Ruf Records artist: Katie Henry - On My Way - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (January 28, 2022), One My Way, by Katie Henry and it's a cool helping of pop, rock and blues. Opening with title track, On My Way, Katie Henry on lead vocal, guitar and piano shows why her first release, High Road was nominated by Blues Blast and IBMA  and ended up on the 2021 Blues Caravan. With it's contemporary take on a delta riff, blended with a rock beat, this is a solid opener. Another track with a delta style riff, woven into a contemporary blues rocker is Bury You with Antar Goodwin on bass, Ben Rice on guitar, Kurt Thum on piano and organ, and Greg Wieczorek on drums. Rocker, Got Me Good has a driving beat and radio styling with vocals along the lines of Stevie Nicks without Nicks' signature warble. With warm organ backing by Thum, the definite pick for top pop track. Harmonica ace, Giles Robson sits in on Too Long, a bottom heavy blues rocker. His melodic lead along with Henry's vocal lead, woven with Thum's organ and Henry and Rice on guitar gives the track a balanced feel. Wrapping the release is western flavored, Catch Me If You Can with a great melody and nice slide work by Goodwin, over a piano and organ base and tight drumming by Wieczorek. Solid closer for Henry's second entry. 

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Blue Heart Records artist: Tony Holiday - Porch Sessions Volume 2 - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Porch Sessions Volume 2, from Tony Holiday and it's a great Chicago style blues party. Opening with She's Tuff, Victor Wainwright and his rhythm section really get things rolling with Wainwright on vocal and piano and Holiday on harmonica. With plenty of attitude in presentation and this dynamic duo, this is a strong opener. Willie Buck has the mic on Honey Bee with Rusty Zinn on slide and Kim Wilson on harmonica. Zinn really conjurs Muddy's tone on guitar and Wilson's sound is fat and rich. Excellent! In more of a Delta styling on Recipe for Love Master, Bobby Rush on vocal and Vasti Jackson on guitar really make a great team serving up a heavy helping of blues. Very nice. Going to Court is a real hot number with James Harman on harmonica and Kid Ramos and Landon Stone laying down pure fire on guitar. Lurrie Bell teams up with harpmaster Mark Hummel on a shortened take on Everyday I Have The Blues but not without playing some blistering riffs. Ace guitar man Johnny Burgin and Holiday play Bad Bad Girl with Kid Andersen on bass. With it's 2 step rhythm, this track is a nice change up. Rae Gordon adds a lot of spice on lead vocals on shuffle,  Find Me When The Sun Goes Down complimented by Holiday on harmonica and backed by her own band. Ben Rice does a real nice job on That's How I Learned with his ultrasoulful vocals and deft acoustic steel resonator accompaniment. Very nice. Mark Hummel & Dennis Gruenling do a great duet on Cake Walk a terrific harmonica shuffle. One of my favorites on the release. JD Taylor on harmonica and vocal and his son Alex do a really nice on Family Tree with harmonica/ guitar backing of a great blues vocal. I particularly like the way Alex plucks his guitar accents. Excellent! Wrapping the release is the lush gospel fused Peace Will Come by Memphis based Southern Avenue. To say that this release is packed with goodies would be an understatement. Very strong release.

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Ben Rice & R B Stone - Out Of The Box - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Out Of The Box, from Ben Rice and RB Stone and it's a lot of fun. Opening with rock n roller, Hot Rod Mama this band is cranking right out of the chute. With solid vocals, revving guitars and slick slide from Rice and Stone and with Dave Melyan on drums, Joseph Barton on bass and Jimi Bott on trombone, this track smokes! Driving blues rocker, Hey Politician, has a great steady beat, CCR style vocals and super slide. It's the grinding guitar tone and the driving rhythm that gives The Swamp East Boogie it's electrifying feel. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's relentless push. Very cool! With it's taste of country, Crushin' On The Bartender has a strong radio appeal and the tasty slide work gives it just the right edge. Rich, warm hollow body tones fill the background of Train of Time, an easy set slow blues number featuring only lead vocal and slide. Wrapping the release is Lobo Jam with it's thumping drum work by Melyan and relentless slide work by Stone and Rice. This is a really strong closer for a solid 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”

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Ben Rice - Wish The World Away - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Wish The World Away, from Ben Rice and it's light and airy with great guitar riffs and cool melodies. Opening with Dirt Road Home, a driving understated boogie, Rice shows just how much music can be played with just vocal, guitar and drums by Jimi Bott. Cool opener. Peace Will Overcome has a really nice rhythm set up by Bott, Julio Appling on bass and Dave Fleschner on piano, topped by excellent slide work by Rice. Very nice. Mojo Hand feels like hill country with a lot of rag tag and a lot of rockin blues. Rice's vocals are perfect for this track and his resonator guitar work is tight and clean with highlights drawn by Mitch Kashmar on harp and Dave Melyan on percussion. Very nice. Soulful track, Hardtimes is one of my favorites on the release with the best vocals on the release and rich organ tones of Dave Fleschner. Very nice. Stevie Wonder's HigherGround get an acoustic rework and retains a lot of the original energy with only the power of Rice's excellent vocals and tight slide guitar work. Wrapping the release is Don't Worry Mama with the mourning sounds of Rice accompanied by his steel resonator. This is a very strong release with contemporary blues roots.

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Giddy Minion artists: Ben Rice & Lucy Hammond - Destination Clarksdale - New Release review

I just received the newest release, Destination Clarksdale, by Ben Rice & Lucy Hammond and they make a fine acoustic blues duo. Opening with Ida Mae a cool shuffle track, Rice lays down a fine guitar base and blends nicely vocally with Hammond. Very cool. Next up is Oh Lord, a quiet delta style track performed with solitude and rich feeling. Rice has his resonator ringing and again the vocal blendings between Rice and Hammond are quite fine. On Gary Davis styled Wants Me Back Again, Rice really shows that he is a fine vocalist and Hammond knows how to push him to even higher heights. With only resonator finger picking, this is my favorite track on the release. A more contemporary track with a modern beat, Turn My Back On You would seem the certain radio track with clever guitar work and a catchy melody. Wrapping the release is Muddy Water featuring Hammond in the lead role. Her rich vocal talent is nicely demonstrated here with only a very light rhythmic acoustic guitar accompaniment. This is a solid release by Rice and Hammond. It's easy to see why their performances have gained them IBC finalist status.

  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”