VizzTone Label Group artist: Annika Chambers & Paul DesLauriers - Good Trouble - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Good Trouble, from Annika Chambers & Paul DesLauriers and I really like it. Opening with New Orleans flavored, You've Got To Believe, and a great bass and drum rhythm by Chris Peet. Annika Chambers on lead vocal really gets this track going. With Paul DesLauriers on mandolin, southern slide guitar styling by JP Soars, and Kim Richardson on backing vocals, this is a strong opener. On one of my favorite George Harrison compositions,  Isn't It A Pity, Chambers and DesLauriers add a cool funky rhythm and style. DesLauriers lays down some fluid guitar lead and with tight drum accents makes this one of my favorites on the release. Joe South's soulful Walk A Mile In My Shoes is transformed by Chambers and DesLauriers to a great R&B/Gospel track with excellent form and execution. Chambers is certainly capable of carrying this vocally, and with Richardson, Soars and Gary Davenport, who also lays down a great bass line providing excellent backing vocals and another strong guitar solo, this track is great! If you're looking for that slow blues with he screaming guitar, Need Your Love So Bad, is it with full vocals by Chambers and DesLauriers. Very nice. Tackling Mountain's, Mississippi Queen is a mountainous task but Chambers does a great job and with a solid bottom and DesLauriers' guitar work, this track works. Wrapping the release is I Need More Power carried vocally by Chambers, and with a thumping bass line by Soars, Peet keeping it simple on drums and tasteful guitar work by DesLauriers this is a powerful closer. 

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Dave Keller - You Get What You Give: Duets - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, You Get What You Give: Duets, from Dave Keller and it's a solid set of blues, R&B and soul. Opening with One More Tear, featuring Annika Chambers on vocal, Keller on lead vocal and guitar is backed by Ira Friedman on organ, Alex Budney on bass, Jay Gleason on drums, Mark Earley on sax, Mario Perrett on tenor sax and Tom Palance on trumpet. A potent R&B track and a super opener. Title track, You Get What You Give, pairs Keller with Annie Mack shows a lot of soul in this, radio track with it's strong, memorable melody. One of my favorite tracks on the release, The Evil That Men Do, features Keller trading lead with Trudy Lynn, Annika Chambers, Annie Mack and Johnny Rawls on what is definitely my favorite track on the release. It's composition is sophisticated and melodic and reminiscent of the best of early Elton John ballads. With Friedman on piano and Tom Palance on trumpet, this is a great track. Latin influenced, Your Kind Of Fool has a great rhythm and with Friedman on piano and organ and keller sharing the mic with Trudy Lynn, another top track. Another terrific ballad, The Spark, pairs Keller on vocal with Friedman on piano. Very nice. Gospel fueled, Precious Lord, Take My Hand, features Brother Bob White on vocal and piano, with Keller on guitar and Larry Gann on drums...powerful. Katie Henry's vocals on The Kiss I Want, along with Keller on vocal and guitar make this another top candidate for airplay. Wrapping the release is acoustic blues driven, I'm Gonna Let It Shine. Toussaint St. Negritude on lead vocal and Keller on National Steel guitar and harmonica give this release a strong 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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VizzTone Label Group artist: Annika Chambers - Kiss My Sass - New release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Kiss My Sass, from Annika Chambers, and it's a great mix of blues, soul and R&B tracks. Opening with rolling shuffle, Let The Sass Out, Chambers leads a powerful force with Corey Stoot and The Mighty Org on guitars, Greg Brown Jr. on drums, Larry Fulcher on bass and Anthony Terry on sax with Nicola Polar on backing vocals. Great opener. That's What You Made Me is a real nice R&B track with a heavy kick drum by Brannon McLeod and a great bass line by Fulcher. Chambers really gets in the groove on this one and glistening key work by Randy Wall and Polar's backing vocals ice the cake. Very nice. What's Your Thing is a really nice soulful track featuring Chambers with Ruthie Foster. With just the right amount of soul and steel guitar by the Mighty Org this is a really nice song.  Brand New Day is one of my favorites on the release with wailing slide in the background and a solid droning bass line really highlighting Chambers' vocal work. Blues rocker, World of Hurt is a real high stepper with hard reinforcement by Fulcher's bass and Anthony Terry on sax and featuring nice guitar work by Paul Ramirez. Another of my favorites is soul track, Stay with Stephanie York Blue on Hammond and Randy Wall on piano really giving the track a powerful dose of gospel. Very nice. Wrapping the release is I Feel The Same,  acoustic duet with Paul DesLauriers on vocal and slide guitar with Sam Harrisson on percussion.

