diiorio on drums. On up tempo blues rocker, Brown Liquor Woman, Cru on vocal and guitar really gets that Clapton/Cale sound. A cool piano solo by Ebner and solid backing vocals by Casale give the track a solid radio feel. Shuffle, Grizzle n' Bone, is a fun track with a a tight bottom. Cru leads on vocals echoed by Casale and trades guitar riffs with Ebner on keys. One Eyed Jack is my favorite track on the release with a Hill Country undertone and a Tulsa overtone. Cru on vocal plays a rhythmic guitar riff and Ebner on organ warms the bottom. Wrapping the release is Heal My Soul, a country rocker with a strong bottom courtesy of Diiorio and Terry. With cool piano work by Ebner and solid vocals by Cru and Casale, this is a strong closer.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Jim Witzel Quartet - Breaking Through Gently - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Breaking Through Gently, from Jim Witzel Quartet and it's light and springy. Opening with My Compass, Phil Aaron on piano lays a solid bed giving Jim Witzel a broad road to create the melody on guitar, backed by Dan Feiszli on bass and Jason Lewis on drums. Aaron's The Celebration has a joyous, almost spiritual, sound with lead shared between himself and Witzel. Fluid, lightly funky, lead on guitar and dazzling drum work by Lewis gives this track real spark. The Little Dragon is my favorite track on the release, with aggressive, driving lead by Witzel, punctuated by Aaron, a really strong piano interlude by Aaron and supported by perfect rhythm by Feiszli and Lewis. Excellent! Wrapping the release is title track, Breaking Through Gently, a sprite, guitar led fusion track with a solid melody, balanced by Aaron on piano. Very nice composition and solid closer.

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Joe Flip - Old Soul Live - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Old Soul Live, rom Joe Flip and it cranks. Opening with Steve Ray Vaughan's Pride and Joy, Joe Flip shows he's got the chops to make Vaughan proud. Not sliding far from SRV's original arrangement this is a solid opener. On original track, Just Friends, Flip really gets things rocking, Chuck Berry style with driving guitar lead and vocal, Trent Boldt on bass, Mike DuBois on drums and Adam Daniel on keys. Freddie King's I'm Tore Down is up next with a solid shuffle rhythm. Daniel lays down a cool electric piano solo and Flip rips a cool guitar solo of his own. On Elmore James' The Sky Is Crying, Flip leans toward the Albert King/ SRV arrangement with a warm organ solo by Daniel and a ripping solo by Flip. Just Got Paid is the best of four ZZ Top covers with plenty of grind by Flip on guitar and tight drums work by DuBois. Wrapping the release is Hendrix's Voodoo Chile giving Flip plenty of space to jam. Trading guitar riffs with DuBois on drums this is a strong closer with plenty of oomph.

Monday, February 3, 2025

Origin Records artist: Michael Dease - Found In Space: The Music of Gregg Hill - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Found In Space: The Music of Gregg Hill, by Michael Dease and it's an interesting exploration of the music of composer, Gregg Hill. Opening with The Last Pop Tune, Bill Cunliffe plays the intro on piano quickly joined by Virginia Macdonald on clarinet, Matt White on trumpet, Katie Thiroux on bass and Colleen Clark on drums. Rudresh Mahanthappa on alto and Jason Hainsworth on tenor saxs up the ante and Cunliffe develops the melody nicely on piano. Sharel Cassity really flies on flute and Nanami Haruta and Michael Dease on trombone really add strength. One For Rodney shows off the powerful horn section but it's Thiroux's bass solo that really shines. Hainsworth on tenor sax pared with Sharel Cassity on alto really rips and Clark's drum work is stellar. One of my favorite tracks on the release is The Stray Moonduck with a great intro by Dease on trombone and strong flute work by Cassity. A meaty solo by Dease, really gives this track the flavor seasoned by Cunliffe on piano and Hainsworth's tenor work really adds the juice. Bluesy, Anthem, is my favorite track on the release sets up with Cassity on flute and tight rhythm by Thiroux, Clark and Gwendolyn Dease on percussion, The horn section is always tight with excellent tenor work by Hainsworth, and aggressive alto work by Mahanthappa. Wrapping the release is New Orleans funky A Wrinkle In Time with Cunliffe mixing it up with Michael Dease. Macdonald on clarinet steps forward joined by Cassity on flute , then Mahanthappa, White, Harunta, Thiroux and Clark. Dease wails on trombone over strong rhythm by Thiroux and Clark. Solid closer.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Rupe Media artist: Jeff Rupert - It Gets Better - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, It Gets Better, by Jeff Rupert, and it's quite good. Opening with Petrichor (in the Cote D'a zur) Rupert on tenor sax, really gets the track swinging with Kenny Barron on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums. Barron really gets the ivories rocking with an excellent solo of his own and Washington strolls on the bass adding even more texture. Excellent opener. Title track, It Gets Better features a nicely phrases melody by Rupert, nicely punctuated by the strokes of Barron, leading to a nice solo of his own. Very cool. Jimmy Van Heusen's Like Someone In Love makes for an excellent tune to work on and Rupert really takes it on with tasty sax phrasing on a light bed of cymbals and snare by Farnsworth and a great bass line by Washington. Washington gets a really nice stretch on bass on this one making it one of my favorites on the release. Not My Blues is a strong, original track with hard lines by Rupert and Barron. A solid bass/drum anchor really keeps this track pure another excellent addition to the set list. Wrapping the release is Promenade In Blue, a terrific original ballad with a beautiful melody. Rupert's tone is sultry and warm and Barron's piano accompaniment caresses the melody. Washington's solo on this one is condensed yet powerful adding real teeth. This is a strong closer for a truly fine release.