  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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Conner Ray Music - Dry Johnson - Long Live Them Blues Vol. 1 - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Long Live Them Blues Vol. 1, from Houston based duo, Dry Johnson and I really like it. Opening with lumbering blues rumbler, Daddy's Got A Cadillac, features favorites Annika Chambers and Mike Zito on vocals with Zito and Terry Dry on guitars and Matthew Robert Johnson on drums. Cool opener. On title track, Long Live Them Blues, Trudy Lynn's distinct lead vocals are coupled with Steve Krase on harp and Mighty Orq on guitar for a grinding groove. John Del Toro Richardson has the lead on guitar and vocal on Hit That Highway, a real nice blues shuffle. Two stepper, Drunk Girl With A Tambourine has kevin Snit Fitzpatrick on lead vocal and the Mighty Orq on guitar. This is really a strong track with kick. Juke Joint is a slick shuffle with a Bob Wills feel. Featuring Dry on lead vocal and Mighty Orq and James Wilhite on guitar this track is a great swinger. A track with a lot of texture is I Walk Alone featuring the gritty vocals of Wilhite and opposing shimmering guitar vibrato. Very cool. With a bluesy funk, Trashy Women & Cheap Guitars is another great track with Dry on lead vocal and drums and sweet guitar riffs by Zito. Definitely one of my release favorites. Fried Chicken is a super cool instrumental featuring Zito on lead guitar. Get funky my brother. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Little Bird featuring Terry Dry on vocal and acoustic guitar  with a strong folk track. I got to say, this release has a lot of sounds but it's all super. This is a great Christmas idea, and get one for yourself.

  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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Swing Suit Records artist: Mick Kolassa - Double Standards - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Double Standards, from Mick Kolassa and it's packed full of stars and blues standards. Opening with Willie Dixon's 600 Pounds of Heavenly Joy, Kolassa is joined by Sugaray Rayford on vocal with solid Latin rhythm by James Cunningham on drums. With Kolassa on guitar and vocal, Bill Ruffino on bass, Chis Stephenson on organ, and Colin John on guitar, very solid opener. Heather Crosse joins on lead vocal for another Dixon hit, I Just Want To Make Love To You. With her sultry vocals and Eric Hughes on harp, this is a real cool track. With it's jazzy club feel, Annika Chambers really shows on Fever. Her vocals are rich and deep caressed in a warm bed of Jensen's guitar tone. Alice Hasan's violin contributions to Tas Cru and Kolassa's rework of Jimmie Cox's Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out is really nice. Another particularly warm spot is Erica Brown's vocal lead on Dixon's Spoonful. Jensen lays down a real nice guitar section on this track as well. Another Latin influenced track, Early In The Morning, features David Dunavent on guitar. Stylistic and cool. The most guitar intensive track, Outside Woman Blues really gives Jeff Jensen the opportunity to show off on guitar and he does a real nice job. Wrapping the release is Ain't Nobody's Business featuring excellent vocals by Chambers, Gracie Curran, Erica Brown and Jeff Jensen. This is a super closer for a real solid release benefitting the Blues Foundation's HART Fund and Generation Blues programs.

  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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Swing Suit Records artist: Mick Kolassa - Ghosts of the Riverside Hotel - New Release Review

I just received the most recent release, Ghosts of the Riverside Hotel, from Mick Kolassa. A cornucopia of blues like last years release by Kolassa, "Michissippi Mick" , the net proceeds will go to The Blues Foundation and Generation Blues. Opening with Hank Williams' Ramblin' Man, Kolassa on lead vocal and guitar, Jeff Jensen on Lead guitar, Bill Ruffino on bass, Robinson Bridgeforth on drums and Chris Stephenson on organ, this is an interesting track with march like rudiments and tasty guitar work. Slow swinging blues track, Grapes & Greens, featured nice electric guitar and slide work from Jensen and Eric Hughes on harp coupled with solid lead vocals by Kolassa. Lou Singer's depression era, One Meatball, gets a light reggae rhythm treatment under the vocal harmonizing by Reba Russell and bright piano passages by Victor Wainwright. I Always Meant To Love You is a swinging 12 bar with some real jazzy riffs from Jensen, complimented nicely by Kirk Smothers on sax and Wainwright on piano. Lighthearted Trouble, written by Todd Snider, has a cool swing. Kolassa's vocals are spot on, Santini takes a real nice harp solo on this track and Jensen throws in a few country influenced riffs of his own. Nothing Left To Lose (Robin's Blues) is a smooth jazzy blues ballad featuring Smothers on melodic sax. Kolassa's most serious vocal of the release are restrained but well placed and pointers by Smothers and Jensen are perfectly executed. Very nice! If I Ain't Fishin' has a cool pace with Wainwright and Hughes teaming up with tension against the calm. Randy Newman's, Mama Told Me Not To Come, made popular by Three Dog Night, gets a modified Chicago blues remake and a totally different type of cover. Kolassa uses an almost spoken delivery and Santini really wails on this one giving it it's best showing to my ears. On Whiskey Woman, Cole Layman trades lead guitar lines with Jensen and Logan Lyman lays down some cool funk bass. Chris Stephenson's organ solo punches up the track eliciting nice guitar soloing and even more pluckiness from Layman. Walkin' (Dead) Blues capitalizes on the current zombie obsession. With an Elmore James basic track, Kolassa gets the band cranked up with his frantic vocal antics. Santini gets his harp rolling hard and Jensen kicks out his best set of riffs on the release. Tongue in cheek but the hottest track on the release! Following a Magic Sam format, Mama's Got A Mojo, is a cool track with shimmery guitar soloing by Jensen over solid organ work by Stephenson. Real nice! Wrapping the release is Delta Town featuring Watermelon Slim on dobro and harp. Bridgeforth and Ruffino give the track a bit more structure and Kolassa leads the way. This is quite an enjoyable release with a bit of something for most blues lovers.

   

  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”

 

Annika Chambers up for BMA

Aside from her newest release, Making My Mark, Annika Chambers has been busy! She recently completed her degree at the University of Houston, Downtown in  December of  2013 in Corporate Communication. She has also been Nominated for Best Blues In Houston by Free Press Houston.  Her musical career has continued to flourish as she opened for Shemekia Copeland, Carolyn Wonderland and performed Mess Around at the blues music awards Memphis in May 2014 with Jeff Jensen and gang,  Pearland Crawfish Fest, Springboard South Houston, Big Music Festival,  Tall City Blues Fest (midland),  Navasota Blues Fest and  played with Brandon Santini during the IBCs 2014!

Here my review of Annika's most recent 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”

"review"

Tall City Blues Fest Announces 2014 Line-Up

Montrose Records artist: Annika Chambers & The Houston All-Stars - Making My Mark - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Making My Mark, by Annika Chambers & The Houston All-Stars and it's got a lot of strengths. Opening with Move, Chambers does just that. A funky soul track. finds Chambers with a smooth but edgy voice leading the way with Nicoya Polar, Sheree Howard and Dominique Fulcher. I particularly like the understated but super guitar work from Corey Stoot on this track. A catchy number this could easily get a lot of airplay in multiple venues. Barnyard Blues is a uptown shuffle with cool bass lines from Larry Fulcher and great horn work from Anthony Terry on sax. David carter and Brad Absher handle the guitar work on this track. Jealous Kind is a straight up ballad with a honkin sweet sax solo by Terry. Lick 'er is a strong funk catchy track with super key work by Barry Seelen and saucy vocals by Chambers and Polar overall. Very hot! Tony Braunagel lays down some nice drum work and Terry again hot on sax. Trust Me has Houston swagger with a bit of country flavor. Down South is a direct airplay ballad and is strong;y written, arranged and executed. That Feel Good has that neo soul sound with Fulcher, Kerry Cartwright (drums) and Stoot contributing significantly to the overall sound. Put It Where You Want It is a cool pop track with nice clavinet work from David Delagarza, King Curtis like sax work from Kyle Turner and nice guitar riffs from Absher enveloping nice vocal harmonies from Chambers, Delagarza, Stoot, Fulcher and Polar. Nice! Guitar Boy is a light swaying soul track with jazzy blues riffs delivering a sweet melody sung by Chambers. It Hurts Me To My Heart has a cool New Orleans/Fats Domino roll. Randy Wall lays the groundwork on piano while Chambers delivers the goods. Anthony lays a nice bed of sax and David Carter takes a clean guitar solo right down the middle. Wrapping the release is Let's Get Down To Business, a funky blues rocker has a few pace changed and cool horn work by Darrell Leonard. Carter again steps up with a clever guitar solo and Chambers leads the charge with solid vocals. This is a cool release with a lot of cool sounds and Chambers has a particularly strong voice.