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Phenix Fire Records artist: Vanessa Collier - Do It My Own Way - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Do It My Own Way, by Vanessa Collier and it's full of funk, soul and Latin sounds. Opening with Elbow Grease, Collier leads on vocal with a hot, funky, Latin rhythm, fueled by Laura Chavez on guitar, Scot Sutherland on bass, Byron Cage on drums, a hot solo by Doug Woolverton on trumpet and Collier on sax and Maureen Murphy on backing vocals. Powerful opener. Blues rocker, Take Me Back has a strong, memorable melody making it a likely radio track with a warm sax solo by Collier and real nice drum and percussion work by Trey Macias and Cage. Funky, boogaloo rhythm laid down by Chavez and Cage gives Shoulda Known Better a real hot sound. With Collier letting the sax fly on this one and punchy trumpet work by Woolverton, followed by a tight solo by Chavez, this is one of my favorite tracks on the release. Latin flavored balled, Just One More, highlights Collier on lead vocal with shimmery guitar work by Chavez. Sultry sax work by Collier and lush phrasing by Chavez over the tight rim shots by Cage and Macias on percussion really nails this track. Wrapping the release is Warrior, featuring Collier on vocal and resonator/slide guitar. Heavy drum work by Cage really loads the track making it a dynamic closer.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Dharma Down - Owl Dreams - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Owl Dreams, from Dharma Down, presenting an exciting blend of European, Middle Eastern and other global styles for a fresh result. Opening with Jalla Man, keyboardist Mike Effenberger anchors the piece with rich sub melodies, lead by Duncan Hardy on Qanun (a stringed instrument with an eastern sound), and footed by Scott Kiefner on acoustic bass and John Mettam on drums. Baghdad has a more traditional feel with a sultry melody line by Hardy on sax, working in unison with Kiefner on bass and Mettam on drums and counter to Effenberger on piano. Very nice. A Murder of Cheerleaders is really quite an interesting composition by Effenberger with shrill, intense lead sax by Hardy and vibrant, percussive, piano work by Effenberger held tightly together by Kiefner on bass and Mettam on drums. Quite an adventurous and stimulating piece. East 73rd Street is a straight up jazz exploration with Hardy leading the way on sax. His placement of the melody, secured by Effenberger on piano gives the track substantial zing and active bass and drum work by Kiefner and Mettam add real texture. With it's Latin undertones, reinforced by Kiefner and Mettam, Jurjina has real spunk. Hardy leads the way on sax, playing effortlessly through both European and eastern styles, punctuated by Effenberger on piano on both supportive and lead roles. My favorite track on the release. Wrapping the release is Thoughts And Prayers, a really nice composition by Kiefner giving Effenberger the lead on piano, paired with Hardy on sax with rich colors and underpinned by Kiefner who takes a really nice solo on bass and Mettam on drums, making this a solid closer.