  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”

 

Montrose Records Signs Blues/Soul Singer Annika Chambers & Will Release Her Debut Album, "Making My Mark," on January 14, 2014

Montrose Records Signs Blues/Soul Singer Annika Chambers & Will Release Her Debut Album,

Making My Mark, on January 14, 2014

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HOUSTON, TX – Montrose Records announces the signing of Houston-based blues/soul singer Annika Chambers and will release her debut album, Making My Mark, on January 14, 2014.

Making My Mark will be available through CDBaby at iTunes and Amazon, as well as at the label’s website. On the new CD, Annika (pronounced “Ann-NEE-Ka”), is backed by an aggregation dubbed “The Houston All-Stars,” well-named because it boasts the talents of many Grammy winners and nominees.

Heading that list is bassist Larry Fulcher, who co-produced Making My Mark along with Montrose Records owner/engineer Richard Cagle. Fulcher is a two-time Grammy winner for his work with Taj Mahal on the albums “Shoutin’ in Key” and “Senor Blues,” and has appeared on 10 of Taj’s albums. He’s also a regular member of the acclaimed Phantom Blues Band and has  recorded and/or toured with such other renowned performers as Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Maria Muldaur, Willie Nelson, Ruthie Foster, Curtis Salgado, The Crusaders, Smokey Robinson and The Wailers.

Additional Grammy winners or nominees on the recording sessions were keyboardists David Delagarza III and Skip Nalia; drummers Tony Braunagel and Samantha Banks; and trumpeter/arranger Darrell Leonard. A host of other stellar Houston musicians added their talents, including guitarists Brad Absher, Corey Stoot and David Carter; organist Barry Seelen; pianist Randy Walls; saxophonist/arranger Anthony Terry; and backing singers Nicoya Polar and Sheree Howard. Making My Mark was mixed by six-time Grammy-winning engineer Joe McGrath.

The even-dozen tracks on Annika’s new CD feature several originals by Chambers and additional songs penned by Larry Fulcher’s talented daughter Dominque, who also contributes vocals on the album. A diverse set of covers enhanced by Annika’s unique takes on them include songs from Bobby Charles (“Jealous Kind”), Spirit bassist Al Staehely (“Trust Me”),

Joe Sample/Alan Gorrie (“Put It Where You Want It”), Steve Cropper/Eddie Floyd (“Love’s Sweat Sensation”) and B.B. King (“Let’s Get Down to Business”).

At the core of this great supporting cast are the bluesy, funky and powerful vocals of Annika Chambers, an extremely gifted singer with the drive and talent that stamps her as a rising star in the blues and soul world.

After an eight-year stint in the U.S. Army, which saw her rise to the rank of Sergeant and serve two deployments in Iraq and Kosovo, Chambers left the military to pursue her dream of being a singer. “This record is from my heart and soul,” said Annika about the new album, “and I will cherish it for years to come. Larry and Rich took my vision and enhanced it into something that I would have never imagined. I’ve always told people it’s one thing to believe in yourself but it’s an even greater feeling when you have others believing in you. Thank you for believing in me.”

With the release of Making My Mark, Annika Chambers stands as a shining example to others to follow their dreams and not settle for anything less.

For more information, visit www.annikachambers.com and www.montroserecords.com.